Today is
Saturday July 18, 2026
GREGG COUNTY — All across East Texas, counties are being asked to consider joining a possible groundwater conservation district in hopes of securing the rights for concerned residents by the next legislative session. On Tuesday, Gregg County Commissioners Court unanimously agreed to become a part of the district, if and when it’s formed. The decision to join came after a proposal by Brian Sledge, of Sledgelaw Group, who detailed the benefits of being a part of the district as others look to put a stake in East Texas water.
In Texas, there are over 100 groundwater conservation districts, which Sledge says are the only way, under state law, that water drilling and wells can be regulated. Sledge presented a color-coded map of the districts in the state, but East Texas’s top right corner is glaringly white and empty.
Without a district to protect the area, a large part of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer stands without protection from companies and people looking for water resources. Sledge says it’s probably the biggest area in the state with a substantial water resource without a conservation district. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Dozens of submitted cybertips have led to the arrest of a Tyler man on Tuesday, after officials allegedly found phones with several hundred videos and pictures of child-sexual abuse that he was selling to online users.
According to arrest records, in February 2025, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office was investigating over 100 cybertips from the same IP address in Tyler that was allegedly being used to post child pornography on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Later, in April 2025, the sheriff’s office worked with the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children task force to serve a search warrant at a North Spring Avenue residence where the IP address had been associated with. At the time, several individuals were living at the residence, including Marquis Viramontes, the warrant reads. Read the rest of this entry »
SULPHUR SPRINGS – An undercover operation led to the arrest of a McKinney man after he allegedly attempted to scam an elderly person out of more than $40,000.
According to our news partner KETK and the Sulphur Springs Police Department, officials received a report stating that scammers had targeted an elderly individual, claiming to represent the Federal Trade Commission.
The scammers allegedly convinced the victim that her bank account was used to purchase illegal material and instructed her to withdraw a large amount of cash. The victim was also told that an agent would come to her home and collect the money to resolve the issue, the police department said. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The pilot of the deadly plane crash in Van Zandt County has been identified as a member of the Texas archery community on Wednesday.
According to the Texas Field Archery Association (TFAA), Steve Goode of Canton died in an airplane crash on Tuesday. Goode was a TFAA board member and the district 7 field governor, which is in the Canton area.
According to a preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane crashed “under unknown circumstances shortly after take off.”
CANTON — One person is dead following a plane crash Tuesday afternoon. According to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, the crash took place at around 1:50 p.m. on FM 3227, just outside of Canton. The sheriff’s office said a man died but did not release his identity.
An investigation has been launched by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration.
EAST TEXAS – At least five cases of cyclospora, a parasite that can cause explosive diarrhea, have been confirmed by local health officials in East Texas. NET Health’s disease surveillance team reported a cyclospora case in Smith County and another in Henderson County in June, according to a statement sent by George Roberts, CEO of the Northeast Public Health District. Then, according to Roberts, NET Health has been informed of two cases in Gregg County and one in Smith County thus far in July. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY – Ten new cars and a new drone have been approved by the County Commissioner Court for the sheriff’s office. The total amount of money needed to buy the vehicles and the equipment they need is roughly $600,000. Chief Deputy Craig Harrington stated, “Drone technology is growing by leaps and bounds every year.” “You switch on the television and watch what is happening with drones abroad. The future lies in drone technology. You see how much your cell phone’s cameras have grown over the past few years. This also applies to drone technology. We have the chance to add thermals to our existing drone system as well. Every East Texas hunter is familiar with thermals. Since we purchased our drone, thermal technology has advanced. Thus, we are merely attempting to improve our present drone program.
