Today is
Thursday June 18, 2026
TYLER – A woman charged in a November 2022 of kidnapping a 5-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday in Smith County court. Pamela Medlock, 59, of Overton, was sentenced to eight years deferred adjudication. According to our news partner KETK, Medlock made national news last year when she was identified as the prime suspect in the disappearance of an East Texas elementary school student. The child’s grandparents reported the child missing. He was found with with Medlock after a state trooper stopped her near Colorado City, Texas. After the boy was back with his family, it was revealed that She was a family friend and took the child out for his birthday and didn’t return. Thus the kidnapping charge. The adjudication means that if Medlock completes the eight-year probation, she be eligible to have the kidnapping taken off her record.
HENDERSON COUNTY — A Sunday morning fire at an apartment structure in Payne Springs has several living there being uprooted. According to our news partner KETK, Payne Spring Fire Rescue say the apartment units were constructed in what was formerly an old church. And this made it particularly hard to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and the Henderson County Fire Marshall is currently investigating the blaze.
TYLER — On Friday a man pleaded guilty to murder in connection to the 2021 deadly shooting at the New Orleans Flavors Daiquiri in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Jaderick Willis pleaded guilty Friday in a Smith County courtroom and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. In a 2021 arrest affidavit, Tyler police say that Tylsha Brown as celebrating her 46th birthday at New Orleans Flavors Daiquiri in Tyler when a fight broke out in the parking lot. During the fight, Brown was shot and killed. Also, in December of last year, Dycorrian Lofton of Jacksonville was sentenced to 3 years in prison for aggravated assault in connection to the case.
TYLER – With severe storms and tornados in East Texas, about 3.450 utility users are said to be without power as of 8 p.m. on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, this is based on information from ONCOR, SWEPCO and various electric co-ops. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL-According to our news partner KETK, Marshall police are investigating a threat a local business received via email that bombs were planted in Marshall. Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said, “The police department is working closely with other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly search and investigate any potential threat in the area,â€. Carruth urged citizens to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to authorities. Authorities say their investigation is ongoing.
TYLER – Preparations are under way for the oldest part of Caldwell Zoo to be refreshed. According to our news partner KETK, Scott Maddox, Caldewell Zoo, COO, says the remodel will be from the ground up. The South American area will be called the Amazon River’s Edge. Maddox added that Amazon River’s Edge will will have a river running through it with an area for giant river otters, a sloth exhibit, a jaguar habitat and an over the top public sidewalk that flows into another habitat. Zoo officials are looking for completion of Amazon River’s Edge by early summer of 2024.
LONGVIEW – A shooting late Monday night killed one man in Southeast Longview. 44-year-old Derrick Spearman, was shot multiple times and died later at a local hospital. Longview police arrested Shannon Marshall, 22, of Longview in the shooting. He is in the Gregg County jail on a murder charge. Longview Police are still seeking information in this case.
TYLER – In recognition of members of the community above and beyond for survivors of sexual violence, the East Texas Crisis Center handed Hope Award to those being recongized. Those from Smith County receiving the Hope Award were Angela Faulkner with the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. Sgt Joseph Durr with the Office of the Attorney General and Bethany Morgan with the Counseling Nook for Trauma and Disassociation. East Texas Crisis Center Volunteer. Tyler Mayor Don Warren noted that the Center provided services in 2022 to 327 survivors of sexual violence. April is sexual assault awareness month and East Texas Crisis Center will be hosting survivor support events during the month.
CARTHAGE –An employee in the Panola County Sheriff’s Department was arrested for theft and abuse of official capacity. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Cutter Clinton said that county employee Torey McLemore of Carthage resigned his position just prior to being booked. Clinton also said that his office became aware of possible violations in March and launched an internal investigation with the Texas Rangers assisting. The charges against McLemore are Class C misdemeanors.
LONGVIEW – An early Sunday morning pursuit between law enforcement and a suspect, ended in the shooting death of that individual. According to our news partner KETK, Danny Ray Jackson, 47, of Longview led officers from White Oak, Longview and DPS on a high speed chase that started in White Oak and ended near the intersection of State Highway 31 and West Loop 281 in Longview. At that intersection, gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and law enforcement. Following the officer-involved shooting, Mr. Jackson was taken to a local hospital where died of his injuries. Details are limited at this time. Texas Rangers are investigating the case.
TYLER – A UT Tyler pole vaulter from East Texas is a First Team All-American for the second time. According to our news partner KETK, Abeni Kratzmeyer from Mineola finished seventh in the NCAA division two indoor track and Field Championships Friday. Kratzmeyer vaulted a height of 3.95 meters, breaking a school mark by .03 meters. She missed her second vault of the meet and finished seventh nationally overall, thus securing her second All-American team placement.
TYLER – Tyler police arrest a man in connection to the 2022 murder of 53-year-old Anthony Wilson. According to our news partner KETK, Authorities say that Christian Navon Whitney-Polk, 20, was apprehended March 10th and currently is in the Smith County jail. Whitney-Polk is charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. He is being held on $2,500,000 bond.
TYLER–29 teachers in the Tyler ISD will get excellence in classroom bonuses from $6,000 and $23,500. According to our news partner KETK, these teachers have been designated TOP teachers. That means they meet Tyler Optimal Performance criteria. The criteria for evaluating teachers includes student attendence, growth metrics, educator observations and student surveys. The 29 teachers being recognized are. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Police report that a woman’s body was discovered Saturday morning in the parking lot of Clear Springs restaurant. According to officials and our news partner KETK, someone at the restaurant reported the body to police around 12:30 a.m. The body was sent for autopsy, according to Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh. Erbaugh said that there is no foul play suspected.
WASHINGTON – Texas Republican Congressman Nathaniel Moran Thursday introduced a bill designed so classified documents won’t be mishandled or misplaced. According to our news partner KETK, the proposed measure is called the Information Security Investment Act. If passed, it would stipulate that every member of federal government elected complete twice yearly training on how to safely keep and store classified documents. With the passage of the bill, those impacted by it, would need to have their training complete with a six month period.