Suspect Arrested in Fatal Gas Station Shooting

LONGVIEW — A Tyler man wanted in connection with a fatal February shooting has been arrested. According to KETK, judicial records indicate Christian Sibley, 21, was arrested Friday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and escaping from custody. He is being held in the Gregg County Jail on $35,000 bond. There was no immediate word on whether a murder charge might be officially filed against the suspect. The case involves the death of Jerrad Hunt of Longview nearly three weeks after he was shot at a gas station. Hunt died Feb. 23 at Good Shepherd Medical Center. Police say they responded to the gunshot call in the 3000 block of Estes Parkway just before 10:30 a.m. February 3. When they got there, Hunt, 22, had already been taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Sibley claimed Hunt dropped the gun in his lap during a scuffle. Then, during a struggle over the firearm, it went off, Sibley said.

Jury Selection Begins in “Kari’s Law” Slaying

MARSHALL — The trial is underway for a man accused of a crime that led to nationwide efforts to simplify making an emergency call from a hotel room. According to KETK, jury selection began Monday in the trial of Brad Allen Dunn, charged with murder in the December 2013 stabbing death of his estranged wife in a Marshall hotel room. Police said Dunn stabbed Kari Rene Dunn as their 9-year-old daughter tried repeatedly to get help by dialing 911. The phone system in the room required first dialing a 9 to reach an outside line, so the calls never went through. According to the Longview News-Journal, the situation led the slain woman’s family to begin a campaign for a law that would require 911 to be directly accessible from phones in hotels and other businesses. They named the effort Kari’s Law.

Woman Wanted in Gregg, Angelina Counties

LUFKIN — Law enforcement officers in Angelina County and Gregg County are looking for Dana Michelle Carter, who is wanted on multiple warrants. According to KETK, Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers stated the suspect is wanted for probation warrants and is believed to be living in the Lufkin area. She has been arrested several times for theft and fraud offenses, according to jail records. Investigators have information indicating that Carter, 44, previously lived on Oakwood Drive and on Lotus Lane in Lufkin, but her present whereabouts is not known to authorities. The image of Carter shown here was captured in December 2012. Read more …

Longview Man Arrested after Allegedly Choking Woman at Restaurant

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested about 9 p.m. Sunday after police said he choked a woman at Texas Roadhouse on Loop 281. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Anthony Venegas, 27, was being held Monday on a $5,000 bond stemming from the incident. According to the probable cause affidavit for his arrest, an employee of the steakhouse told Longview police that Venegas struck the woman and said the victim would not disrespect him. “The employee said that she saw the victim lose consciousness. The employee then said that (the victim) seemed to wake up after the subject let her go and saw the victim throw peanuts at the subject and left,” the judicial document said. Police said they saw red marks around the victim’s throat. Venegas would not answer any questions, police said.

Sheriff’s Office Introduces New Website

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith Monday announced the launching of http:// www.SmithCountySheriff.com — a new website for the SCSO. In a news release, Smith says it’s part of a continued effort to maintain transparency within the sheriff’s office. The website, which the sheriff terms “much improved,” was designed by Group M7, a website designer located in Tyler. Smith said his support and command staff have spent a great deal of time providing information for inclusion in the website. Read more …

Tyler Principal Honored by NSDA

TYLER — Dr. Kenneth Gay, principal of John Tyler High School, was recently honored by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) with the UIL District NSDA Principal of the Year Award. Thirty-three schools compete in the UIL District. Dr. Gay was nominated for the award by John Tyler High School students. Read more …

TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the Week of March 2. These work schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions or equipment related issues.

