Today is
Friday July 24, 2026
ANGELINA COUNTY — A man was arrested by Angelina County officials on Thursday for allegedly burglarizing Roganville Baptist Church in Jasper County.
According to our news partner KETK and Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman, officials placed a warrant for Gavyn Randall Deaton’s arrest as a suspect in the burglary of the Roganville Baptist Church. Angelina County deputies stopped and arrested Deaton without incident at around 12:45 p.m.
Selman said Deaton is facing three burglary charges and is currently booked in the Angelina County Jail. Official are working to extradite Deaton back to Jasper County.
SMITH COUNTY – Texas Highway Patrol is investigating after a hit-and-run left a bicyclist dead on Thursday in Smith County, according to our news partner KETK.
During the early morning hours on Highway 64 near Big Oak Bay Road, a bicyclist was struck by an unknown vehicle, and the vehicle did not stop. The rider was found dead and the department is investigating this case as a fatal hit-and-run.
East Texans are encouraged to contact the Texas Highway Patrol in Tyler if they have any information.
PANOLA COUNTY – The Panola County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man they suspect was responsible for several burglaries earlier in the month, according to our news partner KETK.
After multiple burglaries occurred along Highway 795 and Highway 149 in the Beckville and Tatum areas, investigators gathered information that led them to believe that 25-year-old Kobe Holt of Carthage was a suspect in the burglaries.
Holt was arrested during a traffic stop on Tuesday. The following day, officials obtained a search warrant at a home off Highway 315 in Carthage, and recovered stolen property, including a firearm and power tools which were returned to the victims.
Based on the property recovered, officials believe Holt is linked to at least eight burglaries that will be presented to the Criminal District Attorney’s Office. Investigators will continue to search for the remaining stolen property. Additional charges are expected.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Panola County Sheriff’s office.
TYLER — The Tyler City Council approved a $1,277,421 project contract on Wednesday aimed at improving six locations that are prone to flooding in Tyler according to our news partner KETK.
The city said they went into a contract with Reynolds & Kay LTD for the 2025 Structure Flooding Project funded by the Stormwater Capital Outlay Budget and Half Cent Sales Tax Fund. This project will tackle frequent flooding issues experienced by the following six areas: Persimmon Drive, Haverhill Drive and Old Henderson area, Golden Rd and Black Fork Creek, Kensington Drive, parts of Ninth Street and Princedale.
This part of the project is all about the stormwater system as hundreds of feet of new piping, new inlets, a concreate junction box and outfall protection will be placed to direct water away from homes. Sidewalks and fencing will also be replaced.
Construction is expected to begin later into 2025 and completed in phases to prevent disruption. According to project officials, the city will see many benefits from this project including safer streets, stronger peace of mind and fewer flood threats. Read the rest of this entry »
CHANDLER – According to our news partner KETK, a woman was stabbed nine times during an argument at a home near Chandler on Tuesday morning. Deputies were told that the suspect had escaped, and the victim was transported to a hospital in Tyler, where she was in stable condition. Once officials arrived at the scene, they spoke to the victim’s boyfriend, Christopher Alan Douzart, who said she had been stabbed nine times by the suspect at his house. Officials identified the suspect as Courtney Ann Coats.
A search warrant was obtained for Douzart’s home, where authorities discovered several baggies and scales, which are frequently used in drug distribution. Douzart was taken into custody for the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Following Douzart’s arrest, investigators obtained a search warrant for Coats. At 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, authorities were able to arrest Courtney and charge her with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Both suspects are currently being held in Henderson County Jail awaiting arraignment.
ATHENS – Our news partner KETK reports that the Henderson County Jail announced their launch of a groundbreaking educational initiative in early June to help inmates foster rehabilitation and skill development.
By partnering with NCIC Correctional Services, the jail has the ability to give inmates tablets “equipped with a comprehensive curriculum designed to enhance personal growth, career readiness, and life skills.” Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse explained that in even in just a few weeks they have seen glimpse into the future of the successes this program will bring to the inmates.
KETK news had the opportunity on Wednesday morning to talk to Hillhouse and two inmates about the program and the positive impact it has on their lives. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Roadwork is nothing new to the Lone Star state, but the Texas Department of Transportation in East Texas has some local projects in the works.
