Today is
Saturday July 25, 2026
TRINITY — 
Our news partners at KETK report that the National Weather Service has confirmed that a EF1 tornado hit Trinity County on Sunday. According to a release, the NWS meteorologists are surveying storm damage near Trinity and a preliminary survey shows an EF1 struck the Rock Creek Subdivision. An EF1 tornado is described as having 86-110 mph wind that can cause roof’s edges or corners to be torn off. The Trinity Fire and Rescue responded to multiple storm related calls including a home that was destroyed by a tornado, multiple flooded roads and calls of people trapped in flooded cars and houses. City of Conroe Chief of Police Jeff Christy said that on Sunday evening, Lieutenant James Waller and his wife were at their Trinity County property when their home was hit by a suspected tornado. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – Palestine police apprehended a man with a variety of drugs Saturday. According to our news partner KETK, arrested was 35 year-old Daniel Cummings III, of Palestine. Cummings was stopped late Saturday morning at Woodside Village Apartments. Officers had announced there were complaints that Cummings was dealing drugs. When police arrived with a search warrant they found about 12 pounds of illegal drugs. Officers seized about eight pounds of suspected methamphetamine, around four pounds of marijuana and nearly 14 grams of Xanax along with $1,300 in cash.
Palestine Police Chief Mark Harcrow said in a release, “Because of the great work by these officers, a large amount of dope is off our streets. I commend these officers for their thorough investigation and a job well done.â€
Cummings is now at the Anderson County Jail and charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, abandoning or endangering a child and violation of a protective order.
LONGVIEW – Three people are now charged in 2016 murder of promenent Longview businessman Ron Horaney. According to our news partner KETK, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that 26-year-old Rene Paul Garcia Jr., has been charged in connection to the slaying. Garcia is currently is in a federal penitentiary. He is the half brother of 38-year-old Alfredo Lizcano, who was arrested Wednesday, April 24 and charged with the murder of Horaney. He has a $10 million bond. The other person arrested was 87-year-old Reza Kamali of Longview. Kamali’s bond was set at $7.5 million.
At a press conference held Monday, sheriff’s office investigators say they received information from a “Cooperating Individual†who reported being contacted by someone they identified as “Ray Kamali,†who authorities identified as being Reza Kamali. Cooperating Individual 1 told investigators that two years prior to their interview in June of 2016, Kamali solicited him to murder Horaney. The Cooperating Individual then reported that Kamali wanted Horaney “killed up close and personal because of a family dispute.â€
Ron Horaney was found dead in his home from multiple gunshots on May 30, 2016. Horaney’s Feed Stores in Longview and Marshall were one of the oldest family-owned businesses. His grandfather, Harry Horaney, founded the business in 1940.
MARSHALL – 
Authorities in Marshall said they are investigating a homicide after a 13-year-old died from gunshot wounds on Sunday according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, multiple gunshots were reported in the 1100 block of Sanford Street around 2:22 a.m. on Sunday with callers stating “about 20 to 30 shots were fired.†A 13-year-old boy was found at the scene critically injured, and authorities said CPR was immediately given. The teen was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later that afternoon. “It is believed that this incident stemmed from an earlier confrontation on Olive Street,†officials with police said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — City of Tyler officials said in release Friday, the next step in construction of the Smith County parking garage began Monday, April 29. For about 3 weeks, a portion of East Ferguson Street, from Center Avenue to Spring Avenue, will be closed due to the construction.
Visitors to the Annex Building, the Elections Office, Constable Precinct 1 Office and Animal Shelter can park in the large former juror parking lot off of Ferguson Street. There will only be one entrance/exit to the lot, across from the Animal Shelter off Center Avenue. Pedestrians coming to the Annex from the parking lot, including employees and visitors, will have to take a detour route to the Annex. There are white arrows painted on the ground showing pedestrians the way to go.
Smith County Judge Neal Franklin said in regards to the construction, “We appreciate all of the patience and understanding shown by our employees and visitors. We understand these parking temporary changes are difficult, but we are excited about how great the parking garage will be when it is completed.â€
The construction of the 540+ parking space garage is expected to be completed in September.
LONGVIEW – 
The Houston Chronicle reports that business groups, led by a pair of Texas advocacy associations, stepped in quickly Wednesday seeking a halt to a rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission banning employers from using noncompete clauses to keep workers from going to a competitor. The ban was approved Tuesday and is expected to take effect 120 days after it is entered into the Federal Register. It was immediately challenged by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was joined by the Texas Association of Business and the Longview (Texas) Chamber of Commerce in filing suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to block the measure.
