Today is
Friday June 05, 2026
LUFKIN – Public clarifications about a planned AI data center under development near the city have been issued. A data center project representing a $1.05 billion capital investment is currently being negotiated for the Southland Paper Mill site, According to a City of Lufkin press release and out news partner KETK.
The site lies outside Lufkin’s city limits but is projected to create up to 500 construction jobs over a four-year period, according to the city. If the data center project is constructed, it could create up to 30 full-time jobs. The Lufkin Economic Development Corporation told KETK News that the Denver-based company Amp Z is behind the data center plans.
Amp Z describes their company as an “AI-era digital-infrastructure platform” that combines “utility power with onsite self-generation to deliver gigawatt-scale AI data center campuses.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The State of Texas’ new school voucher program has broken a national record for first day applicants. At least 46,000 families have applied since the portal opened on Wednesday, according to the Texas Comptroller’s office and our news partner KETK.
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program was approved during the 89th Texas Legislative session. The school choice program gives selected students $10,000 per year towards private school enrollment and children with learning disabilities can get $30,000. While many are excited for the new faces that could be joining their campus, some worry about a potential decline in enrollment at public schools. There are also concerns voucher money could be going to families who don’t need it.
According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, about a third of applicants come from households making less than $66,000 a year and eight out of every ten overall said they intend to go to a private school next year. Read the rest of this entry »
CANTON — Van Zandt County residents are one step closer to winning a long-fought battle against a lithium battery storage project being built right in their backyards, ahead of a Commissioners Court vote to pause construction. Finland-based company ‘Taaleri Energia’ announced the ‘Amador Project’ in November of 2024, which would build multiple lithium battery storage and solar projects near Canton.
According to our news partner KETK, residents are raising safety concerns and fears that, if prohibited items are used, they could cause a lithium fire at the facility. The most pressing issue is the lack of local first responders in the event of a lithium fire.
On Wednesday, the Van Zandt County commissioners court will vote to pause construction on all projects until the Attorney General issues a final determination.
“We’re requesting that they pause any further movement on any builds until the one investigation by the attorney general is completed,” White said.
LONGVIEW — Fifteen occupants of a Longview apartment complex have been displaced following a stove-top fire in one of the apartments on Wednesday afternoon. The Longview Fire Department responded to a reported apartment fire at Townhouse South Apartments in Longview at approximately 12:49 p.m. on Wednesday after smoke alarms alerted occupants. According to our news partner KETK, responding units observed ” a large column of black smoke.” Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire coming from an apartment, and the fire was spreading into adjacent apartments.
The fire was brought under control through fire attacks, ventilation, salvage and overhaul operations using on-scene resources. No injuries were reported, but 15 occupants were displaced and the American Red Cross is assisting them.
The Longview Fire Marshal’s Office conducted an investigation after the fire was extinguished. Investigators determined the area of origin to be from a stove top, caused by unattended cooking.
The estimated property loss is undetermined at this time, the fire department said.
The fire department urges and reminds residents to never leave cooking unattended and to ensure smoke alarms are installed and working properly.
PALESTINE — Two people were arrested late Wednesday night in Palestine after police said a traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs and counterfeit cash. According to the Palestine Police Department and our news partner KETK, an officer conducted a traffic stop around 11:38 p.m. on Wednesday, in the 1100 block of East Palestine Avenue involving a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis. Police identified the driver as Juan Manuel Vega, 42, of Palestine. A records check showed Vega’s driver’s license was suspended and he was taken into custody for driving with an invalid license, officials said.
While conducting a search, officers allegedly found a bag of suspected methamphetamine on Vega. An in-depth search of the vehicle uncovered additional suspected methamphetamine hidden inside a container with a false bottom, along with marijuana, drug paraphernalia, counterfeit U.S. currency and prescription medication, according to police. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — Lufkin residents spoke out at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, successfully blocking a proposed replacement electric substation from being built near their neighborhoods.
Following more than an hour of public comment, the Lufkin City Council voted 6–1 to deny a special permit that would have allowed Oncor to build a replacement substation on Brentwood Drive, adjacent to the existing facility. The site is near apartment complexes, Anderson Elementary School and the Crown Colony neighborhood.
Lufkin Fire Chief Scott Moody told council members the proposed substation would not pose a safety risk, noting it would use mineral oil for cooling instead of traditional fluids.
Oncor representatives argued the replacement is necessary to keep up with Lufkin’s growth. Attorney Jaren Taylor said the existing substation is expected to reach 117% of its capacity by this summer, limiting the system’s ability to provide backup power during peak demand. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — The criminal case against the former head football coach at Poteau High School, accused of embezzling from another Oklahoma high school, has been dismissed, according to court records.
Forrest Mazey, 44, was accused of one count of embezzlement out of Pittsburg County in July 2025. He had pleaded not guilty. Court records show the case was dismissed on Jan. 26 following a preliminary hearing.
A felony information sheet said Mazey was accused of “fraudulently appropriating the sum” of more than $4,600 that belonged to McAlester Public Schools.
A probable cause affidavit said that the McAlester Public Schools Campus Police Department was notified of missing funds from one of the school’s athletic programs on June 3, where Mazey previously served as a football coach.
The head football coach at McAlester Public Schools alleged that he logged into the football team’s Adidas sportswear account, which was supposed to have $6,000 in it, but the account was missing $4,676.75.
