Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities is performing smoke testing, as part of the Consent Decree, to help locate breaks and defects to improve the City’s wastewater system from Monday, Feb. 9 through Friday, Feb. 13. The testing will be conducted by Pipeline Analysis from Cambridge Road, Toll 49, Paluxy Drive and Hollytree Drive.
According to a news city release, during the process, air and smoke will be blown into the sanitary sewer system in the street to monitor where smoke escapes the system. White smoke will exit through vent pipes on the roofs of residences and through any sewer line breaks in the ground. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue and does not create any fire hazards. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The State of Texas’ new school voucher program has broken a national record for first day applicants. According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, at least 46,000 families have applied since the portal opened on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program was approved during the 89th Texas Legislative session. The school choice program gives selected students $10,000 per year towards private school enrollment and children with learning disabilities can get $30,000.
Dr. Jay Ferguson, Head of School at Grace Community, has been advocating for this policy since the beginning and hopes it expands their special education services.
“I think it’s great that so many families around Texas are wanting to participate in the program. For years Grace has been trying to make private Christian education as accessible to as many people as possible. We also have had the opportunity over the past several years to serve kids with learning differences and special needs and hopefully this will expand our ability to serve that group of kids,” Dr. Ferguson said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department is investigating a Tuesday evening shooting at the Southwest Pines apartment complex on Walton Road. According to Tyler Police Department’s Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, and our news partner KETK, the victim reportedly tried to drive himself to the hospital but crashed. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound. The condition of the victim is unknown. Additional details were not available.
TYLER — UPDATE: CenterPoint Energy had capped off the main natural gas line so no further natural gas will be released into the air from the damage caused by the single vehicle crash. Any residents who were evacuated can now return to their homes.
Residents near U.S. Highway 31 were asked to evacuate after a vehicle crash on Thursday morning ruptured a main natural gas line. According to our news partner KETK, the Tyler Police Department responded to a crash at 2:45 a.m. on U.S. Highway 31 West and Whiteside Drive where a vehicle struck a natural gas pipeline, causing it to rupture.
The driver of the van is identified as Don Porter, a 57-year-old male from Tyler was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and booked into the Smith County Jail. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Smith County property taxes were due Saturday, January 31. Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector Gary Barber is warning taxpayers that changes at the post office mean you should drop your payment in the mail as soon as possible. Officials say the easiest and fastest way to pay your property tax bill is online. Payments can be made by scanning the QR code on your statement — which will take you directly to the payment page on your account.
“If you want to skip the long lines at the Tax Office, I highly recommend you pay online,” he said.
Taxpayers can also make their payments in person, through the Tax Office’s drop box outside of the Cotton Belt Building, or by mail. The U.S. Postal Service recently changed how postmark dates are determined.
In the past, the postmark reflected the date you dropped your mail in a mailbox or at the post office. Now, the postmark will show the date your envelope is first processed by an automated postal service sorting machine. This could be later than the day you mailed it, which could mean that your tax payment is past the deadline, Barber said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police and fire crews are working a crash on Highway 31 W and Whiteside Drive. A vehicle reportedly struck a natural gas pipeline causing the main line to rupture. It’s estimated to take hours to shut off and repair the pipeline. Centerpoint Energy was able to close several remote valves to slow the leak but not able to shut it off completely. Centerpoint Energy crews are in the area measuring gas concentration.
Residents were advised to evacuate.
Tyler Police and Tyler Fire personnel are on scene directing traffic. Drivers are urged to seek an alternate route that avoids Hwy 31 W between Eisenhower Dr and Loop 323.
KILGORE — Officials are seeking help in identifying individuals who are suspected of having committed property damage on a historic Kilgore theater in December. According to our news partner KETK, the Kilgore Police Department seeks public assistance in identifying four individuals caught on video who may have damaged the Crim Theater in downtown Kilgore around midnight on December 30, 2025.
According to the police department, the suspects kicked in the door and possibly entered the theater. They fled the scene in a black pickup truck.
Anyone with information regarding the suspects’ identities or the incident is asked to contact Detective Justin Murphy at 903-218-6904 or justin.murphy@cityofkilgore.com. The reference case number is 2512-1719.
SMITH COUNTY — After several dogs, including multiple puppies, were found abandoned at a mobile home park in Chapel Hill, Nicholas Pet Haven and Smith County Animal Control are looking for volunteers to foster the dogs.
