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'It was hell': Marine says Hertz falsely accused him of stealing rental car, leading to arrest, jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

(NewsNation) — Car rental company Hertz is once again in the limelight for a controversial arrest. A Marine veteran claims the rental car giant falsely accused him of stealing one of their vehicles, which led to him being indicted and spending time behind bars.The charges against Blake Gober have since been dropped, but the veteran is among many who say they were falsely accused by the rental car company and arrested. "The easiest way I can describe what I've been through is that it was hell. This past year was supposed to be the happiest year of my life," Gober said. Gober, a 33-year-old former Marine and political consultant, was set to be married in six weeks when he was unexpectedly arrested. Car crashes into Capitol barricade, ‘giggle switch’ found: Police "I got pulled over for speeding in Louisville, Kentucky. I found out that there was a warrant for my arrest and when I was told that, I was shocked. I had no idea about it, and honestly, the police didn't have any informat...

Winning $1M Texas Lottery ticket purchased in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

The above video shows KXAN’s top morning headlines for Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A winning $1 million lottery ticket was sold in Austin and purchased by a Cedar Creek resident, according to the Texas Lottery.The lottery commission said the top prize scratch ticket was purchased at a corner store located at 719 W. William Cannon Drive.According to the Texas Lottery, the winner elected to remain anonymous.“This was the first of four top prizes worth $1 million to be claimed in this game,” the lottery commission said. “Overall odds of winning any prize in the game are one in 3.40, including break-even prizes.”

Detective addresses Kaitlin Armstrong's online searches in days, weeks after Wilson's death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong, accused of shooting and killing pro cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson on May 11, 2022, continues, the State began Wednesday with addressing video footage of the victim from hours before she was killed.The owner of the restaurant across from Pool Burger began testimony Wednesday about surveillance video near Wilson and Strickland — Armstrong's now-former boyfriend — as Wilson and Strickland spent the afternoon together on May 11. Detective Richard Spitler took the stand Monday and was in the middle of his testimony, but the court did not continue with him Wednesday morning due to a scheduling conflict for Spitler. His testimony will resume from the point it left off at another time. So far he has addressed his work the night of Wilson's murder as well as his questioning of Armstrong's former boyfriend Colin Strickland the following morning. CATCH UP: Colin Strickland's testimony During the course of his official interview w...

Tracking the Tropics: How common are November hurricanes?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- November is the last month of hurricane season, but the tropics could still churn out a storm or two.Cooling ocean waters can offer some relief from the major hurricanes that use its energy as "fuel." However, we're coming out of an October that smashed global heat records, in part, due to warming ocean temperatures. November hurricanes, although uncommon, are still possible. The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season saw an unusually active final month, with hurricanes Lisa, Martin and Nicole appearing in November. Blazing hot October almost guarantees 2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded One year ago: Hurricane Nicole makes landfall in Florida (twice)FILE - A bed and chairs are seen inside a home that half collapsed after the sand supporting it was swept away, following the passage of Hurricane Nicole, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Florida near Vero Beach on Nov. 10. It weak...

Self-driving trucking corridor to become active in Austin area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Imagine driving down a busy road and seeing an 18-wheeler with no driver. On Wednesday, The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), announced it's developing a "first-of-its-kind advanced and self-driving trucking corridor in the Austin area.""The largest opportunity to reduce crashes is by improving the driver experience by broadcasting digital roadway information to on-board automated systems to help advanced and automated trucks navigate the roadway environment safely and more efficiently," Austin Deputy District Engineer Mike Arellano said in a press release. Cavnue, a company that's been developing smart roads, will be leading the effort after being awarded the contract by TxDOT. This story will be updated.

Woman asks for help solving her son's murder in east Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman begged for the community to help find the person who shot and killed her son nearly six months ago in east Austin. Dorita Reece joined Austin police as well as her family's pastor at a news conference Wednesday morning because they're still looking for leads after the May 9 homicide of Davante Reece, 19. A detective shared police have several persons of interest in the case, but they have yet to make any arrests. PREVIOUS: Man who died in east Austin homicide identified "I need y'all to put yourself in my shoes. It's not a good feeling. I ache. I hurt. I can't sleep," Dorita told reporters. "Please help to find my baby's killer, please. I'm tired. I'm tired. Please help me if you can."Davante Reece, 19, was identified as the victim of a May 9, 2023 homicide in east Austin. (Austin Police Department photo)Davante Reece, 19, was identified as the victim of a May 9, 2023 homicide in east Austin. (Austin Police Department photo)On May 9 at about 11:29 p.m., Au...

