Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
BULLARD – Our news partner KETK reports that one person is dead after an alleged drunk driver’s vehicle flipped over onto a fence on Wednesday night in Bullard.
According to the court documents, around 8 p.m. a trooper responded to an one vehicle roll-over on County Road 3601 where a man was by the road saying “his passenger was missing.”
The trooper said the man, identified as 30-year-old Cordale Rayshon Graham, smelled of alcohol and kept saying “he was the passenger because he was drunk.”
Bullard Fire Department located the other person who was dead on the passenger side of the vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that several wrecks involving 18-wheelers are causing delays on Interstate 20 for drivers. Officials say that traffic delays could last into early Friday morning.
According to a crew on the scene, at least two crashes involving tractor trailers have caused traffic to be backed up near Mile Marker 560 which is near Farm-to-Market Road 14 and Lavender Road.
TxDOT cameras show heavy traffic in the westbound lanes. Updates will be given as they become available.
To check for wrecks, and traffic conditions on TxDOT’s “Drive Texas”, click here.
RUSK – Our news partner KETK reports that the execution date has been set for an East Texas man who helped murder his girlfriend’s baby with a hammer in 2008.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), 35-year-old Blaine Milam of Gregg County is set to be executed on September 25 for his involvement in the murder of his girlfriend’s 13-month-daughter during what they described as an “exorcism.”
On Dec. 2, 2008 in Rusk County, Milam and his girlfriend, Jessica Carson murdered the infant by using a hammer to beat her. They also attest to biting her on the chest, arms, throat, feet and lower back. In confession, the couple told authorities that they were trying to “beat the demons out” of the baby. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA – A truck driver was arrested for DWI on Wednesday night after crashing his 18-wheeler in Texarkana causing parts of the city to not have power and the road to be temporarily closed, according to our news partner KETK.
The Texarkana Police officers responded to a crash around 11:30 p.m. involving an 18-wheeler at New Boston Road and Taylor Street.
Officials said the truck left the road and took out a major electrical transmission pole, causing about third of the city to be out of power for a little while. The truck was also carrying a full load of lumber, which ended up all over the roadway.
The driver, Fredrick Beal, 39 of Texarkana, wasn’t injured. He was, however, arrested for DWI with an open container and unlawfully carrying of a weapon. He is currently being held in the Bi-State Jail.
The department said people are encouraged to avoid this area, since they are still working to clear the scene and New Boston Road is closed.
TYLER – According to a statement released from The City of Tyler, the City of Tyler Water Utilities is temporarily closing all public boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East due to heavy rainfall .
Ramps are being closed due to boating hazards resulting from debris washed into the lakes, and to reduce damage from shoreline erosion caused by boat wakes. In addition, the lakes are closed to boat traffic from lake residents.
The ramps will be closed until further notice. The ramps are anticipated to reopen once the water levels recede.
LUFKIN – A former Wells ISD math teacher was arrested again on Tuesday for a new charge of indecency with a child sexual contact, according to a report from our news partner KETK.
An affidavit from the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office revealed that an underage family member reported that Hillary Danielle Williams, 34 of Lufkin, inappropriately touched her on February 19.
The affidavit stated that Williams slept in the middle of the bed with her boyfriend on one side and the victim on the other. The victim explained that she woke up to Williams inappropriately touching her over her clothing. The victim said Williams never mentioned the incident, but she had recently found out that “Williams had been taking nude pictures of her while she was in the shower,” which upset her. Read the rest of this entry »
PAYNE SPRINGS – Our news partner, KETK, reports that Payne Springs Fire Rescue units found one motorcycle rider after a collision.
According to Payne Springs Fire Rescue, a motorcyclist was flown to a local hospital on Monday after colliding with a deer in Hidden Hills Harbor. Their condition is unknown.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, an East Texas man is among the 244 people arrested in connection to the FBI’s Operation Soteria as they combat the exploitation of children in the digital space.
The Grand Saline Police Departmet received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded on the internet.
