Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TYLER — The first East Texas baby of the year was born on Friday morning. Lala and Laban Lewis received the best New Year’s present: a new baby girl. According to our news partner KETK, Leanna was born on Jan. 1 at 7:20 a.m. at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and measured 19 inches. The couple said 2020 has been a difficult year, but they are are very grateful to God for this new addition to their family. “It was intense but we pushed through and stayed healthy the whole way, by the grace of God and had a healthy pregnancy, a lovely journey. I would do it all over again if I have to, no time soon,†said Lala. UT Health Tyler also welcomed their first baby of the new year. A little boy was born at 11:42 a.m. on Friday.
TYLER — Austin Reeve Jackson officially began his term as judge of the 114th District Court in Smith County on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Jackson was sworn in and took the oath of office during a ceremony in the 114th District Courtroom. “Smith County is blessed to have Austin Reeve Jackson become the next judge of the 114th District Court,†Sam Griffith, retired justice of the 12th Court of Appeals, said in opening the ceremony. Read the rest of this entry »
MINEOLA – Law officers are continuing an investigation that drugs were being shipped across the nation from a home in Mineola. According to our news partner KETK, the case began when a Mata, the K9 dog of constable Kelly Smith, detected drugs “during a random open air sniff†on Monday. One suspect was detained and methamphetamine, scales and drug distributing materials were taken from the suspect’s home on North Pacific street. Additional suspects have been identified in other states and warrants are pending for their arrests for delivery of methamphetamine. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. announced a significant donation of $5 million dollars from MacKenzie Scott today as part of a historic gift presented to Goodwill Industries International and 45 other local Goodwill organizations. According to a news release from Goodwill, the investment comes at a time when more than 10 million Americans are unemployed and urgently need help finding their next jobs. The $5 million gift from Scott will help accelerate Goodwill’s plan to address growing workforce needs as demands for targeted skills in the labor market increase, which make it difficult for many people to compete for new jobs. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Department arrested a suspect for assault following a standoff Tuesday afternoon with law enforcement. According to our news partner KETK, around 4 p.m. deputies went out to Fannin Parkway in northwest Smith County in response to a call from a female who reported being assaulted by a male. Deputies noticed injury to the female including redness around her neck, though her children appeared unharmed. The suspect, 45-year-old Bryan Keith Rensberry, refused to leave the residence and barricaded himself inside. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called to the scene. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY – A man known as the “Lavender Doe†killer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to committing two murders. According to our news partner KETK, Joseph Wayne Burnette received three sentences for 50 years each, which will be served concurrently. Joseph Wayne Burnette, 43, had confessed to the slaying of Dana Lynn Dodd back on August 27, 2018. Dodd’s body had been found badly burned laying in a bush in a Kilgore oil-lease back on October 29, 2006. She remained unidentified for more than a decade, despite vigorous efforts by multiple agencies. Dodd became known as “Lavender Doe.†Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — A man who confessed to killing an East Texas woman is scheduled for sentencing today. Joseph Wayne Burnette, 42, confessed to killing Dana Lynn Dawn. She was known for years as Lavender Doe, until officials were able to identify her. The 21-year-old reportedly got into Burnette’s vehicle at a Longview Walmart back in 2006. Her body was found on an oil lease road off of Fritz Swanson in Kilgore. The DNA Doe Project was able to use special DNA testing to identify her in January 2019.
EAST TEXAS — Several hospitals in East Texas will be among the first in Texas to get doses of the much anticipated COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. According to our news partner KETK, the first week’s allocation is 224,250 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be shipped to 109 hospitals in 34 counties during the week of Dec. 14. “As expected, the initial vaccine supply is limited, and the first week’s allocation is based on information submitted by vaccine providers when they enrolled, including the number of health care workers who can be quickly vaccinated and vaccine storage capacity at each site,†the announcement said. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The East Texas Food Bank provided thousands of meals to families on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, roughly 240,000 people in East Texas are experiencing food insecurity. The East Texas Food Bank serves 26 counties in our area. 1,200 people made their way to the Gregg County Fairgrounds for the food distribution event and the lines were long. Longview police guided drivers to their destination and volunteers placed meals inside cars. Inside the boxes there was fresh produce, protein and milk. Volunteers said they understand the impact the pandemic has had on families in need. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — The 1.4 million doses of coronavirus vaccine being sent to Texas hospitals soon are not going to 157 rural locations. One state lawmaker thinks that’s going to change. Representative Trent Ashby of Lufkin says he got a response the same day he sent a letter to the state health commissioner. According to Ashby, “It seems clear to me that rural Texas, our voice, has been heard. It’s not set in stone, but it sure appears to me at this point that we will be included in the next round of vaccines.” Ashby told Dr. John Hellerstedt that if the state or Pfizer had communicated with any of the rural hospitals, it would have been clear that any number would have met storage and packaging requirements.
