Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
KILGORE – Several East Texas firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion on Monday after responding to a structure fire near Kilgore. According to our news partner KETK and the Kilgore Fire Department, the fire occurred at a large storage building and residential structure in rural Kilgore.
Crews from several departments across East Texas, including Sabine Fire and Rescue and Smith County ESD 2, began an aggressive fire attack to save the residence. While on the scene, several firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion; however, no further injuries were reported.
PERRYVILLE – Perryville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Daniel Charles Alexander has been ordered to pay more than $49,000 in restitution for failing to work on a private construction project. According to our news partner KETK, Alexander allegedly signed a contract on March 19, 2025, to construct a 40×40-foot shop building for an unnamed victim in exchange for $38,796, but the building was recorded as 30 feet by 40 feet instead of the desired 40 by 40 feet.
Officials said the victim contacted Alexander and he reportedly responded by verbally proposing that he add the extra ten feet for $10,443. They verbally agreed on the added price, and Alexander was paid upfront with two checks, one for $38,796 and a second for $10,443, totaling $49,239.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Dezavion Williams, 20, of Henderson has been offered a plea deal after being accused of firing shots among a large crowd near the Lake Tyler Marina last year. Henderson is charged with aggravated assault (mass shooting) in connection with a May 18, 2025, shooting during a large gathering with hundreds of people. He was offered eight years of prison time with his next per-trial hearing scheduled for May 7, and trail scheduled for May 17. Arrest document stated each round fired into the crowd of hundreds was an “attempt to cause serious bodily injury or death to individuals within the hundreds of people present.”
SMITH COUNTY – County ESD 2 officials responded to a chicken truck rolled over near Winona Monday that reportedly occurred around 11:20 a.m. Dozens of chickens escaped, and crews are currently working to round them up. Authorities, as well as our news partner KETK, report that the driver was not injured, and no other vehicles were involved.
TYLER — Governor Greg Abbott helped dedicate a new Safe Haven Baby Box on Saturday at the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. State Sen. Bryan Hughes and State Rep. Daniel Alders will also speak at the event as the new box becomes officially operational. According to our news partner KETK, Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow mothers in crisis to legally and anonymously drop off their baby in a safe and secure location. Thanks to Hughes’ Senate Bill 780, these boxes can now be installed at infant care hospitals like CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital.
“That is Texas, where we build an infrastructure of hope before you even know who will need it and then you pray, you pray that somebody will find it,” Abbott said.
The first Safe Haven Baby Box in East Texas was installed in 2024 at a fire station in Palestine. The dedication ceremony for the new Baby Box started at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler and UT System leadership hosted the grand opening Friday for the new School of Medicine Building, the physical home of East Texas’ first medical school. The five story facility brings education, clinical care and community services together in one place.
According to the university’s website, the five-story facility is LEED-certified, a globally recognized rating system for green buildings. The building includes 16 clinical skills rooms, a student lounge and four simulation labs. In addition to medical education, the building will provide clinical services by UT Health East Texas clinicians ranging from imaging and women’s health to pulmonary, orthopedic and sports medicine care as well as eight fully equipped surgical suites.
Construction on the $308 million nearly 250,000-square-foot building began in 2023. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – A man has been arrested after Tool Police found a woman who died at a residence on Bradley’s Bend Friday. According to Tool PD, an officer was responding to a possible burglary around 8:35 p.m. when they found a woman who had suffered fatal injuries inside her home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity is being withheld until notifying of next of kin.
A man was also found inside the home and reportedly got into a brief physical altercation with the responding officer, according to our news partner KETK. After the altercation, the unidentified man was arrested but hasn’t been formally charged with a crime yet.
Tool PD, the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers are investigating the case as a homicide. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Tool Police Department at 903-432-2550.
EAST TEXAS – Consumers can save money on emergency supplies while preparing for expected severe weather by shopping at local hardware stores during the 2026 emergency preparation holiday. Prepare yourself during the 2026 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday for emergencies that can cause physical damage like hurricanes, flash floods and wildfires.
You can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free during the sales tax holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to give an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.
This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 27.
These emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price: Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – As Tyler voters head out to the polls, East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran has weighed in on the Tyler mayoral race by throwing his support behind John Nix. In an endorsement video shared to Nix’s Facebook page on Friday, Moran stressed his support for Nix’s “Thrive Tyler” action plan for for the city’s future.
