Today is
Friday June 05, 2026
GREGG COUNTY — A former Longview ISD employee was sentenced for the abuse against special education students at J.L Everhart Elementary. According to our news partner KETK, Cynthia Denise Talley was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday for seven counts of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury and one count of unlawful restraint of a minor. Talley is one of six women arrested in 2022 after Longview ISD officials reportedly saw video footage of employees and campus administration mistreating special education students.
The other former J.L. Everhart employees also charged for mistreatment of students are Paula Hawkins Dixon, Cassandra Renee James, Linda Kaye Brown Lister, Priscilla Johnson and Cecilia Gregg.
Gregg, Dixon and Talley were “released from employment” from the district in October 2021“ immediately upon the district’s discovery of their alleged actions,” according to a statement from the district. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Police have arrested an East Texas man in connection to a 2023 deadly Fourth of July crash after he reportedly admitted to drinking and driving. According to an affidavit obtained by our news partner KETK, DPS troopers were dispatched to a crash on Farm to Market 346 near Dudley Road in Smith County around 12:30 a.m.
The Tyler Police Department, Whitehouse Police Department, firefighters and medical personnel were already at the scene where a 2017 Buick had crashed into a tree and sustained extensive front-end damage.
Documents identify the driver as Raul Trejo and front seat passenger as 44-year-old John Freeman. Authorities said Trejo was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries while Freeman was unresponsive and later died. The trooper on the case went to the hospital to talk with Trejo and told him Freeman had died. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — A Nacogdoches man, accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Dec. 20. According to our news partner KETK, on Oct. 3, 2022, officers were called to a residence in the 2300 block of Elizabeth Street “in reference to callers advising a family member was found deceased in the residence.” Upon arrival, officers found Rose Catherine Garner, 60 of Nacogdoches, dead from injuries caused by a a stab wound.
Investigators obtained a homicide warrant for Garner’s boyfriend, James Edward Harris. He was arrested in Longview the following day and was taken to the Nacogdoches Law Enforcement Center. According to the Nacogdoches District Attorney’s Office, Harris plead guilty to murdering Garner on Dec. 20 at the 420th District Court in Nacogdoches County.
TYLER — Texas ranked second in the nation for the most growth in 2024 in one-way customer transactions during the past year, U-Haul Growth Index found. According to our news partner KETK, this marks the ninth consecutive year Texas has been among the top two leading U-Haul growth states with two East Texas cities helping lead that growth.
“People continue to move to Texas from across the country seeking a better, more affordable life with fewer government regulations,” U-Haul Area District Vice President Matt Merrill said.
Despite a larger-than-usual increase in departures that impacted its ranking, Texas still had the second-largest net gain of U-Haul movers in the country. According to U-Haul, Texas accounted for 50.3% of all one-way traffic in and out of the state last year. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – TxDOT crews are getting ahead of possible winter weather conditions for East Texas by preparing roadways around the eight-county district. The pre-treatment of bridges and other roadway areas susceptible to wind and ice has begun and will continue through Friday, Jan. 3.
I-20 and other major roadways will be pre-treated 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 pre-treatment materials. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Animal Shelter is offering free microchips and registration for any cat or dog this new year. The shelter says inserting a microchip is a quick process in which a tiny chip is inserted under a pet’s skin. The chip is a permanent, helpful tool that ensures a pet can be easily identified if lost.
According to a news release, Tyler Animal Services will insert and register pets’ microchips or confirm that an existing microchip is registered correctly, at no cost. Pet owners do not have to be residents of the City of Tyler to obtain this service, and vaccinations are not required.
Interested pet owners can bring their furry friends to the Tyler Animal Shelter located at 4218 Chandler Hwy. For more information, call (903) 535-0045.
TYLER — Tyler Transit is transforming its existing fixed route service into a MicroTransit service starting Monday, Jan. 13. New payment methods are being rolled out as well. Riders will be able to book a ride by calling (903) 533-8057 from the bus stop or through the Tyler Transit app. Public comment period will remain open until Monday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. Click here to submit questions and comments.
All Tyler Transit bus stops will be used as pick-up locations for riders. The ride will take them directly to the doorstep of a destination within sight of the closest bus stop on any existing route. The MicroTransit service will be split into three zones, with two drivers per zone. If a passenger’s destination is in a different zone from where they are picked up, they will be taken to Stop 400 near the Bergfeld Center and Fire Station 7, where a driver will be waiting or arriving shortly to complete the trip. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — The Marshall Fire Department said the investigation into the fire that damaged the historic First Methodist Church earlier this month has been completed. According to our news partner KETK, investigators determined that the fire originated in the lower level of the church where administrative officers were located. The fire was identified “as electrical in nature and was found to be unintentional.”
