Today is
Tuesday July 21, 2026
LONGVIEW – Two Longview teenage juveniles were shot on Friday morning as they were committing theft at a Baxley Lane residence.
According to our news partner KETK and the Longview Police Department, officers went out to Baxley Lane near Ron Street at around 3 a.m. on Friday after a shooting was reported. When the officers arrived, they found two juveniles at the scene with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Longview PD said the two teens were “committing theft” when a resident confronted them with a gun and shot them.
Detectives with Longview PD are currently investigating this incident and anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the criminal investigations division at 903-237-1199.
CHANDLER – The Chandler City Council voted to hire a new city attorney in a meeting discussing the city’s leadership on Thursday night. During the meeting, city council discussed the conduct of City Administrator Kalon Rollins and Chandler Police Department Chief Johnny Foster. The city’s agenda for Thursday’s meeting included discussion of improper spending, bond issues, social media policy and hiring policy under Rollins and Foster.
The city council members also voted to hire Ronald D. Stutes, 67 of Tyler, as the new Chandler City Attorney during Thursday’s meeting. Stutes is a member of the Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith law firm and has represented both the City of Palestine and the City of Dallas.
Ultimately, no formal action was taken against either Rollins or Foster at Thursday’s meeting.
HAWKINS – The Big, Beautiful Bill finalized a new rule requiring college programs to meet an earnings benchmark to continue receiving federal funds, which could possibly impact several colleges across East Texas. The ‘Do No Harm’ provision requires higher education institutions to demonstrate that their alumni earn wages higher than those of high school graduates. Any college that fails to meet the earnings benchmark for two of the next three years will lose access to federal loans by 2028.
The U.S. Department of Education predicts that 5% of institutions will not pass this benchmark, as small colleges that offer low-paying majors, including early childhood education, vocational trades and religious studies, are at risk, including Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins.
Jarvis’ Vice President of Academic Affairs, Regina Robinson, said the university has remained proactive ahead of the upcoming provision by lowering tuition to $19,000 for all students to protect them from potential loan cuts.
The ‘Do No Harm’ provision will go into effect on July 1.
HARRISON COUNTY – An ongoing narcotics investigation in Harrison County led to the arrest of three people on Thursday. According to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the investigation, the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI, executed four search and arrest warrants throughout Harrison County and the City of Marshall on Thursday.
During the execution of the warrants, officials allegedly found several firearms, illegal narcotics and a large amount of U.S. currency. After issuing the warrants, the following three people were arrested and charged with the manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance: Ismael Baltazar Nambo, Jesse Montano and Rojelio Roman Aviles,
According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, Nambo, Montano and Aviles are currently being held at the Harrison County Jail and their bonds have been set at $50,000. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK – The Rusk City Council is currently considering who will serve as its next city manager after Bob Goldsberry resigned from the position last week, according to our news partner KETK.
Rusk City Council member for district 4, Martha Neely said Goldsberry submitted his resignation last week as he’s retiring from a long career in public leadership. Before serving as Rusk city manager, Goldsberry also served as executive director of the Rusk Economic Development Corporation.
LINDALE – The cause of death for 8-year-old Adrian Thompson, who had a medical emergency at Velma Penny Elementary School in Lindale in April, has been announced by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office. Adrian Sue Thompson died in a pediatric intensive care unit on April 16 at around one in the morning. According to a recent report from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, her death was determined to be accidental and to have been caused by choking. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Bass Pro Way is now officially open as of Thursday morning, improving access in and around South Tyler.
According to our news partner KETK, Bass Pro Way, previously Settlers Landing, links South Broadway Avenue to the popular shopping center, Cumberland Village and later Centennial Drive creating easier access to local shops, businesses and neighborhoods.
The city plans on continuing renovations to roads in the area by extending Centennial Drive to Paluxy Way to create an additional Route for travelers coming in and out of Tyler.
NEW YORK (AP) — American Airlines is temporarily suspending some of its routes this summer, as steep jet fuel costs continue to strain carriers’ budgets amid the war with Iran.
In a statement, American said it had adjusted service for “select routes” in August and September — and that impacted travelers would be offered alternative arrangements or refunds. The Texas-based airline cited elevated fuel costs, and maintained that these changes were in line with wider industry trends.
American also said that it was not cutting any of its routes indefinitely and that it was proud to “offer an industry-leading network with more flights than any other U.S. airline.”
