Today is
Wednesday March 12, 2025
TRINITY COUNTY â According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man has been charged with animal cruelty after deputies reportedly found several dogs severely malnourished at his property.
The Trinity County Sheriffâs office said deputies were dispatched to 204 Elephant Walk St. for multiple dogs at large. When deputies arrived, they reportedly found two dogs in the roadway in front of the house and observed several dogs on chains that were severely malnourished. Another dog could be seen in a small kennel without any shelter, officials said.
âCall history showed that the owner who later identified as, Christopher James Rode, was warned previously about having the animals improperly on chains, how to provide proper shelter and care for the dogs,â the Trinity County Sheriffâs Office said. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE â Our news partner KETK is reporting that four people have been arrested in connection to an armed robbery that occurred on Monday in Palestine. Officers were dispatched to the Scorpion Smoke Shop at 4222 W. Oak at around 9 p.m. in reference to a robbery. A man and woman entered the store and the man reportedly displayed a handgun demanding money from the employee. Officials said the woman then sprayed mace/pepper spray into the business as they fled in a red Nissan SUV.
Following an investigation, authorities identified the man as Charles Blake DeFore, of Elkhart,and obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 400 block of Highway 287. Officials then located the red SUV located outside of the residence.
Officers made contact with Tammy DeFore, who confirmed that Charles was inside. Tammy refused to exit the residence and did not say anything else to officials. Officials also confirmed that a second person of interest in the robbery, Abril Espinosa, was inside the residence. Read the rest of this entry »
CENTER â Center police arrested a man and woman on Tuesday in connection to the death of the womanâs boyfriend, 36-year-old Cordero Wyatt, after police found his body in a field. According to our news partner KETK, the Center Police Department received a call regarding a welfare check on Wyatt. The caller stated that her son had been at his girlfriendâs home in Center and was no longer answering his phone or had returned back home. Officers then contacted the girlfriend, 40-year-old Alicia Petite.
âPetite informed officers that Wyatt had been at her residence earlier and friends had picked him up, but he was no longer at her house. Officers responded to Petitesâ residence, and she allowed them to look in the home for Wyatt,â Center PD said.
According to officials, some of Wyattâs belongings were located in the home including his cell phone. Responding officers contacted the Criminal Investigation Division, and detectives began investigating a possible missing person. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY â According to our news partner KETK, a home on Van Zandt County Road 1203 near Wentworth was burned in a Christmas morning fire, according to officials. Grand Saline Fire Department public information officer Caden Mosher said that several 911 calls came into the South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department at around 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
Mosher said that Canton Fire Department was automatically sent out to the scene and that Grand Saline Fire Department was called in at around 9:20 a.m. for mutual aid.
According to Mosher, no one was at home or injured during the fire. Mosher added that the Van Zandt County Fire Marshallâs Office is investigating the fireâs cause.
PALESTINE â The Palestine Police Department is seeking information in a robbery that occurred at a smoke shop last night. According to our news partner KETK, Palestine PD officers responded to an aggravated robbery around 9 p.m. that occurred at the Scorpion Smoke Shop in Palestine. A light complected female suspect allegedly stood watch at the door and then Palestine PD said they sprayed pepper spray or mace into the business as they fled with an undisclosed amount of money. The male who reportedly presented a handgun and demanded the money appeared to have a tattoo on his left wrist, officials said.
The suspects reportedly fled in a maroon Nissan Armanda or Pathfinder, believed to be older than a 2016 model, according to Palestine PD. Read the rest of this entry »
Merry Christmas! All of us here at KTBB and The TEAM FM wish you a holiday season full of warmth, joy, and magical memories. May the spirit of Christmas bring peace and happiness to your heart and home.
TYLER â As Christmas day approaches our news partner KETK has compiled a list of local restaurants, stores and entertainment open on Christmas 2024. Please visit the KETK website for the regularly updated list.
UPDATE: The City of Troup said on Tuesday that Optimum restored full internet service to Troup. City officials apologized to any residents whoâve gotten duplicate trash service rescheduling calls that were set out because of the loss in connection. Troup said their trash service will be on Thursday for this week and next week.
TROUP â The City of Troup said many of their residents are currently without VOIP phone service, internet and cellphone service after Optimumâs fiber optic line was cut on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, a third party contractor cut the Optimum fiber optic cable that supplies internet service to the town and two of the major cell phone companies that cover Troup.
Troup city manager Gene Cottle said that Optimum is working to repair the cut cable and to return cell service to the area. City of Troup employeeâs are currently monitoring their water tower and the water wells which rely on cellular connections to communicate.
The city was only able to share this information because of a fallback cellular modem that uses three different cell phone service providers.
