Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
PALESTINE — Palestine police are investigating a fatal shooting Saturday night. It happened in the area of Spring and Magnolia Street. According to our news partner KETK, 28-year-old Dustin Rodgers, of Elkhart, had an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. A 6-year-old child suffered a gunshot to his foot. Rodgers died from his injuries after being taken to the Palestine Regional Medical Center. The child was treated and released. The other two passengers in the car were not injured. A witness said that the gunfire came from another vehicle also traveling on Spring Street. Police say the circumstances leading up to the shooting are unknown. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The class will be modeled to help students become successful adults. According to our news partner KETK, the Senior Seminar will be a 36-week course that is a requirement for graduation and will cover areas such as resume building, problem solving, and career planning. Also included is a nine-week class on helping guide students with financial planning. Instead of a traditional high school setting, learning will be done in small groups to enhance collaboration, which they hope will improve conflict resolution. Read the rest of this entry »
WILLS POINT – An East Texas man is behind bars after a four-hour standoff with Van Zandt County deputies early Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Steve Hendrix said deputies responded to a domestic disturbance situation on CR 2627, just off I-20 near Wills Point, at 7:15 p.m. Saturday night. Monte Adair, 52, allegedly pointed a long gun at deputies, who immediately took cover. Sheriff Hendrix came to the scene along with the Wills Point Police K-9 unit and the State Park Police. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — Police in Marshall are investigating a shooting involving a newspaper carrier. It happened around 5:30 Friday morning in the area of Oak Street. According to a news release, a patrol lieutenant heard several gunshots north of his location. A 34-year-old female paper carrier called 911 and stated that she believed she had been shot. Officers responded to the scene and secured the location allowing Marshall Fire Department personnel to treat and transport the victim to a Longview hospital. An unidentified person of interest has been detained. Additional details were not available.
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Three people from Texas have been indicted in Las Vegas on charges including murder and terrorism stemming from a series of shootings last Thanksgiving in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. One apparently random shooting killed a man at a convenience store. Several other people were wounded. The indictment in Nevada state court included 53 charges each against Shawn McDonnell, his brother Christopher McDonnell, and Christopher McDonnell’s wife, Kayliegh Lewis. Authorities say they are from Tyler. They are jailed in Las Vegas, where attorneys for two of the suspects say they will fight the charges. They could face the death penalty or multiple sentences of life-in-prison without parole.
TYLER — An Arlington man has been indicted for capital murder after allegedly shooting Starville Methodist Church Pastor Mark McWilliams in January of this year. According to our news partner KETK, Mytrez Deunte Woolen, 21, was on the run from Smith County deputies and Department of Public Safety Troopers on the night of Saturday, January 2. After hiding in the Starville church overnight, he was discovered by Pastor McWilliams just before service was set to begin. Police say the pastor pulled out a gun and tried to hold Woolen until police arrived. But Woolen fought for the gun and shot the pastor before fleeing the scene. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Dozens of law officers in Smith County converged Wednesday afternoon on a house where they believed a man who was running from officers was located. According to our news partner KETK, law enforcement officers spent several hours trying to make contact. They eventually entered the home after getting no response. Smith County Public Information Officer Larry Christian said the man was not in the residence on Highway 271, at County Road 332, when police got inside. The suspect has been identified as Bryan Mayfield. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A 90-year-old Tyler man, with a wrap-sheet dating back to the 1940s, has been indicted for arson in connection with a November 6, 2020 fire. Kermit Francis Gabel was booked into the Smith County Jail one week after the fire. According to our news partner KETK, it was the latest in a string of blazes at vacant buildings. Officials have not said whether a November 13 fire was connected to the arrest. Gabel was also accused of multiple crimes in Ohio. He was known as a serial cat burglar and was dubbed the “Silver Burglar.” His crime sprees date back to the 40s and early 50s. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Prosecutors are seeking plans for an alternate jury selection site for the long-anticipated trial of William Davis, the former CHRISTUS nurse accused of murdering patients. According to our news partner KETK, in a brief five-minute hearing Monday morning, Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman said that with Harvey Hall being torn down later this summer, an alternate plan would be needed to summon the hundreds of potential jurors needed to pull from for a capital murder trial. He suggested that an alternative could be having multiple small sessions in the central courthouse jury room rather than one large pool. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Vaccines continue to roll out across the state of Texas with a new addition this week. According to our news partner KETK, starting this week, 40,900 COVID-19 vaccines will come to East Texas. Just last week, Texas only got 18,000 doses. Now, with the addition of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, that number has more than doubled. Though supplies are increasing, only those in 1A and 1B tiers are eligible. Because of a new federal directive, education and child care personnel are now eligible for the vaccine as well. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s office has issued a warning about a potential water scam. According to Sgt. Larry Christian, the department received a call from Dodd Hasting with Dean Water Supply reporting a couple, claiming to be with the water company, going door to door in the area of CR 1131 asking to test water from residential homes. Officials say the individuals do not represent Dean Water Supply. Residents are urged to call police if you encounter the individuals. Smith County Sheriff’s Office: (903) 566-6600.
