Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
CHEROKEE COUNTY — A one vehicle wreck involving a Breckenridge Village van has left one man dead, several injured. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the accident happened around 7:45 Saturday morning on US-69, one mile south of Alto. The driver of the 2003 Ford E350 passenger van, Sylvester Conrod Jr., 55, of Tyler, was pronounced dead at the scene. The van was traveling south on 69 when the vehicle ran off the roadway, struck a concrete culvert and an electrical pole. A passenger, identified as Grady Marshall, 66, of Tyler, was transported to a Tyler hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Twelve other adults were passengers of the van but were not injured. Read the rest of this entry »
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Twins who were sent to separate foster homes at age 14 recently reunited in Springfield after losing touch for 60 years. RoseMarie Henson and Rosalie Turner found their way back to one another this month with the help of family and DNA testing, the Springfield News-Leader reported. Turner’s daughter, Tina Henderson, started looking for her mother’s twin after a family member completed a DNA test through Ancestry.com. Henderson said she and her cousin were eventually able to locate Henson in Springfield. Turner’s daughters eventually drove her through the night from Longview, Texas, to reunite with her sister in Springfield. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A Smith County Jury has found Jessie Liggins, 38, of Arp, guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The jury then sentenced him to life in prison without parole. He was arrested by Smith County sheriff’s deputies last July. Investigators learned the suspect has assaulted the girl, under the age of 14, on various occasions over an 18 month period. The last assault was witnessed by a family member, who reported the incident to authorities.
TYLER — A Smith County jury sentenced Jeromy Stewart, 38, to two years in state jail for burglarizing Classic Toyota in Tyler. On August 24, 2018, Stewart entered the auto shop and stole various tools. Tyler Police recovered several of the tools from local pawn shops. Officers also found numerous other tools Stewart had stolen during his brief stay in Tyler. He had previously been convicted of multiple felonies for theft, burglary and cocaine possession. The jury assessed the maximum jail sentence and a $4,400 fine.
HARRISON COUNTY — A missing Harrison County man was found dead Saturday after dozens of East Texas families, including the man’s family members, spent days searching. According to our news partner KETK, Howard “Howie” Waldon, 34, of Uncertain, was found in Jeem’s Bayou in Louisiana early Saturday morning after friends, family and volunteers spent the past week searching for him, Waldon’s wife Amanda Waldon said on Saturday. “They said a fisherman found his body in the water in Jeems Bayou, off of LA Highway 2,” Waldon said. “It looks like he wrecked and ran off into the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake off of Highway 2.” It appears he ran off the road. Waldon was last seen leaving a restaurant in Jefferson around midnight April 13.
LONGVIEW — Longview Police are investigating a Sunday night homicide. According to the department’s Facebook page, officers responded to the Belaire Manor Apartments on Young Street just after 11:00. Marcos Solis, 23, was found dead at the scene. One person was detained for questioning. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and is being considered a domestic violence incident.
SMITH COUNTY — Due to weather conditions Wednesday night, several roadways remain closed due to downed power lines and/or trees. Two of the most heavily damaged roads in Smith County, CR 1125 (Greenbriar Road) and CR 1113 (Lake Placid Road) have been cleared for drivers but crews continue to work to clean up downed trees and power lines. Smith County Road and Bridge crews are working to clear 19 county roads with downed trees. They include CR 1148, 1150, 1151, 192, 1113, 1139, 1134, 1205, 1206, 1140, 196, 1141, 2103, 2161, 235, 337, 397, 437 and 438.
EAST TEXAS — Some East Texas schools started classes late or canceled them altogether on Thursday due to power outages from early-morning storms. According to our news partner KETK, Brownsboro ISD schools and offices were cancelled for Thursday. Kilgore High School also canceled classes, but it was business as usual for all other campuses. Due to a widespread power outage, Chapel Hill ISD delayed school start time by two hours. Palestine Westwood ISD also had a two hour delay. Buses ran with a delay of two hours.
ATHENS — A child is dead after being hit by a falling tree. Athens Police were called to a home on West Tyler Sunday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, police said the child’s parents told investigators that a tree had fallen on the child while it was being trimmed. The child was rushed to a local hospital in a private vehicle, then airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas where the child later died. The unidentified child attended Bel Air Elementary. In a statement put out by Athens ISD, the district wrote: “It is with great sadness that we have to share that one of our sweet kindergarten babies has passed away in a tragic accident. Counselors will be available all week to support our students. Please keep this student’s family and friends in your prayers.”
