Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
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.
LINDALE – A firefighter from the Lindale Fire Department had surgery on Saturday after being struck by a burning tree that fell on him on Friday while they were responding to a call. Firefighters were dispatched to the 14000 block of County Road 496 at approximately 5:53 p.m. on Friday due to a reported burning tree, according to the Lindale Fire Department. A firefighter was struck in the arm when the tree suddenly collapsed while they were attempting to put it out. He received emergency care on the spot before being transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Garrett Rose was identified by the department as the injured firefighter. He will probably require another surgery in the future, according to a family friend.
PANOLA COUNTY – One man was shot and a woman was injured after she reportedly jumped from a vehicle that was involved in a pursuit near the Texas-Louisiana border in Panola County on Friday.
According to our news partner KETK, dispatchers got an open-line 911 call at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday. In the background of the call, they could hear a man and a woman arguing. The woman on the call then reportedly told dispatchers that she had jumped from the moving vehicle and was injured. Sheriff’s office deputies, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, the Flatwoods Volunteer Fire Department and UT Health EMS were all sent to where the woman’s phone was pinged on FM 2517 near County Road 4702 and the state border with Louisiana.
A deputy and sergeant with Panola County Sheriff’s office stopped the vehicle on FM 2517 near County Road 470. The driver was identified as the woman caller’s brother, Napolean Cordell “Polie” Lockett of Beckville. The sheriff’s office said Lockett then fled in his vehicle by turning onto FM 3359 and heading towards Louisiana before he reportedly turned onto County Road 455 where his vehicle crashed and rolled over. Read the rest of this entry »
TRINIDAD – The City of Trinidad named Cameron Bechham as their new interim police chief during a city council meeting on Thursday. According to our news partner KETK, Bechham was sworn in after the Trinidad City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of naming him the new interim police chief.
The decision to name Bechham police chief was made following the recent resignation of Charles Gregory, who resigned less than two weeks ago, following ongoing controversy involving the city’s water rights.
During Thursday’s meeting, the city council also voted unanimously to establish a water advisory committee to address the ongoing water problems that have plagued Trinidad residents for years.
Tyler – The Juneteenth parade begins on Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. Various roads will be closed, beginning at 9 a.m. The parade will start at Glenwood Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, then proceed east on Martin Luther King Jr., turn north on Border Avenue. It will then turn west on West 26th Street, turn north on North Glass Avenue, and continue east on West 32nd Street, ending at the intersection of 32nd Street and North Broadway Avenue.
Motorists are encouraged to plan alternate routes and expect temporary traffic delays in the area during the event. Officers will be present to assist with road closures and detours.
City leaders appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as they work to ensure a safe and successful Juneteenth celebration for our community.
TYLER – On Thursday, a Frisco woman entered a guilty plea to first-degree child injury. Authorities accused Frisco resident Kamilla Musser, 47, of repeatedly abusing her child, leading to her arrest in Tyler in May 2024. She was sentenced to ten years of probation, which cannot be ended early, after entering a guilty plea to causing serious bodily injury or serious mental deficiency/impairment to a child through intentional, knowing, reckless, or criminally negligent actions. She is prohibited from communicating with the victim or the family involved in this case. She will also be imprisoned for ninety days. She will also not be able to renew her teaching license in Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
MINEOLA – After attacking an elderly man, a California man was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and given a 15-year prison sentence. The Wood County District Attorney’s Office reports that Arne Arthur Oliver, 46, of California, received a sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that was only five years short of the 20-year maximum. After less than an hour of deliberation, a Wood County jury found him guilty on June 16. Oliver must complete half of his sentence before being eligible for parole because the offense involved the use of a deadly weapon. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for financial abuse of an elderly person after an investigation connected him to victims who’ve lost over $2 million dollars, according to our news partner KETK.
On April 7, investigators met with a 77-year-old woman who had reported that one of her friends, whom she had known for years, had taken over $200,000 in checks from her. The friend reportedly told her that he’d been arrested and he persuaded her to post a $34,000 bail. A few days later, the bail bond company, to whom she gave a check, threatened to report her to the Smith County District Attorney’s office after her check bounced. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK — A bicyclist is dead after reportedly falling onto the roadway and being struck by an 18-wheeler on Highway 84 in Rusk on Wednesday evening, according to Rusk officials and our news partner, KETK.
Rusk Police Sgt. Jeremy Farmer said the fatality happened at around 8:50 p.m., when Charlotte Goff, 55, was riding her bicycle along the roadway near Loop 343. Police said she fell onto the roadway and was then struck by an 18-wheeler that was passing by.
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Brenda Dominy pronounced Goff dead at the scene. The driver of the 18-wheeler stopped and is cooperating with the police, Farmer said. At this time, no criminal charges have been filed.
The investigation is ongoing.
TYLER – In the case against a Tyler woman accused of fleeing the scene of a collision that killed a 19-year-old bicyclist, a judge on Wednesday granted a 30-day continuance. The defense requested the delay, which was granted during a pre-trial hearing in the 241st District Court.
