Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
SULPHUR SPRINGS – The former owners of the land where a massive AI datacenter campus is planned to built in Sulphur Springs are being sued by the city for trying to stop part of the datacenter project. According to our news partner KETK, the lawsuit comes after the Vistra Corporation, parent company of Luminant Mining Company, issued a cease and desist letter to the city on Sept. 30. They sent the letter after learning about Sulphur Springs’ deal with MSB Global to build 30 AI data centers on the land that Luminant had gifted to the city.
According to court documents, when Luminant transferred the mine land to the city they included a restrictive covenant in the deed that would prevent the land for being used for power generation or power storage of any kind. Since the datacenters are planned to include onsite power generation or storage, Vistra claims the covenant would prevent construction that equipment.
Vistra’s cease and desist letter says they brought up how this restrictive covenant could block the construction of a datacenter on the land to the city several times since they granted them the property in 2019. Read the rest of this entry »
NEW YORK CITY — New York Jets cornerback Kris Boyd is in critical condition after being shot in Midtown, according to our news partner KETK. Authorities Monday afternoon released a photo of the man suspected of shooting Boyd. Boyd attended Gilmer High School, where he played both running back and defensive back under current UTSA Roadrunners head coach Jeff Traylor.
The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. on 38th Street, according to the NYPD. A 29-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and taken to the hospital in critical condition, police said. Police did not identify the man as Boyd, but a spokesperson for the Jets said the team is aware of the shooting.
Boyd has been on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury he got in practice, according to the team. He has not played this season after signing with the Jets in March.
Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings out of Texas in 2019, Boyd has played for the Vikings, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Houston Texans.
TYLER – A driver is in critical condition after a motorcycle and a vehicle crashed on FM 3341 near Lake Tyler on Saturday.
According to our news partner KETK, EMS responded to the scene of a crash in the 18000 block of FM 3341 at around 4:50 p.m. on Saturday. EMS performed CPR on a driver injured in the crash before they were transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver is currently in critical condition, according to Smith County officials.
UPDATE: Our news partner KETK is reporting that Chessa Taylor was found safe on Saturday, thanks to the many calls they received from concerned residents.
LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department is currently searching for a 14-year-old girl who was last seen on Friday. Chessa Taylor, 14, was last seen leaving her home by her mother at around 4 p.m. on Friday, according to Lufkin PD. Chessa was last seen wearing a green polo shirt, light-colored denim jeans and possibly cream-colored Reebok shoes.
Anyone with information on Chessa is asked to call Lufkin PD at 936-633-0356.
THE TEXAS TRIBUNE – A judge in Panola County won’t block the maker of Tylenol from distributing $400 million of dividends to its shareholders amid Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the company. Kenvue, the company that makes Tylenol, will proceed with issuing the payment on Nov. 26, according to reporting from Reuters. “That is a distribution that’s being made as part of the normal course of business,” the lawyer for Kenvue told Reuters.
The lawyer also said Texas has “no jurisdiction” to block Kenvue’s dividend, since the company is based in New Jersey and incorporated in Delaware.
The state of Texas last month sued Kenvue, claiming it failed to inform consumers about the risk of having a child with autism if they took the medication while pregnant. Major medical associations said Paxton’s allegation overstated the unsettled science surrounding a possible link between autism and Tylenol. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – A man is currently behind bars after allegedly breaking into the Lakewood Church, in Flint, on Thursday evening. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded to an apparent burglary in progress at the church. Once they arrived, deputies could see the glass door entrance was shattered, leading them to believe the suspect had thrown a concrete lid into the glass. After being unable to locate the suspect inside the church, deputies were able to obtain footage of the break-in. Through the video, they identified the suspect as 48-year-old Timothy Myers Poole of Tyler.
Later that night, a deputy was conducting a traffic stop in north Tyler when Poole arrived at the scene and approached the deputy, allegedly acting aggressively toward him. According to officials, Poole was ordered several times to leave the scene but refused, which led to his arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD – The Bullard City Council held a meeting on Thursday evening, where they tabled the decision to authorize an agreement to join the 2867G Task Force Model Program, according to our news partner KETK. City council said the decision to join the program was tabled because the city attorney was not present at the meeting on Thursday. The city council will reconvene again on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. to continue discussions on joining the task force.
