Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer man was sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary of a habitation and criminal mischief for disrupting power at an Upshur Rural substation by stealing copper wire. According to our news partner KETK, Christopher Robertson, 35, was sentenced to 50 years with an additional 10 years due to his prior criminal history. In September of 2021, Robertson was arrested for damage done to an Upshur Rural Electric Cooperative substation. Deputies responded to a reported fire at the Upshur Rural Electric substation on Bluebird Road. When authorities arrived, they found copper ground wire cut and two regulators burned with smoke still coming from them. The release stated that cigarettes and other items left behind aided officers in identifying Robertson as a suspect. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler ISD Thursday honored its Educators of the Year during a banquet at Green Acres Baptist Church’s Crosswalk Conference Center. The Secondary Teacher of the Year is Alejandra Grijalva of Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School. Elementary honors go to La’Shunda Wright of Andy Woods. They were picked from a lengthy list of top instructors from each campus. Grijalva told KTBB her honor was “something I was not expecting…but I am very happy, I am very honored to represent Birdwell. It’s a school that I love…I have been working there for a long time. I love the kids, I love the families, I love…my family at Birdwell.” Grijalva adds that “it’s just great to receive” the award and to be “honored by the Tyler ISD community.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The Longview Parks and Recreation Department office at 130 E. Timpson St. is closed until further notice due to a power outage. Recreation Centers will be open on regular schedule and Parks and Recreation programming will continue as previously scheduled.
SMITH COUNTY — Two firefighters and a resident were injured during an early morning house fire Thursday. At about 3:30 a.m., firefighters from Noonday, Flint-Gresham, and Dixie Fire Departments were dispatched to County Road 1237 in Noonday for a house fire. They discovered a resident who had suffered burns in the fire, but had already made it out of the house. While attempting to extinguish the blaze, two firefighters suffered burns. All three people were transported to a local hospital. One of the injured firefighters was later flown to Parkland Hospital’s Burn Unit in Dallas for advanced treatment. According to our news partner KETK, officials say that firefighter has been treated and released. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Four people are under arrest in connection with a kidnapping and robbery in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Police Detective Brian Raynsford says 21-year-old Briyana Brooks (pictured) met the man on social media and on March 29th and invited him to her apartment. While there, four men ambushed him, beat and bound him, and robbed him at gunpoint. They also reportedly forced him to give them his ATM pin number and his home address.Two of those men, 22-year-old Corey McKnight and 18-year-old Tkyren James were arrested that night. Brooks and 21-year-old Colby Sanders were later arrested in Tyler are awaiting extradition back to Tarrant County. A fifth man is still on the loose.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith Countywide Cleanup vouchers are now available at Whitehouse City Hall for people who suffered property damages from Monday night’s storm. The Smith Countywide Cleanup is running throughout April and allows for all Smith County residents to take one truckload of bulky trash to the landfill for free. The program began April 1, and vouchers are available at several County Offices, including the Annex Building, at 200 E. Ferguson Street in Tyler, as well as the Constable/Justice of the Peace Offices throughout the County. The vouchers are now available at Whitehouse City Hall, to be more conveniently distributed from its Utility Department, located at 101 A Bascom Road. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler city officials say crews are working to restore misaligned traffic detection cameras, remove downed trees, and repair fence damage to city-owned facilities after severe thunderstorms went through the area early Tuesday morning. The city offered a mid-afternoon update Tuesday, with more updates planned as the situation evolves. The Tuesday afternoon update includes a detailed rundown of issues and how to report any problems you may have. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE — The Whitehouse Police Department has identified W. M. Soloman as the individual who died during the storms that passed through the city early Tuesday morning. “Our prayers are with the friends and family of Mr. Soloman, who we lost early this morning when the storm pushed a tree down across his home,” said Mayor James Wansley as quoted in a Tuesday afternoon news release. “Last night’s storm also brought down power lines, obstructed traffic and caused property damage in the heart of the City of Whitehouse. I was proud to see the City staff, Police and Fire jump into action at the first signs of the menacing storm.” Wansley also sayd he “was humbled by the support we received” from various local responders. The city has lots more to share. Click here or here for more information.
ARP — Arp ISD has delayed school start time for Tuesday. Classes will begin at 10:00 and buses will run 2 hours later than usual. Numerous reports of downed trees in the area, drivers are urged to use caution.
TYLER — The re-sentencing trial for a Central Texas man in Tyler for a fatal wreck on Grande Blvd. back in 2016 has entered its second week. According to our news partner KETK, 46-year-old James Fulton was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for a crash that killed 21-year-old Haile Beasley in 2016 and had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, the maximum punishment allowed by Texas law. Two years later, an appeals court ruled that Fulton received ineffective counsel when his lawyers chose not to present evidence that would have contradicted the testimony of a local waitress. They ordered that the conviction would stay in place, but that Fulton would receive a new sentencing trial. He has been out on bond since August 2019.
