Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
LONGVIEW – Firefighters from the Longview Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at a warehouse on Wednesday afternoon. Once on the scene, firefighters observed smoke coming from the burning warehouse and they eventually contained the fire to a single area, which helped minimize damage to the structure. The department used four fire engines and two ladder trucks to extinguish the fire.
No injuries have been reported as employees safely evacuated from the warehouse prior to firefighters’ arrival on the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
RUSK — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed that the bear spotted last week in the Salem Community near Rusk is the same wandering male seen in 2025. According to wildlife biologist Reuben Gay, the bear is now approaching full maturity and could be on the move again soon. Gay says the young male may roam toward established breeding populations in Louisiana or follow natural corridors along the Neches or Angelina rivers. Either way, residents of Cherokee County are being asked to stay alert and report sightings.
According to our news partner KETK, he’s still in Cherokee County and locals are encouraged to keep watch. Sightings can be reported to the TPWD East Texas Regional Office at 903?566?1626 ext. 209.
What to do if you encounter a bear: Never approach a bear: If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or an air horn, if you encounter a bear at close range, talk calmly while backing away slowly. Do not make eye contact, if a bear approaches you, stand your ground, raise your arms to appear larger, yell at the bear and make eye contact to scare it off, do not run: this can trigger a bear’s chase instinct, if the bear continues to approach, use bear spray according to the manufacturer’s directions to deter it, and do not play dead.
LAREDO, Texas (AP) — A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to a felony offense and acknowledged his involvement in an attempt to illegally smuggle migrants to the U.S. when a jampacked tractor-tailer truck crashed in Mexico in 2021, killing more than 50 migrants.
Daniel Zavala Ramos, 42, faces a possible sentence of life in prison following his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Laredo, Texas, to a single charge of conspiring to bring migrants without documents from Guatemala through Mexico to the U.S. and placing lives in jeopardy and causing serious injury and deaths, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Sentencing is set for July 7.
Ramos was among six Guatemalans charged over the crash of the semitrailer truck and the first to be convicted. The other five have a final pretrial conference on June 3, according to court records. Ramos’ attorney did not immediately return an email Wednesday evening seeking comment.
At least 160 migrants, many from Guatemala, were packed into the truck that hit the support base for a pedestrian bridge on Dec. 9, 2021, and overturned, authorities said. At least 53 people were killed and more than 100 were injured, officials said, and video footage at the time of the crash showed dead and injured migrants in a jumbled pile inside the truck’s collapsed freight container.
The Justice Department statement said the dead included unaccompanied children.
The crash occurred on a highway leading toward the Chiapas state capital, some 160 miles (260 kilometers) from Mexico’s border with Guatemala and about 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers) south of the Mexican border with Texas.
Authorities announced the arrests of Ramos and the five other defendants in Guatemala and Texas in 2024, on the third anniversary of the accident. Ramos was extradited in 2025 from Guatemala to face charges, the DOJ statement said.
Prosecutors said the Guatemalans conspired to smuggle migrants from Guatemala through Mexico to the U.S. for payment. In cases of unaccompanied children being smuggled, the defendants would provide scripts of what to say if they were apprehended, authorities said.
The smugglers would move migrants on foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks and tractor trailers and use Facebook Messenger to request and deliver identification documents to the migrants to get them into the U.S., according to authorities.
WASKOM — The Waskom ISD Board of Trustees named Ross Boyett as the interim superintendent on Monday, bringing years of experience in education as they begin the search for a superintendent. According to the school board, Boyett is a proven leader with a strong track record of supporting students and staff.
Boyett’s appointment comes after the death of beloved former superintendent Christopher Guastella, who died in a single-vehicle accident in Shreveport on March 21.
According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, Guastella was traveling westbound near Exit 8 of Bert Kouns when his vehicle left the road after possibly experiencing a medical emergency. Guastella was taken to Ochsner LSU Health, where he was later pronounced dead. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – An individual from Smith County was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of aggravated assault of a public servant. According to our news partner KETK, a Tyler Police Department officer received a call on Oct. 29, 2025, regarding a disturbance at a Holiday Inn. Once on the scene, a woman told the officer that she had been assaulted by her former partner, Shyane Allen, inside a hotel room.
