Today is
Monday July 20, 2026
TYLER – Dezavion Williams, 20, of Henderson has been offered a plea deal after being accused of firing shots among a large crowd near the Lake Tyler Marina last year. Henderson is charged with aggravated assault (mass shooting) in connection with a May 18, 2025, shooting during a large gathering with hundreds of people. He was offered eight years of prison time with his next per-trial hearing scheduled for May 7, and trail scheduled for May 17. Arrest document stated each round fired into the crowd of hundreds was an “attempt to cause serious bodily injury or death to individuals within the hundreds of people present.”
SMITH COUNTY – County ESD 2 officials responded to a chicken truck rolled over near Winona Monday that reportedly occurred around 11:20 a.m. Dozens of chickens escaped, and crews are currently working to round them up. Authorities, as well as our news partner KETK, report that the driver was not injured, and no other vehicles were involved.
UPSHUR COUNTY – A student at the Union Hill ISD has been arrested after officials report the student made threatening remarks on campus. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that due to the severity of the threats made, officials arrived on campus to make the arrest without incident. Our news partners at KETK report that The student has been charged with making a terroristic threat and is currently in the Upshur County Jail awaiting arraignment. No further information on the arrest was provided.
TATUM – A safety concern along a stretch of highway in East Texas is getting attention after the Tatum police chief made a public plea for action. The concern is along State Highway 149, from the city limits traveling south to Tatum Middle School, where on Tuesday, an 18-wheeler hydroplaned into oncoming traffic before slamming onto school property.
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SMITH COUNTY – Traffic along Interstate 20 entering Lindale is back open after an 18-wheeler crash backed up traffic for miles. Our news partner KETK reports that the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on I?20 between U.S. 69 and FM 14. DPS officials reported that a pickup truck carrying a camper lost control on the interstate and an 18?wheeler struck the camper from behind. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – County officials released a statement regarding the arrest of a jailer: Jonathan Mendez, 28, of Jacksonville. Mendez was arrested after Sheriff Brent Dickson was made aware of Mendez allegedly falsifying his timesheet. Detectives developed evidence indicating that Mendez had falsified his Cherokee County timesheet for personal financial gain. After a warrant was obtained, Mendez was subsequently arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Jail the same day on a tampering with government records charge . His bond was set at $10,000.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Precinct 1 County Commissioner Mitch Curtis was arrested in December 2025 for official oppression and impersonating a public servant; and on Thursday, those charges against him were dropped.
According to the County District Attorney’s Office and our news partner KETK, the charges were dropped because the complaining witness declined to assist with the case. In June of 2025, the lawsuit was initially filed against Curtis for allegedly pretending to be a police officer in an effort to stop a man from shooting guns on his own property. Curtis is still holding the position of Precinct 1 County Commissioner as of April 2.
MARSHALL – A Marshall man found guilty of murder and other charges related to a deadly shooting in 2024 was given a 35-year prison sentence on Monday. Curtis White, Jr., 19, started his 35-year prison sentence on Monday after being found guilty in the 71st District Court of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and deadly conduct discharge of a firearm.
According to our news partner KETK, White was fined $10,000. On July 16, 2024, at approximately 11:50 a.m., a maroon car pulled up beside a white Nissan that was stopped at a red light on East Grand in Marshall. This led to the shooting. Before leaving the scene, White, the driver of the maroon car, fired into the Nissan, hitting the driver and a passenger.
The driver was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the passenger, Markel May, 20, died at the scene. White was taken into custody at the Harrison County Jail on a $1.2 million bond.
TYLER – A man was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Monday, more than a year after he was arrested for allegedly dousing his girlfriend in gasoline and setting a Tyler house on fire. Following a report of a burning home, the Tyler Fire and Police Departments arrived at the 3300 block of Shady Trail on November 18, 2024, at approximately 3:37 a.m.
Our news partners at KETK report that Gregory Bargaineer, 67, entered the Smith County Jail twenty minutes later “to turn himself in for throwing gasoline on his girlfriend,” according to arrest records.
The body of Bargaineer’s alleged girlfriend, Marilyn Mceachin, was discovered on the floor close to the remains of a bed after the fire department extinguished the flames. Investigators were informed by Bargaineer that the victim had served him with an eviction notice the previous week. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran spoke to KTBB on the two major issues dominating headlines: the partial government shutdown and how conflict in the Middle East is affecting Americans.
Representative Moran highlighted how Republicans “[…] certainly want to see this shut down.” He also mentioned how progress is being impeded by Democrats playing politics with an appropriations bill they [Democrats] already agreed to.
Moran said the delay “has now led to almost 100,000 DHS employees missing their paychecks last week, including TSA agents who are legally required to keep working.”
