Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
WHITEHOUSE –
Our news partners at KETK report the Texas Department of Public Safety said that a 22-year-old man died after hitting a tree on County Road 2177 on Friday around 10:50 p.m. Colton B. Killingsworth, 22 of Jacksonville, was travelling south on County Road 2177 5.5 miles south of Whitehouse in a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, when DPS said he lost control of the truck and hit a tree on the east side of the road. Killingsworth was pronounced dead by Dr. K. Records at UT Health Hospital in Tyler. According to DPS, Killingsworth was not wearing a seat belt and it was raining at the time of the crash.
AUSTIN – The Texas Tribune reports that nearly two years after announcing the largest philanthropic campaign ever undertaken by a Texas university, the University of Texas at Austin said this week it has reached its goal to raise $1 billion to support students.
Administrators said in a press release that the achievement makes UT-Austin the first school in the state and the second public university in the country to receive more than $1 billion in donations that are specifically for supporting undergraduate and graduate students. The sum is part of an overall goal to raise $6 billion, the third largest campaign of any public university in the country.
“Our aspiration of becoming the world’s highest-impact public research university depends on attracting the best students, supporting them and equipping them to go out and change the world,†said President Jay Hartzell in a statement. “That starts with making our world-class University affordable and accessible, and then surrounding our students with the people and programs that enable them to succeed.â€
The “What Starts Here†campaign overtook Texas A&M University’s $4 billion campaign as the most ambitious university capital campaign in the state. Texas A&M ended that campaign in 2021 after raising $4.25 billion.
UT-Austin started the “What Starts Here†campaign in 2016. The campaign seeks to boost the university’s research by recruiting top talent and helping students with financial aid, raising at least $3.3 billion between 2016 and 2022.
Two years ago, university administrators publicly announced they wanted to raise the campaign’s fundraising goal to $6 billion, with one-sixth of that money going directly to support students. UT-Austin has raised $4.8 billion so far, with two years left in the campaign.
The university benefits from a large alumni donor base with more than 570,000 former students, according to the Texas Exes alumni group.
Since 2016, nearly 291,000 UT-Austin donors have given money to support nearly 39,000 students, UT-Austin officials said. That includes 9,600 students who have received support through UT for Me, a partnership between the school and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. The UT for Me program offers extra support to low-income students who qualify for federal financial aid.
Overall, donor funding has created more than 1,250 new scholarships and fellowships across the university. According to UT-Austin officials, 80% of students benefit from financial support from the What Starts Here campaign.
Public universities in Texas rely on state funding, tuition and donations to operate. Over the decades, the percentage of funding from the state has fallen from 34% of UT-Austin’s annual budget in the 1990-91 school year to just 10% in 2020-21, forcing the university to seek other means of funding, including private donations. Meanwhile, the university has become increasingly reliant on student tuition, which comprised 9% of its budget three decades ago. It represented 20% of the school’s budget in 2020.
The flagship university also provides a variety of financial assistance to students outside philanthropic support. Students are guaranteed free tuition if their families earn less than $65,000 a year, and the university provides support to students from families who earn up to $125,000 annually. The University of Texas Board of Regents created a $167 million endowment in 2019 to fund the free tuition program.
Financial aid and additional support have become increasingly vital for students in recent years as the cost of living has skyrocketed in the Austin area. The university said donors have also played an enhanced role in providing emergency relief to students in recent years. Donors gave more than $3 million to the university’s Student Emergency Fund during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. And more than 1,600 donors provided money for a five-day emergency fundraising effort after the 2021 February winter storm left many students without power or other necessities.
JACKSONVILLE – A stand-off between a 16-year-old boy and a Cherokee County SWAT Team ended around 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, Jacksonville police began a pursuit of the unnamed boy Thursday around 5:45 a.m. At that that time, he barricaded himself at a location on Dallas Street. Authorities believed the teen was armed, and he had several felony warrants with more charges coming. Negotiations with the boy and Cherokee County SWAT ended without incident.
