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Post-Uvalde transparency bill moves forward after late-session holdup by Lieutenant Governor

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite hitting a last-minute snag in the final full week of the legislative session, a years-long fight to close a controversial legal gap known as the "dead suspect loophole" is still moving toward the Texas governor's desk. This development comes days after the one-year anniversary of the Uvalde mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers, which put a spotlight on the importance of public records, transparency and the truth."We've agreed to the changes that would make this bill operational and the House conferees have signed off on that," Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, who authored the bill and has been trying to close the loophole for years, said earlier Friday. "So, we're simply waiting to see what happens."The holdup had been Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, according to several sources with inside knowledge. KXAN reached out Friday to his office to ask about the status of the bill but did not immediately hear back.The "dead suspect loophole" refers to a...

Yellen says US will run out of money by June 5 if debt ceiling not raised

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday notified lawmakers the nation will run out of money to pay its bills by June 5 if they do not raise the debt ceiling.“Based on the most recent available data, we now estimate that Treasury will have insufficient resources to satisfy the government’s obligations if Congress has not raised or suspended the debt limit by June 5,” Yellen wrote to leaders.The update may offer negotiators who were working with an estimated June 1 "X-date" more breathing room to clinch a deal to raise the debt ceiling, but it also sets a hard deadline.At the time of Yellen’s letter, leaders had not announced an agreement, after weeks of struggling to overcome key sticking points.Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), a key player in talks, said Friday that proposed changes to work requirements for certain federal assistance programs remained a “huge sticking point,” and signaled more work needs to be done before both sides wrap up a deal on spending caps. Repu...

Alton police solve 2014 cold case, suspect moved from Mexico to Illinois

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

ALTON, Ill. - The Alton Police Department has closed a cold case after the suspect in a 2014 murder was transferred from Mexico to Illinois earlier this month. Odilon Villagran Gudino is now jailed in Madison County, Illinois, over the death of Jose Randolfo Pagoada, a Honduran national, nearly one decade ago. The investigation dates back to Aug. 5, 2014. Alton police responded to the 2100 block of Seminary Road after a report that someone spotted human remains inside an abandoned vehicle. When they arrived, police found "highly decayed human remains" in the back of the vehicle. Why Gov. Mike Parson picked Gabe Gore as the next St. Louis Circuit Attorney From 2014 to 2018, detectives followed up on a variety of lead to identify the victim and any possible suspects. Detective Joe Splitorff focused on DNA collection and testing. After a DNA analysis, Pagoada was identified as the victim and Gudino was accused in his murder. Investigators also determined Pagoada died from "homicidal...

Mother of man who killed Gabby Petito said in letter she would help son ‘dispose of a body’

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

By MEAD GRUVER (Associated Press)CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The mother of the man who killed Gabby Petito told her son in an undated letter that she would “dispose of a body” if needed because she loved him so much, according to copies of the note shared publicly for the first time this week by attorneys for Petito’s parents. The handwritten note by Roberta Laundrie that says “burn after reading” on the envelope was released after a Florida judge ruled on Wednesday that the letter could be used as evidence in a lawsuit. The Petitos sued Brian Laundrie’s parents, accusing them of knowing that their son had murdered Gabby Petito and helping him with the coverup for nearly a month before her body was found in western Wyoming in September 2021, causing mental anguish, pain and suffering.The letter reads in part: “We will always love each other. If you’re in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I wi...

Denver weather: Tornado warning in effect for Brush, Snyder

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

4:55 p.m.: A tornado warning is in effect until 5:15 p.m. for Brush and Snyder. Pea-sized hail is also possible.Tornado Warning including Brush CO and Snyder CO until 5:15 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/Prt7h8elzM— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 26, 20234:36 p.m.: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Kiowa and Elbert until 5:15 p.m. Half-dollar-sized hail and 60 mph winds are possible, according to the alert.Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Kiowa CO and Elbert CO until 5:15 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/BvQG3zDh1o— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 26, 2023A thunderstorm warning for Ellicott, Calhan and Peyton also is in effect until 5 p.m. That storm could bring 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail.Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Ellicott CO, Calhan CO and Peyton CO until 5:00 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/jjSv8fbnvD— NWS Pueblo (@NWSPueblo) May 26, 20234:14 p.m.: A flash flood warning is in effect for Colorado Springs, Security and Fountain until 6:45 p.m.Flash Flood...

