Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
SMITH COUNTY – Early voting for the May 26 Primary Runoff Election runs Monday through Friday, May 18-22, 2026.
Statewide runoff races are on the ballot.
U.S. Senator, Attorney General, Railroad Commissioner and Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, Judge are on the Republican ticket. The Democratic ballot will have runoff races for U.S. Representative, District 1, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
There are five early voting locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Read the rest of this entry »
ARP – The Arp Police Department has released body camera footage from an officer who shot a resident’s dog on Friday while he was responding to a fire. According to our news partner KETK, and Arp PD, the officer was getting off of another service call at around 7:40 p.m. on Friday when he saw black smoke rising from a property a few streets away. When he got to the scene, he saw a 20-foot tall fire emerging from behind a residence and so headed towards the fire to see if the residence was in danger.
Arp Police Chief Joe Keegan said in a statement on Saturday that the officer was walking towards the property’s fence when two dogs approached from the other side of the fence and crawled under it. The officer feared for his safety as the dogs reportedly attempted to attack him so he fired two shots from his department issued pistol, hitting one of the two dogs. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — On Thursday, the Longview City Council approved the construction of a new entrance to Teague Park, which residents say has been declining over the years. According to our news partner KETK, Teague Park has been a part of the Longview community for decades and is seeing a decline that cannot be ignored.
“Kind of been known as a nightly activity type of place,” Longview resident John Dove said.
To combat the issue, the city council has approved the next big step toward the park’s revitalization with the ‘Bring Back Teague Park’ project. The city is partnering with the Longview Economic Development Corporation, which is committing a million dollars to the project, including the addition of a new entrance.
“Well, it means quite a bit. Teague Park is one of those assets that needs to be brought to life.” Longview Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Wayne Mansfield said.
The goal is to once again put a spotlight on a public space where everyone can come together.
“The entrance into Teague Park would bring a lot more visibility to the park and make it more utilized by the community,” Mansfield said.
CHEROKEE COUNTY — Two people are dead following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 110 in Cherokee County on Friday afternoon. According to our news partner KETK, the cause of the crash and the identity of the victim have not been released. The accident is still under investigations.
NUEVO PROGRESO, MEXICO – The U.S. Marshals captured one of the top 10 most wanted Texas sex offenders in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. According to our news partner KETK, Kit Edward Lulow, 42, was convicted of rape, sexual abuse and sodomy of a 13-year-old girl in Oregon in 2008. Lulow was sentenced to 75 months in prison for those charges but was arrested multiple times between 2014 and 2019 for violating his parole.
In February, he was arrested in Marion County, Texas, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of child pornography. He later bonded out of Marion County Jail and fled to Mexico, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Lulow was also wanted in Cass County since February for failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. Then in April, the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas issued two warrants for Lulow’s arrest on a charge of possession of child pornography. Read the rest of this entry »
ANDERSON COUNTY – The infamous black bear that has been making its way across East Texas for the past several months was spotted in Anderson County earlier this week.
The bear was spotted on Thursday evening on private property near Highway 294 and the Neches River. It was reported back in April that the bear had spent the winter in the Anderson County area and is believed to be the first documented black bear to do so in East Texas in over 50 years.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has stated that the bear is a young male growing rapidly and could be fully mature by the middle of this summer. The department thinks he may be heading into bear country in Louisiana, Arkansas, or Oklahoma based on his travels through East Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The Street and Stormwater Department is preparing to begin improvements on Old Bascom Road. The road will be closed Friday, May 22, and is anticipated to reopen Thursday, June 25.
Message boards will be placed at the intersections of Old Omen Road and Old Bascom Road, as well as Kent Drive and Old Bascom Road, to alert drivers to the upcoming closure.
The project includes replacing two collapsing tin culverts under the road with new prefabricated concrete box culverts. Crews will also make road repairs in the area. The entire road will be closed during construction. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – More than 100 code enforcement violations issued by the city of Rusk recently have caused quite a stir in the community. The people on the receiving end of those violations brought their frustrations to the city council meeting Thursday night. According to our news partner KETK, people packed the room at Thursday’s Rusk City Council meeting, demanding answers about the dozens of code enforcement violations issued last week. Residents said the code violations ranged from roofing issues to weeds on the fences to even toys left in the yard.
