Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
TYLER – UT Health East Texas is continuing to expand their health care operations by building a new facility in Tyler.
According to our news partner, KETK, the new state-of-the-art facility will have an area of more than eight thousand square feet. It will open up at Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Parkway in West Tyler near the Sam’s Club, and the new building will offer an urgent care center, a pediatric clinic, and a primary care clinic.
UT Health CEO Todd Hill spoke about the need for the new facility due to Tyler’s continued population growth.
“This location is at the heart of Tyler’s rapid growth along the western corridor,” Hill said. “As our community expands, we remain committed to meeting the increasing demand for quality healthcare close to home. This investment ensures that families in this area have convenient access to the care they need, when they need it.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility will be held at 10 a.m. on April 17 and the building is anticipated to be opened later this year.
UPSHUR COUNTY – According to our news partner, KETK, an Upshur County deputy received the lifesaving award on Tuesday after saving a man’s life during an overdose in March.
Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb presented Deputy Lucrecia Davidson the lifesaving award after she responded to an overdose call on March 27 where a man was found unresponsive and lying on the floor.
Officials said Davidson was the first on scene and administered two doses of Narcan and continued to provide CPR while keeping his airway clear until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital.Then man slowly began to respond and survived the incident due to Davidson’s quick actions.
The Sheriff’s office commented, saying, “Thank you, Deputy Davidson, for your unwavering service to the citizens of Upshur County.”
TYLER –
A Tyler tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a tax refund fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Karistha Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to making false and fraudulent statements on a tax return and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 15, 2025. Johnson was ordered to pay $1,244,934 in restitution.
“Ms. Johnson, in her role as a tax preparer, took advantage of those seeking assistance by filing fraudulent returns,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “By fabricating deductions and business expenses, she filed hundreds of false returns, resulting in more than $1.2 million in fraudulent refunds. The women and men of IRS-CI remain dedicated to safeguarding our tax system and ensuring that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities face the full consequences under the law.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The City of Tyler announced that a portion of Rose Rudman Trail will be closed all day Thursay, April 17 for tree trimming. The part of the Trail in question runs parallel to South Donnybrook Avenue, north of Shiloh Road. Officials stressed this area should be avoided until work is completed. This part of the trail will reopen Friday, April 18.
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Smith County deputy and K9 placed second out of 39 teams at a narcotics competition in Florida.
According to the Smith County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office, Deputy Alvin Gordon and K9 Blaze attended the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) National Training Conference at the Hyatt Conference Center in Titusville, Fla., from April 7 through April 11, where they competed against other K9s and handlers.
NNDDA holds an annual seminar for hundreds of K9s and their handlers with extensive training, including K9 liability, K9 supervisor’s course, training sites and certification, K9 troubleshooting problems, patrol competition, and narcotics competition. Officials said Gordon and Blaze came home with second place in the narcotics competition out of 39 teams.
“We could not be prouder of these two, and the work they do for Smith County,” the precinct 5 constable’s office said.
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has taken an “aggressive stance” to arrest child predators and keep East Texas safe.
Our news partner, KETK, visited with Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, who makes sure his team is keeping the local community protected and raising awareness for victims of abuse.
“We have seen a rise. I think it’s the aggressive stance we have taken and the Crimes Against Children Task Force that was formed. We knew when it was formed that we would work more cases than we were originally…We knew the case load would go up… when you work one of these crimes, you do the interviews and start gathering physical and digital evidence, a lot of the times you get more and more victims,” Hillhouse said.
He also said that although these are serious crimes against children, every Texan has the ability to post bond when they are first arrested. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that two people have been arrested following a Saturday morning morning murder in Smith County.
According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, they received a 911 call around 2 a.m. on Saturday after a person reported seeing a man lying on the side of the road in Flint. Further information revealed the man had been shot.
When deputies, arrived the victim, James Littlejohn, 39, was unresponsive. EMS transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s body was taken to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas for an autopsy. An investigation was launched immediately and authorities learned that the suspect, John Floyd McDaniel, 55, was in the back passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Ashley Kate Joiner. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A former substitute teacher with Tyler ISD has been arrested following a physical altercation with a special needs student, according to our news partner KETK.
The Tyler ISD Police Department launched an investigation on April 4 after obtaining video footage of the incident, which occurred on April 1 in a special needs classroom at Moore Middle School. Based on the footage, officials identified the substitute teacher as Joacim Castro Lacayo, along with two paraprofessionals who were also present during the incident. The video reportedly shows Lacayo engaging in a verbal confrontation with the student, which escalated into physical contact. At approximately 3:15 p.m., Lacayo began physically restraining the student’s arms with assistance from the two paraprofessionals, according to the affidavit. Moments later, Lacayo is seen allegedly twisting the student’s arms behind her back, causing her to scream in pain.
