Today is
Tuesday July 28, 2026
LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department said Saturday 63-year-old Mark Horner was discovered dead in Marion County. According to our news partner KETK, Horner, a teacher for Trinity School Of Texas, had been missing since April 19th. It was reported that Chase County Kansas Sheriff’s Department said they may have seen Horner in their area. That proved to be false. The Marion County Sheriff’s department, who are conducting the investigation, said there are no signs of foul play in the death of Horner.
TYLER — On Friday night, DeMarvion Overshown alongside family and friends in Tyler, got to hear his name called, getting drafted by the Cowboys in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL draft. According to our news partner KETK, after playing safety in Arp, Overshown signed with the Texas Longhorns, where he moved over to linebacker and led the Horns in tackles. Now he will get the chance to showcase the skills he learned in Arp and in Austin and take them to his new football home in Dallas.
BULLARD – The Brookshire’s grocery was evacuated Saturday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, store management received an anonymous phone call that a “device” had been placed inside the store. Bullard police conducted a search and issued an all clear after no device had been found. The Bullard Police Department is continuing an investigation in the case.
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s office report a shooting in rural Henderson county that left one person dead late Friday night. According to our news partner KETK, officials say they found 27-year-old Justin Jordan at that location with multiple gunshot wounds. Jordan later died of those wounds. Also at the scene, Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cody Alan Jones, age 30. He admitted shooting the decedent. Jones was then arrested and charged with murder and taken to the Henderson County jail. Jail records show that Jones has not yet received bond.
NACOGDOCHES – An out of state truck driver led authorities on a chase through East Texas on Monday. Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to intercept the driver, 61-year-old Ed Solomon of Illinois. According to our news partner KETK, The deputies encountered him in Nacogdoches and trailed him into Rusk county.
They were asked by the company that employed Solomon that he be pulled over, he refused. There Rusk County Sheriff’s officers threw out spike strips to stop the 18-wheel vehicle. At that time, EMS was called to access Solomon’s health. He was then taken to Rusk County jail and was booked for evading arrest.
TYLER – A woman charged in a November 2022 of kidnapping a 5-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday in Smith County court. Pamela Medlock, 59, of Overton, was sentenced to eight years deferred adjudication. According to our news partner KETK, Medlock made national news last year when she was identified as the prime suspect in the disappearance of an East Texas elementary school student. The child’s grandparents reported the child missing. He was found with with Medlock after a state trooper stopped her near Colorado City, Texas. After the boy was back with his family, it was revealed that She was a family friend and took the child out for his birthday and didn’t return. Thus the kidnapping charge. The adjudication means that if Medlock completes the eight-year probation, she be eligible to have the kidnapping taken off her record.
HENDERSON COUNTY — A Sunday morning fire at an apartment structure in Payne Springs has several living there being uprooted. According to our news partner KETK, Payne Spring Fire Rescue say the apartment units were constructed in what was formerly an old church. And this made it particularly hard to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported and the Henderson County Fire Marshall is currently investigating the blaze.
TYLER — On Friday a man pleaded guilty to murder in connection to the 2021 deadly shooting at the New Orleans Flavors Daiquiri in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, 23-year-old Jaderick Willis pleaded guilty Friday in a Smith County courtroom and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. In a 2021 arrest affidavit, Tyler police say that Tylsha Brown as celebrating her 46th birthday at New Orleans Flavors Daiquiri in Tyler when a fight broke out in the parking lot. During the fight, Brown was shot and killed. Also, in December of last year, Dycorrian Lofton of Jacksonville was sentenced to 3 years in prison for aggravated assault in connection to the case.
TYLER – With severe storms and tornados in East Texas, about 3.450 utility users are said to be without power as of 8 p.m. on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, this is based on information from ONCOR, SWEPCO and various electric co-ops. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL-According to our news partner KETK, Marshall police are investigating a threat a local business received via email that bombs were planted in Marshall. Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said, “The police department is working closely with other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly search and investigate any potential threat in the area,â€. Carruth urged citizens to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to authorities. Authorities say their investigation is ongoing.
TYLER – Preparations are under way for the oldest part of Caldwell Zoo to be refreshed. According to our news partner KETK, Scott Maddox, Caldewell Zoo, COO, says the remodel will be from the ground up. The South American area will be called the Amazon River’s Edge. Maddox added that Amazon River’s Edge will will have a river running through it with an area for giant river otters, a sloth exhibit, a jaguar habitat and an over the top public sidewalk that flows into another habitat. Zoo officials are looking for completion of Amazon River’s Edge by early summer of 2024.
LONGVIEW – A shooting late Monday night killed one man in Southeast Longview. 44-year-old Derrick Spearman, was shot multiple times and died later at a local hospital. Longview police arrested Shannon Marshall, 22, of Longview in the shooting. He is in the Gregg County jail on a murder charge. Longview Police are still seeking information in this case.
TYLER – In recognition of members of the community above and beyond for survivors of sexual violence, the East Texas Crisis Center handed Hope Award to those being recongized. Those from Smith County receiving the Hope Award were Angela Faulkner with the Smith County District Attorney’s Office. Sgt Joseph Durr with the Office of the Attorney General and Bethany Morgan with the Counseling Nook for Trauma and Disassociation. East Texas Crisis Center Volunteer. Tyler Mayor Don Warren noted that the Center provided services in 2022 to 327 survivors of sexual violence. April is sexual assault awareness month and East Texas Crisis Center will be hosting survivor support events during the month.
CARTHAGE –An employee in the Panola County Sheriff’s Department was arrested for theft and abuse of official capacity. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff Cutter Clinton said that county employee Torey McLemore of Carthage resigned his position just prior to being booked. Clinton also said that his office became aware of possible violations in March and launched an internal investigation with the Texas Rangers assisting. The charges against McLemore are Class C misdemeanors.
LONGVIEW – An early Sunday morning pursuit between law enforcement and a suspect, ended in the shooting death of that individual. According to our news partner KETK, Danny Ray Jackson, 47, of Longview led officers from White Oak, Longview and DPS on a high speed chase that started in White Oak and ended near the intersection of State Highway 31 and West Loop 281 in Longview. At that intersection, gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and law enforcement. Following the officer-involved shooting, Mr. Jackson was taken to a local hospital where died of his injuries. Details are limited at this time. Texas Rangers are investigating the case.
TYLER – A UT Tyler pole vaulter from East Texas is a First Team All-American for the second time. According to our news partner KETK, Abeni Kratzmeyer from Mineola finished seventh in the NCAA division two indoor track and Field Championships Friday. Kratzmeyer vaulted a height of 3.95 meters, breaking a school mark by .03 meters. She missed her second vault of the meet and finished seventh nationally overall, thus securing her second All-American team placement.
TYLER – Tyler police arrest a man in connection to the 2022 murder of 53-year-old Anthony Wilson. According to our news partner KETK, Authorities say that Christian Navon Whitney-Polk, 20, was apprehended March 10th and currently is in the Smith County jail. Whitney-Polk is charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence. He is being held on $2,500,000 bond.
TYLER–29 teachers in the Tyler ISD will get excellence in classroom bonuses from $6,000 and $23,500. According to our news partner KETK, these teachers have been designated TOP teachers. That means they meet Tyler Optimal Performance criteria. The criteria for evaluating teachers includes student attendence, growth metrics, educator observations and student surveys. The 29 teachers being recognized are. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Police report that a woman’s body was discovered Saturday morning in the parking lot of Clear Springs restaurant. According to officials and our news partner KETK, someone at the restaurant reported the body to police around 12:30 a.m. The body was sent for autopsy, according to Tyler PD Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh. Erbaugh said that there is no foul play suspected.
WASHINGTON – Texas Republican Congressman Nathaniel Moran Thursday introduced a bill designed so classified documents won’t be mishandled or misplaced. According to our news partner KETK, the proposed measure is called the Information Security Investment Act. If passed, it would stipulate that every member of federal government elected complete twice yearly training on how to safely keep and store classified documents. With the passage of the bill, those impacted by it, would need to have their training complete with a six month period.
