Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that Lance Phillips, 40, has been arrested on multiple charges including the assault of a public servant. He was held in contempt at a meeting where he signed up to give public comment on three agenda items. A video shows Phillips saying he is with God and reciting scripture from Ephesians. Smith County Judge Neal Franklin can be heard shortly after reminding Phillips to speak only on the agenda items. He was then seen leaving the court escorted by officers while shouting his arrest goes against his First Amendment rights. Lance was booked into the Smith County Jail for contempt, resisting arrest, hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct and assault of a public servant. His bonds total $200,000.
LUFKIN – Four men were charged with aggravated robbery after a Domino’s pizza employee reported being robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Michael Harris, 17, Floyd Hennington, 19, Deanthony Minor, 19, and Amare White, 20, robbed a delivery driver for 2 pizzas and an order of wings. During a search, officials found: “Domino’s pizza boxes, a pistol hidden in a laundry hamper, and uneaten pizza slices in a bathroom toilet as if the suspects were trying to flush the evidence.” Harris and Hennington are being held on a $150,000 bond while Minor and White have bonds of $100,000 at the Angelina County Jail.
TYLER – On March 26th, Chapel Hill ISD will be hosting their initial groundbreaking for their new construction projects. According to our news partner KETK, the site of the new junior high will be first at 11:15 a.m., with the projected finishing date set for Fall 2025. The high school bus loop will host the second groundbreaking at 12:15 p.m. Possible severe weather was the reason for the original Monday date being switched to Tuesday.
TYLER – At the beginning of the season the Texas College Steers Men’s Basketball team was predicted to finish 12th out of 12 in the Red River Athletic Conference. On Thursday, it was announced that the same team will be participating in the NAIA National Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. The Steers finished the season with a 22-8 record and a conference-best 12-1 record at home. They take on Point Park on March 15th in Henderson, Tennessee.
TYLER – A report from the City of Tyler on Thursday announced that Bergfeld Park has been recognized by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association as a Great Public Space and joins the Rose Garden as the second Tyler location to earn the honor. The land for the park was initially purchased by the city in 1913 and has seen many additions and renovations since.
GLADEWATER, Texas – In a wave that began in the 2022-23 school year, more east Texas school districts have transitioned to a four-day school week. A recent survey taken in the Gladewater ISD could see the district join the ever-growing list soon. According to our news partner KETK, 72% of parents, 78% of students, and 92% of employees voted in favor of the school week being shortened. But Superintendent Sedric Clark noticed that a second polling of parents actually saw a decrease in there approval. “It was in the 70’s the first time. This time, it was at 67%,†Clark said. The district is preparing to host several meetings where parents are able to voice their opinion.
UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – An Upshur County explosion led to the discovery of a large indoor marijuana cultivation facility. According to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and our news partners at KETK, a 911 call was made on Saturday at around 5:30 PM after a car was reported leaving the scene of an explosion at a high rate of speed. The respondents included the West Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, Gilmer Fire Department along with county sheriff’s deputies and Constable Tim Barnett. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A lawsuit aimed at removing Smith County District Clerk Penny Clarkston from office was filed earlier this month. According to our news partner KETK, JoAnn Fleming through her attorney states Clarkston should be removed citing the following alleged offenses: Neglect of duties, the issuing of subpoenas outside her legal authority, warrants issued untimely or without proper authority, a mishandling of jury duty including the refusal to summon a panel and not paying jury fees, falsifying filings.
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TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler has announced that they will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to forecasted weather and road conditions. In a release, the university announced that this closing will effect the main campus, Longview University Center and the Palestine Campus. Residence Life and Student Engagement are teaming up to provide food service and snack boxes/bags for residential students.
LONGVIEW – In a report from the City of Longview, their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March will be held despite winter weather predictions. In the release, the march is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Due to expected weather conditions participants have the option to march or drive a vehicle from Broughton Park to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The march will be immediately followed by an Interfaith Service.
LUFKIN – In a report from our news partner KETK, the Lufkin Police Department has disclosed the identities of those involved in a shooting incident on Wednesday evening. A woman died after pointing a gun at an officer. The department received a call about two men causing a disturbance at the Great Oaks Apartments around 6 p.m. The caller mentioned that they were kicking at an apartment door but had disappeared by the time the officers arrived. Read the rest of this entry »
Christmas can get hectic, so to save East Texans time KETK put together a list of local restaurants, grocery stores and movie theaters open on Christmas Day 2023. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of places to eat and and shop that will be open for Christmas this year. Please click here to view the list.
