Latest news with #Flores'
New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Jalen Ramsey and the current state of the Vikings at cornerback
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings brass, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, his staff and players want opposing teams to see their logo on the schedule and sense an oncoming headache. It hasn't been enough for Flores' defense to bring an all-out blitz, then fake the all-out blitz. It hasn't been enough to play one nontraditional coverage on the back end; the Vikings have introduced dozens of them. More is planned, and the next iteration remains anyone's guess. Advertisement Just listen to defensive tackle Harrison Phillips' comments Monday after another OTA practice. 'We would like to have so many different bullets in the chamber,' he said. 'Vastly different fronts, vastly different coverages. Are we going to move and bring everybody? Are we not going to move and bring everybody?' Phillips mentioned personnel additions like defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. He talked about the development of Dallas Turner. You could tell how excited he was to talk about the defensive front, and still, it felt fair to wonder: But what about the secondary (specifically, the cornerback spot)? To this point, none of the Vikings' actions suggests they're concerned. They prioritized re-signing Byron Murphy Jr. in free agency and targeted Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah. Coach Kevin O'Connell even referenced Flores' rosy evaluation of Rodgers in March at the NFL league meetings. Flores and the Vikings' personnel department have not missed when identifying free-agent talent over the past couple of seasons. Still, this level of conviction in two journeyman players is notable, especially as the pool of potential contributors continues to dry up. This is the time to get ahead and take our team to another level.#Skol — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 2, 2025 One big fish is still out there, and he's down in Miami. Multiple Vikings staffers are familiar with Jalen Ramsey. O'Connell coordinated the Los Angeles Rams offense in 2021, when Ramsey last earned All-Pro honors. Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, edge rushers coach Thad Bogardus, defensive line coach Marcus Dixon and vice president of player health and performance Tyler Williams spent time with Ramsey on that Rams staff. But there's some risk involved. Ramsey will turn 31 in October. Acquiring him might require trading draft capital the Vikings have wanted to accumulate after parting with several picks the last couple of seasons. Advertisement There are two other considerations. First, Ramsey's current contract could leave the Vikings in a precarious position for 2026. The amount of money Miami might be willing to absorb in a potential trade would matter. Second, bringing Ramsey into the fold would impede the path to playing time for youngsters like Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern. Minnesota is spending more than $357 million on the 2025 roster, which is the most in the NFL. This isn't a Super Bowl-or-bust situation, but the Vikings are unquestionably committed to winning in the short term. If Ramsey or any other available cornerback maximizes those chances, you can bet there has been an internal conversation about it. Then again, maybe the Vikings' key decision-makers feel the same way Blackmon does about the present state of the cornerback position. 'We got a real good room,' Blackmon said Monday. 'I see a lot of stuff on Twitter. Y'all know. A lot of people are concerned about our room. I would say we have a real good room.' Gleaning anything meaningful from organized team activities is difficult, but certain sequences stand out. One of them Monday involved Rodgers, who floated across the field with receiver Jordan Addison toward the left sideline. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy attempted a layered pass in Addison's direction, but Rodgers undercut the throw and secured the interception. Many of Rodgers' teammates hooted and hollered, and Rodgers celebrated as he raced the other way. O'Connell stepped in next to McCarthy for what appeared to be a brief teaching moment — or to compliment McCarthy for his willingness to try that type of pass in a learning setting. Whatever the case, Rodgers displayed the kind of athleticism and ball skills the Vikings coveted. They would not say it publicly if this were the case, but the Vikings staff could also think highly enough of their pass rush to skate by without further investment at cornerback. It's not just Allen and Hargrave joining the fold. It's the types of stunts and games the Vikings can implement in another season with Flores. Opposing teams got rid of the ball against the Vikings at one of the quickest rates in the league last season. Improve the pass rush, and the Vikings might view their countless zone coverages (with man changeups) as enough. Advertisement Minnesota could also try to entice teams to run the ball more often. The fewer times the ball is in the air, the fewer times its cornerbacks need to cover. Does it sound like the strategy hinges more on hope than reason? What if, you might be wondering, Murphy or Rodgers suffers an injury? Would the Vikings be OK relying on Okudah, Blackmon or McGlothern full-time? If not, wouldn't it make more sense for the Vikings to act on a player of Ramsey's caliber now, rather than wait for veteran options like they did last fall? This is the push-pull. These are questions that might be worth revisiting down the road. Get creative for Ramsey, and it would affect the team's future flexibility. Pass on a defensive back with as versatile a skill set as he has, and who's to say this won't be one of the sliding doors that shape what could have been? Any potential move will depend on whether the Vikings' decision-makers believe what Blackmon does. Nothing they've done thus far would indicate otherwise.