TYLER –
A 20-year-old man was sentenced to eight years deferred adjudication and 10 days in jail on Thursday for accident involving death in connection to a hit-and-run crash according to our colleagues at KETK. Jeremy Cisneros, 20, was arrested after Tyler PD reported a fatal hit-and-run between a truck and motorcycle where the motorcyclist, identified as 55-year-old Charles Main was pronounced dead. Officials said at the time that the crash happened around 3:45 p.m. on Highway 31 W and the pickup truck drove away from the scene. The driver, later identified as Cisneros, was located and interviewed by investigators. A warrant was issued for Cisneros’ arrest, and officials said he turned himself in to the Smith County Jail. He was indicted for second-degree felony accident involving death in October. He pleaded guilty to the charge on Thursday, and was sentenced later that day.
GLADEWATER – Gladewater ISD will be closed Thursday and Friday due to “dramatic increases in flu cases for both students and staff.†According to our news partner KETK, officials from the district said the closure would allow deep cleaning of the all campuses and offices.
“The health and safety of students and employees is our top priority,†according to Gladewater ISD. “Thank you for your understanding and partnership with us as we take the necessary steps to protect our school community.â€
District officials said that classes will resume Monday.
RUSK – 
Two people were taken to hospitals after a Tuesday morning crash involving a Rusk ISD school bus, according to our colleagues at KETK. According to DPS, troopers responded to the crash near the intersection of CR 2117 and CR 2116 around 7 a.m. involving a school bus and passenger. Officials said a preliminary report found the passenger car had failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign “and struck the school bus.†Authorities reported one passenger on the school bus was taken to a Jacksonville hospital for treatment and the driver of the passenger car was taken to a Tyler hospital.
LONGVIEW – Longview police said Tuesday they are looking for a missing 38-year-old man. According to our news partner KETK, missing is Xavier Dion Wilson. Wilson is 5’5″ and weighs about 120 pounds. He was seen last near the 1000 block of East Marshall Avenue. Police say they do not have a description of the what clothing Wilson was last seen wearing. Longview PD asks if you have information on the location of Xavier Wilson, contact them at 903-237-1170.
ANDERSON COUNTY – A 22-year-old woman has died and five other people have been injured in a crash Saturday in Anderson County. According to our news partner KETK, officials said that Mary Merlino of Mineola died at the scene. Her passengers, including a one-year-old child were taken to local hospitals. State Troopers initial reports say a vehicle was traveling south early Saturday evening on US 287 south of Elkhart. It rear-ended another vehicle, making it go into the northbound lane. There it collided head-on with 2007 Ford Taurus. The DPS investigation into the crash cause is continuing.
LONGVIEW – For the second time this month, a person from Longview strikes it rich. According to our news partner KETK, the winner, who chose to stay anonymous, won a $2 million dollar Mega Millions prize Jan.2. They purchased their winning numbers at Murphy Express on E. Loop 281. Another Longview winner won $3 million with a scratch-off on Jan. 24 at the Fuel Depo Corner Mart on Gilmer Rd.
TYLER – Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce officials say a homeless man set fire in a bathroom Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, 45-year-old David Alan Sickle was charged with arson. Tyler Deputy Fire Marshall Randy Lee said that Sickle entered the bathroom, stripped down to his underwear and began to bathe with paper towels from the sink. After Sickle was found out, he was asked to get dressed leave. Lee said as he left, Sickle set the bathroom on fire. He was arrested and is being held in the Smith County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
TEXARKANA – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a man is dead after he was hit by a train early Friday morning in Texarkana. According to Texarkana PD, around 4:30 a.m. they responded to a call about a pedestrian reportedly being hit by a train on the Kansas City Southern Railway Co. tracks, just north of Richmond Road. Officials said a 47-year-old man from Texarkana was found dead at the scene and no foul play is suspected. “We’re still working to figure out exactly what happened and what he was doing on the train tracks at that time of the night,†officials said.
