Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – 
Our partners at KETK report the Smith County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is currently investigating a murder that took place on Sunday evening. At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Sunday deputies of the sheriff’s office responded to a shooting in the 8900 block of CR 4136. Smith County Communications had reportedly received information that a man had been shot multiple times and was not breathing. Officials said that when the deputies arrived, they found the man in a bedroom of the residence and he confirmed that he had been shot. Deputies began lifesaving measures until EMS arrived, however the man, identified as 21-year-old Kelly Torrez, was pronounced dead shortly after. The sheriff’s office identified Melvin Guevara, 21 of Tyler, as the suspect. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Tyler Animal Services is partnering with Special Olympics of Texas to raise funds for the nonprofit. During the month of July, adoption fees for dogs and cats will be waived with proof of a donation to the Special Olympics of Texas. Donations can be made in person at the Tyler Animal Shelter located at 4218 Chandler Hwy Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS — The Athens Animal Services said on Monday that their shelter had been broken into and vandalized. According to our news partner KETK, the shelter said all three buildings were broken into, causing several thousands of dollars in damages. Officials from the shelter provided a link for those wanting to help. Those who wish to make a monetary donation can do so at Athens City Hall. For donation items such as newspapers, towels, blankets, toys and food, people can drop them off at animal services.
TYLER – The Tyler City Council authorized the filing of applications to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for grants to develop a new park and renovate another on the Legacy Trails. According to our news partner KETK, the city plans to build Stewart Park, which would be the city’s 29th park and the first time a new park has been added since 2004.
City officials added that their parks and recreation department applied for a $500,000 grant for the development of the park. If granted, the funds will be awarded through a grant matching program. The release also said, “T.B. and Gladys Stewart donated the nine acres alongside Frankston Highway, where the future park will be developed, to the City of Tyler in 2012. The donation included the Stewart home, which Mr. Stewart built from scratch. Parts of the home will be salvaged to create a pavilion, and a historical marker will be added.â€
The City said that the master plan of the property also includes becoming a trail head for the second phase of Legacy Trail, which was funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Tyler – 
Tyler ISD announceS that Layne Fumo, a 5th-grade math teacher at Caldwell Arts Academy, was named one of six Texas finalists for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Mrs. Fumo is one of three math educators chosen for this honor. This recognition marks Mrs. Fumo’s exceptional contributions to K-12 STEM education and underscores her commitment to inspiring students in the field of mathematics. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – 
Our news partners at KETK report a Gilmer man was charged with capital murder in connection to Wednesday’s Longview shooting that led to the death of a Taco Bell employee. The Longview Police Department said they arrested Brent Leslie DeLuca, 31 of Gilmer, on Thursday, and also charged him with unlawful possession of metal or body armor by a felon. The police department said DeLuca was taken into custody without incident and is being held on a $75,000 bond for a separate warrant. He is awaiting arraignment on the capital murder charge.
HARRISON COUNTY – 
Our colleagues at KETK report officials in Harrison County said they are looking for a wanted fugitive. According to the sheriff’s office, Kyler McBride, 28, is wanted for the following charges:
Engaging in organized criminal activity
Burglary of a building, two charges
Criminal mischief
Theft of material alum./copper/brass, less than $20,000
Theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000
Criminal Trespass Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – The Longview Police Department have arrested a Gilmer man in connection to an early Wednesday morning shooting. According to our news partner KETK, 31-year-old Leslie DeLuca of Gilmer was charged Thursday with capital murder of an unnamed person, during an attempted robbery in the parking lot of a Judson Road Taco Bell. DeLuca was also charged with unlawful possession of metal or body armor by a felon. He is being held on a $75,000 bond. The victim has not been identified.
TYLER –
What: Starting on Monday, July 8, Hoar Construction will be closing multiple streets in Downtown Tyler to begin construction on the Smith County Courthouse.
Where:
Erwin Street, from Spring Avenue to Fannin Avenue, will be completely closed.
Fannin Street, from Erwin Street to Ferguson Street, will be completely closed.
Ferguson Street, in front of the Smith County Annex Building, will remain open to drivers, but the parking spaces will be inside the construction fencing. No parking will be available in front of the Annex on Ferguson Street.
Most of Spring Avenue, between Erwin and Ferguson, will be blocked off and closed, but one lane will remain open for people driving around the courthouse.
Spring Avenue, next to the Smith County Jail, from Erwin Street to Elm Street, will reverse southbound only for driving and parking.
When: Monday, July 8 until July 31, 2025. Please note this is a year-long closure.
SMITH COUNTY – 
Smith County officials awarded volunteers with Texans on Mission Disaster Relief Team with a Smith County Community Hero Award on Thursday, after the group helped more than 100 residents clean up their properties damaged by the severe weather in late May and early June. Texans on Mission Disaster Relief Team, historically called Texas Baptist Men, has worked all over Smith County for the past three weeks. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – City of Tyler said in a release that there will be repairs Thursday and Friday, June 27 and June 28, to a portion of Cumberland Road. That part is between Old Jacksonville Highway and Blue Mountain Boulevard. Repair crews will be out both days from from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers can expect delays in the area and should follow the road crews directions. There will be lane closures with one lane of traffic. City officials ask motorists to detour to Blue Mountain Blvd and use caution while traveling on this road, as workers will be present.
