Latest news with #Charger
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Two charged in 2023 drive-by shooting that killed teen in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two men have been charged in connection with a 2023 shooting that left an 18-year-old dead in Kansas City, according to the prosecutor's office. SirMichael Harbin, 19, and Montell Essex-Benjamin, 21, are each charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action, the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release Wednesday. Construction worker hit, killed near NW Barry Road in Kansas City, police say The shooting was reported just before 4 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2023, near East 56th Street and Jackson Avenue. Kansas City police officers responded and found the victim lying in the front yard of a home. The victim, later identified as 18-year-old Joseph Hill, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to court documents, police obtained surveillance video that showed shots being fired from a Dodge Charger at the victim and the home. The Charger then drove away. Police later learned that the car had been reported stolen. On the day of the shooting, police said officers found the Charger in a parking lot with two men standing near it. When police officers tried to talk to the men, they both ran away, according to prosecutors. Police pursued the pair, and both were eventually taken into custody. One of the men was later identified as Essex-Benjamin. In the months following the shooting, detectives obtained cell phone data that connected Essex-Benjamin to the shooting, placing him in the area of the shooting at the time it happened, prosecutors said. Gunshot residue was also found on his hands, the office added. Prosecutors also said Harbin's DNA was found inside the Charger and on a 9mm casing located at the shooting scene. Both Harbin and Essex-Benjamin remained in the Jackson County Jail Wednesday. No bond has been set for Essex-Benjamin, who is expected to have his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon. Online court records were not immediately available for Harbin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV: Pros & Cons
This isn't your granddad's Dodge Charger. Though it may look somewhat like the Chargers and Challengers of old, the 2025 Charger Daytona Scat Pack is an entirely new thing, with a fully revamped interior and a fully electric powertrain. A Charger without a V-8 might sound like heresy, but this car is still charming in a number of ways. Unfortunately, the electric Charger becomes less charming when you see the price tag. With an as-tested sticker of nearly $80,000, it's far more expensive than the last-generation car. Factor in the weak range and the clunky infotainment system, and even the quickest Charger EV becomes a tough recommendation. Quick Specs 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Motors Dual Permanent-Magnet Battery 100.5 Kilowatt-Hours (93.9 Kilowatt-Hours Usable) Output 670 Horsepower / 627 Pound-Feet 0-60 MPH 3.5 Seconds (Est.) Base Price / As Tested $64,995 / $78,970 The Good Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Excellent Design Luxurious, Well-Styled Interior Impressive Performance Though the new Charger may appear awkward in pictures, it looks fantastic in real life. The 'Bludicrous' paint job pairs excellently with the boxy form and striking fascias, catching the eyes of onlookers as I cruise silently by. Whereas most EVs are lifeless blobs, the Charger Daytona echoes a sense of purpose and strength. The Charger is also a big car. At 206.6 inches long, it's over 8 inches longer than the outgoing Challenger. The hatchback rear provides ample storage space, though there's no frunk. That extra length is obvious inside, with the Charger's interior offering ample space to stretch out. The back seats are actually usable, too; I was able to comfortably fit four adults inside without any complaints. Beyond the physical space, I enjoy the interior's design. The sweeping dash melds into the doors well, and the pistol-grip shifter is satisfying to use. There are two displays mounted to the dash, a 16.0-inch unit for the driver and a 12.3-inch screen for the infotainment system. Both are bright and crisp, making the cabin a nice place to spend time. Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 And while I'll always prefer a V-8 to electric power, I have to commend the Charger Daytona's performance. It's stonking quick off the line, and claws itself out of the hole and into illegal speeds quickly. Like most EVs, that power seems to die off once you've eclipsed 90 miles per hour, but before that, it's a rocket. It's not just straight-line speed, either. Despite the Charger's chunky 5,838-pound curb weight, it can dance around corners. That's thanks to the huge 325-section-width Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar 3 tires out back, and the standard dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Slowing things down are a set of hefty 16.1-inch discs with Brembo calipers. There are a host of different toys to play with, too, like Drift mode, Track mode, Drag mode, and even Donut mode. If you need a kick in power, there's a button labeled 'PowerShot' on the steering wheel, which maxes out the dual motors to give the full 670 horsepower for 30 seconds. Gimmicky, yes. But also very fun. The Bad Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Messy Infotainment System Half-Baked Synthetic Exhaust Sound Lackluster Range Too Expensive While the Dodge Charger Daytona's interior is a nice place to spend time, the infotainment system hangs over it like a dark cloud. The company's Uconnect 5 operating system is a cluttered mess, with a slew of different menus and bunched-up buttons that make it nearly impossible to navigate, especially while driving. There's a new section specifically to show the powertrain's EV status, like power flow and charging info. But I found myself constantly sticking to the wireless Apple CarPlay instead, simply to avoid dealing with the native operating system. Those with Android phones won't have to worry; there's wireless Android Auto connectivity for your phones, too. That's not the only piece of tech on the Charger I don't like. While I'm generally pro faux exhaust sounds for EVs, the Daytona's ' Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust ' doesn't do it for me. Dodge got so close to making this work, but fumbled at the goal line. While the sound itself, which emanates from a subwoofer mounted in the rear bumper, is awesome, it's not paired with any sort of fake gears or shifting, like you'd find on a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N . Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 Photo by: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 That means when you're driving around with the Fratzonic exhaust turned on, it sounds like you're driving a V-8-powered car with a continuously variable transmission. It's foolish in its execution, rendering the sound suitable only for stoplight rev-offs or confusing people in parking lots. On the move, it just made me nauseous. Whether you keep the exhaust turned on or not, you'll be disappointed by the Charger Daytona's range. With a full charge, I was only able to squeeze 208 miles from the 93.9-kilowatt-hour usable battery pack, an average of just 2.2 miles per kilowatt-hour. That's pretty dismal for a 2025 model-year EV, much less one this expensive. To be fair, the range would be far better with a set of more efficient tires. Speaking of price, the Charger Daytona isn't exactly affordable. The Scat Pack's starting price of $66,990, including destination, is bolstered by those aforementioned drive modes, as well as a host of active safety systems, like lane management, intersection collision assist, and cross-path detection. A head-up display and a mechanical limited-slip differential are also standard. Our tester came in at $78,970 thanks to the pretty blue paint job, a $3,200 'Scat Pack Stage 2' package that adds 80 horsepower, and the $4,995 Track package, which adds stuff like the Brembo brakes, heated and ventilated sport seats, adaptive damping, and those Goodyears. Truthfully, I don't think you need any of that, except for the paint. It's not like anyone will be taking this thing to the track, after all. Competitors Audi A6 E-Tron BMW i4 Lucid Air Mercedes-Benz EQE Polestar 2 32 Source: Brian Silvestro / Motor1 More on the Charger Dodge Charger EV Owners Are Reporting Unintended Acceleration The Dodge Charger EV Is Already Outselling the Supra in 2025 Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Specifications Motor Dual Permanent-Magnet Battery 100.5 Kilowatt-Hour (93.9 Kilowatt-Hour usable) Output 670 Horsepower / 627 Pound-Feet Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-60 MPH 3.5 seconds (est.) Maximum speed 136 mph (Electronically Limited) Weight 5,838 Pounds (mfr.) EV Range 216 Miles (EPA) Seating Capacity 5 Cargo Volume 23.0 / 37.0 Cubic Feet On Sale 5 Base Price $64,995 As-Tested Price $78,970 Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Scientific American
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Scientific American
Can Tesla's Cybercab Share the Road with America's Myth of the Highway?
