Latest news with #NBCDFW
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
People are making a difference among the tragedy of the central Texas floods
Devastating floods hit multiple counties in central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, killing over 100 people with more still missing. But among the devastation and tragedy there have been moments of hope as residents have been saved and others have jumped in to help with clean-up and search and rescue operations. Here are three stories of people who have worked to help save those affected by the floods. Scott Ruskan is a 26-year-old rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Guard who helped rescue around 165 people during his first mission with the Coast Guard, per CBS. On Friday, Ruskan and his team were flown from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Camp Mystic in Kerr County which had been devastated by flooding. There were hundreds of people trapped at Camp Mystic, but the rest of the team was called to a different more dangerous area. 'We decided the best course of action was to leave me there,' Ruskan said, according to CBS. Over the course of three hours, Ruskan was the only rescuer in the area and he spent the time setting up triage and comforting many girls at the camp. He said he pushed aside any fear that he had to focus on those he needed to help. 'They're having probably the worst day of their life. They're missing friends. They're missing loved ones,' he said, per CNN. 'They don't know where they are. Some of them may be unaccounted for. Some of them may be somewhere else.' Eventually, Texas Air National Guard aircraft arrived at the area and Ruskan was able to lead the children in groups of 10 to 15 to the aircraft. He focused on getting the youngest children out first and even carried some of them. In the end, Ruskan helped rescue around 165 campers, per CNN. Ten years ago, Jonathan McComb lost his wife and two children in floods in Wimberley, Texas, similar to the tragedy that struck this year. 'This one hits a little bit more at home,' McComb said, according to USA Today. 'I can see the hurt and the pain in the families. I know what they're going through and what they're feeling and what they're going to feel.' In 2015, McComb and his family were vacationing in Wimberley when waters from the swelling Blanco River carried the home they were staying in downstream. McComb was the sole survivor of his family after his wife and children were swept from his grasp. McComb has spent the last four days as a volunteer with TEXSAR working to clear the mountains of debris that cover parts of Kerr County following this year's devastating floods, according to NBC DFW. 'I think it's good for people to see that there's hope, through tragedy. That life can go on, and I'm here to help do whatever I can for those people. Because they're going through the worst part of their lives right now, and I did that. I know exactly how they feel,' he said, per NBC DFW. David Chambers received a phone call on Friday telling him that the Guadalupe river was rising and that floods were coming. He quickly drove to his RV park in Center Point to evacuate the guests he had staying there. When he arrived the water was starting to spill over the banks of the river, per USA Today. As the heavy rain fell on him, Chambers and one of his employees knocked on all the doors of his RV resort, the Guadalupe Keys Resort, until all 15 people who had rented units were evacuated. 'You got to get out!' he yelled as the evacuation took place. Just minutes later, the park was completely covered by water and RVs were being flipped over and moved, some of them smashing into trees and other being pushed miles downstream. Chambers received the warning about the floods just around 30 minutes before water filled the RV park, according to USA Today.
International Business Times
25-06-2025
- International Business Times
Karmelo Anthony: Texas Teen Indicted in on First Degree Murder Charge in Stabbing Death of Austin Metcalf During High School Championship
Texas teen Karmelo Anthony, 17, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the fatal stabbing of another 17-year-old during a high school track meet in April. A grand jury indicted Anthony on Tuesday, accusing him of killing Austin Metcalf after an argument over a seat at the University Interscholastic League's District 11-5A championship held on April 2. "For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first-degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony and — which they did," Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in a press conference Tuesday indicting the teen. Charged at Last The case sparked public fury after Anthony was released on a $250,000 bond, days after the alleged stabbing. He was seen enjoying life with his family in a $900,000 house located in the upscale, gated Richwoods community in Frisco, Texas, where monthly rent is estimated at around $3,500. A neighbor claimed that Anthony even bought a new car after the alleged incident. Despite this, he had successfully convinced a judge to reduce his bond from $1 million, arguing that he was facing financial difficulties. Anthony told police he acted in self-defense, while his family said on a fundraising page for legal expenses that "the narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful." The fundraiser has raised in over $530,000. Shortly after the indictment was announced, Anthony's attorney, Mike Howard, released a video message once again claiming that his client had acted in self-defense. "We are confident that when all the facts are presented and the full story is heard," he said, "the jury will reach the right conclusion and justice will be done." Out of Anger Anthony, who killed Metcalf— who died in the arms of his twin brother during the high school track meet—confessed to the killing when cops arrested him but claimed he acted in self-defense. According to an arrest report cited by NBC DFW, the altercation between the two standout football players began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move, pointing out that he was sitting under another school's pop-up tent. The students, who attended different high schools, got into a physical confrontation. During the argument, Anthony unzipped his bag and warned Metcalf, saying, "Touch me and see what happens." The report mentions that when Metcalf grabbed Anthony to get him to move, Anthony pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest. Anthony allegedly fled the scene but was later arrested by responding police officers. He reportedly told a school resource officer, "I was protecting myself," and claimed, "He put his hands on me."
