Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
AUSTIN — 
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-11. This will be the 25th year of Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXAS – 
The ACLU of Texas said Wednesday it found 51 school districts, including three East Texas school districts, in violation of the Texas CROWN Act, which bans race-based hair discrimination, and urged them to update their dress code policies, according to the Texas Tribune and our news partners at KETK. The Texas CROWN Act prohibits schools, workplaces and housing authorities from discriminating against hairstyles historically associated with race such as dreadlocks, cornrows or afros. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The cause of death for a missing Tyler man has been released, according to our news partner KETK. The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas revealed Jose Alejandro Perez’s manner of death was ruled as “homicide violence including chop/blunt force injuries and neck compression.â€
Perez initially went missing on April 26 from the Towne Oaks Apartments off Old Bullard Road, where his mother had last seen him. Officers reportedly discovered his vehicle at Autumn Glen apartments off Hollytree Drive, about a mile-and-a-half from his last known location.
By May 5, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call at around 3:40 p.m. where the caller indicated human remains may have been located in the area of 15400 block of FM 346 East between Troup and Whitehouse. Read the rest of this entry »
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TYLER – A juvenile suspect was arrested Wednesday for multiple bomb threats and swatting hoaxes in Tyler. A joint investigation was conducted by the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI. The Tyler PD apprehended the youth and charged him with six criminal offenses. The juvenile is currently at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center.
TYLER – If you still need help from FEMA for damages suffered by severe weather in Smith County from April 26 through June 5, you can talk to them in person at the Disaster Recover Center in Tyler until Monday. FEMA will close its Disaster Recovery Center on July 29. Until then, it will be open 8 a.m. To 6 p.m. through Saturday at The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler. As of Monday, July 22, FEMA had approved 3,261 Smith County residents for individual assistance, for a total of $12,098,877, Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported.
The Disaster Recovery Center has been open nearly every day since June 22. Citizens have had the chance to get in-person help there by FEMA personnel, as well as representatives from the Small Business Administration, Lone Star Legal and the local nonprofit organization, Crisis Response Ministry. Others have applied for assistance by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov or calling FEMA’s helpline: 800-621-3362.
FEMA has set a deadline of August 15, for Smith County residents to register for individual assistance with their storm damages.
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SMITH COUNTY —
Two men have been indicted for aggravated kidnapping for ransom or reward in an incident Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said is directly related to cartel activities. According to our news partner KETK, on March 17 at around 4:06 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a call of a woman claiming her husband was taken at gunpoint by two men in a red Honda passenger car. The woman’s sons reportedly followed the Honda and pulled over at a donut shop on Highway 271. The accused kidnappers, identified by the sheriff’s office as Julio Cesar Cordova and Walybert Eron Cordova-Rascon, allegedly threatened the sons with a gun and told them they had to pay a $10,000 ransom to get their father back. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN – The owner of a Cypress massage establishment that was closed in early July by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) for suspected human trafficking has agreed to close the massage establishment and to permanently quit the massage industry.
TDLR had issued a six-month emergency closure order on July 1 against Changjiang Zhong d/b/a Gen Spa (7014 Fry Road, Suite 110) in Cypress. Without admitting or denying TDLR’s allegations about human trafficking, Zhong signed a settlement agreement on July 17, 2024, agreeing to a permanent license revocation for two massage establishments licensed at the location, as well as a lifelong ban on owning or managing any massage establishments in Texas.
It was the first emergency closure ordered by TDLR under authority granted by House Bill 3579, authored by Rep. Ben Bumgarner and sponsored by Sen. Phil King, and passed by the 88th Texas Legislature.
In mid-May, a TDLR inspector performed a routine inspection of the establishment located at 7014 Fry Road, Suite 110, in Cypress. Once the inspector managed to gain access to the establishment, they noted numerous potential indicators of possible human trafficking, including:
An ATM machine in the lobby
Advertisements showing the establishment is open 24 hours
Lingerie and high heeled shoes in the laundry area
Unlicensed employees providing massages
Bedding and other items that showed employees were living in the establishment
In addition, TDLR had previously revoked Zhong’s massage therapist license, as well as an establishment license for a different location. He still owes $21,000 in administrative penalties from the previous violations.
