Today is
Friday July 24, 2026
PANOLA COUNTY — 
A 4-year-old boy has been shot in the leg after discharging a pistol. According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday at around 5:39 p.m., the sheriff’s office dispatch received a 911 call from a parent who said their spouse was taking their child to an emergency room for “an unknown problem.” When law enforcement arrived, they found the 4-year-old being treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. “The father and child were preparing to leave a deer stand near Ragley Road (County Road 182) when the child discharged the pistol that the father was carrying in a holster,” the sheriff’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — The Kilgore Fire Department and Gregg County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a grass fire burning a pasture off of FM 3053 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters at the scene reported that hay bales were burned in a pasture in the 1400 block of FM 3053. The road was closed at around 4 p.m. on Sunday but has been reopened since Kilgore Fire Department left the scene.
“We advise that anyone burning outside have a way to extinguish their fire as the fire risk is very high over the next several days with increased winds and low humidity,” Sabine Fire & Rescue said.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said the 10.2-acre fire was around 100% contained as of 4:59 p.m.
Tyler – 
Smith County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Andy Dunklin will announce his re-election campaign in the March 2026 Republican primary. The campaign kick-off will be on Tuesday, November 11, at 9:00 AM at The Place on Main at Solon Douglas & Co in Bullard. Judge Dunklin will make a formal address regarding his bid for re-election at the Campaign Kick-Off. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after a Thursday night shooting in the 200 block of Bowles Street in Lufkin. The Lufkin Police Department said gunshots were reported at around 10:40 p.m., and when officers arrived at the scene, they located a man “who had been shot multiple times.” Despite attempts to save his life, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old DeMarcus Jones, who has since been charged with murder for the death of Tyrone Williams. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a former Mount Pleasant ISD (MPISD) special education teacher’s aide, Jaquaven Rogers, was arrested on Friday for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student. According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), MPISD was told about an alleged improper relationship Friday morning. The district contacted MPPD and detectives arrived on campus to investigate the allegations. Probable cause led to Rogers’ arrest at P.E. Wallace Middle School. Rogers is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student from a different Mount Pleasant ISD campus, according to Mount Pleasant PD. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a Longview man arrested in connection with a deadly 2023 shooting has pleaded guilty to murder and been sentenced to 25 years in jail. According to court records, 45-year-old Michael Dashaun Jackson entered a guilty plea Friday morning in the 188th District Court for the murder of Martin King, 45. The incident occurred in May 2023, when Longview police were called to the 1300 block of Twelfth Street after reports of gunfire. Officers found King lying on the side of the road suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Following an investigation, Jackson was identified as a suspect and later arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail for murder. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson received a 25-year sentence that he will serve in the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Jail.
HOUSTON COUNTY — The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has fired one of their staff, after learning former Deputy Skyler Laza was arrested on alleged child sex crime charges. According to our news partner KETK, Laza was arrested late Wednesday afternoon by the DPS Criminal Investigation Division at his home in Palestine and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. That evening, Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge traveled to the Anderson County Jail, where Laza was being held and terminated him as a deputy in Houston County.
In a statement from Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge, “The allegations and supporting evidence against Laza are truly disturbing. It is sickening to me that a person who sought a position meant to help those in our community, especially the most vulnerable, our children, would be the very person arrested for abuse. My office will continue to work with the investigating agencies and assist in every way possible to ensure that Laza, and anyone else involved in these heinous acts of abuse against this juvenile victim, are punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Update: KTBB contacted the Tyler DPS office and they said that I-20 was open between Lindale and Winona. This was because of several vehicle accidents Wednesday morning.
SMITH COUNTY — People driving eastbound on I-20 between Lindale and Winona can expect severe traffic delays after several wrecks were reported on Wednesday morning. Traffic can be observed on TxDOT cameras just before the intersection of I-20 and U.S. Highway 69, heading toward Shady Grove. Several accidents have been reported in that area, but the severity of the crashes has not yet been confirmed. Traffic has been diverted onto U.S. 69, DPS said, but has also caused some traffic delays. Drivers are asked to avoid the area as traffic is expected to last several hours.
KILGORE — A former Kilgore ISD instructional aide has received 10 years of deferred adjudication after pleading guilty to having an improper relationship with a student. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Kayla Nicole O’Dell of Gladewater pleaded guilty Tuesday morning of the misconduct charge. As part of her sentence, O’Dell faces a potential prison term of 2 to 20 years if she violates the terms of her probation. She was also ordered to pay $1,000 in court fees, and her teaching certificate has been permanently revoked.
