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'Pile of tires and trash' burn Monday in southeast Travis County

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A fire produced a column of black smoke as it burned Monday afternoon in an area of southeast Travis County. The fire is in the 4500 block of Brandt Road, just north of East Slaughter Lane and west of Bluff Springs Road. The Austin Fire Department said while it's in Travis County ESD No. 11's jurisdiction, AFD is sending units to assist in knocking the fire down.AFD and Travis County ESD No. 11 responded to a fire that produced extremely black smoke Monday on Brandt Road in southeast Travis County. AFD said the fire burned tires and trash. (KXAN photo/Chelsea Moreno)AFD said the fire burned "a pile of tires and trash" in an open field. By 7:30 p.m., AFD said the fire was out and it was clearing the scene while ESD No. 11 firefighters were staying to mop up.Firefighters responded to the blaze around 6:40 p.m., AFD said.

Traffic stops we saw in Austin during a ride-along with Texas DPS

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- "We continue to operate the same way we were operating as if there was a partnership," said Major Gabriel Ortiz with the Texas Department of Public Safety.KXAN spent six hours on the road with him this month observing traffic stops, learning about Criminal Investigation Division (CID) operations and addressing concerns from community members. Texas Department of Public Safety says it will keep patrolling despite Austin suspending partnership Brianna Hollis, Reporter: There’s been some criticism and concern about DPS unfairly targeting communities of color, what’s your response to that?Major Ortiz: I understand that perception exists, but I would say this. One, I’m Hispanic. I’m a minority, I’ve experienced racism, I understand how important it is for those members of the community to understand they’re being treated fairly. I can tell you right now, if citizens of the community of Austin were being treated unfairly, not only would I raise the issue, but I think ...

Suspect charged in connection with shooting of Washington Technology Magnet school staff member

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A suspect who admitted he grazed a Washington Technology Magnet School staff member with a bullet earlier this year was charged Monday with six felony counts in connection with that shooting and another shooting a week later.Eh Doh Soe, 19, who was charged in connection with the January drive-by shooting outside the Washington Technology Magnet School on Rice Street in St. Paul and with another drive-by shooting less than a week later, allegedly told authorities that he was involved in a string of shootings following the one at the school.On Jan. 20, a school staff member was shot and injured after a fight erupted between two groups of teenagers at the school, police said. The staff member received a minor graze wound to her earlobe and was treated by medics at the scene.According to the complaint, after his arrest on Friday, Soe admitted to being involved in at least three other shootings after the shooting at the school, which serves grades 6-12 with a college preparatory curricul...

St. Paul man identified as victim of fatal shooting in South Minneapolis

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A 34-year-old St. Paul man has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting last weekend in South Minneapolis, police said.Alex Manual Castro Funes died of a gunshot wound to his right arm, according to the Hennepin County medical examiner’s office.Police were called to Nicollet Avenue and Cecil Newman Lane just before 5:30 a.m. Saturday on a report of a possible overdose victim. When they arrived they found a man who had been shot and was unresponsive. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and was pronounced dead at the hospital.There have been no arrests. Homicide detectives are still investigating.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | St. Paul man gets probation for shooting at ex-girlfriend’s Lakeville home, fleeing police Crime & Public Safety | Appeals court revives victim’s lawsuit over sexual abuse by former South St. Paul teacher Crime & Public Safety | Vikings’ Addison told troop...

St. Paul man gets probation for shooting at ex-girlfriend’s Lakeville home, fleeing police

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A St. Paul man was sentenced to five years of probation Monday for firing more than a dozen shots at his ex-girlfriend’s Lakeville home while she was inside with five others, including three children.Noah Pierre Murph (Courtesy of Dakota County sheriff’s office)Noah Pierre Murph, 21, pleaded guilty to drive-by shooting toward an occupied building and fleeing police in a motor vehicle in connection with last year’s incident, which was sparked by what he believed was his lack of parenting time with his 8-month-old son, according to court records.No one was injured in the shooting.A charge of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon was dismissed as part of a plea agreement Murph reached with Dakota County prosecutors.Murph had no previous felony convictions and faced a presumptive sentence of four years in prison under state sentencing guidelines. However, the prosecution agreed to cap its request at 41 months as part of the plea agreement.Murph’s attorney, John Arech...

