Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TYLER – Jerry Thomas, from Rusk, was awarded $4.5 million in a lawsuit after an accident that cost him his hand, according to our news partner KETK. In a release from the office of Daniel Gibbins, the lead attorney for Thomas, the lawsuit against Antonio Munoz Asseradero LLC over safety concerns at the sawmill found that unsafe working conditions were the cause of an accident that resulted in the loss of Thomas’ hand.
“This verdict reflects the seriousness of Jerry Thomas’s injury and the negligence that caused it,†Gibbins said. “Justice has been served for Mr. Thomas, and we are proud to have helped him secure the compensation he needs to rebuild his life after this tragic incident.â€
TYLER – Tyler Parks and Recreation Department is again hosting Movies in the Park this fall. The Parks Department has shown 134 movies to date. The Movies in the Park program is a free movie for families and individuals to enjoy at Bergfeld Park, located at 1510 S. College Ave, Faulkner Park, located at 410 Cumberland Rd, and the Tyler Rose Garden, located at 420 Rose Park Dr. Three movies will be hosted starting Oct 5. Come out and see these classics!
Movies in the Park fall schedule:
Bergfeld Park Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. – Hocus Pocus, rated PG.
Faulkner Park Saturday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. – Bad News Bears, rated PG-13.
Tyler Rose Garden (Queen’s Court) Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. – Elf, rated PG.
The Movies in the Park program is made possible in part through sponsors with the Tyler Parks and Rec department. The fall season sponsors include Southside Bank, and more sponsors are needed!
For more information or questions, please contact Tyler Parks and Rec at (903) 531-1374 or visit TylerParksandRec.com.
TYLER – 
A jury found Mytrez Woolen, 25, guilty of killing Starrville Methodist Church pastor Mark McWilliams on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, after deliberating for roughly three hours, the jury returned the verdict. The trial started on Monday and both sides made their closing arguments Thursday morning. Woolen was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Woolen was accused of hiding out in the church overnight in January 2021 after running from police, then shooting the pastor, grazing his wife with a bullet and shooting another parishioner several times. He pleaded not guilty to capital murder in April 2021.
LONGVIEW — Workforce Solutions East Texas has announced the relocation of its workforce center to the Park Place Shopping Center just west of Gilmer Road, at 1905 W. Loop 281, Suite 40. The business hours will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Longview Workforce Center will open on October 1, 2024.
Workforce Solutions East Texas provides no-cost recruitment and employment services to businesses and job seekers in the East Texas area. The new facility is 25,712-square-feet. The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board approved entering a five-year lease term with five one-year extension options.
The current Workforce Solutions East Texas, Longview office at 209 S. Center Street will be closed from September 23 to 30, 2024, to prepare for the move. During this time, staff will serve customers virtually by calling 1-844-ETWORKS.
TYLER – Keep Tyler Beautiful (KTyB) invites Tyler residents to bring their family and friends to help cleanup community parks during Park Service Day. This year, the event will be hosted at the Tyler Senior Center, 1915 Garden Valley Rd., on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Park Service Day is an event where each September volunteers take on beautification and restoration projects. This year’s projects includes giving the interior of the Senior Center a fresh coat of paint, updating the flower beds out front, building a retention wall at Fun Forest Park, repainting the safety signs and steps at the Fun Forest pool, and adding a mural to the restroom area.
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OVERTON – 
The former Overton City Secretary and Municipal Court Clerk was arrested for using city funds for personal use by purchasing gasoline for her boat according to our news partners at KETK. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Katherine McCandless for felony theft on Sept. 16 and her bond was set at $10,000. According to the Overton Police Department, they were made aware of an unauthorized charge on their city fuel credit card on Sept. 10 and began investigating. In their investigation, police determined McCandless used the fuel card to purchase a 40 gallons of gasoline pumped into her personal recreational boat. Police said that McCandless made 20 unauthorized charges on the fuel card between June 5 and Aug. 19, totaling to $1,192.64. Rusk County Jail records indicate McCandless has posted bail.
CARTHAGE – 
The Carthage Police Department is trying to find answers after a man was found dead under an unoccupied tow truck, according to our news partners at KETK. Carthage PD said they were notified of a crash at 11:22 p.m. on Tuesday in the 800 block of S. Adams Street “involving an out-of-county tow truck and a passenger car.†Officers reportedly found both vehicles unoccupied, and found “the apparent tow truck driver†dead under the tow truck. The Carthage Fire Department helped work the scene and Texas DPS were contacted to help reconstruct the crash. Police are still investigating and the identity of the victim has not been released at this time.
