Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
ATHENS – Athens Police Chief John Densmore’s last day with the department was Friday, the city announced. According to our news partner KETK, Densmore announced his resignation in order to go into the private sector. “During his tenure, Chief Densmore has worked tirelessly to keep our city safe and enhance the quality of life for all of our citizens,†according to a release from the city. “On behalf of the city, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for his dedicated service to our community. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and are confident that he will continue to make a positive impact in his new role.†Previously, Densmore worked at the Cedar Hill Police Department as a Lieutenant before moving to Athens and becoming chief in February 2021. The search for a new police chief will begin immediately.
TYLER — There are many changes to P.T. Cole Park which has been in the community since 1955. Tyler Parks and Recreation along with city councilmen welcomed the new park with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, this has been a working project in the community since October 2022. The 2.3-acre park has playground equipment, basketball courts and a splash pad for the hot East Texas summers. District 2 councilman Broderick McGee said this is a way for children to make new memories. “It’s going to be exciting that you know for years to come, they’ll be able to come back to this park still here and bring their kids,†said McGee. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — After severe weather caused damage across Texas this week, the Texas Division of Emergency Management is urging all impacted Texans to report property damage to a TDEM survey. According to our news partner KETK, Texas residents are encouraged to self-submit damages to their homes and businesses using the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool damage survey. “Reporting storm damage is a critical step to helping Texas communities recover from this severe weather,†said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Due to recent heavy rains in the area, the Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East boat ramps will be temporarily closed and the lakes are closed to boat traffic from lake residents, the City of Tyler announced. The lakes are currently at an elevation of 376.4 feet Mean Sea Level and are continuing to rise. The ramps are closed due to hazards from debris that washed into the lakes from recent rains. This is also an effort to reduce damage to the shoreline caused by boat wakes. The closure is effective until further notice and Tyler Water Utilities anticipates reopening the ramps once lake levels decrease.
LONGVIEW – Two achievement awards are heading CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System’s way for demonstrating commitment to stroke care, according to our news partner KETK. These achievements highlight the hospital’s following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions. Studies show that someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, with strokes being the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System, a participant in the Get with the Guidelines program, qualified for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to improving quality care. CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System in Longview and Marshall both received “gold plus honor roll elite†recognition for stroke care and “gold plus honor roll†recognition for type 2 diabetes care. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – The Texas House passed a bill on Wednesday bringing Stephen F. Austin State University into the University of Texas system. The bill now goes to Governor Greg Abbott for signature. The bill was filed at the end of February and passed the Texas Senate on April 17 ahead of its Texas House approval on Wednesday. Included in the bill, SFA will now be enrolled in the Permanent University Fund system, and the university’s new name will be “Stephen F. Austin State University, a member of The University of Texas System.†The school colors will remain unchanged. Read the rest of this entry »
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Country music star Miranda Lambert is dishing on the recipes from her family and friends in East Texas. Her new cookbook is called “Y’All Eat Yet?†and is equal parts Lambert’s family memoir, a guide to Texas-style entertaining and church potluck cookbook. Lambert says some of the first songs she wrote as a teenager were inspired by hearing stories and life lessons over the dinner table. The Grammy-winning singer has a lot to celebrate as she heads into the Academy of Country Music on May 11 as the reigning entertainer of the year.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Texas man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in an online romance scam in which the identities and images of real U.S. military generals were used to cheat victims from across the nation out of a total of $1.5 million. Federal prosecutors in Rhode Island said Tuesday that 52-year-old Fola Alabi was also ordered to pay full restitution and forfeit his home. The victims were often women in their 70s and 80s and either widowed or divorced. The victims were from multiple states including Rhode Island, Tennessee, North Carolina, California, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Idaho and South Dakota.
MARSHALL – A Smith County student will have their artwork hung in the United States Capitol for a year after winning a competition according to our news partner KETK. The 2023 Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 to “encourage and showcase artistic talent from across the nation in each congressional district.†This year’s winner from Rep. Nathaniel Moran’s district is Phuong N. Nguyen, who won with a pencil piece that of artist’s mother, “Mom in the Midst of Happiness.†22 high school students from 12 schools across the First Congressional District of Texas participated this year. For the last two weeks, each piece of artwork was on display at the Michelson Museum of Art in Marshall. Nguyen’s piece will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, where members of Congress, staffers and visitors from around the world will see the winning artwork.
TYLER — Real estate agents are gearing up for the summer buying and selling season with higher rates and the tightening of credit this year. “Our median home sale from March of 2023 was $327,500, which is up over 7% in comparison to last year,†said Kelly Raulston, board chairman of the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors. According to our news partner KETK, they’ve listed inflation and interest rates as the number one issue for real estate in the U.S. “With the increase of high interest rate, compared to last year is maybe shorter list of borrowers that are applying now because the tendency is I’m scared,†Hila Gama, Texas real estate agent. “If you’re looking into a home for the first time there’s a possibility you can be approved for a zero-dollar down payment,†said Gama. She suggests connecting with your bank to find out more about your personal credit. Raulston added, in this market it’s important to work with local banks and relators.
TYLER – A Tyler man was arrested on Wednesday for aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon in connection to an incident that happened in September 2022. According to our news partner KETK, on Sept. 17, 2022, she drove to a home when a man, identified as Adan Orozco, 41, opened her car door and pointed a pistol at her. The warrant said he “pushed the barrel of the pistol into the left side of her head with the pistol and walked to the passenger side of her vehicle.†Orozco told the woman “you aren’t leaving until I say you’re going to leave,†according to the warrant, and told her to drive to the Bunny’s Truck Stop at FM 14 and Loop 323 in Tyler. When they arrived at Bunny’s, the warrant said Orozco took the keys and went inside. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The National Weather Service confirmed that damage in Tyler was consistent with an EF-0 tornado from Thursday’s severe storms. Winds were estimated to have reached a maximum of 80 mph, but crews are continuing to survey, so the intensities could change depending on additional damage that is found, the NWS said. Tornadoes are measured on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale ranging from 0-5. EF-0 tornadoes have winds ranging from 65-85 mph and can be compared to a category 1 hurricane, while EF-5 tornadoes can reach wind speeds of more than 200 mph.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – On Thursday morning, Van Zandt County Constable Pat Jordan and the Ben Wheeler Fire Department responded to a turned over vehicle left on the roadway. Jordan said the vehicle was located on County Road 4714 a mile south of FM 279 and once they arrived, they saw the black Jeep on its side with an individual inside. According to our news partner KETK, the individual inside the vehicle was not injured. When Jordan ran the VIN number on the vehicle, he said it was registered in Tennessee. He then began an investigation of the individual and a search of the vehicle. The individual was identified as Jeremie Scott Meshell, 37, and when Jordan ran his name, he discovered that he had an outstanding felony warrant out of Louisiana for a possession charge. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Longview man and former city council candidate was arrested on Monday for invasive visual recording after he was indicted. According to our news partner KETK, Bernd “Dutch†Deblouw, 38, was arrested following an indictment and in August 2022. He was arrested for possession with intent to promote child pornography. Deblouw, the owner of Longview I.T. has served the city in multiple capacities, according to his campaign website, including as the president of the zoning board of adjustment. He had been previously employed by the Longview Fire Department and in his campaign listed public safety as a key issue. He was released from the Gregg County Jail after posting a $10,000 bond.