Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
TYLER — The sale of home generators is on the rise in East Texas. The owner of East Texas Generators in Tyler, John Crymes, says his company has seen a 300 percent increase in the sale of generators in the past two years.This follows the arctic cold of February 2021, and this winter’s ice storm, which resulted in 300-thousand power outages across the state and 40-thousand in East Texas. Whitehouse resident and generator owner Alfredo Llave says his home was without power for 10 days in frigid weather of two years ago and for five days because of straight-line wind damage two months later.Generators and other emergency preparation supplies can be purchased tax free from April 22 to 24.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is renewing his ongoing battle against trail rides following the latest local incident. “We’re not trying to stop anybody from having fun, but each and every time one of these trail ride combination concert events happen, just almost every time you can set your clock by it, there’s going to be a shooting,†Smith said. Three men were arrested with five guns Saturday night at a trail ride on County Road 46 where two people were shot and sent to two hospitals, according to the Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Starting April 1, Tyler Transit is altering the South Tyler Route, also known as Route 12, to provide service to the Department of Veteran Affairs and other businesses along Centennial Parkway, according to a news release. The pilot route will utilize the second entrance into the Villages at Cumberland Park, instead of entering at the first light, and go north (in the opposite direction) every half hour. Tyler Transit will move signage and bus stops across Centennial Parkway to the north side before April 1. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The latest poll by The University of Texas at Tyler revealed that border security, gun control and education were currently the most important policy concerns on the minds of Texas voters. UT Tyler’s poll began on Feb. 20, days after Gov. Abbott’s State of the State address to announce legislative priorities for 2023. The survey ended on Tuesday, Feb. 28, with 1,190 total interviews of registered voters in Texas that were completed online or by phone. “Border security, gun control and education were all identified as the most important policy concern more often than they were in October. Inflation and reproductive rights continue to be top five issues, but they were mentioned less often,†said Dr. Mark Owens, associate professor of political science and director of the UT Tyler Center for Opinion Research. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE — A Palestine man was arrested on Wednesday after a 12-hour standoff with police. According to our news partner KETK, just before 2 a.m., Palestine Police Department officers were called to W. Louisiana Street in reference to a report of a domestic disturbance, with a woman reporting that she had been assaulted by a man at the residence. After officers arrived, an a woman exited the residence and was taken to an emergency room by EMS for treatment. At that time, officers reportedly learned that a 3-year-old girl was still inside the residence. “Officers made verbal contact with the suspect through the door, who made numerous threats to shoot officers if they did not leave,†according to the Palestine Police Department. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — On Wednesday, March 8, the Tyler City Council voted to approve a $685,432.47 contract with Missouri petroleum, LLC, for the 2023 ONYX Sealcoat Project, according to a news release. The 2023 ONYX seal coat project includes 32.85 lane miles of work on 73 City Streets. “ONYX is a street surface preservation sealant to prevent the surface from further deterioration,” said City Engineer Darin Jennings. “Unlike the overlay and most seal coat streets, the streets being done with ONYX are in relatively good condition but are losing their asphalt content on the surface and showing cracks. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler man was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday in connection to a 2021 fatal hit-and-run crash, according to our news partner KETK. Juan Jesus Juarez, 24, was sentenced for an accident involving death. He was convicted in February for the crash that happened in Jan. of 2021. The District Attorney’s Office said Juarez was driving the car with his two friends inside, and they had reportedly had drinks. “While drunk, speeding, and not paying attention Juarez drove through a T-intersection in a residential area,†the DA’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON — Overton ISD is the latest of many East Texas schools to transition to a four-day school week for the upcoming school year. According to our news partner KETK, in a 5-1 vote, the school board approved the switch at their meeting on Monday evening, making the district the 21st to make the change in East Texas. With the addition of Overton ISD, at the start of the 2023-2024 school year, there will be more than 15,000 students in East Texas operating on a four-day school week. The district previously held three meetings to discuss the possibility of a four-day school week with the community, giving them an opportunity to bring their questions and concerns to the school board. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE — An all clear has been given following the lock-down of all Lindale ISD campuses Monday morning. Lindale Police received a threatening call concerning the LISD Administration office. Police immediately responded to the administration office and EJ Moss East and West, and the buildings were searched by authorities before giving an all clear. Officials said to expect law enforcement to be present throughout the week as a precautionary.
TROUP — Troup Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying an alleged driver from an early Saturday morning chase. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that the pursuit began early on Saturday, March 4 in the City of Troup before going into Cherokee County. The driver of the white crew cab truck is described by authorities as a white male. Troup PD is contacting local businesses for video surveillance and asking anyone with any information to call them at 903-842-3211 or message them on the Troup Police Department Facebook page.
PALESTINE — Palestine Police Department announced they are searching for a man who allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend in the 200 block of Joe Louis Street on Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, officers were responding to reports of a shooting when they found Brittany Johnson, 30, of Palestine, with a gunshot wound to the torso. Johnson was transported by EMS to Palestine Regional Medical Center emergency room, where she later died, according to officials. While investigating, police said they began to suspect the involvement of Johnson’s ex-boyfriend, Joseph Christopher Cole, 50, of Houston. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A custodial death report indicates an inmate who hanged himself in an East Texas Jail February 9 blocked the door to his cell, delaying deputies from rescuing him. Nathan Lee Johns, 28, Â used an electrical cord from an inmate phone box to hang himself in the Smith County Jail in Tyler. A statement from the sheriff’s office says Johns tied the cell door to a bunk so that the door could not be opened. Also, the statement says Johns put some sort of debris into the lock, preventing the key from opening the door. Deputies finally were able to enter the cell, but emergency medical responders were unsuccessful in attempting to revive Johns.
RUSK COUNTY — A father is in custody after allegedly stabbing his son in Rusk County. According to our news partner KETK, on March 1, at approximately 7: 30 a.m., Rusk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a caller saying someone had been stabbed on County Road 3232. When deputies arrived, they found the victim and called EMS to the scene. The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive his injuries, according to Rusk County officials. Deputies then arrested the father of the victim and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/family violence.
SMITH COUNTY — The Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved the creation of the Smith County Reinvestment Zone No. 1 for the area which includes a 412-acre property that will be developed as a new business park and adjacent properties. According to a news release, Tyler Economic Development Council President/CEO Scott Martinez requested that the reinvestment zone be created to encompass an area that includes the new business park planned by TEDC, just south of Interstate 20 and west of Highway 155. Martinez said creating a reinvestment zone would give TEDC a lot of latitude in what it can do with the 412 acres it has bought for an industrial park that will attract new businesses and hundreds of jobs to the community. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office recognized the best of the best in law enforcement over the last year. According to our news partner KETK, many deputies like patrol deputy, John McLean were recognized. He was received an old award with a new name, The “Lorenzo Bustos Memorial Peace Officer, Rookie of the Year Award.†The award honored Deputy Lorenzo Bustos who was killed in the line of duty while training in July of 2022. “I just hope that I do this award justice,†said John McLean. McLean said he was shocked to get the award. “I feel very honored, Bustos was highly looked up to by everybody on shift and everybody in the department so being able to receive this award tonight is an honor,†said McLean. The award acknowledges McLean’s exemplary work in the field. Read the rest of this entry »