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TYLER – On Wednesday, Tyler City Council approved a $167,868 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Intelligent Transportation System Master Plan Year 6 – Traffic Signal Timing Improvements. According to a release obtained by KTBB, 26 highly-driven intersections in the city will be addressed. The areas being addressed include Southeast Loop 323, Beckham Avenue, Troup Highway, Shiloh Road, and East Grande Boulevard. The release quoted the improvement previous traffic light re-timings have done for city traffic flow, specifically the improvement of Broadway Avenue. Historical data from Texas Department of Transportation and Texas A&M Transportation Institute ranked Broadway as one of the most traffic-heavy roads in Texas, but since re timing plans began, the ranking has steadily improved. The project is set to be paid for with the Half Cent Sales Tax Fund.
MARSHALL – Marshall PD announced that a juvenile is in custody after a shooting Saturday. Officers arrived to the scene of the shooting at a home on Melanie Street after receiving a call of gunfire. One victim was found with a gunshot wound, and the injury is believed to be non-life threatening. The department will not be releasing any information regarding the suspect’s identity due to their age, but the suspect is confirmed to be held in the Willoughby Juvenile Detention Center
SMITH COUNTY — A 28-year-old man was arrested early Saturday morning after authorities said he shot his wife while their three children were inside the home. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, deputies responded around 1:30 a.m. to a disturbance call in the 9200 block of Cityview Drive.
Dispatchers were told the suspect, identified as Adrian Lekindreth Scott Jr., was intoxicated and assaulting his wife.
While deputies were en route, Smith County dispatchers reported hearing gunshots and screaming during the ongoing 911 call. Deputies arrested Scott. Inside the home, deputies found his wife suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen and shoulder.
Deputies began providing lifesaving aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. Authorities said one deputy applied pressure to the wounds and placed a tourniquet on the woman’s upper arm before she was transported to the hospital for treatment. She is currently in stable condition.
Deputies also checked on the three children who were inside the residence at the time of the shooting. According to a Smith County affidavit, the wife alleged that she was holding her infant in bed next to her two other children when the shooting occurred. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – The votes are being counted and numbers are being reported across East Texas and the entire state. Find updated results as they come in at KTBB Election Central!
TYLER – Robert Harrison Johnson IV has been found not guilty by reason of insanity after a house fire in 2022 killed his half-brother with special needs. Johnson had been in a state hospital, and a report from January stated that he was insane at the time of the offense.
On May 18, 2022, Johnson’s half-brother Jack McKenzie Ross, 35, died in the house fire in the 11300 block of County Road 1113. He was arrested by police in DeSoto weeks later.
Records revealed that Johnson was smoking a cigarette in his room when embers landed on a nearby towel. Johnson, in a conversation with investigators, claimed that a “ghost” stopped him from leaving the house. He was also asked why he didn’t help Ross who was in the next room. His response was a claim that spirits forced him out. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Saturday, Richard DeFreece of Tyler stopped by the King’s Academy Upper Campus gymnasium to attempt to make 250 paper airplanes, in just 60 minutes. Our news partners at KETK report that DeFreece was able to complete the feat on camera, with multiple timekeepers and in front of several witnesses, who helped count the planes and made sure they could all fly. He’ll have to wait for Guinness World Records to review the evidence of his attempt before verifying his new Guinness World Record. DeFreece said the previous record was for 200 paper planes made in an hour. For 250 planes in a hour, around 4.16 paper planes a minute had to be made.
TYLER – Texas Department of Public Safety announced they’ll be increasing patrols for Super Bowl Sunday. Officials say this is in an effort to keep roadways safe, and as part of the nationwide Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort (CARE). DPS troopers will be keeping an eye out for impaired driving, speeding, seat belt violations and other dangerous behavior. Last year on Super Bowl Sunday, DPS issued more than 1,300 citations and nearly 3,900 warnings statewide.
WINNSBORO — One former Winnsboro ISD superintendent and another who had been placed on leave have been arrested again on Thursday, almost a month after their first arrests related to allegedly neglecting to report child abuse.
According to our news partner KETK, Brian Wilcox, a former superintendent of Winnsboro ISD and Aaron Nation, the current superintendent who was placed on administrative leave, were arrested on Thursday and charged with tampering/fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair and unlawful interception, use, or disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications.
They were booked into the Hopkins County jail with an undisclosed bond and have since been released, according to jail records. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS – An Athens ISD (AISD) teacher and basketball coach was arrested after marijuana and a firearm were found in his vehicle. According to a report from the district, the unidentified staff member was taken into custody on Monday morning and was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Our news partners at KETK had this excerpt from an AISD statement: “Athens ISD is committed to upholding the highest level of integrity as a matter of public trust,” the district said. “We appreciate the response of our staff and school resource officers and will continue to cooperate fully as the matter moves forward.”
TYLER – After violating his probation, Patrick Mahomes Sr., the father of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Smith County Jail. Our news partner KETK reports that Mahomes Sr. was arrested after breaking his probation, according to the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. On February 3, 2024, he was arrested in Tyler for driving under the influence.
