Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
TEXARKANA — 
Be aware of road closures during morning and afternoon commutes in Texarkana this week. Interstate 30 westbound ramp closures are set to begin midday on Monday, Feb. 23. These closures on I-30 will affect the westbound entrance ramp located east of Richmond Road according to our news partners at KETK. The second closure is located at the entrance ramp from U.S. 59/I-369 to I-30 west. To access I-30 West, exit at University Avenue, then travel along the frontage road to use the entrance ramp east of Kings Highway. Check DriveTexas.org for the latest closures and updates.
TYLER – 2026 Black History Month Awards Gala was held in Tyler on Friday as a way to celebrate local African Americans in the arts. The City of Tyler partnered with the Caldwell Arts Alliance to host Friday’s gala at the Willow Brook Country Club, according to our news partners at KETK. On top of paying tribute to those in the arts with awards, the gala was also an opportunity to hand out scholarships to aspiring artists. “We find young people who exemplify excellence in the arts and we uplift, we celebrate them and encourage them to keep going,” Tyler Black History Month Coordinator Sonya Hunter said. Students were able to earn scholarships worth between $250 and $1000. Many of the scholarships were funded by Friday’s award recipients.
GREGG COUNTY — 
Melissa Beckett, a Republican candidate for Texas House District 7, has filed a lawsuit against incumbent Rep. Jay Dean for defamation after he accused her of wanting to eliminate the Texas teacher retirement system. She claims that this accusation has negatively impacted her campaign, according to our news partners at KETK.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, claims that two days prior, Dean posted on his official Facebook a post from Texas Education 911 taken from X:
‘Destroy Teacher Retirement? TEXAS EDUCATION 911 Texas Education 911 @TexasEd911 X.com -If Public Education were genuinely DOGEd, we could cut so much waste and return the money to people. -Maybe it’s time to retire the TRS and switch to 401Ks 2:40 PM 12/9/25 95 Views’
He replied: “HD7 alone employs roughly 1,600 teachers, and statewide the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) serves 1.8 million Texans, including nearly 800,000 retirees who depend on it. Calling for the elimination of TRS isn’t bold – it’s reckless and irresponsible. It threatens the financial security of educators who have dedicated their lives to our kids and our communities. And let’s be clear: she knew it was wrong – that’s why she deleted the post. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
The lawsuit says the post by Dean accused Beckett of advocating for eliminating the Texas Teacher Retirement System and of deleting that post after public backlash. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – When Alexander Kaine Johnson stepped into the 321st District Courtroom to be adopted on Friday, he was surprised to see about 45 fellow fifth graders from Bell Elementary School. Bell Principal Tamara Johnson and several teachers brought the group of kids to celebrate his adoption after a two-year-long process.
Vandria and Tyrone Johnson adopted 11-year-old Cain Coles, who officially changed his name to Alexander Kaine Johnson during the adoption ceremony. 321st District Judge Robert Wilson teared up when he said it was a great day and he was happy to see the family become a forever family.
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WINNSBORO — The Winnsboro ISD has hired Greg Hollingsworth as its new police chief following a unanimous 6-0 vote by the school board Wednesday night. The appointment comes nearly two months after the board voted to terminate former police chief Heath Guy in December after a closed executive session. According to our news partner KETK, Guy had been placed on administrative leave in June amid an investigation connected to a former district employee. That investigation involved former assistant football coach Nicholas Gabriele, who was arrested in June after allegedly admitting to a sexual relationship with a student.
CALDWELL — Two red-ruffed lemur pups were born on Valentine’s Day at the Caldwell Zoo, marking the first successful birth of the critically endangered species in the zoo’s history, zoo officials announced Friday. According to our news partner KETK, their 4-year-old mother, Kintana, arrived at Caldwell Zoo in April 2025 from the Woodland Park Zoo. She was later introduced to Junior, the father, who has lived at Caldwell Zoo since 2017 after arriving from St. Augustine Alligator Park.
Red-ruffed lemurs are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Zoo officials said the birth marks an important milestone in ongoing conservation efforts to protect the species.
