Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
TYLER — Tyler Police have identified the victim in a February 7 homicide. According to authorities, Nathan Charles Martin, 20, of Tyler was found in the roadway on CR CR 489 with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. One suspect, Joshua Renae Bryant (pictured), 24, was booked into the Smith County Jail on numerous charges, including capital murder by terror threat, with bond set at $1,000,000. Tyler Police are asking for help in locating the second suspect, Caleb Austin Ward, 16, of Whitehouse. He’s been known to frequent Tyler and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.
TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a Wednesday night homicide. Officers responded to a report of a person in the roadway off Highway 69 at CR 489 around 11:40. A male victim was found dead at the scene from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. An autopsy has been ordered. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of family. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.
BULLARD — Bullard ISD earned a $950,000 security grant from the Texas Education Agency to be put toward keeping students and staff safe. According to our news partner KETK, Bullard ISD said the funds will be used to add more fencing, replace old doors and to update surveillance cameras to be equipped with facial recognition software in all of their facilities. Due to the new school and safety law passed in Austin, districts now have to meet stiffer security requirements, including the mandate that requires all campuses to have at least one armed guard. “We’re here to keep the students and the staff safe, that’s our primary job here,†Chief of Police for Bullard ISD Pat Hendrix said. “We are a police department but our main job, we’re not here to police the students or the faculty, we are here to protect them.â€
TYLER — U.S. News and World Report named The University of Texas at Tyler’s School of Nursing among the nation’s top 50 online graduate nursing programs and as the seventh graduate nursing program for veterans, according to a news release. UT Tyler ranked fourth best in Texas. UT Tyler’s Master of Business Administration and graduate education degree programs were also ranked on the list of best online programs.
“This is a significant accomplishment for the UT Tyler School of Nursing,†said Dr. Julie V. Philley, executive vice president and vice provost for UT Tyler health affairs. “We are proud to contribute to the shaping of health care leaders who will drive positive change in patient care and nursing practice.†Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Residents of a Longview neighborhood where a man was apparently mauled to death by a dog say it’s not a new problem. On February 1, officers found the body of a 46-year-old man with wounds consistent with those of a dog bite near South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rayburn Drive. The investigation is ongoing. People who live nearby say the dogs in the area need to be controlled. City of Longview Spokesman Richard Yeakley says a dog owner in the area was cited 50 times in recent years but it is not confirmed that a dog on that property attacked the victim last weekend. Yeakley says the city is considering possible policy changes.
ANGELINA COUNTY — Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that a new district attorney has been appointed to the 159th Judicial District in Angelina County. According to our news partner KETK, Layne Thompson, of Pollock, is set to take office after he is found qualified. He has previously served as an assistant district attorney for Angelina and Harris counties. The current District Attorney Janet Cassels, confirmed she submitted her resignation in December, effective in February. In a release, Abbott stated Thompson is former counsel for Mike Love & Associates and former vice president of Thompson Cattle Company. He is chairman of the Angelina Arts Alliance.
TYLER — According to Tyler Police, the 3600 block of Old Bullard Road is blocked off after a vehicle hit a telephone pole, causing the lines to fall in the roadway. Motorist are asked to seek an alternate route. Repairs are expected to be completed by mid-morning.
ANGELINA COUNTY — The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office said one of their reserve deputies passed away on Saturday after complications from a fall injury that occurred while playing pickleball. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, Randy Ware, who served the county for 39 years, died around 8 p.m. at a Tyler hospital on Saturday. Ware reportedly had a broken vertebrae in his neck and was in serious condition after he fell in a pickleball game on Jan. 24. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler woman was sentenced to six years of probation in connection to a fatal hit-and-run. Chatiryn Butler pleaded guilty on Jan 8. to an accident involving death after a 2022 hit-and-run, our news partner KETK reports. On Thursday, Butler was sentenced to six years of probation, with 240 hours of community service. On Feb. 19, 2022, Kelsey Hise, 30, of Tyler, was found in the roadway with major injuries. She was surrounded by debris after Butler had struck her with her vehicle and fled the scene. Hise died at a local hospital.
LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is investigating the suspicious death of a man found early Thursday morning with wounds that appeared to be from a dog bite. According to our news partner KETK, around 3 a.m. on Thursday, Longview PD received a call of a bicycle in the roadway in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rayburn Drive. When officers arrived, they located the bicycle and reportedly found a 46-year-old deceased man with “wounds consistent with that of a dog bite.†Animal control officers are working with Longview PD and have reportedly confiscated multiple dogs from a residence in the area. The cause of death remains under investigation pending a final autopsy. Anyone with video or camera footage is asked to contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1110 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP.
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler accepted a $300,000 gift from alum Carol Cox Polumbo to enhance the university’s Pre-Law Academy. According to a press release, the Pre-Law Academy is designed to encourage East Texas high school students to consider a career in law as well as to assist current college students to be admitted into law school. The gift will help UT Tyler provide more services to more students. “We are extremely grateful for this generous gift,†said UT Tyler President Kirk A. Calhoun, MD, FACP, “and we are particularly grateful to our accomplished alumna for graciously investing in her alma mater and East Texas.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A car reportedly drove into Don Benito’s in Tyler Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, no injuries were reported in the crash and the damage was said to be mostly cosmetic, with broken windows and damage to the front of the building. No word on the cause of the crash.
TYLER– A Tyler man was sentenced Wednesday to federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations. Juan Espinoza, Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of family violence and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle. According to information presented in court, on Feb. 16, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at Espinoza’s Tyler residence, during which officers discovered approximately 4,600 grams of marijuana, 476 grams of Psilocybin, five semi-automatic pistols, a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and $12,145.00 in cash. Espinoza was convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence in Smith County in 2016 and prohibited by federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition.
TYLER — Tyler Police continue to search for Harley Morris, 29, and are asking residents and businesses north of Gentry Parkway to North Loop 323 to check cameras or doorbell cameras from Jan. 21 between 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. and report to them if you see anyone walking. According to our news partner KETK, officials are also asking that people check their residence or business for items Morris was wearing when he went missing: a Prime 102 cap, black shoes and a black/grey hoodie. He was last seen on Jan. 21 at 3 a.m. walking north in the 2100 block of North Grand Avenue after leaving the 50 Grand Club alone. Morris is described as 6’3, 160 pounds with blond hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833. Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information on Morris’ location.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Jill Dutton won the runoff election for Texas House District 2 on Tuesday, according to unofficial results. According to our news partner KETK, the runoff election was a rematch between republicans Jill Dutton and Brent Money, who went head to head for the seat last November. In that election, Money came out with 31.7% of the vote and Dutton had 25.3% of the vote. In the Jan. 30 runoff, Dutton received a slight majority obtaining 50.4% of the vote, while Money got 49.6% of the vote. They were vying for the seat of former Rep. Bryan Slaton, who was expelled from the House after an internal investigation found evidence of sexual misconduct with an aide. Dutton received endorsements from former Gov. Rick Perry and local representatives like Lane Gooden, Jay Dean and Cody Harris, while Money received endorsements from political heavy hitters, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Ted Cruz. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is reminding property owners that taxes are due Wednesday, January 31, and he is urging people to pay online. According to a news release, payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement, which will take you directly to the payment page on your account. Barber said for those who want to pay in-person at the Tax Office, expect long lines and wait times. The Tax Office mailed out 213,369 property tax statements in November, and Wednesday, January 31, 2024, is the deadline to pay them. Taxpayers can make their payments online, in person, through the Tax Office’s drop-box at the Cotton Belt Building, or by mail (it must be postmarked on or before January 31, to be accepted as an on-time payment through the mail). If you have not received a property tax statement, please call the Tax Office at 903-590-2920 or go online. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE — The Palestine Police Department said that Trenton Lee Staneart was found dead in a creek in the woods off of East Lacy Street just after 11 a.m. on Sunday. Detectives reportedly identified Staneart and Anderson County Precinct #3 Justice of the Peace James Todd ordered an autopsy after responding to the scene. Our news partner KETK spoke with Staneart’s girlfriend, Kylie Carroll and she said he was a great father to their children. “He is a really great dad to those kids, and I know that that’s the whole reason we’re out here doing this,†said Carroll. “My kids miss him, too, and they’re too little to know what’s going on.†Carroll said that that it was unlike Staneart to not call her or her know where he was. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a Sunday morning shooting that left a juvenile in critical condition. According to Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, officers were called to a shooting on South Palmer Avenue around 10:00, where they found a juvenile male with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began medical treatment until EMS arrived and transported the victim to a hospital on Beckham. He is in critical condition at this time. Tyler PD officers, detectives and crime scene investigators are on scene. This is an ongoing investigation. Contact Tyler PD with any information: 903-531-1000.
