AUSTIN (AP) — Democrat James Talarico flipped a U.S. Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ken Paxton to pull off the party’s first statewide victory in more than 30 years and sending a jolt through a longtime GOP stronghold that President Donald Trump carried by double digits just two years ago.
The 37-year-old state legislator, former middle school teacher and Presbyterian seminarian will become Texas’ first Democratic senator since 1993, laying bare how voter frustration midway through Trump’s second term imperiled Republicans deep inside typically safe turf. The victory is a rejection of Trump’s pick for the seat and threatens Republicans’ control of the Senate, where Democrats needed to gain four seats to retake the majority. (more…)
AUSTIN (AP) — In a stunning upset, Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Democratic governor of Texas in more than 30 years on Tuesday, ousting Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and catapulting a decided underdog to national prominence leading what has long been the nation’s most populous red state.
She will become Texas’ first Latina governor — and the first Democrat to hold the office since Ann Richards in the 1990s — following a groundbreaking victory that topples one of the nation’s most prominent Republican governors and steadfast supporters of President Donald Trump, possibly accelerating the state’s shift to an emerging battleground.
Her victory was part of an electrifying night for Democrats in Texas, where James Talarico won election to the U.S. Senate over Republican Ken Paxton. (more…)
UPDATE: The critical missing adult has been located, and is back at the hospital.
TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is currently searching for a missing 85-year-old man who was last seen near South Beckham Avenue and East Lake Street.
According to our news partner KETK and a Tyler PD post on Tuesday, Bill Hewett is an 85-year-old man who was last seen in the South Beckham Avenue and East Lake Street. The department said Hewett suffers from cognitive issues and may not know where he’s going.
hewett was last seen while wearing an orange shirt, a black jacket and blue jeans. Anyone who sees him is asked to contact Tyler PD at 903-531-1000.
GRAND SALINE – All schools in Grand Saline ISD were placed on temporary secure status on Tuesday as the Grand Saline Police Department searched for a wanted man.
40-year-old Jeremy Wade Hester, fled from officers after they tried to locate and apprehend him on an outstanding warrant, according to the Grand Saline Police Department and our news partner KETK.
After searching the area, officers determined there to be no immediate danger to the public although they did not locate Hester. (more…)
WOOD COUNTY – An investigation has been launched after a Wood County detainee was found in their cell on Tuesday afternoon.
According to our news partner KETK and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, while conducting cell checks at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, jailers found a detainee lying on the floor of his cell, unresponsive, prompting medical staff to begin life-saving measures.
The detainee was later taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead and officials have notified his family of his death.
The Texas Rangers have since launched an investigation into the detainee’s death and no further information is available at this time.
HARRIS COUNTY — A retired Tyler pharmacist found guilty of sexually assaulting a child over a decade ago died in prison on Oct. 26 due to a medical emergency. According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, James Carey Prosperie, 86, of Tyler, died of “illness/natural cause” in the Pam Lychner State Jail after suffering a medical emergency.
According to our news partner KETK and Smith County judicial records, Prosperie was arrested in September of 2013, after a standoff at his home and pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault against a child on May 8, 2014. Prosperie used to be a pharmacist on East Fifth Street in Tyler. According to the arrest affidavit provided by Smith County, Prosperie sexually assaulted a 14-year-old relative on June 8, 2013. A report from CPS states Prosperie confessed to a “lawyer/friend” that he had sexual contact with an underage relative on at least two separate occasions.
Prosperie was serving a 16-year sentence that commenced in May of 2014, according to Smith County Court records.
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Emergency Services District 1 will be adding the City of Seven Points after a 53.75% vote for the proposition on Tuesday. Proposition A was being put before Henderson County voters in an effort to annex the City of Seven Points and surrounding efforts into ESD#1. The city will continue getting fire department coverage but under a more permanent structure that won’t require renewing contracts with the county. Residents outside of the district will see a $0.081000 per $100 of property value tax increase, which matches the rate already paid to ESD#1 by residents in the district’s current area.