“Today, I want you to know that I am fully supporting and strongly endorsing John Nix to be your next mayor and I want you to know why I think that John is uniquely qualified to lead the city of Tyler in the next few years,” Moran said. “He’s put forward a strong study plan that addresses all the critical needs that plan, the Thrive Tyler plan, is exactly on point for what the City of Tyler needs. So this week, let’s get to the polls.”
Nix and Moran are both Republicans and have both served on the Tyler City Council. Nix is currently running against fellow candidates Shirley McKellar, James Wynne and Stuart Hene.
SMITH COUNTY – Three men have recently been indicted by a grand jury for murder following a Smith County shooting in 2017, which eventually led to the victim’s death. According to our news partner KETK, Joel Camacho, Carlos Ochoa, and Tarrance Reggie were recently charged with murder in connection with the 2017 shooting after the victim, Michael Ross II, died in February 2024.
The shooting occurred on Sept. 17, 2017, and Ross was shot in the side of his head after he was set up and robbed by the three men, according the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said.
Following an investigation in 2017, Camacho, Ochoa and Reggie were arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
All three men pleaded guilty to their aggravated assault charges in 2018 and were sentenced to 20 years in state prison. If convicted of the murder charge, they could face up to a life sentence.
GLADEWATER – A Gladewater man was arrested last month after Gladewater PD discovered he was in possession of over 300 photos depicting children engaging in sexual conduct.
According to our news partner KETK, Gladewater Police Department (GPD), officials received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in December regarding explicit material involving child sexual abuse being uploaded to Google Photos.
Authorities learned that 24 images had been stored in Google Drive and identified the account owner as David Blalock.
Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Nacogdoches County Sheriff Jason Bridges provided an update on Thursday regarding the explosion at the Etoile natural gas well earlier this week. The explosion occurred around 11:20 p.m. on Monday evening. Our news partner KETK said Bridges confirmed that no injuries have been reported, as all workers had evacuated the scene before the blast.
Bridges expressed his gratitude to the local volunteer fire departments who arrived on the scene Monday evening and helped control the fire.
“They are exactly that, they are volunteers, and time and time again I have said what a great job they do and how much our community relies and depends on them, ” Bridges said. “They do a great job for us each and every day and we rely on them so much for what they do.”
The well is currently under what Bridges believes is a controlled burn, and a company from Houston is on the scene to monitor the burn and implement air-quality control measures, as the site is expected to continue burning over the next few days.
TYLER – In a significant milestone for the region, the University of Texas at Tyler has unveiled its cutting-edge School of Medicine Building on Friday morning.
The five?story facility brings education, clinical care and community services together in one place. The new building will not only serve as an educational hub but also as a crucial clinical resource, offering a wide range of services provided by UT Health East Texas clinicians.
From advanced imaging and women’s health services to specialized pulmonary, orthopedic and sports medicine care, the facility is poised to meet diverse healthcare needs. It also boasts eight fully equipped outpatient surgical suites, enhancing its capability to deliver comprehensive medical care.
UT Tyler President Julie V. Philley addressed the attendees, underscoring the university’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and access in East Texas.
UPSHUR COUNTY – A student at the Union Hill ISD has been arrested after officials report the student made threatening remarks on campus. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that due to the severity of the threats made, officials arrived on campus to make the arrest without incident. Our news partners at KETK report that The student has been charged with making a terroristic threat and is currently in the Upshur County Jail awaiting arraignment. No further information on the arrest was provided.
RUSK COUNTY — Authorities are investigating after an East Texas student was hospitalized on Wednesday for consuming suspected drug?laced gummies. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred on a West Rusk CCISD school bus, where at least one student ate gummies believed to be laced with an unknown substance. The student was taken to the hospital, treated and later released.
The district says it is cooperating fully with the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office as the investigation continues. “West Rusk CCISD focuses on the safety and security of our students at all times. As the investigation is conducted and completed, that information will be shared,” the district said in a statement.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the gummies have not yet undergone drug testing, so their contents remain unverified. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD – Bullard and Winnsboro ISD were both awarded state grants this week to help support students with autism. Both districts were selected by the Texas Education Agency to receive the grant, which will provide $530,000 in the first year and $750,000 in the second year to help expand support for students with autism.
According to our news partner KETK, the grant will allow both districts to install the following initiatives that will provide support to autistic students while also providing tools to educators to create a better learning environment: Increasing opportunities for students to learn in inclusive classrooms, using proven, research-based teaching strategies, offering more resources and training opportunities for parents and providing additional training for teachers and staff.
