Today is
Friday June 05, 2026
TYLER – Thanks to the Texas Resilient Landscapes Initiative, Texas landowners can now earn up to $80,000 by reforesting their land. Landowners with 10 to 150 acres of land are being invited by the initiative to reforest their land through a number of different methods including: shredding or mulching for tree planting at $168.75 per acre, prescribed fire burns at $37.50 per acre, direct seeding of trees at $337.50 per acre, planting live cuttings at $375 per acre, planting bareroot or containerized seedlings at $5.60 per seedling and providing temporary browsing protection for seedlings at $4.90 per seedling.
Non-federal, non-industrial and tribal or local government forest landowners can apply to the initiative by Jan. 23, 2026 and another application period will open in the summer or fall of 2026.
To apply or learn more, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service online.
ALBA — Alba-Golden ISD has announced its new regulations after Senate Bill 8, also known as “Bathroom Bill,” went into effect on Dec. 4. According to our news partner KETK, to meet these new regulations, the school district said locker rooms will be designated “NON-PRIVATE” during specific times: 15 minutes before the start of pregame activities, 8 minutes during halftime, 10 minutes after the conclusion of a game and 20 minutes after the conclusion of a practice.
The school district stated that this will enable coaches to manage their responsibilities with teams, such as during pregame, halftime and postgame meetings, while respecting students’ privacy.
Commonly referred to as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act or the “Bathroom Bill,” Senate Bill 8 seeks to limit transgender individuals’ access to specific restrooms in the state. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD — The suspect in Monday’s hour long Cherokee County SWAT standoff is dead. According to our news partner KETK, the suspect is identified as 53-year-old Shawn Turner Sr. of Bullard, who was firing a gun from the front porch of his home. When deputies responded, Turner allegedly opened fire immediately, wounding one deputy with shrapnel. Deputies returned fire but did not strike Turner, the sheriff’s office confirmed. At around 11:10 a.m., authorities entered the home and found Turner dead from what officials determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The injured deputy was treated at the scene by EMS and is expected to make a full recovery. A second deputy experienced a medical issue during the incident and was assessed by medical personnel; that deputy is also anticipated to return to duty within the week.
Nearby law enforcement activity caused all Bullard ISD campuses to go into a brief secure status that was lifted at around 11:20 a.m.
MARSHALL – According to our news partner KETK, U.S. Senator for Texas John Cornyn spoke to graduating students at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall on Saturday. He’s currently running to be reelected to the Senate in 2026 against fellow Republican Primary candidates Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt.
Cornyn discussed several issues on Saturday like the economy, healthcare, education and Affordable Care Act healthcare premiums, which he said are going up by 18% for Texans. He also said that one solution could be to start hospital-based insurance coverage for operations and hospital stays. If Cornyn wins the 2026 Republican Primary in March, he’d face the winner of the Democratic Party Primary in the November election. Several Democratic candidates have already declared for their party’s primary, including Colin Allred and State Rep. James Talarico.
RUSK – UPDATE: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that a $25,000 reward is being offered for anyone who provides information leading to the location of James David Blount, a 57-year-old man who was last seen in Rusk on Dec. 2.
ORIGINAL STORY – The Rusk Police Department is currently searching for a missing man after his vehicle was found stopped on Highway 84 near the Neches River on Saturday. James David Blount is a 57-year-old white man who’s 5’09”, weighs around 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. Rusk PD said Blount was last seen on Tuesday.
Blount’s vehicle was found on Saturday on Highway 84 west at the Neches River near the Cherokee and Anderson County line. Anyone with information about his disappearance is asked to call 911 or Rusk PD at 903-683-2677.
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (JCPAAA) will donate $42,000 to the Jacksonville Police Department during the Dec. 9 City Hall meeting. The contribution will help fund new pistols outfitted with red-dot optics, as well as expanded firearms training for officers. The JCPAAA raised the money through ongoing community events, including several raffles and its annual April BBQ festival.
“We are proud to support our police department and help provide tools and training that enhance officer safety and effectiveness,” said Dillon Rodriguez, JCPAAA president. “This donation reflects the dedication of our volunteers and the strong partnership between our community and law enforcement.”
“The generosity of the JCPAAA and our community makes a real impact. These upgraded pistols and additional training will ensure our officers are better equipped to serve and protect our city,” Police Chief Steven Markasky said.
TYLER – The Texas A&M Forest Service has awarded over $3.5 million in grants for equipment to more than 100 fire departments throughout East Texas, according to our news partner KETK.
For the second round of Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program grants for the next fiscal year, the Texas A&M Forest Service awarded around $17.6 million in funds to volunteer fire departments across the state.
“Texas fire departments are the front line of local response and their equipment capacity is vital to response time and effectiveness,” Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis said after the first round of funding was awarded in October. “This historic funding reflects the strong support of the Texas Legislature and governor. Their investment allows us to continue supporting and equipping firefighters who protect Texas’s lives and property.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, former Lindale police officer Michael Lazarine, 47, pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of restriction and confinement of another officer.
