Today is
Wednesday June 10, 2026
ANDERSON COUNTY — An Anderson County sheriff’s deputy was shot, the suspect was killed in two gun battles Saturday. The deputy has been identified to our news partner KETK by family members as Deputy Bradley Colman. Colman was shot at the Hickory Ridge Mobile Home Park on FM 320 while reportedly investigating a stolen vehicle. The suspect fled the scene in the deputy’s vehicle. DPS troopers arrived on the scene and provided first aid. Other troopers assisted in the search for and pursuit of the suspect. Deputy Colman was airlifted to a Tyler hospital, where he underwent surgery for non-life threatening injuries. He is expected to make a full recovery. Multiple law enforcement agencies joined in the search for the suspect, who was found a short distance from the scene of the shooting. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Colorful floats, precision marching bands and glittering dresses made the 86th annual Texas Rose Festival Parade a feast for the eyes and ears. According to our news partner KETK, the “star†of the parade was the Rose Queen herself, Hanna Claire Waits. The festival had the theme “Portraits of Inspiration.†Hanna Claire Waits was crowned Queen of the 2019 Texas Rose Festival in a coronation ceremony Friday evening. The official coronation was held at the R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler. The event served to introduce Queen Hanna and her to the public as part of the 2019 Texas Rose Festival. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Jason’s Deli and Nothing Bundt Cakes located inside the Broadway Market Center are officially back open for business after being closed for nearly two weeks due to plumbing issues. Our news partner KETK was first to report that the shopping center had been closed down after the restaurant, Jason’s Deli contacted the city with plumbing and sewer issues. When city water came to investigate they found kitchen utensils and roots inside the old, damaged pipes. The discovery led the city to suggest any of the businesses that require water to operate, should close down. In a Facebook post issued on Friday afternoon, Jason’s Deli announced that the restaurant is open for business again. Nothing Bundt Cakes, Starbucks and Marble Slab Creamery have also reopened.
TYLER — A Tyler man accused of running over a 14-year-old boy on Lake Palestine received a continuance for his case. According to our news partner KETK, Jeffrey Hampton, 33, is charged with manslaughter and accidental boating death. He is accused of running his boat into a dock where Roberto Carlos Bermejo Hernandez was standing. In a hearing that lasted less than two minutes Friday, a defense attorney said that they needed more time to comb through the evidence and was not ready for a pre-trial hearing. Judge Christi Kennedy pushed back Hampton’s pre-trial hearing until January. His trial will be set in February. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE — Smith County Road 463 was closed for awhile following an accident Thursday morning but is now open to traffic. Our news partnerreopens KETK reports two people were injured after an 18-wheeler was cut off and forced off Interstate 20, onto the county road.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A Van Zandt County church was destroyed in an early morning fire on Wednesday, according to our news partner KETK. The fire was reported at the Wallace Methodist Church on Highway 243, west of Canton. The South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department remained at the scene until just after 4:30. It’s unclear what started the fire. No injuries were reported.
SMITH COUNTY — A new courthouse could be in the near future, but not without voter input. According to our news partner KETK, before a plan is presented, Smith County officials want to hear from the public. They want to know if a new courthouse is needed, where it should go, what factors are most important, and what questions need to be answered. Information will be gathered through summer 2020 and then a vote for the proposed plan will be called upon in November of 2020. For more information regarding the plans, visit the county website: https://www.smith-county.com/online-services/online-county-services/court-house-planning
HENDERSON COUNTY — Two men have been arrested on possession charges following a building check at a game room Monday night. John Edward Bernard (pictured), 58, the manager of the Silver Mine game room on State Highway 198, reportedly attempted to hide a used narcotic pipe behind the business counter. Officials said a small bag containing meth was also found. Kevin Jay Todd, Jr., 34, was a customer in the business. Deputies said Todd attempted to hide suspected narcotics behind a gaming machine. A small black case containing meth was recovered. Both were taken to the Henderson County Jail and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine.
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man indicted for a July murder initially claimed self-defense for the crime, according to an arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK. Humberto Lauro Leal, 39, is accused of stabbing Luis Rene Maruffo-Castaneda back on June 30 at his home north of the Tyler city limits. When a Smith County detective arrived on the scene, he found Castaneda dead in the driver seat of his car. Leal told the detective he lived there and claimed Castaneda was trying to kill him. Leal claimed he stabbed Castaneda in self-defense. Leal had a gunshot wound in his lower abdomen. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man is accused of sharing more than 400 photographs and videos of child pornography over his Tumblr account, according to an arrest warrant obtained by our news partner KETK. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation in March after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip flagged 49 photos shared by the Tumblr account “youngisbetterr.†Investigators served a subpoena to Suddenlink Communications where they discovered a laptop that uploaded the videos belonged to the wife of Matthew Landua. Landua, 25, was interviewed by authorities in April when a search warrant was executed on his house and confirmed that the “youngisbetterr†account belonged to him. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — Kilgore Police have arrested one person after an incident left two women dead. According to our news partner KETK, around 3 p.m. Wednesday, officers and detectives responded to Stone Creek Apartments on Pine Burr Lane following a 911 call. Authorities found two women dead inside one of the apartments. An unidentified man was arrested a short time later near the area. Several apartments are being considered crime scenes. The names of the victims have not been released. Kilgore PD say they believe they have the man responsible for the murders in custody and do not believe there is any threat to the community.
TYLER — The winners of Tyler’s top awards express their surprise and appreciation at Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. Longtime civic leader Bob Garrett was honored as Tyler’s outstanding citizen with the T.B. Butler Award. He told the attendees, “So many of you…you live authentic lives. And that that has inspired me, for whatever I’ve done…I’ve done it because I wanted to be like you.” Among other things, Garrett leads Fair Oil Company and the Fair Foundation. He serves as board chair of Southside Bank. Read the rest of this entry »
QUITMAN (AP) — A man previously accused of involvement in a Louisiana cattle theft ring has been indicted in Texas on charges he also stole cows from a rancher there. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association said in a news release Monday that Texas authorities arrested Justin Glenn Thompson last week on an additional felony cattle theft charge. He was indicted on three related charges last month as part of a joint investigation by the raisers association and Louisiana’s Agriculture Department. Investigators say in this case, Thompson purchased cattle from a Texas rancher by saying he was a representative from a Louisiana-based feeding company. But authorities say he doctored invoices and wrote bad checks to divert profit to himself. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Businesses in the Broadway MarketCenter are still closed as of Tuesday due to plumbing issues caused by kitchen utensils found inside the sewer lines, according to our news partner KETK. The shopping center is located at the corner of Rice Road and Broadway. “The plumbing issues at Broadway Market Center are due to a back-up the primary sewer line that runs the entire length of the affected businesses,†says Ruben Veloz, the Commercial Property Manager of Dunhill Properties, the managers of the Broadway Market Center. “Utensils found in the sewer line contributed to the blockage. Although these pipes are maintained periodically, issues like this will happen.†Read the rest of this entry »
ALTO — The Alto Bond Committee will be hosting their last town hall meeting on Tuesday to discuss the proposed $10.5 million bond package. According to our news partner KETK, the bond is designed to address security issues and damaged facilities due to tornadoes that ripped through the city in April. To discuss the proposal, the meeting will be held on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Booker T. Washington Community Center. The bond election is slated for November 5.