Today is
Wednesday June 03, 2026
TRINIDAD — Tension ran high Thursday evening as the Trinidad City Council met before a packed room of frustrated residents. From the start, the meeting moved through an agenda that the mayor openly said he did not support. One of the most contentious actions came when the council voted 3–1 to dismiss Municipal Judge Shella Bievens. Moments later, the council voted 3–1 again — this time to remove the city attorney. That was followed by another vote approving the hiring of outside legal counsel for upcoming litigation matters.
For many residents, the decisions felt like a step backward.
What wasn’t on the agenda?
Anything addressing the ongoing water problems that have plagued Trinidad residents for years. As the meeting ended, attendees said they were deeply disappointed, not only by the actions taken but by the issues left unaddressed by the people elected to represent them.
“I truly believe we need to start over with a new city council,” Gray said. “They are not for us. They are for themselves — not for the residents of Trinidad.”
BULLARD – The City of Bullard announced on Friday that it will raise water rates for all customers on its water system by 15%, starting in June. In a letter posted on social media, the city says data from a 2024 comprehensive review of its entire water system helped officials determine the true cost of every water connection. They also learned what revenue level the city would need to maintain the reliability of its current water system and to begin building adequate water reserves for future growth in water demand. The Bullard City Council then reviewed and discussed its comprehensive review.
The City Council found that increasing water system expenses and high demand meant that they would have to raise water bill rates for city water system customers. The council has now unanimously voted to approve a 15% increase in water and wastewater rates, which will take effect on June 1 and be reflected on July water bills. Read the rest of this entry »
PALESTINE– A criminal investigation in Palestine led to 14 people being arrested for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine and guns. According to the Palestine Police Department and our news partner KETK, the investigation was conducted through a joint partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security investigators and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The investigation was launched to address drug and gun trafficking in Palestine and concluded with 14 people being arrested for drug-related charges. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – After receiving a grant worth over $300,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in the 2025 cycle. According to our news partner KETK, the TWC presented TJC staff and state and local officials with the $325,293 grant in a ceremony on Friday. The funding will support students training to be veterinary technologists and technicians and the purchase of medical training equipment for the program.
“These grants will provide students in East Texas the real-world training and technical education they need to have a successful career,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “The future of our state is in good hands because of the education we are providing to young Texans today.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tyler – Early Voting for the City of Tyler mayor runoff election is set for June 1-9. Stuart Hene is currently serving as a Tyler City Councilmember and John Nix is a former City Councilmember are running for the position.
Early voting hours will be:
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 1-5
*9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — A man who is hard of hearing narrowly escaped out of a window when his home caught on fire in the early Thursday morning. According to a county press release, the Smith County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call just before 1:00 a.m., reporting a house fire on County Road 35, north of Tyler.
The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, and no foul play is expected, Fire Marshal Chad Hogue said. One adult resident was inside the home and escaped out of a window with minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital by a family member, was treated and released. Two dogs perished in the fire and the home was damaged to the point where it was considered a total loss, Hogue said.
“No functional smoke alarms were located inside the residence and could have provided advanced warning,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — A former Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) correctional officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday after attempting to bring illegal drugs into the prison last year. Diamond Dunn was arrested in August 2025 after she had agreed to meet with an undercover officer at a CEFCO gas station.
During the encounter, authorities said Dunn took $2,500 and around 71 grams of methamphetamines from the undercover cop with the purpose of bringing the drugs to the TDCJ Boyd Unit, where she worked. Dunn was later charged with bribery and the manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. In April, Dunn was found guilty of bribery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday by the 175th Smith County District Court.