The charge was filed for an incident that took place Sept. 27, shortly after Lazarine had been honored by the Smith County Commissioner Court for saving a choking toddler. On October 17, he was terminated. Lindale Police Capt. Brent Chambers stated that the termination was unrelated to the incident, but added that Lazarine is not eligible for rehire due to it. He appeared in a Smith County courtroom on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty and received a six-month deferred adjudication sentence.
TEXARKANA — A second suspect has been arrested for the 2014 murder of Xavier Rollins thanks to a recent DNA analysis according to our news partner KETK. Rollins was found dead from gunshot wounds outside an apartment on College Drive on June 17, 2014.
Texarkana Police Department officials said every lead brought investigators to dead ends when the case first begun. After decades, however, detectives didn’t stop looking for answers. In 2023, advancements in DNA technology led detectives to the arrest of Cameron Cheatham for capital murder in October 2024. Continuing their search, a tip led detectives to Demontre Collins, 30. Through updated DNA analysis, it was confirmed a match to evidence from the scene.
Police secured a warrant and arrested Collins on Nov. 11 during a traffic stop. Collins, along with Cheatham, is currently being held in the Bi-State Jail on $1 million bonds for capital murder charges.
TYLER – U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran in his bid for reelection on Thursday. Moran, a Republican and former Smith County Judge, was first elected as congressman for Texas’ U.S. House District 1 in 2022 and is currently running to be reelected for a second term in 2026.
“Congressman Nathaniel Moran is doing a fantastic job representing the Great People of Texas’ 1st Congressional District! Nathaniel has an incredible Record of Success, and strong support from his Community,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Moran is currently running unopposed in the March 2026 Republican Party Primary for his seat ahead of the general election in November. Several Democratic candidates, including Dax Alexander, Tracy Andrus, Yolanda Prince and Masika Akilah Ray, are running to be their party’s candidate for the November election.
SMITH COUNTY – A woman from Tyler was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, according to our news partner KETK.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Texas, Laura Ann Messay conspired with others to distribute and possess at least 500 grams of meth in East Texas. After admitting guilt to a charge of conspiring to possess meth with intent to distribute, Messay received a 120-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant.
“This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a man was arrested in Smith County on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a minor and having pornographic images of children on his phone. Police were dispatched to a Walmart in Tyler on Oct. 29 after a woman called claiming her 15-year-old sister had been assaulted. The victim had reportedly left her parents’ house to meet with a man she knew from Instagram as “Mike.”
Mike, later revealed to be Michael Rodas, had been messaging the victim on social media, where he told her that he was 17. Officers observed threads where the two discussed meeting up and Rodas asked for nude photographs and sexual favors if he picked her up. On the day of the incident, Rodas took the minor to a residence in Tyler, where he allegedly forced her to commit sexual acts on him. The victim managed to leave and contacted her sister for help and to be picked up. Read the rest of this entry »
TRINITY COUNTY — A former Trinity County animal control officer pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child on Tuesday morning.
According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Daniel Furman was an employee at the time he committed the offense. Furman was arrested on July 1, the same day allegations against him came to light and was placed on administrative leave. Wallace says his conduct is a betrayal of the trust his office placed in him, citizens, his family and most importantly, the young victim.
“This office is deeply sickened by his actions. We are grateful that this painful matter has reached its conclusion,” Wallace said. “The plea agreement was made in consultation with the victim’s family so the child would not be required to endure the emotional and embarrassing burden of testifying in open court.”
TYLER – The SPCA of East Texas is asking the community to help them stay open after a recent downturn in donations. The nonprofit animal shelter told KETK News that they’ve received about $100,000 less in donations than they expected to this year, and that they might have to close down if they can’t make up for this financial shortfall.
“Unfortunately, when we’re talking about a shortfall like that, it’s the animals that really suffer because we have to look at cutting back on services,” SPCA of East Texas executive director Emily Heglund said. “Tomorrow’s Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2 and we’re asking for the community to step up and help us out with donations if they can.”
To donate, visit the SPCA of East Texas online. The SPCA is also taking physical donations of supplies like pet food and cat litter in person at 3245 W. Grande Blvd in Tyler.
TYLER – Judge Derrick Choice announced on Monday that he is running to be reelected as Smith County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace in 2026. Choice was first elected to the position in 2022 after the resignation of former judge Quincy Beavers Jr. Choice is running for reelection as a part of the 2026 Democratic Primary, ahead of the local elections in November.
“Serving the people of Smith County has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Over the past term, I have worked diligently to ensure that justice is served with fairness, integrity, and compassion. I remain committed to being a voice for the people upholding the law while also understanding the needs of the community I proudly call home,” Choice said on Monday. “With your continued support, I look forward to building on the progress we’ve made and continuing to serve with dedication, transparency, and respect for all.”