Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
NACOGDOCHES — A 36-year-old man was arrested on a murder charge following a stabbing late Saturday night in Nacogdoches. According to our news partner KETK, Nacogdoches Police said officers responded to a medical call just after midnight near the intersection of East Main and South Fredonia Streets, where a person was reported to be bleeding. The officers found the victim, who had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, and EMS transported the victim to a local hospital.
Witnesses led police to 36 year-old Cruz De La Luz Vargas Nava, of Nacogdoches, as the suspect. He was found shortly after and taken into custody on probable cause. Police said the victim later died at the hospital. Vargas Nava was subsequently booked into jail on a murder charge. The investigation remains ongoing.
TYLER – 
As East Texans get ready for the return of cold weather, several locations around East Texas are opening up as warming shelters and centers, according to our news partners at KETK. KETK News has put together the following list of locations opening to the public: Read the rest of this entry »
SHELBY COUNTY – 
Texas’ first confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza of the year was found in a Shelby County commercial poultry flock this week, according to our news partners at KETK. The case was confirmed by the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory on Thursday after a “considerable mortality” was found in a Shelby County flock, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) said they’re working closely with the federal animal health officials to respond to the affected area, which has been quarantined. The TAHC added that they’re also monitoring areas nearby the quarantined flock. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report that an adult and a child were injured when a vehicle and a tractor crashed on Toll 49 on Saturday. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 said a vehicle and a tractor crashed at around 6 p.m. on Saturday near mile marker 21 on Toll 49. An adult and a child involved in the crash have been transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. Two other people involved in the crash received minor injuries and were treated at the scene. According to the district, the crash was blocking the whole roadway but one side has since been cleared.
LONGVIEW – 
Our news partners at KETK report that three men have been taken to a local hospital after they were injured in a shooting that happened on Swancy Street in Longview on Saturday, according to the Longview Police Department. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a driver has died in a crash just after midnight on Saturday morning on Highway 271 near Interstate 20 in Smith County. According to Smith County Emergency Services District 2, the driver died after their vehicle and an 18-wheeler truck collided on Highway 271. The district said first responders didn’t clear the crashed vehicles from the roadway until 4 a.m. on Saturday. The driver of the 18-wheeler was uninjured and officials said Highway 271 was back open by 5 a.m. this morning.
TYLER —
Our news partners at KETK report that a former Tyler ISD substitute teacher pleaded guilty Friday to assaulting a disabled student at Moore Middle School. Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 28, was arrested in April after the Tyler ISD Police Department investigated an incident that happened on April 1.
An affidavit states that video obtained during the investigation showed Castro-Lacayo in a verbal confrontation with a special needs student that turned into a physical altercation.
The footage reportedly shows Castro-Lacayo restraining the student’s arms with the help of two aides, twisting her arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain. He then pushed the student into a wall while continuing to restrain her and later tackled her to the ground. When the student had threatened to tell her father about the incident Castro-Lacayo responded “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.”
Castro-Lacayo was arrested April 9 and charged with injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.
Castro-Lacayo appeared in the 114th Judicial District Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty, according to lead attorney Brett Harrison. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.
ANDERSON COUNTY – 
A status conference has been scheduled for East Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson after he was granted an execution stay this past October, according to our news partners at KETK. Roberson’s attorney’s office announced, his status conference has been set for Feb. 27 and will be held over Zoom. The conference is a pre-trial meeting where attorneys will review the case’s progress and explore possible settlement options. Read the rest of this entry »
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report fire crews responded Thursday night to a house fully engulfed in flames, according to the Grand Saline Fire Department. Public Information Officer Caden Mosher said firefighters arrived around 6:15 p.m. at a home near the intersection of County Roads 1224 and 1225. When crews reached the scene, the fire had already consumed the structure and had begun spreading into nearby woods. The family was not home when the fire started, and no injuries were reported. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
On Friday, 2,000 local kids received bags of joy from the Salvation Army of Tyler for their annual Angel Tree program according to our news partners at KETK. On Wednesday, 350 senior citizens received their presents. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program has been providing gifts to local children and seniors for more than 40 years. Families write their wish lists and needs on cards which are then placed in grocery stores and malls for local donors to pick up. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – 
Our news partners at KETK report Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney has been placed on administrative leave for the second time this year, according to Rusk City Manager Bob Goldsberry. Goldsberry told KETK News on Friday that Heagney is being put on administrative leave in connection with an “internal personnel matter” within the police department. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – During Thursday’s Marshall City Council meeting, officials approved a $338,663 contract for emergency repairs to the collapsed section of East Grand Avenue, according to our news partner KETK.