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After passing the Texas House, fentanyl test strip bill languishes in Senate
Nearly one month after the Texas House unanimously advanced a proposal to legalize fentanyl test strips, activists stormed into the office of Republican state Sen. Pete Flores to demand that the upper chamber's Criminal Justice Committee consider the bill before the session ends. With raised voices, members of Austin-based advocacy group VOCAL-TX told Flores' staff 'you have blood on your hands' for failing to set House Bill 1644 or its Senate companions for a hearing. The legislation would also legalize strips that test for xylazine, another synthetic opioid. 'The people have approved the bill, and you haven't,' said Carolyn Williams. 'My son died for nothing — and this could have been preventable, but you won't pass it. I don't know what kind of God you serve, but the God you serve is not a righteous God to have people killed.' Williams' son died after smoking a fentanyl-laced joint, she later told the American-Statesman. She and other protesters brandished signs reading, 'Over 5,000 Texans lost to preventable overdose. Take action now Senator Flores!' and 'Texans need drug checking tools!' 'I heard you, I heard you, I heard you,' said Flores' chief of staff, Harold Stone, gesturing to each activist. Flores, a Pleasanton Republican who chairs the committee that would hear the bill, was not visible in the office and did not seem to be present. One of Flores' aides called state troopers with the Department of Public Safety, and after the protesters continued to yell questions, DPS escorted them out. Flores' staff declined to answer questions from the Statesman about the senator's position on the bill and told the reporter to leave. The office also did not respond to an email request for comment Tuesday. This is the second time the state House has passed legislation to legalize fentanyl test strips and the second time that VOCAL-TX has confronted a senator for declining to hear the bill. In 2023, advocates occupied the office of state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who was then the chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Test strips are used to prevent unintentional consumption of fentanyl in drugs like cocaine, heroin and marijuana, which are sometimes laced with synthetic opioids. Texas is one of four U.S. states where possession of fentanyl test strips is a criminal offense, alongside Indiana, Iowa and North Dakota. The push for tools to address overdoses has taken on more urgency as deaths from synthetic opioids have skyrocketed in Texas and across the U.S. Fentanyl was identified as the likely cause of a surge of 79 overdoses in Austin last spring, which killed nine people. 'We're so tired of seeing our loved ones, our neighbors pass away of overdoses, preventable overdoses, while the state refuses to authorize public health tools that would actually save people's lives,' Paulette Soltani, an organizer with VOCAL-TX, told the Statesman. VOCAL-TX is an offshoot of the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance that aims to end "the AIDS epidemic, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and homelessness," according to its website. In a social media post Tuesday, state Rep. Tom Oliverson, who authored HB 1644, said the protesters had 'crosse(d) a line' and risked undermining progress on the bill. 'Confronting and intimidating an elected official— I don't think that's ever been successful,' he told the Statesman in an interview Tuesday. Oliverson was still in communication with his Senate colleagues on the bill, he said, but Tuesday's confrontation 'pretty much ends the conversation for the session.' He said he told advocates not to confront Huffman's office in 2023 and was not consulted about the protest in Flores' office. The Cypress Republican said his work as an anesthesiologist has shown him how 'exceptionally powerful' and 'exceptionally dangerous' fentanyl is. He believes people will buy and use drugs regardless of whether test strips are available, but knowing whether fentanyl is present could save their lives. It's one of very few areas in which he agrees with the principles of harm reduction, he said. 'Everybody who struggles with addiction deserves a chance to be sober,' Oliverson said. 