Today is
Friday July 24, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — A teacher at Chapel Hill ISD was charged with five counts of promotion of child pornography by the Houston Metro ICAC Task Force in Montgomery County, the district announced. According to our news partner KETK, the teacher was placed on administrative leave and the district said it is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students and is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. “Our highest priority is the safety and welfare of our students,†said Martin Ibarra, CHISD’s Board of Trustees president. “We take these allegations very seriously, and we’re fully cooperating with authorities.†The district said they have no reason to believe the accusations occurred while on school property.
TYLER — An emergency sideline training course was held at UT Health East Texas Saturday to help prepare EMS, doctors and nurses for middle and high school sports events, according to our news partner KETK. “To reach out to a number of different health care professionals and make this a multi-disciplinary conference because we recognize we’re on the sidelines dealing with emergencies,†said Michael Galbraith, associate program director of sports medicine for UT Health Science Center. The conference is a way to bridge the gap between all the first responders involved during a game emergency, especially when it comes to communication. With football season less than a month away knowing how to care for a patient covered in safety equipment is key to a quick response. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The City of Tyler is looking for school crossing guards for the upcoming academic year. With 17 schools and 28 school crossings, the City needs 35 guards to ensure the safety of students during their daily commute, according to a news release from the city. Currently, there are nine crossing guard positions available, offering an hourly wage of $11.55. Those hired for this role will have the opportunity to return for the following school year, earning a stable and reliable source of income. The crossing guard position follows the Tyler Independent School District (TISD) schedule, making it a seasonal opportunity. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A new Texas law will give church security teams more protections. Senate Bill 694 is authored by Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola. According to our news partner KETK, the bill aims at protecting safety teams at houses of worship who remove or use force on anyone who is disrupting service. The bill will grant civil immunity to church security and safety teams. In order to be protected under the new law, the team must be hired employees or volunteer with paperwork to prove it. Senate Bill 694 covers the possession or use of a firearm leading to death, damage or injury. The Texas Security Coalition promotes every church to have adequate training, so no one is wrongly accused. The bill and training will benefit any church no matter how big the congregation is. This new law will become effective on September 1.
TYLER — Brookshire Grocery Co. announced on Tuesday they have reached an agreement with Walgreens where they will acquire the company’s 120 pharmacies in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. According to our news partner KETK, Brookshire Grocery said the vast majority of these locations are being converted to Walgreens pharmacies that will operate inside of their stores. “The pharmacy industry has become increasingly complex over the past few years, and it was important to us to find a business leader that has the capabilities to focus on providing exceptional pharmacy services and value to our customers,†Chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co. Brad Brookshire said. Read the rest of this entry »
ANDERSON COUNTY — An officer at an East Texas prison was arrested after a random vehicle search produced a suspicious substance. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, staff at the H. H. Coffield Unit in Tennessee Colony, found three vacuum-sealed bags of a “green leafy substance†in the car of officer Diana Ngyangau June 30. Officer Ngyangau was arrested by investigators from the Office of the Inspector General for introduction of K2 and was drug tested. TDCJ officials said she worked at that unit for 29 months prior to the incident. The arrest was part of a series of random searches of employee vehicles entering the prison. The Coffield Unit houses up to 4,000 prisoners and has more than 500 employees.
LUFKIN — A Crockett man was arrested on Monday night and another man remains at large after a multi-agency task force in relation to the April shooting death of a man from Lufkin. According to our news partner KETK, just before 9:00 Monday night, Trederrick Dewayne Sherman, 17, was arrested on a murder warrant at a house on Briar Lane in Crockett. Jardon Lamontre Castle, 18, of Jasper, remains at large. Lufkin police said Richard Coutee was shot to death on his front doorstep April 3. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A portion of County Road 370, also known as Howell Lake Road in Precinct 3, was closed beginning Monday, July 10, so a bridge can be replaced. The concrete bridge with wooden piers, which runs over the private Howell Lake, will be replaced with a wider concrete bridge with concrete piles, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said. Signs are up alerting drivers of the closure and drivers will need to take an alternate route. Work is being done by True Roads Construction and is expected to take about three months. For current Smith County road projects, click here.
