Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, former Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Katiland Ariel Gray was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of cruelty to livestock animals /torture. According to Harrison County judicial records, Gray committed two offenses regarding cruelty to livestock animals on Aug. 11, 2024 and was indicted on Nov. 20 the same year.
Judicial records confirm that Gray pleaded not guilty to one count of cruelty to livestock animals and one count of cruelty to livestock animals/torture on Sept. 10, 2025. She was convicted and sentenced on account of both charges on the same day.
Gray will spend four years consecutively in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and is ordered to pay a total of $10,390.
TYLER – People in the Tyler area are being asked to continue to conserve water this week as city crews make repairs at the Lake Palestine water plant. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Lake Palestine Water Plant has been offline since Thursday to fix equipment issues and flooding. Over the weekend, the City of Tyler’s water supply was limited to just the water from Golden Road.
Water Utilities Director Kate Dietz advises residents to continue to follow the water restrictions. Outdoor watering is limited to even-numbered addresses on Sunday and Thursday and odd-numbered addresses on Saturday and Wednesday. Watering only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. As of now, four out of the eight filters at Lake Palestine are now up and running once again. Even so, Golden Road is still providing for the majority of the water demand right now.
Prohibited Non-Essential Uses: Washing sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, or buildings (except for fire protection) and using water for dust control.
Dietz is also asking everyone to limit car washing between 8 p.m. and midnight. For a full list of water conservation guidelines, visit the City of Tyler website.
CARTHAGE — The Carthage Police Department has officially relocated its operations to a new multi million-dollar facility. According to our news partner KETK, the new standalone police headquarters was completed Oct. 14, and is located at 453 West Sabine Street. The project, estimated at $3.7 million, was approved by the City Commission in June of 2024, according to the city.
City officials expect the new facility not only to alleviate current space constraints but also to help in recruiting officers, enhancing safety and security, improving evidence processing and offering more suitable work environments.
“All administrative functions, public services, and correspondence will now take place at this new location. The department looks forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Carthage with professionalism and dedication from its updated facility.” the Carthage Police Department said. For more information contact the department directly at 903-693-3866.
TYLER – The world is breathing a sigh of relief this evening as 20 Israeli hostages are now back with their families. This comes as a result of President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, ending the bloody two-year conflict overseas that’s claimed nearly 70,000 lives. The first phase of this peace plan calls for Israel to pull back troops to an agreed line, with Israel still retaining control of over 53% of the land in Gaza.
President Trump said Gaza will now be governed by an international ‘Board of Peace’. The board will be focused on rebuilding Gaza, while a future permanent government is determined. Congressman Nathaniel Moran of East Texas agrees with this strategy, saying this “peace through strength plan” is critical to keeping peace in the Middle East.
“We’ve got to be with them across the sea,” Moran told our news partner KETK. “We can’t just wait for it to come to our borders.” Moran added that the top priority now is to provide the immediate resources needed, to help families impacted by this deadly conflict to get back up on their feet. Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY – The Angelina County Sheriff’s is mourning the loss of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department assistant commander Chad Gartman, who died of cancer on Sunday. Gartman, who was 52-years-old, had a lengthy 31-year career in law enforcement and became a Texas Peace Officer after he graduated from the Angelina College Police Academy in 1994. He served as a deputy constable in Nacogdoches County for almost six years before he joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and started patrolling in East Texas.
According to our news partner KETK and the sheriff’s office, Gartman became assistant commander of the TPWD in 2016. He managed vehicle acquisitions and fleet maintenance for the over 650 Texas Game Wardens vehicles across the state.
Gartman’s and his wife Ashley had two sons together. Ashley’s father is retired Angelina County Sheriff Kent Henson.
TYLER – The Republican Party of Texas met on Saturday to discuss potential penalties for several lawmakers, including two East Texas State Representatives.
According to our news partner KETK, a special meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) was held on Saturday, where Texas GOP officials discussed whether or not they would concur with censure resolutions brought by county Republican Party officials. Resolutions were brought against ten State Representatives who are accused of making votes and taking actions against State Republican Party platform policies like having no Democratic Committee Chairs in the State House.
East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Gary VanDeaver of New Boston were two of those ten State Representatives who faced potential penalties on Saturday.
