Today is
Friday June 05, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — A third person has been charged in connection to the March “cartel-related†kidnapping of a Tyler man. According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Markeith Jeffrey, owner of Mile High Eatery in the Tyler Pounds Airport, is accused of taking part in the kidnapping and was taken into custody on Thursday.
In March, Smith County officials said a man was found safe in the DFW area after being kidnapped from his Tyler driveway. According to an affidavit, his captors, identified as Julio Cesar Cordova and Walybert Eron Cordova-Rascon, demanded $10,000 from the family to return the victim. At the time, the Smith County Sheriff said the kidnapping was “cartel-related.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — In response to a troubling increase in threats made against schools across the country and in East Texas, Tyler ISD is reaching out to parents and guardians for their support in fostering a safe school environment. “Making a threat against a school, whether real or fake, is a crime with very serious legal consequences,†stated Acting Tyler ISD Police Chief Destry Walsworth. “These threats not only cause fear among students, staff, and families, but they also divert vital resources away from education and safety efforts.â€
While many of these incidents turn out to be hoaxes, the repercussions can be significant. Law enforcement is often required to allocate substantial time and resources to investigate these threats, which detracts from their essential mission of keeping our community safe. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Doses of Narcan, the lifesaving nasal spray used to reverse overdoses and effects of fentanyl poisoning, are now available for students and staff of the University of Texas at Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, University officials said they are launching the initiative to make Narcan available on a regular basis in observance of the first Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.
“Fentanyl is the No. 1 killer of Americans ages 18-45. Fentanyl-related deaths in Texas increased over 600% from 2019 to 2023, taking the lives of more than 7,000 innocent Texans in just 4 years,†the Office of Texas Governor Gregg Abbott said. “This crisis affects the lives of everyone, tearing away friends and family members from their loved ones.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The City of Tyler approved a $4,429,876 Capital Improvement Project on Wednesday to address drainage and erosion. According to our news partner KETK, the city says the project will focus on improving drainage on Keaton Avenue which they say “has been a focus for several years due to erosion and flooding residents have experienced.†The contract with Reynolds and Kay was approved on Wednesday.
“The project will focus on a drainage area that collects storm water from approximately 248 acres near Pollard Park and extends towards Donnybrook Avenue and East Southeast Loop 323. Storm water is precipitation that does not seep into the ground but runs off into our storm drain systems, where it eventually flows into our streams and lakes,†the City of Tyler said.
The project is being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
GREGG COUNTY — The East Texas Food Bank in Longview got a $50,000 donation Wednesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Atmos Energy provided $2 million to food banks for Hunger Action Month in September, with East Texas getting a part of the goods. The ETFB said the money will go a long way by providing 250,000 meals to people in five local counties.
“Hunger takes a community to really solve,†ETFB Chief Development Officer Tim Butler said. “One in six East Texans are food insecure. That includes one in four children. So it’s more than just the East Texas Food Bank trying to solve it themselves; partners like Atmos Energy really are the ones that are going to help turn the tide and solve this problem going forward.â€
ETFB’s Longview Resource Center served 6,600 families with more than 1.1 million meals last year. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: SMITH COUNTY – Our KETK news partner reports that the Smith County Animal Control and Shelter has given an update on the 55 dogs seized in an alleged dogfighting ring.
On Sept. 9, Kerry Jones and Michael Jones were arrested after a call came in of wounded dogs found near a residence on CR 4136. During an investigation of the property, officials reported finding the 55 dogs, some in bad conditions.
The two cats and all 17 bully dogs have already been picked up by rescues. However, Rivera found that 11 of the dogs she evaluated were “not safe candidates for going into home environments.†These dogs were reportedly trained to fight, making them unsafe to be around other dogs and people, and are described as having a mentality to fight.
These 11 dogs will have to euthanized and Smith County officials reported that two of the dogs have already bitten staff members and tried to go after other dogs.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER –Â After a yearlong inventory of service lines, the City of Tyler found water lines that contain lead. Replacements will take years, but they say that water is still safe to drink. According to our news partner KETK, out of 40,000 service lines, 142 were identified as lead and 3,843 are galvanized steel. However, TWU said it will take until at least 2037 for all city-owned lead service lines to be replaced. Even with the long wait, homeowners will then be responsible for their own portion.
“Everybody’s water is perfectly safe to drink right now and it has been all where doing is moving toward just making sure and mitigating that risk that all of the lead will be gone in the future,†City of Tyler Director of Utilities Kate Dietz said.