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TYLER – Fire crews from Longview and Smith County have deployed to the Texas Panhandle to assist in battling the Lavender Fire in Pampa and the 8 Ball Fire in Howardwick. The deployments are part of coordinated operations through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS). According to our news partner KETK and Smith County ESD2, firefighters were sent to the Lavender Fire in Pampa, located north of Amarillo, to assist with suppression efforts. As of 11:20 a.m. on Thursday, the fire had burned more than 12,000 acres and was 20% contained. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The woman who died on Wednesday has been identified as 44-year-old Lindsey Null. The Tyler Police Department said she was not crossing at a designated crosswalk when she was struck. The driver is not expected to face charges at this time.
TYLER – A crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian has shut down all northbound and southbound lanes in the 1400 block of East Gentry Parkway. According to Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, officers responded to the scene at approximately 3:34 p.m. As of 3:55 p.m., all lanes remain closed as police and emergency crews work in the roadway. Drivers are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
TYLER – A Longview tax preparer has pleaded guilty to a federal violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 57-year-old Marneitha Reese Scott, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid, assist, counsel, or advise in tax fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on February 18, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Scott owned a tax return preparer business operated under the name of F.A.S.T. Financial Firm (“FAST”), with two locations in Longview. Scott and others recruited tax preparers to work at the businesses to prepare and file income tax returns for clients.
With others, Scott created a scheme to defraud the United States by instructing the tax preparers to create fraudulent entries on client tax returns, including, for example, claims for business losses when the client had no business. Read the rest of this entry »
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HARRISON COUNTY – An inmate at the Harrison County Jail died on Wednesday morning following a medical emergency, that according to our news partner KETK and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said that around 1 a.m., staff members at the jail became aware that 63-year-old inmate Lawrence Siford was having a medical emergency. Prior to the emergency, Siford had suffered from chronic medical conditions and was under a medical watch according to the sheriff’s office. Siford was taken to a local hospital following the medical episode and was pronounced dead at around 4 a.m. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating Siford’s death and at this time, no foul play is suspected.
GREGG COUNTY — No foul play is suspected after an inmate died on Tuesday following a medical emergency at the Gregg County jail. According to our news partner KETK, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said that staff were notified of an inmate having a medical emergency at a dorm in the county’s north jail facility at around 2:25 p.m. When detention officers and medical staff arrived, they found a 68-year-old inmate having a severe medical episode.
Longview Fire and EMS were called to the scene, who then transported the inmate to a local hospital, where he later died. The Texas Rangers were notified and will investigate in accordance with the sheriff’s office policy and Texas Commission on Jail Standards. More information is expected to be released.
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SMITH COUNTY — Several firefighters from Smith County Emergency Services District 2 (ESD 2) are being dispatched to West Texas amid potential wildfires. ESD 2 received a request for assistance from the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) regarding potential wildland fires in Pampa and Borger, both in the West Texas region. To provide assistance, ESD 2 will be sending two firefighters, one engine boss, and one dozer boss. Members of the Tyler, Nacogdoches, Texarkana and Longview fire departments are also being dispatched to provide aid.
TYLER — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made a campaign stop in East Texas on Tuesday as the keynote speaker for the Smith County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Day Dinner. Abbott delivered remarks during the event at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in Tyler.
According to our news partner KETK, Abbott was joined by several state and local Republican leaders, including State Sen. Bryan Hughes, State Rep. Daniel Alders, State Rep. Cole Hefner and Nate Sheets, who is running for Texas agriculture commissioner.
PALESTINE – A woman was arrested in Palestine last week after allegedly burglarizing a vehicle in the parking lot of a Sherwin-Williams store. According to our news partners KETK and the Palestine Police Department, officers responded to a report of a vehicle burglary just before 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 12. Upon arrival, officers observed a woman matching the suspect’s description walking near a nearby pawn shop. She was later identified as 30-year-old Christie Schoolcraft, of Palestine, and was stopped and detained.
The police department said Schoolcraft initially provided a false name and date of birth but was later correctly identified. Items reported missing from the victim’s vehicle were allegedly found in her possession. Schoolcraft was transported to the Anderson County Jail, where she was booked on charges of burglary of a vehicle and failure to identify/giving false information. As of Tuesday afternoon, she remains in custody on a $12,500 bond.
TYLER – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke in Tyler on Monday as a part of his campaign to be one of two United States Senators for Texas. Monday’s campaign stop was part of the Texas-First Victoria Tour, a state-wide tour aimed at “mobilizing grassroots conservatives” ahead of the Republican Primary in March, where Paxton will face Incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Wesley Hunt.