KILGORE – Chad Adamson, 43 of Tatum, involved in a fatal December wreck, was arrested this weekend. Adamson turned himself in to the Gregg County Jail on an intoxication manslaughter charge. His bond was set at $25,000 and he was released from the jail Monday.
A probable cause affidavit states that on December 9, while intoxicated, Adamson caused Christine Donley’s death in a two-vehicle collision on US 259 in Kilgore. According to the arrest report, Adamson struck Donley’s car after crossing the median and traveling south in the northbound lane. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – The Longview ISD broke ground on their new Early Childhood Learning Center Thursday. Our news partner KETK reports that the new center will be built on the site of Jodie McClure Elementary with around $61.8 million in voter-approved bond funds. The multi-building facility would house thirty classrooms, a library, a kitchen and a gymnasium. The 79,000-square-foot facility will house pre-kindergarten children between the ages of four-years-old and just six weeks old.
EAST TEXAS – NETRMA will be preparing Toll 49 for the predicted winter weather hitting the area. Efforts include putting brine on bridges and main lanes throughout all of Toll 49. Communications Director Colleen Colby has tips for drivers who still need to hit the roads.
“We’d ask our drivers to be extremely cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps and turns, any areas that might freeze first,” Colby said. “We’d ask all of our drivers to reduce speed, to allow extra time to reach their destination. Make sure you increase the distance between yourself and any other vehicles and should you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of the skid.”
For safety purposes, NETRMA is also asking drivers to stay back at least 200 feet from vehicles treating roadways, and most of all, be patient. Should anything happen, authorities urge drivers to stay in their vehicles. And if you’re stranded, make sure to call 911 to get the appropriate help that you may need.
TATUM – Following a search that revealed drugs, including more than 60 grams of meth, two individuals were taken into custody in Tatum on Tuesday. A Ford Escape SUV with a damaged windshield was seen traveling south on North Hill Street when an officer made a traffic stop, according to the Tatum Police Department and our news partner KETK. A probable cause search was conducted after the officer reported smelling a strong marijuana odor coming from the vehicle during the traffic stop.
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JACKSONVILLE – Earlier this month, a single-vehicle collision near Jacksonville killed a 17-year-old. The victim, identified as Hunter Endsley, was killed on January 9 when he struck a tree while driving east on Country Road 1405 near Jacksonville, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety and our news partner KETK. Authorities say Endsley crashed into the tree while attempting to make a turn on wet roads at dangerous speeds. Later that night, Endsley was declared dead at a local hospital.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Following a recent altercation that left a prisoner injured, five employees of the George Beto Unit state prison near Tennessee Colony were relieved of their duties. According to our news partner KETK, on January 6, an inmate was accused of assaulting a correctional officer. Staff members and the prisoner got into another alltercation after the assault. While the prisoner received medical attention from within the prison, the assaulted correctional officer received treatment at a facility outside the prison. It was not made public how serious those injuries were.
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GILMER – Congressman Wesley Hunt of Houston made a campaign stop in Gilmer on Thursday as he runs for U.S. Senate. Hunt is running in the March 3 Republican Primary against incumbent Senator for Texas John Cornyn and fellow candidate Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General. If Hunt wins the Republican Primary, he’ll face the winner of the Democratic Party Primary in November. Our news partners at KETK had the chance to interview Hunt which you can watch here.
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 Tuesday to submit an application for the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant. Our news partners at KETK report that Senate Bill 8, which instructed the Texas Comptroller to create a grant program to support sheriffs in counties with fewer than a million residents that take part in the 287(g) program, is the source of this grant. This grant is provided directly by the state. The $100,000 grant is available to Smith County, which has a population of over 200,000. If granted, the funds must be used within two years.
Commissioner for Precinct 4 Ralph Caraway Sr. voted against the application, but County Judge Neal Franklin, Commissioners Christina Drewry, J. Scott Jerod, and John Moore voted in favor of it during the commissioners’ court meeting on Tuesday.
MOUNT ENTERPRISE – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK have confirmed that one person is dead after a serious crash has blocked State Highway 315 to the north of Mount Enterprise on Sunday. County Emergency Services officials have not released the name of the lone fatality, nor has any information regarding any injuries.
SMITH COUNTY – A man wanted on a drug-related warrant was apprehended during a routine speeding stop in Smith County. Authorities also found evidence of a money laundering scheme, a firearm, and almost $30,000 in cash. On December 28, Smith County deputies pulled over a car on Highway 31 East and identified Tyler James Starling, the driver. Starling was wanted on an active warrant for possessing about ten pounds of marijuana that had allegedly been smuggled and left at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. After Starling was placed under arrest, deputies searched his car and found a handgun, a cellphone, and $29,528 in cash.
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