Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Jury Duty has been cancelled for Monday. If you received a jury summons for January 26, you do NOT have to report to the Courthouse, the District Clerk’s Office announced. Smith County officials are monitoring the weather and will announce at a later time whether non-emergency county offices will be closed Monday.
LONGVIEW – The Longview ISD broke ground on their new Early Childhood Learning Center Thursday. Our news partner KETK reports that the new center will be built on the site of Jodie McClure Elementary with around $61.8 million in voter-approved bond funds. The multi-building facility would house thirty classrooms, a library, a kitchen and a gymnasium. The 79,000-square-foot facility will house pre-kindergarten children between the ages of four-years-old and just six weeks old.
EAST TEXAS — Due to the winter storm and freezing temperatures this weekend, several community events and high school sports have been cancelled or postponed . Our news partner KETK has a running list – you can find it here. To see the list for Monday school closings, click here.
LONGVIEW — The City of Longview hosted their annual Homeless Resource Day on Thursday at the Longview Exhibit Center, bringing together service providers and volunteers to support the city’s unhoused population. According to our news partner KETK, the event connected attendees with critical resources, allowing individuals to access services on-site or to enroll in assistance programs. Organizations unable to offer direct services participated by volunteering to help meet immediate needs throughout the day.
To remove transportation barriers, Longview Transit offered free shuttle service to and from the event for those without reliable transportation. City officials are also encouraging community members looking to help to visit the City of Longview’s website for information on donating or supporting local efforts that serve the homeless population.
MARSHALL —
A reported threat received by Wiley University earlier today has been investigated and determined to be not credible, according to the Marshall Police Department
(MPD).
Wiley University officials notified MPD after receiving an email referencing an “imminent threat.” Although the threat was ultimately deemed not credible, MPD responded immediately
and initiated a full investigation to ensure campus and public safety. MPD immediately coordinated with Wiley University President Herman Felton and his staff, along with Wiley
Police, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – 
Freezing temperatures are projected for Tyler and the surrounding areas from Friday, Jan. 23 through Monday, Jan. 26. City officials are monitoring the situation and strongly advise residents to watch the weather forecast, winterize their homes and safely use space heaters and generators. Emergency service capabilities are at full strength, and City departments are in frequent communication with each other to ensure that all necessary preparations are in place. The Tyler/Smith County’s Cold Weather Response Plan is available to review. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – With a winter storm expected to impact East Texas this weekend, local shelters are opening their doors to serve as warming centers for residents in need. Our news partner KETK has put together a list of warming centers open to the public, with updates to follow as additional locations announce openings for the weekend. You can view that list here.
SMITH COUNTY — 
Our news partners at KETK report that a former Smith County Constable was sentenced to two years in jail on Tuesday after violating probation terms. Former Smith County Precinct 1 Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris was initially sentenced to five years of probation after being found guilty of theft while executing an eviction notice in December 2022. Traylor-Harris began his two-year sentence on Tuesday, after violating his probation. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — 
An 18-wheeler truck from Utah delivered 42,000 pounds of mixed goods to the East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) in Tyler. The donation, totaling 25 pallets, was provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to support hunger relief efforts across East Texas. The donation from the Church is part of its ongoing global effort to help individuals struggling with urgent temporal concerns by addressing immediate hunger needs, supporting improved nutrition, and promoting long-term food security. The shipment includes a variety of mixed canned and boxed goods such as vegetables, chili, fruit, beef, peanut butter, dried milk, and numerous other items. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – NETRMA will be preparing Toll 49 for the predicted winter weather hitting the area. Efforts include putting brine on bridges and main lanes throughout all of Toll 49. Communications Director Colleen Colby has tips for drivers who still need to hit the roads.
“We’d ask our drivers to be extremely cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps and turns, any areas that might freeze first,” Colby said. “We’d ask all of our drivers to reduce speed, to allow extra time to reach their destination. Make sure you increase the distance between yourself and any other vehicles and should you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of the skid.”
For safety purposes, NETRMA is also asking drivers to stay back at least 200 feet from vehicles treating roadways, and most of all, be patient. Should anything happen, authorities urge drivers to stay in their vehicles. And if you’re stranded, make sure to call 911 to get the appropriate help that you may need.
RUSK — Former Rusk Police Chief Scott Heagney is seeking reinstatement after his termination earlier this month, according to a grievance filed with city leadership. According to our news partner KETK, Heagney, who was fired on Friday, has submitted an internal grievance to the city manager, mayor and city council requesting speedy and retroactive reinstatement. His attorney, David Schleicher of Waco, said the termination occurred while Heagney was actively cooperating with the city to schedule a required fitness-for-duty exam.
City officials previously said Heagney was terminated after an administrative review, citing that he was unavailable during duty hours while on administrative leave without requesting alternative leave.
“We look forward to Mr. Heagney immediately being returned to serving as Rusk Police Chief,” Schleicher said. “Though we believe the order for a fitness-for-duty exam was not justified, we will continue to cooperate in getting the exam scheduled and completed.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – TxDOT crews continue to prepare for the winter storm forecast for East Texas. Crews have been preparing roadways around the eight-county district for potentially icy conditions. Brine operations on bridges and roadways susceptible to wind and ice started Wednesday.
I-20 and other major roadways were also treated with a brine solution consisting of salt and water designed to help slow the initial freezing on pavement.
Crews have readied equipment and materials and will continue to monitor the roadways throughout the weekend. Drivers should allow a safe traveling distance between their vehicles and the mobile convoys. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – An estimated 1,000 students from Tyler High School and Legacy High School walked out of classes on Tuesday afternoon in protest of recent ICE activity. According to our news partner KETK, the protest remained peaceful and students who participated created signs and posters urging local law enforcement to end their partnership with ICE’s 287(g) program, which Smith County commissioners approved in February 2025.
Students who organized the protest stated that they would no longer sit idly and watch ICE terrorize communities nationwide. Tyler High English Teacher Stacy Brazill approved her students’ decisions to participate in the protest due to the fear and anxiety the presence of ICE in East Texas has created in their families. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Caldwell Zoo has welcomed the new year with six newborn greater kudu calves. The Caldwell Zoo had a successful year for its African hoofstock band, welcoming six female greater kudu calves in December. Several members of the herd became first-time mothers in 2025.
According to our news partner KETK, the zoo’s dedicated veterinary team and animal keepers worked diligently to ensure the mothers are comfortable and recovering well.
With all of the calves being born during December, it was crucial to make sure the zoo staff jumped in quickly to keep them safe and warm during the first few weeks of their lives. Most of the calves are being bottle-fed at this time to get their necessary nutrients as moms, babies and the herd adjust to these new additions. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK — More than a month has passed since 57-year-old David Blount disappeared in Cherokee County, leaving his family in a daily struggle for answers amid growing heartache. With no leads, family members said law enforcement does not know where to search anymore and are now urging people to come forward with any information.
Jessica Blount and Justin Blount, David’s niece and nephew spoke with KETK News and mentioned that David would sometimes go for periods without communicating with family members. However, this time it raised immediate red flags. Family members said David goes on fishing trips to Lake Striker but always lets his neighbor know to watch his home. His red truck was discovered along the Neches River four days after he went missing. His family found it strange since he typically fished at lakes rather than rivers and no fishing pole was found in his truck.
Additionally, a kayak was located, but they mentioned that he hadn’t gone kayaking in years. Read the rest of this entry »