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Former state trooper who assisted his father’s drug trafficking organization sentenced to 18 months in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

McALLEN, TEXAS (ValleyCentral) — A former state trooper who assisted his father’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Thursday.Pablo Talavera Jr., 36, of Pharr ran a license plate through a law enforcement database for his father, a drug smuggler who transported methamphetamine from Texas to Tennessee.“He’s made a terrible mistake,” said attorney Carlos A. Garcia of Mission, who represented Talavera Jr. “To which he has admitted. And accepted responsibility.”Pablo Talavera Jr. (Courtesy of the Texas Department of Public Safety.)Talavera Jr. graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American and joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in June 2015.Other members of the Talavera family picked a different path.His father, Pablo Talavera Sr., and his uncle, Elias Talavera, headed a drug trafficking organization that smuggled “large quantities of methamphetamine” from the Rio Grande Valley to Jackson, Tennessee, according to documents filed by ...

Amazon is giving out a $15 credit for the holidays — here's how to get it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

You need these essentials anyway, so you may as well take your creditDuring the holiday season, we could all use a deal. And right now, Amazon will give you a $15 credit if you spend $50 or more on household products that you probably already need, because it includes popular brands like Bounty, Charmin, Dawn, Reynolds, Dixie and more. It’s not the most exciting deal around, but $15 is $15, and getting free cash for buying household essentials you’ll definitely use? That’s a holiday gift we’d all love to receive.So go ahead and check your pantry. Running low on dish soap? What about trash bags? Make sure to check your stock of paper towels. Start loading up your Amazon cart, because once you spend $50 on these promotional items, you’ll qualify for the deal and Amazon will automatically add a $15 promotional credit to your account 30 days after shipment. Happy shopping!The 50 best Christmas gift ideas 2023 Household essentials you ca...

Football recruiting: Former Liberty DB Preston Hodge commits to CU Buffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Preston Hodge played a key role in helping Liberty to a perfect regular season, but now wants to play in Boulder.On Saturday, the former Liberty defensive back gave his verbal commitment to Colorado.Listed at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Hodge played in 25 games with 10 starts during his two seasons at Liberty, helping the Flames go 13-0 and win the Conference USA title.This year, Hodge started one game at free safety, one at cornerback and eight at the “star” position. He posted 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 88.0, which was 22nd-best in the country for all defensive backs.Hodge’s overall PFF rating of 86.1 was the best for Liberty’s defense.Hodge played at Navarro College before going to Liberty. He has one season of eligibility remaining.Related Articles Mines blasted in Division II national title for second straight year, as Harding runs over Orediggers Football re...

Five-alarm construction fire closes Colfax Avenue, Peoria Street in Aurora

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

A five-alarm fire at an Aurora apartment building under construction has closed the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street and caused smoke to be seen across the metro area.Aurora Fire Rescue was notified of the fire at 12:48 p.m. Saturday, spokesperson Andrew Logan said in a news conference, and crews will likely be working on the blaze through the evening. This is the second large fire at an Aurora apartment construction site in three days.First responding fire crews entered the building and went to the fifth floor of the building, where the fire was first reported, but the fire conditions caused the crew to leave the building and focus on defensive firefighting.The fire was then raised to a fifth alarm, and several area fire agencies including the Denver Fire Department, South Adams Fire, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Rattlesnake Fire Protection District responded.Logan said no other buildings were damaged.Video from the Peoria & Colfax fire. pic.twitter.com/4EVRun...

1 dead in Inland Empire plane crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Emergency crews found one person dead after a small plane crashed near the Corona Municipal Airport on Saturday.The crash occurred around noon near the intersection of Auburndale and West Rincon streets, the Corona Fire Department tweeted on X, formerly Twitter.The aircraft was described only as a single-engine plane. Video from news video service OnSceneTV shows the plane collided with a tree.A small plane is seen after crashing in Corona on Dec. 16, 2023. (OnScene.TV)No information about the victim was immediately released.The crash sparked a small vegetation fire that was extinguished, the Fire Department stated. Auburndale between Rincon and Palos Verde Drive was closed for the crash investigation and debris removal, officials said.The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were handling the investigation, officials said.