TYLER — An Oncor crew has repaired a damaged power pole on South Broadway Avenue, near Amherst Street. All northbound and southbound lanes have reopened. The utility pole was damaged overnight after it was struck by a vehicle.
TYLER — East Texas doctors said they are seeing cases of the common cold, COVID-19 and even RSV, but flu cases this season have outnumbered all of them. According to our news partner KETK, cold weather is a notorious time for people to spread and contract respiratory illnesses. Dr. Douglas Curran, a family doctor with the East Texas Community Clinic, said their family clinic saw a total of 60 flu cases in just one day. “It’s that time of year. We are all inside and we are people that just continue to go despite being under the weather,†said Curran. Nacogdoches physician, Loyd Whitley, said this year he’s seen flu cases go through his office at a high rate. “I’m worried that we are on an uptick, and we may see more of it,†said Whitley. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler ISD Foundation awarded 26 grants across 16 campuses totaling nearly $80,000 that will go towards approved projects that will enhance students’ learning. According to our news partner KETK, the grant funds will go toward approved projects that will enhance students’ learning. “So many of us learn better when we’re busy with the information and we’re actually participating and active with it,†said Sarah Starr, a Three Lakes Middle School media technology specialist. Teachers at Three Lakes Middle School will use the grant for what they call “classroom transformation stations.†“I am going to be using it for the reconstruction era of the civil war and we are all going to reconstruct our country with hard hats,†said Jennifer Constante, a Three Lakes Middle School 8th-grade social studies teacher. The middle school will have about 15-20 different themed kits that teachers can check out of the library. Empowering instructors to keep young minds active within their learning environments. Through Tyler ISD Grants for Great Ideas Program, more than seven thousand students will be impacted this school year.
TYLER — A portion of Rose Rudman Trail will be closed due to bridge repairs. The trail portion under the bridge will be closed, and trail use will be diverted to the sidewalk along Donnybrook Avenue at the trailhead near Lowe’s. The project is funded by the Half-Cent Sales Tax Fund. The project is set to begin Thursday, Jan. 25 and will run through Friday, Feb. 9.
MABANK — The Mabank Fire Department shared that Wayne McKenzie, a longtime member of the department, died on Wednesday, Jan. 17. According to our news partner KETK, McKenzie was 63-years-old and served with Mabank Fire Department for 31 years. According to an obituary from Moorhead Funeral Home, McKenzie was a hard worker who loved the outdoors, animals, construction and restoration. “We are saddened to hear of the loss of a great man and firefighter. We pray for his family at home and the Mabank Fire Department as they mourn the loss of a husband, father, friend, and brother. Rest easy brother, we will take it from here.†McKenzie’s obituary said that he worked at Southern Methodist University for 22 years before working in Mabank and then with Kaufman County until he died.
