Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
MARSHALL – Three Louisiana men were arrested in East Texas after a fatal shooting sparked a multi-state chase in the early morning hours of Friday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
In a report from the Ruston, Louisiana Police Department, around 11:50 p.m. on Thursday, officers responded to the USA Travel Plaza convenience store at 2500 West Alabama Avenue, where a fatal shooting had happened. The deceased victim was identified as 35-year-old Ontario Spivey of Ruston. Officials said they identified the suspect, 31-year-old Virgil Mack Jr. of Dubach, Louisiana, and his vehicle through video surveillance. Soon after, a “be on the lookout” alert was issued to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Dr. Robert French with UT Health East Texas Orthopedic gave his thoughts on potential causes behind student-athlete deaths during sports activities, in an interview with our news parter KETK.
The University Scholastic League (UIL) is still investigating the death of a student athlete at Marshall ISD. Questions are stirring about how Estefani Cabrera died after cross-country practice on a hot day in August.
“Risk factors for these really unfortunate circumstances can be a multitude,” Dr. French said. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE– A man was arrested in Palestine on Wednesday after he was caught attempting to steal from a Walmart. Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Palestine Police Department officers arrived at the Walmart, Charles Schroeder left the parking lot in his truck, leading to a brief pursuit. During the pursuit, Schroeder struck a police vehicle and a parked car.
After abandoning his vehicle, Schroeder was discovered near the Palestine Mall and placed under arrest. Following his arrest, Schroeder was booked into Anderson County Jail on the following charges: aggravated robbery, evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, duty on striking an unattended vehicle and theft of property $100–$750.
NACOGDOCHES — A Lufkin mother was arrested last week after her infant suffered “abusive head trauma” in July, records reveal.
According to our news partner KETK and a Nacogdoches County arrest affidavit, on July 18, deputies responded to a local hospital where an infant was “unresponsive.” While deputies were speaking to the mother, 20-year-old Jessy Moore of Lufkin, she explained that she was the only person holding the infant all day before they went to the hospital.
Medical staff told officers that the injury the victim had was new, but he had already been at the hospital just four days before for a head injury. On July 14, the infant was transported to the Texas Children’s Hospital, where he was released because the injury wasn’t severe enough to admit him. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin announced on Thursday morning that he will be running for reelection in the upcoming Republican primary election.
Franklin, a native of Smith County, has been the Smith County Judge since 2022. According to our news partner KETK, his tenure has been focused on promoting economic growth, providing taxpayer relief, and fostering community partnerships.
“It has been an incredible honor to serve as your Smith County Judge,” Franklin said. “Together, we’ve attracted new employers like Yellawood and Amazon, bringing hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars in investment to Smith County. That means more opportunities for our residents, and it means relieving pressure on working families and seniors by expanding the tax base.”
While announcing his plans to run for reelection, Franklin emphasized the current growth in Smith County.”It doesn’t happen by accident, but through partnerships and smart, accountable investments in essential services, public safety, and quality-of-life projects,” Franklin said.
The Republican primary election is scheduled to take place in March 2026.
QUITMAN — According to our news partner KETK, a former Alba-Golden ISD employee, who pleaded guilty in August to stealing funds from the district, was sentenced on Thursday to five years’ probation and will be required to repay the money she stole.
A 2024 investigation revealed that Jade Bowden had been stealing from the school district. The investigation followed the district’s report of fraudulent transactions by Bowden. Bowden had access to payroll and began to pay herself amounts exceeding her standard paycheck, according to officials. Bowden had stolen nearly $30,000 in overpayment from herself.
“Bowden betrayed the trust of the school district, the school board, and the students,” Alba Golden, Superintendent, Dr. Shelby Davidson said.
After pleading guilty on Aug. 29 to theft of property, Bowden was sentenced on Thursday to five years probation and was ordered to pay $29,245.42 in restitution to the district along with $1,000 in fines.
TYLER – If you’re traveling on Toll 49, there may be some road projects to be aware of.
NETRMA informed KTBB that construction began on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 in order to work on some major road enhancements. Roads are being reinforced with a new, long lasting, high-skid resistant surface called “SuperPave”. Toll 49 will be closed from I-20 South to CR 1150 from 9pm to 6:30am, Monday, September 8th through Saturday, September 13th.
