Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
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 »
TEXARKANA — 
A 7-month-old was taken into Child Protective Services’ custody after East Texas officials located her inside a vehicle at a hospital parking garage according to our news partners at KETK. The Texarkana Police Department received calls of a baby reportedly locked inside a vehicle at a hospital parking garage. When officers arrived, they found security officers and several nurses surrounding the car. “They told us that someone had noticed the parked car’s motor was running and then saw an infant alone in a safety seat inside the car,†the Texarkana Police Department said. “They were able to get into the car through a window that had been left cracked and got the baby out.†While trying to locate the owner of the vehicle, Britney Petro went up to officers and said the vehicle and the child were hers. She reportedly told officers she had left her 7-month-old baby alone in the car because she could not find a babysitter that morning. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – 
Arrest documents for a 23-year-old charged with murder depict a firearm robbery according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, officers responded at around 1:01 a.m. on Sep. 9 to Fulgham Street and found a shooting victim. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he later died. 23-year-old Jalen Boughton was arrested for murder and was taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail. Boughton’s arrest papers say he reported being involved in the shooting to police and claimed to investigators that the victim took a firearm from his vehicle and took off running. The documents said Boughton chased down the victim until he caught up with him and the victim appeared to make suspicious movements and that’s when Boughton shot him.
PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department is searching for three people after several different kinds of drugs were found in a local residence. According to our news partner KETK, on Aug. 29, 51-year-old Jerryl Mims Sr, was arrested by officers at his home on Texas Avenue. Mims was reportedly clutching a bag of suspected methamphetamines and had another bag of suspected methamphetamine in the seat of his vehicle. Palestine PD said he had over 13 grams of methamphetamine. Read the rest of this entry »
TEXARKANA – 
Our news partners at KETK report a 38-year-old man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after Texarkana police said he ran away from a four-vehicle crash that he caused. According to the police department, Frederick Duckett, 38 of Texarkana, caused a crash on W. 7th Street and Jarvis Parkway and then took off running. An official, who was there when the crash happened, caught up to him and took him into custody, the Texarkana Police Department said. TPD said Duckett claimed he could not use his legs or move his body, “despite having just ran more than a quarter mile moments before.†Duckett was medically cleared at a hospital and was then taken to the Bi-State Jail. Texarkana police said one of the drivers involved in the four-vehicle crash was injured, therefore Duckett is facing a felony charge. Duckett is being held on a $15,000 bond for collision involving injury.
MORRIS COUNTY — Omaha police are searching for a man who has not been seen since mid-August and are asking the public for assistance in locating him. According to our news partner KETK, Dustin Perkins was last seen Aug. 15 in Naples, Texas. Perkins is approximately 6 feet tall and about 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans. Officials in Omaha said that with information on Perkins, to call the Omaha Police 903-844-2305 or the Morris County Sheriff’s Office at 903-645-2232.
JACKSONVILLE – 
The Jacksonville Police Department said that a pedestrian is dead after being hit by a train at the crossing on North Gillespie Avenue on Friday according to our news partners at KETK. According to Jacksonville PD, the crash happened in 100 block of North Gillespie Avenue near Highway 79 at around 11:01 a.m. when the pedestrian was walking in front of the train. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and officials are notifying his family members. The railroad crossing has reopened to traffic, Jacksonville PD said.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY –
A bridge demolition will cause all I-20 lanes at FM 859 near Canton to close over the weekend, TxDOT said. According to TxDOT, the demolition is expected to begin on Saturday night and end Sunday morning. “Traffic will be diverted to the frontage roads using the FM 859 exit ramps, which will travel past FM 859 and re-enter I-20 using the FM 859 entrance ramps. Motorists should use caution when traveling through the work zone and expect delays,†TxDOT said in a statement. In place of the existing bridge that is set to be demolished, TxDOT said a new bridge is expected to be completed by March 2025.
TYLER – 
The University of Texas at Tyler is ranked in the top 500 nationwide by the Wall Street Journal as noted on the publication’s America’s Best Colleges for 2025 list. The ranking aims to guide prospective students across the nation while recognizing the colleges doing an outstanding job in higher education. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The East Texas community is mourning fallen Dallas Police officer Darron Burks, who was a Tyler Junior College alum and was killed Thursday while on duty. According to NBCDFW, the 46-year-old Burks was sitting in his car when he was shot by a 30-year-old man who also shot two other officers.
