Today is
Tuesday June 09, 2026
MINEOLA – 
Grab your boots and favorite hat, the rodeo has officially started, according to our news partners at KETK. The 61st edition of the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department Rodeo kicked off at 6 p.m. on Friday at their rodeo grounds along Highway 69. For the fire department and rodeo organizers it’s about more than raising money, it’s a heartfelt tradition. “Rodeo hasn’t changed, the world’s changed a little bit but rodeo’s a constant,†said J.R. Mclelland, Professional Rodeo Announcer. The 61st annual Mineola Volunteer Fire Department Rodeo is being held on Friday and Saturay this year. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – 
Longview residents will soon have another way to cool down in the summer heat after the city counsel voted to approve a new pool, according to our news partners at KETK. Currently there is only one pool open to community members in the entire city of Longview. Thursday night Longview city council approved plans to build a new community park in Stamper P{ark. The path toward adding a new swimming center has been discussed for the past few weeks. The proposal narrowly passed with a 4 to 3 vote on Thursday. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – 
An East Texas man was sentenced to 99 years in prison on Thursday, a day after a Henderson County jury found him guilty of assaulting a public servant according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Henderson County District Attorney, Hubert Eldon Case III, 41 of Gun Barrel City, was in jail in November 2023 when he struck a detention service officer in the face. Read the rest of this entry »
SABINE COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report that in a record-breaking severe weather event, 13 tornadoes touched down in East Texas as Beryl continued inland. NWS in Shreveport reported 67 tornado warnings on Monday. NWS Shreveport said weather events due to Beryl “are further proof that inland tropical impacts can also be quite extreme.†NWS said as of now, there have been no reported injuries in East Texas in relation to the 13 tornadoes
SMITH COUNTY – After Beryl caused many East Texans to lose food, recipients of SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, can now apply for replacement benefits. According to our news partner KETK, Acting Gov. Dan Patrick said Thursday, “The recent storms have impacted many families across the state. By providing these replacement food benefits, we will offer relief to those who need our help the most. As we continue our recovery process, it is vital that SNAP and WIC recipients have access to these benefits to continue to feed their families.â€
SNAP and WIC recipients in the following local counties can apply for replacement benefits that will be put on their Lone Star Cards if approved:Â Â Anderson, Angelina, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Marion, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Polk, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Titus, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood.
People must apply by calling 211 and selecting option 8 before Aug. 8. People can also mail a completed Form H1855 to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Families who use WIC can go to a WIC office to replace food benefits through July 31, a release from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said.
TYLER – The Tyler City Council on Wednesday, accepted a donation for a new pavilion for the Heritage Garden from the Gertrude Windsor Garden Club. According to our news partner KETK, the donation is in the form of a pavilion, which is valued at $81,589.
Leanne Robinette, director of parks, recreation and tourism facilities said, “We have had a long-standing partnership with the Gertrude Windsor Garden Club, and we are very grateful and excited about the new structure. This is something that has been in the works for years. It’s going to be a great addition to the garden.â€
City officials said they have $25,000 budgeted for installation of the pavilion. Installation is expected to be completed within the coming weeks.
VAN – 
The city manager of Van was terminated at a city council meeting on Thursday night. The Van City Council met to discuss the status of former Police Chief Melissa Davis after she was fired July 1 by the City Manager John Desha. The Texas Municipal Police Association told our news partners at KETK News, Davis was fired for not wanting to fine property owners who were victims of graffiti. In Thursday’s meeting, several other key city positions such as the city manager, city secretary, public works director, fire marshal and fire chief were also discussed in executive session. Before the closed-door meeting, council members voted unanimously to change current policy, effective immediately, that if a city manager wanted to terminate a department head, they would need to bring the recommendation to the council and councilmembers would approve or deny.
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TYLER – 
FEMA has set a deadline of August 15, for Smith County residents to register for individual assistance with their storm damages. So far, FEMA has approved 2,367 Smith County residents for individual assistance, for a total of nearly $5.8 million, Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore reported. Citizens who still need help recovering from the severe storms, tornados, flooding and straight-line winds, from April 26 through June 5, can go to the Hub for in-person assistance. The Disaster Recovery Center at The Hub, located at 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler, has changed its hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
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KILGORE – CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System, the city of Kilgore and Kilgore College celebrated the opening of a new facility, the Roy H. Laird Regional Medical Health Sciences Education Center, with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening event on Thursday.
More than 300 guests were able to get a first-hand look at the 75,000 square-foot center that includes new teaching and state-of-the-art lab space through Kilgore College’s health science programs, a new CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic family medicine location and an out-patient physical therapy location. Construction of the new facility began in March 2022, with the clinic featuring 24 exam rooms, lab, x-ray, and seven providers.
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TYLER – City of Tyler officials announced that that there will be road work on Grande Boulevard from Friday, July 12, at 7 a.m. until Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m. Road crews will be working on both lanes on Grande Boulevard, from Sutherland Drive east of Broadway Avenue to Old Jacksonville Highway. During construction, only one lane will be available for travel. Drivers should expect delays, watch out for road crews and drive according to conditions in this area.
LONGVIEW – 
Our news partners at KETK report a Longview resident won $1 million in the lottery playing a scratch-off. The winner purchased the winning $1 million Crossword ticket at CEFCO on E. End Blvd. in Marshall. They chose to remain anonymous. This was the fourth of four top prizes claimed in that game, which offers more than $152.4 million in total prizes.
FORT WORTH – Tyler ISD Head Start announced on Wednesday they are mourning one of their Head Start students who died on July 4 due to gun violence, according to a report from our news partners at KETK. “Please keep her family in your prayers during this very difficult time,†Tyler ISD Head Start said. According to reports from Dallas NBC affiliate NBC 5, Ivy Pierce, 4, and her sister Wynter Thouston, 1, were among five people shot on July 4 while in the area for a fireworks show. Both girls died of their injuries. Read the rest of this entry »
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LONGVIEW – The University of Texas at Tyler broke ground on the expansion of the UT Tyler Longview University Center. The 10,144-square-foot annex will add a 65-person classroom, multipurpose lab space, nursing skills and health assessment labs, along with centralized study spaces. The new facility allows for the expansion of bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in Longview and Gregg County.
“This expansion will allow us to introduce new nursing and science programs and increase our presence in Longview, helping meet education needs and provide more support for health care services across the region.†said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD.
Project completion is set for fall 2025. The first phase of road work has already been completed.