According to Kilgore ISD, the district launched an internal investigation in early January 2025 after receiving allegations of possible educator misconduct involving O’Dell, who had worked as an instructional aide since August 2023. She resigned from her position on Jan. 7, 2025. O’Dell’s deferred adjudication means that, if she successfully completes her probation, she will avoid a formal conviction; however, any violation of its terms could result in imprisonment for up to 20 years. Additionally, O’Dell will not be forced to register as a sex offender.
SMITH COUNTY –
The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office determined that a house fire east of the Swan community on Tuesday morning was caused by a chimney fire. The Fire Marshal’s Office was dispatched at 7:49 a.m. on November 4, to the 12300 block of County Road 495. “The fire spread into the attic of the residence from a chimney fire and was determined to be accidental. The residence was a total loss and there were no injuries,” Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said. “It is recommended to have your homes chimney cleaned and inspected annually.”
Update: An anonymous donor has added $10,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Bobby Michael Dennis, wanted for the shooting of a Jacksonville police officer. Cherokee County Crime Stoppers will increase that by at least $1,000, bringing the total offered for his apprehension to over $21,000, including Governor Abbott’s $10,000 reward. Call Crime Stoppers at 903-586-STOP (7867) or Jacksonville Police at 903-339-3356. Your identity can remain anonymous.
JACKSONVILLE — Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Monday that his office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of 64-year-old Bobby Michael Dennis, who allegedly shot a Jacksonville Police Department officer on Sunday and stabbed a K9.
Jacksonville ISD remains closed Tuesday due to the ongoing manhunt.
According to our news partner KETK, the encounter happened Sunday afternoon around 4:41 p.m on Benson Street, near Jerusalem Baptist Church. DPS issued a BLUE alert for Dennis, whose described as a Black man approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing about 152 pounds and was last seen wearing all-black clothing. He was also added to the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Read the rest of this entry »
Update: Boil water notice rescinded Wednesday afternoon by the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company. Per their website.
RUSK — Rusk Rural Water Supply Company (RRWSC) has issued a boil water notice for parts of Rusk because of a leak in its main water line. According to our news partner KETK, the boil water notice means that all customers affected to boil their water before consuming by bringing water to a rolling boil for at least two minutes. Individuals may also purchase bottled water in lieu of boiling
The notice affects customers on the following roads: US HWY 84 E, CR 1201, CR 1202, CR 1204, CR 1214, CR 1215, CR 1301, CR 1302, CR 1303, CR 1316 and CR 1322. Rusk Rural Water Supply Company will issue a notice once the notice is no longer in effect. For more information on the boil water notice you may visit the RRWSC online.
TYLER – Officials are investigating a truck crash under the County Road 178 overpass on Toll 49 in Tyler on Monday evening. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters and first responders are at the scene where the truck is currently sitting rolled over against the overpass. Law enforcement is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
SULPHUR SPRINGS — A Sulphur Springs man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to an assault that occurred in Wood County. According to our news partner KETK, 64-year-old James Curtis Sims was arrested in September that year of domestic violence. Wood County Sheriffs responded to the call made by the victim in Yantis. When investigators arrived, they found her with blood on her face and shirt, a bruised face and head and swelling under her eye. She said that Sims accused her of taking money from him and struck her “4 or 5 times” and threatening to kill her. The victim had left Sims residence and went to her parents home, for fear of being assaulted by him again.
On Oct. 31, James Sims pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury, family violence, with a previous conviction. Sims was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and was also ordered to pay court costs. According to court records, Sims had four prior misdemeanor convictions for assaulting women in Hopkins County and had previously served time in prison.
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County will have 29 polling locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day Tuesday, November 4.
During two weeks of early voting, 10,596 in-person and mail-in ballots were received. That is only 6 percent of the registered voters in Smith County.
There are 17 Texas Constitutional Amendment Propositions on the ballot, as well as several city and school elections throughout Smith County. Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon is urging voters to do their research on the propositions before coming to the polls. Click here for that information.
The City of Whitehouse and the East Texas Municipal Utility District, as well as the Arp, Troup and Whitehouse Independent School Districts will all be holding special elections on November 4.
To find exactly what will be on your ballot where you live, you can use Smith County’s interactive map, click here.
Polling locations in Smith County on November 4 include: Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Here is a story with a happy ending. On September 19, Smith County Animal seized 22 Italian Greyhounds, 19 Whippets and three Poodles from a residence in rural Troup. Officers believed these dogs were part of a puppy mill operation. Smith County Animal Control kept the dogs and treated and cared for them until the dogs had healed from their abuse. On October 22, the Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation, based in Austin, drove to Tyler, and picked up all 44 dogs. The foundation said they had a waiting list of people ready to adopt the dogs. For more information about Smith County Animal Control, go here.
MOUNT PLEASANT – 
Our news partners at KETK report a New Boston man was taken into custody early Thursday morning following a series of armed robberies at local convenience stores, according to the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD).