BURKE (AP) — Officials say no one was seriously hurt after a private plane carrying Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan skidded off a runway while trying to land during a rainstorm. Phelan says everyone aboard the plane was able to walk away after the rough landing Wednesday at Angelina County Airport, about 110 miles northeast of Houston. The airport’s manager says the pilot suffered minor injuries but was able to walk around afterward. Phelan is a Republican from Beaumont. He says he has the votes to be Texas’ next House speaker, and he has the support of GOP Gov. Greg Abbott.
LAS VEGASÂ – Prosecutors are weighing possible hate crime and terrorism charges against three suspects, from Tyler, following a shooting spree in the suburbs of Las Vegas that ended with their arrests in rural Arizona, according to Fox News. Michael Schwartzer, a Chief deputy Clark County district attorney, said Shawn McDonnell, 30, Christopher McDonnell, 28, and Kayleigh Lewis, 25, could face the death penalty in Las Vegas stemming from the 11-hour two-state rampage, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Kevin Mendiola Jr., 22, of North Las Vegas, was killed and three other people were wounded in one shooting at a Henderson convenience store. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A wanted sex offender was arrested in Brownsboro Tuesday and charged with possession of methamphetamines. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, Ronnie Gilmore, 60, failed to register as a sex offender and Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Randy Daniel signed an arrest warrant. He was arrested while walking along St. Louise Drive. The arresting deputy noticed a black, zipper pouch under the patrol car, and discovered methamphetamines. Gilmore admitted to removing the contraband from his pocket and kicking it under the vehicle. Gilmore was taken to the Henderson County Jail on the felony arrest warrant and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.
LONGVIEW – Dudley and Sheryl Lang announced on Tuesday that the restaurant would be closing due to the pandemic, according to our news partner KETK. “To all of our customers and friends of Dudley’s Cajun Cafe: We regret to inform you that Dudley’s Cajun Cafe will be closing its door as of December 1st. I would like to thank all of you for your friendship and patronage with us for the last 28 years. This past year has been very difficult and disappointing from a business point of view due to the pandemic.†Dudley and Sheryl wrote. The Langs also said they understood people’s concern about the virus, and they expressed their disappointment about closing. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has resumed operation of FREE COVID-19 tests, whether you have symptoms or if you have no symptoms. All TDEM testing locations are walk-in sites and you must wear a face covering upon entry. Each of the sites will collect oral saliva samples that will be sent to a testing laboratory to undergo PCR analysis to determine COVID-19 infection at the moment the samples were collected. Results will be provided to you by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and not by NET Health. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A San Antonio man is charged with murder for his alleged connection to a shooting in Tyler back in July. According to our news partner KETK, Trey Barreau, 23, was taken into custody Monday night after a warrant for his arrest was issued by 241st District Judge Jack Skeen. He is now being held in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond. On July 9, 21-year-old Draveon McCullough was found dead with a gunshot wound on West Vance Street in Tyler. Police say that McCullough had pointed a gun at a homeowner and then a fight broke out. During the struggle, McCullough was shot and killed. Read the rest of this entry »
ANDERSON COUNTY — A Palestine woman has died after being struck by a vehicle in Anderson County. According to our news partner KETK, DPS Troopers were called to a crash involving a pedestrian just after 11:30 Sunday night. The incident happened on US 175, just west of Frankston. Tara Lydy, 26, was walking or standing in the inside west bound lane of US175 when she was struck by an unidentified vehicle that left the scene of the crash, according to DPS. Lydy was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation.
TYLER — Several East Texas health officials will be providing an update Monday afternoon on what is being called a “dramatic increase†in COVID-19 cases across the region, according to the city, the update will begin at 1 p.m. “COVID-19 infections have dramatically increased in our area. We need everyone to help control the spread, especially with the upcoming holiday seasons,†George Roberts, NET Health CEO. Roberts also wanted to remind East Texans that the flu season is upon the area and that the same measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 are similar. Read the rest of this entry »
TROUP — The City of Troup announced Saturday that John Phillips, the Troup Public Works Director, has died. According to our news partner KETK, Phillips had been fighting COVID-19 for more than a month. He was an employee for the city for almost 13 years and the Public Works Director for the past 10 years. Phillips had also been named the City of Troup employee of the year for 2020, but the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet was cancelled due to COVID-19. City officials said they are thankful for Phillips’ years of service to the community. “His laugh and smile and calming presence will be sorely missed each day by all of us in his City of Troup family. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for the gunman involved in an early morning shooting that left one man injured. It happened just after 1:00 Friday morning at the Country River Club off Hwy 271 in Tyler. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a male victim had been shot in the leg and the male suspect fled the area in a black four-door vehicle. The unidentified victim was transported to UT Health in Tyler for treatment and is currently in serious condition. Additional details were not available.