“We are so excited about what these grant funds will allow us to do to better serve our students with autism,” Bullard ISD Director of Special Education and 504 Director Shelley Tiner said. “By working together, our districts are building a strong model that best supports our students and families.”
JEFFERSON — An East Texas judge is disputing accusations that he assaulted both a minor and an adult at a 2025 Halloween party, casting scrutiny on the timing of the adult’s complaint, which surfaced months after the incident. According to our news partner KETK, Marion County Judge Leward LeFleur, who ran uncontested in the March 3 Republican Primary, was first accused of a Class C assault misdemeanor against the minor at a fall 2025 party. After the county recused itself, the case was handed to the Morris County District Attorney’s Office.
The City of Jefferson was then handed the case for review, where acting Jefferson City Attorney George Hyde requested additional information on the allegation from the Jefferson Police Department. There, they discovered a second assault that an adult alleged happened at the same Halloween party.
“After receiving this information, it revealed additional information regarding the alleged assault and included information and a new complaint against Judge Lafleur arising from the same event and which occurred close in time to the alleged assault,” a statement from Hyde’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety has released details of a two vehicle accident that killed a Longview nurse practitioner and a Longview ISD teacher last weekend. According to the DPS, the collision occurred early Sunday morning in the Diana area involving Longview ISD teacher Kimberly Law and Hospitality Health ER nurse practitioner Joel Mack.
Law was allegedly driving south on the northbound lane of U.S. 259 when she struck Mack’s vehicle, who was driving north in the same lane an initial investigation revealed. Law was pronounced dead at the scene and Mack was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.
DPS said Mack has since died from his injuries sustained in the accident.
RUSK COUNTY – A cyber tip from the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children lead to the arrest of an East Texas man possessing child pornography on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, investigators obtained an arrest warrant for 35-year-old Christopher Smith II of Mount Enterprise following the cyber tip. A search warrant was also obtained to locate any additional child pornography he may have in his possession.
The sheriff’s office and a Texas Department of Public Safety officer who specializes in digital forensics executed the search warrant at Smith’s home. Smith was taken into custody and several items were seized as evidence, the sheriff’s office said. Smith is currently in the Rusk County Jail under a $65,000 bond for his possession of child pornography charge. According to the sheriff’s office, the case is still under investigation and may result in additional charges.
TATUM – A safety concern along a stretch of highway in East Texas is getting attention after the Tatum police chief made a public plea for action. The concern is along State Highway 149, from the city limits traveling south to Tatum Middle School, where on Tuesday, an 18-wheeler hydroplaned into oncoming traffic before slamming onto school property.
Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Traffic along Interstate 20 entering Lindale is back open after an 18-wheeler crash backed up traffic for miles. Our news partner KETK reports that the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on I?20 between U.S. 69 and FM 14. DPS officials reported that a pickup truck carrying a camper lost control on the interstate and an 18?wheeler struck the camper from behind. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
JACKSONVILLE — An infant was safely reunited with their mother after being briefly kidnapped, with law enforcement locating the toddler in a wooded area in Jacksonville. According to our news partner KETK, Jacksonville Police responded to a welfare check on Wednesday at around 1 p.m. on Myrtle Drive. A man had reportedly entered a residence and took a 1-year-old child. The man was later identified as Brian Damon Black, 42, of Jacksonville.
The initial caller was concerned that Black was seen walking into a nearby wooded area with a child. The child was located unharmed and reunited to the mother.
Black was located a short time later in a wooded area near Skyline. He was arrested following a brief pursuit.
Black was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on charges including burglary of a habitation, kidnapping and evading arrest or detention.
LINDALE — The Texas Rangers are investigating the death of a Lindale ISD student following a choking incident at school, district officials confirmed on Wednesday. In a letter addressed to parents and the community, Lindale ISD said the student, Adrian Thompson, suffered a medical emergency that prompted immediate lifesaving efforts on campus. According to our news partner KETK, staff responded by performing the Heimlich maneuver, using a LifeVac device and administering CPR. Emergency services were then called, and Thompson was transported for treatment before being taken to a medical center in Fort Worth.
The district commended the actions of staff, including teachers, aides, the school nurse and first responders, for their quick response. Lindale ISD also emphasized that safety protocols and lifesaving equipment have been in place across the district for medical emergencies.