Still, the summer suspensions could cause more headaches for travelers already facing fewer flights options and higher price tags across their budgets. Airlines around the world have canceled numerous flights or similarly trimmed schedules through the coming months — and many have are also hiking fees or cutting other perks in efforts to save money.
That’s because the cost of jet fuel — which can account for about 30% of airlines’ total expenses — has soared during the war. A barrel averaged at nearly $142 last week, according to the International Air Transport Association. That’s down from an April peak, but still far higher than the $99 jet fuel was going for per barrel before the U.S. and Israel launched the war with attacks on Iran in late February.
Most traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the world’s flow of oil, has remained at an effective halt over the last three months. Prices have cooled some recently as markets hope for an eventual reopening the passage, but the U.S. and Iran have yet to actually reach a concrete agreement. And the longer traffic stays stalled, the worse the energy crisis could get.
Consumers aren’t only feeling the squeeze in air travel. Gasoline, food and other everyday essentials are also being hit by these supply shocks.
American Airlines did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ requests for further information about which flights would be suspended in August and September. But other outlets reported six routes would be affected — largely from Los Angeles, among other destinations in North America.
TYLER – Federal charges have been brought against two women who have ties to an East Texas company where an FBI operation was carried out on Tuesday. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell announced the federal indictments of Keyla Valdivia and Virginia Ponce Gamez on Wednesday during a court appearance at the federal courthouse in Tyler. They both filed not guilty pleas. Multiple agencies, including the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, responded to Ximena’s Furniture at 10623 Highway 69 North and 10713 US 69 North. Neither the FBI nor local law enforcement agencies have publicly confirmed the nature of the operation. Gamez is charged with conspiracy to transport undocumented immigrants, trafficking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Valdivia is charged with conspiracy to harbor undocumented people and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
LONGVIEW — A 27-year-old man from Longview was recently arrested after being accused of having an inappropriate online relationship and sexual assault of a child. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by our news partner KETK, a deputy from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office spoke with the victim’s mother in April 2025, who had recently discovered her 12-year-old daughter was having a sexual relationship with an adult man.
The victim’s mother told authorities that she did not initially report the incident because she was under the impression that the suspect was 14 years old. The mother discovered that the suspect was an adult after going through her daughter’s phone, where she also found information proving that the suspect had sexual relationships with her daughter.
As she continued searching her daughter’s phone, the victim’s mother told officials that she had discovered that the suspect had allegedly come to her home and had allegedly sexually assaulted her daughter. The victim’s phone was later taken to the Smith County Technology Lab to be searched. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A debate over how East Texans should protect their land and water came to a head Tuesday, when the Smith County Commissioners Court split 2–2 on whether to form a subregional commission with Van Zandt County — effectively killing the proposal, according to our news partner KETK. After being tabled multiple times, the measure returned for a vote and resulted in a split 2–2 decision. As the court could not reach a majority, the effort to create the subregional commission failed.
FOR: Precinct 1 Commissioner Christina Drewry, Precinct 3 Commissioner J. Scott Herod
AGAINST: Smith County Judge Neal Franklin, Precinct 4 Commissioner Ralph E. Caraway
*Precinct 2 Commissioner John Moore was not present.
What the 391 Commission Would Have Done
The subregional commission, which would have been formed under Chapter 391 of the Texas Local Government Code, was proposed by Van Zandt County to address citizens’ concerns as new infrastructure pressures from growing industries look to utilize land and natural resources in the area.
Van Zandt County commissioners asked Smith County to join a subregional commission with the intention to create a council that would oversee and assess the possible creation of industrial farms, centers and units in the region. Read the rest of this entry »
RUSK COUNTY — A routine traffic stop in Rusk County led to the seizure of approximately 11 pounds of suspected cocaine and the arrest of a Missouri man on a felony drug charge, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. The traffic stop occurred on Tuesday at the intersection of State Highway 315 and Farm-to-Market Road 95. Authorities said deputies stopped a rental vehicle displaying Florida license plates.
During a consensual search of the vehicle, deputies allegedly discovered suspected cocaine concealed inside the vehicle’s door panels. Investigators estimate the seized narcotics have a street value of approximately $80,000. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 38-year-old Jerry Williams of St. Louis, Missouri, was arrested at the scene. Williams was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, 400 grams or more, a first-degree felony. If convicted, he could face up to 99 years in prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tyler office was notified of the seizure and is assisting the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office with the ongoing investigation. Williams remains in the Rusk County Jail on a $250,000 bond.