The 2867G Task Force Model is a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows local law enforcement to enforce U.S. immigration laws, including identifying and processing immigrants with pending or active criminal charges.
Earlier this year, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office agreed to join the program, prompting protests throughout the county. Sheriff Larry Smith defended the decision to join the program, stating it protects the people of Smith County. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, Longview district leaders celebrated the beginning of construction for three new buildings and finally bringing the project to life after voters approved a $456,000,000 bond in 2024. The district is waiting on permits from the city to continue with construction plans, the estimated completion date is 2027.
The three projects include: A Multi-Purpose Facility, a Natatorium and a Career and Technology Center. The Multipurpose Center will feature air-conditioned practice fields, a batting cage and a Lobo Gift Shop. Every aspect of this building will be student-operated, from the concessions to the outdoor garden maintenance. In fact, there will even be a fully student-operated bank.
Additionally, the Career and Technology Center will be expanded all the way past the current parking lot. It will offer new engineering classrooms, mock court room experiences, and a nursing facility. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt has expressed concerns about Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal to eliminate the property taxes that fund Texas public schools. Abbott visited Tyler on Wednesday to announce a five-point plan to lower property taxes. On top of limiting how much local governments can spend, Abbott also proposed needing a two-thirds majority to pass future tax increases, which Surratt called undemocratic.
“Obviously, the first concern is are our public schools going to be properly funded in the future?” Surratt asked. “Of course, everybody wants taxes to go down, but you’ve got to have the revenue source to pay for our schools and other things, counties, roads, whatever it may be. Of course, he did not give that option, how we would properly fund schools in the future if we do away with local property taxes?”
“The devil’s in the details, and concerning if you do away with our property taxes, how are those bonds paid that people already paid for, and so I think he’s talking about the M and O property tax, the day-to-day operations. The bonding indebtedness, the INS property taxes, those would continue,” Surratt said. “He did mention a two-thirds majority vote for future bonds. I guess he doesn’t believe in the democratic process. More than 50% decide on something, so that’s alarming. That doesn’t seem like a democracy when you have two-thirds of the people deciding something.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was in Tyler Wednesday for a Texas Taxpayer Empowerment event, just days after officially announcing his reelection campaign in Houston over the weekend.
According to our news partner KETK, Abbott is expected to outline his plan to empower Texas taxpayers and provide property tax relief. His plan would give voters more power to decide whether to eliminate certain property taxes altogether. The governor will be joined by several East Texas lawmakers, including Rep. Daniel Alders, Rep. Jay Dean, Rep. Cole Hefner, Rep. Brent Money and Rep. Joanne Shofner, along with other local officials.
On Sunday, Abbott launched his campaign for a fourth term as governor, unveiling new proposals aimed at curbing local property tax increases. This comes shortly after Texas voters approved two constitutional amendments in the November election designed to provide additional property tax relief to homeowners. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A former Lindale daycare worker has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, Catherine Elizabeth Guziejka, 45, was arrested in October 2023 while working at Punkin’ Doodles Day Care. Surveillance footage captured Guziejka assaulting six children under her care. According to an affidavit, the footage revealed approximately 100 incidents involving the assaults.
Guziejka was booked into the Smith County Jail on Oct. 30, 2024 and later pleaded guilty to six counts of injury to a child. As part of her plea agreement, she received a 10-year sentence for each count. Her sentences will run concurrently, resulting in a total of 10 years in prison.
TATUM – The Tatum City Council met on Monday night and the first item on their agenda was reviewing formal complaints and concerns raised against chief of police James Smith.
Leading up to the meeting, council members received an anonymous email from concerned citizens asking them to review past conduct from their police chief and asking what the council will do to restore public trust. The city’s mayor responded with his own email saying he will bring all facts forward, but the council will have the final decision.