WOOD COUNTY – Hawkins and surrounding areas in Wood County currently rely on volunteer fighters. Now, they will be served by a new ESD district. The proposition to create Wood County Emergency Services District No. 2 passed with a 58.65% vote following Election Day. Our news partners at KETK report that under the new district, the area will have coverage from full-time and part-time paid firefighters, who will have better equipment, better training and better response time to fires thanks to funding brought in by the ESD. The ESD will be funded by a tax increase that won’t be over 10 cents for every $100 of property values. Voters in Wood County precinct 33 participated.
KILGORE – It was announced on Monday that longtime member of the city’s criminal justice system, Johnathan Gage, has been appointed police chief and will begin his tenure later this month. Gage will officially become the new Kilgore Police Chief on November 13, immediately after Chief Todd Hunter retires; Hunter was originally scheduled to retire in January but requested to leave the department sooner for a new opportunity.
During his 30-year career with the Kilgore Police Department, Gage served in various roles, including patrol officer, SWEAT operator, and patrol sergeant and currently serves as the department’s public information officer.
Gage enters the role with a master peace officer certification, two associate degrees and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Additionally, Gage is a recent graduate of the Law Enforcement Command Officer Program.
AUSTIN (AP) — Democrat James Talarico flipped a U.S. Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, defeating Republican Ken Paxton to pull off the party’s first statewide victory in more than 30 years and sending a jolt through a longtime GOP stronghold that President Donald Trump carried by double digits just two years ago.
AUSTIN (AP) — In a stunning upset, Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Democratic governor of Texas in more than 30 years on Tuesday, ousting Republican incumbent Greg Abbott and catapulting a decided underdog to national prominence leading what has long been the nation’s most populous red state.
UPDATE: The critical missing adult has been located, and is back at the hospital.
GRAND SALINE – All schools in Grand Saline ISD were placed on temporary secure status on Tuesday as the Grand Saline Police Department searched for a wanted man. 
WOOD COUNTY – An investigation has been launched after a Wood County detainee was found in their cell on Tuesday afternoon.
HARRIS COUNTY — A retired Tyler pharmacist found guilty of sexually assaulting a child over a decade ago died in prison on Oct. 26 due to a medical emergency. According to the Texas Attorney General’s Office, James Carey Prosperie, 86, of Tyler, died of “illness/natural cause” in the Pam Lychner State Jail after suffering a medical emergency.
HENDERSON COUNTY – The Henderson County Emergency Services District 1 will be adding the City of Seven Points after a 53.75% vote for the proposition on Tuesday. Proposition A was being put before Henderson County voters in an effort to annex the City of Seven Points and surrounding efforts into ESD#1. The city will continue getting fire department coverage but under a more permanent structure that won’t require renewing contracts with the county. Residents outside of the district will see a $0.081000 per $100 of property value tax increase, which matches the rate already paid to ESD#1 by residents in the district’s current area.
WOOD COUNTY – Hawkins and surrounding areas in Wood County currently rely on volunteer fighters. Now, they will be served by a new ESD district. The proposition to create Wood County Emergency Services District No. 2 passed with a 58.65% vote following Election Day. Our news partners at KETK report that under the new district, the area will have coverage from full-time and part-time paid firefighters, who will have better equipment, better training and better response time to fires thanks to funding brought in by the ESD. The ESD will be funded by a tax increase that won’t be over 10 cents for every $100 of property values. Voters in Wood County precinct 33 participated.
KILGORE – It was announced on Monday that longtime member of the city’s criminal justice system, Johnathan Gage, has been appointed police chief and will begin his tenure later this month. Gage will officially become the new Kilgore Police Chief on November 13, immediately after Chief Todd Hunter retires; Hunter was originally scheduled to retire in January but requested to leave the department sooner for a new opportunity.