The fire was first reported at 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 9 and quickly spread requiring multiple agencies to respond. After 15 hours of intensive firefighting operations, the fire was brought under control at 4 p.m., however officials remained at the scene for several days to ensure the fire was completely extinguished. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department said they’re searching for a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy who were reported missing on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Legend Sandford, 3, and Kannon O’Neal, 4, were last seen at the Evergreen Apartments located at 4123 S Park Dr in Tyler at around 10 p.m. on Thursday.
Legend was last seen wearing a blue Paw Patrol shirt and black, red and white pants and Kannon was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants with blue and red stripes. Police said that the boys were reported missing by their mother at around 7:10 a.m. on Friday. Officials said there’s currently no evidence of foul play.
Officers are searching the area and anyone who has seen them is asked to call 911 or 903-531-1000 with any information.
MARSHALL — United States Senator for West Virginia, Joe Manchin, delivered a commencement address for East Texas Baptist University’s largest ever fall class of graduates on Saturday.According to our news partner KETK, 202 graduates walked across the stage throughout the day’s ceremonies, including 140 undergraduate and 62 graduate students. It was ETBU’s largest fall class in university history.
“This milestone commencement is a result of the combined efforts of faculty and staff focusing on ETBU’s mission of graduating Christian servant leaders so they can follow their calling to God and humanity,” provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Thomas Sanders said.
Hannah Hobson, a Bachelor of Arts graduate in Worship Studies at ETBU, was awarded ETBU’s President’s Award for the Fall of 2024. Hobson, who’s from Shreveport, maintained a perfect 4.0 throughout her time at ETBU and she’s also done practicum hours at the First Methodist Church in Marshall. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — Three people were arrested in one hour on Wednesday in Marshall for drunk driving and the police department is reminding drivers of the risks especially during holiday celebrations. According to the Marshall Police Department and our news partner KETK, the holidays can be one the most dangerous times for drivers on East Texas roads. On Wednesday, police conducted three separate driving while intoxicated arrests and the department said they’ll continue to enforce traffic laws in full force to keep the community safe.
Officials said 68-year-old Jimmie Ann Carter(pictured), of Ashdown, Ark., 29-year-old Lauren Paulk and 53-year-old Ricky Norman, both of Marshall, were arrested and received a DWI charge. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler doctor has been suspended for being intoxicated at work, the Texas Medical Board said. According to our news partner KETK, a disciplinary panel temporarily suspended Adam Rance Corley’s medical license after “determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to the public welfare.”
The panel said that Corley was often intoxicated at work and had been to alcohol rehab multiple times but did not “properly delegate his prescribing authority.” A temporary suspension hearing is expected to be held soon. According to the Texas Medical Board, Corley worked at Hospitality ER on Old Jacksonville Highway.
The temporary suspension will remain until the board takes further action.
TYLER – Dave & Buster’s has filed plans with the State of Texas on Friday to bring their first East Texas location to Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, a permit filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation states the arcade, bar and restaurant chain is planning on building a 22,983 square-foot facility in The Village at Cumberland Park. The facility’s construction is estimated to cost around $4,500,000 and will start on March 25, 2025. Currently, the nearest Dave & Buster’s to East Texas is their location in Dallas.
EAST TEXAS — The Texas Education Agency has released a list of 102 teachers that have been flagged in an investigation into educator certification fraud and four of those teachers are in East Texas. cording to our news partner KETK, the NBCDFW, these teachers are under investigation to determine whether or not they took part in an alleged Houston-area scheme to falsify certifications for over 200 teachers.
The educator certification is an official recognition indicating that an individual has met all the requirements to work as a certified teacher. With an educator certification, people could potentially receive higher pay and allows them to work at public schools. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Parks and Recreation will host the 39th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Downtown Tyler Square following The Rotary Club of Tyler’s Rose City Christmas Parade Thursday, Dec. 5. The parade begins at 6:30 at 110 N. College Avenue. The tree will be lit by 9-year-old Luna Cruz, the 2025 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Child representing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler. The event will also include performances by SOJO Orchestra, Caldwell Singers and Candy Crocker School of Dance. Santa will be available to take pictures with children after the program is finished.
This year’s parade theme is “The Magic of Rotary.” The parade will line up on W Gentry Pkwy and go South on N. Broadway Avenue.