This is the second emergency closure of a massage establishment that TDLR has ordered in the past six weeks. The agency was granted the authority to order an emergency closure through House Bill 3579, authored by Rep. Ben Bumgarner and sponsored by Sen. Phil King, and passed by the 88th Texas Legislature. Under the law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023, TDLR’s executive director can issue an emergency order halting the operation of any massage establishment if law enforcement or TDLR believes human trafficking is occurring at the establishment.
“We appreciate the Texas Legislature for providing this tool that will help us shut down massage establishments that are endangering their employees and, potentially, their customers. TDLR will continue to defend vulnerable people who may be trafficked,” said Courtney Arbour, TDLR executive director.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). If the situation is an emergency or you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert the authorities.
You can also file a complaint on a TDLR-regulated business that you suspect may be participating in human trafficking.
TYLER – 
FEMA is committed to helping all eligible Texas households recover from Hurricane Beryl, including U.S. citizens, non-U.S. citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens. You or a member of your household must be U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen to apply. Families with diverse immigration status, including adults who are undocumented, can apply as long as at least one family member is a citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified non-citizen. For instance, if you are undocumented and have a child under 18 who is a U.S. citizen and lived in the household during the time of the disaster, you can apply for FEMA assistance. Read the rest of this entry »
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POLK COUNTY — 
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said one person is dead from a gunshot wound following a “family disturbance†on Saturday according to our news partners at KETK. According to a release, officials responded to 911 calls in the 3700 block of FM 3459 in Onalaska. When detectives arrived, they reportedly discovered Gerald Fields, 56 of Onalaska, dead at the scene. Witnesses reported that a disturbance occurred between two family members where Fields died from a single gunshot. The sheriff’s office, Onalaska Police Department and the Texas Rangers Office processed the crime scene and conducted interviews. An autopsy has been ordered for Fields to be performed by the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.
TYLER – Darius Jubarn’e Davis, 31, Tyler, was arrested March 13, after officers responded to calls of a shooting at Liberty Arms apartments on North Broadway Avenue. According to our news partner KETK, when police arrived they found a 3-year-old shot in the buttocks. The child was taken to local hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Davis has been indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between 4 and 200 grams and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
JEFFERSON — 60 dogs have been rescued from a former bar turned into a “makeshift shelter†in Jefferson after a rescue group determined it unsafe. According to our news partner KETK, the Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), visited the shelter, and found it had become overwhelmed by the number of homeless animals. ARC reportedly rescued 21 dogs, and sent supplies including pet food and an air conditioning unit.
In their last visit, a release from ARC said, “they found 39 dogs inside and outside the facility housed in a variety of pens, cages, and kennels. Some tarp-covered wire cages outside held up to five dogs while inside dogs were exposed to high ammonia levels and kept in dirty makeshift kennels with urine-soaked straw.â€
The dogs were then sent to the groups rescue center in Gallatin, Tenn. On arrival, each dog is reportedly given an exam by a veterinarian, vaccinations and other medical treatment that is needed. Once the dogs are well, they will be transported to a trusted shelter to be adopted.
People can visit the ARC website to donate or volunteer to support the rehabilitation of these dogs.
TYLER – A Tyler man charged with the murder of his father is due back in court this September. According to our news partner KETK, 44-year-old Christopher Tilley was indicted in June for the murder of his father, 79-year-old Del Tilley.
Christopher is accused of fatally shooting his father over an argument on who would care for an injured dog in their home. He told officers his father began to choke him, so he shot him once in self-defense. Investigators reported the Tilley residence didn’t show any signs of disturbance. They also noted, Del Tilley suffered three gunshot wounds. Two in close contact to his stomach and one wound to his head and neck.
Christopher waived his arraignment. He’ll be back in court Aug. 1 for a plea docket agreement. His jury trial begins Sept. 9.
SMITH COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report that officials are searching for the driver of a vehicle that reportedly hit a firefighter while responding to a wreck on FM 850 on Sunday. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said just after 8:30 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a wreck when a firefighter was struck by a vehicle. Officials said the firefighter was transported, treated and has since been released. However, this is the second time a firefighter has been hit in the last month. Read the rest of this entry »