Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
GREGG COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced they will be investing about $1 billion in several projects in Gregg County in the next decade. Both the county and TxDOT believe the projects will keep pace with East Texas’ projected growth. Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt spoke at a recent Longview Chamber of Commerce meeting which gave attendees an update on the status of the Gregg County projects. TxDOT was there as well.
TxDOT also officially announced the expansion of the interstate; I-20 will be expanded to three lanes. Another $140 million will be spent on Highway 42 and 31; both will become four lane highways between Smith and Kilgore. And there are also big plans at 31 and I-20, according to TxDOT Spokesman Jeff Williford. “Taking away those left exits. I think everyone knows those left exits as your kind of heading in that direction and how awkward they can be. So, they would do away with those with an interchange and flyovers and things like that,” Williford said.
Williford said the cloverleaf interchange will run about $270,000,000, and all the projects have important goals.
Some of the projects, like the widening of the interstate, do not yet have funding in place. That project has the big price tag of about $580 million.
PITTSBURG – Pittsburg ISD has announced that the current superintendent for Red Lick ISD may soon lead their district. Current Red Lick ISD superintendent Brandon Dennard was named Pittsburg ISD’s lone finalist to be their next superintendent on Thursday, after a comprehensive candidate search process was completed with help from Powell Law Group.
According to our news partner KETK, Dennard has over 25 years of experience in public school education and has been with Red Lick ISD near Texarkana since 2018. During his tenure as superintendent at Red Lick ISD, the district earned an “A” accountability rating and completed $1.9 million in improvements.
Throughout his career in education, Dennard has served, not only as a superintendent but also as an assistant superintendent, a principal, an assistant principal, a counselor, a teacher and as a coach. Dennard got his master’s degree in educational administration from the then-Texas A&M University-Commerce. He’ll be officially hired by the Pittsburg ISD board of trustees after a legally required 21-day waiting period.
VAN – The Van Police Department helped arrest two burglary suspects involved in a high-speed chase that started in Heath on Saturday morning. Officers were sent out to the Promontory neighborhood at around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday to respond to a reported burglary at an occupied residence. Suspects were reportedly spotted in a vehicle leaving the area and officers attempted to do a traffic stop on their vehicle but they fled. A chase ensued along Interstate 20 and by the time they reached Van Zandt County, the suspects’ vehicle was going over 100 miles per hour, according to our news partner KETK.
A Van PD officer was listening to the chase on his radio and was able to help bring the pursuit to an end by deploying spikes across Interstate 20 at mile marker 536 near Tyler. The suspects’ vehicle went on for only a mile after that but then two people in the vehicle ran into the woods nearby.
Texas Game Wardens were then called out to help find the two suspects. K9 Roux, her handler, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and a drone pilot eventually caught the pair after they fled through the woods for almost five miles. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A Longview man was booked into the Harrison County Jail earlier this week on felony warrants out of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, and has since been extradited to Caddo Parish.
According to jail records, 41-year-old Nicholas Nolan Satterwhite was booked into the Travis Street Annex on May 2. Records show Satterwhite is wanted by the Shreveport Police Department on charges of indecency with a child involving sexual contact and online solicitation of a minor.
Caddo Parish warrant records list bonds totaling $250,000. He was extradited on May 7.
The investigation remains ongoing through authorities in Louisiana.
HENDERSON COUNTY — The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in finding a man with several outstanding warrants for his arrest after he was accused of committing forgery and fraud. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, an investigation was opened against 48-year-old Richard Lang after several businesses in the Chandler area reported counterfeit currency being used during transactions.
During the investigation, officials discovered that Lang had used counterfeit $100 and $20 bills at local businesses to purchase merchandise, fuel and lottery tickets. Investigators also gathered witness statements, surveillance videos and additional counterfeit currency during the investigation that linked Lang to the offenses.
Anyone with information about Lang’s whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-675-5128 or the Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 800-545-TIPS.
TYLER — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new requirements for SNAP retailers will directly affect millions of people who depend on the program, especially in communities where healthy food is already hard to find. Under the updated rules, grocery stores that accept SNAP must stock more than twice as many whole?food items as before, including proteins, grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables. For the 3 million Texans who use SNAP, this could mean better access to healthier choices in stores that previously offered limited options.
But the impact won’t be the same for everyone:
For SNAP users:
Better variety for families trying to stretch benefits while still eating nutritious meals.
More healthy foods on shelves — especially in small or rural stores that previously carried mostly processed items.
Potentially higher prices if retailers pass along the cost of stocking more perishable foods. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – A Marshall man was arrested on Tuesday evening after being charged with continuous sexual assault of a child under 14.
According to our news partner KETK and the Marshall Police Department, Craig Shady was arrested at his home on Baffo Road and Karnack Highway, after an arrest warrant was obtained in connection to their ongoing investigation.
The department said that, due to the sensitive nature of the case, no information about the victim will be released. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the department at 903-935-4575 or the Harrison County Crime Stoppers tip line at 903-935-9969.
“The Marshall Police Department remains committed to protecting victims, preserving their privacy, and thoroughly investigating crimes against children,” the department said.
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Animal Control and Shelter held its first rescue coordination meeting with local animal rescue groups on Thursday. This initial gathering follows updated policies adopted by Smith County last week, aimed at improving communication and coordination with rescue organizations.