TYLER – 
Ahead of a televised debate this week, former President Donald Trump holds an 8% advantage with a sample of registered Texas voters when voters consider candidates on the ballot, according to the latest survey by The University of Texas at Tyler Center for Opinion Research. The advantage is 6%, with likely voters on the assumption this is a high turnout election like four years ago. Read the rest of this entry »
CARTHAGE – 
Officials in Carthage approved a maximum price of $3.7 million to construct a standalone police headquarters according to our colleagues at KETK. Carthage police and fire currently share an address at 321 W. Panola St. The fire department will stay in their current building, but police will move to the new headquarters when it is finished. According to City Manager Steve Williams, the city will pay for the new headquarters out of the city budget. They plan to start moving dirt in early July, and the project is expected to take about a year to finish. Williams said that both their fire and police departments have outgrown their old space, and this move will also afford the fire department more room.
TRINITY COUNTY – 
UPDATE: The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office announced that they have arrested one of the two men.
ORIGINAL STORY: Our news partners at KETK report that a manhunt was initiated for two men in Trinity County on Wednesday after officials said they received a report about a theft. According to Sheriff Woody Wallace, two men were seen on a man’s property on US 287 near the county line and when units responded to the scene they reported seeing one man on a tractor and another on a side-by-side that attempted to leave the property. Both of the men initially fled on the vehicles before running into the woods where tracking dogs have responded to assist in the search. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – The suspect of a weekend shooting that left one juvenile dead in Kilgore was identified and charged with murder. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Police say he is 17-year-old Danyael Munoz of Kilgore, as the person who shot a killed another juvenile early Sunday morning in Kilgore.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found one dead and one wounded. Munoz reportedly fled to a house nearby. A Northeast Texas Regional SWAT negotiator spoke to him until he turned himself in. Munoz was arrested and booked into the Gregg County Jail. He’s charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The teenager’s bonds total $250,000.
TRINITY COUNTY – 
UPDATE: The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office said Spykes is in custody. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a manhunt for a person that was reportedly involved in a shooting on Tuesday according to our colleagues at KETK. According to a release, officials are searching for Shyan Spykes who was last seen at around 12:30 p.m. at the Pine Crest subdivision. Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said they have dealt with Spykes in the past. “Occasionally he gets high on meth and he does something stupid,†Wallace said. “Today he decided to shoot somebody.†Read the rest of this entry »
TRINITY COUNTY – 
A man was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to solicitation of a minor, Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace announced on Tuesday. Steven Myers, 47, was arrested after officials said he made inappropriate advances towards a minor while she was at work. The minor told her parents, who contacted the sheriff’s office, prompting an undercover investigation lasting several weeks. Read the rest of this entry »
Tyler – 
Tyler ISD is thrilled to announce that four of its schools have been recognized on the prestigious Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) 2023 Honor Roll list of top-performing schools in Texas. The honored schools are Birdwell Dual Language Immersion School, Caldwell Arts Academy, Early College High School, and Andy Woods Elementary School.
This recognition marks the ninth year ERP has published its Honor Roll, highlighting schools that excel in student achievement. Sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) and presented in collaboration with the Texas Business Leadership Council, the ERP Honor Roll is part of a national initiative to identify and commend schools and districts that are advancing student outcomes and equipping students with essential skills valued by employers. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — 
Our news partners at KETK report that insurance rates are rising in Texas and experts said inflation, supply chain issues, lack of labor and cost repairs are contributing factors. The rise in insurance is hurting Texans’ wallets, especially this summer. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, in 2012 the average auto insurance rate increased by 4.6% but in 2023 Texans saw an increase by a staggering 25.5%.
“Insurance rates in Texas are 67% higher than the national average,†Mechele Mills, CEO of the BBB Serving Central East Texas, said. “Since last year, homeowners in our state have seen an increase of about 16% to 22% and car owners 26%.â€
Director of communications of the Insurance Council of Texas said destructive weather is also a large factor to higher prices.
Federal appeals court says some employers can exclude HIV prep from insurance coverage
“If we look at Texas as a market, we have so many hazards and perils that we deal with when it comes to hail, wind, tornados hurricanes flooding,†Johnson said.
Johnson also recommends people to do their homework and compare different options available.
JEFFERSON – Our news colleagues at KETK report the Jefferson Police Department is looking for a missing man that was reportedly last seen on Thursday morning. Authorities said they are searching for 41-year-old Donovan Byrd, and anyone with information on his location is asked to call police at 903-665-2432.
