Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — Commissioners for Smith County held their first public hearing where they discussed how to possibly spend the $45 million the area would be receiving under the American Rescue Plan Act. According to our news partner KETK, the law was passed under the Biden administration and allocates $22.5 million to the county this year along with another $22.5 million in 2022. The act was passed to help communities across the nation deal with lost revenue and higher than normal expenses during the pandemic. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — West 4th Street between Broadway and Chilton in Tyler reopened Tuesday afternoon after being temporarily shut down for tree work. But city officials now say due to an equipment issue, the Street Department will need to close the street again Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon to finish removing dead trees and trimming low-hanging limbs. The 4th and College intersection will remain open for northbound and southbound traffic. Drivers should obey all detour and road closure signs and use caution in the area.
KILGORE — Kilgore police are searching for a man who escaped from them late Monday night. The department said they pulled over 30-year-old James Collie Butler III at Green Hills Dr. and Higginbotham Rd. According to our news partner KETK, Butler has several warrants out for his arrest and records show he has been charged with burglary on three separate occasions. Officers say that he was able to “slip his handcuffs to the front†and ran away. He is 5’10â€, 175 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Butler was last seen wearing a white polo shirt, jeans, and black shoes. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Supporters of pride month gathered in downtown Tyler Sunday for a festival after some made their opinions heard against this type of event in the Rose City. According to our news partner KETK, for the first pride event in downtown Tyler, the turnout was larger than expected for organizers. About 1,000 people showed up to the festival on Sunday. “The community has truly come together for this,†Pride Festival organizer Raynie Castaneda said. While festival-goers were celebrating pride, others were caught in deep conversations discussing whether homosexuality was right or wrong. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — State Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola, visited Tyler on Thursday to meet with the Smith County Republican Club. The 87th legislative session recently came to an end, and now East Texas lawmakers are focusing on the upcoming special session in Austin. According to our news partner KETK, Hughes spoke at the Hollytree Country Club about his expectations for that next session. He said Governor Greg Abbott will call lawmakers in to talk about election security and integrity. Hughes also wants a bill similar to his Senate Bill 7 to make it through in session. Read the rest of this entry »
FAIRFIELD — The Lindale man accused of killing a DPS Trooper is set to appear in court. Dabrett Black is facing a capital murder charge for the death of Trooper Damon Allen. Allen was shot after a trafficl stop on Thanksgiving, 2017. Black fled the scene and was arrested a short time later near Houston after a standoff with police. A change of venue to Freestone County was granted. Two hearings are scheduled for today, one to withdrawal counsel and one for competency. Black faces life in prison if convicted.
TYLER — Newly revealed court documents involving the arrest of former Smith County elections official Denise Hernandez showed multiple employees accusing her of being a bully toward them. According to our news partner KETK, Hernandez was arrested last week. She’s accused of spiking drinks that she gave employees with colon cleanser and did not tell them until after they finished. She had originally told them they were energy drinks. Hernandez has been charged with two counts of assault and has been released on a $20,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Severe storms moved through East Texas Tuesday morning, prompting at least two tornadoes, according to our news partner KETK. At least one tornado hit the Tyler area. According to a news release from the city of Tyler, about 25 children aged 9-16 were participating in a soccer camp at Lindsey Park when they were rushed off the fields into the park restrooms as the twister was seen heading straight to the soccer fields. Lindsey Park Crew Leader Dorean Lindsey said his team spotted the tornado and began working to get the children and coaches off the field and into the restrooms, where they could take cover. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS — The Athens city council called a special session today to discuss what steps to take following the arrest of their mayor. According to our news partner KETK, the meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Derek D. Daniels Conference Room of the Athens Partnership Center. According to the agenda, the council is scheduled to “Discuss, consider, and take action, as necessary, concerning the acceptance of resignation letter from Monte Montgomery.†Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS — Monte Montgomery submitted his resignation as mayor of Athens Friday, June 4, “effective immediately,” according to the city’s Facebook page. The move follows Montgomery’s arrest in Gregg County for online solicitation of a minor, as reported earlier by our news partner KETK. The arrest was part of a multi-agency sting. The 63-year-old’s bond was set at $300,000 surety with conditions, and he bonded out a short time later. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A Grand Saline man died about 9 p.m. Tuesday when he was struck by an Amtrack train as he tried to run across the tracks. According to our news partner KETK, Jimmy Don Brittain, 47, died at the scene, Van Zandt County Sheriff Steve Hendrix said. Brittain was running across a section of Union Pacific tracks that run parallel to Highway 80 and did not make it. He went down an embankment near the old rodeo grounds and apparently underestimated how far away the train was, the sheriff said. The conductor hit the emergency brake but was not able to stop in time. “We have ruled this death an accident,†Hendricks said.
TYLER — A warrant has been issued for a man wanted in a murder investigation. Tyler Police detectives obtained a capital murder warrant on Dakevian Beniot Scroggins, 27. Officials say they believe Scroggins in still in the East Texas area and should be considered armed and dangerous. He currently has warrants from other law enforcement agencies, including an active parole violation warrant issued by the Texas Boards of Pardons/Parole in Austin. On May 13, Christopher Frank Eiglebiger, 33, was found fatally shot at a home on Crosby Street. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Texas Senator John Cornyn will keynote the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Energy Summit Thursday with an on-stage discussion moderated by Ken Waits, President & CEO of Mewbourne Oil. According to a press release, Sen. Cornyn will discuss the state of the energy industry nationally and what the future holds particularly for the fossil fuel and renewable energy industries important to East Texas. He will then answer questions from the audience. Following the keynote discussion, Sen. Cornyn will hold a press conference. The keynote discussion starts at 12:15 at Green Acres Crosswalk Conference Center.
TYLER — Authorization for the Health Science Center at UT Tyler to allocate its resources to attain accreditation of a doctor of medicine (MD) program, a step needed to create a new medical school, has passed through the Texas Legislature and will soon be on its way to Governor Abbott’s desk for signature. According to a press release, the authorization is included in Senate Bill 1, the state’s biennial budget. Led by Chairman Kevin Eltife, of Tyler, the UT System Board of Regents approved a proposal in February 2020 to launch efforts to establish a medical school in Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — With more people getting vaccinated everyday, more people are willing to travel. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has been working on a master plan for more than two decades. Their goal is get more commercial airlines to come to the airport, but, first they hope to renovate some areas. On Wednesday, City of Tyler and airport leaders met to discuss this. Officials want to focus on fixing runway 1331, since the pavement is old and in bad condition. Experts said it also may only last another 1-5 years. Read the rest of this entry »