In the American psyche, the automobile—that great democratizer of distance—has always been about more than transportation. It's freedom incarnate: the ability to leave and become someone new three states over. It's James Dean smoking a cigarette, leaning against a fender—masculinity codified in chrome and horsepower, sexuality expressed through gear ratios and exhaust notes. It's Thelma and Louise escaping not just their dreary lives but all that's wrong with their culture. We've had the Corvette, the Mustang, the Charger, the Eldorado, the Camaro, the Thunderbird—and soon we will have the Cybercab. Elon Musk revealed the Cybercab prototype last October, with production targeted for 2026, and today a convoy of 10 to 20 Model Y robotaxis has begun paving the way for its launch, testing the safety of Tesla's autonomous driving tech on a geofenced loop in Austin, Texas. But the Cybercab stands out in the emerging genealogy of robotaxis. Whereas the motto of Amazon subsidiary Zoox's robotaxi—which resembles a cross between an art deco toaster and a subway carriage—is 'It's not a car,' the Cybercab, for all its streamlined science-fiction minimalism, remains squarely in car territory: a sleek two-seater with butterfly doors—the unmistakable hallmarks of a glamorous ride. Yet there's no wheel to grip, no gas pedal to stomp to the floor. The shape of the car says you can still escape your life, but now AI does the driving. The promise might seem seductive: all the mobility; none of the responsibility. More than a century after the first Model T shipped for $825 in 1908 (nearly $29,000 today), we've forgotten how quickly and profoundly car ownership changed American culture. In 1900 fewer than 1 percent of American households owned cars. By 1913 Henry Ford's moving-belt assembly line cut build time to 93 minutes, and cheap Texas oil kept the tank full, turning personal mobility from luxury to the default setting. A 1927 survey found that 55.7 percent of American families owned at least one car. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. Not until 1926, however, did the American myth of the highway truly boot up, when Route 66—John Steinbeck named it the 'Mother Road' in The Grapes of Wrath —linked Chicago and Santa Monica, Calif. In the book Hip to the Trip, historian Peter Dedek called the route 'a pillar of mid-twentieth-century automobile culture,' a corridor where vacationers, beatniks, cowboys and Okies fleeing the dust bowl contributed to myths of freedom and transformation. Photographer Robert Frank revealed in his 1958 book The Americans how windshield glass turned travelers into both spectator and exhibit. The cars that Frank famously depicted were as much social containers as machines. Robin Reisenfeld, who curated the Toledo Museum of Art's exhibition Life Is a Highway: Art and American Car Culture, argued in an interview with Antiques and the Arts Weekly that 'the automobile has defined our society' and been used as 'a means of self-expression and status and identity.' After World War II, the G.I. Bill financed suburban mortgages, so millions fled dense cities. And in 1956 the Federal-Aid Highway Act funded 41,000 miles of interstate—an asphalt backbone justified as civil defense infrastructure but experienced as a coast-to-coast permission slip for self-reinvention. The tail fins and chrome of the late 1950s signaled cold war optimism, while Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel On the Road and Chuck Berry's 1958 song 'Johnny B. Goode' hard-coded the romance of endless motion into the culture's firmware. Yet the myth of the open road has always been about who's in the driver's seat. The driver is king: one hand on the wheel, eyes on the horizon, free to turn down that dusty side road on a whim. Control over one's vehicle equated to control over one's destiny. Cars changed the sound of our music, with rock guitars emulating the roaring of engines, and they changed how we courted, providing not just a means of transportation but also a destination, allowing couples to get away from 'porch swings, parlor sofas, hovering mothers, and pesky siblings,' as historian David L. Lewis explained in his Michigan Quarterly Review article 'Sex and the Automobile: From Rumble Seats to Rockin' Vans.' A number of films, such as Drive-In (1976), Grease (1978) and American Drive-In (1985), depicted cars as popular places for trysts. The highway lore, however, was never without critics, and the choice of the word 'king' (followed by 'of the road,' for example) was not accidental. Men were predominantly at the wheel, and even as highways offered freedom, they carved concrete canyons through neighborhoods, separating communities. Public transportation didn't keep pace to help those without cars cross ever larger distances between home and work or to accommodate those with