TYLER — After explosions and a fire in two shipping buildings this will be the first year since the company’s founding 81 years ago that Greenberg Smoked Turkeys will not have their famous turkeys ready for thousands of customers at Thanksgiving. KETK spoke exclusively with company president Sam Greenberg about the fire, damage and his determination to reopen the Tyler facility. Security camera footage revealed that three explosions happened within seconds. “It happened at two of our freezer facilities. We store our smoked product in this freezer and another one just adjacent to it. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY – Two people who were in an Upshur County church when it caught on fire Wednesday afternoon are being treated for burns in Shreveport. According to our news partner KETK, the men were working near the pulpit area of the Church of Power when the fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. They both suffered burns and were flown by a medical helicopter to LSU Health in Shreveport. The fire heavily damaged the one-story church building. Firefighters from Gilmer, Big Sandy and Pritchett fought the blaze. Gilmer Fire Chief Jerry Taylor said the cause of the fire appears to be related to work the two men were doing in the church but remains under investigation.
UPSHUR COUNTY — Upshur County discussed Sheriff Larry Webb’s concern for the funding of COVID-19 Pressure Cell grant funding. According to our news partner KETK, the program that funded the grant is called Corona Emergency Supplemental Funding program. This program will help the expenses that would be put on the responsibility of the Upshur County judicial system. Webb said that they applied for the grant in the summer, received notification on the 16th that he received that money. He said they are waiting on the Texas Jail Commission to approve the plans that were put in place. Read the rest of this entry »
GRAND SALINE — Azizi, the youngest calf to the famous April the giraffe, passed away unexpectedly at the East Texas Zoo and Gator Park in Grand Saline on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, April garnered worldwide attention in 2017 when she gave birth to Tajiri. More than 1.2 million people tuned in live to witness his birth. The park said more than 300,000 people watched their video of new calf’s birth, which was live-streamed on YouTube. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — A 40-year-old Ore City man has been sentenced to 70 years in federal prison for child exploitation. According to our news partner KETK, Jeremy OKieth Kyle, who also goes by several aliases, pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, to three counts of coercion and enticement. According to information presented in court, between 2013 and 2018, Kyle, a convicted sex offender, committed numerous offenses against 18 minor female victims and four adult women. He used a variety of false personas and promises of love and money to convince the victims to meet him and engage in sexual encounters. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County is seeing incredible turnout so far in the 2020 election and it reached a new milestone Monday morning, according to our news partner KETK. More people have voted in the past two weeks than the entire early voting period for the 2016 election. According to the Smith County Elections Office, 58,973 people have voted so far this year. That is slightly higher than the 58,406 that cast early ballots four years ago. There are still five days remaining in early voting with Election Day set for next Tuesday, November 3.
LONGVIEW — Two people who wrecked a car after shots were fired and then ran from police on Sunday are in Gregg County Jail. According to our news partner KETK, just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday, an officer on Tammy Lane Drive heard gun shots and then saw a car speed from the scene. The driver lost control of the car and crashed into an unoccupied car parked on Alta Street. The three people in the car jumped out and ran. Officers caught two of them while a third got away. Longview Police arrested 21-year-old Dayson Adaway and 17-year-old Raven Reyes. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The power is out at Broughton Recreation Center, and early voting polls are not in working order at that location. Early voters are encouraged to use another location. You can find early voting information at https://www.greggcountyvotes.com
NACOGDOCHES — Six students who sued Stephen F. State University after being accused of filing a false report against a Black student have reached a settlement with the university, according to out news partner KETK. A representative of the Houston-based Malley Law Firm confirmed Thursday that the settlement was reached but would not offer more information. The students claimed that university officials had violated their due process rights when they accused them of filing a false report that another student had threatened to use scissors to stab someone. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A 16-year-old fled from officials and crashed a vehicle in Tyler Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the driver of a Ford F-150 truck with an Oklahoma license plate ran a red light around 12:45 a.m. and was seen by a deputy, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. The SCSO deputy attempted to make a traffic stop when the truck sped off. The teenage driver ran numerous red lights and eventually ended up on North Broadway Avenue where she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the Salvation Army sign. Read the rest of this entry »