Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – A man was arrested Thursday night for allegedly beating his wife with a crowbar at their residence in the 200 block of Roy Street outside Diboll, according to our news partner KETK.
Benjamin Munoz Ruiz, 56, answered Angelina County Sheriff’s Office deputies knocking on his door with a bloody crowbar in hand and blood covering his shirt, according to Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman. Deputies say they found his wife, 55-year-old Rita Ruiz Tovar, “laying in her bedroom with a large pool of blood around her head.” Tovar was unconscious and breathing but sustained life threatening injuries, including a partially severed finger, the sheriff’s office said.
She was air lifted to a nearby hospital for treatment and her current condition is unknown. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly tricking an elderly Tyler woman into believing she needed more than $60,000 worth of roof repairs. According to an arrest affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on March 21 deputies received a report of an elderly woman who had been lied to and tricked by suspects, Levy Lee and his accomplice, about a roof repair that was not needed at her home in Tyler.
The report said that the victim ended up giving Lee six checks and $14,000 in cash totaling $64,000 for the work they told her needed to be done. The victim had a contractor come out to her house and inspect the “damages” that Lee and his accomplice said the roof had.
The contractor told her Lee had lied to her, all Lee and the accomplice did was paint roofing tiles around an alleged “rotted chimney flute.”
The victim met Lee and his accomplice when they came up to her house and told her that her roof was “unstable” and that when they get on the roof and jumped, they would “sink a little,” showing her where a soft spot was. The victim said that this “scared her.” Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a man has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder and arson in connection to the 2022 killing of a Cass County man.
Back in September of that year, Blake Reddock, a 31-year-old from Avinger, was found dead on Hershel McCoy Road on Sept. 10, 2022, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. A burned vehicle connected to the case was found that same day.
Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, Canton James Echols, 36 of Diana, was arrested and charged with murder and arson, Harrison County Jail records show.
Reddock was reportedly stabbed several times and was first identified through his tattoos because law enforcement said they found no identification with his body.
Echols was given two life sentences in state prison plus 25 years on Thursday for murder and arson. Echols’ sentences both started on Thursday.
TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department confirmed that more victims have come forward after a man was arrested for solicitation of a minor in a sting operation, according to our news partner, KETK.
Texarkana police officers conducted a sting operation last month that led to four men being arrested for crimes related to soliciting sex with a minor or prostitute. On March 14, Gregory Frame, 45 of Wake Village, was arrested for solicitation of a minor after trying to meet up with an underage girl, who turned out to be an under cover officer.
“To my understanding, I do know that he (Frame) responded to the under cover officer’s messages with the understanding of meeting with an underage girl for sexual conduct,” Texarkana PD’s Public Information Officer Shawn Vaughn said. Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE – Our news partner, KETK, reports that this week, Tyler City Council decided to update ordinances that are now in effect for both Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East.
Lake Tyler Marina Resort owner and resident, Brent Allen, said people who live by the shore line have been waiting for the update because the rules could mean big changes for them.
“It’s been a topic of conversation since the day I got here,” Allen said “So it’s been back and forth for a long time.”
Allen emphasized how he supports any law that increases the safety and the quality of the lake. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that one person was taken to the hospital Friday morning after their truck reportedly left the roadway and rolled three times near Cushing.
According to Lilbert-Looneyville Volunteer Fire Department, around 6:26 a.m. firefighters and EMS responded to the 8000 block of North FM-225 for a motor vehicle crash. Officials said that the driver had swerved to avoid a deer and the vehicle left the roadway and rolled three times. The sole occupant of the truck was taken to the Nacogdoches hospital to be treated for head, neck and back injuries.
LONGVIEW — A man formerly imprisoned over the January sixth us capitol riot is running for Congress in East Texas. Three months ago, Ryan Taylor Nichols, of Longview, was pardoned by President Trump for his part in the January 6th US Capitol riot. Nichols, who was serving a five year prison sentence, is now running for congress. He is challenging two term Republican Nathaniel Moran.
SMU Political Scientist Cal Jillson says Moran is much more polished and has run successful campaigns. Jillson says Nichol’s January 6th history may appeal to some voters. Nichols sprayed pepper spray at police and entered the US Capitol through a broken window. He then egged on the crowd to get inside. Later, he put a message on social media says he stands for violence.
MT PLEASANT — According to our news partner KETK, six Mt Pleasant Chapel Hill ISD students on a field trip were reportedly injured after a vehicle crashed into a Cicis Pizza restaurant in Mt Pleasant on Thursday. Four adults were also injured.
At around 11:20 a.m. officers were dispatched to a vehicle that struck a building at the Cicis Pizza restaurant on Jefferson Avenue. When officials arrived, they found a Toyota 4-Runner had struck the front of the restaurant and several people were injured. Emergency personnel began rendering aid. Six students and four adults were injured, the police department said, and they were transported to an area hospital. Of the 10 injured, six received minor injuries, three had moderate injuries and one victim received critical injuries.