These California cities are among the richest in U.S., report shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

There are communities across the Golden State that have a hefty price tag to call home, especially when compared to other places across the nation.In fact, there are several California cities with populations surpassing 25,000 people that are considered among the richest in the entire country. One particular California city is even considered the richest of all.A newly released report by 24/7 Wall Street, a publication that provides insightful analysis and commentary for U.S. and global equity investors, has punched the numbers to uncover where the richest of the rich live. Kobe Bryant video helped bring Ohtani to Dodgers While working to identify America’s richest cities, researchers with 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of median household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.From there, the researchers used census “place” geographies -- a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. 24/7...

Giants activate tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve. Safety Bobby McCain is cut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

EAST RUTHERORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants activated tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve and waived veteran safety Bobby McCain on Saturday.Waller was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans (6-7). The Giants (5-8) will be looking for their fourth straight win.Waller, who was acquired in a trade with Las Vegas last spring, practiced this week for the first time since injuring a hamstring and missing five games. His 36 receptions still rank second on the Giants.McCain was signed in the offseason and never fit into coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense. The final straw might have happened on Monday night when a short punt hit him and was recovered by the Packers.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

How a family buying ‘too many wreaths’ created Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Tens of thousands of people honored members of the armed forces that have been laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with Wreaths Across America on Saturday.This annual event would not have been started without a surplus of wreaths back in 1992.“We bought too many wreaths and it was at the end of the season and there was no market for them,” said Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester.Worcester said he and his family tried to figure out “where they would do the most good, and we decided on Arlington National Cemetery.”Making this an annual event was not the original plan. Worcester, who has been in the wreath business for 53 years, said the project was so well-received that he and his family didn’t want to stop.Karen Worcester, co-founder of Wreaths Across America and Morrill’s wife, said this means so much to him that even a stroke two years ago wouldn’t stop her husband from going to Arlington National Cemetery for the laying of the wreaths.“The d...

Griffin scores 25, No. 17 UConn dominates 2nd half to defeat No. 18 Louisville 86-62

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Aubrey Griffin scored a season-high 25 point s and Aaliyah Edwards added 22 on a combined 19-of-23 shooting and No. 17 UConn pulled away from No. 18 Louisville for an 86-62 win on Saturday.It was the second straight win over a ranked team for the Huskies, who have used six different starting lineups and are 2-3 against teams now in the Top 25. The Cardinals gave up a season high in points and had their six-game winning streak snapped.Paige Bueckers hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Huskies (7-3), with a career-high five blocks. Nika Muhl had 10 of UConn’s 24 assists on 32 baskets. UConn shot 59% and made 15 of 20 free throws, 11 of 12 in the fourth quarter. The Huskies outscored Louisville 40-20 in the second half with Griffin, who had four steals, Bueckers and Edwards combining for 32 points. KK Arnold had the other eight points.Kiki Jefferson had 20 points for the Cardinals (10-2), Sydney Taylor had 13 and Olivia Cochran 12. The game tur...

Alexandria residents voice concerns as approval process for new sports arena begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

A first step in the approval process for a new sports arena in Alexandria, Virginia, is already being met with backlash from some area residents.Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon gave a full presentation to the city council on Saturday, outlining details of the new arena and additional facilities for Monumental Sports, which owns the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards.“No formal decision has been made on this project,” Parajon said.The 70 acres adjacent to the new Potomac Yard Metro station would become the sports arena, as well as the headquarters and practice facilities for Monumental Sports & Entertainment, including housing their sports network.It would also include a mixed indoor and outdoor performing arts venue and a 2,500-space underground garage.The partnership was announced Wednesday by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Alexandria City Mayor Justin Wilson and Ted Leonsis, majority partner at Monumental.“We have an amazing and world class city and the value that this d...