Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
TYLER – A new ordinance has been passed in Tyler to prevent any future obstructions in flight paths according to our news partner KETK.
The Tyler City Council approved the ordinance on Wednesday to establish airport hazard area zoning regulations near the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. The ordinance was established to reduce obstruction risk to pilots, passengers and people on the ground.
The ordinance will also establish five hazard zones surrounding the airport and will restrict activities that could interfere with aircraft navigation and restrict visibility. Additionally, the ordinance will designate land use allowed in the runway protection zone in alignment with FAA safety recommendations. Read the rest of this entry »
FLINT — What was intended to be a quiet stay at ‘The Oasis on Valley,’ a Flint Airbnb, took an unsettling turn when gunshots echoed through the neighborhood, prompting concerns about who is renting these properties and whether short-term rentals belong in residential areas, according to our news partner KETK.
“In the evening, my relative went to bed and heard firecrackers going off around midnight. Come to find out they were driving up and down the streets, shooting towards each other,” a concerned relative, David said.
Just down the street from the Airbnb house, holes are visible in the stop sign. The owners said they have not had this issue in the past, and the customer told them they would only have four visitors in the home, but according to neighbors, there were more than 30 at the house. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Gantry maintenance on Toll 49 will cause a single lane closure between Hwy 155 and FM 2493 (Old Jacksonville Hwy) from 9am-4pm Tuesday, May 20. Drivers should expect short delays.
UPDATE: According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, they have identified Dezavion Williams, 19 of Tyler, as the suspected shooter. Williams was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail for aggravated assault.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department has taken one person into custody after shots were fired at Lake Tyler at around on Sunday. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, Tyler PD responded to gunshots reported at a parking lot near Lake Tyler and called for assistance with crowd control. Officers near the lake were able to take a suspected shooter with a rifle into custody. Tyler PD said no one was injured in the shooting. They are currently interviewing the person in custody.
TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank released their 2025 Map the Meal Gap numbers showing that one in five adults in the East Texas area do not have enough food to eat. According to our news partner KETK, this amounts to nearly 44.6 million meals, an increase from last year’s close to 41 million meals. Many families who depend on the food bank yearly also rely on their SNAP benefits to fill their pantries.
“Snap benefits stretch much, much further than the meals that you get,” East Texas Food Bank Chief Impact Officer Kim Morris said.
Recently, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee voted on its portion of a bill that includes $230 billion in spending cuts. One of those proposals would make cuts to SNAP benefits, and changes to qualification requirements. Something U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran from East Texas supports. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler was awarded $800,000 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to fund a project led by Dr. Julie George, School of Nursing clinical assistant professor, and Hillary Oliver, School of Nursing simulation hospital and skills lab director. Through this grant, George and Oliver will develop curriculum for nursing faculty across Texas, covering the topics of simulation planning, pre-briefing, facilitation strategies, debriefing, assessment and evaluation and continuous quality improvement.
GREGG COUNTY — TxDOT has announced an eastbound, outside lane closure on I-20 in Gregg County at the Sabine River bridge (mile marker 593) due to damage to the bridge deck. There is no damage to the structure of the bridge. The repairs will begin Wednesday morning, May 14 and are scheduled to take 4-5 days to complete. Motorists are encouraged to pay attention when driving through the work zone and be aware that delays may occur.
LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department praised several officers and medics on Thursday for the brave actions they displayed when an officer was shot on duty. According to our news partner KETK, Officer R. Leininger received the Purple Heart award for taking a gunshot wound to the leg while trying to arrest a suspect in a vehicle burglary incident.
After Leininger was shot, Officer Kientz placed a tourniquet on his bleeding leg while Officer Jones secured the suspect. Jones noticed that Leininger needed a second tourniquet and assisted Kientz in applying the second tourniquet. Kientz and Jones’ immediate actions helped stabilize Leininger until medical assistance arrived and were awarded Lifesaving Awards. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced on Friday that 17-year-old Longview High School student Colleen Cleaver died earlier this month. According to our news partner KETK, Cleaver was an 11th-grade student at Longview High School who died on May 3. Longview ISD is not currently sharing details out of respect for Cleaver’s family.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Colleen Cleaver, a student at Longview High School,” Longview ISD said. “On behalf of Longview ISD, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Colleen’s family, friends and the educators who supported her. During this difficult time, our thoughts are with all who knew and loved Colleen.” The district extends its deepest condolences to the family and counseling services will be available to students and staff.