RUSK COUNTY — A brush pile fire got out of control and spread to a house due to high winds in northern Rusk County on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Fire Department, Crims Chapel Volunteer Fire Department and New London Volunteer Fire Department were all on the scene. There were reportedly no injuries. Rusk County Office of Emergency Management reminds residents to be careful while burning.
NACOGDOCHES — The Texas Medical Board temporarily suspended the medical license of an East Texas doctor who was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to our news partner KETK, the TMB suspended the license of Karl Frederick Kauffman after “determining his continuation in the practice of medicine poses a continuing threat to public welfare.†The suspension is effective immediately. The board panel found that Kauffman was arrested and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. The suspension of his medical license is temporary, but it will remain in place until the board takes further action. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITE OAK — A man accused of killing two people in a shooting in Longview died on Friday after he took his own life, said the Longview Police Department. According to our news partner KETK, SWAT surrounded the Chase Knoll Studio Apartments in White Oak and confirmed that the suspect, Jared Scott Sobey, 37, of Longview, was inside an apartment. Officers attempted to make contact with Sobey when he reportedly killed himself. Sobey was wanted for his involvement in a Longview shooting that left two people dead Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the incident happened around 4:45 p.m. on Fisher Street. Arriving officers found two victims with gunshot wounds. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, the second person was transported to a local hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Whitehouse man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas Wednesday. Anthony D. Klein, 47, pleaded guilty to attempting to evade or defeat tax. According to information presented in court, for tax year 2016, Klein filed an IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, with the Internal Revenue Service. On that form, he claimed that he had no taxable income and that he was entitled to credits in the amount of $5,836.00. In fact, he had taxable income of approximately $538,188.07 for tax year 2016. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler man pleaded guilty on Monday to child exploitation violations. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Dylan Skipworth, 20, pleaded guilty to transporting a 13-year-old girl from Alabama to engage in sexual activity. Skipworth reportedly admitted in court that in April 2021, he transported a 13-year-old he met online from the state of Alabama to his residence in Tyler to commit the offense of sexual abuse of a minor. According to a press release, Skipworth’s conviction is the result of a cooperative effort involving the FBI, Tyler Police Department, and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, who undertook the investigation after analyzing GPS data associated with the phone of a child who had been reported missing by her foster parents in Alabama. Read the rest of this entry »
MINEOLA — Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes has been appointed to the Senate Committee on Finance. Senator Hughes has been a member of the Texas Senate for the last five years and was previously a House member for 14 years. In addition to his recent appointment to the Senate Committee on Finance, Hughes also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on State Affairs and as a member of the Education, Jurisprudence, Natural Resource & Economic Development, Nominations and Redistricting Committees, according to our news partner KETK. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE — The City of Whitehouse community broke ground on the construction site of the first Whataburger that is coming to the city on Wednesday afternoon. Whataburger employees, DKT Investments and the Whitehouse Area Chamber of Commerce were all in attendance, according to our news partner KETK. The first Whataburger will be located at 1051 Highway 110. The company will be hiring more than 50 local employees. The Whataburger will be joined to a Triple J C-store. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A chase between a man and Smith County sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday afternoon ended with the man crashing his vehicle into a ditch off of Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, Whitehouse police responded to a call from a woman reporting an armed man in her yard arguing with her. The man was already gone when officers arrived, but a short time later, spotted a car that matched the description. According to Smith County Sgt. Larry Christian, Whitehouse police chased the vehicle down FM 346 toward Hwy 69. Once they reached Highway 69, Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies picked up the pursuit. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — Two East Texas parents, who were arrested in connection to the death of their toddler and for alleged abuse of their children, have been indicted. According to our news partner KETK, Daniel Dennis, 25, and Erin Dennis, 23, were both indicted on March 10 for two charges of abandoning/ endangering a child. The couple were arrested on December 15, 2021 after their 18-month-old child was found dead, said Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. They have two other children, a four-year-old and a two-year-old. Hillhouse called it a “horrible case and scene.†Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — The cleanup and assessment process continues after severe weather struck parts of East Texas Monday night. According to our news partner KETK, in Upshur County, multiple injuries were reported along with many damaged and destroyed homes as a tornado moved through. That twister has been given an initial rating of EF-2. Another tornado that hit Harrison County was given an initial EF-1 rating. Upshur County is among 16 counties included in a disaster declaration issued Tuesday by Governor Abbott, along with Rusk County and several other East Texas counties.