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who are Taahir Shaikh and Ward Sakeik? Texas couple separated after ICE detains bride during honeymoon
A Texas couple, newly married, has spent more than 120 days apart after ICE detained the bride during their honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands. Taahir Shaikh, from Arlington, said his wife, Ward Sakeik, was arrested by ICE in February on St. Thomas, NBC DFW reported. She has a pending green card application and documentation proving she is stateless. Taahir Shaikh, from Arlington and his wife Ward Sakeik has spent more than 120 days apart after ICE detained the bride during their honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands. (Representative image)(Pexels) 'She's considered stateless, which essentially just means you're born in a country that doesn't give you birthright citizenship. And since she was a Palestinian refugee that was born in Saudi Arabia, they weren't recognized as Saudi nationals,' Shaikh said. Sakeik was just eight when her family arrived in the US on a visa. Though their asylum request was denied, she couldn't be deported because she didn't have citizenship. Instead, she was placed under an order of supervision, requiring yearly check-ins with immigration officials. Sakeik later graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington and now works as a wedding photographer. Shaikh said she has followed all immigration rules for 14 years. She is now at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, after being held in McAllen for months. Her green card application is stalled due to her detention. The couple has been apart since their wedding, relying on weekly visits and video calls. 'She constantly says, 'When I get through this phase of my life, what am I not able to endure after this?'' Shaikh shared. Also Read: Mahmoud Khalil ICE detention case: Federal judge orders release of Columbia protester Legal team is working hard to avoid her deportation They had chosen the US Virgin Islands for their honeymoon, believing it wouldn't affect her immigration status. Their legal team is working hard to avoid her deportation. Stateless people in removal proceedings are usually eligible for release after 90 days, but Sakeik has been detained for more than 120. ICE said to NBC DFW: 'The arrest of Ward Sakeik was not part of a targeted operation by ICE. She chose to leave the country and was then flagged by CBP trying to re-enter the US.' 'The facts are she is in our country illegally. She overstayed her visa and has had a final order by an immigration judge for over a decade. President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the US.' ICE also noted, 'She had a final order of removal since 2011. Her appeal of the final order was dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals on February 12, 2014. She has exhausted her due process rights and all of her claims for relief have been denied by the courts.'