Around 1:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the CEFCO convenience store at 100 Alexander Road after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. The suspect, described as a Black male dressed entirely in black and wearing a black face mask, allegedly entered the store armed with a knife and demanded money. Police said the man fled the scene in a white four-door passenger car.
While investigators were still processing the CEFCO scene, a second call came in reporting an attempted robbery at the Tiger Mart located at 2511 W. Ferguson Road. The suspect description and getaway vehicle matched those from the earlier incident, according to Mount Pleasant PD. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – U.S. Congressman Nathaniel Moran met with members of the Tyler Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Wednesday, showing support for federal workers affected by the government shutdown. According to our news partner KETK, Moran announced earlier this week he would waive his congressional salary due to the shutdown that has left hundreds without a paycheck for the last month.
The Congressman said during this visit, “The men and women of TSA are still showing up every day to keep our skies safe, even as they go without pay. That kind of commitment reflects the very best of our public servants and deserves our very best efforts to fully re-open. After returning from DC this week, I sat down with them and brought some breakfast tacos to thank them for their hard work, to remind them that as long as they aren’t getting paid, I won’t take a paycheck, and to reaffirm that their families and concerns are critically important to me.”
On Wednesday, the Senate voted to keep the government closed for the 13th time. Sixty votes are needed to advance a measure to reopen the government, but Democrats have held firm on their healthcare demands.
TROUP – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a structure fire in Troup left a home completely engulfed in flames, but the quick thinking and heroic actions of 20-year-old Takavion Lydia prevented any fatalities. Takavion Lydia was playing basketball down the street when he saw smoke coming from a home that belonged to one of his relatives. Once Lydia arrived at the house, he found it entirely engulfed in flames, but after he saw a man pressing his hand against the window, he jumped into action. Lydia punched a hole in the window, helping his relative escape from the home, and believes he did sprain his hand after hitting the glass. The woman in the house was able to get out on their own. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – A tornado expected to becategorized an EF0, which has estimated winds of 65-85 mph, touched down near Lindale Tuesday afternoon. In a release from Smith County, Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said a little after 3 p.m., a tornado was seen off Farm-to-Market Road 2710, northeast of Lindale.
Moore, as well as Emergency Services District 1 officials, are assessing damages. Trees and homes are damaged off FM 2170, and County Roads 4126 and 4128. No injuries have been reported. No trees have been reported on county roads. If you have a tree on a county road to report, please call Smith County Dispatch at 903-566-6600.
RUSK – The Rusk Rural Water Supply has issued a boil water advisory for their customers because of a water line leak. According to our news partner KETK, The affected areas are, FM 768, Piney Grove Rd and county roads 1306, 1310, 1313, 1314, 1328, 1503, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1521 and 1522.
Water intended for cooking, drinking, or making ice should be brought to a vigorous boil and kept boiling for at least two minutes before use. Residents in the affected areas should avoid consuming any water that has not been boiled until the advisory is lifted. When the water line is fixed and water has been cleared by officials, the water supply will issue a public notice.
UPDATE: The planned power outage for a portion for Cherokee County is complete.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Some Cherokee county residents will be without power on Wednesday due to a planned power outage scheduled by the Cherokee County Electric Cooperative Association. According to our news partner KETK, The power is expected to go off at 8 a.m. and remain out for three to five hours.
Areas impacted will include the Dialville and Oakland communities. Also, several roads may be affected by the power outage, including: CR 1503, CR 1603, CR 1604, CR 1605, CR 1608 ,CR 1609, CR 1625, CR 1626, CR 1718, CR 2101, CR 2012, CR 2103, CR 2105, CR 2107, CR 2110, CR 2111, CR 2201, CR 2202, CR 2203, CR 2217, CR 2224, FM 347, FM 1248, FM 2972, U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 84
The scheduled power outage is being held to allow crews to complete system upgrades to help keep residents’ power safe and reliable.
NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches man was arrested Friday Oct. 17 with 2.4 pounds of crystal meth in his vehicle. According to our news partner KETK, 50-year-old John Darren Taylor of Nacogdoches, was stopped by Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s deputies for speeding in a construction zone. Deputies found the crystal meth, along with 123 grams of Alprazolam pills and an unspecified amount of marijuana in the toolbox of Taylor’s pickup.
Investigators allege that Crawford had gotten the drugs from the Houston area with the intent of selling them in Nacogdoches County. He was charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Crawford is being held at the Nacogdoches County Jail.
BULLARD — Our news partner KETK is reporting that a former employee at Bullard Intermediate School has been arrested amidst an ongoing criminal investigation involving child sex crimes. On Oct. 15, the Bullard ISD Police Department interviewed the suspect, Bryan Taylor, who was relieved from his position on the same day after having only been working there for three months. The school district said all screenings and background checks were conducted as district procedures require.