ANDERSON COUNTY — Two people were hospitalized after a plane crash in Anderson County. According to our news partner KETK, around 2:00 Saturday afternoon, Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers were called to a single engine airplane crash in a field off FM 1990. The two people on board were transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. Additional details were not available.
TYLER – Gov. Greg Abbott will visit Tyler on Friday to draw attention to the ongoing efforts of Sen. Bryan Hughes to limit the power of social media platforms to block viewpoints they don’t agree with. According to our news partner KETK, Hughes, R-Mineola, is the author Senate Bill 12 which would prohibit interactive platforms such as Facebook and Twitter from being able to “censor a user, a user’s expression, or a user’s ability to receive the expression of another person.†The bill would also allow Texans who felt they were censored to be able to take legal action. Abbott will join Hughes during a news conference set for noon Friday in the atrium of Plaza Tower, 110 N. College Ave. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A suspect has been taken into custody after shooting at a Henderson County deputy early Thursday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the shooting happened in the Eustace area around 3 a.m. following an attempted traffic stop. The deputy was struck in the foot and leg. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for treatment and released a short time later. Jack Cody Raburn, 40, of Kemp, was eventually located on the roof of a house. He was said to be in possession of a handgun and shotgun. Raburn has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon and attempted capital murder. The Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County has been granted more than $7 million in rental and utility assistance funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program aimed to help Smith County families who have been financially affected by COVID-19. On Tuesday, the Smith County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with PATH (People Attempting to Help), for administration of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program for Smith County. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — An inmate died Monday after having a “medical episode†in the Harrison County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said that lifesaving efforts began after jail staff noticed the man suffering. They did not specifically say what seemed to be wrong with the inmate. Officials say they notified the Marshall Fire Department and the inmate was transported to CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Center in Marshall where he was pronounced dead. Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Ranger Division was notified and will complete an independent investigation.
TYLER — Senior pastor David Orlo Dykes of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler announced his retirement on Sunday Feb. 28 after 30 years of service. In the 66-year history of Green Acres, Dykes was the longest serving pastor and the first to retire. He said he stills loves serving as pastor, but the time has come for younger leadership to step up. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities will delay disconnections for two months and will not be charging late fees or disconnect fees to assist those affected by the recent severe weather event, according to an announcement Wednesday. Customers are encouraged to catch their accounts up as soon as possible during this period. Customers who experienced a leak as a result of the winter storm event may also be eligible for a leak credit through Tyler Water Utilities. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Several schools and businesses are announcing closings or delays due to the impact from last weeks winter storms and sustained frigid temperatures and conditions. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — Investigators in Nacogdoches County released the identifies of the three people killed by carbon monoxide poisoning on Saturday after losing power during the winter storm. According to our news partner KETK, the victims were 63-year-old Deborah Wright, 60-year-old James Harkness Jr., and 42-year-old Richard Woodard. Wright and Harkness Jr. were from Nacogdoches and Woodward was from Mt. Enterprise. Authorities said that they were operating a portable gas generator on the front porch and that the exhaust pipe was very close to the residence. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Earlier this week, Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said non-emergency offices, and all precinct offices, will remain closed through Thursday. County Fire Marshall Jay Brooks encouraged people to continue to check on neighbors, especially the elderly or ill. Smith County emergency management officials are helping to supply personnel, food and supplies to meet critical needs throughout the county. The county has also been active in assisting in locating a limited number of generators for shelters and long-term care facilities; have worked to ensure that medical facilities continue to have fuel for their generators; and continue to assist people with emergency transport when requested. To read more click here.
