This month marks 15 years since the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart over East Texas. The widow of the Columbia’s commander is sharing how that tragedy turned into a test of faith for her family. While enduring the loss of a spouse wasn’t easy, Evelyn Husband-Thompson says she has been able to find healing comfort…
Tag: East Texas
German journalist visits East Texas through RIAS exchange, spends week in KLTV newsroom
Only a week after returning from my fellowship in Europe, I had a unique chance to continue my trans-Atlantic learning exchange by hosting a German RIAS fellow in East Texas. Charlotte Potts, a presenter for ZDF and political correspondent for Deutsche Welle, is no stranger to the U.S., having lived in Washington, DC for seven…
WATCH: Light ’em up! 40th annual Great Texas Balloon Race
Founded in 1978, the Great Texas Balloon Race has become one of the premiere ballooning events in the world. Click here to watch highlights.
Baseball legend Darryl Strawberry uses ministry to reach others battling addiction
After a very public fall from grace, a Major League Baseball legend, has dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel and sharing a message of redemption. Darryl Strawberry became one of the biggest stars in baseball in the 1980s and 1990s, until his career was derailed by drugs. Drafted by the New York Mets, Strawberry…
WATCH: Finding signs of hope buried in Tornado debris
More than 40 volunteers showed up to help a Henderson County family search through what remains of their home, which was destroyed Saturday by a violent tornado.
WATCH: Judging the Official Texas Gumbo Cook-off
For the last few years, I’ve had the great privilege to be invited to judge the Official Texas Gumbo Cook-off. Click here to check out what goes into the competition!
WATCH: Riding atop a fire engine in Longview’s Christmas Parade
One of my favorite community events in all of East Texas is the annual Longview Christmas Parade. Click here to watch.
WATCH: Flying around storms over northeast Texas
Click here to watch a time-lapse of my flights into Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Tyler Pound Regional Airport.
Hidden among the pines, The Blue Hole is preserved as a Texas treasure
Nestled in the Angelina National Forest in Deep East Texas, 36 miles southeast of Lufkin, is one of the hidden jewels of Texas. The Blue Hole, as it’s known, is a brilliant blue-green-colored lake surrounded by the craggy white sandstone cliffs of a former rock quarry. First opened in the late 1800s, rock was removed…
WATCH: Kayaking at Tyler State Park
Click here to watch a quick 360 degree view of the 64-acre spring-fed lake at Tyler State Park.
WATCH: Inside Tyler’s Cotton Belt Depot Museum
Click here to learn more about the thousands of model trains and East Texas railroad artifacts housed inside the Cotton Belt Depot Museum.
WATCH: Walk through America’s largest rose garden
Click here to take a tour of the largest rose garden in America, the Tyler Rose Garden. Fragrant roses aren’t the only flowers currently in bloom.
WATCH: Spring blooms in the 57th annual Tyler Azalea Trail
Click here to watch a tour of the 57th annual Tyler, Texas Azalea and Spring Flower Trails, which draws more than 100,000 visitors to the city each year.
WATCH: World War II era Consolidated B-24 Liberator flies over Tyler
Click here to watch a World War II era Consolidated B-24 Liberator fly over The Cascades Country Club in Tyler, Texas, on approach to Tyler Pounds Regional Airport.
New spacecraft named after astronaut killed in E. Texas space shuttle tragedy
The next cargo spacecraft to launch to the International Space Station will bear the name of an American astronaut killed in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy over East Texas. An Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo resupply spacecraft bearing the name S.S. Rick Husband will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 22. Husband served as commander of…
Where to find the best gumbo in Texas
Texas is proud of its culinary heritage — a figurative and literal melting pot of cultures and signature dishes known the world over. Drawing discerning foodies from around the world, the Lone Star State is no longer catering only to those with a taste for barbecue. Kitchens are serving up creations by world-renowned chefs and…
East Texas Symphony presents ‘Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant’
Have you ever heard of a “Zipperpotamus,” a “Panthermometer,” or a “Pop-Up Toadster?” These imaginative animals come to life illustrated in the children’s book, “Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant” were brought to life in the East Texas Symphony’s Family Concert on Saturday, February 27. I had the great privilege of serving as narrator for the poetry,…
Remembering a pioneer in East Texas television history
This week, we learned of the passing of KLTV’s first chief engineer, Hudson Collins, who lived a long life of 94 years. While I never had the opportunity to meet him, I’m fascinated by many of the details of his pioneering career. An engineer is an important position in any television station, but he holds…
WATCH: Spectacular sunrise takeoff from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport
Click here to watch a time-lapse of push back, taxiing, and takeoff from my sunrise flight from Tyler to Houston, Texas.
