Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man accused of stabbing a man to death nearly two dozen times in 2019 has had his trial set for September. According to our news partner KETK, 41-year-old Humberto Leal is accused of stabbing Luis Rene Maruffo-Castaneda at his home north of the Tyler city limits on June 30, 2019. According to an arrest warrant obtained at the time, when a Smith County detective arrived on the scene, he found Castaneda dead in the driver seat of his car. He then interviewed Leal, who claimed Castaneda was trying to kill him and he stabbed him in self-defense. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY –Gregg County residents who received a jury duty summons for Monday are no longer required to appear. According to the Longview News-Journal, Gregg County District Clerk Trey Hattaway said the cases set for next week are resolved, and prospective jurors are no longer needed.
GUN BARREL CITY — A man was arrested after a large amount of methamphetamine was found in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Gun Barrel City. According to our news partner KETK, on Friday, Christopher Morgan drove his dark colored SUV out of a gas station parking lot and was traveling eastbound on Main Street when he was stopped by Deputy Meagan Hogan. While conducting the traffic stop, a vehicle search was conducted and law enforcement found a ‘large amount’ of methamphetamine in Morgan’s vehicle. Morgan was arrested and taken to the Henderson County Jail.
SMITH COUNTY — The plea deadline for two Smith County parents charged in the death of their three-year-old daughter has been set for August 12. According to our news partner KETK, 40-year-old Manuel Williams and 31-year-old Courtnie Williams both could face the death penalty. 241st District Court Judge Jack Skeen gave the couple a little more than a month to decide whether they will go to trial. On July 15, 2020, first responders found Kodie Williams, 3, unresponsive in her Tyler home. Police found that she “had numerous bruises to the face,†according to a warrant obtained by KETK. She was rushed to a local hospital where she later died. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview Police filed multiple charges with the DA’s office in connection to a shooting incident that happened Wednesday at a Motel 6. According to our news partner KETK, a domestic disturbance turned into a shooting, police said. Witnesses told officers that a male was assaulting a female by attempting to strangle her in one of the motel rooms. Police say a third person went to the victim’s defense and shot the male subject. The injured male remains in a local hospital. Because of the circumstances around the case, LPD will file two criminal offense charges with the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for review and presentation to the Gregg County Grand Jury. Identities have not been released.
TYLER — Vexus Fiber says it will spend $50 million to bring its ‘fiber-to-the-home’ network to Tyler and Whitehouse. According to our news partner KETK, Vexus Fiber plans to have full-network completion within two years, said a statement from the company. Some neighborhoods and businesses in Tyler will see network availability as soon as the first quarter of next year. “We are thrilled to announce our expansion into Tyler,†Jim Gleason, CEO of Vexus, said in news release. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — On Thursday morning, Smith County Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman announced his run for re-election. He took office January 1, 2018. In a press release, Putman said his office has made significant strides in improving the office while continuing tough punishments for serious offenders. He went on to list a few of those improvements: Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Bullard man who federal prosecutors say is a member of the white supremacist Aryan Circle gang pleaded guilty Tuesday to being among those who attacked a man in 2016 and other crimes. According to our news partner KETK, Anthony Levi Cochran, 39, admitted in court that as a member of the gang he beat someone, was involved in a conspiracy to sell firearms to a convicted felon and participated in racketeering. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced later. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Smith County is continuing to buy properties east of the downtown Tyler square as part of its plans to one day build a new courthouse there. According to our news partner KETK, on Tuesday, the commissioners court unanimously approved buying the property at 219 E. Ferguson St. from ALDCO LLC for $218,000. Earlier this year, an architectural group presented a detailed plan for a seven-story courthouse that spanned more than 230,000 square feet. If a parking garage is added, the cost would be about $140 million. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Hallsville woman is behind bars Wednesday morning after allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old child. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Lindsey Kelley allegedly took the child from a home near Hallsville around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night. As the department was set to issue an Amber Alert, the sheriff’s office received a tip that she may have gone to Longview. The tipster also said that Kelley had made past threats “implying that she might sell her children for unknown reasons.†Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON – Henderson police are searching for a missing teenager who has not been seen since Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, 16-year-old Lexi Thibodeaux was last seen on Monday and police believe that she “left a residence voluntary.†Police did not release Lexi’s age, but it was confirmed by her mother in a phone interview with KETK News. Lexi is 5’3″ and weighs 115 pounds. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue shorts. According to Lexi’s mother, she told her grandmother that she was going for a walk and never came back. If you have seen or know her whereabouts, please call Det. Bynum at 903-657-3512.