LONGVIEW – Our news partner KETK reports that Seth Estes Vanover, aged 52 of Diana, has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan to a period of 12 years and 11 months in federal prison. Additionally, Vanover has been mandated to undergo a 15-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and surrender four phones. In July of 2022, undercover agents began an operation designed to lure people into meeting minors for sexual acts. The FBI arrested Vanover in October of 2022 and he resigned from the police department that same day. His patrol car was searched and a cellphone was found. Procecutors said the device contained, “at least 234 videos and 133 photos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants, toddlers, and other young children.â€
HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that six individuals were arrested following the execution of a search warrant at a home in the Tool area of Henderson County. Investigators reportedly discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a shotgun, an ATV that had been reported as stolen from Parker County, and stolen credit cards. Among the arrested were:
-Robert Hogue – Arrested for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana
-Thad Love – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, fraudulent possession identifying information
-Robert Chewning – Arrested for possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon
-Ralph Brown – Arrested for possession of marijuana
They were brought to the Henderson County Jail and are currently waiting for their arraignment.
TYLER – In an announcement made on Thursday, UT Health East Texas says patients now have full access to MyChart. Services such as paying bills, scheduling appointments and prescription management are now back online. In the release, UT Health also suggested that users reset their passwords and to still expect some small features to still be unavailable on MyChart.
BIG SANDY — A pickup truck allegedly failed to stop for a school bus, resulting in the death of a woman at approximately 6:30 a.m. on US State Highway 155 near South Mulberry Road. DPS along with our news partner KETK reported that the woman was outside with a flashlight, assisting children in boarding the school bus. However, the driver of a pickup truck supposedly did not stop for the bus, which had its lights on and stop sign out, and ended up hitting her. The driver is reportedly facing charges and is currently being held in Upshur County Jail. The victim was declared dead at the scene.
LONGVIEW – According to a release from Public Information Officer Richard Yeakley, the Longview Police Department dedicated its new building Tuesday afternoon. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at 3:00 p.m. And the public open house is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The festivities will take place at the new facility on South St. The new building is 3 stories tall, and over 68,000 square feet. To learn more about the building’s construction and view initial renderings, click here.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Two people are dead and six people were injured after a pickup veered into oncoming traffic on US Highway 175, north of Jacksonville. According to our news partners KETK, in a release from DPS, a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado veered into oncoming traffic and hit a 2022 Honda Accord and then a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The driver of the Silverado, 69-year-old David Blakeney of Jacksonville, as well as the driver of the Accord, 23-year-old Antonio Santana III of Little Elm, were pronounced dead at the scene. The two passengers in the Accord and the driver plus three passengers in the Corolla were taken to a hospital.
PALESTINE — A Palestine woman has been arrested and booked into the Anderson County Jail after leading police on a chase that ended on a dead-end road. According to our news partner KETK, Shelby Lynn Beckham, 32, had an active warrant for alleged possession of a controlled substance in Navarro County. After running a stop sign, an on-patrol officer attempted to stop Beckham. She then attempted to evade the officer down a dead-end road before being arrested for her warrant. Palestine Police in a statement said the found Beckham was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe and a trace amount of methamphetamine in a small plastic container.
TYLER – After last week’s cyberattack, UT Health’s parent company, Ardent Health Services, has announced that records and other vital platforms have been restored. Our news partner KETK reports that although clinics and emergency rooms are back to full service, some non-emergency procedures are still at a halt as some repairs are still being made.
TYLER – A massive inflatable Santa Claus has appeared seemingly out of thin air in the Hollytree subdivision in Tyler. A Hollytree resident told our news partner KETK that the aired-up Chris Kringle has been up for about a week, but its origins are unknown. Another resident said it’s located on an empty lot and nobody knows where it came from. Others also believe it’s a sign that Jolly ‘Ol St. Nicholas is coming to Tyler on Christmas Day. It can be found on 6709 La Costa Drive, Tyler in Hollytree.
