Today is
Sunday July 19, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – A man accused of capital murder in relation to the shooting of a Tyler man in 2017 has been transferred to the Smith County Jail. Quadaverine Allison, a Longview resident, is presently serving a 25-year prison term at the Allred Unit for aggravated robbery.
Allison and Jakysia Rodgers were indicted in April of this year for capital murder in the Tyler shooting that killed Joshua Alon McGee, 22, on August 11, 2017. According to police, a detective received fresh information that advanced the cold case and resulted in grand jury indictments.
Rodgers and Allison were both incarcerated at the time for unrelated offenses. According to jail records, Allison was transferred to the Smith County Jail on Tuesday in connection with the capital murder charge.
According to court records, Allison’s capital murder case has no scheduled hearings. Rodgers was given a 20-year prison sentence after entering a guilty plea to the lesser charge of murder in June. Prior to the capital murder indictment, he was already serving a 20-year sentence for an unrelated aggravated assault charge in 2024.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Starting Friday, Van Zandt County’s County Road 4414 (Tank Farm Road) bridge over Interstate 20 is closed. The Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation announced the closure, citing the need for workers to examine and fix the bridge’s damage. Until further notice, the closure is in place. Traffic heading north is being diverted to the FM 16 underpass via the frontage roads. The frontage roads leading to the Oakland/Colfax overpass are being used by southbound traffic. It is advised that drivers prepare ahead of time and, if necessary, take a different route.
EAST TEXAS – At least five cases of cyclospora, a parasite that can cause explosive diarrhea, have been confirmed by local health officials in East Texas. NET Health’s disease surveillance team reported a cyclospora case in Smith County and another in Henderson County in June, according to a statement sent by George Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Public Health District. Then, according to Roberts, NET Health has been informed of two cases in Gregg County and one in Smith County thus far in July. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY – Ten new cars and a new drone have been approved by the County Commissioner Court for the sheriff’s office. The total amount of money needed to buy the vehicles and the equipment they need is roughly $600,000. Chief Deputy Craig Harrington stated, “Drone technology is growing by leaps and bounds every year.” “You switch on the television and watch what is happening with drones abroad. The future lies in drone technology. You see how much your cell phone’s cameras have grown over the past few years. This also applies to drone technology. We have the chance to add thermals to our existing drone system as well. Every East Texas hunter is familiar with thermals. Since we purchased our drone, thermal technology has advanced. Thus, we are merely attempting to improve our present drone program.
WOOD COUNTY – Charges of attempted capital murder have been brought against an East Texas woman who is accused of deceiving law enforcement and allegedly guiding officers into an ambush that injured two officers during a shooting. According to court documents, Quitman resident Stephanie O’Connor-Bathe is accused of two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer in relation to an officer-involved shooting on February 14 that seriously injured a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and a Wood County deputy. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – For asking two young girls to change his diaper last summer, an East Texas man received a 16-year prison sentence. On Monday, Whitehouse resident Wesley Worl, 47, entered a guilty plea to the charge of solicitation to commit indecency with a child (sexual contact). After that, he received a 16-year sentence for the crime.
Worl was upgraded from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, which carries a sentence of two to twenty years, according to the prosecution, because he had previously served time in prison.
After review by the appeals staff of the DA’s office, the state declared that this was the most serious charge Worl could face for what transpired. The 475th District Court’s Judge Taylor Heaton stated that although he was reluctant to accept the plea agreement, Worl could receive the maximum sentence possible for this crime. Worl was mandated to register as a sexual offender for the duration of the legal requirement.
