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LUFKIN – The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office has arrested three men for murder after a Lufkin 18-year-old overdosed on fentanyl on Friday. According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, deputies responded to a reported seizure or overdose at a home on Benton Drive outside of Lufkin. The deputies arrived at the scene and found Sierra Grace Duckworth, 18, of Lufkin, unconscious inside the home.

Duckworth was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was later pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office said Duckworth’s boyfriend, Coy Allen Cook, 21 of Lufkin, told officers that they had taken some blue fentanyl pills around two hours before the deputies arrived.

Cook and Logan Wayne Ferguson, 19 of Lufkin, reportedly went to the Hudson home of Roderick “Squirrel” Johnson, 25, to buy the fentanyl. According to the sheriff’s office, a purchase of fentanyl pills was set up via text messages that were later found on Duckworth’s phone. Continue reading Overdose leads to murder arrests

WHITEHOUSE – Five polling centers all across Smith County are now set up and ready for East Texas to start early voting. Crews loaded up the truck and delivered everything from booths and tablets, to traffic cones.

The City of Whitehouse spent all day organizing and getting things ready to show off their brand-new voting facility. Maurine Smith has been an election judge in Whitehouse since 2004 and is grateful to have the new location. The new Whitehouse City Center is located on 109 East Main Street and for this early voting period its the only place to cast a vote in the city of Whitehouse.

Smith County poll locations like the Whitehouse City Center are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week or from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. Continue reading Early Primary voting today

TYLER – Texas Comptroller candidate Michael Lange stopped in Tyler on Friday to discuss the importance of financial transparency and economic fairness for Texas families.

According to our news partner KETK, Lange said on Friday, “It’s not easy making a living these days, matter of fact, it’s getting harder. A lot of people are worried about their money. A lot of people worried about affordability. What if I told you the comptroller could affect all of that? Think about it, comptroller is your money, it’s how you spend money but also the controller can do things like influence new job creation.”
Continue reading State accountant hopeful talks money

TYLER – The Tyler, Atlanta and Lufkin districts of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are inviting local small businesses to help them with heavy highway construction. Small businesses involved with heavy highway construction are being asked to meet with TxDOT engineers, prime contractors and local support organizations in Tyler on March 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. for a Doing Business with TxDOT event.

“Doing Business with TxDOT is an event series hosted by the TxDOT Civil Rights Division in partnership with local district offices. These events serve as a platform for connecting small businesses with TxDOT and industry personnel,” TxDOT explained. “Attendees will be introduced to key district officials, hear about upcoming projects, and learn best practices for navigating contractor resources. They will also engage with prime contractors and fellow small businesses, gaining insights into their experiences doing business with TxDOT.”

The venue where the event will be hosted on March 11 hasn’t been determined as of Feb. 15. To reserve a spot for the event, visit TxDOT online.

ATHENS – A woman died on Sunday when she was hit by a vehicle on FM 2709 near Athens in Henderson County. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) told our news partner KETK that a woman was struck by a vehicle at around 7 a.m. on Sunday while she was walking in the 4200 block on FM 2709, just off of Highway 19 near Athens. The woman was then found dead when first responders arrived at the scene.

Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said the vehicle involved left the scene following the crash. DPS described the suspected vehicle as a 2016 to 2018 model Chevrolet Silverado truck that was heading west towards Eustace. Officials are asking the public to help them identify the driver of the Silverado, which likely has damage on the front end or the driver’s side.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Texas Department of Public Safety at 903-872-5633 and use option #2.

Update: On Tuesday, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 45-year-old Cody Joe Henderson.

WOOD COUNTY — A suspect wanted on multiple felony warrants was killed Saturday night after a lengthy standoff with law enforcement in Wood County that left two officers wounded. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to serve six felony warrants around the intersection of FM 515 and FM 2966 on Saturday. During the attempt, the suspect allegedly opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon, striking a Wood County deputy multiple times and wounding a DPS trooper.

According to our news partner KETK, both officers were transported to a hospital in Tyler, where they were listed in critical but stable condition. The suspect barricaded himself inside a residence on FM 2966, prompting a large law enforcement response. The Wood County Special Response Team and Texas Rangers assisted at the scene.

