Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TYLER – 
Colin Allred, named the most bi-partisan Texan in congress by the Common Ground Committee, made several stops in East Texas on Sunday and Monday.The Democratic Texas senate candidate campaigned in Tyler on Sunday and attendees at the St. Louis Baptist Church said they are excited for his grassroots campaign. “I don’t see Texans in partisan labels, I really don’t. I see us as Texans,†Allred said. Allred recognized that the state must come together to protect Medicare, social security and the border. “I want to have conversations with Texans about where I think we can go together. I think we’ve had 12 years of incredibly divisive and actually not very productive, in terms of getting things done,†Allred said. According to his campaign officials, Allred also shared his message to more than 250 people Sunday afternoon in Tyler and at Wiley University Monday. “I’m a fourth-generation Texan, former NFL linebacker, voting rights attorney and dad to two perfect little boys. On Nov. 5, I’m going to beat Ted Cruz,†Allred said.
TYLER – 
The Tyler City Council voted on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to authorize a $1,501,920 contract with TanksCo Inc. for the West 2nd Street elevated storage tank rehabilitation project. The one-million-gallon water storage tank on the south side of West 2nd Street and Butler Avenue was inspected in the fall of 2019 and identified as needing improvements. Rehabilitation of the West 2nd Street elevated storage tank includes sandblasting and painting the interior and exterior of the tank, access improvements, steel repairs, a tank mixer, altitude valve and appurtenances, minor yard piping and tank disinfection to prepare it for service. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Monday, September 2, for Labor Day. Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, September 3. Smith County Commissioners Court will be held at its normal time, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Smith County hopes you all have a relaxing and safe Labor Day!
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TYLER – United States senator Ted Cruz was in Tyler on Tuesday as the featured speaker at a luncheon for the Tyler Area Builders Association. According to our news partner KETK, Cruz spoke to about 200 members for the TABA and their guests at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.Â
“We are very pleased and honored today to have senator Ted Cruz come and speak today.†Sam Mezayek, former president of the Tyler Building Association, said
This is the third time in as many weeks that Senator Cruz has been in East Texas speaking about his race for the United States Senate. He said that without East Texans’ support in the 2018 election, he likely wouldn’t be in office today. He continued to thank Texas republicans for the majority support throughout the years.
Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Athens Public Safety said that as of 6:25 p.m. Tuesday, the gas leak has been contained and access to the previously evacuated businesses has been restored.
ATHENS – Multiple buildings and businesses have been evacuated due to a natural gas leak in Athens. According to our news partner KETK, Athens PD said, the natural gas leak is from a four-inch natural gas main on Ben Belt Drive. This has led to the evacuation of Gibson Pharmacy, a CEFCO convenience store and gas station and the Trinity Valley Community College administration building.
City officials say that Athens police and fire are on scene and are working with Atmos Energy to stop the leak. Drivers are urged to avoid the area until the leak has been fixed.
HENDERSON COUNTY – 
Former Payne Springs Chief of Police April Meadows was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering and manufacturing/delivering drugs, according to our news partners at KETK. She was sentenced to two years for the money laundering charge and 15 years for the felony drug charge in a Henderson County court on Tuesday. Those sentences are set to run concurrently to one another and Meadows already has almost a year’s worth of jail credit. Meadows was arrested along with Jonathan Hutchison, a former police officer. Earlier this month, Hutchison was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said at the time of their arrests that search warrants served at their homes revealed controlled substances inside.
TYLER – Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) began replacing 8,000 water meters last week. This project was approved by the City Council in December 2023. The first phase will take one year to complete and will replace meters identified as having issues with accuracy and reliability. For the next three years, 1,650 meters will be replaced annually until all identified problem meters are switched to the new model. Water meters measure the amount of water delivered to a customer’s tap. The most recent meters in our system were installed in 2005. Over the last several years, 27 percent of the existing meters had problems accurately reading water usage, not registering consumption, and not communicating the information to the Water Business Office. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER (AP) — 
The father of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes pleaded guilty Tuesday to a drunken driving charge in Texas, according to court records. Smith County District Court records show that Patrick Mahomes Sr., 54, pleaded guilty in Tyler to the driving while intoxicated charge. The records do not provide details of the plea, but local media report a five-year suspended sentence was agreed upon. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Winnsboro Police Department said Caviness was found safe at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
WINNSBORO — East Texas officials are asking for help in locating a missing Winnsboro man. According to our news partner KETK, missing is 75-years-old Larry Caviness. He was last seen Sunday morning. Officials said he left his home on Ebenezer Street in his blue 1996 GMC 1500 with Texas license plate AG41525.
