Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
TYLER — A man was found dead in a car in the parking lot of a Walmart in Tyler Thursday morning, according to local police. According to our news partner KETK, just before 8:30, Tyler police responded to a welfare concern at the gas station in the parking lot of the Walmart at the intersection of Highway 31 and Loop 323. Investigators say the man appeared to be homeless. They are working to identify him. A cause of death was not immediately known, but police do not suspect foul play.
CHAPEL Hill — The omicron variant of COVID has been causing some East Texas school districts to make difficult decisions on whether or not to shut their doors. According to our news partner KETK, Chapel Hill ISD was the first East Texas school in 2022 to bring back mask mandates which violate Greg Abbott’s executive order. At the start of the 2021/22 school year, several schools were sued for requiring masks. Now, districts are trying to find a way to continue classes without turning to virtual learning. “We are basing all of our decisions on data and our local health experts,†said Belen Casillas, the Chapel Hill ISD communication director. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A man has been charged with intoxicated assault for a crash in Tyler that left a Tyler Legacy High School student brain dead. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Charles, 24, was booked on Saturday for the Friday night crash. The crash critically injured Lilly Thornburgh, who was a member of the school band. Her family confirmed that they planned to take her off life support Monday night. She would have turned 18 on Wednesday. Very limited information has been released on the details of the wreck. Charles was officially charged with “Intoxication Assault causing brain injury/vegetative state.†He is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $200,000 bond. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A man was arrested on a murder charge on Sunday after officers discovered a dead 23-year-old woman. According to our news partner KETK, Longview police say they were called to The Gilmer Apartments on Gilmer Road around 2:54 p.m. on Sunday. When they arrived, they found Cyan Winn dead from an apparent gunshot wound. 30-year-old Adrian Grissom, Winn’s boyfriend, was booked into the Gregg County Jail at 7:20 p.m. after a warrant was issued for his arrest earlier that day. Investigators believe the incident began as a domestic dispute between Winn and Grissom. Grissom has no prior criminal record in Texas, according to a search of public records.
GREGG COUNTY — A two-year-old boy was killed and one adult and two other children were injured in a two-vehicle crash involving an intoxicated man. According to our news partner KETK, on Thursday afternoon around 4:30 p.m., DPS Troopers responded to the crash on State Highway 149, about three miles southeast of Lakeport. A preliminary investigation report indicates that Mercedes D. Cole, 24, of Longview was driving south in the inside lane in a 2015 Nissan Versa with her turn signal activated and was preparing to turn left into the Dollar General. Hayden M. Malone, 21, of Tyler, was driving south, and reportedly hit Cole’s car. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The latest surge in COVID-19 is hitting East Texas school districts hard and many teachers and staff are absent because of the virus causing districts to have to use office staff to fill in. According to our news partner KETK, Longview ISD and Arp ISD are just two of the many school districts actively recruiting, hiring, and training substitute teachers. Two dozen substitutes were registered and trained at Longview ISD’s Education Support Center Thursday. The instructor put an emphasis on safety protocols for fire and weather emergency procedures – and Covid -19. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Kilgore man has been charged with intoxication manslaughter following a wreck Wednesday night. According to the DPS report, Gary L. Nichols, 40, of Kilgore, was headed east on Hwy 31, approximately 13 miles east of Tyler, when he struck a disabled vehicle. Two male occupants were attempting to push/pull the vehicle while the driver and female passenger remained inside. Jace D. Taylor, 22, of Overton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Devin C. Hardee, 24, of Overton, was transported to UT-Health East Texas Tyler in stable condition. Ashley L. Wilson, 22, of Overton, was also transported to UT-Health East Texas Tyler in critical condition. Hayley Wilson, 23, of Overton, was taken to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in critical condition.
TYLER — The City Council approved updating and establishing new school speeding zones to help ease traffic congestion in our community while also keeping students safe, according to our news partner KETK. The number one reason for the use of school zones is for the safety of all students. “It’s been quite a while since we have made these updates. Cameron Williams, the Traffic Engineer, has really implemented this project to kind of catch up on things we have kind of let go for a number of years,†said Mayor Don Warren. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office obtained warrants Wednesday for the suspects involved in the string of auto burglaries that occurred last week. According to our news partner KETK, following the initial investigation, it was discovered that a total of 32 vehicles had been burglarized and one was stolen in the Whitehouse area. The stolen vehicle was later recovered in Smith County near Loop 49 and Highway 64 West in the late morning on Jan. 6. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Texas Department of Public Safety continues the search for a suspect involved in a fatal hit-and-run wreck that killed a 69-year-old woman on SH 110N. According to our news partner KETK, DPS received surveillance photos at a gas station of the red truck that was possibly involved as well as the man. The man has since been cleared in this investigation. Officials say they are exploring other leads. Patricia G. Radican, 69, of Gun Barrel City was pronounced dead by medical staff at UT Health East Texas in Tyler on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE — A Lindale man was sentenced to life in prison after he shot a woman. According to our news partner KETK, 35-year-old Samuel Salas was charged for unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he shot a woman on March 12, 2021, and Smith County officials said he attempted to break into a home the next day. Smith County law enforcement was searching for Salas for four days until they captured him in Wood County on March 15, 2021. In 2016, Salas also pleaded guilty to assault of a family or a household member, a second-degree felony, and received four years.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — One person is dead after getting hit while stopping for a school bus on Highway 64, roughly eight miles east of Ben Wheeler. According to our news partner KETK, the DPS report says 42-year-old Toni Powell from Fruitvale was driving her 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage on Monday at 4:15 p.m. and was stopped for a school bus that was offloading students. 71-year-old Mary Robinson of Canton was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Trax SUV and failed to control her speed, hitting Powell’s car. Powell was pronounced dead at the scene. Robinson was taken to a Tyler hospital in stable condition. Robinson said the sun was causing her to have limited visibility, a DPS report stated.
TYLER — The City of Tyler announced on Monday all classes at the Glass Recreation Center will be canceled. According to our news partner KETK, this information comes after COVID-19 cases have risen in East Texas and across the nation. Classes will be canceled until further notice. Officials said they are taking these measures to keep people safe. If you have any questions you may call the Parks and Recreation Department at (903) 531-1370.
TYLER — TYLER — Tyler’s Texas Rose Festival has a new queen. Molly Louise Berry still remembers her first year in one of Tyler’s signature events. She told KTBB, “In 2007, I was a royal attendant to Queen Grace Ramey, and…it was absolutely amazing.” And fifteen years later, she’s amazed yet again. She told us, “I never dreamed ever in my life…I was mesmerized by the queen when I was six years old, and I can’t believe now I’m in that position.” Molly was presented Thursday night prior to the Tyler Rose Museum Winter Gala at Willow Brook Country Club, along with her full court and the 2022 festival theme, “Empires of Enchantment.†Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS — An Athens man was arrested after an affidavit showed evidence that he possibly fathered a child of an underage Athens teenager. According to our news partner KETK, Martin Brandstorm, 47, was arrested Wednesday night for felony sexual assault of a child. According to an affidavit, the arrest warrant was issued based on DNA evidence that indicated a 99.9% positive result that Brandstorm fathered a child with a 16-year-old girl. Brandstorm’s bond was set at $1 million with conditions preventing him from having contact with any child under the age of 17.