Following the closed-door executive session, the council voted on the four written complaints against Chief Smith, deciding unanimously to take no action on three complaints. The city council acted on the fourth complaint, voting for a hard verbal warning and directing him to take a class.
“Because it is a personal concern, we are exempt from discussing that in open session, so at that point, we will adjourn to executive session, council will discuss the matters in regards to the complaints,” Mayor Michael Henry said.
Chief John Smith declined to provide a comment to our news partner KETK.
SMITH COUNTY — Authorities are investigating an entrapment involving a cement mixer that occurred in Smith County on Monday evening.
According to our news partner KETK and the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, Nikki Simmons, the incident occurred on County Road 3181 and FM 14 in Lindale. Simmons also confirmed that smoke was coming from one of the vehicles. Simmons confirmed injuries have been reported.
CANTON — Canton ISD is working with local law enforcement after a school bus was involved in a crash on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK and Canton ISD all students were checked by school personnel and emergency responders, and no injuries were reported. Canton ISD said they are working closely with laws enforcement to investigate the incident and that safety is their top priority.
Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the incident can reach out to Canton ISD Administrative Office at 903-567-4179.
LUFKIN – Our news partner KETK is reporting that two people were sent to a local hospital on Sunday after a crash at Loop 287 and U.S. Highway 59.
According to Lufkin PD, the feeder lanes at Loop 287 and U.S. 59 south were shut down after two trucks crashed at around 2 p.m. on Sunday near the Palms Shopping Center.
A Lufkin PD post said that two people involved in the crash have been taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was cleared and reopened by 4 p.m. on Sunday.
WHITEHOUSE –The grand opening of the new Whitehouse City Center took place on Thursday evening, offering a new gathering space for the community.
According to our news partner KETK, the center features an event space for over 100 people, a formal meeting room available for public use, a training room for city and local organizations, and a dedicated area for children to study and meet. The building housing the new center has a rich history, having previously served as a church, a gym, and a market. This historical significance adds to the community’s appreciation of the new center.
The project began in 2021 and was developed with input from the local community, reflecting the needs and desires of Whitehouse residents. The Whitehouse City Center is set to become a central hub for community activities, preserving the building’s historical essence while providing modern amenities for residents.
LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, a Lufkin man accused of shooting at police during a 2024 standoff has been found not guilty of aggravated assault.
Jason Penick, 47, was arrested in June 2024 after a disturbance call in the 700 block of Clark Avenue escalated into an hours-long standoff involving the Lufkin Police Department, its SWAT team, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. At the time, police said Penick had fired at responding officers before barricading himself inside the home.
According to the Angelina County District Clerk’s Office, Penick’s trial in the 159th District Court began Tuesday and concluded Wednesday, when the jury returned a not guilty verdict. Penick’s district attorney confirmed that court testimony revealed no witnesses – including other officers – saw anyone fire a weapon during the incident but did report hearing what sounded like gunfire. Investigators later recovered a gun from the scene but found no shell casings or bullet holes.
Penick told investigators the sound the officers heard was caused by a dresser falling.
UPDATE: A $1.3 million bond has been set for Bobby Dennis, the suspect accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer and a K-9.
JACKSONVILLE — The man accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer and a K-9 has been arrested after a four-day manhunt, according to our news partner KETK.
At around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, multiple agencies assisted the Jacksonville Police Department in serving a search warrant at a property on County Road 3509, west of the Jacksonville city limits, to arrest Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, of Jacksonville. According to officials, Dennis was found in a wooded area near the property and surrendered to law enforcement without incident.
The four-day manhunt was initiated after Dennis allegedly shot a Jacksonville police officer and a K9 on Sunday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. after the officer approached Dennis outside of his home because she knew he was wanted on two warrants for obstruction and retaliation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, a man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a child under 14-years-old in Tyler, Overton and Bossier City, La., according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
Overton Police Department Chief Bryan Pool led a multi-agency investigation that started on Feb. 12 after a child under the age of 14 reported that Cory Grant, 37, of Overton, had sexually assaulted her. The victim reported that Grant had sexually assaulted her four times over three weeks in January 2024, once in Bossier City, once in Tyler and twice in Overton. Through the cooperation of Overton Police Department, the FBI, Child Protective Services and the Tyler Police Department, investigators learned that Grant had been dating the victim’s mother since November of 2023.
