Today is
Monday July 20, 2026
OVERTON – The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that a single-vehicle collision in Overton on Thursday morning has left one person dead. According to officials, the collision occurred on State Highway 323 close to County Road 125 at around 6:00 a.m. No further information regarding the collision has been made public as of yet. The Overton Police Department is advising people to take a different route and stay away from the area. Additionally, they requested that people offer prayers for the affected individuals and their families.
MARION COUNTY – Following an officer-involved shooting in Marion County on Wednesday night, a man was transported to a hospital in Shreveport. Around 7:15 p.m., deputies responded to a domestic incident in the 2700 block of Highway 49, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputies arrived, they encountered a man who then fired a rifle, striking a patrol car belonging to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Dejae Brown and Alana Mumphrey voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement sometime Thursday. This according to Longview Police Department Public Information Officer LaDarian Brown. The investigation is ongoing.
LONGVIEW – An ongoing assault investigation is underway by the Longview Police Department after one woman was left seriously injured early Sunday morning. The incident took place outside of Whiskey J’s, a local bar in Longview, early on Sunday morning and led to the arrest of Ciarrianne Fuller, who was taken into custody on Tuesday after being charged with assault causing bodily injury. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A fresh watermelon is a Texas Fourth of July staple, but growers across South Texas are facing a tough season as persistent rain and cooler temperatures slow production. Texas A&M AgriLife reports that the unusually wet weather has fueled weeds, insects and crop diseases, all of which make growing and harvesting far more difficult in one of the state’s most important watermelon?producing regions.
According to our news partner KETK, in East Texas the ripple effects are already being felt. Sparks Enterprise Stand, located off Highway 155 in Tyler, has sourced its melons from Grapeland for eight years and says supply?chain prices have climbed. Even so, owner Bianca Woods says they’re keeping customer prices steady, topping out at $15 per melon, because “we’re in business for the people.”
Despite the challenges in South Texas, Woods says crops across the Pineywoods have remained steady. Early?season melons may not be as sweet due to the lack of sunshine, but growers expect flavor to improve as sunny days return and fields begin to dry out.
KILGORE – The East Texas Oil Museum will open a new exhibit July 3, “One Texan’s Improbable and Unimaginable Journey: Albert ‘Pappy’ DeHart’s Best-Worst Seat in History,” highlighting the life and military service of an East Texas native whose experiences placed him at the center of one of World War II’s most significant events.
The exhibit chronicles the journey of Albert “Pappy” DeHart, who was born in Jacksonville and raised in Marshall. During World War II, DeHart served with the 509th Composite Group, the unit responsible for carrying out the atomic bomb missions over Japan in August 1945. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A man was arrested in Longview on Monday after he was involved in a crash on Mobberly Avenue that left a 44-year-old woman dead, according to Longview Police, and our news partner, KETK.
Police say officers responded to a report of suspicious activity when they found a vehicle that was allegedly in a crash at around 12:30 a.m. When officers tried to make contact with the driver, he fled in the vehicle. Police said he was later stopped and arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Chamber of Commerce convened local developers, engineers and government officials on Tuesday for a briefing on proposed revisions to the federal Waters of the United States regulations that could significantly reshape how water resources are managed across Texas.
The session focused on emerging federal guidance and the potential ripple effects for water quality, permitting and land-use planning at the state and municipal levels.
The proposed updates follow a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the definition of federally protected waters. In response, federal agencies are revising their rules, a move that could transfer substantial regulatory authority from Washington to state and local governments.
SMITH COUNTY – According to arrest records, a man from the Dallas area assaulted a Smith County deputy on Sunday morning while attempting to take the deputy’s gun and repeatedly resisting arrest. Members of a nearby church allegedly intervened to assist, according to the documents. Delano Davis is accused of resisting arrest, assaulting a peace officer, trying to steal a weapon from an officer, and interfering with public duties. Since Sunday, he has been detained at the Smith County Jail. Around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday, a Smith County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a call regarding a man stepping in front of moving cars close to County Roads 165 and 168 in the Flint-Gresham area, according to an arrest affidavit. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: Emiliano Lorenzo Alonzo Ebanez was taken into custody at around 5:41 p.m. on Wednesday, the Jacksonville Police Department said. He will be transported to the Cherokee County Jail, where he will be processed for booking.
