Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
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HENDERSON – A former Henderson ISD teacher was sentenced to six months in state jail and 10 years in probation after she pleaded guilty to an improper relationship with a student. According to our news partner KETK, Kathryn Prior, of Henderson, was arrested in December 2024 for having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The former vocational agriculture education teacher was also charged with possession of child pornography and indecency with a child.
According to the Rusk County District Attorney’s Office, Prior’s guilty plea allowed her not to be convicted of the indecency charge, but it was taken into consideration for her sentencing. Prior’s child pornography charge was dropped and First Assistant Prosecutor Allen Ross said they “couldn’t move forward with that case.” As a part of the plea deal, Prior had to surrender her teaching license.
Prior’s 180 days in jail begin on March 30 with 10 years in probation to follow. If Prior violates her probation, she will serve the 10 years in state jail, Ross said.
LONGVIEW – A worker at Trinity Industries in Longview has tragically died after suffering severe burns in an industrial incident that happened Monday. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Fire Marshal Marcus Delaney said they received 911 a report of a patient who had been burned in an industrial incident at around 10:27 a.m.
The Longview Fire Department responded to the scene on Jordan Valley Road with a fire engine, along with EMS, who transported a man to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening burns. Delaney said the man later died at the hospital. The fire marshal’s office is currently investigating the cause of the man’s fatal burns. Delaney was unaware of any similar incidents ever happening at the Trinity Industries facility in Longview. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The City of Tyler is asking residents to consider following a watering schedule and to practice water-saving habits as warm temperatures and the lack of rain are increasing demand. According to our news partner KETK, the voluntary schedule suggests that residents limit outdoor watering to two days per week and only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Officials add, that following the schedule helps keep water pressure up across the community and reduces evaporation.
Residents whose house address ends with an even number should water on Sundays and Thursdays, while odd-numbered addresses should water on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
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SMITH COUNTY — A threat directed at a Chapel Hill school in Texas has been deemed a “swatting” incident and is under investigation as officials take extra precautions on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, a shooting threat directed at “Chapel Hill High” in Texas made through a dormant TikTok account on Sunday has been found to be a swatting incident by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). A swatting incident is a hoax threat or call made to incite a large emergency response.
There are two Chapel Hill schools in East Texas — one in Smith County and one in Titus County. The TikTok did not specify which one it was addressing, but both schools took extra precautions on Monday morning. According to Chapel Hill ISD’s (Titus County) Superintendent Daniel Pritchett, the school received information on Sunday night of a TikTok livestream that threatened to carry out an active shooting at a “Chapel Hill High” in Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – One person has died and another person was injured after two vehicles collided into each other in Smith County on Saturday night. According to our news partner KETK, officials with the Smith County Emergency Services District 2 say the crash happened on FM 14 at around 8:30 p.m.
Smith County Justice of the Peace Curtis Wulf told KETK News that he was called out to the accident at around 9:20 p.m. Once there, Wulf found a 54-year-old man who was killed in the crash. After pronouncing him dead, Wulf ordered an autopsy on the deceased. One other person injured was sent to a hospital for treatment.
TYLER – The latest series of ‘No Kings’ protests were held in Tyler on Saturday, as East Texans gathered to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump and his policies. According to our news partner KETK, protesters collected at Bergfeld Park in Tyler for the third round of No Kings protests to pop up across the country since Trump’s inauguration. Similar protests were held this past October and last June.
According to Indivisible Smith County, the protests were held to “remind extremists that America has No Kings and the power belongs to the people.”
East Texas organizers shared that No Kings protests were held in Athens, Dallas, Greenville, Jacksonville, Lindale, Longview, Mineola, Paris, Palestine and Tyler on Saturday.
SMITH COUNTY – One person has been transported to a local hospital after two vehicles crashed into each other on FM 14 in Smith County on Saturday. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2 and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on FM 14 near County Road 328 at around 8:30 p.m. Traffic on FM 14 has been shut down from CR 328 to Marble Road and drivers are urged to avoid the area until the roadway is cleared.
TYLER – Daniel Hartley and his wife bought tickets to see Bob Dylan in Tyler, but after finding out the show has been sold out for a while, the $1300 they paid is out the door. According to our news partner KETK, David’s wife bought two tickets for $1300 and printed them out but to their surprise, they didn’t have their name on them and listed prices of $135 each.
“The people that are out there now are just absolute pros. They can make anything look perfect and get your dough and be gone out the back door before you can do anything,” Hartley said. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – Westwood ISD has named its new interim superintendent. According to the district and our news partner KETK, Lawrence Coleman will serve as interim superintendent. Coleman is expected to begin serving the district on April 1.
