Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler announced that Dr. Barbara Haas will serve as the university’s new provost. She has served as interim provost since June. Haas succeeds Dr. Amir Mirmiran who recently transitioned to a new role as the Dean of the Graduate School and Chief Research Officer. Haas earned her PhD in nursing from The University of Texas at Austin, master’s in nursing from Marquette University, and bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. You can read the school’s full press release here.
ARP, Texas – The assistant principal of Arp Elementary School was arrested Tuesday morning after police said she gave false information to investigators. According to the Arp Police Department and our news partner KETK, Karla Florence was taken into custody for failure to report and false report to a peace officer. Police said she failed to provide “accurate and truthful information to investigators” and did not fulfill her legal duty under Texas law to report knowledge of a felony while serving as an educator. Blake Florence, was also arrested and charged with sexual assault of a child and tampering with physical evidence. Both were booked into the Smith County Jail.
PALESTINE, Texas – Palestine ISD trustees this week approved calling for a $60 million bond election to be held this November. District officials quoted that a new career and technology education center, renovations to aging facilities, traffic flow improvements, and safety upgrades would be funded through the bond. The impact on someone in a home valued at $200,000 in Palestine ISD with a homestead exemption would be about $5 a month according to the district. Find more information on the bond here.
TYLER – A party with legal claim to The Oil Palace in Tyler has requested that the venue be sold, due to failed obligations, according to Smith County records. A document dated Aug. 7 shows the Oil Palace and Bobby Manziel as the borrower of $3.94 million on Dec. 4, 2017. The sale of the building is required to fall under Section 51.002 of the Texas Property Code. That means the must be put up via an auction held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. of the first Tuesday of a month. The Tyler Gun Show scheduled for Sept. 13 and 14 at the venue is canceled. The last event to be held at The Oil Palace was the 2025 God & The Great Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Expo.
WILLS POINT, Texas – A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an ongoing child pornography investigation, according to our news partner KETK.
The Wills Point Police Department said Eli Joshua Steele was taken into custody on Friday and is facing six counts of producing, directing or promoting a sexual performance by a child, along with nine counts of possession with intent to promote child pornography.
Steele’s arrest is part of what authorities described as “an extensive and lengthy ongoing investigation” by the department’s criminal investigations division. The case has been referred to the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges and prosecution.
According to Van Zandt County Jail records, Steele is being held on a total bond of $600,000.
LUFKIN – A Lufkin man is behind bars after an hours-long standoff Friday morning that ended with SWAT deploying CS gas canisters, according to our news partner KETK.
The standoff began after a series of incidents involving 42-year-old Charles Roman Taylor over the past several days, according to the Lufkin Police Department. Officers say Taylor called 911 more than 10 times starting around 4 a.m. Friday, speaking incoherently and eventually threatening to kill officers who responded to his home.
“When he stepped out the front door, officers tried to calm him and take him into custody on outstanding warrants,” Lufkin PD said. “Officers deployed a taser, but that did not immobilize Taylor, and he went back inside.”
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LONGVIEW — Jose Daniel Rodriguez Jr., a Longview man, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2023 murders of Alexander and Aleksei Gamez, according to our news partner KETK. A Gregg County jury found Rodriguez guilty of capital murder on Thursday, and 188th District Court Judge David Brabham handed down the life sentence the same day.
According to authorities, Rodriguez and three of his relatives went to a Harrison Street residence around 2:25 a.m. on June 10, 2023, searching for the Gamez brothers in connection with an earlier incident. Rodriguez waited at the home for nearly 20 minutes before Alexander and Aleksei returned in a black vehicle.
Surveillance video from the home shows Rodriguez approaching the vehicle with a firearm in his right hand. He shot Alexander once in the head before firing seven shots at Aleksei, striking him in the head and body. Rodriguez fled the scene but later claimed he acted in self-defense or in defense of another person.
The jury reviewed security footage and other evidence, ultimately rejecting Rodriguez’s claims. After four hours of deliberation, they returned a guilty verdict. Gregg County judicial records confirm that Rodriguez’s life sentence began Thursday.
BULLARD – The Bullard ISD Board of Trustees has appointed Jan Hill as the district’s interim superintendent, according to our news partner KETK. Hill, who dedicated twelve years of service to Bullard ISD, will guide the district through this transition period.
Hill first joined Bullard ISD in 2008 as director of curriculum, where she managed state and federal programs. In 2014, she was promoted to deputy superintendent, taking on a key leadership role in overseeing the district’s instructional programs.
This is not Hill’s first time serving as interim superintendent; she previously held the role in 2020 before Jack Lee was named superintendent. Hill is stepping into the position again following Lee’s departure to accept a role with Seguin ISD.
