Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
TYLER – NET Health, the Northeast Texas Public Heath District announced that former Tyler Mayor Kevin Eltife has received the 2023 W.T. “Doc†Ballard Award. According to our news partner KETK, Eltife is being recognized for service and leadership in the creation of the UT Tyler School of Medicine. He is a former Texas District 1 Senator and is the current chairman of The University of Texas Board of Regents. Eltife said at the award presentation, “This community is exceptionally giving, and ‘Doc’ Ballard embodied that quality as well. I not only want this medical school to be a vehicle for better health for the community, but I also want to it to provide an amazing educational opportunity for East Texas students.” The award is named after “Doc†Ballard, who was a registered professional engineer at the Texas Department of Health.
TYLER – The son of the Smith County Clerk and a county commissioner was held in contempt of court Friday morning after appearing for an arraignment hearing. Our news partners at KETK report that Lance Phillips, 40 of Tyler, was in court for a misdemeanor charge of disruption of a meeting he received after being removed from a Smith County Commissioner’s Court meeting in May.
“When the bailiffs were coming and he sat down from the pew on the floor with his back to the wall and made the officers have to literally carry him out the courtroom,†Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said at the time of his disruption of a meeting charge. “If he acts like he did today he’s gonna wear out the hinges on the door in the jail.â€
The first time Phillips attempted to speak at a commissioner’s court meeting in May, he said he planned to “correct the slander†about his family following the arrest of his mother and brother for interfering with a traffic stop. However, he was removed from the podium for not speaking on an agenda item. Phillips told KETK at the time of his disruption arrest that he planned to plead not guilty at his upcoming court date. After being arrested for contempt of court at his arraignment hearing, Phillips was booked into the Gregg County Jail.
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler University Academy campus in
Palestine, an open enrollment university charter school, is recruiting for Grades K-12. Since the UA
is a state-funded public charter school, there is no student tuition.
The campus was recently named a 2022-23 Project Lead The Way Distinguished School, and the
district was also named a 2022-23 PLTW Distinguished District for the third consecutive year. UT
Tyler UA is one of just 17 PLTW districts nationwide and the only one in Texas to receive such
recognition this year. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler man is found guilty and is given a life prison sentence without parole because of sexual abuse of child under 14. According to our news partner KETK, prosecutors say that 57-year-old Reiner Wiseman sexually abused a 13-year-old multiple times over a six month period. Wiseman had just recently been released from prison in another state after serving a 25-year sentence for sexual assault. At the conclusion of sentencing, the Smith County DA Jacob Putman praised the response of the Tyler Police Department and the Smith County Children’s Advocacy Center. Putman also noted that the victim testified against their abuser.
UPSHUR COUNTY – A Gilmer man has been indicted for murder in Upshur County after his father’s body was found in March by a roofing crew. According to our news partner KETK, Michael Timothy Caffey, 46, was indicted by the grand jury on June 22, and as of June 29, remains in the Upshur County Jail since his March 28 arrest. The body of his father, 66-year-old Timothy Caffey, was found by a roofing crew at a residence who called authorities to the scene. Timothy was found at his home that he shared with his son, and officials said at the time that evidence indicated his death was the result of a homicide. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The family of fallen Smith County deputy Lorenzo Bustos had their mortgage paid in full by an organization that supports the families of first responders and veterans. It was announced Thursday by The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, this according to our news partner KETK. The foundation began after 9/11, with the purpose of providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children. Lorenzo was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on his last day of training with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. That was July 29, 2022. Lorenzo Bustos is survived by his wife Gloria and their four young children.
