Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
EAST TEXAS — Several hospitals in East Texas will be among the first in Texas to get doses of the much anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. According to our news partner KETK, the first week’s allocation is 224,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be shipped to 109 hospitals in 34 counties during the week of Dec. 14. “As expected, the initial vaccine supply is limited, and the first week’s allocation is based on information submitted by vaccine providers when they enrolled, including the number of health care workers who can be quickly vaccinated and vaccine storage capacity at each site,†the announcement said. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank provided thousands of meals to families on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, roughly 240,000 people in East Texas are experiencing food insecurity. The East Texas Food Bank serves 26 counties in our area. 1,200 people made their way to the Gregg County Fairgrounds for the food distribution event and the lines were long. Longview police guided drivers to their destination and volunteers placed meals inside cars. Inside the boxes there was fresh produce, protein and milk. Volunteers said they understand the impact the pandemic has had on families in need. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — The 1.4 million doses of coronavirus vaccine being sent to Texas hospitals soon are not going to 157 rural locations. One state lawmaker thinks that’s going to change. Representative Trent Ashby of Lufkin says he got a response the same day he sent a letter to the state health commissioner. According to Ashby, “It seems clear to me that rural Texas, our voice, has been heard. It’s not set in stone, but it sure appears to me at this point that we will be included in the next round of vaccines.” Ashby told Dr. John Hellerstedt that if the state or Pfizer had communicated with any of the rural hospitals, it would have been clear that any number would have met storage and packaging requirements.
BURKE (AP) — Officials say no one was seriously hurt after a private plane carrying Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan skidded off a runway while trying to land during a rainstorm. Phelan says everyone aboard the plane was able to walk away after the rough landing Wednesday at Angelina County Airport, about 110 miles northeast of Houston. The airport’s manager says the pilot suffered minor injuries but was able to walk around afterward. Phelan is a Republican from Beaumont. He says he has the votes to be Texas’ next House speaker, and he has the support of GOP Gov. Greg Abbott.
LAS VEGASÂ – Prosecutors are weighing possible hate crime and terrorism charges against three suspects, from Tyler, following a shooting spree in the suburbs of Las Vegas that ended with their arrests in rural Arizona, according to Fox News. Michael Schwartzer, a Chief deputy Clark County district attorney, said Shawn McDonnell, 30, Christopher McDonnell, 28, and Kayleigh Lewis, 25, could face the death penalty in Las Vegas stemming from the 11-hour two-state rampage, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Kevin Mendiola Jr., 22, of North Las Vegas, was killed and three other people were wounded in one shooting at a Henderson convenience store. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A wanted sex offender was arrested in Brownsboro Tuesday and charged with possession of methamphetamines. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, Ronnie Gilmore, 60, failed to register as a sex offender and Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Randy Daniel signed an arrest warrant. He was arrested while walking along St. Louise Drive. The arresting deputy noticed a black, zipper pouch under the patrol car, and discovered methamphetamines. Gilmore admitted to removing the contraband from his pocket and kicking it under the vehicle. Gilmore was taken to the Henderson County Jail on the felony arrest warrant and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.
LONGVIEW – Dudley and Sheryl Lang announced on Tuesday that the restaurant would be closing due to the pandemic, according to our news partner KETK. “To all of our customers and friends of Dudley’s Cajun Cafe: We regret to inform you that Dudley’s Cajun Cafe will be closing its door as of December 1st. I would like to thank all of you for your friendship and patronage with us for the last 28 years. This past year has been very difficult and disappointing from a business point of view due to the pandemic.†Dudley and Sheryl wrote. The Langs also said they understood people’s concern about the virus, and they expressed their disappointment about closing. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has resumed operation of FREE COVID-19 tests, whether you have symptoms or if you have no symptoms. All TDEM testing locations are walk-in sites and you must wear a face covering upon entry. Each of the sites will collect oral saliva samples that will be sent to a testing laboratory to undergo PCR analysis to determine COVID-19 infection at the moment the samples were collected. Results will be provided to you by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and not by NET Health. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A San Antonio man is charged with murder for his alleged connection to a shooting in Tyler back in July. According to our news partner KETK, Trey Barreau, 23, was taken into custody Monday night after a warrant for his arrest was issued by 241st District Judge Jack Skeen. He is now being held in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond. On July 9, 21-year-old Draveon McCullough was found dead with a gunshot wound on West Vance Street in Tyler. Police say that McCullough had pointed a gun at a homeowner and then a fight broke out. During the struggle, McCullough was shot and killed. Read the rest of this entry »
ANDERSON COUNTY — A Palestine woman has died after being struck by a vehicle in Anderson County. According to our news partner KETK, DPS Troopers were called to a crash involving a pedestrian just after 11:30 Sunday night. The incident happened on US 175, just west of Frankston. Tara Lydy, 26, was walking or standing in the inside west bound lane of US175 when she was struck by an unidentified vehicle that left the scene of the crash, according to DPS. Lydy was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation.
TYLER — Several East Texas health officials will be providing an update Monday afternoon on what is being called a “dramatic increase†in COVID-19 cases across the region, according to the city, the update will begin at 1 p.m. “COVID-19 infections have dramatically increased in our area. We need everyone to help control the spread, especially with the upcoming holiday seasons,†George Roberts, NET Health CEO. Roberts also wanted to remind East Texans that the flu season is upon the area and that the same measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 are similar. Read the rest of this entry »
TROUP — The City of Troup announced Saturday that John Phillips, the Troup Public Works Director, has died. According to our news partner KETK, Phillips had been fighting COVID-19 for more than a month. He was an employee for the city for almost 13 years and the Public Works Director for the past 10 years. Phillips had also been named the City of Troup employee of the year for 2020, but the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet was cancelled due to COVID-19. City officials said they are thankful for Phillips’ years of service to the community. “His laugh and smile and calming presence will be sorely missed each day by all of us in his City of Troup family. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the gunman involved in an early morning shooting that left one man injured. It happened just after 1:00 Friday morning at the Country River Club off Hwy 271 in Tyler. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a male victim had been shot in the leg and the male suspect fled the area in a black four-door vehicle. The unidentified victim was transported to UT Health in Tyler for treatment and is currently in serious condition. Additional details were not available.
TYLER — After explosions and a fire in two shipping buildings this will be the first year since the company’s founding 81 years ago that Greenberg Smoked Turkeys will not have their famous turkeys ready for thousands of customers at Thanksgiving. KETK spoke exclusively with company president Sam Greenberg about the fire, damage and his determination to reopen the Tyler facility. Security camera footage revealed that three explosions happened within seconds. “It happened at two of our freezer facilities. We store our smoked product in this freezer and another one just adjacent to it. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY – Two people who were in an Upshur County church when it caught on fire Wednesday afternoon are being treated for burns in Shreveport. According to our news partner KETK, the men were working near the pulpit area of the Church of Power when the fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. They both suffered burns and were flown by a medical helicopter to LSU Health in Shreveport. The fire heavily damaged the one-story church building. Firefighters from Gilmer, Big Sandy and Pritchett fought the blaze. Gilmer Fire Chief Jerry Taylor said the cause of the fire appears to be related to work the two men were doing in the church but remains under investigation.