Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
UNION HILL — Union Hill ISD students got a reprieve from the first day of class, but not a break from the heat. The district north of Gilmer was impacted by the power outages causing them to to cancel classes for Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Students who took the bus were fed breakfast and then sent back home. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The body of a 3-year-old girl reported missing early Sunday morning has been found. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County officials have reported that the missing child was located at 3:30 p.m. Sunday by a dive team in a nearby pond. The child was identified as Madison Williams. According to Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith, foul play is not suspected. Madison was known to walk across the pasture to her grandparent’s house and follow the family dog around. The investigation is still open.
GILMER — Joshua Shaw has been missing since May 8, 2019, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. According to our news partner KETK, he is 16 years old and described as 5’8″, 100 Ibs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Any information of his whereabouts can be directed toward the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office at 903-843-2541. Additional information can be found at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.
TYLER — Governor Greg Abbott visited Tyler on Thursday taking part in a town hall hosted at the UT Tyler Cowan Center. According to our news partner KETK, the topic of the night was the devastating shooting in El Paso that claimed the lives of 22 and injured 24 others. Governor Abbott silenced the crowd by saying, “Even though I am in Tyler tonight, my heart is still in El Paso.†Gov. Abbott spoke on the plans the legislature has in place when it comes to domestic terrorism. “First is with this domestic terrorism task force that will be operating year around,†he said. “We will be including all of the deligation of El Paso as well as other leaders across that state of Texas where we will put every issue on the table,†he said.†Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler police are investigating a reported aggravated assault. It happened around 10:00 Wednesday morning at the Tanglewood Apartments on Chimney Rock. The victim told officers a black male, armed with a handgun, entered her apartment and demanded money. The victim said she was sexually assaulted during the ordeal. The suspect is described as young, thin and wearing all black clothing. Contact Tyler police with any information.
HENDERSON COUNTY — Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said deputies are searching for the vandals responsible for over $120,000 of damage to headstones in the historic Goshen Cemetery, near Eustace. The sheriff said cemetery board members contacted his office around 8:00 Wednesday night to report the damage. A total of 35 headstones with $122,500 in destruction were photographed. “Our team is actively investigating and interviewing people and I will be asking Crime Stoppers to offer a reward for the arrest of these suspects,†Hillhouse said. Hillhouse said the perpetrators face felony criminal mischief charges for the crime.
TYLER — Governor Abbott has announced he will take part in a statewide televised town hall meeting on Thursday, August 15th at the University of Texas at Tyler. The event will be from 7-8 p.m. An important topic that will be discussed during the event will be the El Paso shooting that left 22 dead and 24 injured. Many politicians and voters are asking for changes in gun control and red flag laws and Gov. Abbott will speak on the future plans in Congress. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview police have identified a Spring Hill ISD student who reportedly made threats towards the district for the first day of school on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, the school released a statement saying that classes would continue as normal. The student’s name was not released because he/she is a minor. Spring Hill officials said that the student would not be at school for the remainder of the week. The school also said that they do not believe the threat was meant to be carried out.
EAST TEXAS — As millions of Texas children return to school this month, TxDOT is reminding motorists and parents to take precautions to prevent traffic crashes and injuries in and around school buses. According to our news partner KETK, last year, there were 765 traffic crashes in Texas school zones, resulting in 1 death and 15 serious injuries. In the Tyler area in 2018, there were 20 traffic crashes in school zones resulting in no fatalities and no serious injuries. The most common causes for these crashes were failure to control speed, driver inattention, and failure to yield the right of way, when turning left to a private drive or at a stop sign. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — An 18-year-old is dead following an officer involved shooting in Longview Wednesday morning. He was identified as Detravian Allison. According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a trespassing call at a business on West Loop 281 around 10:00. The suspect left the scene, but police were given the vehicle description and license plate number. That matched a vehicle stolen in an aggravated robbery reported on August 2. Officers found the vehicle along with two men. One suspect was armed with a handgun and raised the gun at officers. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Troup man has been jailed for repeatedly making a terrorist threat. Sheriff Larry Smith says Gregory McCleskey, 62, made several calls to a local State Farm Insurance office and the company’s call center. McCleskey stated he had an AK-47 and the insurance company needed to pay his claim. He’s also accused of making threats to the local insurance company owner. McCleskey was arrested around 5:00 Wednesday evening after initially refusing to leave his Troup home. He’s charged with making a terroristic threat, placing the public in fear of serious bodily injury, a 3rd degree felony. McCleskey remains in the Smith County Jail under a $100,000 bond.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioner’s Court held it’s first public hearing on Tuesday on a proposed property tax increase. According to our news partner KETK, in July, commissioners voted to consider raising the tax rate by three-quarters of a cent to 34.5 cents per $100 property valuation. That proposal has been met with serious concerns, particularly from the conservative political action committee “Grassroots America, We The People.†The group cites the comprehensive annual financial reports, saying they consistently show the county government carries millions of dollars in surplus over the reserve balance reported in budget documents. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITE OAK — A Gladewater man was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a child. According to our news partner KETK, Christopher Squires, 32, was arrested for the assault that was reported two years ago in July. He had been held on a $75,000 bond by White Oak police. Squires will not be eligible for parole until 2034. He will have to register as a sex offender for life.