SMITH COUNTY — Two additional gang members have been sentenced in connection to a crack cocaine trafficking scheme that led to the arrest of several people during a lengthy investigation last year. According to an arrest warrant, Derrish Graydon and Jeffery Padilla were involved in a 12-person operation of distributing narcotics and engaging in a money-laundering conspiracy connected to the 5-2 Hoover Crips street gang.
On March 5, 2025, Tyler Police Department officers surveilled a residence at 1101 N. Moore, believed to have crack cocaine, evidence of narcotics sales and usage inside. Officers observed that Padilla left the residence on several occasions while attempting to conduct counter-surveillance, the warrant said. Graydon was also observed to leave the location and later meet Samatraus Forge, who was spearheading the operation by investigators. After Graydon met with Forge and returned to the residence on North Moore, several people began coming and going, indicating narcotics sales.
Officers conducted a controlled purchase from the residence a week later, where Padilla sold an informant .4 grams of crack cocaine. Additionally, Graydon later sold an informant 3.2 grams. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – The North Tyler Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to deny a zone change for a proposed metal recycling business. The change would have converted areas designated as light commercial and single-family residential into an industrial district. According to our news partner KETK, the board’s decision came after 90 minutes of public comment at a public hearing, during which the majority of speakers expressed opposition to the proposed development. The site for the planned business was located near the southwest intersection of Loop 323 and West 34th Street. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Texas summer heat doesn’t just take a toll on people; it can be dangerous and even deadly for pets. A 2024 report from the SPCA of Texas shows the state ranks number one in the nation for heat?related pet deaths, a statistic that worries veterinarians across East Texas. Our news partner KETK talked to Dr. Gary Spence of Spence & White Veterinary Hospital in Tyler. Dr. Spence says the extreme temperatures seen across the region each summer put all dogs at risk.
“Hot weather, particularly in Texas, is a big challenge because we get such heat extremes,” Spence said.
While any dog can suffer from heat stroke, he says, overweight, elderly and long-haired dogs are especially vulnerable. Warning signs can appear quickly. Read the rest of this entry »
MARSHALL – Students and faculty from the East Texas Baptist University Teague School of Nursing recently returned from a medical mission trip to Costa Rica, where they served local communities through healthcare clinics and patient education.
Led by Assistant Professor of Nursing, Dr. Kelly Arraf, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Dr. Britney De La Rosa, and Assistant Professor of Nursing, Dayna Davidson, ETBU nursing students partnered with local churches, translators, and healthcare providers to deliver compassionate care in multiple communities. Students assisted with triage, patient education, pharmacy services, and clinical support while gaining firsthand experience in global healthcare missions.
On the first day of ministry, students established a clinic inside a local church and immediately began serving patients with a variety of needs. Among the memorable experiences were witnessing a mother see her baby on an ultrasound for the first time, assisting during a tooth extraction, and teaching patients non-pharmacological methods for pain management and wellness. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – There are some traffic changes to note in downtown Tyler. The intersection of North College Avenue and West Erwin Street is now open. Both College Avenue and West Erwin Street in that area will operate as two-way streets. Drivers heading northbound on North Broadway Avenue are now able to turn left onto West Erwin Street. Drivers are encouraged to exercise caution at the intersection due to the new traffic patterns.
College Avenue is operating as a two-way street from West Ferguson Avenue to West Front Street. West Erwin Street is operating as a two-way street from Bois D’Arc Avenue to North Broadway Avenue. The intersections of North College Avenue and West Erwin Street, North College Avenue and Elm Street, and West Erwin Street and Bois D’Arc Avenue are operating as four-way stops. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – A man was taken into custody in Smith County on Tuesday on suspicion of sexually abusing a fifteen-year-old girl. Tony Rincker, 60, was placed in the Smith County Jail on a $500,000 bond after being accused of sexual assault of a minor. An arrest affidavit states that a student claimed to have seen a video on the teen’s Snapchat account showing the alleged victim being sexually assaulted. What looked to be a child’s bedroom was shown in the video. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – A Scurry man who was found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a child in Henderson County, and given a life sentence, was upheld by an appeals court. Manuel Lynn Tijerina, 42, appealed his conviction to the Twelfth Court of Appeals, claiming the trial court had improperly admitted testimony from the victim’s relative, according to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office. Testimony revealed Tijerina exposed the victim to pornography, touched her inappropriately, and made sexual remarks to her. Read the rest of this entry »
SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded $6.17 million in statewide recreational trails grants to improve 21 parks and trail projects across the state. According to our news partner, KETK – $354,000 is set to be distributed between parks in East Texas. The parks will receive the grant money for much needed upgrades. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER– A public meeting was held in Tyler on Tuesday to discuss the proposed extension of Toll 49, a project designed to relieve congestion and provide shorter travel times. According to our news partner KETK, during the meeting in Tyler community members had the opportunity to review project layouts and data detailing the potential positive impact on drivers.