On Wednesday, Taylor was arrested at his residence and booked into the Anderson County Jail. He has been charged with unlawful restraint and attempted sexual performance by a child and is being held on a $1 million bond. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) has lifted the Stage 2 mandatory water restrictions that went into effect earlier this month while the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant was offline after multiple critical equipment failures and flooding in the filter pipe gallery. To help protect the system and maintain reliable service citywide during that time, TWU activated Stage 2 of the City’s Drought Contingency and Emergency Demand Management Plan, which called for a 10% reduction in total daily water use. Repairs have progressed enough to allow the plant to resume operations safely. With both the Lake Palestine and Golden Road Water Treatment Plants now contributing to the water supply, system pressure and capacity have stabilized. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County officials said in a release, that one of Smith County’s polling places will be closed for the rest of Wednesday after the water was shut off because of a water main break. The Heritage Building, at 1900 Bellwood Road in Tyler, is the polling place affected. Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said she is notified the Texas Secretary of State’s Office this morning. County officials feel the break will be fixed the end of Wednesday.
There are four other early voting locations open until 5 p.m. today:
• The Hub, 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler
• Lindale Kinzie Community Center, 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale
• Noonday Community Center, 16662 County Road 196, Tyler
• Whitehouse Methodist Church, 405 W. Main St., Whitehouse
Early voting continues through October 31, and Election Day is November 4. There are 17 Texas Constitutional Amendment Propositions on the ballot, as well as several city and school elections throughout Smith County. They can be found by visiting the Smith County website.
TYLER – The Tyler Transit app is currently unavailable due to a nationwide outage affecting Amazon Web Services (AWS). Officials say while app functions such as scheduling and ride tracking are temporarily down, all MicroTransit services are continuing to operate as normal. The City said in release, at this time riders should call (903) 533-8057 to schedule their rides, check pickup times or get route information. Tyler Transit staff is monitoring the situation and will notify customers when the app is back online.
TEXAS – Although Texas job growth has slowed steadily since the recovery from the pandemic recession in 2021, the growth rate has now dipped further below its long-run trend rate of about 2 percent, in part due to a slower flow of immigration, according to new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The report was authored by the Dallas Fed’s Isabel Brizuela, Emily Kerr, Pia Orrenius and University of North Florida professor of economics Madeline Zavodny.
Recent results from the Dallas Fed’s business surveys suggest immigration enforcement may play an important role curbing labor supply in the region, contributing to weak employment growth.
“Given the decline in immigration inflows, increase in arrests and removals of immigrants already here and the chilling effect, labor supply is clearly being affected,” the authors write.
Key points from the report include:
By some estimates, Texas received at least 10 percent of the border immigration surge from 2021 to 2024—at least 550,000 extra immigrants—and firms grew more dependent on foreign-born workers.
Among Dallas Fed survey respondents over the summer, 20 percent said immigration policy had hampered or is expected this year to hamper their ability to hire and retain foreign-born workers.
Less immigration doesn’t necessarily mean higher or lower unemployment, but it will likely result in slower economic growth.
“Some—but likely not all—of the decline in labor supply will be offset with mechanization, technological innovation (including artificial intelligence) or offshoring,” the authors write. “Nevertheless, it bears noting that by 2031, all growth in the U.S. population is expected to come from immigration. Hence, when officials set immigration policy, they may also be setting the speed limit for the economy.”
CHEROKEE COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report a man was arrested in early October for possession of child pornography after a tip from the FBI led to an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 4, investigators received a tip from the FBI about allegations that Jeremiah James Maldonado was in possession of child pornography.
The sheriff’s office then launched a thorough investigation, which helped them uncover that the tip about Maldonado was correct. A month later, on Oct. 4, Maldonado was arrested for possession of child pornography by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office in San Marcos after fleeing from the investigation. Maldonado was then transferred back to Cherokee County on Oct. 7 and booked into the county jail.
COLLEGE STATION — On Tuesday, the Texas A&M University announced they are awarding approximately $164 million in grants to Texas volunteer fire departments. According to our news partner KETK, the grants are thanks to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program, which was established by Texas House in 2001. The program provides grants to rural volunteer fire departments for essential firefighting equipment and training.
“Texas fire departments are the front line of local response, and their equipment capacity is vital to response time and effectiveness,” Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis said. “This historic funding reflects the strong support of the Texas Legislature and governor. Their investment allows us to continue supporting and equipping firefighters who protect Texas’ lives and property.”
The multimillion-dollar grants will benefit a total of 879 fire departments across Texas. Several East Texas fire departments will receive funding, you can the complete list from KETK, here.