If drivers would like to stay updated on road closures and conditions, they can visit NETRMA.org, or receive text alerts by texting “toll49” to 444222 for the latest updates.
Closures are expected to last throughout the end of September 2025.
LINDALE, Texas (KETK) — The Smith County Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of a house fire in Lindale after one person died early Thursday morning, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
Smith County Emergency Services District 2 fire crews responded around 4:22 a.m. to a house fire on 19984 FM 14, where they found heavy smoke emerging. Officials confirmed that the one person inside the home at the time of the fire was found dead.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.
TYLER – The Texas Special Session has passed over 800 new laws. Many of them effecting the food industry- in particular, food truck and cottage food vendors.
KTBB spoke with Net Health’s Ginger Points to elaborate on a few of these laws.
House Bill 2844 the “Food Truck Freedom” Act
This law aims to create an even playing field for the food truck industry. Before this bill, Texas mobile food vendors may have been required to hold multiple permits for both the state and the local area they were operating in. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE– According to our news partner KETK, a home off County Road 4122 caught on fire Wednesday morning, leaving the house a total loss and killing two of the family’s pets.
According to the Lindale Fire Department, they received a call regarding the fire at around 9:50 a.m.. After arriving at the home, firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack and were forced to use 20,000 gallons of water to bring the fire under control, having previously evacuated the house due to the imminent collapse of the structure. Two cats were killed in the fire, but no other injuries were reported. It is currently unknown how the fire started, and the cause is being investigated by the Smith County Fire Marshal.
UPDATE: During Wednesday’s special session house meeting, State Rep. Cody Harris, of Palestine, said he refuses to concur with the Texas Senate and is requested an appointment of conference committee. Harris’ request was granted.
AUSTIN — The Texas Senate passed House Bill 27 on Tuesday, allowing an East Texas groundwater study, but eliminating 16-month pause on drilling permits. On Aug. 25, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 27, written by State Rep. Cody Harris. HB 27 requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct a study on the effects of drilling permits on the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater District.
HB 27 also pushed for lawmakers to allow a 16-month pause on approving drilling permits while the TWDB conducted its study. The bill made its way to the Texas Senate and received a 26-1 vote in favor of its cause, but with a twist. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT– The City of Mount Pleasant announced the hiring of its new city manager on Wednesday, who has served in several key leadership positions across East Texas.
According to our news partner KETK, Robert Vince is stepping into the role after most recently holding several leadership positions, including city manager for the City of Paris. While in Paris, Vince played a role in advancing operational efficiency and building relationships with community stakeholders, according to the City of Mount Pleasant.
After taking the position, Vince emphasized that his guiding principle will be to “do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.” Vince also looks forward to collaborating with the Mount Pleasant leadership team to strengthen relationships and move the city forward. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: According to the Lufkin Police Department, 20-year-old Brayden Wood was found safe around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department is searching for a 20-year-old man who was last seen in July. According to our news partner KETK, Brayden Alexander Wood, 20, of Lufkin, was last in contact with his mother on July 28 and she has not seen or heard from him since.
Anyone with information on Wood’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lufkin PD at 936-633-0356 or 911 if it’s an emergency.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – According to a press release from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, a former Cherokee County correctional officer has been arrested.
Kayley Garcia, 34 of Alto, had previously worked in the Cherokee County Jail from June 2025 until August 2025. During this time, it was discovered that she was bringing items of contraband to inmates while on duty. The investigation found that Garcia was providing tobacco products to inmates, as well as providing her personal cell phone to an inmate for his personal use. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – The Texas Senate late Tuesday stripped a key provision from a bill meant to stop large-scale exports of water from East Texas.
Senators approved the legislation that also requires the state to study how much water is under East Texas. However, the original bill — House Bill 27 by Rep. Cody Harris, R-Palestine — sought to prevent approval of new export permits in the meantime. The bill that left the Senate Tuesday night allows water exports to continue while the study is ongoing. Harris said that he would not accept those changes. If Harris makes good and rejects the changes to the bill, the House can call for negotiations. However, time is running out on the special session, which must adjourn by Sept. 13. And lawmakers in both chambers have signaled a desired end before then. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – Our news partner KETK reports that the Marshall Police Department is asking people to avoid the intersection at MLK Boulevard and Ward Street on Wednesday afternoon while they work on an 18-wheeler accident.
