Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
CANTON — DPS Troopers responded to a wreck involving multiple vehicles, including a school bus, in Van Zandt County Wednesday morning. The DPS report said Canton ISD bus #31 was involved in the wreck. No students were injured in the collision. The students were transported to school on a different bus. The crash occurred on HWY 64, east of Canton. Additional details were not available.
LONGVIEW — A court hearing on whether to suspend Longview ISD’s mask mandate has been set for next week. According to our news partner KETK, the district is being sued by the State of Texas under Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order he issued in late July that bans such mandates. After school began in August, the school district reported a spike in coronavirus cases among its 8,000 students and staff. In response, the school board approved a mask mandate in violation of Abbott’s order. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed several lawsuits across the state to varying districts that have also chosen to issue their own mandates. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — A Henderson woman was arrested Monday afternoon after reportedly offering money to have a family member killed. According to our news partner KETK, Cheryl Thibodeaux, 42, of Henderson was detained in an investigation conducted by the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division for criminal solicitation for capital murder. The sheriff’s office said Thibodeaux planned to commit capital murder of a family member. Investigators went undercover and arrested the woman after she allegedly provided money as compensation for the murder solicitation. Thibodeaux is being held at the Rusk County Jail. Her bond was set at $100,000.
TYLER — A portion of Cambridge Road, between Harvard Drive and Oakway Drive, will be closed today from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. while contractors work in a manhole under the street. Detours will be in place at Harvard and Oakway. Drivers are urged to use caution in the area, follow directions of the crews and obey all detours and traffic signs.
TYLER — Tyler police are investigating an early Tuesday morning armed robbery. According to a police release, just after 4:00, two armed black males entered the the Eagle Mart on south Broadway Ave. and stole an undisclosed amount of cash and property from the store. The two fled the scene in a dark-colored Texas Edition Chevrolet Silverado with black and silver wheels. The attached photo is of 2 of the 4 suspects along with the suspect vehicle. Police say there were 2 people in the truck. The truck was recovered in Marshall, but the suspects are still unidentified. If you have any information on this case you can contact Det. Holt at 903-531-1028 or call Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
RUSK — Cherokee County deputies discovered 24 illegal immigrants in an SUV during a routine traffic stop on Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, around 2:15, CCSO deputies stopped a Chevrolet Suburban on Highway 69 south and FM 84 east in Rusk after observing the vehicle make a traffic violation. The driver of the Suburban is identified as Maria Lopez. After further investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, it was determined that all of the passengers entered the U.S. illegally except for Lopez. Read the rest of this entry »
NASHVILLE — A Tyler woman was killed late Sunday night after she lost control of a Lime scooter in downtown Nashville. According to our news partner KETK, police reported that 54-year-old Melinda Lovelady was riding a Lime scooter on 3rd Avenue at Symphony Place. Lovelady reportedly lost control of the scooter and crashed into the rear tires of a moving semi-tractor heading in the opposite direction. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Additional details were not available.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — A man was arrested after a Van Zandt County Sheriff’s deputy found several drugs including heroine, meth and marijuana in a stolen vehicle. According to our news partner KETK, on Saturday, Oct. 2 VZCSO deputy, Sgt. Gonzales responded to a call for a suspicious vehicle on CR 4112. Gonzales made contact with the driver, Taylor Leon Davidson, and noticed the vehicle ignition had been tampered with. Upon a check of the registration, Gonzales was alerted that the vehicle was stolen. Gonzales arrested Davidson and upon a search of the vehicle, several drugs were found. Davidson was booked into the Van Zandt County Jail on the following charges: two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of delivery of marijuana and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
WOOD COUNTY — A Hainesville volunteer firefighter was arrested and charged with eight counts of arson after he was accused of starting eight fires. According to our news partner KETK, Courtney Keel was booked into the Wood County Jail on Tuesday. He was released on Wednesday after posting bail. On Sept. 23, 2020, Chief Robert Holland with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office began investigating fires that the Hainesville VFD had worked. Holland believes Keel possibly started fires that happened in 2020 on June 8, July 27, Aug. 25, Sept. 14, and Sept. 21. Two fires were reported on Aug. 24. In 2021, there were “suspicious“ fires on June 21 and Sept. 24. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON — Rusk County officials are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred just before 7:00 Thursday night on Highway 64 in Henderson. According to our news partner KETK, a man pulled into a driveway with what were assumed to be car issues. The driver of another vehicle reportedly drove by, saw him and turned around. Witnesses said they heard the man saying “no…no…no,†then they heard several gun shots. Nine millimeter shell casings were found at the scene. Two suspects were identified Friday. Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez says 25-year-old George Gadale Anthony Jr. and 48-year-old Frank Lewis were both injured but are expected to survive after being taken to a Tyler hospital. Valdez added this was not a random occurrence and the two men knew each other. The Sheriff’s Office was working on obtaining warrants for Anthony and Lewis.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been found in Texarkana after earlier being the subject of a statewide Silver Alert. According to our news partner KETK, 76-year-old Jerry Marlar had last been seen Wednesday evening on Turner Drive, one block east of the hospital district in Longview. His family confirmed that Marlar has been located, and DPS now lists him as found on their alerts page.
