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Monday, May 8, 2023

5/8 WAKE-UP CALL: 8 Dead After Driver Plows Into Bus Stop

Eight people were killed and at least 10 were injured when an SUV slammed into a crowd at a city bus stop near a shelter for migrants in Brownsville, Texas, police said Sunday. Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said the crash happened at about 8:30 a.m. and authorities are looking into whether it was intentional or an accident. "It can be three factors," Sandoval said. "It could be intoxication; it could be an accident; or it could be intentional. In order for us to find out exactly what happened, we have to eliminate the other two." Sandoval told valleycentral.com the driver was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and that more charges will likely be filed. The local media outlet said the crash occurred in front of the Ozanam Center, a shelter for migrants and homeless people across the street from the bus stop.

Filmed early Sunday, the clip was released by a local congressman hours after the crash - with the driver now in custody and the death toll now reported at eight. The snippet starts seconds before the moment of impact - with a group of at least 17 seen waiting at the stop outside a shelter that had been housing homeless migrants. 

Several are seen sitting on the curb in front of the stop, while several stand and exchange pleasantries while presumably waiting for a bus. Suddenly, the unnamed motorist comes into frame - hurtling toward the group at frightening speeds. The footage then shows the crowd being completely obliterated by the more than a two-and-half ton vehicle, which cops said had run a red light. As of Monday morning, it is not known if the strike was intentional - however, witnesses who survived the strike claimed the driver, identified only as a Hispanic male by cops, hurled profanities at the group as he hurtled toward them. Compounding people's suspicions is the fact the crash happened three days before a Trump-era immigration restriction making it harder for migrants to seek asylum in the US is set to expire.



➤DALLAS GUNMAN IDENTIFIED: The gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others before being shot dead by police at a Texas outlet mall has been identified as Mauricio Garcia, 33, several news outlets reported Sunday. A Dallas home linked to Garcia’s parents was searched by police Saturday night following the massacre outside the Allen Premium Outlets, and officials also probed a motel where the suspected shooter had booked an extended stay, law enforcement sources told local outlet WFAA-TV. Garcia did not have a serious criminal history and was working as a security guard, though its unclear where, CBS News reported. Officials are also investigating any possible ties between the suspect and radical beliefs after he was found wearing a patch on his chest that suggested white supremacist or neo-Nazi leanings, according to the Washington Post.  The FBI branch in Dallas, which is helping lead the case with the Texas Department of Public Safety, confirmed officials were searching two locations related to the suspect, but did not provide any additional information.





➤17-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED AND 5 PEOPLE WOUNDED IN SHOOTING AT A PARTY IN CALIFORNIA: A 17-year-old girl was killed and five other people were wounded in a shooting early Saturday at a party near a college campus in Northern California, police said. Officers responding around 3:30 a.m. to reports of gunfire found six people shot at an apartment building in Chico, police Chief Billy Aldridge said. All the victims were taken to hospitals, and the teenager died at a hospital, he said. Two men, ages 21 and 19, and a 17-year-old girl remained hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, the chief said. Two other men, ages 18 and 20, were treated at the hospital and released, Aldridge said. The shooting appeared to be an isolated incident, and there was no ongoing threat to the community, police said. They released no information on the shooter.

➤BIDEN WAY-DOWN IN POLLING:  President Biden faces substantial and multiple challenges, according to a Washington Post-ABC News survey. His overall approval ratings have slipped to a new low, more Americans than not doubt his mental acuity, and his support against leading Republican challengers is far shakier than at this point four years ago. 


Biden’s overall job approval rating stands at 36 percent, down from 42 percent in February and about the same as the previous low of 37 percent in a Post-ABC poll conducted in early 2022. His disapproval stands at 56 percent, including 47 percent who disapprove “strongly.” Other recent polls have pegged Biden’s approval in the low 40s without a decline in recent months. Biden’s approval rating is underwater among a slew of groups that supported him by wide margins in 2020. He stands at 26 percent approval among Americans under age 30, 42 percent among non-White adults, 41 percent among urban residents and 46 percent of those with no religious affiliation. Among independents who voted for Biden in 2020, 57 percent approve while 30 percent disapprove. Among independents who voted for Trump, 96 percent disapprove.

➤RUSSIA POUNDS CITIES: Russia launched a wave of drone, missile and air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, officials said on Monday, as Moscow stepping up attacks while preparing for its cherished Victory Day holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. As many as 16 missile strikes had targeted the cities of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, in addition to 61 airstrikes and 52 rocket salvos on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in its morning update on the fighting. Ukrainian air defences destroyed all 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones Russia had launched, the military said. Kyiv's mayor said at least five people were wounded in the capital amid damage to a fuel depot, cars, buildings and infrastructure. "Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded civilians, high-rise buildings, private homes and other civilian infrastructure were damaged," the military said.

