Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department made an arrest in a shooting that occurred Saturday, April 25. Officers responded to a call that afternoon in the area of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. and Holland Street. When the officers arrived they found a man who received a gunshot wound. Their investigation found that 24-year-old Shakira Nysha Brazzell had allegedly shot the victim over an incident from the night before.
Brazzell had left the scene before officers arrived, but came back and turned herself in. The victim was transported to a hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Brazzell was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon. This investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575.
LONGVIEW —Several members of the Longview Fire Department were honored by Governor Abbott recently for their heroic efforts. The incident occurred during the morning of Feb. 28 after a hot air balloon carrying two people crashed into a 920-foot cell tower. Once on the scene, firefighters began using multiple rope systems to safely remove both people from the balloon and bring them back to the ground.
The firefighters who helped safely remove both people from the balloon were honored by Abbott at the department’s annual banquet last Saturday.
“We were deeply honored to welcome Governor Abbott and his team, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Longview and every one of our incredible sponsors,” the Longview Fire Department said. “Your support and generosity transformed this evening into a night to remember for all our members and their families.”
TYLER – John Gomez, a Tyler-based priest, has been appointed the second bishop of the Diocese of Laredo, the Vatican announced Friday. Gomez’s episcopal ordination and installation as the Bishop of Laredo will be held on June 30, and a farewell celebration in Tyler will be announced soon.
“His experience in diocesan administration as Judicial Vicar and Vicar General, his experience in parish ministry, and his commitment to Hispanic Ministry will serve him well in his new ministry as the second Bishop of Laredo,” Diocese of Tyler Bishop Gregory Kelly said. “I am also grateful to Bishop-elect Gomez for his help to me over this last year as a new bishop in Tyler and will miss his presence and ministry.” Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – One person is in jail after Marshall Police Department responded to a street racing incident Friday evening. Officers answered a call at Pinecrest Drive across from D&D automotive, in Marshall at around 10 p.m. Once there, the officers saw two vehicles racing on the street. One of the vehicles attempted to flee the area but was stopped by officers a short time later.
The driver, identified as 30-year-old Timothy Dawon Perry was taken into custody. Perry was charged with racing on the street and driving with a suspended license from a previous convictions. He was also found to have two outstanding warrants. Perry’s vehicle was impounded following his arrest.
TYLER – After years of planning, the future Blackstone Hotel took another visible step forward as Valencia Hotel Group and the City of Tyler gathered on Friday, for the Blackstone Hotel Site Celebration in Downtown Tyler.
Held in the Plaza Tower Atrium, the event brought together guests to mark the progress of the project . During the event, Valencia Hotel Group President and CEO Doyle Graham presented Mayor Don Warren with a plaque in appreciation of his support for the hotel project and his commitment to Downtown Tyler’s continued growth.
The future Blackstone Hotel will bring a full-service hotel experience to Downtown Tyler, with plans for 140 guest rooms, 5,700 square feet of meeting space, and conveniences designed to serve both visitors and the local community. In addition to welcoming overnight guests, the hotel is expected to create new opportunities for conferences, weddings, celebrations, and other gatherings in the city’s core.
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SMITH COUNTY – Smith County will have 18 voting centers open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Saturday, May 2. There are several city and school elections, including Tyler mayor and a special-called bond election for Tyler Junior College.
There were 8,653 ballots cast (7,754 in-person and 899 mail-in ballots during early voting. That is 6.4 percent of the 135,424 registered voters eligible for this election.
The cities of Tyler, Hideaway, Lindale and Winona; and the independent school districts of Lindale and Tyler District 4 are having elections. The City of Lindale is also holding a special election for a charter amendment.
There are some Van Zandt County residents who are eligible to vote in the TJC Bond Election. Smith County Elections Administrator Michelle Allcon said about 50 have voted so far. The voting center in Garden Valley is most convenient for these voters, as it is near the Van Zandt County line.
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FRANKSTON — A Frankston ISD parent has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a high school basketball coach and teacher of sexual harassment and retaliation, alleging her son’s playing time and grades were impacted after she rejected the coach’s advances. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division, names head basketball coach and economics teacher Vance Dallas and Frankston ISD as defendants, according to our news partner KETK.
According to the complaint, the student’s mother alleges Dallas made repeated unwanted sexual advances toward her during the school year and tied her son’s athletic opportunities to her compliance. The lawsuit claims that in December, Dallas asked her to share an adjoining hotel room during an out-of-town basketball tournament, allegedly implying her son would receive more playing time if she agreed.
In another instance, the complaint alleges Dallas asked her in November 2025 to model a basketball uniform “wearing only the uniform,” again tying the request to a potential starting position for her son. Read the rest of this entry »
SEVEN POINTS – Mold and water damage have compromised police evidence left for months inside an abandoned former city hall building, once used by the Seven Points Police Department. One case is already in jeopardy — and more could follow.