During an investigation, officers discovered a suspect’s residence and conducted a search warrant in April that resulted in several electronic devices being seized. Walter Lynn Baird was arrested on April 14 and charged with possession of child pornography, then charged with indecency with a child sexual contact on May 15, according to the police department. Read the rest of this entry »
WINONA — According to our news partner KETK, Winona residents were left outraged after a town hall meeting was held on Tuesday, where they discovered the reason for high water and sewage rates costing them hundreds of dollars
The Winona City Council brought in Texas Rural Water Association wastewater specialist Louis Booth to discuss why several residents are seeing an increase in their water and sewage bills. After a rate study was conducted by the association, it was proposed that water and wastewater rates should see increases to generate more revenue for the companies. During the meeting, Booth told residents that their water rate would see a $14.16 increase and their wastewater rate would see a $17.75 increase. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that one firefighter was injured after a house fire in Longview early Wednesday morning.
According to the Longview Fire Department, around 12:45 a.m. firefighters responded to a fully involved house fire at 101 Harlem Avenue where one firefighter was treated and released for an injury after performing roof operations. Officials said crews found the structure to be vacant and the fire caused around $68,000 in damage.
NACOGDOCHES – According to our new partner KETK, a Union Pacific Railroad worker died on Monday while working near the South Fredonia Street railway crossing in Nacogdoches.
The Nacogdoches Police Department said officers responded to reports that a someone had been struck by a train at around 3:28 p.m. on Monday. In a statement obtained by KETK, Union Pacific Railroad said they were saddened by this loss.
“We are saddened by the loss of a Union Pacific employee in Nacogdoches, Texas. The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. CDT on June 9, is under investigation. Our sincerest sympathies are with his family, friends and co-workers.”
Union Pacific Railroad
PALESTINE – Our news partner KETK is reporting that the future of the NASA’s balloon launches at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine is coming into question due to proposed budget cuts for 2026. According to a NASA 2026 budget technical supplement released on Tuesday, cuts are being made to the the NASA Astrophysics Research program to align with President Donald Trump’s Budget Request for 2026.
These cuts include the Balloons, Astrophysics Data Analysis Program, which would have it’s 2026 budget eliminated entirely. In a statement shared with KETK by a NASA scientist at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, NASA officials urged calm because they are still in the budget negotiation process.
The Palestine facility launches 15 scientific balloons for NASA each year and is a NASA funded federal facility that would close without federal funding.
TYLER – Starting on July 1, Texas will no longer be issuing paper license plates. Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 718 into law back in 2023 which will now require dealers to issue metal plates to buyers at the time of sale according to our news partner KETK.
On Tuesday, the Smith County Tax Office hosted a free training for vehicle dealers regarding the new law. Paper tags issued prior to July 1 will remain valid until expiration. The different types of tags that will be provided are as follows: buyer’s temporary tags, dealer’s temporary tags, 30-day & one-trip permits, dealer agent tags, dealer vehicle specific tags and internet down tags.
Texans buying a vehicle from a dealer will receive metal license plates at the time of delivery, allowing them to immediately display the plates while awaiting their registration window sticker. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made a brief appearance in Tyler to discuss several pending bills, including Senate Bill 3, which would ban THC from Texas. According to our news partner KETK during the press conference, Patrick said more than 8,000 smoke shops have opened in Texas and that these shops are statistically located near high schools to lure students. “We have to take care of our young people and our schools; this is an organized assault on the State of Texas by the cannabis industry,” Patrick said.
When asked if regulating the usage of THC, Patrick said it would never be possible:
“You can’t regulate 8,000 to 9,000 shops. We don’t have enough law enforcement for that,” Patrick said. “Our number one issue as elected officials is public safety it is up to us to protect the public, and this has the potential to destroy this entire generation of young people coming up.”
While Patrick believes that SB 3 will have a positive impact across the state, several East Texas business owners spoke about the potential negative implications. Co-owner of Dragon’s Breath in North Tyler said a full THC ban will do more harm than good. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK, the Texarkana Police Department, with the help of their K9 Gator, arrested a woman who had escaped from a community correctional facility on Sunday afternoon.
Around 4:50 p.m. Olivia Alexandria May, 32 of New Boston, escaped from the Bowie County Substance Abuse Treatment Facility for women but she was soon tracked down by their K9 “Gator” and several officers. Officials said May was found in the woods behind Highland Park Baptist Church and was arrested for unauthorized absence of a community correction facility. She is currently being held in the Bi-State Jail on a $30,000 bond.