Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that Governor Greg Abbott has appointed a Lufkin man to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council, a term lasting until Feb. 1, 2029.
Andrew Polk earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Leadership and Development. His experience includes vice chair of the Natural Resources Committee and partner of Polk Land & Cattle Company. The council assists the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program with administration and accepting grant applicants. TFRLCP’s goal is conserving working lands with an abundance of water, fish, wildlife and agriculture production.
TYLER – The Tyler Morning Telegraph reports that a bill in the Texas Legislature aims to crack down on puppy mills, with a goal to bring stricter regulations to an industry criticized by animal advocates. Locally, East Texas advocates hope to see the bill pass. What are puppy mills? Large-scale commercial breeding operations are often referred to as puppy mills, and advocates argue this type of operation prioritizes profit over animal welfare.
Dogs are reportedly kept in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, sometimes even deprived of adequate food, clean water, or veterinary care. Breeding dogs, particularly mothers, produce multiple litters each year. Advocates say these dogs are often abandoned, sold, or euthanized once they are no longer deemed “useful.” Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office said Freddie Britt has been found.
GREGG COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man that went missing on Saturday morning after leaving a bar in Kilgore.
According to the sheriff’s office, Freddie Britt was last seen on Saturday around 2 a.m. at the City Limits Bar and Grill in Kilgore. Britt mentioned that he was heading to Tyler and was riding a 2024 Harley Davidson FXBR, license plate number 902D9W.
Officials said Britt has not been seen or heard from since. If anyone has any information about Britt’s whereabouts, contact the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office at 903-236-8400.
RUSK COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a child family member, multiple times a week for almost two years in Rusk County.
According to the arrest affidavit, on March 24 deputies took a report from a woman that her daughter had been sexually assaulted by a family member starting when she was eight and reportedly stopped in February 2023.
The document said during a forensic interview the child explained that the abuse started when she was eight but almost nine which would have been around the summer of 2021, and that the acts took place two or three times a week.The affidavit said February 2023 was the last time the child remembered it happening because it was at another family members home in Price. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – Our news partner, KETK, reports that two people were arrested after SPCA of East Texas discovered several dogs emaciated or dead at a property in Rusk.
According to SPCA of East Texas, in March they received a report of numerous dogs abandoned, left without food or water for more than 10 days with many of them chewing through the front door to escape to the yard.
Officials said the SPCA team arrived to find four small emaciated dogs begging for treats, a malnourished pit bull tied to an abandoned truck with no food or water, and three more small dogs trapped inside the home. On the other side of the yard, the SPCA team found a pen tucked into weeds where several dogs were found dead. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – According to reports from our news partner, KETK, an East Texas man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to the shooting of a Nacogdoches police officer.
According to the Nacogdoches Police Department, on Dec. 29, 2023 a officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1700 block of S. Fredonia and South Street when a passenger shot multiple rounds at the officer before the vehicle fled the scene.
Officials said that the officer returned fire and at least one bullet from the passenger struck the officer’s patrol car. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the University of Texas at Tyler has earned the 2025-26 Silver Military Friendly School designation.
This places UT Tyler within the top 20% of participating schools nationwide in the Tier 2 Research Institutions category.
“This designation is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensure the academic, professional, and personal success of our military-affiliated student population,” Coby Dillard, UT Tyler Director of Military and Veterans Affairs said.
A celebration hosted by the UT Tyler Military and Veterans Success Center will soon be announced. The center supports nearly 700 military-affiliated students. The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide and from participating institutions.
Visit militaryfriendly.com to learn more.
TYLER – Senate Bill 16, which was filed by East Texas State Sen. Bryan Hughes on March 11, requires proof of citizenship when registered to vote. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs passed the bill and now it will head to the full Senate chamber for discussion.
“Senate Bill 16 says we’re going to require proof of citizenship when you register to vote,” Hughes, a Republican representing Mineola in the Texas State Senate, said.
