Today is
Saturday June 06, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – All non-emergency Smith County offices will be closed for business on Monday, January 19, 2026, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Offices will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, January 20, and Commissioners Court will be held at its normal time, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Smith County Annex Building, located at 200 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler.
TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) announced on Monday that construction of the Old Jacksonville Highway expansion project will be pushed back for a few more years.
According to our news partner KETK, on Monday, during their open house, the organization said they would hold construction until 2030, two more years than anticipated, as they wait for tech stock to buy the property needed and “move the utilities that’s going to be involved with the project.”
“It’s just taking a little bit more time than was originally forecasted. So that is really what is kind of pushing this project back a little bit, but it is definitely still moving forward, and we still see it happening,” MPO Director Michael Howell said.
The project is set to widen the highway from four to six lanes, affecting Loop 323 and FM 2813 in Gresham. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — An Athens traffic stop led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive and the seizure of marijuana, methamphetamine and drug distribution tools on Monday. According to our news partner KETK, a Henderson County narcotics investigator and K-9 deputy conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation and detected an odor of marijuana from the vehicle at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the 500 block of West Corsicana Street on Monday.
The deputies identified the driver as 32-year-old Armond Jamal Roberts, who kept giving different names due to being a wanted fugitive from the sheriff’s office. While conducting a search of the vehicle, deputies located a large gallon bag that contained marijuana along with small bags and scales that are commonly used in narcotics distribution. Additionally, the deputies found two plastic bags containing several small, bright-colored pills, which tested positive for suspected methamphetamine.
Roberts was arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail is being held under a $104,285 bond for manufacture or delivery controlled substance and his warrant
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 Tuesday to submit an application for the Sheriff Immigration Law Enforcement Grant. Our news partners at KETK report that Senate Bill 8, which instructed the Texas Comptroller to create a grant program to support sheriffs in counties with fewer than a million residents that take part in the 287(g) program, is the source of this grant. This grant is provided directly by the state. The $100,000 grant is available to Smith County, which has a population of over 200,000. If granted, the funds must be used within two years.
Commissioner for Precinct 4 Ralph Caraway Sr. voted against the application, but County Judge Neal Franklin, Commissioners Christina Drewry, J. Scott Jerod, and John Moore voted in favor of it during the commissioners’ court meeting on Tuesday.
AUSTIN (AP) – Several appeals in some of Texas’ highest-profile capital punishment cases are set for 2026 as the state continues to maintain a historically low number of executions.
2025 marked the second year Texas was not the leading state in executions in a single year, but the state is still the overall leader nationally in the death penalty. Harris County alone, which handed down its 300th death sentence last year, accounts for more executions than any other state.
But Texas’ executions have gradually declined in the last decade, and in 2025 the low number of executions was in part fueled by two last-minute stays. Their resolutions, however, along with a third successful appeal for another death row inmate, may still ultimately result in executions.
Read the rest of this entry »
KILGORE — An East Texas theater company has been awarded a $25,000 grant for its 2026 season as a part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration. According our news partner KETK, the Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College was one of 50 arts projects across the country to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as a part of the federal initiative, “Celebrating America250: Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.”
The National Endowment for the Arts was named a key partner in developing the National Garden of American Heroes, an executive order dedicated to recognizing notable historical figures.
The grant is awarded to arts projects in any discipline that celebrates the contributions to American history of one or more national heroes. Read the rest of this entry »
WINNSBORO — A former and a current Winnsboro Independent School District superintendent were arrested Monday on charges related to failing to report child abuse. According to our news partner KETK, Brian David Wilcox, Ashley Wilcox and Aaron Nation were booked into the Wood County Jail on Monday, the school district on Monday.
Wilcox is charged with two counts of failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal and remains in the Wood County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Nation faces charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and failure to report child abuse with intent to conceal. His bond was set at $40,000 and has since been released. Wilcox previously served as Winnsboro ISD superintendent before resigning in September 2025 to take another school position. Nation has served as the district’s interim superintendent since Wilcox’s resignation and was named the district’s new superintendent on Jan. 6. His arrest comes just a week after his appointment. Read the rest of this entry »
CUMBY, Texas (KETK) — 56 dogs were seized from a property in Hopkins County, just weeks after a video surfaced on social media showing the owner shooting at a dog and leaving it for dead.
The owner’s attorneys told KETK News on Monday that the video’s portrayal and the ensuing speculation on social media are misleading. Here’s what we know:
Giant German Shepherds
Kristine Hicks and her family own and operate the Giant German Shepherd’s Ranch in Cumby, where a variety of German Shepherds are bred to serve as family companions, guard dogs, service dogs or working dogs.
Hicks’ attorney states that for over 20 years, Hicks and her family have been “legally breeding, raising and rescuing” German Shepherds. They have provided dogs to officers in Dallas, Fort Worth and the Waco area. Additionally, the dogs they have bred have been sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Army Special Forces and they have donated puppies to disabled Marine veterans.
“Their reputation with law enforcement, military and civilian customers is impeccable and their accolades and experience speak for themselves,” her attorney’s office said.
Arrest made, dogs seized
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office said Hicks was arrested on Dec. 21 and was charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal. Additional state and federal agencies have been contacted for assistance in the ongoing investigation into the ranch.