Westwood ISD said Coleman’s bringing 35 years of experience to the district as their new interim superintendent. Coleman’s lived with his wife and children in Henderson for the past 16 years and has served as a teacher, assistant principal, instructional leader and administrator.
“I am looking forward to serving as Interim Superintendent for this outstanding district,” Coleman said.
SMITH COUNTY, – The Smith County Junior Livestock Show concluded with its annual sale day, where FFA and Four-H students auctioned animals they raised over the past year. According to our news partner KETK, the event raised more than $200,000 to support student projects and future education for the upcoming year or for graduating seniors to use toward their higher education.
The sale marks a year of work for participants who raise and show their animals before selling them to local buyers.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A gang member was arrested in Tyler on Thursday after authorities executed a search warrant at his home and found various illegal drugs. According to our news partner KETK, and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was issued at a home on Tenaha Avenue in connection with a search for a wanted gang member, Bryan Mayfield, who was believed to be staying at the house.
Once authorities arrived at the home to issue the search warrant, several people fled from the home and one person was immediately taken into custody. During the search, Mayfield fled into the backyard of a nearby residence, dropping a handgun before unlawfully entering the home. Once inside the home, Mayfield held two people against their will, prompting officers to enter the home and take Mayfield into custody and charge him with two counts of evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance, according to officials.
Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said a crash that happened on North Loop 256 on Friday has reportedly left at least one person with injuries. According to Palestine PD, the crash happened the intersection of East Palestine Avenue and North Loop 256 at around 3:25 p.m. on Friday. Drivers are asked to use caution when driving through the area as law enforcement responds to the crash.
LONGVIEW – Officials have confirmed that City of Longview employee Buddy Powell died earlier this month during a “workplace accident” when he was hit in the head with a high-pressure water hose. According to our news partner KETK, Gregg County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace B.H Jameson said, the cause of Powell’s death was determined to be blunt force trauma after being struck by the hose. Powell was pronounced dead at a local hospital following the incident. It is unknown at this time what caused the incident and whether or not negligence was involved in Powell’s death.
LONGVIEW – One person was taken to the hospital following a shooting in Longview on Friday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Police Department officers responded to a call on South High Street and Marion Drive at around 12 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a shooting. Once on the scene, officers saw several people leaving the area and found a man inside a vehicle who had been shot.
The victim was taken to a hospital for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to officials. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the department at 903-237-199 or Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867
MARSHALL — Following a week of water outages and reduced pressure due to a major water main break, the City of Marshall is taking steps to strengthen its water infrastructure. According to our news partner KETK, at Thursday’s city council meeting, officials unanimously approved a contract with Smith Pump Company to purchase a solar pump for the raw water pump station. The $356,118 project will add a fourth pump to the system, marking the final step in restoring full pumping capacity.
The decision comes after widespread disruptions tied to a March 17 water main break that forced closures across the community. Marshall ISD canceled classes and many local businesses temporarily closed down as water pressure dropped and outages spread. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Smith County judge denied a motion to lower the bond for Dayton Morgan, who was charged with murder in connection to a fatal road rage shooting earlier this year.
According to our news partner KETK, in Friday’s hearing at the 114th District Judicial Court, a grand jury indicted thee 23-year-old Morgan, of murder for allegedly shooting a man on Feb. 13 during a Tyler road rage incident. Morgan plead not guilty to the charge, the criminal court coordinator Taylor Moss confirmed. Morgan’s bond remains at $1 million, as Smith County Judge Austin Reeve Jackson denied a motion to lower the bond to $100,000.
Morgan was arrested on Feb. 13 after 29-year-old Trevor Julian, died by gunfire in a reported road rage incident. According to an arrest affidavit, a Tesla “stopped abruptly” in front of a pickup Morgan was driving at the intersection of E. Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive. Julian was in the passenger seat of the Tesla, which his wife was driving. Morgan told investigators that he opened his truck door but remained seated as Julian exited the Tesla and approached the truck. The two men began yelling at each other. Read the rest of this entry »
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HENDERSON COUNTY — One man has died and another person injured in a crash early Thursday morning in Henderson County. The Texas Department of Public Safety said law enforcement was called to a single-vehicle crash on rural Henderson County at around 2:06 a.m. According to our news partner KETK, a preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevrolet pickup truck was heading west on FM 317 when the truck approached a left-hand curve at an unsafe speed, left the roadway and hit a tree. The driver, 20-year-old Daniel Rivero, of Athens, was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 19-year-old passenger was transported to a local hospital. DPS said the investigation is ongoing.