The League of Women Voters stated that this proposal could hinder more than a million Texans by making it more challenging to vote. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A section of the Rose Rudman Trail in Tyler will be closed due to maintenance on Thursday and Friday. According to our news partner KETK, tree maintenance will be conducted on part of the trail that’s parallel to South Donnybrook Avenue next to Tyler Legacy High School. Until construction is completed, residents are advised to stay away from this part of the trail. Maintenance will begin starting on Thursday and will continue until midday Friday.
GILMER – According to our news partner KETK, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former jailer for alleged improper sexual activity with a male inmate. The sheriff’s office said they started an investigation into 29-year-old Dallas Mosley on Sunday after a male inmate told jail staff that Mosley “performed improper sexual conduct” with him. Mosley was immediately suspended during the investigation before being fired and arrested on Monday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upshur County Justice of the Peace Lyle Potter arraigned Mosley and he was then booked into the Upshur County Jail for improper sexual activity with a person in custody. Mosley’s bond was set at $100,000.
TROUP – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Texas Department of Public Safety is currently searching for the driver of a GMC pickup truck that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash on Saturday.
A DPS official said the crash happened when a GMC pickup truck heading west on CR 4701 veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit a motorcycle head-on in the eastbound lane.The crash happened at 11:09 p.m. on Saturday just west of FM 856 on County Road 4701, northeast of New Summerfield in Cherokee County.
Cherokee County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, Judge Brenda Dominy, responded to the scene and pronounced the motorcyclist dead. Dominy identified the deceased victim as David Pate, 57 of Troup.
The GMC truck was abandoned nearby and DPS said law enforcement is currently searching for the driver.
SMITH COUNTY – Apparently, the scammers are out again in East Texas. Sgt. Larry Christian, Public Information Officer with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, says it’s the same, tired old grift.
“We are getting an abundance of calls about telephone scammers,” Christian said. “This is the same old jury duty scam where the callers are telling the person they missed jury duty and that there is a warrant for their arrest. They are requesting payment from these individuals in some form or fashion. These suspects are using names of current Smith County Sheriff’s Office employees and are spoofing legitimate Smith County Sheriff’s Office phone numbers. Please let the public know that these are all scam phone calls and that no law enforcement agency will ever call anyone asking for money concerning any legal matter. If any phone calls such as these are received, simply hang up on them.”
LINDALE – According to reports from our news partner, KETK, a woman was arrested after allegedly striking an elderly woman in the face.
According to the arrest affidavit, around 2:45 p.m. deputies responded to a reported assault in progress on Stewart Street in Lindale. There, they found 64-year-old Tina Davis with bruising and redness on her face.
The document said that 30-year-old Avery Martinez showed deputies a video of the incident that occurred prior to their arrival. The video showed Martinez step onto Davis’ property and threaten to harm Davis. The deputies observed Martinez putting her hands on Davis, and then the fight falls out of view in the video. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Do you have questions about your water bill? If you live in District 6, there is a place to get your answers. Tyler Water Utilitie will hold a come-and-go community meeting in District 6 at the Pollard United Methodist Church, Gym, 3030 New Copeland Rd. This event will feature information stations staffed by Department Directors and offers you a chance to speak directly with Councilmember Brad Curtis. Water Customer Service Representatives will also be available to help with individual account questions. So, if you are a district 6 customer, come to the event and speak one-on-one with experts to learn more about TWU, utility billing, and improvement projects, ask questions and provide feedback on these topics. Remember to bring a copy of your water bill for specific billing questions.
CASS COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a woman has been arrested by the Cass County Sheriff’s office for capitol murder after an incident left a 9-year-old dead.
At around 6:31 a.m., the Atlanta Police Department received an emergency call from a residence in Bloomburg off of FM 74, a post from the sheriff’s office said.
A neighbor made the 911 call on behalf of an injured woman identified as Jacki Kubin, who ran to the neighbor asking for help. Officials reported that the neighbor was able to give law enforcement a description of a fleeing vehicle.
When officers arrived, an Atlanta Texas Police Department officer found a female child that had suffered severe trauma. The child was transported to a nearby hospital. Read the rest of this entry »