GLADEWATER – 
Our news partners at KETK report the City of Gladewater said due to a water main break Wednesday morning portions of the city will not have water. Gladewater ISD officials said all students will be released early at 1 p.m. due to the S. Main Street water main break. City officials said they will provide updates as soon as they receive them on their Facebook page.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man has died after a Monday night pedestrian car accident. According to our news partner KETK, 62-year-old Johnny Ray Johnston died about 7:50 Monday night. Police said that Johnston was walking on Alpine Road, about one block from Ed’s concrete construction, when he was hit by a Ford SUV going south. Reports said that Johnston failed to yield the right of way when he walked into the roadway where he was hit by the SUV. Johnston was taken to a hospital where died from his injuries.
CARTHAGE – A 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly trespassing on a Carthage ISD campus with an airsoft rifle on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, the 17-year-old was arrested by Cathage Police and charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal trespass and public intoxication and was booked into the Panola County Jail.
Police said they got a call at before school opened Tuesday morning, that a suspicious man was seen at the Carthage High School campus. Officers responded and talked to Campbell, who is not a Carthage ISD student. Police described him as “agitated and seemed to be intoxicated.â€
Campbell had a backpack containing a gas mask, a long gun and multiple magazines. Police said the rifle was determined to be a brightly colored airsoft rifle.
The case remains under investigation by city, state and federal law enforcement.
TITUS COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report a 19-year-old woman is facing terroristic threat charges after allegedly making a threat against a school. The Titus County Sheriff’s Office said the FBI notified them of a potential threat made against an educational institution by a person believed to reside in the county. Investigators identified the suspect as Adriana Orona who was arrested on charges of terroristic threat, a third degree felony. Orona is being held at the Titus County Jail and is awaiting arraignment.
HENDERSON – A Henderson pharmacy has reopened after an early Monday morning armed robbery. According to our news partner KETK, Strong-Hurt Pharmacy on E Main Street was robbed around 7 a.m. Monday. Henderson PD said they have identified an unnamed suspect and they have been taken into custody. Officials also said several items from the robbery have been recovered.
SMITH COUNTY – If your not registered for vote in the Presidential Election on November 5, then you can register to vote starting Tuesday, September 17, on National Voter Registration Day.
Register to vote at the following times and locations on Tuesday in Smith County:
Texas College – The Connector, 2404 N. Grand Ave., Tyler 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tyler Junior College – Student Union, 1400 E 5th St., Tyler, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.      Â
Tyler Junior College – West Campus, 1530 SSW Loop 323, Tyler, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
UT Tyler, Patio at the Student Center, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
The Smith County Elections Office, 302 E. Ferguson St. Tyler, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Ebenezer AME Church, located at 1101 W. Queen St. Tyler, will be holding an event at 6 p.m.
The East Texas Food Bank will help its members register from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote in the November 5 Presidential Election is Tuesday, October 7.
There are also answers to your frequently asked questions, at http://www.smith-county.com/government/departments/elections/voter-registration
For more about National Voter Registration Day, visit https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org
LONGVIEW – Johnston-McQueen Elementary School students will be released at noon Monday and Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, the school had a power outage around 8 a.m. Monday. After the power was restored, their air conditioning was still not functioning properly. School officials decided on early release Monday morning. Buses will be on campus at 11:45 a.m. Monday and Tuesday. Anyone with questions are asked to contact the school directly.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said that one teenager was wounded in a shooting Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, LPD responded to call of shooting on West Edgefield Avenue, one block south of the South Green Laundromat. There officers found a teenage victim who had non-life-threatening injuries after being shot.
The police investigation revealed the shooting happened after “a verbal altercation escalated into an exchange of gunfire.†The suspect left the scene and was arrested at a residence in Harrison County. 18-year-old Alejandro Gonzalez of Longview was taken to the Harrison County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The name of the shooting victim was not released.
TYLER – Keith Miller, a Tyler personal injury lawyer known for his TV commercials, died in Tyler on Friday, that according to our news partner KETK. Miller was originally an insurance claims adjuster. This inspired him to become a personal injury lawyer so he could look out for people like his father did before him.
A press release from his law office states, that Miller’s firm will remain open while Miller’s clients will have their cases managed by his partner, Shane McGuire.
“Keith was a legend in the legal field,†McGuire said. “It was an honor to work alongside him on hundreds of cases. I will greatly miss our conversations, not just about legal strategy but about life. My family and I are deeply saddened by this loss.â€
Miller attended Tyler Junior College before graduating from North Texas University in Denton. He then worked as a law clerk and investigator for Erskine, Smith & McMahon before he was hired at State Farm. Keith was an adjuster for two years before becoming an attorney.
