Today is
Thursday July 23, 2026
Tyler – Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET) is pleased to announce the relocation of its workforce center to the Midtown Centre. The new Tyler workforce center location is now open to the public and operates at the Midtown Centre shopping center on 1421 South Beckham Avenue. The business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Workforce Solutions East Texas is a community partnership providing no-cost recruitment and employment services to businesses and job seekers in the East Texas area. The chief elected officials in the region, the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board, and the board’s administrative agency, the East Texas Council of Governments, elected to lease the 28,500-square-foot facility. The boards approved entering a seven-year lease term with three three-year extension options.
Additional assistance is available to veterans, individuals with disabilities, and people who have been dislocated from a job. Details on workforce center locations and service hours can be viewed here.
MOUNT VERNON — A former NBA player and current East Texas resident is looking to make a transition in politics by running for mayor of Mount Vernon in the upcoming May election.
Greg Ostertag and his family moved to Mount Vernon in 2015 and he has since been an active member of the community. He has also been an active member of the school district, volunteering to coach local sports, officiate high school basketball games and serve as a substitute teacher.
Prior to Ostertag and his family moving to East Texas, he spent over 10 years playing in the NBA, including a nine-year stint with the Utah Jazz. Ostertag ended his playing career in 2012 following a brief stint with the Texas Legends.
Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – A Dallas woman has been arrested in connection with a terroristic threat that placed Rusk ISD on a secure hold on Wednesday morning, Rusk officials confirm. According to our news partner KETK, Rusk ISD went on a secure lockout on Wednesday following a reported threat to the primary school. The lockout, which prohibited anyone from entering or leaving the school, has since been lifted, the district said.
Rusk Police Sgt. Jeremy Farmer told KETK News that the threat was found to be non-credible, but because of the large police response, Trinishia Sandles was arrested with the third degree felony of terroristic threat. During the investigation, authorities were able to locate Sandles in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, who allegedly made the initial call. Sandles is believed to have been facing a “mental health-related concern.”
Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – After almost two years since he was last seen, a Brownsboro missing man was found dead in an abandoned house in Henderson County on Monday. According to our news partner KETK and Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, authorities received a call about what appeared to be a dead body in a vacant house on County Road 3606. The man was identified as Brady Booth, who was last seen in Brownsboro in 2024.
The body was found “heavily decomposed,” but no physical trauma was reported in the preliminary autopsy. Foul play is not suspected at this time, Hillhouse said.
Located on the scene were the same clothing Booth appeared to be wearing in camera footage of his last known appearance, Hillhouse said.
The case is still under investigation as authorities wait for a toxicology report, which could take up to 12 weeks.
TYLER — A popular retail shop has unexpectedly closed its doors after the corporation recently filed for bankruptcy. The Painted Tree, which has several stores across the country, opened at the Village at Cumberland Park in 2024 and has since been a staple for residents looking to purchase home decor, gifts and a variety of different clothing options. According to our news partner KETK, the boutique provided a venue for small business owners to sell their merchandise and receive consistent profit.
The store announced on Tuesday that it has decided to cease all business operations and will no longer conduct any further sales at the location.
“We understand the impact this has on you and your business, and we are truly sorry,” the Painted Tree said. “We know many of you have invested significant time, energy, and resources into building your spaces at Painted Tree, and this is not the outcome any of us hoped for.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Members of Indivisible Smith County and the East Texas Organizing Coalition rallied outside Congressman Nathaniel Moran’s office Tuesday, demanding he back a War Powers Resolution to halt what they called an unauthorized march toward conflict with Iran. The demonstration came after Moran publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy “an entire civilization.”
On our weekly In Focus program, Moran said while he backed efforts tied to U.S. national security, including targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he believes certain language being used goes too far. “Certainly, I do not agree with and do not support the notion of destroying a civilization,” Moran said. “That goes beyond where we need to go as a nation.”
The protesting organization is urging the congressman to invoke a War Powers Resolution, which would check the president’s authority to engage the nation in armed conflict without Congressional approval. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON — One East Texan just got a million dollars richer, claiming the top prize ticket of a Texas Lottery scratch ticket game. According to the Texas Lottery, an anonymous Henderson resident claimed the winning ticket of the Million Dollar Loteria game purchased at Green Top C Store at 1203 Kilgore Drive.