Larry Caviness is described as being 6’1 and 180 pounds. Winnsboro Police ask if anyone has information on the whereabouts of Larry Caviness, to call them at 903-342-3620.
TYLER – 
Starting on Friday, August 30th through Tuesday, September 3rd, the Tyler Police Department will be adding additional officers on the street utilizing STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program). With increased traffic in the city of Tyler and at Lake Tyler for the Labor Day weekend, these officers will be specifically watching for impaired drivers. They hope everyone has an enjoyable Labor Day Holiday. Please be responsible and don’t drink and drive.
LONGVIEW – The Longview Economic Development Corporation voted to approve a performance contract for a Mint Innovation biomining facility on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, the proposed facility, would be a $15 million capital investment that would create 28 jobs within three years, according to LEDCO.
“Since our founding in 2016, we’ve been looking at opportunities abroad and are excited to be looking at bringing our technology to Longview, Texas. We’re proud to have the support of LEDCO to help create a more sustainable future for the Longview community by reducing e-waste and reintroducing critical metals into the local economy,†Will Barker, CEO and co-founder of Mint Innovation.
Mint Innovation “mines†for metals like gold and copper by using chemicals to extract the precious metals from natural biomass and e-waste. The New Zealand-based company is currently trying to confirm the plant’s site at 2120 East Loop 281 in Longview. In June, several residents appeared at the proposed location to protest the plant’s opening
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Jon Johnson has announced his retirement after a 35-year criminal justice career. He was first elected as justice of the peace in November 2018, and was sworn in to office on January 1, 2019. Before becoming a justice of the peace, Johnson worked for 25 years for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the U.S. District Court in Tyler until his federal retirement in 2014. During those years he served as a federal prison case manager, federal probation officer and chief federal probation officer.
Johnson has taught criminal justice courses for Tyler Junior College and Lindale Independent School District.
“Although I have held different job titles and responsibilities over the years, I have enjoyed nothing more than serving the community as justice of the peace,†Judge Johnson said in his retirement letter submitted Friday, August 23.
Johnson said he plans to retire September 30, 2024, and intends to spend more time with his wife and family.
HENDERSON COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report two men were arrested on Thursday after the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office conducted search warrants at Athens residences where they located a large stash of drugs and a stolen firearm. According to the sheriff’s office, at around 4:45 p.m. investigators conducted two narcotic search warrants and a manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance arrest warrant at 419 Stoneleigh Street and 421 Stoneleigh Street in Athens. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Senator Ted Cruz is bringing his ‘Keep Texas, Texas’ tour to Tyler on Saturday August 24 from 9:00 a.m to 10:15 a.m. He will be appearing at the Republic Icehouse, 3807 University Blvd in Tyler. Senator Cruz will speak to voters about his record in the Senate of jobs, freedom, and security. Senator Cruz will discuss his vision for the future of our state and what needs to be done to Keep Texas, Texas.
You can find free tickets for this event by clicking here.
UPDATE: A second juvenile was arrested on late Thursday evening in connection to the murder of 29-year-old Clara Deane Wilson, the Jacksonville Police Department said.
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville PD Thursday said that a juvenile was arrested in connection to the murder of Clara Deane Wilson. According to our news partner KETK, the person was arrested after an operation involving the Jacksonville Police, the Texas Rangers, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Marshalls office.
Officials said that the 29-year-old Wilson of Jacksonville, was found shot to death early Saturday morning near Gillespie and Georgia Avenues. The juvenile arrested was left unnamed and law enforcement said more arrests are expected in this case.