SMITH COUNTY — Unfilled positions continue to make life hard on local law enforcement. “Law enforcement across the country is shorthanded,†said Sgt. Larry Christian, Public Information Officer with Smith County Sheriff’s Office. The problem seemed to get even worse in 2020, according to our news partner KETK. “COVID hit county jails really hard in the state of Texas,†said Craig Harrington, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy. The year 2024 is shaping up to be a critical one for Smith County. The county recently released a draft budget for fiscal year 2024 that includes an emphasis on trying to hire more people to fill detention center vacancies. Christian said getting the right budget passed could shape the county’s future. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — For the month of July, Tyler Animal Services and CASA for Kids of East Texas are partnering to donate school supplies to foster children. All dog and cat adoption fees will be waived with the donation of a backpack with at least 10 school supplies, according to the City of Tyler. Animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. The standard adoption fee for dogs is $120 and $80 for cats. To adopt, view available animals or submit an application, click here. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY — The Gilmer community is coping with the loss of Jared Maddox. According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 58-year-old Jared Maddox died on July 4 due to a fireworks explosion. Residents who knew him well, are now talking about his impact in the Gilmer community. “Jared was a fantastic guy,†Joe Tillery said. “I mean he would help anybody anytime that anybody needed help. He was truly a man’s man. I guess you can say.†Maddox spent almost 30 years at the Longview Fire Department serving his community. Tillery said Maddox’s dedication to the department was second to none. “He would come up and spend the night with us before he ever became a paid firefighter, and he would stay all night and he would just stay at the fire station just waiting on the call to go try and help people,†added Tillery. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY — A wanted man out of Upshur County was arrested on Monday in Longview for his alleged involvement in a game room robbery. According to our news partner KETK, Dewayne Stevenson had an outstanding felony warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and was wanted by Upshur County authorities who said he is a suspect in a game room robbery that took place back in May. According to the release, Upshur County Crime Stoppers received a tip about the possible whereabouts of Stevenson. The tip said Stevenson was seen in Longview, so officials said the Longview Police Department went to the reported location and arrested him on the Upshur County warrant. Stevenson was booked into the Gregg County Jail and officials said they will be moving him to the Upshur County Jail later this week.
SMITH COUNTY — The reconstruction of County Road 3111 — just south of Interstate 20 and west of Kilgore – has begun and is expected to take about three months. Road Improvements will be made to 4.25 miles of CR 3111, also known as Joy Wright Mountain Road, as well as CR 3118, 3119 and 3120. The roads are located in Precinct 3, and are part of the Smith County Road and Bridge Bond Program. Reynolds & Kay will reconstruct part of CR 3111, from its intersection with CR 3207, north to Interstate 20. The section of CR 3111, from FM 2767 to the Gregg County Line, will be improved by Smith County Road and Bridge crews once Reynolds & Kay is complete with their work. Work on the project includes widening, reconstructing and paving the roads, and is expected to cost $1,479,092.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department will be adding additional officers on the street utilizing STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) starting on Friday, June 30th through Wednesday, July 5th. The program is based on crash data in the city limits of Tyler that allows Tyler officers to pin-point target problem areas. Officials said with increased traffic in Tyler for the 4th of July holiday, officers will be specifically watching for hazardous violations such as speeding, intersection enforcement, seat belt violations and impaired drivers.
LONGVIEW — A man has been arrested after an apartment shooting in Longview left a woman injured. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday morning, around 7:20 a.m. Longview officials responded to reports of a shooting that took place at an apartment complex located on Young Street. Upon arrival, police said they found a female victim with a gunshot wound and had her taken to a local hospital by EMS with a non-life threatening injury. During their investigation, police said they identified Larry Anthony Jr., 26, as the suspect and detained him before taking him to the Longview Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. The release stated that detectives obtained a warrant for Anthony’s arrest, charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon – family violence and booked him into the Gregg County Jail.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) – U.S. authorities have announced the arrests of four men they say were part of a human smuggling effort last year that ended in the deaths of 53 migrants, including eight children, who were left in a tractor-trailer in the scorching Texas summer. The four new arrests were made Monday in Houston, San Antonio and Marshall. Authorities said on the anniversary of the June 27, 2022, tragedy that the four Mexican nationals had a planning role in the smuggling operation, and were aware that the trailer’s air-conditioning unit was malfunctioning and would not blow cool air to migrants trapped inside during the sweltering three-hour ride from the border city of Laredo to San Antonio. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — A Longview man facing charges in the January 6th Capitol incident says his alleged actions were caused by brainwashing. Attorneys for Ryan Nichols say in a court filing this week that an individual on social media called “1% watchdog” presented himself as a military veteran with PTSD, who was also a government official with important contacts. The attorneys say 1% watchdog radicalized Nichols and other veterans who had never been to a protest to go to Washington, D.C. The filing questions why the federal government has allowed 1% watchdog to remain “unidentified and at large.” The attorneys allege, in fact, that 1% watchdog is a “federal asset.”
NACOGDOCHES (AP) — An assistant women’s bowling coach at Stephen F. Austin is out after the university discovered he cheated on his wife, who is the team’s head coach, with a student-athlete. SFA assistant Steve Lemke opted to resign rather than be fired after the school learned of the affair, which led to a split with his wife, the Lufkin Daily News reported Tuesday. The 38-year-old Lemke, who is married to head coach Amber Lemke, helped coach the team to two national titles and two second-place finishes before resigning April 10. The couple has since filed for divorce, according to court records.
