Today is
Friday July 24, 2026
TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK, 21 year-old man was found dead inside a Texarcana home on Saturday.
Officials responded to the home on Carroll Street after receiving reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found the 21-year-old dead and a 52-year-old injured. The 52-year-old was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. This marks the first homicide investigation of the year for the department and anybody with information is asked to contact them at 903-798-3875 or Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP to leave an anonymous tip.
”It looks like the shooter – or shooters – fired several rounds into the house from the street before running off,” the department said.
A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information.
WACO – Our news partner KETK is reporting that Whitehouse native and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Waco on Saturday.
Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl Champion, was quarterback for the Whitehouse High School Wildcats before playing for Texas Tech University in college. Whitehouse ISD Athletics congratulated him on his achievements and being a part of the 2025 Texas High School Football Hall of Fame class.
“Congratulations to our very own Patrick Mahomes on being inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame! From Friday night lights at Whitehouse High to the brightest stage in the NFL, Patrick has always represented our community with class, grit and heart. This honor is a testament to his hard work, leadership, and the legacy he continues to build both on and off the field. Congratulations, Patrick! Your journey continues to inspire young athletes here in East Texas and across the country. We’re so proud to call you one of our own!”
Whitehouse ISD Athletics
Mahomes wasn’t the only #bEASTTexas legend to be honored this year. Legendary Gilmer Buckeyes football coach Jeff Traylor and longtime East Texas sports broadcaster David Smoak were right alongside Mahomes in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
TYLER – The Dollar General Literacy Fund recently awarded $61,500 in literacy grants to East Texas nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools.
“For over 30 years, the Foundation has been investing in literacy and basic education programs in our hometown communities,” executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Denine Torr told our news partner KETK. “Today’s grant announcement is a celebration of our unwavering commitment to student and teacher success. We are grateful to all the grant recipients for their commitment to advancing education and helping students thrive.”
The Texan organizations receiving the grants are expected to help more than 50,000 individuals. The grants will help support schools, public libraries and nonprofit organizations that are within a 15 mile radius of a Dollar General Store or distribution center.
A list of the donations and the programs that received them can be found here.
LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that this May, Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center is recognizing National Stroke Awareness month by bringing attention to the risk factors and prevention methods that are associated with the disease.
According to local medical professionals a stroke is defined as a disruption of blood flow due to the blockage of an artery most commonly caused by a blood clot. Joe Bowers, the stroke medical director at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center, said that about 85% of strokes are labeled as ischemic strokes and the remaining 15% are considered hemorrhagic strokes.
Bowers described how damaging a stroke could be to the brain. “For every minute that you’re having a stroke you’re losing millions of brain cells. That varies depending on the size of the stroke and what part. The longer you go, the more the brain is being affected,” said Bowers. “Within the first few hours there’s this window where those brain cells are kind of stunned but they’re salvageable. After the first few hours those brain cells typically don’t recover. So the quicker we can intervene, the more likely we can salvage more brain tissue that hasn’t been permanently injured. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Rains County Justice of the Peace Robert Jenkins Franklin was arrested on Wednesday for two counts of official oppression and two counts of tampering with a witness.
Franklin is currently being held at the Van Zandt County Detention Center
ORIGINAL STORY: RAINS COUNTY – An East Texas judge is accused of threatening a defendant, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
A lawsuit filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, alleges that Justice of the Peace Jenkins Franklin threatened Coby Wiebe to enter a guilty plea in a criminal case over which he had no jurisdiction, saying, “I heard you have a problem with me, boy. You take that deal, boy — or dead men can’t testify.” Two days later, the defendant entered a no-contest plea in a felony case. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK, the Texarkana Police Department is looking for a suspect identified in a string of burglaries at two oil change businesses in Texas and one in Arkansas.
Surveillance video from a nearby apartment complex captured two men carrying a safe while running from one of the businesses, Texarkana PD said. Authorities identified one suspect as Jaquavion Williams and issued felony warrants for his arrest. Williams told detectives he would turn himself in, but that did not happen.
Police are asking for those with information about William’s whereabouts to call them at 903-798-3116 or contact Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP. People with information can stay anonymous and possibly earn a $1,000 reward.
TYLER — Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was involved in a leadership assessment while working in the Vatican, that lead to Bishop Joseph Strickland’s removal from the Diocese of Tyler in 2023 according to our news partner KETK.