Raccoon 'pool party' caught on video in Huntington Beach

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

Memorial Day Weekend is a great time to take a dip in the pool. Just ask these raccoons.Jimmy Sena of Huntington Beach says he woke up to his chocolate Lab, Hank, “going crazy” around 5:45 a.m. Friday morning. He looked outside and saw one raccoon on a wall in his backyard. No big deal."I tried to calm Hank down and went back to bed, and then he went even crazier!" said Sena. "I looked out back again and saw three Racoons all standing by the edge of the pool, and they were either playing or fighting."Moments later, he says, one raccoon fell into the pool and the other two jumped in.Sena recorded over two minutes of the critters swimming around and generally having a good time (and getting clean). He sent the video to KTLA with the fitting subject line, “Raccoon Pool Party.”Jimmy Sena recorded over two minutes of the raccoons swimming in his Huntington Beach, Calif. pool. May 26, 2023. (Jimmy Sena)Sena says the raccoons stayed in the pool for around 20 minutes and "weren’t concerned ...

Santa Barbara inmate dies from suspected opioid overdose

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

An inmate at the Santa Barbara Main Jail died from a suspected opioid overdose Thursday night, officials announced Friday.At approximately 10:57 p.m., a custody deputy and a WellPath nurse were conducting welfare checks and noticed that one inmate, whose name has not been released, wasn’t responding.After entering the inmate’s cell, county jail officials found the inmate unresponsive, not breathing, and with a "foamy purge" coming from his mouth, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.Medical staff and county deputies performed life-saving measures, including administering three rounds of Narcan, performing CPR, and placing an automated external defibrillator on the inmate, officials said.Paramedics were also called, but they could not revive him. "Preliminary information indicates this death is likely the result of an opioid overdose," the Sheriff's Office said.Given the recent death, Santa Barbara County officials want to remind the public about the dange...

LAX sets single-day, post-COVID travel record

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

Los Angeles International Airport is bracing for its busiest weekend since early 2020.The airport hit a single-day, post-pandemic record of over 224,000 travelers on Thursday, the airport announced. "We expect the remainder of the Memorial Day travel period to continue to be extremely busy." LAX officials are anticipating 214,000 passengers on Friday, 205,000 on Monday, and 1.2 million total for the Memorial Day travel period (Thursday-Monday).“Memorial Day weekend is just the start of what will be a very busy summer travel season at LAX where we expect passenger traffic to reach the highest levels we have seen in the past several years,” said Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. Vehicle traffic in the Central Terminal Area also was expected to spike with more than 90,000 vehicles on Friday. LAX suggests passengers arrive early, pre-book parking and order food and drinks ahead of time to pick up before they head to the gates.2023 Memorial Day Weekend travel estima...

1 Killed, 3 Injured in Head-On Crash on Old River Road [Yolo County, CA]

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

Woodland Man Pronounced Dead after Two-Vehicle Collision near County Road 124YOLO COUNTY, CA (May 26, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, one victim was killed and three were injured in a head-on crash on Old River Road.The incident occurred around 6:00 a.m., just north of County Road 124.Per reports, the driver of a northbound 2017 white Volkswagen sedan crossed the center divider on Old River Road. As a result, the Volkswagen collided head-on with a southbound 2023 white Ford pickup-truck occupied by three men from Cottonwood.Medics arrived and pronounced the male driver of the Volkswagen, from Woodland dead at the scene. Although, authorities have not yet released his identity.Meanwhile, paramedics transported the three men from the Ford to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento with minor injuries.The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the head-on crash. Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be contributing factors, although speed and a cur...

Woman Killed in Pedestrian Collision on Cactus Avenue [Moreno Valley, CA]

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:49:36 GMT

Female Pedestrian Pronounced Dead after Fatal Accident near Heacock StreetMORENO VALLEY, CA (May 26, 2023) – Early Thursday morning, a woman was fatally struck in a pedestrian collision on Cactus Avenue.Police responded to the scene shorty before 4:00 a.m., just west of Heacock Street.According to reports, an on-duty Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy struck a woman who stepped onto the road from the center median.Investigators said the deputy was responding to a call with its emergency lights on. Upon impact, he remained at the scene and rendered aid to the victim.Due to the extent of injuries sustained, the female pedestrian sustained significant injuries and died at the scene. Her identity remains undisclosed to the public, pending notification from the next of kin.At this time, the California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal Cactus Avenue pedestrian crash.No words can mend the broken hearts and sorrow felt during this delicate moment. Deepest...