Hicks’ lawyers claim that the dog killed in the video had a large mass of tissue that was dragging on the ground and causing the animal discomfort.
Hicks welcomed investigators and the Animal Investigation and Response team to the property on Jan. 1 for an animal welfare check. Their statement claimed that an investigator told them there was no criminal neglect at the ranch.
Yet, shortly after their visit, federal law enforcement contacted the SPCA of Texas to assist in removing the dogs from the property.
“This situation required an immediate and coordinated response for a large number of animals, and we are grateful for our experienced and compassionate staff members whose expertise is critical in providing lifesaving care,” SPCA of Texas senior vp and chief operating officer MeLissa Webber said.
On Saturday, SPCA staff loaded 56 dogs into crates and took them to the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center, where they plan to medically evaluate and forensically examine the animals.
Threats made to Hicks
Hicks and her family have received countless death threats since the video surfaced.
“Every night has become a nightmare as they attempt to return to a sense of normalcy, not knowing whether further verbal or direct threats to their lives will occur. Kerra, the dog referenced in the video, had developed a grapefruit-sized mass on her breast tissue that was dragging on the ground and causing significant discomfort,” Hicks’ lawyers said. “They have been fully cooperative with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Animal Investigation and Response team throughout multiple visits to their property and look forward to clearing their names in court.”
MARSHALL — A former Marshall ISD teacher was sentenced to six months in jail and placed on deferred adjudication probation after pleading guilty to an inappropriate relationship with a student.According to our news partner KETK, 25-year-old Margaret Claire Burris, was arrested Feb. 2024, and charged with an improper relationship between an educator and a student, police said. The case was first reported to the Marshall Police Department in early February by the Marshall ISD Police Department.
According to investigators, they found text messages and photos exchanged between Burris and the student, some of which were sexually explicit. The evidence was obtained after a search warrant was executed on the student’s cellphone. Burris pleaded guilty Jan. 8 and was sentenced to 180 days in the Upshur County Jail and 10 years of deferred adjudication probation. Under Texas law, if the defendant successfully completes deferred adjudication probation, the charge may be dismissed and no formal conviction is entered.
CASS COUNTY — 
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who has not been seen since December, according to our news partners at KETK. Authorities say Isabel Tresidder was last seen leaving her residence on Dec. 31, 2025, with a man driving a black Honda Civic. Her family has not heard from her and is concerned about her safety. Tresidder is 18 years old, stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds and has blonde hair. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
MOUNT ENTERPRISE – The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and our news partner KETK have confirmed that one person is dead after a serious crash has blocked State Highway 315 to the north of Mount Enterprise on Sunday. County Emergency Services officials have not released the name of the lone fatality, nor has any information regarding any injuries.
TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities is performing smoke testing, as part of the Consent Decree, to help locate breaks and defects to improve the City’s wastewater system from Monday, Jan. 12 through Friday, Jan. 16. The testing will be conducted by Pipeline Analysis from Cumberland Road, Locklear Lane, Paluxy Drive and South Broadway Avenue.
During the process, air and smoke will be blown into the sanitary sewer system in the street to monitor where smoke escapes the system. White smoke will exit through vent pipes on the roofs of residences and through any sewer line breaks in the ground. The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue and does not create any fire hazards. Read the rest of this entry »
MOUNT ENTERPRISE – Rusk County Emergency Services said that a serious crash blocked State Highway 315 to the north of Mount Enterprise on Sunday. According to Rusk County Emergency Services, a crash between vehicles possibly resulted a death at around 5:35 p.m. on State Highway 315, just to the north of the City of Mount Enterprise. Officials said they expected the crash to block the roadway until around 8:30 p.m. while they investigate and clean up the scene.
The roadway has since reopened.
HENDERSON COUNTY – A man has been arrested for capital murder in connection to the 2018 killing of Gabriel and Beverly McBride of Chandler.
According to our news partner KETK, in 2018, Gabriel McBride, 47 of Chandler, and his daughter, 17-year-old Beverly McBride, were both found shot to death in their home to the south of Chandler. New evidence, witness information and years of investigation led to an arrest warrant to be issued in this case for Lance Kaeden Rains, 25 of Chandler. Rains was taken into custody on Saturday and is currently being held in the Henderson County Jail on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. Rains is being held on a $2 million bond.
The sheriff’s office thanked the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, the Henderson County Attorney’s Office, the Midwest City Police Department of Oklahoma and the community for their help in this case.
SMITH COUNTY — A routine traffic stop for speeding in Smith County resulted in the arrest of a man wanted on a drug-related warrant. Authorities also seized nearly $30,000 in cash, a firearm and evidence suggesting a money laundering scheme. According to our news partner KETK, Smith County deputies stopped a vehicle on Dec. 28 along Highway 31 East and identified the driver, Tyler James Starling, who was wanted on an active warrant for possession of approximately 10 pounds of marijuana that authorities say had been smuggled and left at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Starling was taken into custody, and deputies searched his vehicle, where they seized a handgun, a cellphone and $29,528 in cash, Smith County arresting documents revealed.
When asked about his employment, Starling told deputies he owned a trucking company. Investigators later confirmed the company existed but found the LLC had been inactive. A search of the Texas Workforce Commission showed no reported work history for Starling, and company mileage records indicated roughly 1,000 miles driven since the business was formed in 2021. Read the rest of this entry »