Local Headlines

Rep. Moran backs end to Iran War

TYLER – Tyler’s United States Congressman Nathaniel Moran voiced his support for bringing an end to the war with Iran on Tuesday, but he noted that the conflict could continue for some time. On Tuesday our news partner KETK sat down with Moran to discuss the Iran War and several other issues affecting the United States. Moran said President Donald Trump understands the American people want an end to the war but Moran believes that needs to be done through continued military strength.

“What we’re seeing is President Trump understanding what the American people want, what East Texans want, what Congress frankly wants and that is we want an end to the conflict,” Moran said. “We know that we need to end that conflict, but we want to do so through strength.”

Moran added that he supported the United States’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear program and said the United States should continue to “box them in” in order to give the Iranian people a “fighting chance” to gain sovereignty in their land.

“I supported that military action. I thought it was very important because of the imminency of their development of nuclear weapons, but we’ve set them back years,” Moran said. “We’ve got to continue now to really kind of box them in where their people have a fighting chance internally to make their own sovereign decisions about their own future.” (more…)

Educator jailed for non-reporting

WINNSBORO – The Winnsboro ISD school board president was arrested on Thursday on charges of tampering or fabricating evidence and failing to report child abuse.

Brandon Heath Green was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Wednesday and booked into the Wood County Jail on charges of tampering or fabricating physical evidence and failure to report child abuse.

Winnsboro ISD acknowledged Green’s arrest in a social media post on Wednesday but couldn’t share any information about the nature of Green’s charges. (more…)

Paul Gleiser named Radio Broadcaster of the Year

TYLER — The Texas Association of Broadcasters will hand out eight awards at the 2026 Leadership Awards Gala held this week in Round Rock, and two Tyler media giants were on the list.

KTBB Owner/General Manager Paul Gleiser will be presented the Radio Broadcaster of the Year award. As stated on TAB’s website, “The criteria for this award is described as follows: “…an individual who has made a commitment to excellence over the past 12 months and is an example to others in broadcasting.” Paul sets very high standards for what goes on the air, how the stations serve their listeners, the East Texas community and their advertisers.

That commitment was recognized earlier this year at the Texas Broadcast News Awards with Paul’s stations being named Texas Other Market Station of the Year. (more…)

Man sentenced for assault

TYLER – A man who assaulted a pregnant woman last fall was given a 10-year probationary sentence on Monday. The suspect, 33-year-old William Garret Bragg, was taken into custody in November while Smith County deputies were trying to carry out an assault warrant for a pregnant woman at his Tyler residence on State Highway 31 East. According to Smith County court records, he entered a guilty plea to assault of a pregnant person on Monday and was subsequently given a 10-year probationary term that included 600 hours of community service. (more…)

TJC reportedly facing shortfall

TYLER – Tyler Junior College administrators claim that the school’s $1.2 million state funding shortfall is due to the college exceeding expectations under Texas’ new community college funding model rather than a drop in student performance. In 2023, the Texas Legislature shifted the focus of state funding for community colleges from enrollment to student outcomes. Under the new system, funding for colleges is determined by how well they assist students in completing workforce programs, earning degrees and certificates, and transferring to four-year universities. (more…)

20 years for shooting woman at motel

LONGVIEW – A man was found guilty on Tuesday for shooting a woman at a hotel in Longview in July 2025.

60-year-old Michael Duane Jones, of Longview, was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and five years for deadly conduct to discharge a firearm in connection to the 2025 shooting on Tuesday.

Around 10:27 p.m. on July 20, 2025, Longview Police Department officers responded to the Palace Inn Motel on East Marshall Avenue and found a woman with a gunshot wound

She was taken to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries from the shooting. The man suspected to be the shooter, later confirmed to be Jones, left the motel scene before officers arrived that night. (more…)

17 cases of Cyclospora verified

TYLER – Health officials have confirmed that 17 people in East Texas have been reported to have an active case of cyclospora on Tuesday.