The Texas Rangers are now leading the investigation into the incident. District officials said the findings will be shared with Thompson’s family and the community once available. In addition, Lindale ISD said it will seek an independent review of its safety equipment and emergency response procedures. Read the rest of this entry »
HIDEAWAY – Drivers on Interstate 20 east near Hideaway should expect significant delays Wednesday evening after a crash involving an 18-wheeler and a pickup truck towing a camper. The crash happened around 5:30 p.m. on I-20 between U.S. 69 and FM 14. According to preliminary information from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the pickup truck lost control on the interstate and an 18?wheeler struck the camper from behind.
TxDOT cameras show a miles-long backup in the eastbound lanes, where only one lane remains open. Traffic is moving slowly through the area. Injuries are currently unknown. People are asked to avoid the area at this time.
MARSHALL — The Marshall Police Department announces the arrests stemming from a large-scale disturbance that occurred on March 29, on Sanford Street. The incident involved about 300 individuals during a large party and prompted an extensive criminal investigation by Marshall Police.
Responding patrol officers made initial contact with the disturbance and arrested four individuals for offenses directly related to the incident. Officers also recovered three firearms at the scene. Following the initial response, Marshall Police Detectives initiated a comprehensive investigation of evidence collected during the incident.
Through this investigation, Detectives identified 14 individuals who actively participated in a riot as defined under the Texas Penal Code.
Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — The City of Longview is urging pet owners to take preventative measures to protect their animals due to a potential uptick in wildlife carrying diseases, including distemper.
According to the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center (LACAC), animal control officers have responded to 26 calls involving raccoons so far this year. Although the LACAC does not frequently test animals for distemper, they stated that local raccoons are showing symptoms similar to the disease.
Distemper is a viral disease that can pose a serious risk to unvaccinated dogs as it attacks their respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Dogs at high risk of being impacted include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not received their vaccinations.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – For the 17th consecutive year, the Arbor Day Foundation has named the City of Tyler a 2025 Tree City USA, honoring its continued commitment to effective urban forest management.
Tyler earned this national recognition by meeting the program’s four core requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, allocating at least $2 per capita toward community forestry and holding an official Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
For the tenth year, the city also received the Tree City USA Growth Award. This award recognizes environmental improvement and a higher standard of tree care. Tyler is one of only half of the current Texas Tree Cities to receive this honor.
Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Annual Property Tax Assessment documents have landed in the mailboxes of most East Texas property owners.
“Each year, the state reassesses property values and calculates your tax burden based on the assessment that they assign to your property,”Aden Stiles, with S.T.A.R Tax Protest Services, said. “So, every year, all property owners in Texas have the opportunity to protest this assessment to lower their tax burden and save them as much money as possible.”
Homeowners can file a protest on any property that’s taxed, which could be a vacant land you own, your home, or even a commercial warehouse.
The deadline to protest your property taxes is May 15th. You can protest on your own through the County Appraiser or hire a company.
ANGELINA COUNTY — A Lufkin pediatrician charged in a fatal intoxication crash is being held without bond after prosecutors alleged he repeatedly violated court-ordered conditions by drinking alcohol and attempting to drive while out on bond.
Officials say Dr. George Fidone repeatedly violated bond conditions tied to a court-ordered breathalyzer, including driving after drinking April 16. Fidone was barred from consuming or possessing alcohol or nonprescribed controlled substances as a bond condition.
He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on April 18 and is currently being held without bond on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury.
In January, Fidone was involved in a deadly crash that killed an Angelina County man and critically injured his wife. A probable cause affidavit said Fidone had alcohol in his system at the time of the wreck and later tested positive for opioids and THC.
SMITH COUNTY – The Alzheimer’s Alliance of Smith County is partnering with local law enforcement to encourage families to consider Project Lifesaver devices as summer approaches. The program provides radio-frequency tracking bracelets to individuals with dementia who are at risk of wandering.
The initiative involves the Tyler Police Department, the Lindale Police Department and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, who aim to quickly locate loved ones in minutes rather than hours or days.
The device emits a radio frequency signal, enabling quick location tracking if a person goes missing.The program is available to anyone who might need it, providing a crucial resource for families. Alzheimer’s CEO Bonnie Varner’s Alliance of Smith County emphasized the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and dementia in the area and the program’s potential impact.
“We estimate there’s about 4,500 people in Smith County that have Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Varner said. “This is a very underutilized resource that we would love for more people to participate in. Most people with Alzheimer’s or dementia are known to wander at some point or another, just to know that they have this and they can be found easily is such a peace of mind.”