TYLER — Tyler Police are working an accident on Troup Hwy, in front of Walmart. According to officials, the accident has knocked out power to the intersection of Shiloh Road and Troup Hwy. All traffic lights are out. Police are in the roadway directing traffic. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and drive with care in that area. Additional details were not available.
TYLER — An Alabama man wanted for more than ten child sex crimes was arrested in Smith County late Monday night by the US Marshals. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Johnny Ray Johnson was booked into the Smith County Jail just after 8:00 p.m. It’s unclear if Johnson will be extradited back to Alabama or what led authorities to tracking him down in East Texas. He was wanted on a wide range of charges, including: 6 charges of possession of child pornography, 2 counts of producing child porn, 1 count of child rape, 1 count of sexual torture and 1 count of sexual abuse.
TYLER (AP) – A defense attorney for a former nurse accused of killing four patients at an East Texas hospital in 2017 has told jurors that his client was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. A prosecutor called him “a serial killer” who found the perfect place to hide. Thirty-seven-year-old William George Davis, of Hallsville, is accused of injecting air into the arteries of four patients recovering from heart surgery at the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. His capital murder trial in Tyler began Tuesday with a not-guilty plea.
TYLER — Former Tyler Legacy principal Daniel Crawford pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance Monday morning and was sentenced to three years deferred adjudication and 120 hours of community service. According to our news partner KETK, if Crawford follows all the conditions of the plea deal, the charge will be dismissed from his record. Crawford was arrested after police went to his home on June 2 because a caller said that a man was bleeding from his head. According to an arrest affidavit, Jennifer Crawford, Daniel’s wife, opened the door for officers. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to a reported plane crash in Cherokee County around 4:30 Sunday afternoon. According to the preliminary report, the Cessna 182 single engine plane was traveling from the Cherokee County Airport to a private landing strip on CR-4716. Due to a strong tailwind, the aircraft landed too fast and ran through a barbwire fence before striking several trees. The pilot, Waun R. Harrison, 73, of Troup, was transported to UT-Health East Texas – Jacksonville in stable condition.
MARSHALL – Officials say escaped Harrison County inmate worker Roy Vaughn has been captured. According to a news release, Vaughn walked off from a work detail at 6:15 Friday morning. He was caught at 1:30 Saturday afternoon by Harrison County K-9 units and deputies who had been searching locations throughout the day and night​ in Marshall and throughout Harrison County. He was arrested on an escape warrant at an address on East End Blvd. He will now be charged with escape from custody and placed in general population of the jail, according to the release.
LONGVIEW — The Oak Forest Country Club clubhouse in Longview will be closed for an extended period after suffering “heavy smoke and heat damage†on multiple floors Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the Longview Fire Department was called to the scene around 7:30 Thursday morning. Fire Marshal Kevin May said crews upgraded the fire to a two-alarm case due to flames spreading to both the first and second floors. The cause was not immediately known, but the fire has been put out. No injuries were reported.
TYLER — The City of Tyler is offering a rebate for city employees who are fully vaccinated. According to our news partner KETK, Tyler officials discussed the COVID-19 Vaccination: Medical Insurance Premium Rebate Program during a meeting on Wednesday. The program is voluntary. Those who are eligible for the incentive are any full time or part time regular employees of the city of Tyler. They must have contributed premiums in 2021. Eligible employees can receive up to $730 dollars if they are on the City of Tyler medical insurance plan or $500 for employees enrolled outside or as a dependent of an outside medical insurance program. Read the rest of this entry »
CHEROKEE COUNTY — An hours long standoff is over following the arrest of one suspect. According to our news partner KETK, Cherokee County Sheriff Brent Dickson said the standoff happened around 3 p.m. Wednesday on County Road 1207 in the Moon City community. Officials arrived with secure warrants for the arrest of Mark Duran on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a family member and felony possession of a firearm. When the authorities attempted to make the arrest, Duran barricaded himself inside. Duran suffered minor injuries from attempting to break windows to escape. The standoff ended around 7 p.m.