SMITH COUNTY – Impacts from the conflict with Iran are reaching East Texas farmers as the prices of fuel and fertilizer are on the rise. According to our news partner KETK, with Iran’s disruption of global shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, costs for key agricultural supplies, diesel fuel used to power delivery trucks, and fertilizer components are becoming hot commodities.
“Delivery is causing everything to go up because everything that comes by rail or trucking,” Smith County Farm Bureau Board Member Malcom Williams said. “Most fertilizers are a petroleum product, so you get that impact immediately.”
Petroleum is found in fuel, some fertilizer and several everyday products. A price jump in the supply chain could hurt customers.
Read the rest of this entry »
tYLER – Starting this April, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP will no longer allow purchasing candy or drinks with more than 5 grams of sugar or artificial sweetener.
Items that can no longer be purchased through SNAP next month include:
– Candy
– Soda
– Energy Drinks
– Yogurt and chocolate-covered fruit
– Gum
However, SNAP card shoppers will still be able to purchase electrolyte drinks, coffee creamers and any ingredients on the baking side.
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SMITH COUNTY – A babysitter was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly committing a series of sexual assaults against a child over five years in Whitehouse. According to our news partner KETK, arrest documents from Smith County revealed that a parent had called the Whitehouse Police Department in February to report that her child had been sexually assaulted by John Bonner. He had babysat her two children for about five years, and the abuse had occurred at his residence.
Authorities interview the children and found that Bonner had sexually assaulted one of the children throughout that time. During an interview with the Whitehouse Police Department, he reportedly admitted to being aroused when he babysat and that he had kissed and sexually touched one of the children. Bonner was arrested on Tuesday for continuous sexual abuse of a child, a victim under 14, and booked into the Smith County Jail. He is being held on a $750,00 bond.
MOUNT PLEASANT- In February 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division received a tip about an individual uploading Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM). On March 6, the Texas DPS CID executed a search warrant at a residence in Mount Pleasant, owned by Wayne Renning.
During the search of the residence, multiple devices were seized and later determined to contain CSAM. An arrest warrant was obtained, and Wayne Renning was arrested on March 25, on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography, Possession of Visual Material Depicting the Sexual Assault of a Child.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division was assisted by the Titus County Sheriff’s Office and the Collin County Child Exploitation Unit in the arrest of Wayne Renning. Renning is currently held in the Titus County Jail.
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SMITH COUNTY – Construction contracts for four major projects totaling more than 16 miles of road were awarded Tuesday, March 24, by the Smith County Commissioners Court. Texana Land & Asphalt Inc. came in as the lowest bidder on all four projects, which will all entail completely rebuilding the roadways and overlaying with asphalt.
County Road 129, from CR 113 to U.S. Highway 69; and CR 146 will have 2.595 miles of roads improved for $704,852. Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said the project will take about three months and will be paid for out of the Road and Bridge Budget. Both roads are south of Tyler and are in Smith County Commissioner Precinct 1.
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PALESTINE – A traffic stop in Palestine led to the arrest of four others after officers found more than 16 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK and the Palestine Police Department, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram pickup truck early morning Wednesday on North Loop 256 near North Queen Street.
The vehicle was occupied by four individuals, including passenger 49-year-old Robert Anderson, who had an active warrant out of Travis County for criminal trespass of a habitation. While Anderson was being arrested for the warrant, officers reportedly located a bag containing a meth pipe that belonged to him.
Officers conducted a further search of the vehicle and found several glass pipes with residue and containers containing about 16.44 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Another small bag of suspected meth, weighing less than a gram, was found.
The substances tested positive for methamphetamine and the other three passengers were arrested for drug charges.
EDGEWOOD – A police pursuit through Van Zandt County ended Tuesday afternoon when a fleeing driver slammed into a patrol car and was taken into custody. According to our news partner KETK, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Edgewood Police Department responded to a call on U.S. Highway 80, near The Lumber Yard Cafe, after receiving reports of a disturbance.
When officers arrived, they saw a 47-year-old man get into a 1999 Ford pickup and speed off. As he fled, the driver allegedly struck an Edgewood patrol vehicle, sparking a pursuit. Officers requested help from the Department of Public Safety and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office as the chase continued toward downtown Wills Point on Highway 80. DPS deployed two sets of spike strips, successfully slowing the vehicle.
He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Van Zandt County Detention Center, where he was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and evading arrest in a vehicle. Authorities said his name is not being released at this time.
During the pursuit, Wills Point ISD was placed on hold and was lifted at around 3:40 p.m. as a precaution to ensure student safety.
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