Today is
Wednesday July 22, 2026
TYLER – John Schnell of Tyler, a junior biochemistry major and Honors student at The University of Texas at Tyler, was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve a one-year term as the student representative on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Learning Technology Advisory Committee, effective June 1.
According to a release from UT Tyler, LTAC engages in policy research and discussion on technology use in higher education, making recommendations to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Student representative selection is based on academics, interests and leadership skills.
“We’re so proud of John and the great work he will do representing students across the state,” said UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley, MD.
Schnell will graduate from UT Tyler in May 2028, with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. LTAC membership currently includes representatives from public community and technical colleges, universities and health-related institutions, as well as one student member.
UPDATE: The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that Medford is now believed to have left the county.Authorities warn the public not to approach him, describing him as a “violent individual” who poses a threat to community safety. Anyone who spots him is urged to contact law enforcement immediately.
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Ronny Medford, who is a person of interest in connection with the murder of his 84-year-old father. According to our news partner KETK, the sheriff’s office said, the murder took place at Medford’s Payne Springs home on Monday morning.
Investigators have also released a photo of a vehicle they believe picked him up. Medford is considered “a very violent individual” and is suspected to still be in the area.
A district judge has issued an arrest warrant for Medford for murder. An autopsy is pending for his father’s cause of death. Read the rest of this entry »
WILLS POINT – The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office said that 76-year-old Alfredo Chavez was found dead in a wooded area on Friday after he went missing from Wills Point on April 23. Chavez’s body was found at around 11 a.m. on Friday in a heavily wooded area of Van Zandt County. Following his disappearance on April 23, the sheriff’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Game Wardens, Texas Department of Corrections search dogs and several nonprofit search and rescue organizations were brought together to search for Chavez but he wasn’t found until several weeks later.
The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office suspects no foul play in Chavez’s death.
TYLER – The City of Tyler has started sewer work on South Bonner Avenue from West Front Street and West Woldert Street near Caldwell Elementary School and Caldwell Middle School. The sewer work capacity upgrades are part of the city’s ongoing Consent Decree agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade and revitalize the city’s aging wastewater system.
The upgrades are expected to take about a week, during which time Caldwell Elementary School parents should enter to pick up car riders on South Bois D’Arc Avenue, south of the intersection at West Elm Street. Read the rest of this entry »
TROUP – A case of botulism was confirmed in the City of Troup on Monday, according to the Northeast Texas Public Health District. The city said that the disease is not contagious and that, due to HIPAA regulations, the name and address of the person involved cannot be released.
Although it is not contagious, botulism is a potentially fatal disease that is largely caused by environmental factors, including dust, soil and contaminated food. The disease attacks the body’s nerves, causing difficulty breathing and muscle paralysis.
According to the Northeast Texas Public Health District, symptoms of botulism include: Muscle weakness, blurred/double vision, drooping eyelids and slurred speech.
Anyone impacted by these symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately.
GREGG COUNTY – A former sheriff’s deputy was booked into the county jail on Friday for allegedly violating his probation. According to Gregg County records and our news partner KETK, former Gregg County Sheriff’s Office deputy Joshua Tubb, 48, of Kilgore, received a 180-day jail sentence for a March 24 DWI conviction. He has not been booked into jail, however, because the court placed him on two years of probation instead.
On Friday, Gregg County Judicial records show that Tubb’s probation was revoked and a warrant was issued for his arrest for violating the terms of his probation in his DWI case.
Tubbs was then booked into the Gregg County Jail that same day. He’s since been transferred into the custody of another agency.
KILGORE – Injuries have been confirmed following a multi-vehicle crash on State Highway 31 on Monday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the Kilgore Fire Department, is currently on the scene of the crash on Highway 31 near FM 3053. Road closures and delays are expected over the next few hours, the department added.
KENTUCKY – Paragon Advertising and Communications announced via a press release that on Saturday, May 9th, at the age of 91, Elder Lasserre Bradley, Jr., a cherished shepherd, longtime radio founder and host of the Baptist Bible Hour, and lifelong devoted servant of God, has died. Elder Bradley devoted his life to ministry for 73 years, sharing the gospel with grace, compassion, and conviction. He impacted many lives via the pulpit, radio, counseling, and personal ministry, and he established himself as a reliable voice for church families and listeners across the country the release said. For this Sunday, Brother Bradley’s family and ministry team are putting together a special program. Trevor, the son of Brother Bradley, will make a special announcement to let his listeners know that his father has passed away. The Baptist Bible Hour is heard Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KTBB.
