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Police: Man arrested in 'multiple murders', city official calls him 'serial killer'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Raul Meza Jr., 62, confessed to murdering his roommate, Jesse Fraga, 80, and implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after he was released from the Travis County Jail, per Austin Police. APD said they are looking into eight to 10 more cold cases Meza may be connected with, but said this number could rise higher as it continues its investigations. Meza is currently detained in Travis County Jail. Meza told police once he was arrested that he was ready and prepared to kill again, police said. "Here's a serial killer that justice was not served. It was a travesty of justice," said Interim Assistant City Manager Bruce Mills, who was also the primary investigator on the 1982 case where Meza raped and murdered 8-year-old Kendra Page. "We don't know how many more people he killed or would have killed," Mills said. Mills recalled Meza pleading guilty to Page's murder. For reasons he still does not entirely understand, the case did not go ...

Taylor baseball making history while honoring late teammate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Taylor Ducks baseball team reached the second round of the postseason. After their run came to a close last year, head coach Justin Adams had a message for the team.“Why can't we be a team to win 30 games?" said Adams. "What's stopping us from doing that and to [now] clinch our 30th win, a school record last week, it's incredible.”MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersNow as the Ducks are a step away from the Class 4A state tournament, they are set to face the team that knocked them out the previous two seasons in the regional final — China Spring.“They keep knocking us out, but this year we are a new team," said Taylor junior Devin Valdez. "We are a different team, and I feel like we have all the confidence and all the fans in the world to get them this go-round.”As Taylor gets set for the three-game series starting W...

Vikings to host joint practices with Titans and Cardinals this summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

In his opening remarks on Tuesday afternoon, coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that the Vikings will host joint practices with both the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals this summer during training camp.The joint practices will take place at TCO Performance Center in Eagan with the Vikings hosting the Titans in the days leading up to preseason game at U.S Bank Stadium on Aug. 19, then the Cardinals in the days leading up to the preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug. 26.More details will be available in the coming weeks.“It will give us a tremendous opportunity to have four-plus days of really good competition,” O’Connell said while touting his relationship with Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. “I know what kind of leaders they are. I know what kind of teams they’ll be bringing here ready to make sure we get some great work. To be able to have that is a critical part of our training camp formula to try to be at ...

Person of interest in Schenectady homicide also wanted in alleged NYC murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A police cruiser remains posted outside the apartment where Schenectady Police say Tishawn Folkes-Taylor was discovered dead Sunday morning. This, as law enforcement agencies across the state are asking for the public's assistance in locating Timothy Taylor, wanted for questioning in Tishawn's death, as well as an alleged murder in New York City.Tishawn's brother spoke with NEWS10's sister station PIX11's News reporter Ayana Harry Dudley over the phone. He told Harry Dudley that he believes Tishawn, a mom to three children, was the fatal victim of domestic abuse. “My sister was open, loving," he described. "My main concern now is the safety of the kids." Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The US Marshal's Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Timothy Taylor, who police are calling a person of interest in her homicide. Tishawn's family members say he is her ex-hu...

Yacht pulled from Mississippi River, moved to Budrovich Marine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS – A yacht that got trapped on the Mississippi River last week has since been moved and the damage inspected.It took about 13 hours to remove the yacht from a chevron in the Mississippi River. It got stuck just south of the McKinley Bridge.Budrovich Marine, a marine construction company, lifted the boat off the chevron and is storing the vessel at its facility."We mobilized our tug and a 300-ton crane," Mindy Brundick, vice president of Budrovich Marine, said. "Getting the boat hoisted and then safely onto a barge, and back here to our facility involved quite a few people."Brundick said divers from Three Rivers Diving helped with getting the rigging on, and Port Charles was also involved. Woman ‘saving up’ as Ferguson PD cracks down on expired tags The challenge beyond lifting the boat was the powerlines immediately overhead."Thanks to the swift and cooperative spirit of Ameren, they were able to get those lines shut down," said Brundick. "Once the lines were de-energized...