LUFKIN — A Lufkin woman was arrested after she reportedly ran over her adult daughter with a car. According to our news partner KETK, Loreeka Dodd, 45, of Lufkin was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/family violence. She was booked into the Angelina County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Around 1:10 a.m., officers responded to Shady Bend following a report of a woman who had been hit by a Chevy Impala following an argument with her mother. Officers found 25-year-old Zena Lewis lying in the road, seriously injured. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — 13 people were arrested and around 125 animals were seized after an illegal cockfighting ring was discovered in Rusk County on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, two phone calls were made to 911 on Sunday because people were watching rooster fights in a wooded area. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said they arrived at the 15000 block of County Road 2132. They detained individuals, and charged them with felony offenses or misdemeanors. The owner of the land was also arrested. Some of the animals that were found were dead. Read the rest of this entry »
BROWNSBORO — The Brownsboro Independent School District announced on Sunday one of their students died after being injured in a car crash. According to our news partner KETK, the district said they recently learned of the death of Grace Montgomery, an 8th grade student. Grace was “wonderful†and participated in band, theatre and athletics. The district has not been notified of funeral arrangements. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Animal Services has partnered with The Salvation Army to offer no-cost adoptions for both dogs and cats with the donation of a dozen food items. The items will cover the adoption fee for dogs or cats and go to the Salvation Army food pantry. The standard adoption fee for dogs is $120 and $80 for cats. All animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, micro-chipped and vaccinated.If you would like to adopt, see all pets available for adoption and submit an application on the Tyler Animal Services webpage. This donation campaign runs through Wednesday, June 30. The Tyler Animal Shelter is located at 4218 Chandler Hwy. For more information, call (903) 535-0045.
LONGVIEW — A woman was arrested in Longview for arson after entering another person’s house. Priscilla J. Calcote reportedly went into a house on Judson Road Wednesday for an unknown reason, according to our news partner KETK. Calcote reportedly grabbed items from inside the house, then took them to the yard and set them on fire. Calcote entered the home without permission and the owner did not know her, said Longview Fire Department officials. She was arrested by the Longview Fire Marshall and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler police officers were called in to help Coffee City Police and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office in a high speed chase that ended just outside of the Tyler city limits last night around 9:00. According to our news partner KETK, the chase began in Coffee City and ended along highway 155S in Noonday. One person was arrested. Officials are searching for a second suspect. Additional details were not available.
GREGG COUNTY — A 16-year-old pedestrian has died after he was struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning. It happened on SH-149, approximately two miles southeast of the city of Lakeport, in Gregg County. According to the DPS report, just before 1:30, Johnathan Walker, of Gilmer, was said to be crossing an unlit portion of the roadway when he was struck by a southbound car. Walker was transported to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview were he later died. The driver of the car was identified as Ruby Martinez, 25, of Carthage. Martinez and the 17-year old female passenger were not injured in the crash.
TYLER — The Tyler Independent School District says it is in desperate need of bus drivers for the upcoming school year. According to KETK, the director of transportation mentioned they are experiencing the biggest shortage he’s seen in his whole career. These shortages aren’t only a problem in East Texas. It’s a nationwide issue that usually impacts schools during the summertime. One reason for this is the overall labor shortage. Now, to recruit more drivers Tyler ISD is getting creative. They are placing advertisements for job openings on their school buses. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Jury selection for the high-profile trial of a former CHRISTUS nurse accused of murdering four patients and severely injuring others will begin the last week of July, the judge announced Monday morning. Jury selection will begin Monday, July 26, in Tyler and run through that Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, William Davis, 37, has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault of four patients. Davis allegedly injected air into patients’ arteries on purpose. Davis was a registered nurse at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He was fired before his arrest 3 years ago. The Smith County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty.
