Today is
Monday June 08, 2026
SMITH COUNTY — Smith County saw 50 percent of the registered voters cast their ballots early in the 2024 Presidential Election. During the past two weeks of early voting, 84,436 ballots were cast in Smith County. That includes 81,554 in-person votes and 2,882 mail-in ballots. Although the numbers of voters in the current election were more than those who early voted in the 2020 Presidential Election, the percentage of voters was lower.
Smith County saw 79,787 ballots cast during three weeks of early voting in the 2020 Presidential Election. That’s 60 percent of the 146,700 registered voters at that time. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, early voting was extended to three weeks instead of the normal two. There are 162,000 registered voters in Smith County for the current election. Read the rest of this entry »
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SMITH COUNTY — Smith County remains under a burn ban after receiving much-needed rainfall on Thursday, October 31. Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue plans on giving an update to the Smith County Commissioners Court at its weekly meeting Tuesday morning. The Commissioners Court would have to vote to approve lifting the 90-day burn ban early if fire conditions improved. The burn ban was enacted on October 8, 2024. “There are chances for rain in the next few days, which could eliminate the need for the burn ban, but we must wait and see.†Hogue said. For more information on the burn ban from Smith County, click here. Our news partner KETK has running list of burn bans in East Texas. You can find it here.
UPDATE: According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Peace has been located and is in good health. Officials thanked the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Nacogdoches PD, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Panola County Sheriff’s Office and Marshall PD for their assistance.
RUSK COUNTY – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding a 51-year-old man who is considered missing. According to our news partner KETK, Jason Peace is described as a white man, 5-feet-10-inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen on Oct. 29 a few miles south of Mount Enterprise.
According to the sheriff’s office, Peace is believed to have left his last known location in a white 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. The truck is described as having an auxiliary fuel tank near the front of the flatbed and brackets on the rear for a hay attachment.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office asks if anyone has information on the location of Jason Peace, to please call them at (903) 657-3581.
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TYLER – The Tyler Police Department was notified early Wednesday evening of a broken gas line in the 800 block of South Broadway Ave, near the Children’s Park and West Rust St. The northbound lanes of South Broadway will be blocked for an unknown amount of time while Centerpointe Energy works on the issue. Northbound traffic is currently being diverted down East Dobbs St. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and drive with care in that area.Â
LINDALE — Drivers in Lindale can expect traffic delays following a temporary closure on CR 474 beginning on Monday Nov. 4. According to our news partner KETK, officials from Smith County notified Lindale Police that CR 474, which is also know as Brick Yard Road will be closed for several days because of construction.
A spokesperson for the Lindale Police said “You will be able to drive up to that point from either direction, but you will not be able to drive through 474 until completion of the project.â€
GLADEWATER – Police in Gladewater are asking for help finding a 22-year-old that has been reported missing. According to our news partner KETK, missing is Wesley Don Heist. Wesley is described as 5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs 130 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos.
He was last heard from on Oct. 18 and is known to frequent Longview, Pine Tree and the Ore City areas. GPD asks that anyone with information on Wesley is asked to contact local law enforcement or Gladewater Police Department at 903-845-2166.
TYLER – The Junior League of Tyler, Inc. is holding the 46th annual Mistletoe & Magic November 6-9 at the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center. Mistletoe & Magic is a community holiday celebration designed to raises funds and awareness for agencies supports by the Junior League.
The holiday shopping event will feature more than 75 specialty boutiques and merchants from around the nation as well as special events and other exciting entertainment. The Mistletoe & Magic online auction is running through November 10. You will have the opportunity to bid on the best jewelry, gifts, and experiences from the comfort of your home.
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For more information and to purchase tickets for Mistletoe & Magic, click here.
KILGORE– Post Oak Road in Kilgore is closed after a large sinkhole was discovered, that according to our news partner KETK. The sinkhole was found at a creek crossing near Highway 42 and it was revealed that a storm sewer pipe under the road has collapsed. City officials ask that drivers use caution in the area. The road will be closed until next April while repairs are made.
GREGG COUNTY – Traffic on I-20 was backing up as officials deal with a stalled cattle hauler on the interstate. According to our news partner KETK, the 18-wheeler hauling cattle has reportedly stalled out on I-20 westbound late Wednesday morning, near Highways 31 and 42. DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton asks the drivers use caution in that area, as traffic is being impacted as they offload cattle from the vehicle. Officials said this could take several hours.
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LONGVIEW – 
Our news partners at KETK report that a 29-year-old is behind bars in connection to the Monday Longview apartment complex shooting that injured one man. The Longview Police Department said 29-year-old Andre Avant, of Longview, was booked into the Gregg County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Avant is being held on a $150,000 bond.
PANOLA COUNTY – 
An East Texas man found guilty of possessing child pornography has received what is believed to be the longest prison sentence in Panola County history, according to our news partners at KETK. According to the Panola County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, a judge sentenced Christopher James Williamson, 38 of Carthage, to a cumulative prison term of 750 years on Monday. The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division originally arrested Williamson on Feb. 6 for possession of child porn, then indicted by a Panola County Grand Jury for ten charges of possession. The DA’s office said a DPS agent testified “that out of the dozens and dozens of cases that he has investigated, that this was by far the worst case he has ever seen.†Read the rest of this entry »