Today is
Sunday April 28, 2024
LONGVIEW — Longview police say a member of their ranks has been arrested. According to a news release, on Tuesday, the FBI contacted the Longview Police Department regarding a criminal investigation involving one of the Departmentâs sworn peace officers. Police say the FBI arrested the employee Wednesday at the police department with assistance from LPD. After being made aware of the investigation, the employee submitted his resignation, according to the release. According to our news partner KETK, the now-former officer is identified as Lieutenant Seth Vanover, and court documents show he is accused of attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. Authorities say LPD is not involved in the criminal case but is cooperating with the special agents conducting the investigation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The 89th annual Texas Rose Festival got underway Thursday, with a wealth of activities on the docket following a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting by Rose Festival Queen Molly Louise Berry. Just before the official kickoff, Queen Molly visited with KTBB, voicing her excitement that the festival has finally arrived. “It feels so unbelievable and amazing,” she said. We’ve been preparing for this for a year, and I can’t believe it’s finally here.” You can take your pick from the big event’s many offerings, but Molly told us about a couple of her favorites, saying, “I’m really looking forward to the parade and the (Queen’s) Tea because they’re public events and everyone in the community can come and join in and be a part of the Rose Festival.” Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — A victory in federal court Wednesday for Twitter, Facebook and other large social media sites hoping to retain the right to censor offensive content. A three judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court siding with the social media giants, temporarily blocking a Texas law from being enforced until the US Supreme Court can take it up. Republican State Senator Bryan Hughes, of Mineola, authored the law. Tech industry representative NetChoice filed suit to stop it.
MARSHALL — A 16-year-old in East Texas is injured after they were reportedly shot in the chest on Wednesday night, according to the Harrison County Sheriffâs Office. According to our news partner KETK, deputies responded to the scene on Tom Woodley Road around 9:20 regarding a reported accidental shooting of a 16-year-old. Officials said the teen had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, was transported to a Longview hospital by Marshall Fire EMS and is âreported to be in stable condition.â âThis incident is an ongoing investigation by the Harrison County Sheriffâs Office, and no further details are available at this time,â officials said. âSheriff Fletcher would like to remind the public to practice safe firearm safety and storage, especially around children.â
MARSHALL — The city of Marshall is following up after a tragic mistake. According to a news release, on September 30, around 9 a.m., Marshall Animal Control (MPAC) received a call about a dog trapped on a fence. Animal Control officers say they arrived and found the dog hanging by the leg, injured and extremely agitated. The dog was rescued and transported to the Marshall Pet Adoption Center, where officials say she was assessed and treated. Texas law mandates a three-day hold for stray animals. In this case, the dog was held for seven days, according to a news release. However, officials say, with no claim of ownership and no inquiries about the dog, along with the dogâs continued aggressive behavior and a deteriorating condition, staff followed current protocols and humanely euthanized the animal. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Wednesday’s Tyler City Council meeting was another busy one. The city engineering department presented a study of a reverse curve between Gleneagles Drive and Shady Oaks Drive on West Grande Boulevard, where there have been several fatal and multiple non-fatal crashes over the past 10 years. The traffic engineer recommends work including new signage and striping, a new asphalt surface, and more. Officials say the city will implement the signage and striping immediately, then move forward with the rest of the project. Read the rest of this entry »
AUSTIN — October is another strong month for sales tax allocations in Tyler and Longview as the two cities continue to reflect a statewide trend. Tyler gets $5,063,802 from the state comptroller’s office, compared to $4,290,319.71 last October. Tyler’s year-to-date figure is $48,193,329.90; a year ago at this time it was $43,824,616.59. Longview is receiving $3,476,324.17 this month, a jump from the $3,051,313.34 it was handed in October 2021. For the year to date, Longview has collected $36,258,278.47, up from $31,539,533.18 last October.
LONGVIEW — Longview officials announced shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday that Hawkins Parkway had reopened from Fourth Street to Eastman Road after crews worked to address a diesel spill following an early morning crash. The wreck involving a passenger vehicle and tractor-trailer at Hawkins and Eastman resulted in the release of diesel fuel onto the roadway, which appears to have run off into a neighboring creek. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been notified.