GREGG COUNTY — Drivers in Longview got a not-so lighter than air surprise Friday. Two hot-air balloons had to make emergency landings on a Longview freeway. The pilots said the wind died, meaning they had to land and it so happened to be on the road. Otherwise, they would have had to contend with trees and power lines. No injuries were reported. Harold “Bubba†Cliver was named Great Texas Balloon Race Champion following the 3 day event. Cliver took first place while competing alongside his son and nearly 60 other pilots, according to the Longview News Journal. Cliver said he’s been participating in the Great Texas Balloon Race for about 25 years.
PALESTINE – The city of Palestine will be spraying for mosquitoes beginning Monday June 21st through Saturday June 26th. According to our news partner KETK, the city will be spraying two areas, Area 1 and Area 5. Area 1 consists of West Spring Street at Carolina Street, east to Brushy Creek Road and West Kolstad Street. Area 1 also consists of North Jackson and North Link Streets. Area 5 encompasses Highway 155 North to Gardner Street and East to North Loop 256. Area 5 is bounded to the south by East Park Street.
ATHENS — A murder investigation is underway in Henderson County. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, Joshua Jones, 37, of Seven Points, has been arrested in connection to the fatal Thursday night shooting of Jason Blake, 44. Deputies responded to a disturbance call at a home on West Oak Ridge Road around 8:15 and found Blake reportedly shot in the back near the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Both Jones and Blake lived at the residence where the shooting took place. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler man has been indicted in the case of seven people beating a friend unconscious and leaving him in a ditch for allegedly being a “snitch.†According to our news partner KETK, Daymond Gray, 18, is the first to be indicted in the case. Jesus Tinoco, 17, was also charged, but has yet to be indicted. KETK News is withholding the name of the victim for privacy reasons. A warrant obtained by KETK in April said that Victor Villegas was at the victim’s house because he was dating his sister. The couple began arguing so the victim called the police. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Officials say a man found dead alongside I-20 in Van Zandt County has been identified as 39-year-old Joshua Hammond of Canton. Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to a report of a body found Monday afternoon. According to a DPS report, road crews cleaning debris from the grass on the south side of IH-20, approximately 2.6 miles west of Canton, found the body just after 4:00. DPS says the investigation is ongoing.
SMITH COUNTY — Commissioners for Smith County held their first public hearing where they discussed how to possibly spend the $45 million the area would be receiving under the American Rescue Plan Act. According to our news partner KETK, the law was passed under the Biden administration and allocates $22.5 million to the county this year along with another $22.5 million in 2022. The act was passed to help communities across the nation deal with lost revenue and higher than normal expenses during the pandemic. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — West 4th Street between Broadway and Chilton in Tyler reopened Tuesday afternoon after being temporarily shut down for tree work. But city officials now say due to an equipment issue, the Street Department will need to close the street again Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon to finish removing dead trees and trimming low-hanging limbs. The 4th and College intersection will remain open for northbound and southbound traffic. Drivers should obey all detour and road closure signs and use caution in the area.
KILGORE — Kilgore police are searching for a man who escaped from them late Monday night. The department said they pulled over 30-year-old James Collie Butler III at Green Hills Dr. and Higginbotham Rd. According to our news partner KETK, Butler has several warrants out for his arrest and records show he has been charged with burglary on three separate occasions. Officers say that he was able to “slip his handcuffs to the front†and ran away. He is 5’10â€, 175 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Butler was last seen wearing a white polo shirt, jeans, and black shoes. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Supporters of pride month gathered in downtown Tyler Sunday for a festival after some made their opinions heard against this type of event in the Rose City. According to our news partner KETK, for the first pride event in downtown Tyler, the turnout was larger than expected for organizers. About 1,000 people showed up to the festival on Sunday. “The community has truly come together for this,†Pride Festival organizer Raynie Castaneda said. While festival-goers were celebrating pride, others were caught in deep conversations discussing whether homosexuality was right or wrong. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — State Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola, visited Tyler on Thursday to meet with the Smith County Republican Club. The 87th legislative session recently came to an end, and now East Texas lawmakers are focusing on the upcoming special session in Austin. According to our news partner KETK, Hughes spoke at the Hollytree Country Club about his expectations for that next session. He said Governor Greg Abbott will call lawmakers in to talk about election security and integrity. Hughes also wants a bill similar to his Senate Bill 7 to make it through in session. Read the rest of this entry »