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TDCJ 'correctional officers' linked to drug smuggling ring, indictment said

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Newly released, sealed federal court records revealed inmates, civilians and multiple Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officers connected to the Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)."DTO trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids into Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities across Texas, using correctional officers and the mail to smuggle narcotics, cell phones, and other contraband into the correctional facilities," according to the criminal indictment. RELATED: TDCJ on lockdown to search facilities after increase in contraband, inmate deaths The partially redacted criminal indictment listed 13 people currently facing federal charges related to possession and distribution of narcotics, money laundering and identity theft. The names of ten people were redacted. The remaining three were identified in the indictment as TDCJ correctional officer Osawzuwa Williams, Rosa Miller and Ashley Arriaga, two non-incar...

Widespread rain continues as temperatures drop

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Welcome, beneficial rain is falling in many areas following a midday cold front that is sending temperatures tumbling. This will kick off a stretch of cooler than normal mainly gray weather through early next week.Light to moderate rain continues into the overnight hours, but dissipates a bit by dawn Friday as drier air moves in. Many areas will enjoy 0.25"-0.50" in their backyard from this first round of rainfall, with locally heavier totals.Gusty northerly winds ramp up overnight, ushering in much colder air to end the week. High temperatures hold in the 50s Friday under cloudy skies with breezy winds continuing.Though we may see a few brief breaks in the clouds on Veterans' Day, north winds keep temperatures a bit brisk. A second storm system marches in late Sunday into Monday, bringing cloudy skies and a likelihood of additional rain and thunderstorms.A series of storms like this is typical during an El Niño winter, which commonly bring wetter than normal weathe...

Texas men's hoops add 2 big recruits to 2024 class in early period

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team added two top-50 players in the early signing period that began Wednesday.Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry announced the signings of guard Cam Scott and forward Nic Codie to next year's team. PREVIOUS GAME: No. 18 Longhorns men’s hoops clobber Incarnate Word 88-56 in season opener "We were able to get two quality players that we think have really high ceilings," Terry said Thursday. "They have a chance to be really good Longhorns for us in the near future."Scott is a 6-foot-5 guard from Lexington, S.C., and is the No. 28 overall prospect in the 2024 class and No. 6 at his position according to the 247Sports composite rankings.Scott averaged 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while leading Lexington High School to the 5A semifinals last year and was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.Codie is a 6-foot-8 forward from Carrollton who is the top-rated player in Texas by 247Sports and No. 45 nationally. Cod...

State DFL senator will seek Dean Phillips’ congressional seat next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

State Sen. Kelly Morrison launched a bid for Congress in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, becoming the second Democrat to announce a bid for a seat where the incumbent — U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips — is running for president.Morrison, a physician from Deephaven, has served in the Legislature for five years. In a campaign announcement, Morrison said she would use her experience as an OB-GYN to advocate in Congress for continued abortion access. She also touted her work carrying bipartisan legislation in St. Paul.Rep. Kelly Morrison, DFL-Deephaven (Courtesy photo)“I know what it’s like to see my patients struggle to afford the medications they need, so I took on Big Pharma and lowered prescription drug costs,” Morrison said in a news release. “I know how important it is that women — not politicians — are able to make their own health care decisions, so I led the effort to protect abortion rights in Minnesota. I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who are focused on deliv...

Metro Transit and Molson Coors offer fare-free rides for Vikings game day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

The Molson Coors Free Rides program will be back again Sunday with free rides on Metro Transit buses and trains for the Vikings vs. Saints game at U.S. Bank Stadium.The free rides will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all Metro Transit bus and rail routes, as well as the Northstar Line, to and from the U.S. Bank Stadium.The Free Rides program was first launched by the producers of Miller Lite in the Twin Cities in 1997. According to a press release, last year’s program provided free rides for 47,572 people for the Vikings vs. Cowboys game on Nov. 20, 2022.“Metro Transit is pleased to partner with Molson Coors to offer free rides across our system, providing loyal and first-time riders alike another reason to make transit a part of their gameday experience,” Metro Transit general manager Lesley Kandaras said in the release.Transit route maps are available on Metro Transit’s website: metrotransit.orgRelated ArticlesLocal News | Isaac Russell campaign asks ...

