Today is
Friday November 29, 2024
TYLER — The race to be the next governor of Texas appears to be tightening up, at least according to the latest poll out of the University of Texas at Tyler. Just a month ago, Governor Abbott held a 9-point lead, according to the UT Tyler September poll of registered voters. Now when polling likely voters, O’Rourke gains ground. Gov. Abbott now holds a 6-point lead 50-percent to 44. UT Tyler Political Science Professor Mark Owens says the top two issues for Texans are the border and the economy, which does favor Gov. Abbott. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has a 9-point lead over Democrat Mike Collier. Democrat Rochelle Garza is just 4 points back of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
TYLER — A pedestrian was killed Saturday morning after he was struck twice by two separate vehicles on State Highway 31, six miles east of Tyler, according to DPS and our news partner KETK. Officials said Haley C. O’Brien, 23, of Bullard, was driving her 2021 Toyota Prius west on State Highway 31 when she struck a pedestrian who DPS identified as James E. Young, 58, of Longview, who was walking in the westbound lane. After being hit by the Prius, the pedestrian was hit by a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze who officials said was driven by Justin M. Tracey, 28, of Flint. Young was declared dead at 7:50 a.m. by Dr. Louis Fernandez of UT Health Hospital in Tyler. The other two drivers were treated at the scene.
LONGVIEW — Longview police arrested a student accused of making a terroristic threat toward a junior high school on Monday. According to Longview police and our news partner KETK, officers were advised on Oct. 30 that a possible threatening text and picture message about a school campus was shared on social media. Authorities said they investigated the situation, interviewed witnesses and looked at several social media accounts. On Monday, police verified that a student made threats toward the Pine Tree Junior High School campus. The student was later detained on a charge of terroristic threat, said law enforcement. They were not on school property at the time. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Local law enforcement agencies and prevention advocates are taking part in the semi-annual DEA Take Back event to be held Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations around East Texas. The Tyler Police Department event will be held in the parking lot at Brookshire’s on Rice Road, while the UT Tyler Police will host another at the UT Health Science Center on Highway 271. Other events will be held at Walmart in Kilgore, Walgreens in Marshall, First National Bank in Jefferson, and Brookshire’s in Pittsburg, with still others promoting their prescription drug disposal boxes that are available year-round. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Longview teenager was arrested for allegedly making a threat toward a school campus. According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, Michael Crosby, 17, was arrested around 3:10 p.m. and charged with exhibition, use or threat of exhibition or use of firearms regarding the LEAD Academy High School Campus. Longview police learned about the threat from the FBI and said a threatening text message toward the campus was sent through a social media platform. Crosby was arrested at the school and booked into the Gregg County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
GRAND SALINE — A teenager was arrested in East Texas on Tuesday for a capital murder charge, according to our news partner KETK. Julio David Falcon, 17, was located on North Waldrip Street in Grand Saline around 5:30 p.m. He was wanted by the Dallas Police Department. The Grand Saline Police Department and the United States Marshals Service arrested the teenager. Falcon was booked into the Van Zandt County Justice Center. Officials said they are still investigating the incident. “This was a great example of law enforcement agencies working together to keep our communities safe,†said the Grand Saline Police Department.
FLINT — Officials say six people are injured after a truck crashed into a Flint home on Walnut Hill and Oak Trail Drive after a two-vehicle collision. According to our news partner KETK, officials said among the injured was a seven-month-old infant who was life-flighted to a Shreveport hospital. The mother and a 10-year-old child were also in the house and transported to a Tyler hospital for their injuries. Three other injuries were reported from a truck and SUV involved in the crash. The call came in around 7 a.m. when fire officials were dispatched to the scene. When they arrived, officials with the Flint-Gresham Fire Department said a truck was inside the house with an SUV attached to it.
