Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TYLER – East Texas election administrators are starting to report an increase in registered voters ahead of the general election in November, according to our news partner KETK.
Local election administrators are inputting the last batch of voter registration applications for the 2024 election year. According the secretary of state, Cherokee and Angelina counties are seeing the most voters in their counties’ history. In Deep East Texas, Angelina County’s registration numbers increased from 53,166 applications in 2020 to 55,980 applications in 2024. After the signing of Senate Bill One in 2021, counties began assessing the status of registered voters.
“We currently have 31,191 voters and in 2020 we had about 29,000 registered voters. I think just as Cherokee county grows and people move to this area, we just have an increase in voters as well,†said Kandace Herring, Cherokee County election administrator. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Our news partners at KETK report that Smith County District Clerk Penny Clarkston was arrested again on Monday for yelling at jurors and physically blocking exit doors during a court proceeding, court documents state.According to a document filed by Judge Austin Reeve Jackson, the court told potential jurors they were free to go when Clarkston started yelling that they couldn’t leave without her permission. As district clerk, Clarkston issues writs, abstracts of judgement and prepares warrants. According to the Smith County website, she also serves as the administrator of the county’s jury system. The document stated that on Monday, the court ordered Clarkston multiple times to stop talking to the jurors and to let them leave but she refused. Clarkston would then ignore several of the court’s orders and proceeded to say “you can’t tell me to do anything,†the documents said. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department said that they arrested two individuals after they allegedly attacked and robbed an elderly person who was giving them a ride.
According to our news partner KETK, at approximately 11:30 a.m. the Texarkana PD responded to a call about an injured man in the 500 block of Blake Street. Officers said they found an 86-year-old man bleeding from a wound on his head that told officers he was flagged by two individuals to give them a ride to Blake Street. Police said that the man told them one of the individuals, identified as Danny Williams, started to choke him with a baseball bat and afterwards struck him in the head with the bat.
Texarkana PD said that the man also told them that the other passenger, identified as Dequeener Mitchell, proceeded to grab his wallet and take the cash out of it before the two individuals fled. Read the rest of this entry »
KTBB 97.5 FM will be off the air intermittently this week as we complete the process of moving our transmitting antenna to a new tower. All of KTBB’s programming continues to be available on KTBB AM 600, as well as via online streaming and via the KTBB Mobile App for Apple and Android.
NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches Police Department said that one person was critically injured after a reported shooting at a private club on Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Nacogdoches PD Sgt. Brent Handy said that 911 calls came from the private club at 1600 E. Main St. at around 12:46 a.m. on Sunday. When officers arrived, Handy said, they could tell there had been a disturbance at the scene and then they were called to a local hospital where a shooting victim had been privately taken.
According to Handy, the victim was in critical but stable condition as of 2:40 p.m. on Sunday. Nacogdoches PD is investigating the shooting.
AUSTIN (AP) — A Texas man set to die this month is at the center of another push for clemency in the U.S., this time backed by several GOP lawmakers and bestselling author John Grisham, who say a father’s 2002 conviction for killing his infant daughter deserves a second look. Their pleas to spare Robert Roberson, of Palestine, who is set to die by lethal injection on Oct. 17, comes after Missouri and Oklahoma carried out executions last month over calls to grant two condemned men lesser punishments, underlining how rare clemency remains for death row prisoners.
The cases highlight one of a governor’s most extraordinary powers — whether to allow an execution to proceed. In Texas, the state’s parole board and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott have yet to weigh in on Roberson, whose defenders say was convicted based on faulty scientific evidence. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE – A property owner and Atmos Energy have been at odds over the installation of a natural gas pipeline according to our news partner KETK. With a civil jury trial set, construction continues.
Anthony and his wife Pamela moved to Whitehouse three years ago in search of a dome-shaped home with lots of shade for his medical conditions. “They’ve made my sanctuary into a prison,†Anthony Voss, property owner, said. “I have light sensitivity, being a disabled vet, and eye issues,†Anthony said.
Soon after, they received a letter from Atmos Energy informing the Voss’ they were planning to place a natural gas pipeline through their property. Leading to a long legal battle.