Back from pink eye, Twins’ Joey Gallo starts first game in center field

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Joey Gallo didn’t think much of it when he awoke on Friday morning and his eye was red. Jokingly, after arriving at the ballpark, he told a team trainer he thought he might have pink eye.When the trainer replied by telling him that teammate Willi Castro had, in fact, come in earlier that day with pink eye, Gallo realized it might not be a joke after all.Gallo and Castro were inserted into the game late on Sunday, both playing an important role in the comeback win over the Chicago White Sox. Monday, they were both back in the starting lineup for the first time since their diagnosis, and Gallo, who has spent most of his season at first base or in the corner outfield spots, drew his first start of the year in center field.Gallo was supposed to play center, where he has appeared just five times this season, on Friday before he was scratched just before game time.Though he hadn’t made a start there as a Twin until Monday, he had played 61 games in center during his major league career, a...

Ex-Viking Everson Griffen charged with driving under the influence

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A former Minnesota Vikings defensive end was charged with reckless driving and driving while intoxicated this week after he was pulled over in Chanhassen Saturday morning.Everson De Wayne Griffen, 35, of Mound, was pulled over close to 10:30 a.m. Saturday on Powers Boulevard near Utica Lane in Chanhassen while driving a 1968 black Pontiac LeMans.Authorities say his blood alcohol content was .09. He was charged with five misdemeanors in connection with driving under the influence, reckless driving and speeding in a construction zone.Griffen has struggled with mental health issues over the years.While he was with the Vikings, Griffen was placed on the non-football illness list following an incident at his Minnetrista home on Nov. 24, 2021, in which he posted a since-deleted disturbing video on Instagram that showed him holding a handgun and expressing concern for his safety. He called 911 to report an intruder, but none was found. Police and mental health officials worked for several ...

Southbound lanes of I-225 closed due to serious accident

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Southbound lanes of Interstate 225 near Parker Road are being diverted due to a serious accident.Traffic is being diverted at East Iliff Avenue, Aurora Fire Rescue tweeted. Alternate routes are recommended.Aurora Fire is working a serious accident near I225 and Parker Road. Please avoid the area if possible. If you must travel I225, please slow down for first responders.SB I225 traffic is being diverted at Iliff. Follow here for updates. pic.twitter.com/zQL1qxHjW5— Aurora Fire Rescue (@AuroraFireDpt) July 24, 2023#I225 southbound: Road closed due to a crash at Iliff Avenue. Use alternate routes. Expect delays. https://t.co/Xi93sKI3JP— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) July 24, 2023

Grammy award-winning singer Tori Kelly in ICU after passing out in L.A.

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Grammy award-winning singer Tori Kelly is being treated for blood clots after passing out at a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night, multiple media outlets reported.First reported by TMZ, a source close to Kelly said the 30-year-old singer is receiving treatment for blood clots found around her lungs and legs. Doctors are also trying to determine if she has blood clots around her heart.The singer reportedly noticed that her heart was beating very fast before passing out. A source close to the singer told TMZ she was “out for a while” before being transported to a hospital.Kelly's friends opted not to call an ambulance for the singer to make sure she wasn’t taken to a hospital in the downtown area, and instead received care from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, one of L.A.’s topped-rated facilities.Tori Kelly attends the Los Angeles red carpet premiere of Roadside Attractions & Lionsgate's "Fool's Paradise," a Charlie Day film at TCL Multiplex on May 09, 2023 in Hollyw...

L.A. County probation officer charged with assaulting minor

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:00:00 GMT

A 59-year-old Los Angeles County deputy probation officer is facing three years in jail after allegedly using excessive force on a 17-year-old boy at the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile facility in Malibu in October 2020, authorities announced Monday.  In surveillance footage that was first made public by the Los Angeles Times, four probation officers are seen piling onto the teenager, shoving him face down onto a bed. Moments later, after it appears the teen had been subdued, Oscar Cross, an L.A. County Probation Department supervisor, steps in, grabs the teen’s legs and forces them backwards, toward the boy’s head.  The 17-year-old can be heard crying out for his mom as the officers are in a pile on top of him.  At a press conference on Monday to announce charges against Cross, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón did not mince words, calling the incident “a brutal assault on a child.”  “Even after the minor was handcuffed, Cross continued to hold the minor’s leg ba...