Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
MARSHALL – A water main break in Marshall has impacted the city’s water pressure, prompting a Marshall ISD closure for Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Marshall ISD said parents may keep their students home or pick them up from the school if they are already there.
The school bus will be running the elementary bus routes at 11:30 a.m. and the junior high and high school bus routes at 12 p.m if parents are unable to pick up their student. The water main break occurred near Spring and Streets Tuesday morning, which crews are now working to repair, the city said.
LONE STAR — Local and state officials are continuing to investigate an oil spill that spread across much of the shoreline at Ellison Creek Reservoir, with inspectors identifying the source at a well site on U.S. Steel property. According to our news partner KETK, Morris County Judge Doug Reeder met with the Precinct 2 Commissioner and the County Attorney on Monday morning to review the status of the oil spill at Ellison Creek Reservoir.
Reeder also added, a Railroad Commission inspector is on site and continuing an inspection of the spill in coordination with a Texas Game Warden. The inspector determined the source of the unauthorized oil release was a reserve pit at a oil well site located on U.S. Steel property. Investigators with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are expected to meet with the Railroad Commission inspector Monday to continue assessing the scale of the spill, its environmental impacts and any possible next steps.
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SMITH COUNTY – One person has been injured following a head-on collision involving a day-care bus and a pick-up truck on Monday morning. According to our news partner KETK and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened in Tyler, on FM 2493, near Whataburger and Tyler Legacy Trails at around 8:20 a.m. Monday.
The driver of the pickup truck sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital, according to Nikki Simmons, the public outreach coordinator for Smith County Emergency Services District 2. No children were aboard the bus at the time of the crash and the driver had no reported injuries. However, both vehicles were heavily damaged.
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RUSK – The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers and HEAL Corp are conducting another search for Rusk missing man James David Blount. According to our news partner KETK, Blount was last seen near his residence on Dec. 2, 2025, more than 90 days ago. The 57-year-old white man is around 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs about 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. His vehicle was later found abandoned on U.S. Highway 84 at the Neches River.
The sheriff’s office is searching the woods behind Blount’s house and workshop on Highway 84. Officials are searching this area more thoroughly Friday and Saturday in order to rule out the area immediately surrounding Blount’s home.
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TYLER – Tyler Police continue to investigate Thursday morning a shooting on Southridge Drive. The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Kenus Lewis. Lewis has multiple warrants out for his arrest and is on the run. Police said he should be considered armed and very dangerous. Detectives obtained warrants on Lewis for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with a $750,000 bond and felon in possession of a firearm with a $500,000 bond.
According to Tyler PD and our news partner KETK, officers responded to the 1400 block of Southridge Drive following a reported shooting. Arriving officers found a 53-year-old man who had been shot in the abdomen. The man was alert and awake at when officers arrived at the scene. Tyler PD said he’s been taken to a local hospital for treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg Police Department is seeking the your help in locating two suspects, who officials said stole two trailers from a local business in Pittsburg. According to officials and our news partners at KETK, the theft occurred around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday at Work Trailer. The stolen trailers were both described as black 35-foot gooseneck trailers.
The suspects used two separate trucks to steal the trailers, believed to be a Ram 3500 and a Ram 2500. The police department is asking anyone with information regarding the individuals to contact them at 903-856-3330.
GREGG COUNTY – The westbound outside lane of I-20 on US 259 in Gregg County will be closed for several days starting on Monday. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said the lane is expected to be closed for three days as crews will be performing bridge maintenance. Due to the closure, drivers are being asked to plan ahead and watch out for work crews.
TYLER – Officials have confirmed that one person died and three people were injured on Thursday after an 18-wheeler and multiple vehicles crashed on Toll 49. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, an 18-wheeler and multiple vehicles crashed on Toll 49 westbound near mile marker 19 at around 1:40 p.m. on Thursday.
When first responders arrived at the scene one person was dead from the crash, a sheriff’s office official told KETK News. EMS, firefighters, sheriff’s office deputies and the Texas Department of Public Safety are all responding to the crash.
“When we arrived on scene, we found an 18-wheeler involved with a couple of other passenger vehicles,” Smith County Emergency Services District 2 spokesperson Nikki Simmons said. “Unfortunately, there was one fatality, and we did have three other individuals transported.” Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: A pedestrian killed in a fatal crash on Wednesday night on West Gentry Parkway has been identified as 70-year-old Daniel Walker by the Tyler Police Department.
TYLER — A fatal crash on Gentry Parkway in Tyler left one pedestrian dead on Thursday morning. The Tyler Police Department responded to a crash at West Gentry Parkway, near the Texaco station at around midnight. According to our news partner KETK and Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, a pedestrian was crossing the road at an angle, not at a crosswalk or intersection. The pedestrian was struck by a truck on the outside lane and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the truck stopped, along with a witness, Erbaugh said. There are no charges being pressed at this time and no other injuries were reported.
TYLER – Tyler Police Officers were called to Green Acres Baptist Church on Wednesday afternoon after a single-vehicle crash occurred outside of the building. Once officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the vehicle had struck a tree just outside the chapel. The driver was able to exit the vehicle and was uninjured. It remains unknown at this time how the crash occurred or whether the driver will face any charges.
HARRISON COUNTY – Multiple elk have been spotted in Harrison County. According to our news partner KETK, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said it has been made aware of elk roaming around Sue Belle Lake Road. County officals asks the public not to approach the animals or try to chase them into the woods. The owners are aware of the situation and are working with neighbors to return the elk to their enclosure.