The store is eligible for a $10,000 bonus under the Texas Lottery’s Retailer Bonus program. The claimed prize was the sixth of 10 top prizes worth $1 million, Texas Lottery said.
MARSHALL – Traffic delays are expected on Interstate 20 in Marshall following a crash on Tuesday afternoon involving two 18-wheelers. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), said the crash occurred on I-20 going westbound near FM 3251 and involved two 18-wheelers and an SUV. Both westbound lanes of I-20 are currently closed, and the DPS is advising drivers to seek an alternative route until the roadways reopen. A DPS spokesperson could not confirm if any injuries were sustained during the crash.
CHEROKEE COUNTY – County officials released a statement regarding the arrest of a jailer: Jonathan Mendez, 28, of Jacksonville. Mendez was arrested after Sheriff Brent Dickson was made aware of Mendez allegedly falsifying his timesheet. Detectives developed evidence indicating that Mendez had falsified his Cherokee County timesheet for personal financial gain. After a warrant was obtained, Mendez was subsequently arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Jail the same day on a tampering with government records charge . His bond was set at $10,000.
EAST TEXAS — Law enforcement officials responded to a potential threat reported to Troup ISD via phone call Monday. The school was placed on lock-down. According to a statement from the Troup Police Department, all three campuses were secured, allowing only emergency personnel access. At the same time, Troup Police began an investigation into the reported threat.
After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the reported threat was a hoax intended to prompt an emergency response from law enforcement and school officials. Once it was confirmed that there was no credible threat to students or staff, everyone was released in accordance with school safety procedures.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Officials say they have developed several leads.
“Rest assured that the individual(s) responsible will be identified, arrested, and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The safety of our students, staff, and community remains our highest priority. We appreciate the swift response and cooperation from all agencies involved, as well as the patience and understanding of parents, students, and staff during today’s events.” – Troup Police
ATHENS – Athens City Council has hit the pause button regarding potential zoning changes around a data center. Data Center developer Data Factory has leased land in the city. Their website says they plan to open with 10 megawatts of power this year, along with bitcoin mining operations.
Dozens of citizens showed up to Monday night’s city council meeting, with many waiting outside the council chambers. Every resident who spoke in the public comment session of the meeting spoke against the data center. Athens City Council members were set to vote on several potential zoning changes, including codifying what is classified as a data center. Officials say previous zoning laws did not account for this project.
Right now, it’s unclear how much water the center would use. City council unanimously voted to table all zoning items related to the data center. Officials plan to review and research those changes.
TYLER — What began as public backlash over library leadership has now escalated into a federal lawsuit, with former director Ashley Taylor accusing the City of Tyler of violating her constitutional rights and bowing to outside political influence. In the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas last week, Taylor claims she was retaliated against for protected speech and targeted by false attacks from an outside advocacy group. She argues city officials violated her First Amendment rights and allowed Grassroots America – We the People (GRA) to interfere with her employment through what she describes as defamatory public campaigns.
Taylor alleges in the lawsuit the following legal violations: first amendment retaliation, viewpoint discrimination, tortious interference with existing employment relationship.
Count 1: First Amendment Retaliation
The complaint alleges that as director, Taylor’s work involved protected expressive activity such as curation, programming and signage. Yet, the lawsuit claims the GRA launched a multi-year pressure campaign against the library and Taylor. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the City of Athens has been named as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community.
“Congratulations to the City of Athens on earning the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community designation,” Abbott said. “With support from the Texas Music Office, the Texas music industry accounts for more than 196,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs and generates over $31 billion in annual economic activity statewide. Together, we will continue to work alongside communities in every region of our state to create good-paying jobs and boost economic growth.”
The Texas Music Office is a part of the governor’s office which works with communities who are interested in bringing more music to their area by creating a Music Friendly Texas Liaison position in their city government.
