Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
TYLER – 
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the City Council approved a resolution supporting a TxDOT project for the replacement of the aging Boldt Avenue bridge over Black Fork Creek while completing repairs on the bridge at Old Bullard Road over West Mud Creek, Tributary C. Together, the projects will improve safety and extend the lifespan of two important neighborhood crossings in South Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – 
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, at approximately 5:00 pm, Smith County Deputies received a report of a sexual offense involving a child. Smith County CAC Investigators were immediately notified of the case and began their investigation. The child (victim) and mother were interviewed, which ultimately resulted in identifying the suspect as Kayvionta Patterson – 25 of Longview. After establishing probable cause, Smith County Investigators prepared an arrest affidavit and presented it to the Honorable 114th State District Judge Reeve Jackson. After reviewing the affidavit, Judge Jackson issued a warrant of arrest for the criminal offense of Aggravated Sexual assault of a Child with a bond set at $750,000. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Veterans Day is the time we honor the men and women who fought for our freedom. On Tuesday, KETK had the opportunity to meet a local hero who served the nation for over three decades. Colonel Junior Tilley served more than 30 years in the United States Air Force, but service was not his original plan. Tilley recalls the time when his life unexpectedly changed and set him on a heroic path.
“I was 18 years old, and offered a free physical in Dallas.” Tilley said, “While there, we quoted these words, which at the time I didn’t know what they were, but they were the oath to join the military.”
Tilley began his career at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, later serving overseas in Germany as a ‘Medical Resource Manager’ in medical services.
Read the rest of this entry »
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TYLER – 
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Tyler City Council approved an agreement with Via Transportation, Inc. to provide passenger trip assistance for MicroTransit and ParaTransit services. This agreement allows independent contractors to operate in their own vehicles, providing coverage for overflow services in a model that combines the efficiency and affordability of public transit with the convenience of rideshare services. The independent contractors will begin driving for Tyler Transit on Nov. 19. This agreement will enable Tyler Transit to meet the growing need for its on-demand rides, particularly during peak ridership times when City-operated vehicles are fully scheduled. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – 
Habitat for Humanity of Smith County (HFHSC) is now accepting applications for its affordable homeownership program through January 30, 2026. Homeownership is becoming increasingly out of reach for local families. In fact, the required income to purchase a home in Smith County has risen 126% since 2017 (Texas A&M University, Texas Real Estate Research Center). Yet research also shows that when families are able to become homeowners, the impact is transformational—U.S. homeowners hold 400% more net wealth than renters with similar demographics and income (Federal Reserve System).
“Research consistently shows that when families have access to safe, stable and affordable housing, their health improves, financial stress decreases, and children perform better in school,” said Robert Manley III, CEO of HFHSC. “We believe affordable housing is not just a benefit to one family, but that it strengthens the entire community. A healthier, more stable Smith County starts with ensuring more families have a safe place to call home.” Read the rest of this entry »
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BIG SANDY – 
Our news partners at KETK report the City of Big Sandy issued a burn ban on Monday, effective immediately. Mayor Linda Baggett announced the order on Monday, reinstating the restriction several days after the city lifted its previous burn ban on Oct. 31. Under the new declaration, all forms of outdoor burning are prohibited within the incorporated city limits until further notice.
PANOLA COUNTY — 
A 4-year-old boy has been shot in the leg after discharging a pistol. According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday at around 5:39 p.m., the sheriff’s office dispatch received a 911 call from a parent who said their spouse was taking their child to an emergency room for “an unknown problem.” When law enforcement arrived, they found the 4-year-old being treated for a gunshot wound to the leg. “The father and child were preparing to leave a deer stand near Ragley Road (County Road 182) when the child discharged the pistol that the father was carrying in a holster,” the sheriff’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
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GREGG COUNTY — The Kilgore Fire Department and Gregg County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a grass fire burning a pasture off of FM 3053 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, firefighters at the scene reported that hay bales were burned in a pasture in the 1400 block of FM 3053. The road was closed at around 4 p.m. on Sunday but has been reopened since Kilgore Fire Department left the scene.
“We advise that anyone burning outside have a way to extinguish their fire as the fire risk is very high over the next several days with increased winds and low humidity,” Sabine Fire & Rescue said.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said the 10.2-acre fire was around 100% contained as of 4:59 p.m.
Tyler – 
Smith County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Andy Dunklin will announce his re-election campaign in the March 2026 Republican primary. The campaign kick-off will be on Tuesday, November 11, at 9:00 AM at The Place on Main at Solon Douglas & Co in Bullard. Judge Dunklin will make a formal address regarding his bid for re-election at the Campaign Kick-Off. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after a Thursday night shooting in the 200 block of Bowles Street in Lufkin. The Lufkin Police Department said gunshots were reported at around 10:40 p.m., and when officers arrived at the scene, they located a man “who had been shot multiple times.” Despite attempts to save his life, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect has been identified as 49-year-old DeMarcus Jones, who has since been charged with murder for the death of Tyrone Williams. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT PLEASANT – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a former Mount Pleasant ISD (MPISD) special education teacher’s aide, Jaquaven Rogers, was arrested on Friday for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student. According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), MPISD was told about an alleged improper relationship Friday morning. The district contacted MPPD and detectives arrived on campus to investigate the allegations. Probable cause led to Rogers’ arrest at P.E. Wallace Middle School. Rogers is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student from a different Mount Pleasant ISD campus, according to Mount Pleasant PD. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a Longview man arrested in connection with a deadly 2023 shooting has pleaded guilty to murder and been sentenced to 25 years in jail. According to court records, 45-year-old Michael Dashaun Jackson entered a guilty plea Friday morning in the 188th District Court for the murder of Martin King, 45. The incident occurred in May 2023, when Longview police were called to the 1300 block of Twelfth Street after reports of gunfire. Officers found King lying on the side of the road suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Following an investigation, Jackson was identified as a suspect and later arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail for murder. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson received a 25-year sentence that he will serve in the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Jail.