WOOD COUNTY – Charges of attempted capital murder have been brought against an East Texas woman who is accused of deceiving law enforcement and allegedly guiding officers into an ambush that injured two officers during a shooting. According to court documents, Quitman resident Stephanie O’Connor-Bathe is accused of two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer in relation to an officer-involved shooting on February 14 that seriously injured a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and a Wood County deputy. Read the rest of this entry »
MABANK – A boil water notice has been issued for a portion of the City of Mabank following a storm on Monday morning that disrupted a pump station. According to the city, residents within the Elm Grove Pump Station jurisdiction are subject to the boil water notice and are asked to bring any water intended for cleaning or consumption to a vigorous rolling boil for at least two minutes before use.
In lieu of boiling their water, the city said residents may also purchase or obtain water from an alternative source until the notice is revoked. A notification will be sent out by the public water system once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, according to our news partner KETK.
Those with questions regarding the boil water notice can contact the City of Mabank Water Department at 903-887-241.
BROWNSBORO — During a town hall meeting for the City of Brownsboro on Monday evening, city officials discussed the possibility of their police department entering the 287 (g) program. The 287(g) Task Force Model is a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows increased local law enforcement to enforce U.S. immigration laws, including identifying and processing immigrants with pending or active criminal charges.
Our news partner KETK reports that during the meeting Brownsboro residents were given the chance to ask questions and share their thoughts on the city’s consideration of entering the 287(g) program.
Brownsboro Police Chief Scott Myntti was also present at the town hall, where he provided residents with more details about the program and discussed the possibility of Brownsboro becoming the newest East Texas city to enter into 287(g). A decision on whether or not Brownsboro will enter the program has not yet been made, and it is uncertain at this time when that decision will be reached.
BULLARD – A man was sentenced to serve 30 years in state prison on Monday after he was arrested for uploading pornographic images of children as young as one year old to his Google account in February. Dakota Reece was arrested after a Cybertip was received by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 8 from Google Inc. The tip reported Reece had uploaded 61 files of child pornography to Google Photos in 2025, according to our news partner KETK.
“All 61 media files were photos or videos of nude children ranging in age from approximately 1 year old to approximately 14 years old in provocative positions […] as well as adults engaging in [sexual acts] with children as young as 1 year of age,” Reece’s arrest documents read.
Reece’s phone was searched under a warrant on Feb. 2. Law enforcement learned from an email on the phone that their account had been disabled after it was flagged for containing harmful content. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – A man has been taken to the Smith County Jail after allegedly admitting to using meth before colliding with several vehicles and attempting to rob a gas station.
According to our news partner KETK and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to an incident in Tyler on Thursday, where a white Ford truck allegedly rammed another vehicle multiple times before fleeing the area. Law enforcement was then told the suspect had gone to a Texaco gas station on Highway 69.
When law enforcement arrived at the initial scene, they spotted a black SUV on the side of the road with visible damage. The owner of the SUV directed them to where the suspect had left. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – For asking two young girls to change his diaper last summer, an East Texas man received a 16-year prison sentence. On Monday, Whitehouse resident Wesley Worl, 47, entered a guilty plea to the charge of solicitation to commit indecency with a child (sexual contact). After that, he received a 16-year sentence for the crime.
Worl was upgraded from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, which carries a sentence of two to twenty years, according to the prosecution, because he had previously served time in prison.
After review by the appeals staff of the DA’s office, the state declared that this was the most serious charge Worl could face for what transpired. The 475th District Court’s Judge Taylor Heaton stated that although he was reluctant to accept the plea agreement, Worl could receive the maximum sentence possible for this crime. Worl was mandated to register as a sexual offender for the duration of the legal requirement.
An 11-year-old girl reported to police on July 29, 2025, that she and her friend were riding their bikes close to Andy Woods Elementary School and Pollard Park in Tyler. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Longview Police Department said Tommy Madewell was found on Monday after he was last seen on July 8.
LONGVIEW – Longview PD is currently searching for Tommy Madewell, a white man, who was last seen leaving the CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center at around 4 p.m. on July 8. When he was last seen, Madewell was wearing a button down shirt, khaki shorts and a brown pair of shoes.
Anyone with information about his location is asked to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1199.