The proposed extension would stretch from State Highway 110 to US 271 and aims to provide shorter travel times for both local and regional traffic. NET RMA Project Consultant Randall Dillard explained why he believes the extension is needed.
For those unable to attend the recent Tyler session, another public meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, June 9. This upcoming meeting will take place in Longview at the Maude Cobb Convention Center. If the project is approved, construction for the Toll 49 extension is expected to commence around 2033.
LONGVIEW — An investigation has been launched after a teenager was shot near a park in Longview on Monday night. According to the Longview Police Department and our news partner KETK, at around 11:26 p.m. officers heard gunshots coming from the 400 block of Fair Street. Once arriving to the area, the officers found a teenager who had sustained gunshot wounds while attending a gathering at a nearby park, the department said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the incident currently remains under investigation. Following the incident, the department is reminding residents that the city parks close at 11 p.m. and residents should refrain from visiting the parks after hours to ensure the safety of all community members.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 903-237-199 or the Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.
TYLER – The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) kicked off its Free Summer Food Program on Tuesday afternoon, which aims to provide kids with free meals while they’re out of school for the summer.
According to our news partner KETK, the program was launched at 43 locations across East Texas and a special event was held at the Glass Recreation Center in Tyler, which was sponsored by the PepsiCo Foundation’s Food for Good. the program is expected to distribute over 100,000 meals to nearly 4,500 kids and teenagers throughout the summer and is open to anyone under 18. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – Early Voting for the City of Tyler mayor runoff election continues through June 9. Stuart Hene is currently serving as a Tyler City Councilmember and John Nix is a former City Councilmember are running for the position.
Early voting hours will be:
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 1-5
*9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9. Read the rest of this entry »
Tyler – Early Voting for the City of Tyler mayor runoff election is set for June 1-9. Stuart Hene is currently serving as a Tyler City Councilmember and John Nix is a former City Councilmember are running for the position.
Early voting hours will be:
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 1-5
*9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6
*8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9. Read the rest of this entry »
WASKOM – The Waskom ISD Board of Trustees has named East Texas Native Lindsey Wood the finalist in the race for Superintendent following the unexpected death of previous superintendent, Christopher Guastella, in March.
According to our news partner KETK, Wood currently acts as the superintendent of academic services at Ferris ISD and has 19 years of experience in public education and 12 years in school administration.
The board conducted an extensive search focused on finding a leader who identifies with the district’s vision, values and commitment to student success. Read the rest of this entry »
FRANKSTON – Firefighters are currently working to extinguish a large structure fire at a gas station in Frankston. The fire was reported to have occurred at the Sunoco gas station on East Pine Street, across from Dairy Queen, on Tuesday afternoon. It is unknown at this time whether any injuries occurred during the fire.
TYLER — Members of the FBI are in Smith County conducting what is being described as an authorized court operation on US Highway 69 North. Sources report that the operation may be connected to a human smuggling investigation.
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that they are conducting the operation at the addresses of 10623 Highway 69 North and 10713 and US 69 North. Multiple agencies, including Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety, are responding to the location between Tyler and Lindale.
This story is still developing and updates will be provided.
KILGORE – In Rusk County, an East Texas man was detained on suspicion of shooting a restrained goat to scare a family member. Roberto Castro, 34, of Kilgore, is accused of possessing marijuana, driving while intoxicated, driving with an invalid license, terroristic threat (family violence), and cruelty to a livestock animal. He has $56,000 in bonds. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) reports that deputies responded to reports of domestic abuse and animal abuse on Sunday on County Road 117 North in the Kilgore area. Read the rest of this entry »