“They just wouldn’t work with us, even though they bored, they’re planning on boring, they could leave the trees, but they decided not to,†Anthony said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, the Troup Volunteer Fire Department declined to renew their contract with Smith County Emergency Service District 2 (ESD2) after claiming expectations are too high. The ESD provides volunteer stations with necessities otherwise hard to obtain without funding.
Though Troup is situated between Smith and Cherokee county, Troup VFD’s decline to recontract with the ESD will allow them to only serve Cherokee county. Now, ESD2’s Troup station off Wilkinson Street will be handling all calls in the community and claim response time will not be a problem.
ESD2 was created by 11 volunteer fire stations in Smith County back in 2007 to help cover Smith county volunteer stations that were not fully staffed. Now, Chief Dustin Rust of the Troup Volunteer Fire Department said the expectation by the ESD are dwindling their man power from 30 to 5 volunteers.
“We’re a volunteer department, anything we can do to help the citizens is great, but when my numbers start falling and I can’t do my job and I can’t guarantee our level of service to people, it’s time to make a change somewhere,†Troup Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dustin Rust said. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, Longview ISD hosted a town hall meeting for educational leaders and Texas lawmakers to make sure their voices are heard, and needs like funding are understood. Basic allotment, which determines how much money public schools get for each student, hasn’t been updated in half a decade.
The meeting comes ahead of the next legislative session, after the previous session didn’t pass house bill one which would have provided more money to schools. Major topics of the discussion that created the most buzz were school choice, basic allotment funding and the mental health of students and faculty. Local representatives heard from districts firsthand, and hopefully can apply what they learned in January at the next legislative session.
For Longview superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard, funding is something she says her schools and others need in order to continue providing a quality education.
“Money, we all need money,†Sheppard said. “Right now, we are in a crisis as far as funding is concerned, we’ve not had an increase in five or six years and so for us with inflation, teachers needing raises, children becoming more costly to educate, then we all need more money.†Read the rest of this entry »
WASKOM – According to our news partner KETK. three members of a California fire and rescue team were injured in a crash in Waskom while driving to the East Coast to help with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The San Diego firefighters were traveling in their Ford F-350 truck when they were involved in a collision on Interstate 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana around 2:45 a.m. Sunday. Mónica Muñoz, a spokesperson for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), said the injured firefighters were flown to a hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, for treatment. The remaining crew members were sent to Waskom, Texas, to await further instructions.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“The news of this crash is devastating. We are doing everything we can to offer support to our department and those team members and their families who were part of this deployment,†said SDFD Assistant Chief James Gaboury.
Read the rest of this entry »
LIVINGSTON – On Friday, Republicans and Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives met with death row inmate and Palestine native, Robert Roberson according to our news partner KETK. Roberson is scheduled to be put to death by the State of Texas on Oct. 17 amid questions about the science provided to secure that sentence and bipartisan calls for clemency.
Twenty-one years ago, Roberson was convicted of murdering his daughter Nikki, who doctors at the time of the trial said had suffered from a version of shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis that has come under question by scientists. Gretchen Sween, an attorney for Roberson, said the case was a tragedy, not a crime.
“This isn’t just about Robert, this is about other people like Robert in similar situations and maybe not just on death row,†said Republican State Rep. Lacey Hull of Houston. “His case is not unique, his case and his hope and all of our hope, is to shine a light on this and to make the necessary reforms to where we are not executing or imprisoning innocent people.†Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK) – The Texarkana Police Department arrested two parents on Saturday after their 5-year-old son died on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, the department reportedly got a report of a child not breathing in the 3300 block of Nichols Drive at around 2 p.m. on Friday. When officers responded to the scene they found a 5-year-old boy unresponsive and started CPR. The boy died at the hospital not long after they arrived. On Saturday, Texarkana PD announced that the boy’s parents had been arrested.
Terry Robinson, 35 of Texarkana, was arrested for capital murder of a person under 10-years-old. His bond was set at $5,000,000. Destiny Culvahouse, 24 of Texarkana, was arrested for injury to a child with serious bodily injury or death. Her bond was set at $1,000,000. Robinson and Culvahouse are both being held in the Bi-State Justice Center.
PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said they arrested a man for an assault that happened in the parking lot of Southside Baptist Church on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, officers were dispatched to the scene at Inwood Drive and Crockett Road at around 10:57 a.m. on Friday. A caller had reported seeing the driver of a white Ford Explorer pull into the parking lot, get into the back of the car and start “beating†the woman in the back seat. The Ford then reportedly left on Inwood Drive heading east and was located by police at the Kim’s on Loop 256.
Those in the Ford were identified by police as James Wriley Marks, 23 of Montalba, a 22-year-old woman and their two children. Palestine PD then told Marks they were arresting him because they determined he had committed a family violence assault.
Marks reportedly resisted arrest but was taken into custody after being put on the ground. Marks is being held in the Anderson County Jail on charges of assault causing bodily injury family violence and resisting arrest search or transport. No bond has been set, according to jail records.
MOUNT VERNON – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said that five men have been arrested for online solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct following a multi-agency operation. The operation was a multi-agency effort to capture suspects who were using social media to try and solicit sexual conduct from minors.
Over two days this week, the following men were arrested on charges of online solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct: Vynay Chumm, 39 of Paris, Coyt Eugene Cameron, 29 of Omaha, Collin Bryce Cassels, 32 of Dallas, Jesus Moises Gonalez, 42 of Ft. Worth, David Scott Oguin, 55 of Trinidad, Texas, was arrested by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly communicated with an undercover online persona which was part of the operation.
Franklin County Sheriff Ricky Jones thanked the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Rains County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Mount Pleasant Police Department for their help in this operation.
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the public hearing to determine custody of nearly 60 dogs from an alleged dogfighting ring was cancelled 45 minutes before it was scheduled to start on Thursday.
“The owners of the dogs agreed to divest ownership of those animals and allow the state or the county to take ownership or possession of those dogs,†said Thomas Wilson, Assistant District Attorney for Smith County. “I have been in contact with the Humane Society of the United States and they are getting me in contact with a lady who is a behavioralist or a behavioral specialist, specifically for your game bred pits and dogs like that, to come do an evaluation on all the dogs that are here to kind of see what the next step for them means,†said Amber Greene, supervisor for the Smith County Animal Control.
The next step for the dogs is to be assessed for fosters and adoption. The Humane Society will pay for this case worker to fly in from Florida to individually assess the health and behavior of the animals in the coming days. Although a decision has been made regarding the custody of these dogs, the criminal portion of this case is still being actively investigated. Sheriff Smith said earlier this month that they will continue looking into all leads and track down other people tied to this large operation.
NACOGDOCHES – According to our news partner KETK, three people from Michigan in separate traffic stops were found transporting an approximate combined total of 10 pounds of cocaine on Nacogdoches roads. The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies recently conducted two separate traffic stops that led to the seizure of cocaine. At around 8:50 p.m. on Monday, deputies pulled a car over for traffic violations in the 1700 block of S.W. Stallings Drive when they noticed the smell of marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.
“Deputies began a probable-cause search of the car, and found two plastic-wrapped bundles of powder, which tested positive for cocaine,†NCSO said.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 33-year-old Desean Hyken Lee Williams, of Flint, Michigan, was taken into custody.
Williams was reportedly transporting 5.2 pounds of cocaine. Read the rest of this entry »
Engineering Note: Due to work being done on our broadcast tower, KTBB 97.5 FM is currently operating at reduced power. We regret any inconvenience this may create and invite you to listen via our online streaming or mobile app.
LINDALE – Lindale’s only newspaper, the Lindale News and Times, is coming back to the town in print and online with a new name, the Lindale News. According to our news partner KETK, the good news about the Lindale News comes after the former owner and publisher, Jim Bardwell, announced that the paper was closing down after 124 years but now its being saved thanks to a nonprofit from Irving.
Bardwell has reportedly donated the intellectual property rights to the paper to the Irving based nonprofit news organization, Rambler Texas Media. Rambler’s publisher John Starkey and the Lindale Chamber of Commerce met on Thursday and announced that Rambler will be continuing the Lindale Times’ 124 years of history.
