Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
EMORY – According to our news partner KETK, a person was found dead in a car in Emory Thursday afternoon where fire officials said a “hazardous container†was also inside. According to a release, local authorities were dispatched to a local park around 5:50 p.m. on a report of a deceased person in a car, and Emory PD had Alexander and North Street shut down while Emory VFD contacted Hazmat.
“Emory Fire then opened the car door that was locked and safely mixed absorbent and sand with the liquid mixture that was in the container,†fire officials said. Hazmat took possession of the container for disposal, according to authorities, and local officials asked for prayers for the family and first responders that worked the incident.
SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, Texas leaders met in Smith County to push the Jenna Quinn Law through the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers met at the Smith County Advocacy Center in Tyler to discuss Jenna’s Law, a bill aimed at preventing sexual abuse of children on a national level. If passed, the bill will center around giving teachers, educators and care givers adequate training and identify, prevent and report child sexual abuse. The bill received its name from Jenna Quinn, a child sexual abuse survivor, and is now an outspoken advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse.
Quinn is spearheading the bill with Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Rep. Nathaniel Moran to empower young victims. The bill will give almost $170 million of funding from the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The law has passed in 35 states so far and Quinn said it proves that the legislation works. Moran said more than 42 million children are abused in the nation and believes that statistic will bring both sides of the aisle together to help give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A UT Tyler employee was placed on leave after allegedly claiming the university is still doing DEI work, despite new state laws banning the office. DEI, or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Offices, were banned from public higher education institutions in a law that took effect on Jan. 1. The law states that higher education workers can no longer sign any statements dedicated to upholding DEI or attend trainings that reference “race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation.†Our news partner KETK reports that they have launched an investigation into the employee.
According to an article posted by the Texas Scorecard, and part of an investigation and video by Accuracy in Media, UT Tyler Director of Student Belonging, identified as Tarecka Payne, told an undercover investigator that the university had to change the name of its DEI department three times. The article states she said the university can still do DEI work, but they just have to be “creative.†Read the rest of this entry »
LIVINGSTON — According to our news partner KETK, newly released documents obtained by Houston-area NBC affiliate KPRC sheds light on the death of an 11-year-old Livingston girl that went missing on Feb. 15. According to records from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, the examiner ruled that Cunningham’s cause of death was due to “homicidal violence with blunt head trauma.â€
According to Polk County records, Don Steven McDougal, 42, was with the victim, Audrii Cunningham, on the morning of Feb. 15. Records show that McDougal and the child left Cunningham’s home in the suspect’s 2003 Chevrolet Suburban with the intent of dropping off the child at a school bus stop outside of the subdivision. Authorities said Cunningham never made it to Creekside Elementary school that day. McDougal was reportedly a friend of the Cunningham family, resided on their property in a camper and had access to the victim’s home. An Amber Alert was issued later that night and law enforcement began a search for the missing girl. Read the rest of this entry »
CROCKETT — The Crockett Police Department said a woman was arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend and attempting to stab a police officer. According to our news partner KETK, the police department and a deputy with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 300 block of Rose Street in reference to an assault at around 2:08 a.m. The caller reportedly told dispatch his girlfriend, Jhaeneisha Deshay Anderson, 40 of Crockett, had assaulted and injured him. When authorities arrived at the scene, they reportedly saw the man had multiple injuries to several areas of his body and officers learned that Anderson was heavily intoxicated and aggressive. Police said Anderson was barricaded inside the residence with three of her children.
Officers obtained keys to the residence and unlocked the door after Anderson reportedly refused to leave the residence. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – The City of Palestine Police Department said that two individuals were arrested following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of alleged drug paraphernalia. According to our news partner KETK on Sunday night around 10 p.m., Palestine PD reports that they made a traffic stop near for traffic violations on a vehicle that they had observed leaving a “known drug trafficking area.†Authorities had reasonable suspicion and detained and investigated the two individuals in the vehicle. They said the driver was identified as Sheila Brantley, 63 of Palestine, and the passenger provided an identity that officers determined to be false.
Officials said that after being asked to exit the vehicle, the passenger allegedly became uncooperative and resisted arrest, after being restrained and secured in a patrol vehicle she was identified as Janna Linderman, 49 of Palestine. Palestine PD said that as Brantley exited the vehicle, they noticed a metal pipe allegedly connected to drug use falling from her clothing, the pipe was later tested and tested positive for cocaine. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER– Ruby’s Mexican Restaurant announced on Tuesday a man has been arrested after breaking into their location on Gentry Parkway. “We want to thank our Tyler Police officers for responding right away and finding this guy,†the restaurant said. “Our most important priority is our employees and their safety, and they can now breathe a little knowing this guy is off the streets.†According to our news partner KETK, Tyler PD responded to the location around 6:30 a.m. where Timothy Gardner, 26 of Tyler, was arrested for burglary of a building.