LONGVIEW — A summit held Tuesday in Longview focused on how elected officials can better support students academically. According to our news partner KETK, many students fell behind with classes because of the pandemic, and officials say it’s going to take time and money to catch them up. “We’re trying to do all that we can for our students who did miss so much of their education last year,†Marshall ISD Superintendent Richelle Langley said. “Not only getting them caught up, but also getting them on the grade level or above the grade level where they need to be.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — On Monday, parents banded together to speak up at a Tyler ISD board meeting about COVID-19 related topics like mask and vaccine mandates. According to our news partner KETK, vaccines and masks in schools have been hot topics since the start of classes. These subjects have divided parents and staff in school districts across the state and here in Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — At approximately 7:25 Monday morning, DPS Troopers responded to a two vehicle crash involving a Tyler ISD school bus (32) on FM-2493 at CR-149 in Smith County. The investigators preliminary report indicates that the school bus was stopped south bound on FM-2493, waiting to make a left turn onto CR-149 when it was struck in the back end by a southbound Mazda passenger car. No injuries were reported on the bus or for the driver of the Mazda. The children were transported by another Tyler ISD bus to school. No other information is available at this time.
TYLER — A Tyler attorney has been sentenced to prison for federal employment tax violations. John Bennett White IV, 61, pleaded guilty on Feb. 1, 2021, to failure to pay employment taxes and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Wednesday by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker. According to court documents and statements made in court, White was an attorney and firm manager for a Tyler law firm, J. Bennett White, P.C., where White had significant control over the finances of the firm and had a duty to account for and pay over the employment taxes on behalf of the firm’s employees to the IRS. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office identified suspects after an early morning fire at the Salvation Army gymnasium. According to our news partner KETK, Firefighters were called to 715 N. Spring Ave. at 3:25 Wednesday. When they arrived, firefighters found a trash can on fire next to the gymnasium. Heat from that fire caused the glass doors/windows nearby to break, which allowed smoke to enter the building. The fire department was clear from the scene around 4:30 a.m. The Tyler Fire Marshal’s Office is currently investigating the incident and has identified suspects, though they have not yet released their names. The fire remains under investigation.
RUSK COUNTY — A Henderson man has been sentenced to federal prison. Paul Wayne Kennedy, 39, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2021, to burglary of a United States Post Office, possession of stolen mail, possession of stolen money orders, damage to government property, theft of government property, and access device fraud. Kennedy was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Tuesday. According to information presented in court, between the afternoon of Dec. 23, 2019 and the morning of Dec. 26, 2019, Kennedy burglarized post offices in Price, Bronson, Bon Wier and Evans, Louisiana and attempted to burglarize post offices in Newton, Texas, and Singer, Louisiana. At each location he burglarized, Kennedy stole mail, packages, and property belonging to the U.S. Postal Service.
EAST TEXAS — A Shreveport woman was sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday for receiving $4.85 million after committing fraud against an elderly victim from Bullard, according to our news partner KETK. Monica Ruiz, 45, pleaded guilty on March 24, 2021, to wire fraud and was sentenced to 97 months. Ruiz enlisted a variety of bogus pretenses and promises in the scheme. Some of those fake claims include: Ruiz had been in a coma, had brain surgery, had a kidney transplant, was in a car accident and was committed to a mental institution.
LONGVIEW — The Longview ISD board approved on Monday to give a one-time incentive of $1,000 to fully vaccinated district employees. According to our news partner KETK, Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said employees must complete the COVID-19 vaccination incentive form, and submit proof of vaccination by the Nov. 1st deadline. He also mentioned getting a shot against the virus is not mandatory. The forms will be given to Longview I-S-D employees this week, and they will also be added to the district website. Wilcox says the motive behind creating the incentive is to do everything and anything the school can do, as a district, to ensure the safety of the community and the continuity of in-class instruction. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A misdemeanor prostitution trial for a Smith County constable is being pushed back to allow a separate felony oppression trial to proceed first. According to our news partner KETK, Precinct 2 Constable Josh Black was arrested for misdemeanor prostitution and felony official oppression just days after being elected last November. 114th District Court Judge Reeve Jackson announced that the trial for felony oppression would be scheduled first while a two-week continuance was granted on the misdemeanor prostitution charge. Jury selection in the oppression trial was scheduled for Monday afternoon. Another twist was added in the case when Black was arrested again Friday for a separate indictment of prostitution.
TYLER — A substance that was causing concerns has been removed and cleared from a Tyler roadway, and police say there are no more issues with it being slippery. According to police, it was determined that no cars actually hit each other, only slipped and hit the curb, and there were no injuries reported. The cause of why the substance was in the road is still under investigation. Around 7:25 Monday morning, officers responded to W. Erwin St. and found an unknown substance in the roadway that had caused a couple of cars to slip and slide into the curb. Drivers were asked to avoid the area before the substance was cleared up.