Today is
Saturday June 13, 2026
UPDATE: According to our news partner KETK, Womack is safe and has returned home.
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK)- The Lufkin Police Department is searching for a missing 11-year-old boy who was last seen Wednesday evening.
Zaviar Womack was last seen near Lufkin’s Garrett Primary school at around 5:15 p.m. Womack was wearing the shirt shown in the photograph along with blue jeans and glasses.
Photo courtesy of Lufkin Police Department
Anyone with information on Womack’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Lufkin Police Department at 936-633-0356.
NACOGDOCHES — According to our news partner KETK, a Mexican man, residing in Nacogdoches, pleaded guilty to federal immigration and firearms violations on Tuesday. 25-year-old Joel Bustamante Moreno was detained for selling multiple firearms, including a 9mm pistol equipped with a Glock switch, a device that once fixed to a pistol can make it capable of firing automatically. Officials said Moreno fled the scene when officers attempted to arrest him, wrecked a vehicle and ran to a residence where he was later arrested. Moreno has previously been deported in 2019 and 2020.
He faces up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
Moreno’s case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program combining all levels of law enforcement and the communities to keep neighborhoods safer. Several parties are part of the investigation including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the Nacogdoches Police Department.
TYLER – Lack of rain, combined with dry conditions and high winds have some counties in East Texas issuing burn bans. Our news partner KETK, has a running list of those counties. You can find that list here.
CANTON – A Van Zandt County contractor was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy that cost an electric company more than $2 million.
According to the U.S. Attorney Office’s of the Eastern District Court of Texas, James Derr, 55, was involved in a group conspiracy with Rebekah Mitchell and Brittany Burton that diverted electrical equipment for financial gain. Our news partner, KETK, reports that for five years, Derr, Mitchell, and Burton reportedly worked together to steal circuit breakers and resell them to various buyers. Derr worked as an electrical contractor with J&D Electric, and Mitchell worked for Schneider Electric in Athens. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
A Canton man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a wire fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. James Derr, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle on March 18, 2025. Derr was also ordered to pay $2,615,585.93 in restitution.According to information presented in court, Derr, an electrical contractor with J&D Electric, was involved in a conspiracy with Rebekah Mitchell and Brittany Burton to divert equipment for their own financial gain. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed a new 62nd Judicial District court judge who will cover cases in Delta, Franklin, Hopkins and Lamar counties. According to our news partner KETK, William “Bill” Harris of Paris is the current County Court Judge for Lamar County and Abbott has selected him to fill the 62nd Judicial District court judge seat for a term that will last till Dec. 31, 2026.
His appointment as the 62nd Judicial District court judge will have to be approved by the Texas Senate before he can fill the role. If confirmed, Harris will fill the role until a permanent replacement for former judge Will Biard is elected. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Stephen F. Austin State University has been on alert since an anonymous threat was reportedly shared on social media, according to our news partner KETK.
“We have been made aware of the concerning message found over spring break on a bench near campus indicating something may happen on March 24,” Interim Provost Judy Abbott said. “The University Police Department has been taking action and increasing their presence on campus.”
The university recommends the following actions to ensure safety:
JEFFERSON – The Jefferson Police Department is searching for suspects involved in an attempted ATM burglary on Monday morning.
According to reports from our news partner, KETK, at around 2 a.m. police responded to an alarm call at East Texas Professional Credit Union located on East Broadway St. What they found was the aftermath of an attempted burglary at the ATM. Officials said the suspects used a stolen truck to access the ATM’s cash compartment but they were unsuccessful and no money was stolen. The suspects fled before officers arrived.
Officers are actively investigating this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Jefferson Police Department.
RUSK COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Service in putting the top 10 most wanted sex offenders in Texas behind bars.
Thaddeus C. Hodge has been wanted since 2023 for violating his parole after he was found guilty on two counts of indecency with a child in 2018. Hodge has also been wanted by Rusk County since August 2024, for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and for debit and credit card abuse.
Deputies found Hodge inside his home located at the south end of the county, and he was taken into custody.
TYLER – Tyler’s City Council approved two new Class A Burn Buildings for the Tyler Fire Department. Class A Burn Buildings are used to simulate realistic fire conditions such as smoke, fire and heat for training purposes.
According to our news partner, KETK, the city purchased these portable buildings for $129,713. There is currently one Class A Burn Building for the department. The building’s structure has a two-chamber design which mirrors actual fire scenarios .Additional buildings were needed in order to meet state requirements. Two or more Class A fires need to be ignited through their training and Tyler firefighters have had to travel out of the city to get that training.
The two new Burn Buildings will be added to the department’s current training facility located near Fair Park Drive.
LONGVIEW– A Longview middle school student was detained Tuesday morning after officers were alerted of a photo online showing the student with a firearm in a school restroom.
According to a report from our news partner, KETK, around 10:45 a.m. a Longview police school officer was made aware of an online photo of a student with a firearm in the Foster Middle School restroom. Officials said that the investigation revealed that the incident occurred on Monday during an after-school event.
The student was immediately detained and transported to Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center on third-degree felony, exhibition, use or threat of exhibition or use of firearms. Read the rest of this entry »
WINNSBORO — Winnsboro ISD announced their new high school principal on Monday night during their school board meeting. According to our news partner KETK, Dr. Cody Holloway, currently associate principal at Royse City ISD, has been named to the position. Dr. Holloway has 14 years of experience at Terrell ISD, Red Oak ISD and Pine Tree ISD.
In a release from the district Holloway said, “I am excited for the opportunity to join Winnsboro ISD. I am passionate about creating an educational environment where every student can thrive and grow. Furthermore, I believe it is important to build positive relationships with students, staff, and community members.”
MOUNT PLEASANT – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a man accused of stealing over 1,500 pounds of copper wire was arrested by the Titus County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said that in late February, investigators became aware of a man selling unusual amounts of scrap copper several times a week. Investigators believed the copper was being stolen from a business in Mount Pleasant so they began to communicate with the business’s owners.
After weeks of monitoring the man, investigators received a tip on Saturday alerting them that the man was back at the business where they suspected he was taking the wire from. Officials responded to the tip and arrested the man who was identified as James David Robertson. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – J Star Ministries and Texans on Mission are preparing to bring relief and resources to tornado outbreak victims in the South and Midwest.
According to our news partner, KETK, East Texas organizations are doing what they do best gearing up to help people in need. On Wednesday, J Star Ministries will go to Cave City and Diaz, Ark. Patrick Johnson, the nonprofit’s founder, is asking for donations on his social media platform. Johnson is asking for financial donations and items, including water, non-perishables, dog food, cat food and other basic needs.
“The typical basic needs such as water, Gatorade, tarps, first aid kits, toilet paper, paper towel, nonperishable food items, chips, snacks, drinks and first aid kits,” founder of J Star Ministries, Patrick Johnson, said. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — CHRISTUS Health is hosting a hiring event in Longview on Thursday for healthcare professionals who want to start or further their career. According to CHRISTUS Health and our news partner KETK, the event will take place at 2005 Tolar Road inside El Sombrero from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people to interact with hospital leaders. On-the-spot interviews will be conducted for opportunities to discover diverse career paths, along with food, refreshments and giveaways. Full-time and part-time schedules will be available for candidates ready to achieve their personal and professional goals.
“We are looking for dedicated professionals to join our faith-based ministry and provide the best, compassionate care in the region,” CHRISTUS Health Manager of Talent Acquisition Michaela Ahlfinger said.
CHRISTUS Good Shepherd in Longview is celebrating their 90th anniversary this year and recently broke ground on the CHRISTUS Cancer Center which opened in January. Read the rest of this entry »