In a post to social media, the restaurant said someone had broken into the location and “ransacked the place.†No employee was reported to be injured, according to the restaurant.
WINONA – According to our news partner KETK Winona Volunteer Fire Department Lieutenant Joseph Boehm died in a car crash on Saturday night. Boehm was 29-years-old and had been a member of Winona VFD since 2021. According to the department, Boehm had got his firefighter 1 and 2 certifications and in 2023, he was promoted to lieutenant. He was awarded Rookie of the year his first year of service, and firefighter of the year the last two years in a row. He leaves behind his loving wife, three children, extended family members.
Boehm’s funeral service will be held at Stewart Funeral Home in Tyler at 10 a.m. on Thursday. Donations for his family’s funeral expenses can be sent to the funeral home in the care of Winona Volunteer Fire Department or to directly to the department via Cash App at $WinonaFireDepartment.
UPSHUR COUNTY – Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said that Michael Caffey was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the murder of his father Timothy Caffey. Byrd said that Timothy Caffey, 66, had taken his son Michael off the street in order to help him but that Michael reportedly started using methamphetamines and demanded money from his father. According to our news partner KETK, Timothy was murdered at his home in the Latch community on March 26 of 2023. Byrd said Michael was arrested the next day in Liberty City while wearing clothes reportedly covered in his father’s blood. Byrd thanked the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office investigators Rob Bowen, Michael Barton and Linda Roberts, his investigator Jon Warren, citizens who provided information and the jury for bringing this case to a decision.
WHITE OAK – A White Oak man pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife and was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday. According to court records, James Michael Alexander Sr, 64 of White Oak, pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In July, officials reported finding the body of a deceased woman in the 100 block of Larkspur, who was identified as Kimberly Alexander, 61. Police later found James at a hotel room in Longview that he had leased, and he was taken into custody without incident.
LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK the Longview Police Department is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of leaving the area after a shooting incident that left one injured on Monday. According to the release, officers responded to a shooting incident at around 9:28 p.m. and located a man with a gunshot wound. An investigation led to an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Diovanni Cisneros, of Longview, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Longview PD said they believe Cisneros has left Longview and efforts are underway to locate him. Gregg County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for the first, most accurate tip leading to his arrest. The investigation is still ongoing and police ask the public who know the whereabouts of Cisneros to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP(7867) or online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org for anonymous tips.
ALTO – According to our news partner KETK, Alto ISD announced on Thursday that during a special meeting on Monday they started the process to fire Blake Attaway, a teacher and coach arrested for an alleged improper relationship with a student. The process to terminate Attaway’s employment has a legally set amount of time the district said they have to wait for to allow Attaway to request a hearing before they can finalize his termination. According to the district, Attaway has not been on their property since Feb. 6 and they have made the required reports to the State Board for Educator Certification. Read the rest of this entry »
MAYDELLE – According to our news partner KETK a teenager is dead and a 20-year-old is injured after a shooting Wednesday night in the Maydelle area. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a shooting on CR 1804 where they found a 17-year-old with an apparent gunshot wound. The teen was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, and officials said that during the investigation it found that a second victim, a 20-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital by private car for treatment. Authorities said the 20-year-old is in critical condition, and the case is being actively investigated.
LONGVIEW – A 32-year-old man was found guilty by a jury on Thursday for murder in the 2022 death of his girlfriend. According to our news partner KETK, Adrian Grissom, 32 of Longview was initially arrested on Jan. 16, 2022 after he told police in an interview they had gotten into a fight which led to her death. According to documents, 23-year-old Cyan Winn had attempted to remove a gun from her purse and told Grissom to back up during the fight. Grissom allegedly told police he then “pushed Winn to the ground from a chair as she was pulling a handgun out.†According to documents, the two fought for the gun and Grissom got control of the gun before he said the handgun “discharged one time.†His trial began on Monday where Grissom was found guilty of first-degree murder.
