State and local news digest

The trial for suspended Smith County Pct. 1 Constable, Curtis Traylor-Smith continued this morning with him taking the witness stand. He told Judge Jack Skeen that he was waiving his 5th amendment right. He is accused of allegedly stealing from a home during an eviction. HIs defense attorney played back body-cam footage from the two deputies taken that day. Traylor-Smith continued to deny he stole anything. Later in the day, he was convicted of all of the charges against him. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday morning.


TJC will mark the 75th anniversary of the TJC Apache Band and the Apache Belles with their first-ever Christmas extravaganza. There will be live music from the TJC Band’s Wind Ensemble, dancing, and Christmas carols for those attending Friday night. This is the first time both programs are cooperating in a joint production.


Congratulations to the Tyler Legacy High School tennis team which earned the Region II 6A School Team Tennis Sportsmanship Award. USTA Texas says it recognized Tyler Legacy Tennis for its outstanding demonstration of sportsmanship enthusiasm, compassion, fair-mindedness, and positivity during the 2022 UIL Regional Team Tennis Tournament.



The popular social media app, TikTok is under fire this morning from a variety of state governor’s including Texas. Indiana has accused TikTok of exposing minors to adult content and deceiving users about Chinese government access to their personal data. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot says TikTok is now banned from use on state-owned electronic devices because of security threats from the Chinese government. According to the FBI, the app poses national security concerns because China could use it to collect data from users and compromise their personal devices. Abbott says one of the ways to prevent this from happening is by banning TikTok on government-issued phones, computers and tablets. Just last April, Abbott criticized TikTok for allowing Mexican drug cartels to use the app to recruit criminals.

“TikTok.. stop allowing your platform to be used for cartels to advertise to Texans or Americans to commit crimes aiding and abetting cartels. Otherwise, TikTok, you are a part of a criminal enterprise.”

Other GOP-led states including Maryland, South Dakota, and South Carolina have issued similar bans.


You’ve heard about the attacks on the North Carolina Power grid. This morning we learned that the Department of Homeland Security sent out a warning just days before two power stations were damaged by gunfire, putting tens of thousands in the dark. Here in Texas, there has been less concern about domestic terrorism and more about improved management of the power grid after the disastrous power loss last year. Texas Public Utilities Commission Chair, Peter Lake says his agency is doing more with less after the deadly winter blackouts last February that left millions in the cold and dark for days.

“We have essentially the same amount of employees but have done 200% more rule makings in a very short amount of time. Not to mention the exponential increase in ERCOT protocols, bylaws and all of the additional responsibilities there.”

The Texas Public Utilities Commission is to vote on a redesign of the electricity market after the first of the year.


UT Tyler’s Title IX office will be working with the Smith County Sexual Assault Response Team in developing protocols regarding the handling of sexual assault cases. When Senate Bill 476 was passed in the last session, it required all Texas counties to have a team dedicated to sexual assault response. The Smith County District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department and Tyler Police Department are all participating in an effort to prevent miscommunication among agencies and to expedite reports of sexual assault. The plan is for the Smith County DA’s office and law enforcement agencies to work closely with nurses and advocates.


Congratulations to Tyler High School Business Teacher Sharmecia Jackson. She’s received the Outstanding Teacher award from the National Alliance of Black Educators.



written by Mike Landess
edited by Jeff Johnson