Several injured in plant explosion in Shepherd, Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

SHEPHERD, Texas (KIAH) -- Multiple explosions are being reported in Shepherd, Texas that started with one at a chemical plant on FM 1127 Wednesday morning. The Montgomery County Police Reporter said the plant had a major explosion around 8:30 a.m.Authorities have said that 19 employees were at the plant at the time of the explosion. One employee received minor burns and was taken to a local hospital. CW39 Chief meteorologist Adam Krueger and News anchor Sharron Melton have this updateThe plant is identified as Sound Resource Solutions, located at 731 FM 1127. It has been operational since 2014 and reported to have 40 employees. According to their website, the company stores and recycles chemicals including phosphoric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, methanol, xylene, hexane, and more.The San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management is asking everyone within a one-mile radius of the plant to shelter in place and turn off all HVAC systems in nearby homes and businesses immediate...

The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 10: New Viking Dobbs only latest first-half surprise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

Week 9 was pretty busy for Joshua Dobbs. The quarterback was traded to the Vikings, spent a few minutes meeting teammates and learning a fraction of the playbook, then led Minnesota to a stunning comeback victory in Atlanta.The former Cardinals QB had already posted surprising numbers before being dealt by Arizona. So much so that in the fantasy scoring system on NFL.com, Dobbs is the 10th-rated quarterback this season. Really.As the season officially hits the halfway point, it’s time to look at the biggest fantasy surprises of the 2023 campaign.We’ll deal with the dregs that have already ruined the season for The Loop and others next week. But for now we offer our lineup of the year’s most pleasant surprises. Players who have posted fantasy numbers far beyond what any experts predicted back in August:C.J. Stroud (Texans QB) – The No. 2 draft pick is coming off a record 470-yard performance against Tampa Bay, the most ever for a rookie QB. He has 2,270 passing yards, 14 passing touc...

Wild needed contributions from newcomers this season. So far, so good.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

NEW YORK — The Wild took something of a leap of faith this summer when they essentially penciled Brock Faber and Marco Rossi into the lineup, and so far the rookies are rewarding that faith.Heading into Thursday night’s game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, center Rossi was tied with Chicago’s Connor Bedard for the rookie lead in goals with five, and defenseman Faber was tied with Ottawa’s Ridley Greig for the rookie lead with a plus/minus of 7.In addition, defenseman Calen Addison, 23, has five assists and quarterbacks the second power play unit in what is expected to be his first full NHL season, and blue liner Daemon Hunt just played his first two full NHL games in victories over the Rangers and Islanders.“We need everybody, obviously,” coach Dean Evason said. “We’re not a team that’s built on one line or one player, one defenseman or one goalie. We need everybody to play and to play well for us to have success.”The Wild (5-5-2) have won consecutive games for the fir...

Gophers football: Ski-U-Jah! Minnesota celebrates breakout play of Jah Joyner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:26 GMT

Jah Joyner took an unexpected ride on the coaching carousel during his recruiting visit to the Gophers in December 2019.Then-Minnesota defensive line coach Jim Panagos, with East Coast recruiting connections, brought Joyner onto the U campus from Danbury, Conn. Panagos and others showed Joyner around the U, but Panagos left to be Rutgers’ D-line coach during that same weekend.“It was definitely crazy; I didn’t expect it,” Joyner reflected on his recruiting visit during an interview in July. “But it was really that relationship with coach Fleck. It was the best decision of my life.”While Joyner dealt with whiplash to the realities of college football before he even signed his letter of intent to the U, the fourth-year defensive end is now spinning the heads of offensive tackles.Joyner has led the Gophers in quarterback pressures for the past two seasons, but he acknowledges last year wasn’t the most refined body of work.“I was just out there running around,” he admitted last we...