Today is
Friday November 29, 2024
LONGVIEW — Police arrested a suspect Tuesday wanted in connection to a Nacogdoches homicide investigation, according to our news partner KETK. James Edward Harris, 60, was arrested in Longview and will be taken to the Nacogdoches Law Enforcement Center. Officials said the suspect was the victim’s boyfriend. Police were called to a residence on Elizabeth Street Oct. 3 “in reference to callers advising a family member was found deceased in the residence.†Officers said they arrived at the scene to find Rose Catherine Garner, 60, from Nacogdoches, dead from injuries believed to have been caused by a stab wound. The Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Another union has approved the deal it made with the major freight railroads last month that helped prevent a strike to secure 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses for the workers it represents. The American Train Dispatchers Association said Tuesday that 64% of its members approved the deal with Union Pacific, BNSF, Kansas City Southern, CSX, Norfolk Southern and other railroads. Four smaller railroad unions have now approved their deals with the railroads, but the two biggest unions that represent engineers and conductors won’t vote on their tentative agreements until mid-November. All 12 unions that represent some 115,000 workers have to approve these deals to prevent a strike.
AUSTIN (AP/Staff) — Former University of Texas standout Tiffany Jackson, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft, has died of cancer at age 37. A three-time All-Big 12 selection, Jackson was drafted by the New York Liberty in 2007 and played nine seasons in the WNBA. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and managed to return to the court for a final season with Los Angeles before retiring in 2018. She was hired as head coach at Marshall’s Wiley College in April. Jackson still ranks in the top five in career points, rebounds and steals at Texas.
SMITH COUNTY — Two East Texans were arrested in connection to a child abuse case, said the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Brandy Jaco, 31, and Gary Phillips, 30, were taken into custody on Sept. 27 and charged with endangering a child. The child also tested positive for amphetamine and marijuana, said the sheriff’s office. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — An East Texas teen was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter on Monday for the December 2021 crash that killed 18-year-old Taylor Raper in Van Zandt County. According to our news partner KETK, Alfonso Medina, of Canton, was sentenced to 8 years in prison in the 294th District Court of Van Zandt County. Initial reports said that Medina, who was 17 at the time, was going west on FM 1651 and recognized Raper, an acquaintance who was driving in the opposite direction. DPS said Medina hit Raper’s car after swerving over the center stripe “in an attempt to scare her.†According to information presented in court, Medina did not have a driver’s license at the time of the crash.
TYLER – It will be more challenging to see pedestrians as days get shorter during the fall and winter months. That’s why TxDOT’s “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” pedestrian safety campaign kicked off National Pedestrian Safety Month Monday, reminding drivers and pedestrians to stay alert and watch out for each other. Pedestrian traffic fatalities increased by 15% in Texas in 2021. The state saw 5,366 traffic crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in 841 fatalities and 1,470 serious injuries. “The fall season means not only a shift to cooler temperatures but also fewer hours of daylight, and visibility becomes an issue,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — During the month of October, Tyler Animal Services is waiving adoption costs with a donation. The shelter is asking for a donation of 12 toys for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. The standard dog adoption fee is $120 and $80 for cats. All animals adopted from Tyler Animal Services are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization. The nonprofit’s mission is to provide partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities. For a list of recommended items, click here. If you would like to adopt, see all pets available for adoption and submit an application on the Tyler Animal Services webpage here. The Tyler Animal Shelter is located at 4218 Chandler Hwy. For more information, call (903) 535-0045.