JACKSONVILLE – An 18-year-old Rusk man was identified by the Jacksonville Police Department as a suspect in the Lincoln Park shooting. According to Jacksonville police spokesperson Amanda Bragg, Emiliano Lorenzo Ebanez is regarded as armed and dangerous. In a press release, she stated that if Ebanez is spotted, the public is “strongly advised” to stay away and to call the police. Jacksonville police received several 911 calls about a shooting near Lincoln Park, close to Davis Avenue and Holloway Avenue, at approximately 9:35 p.m. on Sunday.
According to a press release, officers found three adult males who had been shot, and private vehicles transported them to nearby hospitals. According to reports, their condition is stable.
A sizable crowd gathered in the 7-Eleven North parking lot while responding officers tried to disperse them. Around 10:10 p.m., more gunfire was reported in the area. According to Bragg, the reports of the shootings are being looked into. Call Jacksonville police at 903-586-2546 if you have any information.
TYLER – The push to modernize the Water Business Office came from our customers. Over the past several years, utility customers have asked for more payment options, better account information, and tools that make managing utility accounts easier. On Wednesday, June 24, the City of Tyler took another step toward those goals when the new utility payment system went live.
The new payment provider, Invoice Cloud, introduces several expanded features designed to give people more flexibility in how they pay and manage their accounts.
Anyone currently enrolled in autopay will need to re-enroll in the new system. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Keep the momentum. Build for the future. That’s the message Stuart Hene carried throughout his campaign, and it’s the trajectory he plans to continue as he steps into his new role as Tyler’s mayor.
On Wednesday, June 24, elected Mayor Stuart Hene was sworn into office for the 2026-2028 term. He brings 5 years of experience serving as the District 1 councilmember from 2021 to 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to public service and the Tyler community.
Throughout his campaign, Hene emphasized the importance of building on the foundation created by City improvement projects. His goals include: Investing in infrastructure and public safety. Strengthening neighborhoods and housing. And, building opportunities for the community and maintaining the quality of life.
Hene plans to accomplish his vision for a better Tyler by continuing collaboration between council members, City employees, and all of his constituents. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – A judge in Henderson County has given the prosecution a deadline to decide whether to pursue the death penalty for a suspect in a double murder. Chandler resident Lance Kaeden Rains, 25, showed up for a pretrial hearing in Judge Scott McKee’s courtroom Wednesday morning. Rains is charged with the shooting deaths of Chandler residents Gabriel and Beverly McBride in December 2018. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – In order to help with the construction required to reopen the North Northeast Loop 323 extension to U.S. Highway 271, Smith County commissioners approved on Tuesday allowing Texas Department of Transportation workers to enter a portion of Camp Ford. Due to excessive rainfall in May 2024, a culvert washed out, closing that portion of Loop 323 to traffic for more than two years. There, a bridge will be constructed by the Texas Department of Transportation. In the coming weeks, construction is anticipated to start. Commissioners authorized a temporary construction easement for TxDOT workers to help build the bridge during their Tuesday meeting. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL — A Waco-based real-estate company has secured a contract to start landscape and renovation work at the former Marshall High School to transform it into a new lofts, they announced on Tuesday. After working with the city and visiting the site to take bids, Versatile Real Estate Company will begin its extensive work on the property’s landscape and renovations to the building on July 6, the company said.
According to our news partner KETK, the building will be restored and given a new purpose through Versatile’s contract by creating modern loft residences and community gathering areas. According to the company, the soon-to-be Marshall Lofts “celebrate the character of the past while creating a vibrant, connected community for the future.”
We are excited to share this wonderful rendering of what the old Marshall High School will look like once our project is complete,” Versatile said. “Thank you to the City of Marshall and most of all the people who live in the community for your extreme patience, and enduring the experience of seeing the Historic site in its current state.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Tyler Parks and Rec Department held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate Stewart Park, which will be the newest park to open in Tyler in more than 20 years.
The park is located on Frankston Highway and is named after the Stewarts family, who previously sold their land to the city and made an important impact on the city’s education in the community.
Additionally, the park will serve as the starting point for the Legacy Trail Extension, a 12-foot-wide multipurpose trail that runs through W.E. Winters Park and connects to Peete Elementary School.
The park will also include playground equipment, a pavilion, and picnic areas as well as new bathrooms. The city said the goal is to complete the park by the end of this year.
SMITH COUNTY — Amid a surge in cryptocurrency scams sweeping East Texas, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith convened regional lawmakers Monday in an urgent bid to confront what he warned is becoming a rapidly escalating threat. According to our news partner KETK, the meeting was attended by several lawmakers, including Sen. Bryan Hughes, State Representatives Cole Hefner and Daniel Alders, and the Captain of the Texas Federal Crimes Intelligence Center, Jeff Roberts.