MALAKOFF â According to our news partner KETK, a Monday morning house fire has left one person dead in Malakoff. Malakoff Police Department Chief Floyd Thomas said the deceased was identified as Gloria Aruizu and that the fire happened at 803 W. Mitcham St. in Malakoff. Tool Fire Rescue said they were called to the fully-involved structure fire at around 2 a.m. on Monday along with fire departments from Seven Points, Gun Barrel City, Trinidad and Malakoff.
The home was reportedly a total loss and now Tool Fire Rescue is asking the community for donations to help the residents affected. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Gregory Kelly, the current Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, as the new Bishop of Tyler on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Kelly will be the fifth bishop to ever be appointed to lead the Tyler Diocese since it was founded in 1986 by Pope St. John Paul II. Kellyâs appointment comes after Bishop Joseph Strickland was removed as Bishop of Tyler in November of 2023, following a months-long investigation by the Vatican.
Bishop Stricklandâs removal by the pope sparked widespread criticism, and the question of politics in religion has become a hot topic. However, Kelly said there will also be a back-and-forth between the two.
âThe church always has to stay out of partisan politics, endorsing candidates or doing anything like that,â Kelly said. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN (AP) â Texasâ attorney general sought again on Thursday to stop a man on death row from testifying to lawmakers who have raised doubts about his guilt and successfully paused his execution at the last minute in October. Robert Roberson was convicted in 2003 of killing his 2-year-old daughter. His execution had been set to be the first in the U.S. over a conviction tied to shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis some medical experts have questioned. A Texas House panel had again subpoenaed Roberson to appear before lawmakers Friday, which would require a transport from his prison outside Houston.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office asked a court for an order blocking the subpoena, which he said automatically prevents Roberson from appearing while the legal challenge is pending. A spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Joe Moody, chair of the Texas House committee that subpoenaed Roberson, did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment Thursday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â Our news partner KETK is reporting that a proposed child abuse prevention law is on its way to the White House for review by President Biden. The Jenna Quinn Bill has been in the works for the past six years, named after abuse survivor, Jenna Quinn, the proposed bill will allow federal grants to fund training educators on sexual abuse recognition and prevention. Rep. Nathaniel Moran said 90% of the time abusers are typically somebody within family or close friendship, relationship, making this bill vital to train educators and adults that work with children. Already making an impact, data shows educators are reporting abuse four times more after being trained than without.
The East Texas congressman spoke in support of the bill before it passed with full bipartisan support on Dec. 17.
âWe need to provide more opportunities for grant moneys that already exists to be used in a space that can save these kids from further abuse, stop the abuse and get them help as quickly as possible,â Moran said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â According to our news partner KETK, a second state representative from East Texas is under intense pressure to switch his support as Texas House Republicans fight over who will be the next speaker. Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, won the endorsement from the House GOP caucus, but Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, claims to have a bipartisan majority. This battle, as Burrows seeks democratic support, has led Republicans who support Burrows to walk a fine line.
In recent days, the GOP has threatened to campaign against anyone who supports Burrows, such as Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, who has already faced backlash over his choice. Yet Hefner remains adamant in backing Burrows for the seat.
The Texas GOP has also threatened to censure any Republican who does not vote for Cook and has sent text messages to lawmakers like East Texas Rep. Cody Harris threatening to campaign against them. Read the rest of this entry »
KAUFMAN COUNTY â According to our news partner KETK, Kaufman County officials serving a warrant at a property discovered animals in wire cages, living without shelter and limited access to clean water. The SPCA team said the dogs and roosters were found in individual pens throughout the property with the area thick in mud and standing water. Officials also found evidence that the animals may have been used for fighting leading to the start of an investigation. Their owner relinquished custody of the animals at the scene, and the SPCA has since taken ownership, who are now working with the animals for possible rehabilitation.
âThat resulted in the SPCA of Texas taking custody of 50 roosters, 43 hens, 34 adult dogs, and 10 puppies,â SPCA of Texas Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Maura Davies said.
According to officials, the owner of the animals could also face felony charges once the investigation is over. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY â Van Zandt County residents have filed a lawsuit against stakeholders in the Amador Energy Storage Project that would bring a 100 MW lithium battery energy storage facility to the area. According to our news partner KETK, the Finnish-based wind, solar and battery energy storage developer, Taaleri Energia and the Amador Project has drawn criticism from local citizens who argue it threatens their safety, livestock and rural lifestyle. Some of the concerns include fire risks, fire risks, environmental contamination, lack of firefighting resources and proximity to homes.
The storage facility would be located near FM 47 and FM 1651 on approximately 48 acres with construction already in motion and set to be fully functional by the end of next year. The 100 MW lithium battery storage facility could provide electricity at a rate of 100 million watts, which is used for grids to stabilize electricity supply. Read the rest of this entry »