Read the rest of this entry »
LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) – A Huntington man was sentenced to a total of 110 years in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of sexually abusing three young children over a span of several years.
According to a statement from Angelina County District Attorney Amy Wren and our news partner KETK, the first two victims in this case where helped by another child to tell their mother and their aunt about inappropriate behavior from Andrew Jacob Shortt, 30 of Huntington, in the year 2012.
“The victims were instructed by their mother not to tell their father and also, that ‘what happens between these four white walls, stays between these four white walls’. Shortt then
moved into the victims’ home and began sexually abusing them more frequently, perpetrating acts that constituted aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child on a regular basis,” Wren’s statement explained.
Three years later in 2015, the victims were able to report Shortt’s abuse of them to their father and the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office. Shortt was arrested that summer but the charges were dropped in 2016 after the victims’ family intervened. Read the rest of this entry »
NACOGDOCHES – Texas lawmakers gathered at the Lone Star Legislative Summit at Stephen F. Austin State University on Friday to talk with East Texans about the area’s ongoing groundwater issues.
2026 marks an interim year for the Texas Legislature, but that’s not stopping leaders from fighting for East Texans and the regions’ natural resources, according to our news partner KETK. The Lone Star Legislative Summit in Nacogdoches brought State Representatives, State Senators and other politicians to the rural community to discuss these issues and more.
Groundwater is held underneath land, and surface water is found in bodies of water. With the Pineywoods holding a lot of resources representatives like Alders feel our water is best kept at home. While retiring State Senator for District 3 Robert Nichols suggested that sharing with other Texans may end up pumping more than what’s needed. He wants to protect East Texas counties from giving too much water to other communities.
Several East Texas communities are still working to create their own conservation districts. Next year, lawmakers will meet to continue debating this issue in the 90th Texas Legislative Session.
TYLER – A Smith County judge will review evidence in Robert Roberson’s case to see if the previous Dallas-based Shaken Baby ruling would warrant a new trial. The state and the defense met on Zoom with Smith Co. judge, Austin Reeve-Jackson, on Friday for a status hearing. Judge Jackson ruled to move forward to re-evaluate evidence from the 2003 trial, 2004, and 2005 appeals.
Roberson is challenging his 2003 conviction for the killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. This hearing stems from an early 2000s Dallas-based case that let Andrew Roark go free because new scientific discoveries debunked the shaken baby theory that convicted him to 35 years in prison.
“I do feel a bit morally affronted that the state’s answer seems to be about trying to inject bias against Mr. Roberson based on a completely bogus representation of record when this is supposed to be about science,” Roberson’s attorney, Gretchen Sween, said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A former Chapel Hill ISD educator is currently under investigation by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). According to an official record of certification obtained by CBS19, Joseph Hewitt is currently under review by the TEA Educator Investigations Division. Hewitt served as the Chapel Hill ISD Fine Arts Director for several years, but has since left the district before the end of the Spring 2026 semester.
The district has removed his listing from their staff page, and Assistant Band Director William Ross is serving in his place. Click here for the original article. Investigative journalist, Sarah J. Fields, was first to report the story.
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) and the Harrison County Special Response Team executed a search warrant at East Houston Street and Fairfield Avenue. The warrant was obtained by the Joint Harrison County Violent Crimes & Narcotics Task Force following an investigation regarding suspected drug-related activity in the neighborhood.
The operation was conducted with assistance from federal law enforcement partners, including
the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as part of a
broader criminal enterprise and drug trafficking investigation.
Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department cut the ribbon on its new in-house training facility on Thursday. The 10,000-square-foot facility is located on E. Commerce St. and will serve officers from across East Texas.
Training to serve and protect East Texas was on full display. Thursday, people in the community were able to see how their local heroes will continue to keep their homes and streets safe. The facility will enable Tyler PD to foster an environment that is committed to consistency in training that will lead to consistency in enforcing the law.
At the end of the month, the Tyler Academy will graduate their sixth class since 2021. In early May, the inaugural class will begin in the new facility.