“There’s a few that are going on, south towards Bullard…” says Jeff Wooliferd with TxDOT East Texas. “We’re still in works with the utility companies. Relocating utilities is always a big portion of some of these projects. On the portion where they’re expanding to four lanes, the contractor has also begun digging some ditch operations.”
Crews have already begun digging up some utility lines, and will begin working to expand Old Jacksonville road from two lanes to four near Bullard. In another project, they’re adding an overpass at 2493 and US Highway 69.
While the work presents a challenging undertaking, Jeff Wooliferd says, “We’re expecting that to start at full blast again pretty soon. Working with the utility companies has been tricky, but we’re still working with them to get it done.”
The projected completion for those projects is Spring of 2027.
TYLER – Lake Tyler Marina owner, Brent Allen, is ready for summer visitors but he wants people to take the steps to make sure everyone has a fun and safe day at the lake.
“This has absolutely been the worst year on in recent memory for accidents on lakes in East Texas,” Allen said.
According to a report from our news partner KETK, in Henderson County, two young children drowned after getting trapped beneath their capsized boat. A 43-year-old man also drowned while swimming to his flotation device.
“We’ve answered to a number of different water-related incidents, all of them very tragic,” Smith County Emergency Services District 2 Assistant Chief Charles Clanton said.
Smith county emergency service district 2 said it’s important to always keep a life jacket on and have extras on hand. Read the rest of this entry »
JACKSONVILLE – East Texas State Senator Robert Nichols of Jacksonville announced on Tuesday that he’s not running for re-election in Texas Senate District 3. Our news partner KETK reports that, following Nichols’ announcement, East Texas State Rep. Trent Ashby announced his bid for the seat.
Nichols has served in the Texas Legislature for 20 years and was outspoken on issues like school choice, which he openly opposed.
“It had always been my goal to make things better, to stop bad things, to do it in a way I thought was right, never forgetting who I represented and to work at it long enough, but not too long. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to have represented the people of East Texas in the Texas Senate.” said State Sen. Robert Nichols Read the rest of this entry »
WINNSBORO – Our news partner KETK reports that a Winnsboro ISD coach was arrested on Monday after court documents revealed he attempted to hide the sexual relationship between another coach and a student.
According to the arrest affidavit from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, on May 28 officers were alerted about an improper relationship between an educator and student that involved a Winnsboro High School coach during the 2024-2025 school season.
“During this separate case and its investigation, this WHS educator involved in this investigation has voluntarily confessed to the Felony 2 offense and its charge,” the document said. “This separate teacher/coach, identified as Coach Gabe, and has been subsequently charged and arrested.” Read the rest of this entry »
WOOD COUNTY – According to a press release from the Acting U.S. Attorney of Eastern Texas, a Mineola man has been sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations.
According to information presented in court statements , over the course of several months, Fransisco Gonzalez, also known as Kiko Gonzalez, 29, sexually exploited a minor female victim. Under the guise of taking her to church, he isolated her from her family, then used her to produce sexually explicit images and videos. He later distributed several of the images to others.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.
“Fransisco Gonzalez is on his way to prison where he will serve a very long sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “For his crimes, he deserves every day of that lengthy term. I commend the efforts of the team that brought this defendant to justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands committed to seeking justice for victims and to defending the defenseless.”
TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that two Mexican nationals received lengthy federal prison charges on Monday after trafficking methamphetamine in East Texas.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Eastern District of Texas, 38-year-old Leopoldo Alonso-Palacios and 37-year-old Juan Luis Salinas-Leon, both Mexican nationals illegally living in Center, were sentenced to 168 months and 262 months, respectively, for drug trafficking violations.
Officials said Alonso-Palacios and Salinas-Leon were stopped while driving on Interstate-20 in Wills Point for speeding, and after the officers to searched the vehicle, the men were found with 937.7 grams of methamphetamine and Salinas-Leon with a firearm. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The two most powerful Republicans in the state were at odds on Monday after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed the THC ban championed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, according to our news partner KETK.
Local shop owners who sell THC products said they breathed a sigh of relief with their customers after learning about the governor’s decision.
“I knew that doing the right thing, would be done,” Owner of CBD American Shaman, Morris Anderson said.” Governor Abbott is doing the right thing, and we definitely appreciate it.”