TYLER – Tyler Pounds Field Regional Airport Thursday was the site full-scale emergency response training exercise. According to our news partner KETK, the drill simulated a crash of a commercial aircraft and a bus. First responders from state and local agencies, airport personnel and more that forty actors from UT Tyler participated in the event. It’s been three years since the last training of this type at the Tyler airport.
Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – The Palestine Police Department said they’re searching for a man who was last seen on Saturday Jan. 20. According to our news partner KETK, Trenton Lee Staneat was last seen leaving the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office around 4:45 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m., several people are reportedly gathering at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in Palestine to search for Staneart. The Palestine PD asks if you have information on the location of Trenton Staneat to call them at 903-729-2254.
POLK COUNTY – 
Our colleagues at KETK report that Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy issued a voluntary evacuation order for residents along the Trinity River south of the Lake Livingston Dam on Wednesday. Heavy rainfall and heavy discharge from the dam could reportedly impact areas south of the dam including roadways into and out of residential areas, according to Polk County. According to the order, shelter is available at the Dunbar Gym at 1103 Dunbar Avenue in Livingston. To stay up to date on the Lake Livingston lake level and dam discharge rate visit the Trinity River Authority online.
TYLER – Our news colleagues at KETK report a Tyler man was arrested on Wednesday for sexual assault of a child. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the scene on CR 326 West around 10:15 p.m. where it was reported a 7-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted. An investigation began and officials said deputies “were able to establish probable cause†against Eugenio Gonzalez-Hernandez, 18 of Tyler. Officials said a search warrant was issued for investigators to gather additional physical evidence, and an arrest warrant was issued for Gonzalez-Hernandez. He was booked into the Smith County Jail where his bond was set at $750,000.
TYLER – Tyler Pounds Regional Airport Thursday is holding a full-scale incident exercise from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s purpose is to evaluate the preparedness of first responders and airport personnel in the event of an actual emergency. A press release from city officials said drones are prohibited during the time of the exercise
Officials are asking businesses and residents north of Gentry Parkway to North Loop 323 to check cameras or doorbell cameras from Jan. 21 between 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. and report to them if you’ve seen anyone matching Morris’ description. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for his location. You can also contract Tyler Police at 903-531-1000.
SMITH COUNTY – High water has closed two Smith County roads. CR 113, southeast of Tyler is closed between CR 112 and CR 119. At the high-water crossing on CR 2164, southwest of Arp, work crews have put up barricades. To report a Smith County road with high water, call dispatch at 903-566-6600. Also, our news partner KETK has a list for road affected by high water in the region, you can find the list here.
TYLER – Construction began earlier this month on the main entrances to Lindsey Park off Spur 364. Each remodeled entrance will feature an archway. One archway will lead to soccer fields, while the other archway will bring visitors to softball fields. Each archway will have new lighting, landscaping and irrigation. A press release said that the entrances should remain open for most of the construction period. The Lindsey Park entrance project is being funded by the Governor’s Community Achievement Award, which was presented to Keep Tyler Beautiful in 2020. Construction should be complete by Spring of this year.
TYLER – The heavy consistent rain in our area can cause flooding on roads. Our news partner KETK has a list for those roads affected. You can find it here.