NET Health, which covers seven counties in East Texas, told KETK News that data trends for 2026 and recent years shows that cases will incrementally increase every summer, but then decrease as the season concludes.

They also reported that in comparison to cyclospora, there are a higher number of reported cases of salmonella and campylobacter within the seven counties that NET Health covers.

NET Health stressed that practicing handwashing hygiene is best in preventing the spread or contagion of foodborne illnesses. (more…)

Mahomes Sr. seeks monitor removal

SMITH COUNTY – Patrick Levon Mahomes Sr. is asking a Smith County court to replace his ankle bracelet after it allegedly caused swelling, skin irritation and tissue damage. Court documents show that on July 2 Mahomes contacted his attorney with concerns about his ankle monitor. The attorney observed what the filing described as significant skin irritations on Mahomes Sr.’s ankle and photographed the injury.

According to our news partner KETK, Mahomes Sr.’s attorney said he is currently in compliance with all conditions of his supervision. According to court filings, Mahomes was asked to submit a hair follicle sample and a blood sample for testing over concerns about how the irritations and any prescribed topical medications could affect the ankle monitor readings.

On July 6, Mahomes Sr.’s attorney observed that his ankle was swollen and noted the ankle monitor could not be moved or loosened. His attorney directed Mahomes Sr. to seek medical attention. Mahomes Sr. was seen that day at a clinic in Lindale.

According to a letter from a doctor at the clinic, there was severe pain, swelling and damage due to his right ankle “shackle” device. (more…)

County road repairs

SMITH COUNTY – As part of the 2026 Seal Coat Project, base repairs will be done on a portion of Old Bullard Road from Wednesday, Aug. 5, through Wednesday, Aug. 12. Work will take place between Old Jacksonville Highway and West Southwest Loop 323.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes during construction. Flaggers will be on-site to guide traffic through the work area. Residents are asked not to park along this portion of Old Bullard Road between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. during construction.

Multiple departments battle nursery fire

CHEROKEE COUNTY – A large fire broke out at the Altman Plants nursery facility near Troup and New Summerfield on Tuesday night. According to our news partner KETK, nobody was injured but the fire caused significant damage to the facility. It is uncertain at this time how the fire began at the nursery, which is located at 15255 State Highway 110 North, to the north of New Summerfield and south of Troup. Operations Manager at the nursery, Jon Valentine, said nobody at the nursery, which employs nearly 370 people. was injured during the fire.

He also stated it occurred in the production area of the facility, which could cause significant damage to the company’s revenue. Several fire departments in Cherokee County have been called to the scene to provide mutual aid.

Valentine also expressed the emotions that he and many of his co-workers are facing following the fire. (more…)

New ER facility opens

LONGVIEW – CHRISTUS Health marked the completion of a new emergency center in Longview on Tuesday, expanding its health care services in the East Texas region. The new 8,500-square-foot facility is located on Loop 281. It sits next to a walk-in primary clinic, which is also operated by the CHRISTUS Health system.

The center features seven exam rooms and three triage spaces for medical evaluations. The facility is also equipped with imaging and diagnostic testing capabilities and provides onsite laboratory services.

According to CHRISTUS Health, the facility is intended to help patients access different levels of care at a single location.

Fire officials urge caution

SMITH COUNTY — Several fires have been reported across East Texas in the last few days, prompting officials to educate the community about fire safety. It’s not unusual to have brush fires this time of year, as summer includes some of the driest and hottest months, according to our news partner KETK.

Smith County Emergency Services District 2 Battalion Chief Raymond Murillo says the dry conditions and wind are leaving some vegetation dried out and vulnerable to any spark.

“The high heat, the winds we’ve had, everything is drying out without any rain here recently,” Murillo said. “We definitely need quite a bit of rain to help us get caught up.”

One fire on the side of I-20 near mile marker 574 on Sunday has left the grass charred. (more…)

Burn ban list

EAST TEXAS – Because of hot temperatures and extremely dry conditions, several burn bans have been issued. You can find the running list at our news partner KETK.