disabilities or older people. Studies have since revealed the scope of corporate efforts to dismantle public transit systems and thus encourage car ownership. In 1998 architecture critic Jane Holtz Kay wrote in the book Asphalt Nation that 'mobility has vanished completely for the third of the nation that cannot legally drive—those 80 million Americans who do not operate automobiles because they are too old, too young, or too poor.' A 2012 Brookings report found that in the 100 largest U.S. metro areas, the typical job could be reached by transit within 90 minutes by only 27 percent of workers. In many ways, debates around robotaxis have flipped the narrative. Critics say they reduce personal agency while writing us into an information network against our will (though simply carrying a smartphone does this well enough), whereas defenders argue that autonomous vehicles could offer freedom to the very groups who benefitted least under the car kings of yore. Those with disabilities and older people might find work and community more easily, or they might simply experience more: stare out at that far highway horizon and go wherever. A 2017 report estimated that autonomous vehicles could allow two million individuals with disabilities to enter the workforce, and it highlighted a potential annual savings of $19 billion in health care expenditures as a result of fewer missed medical appointments. Robotaxis could even offer freedom from the grueling commute, the exhausting hours spent jockeying in traffic, and allow naps or Netflix bingeing, time to answer e-mails or—for a couple or a parent and child—time to talk and connect. A 2023 study in Frontiers in Future Transportation and another from 2020 in Sensors recorded lower stress levels in autonomous vehicle passengers. One might argue that ride-sharing already provides similar freedoms to those offered by robotaxis, but drivers for hire can be tired, cranky or in a rush, and there's a social dynamic and a rating system, which can limit other freedoms—even one as simple as the desire to be quiet with one's thoughts. The Cybercab may look like a miniature sportscar dipped in sci-fi, but the engine's roar has been replaced with silence, and the inside is spacious. There will no doubt be glitches and accidents heaped with media coverage. Yet the car will likely obey speed limits, never get drowsy or drunk and never rubberneck or give in to road rage. With robotaxis, more teenagers may arrive home safely and more grandparents may set out on the adventure of a lifetime. As for design, there will always be disagreement; the very concept of aesthetics invites debate, and our sensitivity to fashions are often deeply entwined with the politics of change and the people in power. The greatest challenge facing autonomous vehicles, however, will likely be public opinion. A recent poll of 8,000 Americans conducted by the market research initiative Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report found that 71 percent of the respondents were unwilling to ride in robotaxis and that 43 percent thought they should be illegal. Yet recent research shows different numbers after people have ridden in autonomous vehicles. A 2021 report on a pilot of an autonomous shuttle service in Utah found that 95 percent of surveyed riders had more positive views toward the technology and that 98 percent said they felt safe. And as adoption rises, prices are anticipated to fall. Whereas Goldman Sachs Research estimated that the driving costs of robotaxis were $3.13 per mile in 2024, it expected that number to drop below $1 by 2030 and to reach 58 cents by 2040. A 2022 McKinsey & Company analysis expected a more than 50 percent drop in robotaxis' costs per mile between 2025 and 2030. Though robotaxis are currently more expensive than traditional ride-hailing services in the U.S., last year a Chinese state media outlet reported that a robotaxi available in Wuhan, China, could be up to 87 percent cheaper than a standard hailed ride. As for the myth of the highway, if you're craving the freedom to outrun a thunderstorm or race through an amber light, take an impromptu detour down a country lane or make an unplanned stop at a 'last chance' diner, conventional cars will remain part of American culture as a hobby, just as people still ride horses for pleasure. But we may see new narratives arise. The road trip movie of the future may feature two friends in a Cybercab arguing over which streaming service to watch until they realize the true meaning of their journey. And maybe the next Kerouac will write a novel on their laptop as an autonomous car carries them across the continent. With its wide windshield, the Cybercab appears suited to the highway, and it may end up being as much a means of transportation as a destination. In brief, the car itself may become the drive-in theater.
