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Defense rests case in APD officer's murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Monday, attorneys representing Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor finished presenting their case after the state rested last week. Taylor is on trial for murder in the death of Michael Ramos. Jurors were released Monday but are expected to return Tuesday for closing arguments, should the state choose not to bring forward any rebuttal witnesses. They could begin deliberations as soon as Tuesday. Prosecutors expect to wrap mid-week in APD officer’s murder trial Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex's parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Monday providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: Week 3: Back in court this morning for the third week of APD Officer Christopher Taylor's murder trial. As always, I'll have a thread here🔽 A reminder that you'll get more detail over at https://t.co/YjssmH...

Following a warm start to the week, colder weather blows in Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Unseasonably warm and humid weather continues Tuesday and Wednesday, but a strong cold front arriving during the day Thursday will bring an extended stretch of colder weather and periods of light to moderate rain.Highs will be in the 80s and lows in the 60s through midweek under a mix of clouds and sun. South winds will keep things noticeably warmer than average for early November.Late week cold frontA storm system trekking east across the Plains will send a cold front our way on Thursday. We currently expect the cool air to arrive in the Hill Country early Thursday morning, Austin Metro area late-morning, and eastern counties by Thursday afternoon. This will send temperatures dropping and bring periods of rain through much of the day.Next cold front arrives ThursdayRain is expected to clear the area by Friday afternoon, but additional rain may build back into the area Saturday and Sunday as a separate storm system approaches. BLOG: El Niño into 2024: What that me...

CapMetro to begin installing revamped bus shelters ahead of 2 new Metro Rapid lines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro announced Monday new Metro Rapid bus shelters will begin being installed this week. It comes as part of the two new Metro Rapid lines in development through Project Connect, the City of Austin's multi-billion-dollar mass transit program.Installation work on two of the 80 new Metro Rapid shelters is set to begin Tuesday, CapMetro officials said in a release. The shelters will service the new Expo Center and Pleasant Valley Metro Rapid lines under development, which are slated to go online in 2025. CapMetro delaying launch of 2 new Project Connect MetroRapid lines The first two being installed will be for the Expo Center Line, officials added. The Expo Center Line will run from the Travis County Expo Center southwest to Republic Square in downtown Austin, while the Pleasant Valley Line will service from the Mueller neighborhood south to Goodnight Ranch, per the release.Shelter features include a lower roof to help maximize shade, perforated panels to protect...

Three arrested in Schodack following attempted theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

SCHODACK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three people from the Bronx were arrested following an attempted theft investigation, according to state police. Victor Baez Amador, 26, Elmer Rodriguez Rose, 25, and Jose Rosario Herrera, 26, were all charged with attempted petit larceny and third-degree trespassing. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On November 2 at 7:55 a.m., police received a complaint from a business in Castleton-on-Hudson. The owner stated that three people were on their property without permission, and that they were allegedly trying to steal used cooking oil that the business saves and sells to a biodiesel company for reuse. Police say that after being confronted by an employee of the business, the suspects fled the scene in their vehicle. Upon patrolling the area, troopers located the car on Greenwood Drive and conducted a stop. There’s a new sheriff coming to Rensselaer County During the stop, the driver was identified as ...

St. Louis man admits to $150,000 pandemic load fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis man pled guilty in federal court to fraud to get a $150,000 loan for a small business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demetrice Black, 53, applied for the loan using a Social Security number that did not belong to him and a fraudulent Missouri driver's license on July 24, 2020.Prosecutors say he worked with another person to move the funds to a separate bank account and withdrew some in cash. The Economic Injury Disaster Loans were designed to assist business owners impacted by the pandemic.Black is set to be sentenced on February 8, 2024. The charge of misusing a Social Security number carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, and the theft charge may lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Both offenses also come with the possibility of a fine of up to $250,000.