SMITH COUNTY — Texas Baptist Men and the Northeast American Red Cross are ready to aid the people of Florida. According to our news partner KETK, Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday and damages have been seen throughout the west coast. The Red Cross is sending volunteers to help before. “In total we had about 500 members of the Red Cross from all across the nation there in Florida helping shelter 13,000 people,†said Doyle Rader, who handles communications for the Red Cross. Their number one priority is to help provide a warm, dry place for people to stay and fuel their basic needs. “The Red Cross has the resources and the personnel currently to house up to 60,000 people in shelter across the state of Florida,†said Rader. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler is growing at a rapid pace despite fears of a recession across the country. According to the Texas Work Force Commission, Tyler leads the state in job creation. According to our news partner KETK, the Workforce Commission shows last year, Austin added jobs at a 7% rate and the Tyler area added jobs at an 8.3 percent rate. “If you look at the raw numbers for as the direct jobs that were added in Smith County last year, it was over 8,000 primarily in the healthcare sector,†said Scott Martinez, CEO of Tyler’s Chamber of Commerce. The investment in the health care industry has been a driver in the community for years. This will continue with the new medical school scheduled to open in 2023. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Crews from Longview and Texarkana are traveling to Florida to make repairs after Hurricane Ian makes landfall, according to our news partner KETK. “SWEPCO employees and contractors will be staged and ready to restore power for Florida residences and businesses once the storm passes,†SWEPCO vice president of Distribution Region Operations, Drew Seidel said. The Longview and Texarkana crews are among the more than 300 Southwestern Electric Power Company personnel heading to Orlando on Tuesday.
LONGVIEW — Police presence at Longview High School and the rest of the district’s campuses will be increased after Longview and Gregg County law enforcement investigated threats against “LHS,†according to the district and our news partner KETK. The investigation on Sunday night determined “there was no credible threat against Longview schools†and the threats posted to social media were against Lumberton High School, not Longview. “The student responsible was arrested by local authorities,†the district said. The district said they are thankful to be able to rely on their local law enforcement, and they will press criminal charges against anyone who makes threats against students, staff or their schools.
PARKER COUNTY — A 12-year-old girl and her father remain in the hospital after Parker County deputies found them wounded in what investigators believe to be an attempted murder-suicide. Sheriff’s investigators believe the girl shot her father, fled and returned to her rural Weatherford home where she shot herself in the head. They found her in the street in front of her home with a pistol underneath her. Inside the home, they found her father shot in the stomach. Both of them were rushed to the hospital but no conditions have been released. The back-story here is the girl was in contact with another girl in Lufkin. They concocted a plan to murder their families and run off together to Georgia. However, the Lufkin girl did not follow through on the plot. Nevertheless, she is being charged with criminal conspiracy in the planning of the murder plot.
TYLER — The East Texas State Fair opens Friday for its 106th year, and preparations and crews are getting ready for the big event. According to our news partner KETK, crews are working around the construction for the new W.T. Brookshire Conference Center to bring the same family fun East Texans expect, year after year. For John Sykes, president of the East Texas State Fair, this particular week is on his mind year-’round. “There’s nothing like it in East Texas and frankly we are the largest event between Tulsa, and Houston and Shreveport and Dallas,†said Sykes. Since 1912, the fair has unfolded on the fairgrounds, offering delicious food, exciting attractions, thrilling rides and of course, award-winning livestock in all shapes and sizes. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The City of Tyler expects the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center to be complete by March 2023, according to our news partner KETK. The $28 million project will transform the Tyler Rose Complex by adding the city’s new conference center. City officials are excited and say the W.T. Brookshire convention center will be state-of-the-art. “Inside it’s going to be transformed and state of the art to a much more and efficient convention center,†said Deputy City Manager, Stephanie Franklin. The center replaces Harvey Hall which was built in the 1970s and the new building will add flexibility for events. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The race to be the next governor of Texas is heating up, and depending on the polls you follow, it’s tightening up as well. Governor Abbott saw his poll numbers jump 2 points over Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke between August and September, according to the latest survey out of The University of Texas at Tyler. Abbott now holds a 9-point lead over O’Rourke among registered voters in Texas. One reason for the bump, Governor Abbott’s $46-million dollar campaign war chest is nearly double that of O’Rourke’s. UT Tyler Political Scientist Mark Owens.says, “If we’re talking about bringing people together and less polarization, or about the sake of our schools, the election is going to be a lot closer between Abbott and O’Rourke then compared to whether we’re talking about securing the border or reducing crime.” Read the rest of this entry »