A Smith County jury found Grant guilty of Aggravated Assault of a Child in the 114th District Court on Thursday. The jury then sentenced Grant to life in prison on Friday.
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly shot one of their officers while they were on duty Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, a Jacksonville PD officer was shot during an encounter with 64-year-old Bobby Michael Dennis at around 4:41 p.m. on Sunday. Dennis is described as a Black man who was last seen wearing all black clothing.
The officer has been flown for treatment at a local hospital and is currently in stable condition, according to a press release. The Kilgore Police Department said that a Jacksonville PD K9 was also injured on Sunday and is currently in stable condition while being treated at a local emergency vet.
Jacksonville PD warned residents of Benson Memorial and the 1100 block of Churchill Street to stay inside with their doors locked because Dennis is armed with a rifle and considered dangerous. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER – The Gilmer Police Department has arrested eight people as a part of a Halloween weekend initiative they called “Operation BOO-ty Call”, according to our news partner KETK.
Gilmer PD said the operation was a proactive effort that resulted in the arrest of eight people for drug and prostitution-related offenses, along with the seizure of illegal drugs. The operation’s targets were partly selected based on community crime reports and Gilmer PD’s own investigations. “The department emphasizes that proactive initiatives like Operation BOO-ty Call are part of its ongoing commitment to reducing crime, fostering public trust and maintaining transparency with the community,” Gilmer PD said.
The following arrests were made as a part of “Operation BOO-ty Call”: Corey Liley, Justin White, Eric Smith, Corey Rhymes, Waymon Freeney and Juan Flores Soto were arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Mary Melugin was arrested for prostitution and Christopher Hilley was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of a dangerous drug. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – 1 person is in critical condition after they were injured in a rollover crash that happened on Interstate 20 near Lindale on Saturday night. The Lindale Fire Department said firefighters were sent to the scene of a one-vehicle rollover crash at around 11: 01 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 555 on I-20 westbound.
When crews arrived at the scene they found one person who was critically injured and pinned inside a heavily damaged vehicle. Firefighters were able to remove the person and they were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Lindale Fire Department said the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
TYLER — As the federal government shutdown continues, food banks across East Texas are ramping up emergency response efforts to support families who have missed paychecks and are impacted by a potential disruption in SNAP benefits. According to our news partner KETK and Feeding Texas, more than 3.5 million Texans participate in the SNAP program to help put food on their tables. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, those who rely on SNAP benefits may not receive their November benefits on schedule.
Feeding Texas estimates that at least 126,000 Texans could be affected each day that SNAP payments are delayed.
“When you consider that the vast majority of SNAP recipients are children, seniors, and people with disabilities, the stakes become painfully clear,” Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, said. “These are our neighbors, our grandparents, our kids. A delay in benefits isn’t just inconvenient—it’s devastating. It means empty pantries, skipped meals, and added stress for families already living on the edge.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a new educational program called ‘TexasWorks’ was launched Wednesday at Premier High School in Tyler, East Texas, offering tuition-free high school diplomas and career certifications for adults aged 18 to 50. The program aims to equip adults with the skills needed for high-demand jobs.
“They’re also going to earn an industry-based certification. So that could be in drone and in aviation.” Dr. Elizabeth Camarena, Superintendent of TexasWorks said. “We also have a certification in cybersecurity that we’re launching and plenty of others, including business and entrepreneurship, business and finance and also security.”
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke about the importance of programs like ‘Texas-Works’ in building a skilled workforce to support the booming industries in East Texas. With the launch of ‘Texas-Works’, adults in East Texas have new opportunities to advance their education and career prospects, contributing to the region’s economic growth.