TYLER – In a press release from DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton, a three vehicle crash on State Highway 31 East, west of County Road 246 in Tyler Wednesday afternoon has killed one and left four injured. The preliminary investigation states that a 2009 Isuzu Truck, driven by Cameron Reeves, 18 of Hawkins, “failed to stay in single lane” and collided into a Ford F-150. Reeves continued driving and led to Cory Threadgill, 40 of Gladewater, hitting a tree to avoid him. Out of the 5 involved, only Aidan Kelley, 20 of Chandler was declared dead at the scene. Reeves, Threadgill, Robert Pierzchalski, 67 of Henderson and Brandon Carpenter, 42 of Gladewater, were all transported to a Tyler hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
WHITEHOUSE, Texas – In an updated provided by our news partner KETK, Whitehouse Police have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone involved in the throwing of alcohol during the city’s Christmas parade. In a statement, Chief Paul Robeson said they were unable to find evidence that the driver of the vehicle was under the notion that the 3 and 4 year old children in the back seat has thrown out a small-sized bottle of alcohol during the festivities. To find Robeson’s full statement, KETK has provided it here.
WHITEHOUSE, Texas – Patient care is now being affected because of the recent ransomware attack on UT Health East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, Patricia Cowan and her sister have been forced to wait on daily phone calls in order to find out if she can receive urgent treatment for her case of cancer. The ransomware attack, that was almost two weeks ago, means that now Patricia must travel 45 minutes to get care. Director of Communications Allison Pollan spoke with KETK and said that, “safely caring for patients remains our highest priority.â€
TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that Tyler ISD notified families on Thursday that internet and phone lines are down district-wide as of 11:40 a.m. In a statement, the district said that they are aware of the outage and are working to restore it. No timeline was given for a resolution.
TYLER – Emergency rooms in the UT Health East Texas network are in “divert status” after a network outage caused by a possible security incident. According to our news partner KETK, The outage was first reported by UT Health on Thursday afternoon. In a statement provided by UT Health East Texas Director of Communications Allison Pollan, “Earlier today, we became aware of a network outage due to a potential security incident that is affecting UT Health East Texas. As we work to assess the impact of this outage and restore access, we are following established downtime protocols. As a precaution, our emergency rooms are currently on divert status as we work to bring our systems back online. We anticipate that network access will be restored in the next 24-36 hours,â€
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TYLER – In a released Tyler ISD announced that Tyler Legacy High School’s athletic field-house will go under a new name. Monday night, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the Field House at Tyler Legacy High School after former coach Mike Owens. It will now be called the Coach Mike Owens Field House. Coach Owens led the former Robert E. Lee High School (REL) to the 2004 Class 5A Division I State Football Championship. He retired after the 2010 season in 2011.
UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that a double homicide suspect from Upshur County has been added to the Texas Most Wanted List. It was announced on Tuesday by DPS that Alvin “Pookie†McKnight Jr., 41, of Gilmer, was added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List and Texas Crime Stoppers. A cash reward of up to $7,500 is being offered in exchange for information leading to his arrest. Upshur County Crime Stoppers are also offering a reward for any anonymous tips leading to McKnight Jr.’s arrest. That reward is $10,000. He is wanted after two sisters were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds on Nov. 4, and McKnight’s sister has since been arrested for allegedly helping him flee Upshur County.
ANDERSON Co. – According to a preliminary investigation, a 2001 Ford F-150 Pickup operated by Terry McMillian, 49 of Seagoville, was traveling west on US 175 when he struck 67 year old Frankston native Russell Warrington. Warrington was stationary on a bicycle in the eastbound lane of US 175. This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available. Warrington was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace Gary Thomas. McMillian was not wearing a seat belt.
TYLER – A 22-year-old woman was indicted for criminally negligent homicide in the 2021 death of a Tyler High volleyball player. Talia Smith, of Tyler, was indicted on Sept. 28 in the May 1, 2021 crash that lead to the death of 18-year-old Patrianna Pettigrew. Smith’s indictment states that she caused the crash due to her failure to control speed, making an unsafe lane change, passing another vehicle at a high rate of speed, operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner, and passing a vehicle when it was unsafe to do so. Pettigrew was declared dead at the site of the collision, while Smith was transported to the hospital in a critical state. She was subsequently discharged and apprehended for her involvement in the crash. Smith was able to secure her release from the Smith County Jail on the same day by posting a bond of $15,000. Smith’s next court date is Nov. 20.