TYLER — A suspended Tyler doctor has been accused of sexually assaulting four patients, including a child, and is being held in jail on $3,550,000 bond. Dr. Kenneth D. Haygood was suspended on Oct. 24 by the Texas Medical Board for reportedly violating a June 2023 order stating he could not see or treat female patients. The board said he continued to pose a threat to “public welfare.” On Tuesday, he was booked into the Smith County Jail on three counts of sexual assault and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He remains jailed on bonds totaling $3.55 million.
According to an arrest affidavit, the first incident happened in 2007 when a patient was under 10 years old. As an adult, the victim reported that they went to see Haygood to have their thyroid checked, but when their mother left the room, the patient said Haygood sexually assaulted them. The victim told investigators they waited to report the offense until news of Haygood’s suspension came out due to their anxiety. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff and President of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas Larry Smith held a press conference Wednesday with North Texas law enforcement. Smith moderated the event with Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner and Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn concerning the North Texas Criminal Interdiction Unit (NTXCIU). According to our news partner KETK, the press conference focused on the work NTXCIU has done in the past seven years in their mission to fight against illegal drugs in local Texas communities. Reportedly, Skinner formed the interdiction unit in 2017 but laws were changed to allow the North Texas Sheriffs to work together.
According to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, NTXCIUis a “multi-jurisdictional team of specially trained deputies whose mission is to detect, interdict and disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs, narcotics, contraband and human cargo on establish smuggling corridors on North Texas highways.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK one person has been arrested and another is wanted by Tyler authorities in the death of a 20-year-old man who was found lying near a roadway. Tyler police said they are asking for the public’s help in finding a second suspect, identified as 16-year-old Caleb Ward, of Whitehouse. Officials said he has a directive to apprehend for capital murder and should be considered armed and dangerous. Ward is from the Whitehouse area, but reportedly has been known to frequent Tyler. Anyone who knows his location is asked to contact Tyler PD at 903-531-1000.
Joshua Bryant, 25 of Unk, was arrested on Feb. 8 for capital murder and other charges before being booked into the Smith County Jail where his bond has been set at $1 million. Both were wanted for capital murder by authorities after a man, who was later identified as 20-year-old Nathan Martin, of Tyler, was found on the shoulder of Highway 69 North near CR 489 last week with an apparent gunshot wound. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA – According to our news partner KETK a woman was arrested in East Texas on Tuesday is being accused of staying overnight in a Walgreens, vandalizing the bathrooms and leaving with a backpack full of stolen merchandise the next morning. Employees at Walgreens Pharmacy were about to unlock the front door Tuesday when they noticed “a woman in a robe walking around inside the store†and called the police. When Texarkana Police Department officer Jonathan Price arrived, the woman reportedly walked out the front door and started down the sidewalk while wrapped in a blanket and carrying a backpack. Police reportedly found wine, cigarettes, markers, notebooks and chocolate from Walgreens in her backpack. Store employees reported that she used a Sharpie to write all over the bathroom stalls. Shimanek was charged with burglary of a building and booked into the bi-state jail. Read the rest of this entry »
WINONA – According to our news partner KETK Winona Middle School is one of five campuses nationwide and the only campus in Texas receiving a $10,000 award for excellence in teaching. The principal spoke with KETK about why their school was selected, learning it took a shocking amount of change and improvement for this campus to be noticed nationally. The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching gives out the Founder’s Award to one of five finalists who get $10,000 each, win or lose.
“It means so much to us that our hard work is being recognized even at the national level,†said principal Johnny Walker. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Police Department reports that the missing man, Christian Farmer, 28, was found safe on Saturday. Mr. Farmer had been reported as missing, having been last seen on Feb. 3rd in the Birdie Park area on 701 West Niblick St. No other details are available at this time.
LONGVIEW – The Longview ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling for a May 4 bond election for the five propositions that will help fund district projects. According to our news partner KETK, the school district, they have not received a major investment in 16 years. If approved by the board of trustees on Monday, registered voters will be asked to consider five propositions listed below. Board members are expected to meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the LISD Education Support Center. The Assistant Superintendent of Finance Dr. Wayne Guidry said safety is the number one priority and driving force behind the bond proposal. Early voting will run from April 22-30 and election day is May 4. People who live in the area and want to check if they are registered to vote can check at GreggCountyVotes.com or VoteTexas.gov. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – A Lindale High School educator has been recognized as a national board certified teacher. According to our news partner KETK, Renee Ramsey, an English and American history teacher at Lindale High School, has completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards program. Now that Ramsey is recognized as a National Board certified teacher, she will receive the designation on her Texas educator certificate, as well as receive additional compensation through the Teacher Incentive Allotment by the state. According to the release, the National Board Certification was designed to develop and recognize accomplished teachers and drive forward school improvement. In completing the certification it is reported that candidates submit evidence that their practice meets the Five Core Propositions and the National Board standards.