GLADEWATER – A vehicle pursuit in Gladewater led to a man being taken to a local hospital after crashing his car into two trees on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Gladewater Police Department and our news partner KETK, two officers attempted to pull over Deyron Smith, who had outstanding felony warrants. Smith refused to pull over, leading officials on a pursuit into Upshur County.
During the pursuit, Smith lost control of his vehicle on Crabtree Road and struck two trees, resulting in extensive damage to his car and injuries to himself. After crashing his vehicle, Smith was taken to a local hospital. During a search of his vehicle, 2.8 grams of black tar heroin were allegedly found inside his car. Smith was subsequently charged with two counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.
LUFKIN – Following a Lufkin City Council member’s decision to vacate his seat, three Lufkin residents are currently seeking to fill his position in the November elections. According to our news partner KETK, Councilman Brent Watkins, who currently serves in Ward 3, recently announced that he will be vacating his seat to run for mayor of Lufkin in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Those looking to fill Watkins’s seat on the city council include Kimberly Abeldt, Misty Ledesma, and Lin Lentz. Watkins will be looking to replace current Lufkin Mayor Hicks, who has been in office since 2021. Hicks announced earlier this year that he will not be seeking a third term.
CROCKETT — According to our news partner KETK and the Crockett Police Department, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance at around 12:15 a.m. in locating 37-year-old Jeremy Alexander Brent, who had reportedly left a residence where he had been trespassing . He left in his vehicle a person who police say was possibly being held against their will.
A Crockett officer eventually located Brent driving near the 3000 block of State Highway 7. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, Brent refused to pull over, and police say he drove away at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour back toward Crockett, prompting a vehicle pursuit.
Officers successfully deployed stop sticks, causing his vehicle to stop near the intersection of South Loop 304. Brent was then taken into custody. The passenger in the vehicle was unharmed, according to the Crockett Police Department. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE (10/29 2:40 p.m.): The National Weather Service confirmed on Wednesday that Lindale was hit by an EF-1 tornado with winds reaching up to 100 mph.
UPDATE (10/29 8 a.m.): The Kilgore Police Department said most roads in impacted areas are now passable, though some streets remain barricaded due to debris. Those barricades are expected to come down throughout the day as cleanup continues.
SWEPCO has restored power to portions of the area, and currently reports 65 customers without power. Numerous utility poles were brought down and will need to be replaced, a process city officials say will take time. Homeowners are urged to contact their insurance agents to report any damage. City crews continue to cut down damaged trees and move debris, while additional private contractors have begun work in the area.
Despite significant damage across several blocks, city leaders said the community avoided what “could have been much worse.” Police patrols will remain in the affected neighborhoods until power is fully restored. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – The Kilgore Police Department is reporting that a 64-year-old man died in a pedestrian crash that happened on Highway 31 in Kilgore last week. Emergency services responded to a reported pedestrian crash that happened in the 100 block of State Highway 31 East in Kilgore at around 7:11 p.m. on Friday. First responders on the scene found that a white 2017 Ram pickup truck was heading east on SH 31 as David Ray Whisenhunt, 64 of Kilgore, crossed the road.
Kilgore PD said Whisenhunt failed to yield to the truck’s right of way and was hit in the inside lane of SH 31. Whisenhunt died immediately and was pronounced dead at the scene by law enforcement. Kilgore PD is currently investigating the crash.
TYLER — Seferino Bautista-Renteria, 36, who was originally sentenced to 60 years in state prison following the murder of 19-year-old Rawly “Eli” Sanchez, has been given an additional 15 years following connected charges.
On the night of July 4, 2024, Sanchez and his friends made a U-turn in their truck behind Bautista-Renteria’s auto shop, Bautista Auto. According to our news partner KETK, while the truck was turning behind the shop, the driver reported seeing a person with an AK-47 style rifle who started shooting. Sanchez was hit in the back of the head by a bullet while sitting in the back of the truck. Sanchez’s friends immediately took him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Law enforcement spoke with witnessed and identified Bautista-Renteria as the shooter. He was detained and booked into the Smith County Jail with a warrant for first degree murder and a $1 million bond. Read the rest of this entry »