LONGVIEW – Firefighters from the Longview Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire at a warehouse on Wednesday afternoon. Once on the scene, firefighters observed smoke coming from the burning warehouse and they eventually contained the fire to a single area, which helped minimize damage to the structure. The department used four fire engines and two ladder trucks to extinguish the fire.
No injuries have been reported as employees safely evacuated from the warehouse prior to firefighters’ arrival on the scene. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
RUSK — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has confirmed that the bear spotted last week in the Salem Community near Rusk is the same wandering male seen in 2025. According to wildlife biologist Reuben Gay, the bear is now approaching full maturity and could be on the move again soon. Gay says the young male may roam toward established breeding populations in Louisiana or follow natural corridors along the Neches or Angelina rivers. Either way, residents of Cherokee County are being asked to stay alert and report sightings.
According to our news partner KETK, he’s still in Cherokee County and locals are encouraged to keep watch. Sightings can be reported to the TPWD East Texas Regional Office at 903?566?1626 ext. 209.
What to do if you encounter a bear: Never approach a bear: If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or an air horn, if you encounter a bear at close range, talk calmly while backing away slowly. Do not make eye contact, if a bear approaches you, stand your ground, raise your arms to appear larger, yell at the bear and make eye contact to scare it off, do not run: this can trigger a bear’s chase instinct, if the bear continues to approach, use bear spray according to the manufacturer’s directions to deter it, and do not play dead.
EAST TEXAS – During the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) commission meeting on Thursday, two DPS troopers from East Texas were honored with “Lifesaving Awards” for their heroic actions in 2025. According to our news partner KETK, Trooper James Whitten of Tyler received the Lifesaving Award for taking action while responding to a shooting incident in Smith County on Aug. 6, 2025. Per the DPS, Whitten immediately proceeded to the scene upon hearing about the emergency, recognizing that he was the closest unit. Upon arriving, he noticed the victim’s gunshot wound was actively hemorrhaging with arterial bleeding and applied lifesaving medical aid.
“His prompt intervention effectively controlled the bleeding and preserved the victim’s chance of survival until emergency medical personnel arrived to provide advanced care,” DPS said. “Following the transfer of medical responsibility, Trooper Whitten continued to support Smith Co. Sheriff’s Office deputies by securing the scene and assisting in the collection of evidence vital to the investigation.”
Read the rest of this entry »
MALAKOFF – A months-long investigation came to a close following the seizure of suspected narcotics and the arrest of an illegal drug dealer in Malakoff. According to our news partner KETK, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office investigators executed a search warrant at approximately 3 a.m. on Thursday at a residence at North Smith Street and East Clay Avenue, believed to be where a narcotics trafficker was operating.
There, investigators located digital scales and packaging materials commonly used for distributing illegal narcotics. Large amounts of suspected methamphetamine and crack cocaine were also found in the residence, the sheriff’s office said. Alleged narcotics trafficker Victor Hadnot was arrested on the scene on two counts of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Henderson County Jail and awaits arraignment.
PALESTINE – Former Gettysburg, Pa., Mayor Chad-Alan Carr was arrested on Wednesday in Anderson County on two counts of sexual assault and one count of photography/film on a computer depicting sexual acts involving a child. Carr, who is facing multiple felonies connected to alleged child sex crimes, had posted bail after his initial arrest last month, after a man claimed Carr engaged in inappropriate behavior with him online when the victim was a minor.
Pennsylvania State Police filed new charges Wednesday against Carr after three men came forward with new allegations of physical sexual abuse and inappropriate comments, some of which came when the victims were underage.
According to Adams County Sheriff Josh Fitting, on Wednesday afternoon, a warrant was issued for Carr, and it was determined he was in Anderson County, Texas.
The sheriff’s office coordinated with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, which took Carr into custody. Authorities have confirmed they will extradite Carr from Texas. Carr is scheduled to be arraigned on April 16 at the Adams County courthouse. The former mayor resigned just weeks into his first term after learning of the initial investigation.
TYLER – A former Smith County detention officer was arrested on Wednesday night after he was caught in uniform attempting to solicit sex from what he believed to be a prostitute, according to our news partner KETK. The jailer, David Lofton, was the subject of a prostitute sting operation coordinated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the East Texas Anti-Gang Center.