The Marshall City Council said in a release, “Tonight, the Marshall City Council awarded a $338,663 contract to WMS Road & Bridge to make emergency repairs to the cave-in on US Highway 80/Grand Avenue. An agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation will partially reimburse the City for repair work underneath the state’s right of way,” the city said on Thursday. “It is an agreement that Council members say will help with cost recovery and move the project along quickly. Repair work could begin as early as Monday. WMS Road & Bridge is a Texas-based general contractor from Marshall. The City Council’s vote tonight underscores its commitment to infrastructure maintenance and project efficiency.”
TYLER – Beginning Friday, Dec. 12, visitors to Downtown Tyler will have a new, free way to get around the area during evening hours. The City of Tyler is partnering with Tyler Valet to offer a fixed-route shuttle service with clearly marked pick-up and drop-off points. Shuttle stops are easy to find, with bright yellow signs placed throughout the Downtown area.
Riders can hop on and off at any stop along the route at no cost. The Downtown evening shuttle will operate during the following times: Thursdays 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER (AP) – 
Four years ago, James and Mary Robinson put the last Christmas tree they would ever plant in the ground. “Once you plant the tree, it takes four years to harvest it,” James said. “But once you plant your last tree, it takes four years to get out of the business.” On Sunday, they sold their last tree. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD — Changes are expected for those traveling near Bullard ISD in December and January as TxDOT looks to upgrade U.S. Highway 69 and FM 2493, which includes the construction of a new overpass and a realigned on-ramp. According to our news partner KETK, beginning the week of Dec. 19, the speed limit at the intersection of U.S. 69 and FM 2493 East, located in front of Bullard ISD’s middle school, will be reduced to 45 mph. A temporary traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection on Jan. 5 to ease congestion and improve safety. TxDOT said message boards will be placed to alert drivers ahead of the change. Drivers are urged to stay alert and use caution in the area while improvements continue.
KILGORE — The Kilgore Fire Department is currently responding to a wildland brush fire on FM 2276 in Rusk County. According to our news partner KETK, the fire, which has spread across roughly one acre, originated from a burn pile ignited on Tuesday. Kilgore FD is urging residents to use extreme caution when conducting any outdoor burning, especially on windy days or when dry grass is present.
GILMER – A Gilmer man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Wednesday after being found guilty of firearms violations. According to our news partner KETK, Jimmy Duffey was pulled over on May 7, 2022, for a traffic check in Cherokee County. During the stop, an officer located a firearm in Duffy’s vehicle. They discovered that Duffy is a convicted felon, which prohibits him from owning or possessing firearms by federal law. Duffey later pleaded guilty to being in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Cherokee County has officially joined ICE’s 287(g) program under the Task Force Model. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Brent Dickson clarified that this decision is not aimed at conducting immigration sweeps. Dickson emphasized that his office did not choose to participate for “strictly immigration purposes,” saying that the agreement is intended as another tool to combat criminal enterprises operating in Cherokee County. The task force is expected to be implemented by the start of the new year, following Tuesday’s official signing
TYLER – 
A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a human trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Michael Anthony Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on December 10, 2025. According to information presented in court, Martinez used a social media account to promise lucrative payment to people who were willing to drive illegal aliens to their destination. Bank records and text messages between Martinez and those he had recruited verified the criminal conduct.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Commissioners Court has announced the appointment of a new shelter coordinator. According to our news partner KETK, Holli Jones, who previously served as the executive director for Pets Fur People, will take on this role, which became vacant after the former supervisor was dismissed. Jones is expected to begin on Dec. 16. In a new structure, the animal control shelter will divide responsibilities between the shelter coordinator and a separate control coordinator. As of now, it has not been announced who will fill the control coordinator position.
SMITH COUNTY – Holli Jones has been named as the new Smith County Animal Shelter Coordinator and is excited for this new chapter in her life. Jones said she is looking forward to being a part of rebranding and rebuilding the department and she will work hard to push people to adopt dogs from the shelter.
Before becoming executive director for Pets Fur People, Ms. Jones was co-owner of the Green Acres Animal Clinic, where she also served as vice president, manager and veterinary assistant. She worked at the clinic from 2015 to 2023. From 2006 to 2016, she was the assistant to the athletic director at Grace Community School, primarily working in marketing, fundraising and coordinating volunteers. From 1992 to 2015, she was the cheerleading coach for Grace Community School. Smith County has not yet hired a Smith County Animal Control Supervisor.
GREGG COUNTY — After an overnight search for a man who fled during a chase with a Gregg County deputy, law enforcement apprehended him on Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Austin Richert, who had multiple felony warrants, fled from deputies on Monday evening. At around 6 p.m., law enforcement tracked Richert in a wooded area near Old Highway 135.
A struggle allegedly occurred between the suspect and a deputy, causing the deputy to sustain minor injuries. Richert managed to escape, and the sheriff’s office, with the assistance of the Kilgore Police Department and Gregg County ESD 2, could not locate him overnight.
On Tuesday at around 9:30 a.m., Richert was located in Rusk County, where law enforcement arrested him. He was later taken to the Gregg County Jail. The sheriff’s office said Richert is expected to face additional felony charges. The case remains under investigation.