Saying “the burdens of the Noncompete Rule will be immediate and significant,†the organizations argued that “Beyond making virtually all noncompetes illegal going forward, the Noncompete Rule also purports to retroactively invalidate roughly tens of millions of existing agreements. … As a result, businesses that bargained for noncompetes will lose the protections of those agreements — even if they already held up their end of the bargain.†Anticipating a delay in implementation, several Houston labor attorneys were proceeding with business as usual with their noncompete cases. Todd Slobin, a board certified labor and employment partner at Shellist Lazarz Slobin, said he thought the rule was great and it could help the economy in general because people could get better, higher-paying jobs based on their experience and skills. “In one hand, it’s amazing,†Slobin said. “In the other hand, it’s kind of like preparing for a hurricane that may never happen. Because, you know, there’s going to be so many legal challenges from big businesses, industries, who want to enforce these noncompetes and want to have them in place to keep employees where they are.â€
TYLER – Champions for Children has received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation that will be used for educational purposes. According to our news partner KETK, the $15,500 grant will fund a two-hour training session on child neglect and abuse. This is allow about 2,500 participants to undergo the training.
The release from Champions for Children further stated, “Champions’ Childcare Teacher Training is a comprehensive program designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet state standards and address the critical issue of child neglect and healthy child development. This training, tailored to the specific needs of childcare providers, encompasses key elements including State Standards Compliance, In-Depth Understanding of Child Neglect, Legal and Ethical Considerations, Interactive Learning Modules, Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity Training, Collaboration with State Agencies, Continuous Professional Development, Case Studies and Practical Scenarios, Networking Opportunities, and Evaluation and Certification.â€
Champions for Children said that child neglect cases in the U.S. include over 600,000 children, and that children up to age three are 80% of all neglect cases in Texas.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a Jacksonville man was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of capital murder. According to a release, Brandon Branton was charged with the 2020 stabbing murder of Randy P. Davenport. Davenport’s body was found near Love’s Lookout in July of 2020 and he was determined to be the victim of an “apparent homicide.†Branton was sentenced to life in prison without parole after eight days of testimony and deliberation, the district attorney said. He was charged alongside codefendant Ja’Michael Rusk, whose case is still pending.
PALESTINE – 
A Former Palestine ISD band director that had been accused of an improper relationship with a student received sentencing on April 19. According to court documents, and our colleagues at KETK, Adrian Alonso was convicted on three charges of improper relationship between an educator and a student, and will be serving 11 years of confinement in a state prison. In January of 2023 the Palestine Police Department arrested Alonso after an investigation revealed that he had an “improper relationship, including sexual contact with a student, beginning in 2020.â€
LUFKIN – 
A man was arrested in Lufkin on Tuesday for capital murder in the October death of his 4-month-old son according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, a warrant was obtained for the arrest of 25-year-old Anfernee Durham, of Lufkin, upon the finalization of his 4-month-old son, Kylo Powell’s, autopsy. Officials said his death was ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma to the head and torso by a Harris County medical examiner. He died in a Houston hospital on Oct. 20 after being transferred from a Lufkin hospital three days earlier. Durham was taken into custody with the assistance of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, and his bond has been set at $1 million.
UPSHUR COUNTY — A Kilgore man was arrested during a traffic stop near Gladewater for transporting 163 grams of methamphetamine. According to our news partner KETK, arrested Monday was Gerald Hosea Gibson of Kilgore. Gibson was pulled over for a traffic violation in Gladewater on Highway 80. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit conducted the search, where it vielded 163 grams of methamphetamine and $2,343. Gibson was charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. He is currently in the Upshur County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
HENDERSON – CHRISTUS Health broke ground Tuesday on a new, state-of-the-art standalone emergency center in Henderson. The center will be located on Highway 259, just south of Wylie Elementary. The new facility will feature around-the-clock emergency services, including 17 total beds, 13 exam rooms, four triage rooms, state-of-the-art full-service imaging and an onsite laboratory. Representatives from CHRISTUS, the City of Henderson, and Rusk County attended the ground breaking.