TYLER — The arrest affidavit of a dental patient who allegedly shot and killed two doctors at Affordable Dentures & Implants in Tyler on March 16 reveals more information in the events leading up to the shooting, our news partner KETK reports. Steven Smith, 40, was charged with capital murder of multiple persons and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victims were identified as Dr. Blake G. Sinclair, 59, and Dr. Jack E. Burroughs, 75, both of Tyler. The affidavit stated that Smith was upset with how the procedure was being performed on him and was telling the nurses “what to do.†A nurse told officials that he was always a difficult patient and made the nurses feel uncomfortable. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — The Criminal Investigation Division of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a prominent ER physician on Monday for the alleged continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Karl Kauffman was arrested Monday after an ongoing investigation and a search warrant of his home led to two warrants for continuous sexual abuse of a child, said the sheriff’s office. Kauffman currently serves as an ER physician at several hospitals in the county. The arrest warrants were issued by the 369th District Judge, Michael Davis, who set a recommended bond of $1 million per charge. Kauffman will be held in the Cherokee County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Animal Legal Defense Fund is suing the National Foundation for Rescued Animals, operating in East Texas as Tiger Creek Animal Sanctuary, for allegedly violating the Endangered Species Act, according to our news partner KETK. Along with the organization, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is also suing the founder and former director, Brian Werner Ferris, and his daughter, chairman and executive director, Emily Owen. ALDF alleges that Tiger Creek violated the ESA’s “take†and “transfer†provisions by harming, harassing and killing numerous animals including nine lions and tigers that have allegedly died there since 2018. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — A Jefferson man has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison. Beau Daniel Merryman, 21, pleaded guilty on Nov. 4, 2021, to distributing information relating to explosives and destructive devices. According to court information, Merryman engaged in a series of online conversations with undercover FBI employees between September and October 2019. Merryman gave detailed instructions on how to make several types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), such as pipe bombs and pressure-cooker bombs. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office says two doctors shot at a dental clinic on Wednesday have died. They were identified as Dr. Blake G. Sinclair, 59, and Dr. Jack E. Burroughs,75, both of Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, Steven Alexander Smith, 40, of Tyler, was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and capital murder of multiple persons. His bond was set at $3 million. Smith was said to be a patient at the clinic. The Sheriff’s Office received a call around 2:45 p.m. about a shooting at Affordable Dentures and Implants on 3081 Hwy 31 East. When deputies arrived they saw two men had gunshot wounds. According to an investigation, Smith got angry at clinic staff and went to his pickup truck. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) is informing motorists to be aware of one more nightly ramp closure for maintenance on Toll 49 this week. The FM 756 eastbound and westbound ramps will be closed from 9 p.m. Thursday until 5 a.m. Friday. Motorists can stay updated on closures and road conditions by visiting this link.
TYLER — Detective John Ragland with the Tyler Police Department is retiring after 31 years of service with the department. According to our news partner KETK, Detective Ragland started his career at the Tyler Police Department in February 1991. He worked as a patrol officer, field training officer, honor guard member, district investigator, crime victim’s liaison, crimes against persons detective and was on the sexual assault response team. Ragland was also a member of the U.S. Marshal’s Service Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force, polygraph examiner, wellness coordinator and was a member of the CALEA accreditation team. Read the rest of this entry »
ANDREWS — Tyler James, ETBU graduate and former Graduate Assistant Coach for the men’s and women’s golf team was killed in a vehicle accident that claimed the lives of eight others on Tuesday night. According to our news partner KETK, a van driving the University of the Southwest’s golf team collided with a Dodge 2500 truck while they were headed home from a tournament in Midland. According to DPS, for unknown reasons the Dodge truck drove into oncoming traffic and hit the passenger van head-on. Reports say both vehicles caught fire and burned. James received his Master of Science in Kinesiology and graduated from ETBU in May 2021. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — The first days of a murder trial in Cherokee County resulted in a mistrial on Monday after an investigator reportedly failed to disclose a piece of digital evidence to all parties in the trial. According to our news partner KETK, Cody Ray Roberts is charged with capital murder of 18-year-old Trevor Lawson, who was found dead by an apparent gunshot wound in a home on CR 2117 in the Maydelle area on November 7, 2018. Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the trial for the murder of Lawson began in the 369th District Court on Monday. A jury was picked and the state began calling witnesses on Tuesday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Contractors will be doing asphalt seal work on New Copeland Road between East Grande Boulevard and Loop 323 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 15 through Tuesday, March 22. Drivers can expect lane closures and traffic delays. Drive with caution in the area.