Anderson added that he’s encouraged by the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 3, and the decision is giving some comfort to customers worried about a potential ban.
“It’s a relief, a weight lifted because it’s customers that come through here, they’re dealing with a lot…I know my customers here appreciate them, and this world will appreciate it,” Anderson said. Read the rest of this entry »
WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro ISD school board considered firing Winnsboro ISD Police Chief Heath Guy on Monday after he was placed on administrative leave recently.
Our news partner KETK was at school board meeting on Monday where many Winnsboro residents showed up to voice their concerns. Earlier in June, former Winnsboro ISD assistant football coach Nicholas Gabriele was arrested arrested after allegedly admitting to having a sexual relationship with a student.
Chief Guy was reportedly put on leave because he didn’t notify the district about a Texas Rangers investigation into Gabriele. However, KETK spoke with Guy’s wife, Ashley Guy, on Monday and she said he was specifically told not to notify the district because that could be considered felony interference. Read the rest of this entry »
MT. VERNON – According to our news partner KETK, oil giant Halliburton has been awarded a contract to plan and design a geothermally-powered lithium mining project in Mt. Vernon that planners said could help end America’s dependence on Chinese lithium.
GeoFrame Energy’s geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) project is set to start work with Halliburton in late 2025 and will extract battery-grade lithium carbonate from the Smackover Formation, which lies beneath much of East Texas. Halliburton, a company with more than 100 years of expertise in drilling wells, will work with GeoFrame Energy during the drilling, construction, design and operation phases of their first demonstration wells before the companies expand to “full field development.”
“This major breakthrough in East Texas could be the key to solving the U.S. lithium supply challenge. GeoFrame Energy is expected to produce approximately 83,500 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually—enough to meet 100% of domestic demand,” GeoFrame Energy said in a press release. “By establishing a reliable, homegrown supply, the project offers significant economic and strategic benefits. It could also mark a turning point in ending U.S. dependence on Chinese lithium imports—a win for both Texas and the Trump administration.” Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A three-year-old and five-year-old girl both died when the boat the were in lost power and capsized on Cedar Creek Lake in Henderson County on Sunday night. According to our news partner KETK, the 21-foot-long boat capsized at around 10 p.m. on Sunday when they were heading back into shore. 10 adults were on board and made it to shore but the two children got stuck under the hull.
The boat reportedly began to take on water because it was over loaded and was then turned over by choppy water on the lake. First responders attempted to search for the girls but the tide was against them and they were pinned under the dock. The boat was eventually overturned a few hours later and the girls were found
POLK COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports an East Texas man was arrested on Friday after allegedly tricking an elderly person into paying him thousands of dollars in roof repairs he didn’t complete.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, on June 11 officers received a report from a local resident of a retirement community who had been scammed by 38-year-old Matthew “Billy” Boyce of Athens. Officials said Boyce scammed the elderly person out of several thousand dollars after Boyce told them he would repair their roof but didn’t do any work.
Boyce was arrested in Athens on Friday for exploitation of an elderly person and theft of a property, but has since bonded out of the Polk County Jail.
East Texans are encouraged to reach out to the Polk County Criminal Investigations Division if they were contacted by Boyce or have any information about him.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A Pennsylvania truck driver was arrested on Thursday after attempting to meet up with a 15-year-old boy during a Henderson County sting operation in February, according to our news partner KETK.
An affidavit from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office reveals that on Feb. 2, an officer started an operation using the online dating website and messaging platform, Hornet, to target people looking for sexual relations with minors.The document revealed that the officer created a profile with the persona being a 15-year-old boy living in Henderson County.
“On Feb. 8, at approximately 2:03 p.m., the officer’s profile received a Hornet direct message from an account with the username ‘Bek,’” the affidavit said. “… during the course of chatting with the Hornet profile, the user believed the officer to be a 15-year-old minor living in Tool, Texas as indicated in the chat log.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – UPDATE: Today is the set deadline for an agreement to be reached between CHRISTUS Health and BlueCross BlueShield.
According to a released statement from CHRISTUS Health, despite months of negotiations, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas(BCBSTX) has so far been unwilling to seriously consider CHRISTUS Health’s requests for equitable reimbursement rates to cover the rising costs of providing quality health care.