The Vatican Dicastery for Bishops performed a formal investigation of Strickland looking into his social media use and diocesan management. Strickland, who served at the Diocese of Tyler for 11 years, faced criticism on several posts including a tweet that said Pope Francis was “undermining the Deposit of Faith.”Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson conducted the investigation and concluded that Strickland’s tenure in office should not continue.
Pope Francis, known for his more progressive values, was open about his concerns with conservatives being in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Strickland opposed Francis’ stance on LGBTQ Catholics and having women in governance, according to the Associated Press. Read the rest of this entry »
GOLDEN OAKS – According to a report from our news partner KETK, a woman was attacked by a pack of dogs in Golden Oaks Wednesday night and had to be airlifted to a local hospital.
Around 8:41 p.m., Payne Springs Fire Rescue volunteers received a call about a woman who was attacked by a pack of dogs and experienced traumatic injuries, officials said. When volunteers arrived, they requested UT Health Air 1 launch to the Gun Barrel City Fire helicopter pad.
The woman’s condition is unknown at this time.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A man arrested in Gun Barrel City has been sentenced to life in prison after multiple grams of illegal drugs were found inside his vehicle, according to our news partner KETK.
Jeffrey Lee Sharp was arrested in October 2023 during a routine traffic stop. According to officials, during the stop an investigator smelled marijuana coming from Sharp’s car, which led him to conduct a probable cause search of the vehicle. During the search a clear baggie that contained multiple baggies with methamphetamine and a bag of marijuana.
During the court hearing, the jury heard testimony stated that Sharp was a habitual offender, which extended his sentence. Sharp was previously sentenced to 35 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance and was on parole at the time of his arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in a residential neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.
According to our news partner KETK, the shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. outside a home near Wilson and Culverhouse streets. The suspects were seen driving a gray four door Nissan sedan according to Lufkin PD. Nobody was injured during the shooting and officials believe this was a targeted incident. Witnesses were unable to identify a suspect and Lufkin PD is still seeking information. Anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 639-TIPS or contact the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 633-0359.
TYLER – Tyler City council will call a vote to amend an ordinance, establishing a hazard area by the six runways at Tyler Pounds. The predicted areas to be impacted the most are outlined in black, but the final decision will be made by the FAA according to our news partner KETK.
Business owners within the heavily restricted area are confused about what they can have on their property. If the ordinance were to pass, the FAA would restrict various building heights, frequencies, lighting concerns, and business that could attract birds to the area.
The vote will be taken by city council, May 28.
AUSTIN – According to our news partner KETK, Texas House of Representative passed a bill sponsored by Republican State Rep. Cody Harris of Palestine on Tuesday to help rural hospitals and preserve access care across East Texas.
In 2019, Harris said they created a tool to help smaller counties work together to fund Medicaid through local participation programs. This bill will extend this ‘life-saving’ program and give rural communities the stability they need to keep their secure and care available close to home.
Harris said he is proud to carry HB 3505 and fight for the future of rural healthcare in Texas.
SMITH COUNTY – According to the Tyler Morning Telegraph, county officials are looking at future jail needs, but say there are no current plans to expand or seek bond funding.
County Judge Neal Franklin said the presentation of of a jail feasibility study is only to prepare for the future.
“This is something that I felt like we needed to present,” Franklin said. “There are no bond plans – let me make that really clear. There is no plan on putting a November bond election for any jail or anything in fact.”
The study looks at population growth, inmate trends, and the county’s current jail setup. Based on those findings, it projects future needs and how those could be met with new construction. The current capacity across the downtown and North Jail is 1,092 beds. According to the study, the county may need between 1,400 and 1,500 beds in the future. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the City of Frankston said the city has nearly 25 homes with trees toppled on them and one injury as a result of severe weather.
East Texas was slammed with severe weather Tuesday afternoon that caused quite a scare for people in Frankston. Even though the storm has passed, the damage has left its mark on the community. At one Frankston home, more than five trees fell directly on top of the roof.
The Frankston Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Gerald Hall said the path of the storm is quite noticeable in the city.
In a separate neighborhood, one person went to the hospital with a broken ankle after a tree fell on the person’s home. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Our news partner KETK reports that an 18-wheeler is jackknifed at I-20 mile marker 553 eastbound, and blocking the right lane, according to the Lindale Fire Department.
Traffic is down to one lane, and drivers are encouraged to slow down and use caution during severe weather.
HALLSVILLE – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking answers in relation to a murder that occurred in 2013 in Hallsville and has yet to be solved, according to our news partner KETK.