TYLER – 
Our colleagues at KETK report that a Tyler woman was arrested on Monday for intoxication manslaughter in connection the death of her 9-year-old daughter. According to an arrest warrant, authorities responded to the scene of a two-car crash on SH 64 on Jan. 4 where it was determined a red Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV “was driving on the wrong side of the roadway†causing a head-on crash. Both occupants of the Trailblazer, identified as Krystle Medeiros, 38 of Tyler, and her daughter, were taken to the hospital for treatment before troopers arrived to investigate. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Months after a cyberattack on UT Health East Texas, their parent company is warning patients their personal information may have been compromised. The ransomware attack from Nov. 23 prompted the parent company, Ardent Health Services, to notify law enforcement and launch an investigation with the help of an outside cybersecurity firm. Though the attack did not disrupt patient care, many hospital systems went offline, with Ardent saying at the time they could not confirm the extent to which patient health or financial data was compromised. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – 
Our news partners at KETK report one person was hospitalized Tuesday morning after two separate crashes on the same county road in Smith County. According to officials with Smith County Emergency Services District (ESD) 2, the single-car crashes happened on CR 1125 near Lindsey Park with both cars leaving the roadway and one rolled over. The crashes were reportedly called in at 8:04 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., and officials said the driver in the roll-over crash was removed from the car by a firefighter before being taken to the hospital for treatment. Smith County ESD 2 responded to the scene with two fire engines, two command vehicles, a brush truck and 10 firefighters. The crashes will be investigated by DPS.
UPSHUR COUNTY – A 19-year-old was arrested after a shooting in Mount Pleasant over an alleged drug dispute according to our news partners at KETK. According to police, Shaun Michael Brown was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into jail on a combined $100,000 bond. The shooting reportedly happened around 8:49 p.m. in the 1600 block of Lupine Road. Upshur County deputies and investigators said that an 18-year-old male from Mount Pleasant was “shot multiple times during the course of a drug related dispute over payment for marijuana.â€
Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD – The Brook Hill School, which is a a private boarding school located in Bullard, has announced that Braxton Brady is their new Head of School. According to our news partner KETK, Brady is the current Head of School at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee. He also has a Master of Arts from the Covenant Theological Seminary in Missouri. Brady is said to join Brook Hill July 1.
“This announcement marks a significant moment in the life of our school, and we are confident that Braxton’s leadership will further elevate Brook Hill and our mission to educate the next generation for Christ and His kingdom,†acting Head of School and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Stephen Dement said.
OVERTON – KETK reports that the Overton Independent School District said that Cristian Rodriguez, a student and football player, was injured in a “serious accident†on Friday night. According to the district, Rodriguez underwent surgery on on Saturday. Overton ISD has scheduled a meeting in the high school library at 5 p.m. on Sunday to pray and make cards for Rodriguez. n update that Overton ISD shared on Facebook said that Rodriguez’s surgery went well and that there is more optimism for his recovery.
TYLER – 
Smith County Emergency Services District 2 confirmed that a home on Holiday Hills Circle was a total loss after it caught on fire on Saturday. According to SCESD2, and our news partners at KETK, the first firefighters on the scene observed heavy fire conditions. The fire was also reportedly burning in trash and grass nearby the home. SCESD2 said they responded to the scene with 14 personnel, four engines, three tender trucks and two command trucks along with 10 volunteer firefighters. The Red Cross has been called into assist the family, according to SCESD2.
PALESTINE — 
The Palestine Police Department arrested two men after conducting a traffic stop on Wednesday near West Oak Street and San Jacinto Street and located drugs and a glass pipe. According to our colleagues at KETK, the Palestine PD conducted a traffic stop at around 8:34 p.m. and identified the driver as Jason Barnes, 48 and a passenger as Clinton Moore, 37 both of Palestine. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – 
The Longview News-Journal has identified a 33-year-old homeless woman was killed about 11:30 p.m. Jan. 1 while reportedly crawling under a train in Longview. A police report released by the Longview Police Department through a public information request identified the woman as Ashley Nicole Ray. A witness to the incident told one of the responding officers that Ray had tried to crawl under a train on the tracks at the dead end of the 200 block of North Second Street. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – 
Our colleagues at KETK say that Marshall PD has reportedly arrested one man following a shooting incident.Earnest Lee Cooks, Jr., 18 was arrested on five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of deadly conduct discharging a firearm. Read the rest of this entry »