“There were others that received minor injuries who were evaluated and treated on the scene,” the police department said. Read the rest of this entry »
CANTON – The 294th District Court Judge Chris Martin has issued a restraining order against Finnish company Taaleri Energia, who was preparing to build a battery storage facility in Van Zandt County.
According to out news partner KETK, Van Zandt County petitioned Martin’s court for a temporary restraining order against Taaleri Energia North America LLC., BT Amador Storage LLC., Amador Bess Holdings Inc., Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. and Belltown Texas Power 2 LLC. for allegedly violating parts of the fire code. The court found that the evidence in Van Zandt County’s petition showed that the companies have violated the applicable fire code and have “threatened additional violations” at their battery storage facility work site at 32021 FM 47.
According to Van Zandt County Judge Andy Reese, the temporary order will last 14 days and then the county will have to apply for a permanent injunction that bars the companies from work until they comply with National Fire Protection Association codes. Read the rest of this entry »
NEW BOSTON – Our news partner, KETK, reports that seven correctional staff at the New Boston state prison were arrested on Wednesday after allegedly engaging in organized criminal activity.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), seven arrests were made in connection with an ongoing investigation of alleged conspiracy among correctional staff and others to bring in contraband into the Barry B. Tedford Unit of the TDCJ.
“Corruption is not and will not be tolerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,” Texas Board of Criminal Justice Chairman Eric Nichols said. “We appreciate the hard work of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) team and our outstanding law enforcement partners in pursuing this investigation…” Read the rest of this entry »
NEW BOSTON – The New Boston Police Department assisted in putting a Northeast Texas man who was on the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted list behind bars.
On Tuesday, New Boston PD was notified that Rondarrius Davon Idae Evans, a man on the Texas Top 10 Most Wanted list, was last seen in Mesquite. Officers arrived at the apartment complex Evans was believed to be staying at in Mesquite and found Evans and another individual fleeing the complex. Evans was later pulled over in Dallas and was placed under arrest.
Evans was wanted for his involvement in a double homicide shooting that took place in July 2024 and led to the deaths of Nicholas Webster and Princeton Washington. Following his arrest, Evans will be charged with two counts of capital murder. Read the rest of this entry »
MT PLEASANT – Chapel Hill ISD sixth grade students on a field trip were reportedly injured after a vehicle crashed into a Cicis Pizza restaurant in Mt Pleasant on Thursday.
According to the school district, emergency personnel are on site and the district is working with them to ensure all students are accounted for and safe. Our news partner, KETK, reports that students who are not injured will be taken back to campus once the scene has been secured.
“We will share confirmed updates as they become available,” the district said. “Out of respect for emergency responders, we ask families not to go to the scene.”
The Mt Pleasant Police Department said the district has notified all parents whose children were involved. Parents or guardians can contact the junior high campus office at 903-572-9096 EXT 497.
MT PLEASANT – Chapel Hill ISD sixth grade students on a field trip were reportedly injured after a vehicle crashed into a Cicis Pizza restaurant in Mt Pleasant on Thursday.
According to the school district, emergency personnel are on site and the district is working with them to ensure all students are accounted for and safe. Our news partner, KETK, reports that students who are not injured will be taken back to campus once the scene has been secured.
“We will share confirmed updates as they become available,” the district said. “Out of respect for emergency responders, we ask families not to go to the scene.”
The Mt Pleasant Police Department said the district has notified all parents whose children were involved. Parents or guardians can contact the junior high campus office at 903-572-9096 EXT 497.
LONGVIEW – The Women’s Center of East Texas is seeking donations this week to help stock their shelves.
The shelter is looking for donations to provide to survivors of sexual violence. Some items requested include diapers, baby wipes, body wash and feminine products. Hollie Bruce CEO of the Women’s Shelter, emphasized how much these donations help victims of sexual abuse get back on their feet.
“These are for them to come in and get and take to their homes where they live permanently.” Bruce said. “We’re really, really grateful for that and hope people will participate in the drive. We’ll be stocking that in the next couple of weeks with whatever they bring in.”
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter which is off of Hollybrook Drive in Longview for the remainder of the week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
QUITMAN – The City of Quitman will hold a funeral procession in honor of a local fallen hero who died on April 2, according to our news partner, KETK.
Quitman Mayor Randy Dunn issued a proclamation to lower all U.S. flags to be at half mast on Thursday in honor of Senior Airman Fabian Roman. Roman was a member of the 2016 Quitman High School class. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed in several countries around the world, including the Republic of Korea and Germany. In 2022, Roman received the Air and Space Achievement Medal. According to the Air Forces Personnel Center, the medal is bestowed to a member of the Air Force for either an outstanding achievement or displaying meritorious service. Read the rest of this entry »