Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
TYLER — Newly-elected 114th District Court Judge Austin Reeve Jackson and an East Texas pro-life activist have been sued by pro-choice groups in an effort to block the Texas “heartbeat bill†that was created by State Sen. Bryan Hughes and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. Hughes, meanwhile, is continuing to defend the bill — and Jackson is striking back against the lawsuit. According to our news partner KETK, the bill is one of the most restrictive abortion bills since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion back in 1972. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 19-year-old man who is wanted for sexual assault. The suspect, according to our news partner KETK, was identified as 19 year old Eligah Johnson. He’s described as 5’7″ and weighs around 145 lbs. Johnson also has a birthmark above his left eye. Johnson has a warrant for the criminal offense of sexual assault, a second degree felony. The RCSO said Johnson is known to frequent the Kilgore area. Anyone with information is urged to contact the RCSO at 903-657-3581 or the Rusk County Crime Stoppers at 903-655-8477. Individuals who provide information can remain anonymous.
LONGVIEW – A Longview man accused of beating a woman and trying to drag her across a gas station parking lot has been indicted by a grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Trashuad Biagas is charged with domestic violence for an incident that happened March 27 at the E-Z Mart gas station on Gilmer Road. According to a warrant obtained by KETK News back in April, Biagas allegedly hit the victim in the mouth because she did not want to stay with him. Investigators with the police department reviewed security footage at the gas station, showing the victim walking to the front of the store and Biagas chased her. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office says a woman was shot to death and her husband was shot and wounded Saturday night in their home. According to our news partner KETK, Mark James Lile, 37, of Gladewater, was being treated Sunday at UT Health Tyler for a “serious gunshot wound to the body,†a news release said. “It is suspected that his injuries were self-inflicted.†The identity of his wife was not released. The two were found about 7 p.m. Saturday in their home off Willow Oak Road in the Union Grove community when deputies arrived in response to a call of a shooting. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler police responded to a report of an aggravated robbery around 3:00 Friday on Spring Street. According to police, the victims were in front of their residence when they were approached by two men pointing guns at them. The suspects reportedly took the victim’s money and other items and fled in a a black Ford Fusion driven by another male. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A 43-year-old Kilgore man was sentenced to a little more than eight years in prison for drug trafficking violations. According to our news partner KETK, Christopher Marcell Mumphrey, 43, plead guilty on March 20 of this year to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to information presented in court on Feb. 5, 2020, Mumphrey was a passenger in a vehicle used to transport and distribute methamphetamine in Smith County. Mumphrey exited the vehicle and signaled to the buyer to approach the vehicle to complete the transaction.
WASHINGTON — A Congressional hearing on voting rights today includes several Texas Democrats. A trio of Texas Democrats will, today, testify before a Congressional Subcommittee that’s looking into what’s being done in Texas when it comes to voting laws. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson is one of them. She says it’s important that they’re part of the discussion. There will be a Republican testifying, today, too. State Rep. Travis Clardy from Nacogdoches is poised to defend the GOP plan, which seeks to roll back much of the voting expansion that was made during COVID.
TYLER — The newly renovated Fun Forest Pool, located at 900 N. Glenwood Blvd., celebrated the grand opening of the new facility this year on May 29. According to a news release from the City of Tyler, Fun Forest Pool has served over 250 people each day this season and will be closing for the season on Aug. 8. For more information, please contact Parks Admin at (903) 531-1370 or click here.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is seeing a shortage of 911 dispatchers, but this issue is bigger than the local dispatch center, according to our news partner KETK. “We’re seeing a short decline nationwide of good qualified candidates putting in for these kind of positions,†Sergeant Larry Christian said. Christian said it’s been difficult trying find new employees. Most of the workers are in training and can’t help carry the work load. Christian hopes when they get up to date, they can help fill the gap. “We’re handling it and we’re going to be okay,†Christian said. Read the rest of this entry »
CORPUS CHRISTI – Sonar Technician 1st Class Niccole Ewen, of Tyler, assigned to Navy Recruiting Station Corpus Christi, Division 7, Talent Acquisition Onboarding Center Alamo City, was presented two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals by Cmdr. Stephanie Simoni, executive officer, Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio, at Navy Operations Support Center Corpus Christi. Ewen was awarded the medals last Thursday for her professional achievement while serving as a talent scout during the months of April and May 2021. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man wanted for a Tuesday night murder. According to Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez, Coy Jones Sr. was arrested early Wednesday morning at a cemetery near Henderson. Jones has been booked into the Rusk County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, around 8:20 p.m., deputies did a welfare check at a home on CR 232 and found a white female dead. Her identity and cause of death were not released. The Texas Rangers were called in to begin a homicide investigation. An arrest warrant was then issued for Coy Jones Sr., of Henderson. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A police chase Monday through Longview led to the arrest of a White Oak man who allegedly assaulted two people during a robbery. According to our news partner KETK, 64-year-old Larry Farnham was arrested for burglary of a home and evading arrest in a vehicle. According to LPD, Farnham assaulted two people outside a home on Tenneryville Road. Police said he used a flashlight/stun gun on the arm and neck of one of the victims. The victim said Farnham took out a handgun and demanded car keys. Read the rest of this entry »
ARLINGTON (AP) – A runoff for a U.S. House seat in Texas is deciding who will fill the remaining term of Rep. Ron Wright, who died in February after contracting COVID-19. Voters in Texas’ 6th Congressional District on Tuesday were choosing between Republican Susan Wright, the widow of the late congressman, and Jake Ellzey, a Republican state legislator. Wright is a longtime GOP party activist and carries the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Ellzey finished second in a crowded field in May and is endorsed by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after he barricaded himself inside a residence following a stabbing incident. According to our news partner KETK, 22-year-old Dequallian Thomas of Longview was charged with aggravated assault deadly weapon family violence. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail, according to the Longview Police Department. On Tuesday, officers received a “cutting just occurred,†call around 6:00 p.m. on E. Edgefield Avenue. Arriving officers found a man who had wounds to the head. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Health officials say the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has tripled locally as the Delta variant starts to affect families. Over the last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported a 76% increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations went up by 30%. Only 43% of Smith County residents are fully vaccinated, according to Texas Health and Human Services. “Three weeks ago, we were in the teens across the division, single digits in every hospital, nobody had a big run, very few ventilator patients. Three weeks later, the numbers have tripled,†Dr. Tom Cummins, Chief Medical Officer of UT Health East Texas, said. Read the rest of this entry »