The victim stated that Allen had arrived at her hotel room uninvited and proceeded to punch her in the face before grabbing her by the hair and pulling her across the room. Following the incident, Allen left the room and the victim later received a phone call from the hotel front desk claiming that someone was attempting to obtain a key to their room and that the person matched Allen’s description.
The victim went on to tell authorities that Allen began contacting her by phone to get back into the room, and that she could see Allen outside her hotel room. Allen then began to kick the front door of the room, prompting the victim to call the police. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — New details have emerged in the workplace incident where a City of Longview’s Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection employee died from blunt force trauma caused by a water hose.
According to documents obtained from the Longview Police Department and our news partner KETK, emergency crews were dispatched to the 100 block of Gilmer Road on March 16 at around 1:34 p.m. after receiving a call regarding a city worker getting hit by a high-pressure water hose.
Upon arrival, 23-year-old Buddy Powell was observed to be lying on the ground with “blood coming out of his mouth with a puddle around his head,” a police officer reported. According to crew members, they were working to flush dirt and mud out of a water valve in the street to be able to repair a water leak. The crew chief was operating the controls to the water pressure while Powell was standing over the hole with his foot on a high-pressure hose that was flushing it out. Read the rest of this entry »
TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — After months of struggling with overcrowding and plumbing issues, an East Texas commissioners court will decide whether to close or maintain the county’s jail.
In November 2025, a bond to build a new Trinity County Jail failed to pass voter approval, which would replace the current jail that continues to face plumbing and capacity issues. Since that time, the county has partnered with neighboring agencies to accommodate inmates; however, escalating budget costs may lead to the indefinite closure of the jail.
The Trinity County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday to consider all funding and alternative jailing options before next week’s final decision. In an hour-and-a-half-long meeting, the commissioners court, Sheriff Woody Wallace and several community members came together to exhaust all options.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Tommy Park stated that the key consideration is whether the jail will result in savings or additional expenses. He emphasized that a decision is necessary as the budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year nears, with costs starting to surpass the anticipated figures.
According to Park, the budget allocated for jail maintenance this fiscal year was approximately $10,000. As of Tuesday, the total expenditure has reached around $23,000, with an additional $1,896 still pending. The commissioners’ court noted that in previous years, the total budget spent on the jail was about $25,000.
In December 2025, the jail was out of compliance with the state, housing 13 inmates when it could only house a state-approved seven. At the time, the jail was also facing infrastructure issues of a backed-up sewer that was causing flooding throughout the jail.
Inmates were temporarily relocated to the Jasper County Jail and Trinity County secured a contract with Angelina County to house inmates as the facility was inspected and repaired. The contract, approved in January, costs the county an approximate $3,000 per day to house the inmates.
“I know we can hash out the numbers and how much we want to save or not save, but there are a lot of other things we gotta think about and that’s where we all gotta put our heads together — the sheriff, auditor, us, the judge,” Park said on Tuesday, addressing the commissioners court. “Bottom line is if we close this jail down, it’s never gonna open back up. I don’t necessarily know if we want to open it back up. It’s almost a hundred years old.”
In the special meeting, the commissioners court discussed several options — from utilizing the City of Trinity Police Department to continuing the contract with Angelina County. Ultimately, each decision would cost the county, as police officers and department staff would need to be jail certified and jailers would still be needed to transport inmates to and from other county jails.
Sheriff Woody Wallace, who has been outspoken on the jail’s issues, raises concerns of short-term versus long-term resolutions. He brought the question to the commissioners: “So the issue here is do we continue maintaining a building that’s almost a hundred years old? I would love not to. I think it’s pitiful that we have to do it.”
In the special meeting, Wallace agrees with commissioners that the current situation of maintaining a building as old as the jail or transporting inmates across county lines is not cost-effective, but that a jail is a necessity regardless.
Wallace cites that having an operating jail is a county’s obligation to serve its citizens and inmates. He also said it works as a means of controlling crime.
