Today is
Thursday June 11, 2026
TYLER – Tyler will be moving forward into year five of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Main Plan according to our news partner KETK.
Since 2019, 85 of Tyler’s 150 signalized intersections have been retimed, covering more than 29 miles of roadway. The City of Tyler said the retimed signal system provides smoother, more consistent travel for Tyler residents. The Tyler City Council approved a $133,188 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to carry out the remainder of the plan. The city will focus on retiming and fine-tuning 14 different intersections. The project is funded by the Half-Cent Sales Tax.
In accordance with the five-year plan, the city will evaluate several previo Read the rest of this entry »
WOOD COUNTY – According to our news partner KETK, an on duty Wood County Sheriff’s deputy has died after a Wednesday morning crash involving an 18-wheeler. Deputy Melissa Pollard was taken to a local hospital in Quitman around 10 a.m. after the accident, but she did not survive her injuries, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
“Please pray for the Pollard family, Wood County Sheriff’s Office family and all other parties involved in this tragedy,” the statement said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the accident.
LONGVIEW — According to our news partner KETK, a driver died on Tuesday after experiencing a medical emergency that caused a multi-vehicle wreck. Longview Police Department Officers responded to a crash at the intersection of Hollybrook Drive and Judson Road on Tuesday at around 12:20 p.m. and learned that a black vehicle was being driven by a person who was experiencing a medical emergency and was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed to a medical center.
“The driver ran a red light at the intersection and collided with two other vehicles,” the police department said. “The driver of the black passenger car was transported to a local medical facility and was later pronounced dead.”
Another individual was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The police department said no charges are pending in this investigation.
ATHENS – Our news partner, KETK, reports that three people were arrested Tuesday afternoon after a large amount of marijuana and other illegal narcotics were discovered in a home near Athens.
According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, around 2:50 p.m. narcotics investigators searched a home in the 2300 block of County Road 3718 near Athens and found seven different types of illegal drugs, five firearms with two being stolen from Arlington and Grand Prairie and a large amount of cash.
The different illegal drugs that were found by investigators were marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl pills, morphine pills, xanax pills, and bottles of promethazine that are labeled for RX only. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
On Wednesday, April 9, the City Council approved the purchase of a 14.6-acre tract at 3150 Robertson Rd. for $1,275,000 to build a new fire training facility. The Tyler Fire Department will develop a state-of-the-art training campus to strengthen emergency response capabilities. The facility will feature advanced equipment and training resources to better prepare firefighters for a wide range of emergency scenarios. Located in the Tyler Industrial Park, the site is near Tyler ISD’s Career and Technology Center, Atwood’s distribution center and Fire Station 5, creating opportunities for regional collaboration and educational partnerships. The Fire Department’s current training facility located at 701 Fair Park Drive will be decommissioned.
JACKSONVILLE – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a man has been arrested by Jacksonville police officers after firing three rounds at his neighbor’s house on Tuesday before barricading himself in his own home.
Police responded to the 200 block of Ivy Street on Tuesday and secured the area before requesting backup from the Cherokee County SWAT Team which included Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department personnel. The suspect, 24-year-old Isaias Mena Sandoval of Jacksonville, barricaded himself inside his house for about an hour until law enforcement took him into custody. No injuries were reported, the police department said.
A search warrant for the residence will be issued and additional charges may be filed pending the investigation.
LONGVIEW – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a driver died on Tuesday after experiencing a medical emergency that caused a multi-vehicle wreck, the Longview Police Department said.
Officers responded to a crash at the intersection of Hollybrook Drive and Judson Road on Tuesday at around 12:20 p.m. During the course of the investigation, officials learned that a black vehicle was being driven by a person experiencing a medical emergency, and was traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed to a medical center.
“The driver ran a red light at the intersection and collided with two other vehicles,” the police department said. “The driver of the black passenger car was transported to a local medical facility and was later pronounced dead.”
Another individual was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The police department said no charges are pending in this investigation.
VAN ZANDT COUNTY — The repair project on I-20, near CR 2112 (Mile Marker 518, west of Canton) in Van Zandt County, has hit a snag after a paver issue last night. According to TxDOT, the contractor is working to fix the issue by this afternoon or evening. The westbound, outside lane will remain closed throughout Wednesday. The roadway is expected to reopen tomorrow morning, Thursday April 10, at 6 am. Drivers should expect lengthy delays.