➤OFFENSE MAY NOT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE: The Ukrainian military has spent nearly 15 months exceeding the world’s expectations. Now, senior leaders are trying to lower those hopes, fearing that the outcome of an imminent counteroffensive aimed at turning the tide of the war with Russia may not live up to the hype. “The expectation from our counteroffensive campaign is overestimated in the world,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview this past week. “Most people are … waiting for something huge,” he added, which he fears may lead to “emotional disappointment.” The planned counterattack — made possible by donated Western weapons and training — could mark the most consequential phase of the war, as Ukraine seeks to snatch back significant territory and prove it is worthy of continued support.

➤BAIO SAYS BYE-BYE TO CALIF: Scott Baio says he's set to become the latest celebrity to escape from California as he's placed his $3.85million home on the market, citing the state's disastrous homelessness and crime issues. The former Happy Days star put his home in Woodland Hills on the market last month, having purchased it for just $1.85million in 2010. On Twitter, the conservative-leaning sitcom star said that he just doesn't feel secure in the Golden State anymore given the various issues under Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom.

⚾JOKIE, SUNS OWNER TANGLE ON COURT: Denver Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic was assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Sunday after an altercation with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. Late in the second quarter, Suns guard Josh Okogie crashed into the seats while trying to save a loose ball. He landed in a group of fans on the baseline that included Ishbia, who grabbed the basketball. Jokic was trying to get the basketball quickly - apparently so the Nuggets could start their offensive possession - when he tried to take the ball away from Ishbia. The ball flew backward into the crowd, and then Ishbia was knocked backward by Jokic's elbow.

🏀76ERS HOLD FOR A WIN: Despite a strong comeback attempt from the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers were able to hold on to win 116-115, tying the Eastern Conference Semifinals up at two games a piece. The Sixers had a lead as large as 16 points at one mark of the third quarter and went through periods of losing momentum and then gaining it right back from the Celtics. However, the fourth quarter started slow for both teams as only one basket was scored in the first three minutes of action. Then Boston went on a dominant run, taking the lead with 3:51 to go. The game stayed close throughout the final four minutes - with a late James Harden floater tying the game at 107. Marcus Smart's last chance 3-point attempt fell short and the game went to overtime.


🏀BRONNY JAMES, NO. 19 RECRUIT IN 2023, COMMITS TO USC: Four-star guard Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, announced his commitment to USC on Saturday. Bronny James made the announcement on Instagram. A 6-foot-3 guard from Cleveland who attended Sierra Canyon School (California), James is considered one of the top five point guards in the country. He was ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2023 and earned McDonald's All American honors this season.

⚾SUNDAY GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Hanser Alberto had four hits, a career-high four RBIs and the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs in the second inning to rout the Cincinnati Reds 17-4 on Sunday. The 11 runs are the most for the team in one inning in 16 years and third-most ever for the franchise. The White Sox had 11 runs in the fifth at Kansas City on Sept. 17, 2007. The offensive outburst could be a big boost for the White Sox who will be without designated hitter Eloy Jiménez for up to six weeks following his appendectomy.

Gerrit Cole failed to hold a six-run lead, allowing his first two home runs of the season, and Isaac Paredes´ 10th-inning single off Albert Abreu (1-1) gave Tampa Bay two wins in the three-game series. Anthony Rizzo and Harrison Bader homered for the Yankees (18-17), who led 6-0 before Tampa Bay scored twice in the fifth and five times in the sixth to take an 7-6 lead. Jose Siri and Christian Bethancourt homered as the major league-best Rays (28-7) improved to 19-3 home. Last-place New York has lost 10 of its last 16 games and trails the Rays by 10 games.

Kyle Schwarber homered after being dropped from leadoff to fifth in the batting order, and Philadelphia stopped a six-game skid and ended Boston´s eight-game winning streak. J.T. Realmuto singled twice and drove in two runs for the defending NL champions who won for the first time since Bryce Harper´s return to the lineup on Tuesday. Taijuan Walker (3-2) allowed one run and three hits in six innings with six strikeouts. Nick Castellanos hit a go-ahead grounder off Tanner Houck (3-2).

Paul Goldschmidt homered three times, and the St. Louis Cardinals stopped an eight-game losing streak with a 12-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Goldschmidt, had four hits and four RBIs in his third three-homer game, the first since March 29, 2019, against Milwaukee. He hit solo homers in the first and third innings off Alex Faedo and a two-run drive in the eighth against Tyler Holton.

⚾ROYALS PITCHER HIT IN HEAD BY BALL: Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough took a 106mph ball to the head in a scary scene when he was pitching against Ryan Noda of the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Noda's hit accidentally went straight back at Yarbrough and hit him on the head, with the pitcher falling to his knees before his teammates ran over to check on him. Medics soon followed and were pictured holding a towel to his head, seemingly to stifle any bleeding.

✞NICK GILBERT, SON OF CAVALIERS OWNER DAN GILBERT, DIES AT 26: Nick Gilbert, familiar to NBA fans as the Cleveland Cavaliers' representative at the draft lottery, died Saturday from a genetic condition. He was 26. The son of Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and wife Jennifer, Nick Gilbert had a lifelong battle with neurofibromatosis (NF1), which causes noncancerous tumors to grow on nerve pathways throughout the body. His death was announced by the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield, Michigan. The Gilberts live in Michigan.



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