An 11-year-old girl reported to police on July 29, 2025, that she and her friend were riding their bikes close to Andy Woods Elementary School and Pollard Park in Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
HALLSVILLE – As two generators and one turbine are delivered to the project site, SWEPCO is getting ready for another significant construction milestone at the future Hallsville Natural Gas Plant. Before starting the last portion of its journey to Hallsville, the equipment will be moved to specialized transport trailers at a rail unloading location in Tenaha after arriving in East Texas by rail. The deliveries complement recent developments at the site, such as the completion of a significant concrete pour for the turbine foundation and ongoing work on the utilities, electrical infrastructure, and foundations supporting future generation operations. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – This week, the city finished collecting data to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities by packing up its DaxBots and conducting a sidewalk survey throughout the city. Officials claim that DaxBots gathered real-time data on 90 miles of pedestrian pathways, including sidewalks and crosswalks at intersections, during the previous four to five weeks. The information will be utilized to evaluate Tyler’s walkways’ present level of accessibility for people with disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Emergency crews responded to a crash involving a motorcycle and a van Thursday morning in Smith County. The collision occurred at the intersection of East Northeast Loop 323 and FM 14 shortly before 8 a.m., according to Smith County ESD No. 2 spokesperson Nikki Simmons. Injuries have been reported, but officials have not identified those involved, the extent of the sustained injuries or announced how many people were injured in the crash. The crash’s cause is still being looked into.
ALTO – Samuel Schlemmer was given a 12-year prison sentence on Wednesday for driving while intoxicated last year, killing two women and injuring another.
In relation to a collision on Highway 69, close to FM 1911 in Alto, Schlemmer, who was 21 at the time of the May 2025 collision, entered a guilty plea to two counts of intoxication manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault. He was sentenced to 10 years for intoxication assault and 12 years for each charge of intoxication manslaughter. The sentences will be executed concurrently.
Police say an SUV and truck collided in the crash. Three people were hurt in the SUV. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – Following an incident at a Longview nightclub early on June 21, three women have been taken into custody as part of an assault investigation. New details regarding an alleged assault on a woman in the parking lot are revealed by arrest documents that WFAA was able to obtain.
Alana Mumphrey, 21, of Longview, Dejae Brown, 21, of Pittsburg, and Ciarrianne Fuller, 21, of Longview are all accused of assault causing bodily injury in relation to an alleged assault at Whiskey J’s, which is situated at 300 TX-63 Spur in Longview. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to an affidavit from the Tyler Police Department, a man was detained on Sunday after taking pictures of an unconscious woman and then threatening to send the pictures to her relatives. The affidavit states that in February, Otto Pablo, 44, photographed the unidentified victim in a compromising position. The woman told police that Pablo had taken more pictures and had threatened to send the photos.
Authorities say Pablo did send a family member at least one cropped photo. Multiple copies of the pictures were discovered when investigators confiscated Pablo’s phone. Pablo was charged with invasive visual recording and placed under $200,000 bond in the Smith County Jail.
JEFFERSON – A shooting in Marion County that left one person dead is being investigated by authorities. The Sheriff’s Office reports that following reports of a shooting on FM 248, one person was taken into custody at approximately 8 p.m. on Monday. Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Jefferson Police Department, and Marion County deputies all arrived at the scene. Both the victim’s and the suspected shooter’s identities are still unknown. Xavier Lakeno Zachary has been identified as the suspect; he has been charged with murder and booked into Marion County Jail. The Texas Rangers will support the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
WHITEHOUSE – According to a police affidavit, a Tyler man was taken into custody on Monday after an 11-month-old was discovered with numerous bruises on the child’s face, scalp, back, and sides. Joshua Moses Kelm, 30, of Tyler, was charged with child injury after police looked into several incidents where the child had unexplained bruises after spending time with Kelm.
The affidavit states that on May 26, just after midnight, police were initially called to Nunn Street due to a fight between Kelm and the mother of the child. The mother told officers she did not want to leave the child with Kelm as the child always received bruises when left in Kelm’s care.
Neither in-person nor during the review of bodycam footage did the officers notice any bruises that evening. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A pedestrian collision at a shopping center is being investigated by police. According to Tyler PD, the collision happened in a parking lot at the Cumberland Village Shopping Center in the 8900 block of South Broadway Avenue at approximately 3:55 p.m. The driver in question is assisting law enforcement and is fully cooperative, according to officials. There were no immediate details available regarding the pedestrian’s condition. As more information becomes available, this story will be updated.