51-year-old Lillian Desiree Descoteau’s body was found by two truck drivers near FM 450 ramp onto IH-20, just south of Hallsville on October 7, 2013, according to officials.
“She had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled. Descoteau’s body was only clothed in a light blue pullover, a white bra and a shiny diamond stud earring in one ear,” DPS said.
Descoteau had lived in several states across the country, including Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Georgia and lastly Irving, Texas, where she worked as a commercial driver for a brief period. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – The Kilgore Fire Department said that the U.S. 259 Bypass in front of Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore is closed after a major accident Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the Kilgore Fire and Rescue Unit is on scene of a major motor vehicle accident and the roadway will be closed for an extended amount of time.
The department encourages people to find an alternate route of travel.
AUSTIN – House Bill 2109, which aims to stop the Marvin Nichols Reservoir, has passed through committee but still needs to be heard on the Texas State House floor to be voted on.
According to our news partner KETK, East Texas supporters of the bill are encouraging everyone to call members of the Texas State House Calendar Committee to put HB 2109 on the schedule to be heard. Organizers said it is a bipartisan issue that affects everyone.
HB 2109 passed out of the Natural Resources Committee on April 23 but the Calendar Committee has decide when to allow it to be heard by May 15. The 57-year-old plan could flood up to 200,000 acres of land, leaving homes and schools to be moved. The possibility of the project coming to fruition has paralyzed hardworking East Texans like Casey Conway.
The last day for House bills to be considered on the floor is May 16 at midnight, but Conway fears it will not be chosen. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said that Hyemin “Katherine” Wee was found dead in a wooded area near the Garden Valley Golf Resort at around 3:45 p.m. on Monday.
Wee was the subject of a search on Monday morning after she was last seen on Sunday. According to the sheriff’s office, investigators are the scene where she was found and they don’t suspect foul play as of Monday evening.
Smith County Pct. 5 Justice of the Peace Judge Danny Brown performed an inquest at the scene and has ordered an autopsy. Sheriff Larry Smith thanked the International ALERT Academy and law enforcement personnel for helping to find Wee.
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing woman last seen on Sunday. Read the rest of this entry »
MABANK – According to our news partner KETK, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man for injury to an elderly individual, assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest in Mabank on Tuesday, April 29. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KETK, a sheriff’s office deputy responded to a reported assault at a home on Zuni Street in Mabank at around 3:25 a.m. on Tuesday.
When the deputy arrived at the scene, he met with Forrest Outcalt, 40 of Mabank, on the porch of the home. The affidavit described that Outcalt told the deputy he had been in an argument with his roommate about him not paying bills on time. Outcalt stated he then went outside to leave the argument when his roommate followed him out and attacked him.
The affidavit reports that Outcalt told the deputy he was so scared by his roommate that he slapped him in the face. The deputy then spoke with Outcult’s roommate, an 82-year-old man. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Kaufman County has issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to McEuen’s capture, according to our news partner KETK.
The sheriff’s office said they believe Trevor McEuen has left the Van Zandt County area. McEuen had been living with his family in Van Zandt County before he removed his ankle monitor and went on the run. The sheriff’s office said they the public should not be in fear of their safety.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office is searching for a man who was due in court on Monday for a murder charge in Kaufman County.
According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and other local agencies are near U.S. Highway 80 east of Grand Saline searching for Trevor McEuen. Around 5:33 a.m. on Monday, McEuen removed his ankle monitor and left his home hours before he was due in court on a murder charge in Kaufman County, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing woman last seen on Sunday, according to our news partner KETK.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said they received a missing persons call on Sunday at around 11:30 p.m. Deputies responded to an area near Garden Valley Golf Course, where they found the missing person’s vehicle.
Hyemin “Katherine” Wee is described as an Asian woman, 5 feet 2 inches, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Officials said she could be wearing a black or dark gray V-neck T-shirt. Wee has made recent suicidal statements.
“At this time, multiple law enforcement agencies and fire departments are in the area searching for Hyemin Wee,” Smith County officials said. “The search area includes Garden Valley Golf Course, the surrounding wooded areas and residential areas. This has been an ongoing effort since early this morning and will continue throughout the day.”
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-566-6600 or call 911.
LONGVIEW – Our news partner, KETK, reports that East Texans were able to gain and provide some insight about the federal budget.
East Texas Congressional representative Nathaniel Moran hosted a budget workshop in Tyler and Longview this past week to hear from residents. The workshops were held to give Moran an opportunity to hear from East Texans about their opinions on the federal budget, and how they believe it should be managed.
The congressman emphasized what these kinds of events mean to him. “It’s one of my favorite things to do. Every time I learn something, so I can be their voice in Washington DC,” Moran said.
With Trump’s proposed cut to nearly $6 billion from the education budget and return the power to the state, Rep. Moran spoke about how he agrees with the proposal.
“Return the power to our local school districts and get the federal government out of our government,” Rep. Moran said.
The budget workshop took place on May 1 in Tyler and again on May 2 in Longview, giving residents of both cities a chance to voice their opinions on the federal budget and giving Moran a chance to answer any questions that may arise.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office is searching for a man who was due in court on Monday for a murder charge in Kaufman County.
According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and other local agencies are near U.S. Highway 80 east of Grand Saline searching for Trevor McEuen, who has removed his ankle monitor, and was due in court Monday for a murder charge in Kaufman County.
Officials said that Kaufman County has an active warrant for bail revocation for capital murder. Authorities are asking East Texans if they see anything suspicious in the area to contact 911 and not to attempt to apprehend McEuen.
“The sheriff’s office is working to ensure the safety of all citizens in Van Zandt County,” the sheriff’s office said.
PITTSBURG – The Camp County Commissioner’s Court declared the county as a “Sanctuary County for the Unborn” in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, according to our news partner KETK.
The passed ordinance outlaws abortion at the county level in Camp County and prohibits travelling from or through Camp County on the way to get an abortion, according to a post from East Texas State Rep. Cole Hefner.
“I commend Judge A.J. Mason and the entire Commissioners’ Court for their courage and commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us,” said Hefner. “This isn’t just a symbolic statement—it’s a legally enforceable action that honors the sanctity of life and strengthens Texas’ stance as a leader in the fight for the unborn.”
According to Hefner, Camp County is the first county in East Texas to pass such an ordinance, making it one of ten such counties in the United States. Texas made abortion illegal in Texas in 2022 after the state’s “trigger law” took effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe V. Wade.
UPDATE: Como-Pickton CISD said a student has been identified and caught by law enforcement in connection to a threat made to a teacher on Friday night.
“Let me reiterate that we have zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” Como-Pickton CISD said. “We want to thank the effort, work and support of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Tatum.”
COMO, Texas (KETK) — Como-Pickton CISD has been working with police after a person threatened they would shoot a teacher over the phone Friday night, school officials said.
According to the district, someone pulled a prank on a teacher late Friday night by calling her with a spoof number. The person used threatening language when talking to the teacher about raising their grade and threatened to shoot her if it didn’t happen, the school said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, a man was arrested for a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child in Tyler on Thursday, Smith County Jail records show.
The Tyler Police Department began looking into the case on April 16 after they were dispatched to the UT Health ER in Tyler in regard to a sexual assault call they received. Once at the ER, officers reported that they spoke with a nurse who informed them that an underage girl from a group home was brought in by her caregiver and believed to have had sexual relationships with an adult man, an arrest affidavit showed.
While at the ER, the victim’s caregiver informed detectives that the victim had run away on Monday, April 14 and did not return until the morning of April 15. Once the victim returned to the group home, she informed her caregiver that she had sexual intercourse with an unknown man while she was away, according to an arrest affidavit. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Nacogdoches man was arrested on Thursday night after a person was found dead lying in the street with stab wounds.
According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, around 10:45 p.m., police and fire responded to the 2220 block of Maybell St. between Sweetgum St. and Fourth St., and found Sirveorge Deron Jones, 40, of Nacogdoches lying dead in the street with several stab wounds.
Officials said that officers found a large amount of blood and the location of the incident at a nearby home. Officers then spoke with Emar’ian Nikhy Trezmin Jones, 23, of Nacogdoches, who told them that he had stabbed Sirveorge during a family argument.
Emar’ian was arrested for murder, and booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail on Friday. The department said that this incident is not related to the murder that occured at Eastwood Terrance Monday evening, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Henderson County man was sentenced to 13 years in prison after his 18-month-old child was found dead in December 2021.
According to court records, Daniel David Dennis, 28, plead guilty to injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison on Thursday. While, two original charges of abandoning or endangering a child were dismissed.
Daniel was arrested with his wife, Erin Michelle Dennis, 27, on Dec. 15, 2021 after their toddler was found dead, the Henderson County Sherriff’s Office said. Inside their home authorities found two other children, human feces on the wall, and dirty diapers on the floor. Read the rest of this entry »