TYLER – On Wednesday, a Longview man was taken into custody in Smith County on suspicion of sexually abusing a young girl and sending her explicit messages. Longview resident Nakerey Gardner, 27, is accused of both online solicitation of a minor and aggravated sexual assault of a child. On Wednesday, he was booked into the Smith County Jail. A mother claimed in an arrest affidavit that her daughter had sex with a man she first thought was 17 years old. Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY – After receiving calls Tuesday evening, Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies were initially sent to a shooting at 165 Pine Valley Road in Harleton. They discovered that Jamail Boer, 38, was dead and that his brother had been shot. According to reports, Boer’s brother filed a report alleging that Boer had stolen multiple firearms, which led to the altercation. Then Boer went into the tiny bedroom and declared his intention to murder his brother. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of their former K9 Lobo, who died earlier this month. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, Lobo and his handler, Deputy Constable Jose Terrazas, retired from the force earlier this year after nearly a decade of service.
During his time on the force, the sheriff’s office said Lobo was an exceptional dog and a trusted companion, a courageous protector and a devoted partner to Terrazas. He will also be remembered for faithfully serving his community with strength and commitment.
“Although Lobo’s watch has ended, his legacy and impact will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and served beside him,” the sheriff’s office said. “His dedication to duty and love for his handler and community will never be forgotten.”
HENDERSON COUNTY — Deputies discovered burned human remains in a backyard barrel after a neighbor reported a strange odor, launching an investigation into a violent dispute between a Henderson County father and son. According to our news partner KETk and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, May 11, at around 8 p.m., officers were dispatched after a neighbor reported a strong, unusual odor and believed a body might be inside a burn barrel.
When deputies arrived, they found a brown barrel lying on its side containing burned human remains. Deputies searched the residence and located an individual in one of the bedrooms who said he did not know about the incident. The neighbors who contacted law enforcement told deputies that Johnny, the father, and Ronny Medford, his son, had been fighting the previous day and into the early morning hours of May 11. Ronny was later seen leaving the residence that morning, and Johnny had not been seen since. The reporting party also said Johnny had come to her home several times seeking help, fearing that Ronny would hurt or kill him. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — As the heat starts to settle in and children’s schedules free up for the summer, several youth camps are opening up their doors and stretching out their hammocks in the Piney Wood’s forests for the upcoming season. For 14 camps in East Texas, however, state approval hasn’t come through yet, leaving cabins empty and lake fun at a standstill.
According to our news partner KETK, as of May 22, 16 of 30 East Texas summer camps that have applied for licensing have been approved by the state, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The new licensing regulations result from Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of several bills, including Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which enhances safety measures for summer camps after the tragic floods at Camp Mystic last summer. Under the bills, state officials require camps to comply with new safety measures, such as installing and maintaining emergency systems, to be eligible for licensing and operation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to police, a man is incarcerated after a woman was threatened and held at knifepoint during the robbery of a Tyler Dollar General. Aggravated robbery is the charge against 62-year-old Richard Gerard Taplin. On April 25, an officer was dispatched to a Dollar General in the 2300 block of West Erwin Street. According to an arrest document, a store employee told the officer that a man, later identified as Taplin, had approached her behind the counter and held a knife up to her side. Taplin, she claimed, insisted that she open the register. The woman told the officer that she believed Taplin would stab her when he said, “If you tell them anything, I will work on you,” as two male customers started to enter the store, according to the affidavit. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Tyler police officers arrested a man over the weekend for allegedly bringing two women into a house he did not own and sexually abusing them. A 911 text was sent by the women, leading to authorities finding and assisting the victims. An arrest affidavit states that an officer was sent to a Walton Road residence after receiving a 911 text that said “help.” Two women were “completely naked and appeared to be afraid,” according to what the officers saw through a window. When the officer asked the women if they were alright, they shook their heads and indicated a room where suspect Heath Butler was. Read the rest of this entry »
FRANKSTON – According to a Federal Aviation Administration report, the plane crash in Henderson County that left its pilot dead on Tuesday morning occurred “under unknown circumstances.” Around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, a small plane crashed in the Frankston neighborhood of Aero Estates, killing a man who was flying it. The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that the Fokker Dr.1 Dreidecker plane crashed close to a private airstrip within the community. The pilot was identified as Frankston-native Mark Whiddon by Henderson County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams. Read the rest of this entry »