LONGVIEW – On Sunday, a woman was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and causing a fatal collision. According to Gregg County jail records, Casey Johnson, 45, of Longview, is accused of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury and intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. Johnson was booked into the Gregg County Jail with a $500,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »
ARP – On Friday, the son of a former assistant principal at Arp Elementary entered a guilty plea to luring a 14-year-old girl away from her parents in order to commit a felony. The girl was later impregnated. Blake Florence, 23, and his mother, Karla Florence, who was the assistant principal at Arp Elementary at the time, were detained in late August 2025 on suspicion of sexual assault of a minor and tampering with tangible evidence. Charges of failing to report and giving a false report to a peace officer led to her arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – Two men have been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in the Athens area, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. An Athens police officer, a group of Henderson County deputies and investigators executed a drug search warrant on Wednesday at approximately 7:14 p.m. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, narcotics investigators disrupted a drug-running scheme that resulted in the arrest of two men from Athens and halted the flow of cocaine, codeine, and marijuana from this area. Henderson County 392nd Judicial District Judge Scott McKee issued a search warrant, which was carried out in the 400 block of Stoneleigh Street. Two men, David LaJames Hurd, 39, and Hasani Sameel Pariall, 37, were arrested during the search warrant’s execution. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS – After driving while intoxicated in a collision that killed a Tyler woman in 2024, 22-year-old Athens resident Jercorion Jaterence Johnson was given an 18-year prison sentence. In his own defense, Johnson expressed regret for the collision that killed 49-year-old Monica Bingham in July 2024. He acknowledged that he was “high” during a collision on U.S. 175 and that he had few memories of the day. Additionally, testimony revealed that in March 2025, while he was out on bond, he was arrested for driving under the influence.
LONGVIEW – On Thursday afternoon, Longview police and federal agents are investigating in south Longview. LaDarian Brown, a spokesperson for the Longview Police Department, stated that the department is supporting an ongoing investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Officials are reportedly in the 200 block of Michael Street at an automotive business. It is unclear if any arrests have been made, and no further details have been made public.
KAUFMAN COUNTY – The truck driver who was charged with five fatalities in a 2025 crash on Interstate 20 in Kaufman County entered a guilty plea and was given a 20-year prison sentence. In court, Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni entered a plea, ending a case that garnered statewide attention after investigators claimed he fell asleep while operating an 18-wheeler and crashed into stopped traffic close to Terrell.
Following the collision on June 28, 2025, a number of cars and commercial trucks were involved in a chain reaction pileup. Gonzalez-Companioni, a Florida resident, admitted to investigators that he had dozed off prior to the collision. A truck carrying three generations of the Fort Worth McKellar family was struck first. Grandfather Billy McKellar, parents Zabar and Shawn, and their 15-year-old son Kason were all instantly killed in the collision. Read the rest of this entry »
HOUSTON COUNTY – In federal court, a former Houston County deputy has elected to enter a guilty plea to charges of child pornography and sexual abuse of a child. Former Houston County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Skyler Laza has agreed to enter into a written plea agreement to the federal charge of sexual exploitation of a child, also known as production of child pornography, according to court documents filed on Tuesday. According to related documents, Skyler Laza forced the child to engage in sexual activity, recorded it, and sent the footage. Read the rest of this entry »
PANOLA COUNTY – Authorities confirmed that an 18-wheeler crashed in Panola County on Thursday morning, killing two people. Around 4:20 a.m., the collision occurred in Panola County at the intersection of Highway 79 and FM 31. The driver and passenger in the 18-wheeler were confirmed dead by the Texas Department of Public Safety. They are both from Missouri. According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Transportation is present and attempting to reopen the road. An investigation is ongoing.