Andrea Somer Tanner is accused of being involved in a collision that occurred on December 7 on East Fifth Street in Tyler. A car hit a 19-year-old man riding a bicycle and then drove away, according to arrest records. After being transported to a hospital, the victim died from his wounds. Read the rest of this entry »
TROUP – A Smith County Grand Jury has indicted a man for his involvement in the June 2024 arson of a Troup mobile home, leading to his arrest. The indictment states that Raymond Earl Thorndyke IV of Bonham was charged in August 2025 with arson of a mobile home located in the 700 block of East Paschal Street in Troup. According to the indictment, Thorndyke used a device to ignite an ignitable liquid inside the mobile home, setting it on fire. Natalie Nulf, a 35-year-old woman from Troup, was detained for the arson and entered a guilty plea in November 2025. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – Charlotte Goff, 55, was identified by authorities as a bicyclist killed in an 18-wheeler collision on Wednesday night, according to Rusk police. The collision happened in the 1200 block of U.S. Highway 84 close to Loop 343 at approximately 8:50 p.m., according to investigators. Preliminary findings revealed that Goff was riding a bicycle when an 18-wheeler passed by and she fell into the road. Goff died at the scene after being hit by a truck. She was declared dead by Cherokee County Justice of the Peace Brenda Dominy. Read the rest of this entry »
ATHENS – According to Henderson County authorities, a shooting investigation in Athens resulted in the discovery of suspected drugs and the arrest of three people on Tuesday night. Investigators were called to the 400 block of Jonathan Street in Athens on Tuesday after a building was hit by several bullets, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators found the following items in a backpack while they were helping at the scene: two big plastic bags that possibly contained cocaine, a big plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana, digital scales and smaller plastic bags that are consistent with the distribution of drugs. Additionally, a bottle that appeared to contain Xanax pills was taken from the home by investigators. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The City of Tyler Main Street program has been designated as a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program. The program is one of 838 nationally recognized Accredited Main Street America organizations and is part of a network of more than 1,600 communities leading positive commercial district transformation efforts throughout the United States.
“Receiving our 2026 accreditation signals that our efforts in leading revitalization, partnerships, and programming are in line with a greater movement happening nationwide: transforming historic downtowns into destinations that a community can be proud of,” said Main Street Director Amber Varona. “Main Street has worked to ensure this forward progress is advocated for and that the everyday person living, working and playing Downtown is represented in these revitalization and programming efforts.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Dozens of Tyler workers could lose their jobs by the end of June after John Soules Foods abruptly moved to end its sanitation contract with Fortrex, putting the company’s entire on?site workforce at risk.
Fortrex said it may have to shut down its operations at the facility effective June 26, which would affect all 84 Fortrex employees working at the John Soules Foods plant at FM 14 in Tyler.
The John Soules Foods plant itself will continue operating and is expected to bring in a different sanitation provider.
“The unforeseen business circumstances related to John Soules Foods, Inc.’s decision to immediately cease operations at its plant are not something that we anticipated,” Fortrex said in a statement. “We hope that this notice will be helpful to you in making a smooth transition.”
TYLER – A $25,000 reward has been offered by the FBI for information that results in the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for the shooting of a five-year-old. On the evening of May 29, Josiah Williams was shot at the Victory Parks Apartment in Tyler. For emergency care, Josiah was flown to a hospital in Dallas. Over thirty shell casings were found at the scene by investigators. Josiah was an innocent bystander, and officials believe the incident was gang-related. According to the FBI, multiple people are thought to have participated in the shooting, and all of the suspects are men.
BULLARD – Drivers in Bullard should prepare for detours next week as TxDOT shuts down several streets to continue its widening project along Main Street.
The closure will stretch from Main Street down to South Houston Street, and officials are urging drivers to avoid the area while work is underway. To get around the construction zone, motorists are encouraged to use North Phillips Street and West Emma Street as alternate routes.
The project is expected to last through next Friday.
HENDERSON COUNTY – Local leaders in Henderson County held a workshop on Tuesday to discuss a proposed data center near Key Ranch Estates on Cedar Creek Lake. During the meeting, community members voiced significant concerns regarding the project’s potential impact on the lake, particularly the risk of water depletion.
According to our news partner KETK, the proposed data center’s water requirements sparked worries among residents, who fear that water levels at Cedar Creek Lake, considered the heart of their community, could be depleted. The workshop aimed to inform the community and allow residents to understand the potential impact on their area. Read the rest of this entry »
Smith County – Smith County and surrounding areas have seen an uptick in scam calls — specifically, calls that instill fear by making it seem a family member is in danger and you need to pay to save them.
Smith County Precinct 4 Constable Josh Joplin and a local woman, who had experienced one of these scam calls, say they can seem so real, even using the sound of someone in distress to sell their story. The calls from unknown people range from kidnapping a loved one to crying out that a daughter’s been in a crash. These scammers are capitalizing on the fear.