TYLER — A pedestrian was fatally struck on a Tyler roadway. According to Tyler police, it happened just after midnight Tuesday. Officers responded to the 3700 block of Troup Hwy following a report of a pedestrian in the roadway. Witnesses said the pedestrian was in the roadway on Troup Hwy, not at an intersection or designated crosswalk, when he was struck by a vehicle that was northbound on Troup Hwy. The pedestrian was identified as Caleb Roach, 46, from Tyler. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
OVERTON – No injuries were reported, but the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in downtown Overton has been classified as a complete loss after firefighters from across the region responded to a fire there Sunday night. According to our news partner KETK, officials said wind caused the fire to reignite throughout the night before it was finally contained at 9 a.m. Monday. The Rusk County Fire Marshal said authorities are still working to complete their full investigation, but there are no suspicions of foul play at this time.
SMITH COUNTY — A man’s sentence was reduced in Smith County on Thursday after a court reporter lost records, according to Jacob Putman, the Smith County District Attorney. According to our news partner KETK, Joel Lee Gonzales was originally sentenced to life in prison for the charge of aggravated assault against a public servant, and he later appealed. Due to the error, a new trial was required. But, instead of having a new trial Gonzales agreed to plea to 49 years in prison, said the DA’s office. In May of 2020, a Smith County deputy initiated a traffic stop in the county on Interstate 20. The deputy then asked Gonzales to exit the car. The sheriff’s office said Gonzales got a gun that was between his legs, chambered a round and drove away. He later crashed his car and ran away into the woods. Deputies located him, and he was arrested.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners Court approved using up to $4.5 million of its ARPA funding to build a road for a new business park, which could bring in hundreds of new jobs to Smith County. According to a county news release, Tyler Economic Development Council President/CEO Scott Martinez told the court that Smith County has missed opportunities for new manufacturing and distribution companies due to a lack of a business park that would accommodate large companies. TEDC has identified 412 acres just south of Interstate 20, west of Highway 155 and east of County Road 336. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — This week, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard received new pavement markings and traffic patterns between West Gentry Parkway and North Broadway Avenue as part of the 2022 Seal Coat Program. The lane configurations have been changed from two-lanes in each direction with a center turn lane to one-lane in each direction, a center turn-lane, and on-street buffered bike lanes. The changes were made to make better use of the existing pavement based on traffic volumes and to improve safety. The existing traffic volumes did not justify two travel lanes in each direction. The new pavement markings provide for buffered on-street bicycle lanes which provide residents with more options for using the roadway. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Inflation and a turkey shortage this year could ruin dinner for many families across the country. According to the CDC, the bird flu has infected almost 48 million birds in the U.S. According to our news partner KETK, Greenberg Smoked Turkeys said they’ll have turkeys available to order up until Thanksgiving. “We sell one product and one product only. We have to make sure we have it. Last year, we placed our order in November and had everything here as early as March,†said Jake Greenberg, Assistant Manager at Greenberg Smoked Turkeys. An employee that has worked there for many seasons says it doesn’t hurt to order early. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — T.J. Austin Elementary has seen significant results through its “Amplify Program†for reading and writing, according to our news partner KETK. “We have implemented this Amplify curriculum and other things to ensure number one that teachers have a curriculum they can trust and implement with integrity, but also get the results to ensure that all students are growing throughout our campus,†said T.J. Austin Principal Josh Currie. The new program helps put students at their appropriate grade reading level which helps them prepare for their future careers. Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON — Some Overton citizens are concerned after several members in their volunteer fire department resigned. Several described what’s happening as small-town politics. According to our news partner KETK, they said they just don’t want to see it get in the way of the town’s growth and potential. TJ Lewis has dedicated nearly 11 years of his life to the Overton volunteer fire department. “It’s a giving community. Of course, I got my start here at 16,†said Lewis. Sunday, he announced his resignation as former assistant chief, but he wasn’t the only one. “The chief, me as the former assistant chief, the secretary, and another fireman, they all resigned the same night which was completely unexpected. Read the rest of this entry »