If Paxton wins in March, he’ll face the winner of the Democratic Primary in November. Democratic Primary candidates include U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, Ahmad Hassan and Texas State Rep. James Talarico, who’s campaigning in Tyler on Feb. 24.
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TYLER – Texas Comptroller candidate Michael Lange stopped in Tyler on Friday to discuss the importance of financial transparency and economic fairness for Texas families.
According to our news partner KETK, Lange said on Friday, “It’s not easy making a living these days, matter of fact, it’s getting harder. A lot of people are worried about their money. A lot of people worried about affordability. What if I told you the comptroller could affect all of that? Think about it, comptroller is your money, it’s how you spend money but also the controller can do things like influence new job creation.”
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TYLER – A driver has been taken to a local hospital after they were shot during a road rage incident on Friday in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler PD, it happened at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive when a driver got out of their vehicle and shot another driver. The suspected shooter stayed at the scene and has been detained by Tyler PD officers. The driver who was shot has been taken to the hospital. Grande Boulevard is currently closed to the east and west of Paluxy Drive.
PANOLA COUNTY — An East Texas district court held a hearing on Thursday to discuss the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the companies that produce Tylenol. After the hearing, 123rd District Court Judge LeAnn Kay Rafferty did not make an immediate decision but indicated that she would ‘take under advisement‘ the arguments presented. The lawsuit, initiated by Paxton’s office, targets the pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Brands, according to our news partners at KETK. The lawsuit asserts that they unlawfully marketed Tylenol, or acetaminophen, to pregnant women, despite claims that the medication may pose risks to unborn babies. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Starting Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to East Elm Street between South Broadway Avenue and South College Avenue. The intersection between Elm Street and College Avenue will remain open. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available. Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. Sidewalks in the area will remain open. Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.
LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain its license. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.
EAST TEXAS — Following Lifetouch Photography’s involvement in a controversy regarding the Epstein files, numerous school districts throughout East Texas are canceling their partnerships with the company. According to our news partner KETK, districts that decided to end their partnership with Lifetouch earlier this week, following the allegations, include: Athens ISD, Kemp ISD, Malakoff ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Van ISD, Edgewood ISD and Winnsboro ISD.
In the released Jeffrey Epstein files, Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which is the parent company of Lifetouch, is accused of making at least $158 million in payments to Epstein for “purported tax and estate planning advice.” However, an investigation by the United States Senate Committee on Finance found that the money was used to finance Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. Read the rest of this entry »
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HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson Sheriff’s Office has confirmed two have died in a plane crash near Echo Lake early Wednesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, Chip Crist, a cattle owner near the crash site, said the plane, which had left Florida, refueled in Nacogoches before attempting to continue its flight. Along with fire and police units at the scene, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration are also there.
On Thursday morning, an FAA report states that an aircraft declared an emergency due to oil covering the windshield. It diverted but crashed into power lines near Echo Lakes’ runway. The plane is described as a Beech A36 model, a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft manufactured in 1994. The airplane is registered to AileRon T, LLC, based out of Orlando, Florida. The identities of the two people have not been released at this time.
TYLER – Beginning Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to the intersection of Elm Street and College Avenue. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available.
Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. The intersection of College Avenue and Elm Street will remain open, and sidewalks in the area will remain open. Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.
SMITH COUNTY – Non-Emergency Smith County Offices will be closed Monday, February 16, for Presidents Day. They will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17. There will be no Commissioners Court meeting on February 17, because of a lack of quorum. Most of the court members will be attending a Texas Association of Counties conference. The next Commissioners Court meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, on the first floor of the Annex Building, at 200 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler. Meeting agendas can be found here.
EAST TEXAS – On Wednesday, Van Zandt County Commissioners voted to pass a moratorium, pausing all planned green energy projects in the county until Attorney General Ken Paxton investigates their full effects. According to our news partner KETK, the moratorium passed unanimously, pausing construction of nine battery storage units and seven solar projects in the county. This fight has been ongoing since 2024, when the Finnish-based company Taaleri Energia announced the Amador Bess Project in rural Canton.
Given the proximity of international infrastructure to their homes, national security is a major concern for many residents.
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