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CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
Two Dallas sisters among at least 47 dead in Central Texas flooding
Two sisters from Dallas — 13-year-old Blair Harber and 11-year-old Brooke Harber — were among the dozens of lives lost in the catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday. Their deaths were confirmed Saturday by St. Rita Catholic Community. Blair was preparing to enter eighth grade, and Brooke was set to begin sixth grade at St. Rita Catholic School. Sisters were not at Camp Mystic The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic — where up to 25 campers remain missing — but were in the area when the flooding occurred. In their memory, St. Rita held a prayer service at 4 p.m. Saturday to grieve and honor the lives of the two young girls. The girls were staying with their grandparents along the Guadalupe River, who remain unaccounted for, according to the church. Their parents were in a separate cabin and were not harmed. Blair Harber, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, were among the dozens who lost their lives in the catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday. Harber family "Please keep the Harber family in your prayers during this time of profound grief. May our faith, our love, and our St. Rita community be a source of strength and comfort in the days ahead," said Fr. Joshua J. Whitfield, pastor, in correspondence with church members. Flooding death toll rises to 47 At least 47 people are dead in central Texas in what officials called a "mass casualty event" after devastating flash floods slammed Hill Country, with water rescues taking place along the Guadalupe River. KERRVILLE, TEXAS - JULY 04: Trees emerge from flood waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. Heavy rainfall caused flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas with multiple fatalities reported. Eric Vryn / Getty Images Camp Mystic hit hard by floodwaters Among the missing are up to 25 campers from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp that was severely impacted when the Guadalupe River surged unexpectedly. The river rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes after a stationary storm system dumped far more rain than forecasted over the river's North and South Forks. River reached near-record levels The flooding overwhelmed the region, including the city of Kerrville, where the Guadalupe River reached its second-highest level on record. Hundreds rescued by air and boat Emergency responders have rescued 850 people, including 160 by air. The U.S. Coast Guard has assisted in saving more than 220 lives. Search efforts continue using helicopters, drones, and ground teams. Federal and state response underway Officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have mobilized state and federal resources. President Trump has pledged full federal support. Communities face widespread damage Local leaders and residents described the destruction as unprecedented. Many areas remain without power or access, and families are still searching for loved ones. The emotional toll on survivors and first responders continues to grow as recovery efforts press on. CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why Your Nervous System Might Be at War With Modern Life
A viral TikTok video is striking a deep chord with viewers who say it perfectly explains why they're exhausted, anxious, and burned out. The message? It's not just you—your nervous system may be in survival mode all the time. Brittany Piper, a 36-year-old Somatic Experiencing® practitioner and author of Body-First Healing, posted a video in March that's now racked up nearly half a million views. In it, she argues that our modern lives are fundamentally out of sync with what the human body—and especially the nervous system—was built to handle. 'It is my personal and professional belief that the drastic rise we are seeing in chronic physical and mental illness can be attributed to this one thing,' Piper says. 'We have created a world that our nervous system no longer wants to live in.' Piper compares the nervous system to a security alarm, constantly scanning for danger. In our fast-paced, hyper-connected world, it's often triggered, not just by traumatic events, but by everyday stressors like digital overload, political division, economic uncertainty, and social disconnection. The result? Our bodies stay locked in survival states like fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown, flooding us with cortisol and adrenaline. She told Newsweek that this ongoing activation can lead to anxiety, fatigue, pain, and other chronic issues. 'Many of the symptoms we face today at alarming rates,' she said, 'are not random symptoms, but the body's intelligent responses to overwhelm.' Piper's video has struck a nerve with thousands of viewers who say they've been desperate for answers, and her explanation finally makes sense of what they've been feeling. Her advice? Healing doesn't mean pushing harder. It means slowing down, grounding yourself, and building awareness of what your body is trying to tell you. Piper suggests starting with small actions: feel your feet on the ground, notice your breath, or identify something comforting in your environment. These steps, she says, can build a sense of internal safety and help regulate the nervous system. 'Healing is less about doing more,' Piper adds, 'and more about doing less, with more attunement.' As conversations around mental health, trauma, and somatic therapy gain mainstream traction, Piper's viral theory offers both validation and a practical path forward, especially for those who feel like they're stuck in overdrive. Why Your Nervous System Might Be at War With Modern Life first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 5, 2025