According to our news partner KETK, members of animal control arrived at Woodcrest Mobile Home Park on Monday morning after receiving a Facebook post asking for support for the dogs. Animal control found 11 dogs, including seven puppies and four adult dogs, and provided them with food, water and shelter from the freezing temperatures.
Animal control believes the dogs were likely abandoned by former tenants at the mobile home and stated that the manager of Woodcrest has warned residents not to feed the dogs, claiming they will receive citations if they do.
After confirming the dogs were abandoned, Nicholas Pet Haven and Smith County Animal Control have been in contact with rescue groups and local animal shelters as they are looking to find volunteers to foster the dogs. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Winter weather is here and school districts and churches are announcing closures to ensure the safety of residents. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of school closures, delays and church closures. You may view that list here.
RUSK — Former Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney is seeking reinstatement after his termination earlier this month, according to a grievance filed with city leadership. According to our news partner KETK, Heagney, who was fired on Friday, has submitted an internal grievance to the city manager, mayor and city council requesting speedy and retroactive reinstatement. His attorney, David Schleicher of Waco, said the termination occurred while Heagney was actively cooperating with the city to schedule a required fitness-for-duty exam.
City officials previously said Heagney was terminated after an administrative review, citing that he was unavailable during duty hours while on administrative leave without requesting alternative leave.
“We look forward to Mr. Heagney immediately being returned to serving as Rusk Police Chief,” Schleicher said. “Though we believe the order for a fitness-for-duty exam was not justified, we will continue to cooperate in getting the exam scheduled and completed.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – TxDOT crews continue to prepare for the winter storm forecast for East Texas. Crews have been preparing roadways around the eight-county district for potentially icy conditions. Brine operations on bridges and roadways susceptible to wind and ice started Wednesday.
I-20 and other major roadways were also treated with a brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to help slow the initial freezing on pavement.
Crews have readied equipment and materials and will continue to monitor the roadways throughout the weekend. Drivers should allow a safe traveling distance between their vehicles and the mobile convoys. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) announced on Monday that construction of the Old Jacksonville Highway expansion project will be pushed back for a few more years.
According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, during their open house, the organization said they would hold construction until 2030, two more years than anticipated, as they wait for tech stock to buy the property needed and “move the utilities that’s going to be involved with the project.”
“It’s just taking a little bit more time than was originally forecasted. So that is really what is kind of pushing this project back a little bit, but it is definitely still moving forward, and we still see it happening,” MPO Director Michael Howell said.
The project is set to widen the highway from four to six lanes, affecting Loop 323 and FM 2813 in Gresham. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — An East Texas theater company has been awarded a $25,000 grant for its 2026 season as a part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. According our news partner KETK, the Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College was one of 50 arts projects across the country to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as a part of the federal initiative, “Celebrating America250: Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.”
The National Endowment for the Arts was named a key partner in developing the National Garden of American Heroes, an executive order dedicated to recognizing notable historical figures.
The grant is awarded to arts projects in any discipline that celebrates the contributions to American history of one or more national heroes. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities is performing smoke testing, as part of the Consent Decree, to help locate breaks and defects to improve the City’s wastewater system from Monday, Jan. 12 through Friday, Jan. 16. The testing will be conducted by Pipeline Analysis from Cumberland Road, Locklear Lane, Paluxy Drive and South Broadway Avenue.
During the process, air and smoke will be blown into the sanitary sewer system in the street to monitor where smoke escapes the system. White smoke will exit through vent pipes on the roofs of residences and through any sewer line breaks in the ground. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue and does not create any fire hazards. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Thursday night officially marked the start of preparations for the upcoming 93rd annual Texas Rose Festival during the annual Winter Gala, where this year’s theme and the Rose Queen were announced.
During the gala at the Willow Brook Country Club, it was announced that the theme of the 93rd festival will be ‘Celebrations through the Seasons,’ on which the floats, decorations and dresses for the festival will be based. According to our news partner KETK, during the gala, Miss Claire Ann Malone, who has a generational family connection to the parade, was named the queen of the 93rd Rose Parade.
“I’m the seventh in our family and my mom was queen, so it’s really special to kind of do what she did at her age when she did it in 1996,” Malone said. “It’s just really special to me, and it means a lot, and I’m excited to be a representative of the city that I grew up in.”
The gala was just the start of Rose Parade preparations, with more events leading up to the 93rd Texas Rose Festival Parade on Oct. 17.
