Today is
Friday June 05, 2026
LINDALE – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt has expressed concerns about Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal to eliminate the property taxes that fund Texas public schools. Abbott visited Tyler on Wednesday to announce a five-point plan to lower property taxes. On top of limiting how much local governments can spend, Abbott also proposed needing a two-thirds majority to pass future tax increases, which Surratt called undemocratic.
“Obviously, the first concern is are our public schools going to be properly funded in the future?” Surratt asked. “Of course, everybody wants taxes to go down, but you’ve got to have the revenue source to pay for our schools and other things, counties, roads, whatever it may be. Of course, he did not give that option, how we would properly fund schools in the future if we do away with local property taxes?”
“The devil’s in the details, and concerning if you do away with our property taxes, how are those bonds paid that people already paid for, and so I think he’s talking about the M and O property tax, the day-to-day operations. The bonding indebtedness, the INS property taxes, those would continue,” Surratt said. “He did mention a two-thirds majority vote for future bonds. I guess he doesn’t believe in the democratic process. More than 50% decide on something, so that’s alarming. That doesn’t seem like a democracy when you have two-thirds of the people deciding something.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was in Tyler Wednesday for a Texas Taxpayer Empowerment event, just days after officially announcing his reelection campaign in Houston over the weekend.
According to our news partner KETK, Abbott is expected to outline his plan to empower Texas taxpayers and provide property tax relief. His plan would give voters more power to decide whether to eliminate certain property taxes altogether. The governor will be joined by several East Texas lawmakers, including Rep. Daniel Alders, Rep. Jay Dean, Rep. Cole Hefner, Rep. Brent Money and Rep. Joanne Shofner, along with other local officials.
On Sunday, Abbott launched his campaign for a fourth term as governor, unveiling new proposals aimed at curbing local property tax increases. This comes shortly after Texas voters approved two constitutional amendments in the November election designed to provide additional property tax relief to homeowners. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A former Lindale daycare worker has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, Catherine Elizabeth Guziejka, 45, was arrested in October 2023 while working at Punkin’ Doodles Day Care. Surveillance footage captured Guziejka assaulting six children under her care. According to an affidavit, the footage revealed approximately 100 incidents involving the assaults.
Guziejka was booked into the Smith County Jail on Oct. 30, 2024 and later pleaded guilty to six counts of injury to a child. As part of her plea agreement, she received a 10-year sentence for each count. Her sentences will run concurrently, resulting in a total of 10 years in prison.
TATUM – The Tatum City Council met on Monday night and the first item on their agenda was reviewing formal complaints and concerns raised against chief of police James Smith.
Leading up to the meeting, council members received an anonymous email from concerned citizens asking them to review past conduct from their police chief and asking what the council will do to restore public trust. The city’s mayor responded with his own email saying he will bring all facts forward, but the council will have the final decision.
Following the closed-door executive session, the council voted on the four written complaints against Chief Smith, deciding unanimously to take no action on three complaints. The city council acted on the fourth complaint, voting for a hard verbal warning and directing him to take a class.
“Because it is a personal concern, we are exempt from discussing that in open session, so at that point, we will adjourn to executive session, council will discuss the matters in regards to the complaints,” Mayor Michael Henry said.
Chief John Smith declined to provide a comment to our news partner KETK.
SMITH COUNTY — Authorities are investigating an entrapment involving a cement mixer that occurred in Smith County on Monday evening.
According to our news partner KETK and the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, Nikki Simmons, the incident occurred on County Road 3181 and FM 14 in Lindale. Simmons also confirmed that smoke was coming from one of the vehicles. Simmons confirmed injuries have been reported.
CANTON — Canton ISD is working with local law enforcement after a school bus was involved in a crash on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK and Canton ISD all students were checked by school personnel and emergency responders, and no injuries were reported. Canton ISD said they are working closely with laws enforcement to investigate the incident and that safety is their top priority.
Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the incident can reach out to Canton ISD Administrative Office at 903-567-4179.
LUFKIN – Our news partner KETK is reporting that two people were sent to a local hospital on Sunday after a crash at Loop 287 and U.S. Highway 59.
According to Lufkin PD, the feeder lanes at Loop 287 and U.S. 59 south were shut down after two trucks crashed at around 2 p.m. on Sunday near the Palms Shopping Center.
A Lufkin PD post said that two people involved in the crash have been taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was cleared and reopened by 4 p.m. on Sunday.
WHITEHOUSE –The grand opening of the new Whitehouse City Center took place on Thursday evening, offering a new gathering space for the community.
According to our news partner KETK, the center features an event space for over 100 people, a formal meeting room available for public use, a training room for city and local organizations, and a dedicated area for children to study and meet. The building housing the new center has a rich history, having previously served as a church, a gym, and a market. This historical significance adds to the community’s appreciation of the new center.
The project began in 2021 and was developed with input from the local community, reflecting the needs and desires of Whitehouse residents. The Whitehouse City Center is set to become a central hub for community activities, preserving the building’s historical essence while providing modern amenities for residents.
