Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
LONGVIEW — A Longview man is being held in the Gregg County Jail after police say he pulled out a gun and aimed it at a car on Jaycee Drive. According to the Longview News-Journal, Bobby Ray Manns, 34, is held on bonds totaling $26,000. He’s been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a Rusk County charge of possession of marijuana. Longview police said two people were driving Saturday on Jaycee Drive when Manns pulled out in front of them. When they attempted to pass Manns’ vehicle, he pointed a gun at them. He was stopped a short time later. Inside the front seat of the vehicle, police found a loaded black .45-caliber handgun.
SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead following an early morning crash in Smith County. The one vehicle wreck happened around 1:00 Sunday morning on FM 346, 2 miles east of Whitehouse. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the driver of a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis, identified as Paul Lee Hawthorne, 31, of Dallas, was traveling west on FM 346 when he lost control and struck a tree. Hawthorne was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger, identified Zytrinka Doyle, 23, of Mabelvale, Arkansas was transported to East Texas Medical Center in serious condition.
SMITH COUNTY — One man has been taken to the hospital in critical condition following a shooting Sunday at Eagle Creek Ranch, off Highway 271. Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said the victim, a black male, suffered a life threatening gunshot wound. Deputies responded to the location around 1:00 following a 911 call. The victim was found in a wooded area, along with his vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an undisclosed location to be processed. The investigation is ongoing.
EAST TEXAS — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of September 18, 2017. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention when traveling through work zones. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Foster Middle School student who officials said brought a loaded handgun to school has been taken into custody on a directive to apprehend, according to the Longview News-Journal. The student is facing a charge of places weapons prohibited, a felony. The student’s identity is not being released because of his or her age. A Foster staff member found a loaded .380 pistol Tuesday hidden in a bathroom. The district said Tuesday that no other students or staff were in the bathroom, and there were no direct threats made. Parents were notified of the incident through a mass recorded call. Parents are now planning a meeting with the school’s principal to discuss security. This incident is the second known gun-related incident at the campus this calendar year.
TYLER — A Tulsa, Oklahoma, man is in critical condition after he was hit by a vehicle Friday morning just before 6:30 on Highway 271 North near Loop 323 in Tyler. According to a news release, police determined that a pickup was traveling northbound in the outside lane. 27-year-old Eric Feuerborn was walking southbound on the shoulder of the same lane. He stepped out in front of the vehicle as it approached. The driver of the vehicle was not found at fault.
TYLER — An East Texas couple will spend decades behind bars for sexually assaulting children. According to KETK, Johnny Crocker, 57, and Angela Crocker, 42, both of Whitehouse, entered a guilty on Thursday. The husband, a former law enforcement officer, was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each of five counts of aggravated sexual assault. The sentences will be served concurrently. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — More information was issued Wednesday following the announcement of a big merger announced earlier in the day. ETMC will partner with Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas System. With that merger they are hoping to expand by bringing in more job opportunities and better education. The partnership will invest $150 million for improvements over five years and provide other resources to support the operation. Ardent will assume majority ownership and day-to-day operations of the new system. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. This past February, ETMC leadership began the search for a strategic partner to assist the organization.
TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested for DWI after a wreck Wednesday night. According to KETK, Quincy Ilya Gips, 22, was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed when he attempted to turn left on Rieck Road from Broadway. He lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole, knocking out electricity to surrounding businesses. Gips was booked into the Smith County Jail.
LONGVIEW — Longview ISD authorities say they’ve identified the student who brought a loaded gun to Foster Middle School on Tuesday. According to KETK, school officials say no threat was made to any student or faculty member by the student. The .380 pistol was discovered in a bathroom by a staff member and reported to law enforcement immediately, according to LISD. There were no other students or staff in the bathroom when the gun was located. The student faces expulsion for up to a year for bringing a gun onto campus. The juvenile will also be facing criminal prosecution by the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. The district said it will pursue punishment to the fullest extent.
GREGG COUNTY — A Department of Public Safety Trooper arrested Michael Lydall Grant, 37, of Overton, around 2:15 Wednesday morning. According to KETK, he’s been charged with accident involving death and intoxication manslaughter. Grant also had an outstanding parole warrant out of Austin. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail. Bond has not been set. According to DPS, around 9:20 Tuesday night, witnesses say Grant was traveling southbound on County Road 3652 when he ran a stop sign. Officials say he then struck Lechell Scott, 34, of Kilgore, who was walking in the roadway. DPS says Grant drove off, but was arrested a short time later. Scott was pronounced dead at the scene.