RAINS COUNTY – An early Saturday morning bus crash in Rains County, put six students and their bus driver from Alba-Golden ISD in a Tyler hospital. According to our news partner KETK, authorities say the bus, on the way to a UIL academic meet, crashed into a vehicle that had crossed the center line. The school district announced that no major injuries happened and everyone was released from the hospital by late Saturday afternoon. Alba-Golden Superintendent Macie Thompson said in a release, “Pending the DPS investigation, the AGISD bus driver was not at fault.”
TROUP — According to our news partner KETK, Cooper Reid, the Troup High School who was injured in a September football game with a brain injury is leaving a rehabilitation facility February 15th. Since the injury, Troup and East Texas has shown a tremendous amount of support for Cooper and his family. Reid’s mother asked for prayers and a safe trip home on the 15th in her Facebook post.
OVERTON – Police in Overton are asking for help in locating a man convicted of aggravated sexual assault of child in 2002. According to our news partner KETK, officials say 43 year-old Shacory Lee Pryor is also wanted by the Rusk County Sheriff’s office for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and other lesser charges. The DPS website lists Pryor at six feet tall, 180 pounds, black with various body tattoos. Authorities ask that you notify them if you have knowledge of Pryor’s whereabouts.
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a five-vehicle crash Friday on Longview’s East Hawkins Parkway also involved a school bus. Authorities said three persons went to the hospital for treatment, but none of the students sustained injuries. Officials with Longview ISD were especially thankful for the the bus monitor, whose actions at the scene of the accident were praised by first responders.
MABANK – The Mabank Police Department is asking for your help in the search for 14 year old Sophia Flores of Mabank. Sophia was last seen November 17th. According to our news partner KETK, she is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs between 110 to 120 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, Sophia was wearing a grey hoodie and white sweat pants. Authorities believe that Flores may be in Henderson or that immediate area. If you have information contact local law enforcement
KILGORE – A traffic stop in Kilgore late Friday morning led to a chase with Kilgore Police, county and state officers. According to our news partner KETK, the driver of a pickup with a possibly stolen u-haul trailer which was allegedly full of marijuana. A high speed chase then occurred down interstate 20 into Kilgore with speeds over 100 mph. Both the Smith County Sheriff’s office and DPS laid down spikes to slow the truck down before it exited onto Highway 42. The driver passed through a number of red lights in Kilgore driving on the tires bare rims. After a second spiking from law enforcement, about 40 minutes had elapsed, the chase ended. The driver, a white male was charged with evading arrest and possession of stolen property. Authorities say additional charges are possible. He is in the Smith County jail and with a bond set at 1.5 million dollars.
KILGORE — The Texas Mutual Insurance Company, as part of a larger effort to support workforce development programs, has awarded the Kilgore College Foundation a 90 thousand dollar grant. The Foundations objective is training students for safe work practices. Also, they are helping Kilgore College buy a forklift and construct an area for forklift safety training. Texas Mutual Insurance also gave a 65 thousand dollar grant to Goodwill Industries of East Texas. These funds are part of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company commitment of seven million dollars in grants that will go to nonprofits groups in Texas. So far, nearly 50 organizations have received more than three and half million dollars to help develop safe training and workforce development. That according to a prepared statement from Texas Mutual Insurance. The Austin based company is the leading workers compensation provider in Texas.
COFFEE CITY – Coffee City Police Department pulled over Darren McKinley of Chandler Friday and make this discovery. According to our news partner KETK, McKinley had a “female juvenile” in the car and she had a protection order against him. Officials also found out that she was one of two females listed on a Smith County protection order against him. Coffee City police arrested McKinley for violating that protection order and he was taken to the Henderson County jail. Authorities also said that the “female juvenile” in question was returned to her mother.
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon on North Broadway Avenue in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK, investigators say the victim was shot multiple times and taken to a local hospital with their condition unknown at this time. Currently police are looking for two people they say allegedly fled the scene on foot after the shooting.
TYLER – The National Weather service has issued a grass fire danger statement for Van Zandt, Hopkins and Rains counties. The statement says there is a critical fire threat near and North of I-20 and near and West of U.S-281. According to our news partner KETK, this is because of a combination of unseasonably warm weather in the low to mid 90’s, low humidity and sustained windy conditions. The National Weather Service also asks for extreme care in outdoor activities. And to avoid outside burning of any kind due to the potential of a grass spreading quickly.