TYLER – Here is the traffic information for the upcoming Rose City Airfest scheduled for Friday, June 30th. This year, all general admission and VIP parking will be located at 2535 Dixie Dr, Tyler, TX 75704. This is a large open field. Busses will take people from the back areas of the parking lot to a drop off area near the front gates of the event. All VIP are asked to display or have their special entry permit readily available. Signage will be displayed on Hwy 64 about parking. There are message boards about the air show for both east and westbound traffic about a mile in each direction from Airport Dr. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) is proud to announce the launch of a new reporting system designed to combat illegal dumping and keep East Texas clean. The system, called RID – Report Illegal Dumping, is a simple and convenient way for residents to report instances of illegal dumping in their neighborhoods and communities. Illegal dumping is a persistent problem in many communities, creating health and safety hazards, detracting from the beauty of neighborhoods, and negatively impacting the environment. The new online system provides a convenient solution to this problem, allowing residents to quickly and easily report incidents of illegal dumping with just a few clicks. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – A man has been arrested after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash and a seizure of drugs and a firearm according to our news partners at KETK. On June 26, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office alerted the Palestine Police Department that a Nissan Altima driven by a Black male in a white shirt had been involved in an assault on a peace officer that led to a pursuit. An officer found the reported vehicle by confirming the license plate number and attempted to stop it on East Palestine Avenue near Gardner Drive. The release stated that the vehicle did not stop and a pursuit continued down Highway 155 before the driver left the roadway after trying to turn onto North Loop 256 at a high speed and crashed. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – Wednesday morning all the work paid off as the 84th Kilgore College Rangerette Line was revealed. According to our news partner KETK, 32 freshmen have earned a spot on this years team. With 9 of the Rangerette’s hailing from East Texas. The new freshmen for the 84th line are:
Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — The cause of a train derailment at Marshall Depot Wednesday morning, involving a Union Pacific train carrying a cargo of vehicles remains under investigation, officials said. No one was injured and no environmental issues were reported when eight freight cars of a train derailed Wednesday morning, according to the City of Marshall via the Marshall News Messenger. Union Pacific officials said the derailment occurred about 8 a.m. “At about 8:00, an estimated eight rail cars on a Union Pacific train derailed in Marshall, Texas,†Robynn Tysver with Union Pacific media relations told the Marshall News Messenger. “The incident occurred west of the intersection of Van Zandt Avenue and N. Franklin Street,†she said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK are reporting that a pedestrian is dead after being struck by a truck on SH 110 Monday night just north of Tyler. According to a DPS report, Harold Hagler, 52, of Longview, was walking across the road around 9:30 p.m. when he was struck by a Ford F-150. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver of the truck was reported to not have been injured. The crash remains under investigation.
TYLER – The City Council approved new regulations to manage utilities in the City’s Right-of-Way (ROW) and easements on Wednesday, June 28. The updated Chapter 15 Code of Ordinance Article VI includes provisions for ROW cleanliness, removing old and abandoned facilities, and insurance and bonding requirements. The amendments are needed to reduce resident complaints and ensure the removal of unused poles and boxes and set more permitting requirements. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — It has been years in development, a food truck park will be in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, the plans for the park were started in 2016, but when the downtown project was put on hold, so was the park. In January, city officials approved the South Broadway location for the food truck park. It will be in the parking lot of the old Shogan restaurant. The current plan has this location for up to eight food trucks. Food truck owners can use the Shogun kitchen for food prep. Lot planners say they feel having all the trucks in the northwest corner of the location will give better parking to customers on the property. Special use permits will be available for one year and subject to renewal for all food trucks participating. At this time, there is no set date when the Tyler food truck park will be opening.
TYLER – It is being reported that an investigation has initiated into the The Catholic Diocese of Tyler and Bishop Joseph Strickland. According to our news partner KETK, the National Catholic Reporter talked to a spokeswoman from the Diocese on Monday, who confirmed there was an apostolic visitation last week. A reason was not given for the visitation. A apostolic visitation is when a papal rep travels on assignment to investigate a situation. A report is then submitted to the Vatican at the conclusion of the investigation. The Pope then decides is any action is deemed necessary. There is speculation from some Catholic news agencies that the papal visitation is due to Bishop Strickland’s strong on-line presence. However, some say it could be the Vatican having questions about management of the Tyler diocese.