Mariela Gonzalez
Reporter/MMJ
East Texas
Mariela Gonzalez is a KTRE multimedia journalist. She grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania but has been calling East Texas her home since she graduated from Nacogdoches High School.
She then earned her B.A. in Mass Communications focusing on radio and television broadcasting at Stephen F. Austin State University in December 2020.
Mariela is very excited to continue in Deep East Texas and share stories from the same community that welcomed her with open arms.
She loves spending time with her family and her pets or exploring new cities with her friends during her free time.
Texas leads the nation in animal cruelty cases, and authorities say in some situations people charged were not intentionally trying to be cruel.
As advocates raise awareness about sexual assault this month, they say it’s also an important time to talk about sexual harassment in the workplace.
Data from Map the Meal Gap shows hunger is rising in East Texas. According to the latest figures, one in five adults in the region faces food insecurity, including one in four children.
“It’s to help remind us of all that He has done for us and what He continues to do for us,” Watts.
This mural marks Brushing Up Nac’s sixth project, and McCandles said the nonprofit hopes to eventually place murals at each entry point into downtown that “says something about our city.”
The annual Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo kicked off Friday night at the Nacogdoches Civic and Expo Center, bringing professional riders from across the country along with family entertainment and arena performances.
The next generation of welders, mechanics and engineers showcased their skills at the Angelina County Fair, where nearly 50 students displayed projects that educators say can translate directly into careers.
Polk County leaders approved a resolution Tuesday morning, aimed at increasing oversight of potential data center development, citing concerns about water use and other infrastructure impacts in the Deep East Texas county.
The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) is helping East Texas students get prom-ready while saving them hundreds of dollars through its annual Prom Project.
Woodland Heights Medical Center is collecting peanut butter through March 30 as part of its annual “Jars of Love” peanut butter drive benefiting the East Texas Food Bank.
Endometriosis is a complex disease that affects the reproductive system and can lower the chance of pregnancy. Medical experts say it is often underdiagnosed, which can delay treatment and prolong symptoms.
Flooding has taken a costly toll on Polk County and its residents, and county leaders say they are now taking steps to break the cycle of repeated damage and repairs.
A judge has denied the motion to dismiss an indictment for a man accused of hiding a dash camera after a 2023 wreck that killed two SFA students.
A district judge has sentenced a Lufkin man to life in prison in connection with the hot water burns of a child.
As new subdivisions pop up across Anderson County and the rest of East Texas, regional water planners are warning that growth could come with a cost below the surface.
Nacogdoches ISD career and technical education students will be leaving their mark on the city’s new fire stations.
In deep red East Texas, the primary is often the election that counts the most and it appears voters recognized it.
“For anybody that’s used to coming out to the dog park, the small dog and large dog sides have now swapped,” Sowell explained.
A Deep East Texas non-profit is celebrating two decades of service to the area with its annual Black History and Cultural Expo.
Republican candidates State Representative Trent Ashby and Rhonda Ward are making their final pitches to voters in a competitive primary race for State Senate District 3, with early voting ending Friday and Election Day set for March 3.
Nacogdoches High School students are working and learning at the same time as they construct outhouses for community members facing homelessness.
A bicycle club in Deep East Texas is hoping a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) initiative will lead to safer cycling conditions on local roadways.
Students at Lufkin Independent School District will soon begin following a new math curriculum designed to create a more engaging learning environment and help struggling students gain confidence in the subject.
A new four story, 144-room residential hall could be coming to Stephen F. Austin University following approval from the University of Texas System Board of Regents Wednesday.
An EF-1 tornado that ripped through part of Shelby County left one family scurrying to return home to find parts of the home in pieces.