Driven by a spike in cases, Smith convened the meeting after a growing number of East Texas seniors were coerced into depositing thousands of dollars into Bitcoin ATMs, funds that vanish instantly and are rarely recoverable.
Unfortunately many East Texans have failed to realize they were being scammed before being left in financial ruin. In early May, a Georgia inmate orchestrated a crypto kiosk scam by directing an elderly Smith County woman to a local crypto kiosk after claiming they were a sheriff’s office employee. The scam resulted in the woman losing $13,000 and the scammer was charged with theft from the elderly. Read the rest of this entry »
MINEOLA – Ahead of wildfire season, Anheuser-Busch, delivered over 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments across the country, including several in East Texas.
The donations provide volunteer firefighters with vital resources during wildfire season as their resources are often restricted due to limited department budgets.
“Anheuser-Busch is proud to periodically pause brewing beer at several of our breweries in order to produce clean emergency drinking water that is then provided to volunteer firefighters across the country,” External Affairs Officer Cesar Vargas said. “Our partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council to support front-line first responders builds on our 100-year legacy of being there to support our communities when natural disasters strike.” Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – A Chandler man has been incarcerated for allegedly pushing and striking a two-year-old, causing fractures to his legs and skull. Joshua David Brooks, 23, is accused of causing harm to a minor. On June 15, Henderson County deputies received reports of a two-year-old child who had been taken to a hospital in Tyler due to head injuries. This prompted the start of the investigation. An arrest affidavit listed a six-millimeter fracture of the skull, tibia fracture, brain shift of four millimeters, swelling of the brain, and a bruised and swollen eye as injuries. The two-year-old’s mother was dating Brooks, who later admitted to deputies that he had bathed the child and placed her on a rug. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County Animal Control is seeking the public’s help in identifying a person who recently abandoned multiple puppies in front of a community office near Lake Palestine. According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Animal Control said the individual who unloaded the puppies from his truck and left them in front of their office on Saturday.
Smith County was able to obtain video of the person dumping the pupies and is asking anyone who regonizes the person or their truck to call animal control at (903)-266-4303.
You can view that video from KETK here.
SMITH COUNTY – Smith County earned the 2025 Safety Achievement Award from the Texas Association of Counties Risk Management Pool for its record of commitment to safety in the workplace.
Several TAC representatives presented the award during Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday, June 23.
TAC representative Harold Hall said Smith County was one of only 17 counties out of 254 in Texas to receive the honor. He and other representatives talked about their work with some of the county’s largest departments, like the Road and Bridge Department and the Sheriff’s Office. They also work with the Human Resources and Purchasing Departments.
Hall said he often works with the Smith County Road and Bridge Department and called them one of the best to work with. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY – A new state report revealed that Longview ISD teacher Kimberly Law was driving with a blood alcohol level nearly double the legal limit before the April crash that killed her and a Longview nurse practitioner.On April 19, DPS responded to a collision at around 3 a.m. on Sunday in the Diana area involving Law and Hospitality Health ER nurse practitioner Joel Mack.
According to our news partner KETK, Law was allegedly driving south on the northbound lane of U.S. 259 when she struck Mack’s vehicle, which was driving north in the same lane, a preliminary investigation revealed. Law was pronounced dead at the scene and Mack was transported to a local hospital for his injuries.
Mack later died from his injuries, DPS said.
KETK News obtained a TxDOT crash report, which says Law was found to have a BAC of 0.157%. The legal limit in the U.S. is 0.08%. According to Alcohol.org, a BAC over 0.15% is considered “very high,” with symptoms such as a less control over balance and voluntary muscles, which makes walking and talking difficult.
“However, a person’s BAC level is not only affected by how much alcohol is consumed but by other factors such as an individual’s weight, gender, pattern of drinking and genetics,” the website said. Read the rest of this entry »
WOOD COUNTY – A man from East Texas was given a 25-year prison sentence for repeatedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old. On June 15, Donald Ray Cady, 45, of Alba, entered a guilty plea to charges of persistent sexual abuse of a young child. After that, he received a 25-year sentence. In addition, he was mandated to pay $1,100 in fines and court expenses. Additionally, Cady is not permitted to be within 200 yards of the victim or their parents or to interact with them in any way. According to the Wood County District Attorney’s Office, he must also register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life. Read the rest of this entry »
CAMP COUNTY — A crash that happened on U.S. Highway 271 Sunday afternoon left two siblings dead, after a vehicle collided head-on with an 18-wheeler in Camp County, officials say. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Adam Albritton, troopers responded to the two-vehicle crash just south of the Titus County line at approximately 2:32 p.m. According to our news partner KETK, preliminary investigation found that a white Nissan Altima, driven by 16-year-old Gavin Brooks of Mt. Pleasant, was traveling northbound on Hwy 271 when the Nissan crossed over into the southbound lane and collided with a semi-trailer.