According to the police department, an 18-wheeler overturned at the intersection, causing traffic delays in the area. Emergency crews are currently on the scene, working to clear the accident to ensure everyone is safe.
Officials encourage people to avoid the area, and seek alternate routes to prevent any further congestion.
Update: Boil water notice was rescinded Friday, September 5, for a portion of Rusk by the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company
RUSK – A boil water notice was issued on Wednesday in Rusk by the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company (RRWSC) due to a main line leak, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
Any households or businesses under a boil water notice should bring any water for cleaning or consumption to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes before use. RRWSC said customers will be notified when the notice is no longer in effect.
“Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice,” the RRWSC said.
Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of affected areas. To view the full and updated list, click here.
SMITH COUNTY – According to a press release from Smith County, despite having 113 “weather days” during the yearlong construction of the courthouse, the project is still on time.
Bradley Barr, senior superintendent of Hoar Construction, gave a progress report to the Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, September 2. Barr said since the start of the project through June 2025, they have seen 66 inches of rain, which is 23 inches above average, but the crews work overtime and/or bring in more staff to make up for rain delays. According to Barr, they are still looking at project completion in the end of 2026.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we respond to it,” Barr said. “We keep a positive attitude and do whatever it takes.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Texas House Bill 2000, also known as Audrii’s law, went into effect on Monday, ending a loophole that kept convicted child groomers off the sex offender registry. The bill was named for Audrii Cunningham, an 11-year-old girl from Polk County who was kidnapped and murdered in Feb. 2024.
Audrii was the subject of a Feb. 15, 2024 Amber Alert after she never showed up to school. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Trinity River Authority found Audrii’s body five days later in the Trinity River on Feb. 20.
Don McDougal lived in a camper on the Cunningham’s property and was supposed to drop Audrii off at the bus stop on the day she went missing.
McDougal, who pleaded guilty to Audrii’s murder, was previously accused of indecency with a child in 2007 but he pleaded down to the charge of enticing a child and that kept him off the Sex Offender Registry. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — UPDATE: As of Wednesday afternoon, Tyler PD PIO Andy Erbaugh said the department is no longer looking for a suspect in Tuesday’s lockdown at UT Health East Texas. All possible efforts to contact possible witnesses have not led to an arrest at this time.
The lockdown at UT Health East Texas in Tyler was lifted at around 1 p.m. after reports of a person carrying a gun at the Olympic Plaza.
During a press conference at around noon on Tuesday, Officer Erbaugh said witnesses saw an argument between two people and one of them displayed a gun. At that point, the active shooter alarm was activated. According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement responded within seconds. The original call came from the Olympic Plaza on Beckham Avenue. Other reports stated the person was heading to the main hospital using the skyview over the chapel area on the second floor; however, officials did not locate the person.
Read the rest of this entry »
LIBERTY CITY – The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City. According to our news partner KETK, they’re investigating an active crime scene at the park and there’s currently no threat to the public. The Sabine Emergency Services District and the Texas Department of Public Safety have also responded to the scene.
KETK will update this article as more information becomes available.
LUFKIN – Our news partner, KETK, is reporting that Lieutenant Mike Shurley is retiring from the Lufkin police department after three decades to serving East Texas.
Shurley officially retired from the department on Aug. 28, ending a 32-year career in public service. He began his career as a reserve police officer with the Diboll Police Department after graduating from Angelina College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. In 1995, Shurley joined the Lufkin Police Department, starting as a patrol officer and eventually advancing to lieutenant. He also served on the department’s SWAT Team for 10 years as an entry team leader.
“As Shurley steps into retirement, the Lufkin Police Department and the entire community extend their deepest gratitude for his unwavering service, leadership and integrity,” the Lufkin Police Department said. “His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of law enforcement professionals.”
WHITEHOUSE, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a boat caught on fire in Whitehouse on Monday morning. The incident occurred at Lake Tyler Self Storage, and the cause of the fire remains unknown, the Whitehouse Fire Department said. Two RVs and another boat were impacted by the fire.
Members of the Whitehouse Fire Department put out the fire, and no injuries were reported.