Note: Generally, crews will spend much of the week doing routine maintenance necessitated by last week’s ice and snow storms. This includes such tasks as patching potholes, making edge and base repairs, and inspecting and repairing vehicles and other equipment. This work will require moving operations so remain alert during your daytime travels. Read more …

Supreme Court Refuses Harris County Death Row Inmate Appeal

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the case of a 35-year-old Houston man sentenced to die for a fatal shooting during an $8 robbery more than 16 years ago in Harris County. Lawyers for Juan Martin Garcia contended he had poor legal help during his trial in 2000 and that he’s mentally impaired and ineligible for the death penalty. The high court Monday rejected the appeal without comment. Evidence showed the murder victim, 36-year-old Hugh Solano, was shot three times in the head in September 1998 when he was confronted while walking to his van at his Harris County apartment complex. Garcia does not yet have an execution date.

High Court Refuses Appeal from Lubbock Man on Death Row

HOUSTON (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review an appeal from a Lubbock man sent to Texas death row for the 1998 robbery and slaying of a 72-year-old retired preacher and maintenance worker. The high court Monday without comment rejected the case of 43-year-old Joe Garza Jr. He was convicted of using a sock to strangle Silbiano Rangel, then take his truck and money. Garza’s lawyers contended his trial judge in 2000 failed to consider all the evidence and improperly blocked development of more facts. Garza also contended his trial lawyers improperly blocked him from testifying and failed to challenge evidence he was a prison gang member. Garza was on parole for a burglary conviction when Rangel was killed in Lubbock. He does not yet have an execution date.

Texas Republicans Want Medicaid Flexibility, Not Expansion

AUSTIN (AP) – Texas Senate Republicans have sent a letter to President Barack Obama, demanding that their state be allowed to make sweeping changes in how it administers the Medicaid program. At a news conference Monday announcing the letter, Sen. Charles Schwertner said Medicaid’s rising costs were unsustainable. He likened the joint federal-state program providing health care for the poor and disabled, to “gold-plated handcuffs.” Schwertner said that means it is funding overburdened by federal mandates. But Schwertner also said that unless Texas is allowed to institute “commonsense, conservative reforms,” then expanding the program under the White House’s signature health care law “is simply not worth discussing.” Continuing to reject a key component of the health care law, though, may make it hard for Texas to negotiate Medicaid concessions with the Obama administration.

Houston-Area Boy, 6, Hospitalized after Being Shot by Sibling

HOUSTON (AP) – Authorities say a 6-year-old Houston-area boy has been accidentally shot by his 5-year-old brother while at home with their mother. The Harris County Sheriff’s office says the shooting happened Monday at the family’s residence. Deputy Thomas Gilliland says the victim was conscious when transported to a hospital. Further details on his condition weren’t immediately available. Investigators are trying to determine how the two brothers acquired a gun. Two younger siblings were also home but not hurt. It’s the third time within days that children at Houston-area homes were involved in gunfire. Sheriff’s officials say a 4-year-old boy died Sunday after locating a weapon and accidentally shooting himself. A 3-year-old boy died Friday when he accidentally shot himself in the head while at home with his mother.

Ethical Questions Raised about San Marcos Bus Ticket Process

SAN MARCOS (AP) – San Marcos drivers are questioning the ethics of a company that issues tickets to drivers for illegally passing a school bus, and also presides over hearings that decide if those tickets stand. The Austin American-Statesman reports that drivers who want to contest a ruling by the company, called Dallas County Schools, can appeal to go before a municipal judge. Only three of the 54 that were contested through December of last year went to court. The drivers say they did not know that a company representative ruled at their hearing, or that a majority of the revenue that is generated from those tickets goes to the company. Company officials say that the initial hearing offers a shortcut for cases to avoid a trial, and reduces court costs.

Electric Grid Operator for Texas Expects Sufficient Supplies

AUSTIN (AP) – The grid operator for Texas says electric users should have sufficient supply for spring and summer. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, on Monday announced its seasonal forecast. The report for spring identifies more than 76,600 megawatts of generation resources available, with expected peak demand of about 62,000 megawatts. One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 200 homes during the highest demand conditions and about 500 homes during a mild spring day. The forecast is based on average weather conditions seen during the previous year and the history of typical seasonal generation outages. Summer peak demand is estimated at about 69,000 megawatts. ERCOT predicts nearly 77,000 megawatts of available generation resources.