Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man was arrested in March for aggravated sexual assault in connection to a serial rape investigation in Smith County that dates back to 2003. Our news partner KETK reports, Vincente Zavaleta, 44 of Tyler, was arrested on March 21 by the Texas Department of Public Safety. According to his arrest warrant, three victims reported to have been sexually assaulted in Smith County and Tyler in 2003, 2012 and 2016. Two of the victims reported they were abducted by their attacker. The warrant said the three victims had been linked to an unidentified DNA profile. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD announced on Monday that Place 5 board member Shandreka “Shaun†Bauer has submitted her resignation effective June 1. The district said in her resignation letter, Bauer cited a new work opportunity that requires her family to relocate. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A group of more than 60 members of a Chinese Christian church will be starting a new life in Tyler after fleeing from China due to “extreme persecution,†according to Freedom Seekers International. According to our news partner KETK, the organization said that the Chinese citizens were previously in South Korea for more than a year, but will no longer be sheltered there due to political pressure from China to return them to “re-education camps.†According to ChinaAid, the group was granted humanitarian parole status by United States authorities. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Allison O’Neal, assistant principal of Rice Elementary School, has been named the new principal at Rice Elementary School. She replaces John Smiley, who was recently named the principal of Hubbard Middle School. “Rice feels like home,†Mrs. O’Neal said. “I attended Rice as a student, and my children currently attend Rice. I am honored to accept this position at a campus that means so much to me. I have had the pleasure of learning from many great leaders in Tyler ISD through the years and plan to continue the wonderful things Mr. Smiley has done for our campus.†In her 18th year in education, Mrs. O’Neal joined Tyler ISD in 2008 as a classroom teacher at Andy Woods Elementary School. In 2019, she moved into the master teacher role at Hubbard Middle School. In 2020, Mrs. O’Neal took over the assistant principal position at Rice Elementary.
TYLER — A come-and-go Easter event is scheduled at the Glass Recreation Center on Saturday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tyler Police Officers and Shorty the Squirrel will be in attendance to take pictures and pass out free eggs to children. Children must bring a basket or container to carry their eggs. For more information about the above-mentioned event or about the Glass Recreation Center, click here or visit the Tyler Parks and Rec Facebook page, or call Glass Recreation Center at (903) 595-7271.
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department asks for help identifying a suspect in a vandalism case at the Southside Park restrooms. The damage occurred on March 22. The bathrooms were damaged in January 2023, but were repaired before the March incident. If you recognize this person, please contact Det. Dickerson at 903-533-2088 or call Tyler-Smith County Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833.
TYLER — Residents have until April 30 to submit ideas to city staff for projects they want to see included in the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) program. The projects, if approved, would be funded through the Half Cent Sales Tax Program. The projects will be reviewed and scored, then ranked with the existing projects. Funding will be updated, and the top projects will be funded as revenue allows. Residents can also attend a public meeting on Thursday, April 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Tyler Development Center large conference room, 423 W. Ferguson St. The Engineering Department will be available to discuss upcoming projects and any ideas for projects they would like considered for inclusion in the City’s annual work plan. Read the rest of this entry »
CANTON — Canton ISD is stepped up security on Thursday because of what they called a “sensitive social media post.†Our news partner KETK reports, Canton ISD Police and Canton Police Department provided extra security throughout the day. “Providing a safe learning environment for Canton ISD students and staff is always a top priority,†Superintendent Brian Nichols said in a letter to Canton ISD families. “We will continue to be open, honest and transparent with out staff, parents and community in order to provide accurate and timely information as it becomes available.â€
RUSK COUNTY– Two people were arrested for multiple charges on Wednesday after the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said they were wanted for abuse of a corpse, and a third person is now being sought in the case. According to our news partner KETK, officials say on March 30, a body had been found on CR 169D and the person was believed to have died somewhere else and taken to that location “in an attempt to conceal the cause and location of the death.†The deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Cory Murphy. William Welch, 36 of Kilgore, and Stephanie Kravis, 36 of Carthage, were named as persons of interest by the sheriff’s office and on March 31, officials announced warrants had been issued for their arrests. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — After fentanyl was reportedly being sold in at least one Van Zandt County school, District Attorney Tonda Curry held a press conference Wednesday to announce the formation of a new task force. According to our news partner KETK, the new Van Zandt County DA Fentanyl Response Task Force is made up of officers from county and state law enforcement agencies committed to making an immediate and aggressive response to the presence of fentanyl in the county. Read the rest of this entry »
WOOD COUNTY — A Winnsboro woman was arrested Tuesday after reportedly shooting her husband in the face. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the shooting on FM 312 around 4:15 Tuesday, where they found the man awake and coherent. He was taken to a Tyler hospital for treatment. Michelle Denise Freudiger was booked into the Wood County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Her bond has been set at $100,000. The victim remains in a Tyler hospital, and is expected to survive.
EAST TEXAS — Two of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted offenders are back in custody following their arrests in Mabank and Tyler last month. Santos Ramirez, 47, was captured on March 16 in Mabank. Ramirez had been wanted since April 5, 2022, after the Midland County Sheriff’s Office issued warrant for his arrest for continuous sexual abuse of a child, continuous violence against the family, stalking, two counts of violation of bond/protective order, interference with emergency request for assistance, and failure to identify. His arrest was the result of tip information received through Texas Crime Stoppers and a reward was paid. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — On Tuesday, a man pleaded guilty to evading arrest in a Smith County court and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. In November 2022, Rick Dixon, 61, was involved in a multi-county chase with officers that exceeded speeds of 100 mph, our news partner KETK reported. Dixon was reportedly driving a truck with a stolen U-Haul trailer attached when he failed to stop for officials attempting a traffic stop. Officials said he continued down I-20 into Gregg County, where the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and DPS deployed spikes in front of the truck on Interstate 230 before the truck exited onto Highway 42. The truck had to be spiked a second time after authorities said Dixon blew through several red lights while sparks began to fly from the tireless rims of the truck and trailer. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — In the Smith County State of the County address Tuesday, Judge Neal Franklin broke down the county’s plan for construction on the new courthouse and parking garage in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, The first phase will be on the parking structure and is expected to be completed in August of 2024. The second phase will be for the construction of the new courthouse to be completed by September 2026. The third and final phase will be the transition from the existing courthouse to the new one which is expected to be complete by 2027. Judge Franklin added that the 2027 projection is just an estimate, as there are often delays in projects like this.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Clerk, Karen Phillips, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly interfering with a Smith County deputy’s duties on March 28. According to our news partner KETK, around 9:45 p.m. on March 28, officials said a deputy initiated a traffic stop on Cody Voss, 28, who allegedly did not pull over until he reached the Phillips residence. Derek Phillips, 36, was traveling in front of Voss. Once they reached the residence, authorities said that Derek Phillips started interfering with the traffic stop. Soon after, his mother, County Clerk Karen Phillips, 65, allegedly came out of the residence and officials said she started interfering with the stop as well. Voss was arrested on charges of failure to identify and held on a $250 bond before being released on March 29. Derek Phillips was arrested on charges of evading arrest/detention, interfering with public duties and resisting arrest/search/transport and was held on a collective bond of $4,500. He was also released on March 29. Read the rest of this entry »