Harris avoided a concurring vote and any penalties that the SREC could have levied against him but the SREC did concur with the resolution against VanDeaver. Read the rest of this entry »
CARTHAGE – Carthage ISD’s director of bands Johnnie Cotton has resigned from his position, according to our news partner KETK, after he said the district asked him to hang the Ten Commandments in his classroom on Monday.
“I would like to take this chance to explain why I resigned as Director of Bands at Carthage ISD. I believe very strongly that politics and religion have no place in the public schools,” Cotton said. “I spent my 42 years as a teacher and administrator making sure that my classroom/campus stayed neutral on both counts.”
Senate Bill 10 was passed by the Texas State Legislature in this year’s legislative session and then signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 20. The bill, which went into effect on Sept. 1, requires public schools to display the Ten Commandments from the Hebrew Bible.
“This summer, The State of Texas passed a law stating that you were required to post the 10 Commandments in your classroom if someone donated them,” Cotton explained. “I was informed Monday by Carthage ISD that I must do this and I refused. I was told it was required due to state law. Seeing this as a line I refuse to cross, I resigned.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — On Wednesday, the trial for one of the men charged in connection with the 2016 murder of Longview resident Ron Horaney has been set. According to our news partner KETK and court documents, the trial for 88-year-old Reza Kamali is scheduled for June 8, 2026. Kamali was arrested in 2024 and charged with murder eight years after the crime. His trial will be held at the 124th District Court.
Horaney was killed on the evening of Memorial Day in 2016, after answering the door of his Tryon Road residence in Longview. According to an arrest warrant, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) received a call of a reported shooting. The sheriff’s office located Horaney, who later died at a local hospital.
In 2024, court documents showed that investigators met with the initial “cooperating individual” who called the sheriff’s office on June 10, 2016, to do a photo lineup, where the individual identified Kamali as the person who solicited the individual to kill the victim. Kamali was one of three people arrested for the murder of Horaney; the other two were Alfredo Lizcano and Rene Garcia Jr. Both men were also charged with murder in connection to the case. Lizcano’s trial has been scheduled for May 11, 2026.
SMITH COUNTY — Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Smith County Animal Shelter will continue to care for the 44 dogs that were seized last month at a home in Troup after a ruling on Wednesday. A hearing was held where Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace James Meredith ruled for the shelter to keep custody of the dogs who were found malnourished with skin disorders, overgrown nails and possible gastrointestinal disorders.
The woman who lived on the property had died, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said. Now, the woman’s daughter will have 10 days to appeal the decision, but will be required to pay $24,000 to reverse the appeal. Since the shelter has taken custody of the animals, a veterinarian has examined the rescued dogs. Read the rest of this entry »
LIVINGSTON — A bipartisan group of state representatives is currently visiting the Polunsky Unit in Livingston to show support for death row inmate Robert Roberson, just days before his scheduled execution.
According to our news partner KETK, those in attendance include State Reps. John Bucy (D-Austin), Jeff Leach (R-Allen), Lacey Hull (R-Houston) and Rhetta Bowers (D-Rowlett), all of whom have publicly expressed concerns about Roberson’s conviction and the evidence used against him. Roberson was convicted in 2003 of killing his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, a case that has since drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny from lawmakers, medical experts, and criminal justice reform advocates.
Jeff Leach brought some new information to light on behalf of the other representatives, stating that they are just asking for a pause button and a new tria,l considering that Roberson was denied the chance to defend his innocence in front of a jury
“To my legislative colleagues on the other side of this issue who want to see him executed next week, and believe that nothing went wrong with the trial. I would ask them to comment on the fact that Robert’s own attorney. When Robert asked to be heard, when Robert asked to go in front of the jury to tell his side of the story to tell them I’m innocent, his attorney wouldn’t let him.” Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Edgewood ISD has released more information after a student reportedly made a threat against their district and Canton ISD.
According to our news partner KETK and Edgewood ISD, on Friday, administrators uncovered “troubling activity” on the internet at their high school that alerted them to investigate the students’ well-being.
“While the threat was unspecific, there were references to Canton High School, and enough specific evidence to lend itself to be treated with the utmost seriousness,” the district said. “At no time has there been a weapon on campus. The school’s part in this situation was solely online materials.