The statement says that BlueCross BlueShield’s similar aggressive negotiation tactics recently used with other health systems also raise concerns about their commitment to reach a fair contract.
CHRISTUS said in the statement, “We continue to make good-faith efforts to negotiate fair insurance rates to ensure all who might need us have access to the largest, highest-quality health care system in the communities we serve.”
CHRISTUS Health also said that they remain dedicated to reaching an agreement that is in the best interest of their employers, physicians, care centers and most importantly, their patients – and hope that the same is true for BCBSTX.
More information about the agreement, or lack thereof, will be released as details become available. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 responded to the scene of a boat crash on the Sabine River that left one person injured on Saturday according to our news partner KETK.
According to the district, a man was injured when one boat crashed into another boat on the Sabine River at around 10:30 a.m. near FM 14 in Lindale. The man was then flown by helicopter to be treated at a local hospital for a head injury he got in the crash.
Smith County Emergency Services District 2 told KETK that both boats made it back to boat ramp. Officials said Texas Game Wardens will be investigating the boat crash.
TYLER – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed East Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes’ Life of the Mother bill into law on Friday to clarify Texas’ ban on abortion for doctors.
According to our news partner KETK, Senate Bill 31, also known as the Life of the Mother Act, clears up language from the abortion ban law that Texas passed in 2022. According to Hughes, the bill is designed to make sure that women having medical emergencies can get an abortion. The bill includes a number of edits and clarifications to the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code. One change is to the definition of the term “life-threatening” which now includes conditions which may not be actively injuring a patient.
“This bill is to look at our pro-life laws and make the language even clearer, so there’s no question, no excuse when a mom presents with a medical emergency, she gets treated,” State Hughes said in March.
“For the purposes of Subsection (b)(2),”life-threatening” means capable of causing death or potentially fatal. A life-threatening physical condition is not necessarily one actively injuring the patient,” the text of Senate Bill 31 states. Read the rest of this entry »
SHELBY COUNTY — Our news partner KETK is reporting that officials identified the body of a man who drowned on Wednesday after his kayak flipped over at Lake Timpson.
The body of Gregory Parker, 43, of Timpson was found by dive teams at 9:41 Friday morning after two days of searching, according to Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Hanson. Parker and his friend were on kayaks at Lake Timpson when Parker’s kayak suddenly flipped over and he never resurfaced. Parker’s friend told officials that he heard a yell behind him and when he turned around Parker was below the water. According to Hanson, Parker’s friend called 911 near the area where Parker went under and the dive teams found the body almost exactly where a GPS tracked the call’s signal.
Multiple dive teams and law enforcement agencies helped recover Parker’s body including the DeSoto Parish Fire District 1 dive team and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office officials along with San Augustine and Hudson Fire Departments. Authorities do not suspect foul play and Parker’s body was sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a Florida man was arrested by Smith County officials on Friday after he refused to pull over while taking up both lanes on I-20.
At 1:47 p.m. a citizen reported that a gray 18-wheeler was straddling both lanes while driving eastbound on I-20 and was not allowing other drivers to pass. Officials identified the driver of the 18-wheeler as Cecil Devon Brown, 43, of Pensacola, Florida who recently quit his job at a transport company. The transport company told Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials that Brown did not have permission to drive the 18-wheeler and they believe he was fleeing to Florida.
As Brown continued to head east on I-20 near Highway 69, a constable with Smith County Precinct 5 attempted to get Brown to pull over by flashing his police lights, but Brown would not follow directions from law enforcement. Christian said officials believe that Brown was not trying to run from law enforcement because he never exceeded 70 miles per hour during the pursuit, they believe he just did not want to stop. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, after 32 years with Henderson County, Judge Wade McKinney announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection for the next term.
McKinney said he started working for the county in 1994 as a road hand who filled potholes and just wanted to chase cows. Since then he served 20 years as the county commissioner and as the county judge since 2019. McKinney is proud of what the county has accomplished during his time and he wants the public to know that his work as a public servant is ongoing.
“This is not about slowing down or saying goodbye,” McKinney said. “It is about shifting focus. I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and working on my land, getting back to some of the things I have always loved. I also want to help others navigate the challenges of local government with the knowledge and experience I have gained these last 32 years. The work is never really finished.”