Authorities said negotiations continued for several hours as the suspect repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Multiple methods were used in attempts to get the suspect to surrender, including tear gas. Continue reading Trooper shot; suspect killed

Texans will have more of a say over who their state elected officials will be during the 2026 primaries. Texas Republican and Democrat voters will pick which candidate they want to represent their interests and their party on the ballot for the November general election. In a state where Republicans dominate state government and where many legislative and congressional districts often are drawn to favor them, the primaries are often very significant. Yet, only a fraction of citizens in Texas vote in primary elections.

There are more than 18 statewide elected officials up for election, along with Texas’ members of Congress, state lawmakers, district-based judges and local elected officials. With the new congressional maps redrawn to boost the number of Texas Republicans in Congress, some Texans will have to vote in new congressional districts.

Here’s what you need to know about primaries and the voting process. Stay tuned for more guides about candidates in the following weeks. In the meantime, you can use this tool to see how state lawmakers – some of which are up for election this year – voted on major bills in the past legislative session. Continue reading Primary vote: need to know

ATHENS – A man was arrested for allegedly dealing cocaine and marijuana in Athens on Friday. At around 1:12 p.m. on Friday, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said that a narcotics investigator and two deputies did a traffic stop on a Ford SUV for a traffic violation in the 6000 block of County Road 3925 outside of Athens.

According to the sheriff’s office, the driver of the Ford SUV was seen throwing out a white plastic bag while the vehicle was still coming to a stop. Deputies then approached the Ford, contacted the driver and found a white bag on the ground near where the vehicle had stopped.

The sheriff’s office said the bag was searched and contained suspected cocaine. The Ford was then searched and deputies found a plastic bag of marijuana. Investigators then secured a search warrant for the driver’s home on Deer Run Road in Athens. Continue reading Gallon-size bags of marijuana found

KARNACK — The financial director for Karnack ISD was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing public funds for personal use. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation was launched in early February after the school district reported suspected financial irregularities in district funds. Subpoenas were issued, and officials reviewed financial and credit card records. Authorities allege the review revealed that Karnack ISD’s financial director, Courtney Johnson, used district funds for personal expenses through unauthorized credit card transactions.

Officials said the probe identified more than $128,000 in district funds that were allegedly misappropriated.

Since then, Johnson has been charged with theft by a public servant, misapplication of fiduciary property of a financial institution and credit card abuse. Continue reading Director arrested for allegedly stealing

TYLER — A 29-year-old man is dead following a road rage shooting in Tyler on Friday evening. The incident occurred at around 5:10 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of Grande Boulevard while vehicles were stopped at a red light at Paluxy Drive, according to our news partner KETK.

The victim, identified as Trevor Julian, 29, of Whitehouse, was a passenger in a Tesla. Investigators determined that Julian exited the vehicle and approached the driver of a pickup truck stopped behind the Tesla. Lance Cpl. Julian, a native of Carthage, served as an automotive maintenance technician with Headquarters Regiment, 3d Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Kinser in Okinawa, Japan. The pickup truck driver was identified as Dayton Morgan, a 23-year-old man. Authorities say Morgan shot Julian during the encounter.

Julian was transported to a local hospital, where he died. Morgan was arrested on a warrant for murder and has been booked into the Smith County Jail. His bond has been set at $1 million. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released additional details at this time.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department said that a bus driver was injured on Friday when a Tyler ISD bus and a pickup truck crashed on Loop 323 near South Broadway Avenue. According to Tyler PD and our news partner KETK, the crash happened on Loop 323 around 4:30 p.m. just to the west of South Broadway Avenue. Around 20 students were on the bus when it collided with a pickup truck, leaving the driver with minor injuries.

Tyler PD said the crash was cleared from the roadway by 5:12 p.m. and that Loop 323 is all the way back open to traffic.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

“If they need additional law enforcement for a situation that takes place on campus, we will readily respond,” County Judge Bill Stoudt said. “This clarifies that we are a backup agency if they ever need assistance.”

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain licensure. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer.