UPDATE: The Nacogdoches Police Department said that Roselyn Navaeh Smith has been found safe after she was reported missing on Thursday. Officials said they are currently in the process of bringing her back together with her family.
NACOGDOCHES – The Nacogdoches Police Department said they’re currently searching for a 12-year-old girl named Roselyn Navaeh Smith. According to our news partner KETK, Roselyn is described as a black girl wearing a black shirt with gold letters spelling “QUEENâ€, blue jean shorts, black shoes, diamond stud earrings, a backpack, crossbody bag and a clarinet.
Officials said they were searching in the area of Tangleberry and Tanglewood Streets.
They ask anyone who has seen Roselyn Smith to call 911 immediately.
BOWIE COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a woman was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for her part in distributing a lethal amount of fentanyl disguised as oxycontin pills. Nikkie Jo Mattison, also known as Nikkie Hall, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 204 months, or 17 years, in prison in federal court on Thursday. Prosecutors said Mattison conspired with three other people to distribute fentanyl, ultimately resulting in three deaths. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — 
A Tyler man has been charged with arson after reportedly setting his wife’s car on fire while intoxicated, according to our news partners at KETK. Smith County officials said the county’s fire marshal Chad Hogue was called to an RV park on Aug. 16 in the 8500 block of FM 14 to a vehicle on fire. When Smith County ESD2 officials arrived, they noted Justin Kennedy Hillard, 36 of Tyler, was spraying water from a garden hose on the vehicle that was on fire. The owner of the vehicle said her husband, Hillard, was intoxicated and had poured gas onto her vehicle but she was able to get out of the car before he set it on fire. “Hogue reported that damages to the car were consistent with the vehicle being set on fire after gasoline was poured onto it,†Smith County officials said. Hillard reportedly fled the scene and an arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday and he turned himself on Wednesday.
TYLER – 
The Tyler Police Department would like to remind citizens to remain vigilant with regards to both online scams and phone scams. We have taken numerous reports of many types of frauds originating both online and through wireless communication devices. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A Mesquite man who was a part of an organized criminal ring accused of stealing 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to our news partner KETK, Ramon Perez-Torres was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity on Tuesday. The criminal group is accused of using fraudulent credit card information and using pulser tampering devices on motor fuel dispensers.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said in a release, “A pulser is part of the motor fuel metering system that counts fuel flow and determines the amount of fuel flow per penny. The criminal tampering device slows down the pulser, allowing suspects to pump hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel for pennies on the dollar.â€
The group is accused of stealing more than 10,000 gallons of fuel from gas stations in nine different counties across Texas. Authorities suspect a large number of people to be a part of the group and eight have been indicted.
TYLER — 
The Caldwell Zoo announced on Wednesday a big hatch of Texas Horned Lizards as a part of a dedicated conservation effort according to our news partners at KETK. According to the zoo, the Lone Star State’s official state reptile was almost threatened to extinction, which led to the Texas Parks and Wildlife department reaching out to Caldwell Zoo for conservation efforts. Caldwell Zoo said they established a Texas Horned Lizard Conservation which is now in it’s fifth year of operation, according to our news partners at KETK. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – On Wednesday, Tyler Animal Services was alerted by the Texas Department of State Health Services that one bat submitted for analysis tested positive for rabies. The bat was found near the 2200 block of Bateman Avenue and Troup Highway. The known individuals and animals with possible exposure have been identified and addressed.
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Tyler Animal Services Director Shawn Markmann reminds people not to handle bats, skunks, raccoons or other wild animals. It is important for children to tell their parents of any contact with wild animals or any sick animals. If a person is bitten by an animal, it must be reported to the Local Rabies Control Authority to be investigated
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Tyler Animal Services advises all pet owners to confirm their dogs and cats are currently vaccinated for rabies. Preventative immunization for rabies is the only effective defense against the fatal disease.
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Anyone with questions on rabies control may contact Tyler Animal Services at (903) 535-0045.
