Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
TYLER – Reactions are pouring in from across the country after President Joe Biden announced that he will no longer be seeking reelection to a second term on Sunday. Biden’s bombshell announcement comes after weeks of speculation about his ability to win the election started up in the wake of this year’s first presidential debate back on June 27. Our news partner KETK has put together list of reactions from East Texas representatives and other current and former officials.
“This doesn’t change a thing. Whoever comes next for the Democrats will embrace the same failed Biden policies,†said U.S. House Rep for Tyler, Nathaniel Moran. “Let’s keep pressing the right messages—(1) secure our border (2) reduce spending, debt, and regulations (3) free up our energy sector (4) show strength in the world.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Love Thy City took over the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center on Saturday, to help out the East Texas community. According to our news partner KETK, Marvin Methodist Church pastor and Love Thy City board of directors’ member Doug Baker stated, “400 volunteers from various churches, nonprofit organizations and 55 or more churches represented the community.†This was the first year for the event and lines were wrapped around buildings as more than 4,200 people received counseling, supplies and food vouchers. Everything was free for the community to get the assistance they needed. “It is just simply showing up and signing up and registering and then allowing us to do what we want to do, which is love on the community of Tyler,†St. James CME pastor and Love Thy City board of directors’ member, Brian Lightener said. Guests also enjoyed messages from local pastors as they enjoyed time with other community members. Love Thy City is already planning for next year’s event and said they hope it will be bigger and better.
GLADEWATER – The Gladewater Police Department said that they’ve arrested a 74-year-old man in connection to a shooting that happened on Saturday at 220 S. Ferry Street. According to our news partner KETK, Gladewater PD officers responded to the scene after a 911 call reported the shooting at around 11:16 p.m. on Saturday. Upon their arrival, Sheri Shanell Evans was found at a South Ferry Street residence with a gunshot wound. The Gladewater Fire Department and Christus EMS provided medical assistance to Evans, but she died at the scene. The Gladewater Criminal Investigation Division then responded to the scene to start their investigation. Jonie Mack Bowser, 74 of Gladewater, who was at the scene when officers first arrived, was arrested in connection to the fatal shooting. He’s currently being held at the Gregg County Jail on a charge of murder. “The loss of Sheri Evans is a tragedy, and our hearts go out to her family and loved ones during this difficult time. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding this incident,†said Gladewater PD interim police chief, Kyle Ready. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Gladewater Police Department at 903-845-2166 or the Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.
HENDERSON – The Henderson Police Department is searching for a suspect in connection to a shooting that happened in the 1200 block of US Highway 79 North on Saturday. According to our news partners KETK, Henderson PD officers responded to the scene after they got reports of a shooting at around 1 a.m. on Saturday. Crime scene detectives were called out to the scene and determined that a shooting did happen but luckily no one was reported as injured.
Witnesses described a potential suspect as a black male with short hair who wore a red Kansas City Chiefs jersey, white Air Jordans and blue jeans. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Henderson Police Department at 903-657-3512.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said 42-year-old Katherine Renee Sawyer has been arrested after transporting her children in the cargo area of a U-Haul truck. Sawyer was reportedly driving the truck along with a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old in the cargo area, along with a 17-year-old in the passenger seat. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – Our news partner KETK is reporting that over the past seven months, the Wisconsin-based “Freedom From Religion Foundation†(FFRF) sent three letters to Rusk ISD, asking the district to stop their student-led prayers before football games, claiming they are unconstitutional. FFRF is a national non-profit that advocates for atheists, agnostics, and non-theists. However, the district’s superintendent said no laws are being broken.
The FFRF said they were contacted by two Rusk community members, filing complaints about the student-led prayers before district football games. The Rusk ISD superintendent, Grey Burton, recently posted to his personal Facebook page addressing the foundation’s request. The post read, “If we want America to be great again then we can’t let groups or individuals continue removing God and Jesus from the fabric of our society.†The post went on to say “We want protections and blessings for our students, staff and community.†Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK, Texarkana High School band instructor has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison on Tuesday after coercing students to participate in sexual activities. Officials said Sams communicated with several students through social media and messaging applications where he persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced them to participate in sexual activity.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas said Brandon Neil Sams, 48, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor while being a band instructor at Texas High School in Texarkana. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler woman has been sentenced to prison for driving while under the influence causing her 9-year-old daughter’s death. According to our news partner KETK, Krystle Medeiros, 38 of Tyler, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to murder and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury. Medeiros’ daughter succumbed to her injuries the following day.