“THE LINDALE NEWS LIVES ON! Today John Starkey stopped by our office with hot off the press newspapers. We are excited that Rambler Texas Media has come to town to help us continue to promote events, organizations, and our community.â€
Lindale Chamber of Commerce Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Wednesday, the hearing regarding more than 50 dogs that were found in terrible conditions took place in Tyler. According to our news partners KETK, the courtroom was overflowing with people and more spilling out into the hallway. They were all there in support of the animals found living in horrible conditions. Nearly 60 dogs were seized from a Smith County property belonging to the two brothers in court, Kerry and Michael Jones.
It was their first day in court after the discovery was made by law enforcement. A defense attorney asked for a delay, explaining that he and the other brother’s legal representative were just hired that day and needed time to review evidence and consult with his client. The prosecution presented no objection and the judge granted a continuance.
The almost 60 dogs will remain in the custody of the Smith County Animal Control, Nicholas Pet Haven, and Spence and White Veterinary Hospital for the time being. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – According to our news partner KETK, a group of advocates for a Palestine man on death row filed a petition on Tuesday to stop his execution just 30 days before he is expected to be put to death. They argue the science used to sentence him is questionable. It’s been 21 years since Robert Roberson was convicted of murdering his two-year-old daughter Nikki. Experts who have studied or are involved with this case say she died of other causes. Nikki dealt with medical issues long before her death, including breathing apnea spells that started before the age of one.
“The death of Robert’s daughter Nikki was not a crime. It was a tragedy,†said one of Roberson’s attorneys, Gretchen Sween.
“My testimony helped convict him of murder and send him to death row, but for all the years since, I have believed that justice was not done,†one of the lead investigators on this case, Brian Wharton, said. Read the rest of this entry »
CASS COUNTY — Our news partner KETK is reporting that an East Texas District Attorney’s Office has addressed recent school threats in their community. The Cass County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Cass County Sheriff’s Department addressed the recent school threats and hoaxes in the community including Sulphur Springs, Gilmer and Texarkana.
“We want to reassure the public that each of these incidents is being thoroughly investigated and we remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Cass County residents,†the Cass County District Attorney’s Office said.
According to the DA, the first incident occurred on Thursday morning when rumors of a threat to schools were being shared on social media included Snapchat. Law enforcement conducted house visits and interviews to determine if any credible threats had been made. The DA’s office said no imminent threat was identified but law enforcement agencies increased their presence in and around schools as a precaution. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – This weekend, another attempt to assassinate former president Donald Trump took place at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. East Texas congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) is now looking for answers. “I was devastated to hear about the second assassination attempt on president Trumps life,†said Moran. “This is totally unacceptable.â€
According to our news partner KETK, Moran is demanding answers from those charged with protecting the former president. “What we’ve seen this summer is not in my opinion a lack of resources, it’s a lack of responsiveness and planning and logistical operations that should be in place for any protection of a person at this level,†Moran said.
The congressman acknowledged the secret service did their job in the moment but believes the safety of all political candidates must be ensured, no matter the party or platform. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA — According to our news partner KETK, 20-year-old man was arrested on Thursday after a search warrant revealed he had more than 50 items of child pornography. The Texarkana Police Department said a search warrant conducted in the 4600 block of Summerhill Road on Thursday led to the arrest of Trenton Weddel for possession of child pornography. Now, the Texarkana Police Department is asking anyone who suspects their child to have been in Weddel’s apartment to contact them.
The police department said Weddel came to their attention earlier in September after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“They told us that a popular social media application had notified them that someone had used an IP address in Texarkana Texas to upload a pornographic video of a young girl,†Texarkana PD said.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, a man died after a pursuit through several East Texas counties resulted in an officer-involved shooting in Smith County. DPS reports that they started a pursuit of a stolen box truck in Forney, stretching through several East Texas counties including Rains, Wood and Smith. Troopers tried to disable the vehicle several times to no avail.
“Through his driving behavior, the suspect demonstrated an egregious and reckless disregard for other motorists, leading Troopers to reasonably believe his actions of harming a bystander were imminent,†according to a statement from DPS. “A THP Trooper discharged his firearm at the suspect’s vehicle on State Highway 31 near Tyler, ultimately ending the pursuit.â€
The suspect was taken to a hospital where he later died. His identity has not yet been released.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the situation as per standard procedure.