Local animal groups previously raised concerns about communication and coordination, particularly when the shelter operates at or near capacity. Part of the meeting’s conversation centered on the county’s two-tier system for animals.
This system categorizes animals into a “highly adoptable” tier and a “rescue and reclaim” tier. The “rescue and reclaim” tier includes animals designated for euthanasia. Rescue groups believe the “rescue and reclaim” list should be made public so they can identify which animals require immediate assistance.
Read the rest of this entry »
LANEVILLE – Laneville ISD certified its election results Thursday night, even as residents questioned the integrity of a bond measure that passed by just 16 votes and urged the board to delay the decision. On Saturday, May 2, Laneville ISD’s $8.5 million bond that aims to improve facilities, safety, and infrastructure while also supporting the district’s educational environment passed with 53% of the vote.
Laneville ISD Bond Vote
149/52.84% voted FOR the bond measure, while 133/47.16% voted AGAINST it.
Voters argue the election lacked basic ballot security, saying the makeshift box failed to meet Texas Election Code standards and left ballots easily accessible — a flaw they believe undermines the integrity of the entire election.
Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Van Police Department told KETK News that the gas leak has been fixed.
VAN — A gas leak near Cherry Lane and Highway 16 prompted a shelter-in-place order Friday morning. Van Police said a main gas line was struck, causing the leak. According to our news partner KETK, emergency crews are on scene monitoring the situation while waiting for CenterPoint Energy to arrive and take over repairs. Residents are urged to avoid the area as crews work to secure the line and restore safety
TYLER — Tyler Police have identified two suspects in a 2017 homicide. According to Tyler PD’s Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh, detectives recently received information regarding two potential suspects, Jakysia Rodgers (pictured), 33, of Tyler and Quadaverine Allison, 32, of Longview.
On August 11, 2017, officers were called to Christus Mother Frances Hospital ER by staff regarding a victim with a gunshot wound brought in by private vehicle. Officers determined that the shooting occurred on Lawrence Street around 7:30 a.m. that day. After being, shot the victim asked for a neighbor’s help who drove him to the hospital in the victim’s car.
The victim, identified as Joshua Alon McGee, 22, died at the hospital from a single gunshot wound. Investigators believe that narcotics were related to the shooting.
TYLER — A Smith County gang member has been sentenced to three concurrent life terms after pleading guilty in a crack cocaine and money laundering conspiracy tied to the 5-2 Hoover Crips.
The Smith County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that Samatraus Forge pleaded guilty to his role in a 12-person conspiracy tied to crack cocaine trafficking, money laundering and gang activity. Judge Taylor Heaton handed down three concurrent life sentences, underscoring Forge’s role in the operation. Prosecutors presented evidence identifying him as a member of the 5-2 Hoover Crips, a gang that ran multiple drug houses and funneled narcotics through areas designated as drug-free zones.
A lead investigator from the Tyler Police Department testified about the year-long probe, revealing that at least three houses were used to move roughly $4,000 in narcotics proceeds each month. Forge is the first to be sentenced in the case. Eleven other defendants have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and are awaiting trial.
TYLER — After accepting a guilty plea deal, a man has been sentenced to eight years in state prison for a 2025 shooting at Lake Tyler on Thursday.
On May 18, 2025, the Tyler Police Department responded to a report of gunshots at a parking lot near Lake Tyler. Officials said no one was injured in the shooting. The suspected shooter, Dezavion Williams of Henderson, had a rifle and was taken into custody by officers. Williams was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail for aggravated assault mass shooting.
On April 23, Williams was offered a guilty plea deal, according to Smith County judicial records. Williams accepted the guilty plea at a pre-trial hearing on Thursday and was sentenced to eight years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
SMITH COUNTY – A Georgia inmate orchestrated a $13,000 scam by directing an elderly Smith County woman to a local crypto kiosk. Now, the Sheriff’s Office is pushing for legislation to outlaw the machines they say enable financial crimes.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Office took a theft report on March 31 from an elderly Lindale woman who said she received a call claiming she had missed a subpoena from the sheriff’s office.
According to our news partner KETK, officials said the caller used the name of a real sheriff’s office employee and told the woman she needed to pay $13,000 to avoid being arrested for missing her summons. The caller then instructed her to deposit the money into a Bitcoin kiosk at 302 West MLK Jr. boulevard in Tyler. The suspect used a 903 area code and also sent the victim a text message showing the amount she allegedly owed.
Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD – The State of Texas is conducting its second review of the Bluebonnet Point Wellness facility in Bullard after allegations of neglect of an elderly patient who recently died.
According to our news partner, 81-year-old Robert Percharich, died on Sunday under the care of Bluebonnet Point Wellness in Bullard. His son Matthew is now seeking answers about how he said his father was treated.
“If they had enough staff, would my dad still be alive?” son of Robert Percharich, Matthew said.
“The whole plan was for him to come out and come home, get him back up to as just a baseline as possible,” Percharich said.
Robert has lived with vascular dementia for six years and was under the care of his family. He was admitted to Bluebonnet Point Wellness in early April after a major injury. After Robert’s death, Matthew said he was still haunted by the conditions his father lived in during his final days.
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