HENDERSON — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a 33-year-old man was arrested on Monday after authorities say he attempted to meet what he believed was a child during an undercover sting in Henderson County. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said Oscar Campos, of Kerens, had been communicating online and by phone with an undercover official posing as a minor. Campos allegedly traveled to an Athens Walmart expecting to meet the child, but when he tried to get into a vehicle, he was confronted by a task force investigator. Campos attempted to flee but was apprehended. He was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of online solicitation of a minor for sexual conduct and evading arrest or detention. Henderson County officials said they remain committed to identifying and arresting individuals who pose a threat to children. The case remains under investigation and additional charges are possible.
KEMP – 
A 54-year-old Kemp man was arrested on Saturday after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said they found suspected methamphetamines during a search of his RV according to our news partners at KETK. At around 11:39 p.m. on Saturday, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies executed a search warrant on a recreational vehicle parked in the 1300 block of Pritchett Lane in Kemp. Rodney Blake Bryant, 54 of Kemp, allegedly owned the RV and was wanted for violating his parole, according to the sheriff’s office. During the search of the RV, two large bags of suspected meth were found, along with other alleged drug paraphernalia like a digital scale. Bryant was arrested during the search for his parole warrant and he’s also been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. He’s currently being held in the Henderson County Jail on $100,000 bond.
KEMP – 
Our news partners at KETK report that two people were arrested in Kemp on Sunday morning after bags of suspected methamphetamines, a firearm and a large amount of cash were found during a traffic stop. According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, two of their office’s narcotics investigators were in the 1300 block of Pritchett Lane in Kemp at around 1:19 a.m. when they conducted a traffic stop on a silver Kia sedan. During the stop, investigators spoke with the driver of the Kia, who was identified by the sheriff’s office as Krayton Lavelle Williams, 26 of Athens. The investigators then contacted a K9 unit to come sniff the vehicle and when the unit arrived the K9 alerted near the Kia. The sheriff’s office said investigators then searched the Kia and found a loaded firearm, a large amount of cash and prepackaged bags of suspected meth that were allegedly found in a concealed compartment of the Kia’s dashboard. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — David Stein announced his intention to run for re-election as Smith County Republican Party Chairman, seeking a fourth term. According to our news partner KETK, Since 2020, Stein and Smith County Republicans have worked diligently to keep the Party strong and relevant. During that time, Smith County has remained heavily Republican and a model for counties across the state. The Party has recruited more Precinct Chairs, kept finances in great shape, elevated its presence in the community by being visible at events in all areas of the county, and continued to elect strong conservative Republicans to local, state, and federal offices. Read the rest of this entry »
EDOM —
Two people have been arrested after an armed bank robbery was reported on Friday morning in Edom according to our news partners at KETK. The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office responded to the First State Bank of Ben Wheeler in Edom at around 9:30 a.m., where bank personnel described the suspects’ vehicle as a gray Nissan pickup with Texas plates. Inside the vehicle was a Black woman driving and a Black man as the passenger, both dressed in gray hoodies. After a bank teller memorized the vehicle’s license plate, the sheriff’s office, along with other local agencies were able to track down the vehicle at a registered address in Ben Wheeler. There, they found two individuals matching the description given by the bank personnel. The suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Van Zandt County Detention Center. The sheriff’s office assured the public that there is no immediate danger. The investigation remains ongoing.
WOOD COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report a man was arrested in Quitman on Wednesday after allegedly attacking a family member with chemicals, temporarily impairing her vision. According to a Wood County affidavit, the incident occurred on Sept. 16 in Quitman. A family member told officials she awoke to the sound of another relative calling for help on the front porch. When she went outside, she saw Brandon Nichols coming into her yard and running toward her. Nichols then poured an unknown chemical substance onto her face, hair and clothing, the affidavit alleges. The victim described the substance as sticky and painful, causing her eyelashes to stick together and impairing her vision. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES — 
Our news partners at KETK report one person is in custody following an investigation launched due to a threat against Nacogdoches ISD. The school district’s police department stated on Friday morning that there is no ongoing danger to any campus. The school district partnered with several agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI, to ensure the proper steps were taken. “That collaboration allowed us to move swiftly, verify the credibility of the threat, and secure the situation before it could escalate,” the Nacogdoches ISD Police Department said. The department did not disclose the specific nature of the threat but stated that if further relevant information becomes available, they will update the public on their Facebook page. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Parks and Recreation will host the 40th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the lawn of the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center following The Rotary Club of Tyler’s Rose City Christmas Parade Friday evening. The tree will be lit by Lilli Halifax, the 2026 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Child representing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.
The event will also feature performances by the Caldwell Singers, and food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. Beginning at 5 p.m., Friday Dec. 5th, Front Street will be closed from Palace Avenue to Lyons Avenue, and Glenwood Boulevard will be closed from Erwin Street to Houston Street.