Jury finds Aurora police officer who put Elijah McClain in neck hold not guilty in 23-year-old’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

Elijah McClain is pictured in this undated photograph. (Photo provided by family of Elijah McClain)Jurors on Monday found the Aurora police officer who put Elijah McClain in a neck hold during a violent arrest not guilty on all counts related to the 23-year-old’s death more than four years ago.Nathan Woodyard, 34, was acquitted of reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, the conclusion of the second of three criminal trials in a death that garnered widespread local and national attention following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.Jurors in the first trial similarly acquitted former officer Jason Rosenblatt on all counts last month, but found officer Randy Roedema guilty of the lesser charges of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain was in the courtroom and wiped tears from her eyes after the verdict was read.Defense lawyer Megan Downing said, “We believe it was the right verdict, not an easy one...

Evergreen “castle in the woods” lists for $27M

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

After Richard and Pamela Bard married in 1990, they wanted to purchase a home together. Bard, who previously owned an Evergreen ranch, knew what he wanted: a castle in the woods. The realtor he worked with told him he would love Greystone Estate, but it just sold.A few days later, Bard got a call saying the property was returning to the market. “We agreed to look at it, and as we drove up the driveway, I thought, ‘We’re going to buy this.’” The Bards purchased Greystone Estate, a former dude ranch, for $1.4 million in 1992 and have spent more than $10 million on renovations and upgrades. They lived in the guest house for the first four years while renovating the 12,000-square-foot manor house from a hunting lodge into something more elegant for their family.The couple added a 6,000-square-foot pavilion in 2001 for their daughter’s wedding. Because his wife’s health necessitates relocating to a lower elevation, the couple listed the 55-acre gated property in September for $27 m...

L.A. homeowner exchanges gunfire with would-be robbers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

Editor's note: This article has been updated to remove the neighborhood where the incident occurred at the victim's request.A Los Angeles homeowner exchanged gunfire with a pair of would-be robbers in a terrifying incident that was captured on home surveillance video Saturday evening.The homeowner, who did not want his identity released, had just pulled into his gated driveway and was walking to the front door when the masked robbers jumped over a wall.Video shows one robber charging at the man with a gun as he goes to open his front door. A homeowner in Central L.A. repels a would-be robber on Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The would-be home invaders hopped the home's wall and approached the homeowner at the front door. Nov. 4, 2023. The homeowner pulled out a gun and opene...

Metrolink, Amtrak riders now have more options between Ventura and Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

Metrolink and Amtrak customers now have more connectivity options after the two commuter rail services announced an expanded program that lets passengers use either services with only one ticket.Riders who purchased a Metrolink ticket or a ticket aboard Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner will now be able to board either train between Ventura and Los Angeles, opening up far more transit options along the Ventura County line.The new pilot program is an expansion of the existing "Codeshare" partnership between the two commuter rail systems and will remain in place until at least June 30, 2024. Metrolink makes major expansion on Antelope Valley line Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle, a Ventura County resident himself, said he's excited to provide more options for commuters, travelers and explorers with the expanded service options."Thank you to our LOSSAN and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner partners for building synergy between our services to deliver more convenient transit options for riders traveling b...

Masai giraffe calf makes debut at Los Angeles Zoo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:00 GMT

The Los Angeles Zoo welcomed a new addition to its Masai giraffe herd.  The unnamed male calf weighs 174 pounds, is six feet and four inches tall, and was born to a 12-year-old female giraffe named Zainabu and an 11-year-old male giraffe named Philip.The Los Angeles Zoo welcomed a new addition to its Masai giraffe herd. (l.A. Zoo)The International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the giraffes as endangered since their population has declined 50% within the last 30 years. (Los Angeles Zoo)Guests can see the new calf and the rest of the herd at their habitat in the zoo's Africa section, depending on weather conditions. (Los Angeles Zoo) The unnamed male calf weighs 174 pounds, six feet and four inches tall, and was born to a 12-year-old female giraffe named Zainabu and an 11-year-old male giraffe named Philip (Los Angeles Zoo) Masai giraffes can grow up to 18 feet tall and weigh 2,700 pounds, making them the largest giraffe species and the tallest land mammal. (Los An...