TYLER — Tyler Police say they have found a missing teenager. Mario Alvarado, 15, was found around 11:30 last night. He had been reported missing Tuesday night in the area of South Clayton and East Lawrence. Further details on his disappearance were not immediately available.
LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is investigating after a venomous snake bit a child at a local soccer complex. According to KETK, the Greater Longview Soccer Association said Monday, a child was bitten by a water moccasin while playing in the creek area at the Lear Soccer Complex on Pals Parkway. The City of Longview Parks and Recreation Department has been notified and staff members are searching the area for more snakes. The GLSA is asking residents to keep a close watch on their children and to restrict them from the creek and woods near the complex.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after a short foot pursuit by Longview police on Friday afternoon. According to the Longview News-Journal, Tyrone Melvin Garner, 39, was found to be in possession of 87.5 grams of methamphetamine among other drugs. According to a probable cause warrant for arrest, Garner, 39, was stopped because of expired registration and ran from police carrying a backpack with a large quantity of narcotics. He gave officers a false name and date of birth. Because there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest, the new charges were being enhanced to fail to identify as a fugitive, unlawful possession of a firearm, which is a felony, and possession of a controlled substance between 4 and 200 grams. Garner was charged on seven counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm. He remained in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $94,000.
LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested one man on drug charges after a traffic stop over the weekend. According to KETK, around at 4:20 Saturday afternoon, they stopped Kevin Lee Mann, 47, for failing to signal. A backpack was in the car that Mann gave the officer permission to search. Inside the backpack the officer found syringes, baggies and a scale. The officer then searched the vehicle locating methamphetamines and Xanex. Further investigation led officers to believe Mann was selling the narcotics. He was arrested for Manufacture and Delivery of controlled substance, and booked into jail with a bond of $60,000.
LONGVIEW — Two corporate-owned Jack in the Box restaurants in Longview and one in Kilgore closed last week due to a decline in business. According to the Longview News-Journal and KETK, corporate headquarters in San Diego said the Longview fast-food restaurants at West Marshall Avenue and Spur 63, North Access Road off Interstate 20, and on U.S. 259 North in Kilgore were “underperforming locations.” The company closed all three Aug. 28. The Access Road Jack in the Box opened in 1999, the Kilgore store followed in 2002 and the Marshall Avenue location began in 2003.
HENDERSON COUNTY — A 28-year-old man was arrested in Coffee City Wednesday night for possession of meth. Henderson County Sheriff Deputies were investigating a game room on Highway 155 when Aaron Sean Short made a mad dash from the building. He jumped into a van of startled, screaming people and was immediately arrested. Short was found to be in possession of a large amount of meth and admitted to being a drug dealer, according to deputies. He faces numerous charges, including manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.
LONGVIEW — A Longview teenager was arrested for his involvement in a shooting August 16. Xzayver Alexzay Carter, 19, has been charged with aggravated assault following the shooting at the American Fidelity Apartments on Morrison Street. One person suffered life-threatening injuries but has since been released from the hospital. Carter was arrested on a warrant Monday afternoon. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $500,000. He’s been arrested numerous times over the last two years. Those charges include evading arrest, criminal trespass and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
LONGVIEW — Longview police say a man attacked an elderly person with a chair near a busy intersection Friday evening. According to the Longview News-Journal, Aaron Matthew Porras, 21, was booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $69,000. He’s charged with resisting arrest, aggravated assault, evading arrest and two counts of harassing a public servant. Police responded to East Marshall Avenue near Alpine Road shortly after 5 p.m. after someone noticed a man striking an elderly man with a chair. Porras ran from the scene when officers arrived, then scuffled with officers after he was caught, spitting at two of the officers. It was Porras’ sixth arrest in about six months, including Aug. 22 on a public intoxication charge.
TYLER — A Tyler pastor and school board president is giving back to his state in a big way. As a member of the Texas State Guard he deployed to help in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey. Rev. Fritz Hager Jr. says he will be there as long as he’s needed, and the devastation suggests that could be a while. He tells KETK this is the largest military mobilization in Texas since WWII. Hager is stationed in Beaumont. He is seeing the devastation firsthand, and working as a chaplain looking out for the spiritual and emotional well being of the soldiers and victims. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — A motorist found idling his vehicle in a West Longview intersection raced from officers at speeds of more than 100 mph before stopping at a freeway interchange. According to the Longview News-Journal, Robert Odell Smith, 35, of Longview, remained in the Gregg County Jail under $23,000 bond Sunday, charged with driving while intoxicated, marijuana possession and evading arrest with a vehicle. Longview police noticed Smith’s vehicle failed to properly stop at a stop light on Enterprise Street at Southwest Loop 281 about midnight Sunday. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, Smith fled east on the loop, leading to a chase in excess of 100 mph. Read the rest of this entry »
OVERTON — One person has been arrested and charged with murder after a shooting in Overton. According to KETK, Overton police were called to a home on North Rusk Street around 11 p.m. Friday night. They found a 51-year-old man deceased inside the house. Terry Ammons, 64, was arrested and was booked into the Rusk County Jail with bond set at 1 million dollars.
