Tyler Residents Urged to Conserve Water

The City of Tyler is easing up on its water restrictions and asking residents to voluntary conserve water and limit irrigation.

The Stage One voluntary restrictions include watering landscaped areas to Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0,2,4,6,8) or Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9).  Additionally, irrigation should be done between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“The precipitation that we have received in recent weeks, and that which is forecasted in the next week, has led us to shift from mandatory restrictions back to voluntary restrictions,” said Water Utilities Managing Director Greg Morgan.  “The long term forecast for rain in the upcoming summer is uncertain.  Therefore, we will monitor lake levels closely and determine if we are able to remain at the Step One restrictions moving into the warmer months.”

Lake Tyler is currently 2.5 feet below spillway levels and Lake Palestine is full.

Intruder Shot by Homeowner Dies

A man shot by a Tyler homeowner has died of his injuries.

Police say 27-year-old Jayson Raychard Williams died Tuesday Afternoon after he was admitted last week to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators say Williams was shot after he told the homeowner don’t move or he would kill him.

The shooting occurred last week a 1807 N Ross street, no charges have been filed at this time while the case remains under investigation.

Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession

A 46-year-old Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for child pornography violations.

Timothy Michael Callahan pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2011, to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to information presented in court, on Nov. 2, 2010, law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant at Callahan's residence in Kilgore.  During the investigation, Callahan admitted to using a peer-to-peer file sharing network, Gigatribe, to download and view child pornography.  A forensic analysis of Callahan's computer revealed approximately 477 images of child pornography, some depicting children less than 12 years of age engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.  Callahan has previously been convicted of sexual assault n Gregg County, Texas.

Tyler Woman Sentenced on Federal Drug and Money Laundering Charges

TYLER - Jennifer Anderson ,35, pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2011, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder money crime and was sentenced today to188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Schneider.  Anderson was also ordered to submit to forfeiture of $10,000.

According to information presented in court, up until Mar. 7, 2011, Anderson and co-defendants possessed more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, which they distributed in the Smith County, Texas area.  Anderson also assisted in collecting the illegal proceeds from the sale of cocaine, using bank accounts to deposit the illegal proceeds and transferring funds to pay for the purchase and distribution of cocaine.  Anderson also admitted to working with others with the intent to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the illegal proceeds.  Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2011, along with four co-defendants.

Anderson's husband, Gary Anderson, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Mar. 5, 2012.  Their three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Smith County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.

Closing Arguments for Bleach Killing Case Set

LUFKIN — Closing arguments in the trial of an East Texas nurse charged with murder will be Thursday in Lufkin. Testimony ended today at the trial of Kimberly Saenz (synz) and she didn't take the stand to defend herself.

Prosecutors allege that Saenz killed five dialysis patients with injections of bleach.

Pilot Freaks Out on Flight

AMARILLO — The Federal Aviation Administration says the captain of a JetBlue flight to Las Vegas was exhibiting "erratic behavior" before other crew members decided to lock him out of the cockpit.

Passengers say the captain became disruptive when he couldn't get back inside, and was yelling about a bomb. A passenger tells CNN that the pilot still inside the cockpit used the P-A system to urge passengers to restrain the captain, which they did.

The flight from New York was diverted to Amarillo, where the captain was taken for medical treatment. A passenger says most of the people on board were "shocked and confused" by what was going on. He says authorities interviewed each of the passengers after the flight landed.

The FBI says it's investigating, along with other federal agencies and local police.