Before becoming a police officer, Burks was a teacher. Prior to becoming a teacher, the TJC Alumni Association said Burks was an alum and member of the Minority Student Association. Burk also attended Dallas College. And was a graduate of Paul Quinn College.
The Dallas Police Department said in a statement, “Officer Burks served with unwavering pride and commitment on the Dallas Police Department until his untimely passing. His bravery, dedication, and selflessness were evident in every aspect of his work, and he was a beacon of hope and security for those he served.â€
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Road 3203 reopened Wednesday, after road and bridge crews repaired the washed-out road and replaced the culvert damaged from severe weather in May and June of this year. Smith County has an interactive map that lists all county road closures. You can find that map by clicking here.
UPSHUR COUNTY – 
After being sentenced to life in prison in 2023, an appeals court upheld the conviction on Friday of a man who murdered and burned the body of a Longview woman according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Upshur County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, 43-year-old Carlton Grant will spend life in prison without parole after a Texarkana appeals court upheld his sentence for the murder of Rachel Rhoads.
The release said Rhoads’ roommate was mutual friends with Grant and his girlfriend. In March 2018, Grant strangled Rhoads with a homemade garrote and a zip tie in her vehicle after she agreed to drive him and his girlfriend home. Afterwards, he and his girlfriend would dispose of Rhoads’ body by dumping it in a utility right-of-way and burning it. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
The annual Tyler Rose Festival Arts and Crafts Fair is returning to Tyler’s Bergfeld Park, 1510 S. College Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Parks Department is now seeking vendors who hand-make and create the items they sell, author books, and sell plants and food items to participate in this annual event. Vendors must apply online through http://www.TylerParksandRec.com. The Fair will feature more than 90 booths offering handcrafted items for sale, including photography, fine and unique jewelry, hand-poured candles, furniture, bath and body products, clothing, pottery, sewing, wreaths and florals, art-mix-media paintings, and more. This will be an excellent event to get a jump-start on holiday shopping, especially for unique, one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Food trucks and live entertainment, including The Johnnie Helm Band and the Tuxedo Catz, will be available on both days. Admission is free. For more information about this event or about becoming a vendor, please contact Debbie Isham at (903) 531-1214.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department said they are looking for 36-yearold Rachel Leigh Potter. According to our news partner KETK, Potter is described as being 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds, having brown hair and hazel eyes. Authorities said she was was last seen near the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission in Longview at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday. LPD asks if you have information on Rachel Potter’s location, to call the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.
AUSTIN – The University of Texas at Tyler’s softball team and their NCAA trophy made a stop Friday at the state’s capitol where they met Gov. Greg Abbott. According to our news partner KETK, Abbott shared to his more than 1.6 million Facebook followers on Monday that the Tyler softball champions visited the capitol and the pleasure it was to meet them. During their visit Friday Gov. Abbott told the team, “Way to make Texas proud.â€
This was the second national softball title for UT Tyler. The other was in 2016, with head coach Mike Reed at the helm for both.
NEW SUMMERFIELD – 
One person was taken into custody at around noon on Tuesday after New Summerfield ISD received threats, the district shared. According to the district, campuses were under lockdown and law enforcement was present after they received an “unverified threat.†“Law enforcement has the caller of the threat in custody in another town,†New Summerfield said. After the person was taken into custody, law enforcement gave the district the all clear to return to their regular schedule.
SMITH COUNTY – 
On Tuesday, September 3, the Smith County Commissioners Court held another public hearing before adopting the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Tax Rate. The budget increases the actual tax rate by 1.6967 cents, to a total of 36.4231 cents per $100 valuation. The tax increase is caused by the Courthouse and Parking Garage Bond approved by voters in November 2022, Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said. The balanced proposed budget, which will go into effect on October 1, can be found here: http://www.smith-county.com/government/departments/auditor/financials/adopted-budgets. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report human remains were found in a burning vehicle in Rusk County early Sunday morning. According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and the fire department were dispatched to CR 4132 and CR 4135 in reference to a vehicle on fire. Once the fire was put out, officials were able to examine the four door sedan where they reportedly located human remains inside. Read the rest of this entry »
RAINS COUNTY — Three East Texas children are dead after a Friday evening crash on US 69, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. According to DPS’s preliminary investigation and our news partner KETK, a 2006 Hyundai Elantra was driving southbound on US 69 near Penny Road at around 7:20 p.m. A Ford F150 was also traveling southbound and the third vehicle, a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling northbound.