TYLER — Twelve people went to local hospitals following an ammonia leak at Brookshire’s Warehouse in Tyler. The leak has since been contained. There were blockades of some of the roads in the area, but they have all been lifted. ETMC says all five patients seen there were released Friday morning; CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler says it has released all seven of its patients. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Gas prices are on the rise and a run on gas is occurring in different areas throughout the state, mostly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. However, officials say there is not a gas shortage. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton said consumers are putting undue demand on fuel stations before they can be replenished. While some refineries have shut down or are operating at reduced capacity due to Hurricane Harvey, plenty of refining capacity is still online and there are more than 230 million barrels of gasoline supply in Texas to meet needs. Citizens have no need to fear shortages even though prices could climb during the next few weeks until all refining capacity is back online.
LUFKIN — A popular Lufkin DJ has gone missing in the Houston area during efforts to help Harvey victims. According to KETK, 30-year-old Alonso Guillén, or DJ Ocho, left Tuesday to go help people in Spring and his boat capsized around midnight. Ocho was on a boat with 25-year-old Tomas Carreon and 22-year-old Luis Ortega. Ortega is recovering in the hospital, while the other two men are still missing. Friends and family are collecting clothes, food and water that they plan to donate to people affected by Harvey in Deep East and South Texas. Radio station Y-100 says if you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Montgomery County Sheriffs office at 936.760.5871.
EAST TEXAS — A former East Texas high school football player turned football coach has died, according to Clear Creek Independent School District. On Tuesday, the Friendswood Police Department confirmed Ruben C. Jordan, was killed in the devastating floods in South Texas. According to KETK, his family said he was last seen helping rescue people after Hurricane Harvey hit the state. Jordan, a retired coach at Clear Creek High School, also played football at John Tyler High School alongside “The Tyler Rose,” Earl Campbell. He graduated from JTHS in 1977, according to his Facebook page. From there, he attended Lamar University before going into coaching and teaching. Upon retirement, Jordan opened Friendswood Driving School.
TYLER — Tyler Police are searching for the suspect wanted in the robbery of a grocery store owner. It happened just after 11:00 Monday night at the Super Food Mart on NNW loop 323. Police were told that the store manager was walking to her car after locking the store when she was grabbed from behind and forced to the back of the building. The suspect reportedly shoved her to the ground and took her purse along with the store’s money from that evening. The suspect, described as a tall, thin black male, fled the scene, possibly in a white SUV. An employee taking out trash claims to have not seen anything. No injuries were reported.
EAST TEXAS — One woman remains jailed in connection with the death of another woman after a dispute over animals. According to KETK, Amber Long, 35, is charged with murder in the death of Amy Allen, who operated an animal rescue group in Marion County. Long remains in the Marion County Jail on $1 million bond. Deputies were called about 8 a.m. Monday to Long’s home off U.S. 259, north of Jefferson, in reference to dogs coming onto the property and attacking Long’s animals. Officers found Allen, 54, unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead. Allen’s body will be sent to Dallas for an autopsy. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — It was standing room only for a highly anticipated Tyler ISD school board meeting Monday night. The public turned out to express their opinions “for” or “against” a possible name change for Robert E. Lee High School. Some Tyler ISD parents want to change the name of the school.Another parent who, would like to see the name changed, said Robert E. Lee himself was not a fan of statues honoring Civil War Generals. The topic was not on the agenda and a motion was not called. TISD has not announced if they will take up the issue. Read the rest of this entry »
SAN AUGUSTINE — A train derailed in San Augustine County . According to KETK, it happened on FM 1279 around 10:00 Monday morning. The Department of Public Safety said a semi hauling timber was headed west on FM 1279 when it collided with the northbound train. Thirteen rail cars carrying sodium hydroxide overturned. Haz-Mat crews were called to the scene and three homes were evacuated. The driver of the log truck, James Cartwright, 33, of Shelbyville, was taken to San Augustine County Memorial Hospital. His condition is unknown.