Local Headlines

East Texans raise concerns on proposed land use of biosolids

CANTON – East Texas landowners made themselves heard at a public meeting Thursday night in Van Zandt County hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to our news partners at KETK. They were there to ask questions and voice concerns about a proposed permit of land use of biosolids in Mabank. According to the EPA, biosolids come from the wastewater treatment process. It’s human waste converted into organic materials that can be used as fertilizer. The permit reveals that Denali Water Solutions, based in Arkansas, would distribute biosolids on a landowners farm in Mabank raising concerns about potential risks. (more…)

Family sues Winnsboro ISD over harassment allegations

WINNSBORO – A family filed a lawsuit against Winnsboro ISD accusing the district of engaging “in a yearslong retaliatory campaign” against them after they tried numerous times to report bullying against their son according to our news partner KETK. The lawsuit, filed in federal court against WISD and its board members, asserts that the district ignored complaints of sexual harassment and physical abuse, detailing alleged instances in which the district retaliated against the plaintiff’s family.

Board members named in the lawsuit are Duncan McAdoo, Brandon Green, Stacy Brown, Jay Murdock, Kristie Amason, Billy Saucier and Brian Busby. The lawsuit accuses them and other high ranking school officials of violating Title IX and ADA laws in addition to FERPA violations. (more…)

Death of missing Tyler man ruled homicide

TYLER — The cause of death for a missing Tyler man has been released, according to our news partner KETK. The Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas revealed Jose Alejandro Perez’s manner of death was ruled as “homicide violence including chop/blunt force injuries and neck compression.”

Perez initially went missing on April 26 from the Towne Oaks Apartments off Old Bullard Road, where his mother had last seen him. Officers reportedly discovered his vehicle at Autumn Glen apartments off Hollytree Drive, about a mile-and-a-half from his last known location.

By May 5, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a call at around 3:40 p.m. where the caller indicated human remains may have been located in the area of 15400 block of FM 346 East between Troup and Whitehouse. (more…)

Juvenile charged with bomb threats and swatting

TYLER – A juvenile suspect was arrested Wednesday for multiple bomb threats and swatting hoaxes in Tyler. A joint investigation was conducted by the Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Collin County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI. The Tyler PD apprehended the youth and charged him with six criminal offenses. The juvenile is currently at the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center.

Teen dead following ‘thwarted burglary’

LONGVIEW — A 17-year-old is dead and another minor is injured after an alleged “thwarted burglary.” According to our news partner KETK, officers responded to a report of a residential burglary in progress on Mahlow Drive around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials said that they found a 17-year-old male inside the residence with life-threatening injuries. Police said that the 17-year-old was taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries. Longview PD said that “it was determined he was the suspect that unlawfully entered the home.”

Shortly after arriving on the scene, officers were notified that another juvenile arrived at a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, and after investigation it was “determined the juvenile was associated with the incident on Mahlow Drive,” police said. (more…)

Three East Texas school districts violate the Crown Act

TEXAS – The ACLU of Texas said Wednesday it found 51 school districts, including three East Texas school districts, in violation of the Texas CROWN Act, which bans race-based hair discrimination, and urged them to update their dress code policies, according to the Texas Tribune and our news partners at KETK. The Texas CROWN Act prohibits schools, workplaces and housing authorities from discriminating against hairstyles historically associated with race such as dreadlocks, cornrows or afros. (more…)

Inmate displaying ‘erratic behavior’ dies in custody

ANGELINA COUNTY — According to our newspartner KETK, a Lufkin man has died after spending nearly two days in the Angelina County Jail where he displayed “erratic and unusual behavior.” According to a release from Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman, on Sunday deputies were dispatched in regards to a call of an individual at the Clawson Assembly of God church who reportedly had been behaving erratically and appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Deputies located Michael Stolich, 46 of Lufkin, near a pickup truck in the parking lot. After speaking with him for several minutes, officials reportedly determined he was under the influence of some type of narcotic or intoxicating substance. Stolich was then taken into custody. (more…)

Council approves development of Lake Tyler Master Plan

TYLER – On Wednesday, July 24, the City Council approved a contract for the development of the Lake Tyler Master Plan, which will consider the City’s current and future needs at Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East. The contract will total $449,275, and Halff Associates, Inc., was selected to provide the City with a comprehensive set of recommendations for the Master Plan. The Lake Tyler Master Plan will focus on areas like recreation and tourism, water quality, public safety, planning and development, and grant funding opportunities. Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East are owned and operated by Tyler Water Utilities and are treated as a single reservoir. (more…)

Texas sales tax holiday is Aug. 9-11

AUSTIN — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-11. This will be the 25th year of Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday.

State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature. (more…)