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Box truck driver said he wanted to 'seize power,' 'kill the president': court records

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

(The Hill) -- A Missouri man who crashed a rented U-Haul truck into security barriers near the White House told federal agents his goal was to “seize power” and “kill the president,” according to court records. Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, crashed the rented truck into security barriers around Lafayette Square in front of the White House late Monday, according to a statement of facts from a Secret Service agent, shared by the Department of Justice. Kandula exited the vehicle and took out a red-and-white flag with a Nazi swastika in the center before officers intervened, authorities said. According to the filing, Kandula told agents that his goal was to “get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation” and that he would “kill the President if that’s what I have to do and would hurt anyone that would stand in my way.” The Chesterfield, Mo., man allegedly said he’d been planning his actions for six months and told agents that he thought they had been succ...

Why people keep dying on Lake Travis party boats

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The coolers roll down the dock with 30-packs and hard seltzers stuffed inside. The arms pulling them almost always belong to someone in their 20s and 30s, visiting from a faraway corner of the country, dressed in a new summer bikini or muscle tank top.They come here by the hundreds, even thousands, on weekends. As soon as it becomes warm enough to float on a boat comfortably, bachelor and bachelorette parties show up for a reservation booked months ago to have a party boat captain take them around Lake Travis. Hidden concrete plant, pecan orchards highlight Lake Travis dangers "I would say (it's) 85-90% bachelor and bachelorette parties from out of state," said Lone Star Party Boat Owner Beau Sisul. "That's our main customer."Sisul has extensive boating experience, and for the last five years he's built up a fleet of five boats that he and his team of captains charter for people looking to party.The boats fit up to 22 people, have state-of-the-art sound systems, ...

LIVE: Texas Attorney General Paxton under investigation for whistleblower settlement

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas House lawmakers tasked with investigating legal and ethical violations announced Tuesday they are investigating the Office of the Attorney General.The House General Investigating Committee has been investigating Attorney General Ken Paxton's legal settlement with whistleblowers since March. Early this legislative session, Paxton requested the legislature approve $3.3 million of state money so his office could pay a settlement to employees that were terminated after they raised ethical concerns about Paxton's conduct. Four former top aides sued Paxton for wrongful firing and retaliation after they accused him of using his office to help Nate Paul, an Austin-area real estate developer and Paxton campaign donor.In a public hearing Tuesday afternoon, the committee issued a letter directing the attorney general to preserve all documentation relating to the matter. "Please immediately suspend all of your destruction policies for all...

Dog on duty: Granite Shoals police add K-9 officer

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

GRANITE SHOALS (KXAN) — A small town in Central Texas will soon have its first K-9 police officer.During Tuesday night’s Granite Shoals City Council meeting, local leaders announced that they’ll soon have a furry friend helping crack down on crimes.The new K-9 unit was made possible through a $25,000 donation from Dr. Caesar DePaço and his wife Deanna.The New Jersey couple support law enforcement across the country, providing financial resources to fund police K-9 units.Granite Shoals Mayor Kiel Arnone is originally from New Jersey and played a pivotal part in organizing this arrangement.“Having this dog in our community is going to be huge,” he said. “It's going to help combat drug activity and hopefully clean up the drug activity that we currently have.”The donation will fully fund the purchase of the animal along with its specialized equipment, healthcare needs and food.As a result, the police department’s K-9 unit will come at no cost to local taxpayers.Zoe will soon undergo tra...

NYS announces allergy awareness initiative in food service

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced on Monday a new initiative to help restaurants and food services establishments increase awareness of food allergies in consumers. Establishments serving food must display a large allergy notice that is easily visible and accessible to employees when preparing food. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! All food service establishments, including internet-based food deliveries, are required to include an allergy notice on their menu as well, in addition to food prep areas. Steps for staff to follow when a customer says they have an allergy, how to prevent cross-contamination during food prep, and instructions to call 911 if a customer has an allergic reaction are also included. “For people with food allergies, eating something that has been cross-contaminated with potential allergens can have serious...