ATHENS – Two Henderson County deputies had some unusual work cut out for them on Saturday morning according to our news partner KETK. Deputies Draven Matich and AJ St. Clair responded to Athens at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday after someone’s kangaroo escaped. According to the sheriff’s office, the two deputies found the kangaroo safe and wrangled it into their vehicle.
The kangaroo was then returned to it’s grateful owner. The sheriff’s office shared the above video of the kangaroo being corralled on Saturday.
“After a daring escape, this marsupial was safely located and returned to her grateful owner, thanks to the quick thinking and calm handling by our Henderson County Sheriff’s Office team,” the sheriff’s office said. “From narcotics busts to kangaroo rescues — we do it all.”
Update: Monday, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect as William Taylor George
RUSK COUNTY – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said that a man was arrested on Friday after allegedly shooting another man’s truck near a Bunny’s convenience store.
According to our news partner KETK, they received a call on Friday morning from a man who was sitting in his truck when a white man in another vehicle started shooting at him. The two drivers had reportedly got into a verbal argument a few minutes before when they were inside the Bunny’s convenience store at the intersection of Highway 64 and Highway 42.
The driver waited for the victim to leave the parking lot of Bunny’s and shot at the victim’s truck several times while it was stopped at a stop sign, according to a post from the sheriff’s office. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – Our news partner KETK is reporting that 8 people have been arrested Saturday morning after a disturbance on Houston Street. According to Lufkin PD, a terrorist threat was called in from a home in the 1300 block of Houston Street at around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. The caller said a woman named Brianna Davis was talking with her about the treatment of a dog.
Lufkin PD said the caller reported that Davis then left the property on Houston Street and threatened to come back with friends to shoot into the home. Lufkin PD officers then began to patrol nearby to look for Davis. The caller then contacted Lufkin PD again to report that Davis had arrived back at the home with other people, threatening the home and starting to fight, according to a Lufkin PD press release.
While Lufkin PD officers were returning to the Houston Street home, Davis and the group left in a white car that officers pursued to the 700 block of Raguet Street. Another vehicle arrived during the traffic stop and it’s occupants got out and started yelling. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — Kilgore ISD released a statement on Friday about their review of campus safety/bullying measures following an incident that sparked outrage among parents and the community.
Last week, a Kilgore Middle School student suffered a six-inch skull fracture after another student picked him up and slammed him headfirst into a steel chair. Dallas surgeons had to cut two holes into the student’s skull to stop bleeding and relieve swelling in the brain.
According to our news partner KETK, a school board meeting was held on Monday and several community members expressed their criticism of the district’s policies. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County’s Budget Officer, Kari Perkins, announced that she will be resigning from her position. According to our news partner KETK, Perkins published a notice on Wednesday stating that her resignation will take effect on Sept. 1. She has been serving Smith County since her appointment in 2024 and was responsible for communicating the county’s budgetary policies and operational and financial plans.
While in office, Perkins was also responsible for the distribution of the budget manual and materials to all county departments and assisting the commissioners’ court with fiscal planning, monitoring and policy analysis
During the Smith County Commissioners Court meeting next Tuesday, they will discuss plans to replace Perkins. Until a new budget officer is hired, the position will be held by the county auditor.
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, Lucas Stevens, wanted for multiple felony warrants, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a manhunt across several Texas counties ended in Smith County. The pursuit began when a Texas Highway Patrol officer attempted to stop Stevens in Longview due to active felony warrants. Stevens evaded police, wrecking his vehicle after crossing a railroad track at high speed, and subsequently carjacked another vehicle.
Following the carjacking, Stevens fled through several areas, including Gladewater, Big Sandy and the Pritchett community in Upshur County. During this time, he allegedly broke into multiple homes, stealing firearms, UTV’s and killing a homeowner’s dog.
“Stevens is wanted for several felony acts, and his actions indicate that he is desperate,” the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office stated on Thursday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County Court at Law 2 has confirmed that current Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips has been sentenced to thirty days in jail, according to a report from our news partner KETK. She was first arrested in this case after a March 2023 traffic stop involving her son, Derek Phillips, and man named Cody Voss.
Phillips, 67 of Smith County, was found guilty of interfering with public duties on May 9, 2024 and was originally sentenced to 1 year of probation and 48 hours of community service. On Friday, Phillips relinquished that probation sentence, and was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail.