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We could be seeing the northern lights more often: Here's why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - In recent weeks, states as far south as Alabama have had the chance to view a relatively rare night-sky occurrence: the northern lights. Thanks to some ongoing solar activity, the celestial event may be more common in the coming months. Late last month, a severe geomagnetic storm erupted after a coronal mass ejection and minor solar flare were detected on the Sun. Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are explosions of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can reach Earth in as little as 15 to 18 hours, NOAA explains. Solar flares and CMEs (which can occur at the same time) can impact navigation, communication and radio signals on Earth, and CMEs are able to create a stunning show in the night sky. According to NASA, CMEs can create currents in Earth’s magnetic fields that send particles to the North and South Poles. When those particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen, they can create auroras.Another CME was forecasted to impact Earth in early ...

Suspect in Texas mall shooting identified as community continues mourning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — The assailant who killed multiple people at a Texas outlet mall was identified by authorities Sunday as a 33-year-old man who had been staying at a nearby motel.Eight people were killed and seven were wounded Saturday in suburban Allen before the assailant was killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said.Three law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press named the gunman as Mauricio Garcia, who was fatally shot by a police officer who happened to be near the suburban Dallas mall. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of an ongoing investigation.One of the officials said Garcia had been staying at a nearby motel. The official said investigators have been searching the motel and a home in the Dallas area connected to the suspect.The official said police also found multiple weapons at the scene after Garcia was fatally shot by a police officer. The weapons included an AR-15-style rifle and ...

Man pleads guilty to 4 child abuse charges in Hays County, sentenced to 35 years in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man in Hays County pleaded guilty to four child abuse charges May 1, and he was sentenced to serve 35 years in state prison on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child.Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins said 41-year-old Nathan Allen would not be released on parole, so he would serve every day of the 35-year sentence.In addition to the 35 years, Allen also received two 20-year sentences and one 10-year sentence for indecency with a child that will run concurrently.“Allen was charged with molesting three children between the ages of 6 and 13 in Hays County. Additionally, during the punishment phase of the trial, the State was prepared to offer the testimony of two other children that Allen molested in another jurisdiction,” Higgins said.Higgins said his office was committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of the community.“Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide justi...

ESPN report: NM State players 'pantsed' coaches in locker room

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KTSM) - The two former New Mexico State basketball players who filed a lawsuit alleging hazing and sexual assault against three of their former teammates say that the abuse was extended to include other players and even assistant coaches.According to a report by ESPN - which interviewed Deuce Benjamin and Shakiru Odunewu after a press conference in Las Cruces on Wednesday - the two players told ESPN that the three players who allegedly assaulted them pulled down assistant coaches' pants in public on multiple occasions. "After the [game] at UTEP, when we lost, they pantsed one of the assistants," Benjamin told ESPN. According to the report, one assistant coach had his pants pulled down while he slept on the bus and another was targeted but yelled enough to prevent the three players from following through. "[Other coaches acted] like they didn't see it," Benjamin told ESPN.KTSM has reached out to representatives for both Benjamin and Odunewu to attempt to interview t...

Reward offered for information on Texas cattle mutilations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) - UPDATE: A $5,000 reward is being offered for information in the recent cattle mutilations within the Madison, Brazos and Robertson Counties.The Animal Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals. They say this reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for killing and mutilating of six cows.  Ranchers found a six-year-old longhorn-cross cow with their tongue completely removed by a “straight, clean cut, with apparent precision” along the jawline - where the cow’s face was exposed. The cow was lying on its side, dead on the ranchers’ property. The Animal Legal Defense Fund says scavenging animals did not touch the cow’s body - which decayed for several weeks before its discovery. This was originally reported to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the discovery of five additional cows - four adults and one yearling. Th...