The money in the account was a credit given to the McAlester football team for purchases, including gear for players and coaches. The affidavit said that the account was only to be used by the head coach of the football program and the athletic director. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — After nearly three decades of service, the assistant fire chief of the Longview Fire Department is retiring. Steven Green was the assistant fire chief of Longview for more than 28 years and the fire department announced his retirement on Wednesday.
The fire department celebrates Green, saying he served the department throughout many changes and transitions while contributing in various roles.
“Thank you for your years of commitment and we wish you all the best in what comes next,” the fire department said.
TYLER — Crews responded to a house fire west of Tyler near State Highway 31 on Tuesday night, forcing a family of 10 to evacuate. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2 spokesperson Nikki Simmons and our news partner KETK, the fire started on the back porch of a home in the 9700 block of Hill N. Dale Road. The flames quickly spread from the porch into the attic and firefighters were forced to take a defensive approach upon arrival.
Simmons said homeowners alerted first responders that a gun safe containing ammunition was inside the home, which is an important safety concern for firefighters on scene.
The family was able to move their vehicles away from the house before the fire spread further. No injuries were reported and crews were able to contain the flames.
The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office will investigate the cause of the fire.
ANDERSON COUNTY – The state has been granted a 60-day extension to determine the future of Robert Roberson’s case. According to court documents and our news partner KETK, the state requested a 60-day extension before returning to court, citing the trial’s unprecedented nature and that Roberson’s prior conviction was based on flawed science.
The state also requested the extension, claiming that the lead counsel has been unable to give the case their full attention because they are working on other capital cases with death sentences.
Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, is pleading with the Anderson County District Court to deny the state’s request, stating that it exposes the weakness of the plaintiffs’ position after they had months to file an answer.
“The state’s request for yet more delay does not make sense,” court documents said. “It relies on a mischaracterization of the history and posture of this case,” Sween stated. “The state has long been on notice of the basis of Mr. Roberson’s remanded claim and further delay is wholly unjustified.” Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON — An Overton ISD coach has been taken into custody and is facing allegations of causing harm to a student during a basketball practice. According to a probable cause warrant from Rusk County, the victim allegedly performed a basketball play incorrectly, resulting in an injury inflicted by Head Girls Basketball Coach Zachariary Griffin.
Surveillance footage captured Griffin approaching the student, where he grabbed and twisted her ear, forcing her head to the left. While still holding her ear, he reportedly moved several feet around the basketball court and aggressively twisted both of her ears, causing the victim to stand on her tiptoes. A teacher, who witnessed the incident, approached the victim to see if she was okay, but the victim kept crying in pain. The document states that the girl then informed her parents that her ears were burning, appeared bloodshot and had experienced pain throughout the day. Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON – The City of Overton is asking residents to contact the Overton Police Department if they see any packs of dogs after a woman was attacked on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK and the City of Overton, a young woman was attacked by a pack of dogs on Sunday evening near the Dairy Queen but luckily she was able to defend herself with pepper spray.
“Unfortunately these stray dogs have crossed a line and must go,” the city said in a social media post on Monday. City officials asked residents to report any sightings of dog packs to the Overton Police Department at 903-834-3145. The city reminded residents to not feed any stray dogs and to use caution when they pass nearby.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a man on Monday who is suspected of being involved in multiple burglaries. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office attempted to contact Skylar Maynard in Reklaw on Monday but he fled from law enforcement. According to the sheriff’s office, Maynard was eventually caught by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Beto pack dog unit.
Maynard was then arrested for evading arrest or detention. The sheriff’s office identified Maynard as a suspect in several burglaries that have happened across Cherokee County from Jacksonville to Alto and that more charges are pending against him. The sheriff’s office added that Maynard allegedly fled from law enforcement two times within the last week.
LUFKIN – A Lufkin pediatrician was arrested on Thursday after killing a person and dog in a car crash earlier this month while driving intoxicated. The crash occurred on Jan. 17 after the Lufkin Police Department said Demarcus Hadnot was driving west on College Drive near the Texas Bible College when a Mercedes crashed into Hadnot’s Kia at around 10:15 a.m. Handot and his dog were pronounced dead following the crash.
According to our news partner KETK, the driver of the Mercedes was later identified as Woodland Heights Pediatrician George Fidone. On Thursday, Fidone was arrested and booked into the Angelina County Jail after it was revealed he was intoxicated at the time of the crash. Following his arrested Fidone was charged with two counts of intoxicated manslaughter with a vehicle and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle. His bond was set at $92,500. He’s since been released from the Angelina County Jail after posting his bond. Read the rest of this entry »
JACKSONVILLE — One man has been arrested after a drug-related search warrant of a home led to deputies discovering narcotics, firearms and a pipe bomb.
According to our news partner KETK and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies obtained a probable cause for the search warrant of a home in the 200 block of County Road 1814 in Jacksonville, after attempting to serve arrest warrants for 42-year-old Charles Phifer and smelling marijuana coming from the residence. Deputies arrived at the home on Wednesday and executed a narcotics search at the residence where they found methamphetamine, firearms, marijuana and a suspected pipe bomb.
According to officials, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to the scene and safely removed the pipe bomb. Read the rest of this entry »