By Nov. 15, city officials said residents will be notified if their homes are affected. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — With the 91st Texas Rose Festival Parade scheduled for Saturday, Tyler Police announced which roads will be closed that morning. According to our news partner KETK, beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, Front Street will be closed from Palace to Lyons, and Glenwood Boulevard will be closed from W. Erwin to Houston.
After the parade begins at 9 a.m., nobody will be allowed to drive on or cross Front Street to park. Handicap parking will be at Mike Carter Field, and VIP parking will be in the WT Brookshires parking lot. Both areas can only be accessed via Houston Street.
HOUSTON (AP) — A Palestine man this week could become the first person executed in the U.S. for a murder conviction tied to the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.
Robert Roberson, 57, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection on Thursday for the 2002 killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis. Roberson has long proclaimed his innocence. His lawyers as well as a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers, medical experts and others don’t deny that head and other injuries from child abuse are real. But they argue his conviction was based on faulty and now outdated scientific evidence and say new evidence has shown Curtis died from complications related to severe pneumonia.
But prosecutors maintain Roberson’s new evidence does not disprove their case that Curtis died from injuries inflicted by her father. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Since issuing a burn ban on October 8, Smith County officials have been called out to about 50 calls for illegal burning. “Due to the burn ban being in place for about a week and the information being highly promoted, we are transitioning to issuing citations rather than giving warnings,†Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said.
As of Tuesday, October 15, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Smith County was at an average of 727. The KBDI ranges from 0 to 800 and is used to determine forest fire potential. For the next several days, there is very little chance of rain and low humidity, increasing the fire danger even more.
“The Fire Marshal’s Office would like to thank Smith County residents for understanding the potential fire danger conditions and choosing not to burn during this burn ban,†he said.
The Commissioners Court issued an “Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning†on Tuesday, October 8. It is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve, and the Commissioners Court approves terminating the order early. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The City of Tyler said that street repairs on East Dawson Street will block the west entrance of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital’s Dawson parking garage this week. According to our news partner KETK, East Dawson Street to Clinic Drive will be closed from Monday, Oct. 14 to Friday, Oct. 18. The city of Tyler said to use South Fleishel Avenue to get to the emergency room entrance or the parking garage.
TYLER — Tyler Junior College is hosting a summit with legislators on ways to implement programs to create a smooth transition after graduation. According to our news partner KETK, Tuesday was the reception for all 50 presidents from every community college in Texas to talk with the U.S. representatives who are in the House Education and Workforce Committee. Community college leaders want to see creativity and innovation take place on their behalf in Congress.
“We’re excited about the opportunities and the dialog that we can have between legislative champions and leaders of community colleges,†said Juan Mejia, TJC president .
On Wednesday, the legislative summit will begin with a dialogue on how to bring more money in for programs that will tie directly to jobs in their area. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Law enforcement officials are searching for a man who reportedly stole a dump truck Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson says a man in a gray t-shirt stole a dump truck and trailer from a county work site on CR 4211 out of Jacksonville. The man went north to Highway 110 and reportedly forgot to release the vehicle’s air brakes, which led to the tires of the truck smoking and catching fire. He reportedly bailed out of the dump truck in front of the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department on Highway 110 and ran away from the scene. TDCJ dogs were unable to find the person and the search was called off, according to Sheriff Brent Dickson.
LUFKIN — The Ellen Trout Zoo has announced that their director, Gordon Henley, is retiring after 48 years of service to the Lufkin-based zoo, according to our news partner KETK. “Serving as the director of Ellen Trout Zoo has been a true honor,†Henley said. “I have cherished every moment spent creating a magical experience for our visitors, and I am profoundly grateful for the support of our community.â€
Henley’s journey with the zoo started back in 1976 after moving to Lufkin with his wife Charlotte from Oklahoma where he worked at the Tulsa Zoo.
“After an amazing 48-year journey, Gordon will be seeking new adventures. We want to take a moment to reflect on the cherished memories created at Ellen Trout Zoo,†the zoo said. “Join us in celebrating his remarkable legacy and the magic he’s helped cultivate for generations. Here’s to new adventures, Gordon!†Read the rest of this entry »
WINNSBORO — The Winnsboro Police Department announced the passing of one of their own Thursday morning.According to our news partner KETK, the police department said Assistant Chief David Scott Sewell passed away early Thursday and shared that he was a beloved member of the community. Sewell who joined Winnsboro PD in 2016 also served the Northeast Texas region for 39 years.
“Please keep his family, friends and the department in your prayers as we navigate this difficult time,†the police department said.