LUFKIN — A Lufkin man has been arrested for murder after allegedly fatally shooting a man during a speeding dispute on Wednesday night, an on-view arrest complaint from the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office reveals. According to our news partner KETK, an Angelina County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a call from a man identified as Phillip Hunter Gersbach of Lufkin, who told dispatch that he had shot someone at around 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The deputy noticed an unresponsive man on the ground and performed CPR on the victim while Gersbach remained near the patrol unit.
Once the second deputy arrived, they took over chest compressions on the victim while the first deputy took the suspect into custody. The deputy put the suspect in the back seat of her patrol unit to deescalate the situation as a woman at the scene was “irate and hostile.” MS arrived on the scene and declared the man dead at 11:37 p.m. after no pulse could be found. The arrest document states that Gersbach was then read his Miranda rights and interviewed about what happened. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Pope Leo XIV was celebrated today in Tyler by a local bishop who dedicated an official mass to the new pontiff. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler Bishop Greg Kelly dedicated a mass to honor the new pope, Chicago-born Robert Prevost.
“At the very heart of it is the personal encounter with Christ to come to know, love and serve him and the ongoing conversion that calls to us throughout our life,” Kelly said.
Kelly is “still learning more about the new Pope” and is “fascinated by the Pontiff’s choice to take the name Pope Leo XIV.” Bishop Kelly is also “just as surprised” that the new pope is American and is filled with anticipation to see what Pope Leo XIV will accomplish.
WASHINGTON — Congressman Nathaniel Moran from East Texas introduced the No Tax on Overtime Act on Tuesday which would allow for up to 300 hours of qualified overtime compensation. According to our news partner KETK, the deduction means the first 300 hours of overtime worked is tax free within a taxable year. A press release from the Moran House website said the bill will also remove 100% of income taxes on a 50% overtime pay premium for over 90 million hourly workers. For people who work time and a half, this means the half part of that pay will be tax free.
This legislation is directed toward those who make up to $100,000 and couples who make a combined $200,00, the release said. President Trump supports the bill as a long time advocate for policy that helps working class Americans. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA) is hosting meetings this week to discuss a proposed extension of Toll 49 out to US Route 271. According to our news partner KETK, the meetings will present members of the public with an opportunity to learn about the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process which is the next step towards extending Toll 49 to US Route 271 from State Highway 110.
The project team will be available to answer any comments or questions the public may have on potential impacts of the expansion.
The meetings will be in-person and online from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday at the Tyler Rose Garden Center at 420 Rose Park Dr. in Tyler and the Longview Exhibit Center at 1123 Jaycee Dr. in Longview.
Visit the NETRMA website here.
SMITH COUNTY — Several Smith County roads are closed after Wednesday night’s heavy rains. According to a Smith County news release, County Road 112, in the southeast part of Smith County near Antioch, has a culvert washed out and will remain closed until it can be repaired. County Roads 129, 2138 and 2147 are closed due to high water over the roads. Once the water recedes, Smith County Road and Bridge crews will check to make sure the roads are not damaged and if they are safe to be reopened. Drivers are urged use alternate routes and advised not to drive around barriers.
The City of Tyler Water Utilities is temporarily closing all public boat ramps on Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East.
“Ramps are being closed due to boating hazards resulting from debris washed into the lakes by the recent rains and to reduce damage from shoreline erosion caused by boat wakes,” City of Tyler said. “In addition, the lakes are closed to boat traffic from lake residents.”
TYLER — The Tyler City Council and Texas Department of Transportation agreed on Wednesday to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Old Jacksonville Highway and Capital Drive.
According to our news partner KETK, a signal warrant in 2023 determined the intersection experiences enough traffic volume, especially with the Brookshire Grocery Company’s distribution center expanding near Capital Drive, to warrant a signal. The estimated total construction cost to the city is $314,453, which will be funded through the City’s Half Cent Sales Tax Fund.
The City of Tyler, TxDot and Brookshire Grocery will work with each other to install this signal and TxDot has plans to widen Old Jacksonville Highway to six lanes, with construction starting 2028.