McKinney thanked the public for trusting him with the honor of serving Henderson County and said that no matter what, he will still be a road hand at heart.
HUDSON – The City of Hudson in Angelina County has dissolved its police department, citing factors like leadership turnover, personnel matters and budget constraints, according to our news partner KETK.
“The decision was not made lightly and many factors went into this outcome, the most important factor, however, was ensuring that the citizens of the City of Hudson receive access to the best quality law enforcement and emergency services possible,” Hudson city officials said.
The city council voted to dissolve the police department in a special meeting on Tuesday. The decision came after city council members gave the department a 90-day grace period to find new leaders, strengthen their internal procedures and make sure their budget was used efficiently. Read the rest of this entry »
MABANK – A construction worker has died after a trench collapse incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Mabank, according to our news partner KETK. At around 10:30 a.m., Mabank Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of North State Highway 198 after reports of a construction site accident.
When rescue crews arrived, removed a worker from the ditch, and performed life-saving measures. The worker, identified as Abraham Gomez Cruz, 38 of Hutchins, was taken to a local hospital where he died shortly after.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and coworkers of Mr. Gomez during this incredibly difficult time,” the police department said.
The investigation remains ongoing by occupational safety officials to determine the cause of the collapse.
ARP – Nearly 20 members of the Arp ISD teaching staff will have a little extra cash in their pockets after being approved to receive the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA).
The TIA strives to recognize and retain promising teachers by creating incentivize programs for teachers who work in high-needs schools. Following the 2022-2023 school year, Arp ISD submitted applications for their educators to be entered into the TIA.
After the end of this school year, it was revealed that 17 members of the Arp teaching staff had been approved to join the TIA for their excellent work in the classroom. The teachers selected earned designations at one of three levels, including recognized, exemplary, and masters based on their classroom performance, student growth and rigorous evaluations.
“I am thrilled for these 17 teachers,” added Arp ISD Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Schminkey. “An incredible recognition for their hard work, dedication, and impact on students in the classroom.” Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: According to our news partner KETK and the Lufkin Police Department, the juvenile who was shot Tuesday evening in Lufkin died early Thursday morning at a Houston hospital.
26-year-old Julious Griffin was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Tuesday evening, and murder charges are now pending.
LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is behind bars after a shooting on Tuesday night on Percy Simond Street left one person injured. According to the police department, around 7 p.m. officers responded to a residence in the 100 block of Percy Simond Street. When they arrived, 26-year-old Julious Griffin admitted to the officers that he shot the juvenile in the leg, but claimed self-defense.
Griffin has been booked in to the Angelina County Jail on the following charges: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and Deadly conduct.
The person that was injured was taken to a local hospital, but then later flown to an out-of-town facility. Their condition and identity have not been released as of this writing.
CHANDLER — City of Chandler Police Chief Kalon Rollins was appointed as the interim city administrator on Wednesday night by the city council according to our news partner KETK.
Rollins will continue his role as chief of police while serving as the interim city administrator, and he said this new responsibility will not affect police services. Rollins’ main goal during his time as administrator is to move the city forward with the help of the mayor and city council.
“I have a great staff who already handles the daily operation of the police department and who completely support my acceptance of this new position; therefore, this change will not have any effect on police services,” Rollins said. “I have graciously accepted this position for one main purpose: to move the city forward.”
According to Rollins, city leaders will work to create the necessary changes and move in a positive direction while being honest with Chandler residents.
JACKSONVILLE– Hundreds of people across East Texas packed into Jacksonville’s City Hall for the groundwater board’s public hearing on the 21 high capacity well drilling permit.
According to our news partner KETK, the Neches and Trinity County’s Groundwater Conservation District voted unanimously to send the contested hearing to an independent state agency for mediation.
People who spoke at the meeting were resident, mayors, county commissioners, county judges, water companies and state representatives.
“All of rural East Texas, all of our rural East Texas counties, will be affected. Our cities will not be able to have businesses. Everyone’s going to have to move away,” New Summerfield resident, Jennifer Murphy-Vick said.
Other community members spoke out about how this issue may be the size of a drop of water now, but could turn into an ocean of problems if nothing is done. Read the rest of this entry »