ATHENS â Officials say the remains of an Athens native killed in World War II will be interred Oct. 21 at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Arkansas. According to our news partner KETK, U.S. Army Pvt. John P. Cooper went missing during a battle in Germany in 1945. The War Department issued a presumptive finding of death for him in 1946. Cooper was accounted for this past June after his remains were identified through circumstantial evidence and dental, anthropological, and DNA analysis.
TYLER — After being put on hold because of the pandemic, plans to build a new Smith County courthouse are being discussed again. According to our news partner KETK, community members met at a town hall meeting to learn more about the bond proposal. The bond will be up to the community to vote for or against in the November election. âThereâs no room in the courthouse for what we are doing, and we are putting the public in jeopardy,â said Precinct 4 commissioner, JoAnn Hampton. The proposal will build a new courthouse and closer parking garage. A closer parking area will allow jurors to not have to walk two blocks from the juror parking lot. Community questions and concerns were heard at the town hall meeting. Read the rest of this entry »
GILMER — A Gilmer resident claimed a winning ticket worth $5 million in one Texas Lottery scratch-off game. According to our news partner KETK, the ticket was a part of the scratch game â$200,000,000 Cash Blowout!â and the ticket was purchased at Tiger Express on Highway 271 in Gilmer. The winner elected to remain anonymous. The lottery said this was the second of four top prizes worth $5 million to be claimed in this game. The first was claimed in Corpus Christi in March. â$200,000,000 Cash Blowout! offers more than $225 million in total prizes,â the lottery said. âOverall odds of winning any prize in the game are one in 3.38, including break-even prizes.â
TYLER â To help reduce fatalities in East Texas, TxDOT launched a program called âBe Safe, Drive Smart.â According to our news partner KETK, âWalking billboardsâ were on the UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College campuses to spread the word about driver and pedestrian safety. The walking billboards wore human-sized signs on their backs with reminders of road safety. Road fatalities are not just a big city issue, small and medium size markets are not immune. Jaywalking is illegal and dangerous, a ticket can be issued if someone is caught. According to TxDOT, the winter and fall months are the most dangerous time of the year on the roads because of low visibility. âUse reflective clothing, carry a flashlight, something like that so motorists are aware that you are out there,â said TxDOT Public Information Officer, Jeff Williford.
SMITH COUNTY â People in one Smith County neighborhood say car burglars are keeping them awake at night. According to our news partner KETK, the rash of burglaries happened on Oct. 4. People in the Flint neighborhood near County Road 148 FM 2493 say they are frustrated with the recent crimes, urging others to make sure your vehicles are properly locked at night. Sergeant Larry Christian with the Smith County Sheriffâs office says the four burglaries were within a 1/4-mile radius early that Tuesday morning all in the same neighborhood. Because of this, investigators said they believe the burglars could potentially live in the area. He says the suspects have been going up to cars just to see if they are locked to see which ones are unlocked making for easy pickings. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Gilmer man has been arrested in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a Longview motorcyclist last week. According to our news partner KETK, Victor Frausto-Lopez, 37 of Gilmer, was identified as the driver of the car that caused the crash and fled the scene. Frausto-Lopez was arrested by Longview police officers and an Upshur County sheriffâs deputy without indicent after officials said a warrant was obtained for his arrest. He was arrested for accident involving injury or death. The Oct. 5 crash on West Marshall and Bill Owens Parkway killed 25-year-old motorcyclist, Tristen Gore, of Longview.
SMITH COUNTY — Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Congressional Candidate and Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran. According to our news partner KETK, in a statement posted Monday to Trumpâs Truth Social account, he said Moran would make an âoutstandingâ representative for the district. âAs the Judge of Smith County, Nathaniel is a Proven Conservative who knows how to Lower Taxes, Grow the Economy, and Create Jobs. He Strongly Supports our Brave Law Enforcement and Veterans, Election Integrity, Secure Borders, and our under siege Second Amendment,â Trumpâs statement continued. Moran tweeted on Monday to say he received a call from Trump endorsing him. Read the rest of this entry »