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Exclusive: Austin vehicle inspector charged with faking safety, emissions tests

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A state vehicle inspector was arrested in Austin, accused of falsifying safety and emissions tests since 2018 for profit — upwards of $300 a piece — while allowing hundreds of unsafe vehicles on the road, according to law enforcement.The arrest comes weeks after a Hays County vehicle inspector was arrested, accused of illegally selling vehicle inspection reports, and after the Texas Department of Public Safety announced a crackdown on fraudulent vehicle inspections, dubbed "Operation Cinderblock." Rivera Welding on East Seventh Street in AustinMaritza Rivera-Tirado, 29, was arrested after law enforcement detected "inspection data irregularities" and set up an undercover sting operation, according to court records. She worked at Rivera Welding on East Seventh Street in Austin. A sign in front advertises the business as an official vehicle inspection station.Maritza Rivera-Tirado booking photo (Courtesy of APD)KXAN tried for two days to get a comment from the business....

Cody Cropper retires as player, joins St. Thomas men’s soccer staff

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

Cody Cropper won’t pack away his goalkeeping gloves just yet.Cropper, who spent his pre-teen and early teenage years in Maple Grove, retired as a player over the weekend and will begin as an assistant coach with the St. Thomas men’s soccer program.“I’m thrilled Cody has entrusted us in his next career steps,” Tommies head coach Jon Lowers said in a tweet. “He’s a big-time add to our growing program.”St. Thomas made the jump from Division III to DI last year, and Cropper, 30, will bring a dozen years of first-hand experience in the professional ranks.Cropper’s pro career started before he finished high school when he joined lower-level England club Ipswich Town in 2010. He left MK Dons in England after 2016 and played in MLS for New England Revolution (2016-19), FC Cincinnati (2021) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2022) as well as three clubs in the second-tier USL Championship.Cropper thanked his wife, family, teammates, coaches and fans in an Instagram post. “As I bid farewell to the spor...

‘I want to be feared as a defender’: Timberwolves forward Josh Minott has high goals, and the mindset to reach them

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

Josh Minott was back in the gym 10 days after the Timberwolves’ season ended in the NBA playoffs in April. So much for an “offseason.” The 20-year-old didn’t see much reason for down time.“Can’t afford to not be in there,” he said.Not given his goals. A season ago, Minott was a rookie essentially glued to the end of the Timberwolves’ bench. That’s great and all, to get paid handsomely to watch basketball. But he aspires to do more.So while he wasn’t playing, Minott was still working.“I was locked in and working on the side before games or working on game days, we’re staying behind after shootaround. People go back to their hotel rooms and we’re in the gym, we’re playing, stay-in-shape league and all that,” he said. “Basically, I could’ve just sat around — anybody can sit around and watch the games and think ‘Oh, we’re getting paid.’ But it’s just not enough for me.“I just really have that sense that I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”Timberwolves Summer League head coach Max Lefev...

Two arrested for attempted robbery at Speedway

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On July 4, New York State Police arrested two individuals following an attempted armed robbery. Justin M. Cabral, 36, of Queensbury, and Garrett A. Murray, 25, of Greenwich, were taken into custody. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the police, the attempted robbery took place at the Speedway on Aviation Road. Police say, Cabral entered the business, brandished a knife, and demanded money. Before police arrived, he fled in a vehicle driven by Murray.Police located Cabral on foot nearby and took him into custody. Police also located controlled substances in his possession.Murray was located in his vehicle shortly after on Montcalm Street and taken into custody. Cabral was charged with Robbery in the first degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the third degree, Menacing in the second degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree. Murray was charged ...

Woman and children killed, teen injured in St. Ann shooting

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A woman and two of her children were shot dead Monday evening in St. Ann, and a fourth shooting victim hospitalized.According to a spokesperson for the St. Ann Police Department, the shooting happened around 9 p.m. inside a home on Jane Avenue, not too far from the police station.Police arrived to find the suspected shooter barricaded inside the residence. Once police entered the home, they discovered a dead teenage boy and a man with a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW A teenage girl had suffered a gunshot wound to her hand. She was brought to a hospital.An adult woman was found dead in the garage. A 5-year-old gi...