BULLARD — More than 400 middle school students start the new semester on Wednesday at the brand-new Bullard ISD campus, sparking traffic concerns on Highway 69. According to our news partner KETK, t he new middle school will house grades seventh and eighth and will be located on Highway 69 and FM 2493.
Out of caution, there will be increased police patrols in the area during the morning hours. TxDOT has reduced the speed limit to 45 in that section of Highway 69 and set up a temporary stoplight at the intersection in front of the campus.
“Just exercising caution, having patience and following all of the local traffic laws and safety precautions will help for a smooth transition,” Bullard ISD employee Amy Pawlak said. “We have systems in place and so now we are just excited to get going and to start the spring semester.” Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin man received an 8-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud, in which he was accused of acquiring over $9 million. According to our news partner KETK, Matthew Jess Thrash reportedly had more than 100 victims, from whom he defrauded millions through various fraudulent activities, including schemes related to sports investments.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Thrash used these funds for gambling, personal expenses and to repay other victims in an effort to evade detection.
On Tuesday, Thrash was sentenced to 97 months in prison and is ordered to pay in restitution $8,100,024. Read the rest of this entry »
ANGELINA COUNTY — Angelina County deputies arrested a man early Thursday after a woman was shot in the neck during a New Year’s party outside of Diboll, authorities said. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded around 2 a.m. to 1100 Ryan Chapel Road following reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a female victim with a gunshot wound to the neck.
Authorities also found 25-year-old Kiander Chatman at the scene with blood on his shirt and hands. Deputies said Chatman had been firing a .223-caliber AR-15-style pistol in celebration during the party. The weapon, an Alpha Maxx 556, was recovered from Chatman’s vehicle.
Deputies said Chatman initially gave false information about the incident but later admitted that after shooting into the woods, he brought the gun to the porch and pulled the charging handle to “clear it,” causing the weapon to discharge. Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY — Due to extremely dry conditions, Harrison County officials declared a seven-day burn ban on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, outdoor burning and fireworks are prohibited in the unincorporated areas of the county. According to Harrison County, cities may or may not order a burn ban.
Violations of the ban will be considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
The order follows a period of unseasonably dry and windy weather, which increases the start and spread of wildfires.
WHITE OAK — The identity of a man suspected of killing a family member has been confirmed by the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office. According to our news partner KETK, Zachary Ryan Keys is suspected of killing a family member in White Oak on New Year’s Eve.
Gregg County deputies found the victim’s body after responding to a call for help on the north side of White Oak. Keys was arrested on a charge of murder and is currently in the Panola County Jail on a $1 million bond.
Additional details were not available.
TYLER — Colten Parsell has been named the new Smith County Animal Control Supervisor.
“I wanted this role because animal control is a direct service to the community. It should be about helping people, protecting our animals and supporting the officers who are out there doing difficult work every day,” he said. “I hope to help strengthen how we serve the community by making sure our officers are supported, our approach is consistent, and our focus stays on safety, education and responsible animal ownership.”
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said Parsell has a vast amount of experience in personnel management.
“I was extremely impressed by his communication skills and his attention to details,” he said. “He has developed a program from scratch in his most recent position, and he shares our excitement in leading our quality animal control officers.” Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY — Fire crews from multiple departments battled a wildfire near Lake O’ the Pines and U.S. Highway 259 on Monday afternoon that lingered into Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, New Mountain, Ore City and Ewell Fire Departments were called to the scene, along with two dozers from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Upon arrival, crews found an active fire burning in a swampy area near the lake.
The New Mountain Fire and Rescue said that crews were able to stop the fire from spreading with the wind but part of the fire was surrounded by water and would continue to burn overnight.
A crew from the New Mountain Fire Department returned to the scene Tuesday as they predicted it would burn overnight within containment lines. The crew spent the morning mopping up the area that previously burned. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — East Texans with early fireworks plans may want to reschedule as multiple fire departments urge against outdoor burning and activities involving sparks or flames while fire conditions remain elevated across the region.
According to our news partner KETK, the Rusk County Firefighters Association said weather conditions will remain favorable for wildfire growth on Monday until around 6 p.m.
Officials said vegetation ranges from dry to critically dry, while relative humidity is expected to stay between 20% and 30%.
“We’ve got quite a bit of wind that has picked up over the last 24 hours, which further dries out those fuels and creates fire behavior that’s pretty rapid growth,” Smith County ESD2 Operations Chief Eric Greaser said. “If you’re considering burning off trash or leaves, that might be legal because we’re not under a burn ban. But be very cautious with that and make sure you stay with it and watch it. Make sure that you also have some way to put those kinds of fires out.” Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK — A search party was organized on Saturday for James David Blount, who was last seen in Rusk over three weeks ago.
