Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
EAST TEXAS — After an early Friday morning of severe weather throughout East Texas, damage reports are issued for numerous areas, our news partner KETK reports.
Longview police report “significant disruptions†in the area, including power outages and road blockages due to fallen trees. City crews are working to clear debris from the roads but officials ask that people consider allowing extra travel time when heading to your destination. You can report road blockages or downed trees by calling 903-237-1170. In addition to that, the city is reporting that there is damage to various city parks and trails. The water utility system is functional but operating at a reduced capacity, and residents are encouraged to save water by turning off sprinkler systems, making sure to not leave water running and taking other appropriate water conservation measures. The city assured residents that they will be able to maintain service “as long as we work together as a team to minimize our usage.†Longview splash pads will be closed as well. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Several school districts in East Texas are canceling classes due to severe weather aftermath. According to our news partner KETK, severe thunderstorms brought on an influx of power outages and extensive damage in the area. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Police departments across East Texas are still in need of officers. Longview PD’s recruitment team is reaching out to people across several states. “We’ve been going to job fairs across Texas and in Louisiana and we’ve been partnering with colleges and universities,†said Kendric Montgomery, Longview Police Department Recruiting Lieutenant, our news partner KETK reports. Tyler Police are using any method they can to reach potential applicants. “We use billboards, sometimes we use movie ads in theaters. We have a traffic device that goes to different areas that sometimes have a funny slogan on them,†said Andy Erbaugh, Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE — Palestine police arrested a man they said tried to evade arrest after stealing his mother’s vehicle. According to our news partner KETK, authorities said that on June 10 at 11:18 a.m., they received information from a Houston County woman who said her son could be in Palestine with her stolen vehicle. “The complainant also stated that her son, identified as Brandon Bennett, 43, had warrants for his arrest,†Palestine police said. Corporal Yvette Durbin gathered information and confirmed that the vehicle in question had been reported stolen out of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Just minutes after that, Officer Tim Green saw Bennett and the vehicle at the Clean Scene car wash on Crockett Road. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler woman was arrested on Tuesday after being indicted on two charges of manslaughter. According to our news partner KETK, Chasity Head, 33, is accused of “failing to yield the right of way at a stop sign†after ingesting marijuana on July 5, 2022. Documents said the wreck caused the deaths of her unsecured passengers, Aiden Rice and Kyleigh Head. Chasity Head was indicted for manslaughter on April 27. Her bond has been set at a total of $500,000.
TYLER — An official at an East Texas hospital says young people are becoming more prone to strokes. The stroke coordinator at Christus Health, in Tyler, Jennifer Burwell says it’s not uncommon to see patients at 30, 20 and even 18 years old who have suffered strokes. She says it’s because they’re not as active as they should be. The CDC says 80% of strokes are preventable, but they are the third leading cause of death in Texas. Burwell says remember the acronym “BE FAST” to recognize the symptoms of stroke: balance, eyes, face, arm, speech, and time.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — An East Texas deputy is sentenced to 44 months in prison for hitting a handcuffed suspect in the face. Former Van Zandt County Chief Deputy Craig Shelton received 3 years and 8 months sentence in a Tyler Federal Court Wednesday. Shelton said he accepted full responsibility for violating the victim’s civil rights in the November 2021 incident. In addition to his prison sentence, Shelton will also receive drug and alcohol counseling. Also Wednesday, former Van Zandt County Deputy Blake Snell was sentenced to 1 year of probation for obstruction of justice in the incident involving Shelton.
TYLER — The debt ceiling and budget cuts package is heading toward a crucial U.S. House vote. East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran spoke with KTBB Wednesday morning about his thoughts on the overall Fiscal Responsibility Act package. Moran said, “As I read this bill over the past few day, I can tell you we’re in a much better place under this bill than we were 90 days ago, when the President would not negotiate on a debt ceiling increase.” Moran goes on to say, “We have a lot of spending reforms, a lot of regulatory and administrative reforms that have been needed for a while. It’s good. Whether or not it’s good enough to earn a ‘yes’ vote from me and a ‘yes’ vote from the First District of Texas…we’ll see.” Moran says, “We’re going to work through that process all the way up until the time of the vote today, and then we’ll cast the vote that best represents the interests of the people of the First District of Texas.” Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — Governor Abbott has signed a bill officially making Stephen F. Austin a member of the University of Texas System. The Nacogdoches University becomes the 14th affiliate of the UT System. State Representative Travis Clardy says SFA will receive about $125million in funding over the next four years as a result of becoming a UT System member. SFA will have access to the permanent university fund, the largest high-education endowment in the U.S SFA will retain its colors, culture, and name. Students and tenured faculty are guaranteed to retain their status in the university.
TYLER — Polling ahead of a major senate showdown seems to point to a big shakeup. A new UT Tyler poll, conducted between May 10th and 21st shows Senator Cruz with a single digit lead over Democrat Collin Allred, which looks eerily similar to early polling in his race against Beto O’Rourke in 2018. Cruz went on to win that race by less than three points, in spite of the seemingly photo finish results. Analysts say it might not be all that accurate. A separate poll for the same race released last week by Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation show Cruz with a more comfortable 7 point lead.
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD’s Summer Child Nutrition Program will start giving out free breakfast and lunch for students on June 6. According to our news partner KETK, the food will be available at J.L Everhart Elementary School, Hudson PEP Elementary School, Ware Elementary School, Forest Park Middle School and Longview High School. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and lunch is served from 12 p.m. to 12:30p.m., except for at the high school where lunch will be served until 2 p.m. There are no requirements students need to meet to be fed by the program. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Cotton Patch Cafe in Tyler is closed for the rest of the day following a grease fire in their kitchen that happened around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, an employee said the restaurant will be closed for Monday and they are awaiting approval from a health inspector to hopefully reopen by Tuesday. Tyler Police Department confirmed that the fire started in one of the restaurants deep fryers and was put out by Tyler Fire Department. Officials said that no one was injured in the fire.
TYLER — The City of Tyler is accepting applications for City Boards and Commissions until Friday, Aug. 4. The City Council will make appointments at the Wednesday, Aug. 23 meeting. Those appointed will serve voluntarily and without pay for two-year terms. The boards and commissions include: Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON — A substitute teacher at Overton ISD said she was watching over the in-school suspension students on Tuesday when she said the unthinkable happened on a trip out of the classroom. “I look over and the other student was directly behind the resource officer,†said Candy Russell, substitute teacher and parent at Overton ISD. According to our news partner KETK, Russel claims at that moment the 11-year-old reached for the school police officer’s gun. Without thinking, she said she yelled his name and ran towards him. Immediately, she said a report was made to the administration. “I said, ‘I need you to go in the office and rewind the video a minute or two and see what just happened.’ I couldn’t even spit the words out of my mouth,†said Russell. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for two suspects believed to be involved in a shooting Monday. Officers responding to a shots fired report at an apartment complex on north Broadway Ave. found that several vehicles and at least one apartment had been hit. A potential suspect, Kerick Johnson, 18, was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was treated and released. Detectives later determined that Johnson, along with Marqus Gray, 21, were the shooters. Arrests warrants have been issued for the two. Johnson and Gray are wanted on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with a $400,000 bond, and deadly conduct, with a $100,000 bond. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1000 or Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.