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department arrested a Center, Texas man Tuesday afternoon after he struck a Texas Department of Transportation truck while attempting to flee from officers.
At approximately 3:45 p.m. on March 10, Marshall Police received several calls reporting a reckless driver traveling northbound on East End Boulevard, U.S. Highway 59. Marshall Police patrol units located the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Near the intersection of Highway 59 and Loop 390, the vehicle pulled onto the shoulder and appeared to be stopping. Read the rest of this entry »
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SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man has been taken into custody following an investigation that uncovered the theft of over $96,000 in hay and connected revenue. According to our news partner KETK, in February, Brandon Wiginton was arrested on charges of misapplication of fiduciary property and two counts of theft. He was subsequently booked into the Smith County Jail.
The investigation began in August 2022, initiated by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association after they received a report about a business partnership that allegedly led to the theft of hay and revenue. The offenses were found to have occurred in Cherokee County and Smith County.
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SMITH COUNTY — A man was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after admitting to murder in connection with a deadly crash in Smith County. Jeremiah Munoz was sentenced to 37 years in prison following his guilty plea. Munoz was charged with murder on October 15, 2025, after a crash in Smith County resulted in the death of one woman.
According to officials and our news partner KETK, Munoz had stolen a Ford-250 truck he was driving before colliding with another vehicle, driven by Brandi Carter, on the intersection of FM 2015 and FM 16. When deputies arrived at the scene, they observed the truck facing south and the vehicle driven by Carter in a ditch. Carter was found dead beside her car.
Deputies conducted a sobriety test after detecting a strong odor of alcohol coming from Munoz. Munoz failed the sobriety test and stated he had a couple of beers. Munoz was arrested for intoxicated manslaughter, unauthorized use of a vehicle and three counts of possession of a controlled substance and transported to the Smith County Jail.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Kite Festival has been postponed until Friday because of expected storms moving through East Texas this week. The 5th annual Longview Kite Festival was originally scheduled to start at 12 p.m. on Wednesday at the Lear Park but will now be held on Friday to avoid a chance of severe storms on Wednesday.
The annual family-friendly festival welcomes thousands of East Texans to Lear Park for free kites, arts and crafts, games, live entertainment, food vendors and more. Longview Parks and Recreation said they would share any updates about the festival online.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 31-year-old man accused of shooting a woman on Monday night. Deputies were dispatched on Monday at around 10:19 p.m. to Highway 69 near Joe Mea Road. They found a woman shot in the leg by Christopher Hatfield. The woman was taken to a local hospital and remains in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.
Hatfield allegedly fled before law enforcement arrived. Investigators believe he may have been picked up by someone in a vehicle or may have made his way to a different area. He was last seen wearing all white and is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information regarding Hatfield is urged to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
OVERTON – The American Brahman Breeders Association has named the AgriLife Research Brahman cattle program in Overton as their Breeder of the Year for 2025. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton has operated a Brahman cattle breeding program since 1974 as a way to improve Brahman cattle through scientific research and testing.
The breeding program’s 200 Brahman herd helps AgriLife researchers collect long-term data on the Brahman breed’s reproduction, temperament, grazing, feed efficiency and carcass merit. The data they collect from the herd is then submitted to the Brahman Herd Improvement Registry, which shares their information with cattle producers and researchers around the nation.
TYLER — A Smith County court judge has extended the probation for Patrick Mahomes Sr. by two years on Monday. Mahomes Sr., was arrested earlier this year for allegedly violating his probation from a conviction for driving while intoxicated.
According to our news partner KETK, the defense said, Mahomes Sr. should be “out by today” after the state of Texas retracted the claim that he was drinking and driving during his probation. Instead, the state said it was only an event in his SCRAM device. Today meaning Monday.
The court approved the dismissal and the following changes have been granted to his probation: Read the rest of this entry »
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WILLS POINT — Several residents in Wills Point were evacuated early Thursday morning due to severe flooding from heavy rainfall in the area. According to our news partner KETK, The Wills Point Police Department, City Marshal’s Office and Fire Department conducted a high-water rescue at a residence on Pecan Avenue, near the veternary clinic. Floodwaters exceeded 4-and-a-half feet in depth with a strong current, the police department said.
First responders were successful in locating and rescuing a family of four and their household pets. Several additional residents in the affected area were also successfully rescued and no injuries were reported, according to the police department.
Anyone who has been affected by the storm or flooding is urged to contact the American Red Cross for assistance by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).
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SMITH COUNTY — A wreck involving a car and a motorcycle Thursday morning left the rider in critical condition. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County ESD2 said the wreck happened around 7:08 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 155 and FM 2868 near Noonday. The motorcyclist was taken to a hospital in critical condition following the wreck. Two people in the passenger car were not injured.
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LUFKIN — 
A man injured in a stabbing in a Lufkin parking lot Sunday evening led to the arrest of one, Lufkin city officials said. Lufkin police responded around 5:30 p.m. to a report of a stabbing in the 4500 block of South Melford Drive. Officers found the victim, a 32-year-old man, with a wound to his upper back and a woman applying pressure to the injury. Police assisted until emergency medical services arrived, according to our news partners at KETK. Surveillance footage from nearby stores showed the victim and a another man, identified as 30-year-old Justin William Benton, preparing to fight. Benton appeared to cut the victim in the back before leaving the scene. Benton was arrested and booked into Angelina County Jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on Monday after posting bail.
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