“The county is not in business to ‘save money’ — it’s in business to provide the service to the citizens,” Wallace told the commissioners court. “We have to provide a service to citizens and one of the statutory obligations of this court is to provide the sheriff with a jail. You can do that with a contract across the line, that’s not a problem, but you also have to meet the demands inside the county that we’re dealing with on a daily basis.”
After hearing the sheriff’s remarks and community input, the decision to close or otherwise maintain the county jail will be made on April 14 at 9 a.m. in a regular commissioners court meeting.
POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — An East Texas man could face up to life in prison after he was arrested for being in possession of child pornography on Wednesday.
Photo of Jose Sanchez courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, early Wednesday morning, deputies assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety in executing a search warrant of Jose Sanchez’s home after he was believed to be in possession of child pornography obtained from the internet.
Following the search of his home, Sanchez was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. Based on the charges, Sanchez could potentially be sentenced to 99 years in prison or receive a life sentence.
The investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed against Sanchez, the sheriff said.
TYLER — East Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran is backing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the upcoming Republican primary runoff, calling the race a defining moment for conservatives. Moran said the contest between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton comes down to what values Republican voters want to uphold. “It’s really a race between character and corruption,” Moran said.
The congressman pointed to past criticism of Paxton, including remarks from former East Texas congressman Louie Gohmert, who has accused Paxton of misconduct. Moran said he agrees with those concerns, arguing that Paxton’s record should disqualify him from serving in the U.S. Senate. In the March 2022 Texas Republican primary for Attorney General, incumbent Paxton defeated Gohment, who finished last with 17% of the vote.
“Ken Paxton really has a consistent activity of corruption, both breaching the trust of the public and breaching the trust of his personal relationships,” Moran said. “That should disqualify him.” Read the rest of this entry »
TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — After months of struggling with overcrowding and plumbing issues, an East Texas commissioners court will decide whether to close or maintain the county’s jail.
In November 2025, a bond to build a new Trinity County Jail failed to pass voter approval, which would replace the current jail that continues to face plumbing and capacity issues. Since that time, the county has partnered with neighboring agencies to accommodate inmates; however, escalating budget costs may lead to the indefinite closure of the jail.
Rep. Moran backs John Cornyn for Senate, declaring race choice between ‘character and corruption’
The Trinity County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday to consider all funding and alternative jailing options before next week’s final decision. In an hour-and-a-half-long meeting, the commissioners court, Sheriff Woody Wallace and several community members came together to exhaust all options.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Tommy Park stated that the key consideration is whether the jail will result in savings or additional expenses. He emphasized that a decision is necessary as the budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year nears, with costs starting to surpass the anticipated figures.
According to Park, the budget allocated for jail maintenance this fiscal year was approximately $10,000. As of Tuesday, the total expenditure has reached around $23,000, with an additional $1,896 still pending. The commissioners’ court noted that in previous years, the total budget spent on the jail was about $25,000.
In December 2025, the jail was out of compliance with the state, housing 13 inmates when it could only house a state-approved seven. At the time, the jail was also facing infrastructure issues of a backed-up sewer that was causing flooding throughout the jail.
Inmates were temporarily relocated to the Jasper County Jail and Trinity County secured a contract with Angelina County to house inmates as the facility was inspected and repaired. The contract, approved in January, costs the county an approximate $3,000 per day to house the inmates.
“I know we can hash out the numbers and how much we want to save or not save, but there are a lot of other things we gotta think about and that’s where we all gotta put our heads together — the sheriff, auditor, us, the judge,” Park said on Tuesday, addressing the commissioners court. “Bottom line is if we close this jail down, it’s never gonna open back up. I don’t necessarily know if we want to open it back up. It’s almost a hundred years old.”
In the special meeting, the commissioners court discussed several options — from utilizing the City of Trinity Police Department to continuing the contract with Angelina County. Ultimately, each decision would cost the county, as police officers and department staff would need to be jail certified and jailers would still be needed to transport inmates to and from other county jails.
Sheriff Woody Wallace, who has been outspoken on the jail’s issues, raises concerns of short-term versus long-term resolutions. He brought the question to the commissioners: “So the issue here is do we continue maintaining a building that’s almost a hundred years old? I would love not to. I think it’s pitiful that we have to do it.”