When the vehicles began to slow down, the driver of the Hyundai reportedly veered into the shoulder to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of it. When the Hyundai drove back into the southbound lane, DPS said it struck the Ford F150 and entered into the northbound lane. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY – 
A traffic stop in Gregg County led to the seizure of an illegal psychedelic and now officials are warning the community of the risks the drug poses. According to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and our news partners at KETK, deputies found 2C-B, an illegal drug “often disguised as a harmless party drug,†during a recent traffic stop. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation said 2C-B can cause hallucinations, nausea, anxiety and panic. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER – 
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said they’ve started a criminal investigation into former District Clerk Nicole Hernandez, according to our news partners at KETK. According to a press release, the sheriff’s office was asked to start an investigation into Hernandez’s conduct as Upshur County District Clerk by Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd on Thursday, Aug. 29. Hernandez reportedly resigned from her position on the same day. The sheriff’s office said that they’ll turn over the findings to Byrd once they’ve completed their investigation. On Friday, Melissa Chevalier was named the new Upshur County District Clerk by District Judge Dean Fowler.
SMITH COUNTY – A Tyler man received a 20 year prison sentence Wednesday for possession of meth. According to our news partner KETK, 54-year-old Roy Lee Bosell was arrested after a traffic stop for outstanding warrants. A Smith County deputy found marijuana in Bosell’s pocket. A K9 then alerted officers to drugs in his vehicle. With the vehicle search, deputies found “multiple bags of methamphetamine as well as other illegal contraband and drug paraphernalia.â€
Tuesday, Bosell pleaded not guilty to the possession charge. The next day, a jury found him guilty. Because of four previous felony convictions, Bosell’s punishment range for the crime was 2-20 years in state prison, and he was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years.
TYLER – The son of the Smith County Clerk and a Smith County commissioner, was charged with obstruction, retaliation on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Lance Phillips, whose parents are Clerk Karen Phillips and Commissioner Terry Phillips, was charged while he was already being held in the Smith County Jail for his conviction on charges of hindering a proceeding by disorderly conduct.
The list of legal troubles for the 40-year-old include being arrested for assault of a public servant, pleading guilty to evading arrest and being arrested for disrupting a Smith County Commissioners Court meeting. Phillips has a bond of $750,000 for the charge of obstruction, retaliation.
SMITH COUNTY — A Smith County man was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for drug possession. According to our news partner KETK, 63-year-old Billy O’Neal Black was given a life sentence for possession of a controlled substance in the amount of four grams but less than 200 grams.
A release from the Smith County DA’s office said that Black was stopped by Tyler police during a traffic stop in December of last year. He tried to run from officers initially. A vehicle search yielded multiple bags of crack cocaine and methamphetamine individually packaged for sale, marijuana, powder cocaine mixed with Viagra, and roughly $1,200 in cash. He was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest/detention.
During sentencing, the jury received evidence that Black had three previous felony convictions, which the DA’s office said places him in the habitual offender category and can receive punishment of 25 years to life.
TATUM – 
Love your neighbor is not what an East Texas man was arrested for after allegedly pointing a firearm at another Tatum resident, according to our news partners at KETK. On Wednesday, a Tatum Police Department officer was investigating a report where a man had allegedly pointed a firearm and threatened his neighbor. The neighbor told police Kekoa Elijah Hurt threatened to kill him. “Our police officer made contact with the alleged suspect and determined that there was sufficient evidence to arrest the suspect,†Tatum PD said. Hurt was arrested for deadly conduct and taken to the Rusk County Jail where he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
TYLER – Tyler will soon be home to a brand new all-inclusive ballfield. The city of Tyler announced on Wednesday a partnership with the Miracle League of Tyler to create a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive Miracle League ballfield at Faulkner Park. According to our news partner KETK, the cost of the field is roughly $1,680,000. Completion of the construction of the field is scheduled by the end of next summer.
The Miracle League of Tyler is an organization that focuses on making baseball accessible. The new complex will have an all-inclusive ballfield with accessible bleachers, a concession stand and restrooms “to ensure that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, can fully participate,†according to the city.
The Miracle League of Tyler is contributing $1,164,141.44 toward the project, complemented by up to $500,000 from the City of Tyler’s half-cent sales tax fund. SCI construction will complete the field.