Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TYLER — The Smith County Parking Garage is open after a year of construction. Smith County officials held a brief ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 12, before opening the garage for parking.
“We are so excited to have this new five-story parking garage available for our employees and the community,†Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. “We thank everyone who came to downtown Tyler for work, business or fun over the past year for their patience and understanding during its construction.â€
The 543-space parking garage is free and first come, first serve for county employees, jurors and the public. The parking garage is located at 210 East Ferguson, next to the Smith County Annex Building. Drivers can enter the parking garage from East Ferguson Street, which is a one-way westbound street, or Locust Street, which is a one-way eastbound street. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department is seeking the public’s help to locate a missing 59-year-old man. According to our news partner KETK, missing is Christopher Onley. Christopher is described as 5’10†tall, 132 pounds with brown hair and eyes. He was last seen near the 3100 block of Estes Parkway, near Waffle House. Longview PD said anyone with information on Onley’s whereabouts are asked to contact them at 903-237-1199.
TYLER – The Tyler Economic Development Council said that delivery giant Amazon is planning to start construction of a new 140,000-square foot facility in Tyler soon. According to our news partner KETK, the new delivery station will sit on 30 acres at the North Tyler Commerce Park. Construction is said to start in the next couple of weeks.
Mayor Don Warren said in a release from the TEDC Monday, “On behalf of the City of Tyler, we are excited to have Amazon building a delivery station here in our city. The benefits from this project are enormous as it will add to our tax base, and provide faster service from when we make an Amazon purchase to the package showing up on our doorstep. This is a huge win for the City, County, and the Tyler Economic Development Council.â€
The release also said the new facility will help to better fulfill the last mile of any deliveries coming into the area from one of Amazon’s fulfilment centers.
TYLER – The City of Tyler and Tyler Fire Department held the annual Veterans Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 8 for all city employees to remember the bravery and dedication to Tyler’s military heroes. The event was held at Tyler Fire Station 5 and honored the 108 veterans who are now city employees. During the luncheon, a small ceremony, including the Presentation of Colors, was held to pay tribute. City Council members presented City veteran employees with a commemorative gift to thank them for their service.
“This luncheon is a small token of our gratitude for their service,” said City Manager Edward Broussard. “Our veterans, much like our city’s motto, have answered the Call to Serve, demonstrating unwavering commitment and sacrifice for our community and country.”
MOUNT VERNON – 
Our news partners at KETK report Mount Vernon ISD is mourning the death of one of their high school juniors after he was hit by a vehicle Wednesday night. Mount Vernon Superintendent Jason McCullough said David Reeve, a junior student, passed away on Wednesday due to his injuries. Reeve was a junior at Mt. Vernon High School and a member of the audio visual team who helped produce their Friday night football broadcasts, McCullough said. According to the superintendent’s office, additional counselors will be available for students and staff for support. “Please join me and the rest of the Mt. Vernon ISD community in praying for and supporting David’s family during this time,†McCullough said. “Once we have been made aware of arrangements, we will share that information with you.â€
UPDATE: Police continue to search for a Tyler 17-year-old who was last seen Nov. 1. The Tyler Police Department shared on Tuesday photos of what Lily Peppler was wearing on the day she went missing. Anyone with information on Peppler’s whereabouts is urged to contact the department at 903-531-1000. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Gov. Greg Abbott was in Tyler Wednesday afternoon at Kingdom Life Academy to talk about the importance of school choice. According to our news partner KETK, Abbott was joined by school director Joel Enge in a question and answer session about Education Savings Accounts. The governor gave the floor to Enge who said he was excited about the advancement of school choice in Texas.
“As a Black founder of schools I can speak to the issue of how important school choice is for our Black and Hispanic students in our community, in the north Tyler community.†Enge said. “We desperately need school choice in order to open up opportunities that we offer.â€
MARSHALL – Law enforcement in Marshall have arrested a driver involved in a hit-and-run incident that has injured a pedestrian. According to our news partner KETK, Marshall Police received a call Tuesday night about an accident at the the intersection of West Burleson and North Bishop Street where a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle.
Officers found a male victim at the location who said he had been hit by a dark-colored vehicle, whose driver fled the scene. The victim was taken to a hospital and treated for a broken leg.
Investigators identified the driver as 30-year-old Jonathan Olvera, of Marshall. Olvera was booked into the Harrison County Jail and charged with an accident involving serious bodily injury. He had an outstanding warrant from Marion County for tampering with physical evidence.