Officials say, Lofton was communicating with a person he believed to be a prostitute on Thursday. He allegedly told the person that he had cash and they would meet at the Hollywood Theatre after he got off his shift at the Smith County Jail. Lofton, still in uniform, notified the person he believed to be a prostitute of his arrival at the theater. Law enforcement was able to identify Lofton, found he had $1,000 in his possession, and arrested him for solicitation of prostitution.
For the safety and security of Smith County jail inmates, Lofton was transferred to the Gregg County Jail and is being held on a $150,000 bond, Sheriff Larry Smith said.
WASKOM — The Waskom ISD Board of Trustees named Ross Boyett as the interim superintendent on Monday, bringing years of experience in education as they begin the search for a superintendent. According to the school board, Boyett is a proven leader with a strong track record of supporting students and staff.
Boyett’s appointment comes after the death of beloved former superintendent Christopher Guastella, who died in a single-vehicle accident in Shreveport on March 21.
According to the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, Guastella was traveling westbound near Exit 8 of Bert Kouns when his vehicle left the road after possibly experiencing a medical emergency. Guastella was taken to Ochsner LSU Health, where he was later pronounced dead. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – An individual from Smith County was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday after being found guilty of aggravated assault of a public servant. According to our news partner KETK, a Tyler Police Department officer received a call on Oct. 29, 2025, regarding a disturbance at a Holiday Inn. Once on the scene, a woman told the officer that she had been assaulted by her former partner, Shyane Allen, inside a hotel room.
The victim stated that Allen had arrived at her hotel room uninvited and proceeded to punch her in the face before grabbing her by the hair and pulling her across the room. Following the incident, Allen left the room and the victim later received a phone call from the hotel front desk claiming that someone was attempting to obtain a key to their room and that the person matched Allen’s description.
The victim went on to tell authorities that Allen began contacting her by phone to get back into the room, and that she could see Allen outside her hotel room. Allen then began to kick the front door of the room, prompting the victim to call the police. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — New details have emerged in the workplace incident where a City of Longview’s Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection employee died from blunt force trauma caused by a water hose.
According to documents obtained from the Longview Police Department and our news partner KETK, emergency crews were dispatched to the 100 block of Gilmer Road on March 16 at around 1:34 p.m. after receiving a call regarding a city worker getting hit by a high-pressure water hose.
Upon arrival, 23-year-old Buddy Powell was observed to be lying on the ground with “blood coming out of his mouth with a puddle around his head,” a police officer reported. According to crew members, they were working to flush dirt and mud out of a water valve in the street to be able to repair a water leak. The crew chief was operating the controls to the water pressure while Powell was standing over the hole with his foot on a high-pressure hose that was flushing it out. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE – On Tuesday, Anderson County residents heard from Next Era Energy Resources for the first time, the company in charge of building the 1,700-acre natural gas-fired power plant project, which came out of a U.S.-Japan trade deal to help support rising electricity demand. According to our news partner KETK, the company plans to provide 5.2 gigawatts to ERCOT’s statewide power grid and would be NextEra’s largest gas plant in the country if completed.
“It’s three miles away from me, I can see it from my front yard, drinking coffee on my porch where they’re going to build this place, so I’m not happy,” Tennesse Colony Volunteer Fire Chief Eddie Crockett said. “We’ve been a quiet county for a long time and this will ruin it.”
During Tuesday’s presentation, several residents expressed concern about preserving Anderson County’s water supply. Next Era Energy says the plant will operate on an air-cooling system and they are in contact with Trinity River Water Authority.
Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — A White Oak man accused of killing his mother is expected to begin trial next month. According to our news partner KETK, Zachary Keys was initially named a suspect in the death of his mother, Penny Renee Keys, after she was found outside her residence with multiple stab wounds on Dec. 31, 2026. Penny was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Keys was later accused of murder following further investigation and was located in Panola County. He was taken into custody and booked into the Gregg County Jail for murder after a warrant was issued for his arrest. In March, Keys was indicted for murder and is expected to begin trial on May 1 in the 124th District Court in Gregg County.