Latest news with #EastTexans
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
East Texas residents asked to donate fans for summer relief
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – With summer heat quickly approaching, East Texans will have the opportunity to donate fans to those who need some relief from the scorching summer temperatures. Overton baseball unable to claim first state title in school history People Attempting to Help (PATH) is currently hosting the 'Beat the Heat' Fan Drive and is hoping to provide hundreds of East Texas families with a box fan. The fans will help families reduce energy costs while keeping their homes cool during summer. According to PATH, heat is the number one weather-related killer in Texas. During the summers, older people and children are at high risk of being impacted by the heat and many are currently living without an AC unit in their homes. Those who are willing to donate fans can do it through the PATH website. Up to 10 fans can be donated through the website with each fan costing $25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Here's what you need to know: Sahara dust is making its way to East Texas
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Every year around this time, the Sahara Desert in Africa experiences peak emissions that sends dust particles across the Atlantic Ocean, causing air quality changes in East Texas. Here's what we know about this phenomenon and how it could effect East Texans. Dust from Sahara brings hazy skies to East Texas Although allergy season is wrapping up, East Texans could still experience higher dust levels from the annual Sahara air layer that is heading this way. Its unknown exactly how much dust East Texans should anticipate, but they will likely see changes in visibility and air quality. KETK sat down with Professor and Center Director for Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo Brent Auvermann Ph.D. to talk about this environmental occurrence. 'It really is more of a general haze, things will change colors, sunlight will look different. the sun itself may look more red,' Auvermann said. 'At various times of the day, the clouds will be dingier in all likelihood and visibility will be somewhat reduced, depends on the intensity of the event. It is likely that air monitors that are monitoring air pollution at the ground level in East Texas will pick something up this time around,' Auvermann said. According to Google Maps, Texas and the Sahara Dessert are separated by over 7,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean water, which prompts people to question exactly how all this dust could travel that far without settling in the ocean. Babysitter's Club returning to Harrison County later this month Auvermann said these dust particles in the Sahara are small enough to rise high into the air through convection and travel long distances. Once some of these particles reach humid air, they can absorb water which makes them become heavier and settle in more humid areas like East Texas. 'They might absorb water from the atmosphere in response to changes in relative humidity,' Auvermann said. 'So as it gets more humid, they might absorb more water, that makes the particle larger, probably makes it settle out faster.' The dust particles travel toward East Texas because of a natural steering current that causes the wind to blow west from the African coast all the way to eastern parts of the United States depending on latitude. One question that might be on the minds of East Texans is how will this dust effect residents and the environment. TRAFFIC ALERT: Road closures in Henderson County due to flooding Auvermann said it is believed that this dust event has been happening for arounds thousands of years leaving him to suspect that ecosystems have become somewhat used to its effects. As for humans, Auvermann recommends that those with respiratory or other allergy driven issues talk to a doctor about treatment. People who do not suffer from respiratory issues should also stay cautious of this dust event as it could effect anyone. 'Is it possible that somebody that had never been triggered to asthma might be triggered to something like this? Its possible and so again people will always want to be in touch with medical professionals,' Auvermann said. Flooded road, fallen trees in Smith County following severe weather East Texans can expect to see some changes in the air quality index this month and Auvermann suspects these changes will last anywhere from a couple days to almost a week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
TRAFFIC ALERT: Road closures in Henderson County due to flooding
HENDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — As Henderson County battles flash flooding, some roads have been shut down for the safety of East Texans. According to Henderson County, flash flooding is possible with heavy rains, so the county encourages residents to turn around if they encounter a flooded road. 'Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving floodwaters,' the county said. 'The water may be hiding dangers such as debris, tree branches, power lines or damage to the road. As little as six inches of fast-moving water can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, even a pickup truck or SUV.' A flash flood warning has been issued till June 8 at 9:25 p.m. in Henderson County. KETK has compiled the following list of road closures in Henderson County: County Road 1500 East and West is closed The bridge on County Road 1507 is flooded and not passable County Road 1113 is flooded at the creek and is not passable County Road 2448 is under water Pritchett Road in Seven Points is closed from Jess Hinton to County Road 2105 County Road 2139 south of 85 is closed County Road 2428 east is closed The bridge on County Road 3918 was washed over and is not passable The bridge on FM 316 by Purtis Creek is flooded County Road 3822 County Road 3715 has since reopened. Emergency Management said they received reports of stranded vehicles due to high water this morning, but all has cleared out as of now and no injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fire does $50,000 in damage to Longview metal waste recycling facility
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) – The Longview Fire Department said they responded to a fire at the Alpha Omega Recycling facility on Sunday. New recycling facility in Kilgore opens for many East Texans The fire was reported after workers at the Alpha Omega facility on 315 Whatley Road noticed that smoke had started coming from chemicals. Longview Fire Department said this smoke suggested the materials in the facility had spontaneously combusted. After Longview firefighters had responded to the facility, the found smoke coming from the back of an exterior structure. Longview Fire Department said their firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to the structure and one of its walls. No injuries were reported and Longview Fire Department estimated the fire did around $50,000 in damage. The fire department responded to the facility with six fire engines, three ladder trucks, two ambulances and six support vehicles. The facility, which is owned by the Amlon Group, recycles liquid waste, metal industrial waste and hazardous materials for businesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It should not be up to the government': Tyler smoke shop urges people to veto THC ban bill
TYLER, Texas (KETK)– The ban on THC in Texas has local businesses and East Texans concerned. Senate Bill 3 will ban all THC products and now waits for Abbott's signature. Co-owner of Dragon's Breath in North Tyler said a full THC ban will do more harm than good. 'We were disgusted' Civil Rights activists call for Tyler Police resignations When the House and Senate passed the bill, co-owner, Lauren Gilmore made all THC products 25 percent off and she believes SB-3 becoming law would be harmful to Texans. 'Honestly, just putting people's lives at risk and making ordinarily law-abiding citizens into criminals,' Dragon's Breath co-owner, Lauren Gilmore said. The bill was spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick. AG Commissioner, Sid Miller, has supported the bill and said taking away THC will protect kids. 'You have seventh grader to walk in a convenience store buy a bag of gummies. You know Delta-9 gummies which is full strength marijuana and take those back to junior high and pass them around. That wasn't illegal. We never intended for that to happen,' AG Commissioner Sid Miller said. 'The GOP is split on it. There's a lot of them would like to keep it the status as is, or at least legalize some form of legal use of THC outside of medicinal use. There's a portion of the Republican Party that is dead set against it. He's kind of between a rock and a hard place.' 'I think people should be able to be trusted with what they're putting into their body. It's all up to them. It should not be up to the government. This should not be a nanny state,' Gilmore said. Dragon's Breath strictly follows the 21 or older law when selling in Gilmore's store. THC sales is 30% of their business at Dragon's Breath. Nearly 6000 shops around the state will be affected by the bill. 'It's unfortunate that they're going to be affected negatively economically, but that was a risk they took and they knew that going in doesn't make it any better,' Miller said. If SB-3 becomes law, Gilmore is worried for the wellbeing of her customers. 'Some people are using it, you know, just for aches and pains from joint muscles, arthritis, lots of anxiety and depression,' Gilmore said. She believes people will find cannabis on the streets and their lives may be in danger. 'I had a friend who actually OD'd from laced fentanyl cannabis on the streets, which is to me is way more dangerous getting it on the street than inside a shop where all of these products have been tested by a lab,' Gilmore said. Dragon's Breath will remain open and Gilmore will try to keep all of her staff. If signed by Abbott, the law will take effect in September and stores in Texas will have until January to be in full compliance with the law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