Marshall PD said “This investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are available at this time.â€
TATUM – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a woman who was punched and choked attempted to free herself from her attacker, who is now behind bars, by hitting him with a metal cup, the Tatum Police Department said. According to Tatum PD, Dameion Deon Simon and an unarmend woman were traveling to a friends house when they got in a verbal argument that became physical. The police department said it is alleged that Simon punched the victim several times and choked her. “Our victim, according to a written statement, attempted to free herself from Mr. Simon (victim was pinned down in Mr. Simon’s lap) by striking him with a metal cup,†Tatum PD said. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a pedestrian is injured and a driver is behind bars after a Tuesday night crash in Marshall, authorities said. According to the Marshall Police Department, officers were called around 7:50 p.m. to the intersection of West Burleson and North Bishop Street where a pedestrian had been hit by a vehicle. The department said officers found a male victim who reported that a dark-colored vehicle had hit them and then fled. Officials said the victim was taken to a local hospital to treat their broken leg. Marshall PD said an investigation identified 30-year-old Jonathan Olvera, of Marshall, as the driver. Police said Olvera cooperated with investigators and was charged with accident involving serious bodily injury. Olvera was booked into the Harrison County Jail and also has an outstanding warrant for tampering with physical evidence out of Marion County. “This investigation is ongoing, and no additional details are available at this time,†Marshall PD said.
FORT WORTH (AP) — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas won reelection Tuesday, defeating U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and Democrats’ latest try at ending decades of GOP dominance in the booming state that was thrust this election year to the center of battles over immigration and abortion.
Cruz, 53, secured a third term following another expensive reelection campaign, six years after only narrowly beating Beto O’Rourke. This time around, Cruz implored Republicans to take his race seriously. He tried recasting himself to Texas voters as a get-things-done legislator, far from his reputation as an unapologetic firebrand with national ambitions.
Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Texas on Tuesday. Moran did not draw an opponent in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat, which includes all or part of 17 counties in far east Texas. An attorney, Moran previously served as county judge in Smith County and was first elected to the U.S. House in 2022. The seat was previously held by Republican Louie Gohmert, who launched an unsuccessful bid for Texas attorney general in 2022.
TYLER – Ted Cruz wins third senate term and Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran has won re-election to the U.S. House. Full election results from our news partner KETK can be found here here.
LONGVIEW – A 30-year-old man was arrested after a Tuesday morning shooting that hospitalized one person, according to our news partner KETK. Longview PD had officers responding to a shooting around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the intersection of Christie Road and Ruthlyn Drive. When police arrived, they found an unidentified male had been shot. EMS took the victim to a local hospital.
Investigators found out the shooting occurred because of an argument between two people and the shooting suspect. He is identified as Grant Shore of Longview. Shore was quickly found, taken to the Gregg County Jail and is facing an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge with a $50,000 bond.
TATUM – Our news partners at KETK report that after an unsigned check was taken from a local pastor’s desk, an employee that was working on the church is behind bars with a felony forgery charge, the Tatum Police Department said. According to the police department, a Tatum church pastor, who has not been named, stopped by the station and filed a report on Nov. 1.The police department said the church was having carpentry work done when an employee “began prowling†through the pastors office when he was alone. The man accused, identified as Oliver Martinez-Cruz, reportedly discovered an unsigned check in an unlocked desk drawer. Tatum PD said Martinez-Cruz would go on to take the check, make it out to himself, sign and endorse it. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court voted to rescind the Smith County Burn Ban Tuesday, November 5, after receiving much-needed rain the past few days. Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue gave the court an update on fire conditions and recommended that the burn ban be lifted.
“We’ve gotten quite a bit of rain.†Hogue said, adding that the rain that was received countywide puts us in much safer fire conditions.
During the burn ban, which was issued October 8, Smith County responded to 285 outdoor fire incidents. The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office issued 35 citations and 10 warnings for illegal burning. Hogue said the Sheriff’s Office and Constables’ Offices also issued citations.
KILGORE – While Kilgore was known to have the “World’s Richest Acre” because of the discovery of oil in the 1930s and the large number of oil wells in the area. Saturday, it was the home of radio broadcasting legends. The Texas Radio Hall Of Fame held its induction ceremony at the Texas Broadcast Museum, in downtown Kilgore.
Locally, KTBB Owner and General Manager added Hall Of Fame recipient to his over four decade career as an on-air talent and station manager and owner. In an interview after his induction, Gleiser said, “You know, I’ve loved the radio since I was a kid. That fact that my name is in the hall of fame in Texas radio, I just don’t know what to say, I am so profoundly greatful.â€
Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report that nearly a decade after the shooting that led to John Allen Franco’s death, a Kilgore man has been sentenced. According to arrest documents, the shooting stemmed from a threat to show nude photos. In 2017, a person allegedly told Gregg County investigator that Jessie Brown hunted down Franco because of a threat Franco made to show nude photos of Brown’s relative. That interview gave police enough information to charge Brown with the 2015 murder. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County saw 50 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots early in the 2024 Presidential Election. During the past two weeks of early voting, 84,436 ballots were cast in Smith County. That includes 81,554 in-person votes and 2,882 mail-in ballots. Although the numbers of voters in the current election were more than those who early voted in the 2020 Presidential Election, the percentage of voters was lower.