CHRISTUS Good Shepherd President and CEO Todd Hancock said, “We have been blessed to work with some great people from Henderson and Rusk County to make this facility a reality. Every stakeholder we have talked to and presented to has gotten on board immediately, as we all realize that more access to high-quality health care is nothing but great for this community.â€
The expansion to Henderson is the third announced expansion from CHRISTUS Health in East Texas, joining Mount Pleasant and Palestine. Construction of the 12,500 square-foot emergency center is set to begin in the next few weeks, with a projected completion date of summer 2025.
TYLER – GIVE, Girls Invested in Volunteer Efforts awarded an $18,000 2024 grant to Bethesda Pediatrics during an event Sunday in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, GIVE decided to give a grant to Bethesda Pediatrics because they provide healthcare to children who are uninsured or are enrolled in Medicaid.
Megan Riaz, the director of community relations for Bethesda Health Clinic was there on Sunday to accept the grant for Bethesda Pediatrics said, “We are overjoyed to receive this amazing grant from GIVE to improve our dental clinic with a new dental chair. The dental clinic at Bethesda Pediatrics is growing, and the GIVE grant will allow us to repurpose an existing room to serve more patients with dental care. We are so impressed by the young philanthropists of GIVE and their desire to give back to undeserved children; it is a blessing to our patients.â€
The Women’s Fund of Smith County launched GIVE in 2014 in order to help girls in high school learn about leadership and philanthropy. GIVE has given away $77,912 to Smith County non-profits since the group was started.
LINDALE – The Lindale Police Department said that a pedestrian was killed while crossing Highway 69 near Interstate 20 on Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, 60-year-old Bill Darling of Oregon was hit by a Dodge 3500 truck as he crossed the highway. Officers said Darling died at the scene. Lindale PD is continuing their investigation into the incident.
MARSHALL – Two people were arrested in Marshall early Friday morning after a search for narcotics and firearms. According to our news partner KETK, 41-year-old Johnathen O’Neal of Marshall was charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and endangering a child. Also arrested was 38-year-old Daviesha Lewis of Marshall. She is charged with resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and endangering a child.
The Marshall Police said their search was conducted in the 1600 block of Sanford Street and it yielded “a significant quantity of illegal narcotics and several firearms.†Officers add that all drug charges will carry the drug-free zone designation. Both O’Neal and Lewis were booked into the Harrison County Jail. With O’Neal’s bond set at $400,000. Lewis’s bond totaling $103,000.
The operation was a joint effort of the Marshall PD Special Response Team along with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team.
SMITH COUNTY- A water main break under County Road 431, also known as Jim Hogg Road, has been repaired and the road is back open to drivers. Lindale Rural Water Supply repaired the water main Friday and Smith County Road and Bridge crews have backfilled the hole with a clay and gravel mix and put a temporary patch on the section of road, just north of Interstate 20.
Because of the rain forecasted for the area this weekend, Smith County Engineer Frank Davis said his crews will go back out and start the permanent patching and repaving next week.
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MARSHALL – An East Texas man has been arrested after a coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies. According to our news partner KETK, 21-year-old Cameron Payton was arrested Tuesday for sexual assault of a child and evading arrest. The Marshall PD was aided in the arrest effort by the Joint Harrison County Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Daingerfield PD, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS.
In a news release from the Marshall Police Department, Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said, “This is a great example of the Marshall Police Department and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office working together and coordinating with regional law enforcement to stop dangerous individuals who are accused of violent crimes in our community.â€
After his arrest, Payton was booked into the Morris County Jail where he awaits transfer to the Harrison County Jail.
TYLER – Smith County law enforcement Tuesday arrested a Eustace man for organizing what authorities identify as a plot for gang members to murder a man in 2020. According to our news partner KETK, Brandon Edwards, who was known to be the Sergeant at Arms of a local 1%er Cossacks “outlaw motorcycle gang chapter†was found shot to death off FM 850 in Chapel Hill in May 2020.
Authorities said that 38-year-old Chad Crowell, identified as the National Sergeant at Arms of the Ugly Man Cossacks called a Sergeant at Arms meeting in Fall 2019 where he told those attending, if they see a member of the 1%er Cossacks “you are to put him down.†The club rivalry is due in part to each “club†claiming to be the “real Cossacks†and operating in the same area.
Investigators said that “smash on site†order came from national leadership. Crowell’s bail has been set at $2.5 million.
ATHENS – The City of Athens announced that some residents may have interruption in their water service on Thursday because of utility repairs. According to our news partner KETK, the temporary outage will affect residents starting around 9 p.m. from South Pinkerton Street to Hawn Street, the south and north sides of West Corsicana Street and South Pinkerton from Larue to West Corsicana Street.