According to an arrest warrant, on Jan. 4 a red Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV “was driving on the wrong side of the roadway†causing a head-on crash on SH 64. Both occupants of the Trailblazer, Medeiros and her daughter, were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police are looking for a man they say is armed and dangerous after a shooting early Tuesday morning on Elm Street. According to our news partner KETK, Damian Charles Smith, 28, has several warrants including one for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He’s the primary suspect in a Tuesday morning shooting that left one man injured. He’s described as 5’11†and 150 pounds. Cherokee County Crime Stoppers are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
DIANA — According to our news partner KETK, Amy Marzano, a soon-to-be junior at New Diana High School, died on Wednesday following a medical emergency, Superintendent Marshall Moore said. Marzano was a dedicated majorette in the high school band and during practice Wednesday morning, she experienced a medical emergency that was reportedly not related to the activity.
“She was immediately transported by ambulance to Longview Regional Hospital, where the medical staff worked tirelessly to stabilize her condition,†New Diana ISD officials said. “Despite their best efforts, Amy was placed on life support and tragically passed away at 2:53 p.m.â€
The district said to provide support during this difficult time, the band hall will be open on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for anyone wishing to speak with counselors and support staff.
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a female victim with two gunshot wounds was found by Longview Police and a suspect was arrested on Wednesday, the department said. Detectives identified 21-year-old LaQualon Hale, of Longview, as a suspect and arrested him on Wednesday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and family violence, a release said.
According to Longview PD, they were called to a shooting at around 6:20 p.m. on Monday in the 300 block of Margo Street when they found the victim. The victim, whose identity was not been released, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Longview PD said the event was a domestic shooting and want to remind people that resources for those in abusive relationships are available.
“Resources available in the area include the Women’s Center of East Texas in Longview, Texas at 1-800-441-5555 and the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233),†Longview PD said.
TYLER — According to our news Partner KETK, SWEPCO released estimated restoration times as they work to restore power to East Texas cities affected by severe damage from Beryl. The electric company said as of 7 p.m., power has been restored to nearly 36,000 customers so far. You can find the SWEPCO estimated restoration times for areas impacted by the storm here. Or sign up for email or text alerts for direct updates on estimated restoration time at their home or business. To sign up, customers can visit the SWEPCO website. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, a 19-year-old killed in a July 4 fatal shooting in Tyler was shot with an AK-47 style rifle after his friends car made a U-turn behind Bautista Auto, an arrest affidavit showed. The affidavit describes how Rawly Sanchez, 19, and his friends had to do a U-turn when they realized Old Gladewater Highway wouldn’t take them to Montgomery Gardens. When they turned behind Bautista Auto the driver reported seeing a person in a building with an AK-47-style rifle who started shooting at them.
Rawly was hit by the rifle and his friends took him to be treated at a local hospital where he died. Around the same time a Tyler Police Department officer was driving by Bautista Auto when he saw white Ford Explorer with bullet holes in the side. When the officer came back later the Ford was gone and then Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on scene. Read the rest of this entry »
NEW BOSTON – The New Boston Police Department is searching for a suspect in connection to a shooting that left one victim dead and another in critical condition on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a reported shooting in the 300 block of N. Lindsey St. around 5:42 p.m. on Saturday. When New Boston PD officers got to the scene they found one victim who had been shot in the lower chest and back and another victim who was shot in the right shoulder and upper chest. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene and the other is in critical condition at a local hospital, according to a New Boston PD press release.
According to the press release, officials have already detained one person in connection to the shooting and now they’re searching for another. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN – According to our news partner KETK, Melissa Davis, the chief of police at Van Police Department, was fired on Monday, according to the mayor of Van, Tammy Huff.
The City Council held a closed session at 7 p.m. on Friday to discuss “the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of the Police Chief.†The council voted unanimously to table the matter until their next meeting on Thursday, July 11. “The status right now is she was terminated by our city manager, John Desha, on Monday, July 1,†Huff said. “That’s really all I can talk about, because it’s a personnel matter.â€
According to Clint McNear with the Texas Municipal Police Association, Davis was fired by the city manager John Desha via letter on Monday after Davis reportedly didn’t want to fine victims of graffiti and instead organized the community to help clean the graffiti.