“We’re all hoping that he is still alive,” Nicole Morris, an organizer of the event, said. “But at this point, I think we’re all kind of coming to the conclusion that it’s no longer a search and rescue, and it’s more so a recovery.”
Blount went missing on Dec. 2, and four days later, his vehicle was discovered along Highway 84 near the Neches River. Since then, law enforcement has been working to locate Blount, but their efforts have not yet been successful.
“My heart hurts for the family and that’s why I’m just so adamant about keeping his name alive and keeping his story alive,” Morris said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that left one man dead and one injured. Around 2:45 Sunday morning, deputies responded to an active shooting at the Valley Blues Club, County Road 486, just north of Tyler off of Texas College Road.
Deputies found a chaotic scene with several hundred individuals attempting to leave the location. One male gunshot victim was located in the parking lot and another male victim had been transported by private vehicle to UT Health ER in Tyler. The victim on scene was transported to UT Health ER where he was later pronounced deceased. The other gunshot victim is currently undergoing surgery and is in critical condition.
Smith County Investigators and the Crime Scene Unit are currently at the location conducting their investigation. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by DPS, Tyler PD, and Texas Game Warden K-9 Unit. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Fire crews are battling a grass fire in Smith County that spread to an RV on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 firefighters were called to FM 2089 in Overton after receiving reports of a grass fire. When crews arrived, they found an RV fully involved in flames. According to ESD2 Nikki Simmons, no injuries have been reported.
GREGG COUNTY — A former Gregg County deputy was arrested on two consecutive days this week for charges of driving while intoxicated. According to our news partner KETK, jail records revealed that former Gregg County Deputy Joshua Isaiah Tubb, 47, was arrested by Kilgore police on Sunday and again on Monday, both times on DWI charges.
Tubb was released after posting bail following his Sunday arrest. However, jail records show he remains in custody after his Monday arrest, with a bond set at $32,500.
Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington confirmed that Tubb resigned from the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office following the arrests. “We hold our deputies to the highest standards and accountability,” Harrington said.
TYLER — The Blackstone Hotel, with Valencia Hotel Group, is coming back to Tyler and bringing 60 full-time jobs with it. According to our news partner KETK, the new full-service, luxury hotel is being built under a 3-year plan, on the corner of Broadway and Fergueson, promising at least 60 full-time jobs with an annual payroll of $2 million.
This economic boosting promise is why Smith County Commissioners took up a vote for a 10-year tax abatement of 50% for Blackstone Hotel, as long as Valencia Hotel Group upkeeps their promise of 60 full-time employees.
Scott Martinez, President of Tyler Economic Development Council, says his organization will be the monitor of this agreement. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — The Texas Health and Human Services is reporting 5,124 influenza hospitalizations so far this month. According to our news partner KETK, these numbers have gone up by 2,000 since Nov. 15. Longview healthcare specialists and pharmacists said the majority of cases they see are people coming in with are COVID-19 and Influenza A. Multiple school districts in deep East Texas cancelled classes this week due to flu outbreaks, including the Cushing and Shelbyville ISD’s.
“We are definitely having an uptick in it in the last several weeks,” Family nurse practitioner at Hospitality ER Judson Lawerence said. “Our numbers have increased in both flu and COVID. But the earlier you can come in get treatment the better.”
Pharmacist at Louis Morgan, Shawn Sams, knows finding the right medicine to combat your symptoms can be a daunting task. Sams said if you have a wet cough, “This particular product is Mucinex, so it’s going to help break up the chest congestion and it’s also going to suppress the cough. So the idea is your cough less often, but when you do it, hopefully it’s more productive and you can get that mucus out of your chest.” Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON –Two East Texas men were sentenced to federal prison on Wednesday after selling over 50 grams of narcotics in Henderson. According to our news partner KETK and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas, James Porter and Richard Sledge sold 25.49 grams of meth in Henderson for $350 in 2023. Additionally, Porter sold 51.2 grams of meth later that year in Henderson for $625.
Porter was arrested on July 10, 2024, and during his arrest, agents reportedly recovered 24.04 more grams of meth from his vehicle and inside his business.
After pleading guilty to possession of meth with intent to distribute, Porter was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and Sledge was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.