In the special meeting, Wallace agrees with commissioners that the current situation of maintaining a building as old as the jail or transporting inmates across county lines is not cost-effective, but that a jail is a necessity regardless.
Wallace cites that having an operating jail is a county’s obligation to serve its citizens and inmates. He also said it works as a means of controlling crime.
“The county is not in business to ‘save money’ — it’s in business to provide the service to the citizens,” Wallace told the commissioners court. “We have to provide a service to citizens and one of the statutory obligations of this court is to provide the sheriff with a jail. You can do that with a contract across the line, that’s not a problem, but you also have to meet the demands inside the county that we’re dealing with on a daily basis.”
After hearing the sheriff’s remarks and community input, the decision to close or otherwise maintain the county jail will be made on April 14 at 9 a.m. in a regular commissioners court meeting.
PALESTINE – An East Texas man has been sentenced to 230 years in prison after he was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography, according to our news partner KETK. Joseph Zeleny was arrested in 2023 after the Palestine Police Department received a complaint regarding the ongoing sexual abuse of a child that had gone on for several years. Following an investigation, Zeleney was taken into custody and charged with sexual assault of a child.
After his arrest officials later found over 3,000 images of child pornography on Zeleny’s devices, according to authorities. On April 2, Zeleny was found guilty of sex counts of sexual abuse of a child and 11 counts of possession of child pornography. Zeleny was sentenced to 230 years in prison on Monday and fined $160,000.
LIVINGSTON, Texas (KETK) – A 13-foot alligator was discovered at Sam Rayburn Lake recently and has been removed from the lake.
Winnsboro angler sets Bassmaster weight record at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
The gator, which has been named ” Big Jasper,” was removed from the East Texas lake by Sam Rayburn Lake Rangers and Texas Game Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department after he was deemed a nuisance.
Following his removal, Jasper was transferred to the Gator Country rescue in Beaumont, which serves as a home for various alligators and reptiles to live out their days in peace.
LONGVIEW — Six people were displaced after a weekend house fire in Longview, and officials say a 5?year?old’s quick thinking helped ensure no one was seriously hurt. The Longview Fire Department responded to a house fire on Jester Circle at approximately 6:19 a.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy flames and began extinguishing it. All residents were safely outside by the time first responders arrived. Six people were displaced, and the American Red Cross has been contacted to assist those affected.
Fire officials stated that a 5-year-old played a crucial role in the safe evacuation of the home. An investigation determined that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction originating from an outdoor electrical outlet on the front porch, which spread into the home. The incident resulted in an estimated $75,000 in damage.
Residents are encouraged to inspect their outdoor electrical outlets regularly and ensure they are properly protected from weather exposure. Anyone who notices damage or anything unusual should have the outlet evaluated by a qualified professional immediately.
SMITH COUNTY – A multi-state ATM hacking ring stretching across East Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas has led to three arrests. According to Smith County arrest documents, three men were taken into custody for their role in an ATM “jackpotting” scheme in which suspects scouted machines, opened them and connected Raspberry Pi devices to allow an off-site accomplice to wirelessly force the ATM to dispense cash for the crew on the ground.
According to our news partner KETK, once the cash was taken from the ATM it was then funneled to criminal associates outside the United States. The documents also state that the people stationed at the ATMs had to remain in constant communication with their remote counterparts for the jackpotting attempts to succeed.
“Jackpotting requires extensive coordination and communication during and after the attack. In every offense, suspects on the ground can be seen communicating nonstop via cell phone with their remote criminal associates who give orders and provide technical instructions for installing malicious software and hardware,” an arrest document described. “Typically, these criminal groups also stay in constant contact with a minimum of two lookouts roving the area in separate vehicles.” Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – Two people were sent to a local hospital for treatment on Saturday after an 18-wheeler caught fire when it crashed into the woods along Interstate 20. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Interstate 20 near Jim Hogg Road when an 18-wheeler left the road and caught fire. The fire spread into the woods but Lindale Fire Department was able to put the fire out.
The Lindale Fire Department reports that two people were taken to a local hospital by EMS so they could be treated for injuries. The condition of those two people is currently unknown.