DESOTO PARISH, La. – A Tyler man is dead after a single-vehicle crash happened in DeSoto Parish, La. on Sunday. According to our news partner KETK, the incident happened on Sunday, May 10, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Louisiana Highway 175, near Louisiana Highway 5. According to the Louisiana State Police, the victim was traveling south on Louisiana Highway 175 when, for reasons currently under investigation, his vehicle went off the road and overturned.
The victim was identified as 35-year-old Delon Perkins, of Tyler. Investigators said he was properly restrained during the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Impairment was not suspected, but toxicology samples were collected and submitted for analysis. The investigation into this crash is ongoing.
LONGVIEW — A wanted fugitive and known Latin Kings gang member was arrested in East Texas on May 7 for his alleged involvement of a 2024 murder in New Jersey. According to our news partner KETK, the FBI said , Ricky Vargas was wanted for allegedly stabbing a man to death outside of a bar in Garfield, New Jersey on Feb. 4, 2024.
A state warrant was issued for his arrest the next day, charging him with first degree murder, causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crime and two possession of a weapon charges.
On Feb. 7, 2024, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Vargas in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, Newark and New Jersey after additionally being charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
While searching for Vargas, the FBI was offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading up to his arrest. On May 7, Vargas was apprehended by FBI Dallas and FBI Newark in Longview.
JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville College honored one of its students with a posthumous degree this weekend after he was killed in a club shooting on March 22. Students, parents and educators gathered at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville on Saturday for Jacksonville College’s graduation ceremony. One graduate who couldn’t walk the stage was Jacksonville native Keion Dewayne Redd.
Redd had earned the credits to complete his associate’s degree but was tragically killed as an innocent bystander in a March 22 club shooting in Smith County. Jacksonville College honored Redd on Saturday by presenting his associate’s degree to his mother, who walked in his place.
“This moment is about celebrating Keion’s accomplishments, the life he lived, and the future he was working toward,” Jacksonville College said. “His family wants him to be remembered for who he was, the people who loved him, and the milestone he earned.”
TYLER – Starting Monday, May 11, Consent Decree capacity improvements are moving to South Bonner Avenue between West Front Street and West Woldert Street. Work is expected to take approximately one week, weather permitting.
For Caldwell Elementary School dismissal, parents should enter for pickup on South Bois D’Arc Avenue, south of the intersection at West Elm Street. The Caldwell Middle School students, parents should enter the dismissal line at South Bois D’Arc Avenue and West Front Street.
HARLETON – Ryan Nichols, who was pardoned by President Donald Trump for his actions during the Jan. 6 riot, was arrested Sunday, after authorities said he displayed a firearm in a threatening manner during a dispute outside a church in Harleton
According to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to 225 Heskell Oney Road in reference to a person reaching for a firearm during a dispute outside the church. Our news partner KETK reports during the investigation deputies learned Nichols had confronted another person in the church parking lot. Authorities said that when the victim attempted to leave and de-escalate the situation, Nichols allegedly continued confronting him.
Read the rest of this entry »
HAWKINS – Severe storms moved through the area Sunday night, leaving uprooted trees and some structure damage in Wood County. Fortunately no injuries were reported. Our news partner KETK has compiled some videos and photos submitted by their viewers. You may view that gallery here.
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
JACKSONVILLE – A newly expanded production facility in Jacksonville opened Wednesday, positioning itself as a key supplier for a wave of proposed data centers in Texas. The Italian multi-national company, Luve, is a global leader in ventilated equipment and heat exchangers. Their products are critical for the cooling systems used in the booming data center industry.
At Luve’s ribbon-cutting, hosted by the City of Jacksonville, the company also announced a new contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to support four future data centers in Texas.
“We were very welcomed here in the community. We can add to the community,” Ronald Bekker of the Luve Group said. “We have a responsibility as an employer to add to the community. You hear at the announcement of scholarships, for our people, for their children. So we are ready to step up our connection with the community here in Jacksonville.”
Additionally, the company said they expect to hire around 200 workers for the facility in the near future.