Any clients with questions or concerns are urged to call Miller’s office at 903-597-4090.
TYLER – The City of Tyler is seeking feedback from residents regarding their Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Annual Work Plan. According to our news partner KETK, residents have until Oct. 20 to provide comments and suggestions about projects in the CIP program that will be funded by a half cent sales tax.
The city of Tyler said in a release, “Current projects on the Capital Improvement Plan include drainage improvements, street repairs, updates to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, railroad crossing improvements, the South Tyler Mobility Study, upgrading traffic signals as part of year four of the Intelligent Transportation Master Plan and more.â€
Those wanting to leave input on the Annual Work Plan, can go so here.
TYLER – The 2024 Tyler Film Festival, presented by Dobbs & Porter, brought together a diverse array of filmmakers during the three-day event at Liberty Hall. The festival premiered 25 short films from over eight countries with various genres, including documentaries, stop-animation, dramas, comedies and more.Â
In a release from TFF, Craig O’Daniel, festival director and judge said, “The films that won awards this year impressed our judges with their meticulous attention to every aspect of filmmaking, resulting in masterful storytelling. We genuinely thank the teams for submitting their work and giving our little festival a worldwide showcase.”
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BULLARD – Six Medal of Honor veterans, and two family members of recipients were honored in Bullard during a two day event. According to our news partner KETK, they were greeted on Friday morning by children with flags waving in hand.
“That was amazing, just enjoyable, gives a tingle,â€Â Medal of Honor recipient and US Army veteran Robert Patterson said.
The war heroes told stories from the battlefield and gave advice to The Brook Hill School students on Friday. In the evening the Medal of Honor honorees were celebrated at the Texas Veterans Military Hero Dinner.
Major General Patrick Brady, who has served for over 30 years in the United States Army, is one of the most decorated U.S. veterans with 80 medals.
 Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: On Saturday, the Longview Police Department said that Jerry Randolph has been found.
LONGVIEW – A 30-year-old man was reported missing from Longview on Thursday. Police said that Jerry Randolph was last seen around 11 p.m. Wednesday night on Independence Drive and Patriot Circle, wearing a multicolored graphic t-shirt, jeans and brown hiking boots. Randolph is 5’5″ tall and weighs around 160 lbs with short black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Longview PD at 903-237-1199.
LONGVIEW — A Gilmer man has been arrested following a fatal Friday morning shooting in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, Longview Police said at around 10:15 a.m., officers responded to a shots fired call on McCann Road, near Barksdale Federal Credit Union . When officers arrived, they reportedly found 20-year-old Dequalin Vaughn of Longview with a gunshot wound. Vaughn was taken to a hospital where he later died.
During their investigation, LPD detectives identified the suspect in the shooting as 23-year-old Eddie Floyd Hill Jr. Hill Jr. was found in Gilmer and booked into the Upshur County Jail for unlawful possession of a firearm, deadly conduct and murder. He was also wanted on felony charges from a case in Marshall.
UPDATE: The Amber Alert for missing 6-year-old Kameron Parrish has been canceled after he was found late Friday night, according to authorities.
INGRAM — An Amber Alert was issued for a 6-year-old boy who is missing after last being seen Thursday just before noon in Ingram. According to our news partner KETK, missing is 6-year-old Kameron Parrish. Kameron is described as being 4’8″, 55 lbs, and has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a two-tone grey t-shirt with blue sleeves, blue jeans, and dark shoes. Authorities believe the child “to be in grave or immediate danger.â€
Kameron was last seen with 32-year-old Talaya Graham, authorities said. Talaya was described as being 5’3″, 175 lbs, and has brown hair and green eyes. Officials are also also searching for 39-year-old Joseph Graham in connection with the abduction of the child. Joseph was described as a 5’5″, 175 lbs white man with brown hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement said he has a neck tattoo on left side, name in black and outlined in green.
Authorities said Graham is believed to be driving a Silver 2014 Nissan Versa with Texas license plate number TLS5425. She was also last seen in Ingram. Ingram is in Kerr County, 72 miles northwest of San Antonio.
Anyone with information regarding the Amber Alert can contact the Ingram Police Department at 830-367-2636. You can see more pictures in regards to this from our news partner KETK, at this link.
LONGVIEW – Two people were found with gunshot wounds Thursday night and the Longview Police Department are investigating. According to our news partner KETK, LPD responded to reports of a shooting around 11:30 p.m. in the Misty Glen Court area. Officers said they found one female victim and one male victim had non-life threatening gunshot wounds and were sent to a hospital for treatment.
