Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
Do you hate parking in large parking lots? David Rancken’s App Of The Day may help. It’s called Find My Car. You can get Find My Car in the Apple Store.
SMITH COUNTY – The man who allegedly vandalized the statue of Jesus at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Flint was arrested Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County Sheriff’s Officers and the county SWAT team apprehended 36-year-old Jordan Grey Clark at his home in Flint. On Sunday September 7, Clark is accused of damaging the face and both hands of the marble statue of Jesus located in front of the church. The statue faces Old Jacksonville Highway. Clark was taken to the Smith County Jail and has been charged with criminal mischief at a place of worship, and his bond has been set at $400,000.
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TYLER – On Wednesday Sept. 10, the Tyler City Council recognized an Infants at Work participant, Olivia Alacorn. The council took time to salute Olivia’s six months of service with the City of Tyler.
Even your phone needs to have the garbage taken out. Go get David Rancken’s App Of The Day. It’s called Clever Cleaner. You can download Clever Cleaner in the Apple Store.
SMITH COUNTY – A Tyler man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Monday after he impersonated a 10-year-old wanting to engage in sexual activity with other online users. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County officials started investigating Jodi Mack Hester of Tyler, in January. An investigator received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, about an immediate risk to a child. The electronic service provider, Tagged.com, reported possible online enticement and provided chat logs to the investigator dated from November 2024 to January 2025.
The Tagged.com user ‘Jodimarie’ claimed to have a 10-year-old daughter he wished to involve in sexual activity. The cyber tip included the users’ subscribing information and sexually explicit photos, identifying the suspect as registered sex offender Jodi Mack Hester of Tyler.
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AUSTIN – 
The Houston Chronicle reports the Texas Senate voted against delaying a controversial East Texas groundwater export project on the same day the company behind it hired one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top advisors as a lobbyist. Conservation Equity Management, a company affiliated with Dallas investor Kyle Bass, hired Allen Blakemore on Tuesday, the same day the legislation hit the Senate floor, according to lobbying records filed at the Texas Ethics Commission. Blakemore is Patrick’s political consultant and has also worked on the campaigns of several Republican senators. The Senate, which Patrick oversees, ultimately agreed to back a state-led study of the company’s proposal to pump huge amounts of groundwater out from under Anderson and Henderson counties. But it stripped a provision that would have put the project on hold until the findings came out in 2027. Read the rest of this entry »
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SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 broke ground on its twelfth fire station, Station 76 on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, the new station will provide the unincorporated community of Jamestown with around-the-clock firefighter coverage, quickening response times to fires in the area.
Smith County ESD2 Chief Eric Greaser said Sunday, “We’re just very excited that we’re going to be able to get full time 24/7 coverage by career firefighters that are both trained as firefighters and as EMS professionals, EMTs, advanced EMTs or paramedics that’ll be working out of this facility with all the equipment that they’ll need to save lives.”
Once firefighters start working at Station 76, ESD2 will have 24/7 coverage of Smith County with 10 engine companies and three tender crews.
TYLER – The close of the second special session on Wednesday evening led to a disappointing end for House Bill 27, which would’ve required a study of new water drilling in East Texas. According to our news partner KETK, HB27 would’ve required the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a study on the effects of drilling permits on the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater District. HB 27 also pushed for lawmakers to allow a 16-month pause on approving drilling permits during the TWDB study. This leaves East Texans concerned about controversial groundwater drilling in the Neches and Trinity Valley area feeling let down, but not without hope. East Texas lawmakers are vowing to continue the fight.
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TYLER – One lucky East Texan has purchased a Powerball lottery ticket worth $2 million the Texas Lottery Commission announced on Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the ticket was bought at the Super Food Mart on Loop 323 in Tyler. The winner correctly guessed Saturday’s five white ball numbers, 11, 23, 44, 61 and 62 but not the red Powerball number which was 17.
Nationwide, 18 people were able to guess the five white ball numbers, earning them $1 million prizes. The Tyler winner, and one other person in Kansas, increased their prize to $2 million by including the Power Play option when they bought their ticket. The larger $1.787 billion jackpot will be split between two tickets that were sold in Missouri and Fredericksburg, Texas.
SULPHUR SPRINGS – The North Hopkins ISD Field House was damaged in fire that around 4 p.m. Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department, Dike Volunteer Fire Department and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office all arrived on scene and found the fire centered to a small part of the locker room. An official with the Hopkins County FD said one corner of the building sustained medium damage, while the rest of the building had smoke damage. Authorities report no injuries. The fire marshal and and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office suspect the source of the fire is electrical. An investigation is continuing.
ODESSA – An Odessa College student from Hallsville died Thursday during cross-country practice, the school confirmed Friday morning. According to our new partner KETK,Gage Broomall, a second-year athlete, reportedly collapsed at the start of practice Thursday afternoon. Despite immediate efforts from emergency personnel, he did not survive.
A press release from Odessa College said, “Gage was a valued member of the Odessa College Wrangler family, and his loss is deeply felt by his teammates, coaches, classmates, and all who knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.”
To honor Gage’s life and legacy, Odessa College and the Broomall family have established a scholarship in his name. Those wishing to contribute may do so online at: Gage Broomall Memorial Scholarship Fund.
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Criminal District Attorney Jacob Putman announced Friday that he will be running for re-election in 2026. Putman has served for the past six years, and during his tenure, the district attorney’s office has expanded from 48 to 85 staff members. In 2024, Putman and his office prosecuted over 7,000 criminal cases, including 4,472 misdemeanors and 2,886 felonies.
Due to the number of cases prosecuted in 2024, the attorney’s office was named a Gold Level Agency, the highest award a victim-friendly practice can obtain from the Texas Victim Services Association.
“I am asking for your support so we can continue our mission,” Putman said.”My office has become a leader across Texas in innovation and excellence.”
Putman will run in next year’s Republican Primary ahead of the November election.