LUFKIN — According to our news partner KETK, a Lufkin man accused of shooting at police during a 2024 standoff has been found not guilty of aggravated assault.
Jason Penick, 47, was arrested in June 2024 after a disturbance call in the 700 block of Clark Avenue escalated into an hours-long standoff involving the Lufkin Police Department, its SWAT team, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. At the time, police said Penick had fired at responding officers before barricading himself inside the home.
According to the Angelina County District Clerk’s Office, Penick’s trial in the 159th District Court began Tuesday and concluded Wednesday, when the jury returned a not guilty verdict. Penick’s district attorney confirmed that court testimony revealed no witnesses – including other officers – saw anyone fire a weapon during the incident but did report hearing what sounded like gunfire. Investigators later recovered a gun from the scene but found no shell casings or bullet holes.
Penick told investigators the sound the officers heard was caused by a dresser falling.
UPDATE: A $1.3 million bond has been set for Bobby Dennis, the suspect accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer and a K-9.
JACKSONVILLE — The man accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer and a K-9 has been arrested after a four-day manhunt, according to our news partner KETK.
At around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, multiple agencies assisted the Jacksonville Police Department in serving a search warrant at a property on County Road 3509, west of the Jacksonville city limits, to arrest Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, of Jacksonville. According to officials, Dennis was found in a wooded area near the property and surrendered to law enforcement without incident.
The four-day manhunt was initiated after Dennis allegedly shot a Jacksonville police officer and a K9 on Sunday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. after the officer approached Dennis outside of his home because she knew he was wanted on two warrants for obstruction and retaliation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, a man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a child under 14-years-old in Tyler, Overton and Bossier City, La., according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
Overton Police Department Chief Bryan Pool led a multi-agency investigation that started on Feb. 12 after a child under the age of 14 reported that Cory Grant, 37, of Overton, had sexually assaulted her. The victim reported that Grant had sexually assaulted her four times over three weeks in January 2024, once in Bossier City, once in Tyler and twice in Overton. Through the cooperation of Overton Police Department, the FBI, Child Protective Services and the Tyler Police Department, investigators learned that Grant had been dating the victim’s mother since November of 2023.
A Smith County jury found Grant guilty of Aggravated Assault of a Child in the 114th District Court on Thursday. The jury then sentenced Grant to life in prison on Friday.
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly shot one of their officers while they were on duty Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, a Jacksonville PD officer was shot during an encounter with 64-year-old Bobby Michael Dennis at around 4:41 p.m. on Sunday. Dennis is described as a Black man who was last seen wearing all black clothing.
The officer has been flown for treatment at a local hospital and is currently in stable condition, according to a press release. The Kilgore Police Department said that a Jacksonville PD K9 was also injured on Sunday and is currently in stable condition while being treated at a local emergency vet.
Jacksonville PD warned residents of Benson Memorial and the 1100 block of Churchill Street to stay inside with their doors locked because Dennis is armed with a rifle and considered dangerous. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER – The Gilmer Police Department has arrested eight people as a part of a Halloween weekend initiative they called “Operation BOO-ty Call”, according to our news partner KETK.
Gilmer PD said the operation was a proactive effort that resulted in the arrest of eight people for drug and prostitution-related offenses, along with the seizure of illegal drugs. The operation’s targets were partly selected based on community crime reports and Gilmer PD’s own investigations. “The department emphasizes that proactive initiatives like Operation BOO-ty Call are part of its ongoing commitment to reducing crime, fostering public trust and maintaining transparency with the community,” Gilmer PD said.
The following arrests were made as a part of “Operation BOO-ty Call”: Corey Liley, Justin White, Eric Smith, Corey Rhymes, Waymon Freeney and Juan Flores Soto were arrested for solicitation of prostitution. Mary Melugin was arrested for prostitution and Christopher Hilley was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of a dangerous drug. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – 1 person is in critical condition after they were injured in a rollover crash that happened on Interstate 20 near Lindale on Saturday night. The Lindale Fire Department said firefighters were sent to the scene of a one-vehicle rollover crash at around 11: 01 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 555 on I-20 westbound.
When crews arrived at the scene they found one person who was critically injured and pinned inside a heavily damaged vehicle. Firefighters were able to remove the person and they were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Lindale Fire Department said the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
TYLER — As the federal government shutdown continues, food banks across East Texas are ramping up emergency response efforts to support families who have missed paychecks and are impacted by a potential disruption in SNAP benefits. According to our news partner KETK and Feeding Texas, more than 3.5 million Texans participate in the SNAP program to help put food on their tables. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, those who rely on SNAP benefits may not receive their November benefits on schedule.
Feeding Texas estimates that at least 126,000 Texans could be affected each day that SNAP payments are delayed.
“When you consider that the vast majority of SNAP recipients are children, seniors, and people with disabilities, the stakes become painfully clear,” Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, said. “These are our neighbors, our grandparents, our kids. A delay in benefits isn’t just inconvenient—it’s devastating. It means empty pantries, skipped meals, and added stress for families already living on the edge.” Read the rest of this entry »