According to our news partner KETK, the City of Seven Points received an email from the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office on April 22 requesting evidence for an active criminal case. But when staff searched their new evidence storage container, the requested evidence was nowhere to be found.
Back in March 2025, the City of Seven Points City Hall and police station building at 428. E Cedar Creek Parkway was significantly damaged in a storm. The roof was ripped off from the police station side of the building during the storm, taking out a electricity pole in the process and leaving the structure without power.
According to the City of Seven Points, power could not be restored to the former city hall building, prompting the mayor and police chief to coordinate a relocation plan. Mayor Keith Betts was responsible for moving the city’s administrative offices and records, while former Police Chief Raymond Wennerstrom was tasked with overseeing the police department’s move, including the transfer of its evidence room. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County Judge Neal Franklin and members of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office stopped by Bell Elementary School in Tyler on Thursday to chat with local students. As a part of National County Government Month, Franklin and members of the sheriff’s office’s K-9 team showed up outside the school on Thursday with the county’s new Terradyne armored law enforcement vehicle, that students got to look inside of and learn about.
Bell Elementary recently became a partner with Smith County through the new Community Connect Program from the Tyler Area Business Education Council and Tyler ISD. Students also got to meet with the K-9 team, who told them about the work they do and the role that dogs like K-9 Bella serve in law enforcement.
SMITH COUNTY – A Smith County man is back in jail after he allegedly violated the terms of his probation, a sentence he received in 2025 after admitting to drinking alcohol before the crash that killed both of his parents, according to our news partner KETK.
In an arrest report, Jose Bravo Jr. was driving southwest on FM 2767, across from Jackson Elementary, with his parents on March 24, 2024. Bravo Jr. claimed a dog ran in front of his car, forcing him to swerve to avoid it and causing him to lose control of the vehicle and travel off the roadway.
After Bravo Jr. and his parents were ejected from the vehicle, officials arrived on the scene and transported Bravo Jr. to a hospital. His father, Jose Bravo Delgado, was pronounced dead on the scene, and his mother, Santa Lucia Bravo, was taken to a hospital in Tyler, where she died two days later after succumbing to her injuries caused during the crash.
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GREGG COUNTY – A former Gregg County deputy received a sentence of 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to two DWI charges last week. Joshua Tubb was arrested by the Kilgore Police Department two days in a row last December for driving while intoxicated. Following these arrests, Tubb resigned from his position with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office.
Following his guilty plea on April 24, the court sentenced Tubb to serve 180 days in jail. He was also ordered to complete two years of probation with 80 hours of community service and must pay a $2,000 fine.
HALLSVILLE – A Hallsville man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Tuesday after he was arrested in 2024 for possession of child pornography. According to our news partner KETK, Kevin Barnett was arrested in October 2024 following an investigation launched by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office after they received a call from the Texas Child Protection Services regarding a juvenile victim being “photographed inappropriately.”
After obtaining a warrant for Barnett’s arrest, they found him to have multiple videos containing child pornography and subsequently placed him under arrest. He was charged him with possession of child pornography and aggravated sexual assault of a child.
On Monday, Barnett was found guilty on five charges of possession of child pornography and one charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He was sentenced to 50 years in state prison by the 71st District Court on Wednesday.
TROUP — Antisemitic signs were spotted in downtown Troup Wednesday and city officials quickly removed them, citing a violation of state law. Our news partner KETK reports that there were around six laminated sheets of paper filled with hate speech targeting the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. There was also a QR code leading to a website with even more hateful content.
Texas Transportation Code § 393, in conjunction with HB 3611, makes it illegal to place signs in the right-of-way of a public road without permission from the city or county. Troup Police Chief Shawn Murray is asking businesses to remain vigilant and report anyone putting up more signs.
LONGVIEW — One person has been arrested following a shooting at a residence on Club Drive on Wednesday morning. According to the Longview Police Department, officers responded to a shooting in the 100 block of Club Drive near E Cotton St at around 7 a.m. Upon arrival, officers located a person who had been shot; the victim was later transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Melvin Colbert, 59, was arrested during the police department’s investigation as the shooter. Colbert was booked into the Gregg County Jail and charged with aggravated assault-family violence causing serious bodily injury and unlawful possession of a firearm by felon.
TYLER – An investigation is underway following an alleged incident during an athletic practice that involved a Tyler ISD staff member and student, the district confirmed on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, in a statement issued by Tyler ISD, the district is aware of the allegations and have initiated a thorough investigation.
The district has not released information on the details of the incident, citing privacy laws.
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