TYLER — A Texas man was back in court on Thursday for a crash that killed 20-year-old Haile Beasley in 2016. According to our news partner KETK, Fulton appeared before 241st District Judge Jack Skeen for a bond hearing. Bond was set at $50,000. Fulton, 44, was convicted in 2017 of criminally negligent homicide for the crash that killed Beasley on Grande Boulevard. Their cars collided head-on, killing Beasley. Fulton was not injured. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company has reached a settlement with OSHA over the death of a warehouse worker in Tyler back in March. According to our news partner KETK, the Department of Labor records shows that Brookshire’s reached a $10,608 settlement with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration after initially being fined nearly $26,500. The company was cited for two “serious†violations in the incident back in June, but one of them was deleted after the settlement. It is unclear why one of the violations was removed. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man was arrested on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a child. According to our news partner KETK, Victor Sacco, 25, was arrested for an incident that occurred on Tuesday, July 16. Sacco has no previous convictions or arrests in the State of Texas, according to public data. He’s being held in the Gregg County South Jail. Bond has not been set.
TYLER — A seal coat project is underway in Tyler. Crews will seal coat Palace Avenue – between West Vance Street and West Houston Street along with East Line Street / East Commerce Street – between North Beckham Avenue and North Fleishel Avenue. Wednesday’s list also includes South Baxter Avenue – between East Front Street and East Devine Street. Expect lane closures, road closures and traffic delays. Travelers are encouraged to find an alternative route and to pay attention to all traffic and construction signs. Read the rest of this entry »
GLADEWATER — Gladewater Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run involving a pedestrian. It happened around 2:00 Saturday morning on Highway 271 S. Terrel Dopson, of Henderson, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials are asking anyone with information regarding the incident to call the Gladewater Police Department at (903) 845-2166.
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a shoplifter. According to our news partner KETK, a shoplifting suspect reportedly pulled a knife on several employees at Kohls Department Store on South Broadway Monday afternoon. The suspect was confronted when attempting to run from the store with stolen merchandise. No injuries were reported.
TYLER — Former CEO of East Texas Medical Center, Elmer Ellis, died Sunday at age 78. According to our news partner KETK, through Ellis’ efforts, ETMC Tyler emerged with national recognition that advanced healthcare in East Texas. He was known for his quick wit and business acumen, according to his obituary. Following a private burial service, there will be an ‘honor code’ procession throughout UT Health Tyler, formerly ETMC Tyler. In lieu of flowers, gifts are asked to be given to Boy Scouts of America, the Salvation Army and the Hospice of East Texas Foundation. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — One man is in custody after an overnight shooting left a woman dead. According to our news partner KETK, officers were conducting a welfare check at a home on Temple Street around 3:15 a.m. Sunday and found the body of Kimberly Wallace, 39. Police then obtained a murder warrant for 41-year-old Kenneth Earl Thomas Jr. of Longview. When confronted, Thomas began shooting at the officers who returned fire. The Longview Police Department says no officers were injured in the shooting. Thomas was wounded and taken to the hospital before being released back into police custody. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on a murder charge. Bond was set at $500,000. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave with pay.