TYLER – A driver has been taken to a local hospital after they were shot during a road rage incident on Friday in Tyler. According to our news partner KETK and the Tyler PD, it happened at the intersection of Grande Boulevard and Paluxy Drive when a driver got out of their vehicle and shot another driver. The suspected shooter stayed at the scene and has been detained by Tyler PD officers. The driver who was shot has been taken to the hospital. Grande Boulevard is currently closed to the east and west of Paluxy Drive.

PANOLA COUNTY — An East Texas district court held a hearing on Thursday to discuss the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against the companies that produce Tylenol. After the hearing, 123rd District Court Judge LeAnn Kay Rafferty did not make an immediate decision but indicated that she would ‘take under advisement‘ the arguments presented. The lawsuit, initiated by Paxton’s office, targets the pharmaceutical companies Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Brands, according to our news partners at KETK. The lawsuit asserts that they unlawfully marketed Tylenol, or acetaminophen, to pregnant women, despite claims that the medication may pose risks to unborn babies. Continue reading Motion to dismiss lawsuit against Tylenol

TYLER – Starting Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to East Elm Street between South Broadway Avenue and South College Avenue. The intersection between Elm Street and College Avenue will remain open. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available. Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. Sidewalks in the area will remain open. Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area. 

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court has approved an agreement to establish a police department for Longview ISD. According to our news partner KETK, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will now begin the formal review process required for the department to obtain its license. Longview ISD officials say they hope to have the process complete by this summer. The Longview ISD Police Department will maintain ongoing communication with the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office in the event of emergencies.

EAST TEXAS — Following Lifetouch Photography’s involvement in a controversy regarding the Epstein files, numerous school districts throughout East Texas are canceling their partnerships with the company. According to our news partner KETK, districts that decided to end their partnership with Lifetouch earlier this week, following the allegations, include: Athens ISD, Kemp ISD, Malakoff ISD, Cross Roads ISD, Van ISD, Edgewood ISD and Winnsboro ISD.

In the released Jeffrey Epstein files, Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, which is the parent company of Lifetouch, is accused of making at least $158 million in payments to Epstein for “purported tax and estate planning advice.” However, an investigation by the United States Senate Committee on Finance found that the money was used to finance Epstein’s sex trafficking operations. Continue reading Schools cut ties with photographer

TYLER — Tyler Junior College (TJC) could be adding three new buildings to its campus with the passage of a $167.3 million bond, set to be voted on in the May election. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, the TJC Board of Trustees called for a bond election that would pay for three new construction projects and improvements to existing facilities, costing an approximate $167,328,269 million. The proposal for the construction projects was developed by TJC’s Facility Planning Committee, which consists of college representatives and community members.

“The committee identified three major projects to provide for TJC’s community partnerships, student learning environments, workforce preparation and the college’s technological and physical infrastructure,” the institution said. “These areas were selected, in part, because they impact the entire campus.” Continue reading Board approves $167.3M bond election

HENDERSON COUNT — A family altercation turned deadly in Henderson County after a 22-year-old man was shot and killed by a relative on Feb. 6. Deputies were called to a disturbance in the 6300 block of County Road 4507, just outside of Athens, following an altercation between 22-year-old Timothy Parker and his 45-year-old stepfather, according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and our news partner KETK, .

After the two separated, Parker returned to the scene with a gun and shot his stepfather. The stepfather’s dad then allegedly shot Parker. The sheriff told KETK News that Parker was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency crews arrived and began treating the stepfather before transporting him to a local hospital to be treated and is expected to recover.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The case will be forwarded to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and a grand jury will ultimately determine if any charges will be filed.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson Sheriff’s Office has confirmed two have died in a plane crash near Echo Lake early Wednesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, Chip Crist, a cattle owner near the crash site, said the plane, which had left Florida, refueled in Nacogoches before attempting to continue its flight. Along with fire and police units at the scene, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration are also there.

On Thursday morning, an FAA report states that an aircraft declared an emergency due to oil covering the windshield. It diverted but crashed into power lines near Echo Lakes’ runway. The plane is described as a Beech A36 model, a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft manufactured in 1994. The airplane is registered to AileRon T, LLC, based out of Orlando, Florida. The identities of the two people have not been released at this time.