TYLER — Officials described the conditions of nearly 60 dogs that were found during the investigation of a Smith County dog fighting ring. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday the Smith County Sherriff’s Office and Animal Control Services responded to the address of 9444 CR 4136 in Tyler after receiving a call that a witness had seen a dog eating the carcass of a dead dog. When officials arrived, they reportedly found over 40 dogs in poor condition and “had reason to believe they were possibly being used to fight.†The detective on the case, Jacob Herman, said he had previously investigated reports of possible dog fighting at the address, but no dogs or evidence could be located on the property until Monday.
The detective, animal control personnel and property owner Kerry Jones walked through the property where they located several dogs in poor conditions, according to an affidavit.
“As I walked through, I observed several dogs to be locked in cages with their ribs showing and in a state of malnourishment. Many of the dogs had fresh injuries with visible blood and scars that were consistent with being fought,†Herman said. “Some appeared lethargic and unable to move. One dog in a cage had part of its bottom jaw missing and another looked to have had its nose removed possibly from a bite it sustained.†Read the rest of this entry »
HAWKINS – The Hawkins ISD Board of Trustees accepted Superintendent Susan Morton’s retirement on Monday following her recent arrest for driving while intoxicated, according o our news partners at KETK. Morton was arrested after a minor accident in La Marque, Texas on Aug. 23 by the La Marque Police Department. Morton was then booked into the Galveston County Jail for charges of driving while intoxicated and collision involving damage to a vehicle less than $200. The Hawkins ISD Board of Trustee’s meeting agenda for Monday night’s meeting included plans to consider Morton’s retirement and interim superintendent candidates. Board president Blake Warren shared that during the meeting they voted to hire Marc Levesque for interim superintendent.
Levesque began in the position on Tuesday and will serve until Hawkins ISD names a permanent superintendent. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two men in connection to a dog fighting bust north of Tyler on Monday where nearly 60 dogs and two cats were seized.
The sheriff’s office said at around noon on Monday the Smith County Animal Control were notified after someone found wounded dogs near a home on CR 4136. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office arrested 34-year-old Kerry Jones of Tyler and 31-year-old Michael Jones. Kerry has been charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals and participating in the earnings of or operations of a facility used for dog fighting. He is being held at the Smith County Jail under a combined bond of $560,000. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Monday, more than 50 dogs were taken in an alleged dog fighting bust, now the dogs are receiving care at a clinic in Smith County according to our news partner KETK. Six seriously injured dogs were rushed to Spence and White Veterinary Hospital in Tyler. They are some of the dozens taken from a Smith County property on Monday. These dogs suffered some of the worst abuse, and are suspected to have been used for dog fighting. They have marks visible to their faces, legs and stomachs. Some wounds were even stapled by their owners.
The almost 60 other dogs and two cats seized are being cared for by Smith County Animal Control. Read the rest of this entry »
BIG SANDY — According to our news partner KETK, a suspect has been arrested after allegedly making threats against Big Sandy ISD campuses on Friday. The Big Sandy Police Department said they received calls on Friday at around 11:30 a.m. of someone making threats to attack Big Sandy ISD schools. Officers were stationed at Big Sandy ISD campuses and requested for additional assistance from other law enforcement agencies in Upshur County.
Police said all law enforcement remained on campuses from noon until school was released. Officers then provided extra security at the football game that night. Throughout the weekend, the police department continued their investigation and located the suspect who reportedly made the threats against the schools.
An arrest warrant was served at a home in Upshur County at around 2:30 p.m. on Monday and the suspect was taken into custody. Read the rest of this entry »
Two arrested in connection to dog fighting bust in Smith County
TYLER — According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two men in connection to a dog fighting bust north of Tyler on Monday where nearly 60 dogs have been recuperated.
The sheriff’s office said at around noon on Monday the Smith County Animal Control were notified after someone found wounded dogs near a home on CR 4136. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office arrested 34-year-old Kerry Jones of Tyler and 31-year-old Michael Jones. Kerry has been charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals and participating in the earnings of or operations of a facility used for dog fighting. He is being held at the Smith County Jail under a combined bond of $560,000.
Michael has been arrested with cruelty to non-livestock animal and is being held at the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »