Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
RUSK– Due to a water line leak, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company to issue a boil water notice to all of their customers. Residents are asked to boil their water prior to consumption, including washing hands or face, brushing teeth and drinking. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria and are asked to follow these directions.
Our news partner KETK is reporting that in lieu of boiling, individuals can purchase bottled water. When the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Rusk Rural Water Supply will notify its customers. Those with any questions can call 903-683-6178.
Areas in Rusk that are affected include: FM 786, Piney Grove Road, County Road 1310, County Road 1313, County Road1314, County Road1328, County Road 1503, County Road1504, County Road 1506, County Road 1508 and County Road 1528.
TYLER – According to a press release from the Tyler Police Department, on July 13th Tyler Police responded to a residence in the 1700 block of N. Fannin Ave in Tyler on report of a homicide.
The victim has been identified as Juan Ramon Meza, a 39-year-old male. Tyler Police Detectives investigating this case were able to identify a suspect identified as Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, (pictured), a 49-year-old male. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Murder, a 1st degree felony on Vega with a $1,000,000 bond.
“This was not a random act of violence,” police said. “If you have any information on the location of Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.”
If you have any information on the location of Rodrigo Jaimes Vega, please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.
LONGVIEW – A man was arrested Monday morning after he allegedly shot a woman in a Longview motel the night before, according to our news partner KETK.
On Sunday around 10:27 p.m., officers from the Longview Police Department responded to the Palace Inn Motel on East Marshall Avenue, where a woman was found with a gunshot wound.
Officials said the victim was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries while the suspect, 59-year-old Michael Duane Jones, ran from the scene before officers arrived. Jones was found on Monday, and arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest.
Anyone with any additional information is encouraged to contact the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 903-237-1199 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP (7867) to remain anonymous.
TYLER — Three people were arrested in Tyler on Saturday after they allegedly stole from T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, according to our news partner KETK.
The Tyler Police Department responded to The Village Cumberland Park on S. Broadway Avenue, where two people were stealing from T.J. Maxx. Once an officer arrived at the store, he saw the first suspect, Latavia Hall, jumping into the back seat of a 2004 Dodge Durango, and the second suspect, Deaarion Walpool, beginning to run from the scene. However, the officer caught up with Walpool.
A T.J. Maxx employee told the officer that he saw Hall and Walpool inside the store going outside, stealing goods, placing the stolen merchandise into the vehicle and coming back inside to steal more. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – The Nacogdoches man who was on the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List was arrested on Friday in Houston. According to Texas DPS, Jacob Aaron Kessler, a convicted sex offender, was arrested on Friday after a multi-agency operation in Houston. Kessler was wanted for three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He is now being held in the Nacogdoches County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY: Our news partner KETK reports that authorities are searching for a man wanted for sexual assault of a child in Nacogdoches County.
According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Jacob Aaron Kessler, 40, is a white man who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs around 215 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the non-emergency dispatch number at 936-559-2607 or their local law enforcement agency.
LONGVIEW – Several school districts are being negatively impacted by the recent funding freeze, including Longview ISD, which is being forced to withhold funds from several academic programs just before the start of the new school year.
The Trump administration withheld more than $6 billion in federal grants on July 1 for after-school and summer programs, adult literacy and English language instruction, as a part of a review to ensure spending aligned with White House priorities. Due to this withholding of federal grants, funding for multiple programs initiated to benefit Longview students and teachers will be significantly reduced.
“Nearly $1 million in federal funds are earmarked for real student needs,” Longview ISD said. “Needs like academic supports for struggling students, or resources for hard-working teachers, or countless other crucial provisions for our most vulnerable young people.”
The following Longview ISD programs will lose funds as part of the federal funding freeze: Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – CHRISTUS Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas are now 13 days away from a looming deadline.
If a new contract is not signed, Blue Cross customers would lose in-network access to CHRISTUS doctors and facilities. The two companies are currently negotiating a new agreement. The current contracts were set to expire on July 1 but days before the deadline an extension was given until Aug. 1.
As the first of August approaches Blue Cross users remain worried. Local nurse and former CHRISTUS patient, Stephanie Jones is worried that people won’t be able to afford their out of pocket medical costs.
“I just wonder how many people are not gonna be able to do that, they’re going to be forced to changed caregivers when they don’t want to,” Jones said.
Benefits that would be affected include Blue Cross Medicare, Medicaid, Blue HMO, PPO and FEP plans. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to help train local behavioral health interns who work throughout East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, the grant was awarded to the university’s program to train behavioral health interns. Currently, the program is lead by Dr. Stephanie Simmons, an associate professor at the School of Medicine.
Thanks to $1.5 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the program will be able to expand from training six interns to 30. The 24 new interns will focus on training child and adolescent psychology while rotating throughout clinics across East Texas.
“This funding will enhance how we can serve the community, making behavioral health care more accessible—especially in rural regions,” UT Tyler School of Medicine dean Dr. Sue Cox said.
“Investments in behavioral health are needed everywhere—and nowhere is that more evident than right here in East Texas.” Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT – Three people were arrested in Mount Pleasant on July 12 after it was discovered that they robbed six different stores across the state, according to police.
The Mount Pleasant Police Department said officers arrived at a Walgreens in Mount Pleasant on July 12 after receiving reports of a shoplifting incident at the store. Officers found the three suspects involved in theft a few blocks away from the store and arrested them. The suspects were identified as 20-year-old Aaniya Thompson, 19-year-old Omarion Ricks and 20-year-old Destiny Cummings.
Following the arrest, it was discovered that the suspects had stolen over $1,500 worth of products from Walgreens, and it was also revealed that the three suspects had conducted large-scale thefts in Commerce, Greenville, and Sulphur Springs.
“Kudos to our officers for stopping these traveling thieves, and solving crimes that occurred in four different cities and at six different stores,” the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – A man was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting and murder of two brothers in Jacksonville in 2023, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
On April 22, 2023, Coray McCuin and Tony McCuin were leaving a home on Clemons Drive in Jacksonville when Dexter Lynn Davis fatally shot them and ran from the scene.
Officials from the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office said Jacksonville police officers responded to the scene, and began working the investigation, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Officers later found Davis in a hotel room at the Truckers Inn in Jacksonville. While Davis was being questioned, he made statements corroborating his role in the murders. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Two suspects who reportedly robbed two people at gunpoint in Downtown Tyler Friday morning have been arrested, according to our news partner KETK.
According to the Tyler Police Department, two people were held at gunpoint and robbed at around 10:20 a.m. on Kennedy. Neither of the victims were injured at the time of the incident. Following the incident, one suspect was arrested on West Philips, and the other was arrested on West Rusk Street.
Both have been charged with aggravated robbery. Their identities have not been released.
OVERTON – Our news partner KETK reports that Overton Fire Chief Mickey Hamilton announced his retirement on Thursday, effective immediately, citing drama and ongoing internal conflict, including alleged micromanagement from the city manager, as his main reasons for the sudden departure.
In a letter, Hamilton stated that the disrespect displayed by the city manager had rendered the role untenable. He said this was not how he expected to close the chapter, which had lasted 46 years, during which he had protected and served the community.
Hamilton said he wishes he had finished his career with ‘dignity and peace,’ helping mentor future leaders and building a stronger department. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK a driver died in a crash on Jarvis Parkway in Texarkana on Thursday afternoon. The Texarkana Police Department said two vehicles were traveling southbound on Jarvis near Leapard Drive at around 3 p.m. on Thursday when they collided into each other. During the crash, one of the vehicles was flipped on its side, causing the driver to be ejected from the car.
The person ejected from the vehicle was transported to a hospital, where he later died, while the driver of the other vehicle was not injured.
“We’re not releasing the victim’s name until his family has been notified. In the meantime, please keep everyone involved in your thoughts during this very difficult period,” the Texarkana Police Department said.
Update: Smith County officials said that one person has died in a motorcycle and two car crash, late Thursday afternoon.
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Emergency Services District 2 confirmed that three people have been hospitalized after a crash on Highway 155 near Coffee City on Thursday, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
The district said the crash occurred after a motorcycle and two cars collided near Cherokee Trail and County Road 189 on Highway 155 South near Lake Palestine. One person who was injured had to be transported to a local hospital by a helicopter, while two others were transported by ambulance.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office and local firefighters responded to the crash, which left traffic blocked on Highway 155 for more than half an hour.
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a nurse in Tyler was arrested after being caught on video physically abusing a child with special needs while being responsible for watching her. The Tyler Police Department became aware of the alleged abuse when the victim’s grandparents reported that one of their live-in nurses, Gabrielle Toon, was seen on video smacking their 14-year-old granddaughter and aggressively pushing her. Toon was responsible for watching the child during the evenings from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.
The victim’s grandparents provided a list of the child’s medical condition to officials, stating that she is immobile, non-verbal and is dependent on oxygen at night. It was also reported that the victim has a chronic lung disease and is a kidney transplant recipient.
On July 7, officials received a video that allegedly depicted Toon physically abusing the victim on July 1. During the video, Toon was seen in what appeared to be a hospital bed with the victim physically harming her and slapping her multiple times. Read the rest of this entry »