Today is
Friday June 05, 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.
Read the rest of this entry »
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.