WHITE OAK – The White Oak Independent School District board unanimously named one person for the superintendent position on Friday. According to our news partner KETK, Jackson Parker, former White Oak High School principal and assistant superintendent, was named superintendent.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the lone finalist, and I will work each and every day to make it a place where all students thrive,†Parker said. “My job will be made much easier by the incredible staff at all campuses. The best is yet to come. Go Roughnecks!â€
After a 21-day waiting period passes, per state law, Parker can be offered a contract. He is scheduled to sign the contract for the superintendent position on Sept. 5. Mr. Parker has been in education for a total of 33 years.
White Oak ISD students returned to class on Wednesday for the new school year.
SMITH COUNTY – Firefighters responded to a trash truck that caught on fire early Tuesday morning. According to our news partner KETK, a call came in to Smith County Emergency Services District 2 around 10 a.m. Nikki Simmons, the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2, reported a trash truck caught fire in Overton on County Road 244. Fire officials stated that, the driver of the trash truck was able to get out and there were no injuries reported.
Simmons added, “Firefighters from Engine 141 and Engine 132 quickly arrived on scene to contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the woods. Smith County Fire Marshal’s office will handle the investigation. â€
HENDERSON COUNTY – With hot and dry conditions continuing throughout our region. Some counties in East Texas have enacted burn bans. Our news partner KETK has a list of those counties under a burn ban. You can find the list here.
AUSTIN — 
Smith County has earned a 2023 Excellence in Safety Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool (TAC RMP) for its record of excellence in involvement and commitment to safety in the workplace, as well as for controlling workers’ compensation claims.
To qualify for the award, the county must participate in TAC RMP’s Workers’ Compensation Program, have a safety program or accident prevention plan and have an active safety committee. This is the highest honor a county can receive from TAC RMP for its commitment to safety. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report a body has been recovered from the Henderson County reservoir by a game warden after a Sunday night crash that also left two others dead, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. According to a release, officials in Henderson County responded to a vehicle crash on Sunday at around 9 p.m. on SH 198 bridge crossing Cedar Creek Reservoir near Payne Springs. The Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said the crash involved a vehicle and three motorcycles. Officials said two motorcyclists were pronounced dead at the scene and the third was believed to have gone over the rail and into the reservoir. After calling the search off late in the night, wardens resumed their search efforts Monday morning where they reportedly recovered the third victim at 11 a.m. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones during this difficult time,†officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. At this time, officials did not release the names of the victims.
PAYNE SPRINGS – 
Payne Springs Fire Rescue said that a man had to be flown out to a trauma center on Saturday night after diving into Cedar Creek Lake, according to our news partners at KETK. PSFR said that they were dispatched to a boating accident at 5:32 p.m. in the Southwood Shores subdivision. When they arrived on the scene it was determined that there was no boating accident and that a man was injured after diving into the lake. “Every year we respond to calls where someone has suffered serious or fatal injures from diving off of boat docks into Cedar Creek Lake. We strongly recommend getting into the water feet first at all times,†Payne Springs Fire Rescue said. EMS reportedly transported the man to Gun Barrel City where he was then flown out to be treated at a trauma center.
MORRIS COUNTY – 
An East Texas man was arrested on Monday after authorities said they uncovered a plot to abduct and murder another person according to our news partners at KETK. Officials with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office said the plot was discovered last week, and during investigations, developed “solid probable cause†to obtain an arrest warrant and search warrant. Mark Anthony Johnson, 49 of Naples, was arrested on Monday and officials said a search of his property resulted in the recovery of supplies and materials collected for: se in the kidnapping, torture and murder, including deadly weapons, and a large quantity of chemicals and other materials “for the destruction of evidence of the crime.†Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT –
Our news partners at KETK report that five people were arrested on Wednesday as well as cocaine, heroin and firearms seized, the Mount Pleasant Police Department said.
Texarkana bookkeeper arrested for alleged $700k embezzlement
According to the police department, at around 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday officers and detectives responded to a call about shots fired in the area of Private Road 3015. The police department reportedly obtained a search warrant of a residence involved.
“During the execution of that search warrant, detectives seized over half a pound of cocaine, 2 ounces of heroin and 8 firearms,†Mount Pleasant PD said. Read the rest of this entry »