'But you can't fix that if you're dead.' The fifth-term House member and GOP caucus chair added that he 'can't seem to figure out why the Senate is so opposed on the issue.' More than 5,000 Texans died of fentanyl poisoning in 2023, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. That year, lawmakers and Gov. Greg Abbott increased criminal penalties for people who supply illicit fentanyl-laced drugs, required public schools to educate students on fentanyl overdose prevention and authorized public universities to distribute NARCAN, which can reverse the effects of an overdose. The Senate could soon vote on another bill that would address illicit drug use, House Bill 1142. The legislation would require health insurance plans for Texas public employees to cover mental health and substance use disorders. State Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, authored a companion bill in the upper chamber. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, did not respond to the Statesman's inquiry Tuesday about his position on HB 1644. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Activists pressure Texas Senate to hear fentanyl test strip bill
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Deputy, dad of 4, died after explosion at CA shooting range. Now, family sues
A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was training inside his department's mobile shooting range when a fire ignited by a sudden explosion severely burned his body and ultimately killed him, a wrongful death lawsuit filed in California says. Alfredo 'Freddy' Flores, who served 22 years with the sheriff's department, fought for his life for more than six months, then died of his burns on April 20, 2024, according to a statement from his family, including his wife and four children. The explosion 'should not have happened,' and Flores 'did not want to die,' Flores' family said at a May 19 news conference. 'Freddy was taken from all of our lives far too soon,' they said. 'We miss his love, his attention, his protection, and his sense of humor.' The family has brought the lawsuit against Los Angeles County, its sheriff's department and the firing range's manufacturer, InVeris Training Solutions, over Flores' death. According to the complaint filed in Los Angles Superior Court on May 19, Flores was using the mobile shooting range trailer for a firearms training recertification, how it was supposed to be used, on Oct. 10, 2023. But the structure, located at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic, was 'defective and unreasonably dangerous,' the family's attorneys wrote in the filing. Gunpowder, lead, propellant and other flammable materials were left to accumulate on surfaces inside the firing range, per the lawsuit. This is a 'known and foreseeable catalyst of sudden and fast-spreading fires at mobile shooting ranges,' according to the complaint. The sheriff's department knew, or should've known, of the hazards, the complaint says. The agency put Flores in an obviously dangerous situation, in violation of his constitutional rights, according to the filing, and failed to ensure the shooting range was safe. In a statement shared with McClatchy News, the department said on May 20 that it hasn't received the lawsuit yet, 'but stands firm on creating an environment focused on safety and well-being for all employees.' 'Our Department is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, which took the life of a dedicated and respected member of our Department family, someone who faithfully served our community with pride and commitment,' the agency said of Flores. As an investigation into the fire continues, other mobile shooting ranges in Los Angeles County are closed, according to the sheriff's department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Response Team and the Sheriff's Arson Explosives Detail, which are both investigating, considers the fire to be 'accidental,' based on preliminary findings, the department said. Georgia-based InVeris, which is accused of negligence and product liability, didn't immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment May 20. Safety violations, citations and fines The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health found a slew of safety issues at the mobile shooting range in connection with Flores' death, as reported by the Los Angeles Times in 2024. As a result, CAL/OSHA cited the department over these violations, fining the agency more than $300,000, including for not cleaning flammable materials like gunpowder inside the structure, according to the newspaper. 'The sheriff's department failed to comply with multiple orders from Cal/OSHA,' one of the attorneys representing Flores' family, John Carpenter, of Carpenter & Zuckerman Law, said at the news conference, according to KABC-TV. 'Stop exposing our deputies and law enforcement to this deadly threat.' Given the size of Los Angeles County, the sheriff's department has multiple mobile shooting ranges, where deputies and other personnel could renew firearm qualifications when they need to, according to the agency. According to the lawsuit, fires have previously broken out at ranges used by the department, before Flores' death. Flores' family, at the news conference, said that his death 'has left a tremendous void' and that they seek answers and 'accountability for the tragic incident that took him from our lives.' 'We also want to ensure that no other deputies lose their lives in this way because no family should have to go through the devastation that our family has had to face and continues to face every day,' the family said. With the lawsuit, they hope to prevent the sheriff's department from using its mobile shooting ranges, or a court order that will make sure other law enforcement officers will be protected from potential injuries. They're demanding a jury trial and seeking an unspecified amount in damages. The family is also represented by attorney Carlos Hernandez, of Carpenter & Zuckerman Law, and Joe Nuñez of Westford Law Group.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chula Vista man sentenced to prison for robbing ATF agent during machine gun sale