OVERTON – The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that a single-vehicle collision in Overton on Thursday morning has left one person dead. According to officials, the collision occurred on State Highway 323 close to County Road 125 at around 6:00 a.m. No further information regarding the collision has been made public as of yet. The Overton Police Department is advising people to take a different route and stay away from the area. Additionally, they requested that people offer prayers for the affected individuals and their families.
MARION COUNTY – Following an officer-involved shooting in Marion County on Wednesday night, a man was transported to a hospital in Shreveport. Around 7:15 p.m., deputies responded to a domestic incident in the 2700 block of Highway 49, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputies arrived, they encountered a man who then fired a rifle, striking a patrol car belonging to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – According to arrest records, a man from the Dallas area assaulted a Smith County deputy on Sunday morning while attempting to take the deputy’s gun and repeatedly resisting arrest. Members of a nearby church allegedly intervened to assist, according to the documents. Delano Davis is accused of resisting arrest, assaulting a peace officer, trying to steal a weapon from an officer, and interfering with public duties. Since Sunday, he has been detained at the Smith County Jail. Around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday, a Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a call regarding a man stepping in front of moving cars close to County Roads 165 and 168 in the Flint-Gresham area, according to an arrest affidavit. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Emiliano Lorenzo Alonzo Ebanez was taken into custody at around 5:41 p.m. on Wednesday, the Jacksonville Police Department said. He will be transported to the Cherokee County Jail, where he will be processed for booking.
JACKSONVILLE – An 18-year-old Rusk man was identified by the Jacksonville Police Department as a suspect in the Lincoln Park shooting. According to Jacksonville police spokesperson Amanda Bragg, Emiliano Lorenzo Ebanez is regarded as armed and dangerous. In a press release, she stated that if Ebanez is spotted, the public is “strongly advised” to stay away and to call the police. Jacksonville police received several 911 calls about a shooting near Lincoln Park, close to Davis Avenue and Holloway Avenue, at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Sunday.
According to a press release, officers found three adult males who had been shot, and private vehicles transported them to nearby hospitals. According to reports, their condition is stable.
A sizable crowd gathered in the 7-Eleven North parking lot while responding officers tried to disperse them. Around 10:10 p.m., more gunfire was reported in the area. According to Bragg, the reports of the shootings are being looked into. Call Jacksonville police at 903-586-2546 if you have any information.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A judge in Henderson County has given the prosecution a deadline to decide whether to pursue the death penalty for a suspect in a double murder. Chandler resident Lance Kaeden Rains, 25, showed up for a pretrial hearing in Judge Scott McKee’s courtroom Wednesday morning. Rains is charged with the shooting deaths of Chandler residents Gabriel and Beverly McBride in December 2018. Read the rest of this entry »
HOUSTON (AP) – Camp Mystic filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Wednesday, nearly a year after catastrophic floods killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors at the all-girls Christian camp in Texas. In paperwork filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas in Houston, the camp listed its debt as exceeding $10 million. The camp along the Guadalupe River said it had assets in the range of 100,001 to $500,000.
Families of the victims filed a lawsuit in November saying the camp operators failed to take the necessary steps to protect the girls as life-threatening floodwaters approached on July 4. Camp owner Richard Eastland also died in the flood. All told, the destructive flooding killed at least 136 people along a several-mile stretch of the river, raising questions about how things went so terribly wrong.
The bankruptcy filing comes weeks after Camp Mystic halted plans to reopen this summer in the face of outrage from victims’ families and lawmakers that the century-old camp intended to welcome girls back while lawsuits and investigations remained ongoing.
TYLER – In order to help with the construction required to reopen the North Northeast Loop 323 extension to U.S. Highway 271, Smith County commissioners approved on Tuesday allowing Texas Department of Transportation workers to enter a portion of Camp Ford. Due to excessive rainfall in May 2024, a culvert washed out, closing that portion of Loop 323 to traffic for more than two years. There, a bridge will be constructed by the Texas Department of Transportation. In the coming weeks, construction is anticipated to start. Commissioners authorized a temporary construction easement for TxDOT workers to help build the bridge during their Tuesday meeting. Read the rest of this entry »