TYLER – TxDOT continues to remind drivers to stay home as crews remain busy clearing roads of snow and ice. Winter conditions are impacting all roadways in the eight-county Tyler District, which includes Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. All resources are deployed with crews working around the clock focusing on clearing higher volume corridors, such as I-20, and trouble spots as they arise. The department said while roads are not technically closed, but all roads have been impacted. With record-breaking low temperatures expected, residents are urged to stay at home and off the roadways. Read the rest of this entry »
TECULA – The Texas Department of Public Safety is reporting a train derailment in Cherokee County. According to our news partner KETK, the derailment is on on Hwy 135 near CR 2064 in northeastern Cherokee County in the community of Tecula. Officials say there are no reported injuries and Union Pacific has crews heading to the scene to get the train back on the tracks.The roadway is blocked.
TYLER — Multiple traffic signals in Tyler were without power Monday morning, according to our news partner KETK and the city’s Facebook page. The city is asking drivers to “use extreme caution when traveling and treat a “dark†traffic signal like a four-way stop.†However, all residents should avoid non-essential driving. City officials are applying aggregate and de-icer material to roadways. All drivers should slow down and remember that speed limits are based on normal weather, not the extreme winter conditions the area is currently facing. Also, use extra caution on bridges, ramps, and overpasses. Stay back from sanding trucks and EMS vehicles.
TYLER – I-20 is closed both directions from US 69 to FM 14 in Smith County with multiple vehicles stranded, including several 18 wheelers, due to icy conditions. Motorists are urged to stay home. TxDOT crews continue to treat and retreat roadways but conditions are hazardous for travel. Remember bridges and elevated structures are the first to freeze over but patches of ice also develop along other areas of roadways. DPS said trucks are not able to make the hilly areas of I-20 between Smith and Van Zandt counties and wants motorists to avoid the area. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL– With temperatures expected to drop on Sunday, February 14, 2021, City of Marshall officials and the Emergency Management Team expect a significant chance of snow, sleet, and ice accumulation. The City of Marshall has approved the use of the Community Room at Fire Station #1 as a temporary cold weather shelter for the unfortunate due to the incoming winter weather. The Fire Station located at 601 S. Grove Street will open on Sunday, February 14, 2021, beginning at 8:00 p.m. COVID-19 precautions will be followed. Masks will be provided to those who need one and should always be worn. Social distancing will be enforced. We urge community members to share this opportunity with individuals who may need this service. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation on Saturday placed several major highways in the Tyler area on its list of problem spots. According to our news partner KETK, TxDOT said the highways had ice on overpasses and bridges and patches of black ice and that motorists should use extreme caution. Among the problem spots are: Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration on Friday for all 254 counties due to the severe winter weather in Texas. The governor is also deploying state resources to help local officials. He ordered the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) to alter their operations to 24 hours a day until the end of next week. “Texas should heed the guidance of their local leaders and stay alert to changing weather conditions in their area,†said Governor Abbott. “These resources will help us respond to this severe winter weather and keep our communities safe. The State of Texas remains in close contact with officials on the ground and will provide any additional resources and support that are needed.†Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview Police Department has arrested a woman in the shooting death of a man found inside a car in a parking lot. According to our news partner KETK, Tolla Michelle McNeely, 40, of Longview, was booked into Gregg County Jail on Saturday and charged with murder in connection with the death of Jose Manuel Delarosa, 40, of Henderson, the department announced. Delarosa died at a Longview hospital. Police now believe that while arguing in a car parked in a lot at 110 Triple Creek in Longview, McNeely opened fire, said a department statement. The investigation continues. Those with information about the shooting can call Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.
TYLER — Tyler Police urge motorist to use caution when out on the roadways. Due to the winter weather conditions, ice is starting to form on the road surface. Please use caution when traveling over bridges, overpasses, and on steep hills. Officials said the Streets Department and TxDOT have been notified and are currently treating the streets. Please avoid any unnecessary travel.