Brooks and the passenger of the Nissan, 21-year-old Morgan Brooks were both pronounced deceased on the scene, DPS said. The driver of the semi-trailer was transported to a local hospital for their injuries.
Mount Pleasant ISD, where both Morgan and Gavin attended, released a statement on Monday following the tragic crash.
“Our hearts are broken at the loss of our students, Morgan Brooks, who graduated in 2023, and her brother Gavin Brooks-Thompson, a Class of 2027 senior,” the district said. “MPISD extends our deepest condolences to their family, friends, teachers, and classmates and the entire community of Mount Pleasant.” Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE – As the new Kilgore ISD High School nears completion, the district was awarded nearly $50k from Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) on Monday for energy-saving initiatives recently installed on campus. According to our news partner KETK, the incentive donation follows the district’s installation of energy-efficient systems, including LED lighting and an advanced HVAC system. SWEPCO stated that the energy saved by these initiatives can power 30 East Texas homes for one year.
“We are grateful for the partnership with SWEPCO and the Compass for Schools team throughout the construction of our new Kilgore High School,” assistant superintendent of administrative services for Kilgore ISD April Cox said. “These incentives will provide long-term operational savings while supporting an exceptional learning environment for our students and staff for years to come.”
SWEPCO stated that the $49,502.62 awarded to the district will go directly towards benefiting students entering the new high school. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A man was arrested in Longview on Monday after he was involved in a crash on Mobberly Avenue that left a 44-year-old woman dead. According to the Longview Police Department, officers responded to a report of suspicious activity when they found a vehicle that was allegedly in a crash at around 12:30 a.m. When officers tried to make contact with the driver, he fled in the vehicle. Longview PD said he was later stopped and arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle.
According to our news partner KETK, the officers continued to investigate the crash and later found the body of 44-year-old Taneka Shepard near the intersection of Mobberly Avenue and Level Street. The driver, identified by Longview PD as Danny Bozarth Jr. of Longview, was then also charged with collision involving death.
Longview Police Department is currently investigating the crash and anyone with information is urged to contact them immediately at 903-237-1188.
Tyler – As families across East Texas prepare to celebrate Independence Day, UT Health East Texas is reminding the community to put safety first. Each year, thousands of people nationwide require medical treatment for fireworks-related injuries during the July 4 holiday, with children and young adults among those most affected.
While many serious injuries involve professional-grade or illegal fireworks, even small devices like firecrackers and sparklers can cause significant harm.
“We see a wide range of injuries in the emergency room during the Fourth of July holiday,” said Brittany Ray, RN, trauma services education and injury prevention specialist. “Even sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals, making them especially dangerous for children.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – A person is in the hospital after crashing into a Longview residence and causing significant damage, according to our news partner KETK. The accident occurred Monday morning officials say. The driver is facing “priority 1 injuries” and has been transported to the hospital after being pulled from the vehicle according to the Longview Fire Department. The department says they have stabilized the structure with the help of 16 personnel that responded to the scene.
JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville police are looking into two shooting incidents that happened on Sunday night, including one near a nearby park that injured three. The Jacksonville Police Department reports that at approximately 9:35 p.m., several 911 calls reported a shooting near MB Davis Drive and Holloway Ave. in Lincoln Park. Three men with gunshot wounds were discovered. Private vehicles transported them to nearby hospitals for medical care. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS – Some rescued dogs and cats from East Texas are being prevented from leaving the state on transport flights due to New World screwworm concerns in Texas. More than sixty animals from East Texas shelters were scheduled to be transported by Wings of Rescue to adoptive homes and out-of-state partners, but as a precaution, some destination states are no longer accepting animals from Texas. Shelters claim that because fewer animals can be placed out of state as a result of the change, overcrowding may get worse. Read the rest of this entry »
HAWKINS – Candidates running for Hawkins City Council seats informed voters a month ago that, if elected, they would deal with a number of issues, including the lack of a police department. They started the process of doing just that this month. Kayla Ross and her fellow council members unanimously decided to start accepting applications for the position of city police chief during her first full meeting as mayor on Monday night. That is the first step toward reviving the city’s police force, which was shut down a year ago by council members and former mayor Deb Rushing.