The district said that there was “sufficient evidence” to involve law enforcement, and the student was immediately removed from campus upon their findings. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – A man was pronounced dead while under custody at the Van Zandt County Jail last month, according to our news partner KETK. Jason Lane Lopez, 53, was arrested on Sept. 2 and charged with public intoxication after he was found on N. 4th Street in Wills Point, according to a Texas Attorney General’s Office report into his death. Prior to his arrest, Lopez was acting combative and assistance was required from a Van Zandt County Deputy to take him into custody.
Following his arrest, Lopez was transported to the Van Zandt County Jail and continued to resist officers by attempting to get loose of their grasp and thrashing his body before officers placed him on the ground so he could be placed in a restraint chair. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Saturday, supporters gathered at the Texas State Capitol, asking lawmakers to stop the execution of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of murder in 2003 for killing his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis. According to our news partner KETK, one Texas lawmaker is also calling for action to stop Roberson’s scheduled execution on Oct. 16.
“This man must have a new trial, justice demands it,” State Rep. Brian Harrison of Waxahachie said.
Harrison made a motion to issue a legislative subpoena in October of 2024 that led to a stay of Roberson’s first scheduled execution. Now, he’s saying this case should be seen in court again.
He said wrong statements and misinformation have also clouded the facts of the case. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – Three people were flown to a hospital on Monday morning following a head-on collision in Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK and the Lufkin Police Department, the crash occurred at around 8:30 a.m. in the 4000 block of Southwood Drive. The vehicles involved in the crash include a Buick, driven by a woman who was accompanied by a teenager and a child; the second vehicle, a Ford truck, was driven by a man.
The identity of the victims has not been released at this time. The department is currently investigating the crash and will release more information when the investigation is complete.
MARSHALL — The City of Marshall’s Local Rabies Control Authority (LRCA) confirmed on Thursday that a bat carrying rabies was found in the Marshall area earlier this week.
On Sept. 29, a Marshall Animal Control Officer collected a bat that was lying on the ground in the 200 block of North Washington Avenue according to our news partner KETK. The bat was later humanely euthanized and sent to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for testing, according to Marshall PD. DSHS told the LRCA that the bat tested positive for rabies, and the LRCA has been monitoring the area where the bat was found to look for any other animals that may have been affected.
“We don’t believe anyone has been exposed, but we are taking this public health issue seriously. Public education is the key because rabies is fatal if left untreated, and it is 100% treatable,” Director of the LRCA and the Marshall Pet Adoption Center Justin Serna said.
To learn more information about rabies and where to access local vaccines, visit the DSHS website.
TYLER — Texas comptroller introduces new statewide online tool designed to put the latest economic and demographic data directly into the hands of Texans. According to our news partner KETK, Texas comptroller Kelly Hancock launched the new online tool, ‘TEXSTATS Dashboard’, today during a visit to Tyler.
Hancock has been in this role since June, giving Texans easier access to information. The technology is all available right now on the Texas comptroller’s website.
“We provide this information online where they can access it and they can learn about education in the area,” Hancock said. “They can learn about population growth in the area. They can learn all the demographics as well.” Read the rest of this entry »
QUITMAN — The Quitman Independent School District is investigating allegations that an elementary student was confined to a classroom restroom as a form of punishment. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the school district was informed on Tuesday at 4 p.m. that two staff members had placed a student in the restroom and held the door closed to restrict their movement.
A teacher and a paraprofessional have been placed on administrative leave while the district conducts an investigation. This investigation concluded on Wednesday, leading them to be “no longer assigned to any district campus.” The district reported the situation to the Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Education Agency. Additionally, parents of all students in the classroom have been notified of the allegations and the district’s actions.
“We know this is concerning, and we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of your children are our top priority,” Mason said. “Thank you for your trust as we continue to provide a safe, caring and supportive learning environment for all students.”
TITUS COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, six people were arrested in the first two days of October following a more than yearlong investigation by multiple agencies in Titus County.
Search warrants related to narcotics were conducted at houses in Mount Pleasant, Winfield and Naples on October 1. During the execution of the warrants, investigators found: 11 illegally possessed firearms, almost a pound of methamphetamine, almost a pound of cocaine and more than a pound of marijuana.