s.' SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 20-year-old Chula Vista man was sentenced to 135 months in prison on Thursday for robbing an undercover federal agent at gunpoint during a machine gun sale gone wrong in San Diego, federal prosecutors announced. The sentencing of Jonathan Manuel Flores follows an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) into the trafficking of untraceable 'ghost guns' and firearms modified with illegal automatic conversion devices. According to court records, ATF agents had been investigating Flores as part of a months-long undercover operation targeting the sale of privately manufactured firearms. On Feb. 17, 2023, agents arranged to purchase a Glock pistol equipped with an illegal 'Glock switch,' a conversion device that transforms a semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic weapon. The asking price for the firearm was $2,400, federal prosecutor explained. Distressed driver reported on 15 freeway in North County The transaction was set to take place in the parking lot of a Walmart on Murphy Canyon Road, located in San Diego's Serra Mesa community. At Flores' insistence, the undercover ATF agent entered the backseat of Flores' car, where two other individuals were already seated in the front. Inside the vehicle, reportedly Flores displayed a Glock pistol with an extended magazine and an installed machine gun conversion device. When the undercover agent asked to inspect the firearm, Flores demanded to see the money first. After the agent counted out $2,000 in cash, Flores chambered a round in the pistol, pressed the gun into the agent's ribcage, and said, 'Get the f— out of the car dog before I smoke you.' He then grabbed the cash and fled the scene with his accomplices. The agent escaped without injury. According to federal prosecutors, Flores was apprehended shortly afterward with the assistance of the San Diego Police Department and the El Cajon Police Department. 'This robbery is a stark reminder of the extreme danger our agents face every day in their efforts to keep illegal firearms off our streets,' said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. 'We are grateful for our law enforcement partners working to keep these dangerous firearms out of the hands of felons.' Flores is now set to spend over 11 years behind bars for his crimes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Detroit police looking for suspect in deadly shooting of Antonio Flores
The Brief A father was killed in a shooting in Detroit in 2024, and police are still searching for the alleged gunman. Detroit police have released video of the suspect. A reward of $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. DETROIT (FOX 2) - A father of two was getting ready to meet his kids at the water park when he was ambushed by a gunman and killed. What they're saying The shooting happened in the summer of 2024. For close to a year, the family of Antonio Flores has been waiting and wondering who shot and killed him, leaving his kids to grow up without a dad. On Tuesday, police released a video showing the suspect moments before committing the crime, hoping witnesses would come forward. The backstory It was June 14, 2024. Antonio Flores had just arrived home to his house on Central near Panama Avenue in Southwest Detroit when it happened. Home security video showed a silver Camaro pulling up as a masked man armed with a rifle gets out of the passenger seat and runs to the side of Flores' home. The video is tragic, painful, and important to Flores' cousin Marissa Houston. "Watching the portion has been a lot for me because I know how it ends," said Houston. "So brutally and just outright execution style. I just don't understand how you could do that to another human being." Flores was shot multiple times. "There is nothing to stop them if they don't value my cousin's life, and the fact that it's broad daylight and there were people in the backyard, what makes you think that they won't do it to you or your family," said Houston. Dig deeper FOX 2 learned that Flores was coming home to meet his two kids at the water park. The next time his daughter would see him, however, would be at his funeral. For all of these reasons and more, Flores' cousin is sharing the story, hoping someone will come forward. Police did recover a weapon, but the vehicle and suspects are still out there. What you can do A reward of $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. The number to call is 1-800-SPEAKUP.