HENDERSON COUNTY — An Athens man is fatally shot Thursday night. According to Henderson County Sheriff, Botie Hillhouse, William Lebleu, 33, was shot twice with a shotgun around 7:00 pm and was pronounced dead a short time later at a Tyler hospital. Stewart Prewitt, 53, of Athens, has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm. Hillhouse said an argument earlier in the day led to the shooting. Lebleu reportedly went to the residence on Brentwood Circle, south of Athens, with what appeared to be a handgun. When he brandished the weapon, which later proved to be an airsoft gun, Prewitt shot him. The case has been handed over to the Henderson County District Attorney. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday awarded a contract to conduct a traffic study to the firm Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., a national company with offices in Dallas. According to our news partner KETK, the firm said it will spend about a year looking at the city’s varying types of equipment and technology. Engineers say much of that equipment and technology is out of date. The city operates more than 160 traffic lights and none of them are automated. Many of them have been deemed obsolete or structurally deficient. Read the rest of this entry »
BIG SANDY — Classes were canceled at Big Sandy I.S.D. Wednesday following an online threat. Big Sandy Police, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Rangers are all investigating the threat. According to our news partner KETK, school officials were made aware of a social media threat around 10:00 Tuesday night after parents notified the district. After reviewing the post, Big Sandy I.S.D. made the decision to cancel all classes scheduled for Wednesday. This comes almost one year after Big Sandy I.S.D. was put on a precautionary lock-down following a threat made online.
RUSK COUNTY — A single vehicle wreck Monday night claimed the life of a Jacksonville man. David Allan Cooper, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene just before midnight. According to the DPS report, Cooper was traveling south on US-79, about 5 miles outside of Henderson, when his vehicle drifted off the west side of the roadway, struck a culvert and went airborne. The vehicle rolled several times and ejected Cooper. He was not wearing a seatbelt. A crash investigation is underway.
GREGG COUNTY — The pastor of First Baptist Church of Longview’s Hispanic ministry died Friday after a lawnmower he was operating rolled over on top of him, according to our news partner KETK. Longview Police Lt. Shane McCarter said Fabio Gimenez, 50, was operating a zero-turn lawnmower when the accident occurred about 3 p.m. on Glenda Drive. He said Gimenez died at the scene. Gimenez was the Puertas Abiertas (open doors) pastor at First Baptist. “Pastor Fabio Gimenez was involved in a serious lawnmower accident and tragically passed away from his injuries,” the church posted on Facebook. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A San Antonio area man convicted of criminally negligent homicide is seeking an appeal of his conviction. According to our news partner KETK, in December 2017, James Fulton, 43, of Bulverde, was convicted in connection with the death of Haile Beasley, 21, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Fulton’s attorney is looking to overturn the conviction of criminally negligent homicide and grant a new sentencing trial. On the night of May 14, 2016, Fulton’s truck hit Beasley’s car head-on in the eastbound lanes of Grande Boulevard in Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY — A fiery wreck on I-20 in Harrison County leaves three people dead, one injured. The two vehicle crash happened just after 11:00 Monday night on I-20 east, about 8 miles east of Marshall. According to the Department of Public Safety, a semi-trailer was traveling east when it was struck by an eastbound car. The impact caused the car to flip, landing upside down, and catching on fire. The front passenger and the two rear passengers were killed in the wreck. The driver was transported to LSU Health in Shreveport in serious condition. Names have not been released. An investigation is underway.
HENDERSON — The Henderson Police department has joined Kilgore PD in saying that the school shooting threat that spread throughout East Texas on Sunday is “not credible.” According to our news partner KETK, they concluded through multiple interviews that the threat came from a fictitious social media account. Multiple agencies were brought into the investigation, including the FBI. Despite the threat being deemed not credible, there are extra security precautions being taken at all five school districts involved — Henderson, Overton, West Rusk, Chapel Hill, and Kilgore. Classes were in session as normal Monday in all five districts.
ANGELINA COUNTY — Six suspects are arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. According to our news partner KETK, Lufkin police said the group was selling flavored gummies infused with THC oil. Affidavits listed the suspects as: Juanda Carroll Morgan, Meghan Sutton, Catherine Richey, Chance Richey, Rickie Herring and Elizabeth Futch. Police said the THC oil was being sent from Colorado and that the gummies contained 74% THC oil. Police obtained a warrant for Sutton’s Facebook account and found that she was direct messaging those involved in the operation.
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview woman who was indicted in August in connection with a 2018 duplex fire that killed two people has been transferred to the Gregg County Jail from Denton County. According to the Longview News Journal and our news partner, KETK, Kimberly Nicole Bruton, 33, was being held on a $200,000 bond Wednesday in Gregg County Jail on a warrant for arson causing bodily injury/death and without bond on a warrant from the 124th District Court for bond forfeiture for the same offense. Bruton was released from the Denton County Jail on Tuesday for time served after being arrested there May 23 on an unrelated arson charge. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A felon wanted by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office was arrested Monday morning following a manhunt involving a K-9 unit. Two suspects reportedly hiding the felon were also arrested. Joshua Lee Kelly, 37, was wanted for a parole violation. April Watts, 31, and her boyfriend Dakota Strong, 25, were arrested for hindering the apprehension of a felon. A search for Stephen Stovall, 35, wanted on an outstanding warrant, is underway. Deputies spotted a suspicious vehicle and attempted a traffic stop which led to a brief pursuit ending at a residence south of Chandler. The owner of the property gave deputies consent to search the home where Kelly (pictured) was eventually found. A search of the abandoned vehicle turned up meth. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches Police are searching for the gunman responsible for killing one person Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, authorities were called around 8:00 to the 2200 block of Lola Street in reference to a report of a gunshot victim. Officers found Damien Wade, 18, of Nacogdoches, dead from a gunshot wound. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Nacogdoches Police Department at (936) 559-2607.