WATCH: Helicopter tour over Tyler, Texas
Click here to get a view of Tyler, Texas during my ride-along with Air One, ETMC’s air ambulance service, which celebrates 30 years of operation in 2015.
Pastor’s spiritual walk leads him from orphanage to Capitol Hill
As a coach, pastor, and foster parent, Reverend Jerome R. Milton has touched the lives of hundreds of East Texans. On December 12, 2012, his devotion to spreading the word of God earned him an invitation to lead the U.S. House of Representatives in prayer as guest chaplain. After an introduction by East Texas congressman…
Actor Kirk Cameron shares his spiritual walk from atheist to evangelist
Actor Kirk Cameron became a pop culture idol as the star of the 1980s hit TV comedy ‘Growing Pains.’ Raised in a family without God, he found his faith while portraying teenager Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom. Now, as one of the most prominent Christian voices in Hollywood, Cameron is inspiring others by sharing…
Advice from a 105-year-old with no intent of slowing down
What a privilege and honor it was Wednesday morning to visit with Tyler resident Earline Andrews on her 105 birthday. She happens to be the oldest living graduate of my alma mater, Northwestern State University! I don’t think she could have been more delighted when we arrived with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf…
WATCH: Helicopter drops golf balls for charity tournament
Click here to watch a medical helicopter dropping hundreds of golf balls at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler as part of a charity golf tournament.
Celebrating 60 years of broadcasting in East Texas
Happy birthday KTRE! This weekend our station, serving Deep East Texas, celebrated 60 years of broadcasting excellence and service to the community. Hundreds of East Texans, local and state dignitaries, along with KTRE staffers, both past and present, gathered at the studios north of Lufkin for a Texas-sized celebration. A few families even camped out in…
WATCH: Balloon glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race
Click here for highlights from the annual balloon glow at the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, Texas.
Wildly popular ‘The Art of the Brick’ exhibit opens at Tyler Museum of Art
Thousands of people are expected to wind their way through an exhibition featuring thousands of LEGO bricks arranged into 25 large-scale sculptures at the Tyler Museum of Art. The Art of the Brick, a global-touring exhibit by Nathan Sawaya, is being hosted at the museum on the campus of Tyler Junior College through September 13….
Ministers patrolling E. Texas streets through community policing program
Rockie Simpler is not a peace officer, but a man of the cloth. Still, his ministry puts him alongside Mount Pleasant police officers — armed only with the word of God. “This patrol car is my church,” Simpler said. “I use it as a tool to go out and help people with the Lord. I…
Shuttle Columbia debris collected in E. Texas goes on public display for first time
A new exhibit at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida memorializes the Space Shuttle Columbia, which broke apart over East Texas in 2003. The 2,000 square foot exhibit, housed at the Space Center’s visitor complex, features the personal effects of crew members and recovered shuttle hardware from both the ill-fated Columbia tragedy and the 1986…
Theology on Tap serves up Bible study with a twist
A Christian men’s group in Tyler is reaching out the faithful in an unlikely way, through Bible study with a twist. Theology on Tap provides fellowship and conversations about faith and spirituality in a casual setting. Rev. Justin Braun, a priest with the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, helped start the group in 2012. “We’re East…
WATCH: Light snow coats downtown Tyler streets
Click the video below to look at the tiny flakes of snow accumulating in downtown Tyler.
WATCH: Snow blankets downtown Tyler, Texas
Click here to watch my tour of the snowfall in downtown Tyler, Texas.
WATCH: Storm chase leads to tornado-ravaged town
Click here to watch raw video of my storm chase through Hopkins County.
WATCH: Tornado destroys N. Hopkins Fire House
Click here to watch my tour of the tornado destruction at the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department’s station number 3 on April 3, 2014.
WATCH: Tornado destroys Hopkins Co. homes, businesses
Click here to watch my interview with a Hopkins County, Texas resident who survived a tornado destroying his home and business.