SHELBY COUNTY — Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for seven East Texas counties that were impacted by severe storms and flooding from the past week. According to our news partner, KETK, a statement from the governor said that Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Newton, Panola, Shelby and Tyler counties continue to be affected by last weeks rain and flooding.
Throughout East Texas, authorities are continuing to access the damage as flood waters recede. Residents are asked to report damages to homes and using the he Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool, or iSTAT. Governor Abbott said the information in the iSTAT reports will help indentify disaster assistance and resources needed. To find iSTAT, click this link.
TYLER — On Tuesday, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith announced that through DNA testing, skeletal remains discovered in 1985 had been identified as Sindy Gina Crow, a 27-year-old from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to our news partner KETK, a mowing crew discovered the skeletal remains in a brush-covered gully 75 feet from I-20 east of Highway 69 in October 1985. The crew then contacted the Lindale Police Department who got in touch with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. During a search of the area, officials reportedly found a lady’s shirt, earrings and a watch.
The remains were then reportedly taken to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. There, officials believed the body belonged to a white or Hispanic female approximately 25 years of age with reddish-brown hair tied in a ponytail. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Drivers can expect traffic delays on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home fell over on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Tyler Police information officer Andy Erbaugh, westbound lanes are closed on Loop 323 near Troup Highway after a mobile home overturned across from Texas Roadhouse.
TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office announced that they will be sharing new information regarding a cold homicide case from 1985. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith announced that there will be a press conference on Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. concerning “positive identification of skeletal remains†that were found in 1985 on I-20. The sheriff’s office said that the remains were initially identified as a female homicide victim, but she remained a Jane Doe until recently.
AUSTIN – A Palestine resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery scratch ticket game Maximum Millions. The ticket was purchased at JJ’s Fastop, located on East Palestine Avenue. The lucky winner has decided to remain anonymous.
TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Apache Cheer squad won their second national championship on Friday after their first ever championship last year. According to our news partner KETK, the team competed in the National Cheer Association championships in Daytona, Florida. The TJC cheer team won first place in the intermediate large coed junior college category.
RUSK COUNTY — 
The Gaston Museum announced on Sunday that the museum board has decided to close permanently. According to a release, the chairman of the museum said current and previous board members have devoted their time and sacrifice to remain open as long as they could and they did not make the decision to close lightly. “I personally have spent 15 years now assisting or serving and feel as a piece of my life is going away. I know you feel the same. My family just like yours, were centered in this community and the Gaston Museum has carried a legacy of our families through 30 years of honor and memories of an era like no other. I leave here in tears every time I come, mourning what has to be,†the chairman said. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – 
Our news partners at KETK report that Wiley University received a grant from Interfaith America, to further interfaith learning on the campus. According to a statement, the $30,000 grant will be used to “embed interfaith education and attention to religious diversity into the general education course.†Wiley University said that the grant will help to fund guest speakers with faith traditions outside of the Christian perspective, to widen the understanding of the students. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that street repairs downtown may cause traffic delays. City officials say that brick street repairs on South Bonner Avenue between West Front Street and West Houston Street will close the street to through traffic until May 1 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
TYLER – 
The Junior League of Tyler hosted their annual Touch a Truck event to raise money for local nonprofits and provide a fun, educational experience for the whole family. According to a statement, the Junior League of Tyler’s event hosted a variety of public service vehicles, heavy equipment pieces and representatives of several industries for children to see and touch. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – 
The Palestine Police Department said that a pedestrian was killed in a crash in the 800 block of Crockett Road at around 12:20 a.m. on Friday.
When Palestine PD officers arrived at the crash scene they found a 2021 blue Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck that hit the pedestrian and a telephone pole, according to a press release.
Marcos Sanchez, 51 of Palestine, died at the scene because of his injuries from the crash.
Palestine PD said that the driver of the Ram was travelling north on Crockett Road when he reportedly crossed the road into oncoming traffic and hit Sanchez while witnesses saw him taking his trash out to the curb.
Dillon Wayne Fogle, 39 of Elkhart, was arrested for intoxication manslaughter after officers reportedly smelled alcohol on his breath and found a open alcohol container in his truck.
Fogle was taken to the Anderson County jail and bonded out after being charged with intoxication manslaughter and unlawfully carrying a weapon.