TYLER — Tim Vaughn, the former mayor of White Oak and Gregg County GOP Chairman, is facing decades in prison after being indicted on multiple charges of lying to banks. According to our news partner KETK, Vaughn has been charged in federal court on two counts of making a false statement to a bank and two counts of aggravated identity theft. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on Feb. 20. An initial trial date is scheduled for May 13. According to the indictment, Vaughn is accused of making false statements to Southside Bank (then First Bank & Trust East Texas) on March 18, 2016, and then to Texas Bank and Trust on March 29, 2016. Read the rest of this entry »
FRANKSTON — Frankston ISD announced on its Facebook page the death of junior high basketball coach and history teacher, Reginald Clark. Clark “recently became very ill and has passed away,” FISD said in the post. “Coach Clark was an excellent teacher, and we will all miss him very much.” The post added that Clark’s family “would like you to know he loved his students and colleagues very much.” According to our news partner KETK, the district will have counselors available to help student “during this difficult time.”
LONGVIEW (AP) – Ten trumpet students at a Louisiana university are offering to play Taps at veterans’ funerals, rather than leave the haunting farewell bugle call to a mechanical device. “A lot of people get a recording, and play it over a speaker. It means something because it’s the song. But when you have an actual person with the horn … and you hear the horn ring over the fields, it takes the breath out of your chest,” Kody Jernigan, a music education major at the University of Louisiana in Monroe, said in a telephone interview. The senior from Longview is a member of Talons for Taps, named because the university’s mascot is the Warhawk — a nod to the World War II-era Curtiss P-40 Warhawk airplane. All are members of the ULM Trumpet Studio: seven trumpet majors and three other students taught by Assistant Professor Eric Siereveld. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — One man is dead following a Thursday night shooting in Henderson County. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said deputies were called to the scene on Valley View Drive, in the Brierwood Bay subdivision, shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday. Jaylon Ward, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound. Natalie McKenzie, 41, was found wounded by gunfire. She was airlifted to UT Health-Tyler and was last reported in critical but stable condition. Ward’s body was sent to Dallas for autopsy. No arrests had been made at last report.
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for a suspect accused of attacking a jogger at Rose Rudman Park. It happened around 7:30 Thursday evening. Officials said the female was running on the paved trail in the middle of the park when a black male grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a wooded area. Officials said the suspect attempted to sexually assault her as she fought and screamed to keep him away. The man fled on foot. He’s described as 6′ tall, medium build, 30-years-old, wearing a dark hoodie and sweat pants. The woman suffered minor injuries. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tyler Police at 903-531-1090 or Crime Stoppers at 903-597-2833. Tyler Police remind all runners to be cautious when running at night and pair with another runner when possible for safety.
SMITH COUNTY — A reminder is going out to those who’d been expecting a Wednesday trip to the Smith County Courthouse. The county has cancelled jury duty for Wednesday, March 13. Smith County residents who were planning to report for jury duty on Wednesday with their yellow cards don’t have to make the trip to the courthouse. However, if you have been asked to return for jury duty by a specific court, you must still report.
SMITH COUNTY — A Chandler man gets a lengthy sentence for possession and trafficking drugs. Anton Stewart Jr., 26, was sentenced by a Smith County jury Thursday to 45 years in prison. The evidence at trial showed that after a traffic stop and search of Stewart’s vehicle, he was found to be in possession of around 7 grams of meth, over 1 gram of cocaine, 79 Xanax pills and two digital scales. The jury also heard about his lengthy criminal history, as well as the fact the defendant absconded from his original trial date and had to been tracked down and re-arrested. Based on his criminal history, the range of punishment was 15 years to life in prison.
HENDERSON COUNTY — An Athens man has been arrested following a traffic stop Monday night. According to the Henderson County Sheriff, William Allen Henderson, 57, was pulled over for a traffic violation just outside of Athens around 9:00. During a search of his vehicle, investigators found a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a glass pipe, along with a loaded .38 special handgun. Henderson is a convicted felon and prohibited from carrying a firearm. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon.
TYLER — One man has been killed, one injured following a wreck in Tyler Monday night. It happened around 10:45 at Loop 323 and Paluxy. Officials said a silver Jeep was driving westbound on the Loop at a high rate of speed when it ran a red light. The Jeep struck the driver’s side of a red GMC Yukon traveling southbound on Paluxy. The driver of the Yukon was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as Dan Rodela Gonzalez (pictured), 25, of Tyler. The driver of the Jeep, Ethan John Craft, 24, of Tyler, was transported to UT Health. No arrests have been made but the circumstances of the wreck are under investigation, including whether alcohol or other substances may have played a role.