Local remembers Becky Rothman, the 'Queen of Carpets'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Her commercials were memorable for anyone living in St. Louis over the last three decades. Now, family members mourned the passing of Becky Rothman, known to many as Becky, the 'Queen of Carpets.'She was shown in commercials swooping into St. Louis on a magic carpet, which caught the attention of many television viewers.“There are very few cities that have as many iconic television personalities from commercials as St. Louis,” said Guy Phillips, a St. Louis radio personality. “Becky is certainly one of them. She hasn’t been on TV in a long time, but people still remember Becky 'Queen of Carpets' and Wanda 'Princess of Tile.'” Group headed to a bar robbed in Soulard early Monday Family members confirmed that Rothman died of kidney failure on Sunday. She was just 67 years old. She has also faced health issues in recent years.Rothman, along with her right-hand manager, Wanda Kilzer, sometimes by her side, became known to St. Louis viewers in the early 1990s for Becky’s Ca...

Newly appointed St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore plans to hit the ground running

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Gabe Gore was officially sworn in on Tuesday as the new St. Louis Circuit Attorney, just two weeks after Kim Gardner unexpectedly stepped down.Gore said he plans to hit the ground running. The ceremony was held at the Carnahan Courthouse in downtown St. Louis. Missouri Supreme Court Judge Robin Ransom administered the oath of office. Gore vowed to restore law and order to the office and address the backlog of cases.“My philosophy is to look at the facts and enforce the laws as they are written,” he said.Gore worked at the law firm Dowd Bennett for more than a decade. He also served as Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Missouri and he earned a law degree from the University of Chicago.Gore was named to the Ferguson Commission after the unrest of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. Woman ‘saving up’ as Ferguson PD cracks down on expired tags Missouri Governor Mike Parson appointed Gore on May 19 following the abrupt resignation of former ...

What Nuggets said about Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat NBA Finals matchup: “We’re not looking at the seeding”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

Homework entails a bit of cramming this week for the Nuggets.Not that they weren’t already preparing for the Miami Heat. With an extra week of rest going into their first-ever NBA Finals, the Nuggets had time to observe and study as Miami and Boston wrestled in a seven-game Eastern Conference Finals that finally ended Monday night. A coach was assigned to scout both potential opponents.But since that series went the distance, only on Tuesday could Denver definitively hone in on the Heat. For defensive matchup specialist Aaron Gordon, that means it’s time to hit the books.“We have player personnel sheets and booklets, essentially, that we can go through and study players’ tendencies, what their strengths are, where they like to get to. How they’re most effective,” Gordon said. “I just kind of go through that. Treat it like a bible for the next couple of days.”Miami star Jimmy Butler is his newest foe after a Denver playoff path featurin...

Suspect shot by police after 5 people assaulted in Long Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

A man who is believed to have assaulted five people in Long Beach was shot by police Tuesday, officials said.The incident was reported just before noon in the 4600 block of East 2nd Street near Livingston Park in an upscale community of the city, according to Long Beach police.The suspect allegedly hit a man and a woman at the park, then walked to another area where he assaulted a man holding a 2-year-old child who was dropped during the attack, Cmdr. Michael Pennino detailed during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. At another location, a fifth victim was stabbed. Long Beach fire officials had previously said four people were stabbed during the ordeal. Responding officers told the man to drop his weapon, a screwdriver, but he refused to comply, Pennino said.The unidentified suspect then walked into a yard using a side gate, allegedly tried to get in a home while still armed and was shot once in the upper torso by police.He was taken to a hospital with injuries that were described...

Not so free freeways? Officials float idea of adding new fees to L.A. highways

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:25:03 GMT

Officials are floating the idea of adding new tolls to Los Angeles freeways.An anticipated study from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expected to show that drivers should pay up if they want to enter certain freeways. Officials said such a program could help ease up traffic in the heavily congested region.Metro is considering the program called congestion pricing, which suggests motorists pay a fee on highways. The cost could depend on how far a commuter driver and entry to certain neighborhoods or business districts.The next step would be seeking input from the public and use that feedback to help design a pilot project, come up with ways to give people better travel options and low-income assistance programs.In an independent report on the matter, the UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies estimated that 13% of households might be unduly burdened by freeway tolling in California due to low incomes and travel habits.Michael Manville of the instit...