Smith County saw 79,787 ballots cast during three weeks of early voting in the 2020 Presidential Election. That’s 60 percent of the 146,700 registered voters at that time. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, early voting was extended to three weeks instead of the normal two. There are 162,000 registered voters in Smith County for the current election. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County remains under a burn ban after receiving much-needed rainfall on Thursday, October 31. Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue plans on giving an update to the Smith County Commissioners Court at its weekly meeting Tuesday morning. The Commissioners Court would have to vote to approve lifting the 90-day burn ban early if fire conditions improved. The burn ban was enacted on October 8, 2024. “There are chances for rain in the next few days, which could eliminate the need for the burn ban, but we must wait and see.†Hogue said. For more information on the burn ban from Smith County, click here. Our news partner KETK has running list of burn bans in East Texas. You can find it here.
UPDATE: According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Peace has been located and is in good health. Officials thanked the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Nacogdoches PD, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Panola County Sheriff’s Office and Marshall PD for their assistance.
RUSK COUNTY – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a 51-year-old man who is considered missing. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Peace is described as a white man, 5-feet-10-inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen on Oct. 29 a few miles south of Mount Enterprise.
According to the sheriff’s office, Peace is believed to have left his last known location in a white 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. The truck is described as having an auxiliary fuel tank near the front of the flatbed and brackets on the rear for a hay attachment.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office asks if anyone has information on the location of Jason Peace, to please call them at (903) 657-3581.
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department was notified early Wednesday evening of a broken gas line in the 800 block of South Broadway Ave, near the Children’s Park and West Rust St. The northbound lanes of South Broadway will be blocked for an unknown amount of time while Centerpointe Energy works on the issue. Northbound traffic is currently being diverted down East Dobbs St. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and drive with care in that area.Â
LINDALE — Drivers in Lindale can expect traffic delays following a temporary closure on CR 474 beginning on Monday Nov. 4. According to our news partner KETK, officials from Smith County notified Lindale Police that CR 474, which is also know as Brick Yard Road will be closed for several days because of construction.
A spokesperson for the Lindale Police said “You will be able to drive up to that point from either direction, but you will not be able to drive through 474 until completion of the project.â€
GLADEWATER – Police in Gladewater are asking for help finding a 22-year-old that has been reported missing. According to our news partner KETK, missing is Wesley Don Heist. Wesley is described as 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos.
He was last heard from on Oct. 18 and is known to frequent Longview, Pine Tree and the Ore City areas. GPD asks that anyone with information on Wesley is asked to contact local law enforcement or Gladewater Police Department at 903-845-2166.
TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler, Inc. is holding the 46th annual Mistletoe & Magic November 6-9 at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. Mistletoe & Magic is a community holiday celebration designed to raises funds and awareness for agencies supports by the Junior League.
The holiday shopping event will feature more than 75 specialty boutiques and merchants from around the nation as well as special events and other exciting entertainment. The Mistletoe & Magic online auction is running through November 10. You will have the opportunity to bid on the best jewelry, gifts, and experiences from the comfort of your home.
Â
For more information and to purchase tickets for Mistletoe & Magic, click here.
KILGORE– Post Oak Road in Kilgore is closed after a large sinkhole was discovered, that according to our news partner KETK. The sinkhole was found at a creek crossing near Highway 42 and it was revealed that a storm sewer pipe under the road has collapsed. City officials ask that drivers use caution in the area. The road will be closed until next April while repairs are made.
GREGG COUNTY – Traffic on I-20 was backing up as officials deal with a stalled cattle hauler on the interstate. According to our news partner KETK, the 18-wheeler hauling cattle has reportedly stalled out on I-20 westbound late Wednesday morning, near Highways 31 and 42. DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton asks the drivers use caution in that area, as traffic is being impacted as they offload cattle from the vehicle. Officials said this could take several hours.
LONGVIEW – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a 29-year-old is behind bars in connection to the Monday Longview apartment complex shooting that injured one man. The Longview Police Department said 29-year-old Andre Avant, of Longview, was booked into the Gregg County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Avant is being held on a $150,000 bond.
PANOLA COUNTY – 
An East Texas man found guilty of possessing child pornography has received what is believed to be the longest prison sentence in Panola County history, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Panola County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, a judge sentenced Christopher James Williamson, 38 of Carthage, to a cumulative prison term of 750 years on Monday. The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division originally arrested Williamson on Feb. 6 for possession of child porn, then indicted by a Panola County Grand Jury for ten charges of possession. The DA’s office said a DPS agent testified “that out of the dozens and dozens of cases that he has investigated, that this was by far the worst case he has ever seen.†Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN – The Texas District and County Attorney Association recently named Smith County Assistant District Attorneys Chris Gatewood and Richard Vance as the Lone Star Prosecutor Of The Year. According to a release from the Smith County District Attorney’s Office, Gatewood and Vance, successfully prosecuted an intoxicated defendant who struck and killed Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Lorenzo Bustos while he was conducting a traffic stop.
The TDCAA is the statewide organization that provides training, collaboration, and support to all of the County and District Attorney offices across the state. The Lone Star Prosecutor of the Year award is given by the TDCAA annually to a prosecutor or prosecutors who have demonstrated outstanding legal knowledge, dedication to justice, and a profound impact on their community.
Read the rest of this entry »