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TIMELINE: What we know of Raul Meza's criminal history

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man charged in connection with the death of an 80-year-old Pflugerville man earlier this month was previously convicted of murder in the 1980s, and law enforcement officials now say he might be linked to several cold cases.Raul Meza Jr., 62, was identified and arrested and charged after confessing to the murder of his roommate Jesse Fraga, 80. Meza also implicated himself in the murder of Gloria Lofton, 66, in 2019, three years after Austin Police said he was released from Travis County Jail. RELATED: Police say man arrested in ‘multiple murders’, city official calls him ‘serial killer’ Meza's criminal history dates back decades, including convictions in aggravated robberies as well as murder. Here's what we know about his previous crimes and convictions.1975: Aggravated robberyOn New Year's Eve in 1975, Meza joined three others in robbing an Austin convenience store. During the robbery, the store manager was shot in the back.Surviving the gunshot wound, the man...

Lynx losing games on the defensive end

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

Amid an 0-5 start, the Lynx finally feel as though they’re making some strides on the offensive end.An 89-point showing in Tuesday’s loss in Dallas that featured four starters scoring in double figures while the fifth — rookie Diamond Miller — had eight points in 12 minutes before getting injured, suggested the insertion of Tiffany Mitchell into the first five provided Minnesota with the offensive jolt it needed to get on track.Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve noted that was Minnesota’s best offensive outing of the young season, with the Lynx shooting 49 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep.“Offensively, we were good enough,” Reeve said. “We’re going to stay the course there.”But what about the other end of the floor?“We have to change the course defensively,” Reeve said.Minnesota simply isn’t good enough to get stops at the moment. The Lynx rank 11th out of the 12 WNBA teams in defensive rating, allowing 106.6 poin...

When should social workers separate families? A federal lawsuit raises thorny questions.

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

BOSTON — When child welfare workers and police knocked on Sarah Perkins’ and Joshua Sabey’s front door well past midnight one weekend last summer, the parents were shocked to learn the state of Massachusetts had come to take their two young sons.It’s the kind of harrowing scene that plays out daily across the country as social workers motivated by a desire to protect children run up against confused and concerned parents.What followed was emotional anguish, a bureaucratic battle, vindication for the parents and a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a legal advocacy group. The couple hopes for a favorable ruling that will increase oversight of child removals nationwide.The children were taken in Massachusetts because of a child abuse report stemming from a hospital visit. On July 13, 2022, Perkins whisked their 3-month-old son Cal to an emergency room. He had a 103-degree fever.An X-ray checking for pneumonia found a rib fracture the couple hadn’t noticed. After speaking with the boy...

Everything happening in Lake George in June

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - In the Lake George area, the month of June is heralded by a roar of motorcycle engines. Americade has already taken the village by storm, with Warrensburg welcoming its own cavalcade of bike enthusiasts a few miles north. Summer is settling in around Lake George. Here's a look at what June looks like. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Start of the monthLake George Model Car FestivalRunning until Thursday, June 1Shepard Park, Canada Street, Lake GeorgeFestival includes model cars, planes, boats, motorcycles, building materials and vendorsFree admissionAmericade motorcycle festivalRunning until Sunday, June 4Village of Lake GeorgeThe annual Americade motorcycle festival expects tens of thousands of visitors, with rides across the Adirondacks and into Vermont, as well as a robust vendor tent, dinner boat cruises, stunt and comedy shows, product demos, and moreOnsite passes are priced from $109 to $16...

Lawmakers discuss end of session agenda

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- While the due date for the legislative session is for next Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Andrea-Stewart Cousins said it could be a day late. She said housing continues to be a discussion and Clean Slate is in the process of being finalized.  Hussain sentenced in fatal limousine crash trial Advocates have been pushing for the bill for years. As it is originally written, the bill would automatically seal criminal records for some misdemeanors and felony convictions. Three years after sentencing for misdemeanors and after seven years for felonies. It would not apply to sex crimes. "We are definitely negotiating, we’re pretty close, because it was at first the time and I believe everybody kind of agreed on the time, so I do believe we’re very close," said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at a press conference on Wednesday. But lawmakers could not give a definitive time frame for when those records would be sealed. Assembly Minority Leader Will Ba...