Indianapolis Star
20-06-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Court docs: Man arrested for police impersonation said he works for disgraced constable
On June 8, an officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department noticed something unusual on his early morning patrol: a nightclub on the city's west side appeared open at nearly 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning, a violation of the state's liquor law. An unmarked patrol car was already on the scene, blocking traffic from the road, its red and blue lights flashing. The IMPD officer stopped to talk to the driver. He found a man wearing a tactical vest with the word "police" on the front. The man didn't have a police belt, though he did have a holstered handgun and a metal, star-shaped badge reading "Deputy Constable Marion County." The IMPD officer asked the man what department he was with. "Marion County," the man responded, according to court documents, removing his vest and putting it in his Dodge Charger. Though there is a Marion County Sheriff's Office, there is no Marion County Police Department. That Charger, the IMPD officer noted, wasn't registered to any police department or city government. It was instead registered as the man's personal vehicle. The IMPD officer handcuffed the man and confiscated his gun, which was loaded with 14 rounds. He again asked for the name of his police department. The man said that he was working for a private security company, but couldn't provide its name. He then said that he was with the "Constable's Office" and that his boss was Denise Hatch. He "then stated that he had not been paid by the office in several months," according to court documents. That's perhaps because Hatch, the former Center Township constable, was removed from office in October 2024 after pleading guilty to felony official misconduct. It was one of several criminal charges levied against her after police investigations led to serious legal issues for both the elected official and three of her employees. Constables are elected officials in each of Indianapolis' nine township governments. They serve summons, warrants and eviction notices. They are not law enforcement officers, but have limited power to make arrests and carry out small claims courts' orders. A search of the man's vehicle turned up handcuffs, a flashlight and a radio. He told police he'd never been asked to return his badge or identification to the constable's office, and didn't know that he was supposed to. He was arrested for impersonation of a law enforcement officer. His car was returned after red and blue lights were collected as evidence, police wrote. The current Center Township Constable, Kenneth Allen, told investigators that he doesn't know the man. He also said that when he took office in November 2024, he ordered the return of all badges, identification cards license plates associated with the constable's office. Investigators wrote that because the man wore a vest that said "police," carried a firearm, displayed a badge and blocked traffic, "a reasonable person would believe that (the man) is a law enforcement officer engaged in official duties." Records from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy showed that while the man completed a program allowing him to work for a "special enforcement agency," he is not a certified police officer. Academy records showed that he worked for two different organizations in 2022 and 2023, but it's unclear if he ever worked for the embattled former constable. Editor's note: IndyStar uses discretion in naming people accused of crimes, considering the severity of charges and available information, among other factors. Suspects may not be named if ongoing reporting of the associated court proceedings is not immediately planned
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This 'reliable' and 'convenient' power bank is 76% off ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2025 — it 'charge multiple devices' at once
There's nothing more dreadful than being on the go and having your phone almost out of battery — especially if you rely on it for transportation purposes. If you want to prevent this, you might want to invest in a portable power bank. It's an easy way to charge your devices while you're out and about and provide ease of mind. Right now, you can shop the Power Bank Portable Charger for a whopping 76 per cent off ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2025, meaning you'll save a hefty $153. The power bank can charge multiple devices simultaneously — and shoppers say it can juice up a phone numerous times before the bank's battery is depleted. Thousands of shoppers have given this "convenient and reassuring" device a five-star rating. Interested? Scroll onwards for all the details on this must-have deal before it's gone. One shopper says it can take their phone "from 0% to 50% in just a few minutes." This nifty power bank has a fast charger protocol, which means it only takes 30 minutes to charge most phones from 20 per cent to 80 per cent battery. According to the brand, that's three times faster than most power banks on the market. The charger also features an LED digital display to give you an accurate look at how much juice you have left in your phone. It also features four ports, so you can charge multiple gadgets at once. 🛍️ 4,900+ reviews ⭐ 4.4-star average rating 🏅Shoppers say it's "remarkably powerful" as well as "sturdy and durable." According to reviewers, this power bank is "worth every penny" and can take their phone "from 0 per cent to 50 per cent in just a few minutes." Others like that they're "able to simultaneously charge multiple devices" and can charge cellphones "multiple times" before the power bank needs charging. "It's ideal for trips, camping, or even daily use, especially when I'm away from an outlet," says one customer. Shoppers also say that it's "sturdy and durable" but small enough "to fit in a backpack or purse" and that it's "remarkably powerful." They also note that it's "reliable" and is "convenient and reassuring." However, some shoppers note that it's "slightly heavy," so keep that in mind if you prefer to travel light! Shoppers love that this Power Bank Portable Charger can charge multiple devices at once and has enough power to deliver a full charge numerous times. They also like that it's durable and powerful and provides ease of mind, knowing that their phone has a backup source of power. Right now, you can snag the device for a whopping 76 per cent off.