TYLER – United States Congressman Nathaniel Moran of Tyler mourned fellow Republican and United States Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, after the senator died on Saturday night. Graham, a four-term United States Senator, was 71 when he died of a “brief and sudden illness” on Saturday evening. Moran said he was saddened by Graham’s death and lauded the senator’s support for the American military around the globe.
“Saddened to learn of the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. He gave more than two decades of incredible service to the people of South Carolina and to this country,” Moran said on Sunday. “As a staunch defense and foreign policy hawk, he correctly understood the critical role America plays in defense of the cause of freedom. My prayers are with his family, his staff, and all who loved him.”
As Moran noted, Graham was a prominent supporter of the United States’ foreign military aid to countries like Ukraine and Israel. Graham had visited both Ukraine and Israel several times over his four terms in the United States Senate and had just returned from his most recent visit to Ukraine this week when he died. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDALE – At least 8 people were injured in crashes on Interstate 20 Sunday after an 18-wheeler rolled over, blocking traffic on the roadway. According to the Lindale Fire Department and our news partner KETK, firefighters were working on a first crash on Interstate 20 when they got word about a rollover crash.
The rollover crash happened at around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday in the westbound lanes of Interstate 20, just before the interstate reaches the Highway 69 bridge near mile marker 557 in the southern part of Lindale. Luckily no injuries were reported from either of those two crashes. Several vehicles then piled up nearby, while other vehicles swerved off the roadway to avoid the crash. Smith County Emergency Services District 2 (ESD2) said they’ve responded to several crashes that happened along Interstate 20, after the rollover.
One crash involved a grey Chevrolet Silverado heading eastbound that crashed and rolled over near Interstate 20 mile marker 569, leaving the truck’s driver injured. A driver in a passenger car that was also heading east was injured when the Chevrolet rolled in the median. Both of those drivers were then transported to local hospitals for treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – A driver and two Taco Bell workers were hospitalized on Sunday after a car crashed into the Taco Bell on West Gentry Parkway in Tyler. The Tyler Police Department reported that traffic at West Gentry Parkway between MLK Boulevard and Van Highway was being rerouted at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday because of a major crash.
Officials with Tyler PD told our news partner KETK that a woman was leaving church on Van Highway when she had a medical issue causing her to lose control of the vehicle and cross W Gentry Parkway before crashing into the Taco Bell’s drive-thru window.
The woman was injured in the crash along with two Taco Bell workers, one was burnt by oil and the other was injured by debris from the crash, according to Tyler PD. All three people involved have been transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Tyler PD has since reopened all nearby lanes to normal traffic flow.
HENDERSON COUNTY — A Dallas-area company, which is attempting to install dozens of high capacity water wells in East Texas, is suing a groundwater conservation district for their “deliberate scheme” to allegedly stop the company from drilling. As the fight for groundwater rights continue in Texas, the owners of Redtown Ranch Holding, LLC and Pine Bliss, LLC filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday against the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. This stems from a years long dispute, as they attempt to obtain permits to drill 43 water wells on their properties in Anderson and Henderson counties.
Since then, the plaintiffs have faced several obstacles after the district suspended their permits and allegedly blocked them from filing new applications under a new moratorium that was adopted in May.
The Background
In 2024, Redtown Ranch Holdings and Pine Bliss sought 43 permits from the state for high-capacity water wells on their properties, which span an approximate total of 11,500 acres across Anderson and Henderson Counties.
Shortly after passing through a few application processes, the NTVGCD voted to suspend all 40 permits after numerous East Texas public officials began to speak out against the proposed wells and their potential impact on the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, which supplies water for the ranches’ groundwater and much of the counties. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office gathered together on Saturday to honor fallen deputy Gerald Atchison. The 53-year-old Atchison died unexpectedly on Tuesday after a medical emergency that officials suspect was a heart attack. Atchison was working on duty at the sheriff’s on Tuesday as a property and evidence technician when the medical emergency happened.