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TYLER – Desnique Deshawn Herndon, 28, was sentenced to seven life sentences by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on Wednesday. In 2023, Herndon was convicted by a jury of six counts of sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children following a five-day trial before Judge Barker. Herndon remained in custody between the time of trial and sentencing. Beginning in 2019, Herndon engaged in trafficking multiple teenage girls for commercial sex acts. Herndon recruited the girls by social media, deceived them by promising riches, and placed them in hotels in the Tyler area. Some of Herndon’s victims were as young as 13 years old. Three of Herndon’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the offenses.
FORT CAMPBELL, KY. – An East Texas infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division has died following a training accident near Camp Croft in Hungary, according to military officials and our news partners at KETK.
The soldier was identified Saturday as Sgt. Aaron Cox of Mabank. He was a member of the division’s 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team and died Thursday in a vehicle accident while preparing for Exercise Saber Guardian 25.
Cox enlisted in the Army in 2021 and was on his second deployment, having previously served in Poland in 2022. During his service, he received several medals, including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
The incident remains under investigation, military officials said.
WINONA – Luis Hernandez has won the Winona ISD Board of Trustees Place 3 seat after a runoff election held Saturday, following a tie in the May 3 election, according to unofficial Smith County results.
Hernandez received 244 votes, defeating incumbent Randy Hawkins, who received 181. The initial election ended in a rare tie, with both candidates receiving 137 votes. After a recount confirmed the tie, a second election was scheduled.
Hernandez campaigned on expanding athletic programs and implementing long-term planning for the district.
CANTON – The Texas Department of Transportation has announced that Interstate 20 will be closed heading east and west near Canton starting on Sunday night. Our news partners at KETK reports that starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 27 crews will close I-20 so they can install a new bridge deck at Farm to Markey Road 17, which is northeast of Canton on I-20 in Van Zandt County. Traffic on I-20 will be redirected onto service roads until the work is completed at around 5 a.m. on Monday, April 28.
NEW LONDON, Texas – The West Rusk County Consolidated ISD is once again looking at voters to pass a proposed bond totaling $23,404,459. The funds would be used to build a new elementary school. This bond comes after voters rejected the district’s last two attempted bonds which aimed to fix aging or broken infrastructure, including mold and water damage, in the district’s schools. The district’s bond page breaks down what the new elementary school campus would feature, including a new music room and a multi-purpose gymnasium with a stage.
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TYLER – Tyler City Council approved Municipal Court Presiding Judge Amy McCullough’s appointment of Attorneys Kristina Ross and Tab Beall as alternate judges. Following their approval Wednesday, both were officially sworn in. According to a release from the city, Kristina Ross is an attorney at Beard & Harris, PLLC in Tyler. Her practice focuses on estate planning, probate, and sports agency and management. She has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 2011 and is a member of the Smith County Bar Association. Tab Beall is a lifelong Tyler resident and attorney with over 40 years of legal experience, including serving as a partner at Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, LLP. He has been a member of the Smith County Bar Association since 1981 and served as president from 2002-2003.
UPDATE: Our news partner KETK is reporting that the Wood County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Timothy Nall on child sexual assault charges.
MINEOLA – The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding Timothy Daniel Nall, a former pastor at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in Mineola. The sheriff’s office said that Nall is currently wanted on a warrant for sexual assault of a child. This is reportedly the sheriff’s office second warrant for Nall for a similar offense but with a different child victim.
In 2023, KETK reported that Nall was arrested for charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact. Earlier this month, KETK’s Ashlyn Anderson spoke with that victim’s family about the seeming lack of progress in the case against Nall following his last arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas – Two people were arrested on Friday after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office reportedly found methamphetamines, heroin and pills in an RV. Our news partners at KETK report that narcotics investigators, K9 units and other deputies executed a search warrant for a recreational vehicle hidden in a wooden area near Moore Station.
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ARP, Texas – Our news partners at KETK report that The City of Arp said they are currently without electrical power and that there’s no timeline for when power will be restored. The Kilgore Police Department also said that parts of northwest Kilgore are without power. You can find updates on both reported outages here.
LONGVIEW – Longview’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is currently running an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Survey and is looking for the public’s help in placing EV charging stations across the city. Our news partners at KETK report that the survey page allows participants to directly place a pin anywhere within the city. Those who want to make suggestions in-person can do so at the MPO’s public meeting on Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Maude Cobb Convention Center.
BULLARD, Texas – The Bullard Independent School District is in mourning after a high school student died in a motor vehicle crash on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, Madison Nelson, a 9th grader, passed away in the crash, according to a statement released by the district. She represented the 2024 freshman class as a homecoming duchess in this past fall semester.
