Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
TYLER – State Representative Matt Schaefer (District 6) has announced he is not running for reelection in 2024. He made this official statement on twitter around midday… “I will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2024. It’s time for the next conservative leader to be the voice of House District 6 in Austin. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Breakers Seafood in Tyler will close at the end of August, the restaurant announced on social media.
A locally-owned and operated seafood joint that, in its own words, aimed to “bring a piece of California to Texas,†will close its doors after 14 years in business. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – Three people were arrested in Palestine and charged in connection to organized retail crime.
On Wednesday, Palestine police officers received a call about a suspicious person at the Walmart at 2223 S. Loop 256. Walmart asset protection reported that a man suspected in recent thefts at Walmarts in Tyler, Jacksonville and other local stores had entered the businesses.
The man was suspected to have taken part in “cash cash†scams. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Thursday, the Tyler Area Builders Association held their annual luncheon. According to our news partner KETK, special guests at this years luncheon were U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran and State Senator Bryan Hughes. The focus of the luncheon is to have builders in East Texas meet with local, state and national leaders to talk about issues that affect the building industry. John McKinney from the TABA builder directors said, “That’s probably our number one priority is trying to keep housing affordable especially for us here in East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Longview Police answered a call early Thursday morning on Alta Street. According to our news partner KETK, officers found two shooting victims, one adult female and a teenager. At this point Longview Police says, “It appears the shooting happened outside of the home, and there is a connection between all involved parties.†The woman and the teenager were taken to a hospital and their injuries are being called life-threatening. Longview PD asks if you have information on this incident to call them or go on online at greggcountycrimestoppers.org.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – One person is dead after a single-car crash on Monday night on Highway 175 near Cuney. According to a preliminary DPS report, and our news partners at KETK, a 2015 Dodge Journey was traveling south on the highway and failed to drive in a single lane. DPS said the driver overcorrected and left the roadway, “rolling over several times, ejecting the driver.†The driver, identified as Dashad Baker, 29 of Frankston, was pronounced dead at the scene by a justice of the peace and was reported to not have been wearing a seatbelt. The investigation is ongoing.
PANOLA COUNTY – Two people are injured after a shooting in front of a Panola County church on Thursday morning according to our news partners at KETK.
According to Panola County Sheriff Cutter Clinton, county dispatch received several calls reporting a roadside disturbance on Highway 149 near the Full Gospel Holy Temple Church in Riderville around 9:03 a.m. Witnesses reported a man shooting at a woman in the road.
“The Texas Department of Transportation was notified to be en route to direct traffic away from the incident, as it happened in the roadway,†Clinton said.
When they arrived on scene, deputies found a woman lying in the road with “multiple gunshot wounds†and a man lying beside her with what officials said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a handgun. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — UT Health East Texas reached an agreement with United Healthcare that will protect patients’ in-network access to UTHET facilities and providers. According to our news partner KETK, The agreement with United Healthcare will maintain in-network access for everyone with commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage health plans. UT Health said in a press release, “With a strong commitment to the region, UT Health East Texas is pleased to continue our partnership with United Healthcare to deliver high-quality and affordable care to the community for years to come. The agreement ensures patients will not experience any disruption in care.”
TYLER – An inmate accused of escaping a transport van in January was found guilty and sentenced in a Smith County court on Wednesday according to our news partners at KETK. According to court records, 42-year-old Timothy Chappelle of Killeen was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of escaping while arrested. A widely-circulated video showed a handcuffed man in orange running down Tyler’s Gentry Parkway in early January. Authorities said an inmate kicked out a back window and barricade while a transport van was stopped on Gentry Parkway and Parkdale Drive, then proceeded to run north where he allegedly broke into two houses near Wisteria Drive. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The son of a Smith County commissioner and the elected Smith County Clerk was arrested again on Monday for legal process simulating after he issued subpoenas without authorization, according to an arrest warrant and our news partner KETK. The warrant said on July 31, a detective with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office was asked to investigate into three legal processes that were served to County Judge Neal Franklin, Sheriff Larry Smith and Court Security Lieutenant Matthew Lazarine. According to the warrant, the subpoena stated a case number which came back to a criminal case against Lance Phillips, 40, for disruption of a meeting. In a subpoena sent to Lazarine, the warrant said he was commanded to appear to testify before the judge in this case. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A Longview ISD bus was involved in a minor crash Wednesday morning according to our news partner KETK. LISD officials reported no students or staff sustained any injury. They said the accident happened before school on Highway 259 and Eastman Road. The district also said the accident “was caused by another vehicle.†And, after a safety check, the bus was able to continue on its route.
GREGG COUNTY — A portion of Interstate 20 is shut down near Liberty City following an 18-wheeler fire on Tuesday afternoon that’s from news partner KETK. According to DPS, a preliminary investigation showed that an 18-wheeler that was traveling eastbound on I-20 had a blowout and lost control. The driver reportedly struck a guardrail and the truck caught fire. The person driving was able to exit the 18-wheeler safely with no injuries. Traffic is being diverted onto CR 3111/Joy Wright Mt Road, DPS said. Officials expect I-20 to be open with one lane. Officials said the cleanup process could be lengthy and drivers are asked to avoid the area.
FRANKLIN COUNTY – Franklin County law enforcement Tuesday rescued two children reported to be abducted two weeks earlier. According to our news partner KETK, investigators say the mother of the children, ages 2 and 6, told authorities the two had been kidnapped. After locating the children at a home in Southern Franklin County, a Franklin County Special Response Team and Mount Vernon police officers found the kids at the residence. The person at that location, Cody Cunningham, was arrested on a kidnapping charge.
NACOGDOCHES – Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that Eaton Corporation will be expanding their manufacturing facility for voltage regulators, Cooper Power Systems LLC, an Eaton Corporation PLC subsidiary, in Nacogdoches, according to our news partners at KETK.
“Eaton is making a $100 million investment to expand our Nacogdoches, Texas operations and respond to the unprecedented need for critical power distribution infrastructure to support electrification, grid modernization, and resilience,†Eaton Senior Vice President Guillaume Laur said. “The investment doubles Eaton’s production capacity of voltage regulators and three-phase transformers. The strong labor market and partnership with the Nacogdoches community helped guide our decision to invest here and continue our decades-long commitment to manufacturing in East Texas.†Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY – Authorities have arrested a woman who they say ran over her ex-boyfriend. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department received a call Sunday from a man moving out from his residence. He stated his ex-girlfriend had come to that location and ran over him with her vehicle. Officers say that 23-year-old Elizabeth Reyes believed that there was another woman with her ex-partner. Reyes was booked into the Harrison County Jail for aggravated assault with deadly weapon and remains there on $75,000 bond.