New York Post
18-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Beware toxic, foot-long worms invading US — here's what to do if you see the ‘demonic flesh-eaters'
Stop, hammertime! Weeks of heavy rain have prompted a plague of massive, toxic hammerhead flatworms to erupt from the ground in North Texas, much to the chagrin of frightened locals. 'It was terrifying, like these are truly the end times, even the worms are demonic,' Keller resident Adam Ingle told NBC5 of the subterranean scourge, which reared its hammerhead in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston regions. Named for their flat, ball-peen-evoking noggins, these foot-long invertebrates secrete neurotoxins that can irritate human skin upon contact and also poison pets that ingest them. 4 Adam Ingle vents about the flathead worms. NBCDFW 4 A video of the worms wriggling on the surface of the soil. @carliebenton/TikTok 4 The hammerhead worms were introduced to the US from Asia in the late 1800s. Sandra Burm – These invaders also prey on native species such as the earthworms that tend the soil, which can impact the environment. Since arriving in the US from Southeast Asia in the late 1800s, the worms have spread across the nation, cropping up everywhere from the Pacific Northwest to New York and most recently, North Texas, despite having been in the Lone Star State for decades. 4 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms,' said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller while warning of their regenerative capabilities. Craig – While they generally prefer to remain underground out of the sunlight, the heavy torrents brought these wriggling menaces to the surface, as seen in multiple viral TikTok videos of the groundbreaking phenomenon. 'In one of the creepy videos, the worms are wriggling on the surface of the soil like a miniature version of the monsters from 'Tremors' while another shows a lengthy specimen inching its way across an envelope. A third depicts one of the vacuum-headed critters crawling across a screen. 'Houstonnn we have a problem!!' the poster wrote in the caption. 'You don't want this guy in your garden or near your pets!' Unfortunately, eliminating this tiny terror is no mean feat — chopping them in half only increases their numbers as they reproduce asexually. 'Don't kill it, don't squish it, don't cut it up, because it makes three or four more worms,' warned Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, per NBC5. 'Tear it in half, now you've got two worms.' To dispatch hammerhead worms, experts advise bagging the worms and freezing them for up to 48 hours or leaving them in a salt and vinegar solution. Due to their toxic nature, homeowners should avoid touching them without wearing gloves or other protection, even if they're already dead.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
The Viral ‘Senior Assassin' Game Comes With Some Risks: Here's What Parents Need To Know
Playing with toy guns in this day and age is like playing with fire — just look at the tragic death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was shot by police when they thought the BB gun he was playing with at a park was real. Yet, teens and tweens around the country are playing with water games in a viral 'Senior Assassin' game that has already caused serious harm to a student in my home state of Texas. The 'Senior Assassin' game works like this: high school seniors will go around neighborhoods, parking lots of other stores, and public parks with water guns. I've even seen teens walking around a local outdoor mall playing amid the strollers and families shopping. The teens will try to shoot other high school students to eliminate them from the game. They keep track of each other's locations via the Splashin App. It's become so popular in recent weeks, that even kids in other grades have started playing with their friends. More from SheKnows Graduation Season Hits Different When It's Your Baby Wearing the Cap & Gown It seems innocent enough (albeit annoying if you get caught in the crosshairs), but it can be dangerous too. One 17-year-old student named Isaac Leal, a senior at South Grand Prairie High School in Dallas-Fort Worth, was hospitalized after playing the game with his friends on April 20, per NBCDFW. Police told the outlet that Leal climbed in the back of another student's Jeep Wrangler while the driver drove. As the Jeep drove, the car hit a dip and Leal fell off, where he was taken to the hospital. Police and the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office found no evidence of criminal offense, driving recklessly, or intentionally trying to harm Leal. Leal is reportedly on life support after suffering a head injury after the fall, according to KTVT, per USA Today. Isaac Leal's father, Jose Leal, told the local outlet that he believes what happened 'was not an accident' and is calling for further investigation. 'I have not been able to go home because I can't imagine going home without him,' he said. The game has caused other incidents across the country. Last week, a medical building in Guilford, Connecticut, went into lockdown mode after police received a call that a man was running around with a gun, per Patch. It ended up being a student playing 'Senior Assassin' with a water gun that was designed to look like a real Glock. The Guilford Deputy Police Chief Martina Jakober warns teens to play the game outside of school hours, not on school grounds or private property, and with an obvious water gun that is brightly colored, so it won't be confused with a real gun. 'It is imperative that parents and guardians speak with their seniors about the potential outcomes of their actions when playing this game,' the police said in a statement. 'Students should also be mindful that they could face arrest if the level of their actions rises to a crime.' The Splashin App was designed to create more safety and structure around this game. 'Senior Assassin, a long-standing high school tradition since the 1980s, has often lacked structure,' the app states on its website. 'Each year players had to reinvent the rules, safety, and gameplay management. Splashin changes this by empowering schools, administrators, and players with tools and sensible, baseline rules to help organize safe and responsible gameplay.' They added, 'With Splashin, schools have the ability to create games, manage players, and enforce rules and safety standards. These tools have allowed schools and parents to engage with their students – enabling them to play safely and responsibly.' Of course, getting teens to listen to these rules is another battle. But spreading awareness about this game and how teens can play more safely, like with colorful water guns and in public places, can help lower the risk of of SheKnows 19 Celebrity Stepparents Who Have a Tight Bond With Their Stepkids I'm 29 Weeks Pregnant, & Comfortable Sandals Are a *Must* This Summer—These Are the Best Ones on the Market Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About
