Today is
Monday June 15, 2026
NACOGDOCHES – The online systems at Stephen F. Austin University were a target of a cyberattack. Officials at the university said the attack may have started between Saturday night and Monday morning. According to our news partner KETK, the university cut their internet connection to stop attacks from continuing. They are now working with IT personnel and the UT system to gauge the amount of damage to their website. School officials say at this time don’t they do not know when they will be back online and asked that students, faculty and the public follow SFA social media while their online assets are down.
According to our news partner KETK, Crockett Police have arrested Forlando Moten of Crockett in the death of 59-year old Willie Campbell, also of Crockett. Detectives say that Campbell was found Friday afternoon on West Oak Street in Crockett with a single gunshot wound. He later died in a local hospital. Police officers interviewed Moten who allegedly admitted to shooting Campbell. He was then arrested, charged with murder and has a 150 thousand dollar bond set. Crockett police are still investigating this case.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that a Van Zandt County deputy was killed in a wreck Sunday afternoon. Sgt. Jeremy McCoy was off-duty when the accident happened Sunday around 4 p.m. and reportedly had his child in the vehicle with him. The child was life-flighted with non-life-threatening injuries. DPS is investigating the wreck.
JACKSONVILLE – The city of Jacksonville and East Texas came together Saturday for the 39th annual Jacksonville Tomato Fest. According to our news partner KETK, the festival hosted in downtown Jacksonville, had over 300 vendors, a kids zone, a “Got Talent” contest and a tomato eating contest. Andy Calcote, co-chair of the Tomato Fest said it takes about 200 volunteers to make the Jacksonville Tomato Fest a reality each and every year. Calcote said they are already planning the 40th Tomato Fest for 2024.
TATUM – Law enforcement in Tatum would like your help in identifying those responsible for a robbery at the Brake Time convenience store Friday in Tatum. According to our news partner KETK, the Tatum Police Department has made available video and photos of the incident for you to see. To view photos and video of the robbery, just click here.
Tatum Police ask if you have information in the material shown to contact them.
HENDERSON COUNTY — Our news partners at KETK report that a 25-year-old man died following a crash about two miles northeast of Athens on Wednesday morning.
According to a preliminary DPS report, a 2014 Toyota Corolla was traveling west on Highway 175 around 6:53 a.m. The vehicle reportedly left the roadway to the north, struck a concrete culvert and vaulted into the air.
DPS said the driver, Aaron Nicholas Weeks, of Tyler, was ejected. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
ANDERSON COUNTY – Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after drowning on Lake Palestine Thursday afternoon.
According to Cherokee County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Rodney Wallace, 31-year-old Gary Woods from Jacksonville was pronounced dead around 4:22 p.m. Thursday. He reportedly drowned on the Anderson County side of Lake Palestine.
Woods’ family has been notified.
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Our news partners at KETK report that a Tyler woman who pleaded guilty on Friday to injury of a child was sentenced to one year deferred adjudication.
Jessica Fowler, 36 of Tyler, who according to an arrest warrant treated a special needs child “like a ragdollâ€, was employed as a nighttime nurse for a child who had several medical conditions that need constant and sensitive care.
The warrant said that another nurse noticed the child had not been using their right arm prompting them to check a hidden camera in the home.
According to the warrant, more than 50 clips showed Fowler allegedly tossing the child “like a rag doll†from one side of their crib to the other.
An affidavit said there was also footage where Fowler allegedly tied the child’s arm behind her head that may have left bruising on their left arm.
The case investigator observed clips where Fowler allegedly was “using her phone light to inspect [the child] as though she was looking for any marks or bruising†and “would intentionally turn off the [heart rate] alarm alert on a monitor.â€
As a part of her sentence, Fowler will also have to do 100 hours of community service.
UPSHUR COUNTY, TX – The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office had issued a warrant for a suspect in relation to an aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Our news partners at KETK report that man, 41-year-old Quinton Branch, has now turned himself into authorities.
Branch, of Helena, Montana, was identified by authorities as a suspect in the case after an investigation. Officials said he is a former resident of Upshur County and has relatives and acquaintances in the area.