TYLER – Beginning Monday, Feb. 16, Consent Decree capacity improvements will move to the intersection of Elm Street and College Avenue. Work is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting. Full access to the Fair Plaza Parking Garage will remain available.

Traffic will use Woldert Street, University Place, and College Avenue off Front Street to access the garage. The intersection of College Avenue and Elm Street will remain open, and sidewalks in the area will remain open.  Alleyway access off Elm Street will be closed during construction. Traffic control signs and devices are in place to guide motorists. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area. 

SMITH COUNTY – Non-Emergency Smith County Offices will be closed Monday, February 16, for Presidents Day. They will reopen for normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17. There will be no Commissioners Court meeting on February 17, because of a lack of quorum. Most of the court members will be attending a Texas Association of Counties conference. The next Commissioners Court meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, on the first floor of the Annex Building, at 200 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler. Meeting agendas can be found here.

EAST TEXAS – On Wednesday, Van Zandt County Commissioners voted to pass a moratorium, pausing all planned green energy projects in the county until Attorney General Ken Paxton investigates their full effects. According to our news partner KETK, the moratorium passed unanimously, pausing construction of nine battery storage units and seven solar projects in the county. This fight has been ongoing since 2024, when the Finnish-based company Taaleri Energia announced the Amador Bess Project in rural Canton.

Given the proximity of international infrastructure to their homes, national security is a major concern for many residents.
Continue reading Lithium storage on hold

GLADEWATER — Gladewater ISD is asking voters to approve an $8.1 million bond for safety upgrades, new buses and career and technical education improvements, a proposal district officials say would not increase the current tax rate. The single-proposition bond would span 15 years and address transportation needs, facility renovations and equipment upgrades across the district, according to our news partner KETK.

Superintendent Rae Ann Patty said the bond would not raise the district’s interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate, which is currently .253336. The district passed a bond in 2014 that is set to expire in 2045 and has since paid down that debt enough to add the proposed $8.1 million while maintaining the same tax rate, according to Patty.

The proposal includes the purchase of new school buses that meet updated safety standards, including seatbelt requirements. Patty said that if the bond does not pass, buses would still be prioritized but the number purchased would be reduced due to budget constraints. Continue reading $8.1M bond, but no tax increase

PALESTINE — A man was arrested in Palestine on Wednesday for allegedly promoting child pornography online. The Palestine Police Department began an investigation in January after receiving several reports from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It was reported that an individual living on Crestline Drive was uploading, downloading and distributing child sexual abuse material online. Further investigation led police to believe that the IP address used to upload the images was linked to the same residence.

On Wednesday, the police department searched the home and arrested 27-year-old Juan Carlos Torres. He has been booked into the Anderson County Jail on charges of promotion of child pornography and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

UPDATE: As of Thursday afternoon, the teens are in stable condition and Tyler PD said the injuries are non-life threatening. More information will be released as the investigation continues.

TYLER — Two teenagers were injured in a shooting Wednesday night on Gentry Parkway near the Banana Tree Club. According to Tyler Police Department PIO Andy Erbaugh and our news partner KETK, officers were dispatched at approximately 9:03 p.m. to the 1000 block of West Gentry Parkway following a call reporting an aggravated assault.

At the scene, officials found two 14-year-old victims with gunshot wounds. One teen had been shot multiple times in the leg and the other sustained one gunshot wound to the arm. Erbaugh said emergency medical services (EMS) responded and began treating the victims at the scene. Authorities said the suspect fled in a white vehicle last seen traveling west on Bow Street. No suspects have been detained as of Wednesday night.

Detectives and crime scene personnel are en route to the scene of the crime to begin an investigation. Additional details have yet to be released. This is a developing story and KETK News will update this article as more information becomes available.

HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson Sheriff’s Office has confirmed two have died in a plane crash near Echo Lake early Wednesday evening. According to our news partner KETK, Chip Crist, a cattle owner near the crash site, said the plane, which had left Florida, refueled in Nacogoches before attempting to continue its flight. Along with fire and police units at the scene, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration are also there.