Atchison had worked with the sheriff’s office for over 20 years. He started in September of 2003 as a Smith County Jail detention officer. He then graduated from the Tyler Junior College Police Academy in 2005 and was later promoted to the sheriff’s office patrol division.
Saturday’s service, visitation and reception for Atchison were held at the Grace Community Church at 1 p.m. in Tyler.
MARION COUNTY — A man was booked into the Marion County Jail on Wednesday due to his alleged involvement in an officer-involved shooting in June. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK, the shooting occurred on June 24 in the 2700 block of Highway 49. Once deputies arrived on the scene, a man who was later identified as Robert Landrum discharged a rifle, allegedly striking a deputy’s patrol unit.
As additional deputies arrived on the scene, Landrum allegedly refused to disarm and was shot by law enforcement after pointing his gun towards deputies, the sheriff’s office said. Landrum was then taken into custody and flown to a hospital in Shreveport. After being released from the hospital, Landrum was booked into the Marion County Jail on Thursday and charged with aggravated assault against a public servant.
The Texas Rangers have launched an investigation and the sheriff’s office said no additional information will be released at this time.
TYLER – Tyler Police Department is reporting that power lines are down in the roadway on Palace Avenue between West Elm Street and West Erwin Street. All southbound lanes on Palace between Elm and Erwin are closed. Northbound lanes are still open. Utility companies are enroute for repairs, but it is unknown how long the repairs will take. Take alternate routes and avoid this area. There are officers on the road directing traffic.
PALESTINE – The Texas Department of Public Safety has released new information about the five people who died after Thursday’s head on crash on Highway 155, near Lake Palestine. According to DPS, the driver of a white Cadillac SUV who was killed in the crash has been identified as Rhanda Lacy, 60 of Crockett. The adult passengers who died were identified as Leshonda Shepherd, 41, of Crockett and Cynthia Donnell, 63, of Palestine. A four-year-old child who was also onboard later died at a Dallas hospital.
The driver of a Toyota Highlander who died in the crash has been identified as Jonathan Ryal, 51, of Tyler. According to new information from DPS, Ryal drove across the center lane crashing into the Cadillac, leaving him with fatal injuries.
Palestine ISD said the loss of Coach Ryal has rattled the student body, he was an alumni who had coached cross country and varsity soccer for close to 15 years. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Brookshire’s Grocery Co. (BGC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the opening of its new location in West Tyler, set to open in 2027, with a popular local restaurant joining in the festivities.The new West Tyler location will allow BGC to meet the growing needs of customers with high-quality fresh meats, produce, amenities such as Starbucks Coffee and a full-service pizza kitchen, according to BGC.
“This groundbreaking represents a significant milestone for BGC — one that I know our founders, W.T. and Louis Brookshire, would be incredibly proud of,” Jerry LeClair, interim CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co., said.
The store will also feature the classic Brookshires hometown feel East Texans love, with a modern twist from another iconic Piney Woods name. A full-service Stanley’s Barbeque restaurant and bar will be added to the BGC store family.
“Both BGC and Stanley’s have deep roots in Tyler,” LeClair said. “Together we’ll create an experience that is uniquely East Texas and uniquely Tyler. We’re Proud to partner with a local business that has become a true East Texas institution and give our customers another reason to gather, connect and enjoy a great meal together.”
In addition to providing a new place for East Texans to shop, the store will create over 200 new job opportunities in Tyler.
HALLSVILLE – As two generators and one turbine are delivered to the project site, SWEPCO is getting ready for another significant construction milestone at the future Hallsville Natural Gas Plant. Before starting the last portion of its journey to Hallsville, the equipment will be moved to specialized transport trailers at a rail unloading location in Tenaha after arriving in East Texas by rail. The deliveries complement recent developments at the site, such as the completion of a significant concrete pour for the turbine foundation and ongoing work on the utilities, electrical infrastructure, and foundations supporting future generation operations. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Junior College Police Department is hosting a fundraiser this Friday to raise money for one of their lieutenants who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Downtown Tyler. During the fundraiser, lunch plates, which will include a BBQ sandwich, chips, dessert and a drink, will be sold for $10 a plate.