The victim and their family know Branch and said he allegedly had contacted them and threatened to harm himself, officials said.
SURFSIDE BEACH, Texas (AP) — Nearly two dozen teenagers from a summer camp were injured when an elevated walkway collapsed Thursday in a beachside city in Texas, with five flown to the hospital by helicopter. None of the injuries were expected to be life-threatening, Brazoria County officials said. The cause of the walkway collapse in Surfside Beach, a small city on the Gulf of Mexico, about 60 miles south of downtown Houston, was under investigation. Surfside Beach Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Justin Mills said his department responded to an emergency call at 12:34 p.m. and set up landing areas for the medical helicopters. Sharon Trower, public information officer for Brazoria County, said all of the victims were between 14 and 18 years old and from the Bayou City Fellowship summer camp. The five taken by helicopter were flown to Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston.
LONGVIEW – Authorities have arrested a Longview man for arson and murder. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Donald Ray Miller Jr. was booked into the Gregg County Jail Thursday in the death of Ronnie Moody, 66, also of Longview. Longview Police say that Moody died early Wednesday morning in a building fire on East Avalon avenue. Investigators believe that arson was the cause of the fire with Miller as the suspect. They also add that even with the arrest their detectives are still conducting an investigation.
TYLER – The University of Texas at Tyler offers nonprofit management certification classes to East Texas professionals through a partnership with United Way of Smith County. Previously available only at the United Way Building in downtown Tyler, workshops will now also be available in Longview at the UT Tyler Longview University Center.
“Since moving to Longview, I have noticed the community’s strong commitment to giving back, and it’s an infectious culture that permeates the entire area,†said Dr. Rodney Ellis, LUC director. “As a consequence, there is a need to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of those currently in the nonprofit industry here in the area or those who desire to be in the industry.â€
The UT Tyler Department of Social Sciences is collaborating with United Way of Smith County to manage the East Texas Center for Nonprofits, which provides the workshops to enhance the skill sets of nonprofit professionals. This expansion comes on the heels of UT Tyler’s new Master of Public Administration nonprofit management track.
“We will be merging these efforts so ETCN workshops will lead students to MPA degrees,†said Dr. Thomas Guderjan, UT Tyler professor and department chair. “Community members who serve on nonprofit boards or staff members of nonprofits will now be able to further their education and earn a quality UT Tyler degree.â€
Registration fees vary between workshop/certification and includes Continuing Education Units and workshop materials. Partial scholarships are available. Attendees must attend all classes to receive certification.
UPSHUR COUNTY – The Sixth Court of appeals of Texarkana Wednesday affirms the conviction of an Upshur County man of eight counts of indecency with a child. According to our news partner KETK, 49 year-old Matthew McCoy was found guilty in 2022 of the charge with a 10-year old child and sentenced to 125 years in prison. Upshur County DA Billy Byrd said the child testified in addition to the physical abuse, McCoy had threatened to kill the childs family.
TYLER – Ernest Blanton of Tyler went missing Sunday night after he walked into some woods. However, Ernest has dementia. He has a Project Lifesaver bracelet from the Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County. The radio tracking bracelet is waterproof. So, when Ernest was missed, his wife called the Tyler Police Department with his bracelets tracking number. And they located Mr. Blanton quickly. Claudia Blanton said, “We are very thankful to have the bracelet. We would be a loss without it.. To me it is a Godsend. I appreciate Tyler Police Department.†According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, the survival rates of dementia wanderers falls to about 34% after 24 hours
TYLER – Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips has filed lawsuits with her son and a family friend alleging that a Smith County deputy infringed on Voss’s right to travel, assaulted him and used coercion to obtain his ID. According to our news partner KETK, she is referring to an incident March 28 when Cody Voss, a friend of the family, was pulled over by Smith County deputies with a tail light out. The officer asked Voss for his drivers license. On bodycam, Voss can be heard saying “I’m not driving. This is the county commissioner’s house and the county clerk.†Officials with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said both Phillips were arrested for interfering with the traffic stop, and they can be heard shouting at deputies on the bodycam footage. Karen Phillips is suing for $10 million while Cody Voss and Derek Phillips are suing for $150.5 million. Full story