Today is
Monday May 12, 2025
TEXARKANA â According to our news partner KETK, the Texarkana Police Department is looking for a suspect identified in a string of burglaries at two oil change businesses in Texas and one in Arkansas.
Surveillance video from a nearby apartment complex captured two men carrying a safe while running from one of the businesses, Texarkana PD said. Authorities identified one suspect as Jaquavion Williams and issued felony warrants for his arrest. Williams told detectives he would turn himself in, but that did not happen.
Police are asking for those with information about Williamâs whereabouts to call them at 903-798-3116 or contact Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP. People with information can stay anonymous and possibly earn a $1,000 reward.
TYLER â Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was involved in a leadership assessment while working in the Vatican, that lead to Bishop Joseph Stricklandâs removal from the Diocese of Tyler in 2023 according to our news partner KETK.
The Vatican Dicastery for Bishops performed a formal investigation of Strickland looking into his social media use and diocesan management. Strickland, who served at the Diocese of Tyler for 11 years, faced criticism on several posts including a tweet that said Pope Francis was âundermining the Deposit of Faith.âBishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson conducted the investigation and concluded that Stricklandâs tenure in office should not continue.
Pope Francis, known for his more progressive values, was open about his concerns with conservatives being in the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Strickland opposed Francisâ stance on LGBTQ Catholics and having women in governance, according to the Associated Press. Read the rest of this entry »
GOLDEN OAKS – According to a report from our news partner KETK, a woman was attacked by a pack of dogs in Golden Oaks Wednesday night and had to be airlifted to a local hospital.
Around 8:41 p.m., Payne Springs Fire Rescue volunteers received a call about a woman who was attacked by a pack of dogs and experienced traumatic injuries, officials said. When volunteers arrived, they requested UT Health Air 1 launch to the Gun Barrel City Fire helicopter pad.
The womanâs condition is unknown at this time.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A man arrested in Gun Barrel City has been sentenced to life in prison after multiple grams of illegal drugs were found inside his vehicle, according to our news partner KETK.
Jeffrey Lee Sharp was arrested in October 2023 during a routine traffic stop. According to officials, during the stop an investigator smelled marijuana coming from Sharpâs car, which led him to conduct a probable cause search of the vehicle. During the search a clear baggie that contained multiple baggies with methamphetamine and a bag of marijuana.
During the court hearing, the jury heard testimony stated that Sharp was a habitual offender, which extended his sentence. Sharp was previously sentenced to 35 years in prison for delivery of a controlled substance and was on parole at the time of his arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON — Congressman Nathaniel Moran from East Texas introduced the No Tax on Overtime Act on Tuesday which would allow for up to 300 hours of qualified overtime compensation. According to our news partner KETK, the deduction means the first 300 hours of overtime worked is tax free within a taxable year. A press release from the Moran House website said the bill will also remove 100% of income taxes on a 50% overtime pay premium for over 90 million hourly workers. For people who work time and a half, this means the half part of that pay will be tax free.
This legislation is directed toward those who make up to $100,000 and couples who make a combined $200,00, the release said. President Trump supports the bill as a long time advocate for policy that helps working class Americans. Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN â The Lufkin Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred in a residential neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.
According to our news partner KETK, the shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. outside a home near Wilson and Culverhouse streets. The suspects were seen driving a gray four door Nissan sedan according to Lufkin PD. Nobody was injured during the shooting and officials believe this was a targeted incident. Witnesses were unable to identify a suspect and Lufkin PD is still seeking information. Anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 639-TIPS or contact the Police Departmentâs non-emergency number at 633-0359.
TYLER â Tyler City council will call a vote to amend an ordinance, establishing a hazard area by the six runways at Tyler Pounds. The predicted areas to be impacted the most are outlined in black, but the final decision will be made by the FAA according to our news partner KETK.
Business owners within the heavily restricted area are confused about what they can have on their property. If the ordinance were to pass, the FAA would restrict various building heights, frequencies, lighting concerns, and business that could attract birds to the area.
The vote will be taken by city council, May 28.
AUSTIN â According to our news partner KETK, Texas House of Representative passed a bill sponsored by Republican State Rep. Cody Harris of Palestine on Tuesday to help rural hospitals and preserve access care across East Texas.
In 2019, Harris said they created a tool to help smaller counties work together to fund Medicaid through local participation programs. This bill will extend this âlife-savingâ program and give rural communities the stability they need to keep their secure and care available close to home.
Harris said he is proud to carry HB 3505 and fight for the future of rural healthcare in Texas.
CROCKETT – 
Our news partners at KETK report that according to the Houston County Sheriffâs Office, with assistance from the Crockett Police Department and Texas Rangers, they were able to arrest suspects in connection to the death of Michael Ortez on Tuesday. âDue to the sensitive nature of this case no further information will be released at this time,â the sheriffâs office said. âWe ask that you respect the families privacy during this difficult situation and we will update the public in full at the end of the investigation.â Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – According to the Tyler Morning Telegraph, county officials are looking at future jail needs, but say there are no current plans to expand or seek bond funding.
County Judge Neal Franklin said the presentation of of a jail feasibility study is only to prepare for the future.
“This is something that I felt like we needed to present,” Franklin said. “There are no bond plans – let me make that really clear. There is no plan on putting a November bond election for any jail or anything in fact.”
The study looks at population growth, inmate trends, and the county’s current jail setup. Based on those findings, it projects future needs and how those could be met with new construction. The current capacity across the downtown and North Jail is 1,092 beds. According to the study, the county may need between 1,400 and 1,500 beds in the future. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â According to our news partner KETK, the City of Frankston said the city has nearly 25 homes with trees toppled on them and one injury as a result of severe weather.
East Texas was slammed with severe weather Tuesday afternoon that caused quite a scare for people in Frankston. Even though the storm has passed, the damage has left its mark on the community. At one Frankston home, more than five trees fell directly on top of the roof.
The Frankston Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Gerald Hall said the path of the storm is quite noticeable in the city.
In a separate neighborhood, one person went to the hospital with a broken ankle after a tree fell on the personâs home. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER â Our news partner KETK reports that an 18-wheeler is jackknifed at I-20 mile marker 553 eastbound, and blocking the right lane, according to the Lindale Fire Department.
Traffic is down to one lane, and drivers are encouraged to slow down and use caution during severe weather.
TYLER â With severe weather hitting East Texas Tuesday afternoon, electric utilities and cooperatives are reporting power outages. Our news partner KETK has a county by county power outage list, you can see it here.
HALLSVILLE – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking answers in relation to a murder that occurred in 2013 in Hallsville and has yet to be solved, according to our news partner KETK.
51-year-old Lillian Desiree Descoteauâs body was found by two truck drivers near FM 450 ramp onto IH-20, just south of Hallsville on October 7, 2013, according to officials.
âShe had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled. Descoteauâs body was only clothed in a light blue pullover, a white bra and a shiny diamond stud earring in one ear,â DPS said.
Descoteau had lived in several states across the country, including Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Georgia and lastly Irving, Texas, where she worked as a commercial driver for a brief period. Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE â The Kilgore Fire Department said that the U.S. 259 Bypass in front of Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore is closed after a major accident Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the Kilgore Fire and Rescue Unit is on scene of a major motor vehicle accident and the roadway will be closed for an extended amount of time.
The department encourages people to find an alternate route of travel.