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HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas – Nichalos Allen Hunt was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for possession of a controlled substance and four years for bail jumping and failure to appear in court. Our news partners at KETK report that Hunt allegedly admitted the baggie and a glass pipe were his and it was later determined the baggie contained 2.22 grams of methamphetamine. A Henderson County deputy received information on an individual with an outstanding parole warrant located in a hotel room in Gun Barrel City. Deputies on the scene reported seeing plastic baggie containing a crystal like substance was reportedly sitting in plain sight on the nightstand next to Hunt.
SMITH COUNTY, TX – According to a release from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the SCSO received a transfer case from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office regarding allegations of physical and sexual abuse involving three children. During the investigation, authorities learned that two sisters, under ten years of age, made an outcry of sexual abuse to their father in July 2024 and he, in turn, reported the allegations to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Two suspects were interviewed and subsequently arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child on warrants issued by Judge Taylor Heaton. They are identified as Raywin Lyons, 65, and Melissa Branch, 38. Both suspects were incarcerated on two counts each of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child with bonds totaling $600,000.
UPSHUR COUNTY – Gary Rumbaugh, 57, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, Rumbaugh spoke to multiple minors via Facebook Messenger, with one explicitly telling him she was 12 years old. He also invited the child to his home as well as inviting others to meet in Gladewater Park. In recovered messages, he told the victim that he’s had sexual relations with children her age before. In a statement from the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, authorities were unable to contact the victims involved.
HUNT COUNTY, Texas – Our news partner KETK reports that after nearly 10 months since a man was accused of dumping puppies in a secluded county road, Hunt County authorities have arrested him for animal cruelty. Forensic exams were performed on the puppies that determined they were eight to nine-weeks-old when abandoned. West Tawakoni PD spoke with the puppies’ owner, Billy Joe Byerly, who reportedly admitted that he had abandoned them on a secluded county road. Criminal charges were later filed against Byerly and in September the Hunt County attorney’s office issued a warrant for his arrest. Byerly was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, a Class A misdemeanor.
SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety said that 2 people died in a plane crash near Burleson Lake near Mineola on Wednesday night. According to our news partner KETK, the crash happened at around 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday at a private ranch on Live Oak Drive in northern Smith County. DPS said that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
The Smith County Sheriff’s office said deputies were first called out to look for the crashed small plane along with DPS and Smith County Emergency Services District 2.
EAST TEXAS – If you don’t want to roll the dice on your family’s cooking this Thanksgiving or need to pick up something last-minute, you’re in luck! Multiple local restaurants will be open for Thanksgiving Day, and our news partners at KETK have compiled a list of stores that’ll be open as well.
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SMITH COUNTY – On Tuesday, both the city of Tyler and Smith County announced their office hours for the Thanksgiving holiday. Tyler waste collection will be picking up as normal on November 25 and 26, while residents who’s pickup typically occurs on Thursday will be picked up on Wednesday. For the full solid waste holiday calendar, click here. All non-emergency City offices will close at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, for Thanksgiving. County offices will reopen on Monday, December 2, for normal business hours.
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TYLER – Michael Jones, 31, has had his bond reduction request denied by a Smith County Judge after he and Kerry Jones, 34, were arrested on charges concerning dogfighting after 60 dogs and two cats were seized from a Tyler property on Sept. 9. Michael’s mother, Brenda, took the stand during the Tuesday hearing. She testified the dogs belonged to Michael’s brother, Kerry. He is also facing charges. Brenda called Michael a “nurturer” and says he cared for his puppies. At one point, she tried pleading the fifth when asked about dogfighting. Michael’s bond will remain at $700,000. Kerry’s is set for $560,000.
JACKSONVILLE – James Warnell Phillips of Jacksonville has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to our news partner KETK and the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office, charges against Phillips were brought after it was determined he had continuously sexually abused minors for 11 years. The case against him was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Richey and Cherokee County District Attorney Elmer Beckworth.
TYLER – Kenneth Haygood, 54, of Tyler, was arrested in February on three counts of sexual assault and one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child. As of now, he faces a total of eight charges, including six counts of sexual assault, one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and another charge of practicing medicine without a license. In a Smith County courtroom this week, Haygood appeared for a status hearing Tuesday in the 114th District Court. His trial date was set for June 23, and status hearings were also set for Feb. 18 and April 17. The final pre-trial hearing is currently scheduled for June 13.
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department (MPD) released a statement on their Facebook page regarding the arrest of Benjamin Dale Hawkins, Jr., 45 of Marshall. He was booked into the Harrison County Jail on the charges of Possessing Dangerous Drugs, Credit/Debit Card Abuse, Burglary of Vehicles, and Theft of Materials (Aluminum/Bronze/Copper/Brass valued under $20,000). Authorities were led to Hawkins after a business reported a man “acting suspiciously”. MPD arrived at Hawkins’ residence to question him. During the encounter, Hawkins was found in possession of prescription medication bottles that were not in his name, as well as multiple credit cards belonging to other individuals.