Not even a painful rib injury could keep Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson off the field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

Every time tight end T.J. Hockenson peeled himself off the turf, he looked more like somebody who wasn’t going to be able to finish the game. He suffered a rib injury last Sunday during the Vikings’ improbable 31-28 road win over the Atlanta Falcons and could be seen wincing in pain on the sidelines.“Yeah, it was tough,” Hockenson said. “I grinded through it.”Asked how close he got to leaving the game, Hockenson noted that he has a pretty high pain tolerance.“That’s something about me,” he said. “I won’t go off the field unless somebody is making me.”There was a specific moment on Sunday during which Hockenson was receiving medical attention from the training staff on the sidelines. He realized the defense made a play and the offense had to go back onto the field.“We had a sudden change, and I was like, ‘Hey, leave me alone, I’m going,’ ” Hockenson said. “We came back and they...

Irish singer/songwriter Hozier to play Xcel Energy Center in August

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

Irish singer/songwriter Hozier will play his largest show in the metro to date when he headlines St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center on Aug. 17.Tickets go on sale at noon Nov. 17 through Ticketmaster. Neither the promoter nor the venue announced ticket prices. Hozier has chosen to make the tickets mobile only and restricted from transfer in an attempt to stop scalpers. Fans will have the option to sell their tickets for the price they paid through Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange.Born Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Hozier was just another struggling musician in 2013, playing open mic nights in Dublin and writing new material whenever he could. His song “Take Me to Church” grew out of his frustration with the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality. A low-budget video for the song went viral, leading to a major label record deal.“Take Me to Church” went on to become a worldwide smash, hitting the Top 5 in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., where it we...

Jury awards $1.2 million to Robert De Niro’s former assistant in gender discrimination lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — A jury awarded more than $1.2 million to Robert De Niro’s former personal assistant Thursday, finding that a company he formed to look after his personal needs was liable for gender discrimination and retaliation after the former assistant accused the actor of subjecting her to a toxic work environment.While the jury found De Niro was not personally liable for the abuse, they said his company, Canal Productions, should make two payments of $632,142 to his longtime personal assistant, Graham Chase Robinson. De Niro, who spent three days at the two-week trial — including two on the witness stand — has been ensnared in dueling lawsuits with Robinson since she quit in April 2019. He was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read aloud on Thursday afternoon. Robinson, 41, testified that De Niro, 80, and his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, teamed up against her to turn a job she once loved into a nightmare. She sm...

Data shows crime is down but people polled feel it’s worse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – New York leaders announced violent crimes have dropped in the first half of this year, compared to last year. Despite the data that shows reductions, many in the community said they do not feel safer.The new numbers were released Thursday morning by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The number of murders outside New York City is down 27 percent. Reports of rape are down 16 percent, while robbery and aggravated assault cases have also gone down.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Even though the numbers indicate that crime rates are improving, a recent poll shows a majority of people feel that crime has worsened. An October poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute found 59 percent of voters said crime has gotten worse over the last year. 28 percent  feel it’s stayed about the same, while only nine percent think crime has gotten better. NEWS10 talked to advocates to ask why they...

Participate in Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:17 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Price Chopper/Market 32 and the Salvation Army is ringing in the holiday season with its annual Red Kettle holiday campaign. All 130 store locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania are participating. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “The annual Red Kettle campaign has become integral to the holiday season – both in our stores and in our communities,” said Blaine Bringhurst, Price Chopper/Market 32 president. “Being able to extend ourselves and welcome our community partners in support of friends and neighbors in need is a blessing.”Last year, the Red Kettle campaign raised nearly $500,000 in donations. Funds directly benefitted those in need throughout the communities. This year, the campaign will run from November 13 to December 24.