Mount Pleasant Police and the Department of Public Safety said that during the course of the investigation, several kilogram amounts of methamphetamine and several firearms were also seized. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD Superintendent, Marla Sheppard announced the district’s five-year priorities plan aimed at improving educational experience for future Lobos the first State of the District Luncheon. Our news partner kETK is reporting that the district celebrated their achievements at the first State of the District Luncheon where Sheppard officially announced Elevate 2030. The project lays out five big priorities for the district.
“Our theme is embracing ACE and that’s achievement, customer service and excellence,” Sheppard said.
The first two priorities are empowerment through educational excellence and cultivating growth & excellence in staff.
“We now have 83% of our schools that are performing at an A or B level,” Sheppard said. “We have 52 distinctions, up from 40 the year before, so our children are excelling in so many different areas.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners Court approved reconstruction contracts for six county roads on Tuesday as part of a bond program according to our news partner KETK.
The following projects were awarded to the lower bidders for each as part of the Road and Bridge Bond Program. All the projects were awarded to either Texana Land & Asphalt Inc. or A.E. Shull & Company.
County Road 26
CR 26 will be widened with cement stabilization from the existing base material. The area will also be paved with new asphalt for a cost of $1.69 million.
UT Tyler professor appointed as new Smith County Health Authority
These changes will take place from FM 850 to County Road 21, covering 5.16 miles of improvement, with construction scheduled to begin within the next two to three months. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, a contractor from Bullard was arrested on Tuesday for misappropriating approximately $400,000 of his neighbors’ money. He used these funds for personal expenses and to finance his trips to the casino after being hired to rebuild their home, which had been destroyed by a fire.
In January an investigator was contacted by a couple who said that their home had been struck by lightning in early 2024, causing a fire that destroyed a majority of the home. The home was determined to be a total loss by the insurance company, which, in return, settled with the homeowners. Officials said the homeowners then hired their neighbor, 51-year-old Brian Christopher Glass of Bullard, who operates the business, Glass Limitless Homes and Design, to rebuild their home.
“Between April 2024 and July 2024, Glass was paid over $500,000 by the homeowners for the construction,” the sheriff’s office said. “Around July 2024, the victims learned that the subcontractors had quit working due to not being paid by Glass. When the homeowners contacted Glass, he informed them that he needed more money above and beyond the agreed construction price in the signed contract. At this point, the homeowners began paying the subcontractors and businesses owed money for construction materials. This placed a significant strain on their financial situation.” Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department is warning the community to be aware of scammers that are posing as Palestine Assistant Chief of Police Richard Johnson.
Our news partner KETK is reporting that the scammers are using shady tactics and gave several methods to avoid being scammed:
The Palestine Police Department will never contact people to request their personal banking information.
The only time the department may ask for banking information is when a victim of fraud is filing a report.
Those asked to make a payment with gift cards or Bitcoin are most likely getting scammed.
Never divulge personal information online or over the phone.
Always verify the source and remember, a lot of personal information can be researched online and used against you.
Be cautious of house rental listings on social media. For reliable information, contact a local realtor.
A good rule to remember is if something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
Those who believe they have been targeted by a scam can contact the Palestine Police Department at 903-729-2254.
MINEOLA – A Mineola man was arrested on Thursday after allegedly forcing another man to dig a grave for his dog at gunpoint. According to our news partner KETK, a resident reported that they were driving home on Sept. 8 when they hit a dark-colored animal in the road. The driver stopped to fix their bumper when a silver Ford pick-up truck pulled in behind his vehicle.
The victim reported that the driver of the silver Ford got out of his truck and pointed a gun at him, saying, “I should shoot you now for it.” The victim then pleaded for his life by explaining that he had a family, but the driver, who was identified as Hernandez, commanded the victim to search for his dog.
The victim said he then found the dog in a nearby ditch and was forced to carry the dead animal to Hernandez’s property. Hernandez, who was still pointing the gun at the victim, then demanded that he dig a grave for the dog and bury it, an arrest affidavit showed.
While digging the dog’s grave with a shovel, the victim reported that Hernandez demanded his phone and keys. Once he gave up his phone and keys, Hernandez allegedly went inside his home and came back out with an AR-style rifle with attached optics and magazines. Read the rest of this entry »
CHANDLER – According to our news partner KETK, an accountant at the East Texas heating and air conditioning company, Air Chandler, has been arrested after she allegedly stole as much as $300,000 from the business. Donna Moore, 53 of Chandler, was arrested on Sunday by the Chandler Police Department. The Henderson County District Attorney’s Office began investigating Moore for potentially embezzling from the business after Air Chandler owner Mike Chandler said he turned over months-worth of information to their office in July.