All the money raised from the fundraiser will go toward Lieutenant Brian Lintner, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
“This is an opportunity for our community to come together and support him and his family during this difficult time,” the department said. “We hope you will stop by, enjoy lunch, and help support the Lintner family. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated.”
TYLER – This week, the city finished collecting data to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities by packing up its DaxBots and conducting a sidewalk survey throughout the city. Officials claim that DaxBots gathered real-time data on 90 miles of pedestrian pathways, including sidewalks and crosswalks at intersections, during the previous four to five weeks. The information will be utilized to evaluate Tyler’s walkways’ present level of accessibility for people with disabilities. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – State Rep. Cody Harris of Palestine shared his views Thursday on a federal lawsuit against a local groundwater conservation district that could affect the water supply for East Texans.
On Tuesday, Redtown Ranch Holding and Pine Bliss filed a federal lawsuit against the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District for their alleged ” deliberate scheme” to stop the company from drilling.
“The idea that he is having his water taken from him is just ridiculous. He’s going to get access to his water that’s underneath the land, but it’s going to be subject to whatever the new rules that the GCD’s adopt, just like everybody else in the district,” State Rep. Cody Harris of Palestine.
According to our news partner KETK, the board’s chairman, Terry Morrow, said in a statement, ” We are here to protect the groundwater we have in the district, and we will do what we can under the law to protect it,” said the board chairman of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has delivered one of 250 truckloads of food to the East Texas Food Bank, an initiative marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
This specific donation of 40,000 pounds of food is equivalent to 30,000 meals for East Texans.
The 250 truckloads of food are part of a larger donation effort by the church in observance of the nation’s 250th birthday. The delivery to the East Texas Food Bank included non-perishable items such as pasta, beans and rice, along with household essentials like dish soap, all intended to reach dinner tables across the region. Read the rest of this entry »
SLOCUM – A firefighter with the Slocum Volunteer Fire Department is currently in the hospital after experiencing a serious medical emergency while on duty earlier this week.
According to our news partner KETK, the department spokesperson said while responding to a fire on Tuesday, Safety Chief Dan Hernandez experienced a medical emergency and was taken to a hospital in Palestine.
After being stabilized, Hernandez was taken by an ambulance to a hospital in Tyler, where he currently remains.
“We request your thoughts and prayers for Dan, his wife Valerie, his son Trey, his grandsons and all of his family,” the department said. “We not only consider Dan an integral part of our department, but also a long-time friend and member of our Slocum community.”
FLINT — A multi-vehicle crash on Highway 155 has left four dead and one transported with major injuries early Thursday morning, according to Smith County ESD 2 and our news partner KETK. The Texas Department of Public Safety said a Toyota Highlander was driving in the wrong lane, which caused a head-on collision with a Cadillac.
DPS said three people in the Cadillac died and were not wearing a seat-belt at the time of the crash. The toddler was allegedly not in a child’s car seat. The toddler was taken to a children’s hospital in Dallas and remains in critical condition.
The driver of the Toyota Highlander also died in the crash. The victims have not been publicly identified at this time.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — An 18-year-old recent New Summerfield ISD graduate has died following a Saturday crash in Cherokee County, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced. A preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred on July 4 at around 11 p.m. on FM 2064 near State Highway 135 involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee. DPS confirmed the identity of the driver as 18-year-old Guadalupe Moreira.
Officials believe Moreira veered off the roadway and struck a tree, causing the car to catch fire. DPS said Moreira was pronounced dead on the scene, and an investigation remains ongoing with no further information available at this time.
Following her death, a GoFundMe has been created to help her family with the expenses of her upcoming funeral.