Longview Police Department said this is an open investigation and are asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the police department at 903-237-1110.
DENVER — 
Our news partners at KETK report that on Friday morning, a big arrest was announced when it comes to fentanyl. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann and Denver Chief of Police Ron Thomas said they arrested a fentanyl distributor in California who allegedly sold fentanyl to a man from Tyler in Denver who died. Denver police and the Denver DA’s office said they arrested Jamal Gamal who lives in San Francisco. They are charging him with the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, which holds a similar prison sentence as homicide. He is expected to be brought back to Denver on Sept. 16 to face charges. Gamal was allegedly selling drugs online and mailing them to the buyers. Unfortunately, these pills were deadly. Police and the DA said that between Nov. 9-19, 2023, Gamal sold fentanyl to Collin Walker, 28 of Tyler, and that caused his death. According to Walker’s obituary, he attended All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler and was attending the Metropolitan State University of Denver when he died. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – 
Our news partners at KETK report a man was arrested after confessing to police that he had downloaded child pornography. Palestine Police Department Detective Winebrenner, an affiliate with the Texas Attorney General’s Office Southern Texas Internet Crimes Against Children’s Taskforce, got a tip about a suspect downloading child pornography. PPD executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Bent Tree Drive and several electronic devices “believed to contain child pornography†were seized. After the search warrant, Derek Hernandez was interviewed by police. “During the interview, Hernandez confessed to downloading child pornography onto his digital devices,†according to police. “An arrest warrant was obtained for Hernandez, and Hernandez was arrested for possession of child pornography.†Police said more charges are pending as the digital forensic investigation continues.
TYLER –
Our news partners at KETK report a Tyler resident won $2 million in the Texas Lottery after visiting a local gas station. The winner, who elected to remain anonymous, won the top prize ticket in the scratch game Ultimate Riches. That game offers four $2 million prizes and more than $136.1 million in total prizes. The ticket was bought at Grab A Snack at 15010 Highway 155 S. in Tyler.
TYLER – 
Our news partners at KETK report a pursuit of a box truck through Smith County turned into an officer-involved shooting on Wednesday morning. According to officials, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and DPS were in a pursuit through several East Texas counties including Rains, Wood and Smith that ended on Highway 31 W and FM 2661. An officer-involved shooting occurred, but details are limited at this time.
TYLER – 
Our news partners at KETK report a Tyler man was arrested Tuesday night after leading police on a pursuit and endangering a child, authorities said. Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh said at around 8 p.m. officers saw a vehicle facing oncoming traffic. Witnesses told police the driver, identified as 34-year-old Courtland Lindsay of Tyler, appeared to have a young child on his lap and talked about harming the child with what looked like a drill. Sgt. Larry Christian with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Tyler PD initiated the pursuit and then deputies assisted. Erbaugh said Lindsay evaded officers until the pursuit ended on Loop 323 and U.S. 271. Police freed the child, who was unharmed, and they were picked up by a relative, Erbaugh said. Lindsay was charged with abandoning or endangering a child and placing them in imminent danger, evading arrest with a vehicle and marijuana possession. He was booked into the Smith County Jail.
HAWKINS – 
The Hawkins ISD Board of Trustees accepted Superintendent Susan Morton’s retirement on Monday following her recent arrest for driving while intoxicated, according o our news partners at KETK. Morton was arrested after a minor accident in La Marque, Texas on Aug. 23 by the La Marque Police Department. Morton was then booked into the Galveston County Jail for charges of driving while intoxicated and collision involving damage to a vehicle less than $200. The Hawkins ISD Board of Trustee’s meeting agenda for Monday night’s meeting included plans to consider Morton’s retirement and interim superintendent candidates. Board president Blake Warren shared that during the meeting they voted to hire Marc Levesque for interim superintendent. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY –
Our news partners at KETK say that a burning car was found with the 20-year-old owner’s body in the trunk and now arrest documents for three people accused of his murder reveal phone records led to their arrests. Shortly before 5 a.m. on Sept. 1, a vehicle was reported to be on fire on CR 4132 and CR 4135 in Turnertown. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said after the fire was put out they located human remains inside. 20-year-old Kameron Montre Anderson from Bedford was identified as a shooting victim and owner of the vehicle during a press conference on Saturday. During the same press conference, Rusk County and Smith County officials said two adults and a juvenile were arrested in connection to the murder. Read the rest of this entry »