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Former Marine speaks out after being charged with killing NYC man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) -- Daniel Penny, 24, the man accused in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely, has spoken out in four short, pre-taped videos his attorneys released to Nexstar's WPIX.The former Marine allegedly placed Neely in a chokehold as he reportedly experienced a mental health episode. A freelance journalist who recorded Neely struggling to free himself, then lapsing into unconsciousness, said he had been shouting at passengers and begging for money aboard the train but had not gotten physical with anyone.Attorneys for Neely’s family have previously stated their investigation shows Penny’s chokehold lasted not five but 15 minutes.“Some people say I was holding on to Mr. Neely for 15 minutes – not true. The whole interaction – less than five minutes,” Penny said in the videos shared with WPIX.Neely was a familiar face on the streets and in the subways, often working as a Michael Jackson impersonator. But investigators said Neely also had a documented history of mental heal...

'Wheel of Fortune' host Pat Sajak to leave show after 41st season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak announced on Monday he will leave the show after its 41st season. "Well, the time has come," Sajak tweeted. "I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)"Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesThis story will be updated.

Two years after Sixth Street mass shooting: What's happened since?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Monday marks two years since the June 12, 2021 shooting on Sixth Street where one person died and 14 others were injured. Since then, the city launched Safer Sixth Street initiatives to improve safety in the entertainment district. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One year since 6th Street mass shooting Here's a look at what has happened over the last year in the Sixth Street shooting's aftermath:Court proceedingsPolice arrested shooting suspect De'ondre White, 21, in Killeen June 24, 2021 in connection to the deadly shooting. In August 2021, a grand jury indicted White for one murder charge and 14 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Two teens were previously arrested in connection to the shooting, but their charges were dropped following new witness statements. Police said they believed White was the sole shooter in the mass shooting. White's next court appearance is scheduled for June 20. Jury selection for a trial is scheduled to begin in late August. White is ...

Food Bank: 1 in 5 Central Texas kids goes to bed hungry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Summer break is not always a good thing for all Central Texas families with food insecurity on the rise."Last summer, district-wide, we served about 20,000 meals," Chris Weddle, Del Vale ISD executive director of communications, said. ‘They were eating one meal a day’: More college students face food insecurity Del Valle ISD is one of many districts in Central Texas that offers free meals during the summer, not only to students but to community members, as well."During the school year a lot of our families depend on our school meals and that is really an extension of that into the summer," Weddle said. "We are very proud to be able to open up five of our locations for summer meals for anyone in the community 18 and under to come."Bahar DiFranco, who has three kids in Del Valle ISD, said she's happy to see these programs."It allows us time to be together, the kids like coming to the school," DiFranco said. "It helps financially because then I don't have to think abo...

GoFundMe launched for 14 year old killed in north Austin shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- GoFundMe has verified a new campaign launched to support the family of the 14-year-old girl killed in a north Austin shooting last week.The Austin Police Department is investigating the shooting as a homicide. Police responded around 1:30 a.m. June 6 at the Bridge at Harris Ridge Apartment Complex on East Howard Lane. 14-year-old girl dies in north Austin overnight shooting When officers and EMS arrived on scene, they found a girl with head trauma. She was transported by ambulance to a Dell Children's Hospital, where she later died.According to GoFundMe organizers, the teen died while trying to protect her five-year-old brother. As of nearly 6 p.m. Monday, the fundraiser had raised more than $3,400 of its $10,000 goal.A suspect has not been identified or taken into custody at this time. Anyone with any information should call APD’s Homicide unit at 512-974-TIPS. You can submit a tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrim...

Longhorns women's hoops to play in U.S. Virgin Islands tournament over Thanksgiving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team is trading Paradise Island for the Paradise Jam this coming season.The Longhorns are scheduled to play Nov. 23-25 in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on the island of St. Thomas at the University of the Virgin Islands. They'll play Arizona State on Thanksgiving, High Point on Nov. 24 and South Florida on Nov. 25. All games will tip off at 9 p.m. CT.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersLast season in the Bahamas during the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, Texas finished 1-2 with an 82-44 win over Rutgers.Texas added Tionna Herron to its frontcourt in May after she transferred from Kentucky, and incoming freshman Madison Booker was selected to play with USA Basketball's under-19 national team in the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup in Spain from July 15-23.

2 men charged in Austin drive-by shooting that killed 1, injured 2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

AUSTIN, Minn. — Two Austin men accused of a drive-by shooting that killed one and injured two were ordered to be held on relatively high bail amounts provided they submit to GPS monitoring and have no contact with victims, witnesses or each other.Manamany Omot Abella, 23, is being held on a $750,000 bail and Cham Obang Oman, 28, is being held on a $500,000 bail following a Mower County District Court hearing Monday. Both are facing felony charges of second-degree murder with intent, second-degree murder in a drive-by shooting, two counts of second-degree attempted murder in a drive-by and shooting toward a person with a dangerous weapon.Manamany Omot Abella, left, and Cham Obang Oman. (courtesy Mower County Sheriff’s Office)Oman is accused of being the driver with Abella as the passenger when about a dozen rounds were fired from their vehicle into another vehicle as they traveled along an Austin street on Friday night.Both men were apprehended following a manhunt by southern M...

Fourth fraternity brother pleads guilty in Mizzou hazing case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Another fraternity member involved in a University of Missouri hazing incident that left a freshman blind and unable to talk or walk has pleaded guilty.Samuel Gandhi will spend the next 15 days in jail after he accepted a plea agreement on Monday. The St. Louis man was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs after being charged in the October 2021 hazing incident at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at Mizzou."You solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" 13th Circuit Court Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs asked Gandhi Monday."Yes," Gandhi responded. Former St. Louis alderman under federal indictment for insurance fraud The plea deal comes after Danny Santulli rushed the fraternity during his freshman year at the University of Missouri. According to the family's lawsuit, Santulli attended the "Pledge Dad Reveal Night" in October 2021 where he was ordered to drink an entire bottle of Tito's vodka. Eleven fraternity brother...

Local wellness center raises awareness of mental health

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A local nonprofit called Reprieve Spiritual Wellness (Reprieve) is working to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of your mental health through various programs and activities in a small, intimate setting.Culeta Hendricks, founder of Reprieve, said she started the nonprofit because of her own struggles. “I wanted to talk with someone about it, but I didn’t have anyone to talk to,” Hendricks said. After doodling and thinking about the kind of place she wanted to have and her mission to offer women a place to relax, restore, and renew themselves, Reprieve was born. The organization offers women a space to connect, have conversations, and celebrate sisterhood. For more information about the organization, click here. If you want to host an event at Reprieve, email Hendricks at [email protected] or call 314-382-5488. 

Cardinals' Helsley on injured list with strained right forearm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:40 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday because of a strained right forearm.St. Louis announced the move before Monday night’s series opener against San Francisco and made it retroactive to Saturday. Right-hander Jake Woodford was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. He began the season in the rotation, then was shifted into a relief role.Helsley, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 3-4 with a 3.24 ERA with seven saves in 11 chances. St. Louis has given closing opportunities to Giovanny Gallegos, who has five of the Cardinals’ last seven saves.“It’s part of the game sometimes. You have to get your guys healthy,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “He’ll be down for a couple of days.”Helsley was an All-Star in 2022 when he had a team-high 19 saves.