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Justice Department's $15 Billion Crackdown Hits 22 Houston Fraud Cases
(Texas Scorecard) – As part of the U.S. Department of Justice's crackdown on healthcare fraud, more than a dozen individuals from the Houston-area have been charged. Nationwide, 321 individuals have been charged with multiple healthcare-related crimes, including wire fraud, bribery, and other fraudulent schemes. In total, the DOJ uncovered nearly $15 billion in fraudulent claims, and the United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets in connection with the takedown. Attorney General Pam Bondi commented on the operation, stating: 'This record-setting health care fraud takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers. Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.' According to the DOJ, 22 cases were announced Monday in Houston alone. These cases involve a wide array of healthcare fraud schemes, including unlawful distribution of controlled substances—some of which ended up on the black market—along with hospice fraud, kickbacks, and Medicare/Medicaid scams involving unnecessary genetic testing, durable medical equipment, and more. Among the most notable cases are Dera Ogudo (39) and Victoria Martinez (35), both of Richmond, who are accused of running a hospice facility that billed Medicare and Medicaid for end-of-life care while deceiving patients into believing they were receiving standard palliative or in-home services. Ogudo also allegedly paid bribes and kickbacks to Dr. Carlos Munoz, who certified patients for hospice care. The total fraud scheme is estimated at $110 million, with Munoz allegedly receiving over $300,000. Keilan Peterson and Kimberly Martinez of Houston have been charged with their alleged roles in a cash-for-prescriptions scheme operating through Relief Medical Center and GroveCare clinics. According to the indictment, Peterson paid three licensed physicians to give him, Martinez, and other clinic staff access to their electronic prescribing credentials. This allowed them to issue a high volume of prescriptions for controlled substances—including hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and oxycodone—without legitimate medical need. The indictment further alleges that Peterson funneled a portion of these prescriptions to his own business, Next Level Pharmacy, where he obtained the drugs and redistributed them illegally on the black market. In total, Peterson and his associates are accused of issuing more than two million pills, most of which were dispensed without medical justification and outside accepted professional standards. Dr. David Jenson, a podiatrist based in The Woodlands, and his business partner, Nestor Rafael Romero Magallanes, were charged with 14 counts of healthcare fraud for allegedly billing Medicare for expensive bioengineered skin grafts intended for chronic wound treatment. The pair allegedly received over $45 million in reimbursements. Brandy Williams, a Houston pharmacy owner, is accused of paying kickbacks to an unnamed podiatrist in exchange for unnecessary prescription referrals. Her pharmacy reportedly received over $4 million through the scheme. Tyneza Mitchell, a licensed nurse practitioner, allegedly received $2.1 million in Medicaid reimbursements for COVID-era treatments that were never provided. Chad Harper of Pearland is accused of using shell companies to pay bribes and kickbacks to marketers who generated business for his laboratories. The indictment claims Harper was reimbursed around $73 million by Medicare. Rami Abunakira, a Richmond resident involved with a lab in Dallas, is charged with billing Medicare $33.5 million for unnecessary genetic testing. Mahmood Sami Kahn and Suhaib Ahmad Chaudry, two Houston men charged in Illinois, are accused of masterminding a fraudulent COVID-19 testing operation. The pair allegedly manipulated labs in Texas and Illinois to submit false claims through a federal reimbursement program, receiving over $293 million, which they then laundered through multiple bank accounts. Kahn is also charged with wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei responded to the sweeping operation: 'Americans rely on Medicare for needed treatments and life-saving care. Those [who] bilk this fund to unlawfully enrich themselves are ultimately stealing from the taxpayer and damaging public confidence in our health system. Today's takedown is a reminder to would-be medical fraudsters that the Department of Justice is always standing guard over the public fisc.'