By 3:21 p.m., the affidavit states, Lacayo pushed the student into a wall and continued restraining her as she cried out. He later tackled the student to the ground and stood over her while yelling. When the student threatened to report the incident to her father, Lacayo allegedly responded, “Tell him, tell whoever, your grandpa, your daddy.” Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas child was severely injured after being run over by a lawn mower over the weekend.
Deputies from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident on CR 4235. According to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, while a family member was operating a zero-turn lawn mower, the child reportedly ran to the mower and grabbed a control handle, causing the mower to run over the child.
Following the incident, officials stated the victim was flown to the Children’s Hospital in Dallas.
QUITMAN – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a former Quitman water clerk accused of stealing money from the city back in 2021, has repaid the full amount.
Amber Raelynn Highnote of Alba was accused of stealing $23,250.00 from February 2018 to July 2021 while she was working at the city of Quitman’s water department, according to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. Judicial records show she pleaded guilty on April 4, 2025.
About a month after Highnote resigned from the water department, another city of Quitman employee discovered that some customer payments were disappearing from the company’s bank deposits. A financial audit revealed the money reports had several holes and missing money. Read the rest of this entry »
FLINT – Smith County Emergency Services District 2 responded to a church in Flint on Monday morning after it caught on fire, according to our news partner, KETK.
According to Smith County ESD2, around 6 a.m. firefighters responded to a structure fire at Lakewood Church on Highway 155. There was no one inside the church during the time of the fire and there was no reported injuries.
Officials said as of 7:40 a.m. several crews were still on scene but flames were no longer visible. Incident command has not called the control time yet because they are making sure there are not longer any hotspots. Firefighters believe the fire started in the attic but the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office will handle the official investigation.
Smith County officials have deemed the building a total loss.
KILGORE – With Kilgore set to enter one of the most significant election cycles in recent memory, an open forum was held on Monday allowing candidates a chance to share their viewpoints on current issues.
According to our news partner KETK, the forum took place at the Kilgore First Baptist Church and ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. During the event, candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions asked by moderators and vocalize why they would be a good fit for their respected office as Kilgore residents begin to prepare for local elections which will be held this May. Several different positions will be up for election this year, including spots on the Kilgore ISD school board, Kilgore College Board of Trustees and the position of mayor.
Ronnie Spradlin is currently serving as the Kilgore Mayor and has held the position since 2010. Spradlin will be running against local business owner Darrin Mallett in the upcoming election. Mallett joined the race with the focus on improving city functions and services. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect as John Floyd McDaniel, 55. The victim has been identified as James Littlejohn, 39.
Our news partner KETK is reporting that the suspect was found in Shreveport, La. earlier this Monday morning. McDaniel was found by the Shreveport Police Department at the Economy Inn on IH 20 near the Shreveport Airport alongside his 16-year-old son. McDaniel has been taken to the Caddo Parrish Jail on an unrelated warrant while his son was separated and taken to Smith County.
Smith County investigators are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for Capital Murder on McDaniel.
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect believed to have shot and killed a man in Flint early Saturday morning. According to the sheriff’s office, they received a 911 call around 2 a.m. after a person reported seeing a man lying on the side of the road in Flint. Further information revealed the man had been shot. Read the rest of this entry »
TATUM – A woman has been arrested for forgery amid allegations that she stole funds from a church in East Texas.
According to our news partner KETK, the Tatum Police Department received a complaint from a church member who provided evidence of theft dating back several years. Following a meeting, officers identified three incidents in which the suspect, Stephanie Gipson—who was serving as the church treasurer—had allegedly forged multiple checks, with records going back to 2024. Several church members were interviewed, providing the department with evidence supporting a charge of forgery of a financial instrument.
On Thursday, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Gipson. That same day, she met with officers, was interviewed, and subsequently arrested on one count of forgery of a financial instrument. She has been booked into the Rusk County Jail. The police department stated the investigation is ongoing and additional arrest warrants are expected.
HAWKINS – According to our news partner KETK, a 49-year-old Winnsboro man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after he lit a Wood County constable’s boot on fire in 2022.
The Wood County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a man damaging a residence and pouring gasoline throughout the entire house in Hawkins on July 27, 2022. According to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, when law enforcement arrived on scene they attempted to detain a man outside before he fled into the home. A Wood County constable entered the home with law enforcement and saw a man, who was later identified as Eric Wade Berkenkamp, 49 of Winnsboro, lying in a pool of gasoline.
“Berkenkamp then ignited a lighter and dropped it in the pool of gasoline starting a fire,” officials said. “[The constable’s] boot caught on fire as a result and [the constable] fled outside the residence ‘in fear for his life.’”
The constable’s boot was then extinguished and he was able to assist in Berkenkamp’s arrest. He was later charged with arson causing bodily injury and aggravated assault against a public servant with a deadly weapon, judicial records show. Read the rest of this entry »