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine received a $500,000 gift from the Byers Family Foundation, the university announced on Tuesday in a release. The university said the gift will be used to name a professorship in family medicine to aid in the recruitment of nationally recognized faculty. “We are excited to offer our support to the UT Tyler School of Medicine,†Brent Byers, president of the Byers Family Foundation said. “We feel attracting dynamic professors to our region, especially in family medicine, is a priority. This school is a game-changer for health care and the economy of East Texas and we are pleased to join with others who have helped to make this a reality.†Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Most City of Longview offices were re-open and with power on Tuesday, June 20, following storms early morning on Friday, June 16. Parks and Recreation Department offices on Timpson remain without power and closed at this time. The Longview Public Library, which has served as a public cooling center during the storm response, is open on regular schedule on Tuesday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Â Residents needing a place to cool down or recharge devices are welcome to visit the facility during those times.
TYLER — Tyler Police Department confirmed that a woman who was in a single-vehicle crash on Loop 323 was hit by another vehicle while walking down the loop on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh said that officers received a call about a pedestrian being hit by a vehicle near West Shaw Street and Loop 323 around 9 p.m. on Saturday. According to authorities, the woman had been in a crash and was walking north on the loop when she was hit. After she was hit the vehicle did stop at the scene and officials said she was taken to a local hospital. Her condition is unknown.
LONGVIEW — In Longview, some residents have been without power for days and with the heat index being in the 100’s people are hot and want answers. According to AEP SWEPCO, they have restored power to over 60,000 people but they still have a long road ahead of them. “It’s a lot of the transmission and distribution places that took a damage, significant damage,†said Warner. Even with over 2,500 linemen working all hours of the day, they said power may not be restored until Friday. “This is without question, one of those moments when you have to say it’s unprecedented,†said Warner.o over 60,000 people but they still have a long road ahead of them. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — Due to widespread power outages, both Kilgore College campuses (Kilgore and Longview) will be closed on Monday, June 19, according to a news release. College administration will assess the power situation Monday afternoon to make a determination about Tuesday operations.
ANGELINA COUNTY — The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office said that a man died at Angelina County Jail on Friday night, only a few hours after being booked. According to our news partner KETK, Glenn Earl Smallwood Jr., 33 of Lufkin, was arrested by Lufkin Police Department after they received information about a man sitting on a curb of the 1200 block of Sayers Street, officials said. According to a press release, an officer found Smallwood and he found him to be “mumbling, not making any sense and intoxicated.†Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — Due to the ongoing problems caused by severe storms Thursday night and Friday morning, Gregg County has canceled jury duty for Monday, June 19, according to Gregg County District Clerk Trey Hattaway.
EAST TEXAS — As recent severe weather has led to wide-spread power outages around East Texas, and with a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service, local cooling centers are opening to help area residents. The Longview Public Library will remain open as a cooling shelter. Staff are looking ahead for future days and will provide more information as plans are finalized.
Longview ISD will open the Foster Middle School cafeteria and gymnasium to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 18 as a heat relief and device recharging center. Area first responders are also invited to use the washing facilities for their clothes and equipment. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — SWEPCO has activated an all-in response to restore electric service to all impacted customers after the early morning storms on Friday. In a release, SWEPCO said they have requested mutual assistance from neighboring utility companies to help restore communities electricity as quick and safe as possible. They added that customers should prepare for, “prolonged power outages and in some cases additional outages as we repair damage to our system.†There are currently more than 233,800 SWEPCO customers without power in the East Texas and northwest Louisiana territories. the most trecent update, ISWEPCO said the Longview service territory customers should expect to have power back by 10 p.m., Friday, June 23. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — After an early Friday morning of severe weather throughout East Texas, damage reports are issued for numerous areas, our news partner KETK reports.
Longview police report “significant disruptions†in the area, including power outages and road blockages due to fallen trees. City crews are working to clear debris from the roads but officials ask that people consider allowing extra travel time when heading to your destination. You can report road blockages or downed trees by calling 903-237-1170. In addition to that, the city is reporting that there is damage to various city parks and trails. The water utility system is functional but operating at a reduced capacity, and residents are encouraged to save water by turning off sprinkler systems, making sure to not leave water running and taking other appropriate water conservation measures. The city assured residents that they will be able to maintain service “as long as we work together as a team to minimize our usage.†Longview splash pads will be closed as well. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Several school districts in East Texas are canceling classes due to severe weather aftermath. According to our news partner KETK, severe thunderstorms brought on an influx of power outages and extensive damage in the area. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Police departments across East Texas are still in need of officers. Longview PD’s recruitment team is reaching out to people across several states. “We’ve been going to job fairs across Texas and in Louisiana and we’ve been partnering with colleges and universities,†said Kendric Montgomery, Longview Police Department Recruiting Lieutenant, our news partner KETK reports. Tyler Police are using any method they can to reach potential applicants. “We use billboards, sometimes we use movie ads in theaters. We have a traffic device that goes to different areas that sometimes have a funny slogan on them,†said Andy Erbaugh, Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer. Read the rest of this entry »