HENDERSON – Henderson ISD announced on Monday that they are mourning the loss of an elementary student who would have started first grade next year, that according to our news partner KETK. A release from the district said, “It is with profound sadness that our staff and students mourn the recent passing of Stevee Hale. Stevee was an exceptional student and our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time.â€
The school district said that Board President Russell Brown, who knew Hale personally, led trustees in a moment of silence at a recent school board meeting to honor and remember her.
Brown also read a statement where one of her teachers said “to know her was to completely adore her, and she left this world with a little more sparkle than it had before she got here.â€
Tyler — 
The Charles Butt Foundation, a non-profit pursuing a more equitable and prosperous future for all Texans through education and community partnerships, has selected Bethany Moody, Principal of Kissam Intermediate, as one of 30 principals from traditional and charter school districts across Texas to attend a weeklong summer institute at the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, led by Harvard faculty and other national and international experts.
The Raising School Leaders program is designed to inspire, challenge and empower school leaders to bring lasting impact to their campuses and communities, the entire state of Texas, and beyond. Following the Harvard institute, attendees remain a part of the program’s statewide network of school leaders, work together to create change at the campus and district levels, and receive continuous support and professional development.
TYLER – With summer here, it is the time of year where one little spark could potentially cause a devastating wildfire. According to our news partner KETK, experts at the Texas A&M Forest Service, say, although East Texas has experienced an excessive amount of spring rainfall, a stretch of hot and dry temperatures can call for a fire risk.
“We can go into elevated fire risk,†Sean Dugan, with the Texas A&M Forest Service, said.
Officials explained even with the saturated grounds, East Texans need to be mindful while burning. July and August are historically when the state sees the most fires.
Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – Authorities in Kilgore said that one man has died and another was injured during a shooting early Sunday morning. According to our news partner KETK, Kilgore Police received several 911 calls shortly after midnight in regards to a shooting. When officers arrived the corner of Thompson and Myrtle Streets, they found one man dead and wounded. She was taken to a local hospital.
The Northeast Texas Regional SWAT team was called to the location where the shooting suspect reportedly was. After some negotiations, the suspect was taken to the Kilgore Police Department.
At this time, the names of the shooting victim have not been released. The suspects name has not been released either. Kilgore PD said they are continuing the investigation into the shooting.
CANTON — FEMA opened a Disaster Recovery Centers in Van Zandt county June 21 to provide one-on-one help to Texans affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds April 26-June 5. The center is located at Canton Intermediate School on Highway 243 West. It will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. To find the center location nearest you go to fema.gov.
Residents affected by storm damage can visit the DRC and meet with representatives of FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.
Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday announced that a man who is a “wanted fugitive from multiple counties†and a woman were arrested after a narcotics search. According to our news partner KETK, HCSO narcotics investigators and Henderson County Crimes Against Children Task Force officers, searched a residence in Eustace, on County Road 2938.
Officers there arrested 49-year-old Richard Slay and 51-year-old Katie Wiggins, both of Eustace. They were arrested for possession of suspected methamphetamine’s. The sheriff’s office said that Slay is a wanted fugitive in multiple counties. Both were then taken to the Henderson County jail and charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance.
TYLER – The City of Tyler has announced that traffic signal cabinets at six intersections will be replaced starting on Tuesday, June 25, and running through Thursday, June 27. During this time crews will be out between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. replacing signal cabinets at the following intersections:
TYLER – City of Tyler officials say a part of Rose Rudman Trail will be closed from Monday, June 24, through Wednesday, June 26. That portion is behind 5604 South Donnybrook Avenue, which is in back of Sleep Inn and Suites Tyler South. According to a release from the city, the closure is because of a sanitary sewer line replacement. Until repairs are completed, officials advise this portion of the trail should be avoided.
TYLER – FEMA has opened a Disaster Recovery Center at The Hub, located at 304 E. Ferguson St. in downtown Tyler. Smith County is supplying the facility while FEMA personnel will staff the DRC from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week through July 29. Smith County citizens who need help recovering from the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and straight-line winds, from April 26 through June 5, can go to the Hub for in-person assistance.
Smith County Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Moore said residents visiting the DRC will also be able to talk to people from the Small Business Administration, Lone Star Legal and the local nonprofit organization, Crisis Response Ministries. Moore added, “Recovery will take some time due to personnel constraints and the amount of debris accumulated. Citizens with damaged homes are encouraged to participate with FEMA personnel to apply for potential assistance.â€
You can also apply for assistance by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov or calling FEMA’s helpline: 800-621-3362.
PALESTINE – A routine traffic stop in Palestine put a local man in jail. According to our news partner KETK, 34-year-old Charles Edward Hawkins of Palestine, was stopped by a PPD officer Tuesday morning on North Queen Street for a traffic violation.
The officer reportedly detected “a strong odor of marijuana†coming from the vehicle when they made contact with the driver, Charles Hawkins. After an examination, the officer said in their report finding 3.51 grams of suspected cocaine, 172.96 grams of ecstasy, and a small amount of marijuana.
Hawkins was charged with possession of marijuana and two counts of manufacture or deliver of a controlled substance. He was booked at the Anderson County Jail with a bond totaling $42,500.