WILLS POINT — A Wills Point woman was sentenced to federal prison for fraud violations to an elderly victim and ordered to pay $47,236 restitution. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Lisa Lynn Smith, 62, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on an elderly Plano man “by telling him lies about urgent personal and family expenses that she was facing.†Reportedly, Smith also told the victim she would be receiving a lawsuit settlement of over $2.5 million, and would use the settlement money to pay him back. Smith’s lawsuit settlement however, did not pay that amount. Prosecutors said the victim allowed Smith to use their credit card but was not told the specific expenses, that included rented cars, personal and family expenses. Smith was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison on Thursday.
TYLER — Texas has seen a rapid population growth in the last year, with more people wanting to move to the Lone Star State and East Texas, according to our news partner KETK. “Basically that means you are going to have more people, which means more workers, more ability to compete,†said Dr. Ray Perryman, economist and CEO of The Perryman Group. Perryman spoke on Thursday at the 40th Annual Perryman Economic Outlook Conference. The outlook predicts economic trends for the entire United States, Texas and East Texas. Perryman said that expanding industries in the Tyler area are creating slightly more opportunities for work when compared to the rest of the state and nation. “We’re looking for the output in Texas to grow just a little bit faster than Tyler, but the job growth to be a little bit faster in Tyler than in the state,†said Dr. Perryman. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the Tyler City Council approved continuing the professional services contract, in the amount of $2,379,480, with Fitzpatrick Architects and Halff for the Downtown Improvement Project. The companies will handle the architectural and engineering services for the project’s design/plan production, bidding, and construction. For the past nine months, collaborative efforts between the City, Smith County, Fitzpatrick Architects, and Halff resulted in finalized design plans for Downtown Tyler. The design was reviewed at a joint meeting with the Smith County Commissioners and City Council. It was also discussed with the Main Street Board and businesses located Downtown. The next steps include developing plans for bidding on the project and construction management during the duration of the project. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — As East Texans try to stay warm in the freezing temperatures, fire departments are staying busy responding to structure fires from heating sources, our news partner KETK reports. Eric Greaser, the fire chief for Emergency Services District 2 shares some safety tips:
“Definitely recommend that you have a working smoke detector, a carbon monoxide alarm and utilize every bit of caution with space heaters and things of that nature,†said Greaser. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Road 2173, also known as Carl Dowdy Road, south of Whitehouse, is closed to thru traffic because of unsafe, icy conditions. County Engineer Frank Davis said part of the road is a 90-degree turn while going downhill. That section of road remained in the shade today, so it did not have the chance to melt like other roads did. Davis said it was reported to his department Tuesday afternoon, that the section of road had remained icy, and several people ended up in an accident when they tried to drive it. The Smith County Road and Bridge Department decided to barricade CR 2173, from Willingham Road to Paluxy Road (FM 756), until it can be driven safely.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County’s Emergency Management Office launched a tool for residents to notify the county of potential hazards. “I am excited to share a groundbreaking initiative that places the power of community safety directly into your hands,†Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. “Whether you’ve noticed flood-prone areas, wildfire risks, or other potential threats, your insights are crucial in building a more resilient and prepared community.†The public input form for hazard mitigation can be found here.
The county emphasized that this is not a form for emergency action or to request routine services. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — TxDOT crews are getting ahead of the winter storm forecast for East Texas by preparing roadways around the eight-county district for potentially icy conditions. The pretreatment of bridges and other roadway areas susceptible to wind and ice began Friday. I-20 and other major roadways will be pretreated with a brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to prevent ice and snow from sticking to surfaces. The process is a fast-moving mobile operation with minimal impacts to traffic. Drivers should allow a safe traveling distance between their vehicles and the mobile convoys distributing the pretreatment materials. Crews have readied equipment and materials to treat other roadways as warranted. Coordination efforts with local municipalities and law enforcement are also underway. TxDOT works closely with the National Weather Service to have the best available information preparing for a winter weather storm. Read the rest of this entry »