BPD: 7 dead, 10 injured when struck by SUV near migrant shelter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) - Brownsville police say seven people were killed Sunday morning and it appears they may have been intentionally run over by a motorist.The FBI has been brought in to help with the investigation.The incident happened at 8:30 a.m. near Minnesota Road and North Bernal Road in front of the Ozanam Center, which is a shelter for migrants and homeless. One of the victims said they were sitting on the curb near a bus stop when a gray colored Range Rover slammed into the group. Luis Herrera said he and his friends were waiting to go to the airport when they were struck."We were going to the airport and it happened unexpectedly because a woman in a car passed by and advised us to separate and moments later the killer was coming in the car gesturing and insulting us," Herrera said.Lt. Martin Sandoval said seven victims died at the scene and another 10 victims were taken to area hospitals.Sandoval said the driver was arrested o...

Close-knit St. Paul neighborhood reels after shooting death of beloved resident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

St. Paul’s close-knit St. Anthony Park community is reeling after a man whose family has been in the neighborhood for decades was shot and killed in front of his home Saturday morning.Michael Brasel, who grew up in St. Anthony Park, was fatally injured about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and pronounced dead at a hospital later. No arrests had been reported on Sunday afternoon.Police say they believe Brasel was interrupting a crime outside his home.Investigators a few hours after the shooting focused their attention on a vehicle parked in front of the house. It was later towed away, escorted by police.A GoFundMe account was set up within hours to support Brasel’s family. As of Sunday afternoon, more than $78,000 had been donated and dozens of condolences posted.Brasel’s wife Hilary flooded her Instagram feed with tributes to him on Saturday night. In one public post she wrote, “The world lost a great man today. Can’t believe we have lost you to gun fire in our front yar...

Queensbury teen on the spectrum gets dream job at Great Escape

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A Queensbury High School Senior on the spectrum achieved his childhood dream with a new job at the Great Escape.Saturday, May 20, will mark Daniel Mulligan's first day on the job in the Park Services Department at his favorite amusement park. Daniel said he's excited to get paid, show off his name badge, and "get free soda." However, one job perk stands above the rest for him—the chance to wear the Great Escape signature uniform with a bright blue polo. "Every summer, we got season passes, and he always loved it there, and he always said I'm gonna work here someday," Tammie Mulligan, Daniel's mother, said.Daniel got the call from Great Escape that he would join the team after a job fair at Queensbury High School opened the door. "It makes me, as a mom, feel like it's okay to send him out into the world," Tammie said. "And I thought you know what, the autism doesn't define him."Tammie said they picked up his uniform two weeks ago, and he hasn't taken it of...

Pedestrian hit, killed by vehicle in Santa Ana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

Police in Santa Ana are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car early Sunday morning.Officers from the Santa Ana Police Department responded to the 500 block of North Harbor Boulevard around 1:05 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a pedestrian being hit by a car.Police located a pedestrian on the roadway and paramedics from the Orange County Fire Authority pronounced the unidentified pedestrian deceased.It's believed that the pedestrian was crossing the roadway when they were hit by a vehicle traveling south on Harbor.The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, police said. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in the crash, although the exact circumstances leading up to the deadly collision remain under investigation.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Santa Ana Police Department Traffic Division at 714-245- 8200.

Wrong-way driver busted for DUI in Ventura County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:16 GMT

A Ventura man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence Sunday morning after he drove the wrong way on the 101 Freeway and evaded authorities.Just before 2 a.m., several calls were received regarding a wrong-way vehicle traveling north on the southbound side of the 101 Freeway near Telephone Road, according to a release from the California Highway Patrol.Officers attempted to forcibly stop the wrong-way vehicle, a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, but the driver continued to flee, even after being struck by a CHP vehicle. “As the CHP unit attempted to make a forcible stop on the Mitsubishi, it turned into the center median and the patrol vehicle struck the left side of the Mitsubishi,” CHP said in a statement. “The Mitsubishi [then] continued northbound in the southbound lane.”  UFC fighter Tony Ferguson arrested for DUI in Hollywood after multi-car crash The Mitsubishi continued on the freeway, forcing another car going southbound to swerve off the road to avoid hitting...