NACOGDOCHES – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a former Nacogdoches ISD teacher received minimum two-year sentence after sexually assaulting a student in 2023.
Annaleigh Andrews, 26 of Nacogdoches, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child and three counts of online solicitation of a minor back in August 2024. Nacogdoches County Assistant District Attorney Amy Wren, said that Andrews was sentenced to a total of two years for all counts.
Andrews was a reading interventionist at McMichael Middle School. During the summer break following the 2022-2023 school year, Andrews starting communicating with the victim and took the victim to what they described as a “mansion.” The victim was sexually assaulted multiple times at this “mansion” and at Banita Creek Park. Andrews also asked the victim to meet her at selected locations and used marijuana with the victim, the DA’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
LINDEN – A man who fled from police following a disturbance involving a weapon on Monday afternoon has been apprehended, according to the Linden Police Department.
Our news partner, KETK, reports that officers responded to the scene at the Thomas Street Apartments, where they quickly secured the area. The suspect, later identified as Jacorey Birmingham, allegedly fled before officers arrived but was eventually located and detained. The weapon involved was also recovered and secured.
Birmingham has been arrested on charges of unlawful restraint, deadly conduct and burglary of a habitation with intent to commit additional felonies, the Linden Police Department confirmed.
“We thank our officers for their swift response and dedication to ensuring safety in our community,” the police department said.
EAST TEXAS — Texas Rep. Cody Harris, of Palestine, appeared before the House Public Health Committee on Monday afternoon to present HB 3717, which would help fund clinical trials for ibogaine, a psychedelic compound that could treat opioid addiction. According to our news partner KETK, through this bill, Harris aims to take on the addiction with a particular focus on veterans. According to the National Institutes of Health, drug overdose mortality rates among U.S. military veterans rose by 53% between 2010 and 2019.
As opioid-related deaths continue to devastate families across the country, Harris said this legislation could be a crucial first step in offering new hope to those already battling the addiction.
“Funding a grant program for a ibogaine clinical trial isn’t just a policy choice,” Harris said on Monday. “It’s a lifeline, a chance to pull our neighbors, our heroes and our loved ones back from the edge.” Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court approved a resolution on Tuesday, dedicating April 2025 as National County Government Month for Smith County government. According to our news partner KETK, this resolution will recognize the more than 900 Smith County government employees who work everyday to create safe and healthy communities. Officials encourage residents to learn more about the services that county governments provide such as veterans services, criminal and civil emergency courts systems, elections and public safety.
Smith County holds 29 elected officials and 16 department heads. They help figure out ways to keep systems running such as fire investigations, tax offices and the sheriff’s office in ways that are cost effective for the community.
There are currently 3,069 counties serving more than 330 million Americans by protecting the peace and tranquility of their respective communities. Smith County encourages everyone across the county to learn more about the people who serve in local government.
SMITH COUNTY — The 2025 State of the County Luncheon was held in Smith County on Tuesday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, during the luncheon, a presentation by Smith County Judge Neal Franklin provided residents with several updates about the newest projects and events going on in the county. Franklin stated that the theme of this year’s event is collaboration, due to the countries’ efforts to work with others to achieve their goals.
“We have got a lot of things going with a lot of different entities and our goal is to work together and make these things happen,” Franklin said.
Franklin provided residents with an update about the new courthouse that is currently under construction. “The courthouse is going well, and we are getting to the point where we were almost off the ground,” Franklin said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, because of the severe weather that hit east Texas last week, Bowie County, Cass County and Morris County have all issued local disaster declarations. The declarations will last for seven days and activate each county’s emergency management plans so they can better recover from severe weather damage. The National Weather Service said that Lone Star in Morris County on Friday was hit by a EF-2 tornado that caused damage to trees and several homes.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Rusk man attempted to flee from deputies Tuesday morning during his court ordered probation hearing, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Krystopher Michael Free, 26 of Rusk, was at a court ordered probation hearing in the 369th District Court in Rusk when the presiding judge ordered Free to be taken into custody. Officials said Free attempted to run from the courtroom as a Cherokee County Bailiff tried to take him into custody. Deputies and the bailiff were able to take Free into custody after a brief struggle with one of the bailiffs receiving minor injuries.
Free was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries, and once discharged, he was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on charges of assault of a public servant and evading and resisting arrest.