Residents expressed their frustration with code enforcement and were disappointed that they weren’t reviewed further before being posted. The mayor of Rusk addressed people’s concerns and said everyone can throw out the recent letters they received.
While there was a collective sigh of relief, Rusk residents felt the city needed to fix the problem inside the house and bring change.
SMITH COUNTY — Friday is the final deadline for Texas property owners to protest their tax bill and the Smith County Appraisal District is seeing hundreds of people try to file a dispute last-minute. Experts like S.T.A.R. Tax Protest CTO Deric McCurry have said property owners who file a protest may be able to lower their assessed value and save money on taxes, potentially making their home more attractive to buyers. McCurry recommends requesting an appraisal review board hearing for a better chance at a settlement.
“If you’re looking for maximum saving before going in front of an appraisal review board, provide evidence of things like condition documentation on your home and comparable sales that have happened,” McCurry said.
Appraisal districts like the one in Smith County do offer review hearings, but with time running out Chief Appraiser Carol McNeil said property owners are better off filing online immediately then scheduling a follow-up appointment. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – Early voting for the May 26 Primary Runoff Election runs Monday through Friday, May 18-22, 2026.
Statewide runoff races are on the ballot.
U.S. Senator, Attorney General, Railroad Commissioner and Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, Judge are on the Republican ticket. The Democratic ballot will have runoff races for U.S. Representative, District 1, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
There are five early voting locations open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The polling places include:
*Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Road, Tyler
*The Hub: 304 E. Ferguson Street, Tyler
*Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale
*Noonday Community Center: 16662 CR 196, Tyler
*Whitehouse City Center: 109 E. Main Street, Whitehouse
Election Day is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
For more information about voting locations, times and what is on the ballot, or to use the Smith County interactive map, visit here.
Tyler — The Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and its Veterans Committee invite you to a Memorial Day Ceremony on Saturday, May 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at The Boulders at Lake Tyler, on McElroy Road.
As we mark 250 Years of Freedom, we remember that liberty comes at a cost. This year’s theme, 250 Years of Freedom, 250 Years of Sacrifice, honors the 1.4 million Service Members who died defending our nation, as well as the families and loved ones they left behind. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital continues to lead the way in advancing patient care through innovation, becoming the first hospital in the nation to employ the new V2 Swoop Portable MRI, utilizing the newest FDA cleared software inside an operating room during a pituitary tumor resection.
The groundbreaking procedure was performed by Dr. Todd Patrick, chief of neurosurgery, marking a significant milestone in surgical precision and patient-centered care.
By bringing advanced imaging directly into the operating room, the Swoop system allows surgeons to capture real-time images during procedures, improving decision-making, reducing the need for repeat imaging and enhancing overall surgical outcomes. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – In order to prolong the life of local roads before expensive repairs are required, the City of Tyler is moving forward with a significant street maintenance initiative. The Tyler City Council approved a $946,751 contract with Reynolds and Kay for the 2026 Seal Coat Project Wednesday. Approximately 17 lane miles of city streets will be covered by the project; the roads were chosen based on pavement condition ratings. Read the rest of this entry »
HARRISON COUNTY – After leading deputies on a police pursuit, a Tennessee man who was awaiting a court appearance on a child-rape charge committed suicide in Harrison County on Tuesday night.
The sheriff’s office, as well as our news partner KETK, reports that around 11:30 p.m., a deputy pulled over 36-year-old Trinidad Torres on Highway 59 South. Torres was reportedly acting tense during the stop, and the deputy asked him to get out of his car after discovering a pistol in his possession. Torres reportedly refused to get out of his car and started to drive away from the scene. Before Torres crashed his car into a cable close to the 1300 block of Highway 59, a chase started. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center announced its 2026–27 season, unveiling a dynamic lineup that brings some of the most celebrated names in music, Broadway, entertainment and storytelling to East Texas. With chart-topping artists, smash-hit musicals and nationally recognized performers, the upcoming season promises to be one of the Cowan Center’s most exciting and wide-ranging yet.
“This season reflects our commitment to presenting world-class talent across genres,” said Ryan Poynter, Cowan Center executive director. “From iconic rock and country artists to award-winning Broadway and innovative live experiences, we’re offering something unforgettable for every audience member.” Read the rest of this entry »