“I am so thankful for all of the support from my family, colleagues and administration. They helped me in my journey to become a National Board Certified teacher,†said Ramsey.
MARSHALL – According to our news partner KETK a group of high school students are the recipients of $32,000 in scholarships because of an East Texas business. Eastman Chemical Co. in Longview awarded 16 high school seniors with technical scholarships to attend six Eastman partner technical colleges in East Texas. The scholarships are for $2000 per student and six of the students have elected to use the money at Texas State Technical College, where they will earn a degree in Process Operations. Scholarship recipients are also encouraged to apply for a paid internship with the company in between their first and second year of college.
Successful internships may land students additional scholarship opportunities. Read the rest of this entry »
ALTO – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said that they arrested a man in Alto on Friday for an alleged improper relationship with a student. According to our news partner KETK, at around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the sheriff’s office said they executed a search warrant on County Road 2610 in Alto. During the search, an arrest warrant was executed for Blake Attaway for the charge of improper relationship with a student, officials said. According to Alto ISD’s website, Attaway is a physics and chemistry teacher and a coach for Alto High School. The sheriff’s office said that Attaway is being held at the Cherokee County Jail waiting for his arraignment. They added that the case is still active for further investigation and further arrests.
LONGVIEW — Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Longview ISD Board of Trustees will consider calling a May 4 bond election for five propositions that would bring major updates to all their campuses, totaling about $456.2 million. According to the school district, they have not received a major investment in 16 years. If approved by the board of trustees on Monday, registered voters will be asked to consider the five propositions listed below.
Board members are expected to meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the LISD Education Support Center. The Assistant Superintendent of Finance Dr. Wayne Guidry said safety is the number one priority and driving force behind the bond proposal. Early voting will run from April 22-30 and election day is May 4. People who live in the area and want to check if they are registered to vote can check at GreggCountyVotes.com or VoteTexas.gov. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department said they are looking for the whereabouts of a man last seen on Feb. 3. According to our news partner KETK, Christian Farmer, 28, was last seen in the Birdie Park area on 701 West Niblick St. Farmer is described as 6’1 and weighing about 135 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. He was reportedly wearing a burgundy hoodie, blue sweatpants, Nike shoes and a possible bag with him. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1170.
HARRISON COUNTY – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said a man was arrested in connection to child pornography and aggravated sexual assault of a child. On Nov. 30, 2023, the sheriff’s office said they received a report of a video depicting Christopher Hunter Rosenthal allegedly sexually assaulting children ages three, five and seven. According to our news partner KETK and the sheriff’s office, a search warrant was executed for Rosenthal’s Snapchat. Officials reportedly found a video of Rosenthal sexually assaulting a 2-year-old along with explicit photos of four children. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said they are still investigating this case and waiting for Rosenthal to be extradited back to Harrison County.
HOPKINS COUNTY — The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office said they have arrested three suspects in connection to the death of a 21-year-old man. According to our news partner KETK, on Dec. 23, 2023 officers found Brayden Wooten, 21 of Sulphur Springs, dead at his residence. The cause of death was reportedly ruled as a fentanyl overdose by the American Forensics Medical Examiner in Mesquite.
Investigators said the pills taken by Wooten were delivered by two suspects, Bryson Lacy, 21 and Xavier Hill, 23, both from Sulphur Springs. The two men were arrested on Dec. 28, 2023. Lacy was charged with tampering with evidence, after he reportedly admitted to deleting text messages in connection to Wooten’s death. Lacy and Hill were charged with the murder of Wooten. Lacy’s total bond was set at $1,050,000. Hill’s total bond was set at $1,100,000. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN – The Lufkin Police Department headed a multi-agency sting operation on Thursday at a massage parlor for suspected prostitution leading to the arrest of an unidentified woman. According to our news partner KETK the City of Lufkin detectives launched the investigation into the supposed illicit activities at two parlors following complaints from citizens. The unidentified woman was charged with prostitution. Assistant City Manager Gerald Williamson said that in addition to the illicit operations there were employees reportedly living at the establishment.
Blue Water Spa and Lufkin Massage in Lufkin have been closed following the arrest. The City of Lufkin said that Code Enforcement “shuttered the businesses†citing ordinance violations. Read the rest of this entry »