KILGORE — Kilgore police are asking for the public’s help in searching for a woman wanted on multiple charges. According to our news partner KETK, Jessica Renee Goodloe, 34, is wanted for felony injury to a child and probation violations for DWI 2nd offense and DWI with previous conviction. Goodloe is a white female with brown hair, brown eyes, 5’04â€, 150 pounds. She has multiple visible tattoos on both of her arms and hands. Police say they have contacted friends and family members but Goodloe has refused to cooperate with law enforcement. Authorities suspect she may be hiding in the Kilgore area or with family in Trinity.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — A Jacksonville man has been sentenced to life in prison for the Easter 2014 murder of his wife. According to our news partner KETK, Cedric Thompson was convicted and sentenced for the murder of Kayla Wood Thompson. Thompson stabbed his wife eight times and then ran her over with a Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV when she tried to run to a neighbor’s house to get help. He was arrested at a hospital in Kilgore after an apparent suicide attempt. The victim’s children witnessed the murder and testified at trial.
EAST TEXAS — A Henderson woman accused of torching a Shreveport man’s mobile home following a domestic breakup in 2017 was convicted of simple arson Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, Bridget Nicole Ebarb, 37, intentionally set fire to the mobile home on August 27, 2017. Her ex-boyfriend called 911 to report the fire and told investigators that Ebarb had started it. She was arrested at the scene the same day. Since damages exceeded $500, the penalty Ebarb faces when sentenced could be up to 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.
TYLER — CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances will be conducting an emergency management drill at the Tyler campus on Dawson today. It will involve an active shooter scenario. Officials said they are taking a number of steps to ensure any staff, patients or guests at the facility are aware of the drill.
JACKSONVILLE (AP/STAFF) — Authorities say an East Texas sheriff’s deputy has survived being shot in the protective vest during an attempted traffic stop in which a suspect fled but was captured several hours later. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says 39-year-old Jeremy Brian Cook of Grand Prairie was arrested Wednesday on a charge of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer. The shooting happened before dawn near Berryville, about 100 miles southeast of Dallas. The Texas Department of Public Safety says Cook, who fled on a motorcycle, was located in a wooded area near Jacksonville. The sheriff says deputy Jonathan Hutchison was hit in the side, taken to a Tyler hospital, treated and released. Cook was being held without bond.
GREGG COUNTY — A traffic stop Thursday, July 18, lands three Longview residents in the Gregg County Jail. According to the Department of Public Safety report, a State Trooper stopped a vehicle on FM 1845 for a traffic violation. A probable cause search was conducted after the driver was found to be in possession of narcotics paraphernalia. During the search, the Trooper found a bag containing methamphetamine, along with three glass pipes and a digital scale. Cory Peele, 39, and Melody Hawthorne, 44, were charged with manufacture/delivery of a substance. David Jowers, 33, was arrested on a felony evading warrant out of Gregg County.
TYLER — A former T.K. Gorman assistant basketball coach accused of attempted sexual assault has a trial date August 19 . According to our news partner KETK, Jakeal Lockett, 25, was accused of breaking into a UT Tyler student’s apartment around 1:00 a.m. on February 24 and attempted to kiss her numerous times. Lockett was the middle school boy’s basketball coach and assistant varsity boy’s basketball coach at Bishop Gorman Catholic High School in Tyler. Lockett was arrested in March for assault and has since been held in the Smith County Jail on a $250,000 bond since that arrest. If convicted, Lockett will face five years to life in prison.
AUSTIN — On Thursday, Governor Abbott celebrated two East Texas-linked bills he signed into law in June. At two state capitol events, Abbott re-signed laws dealing with religious liberty and lemonade stands. The controversial “Chick-fil A Law” was authored by State Senator Bryan Hughes of Mineola. That law prevents local governments from discriminating against companies like Chick-fil-A due to its financial support of religious organizations. Abbott was surrounded by some of the children who testified before the state legislature earlier this year in favor of a law legalizing lemonade stands. That bill grew out of an Overton case, and Abbott called the measure common sense.
GREGG COUNTY — Two family members are jailed in Gregg County after reportedly shooting each other with BB guns. According to the Longview News-Journal, the mom and son duo were arrested Tuesday morning following a deadly conduct call. 56-year-old Michelle Williams Preston and 36-year-old Shawn Phillip Moore, both from Kilgore, have been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon. Preston was also charged with terroristic threat against a peace officer and resisting arrest, search or transport. Preston admitted to firing the handgun toward Moore during the altercation. Read the rest of this entry »