Bear struck and killed on I-55 near Festus

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

FESTUS, Mo. - A bear is struck and killed by a car not far from a black bear sighting. Festus police confirmed that a black bear was struck and killed on Interstate-55 north. It happened less than a mile and a half from their department and about a half a mile from a bear sighting around 24 hours ago.Someone called police, explaining that a bear was on the side of the interstate just before exit 175. The location where the bear got struck is about a half-mile from the bear sighting in Festus Tuesday morning.FOX 2 spoke with a family who saw the large bear going through trash cans in a neighborhood off Hillcrest Road near the American Legion. Josh Johnson took video, which quickly went viral on social media. Who is Sai Kandula? Chesterfield man charged in White House crash Festus police spent the day working with the Missouri Department of Conservation trying to find the bear. They were telling people in the area to secure their trash bins and to put their trash cans out the day of...

Three women die in St. Louis County car crash

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A tragic crash kills three women in north St. Louis County. The tragedy unfolded on New Halls Ferry Road near Seven Hills Drive; two of the victims were coworkers.A moving tribute of a dove was released to honor three women killed in the car crash. Donovan Meeks works for different funeral homes across the country releasing doves at burial sites, and he said he knew two of the victims.“They watched me grow up as a kid. It’s very sad they died in such a tragic way," Meeks said. "It’s a big loss for me and the community."The crash happened Monday around 9 p.m. Who is Sai Kandula? Chesterfield man charged in White House crash A preliminary investigation revealed a Ford Fusion was traveling south on New Halls Ferry Road when it crossed the center line and struck an oncoming Cadillac SUV. Police said it's unclear what caused the driver of the Fusion to lose control.Friends said the two coworkers were in the Cadillac. They worked at a funeral home in St. Louis. C...

State lawmakers approve $2.5M study on new Missouri interstate

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Missouri could soon have a new interstate highway.State lawmakers have approved $2.5 million to study the conversion of US Route 36 into Interstate 72. According to FOX 2's partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the interstate would run between Hannibal in the east and St. Joseph in the west. Bear struck and killed on I-55 near Festus A representative from Hannibal says bringing Route 36 up to interstate standards would take pressure off of I-70, especially when construction to widen it gets underway.The Missouri legislature has approved nearly $3 billion to widen I-70 to at least three lanes across the state.

Denver weather: Smoke expected to leave Wednesday as storms enter area

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

Denverites will finally get a reprieve from the Canadian wildfire smoke Wednesday evening after thunderstorms bring heavy rainfall to clear the air.Storms will arrive in the afternoon after starting in the mountains Wednesday morning and bring heavy rainfall and some hail possibilities and strong winds. The storms are most likely to get to Denver after 3 p.m., and the smoke will depart soon after, improving Denver’s air quality.Good news…Smoke will be departing today!Look for a significant improvement in air quality behind the expected thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. #COwx— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 24, 2023Denver will start the day with a high of 77 degrees before the storms arrive. Winds in the morning are between eight and 13 mph.Peak rainfall of one to 1.5 inches in 30 minutes can be expected in the strongest storms, increasing the risk of urban street flooding and burn area flash floods in the high country.A couple severe storms capable of produc...

Viral video shows Good Samaritans rescue CHP officer under attack

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:30:33 GMT

Cellphone video captured the moment three Good Samaritans jumped out of their vehicles to help a California Highway Patrol officer who was being attacked by a man on the side of a busy freeway onramp. The incident occurred on May 19 at around 5 p.m., at the Main Street northbound entrance to the 5 Freeway in Santa Ana.  CHP officers had been called to the area on reports of a man yelling at drivers and trying to take down a freeway sign. Officials said the officer was planning to let the man go with a warning when he suddenly attacked.  “Many of these situations, they end up becoming dangerous at a moment’s notice,” CHP Officer Anselmo Templado told KTLA. Just steps from the freeway onramp, the officer is seen on video getting tackled by the man. Moments later, the three Good Samaritans can be seen rushing to the officer’s aid.  Cellphone video captured the moment three Good Samaritans rushed to the aid of a CHP who was being attacked by a 33-year-old man ne...