Tammy Humes says she received a phone call from a regular, wireless number with a local area code, urgently stressing that her daughter had been in a car crash, and money was needed to tow her car. In the background, she could hear a woman yelling, “Mom!”
“A parent’s gonna freak out hearing that their child’s in an accident,” Humes said.
Humes said she recognized the caller was not able to provide a location of the call or identify the daughter, instead only saying he needed her credit card information. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Caldwell Zoo announced the birth of two healthy ocelot kittens Monday. The kittens and their mom, Maya, are slowly warming up to this new world in a secluded den where zoo keepers are tending to them quietly to avoid disturbing the new litter.
“Ocelots are endangered because their habitat (the thick brush where they live) has been cleared for farming and growth of cities,” Texas Parks and Wildlife said. “Only about 30 to 35 Ocelots live in the shrublands remaining at or near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge near Brownsville, Texas. In 1995 it was estimated that 80 to 120 individuals lived in Texas.”
According to our news partner KETK, the species was deemed endangered in 1972 and has remained in that category ever since.
Landowners local to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and into Mexico play a crucial part in these animals’ survival as a species. Across Texas, hundreds of generational farm/ranch properties are trying to rewrite history by saving brush habitats on private land. Read the rest of this entry »
CHANDLER — As more controversy surrounds the City of Chandler, two city officials have submitted their letters of resignation, causing further turmoil for the city. The resignations were submitted by Utilities Director Justin Bolton and City Engineer Brian Capps, according to our news partner KETK. In a letter, it was announced that Capp’s tenure with the city will conclude on Wednesday, while it is uncertain when Bolton’s last day will be.
Capps and Bolton’s decision to resign comes less than two weeks after city administrator Kalon Rollins issued his resignation, claiming it was in his best interest to remove himself from a “toxic atmosphere” in the city’s government.
Rollins’ resignation comes after a Thursday city council meeting where Chandler city council members considered taking action against Rollins and the current Chandler Police Chief Johnny Foster for improper spending, bond issues, social media policy and hiring policies. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – CHRISTUS Health announced the installation of a new weapons detection system designed to enhance associate, patient and visitor safety protocols. The system uses artificial intelligence to detect firearms, ceramic weapons, explosives, and other threats. The system is installed at the entrance of the emergency room at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. It is known as the Xonar Threat Detection System. The system using shape, material and dimensional analysis for threat detection.
“In the emergency department, our focus is always on delivering timely, compassionate care to every patient who comes through our doors,” said Dr. Colt Smithson, chief of emergency medicine for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. “This investment in enhanced security helps support that mission by creating an environment where patients, families and Associates can feel safe, supported and focused on care.” Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Tyler Mayor-elect Stuart Hene says communication and transparency will be key priorities for his administration, especially as residents raise concerns about a proposed Bitcoin mining operation near a residential neighborhood.
According to our news partner KETK, Hene, who attended most of the meeting while coordinating with council members to avoid creating a quorum, said the gathering offered an important opportunity to hear directly from residents.
“It was a good opportunity for us to listen and hear feedback, not just from the people proposing the project, but also from the people who live in that neighborhood,” Hene said.
Hene emphasized that the proposal being discussed involves a Bitcoin mining facility, not a traditional data center. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Smith County Commissioners have taken the first step toward creating the Northeast Groundwater Conservation District, a multi-county initiative aimed at protecting water rights and natural resources across East Texas.
According to our news partner KETK, the proposed district would allow Smith County to work alongside neighboring counties and state lawmakers to help safeguard local water resources. The district would be a partnership among 16 East Texas counties and would be led by the East Texas Council of Governments. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — The White Oak Community Church has created a fundraiser to help the family of Tracy Fears after he was killed in a car crash in Rusk on Saturday.
According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash was caused when Tanner Templeton was driving westbound on FM 1639 and while he was approaching the intersection, he drove past a stop sign without stopping and was struck by a pickup truck traveling northbound on FM 3053.
After striking Templeton’s car, one of the trucks driven by Tracey Fears was pushed into oncoming southbound traffic and struck head-on by another truck. After being hit by the truck, Fears was pronounced dead on the scene and his two passengers were taken by helicopter to a local hospital after suffering serious injury.
Following the crash, the trooper noticed that Templeton had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath, along with glassy eyes and slurred speech, prompting the trooper to issue a field sobriety test. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two reports of dogs stolen from their homes over the weekend. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, on Saturday, they were notified that a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd named “Pickles” was stolen from its owners’ backyard on FM 850.
Later that day, the sheriff’s office received an additional report that a 14-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd named “Molly” had been stolen from her owner’s residence on County Road 43.
The sheriff’s office does not believe there is any connection between the two thefts at this time, as they occurred on opposite sides of Smith County. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of either of these two dogs, please call the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600.