A St. Louis anthem you won't be singing at Busch Stadium

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's not as official as the Star Spangled Banner or the Texas state song, but St. Louis, Missouri does indeed have a musical "anthem" of sorts. Last year, a folk/rock musician named Matt Farley released an album of 50 songs in tribute to Missouri. Farley is known colloquially as "The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities & Towns." The second song on Farley's 2022 album, "Missouri Oh Yeah! Good Yes" is called "St. Louis Anthem." It's probably you won't recite before a ballgame or school event, and it may seem a bit bizarre, but it's certainly one for good laughs and worth a listen. New hydrogen hub in Wentzville raises concern for residents  The tune consists of an uplifting beat and energetic vocals. Farley starts it with the opening line, "St. Louis, Missouri! What a great city!" From there, he praises the city for the Gateway Arch, the river scenery and unique neighborhoods among other things. Also, he joyfully claims St. Louis as the "Rome of the West."You can liste...

Go Wild! with Frontier Airlines new fall and winter pass

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Frontier Airlines now has your wanderlust covered all year long.The budget airline is now offering a Fall and Winter All-You-Can-Fly pass. It is good for flights from Sept. 2 through Feb. 29, 2024. The pass is on sale for $299 per person, while supplies last. Want to camp at ‘The Conjuring’ house? Be sure to pack your courage It works just like the airline's popular Spring and Summer All-You-Can-Fly pass.The pass is good for an unlimited number of flights to domestic and international cities. Frontier says seats are limited and monthly blackout dates apply.That includes flights from KCI International Airport to destinations like Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Cancun.Passholders can currently book travel from Sept. 5 through Nov. 15, but seats must be booked by June 13. New hydrogen hub in Wentzville raises concern for residents  Frontier says it will confirm bookings the day before flights for domestic travel, and starting 10 days before flights for internati...

Missouri bear population grows by 9% - Expands range near St. Louis

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri is home to around 900 bears and their population is growing at around 9% annually. The bears are especially active during this time of year. That is why the Missouri Department of Conservation is asking people to be bear-aware after a recent fatal crash. A black bear was struck and killed along I-55 near Festus, Missouri. New hydrogen hub in Wentzville raises concern for residents  Map from the Missouri Department of ConservationMost of Missouri's American black bear population can be found in the Ozarks. But, the growing population means that they are expanding their range and becoming more common in the St. Louis area. They have also been found in one of the highly populated portions of the state. A bear was spotted in Kirkwood in 2021 and running near a Rolla truck in 2022.The Missouri Department of Conservation says that avoiding conflict is the best way to live with bears. Never offer them food because it can make them more comfortable around people. The...

Denver Nuggets 101: A beginner’s guide to the NBA Finals

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

So you’re at the water cooler, trying to engage with excited co-workers about the hometown Denver Nuggets, playing in the NBA Finals this week for the first time in franchise history.But you don’t know what to say.Have no fear, basketball casuals, The Denver Post is here to help.This handy glossary defines some common terms, names and talking points you may hear on TV or in conversations around the office.Keep this list close and don’t hesitate to glance awkwardly at your phone as your boss dissects the Nuggets pick-and-roll defense.Names and nicknamesNikola Jokic: The two-time MVP is arguably the best player on the planet. And yet legions of fans — let alone national pundits — don’t know how to pronounce his name. It’s Ni-Cole-uh Yo-Kitch. Remember the soft “J”.The Joker: Jokic’s nicknameBlue Arrow: Guard Jamal Murray’s nicknameUncle Jeff: Reserve forward Jeff Green’s nicknameMPJ: Forward Michael Porter Jr.KCP: Guard Kenta...

Saving for a down payment? You could sit courtside at the NBA Finals instead

Published Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:30:59 GMT

A day before the first NBA Finals game in Denver, the price for the cheapest tickets to the NBA Finals at Ball Arena, sitting upstairs in the 300 level, start at about $550, down a bit from last week.A review Wednesday of prices on Ticketmaster starts at $568 for a seat and climbs to just below $40,000 for the opening game, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, against the Miami Heat, the Eastern Conference champion.Want to sit courtside? A seat in the corner has an asking price of $39,000. A couple of first-row seats closer to center court were priced at about $29,000. But there were some courtside seats that cost as low as $10,000. Upstairs seats in the 300 level of the arena for game one start above $500 and climb to above $1,000. Seats in the 200 and 100 levels start, for the most part, above $1,000 and work up. Wednesday on the Ticketmaster site a pair of 100-level tickets — verified resale — stood out at $995 each. One other 100-level ticket was offered at $999.Related ArticlesS...