In Moore’s arrest affidavit, a Chandler PD officer states that “Moore adjusted her pay, without consent, receiving unapproved wages. Moore also obtained a company credit card that she used for unauthorized charges.”
“Took me four months of hard work 24 hours a day to save my business from going into bankruptcy because of this woman,” Mike Chandler said. “During the month of July, this information was turned over to the district attorney, and they determined that she is a thief. The very same people that I help and give and do so much for, were stealing me blind the whole time.” Read the rest of this entry »
TRINITY – The Trinity Police Department arrested a 17-year-old driver after a multi-county chase on Sunday morning.
According to our news partner KETK and Trinity PD, law enforcement chased a truck for over 100 miles through Trinity, Houston, Polk and Tyler counties. The truck evaded spike strips and eventually came to a stop after the wheels came off just outside of Kountze in Hardin County.
The driver, a 17-year-old male, was arrested without incident and taken back to Trinity County, Trinity PD said. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Highway Patrol and the Houston County Sheriffs Office also assisted with the chase.
TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Starbucks location on South Broadway Ave and South Town Drive in Tyler is closing permanently along with hundreds of other stores around the United States. The Tyler location confirmed that they officially closed on Sunday and have started to move equipment out of the store. As of Sunday, the only other location known to be closing is the Crockett Starbucks, Houston County’s only Starbucks.
The closures come as the coffeehouse-giant Starbucks announced that they’ve shut down hundreds of locations around United States and across North America as a part of an internal review of their portfolio of stores.
An exact number of stores effected hasn’t been released yet, but unofficial lists contain more than 500 stores that are reportedly closing. Niccol said that Starbucks will close about 1% of their North America locations by the end of the 2025 fiscal year. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Republican Party of Texas is currently threatening to censure East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, because of some of their votes this year. Republican Party of Texas Rule 44 allows county Republican Party executive committees to adopt resolutions censuring their representatives. According to our news partner KETK, since Harris and VanDeaver have both been censured by local county Republican Parties, the state party is now taking up their own versions of the county party censure resolutions.
Harris and VanDeaver are just two of ten Texas State Representatives who are facing censure resolutions from the Republican Party of Texas. The resolutions each list several actions that the representatives made that are “in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas.”
The members are being encouraged to attend an Oct. 11 meeting of the State Republican Executive Committee, which will decide whether or not they’ll agree with the county censure resolutions and whether they’ll issue any penalties.
Henderson County Republican Party vice chair and parliamentarian Clint Stutts spoke to our news partner KETK News about their June 30 resolution to censure Harris. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a Tyler man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after a dog was found dead at his residence on Glass Avenue.
Arrest documents revealed that Tyler police officers found the deceased dog in August, noting that it had died due to a lack of food and water and was living in poor conditions. A second dog was found extremely emaciated and is under the care of Tyler Animal Control.
Police arrested Titus Demar Hambrick on Tuesday and was released the following day.
SABINE COUNTY – The Texas Game Wardens are seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 21-year-old college student, Peyton Hughes, who was last seen on Wednesday on the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
According to our news partner KETK and the Texas Game Wardens, Hughes is a student at Campbellsville University in Kentucky and was pre-fishing for Bassmaster competition when he was reported missing. Several agencies in both Texas and Louisiana are assisting in finding Hughes, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents, the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.
No further information is available at this time.
HUNTSVILLE – According to our news partner KETK, Rusk County District Attorney Michael Jimerson spoke at a press conference in Huntsville on Thursday after the execution of convicted murderer Blaine Milam.
Milam and his girlfriend Jesseca Carson were arrested in 2008 after Carson’s 13-month-old daughter Amora was found dead inside their home. Milam and Carson beat Amora with a hammer and bit, strangled and mutilated her body over a 30-hour period, according to prosecutors.
Milam was put to death in Huntsville at 6:40 p.m. on Thursday. His last meal included a cheeseburger, oven-fried potatoes, green beans, pinto beans, sliced bread, scrambled eggs, country gravy, a sausage patty, pears, biscuits, tea and water. Read the rest of this entry »