10-year-old shot and killed inside Belleville home

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis has been summoned to assist with an investigation in St. Clair County, Illinois, after a Belleville child was found shot to death inside their home.Deputies with the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. Monday for a reported shooting. Once inside the home, they found a young boy had been shot.The child, who remains unidentified at this time, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died an hour later at the hospital.The St. Clair County Coroner said the boy was 10 years of age. Residents still without power frustrated with Ameren response  FOX 2 spoke with neighbors, who said they were shocked that this happened in a relatively quiet neighborhood."Usually it's very quiet, not really much action going on. Barely any robberies, no shootings; nothing,” Alannah Agee said.Agee said she has lived in the area for almost four ye...

'Phineas and Ferb' co-creator calls Disney Imagineer after Disneyland ride temporarily breaks down

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

When a ride malfunctions at Disneyland, it’s unlikely that guests can call a Disney Imagineer to talk about the inconvenience.However, that’s exactly what Dan Povenmire, co-creator of Disney’s animated series “Phineas and Ferb,” did when he and members of the show went to visit the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ on June 26, WDW News Today reported.While on the popular Rise of the Resistance attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Povenmire documented the moment when the ride temporarily broke down and shared it on TikTok. Disneyland pauses general ticket sales for Oogie Boogie Bash amid technical issues Instead of waiting on Disneyland cast members to solve the problem, as most guests would, Povenmire decided to call in the big guns. He made a Facetime call to Scott Trowbridge, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering.In the video, Povenmore stated that Trowbridge oversees “all the Star Wars stuff at Disneyland” and shared snippets of their conversation when he jokingly co...

Two arrested after trying to evade police in Hercules

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

HERCULES — A man and woman people suspected of driving away from a store with three cases of shoplifted beer were arrested on suspicion of much more serious crimes, police said.One police officer used a Taser while subduing the 23-year-old man suspected of driving the vehicle, and the 30-year-old woman briefly fought back as an officer arrested her, according to a statement from the Hercules Police Department.Police said they were suspected of theft, evading police and attempted carjacking. According to police, they were in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility.It all happened Sunday after officers were dispatched about 5:15 p.m. to a Rite Aid in the 1500 block of Sycamore Avenue. According to police, the reporting party told them that the suspects in the shoplifting were leaving the store’s parking lot in a white Chrysler 200 and on Sycamore Avenue while going toward Turquoise Drive.When the officer began to follow the car, it U-turned on Sycamore Avenue at Refugio...

Still champion: Joey Chestnut wins 8th straight Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

If it’s Fourth of July in America, it’s former San Jose and Vallejo resident Joey Chestnut downing hot dogs faster than any other competitor.Chestnut added to his legacy Tuesday with his eighth straight Independence Day victory in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.Chestnut, 39, downed 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, 13 better than runner-up Geoffrey Esper, of the United States.Chestnut’s victory was his 16th of the past 17 hot-dog eating contests. The only exception came in 2015, when American Matt Stonie won.The contest was held after a lightning delay that pushed back the start two hours.“If affected me,” Chestnut told ESPN2 when it was over. “But it’s the Fourth of July. I got to eat some hot dogs and get a win.”Chestnut’s final total fell shy of his record-consuming amount of 76, set in 2001. Chestnut told the network that he has his eyes set on breaking it eventually.“I...

Two more California river deaths include 5-year-old in Mendocino County

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:19:00 GMT

Two more people died over the weekend after being swept into California rivers: a child in Mendocino County and a man near Lake Isabella.On Saturday, a 5-year-old child died after being swept into a river near Covelo on Saturday, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Map: People drowned or swept away in California rivers, spring and summer 2023 The disappearance was reported around 8:25 p.m. July 1 in the area of the Eel River Campground, at the confluence of the Eel and Black Butte rivers.As emergency crews were dispatched, the child was found by people downriver, who began resuscitation efforts. Those efforts were continued in an ambulance, but the child died.On Sunday, a 27-year-old man was swept into the Kern River several miles downstream of Lake Isabella, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.The emergency call came at 11:11 a.m. from the area of Sandy Flat Campground. Swift-water rescue teams found the b...