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Time of India
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Williamson County officials give a flooding update, cleanup assistance hotline setup
The 'catastrophic' floods that ravaged Williamson County and other parts of Central Texas over the July 4 weekend have killed at least 120 people in the state. Williamson County officials say they are now down to one missing person from the weekend floods. With more than 120 lives lost, including children, and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, the community faces an uphill battle to recover. This tragedy has also sparked significant conversations about disaster preparedness and the availability of federal aid for affected communities. ALSO READ: Trump's State department firing begins: Over 1,300 jobs slashed in latest layoff wave Woman swept away in flood The 64-year-old Sherry Richardson dialled 911 around 3.30 am Saturday to seek help as water started coming into her home in Liberty Hill. While she was still on the phone with a dispatcher, the water began creeping up the stairs of the cabin where she lived so she retreated to the second floor, said her daughter Deliah Greenslet, according to Autsin-American Statesman. The dispatcher lost contact with Richardson about 15 minutes after the call began, said Greenslet. Live Events "There was 30 feet of water in her house," said Greenslet. She said he later found out that the whole cabin was swept away with her mother inside of it into a creek that fed into the San Gabriel River. Searchers on Sunday found Richardson's body and the remains of her beloved Yorkie, Omie Mae, about a mile from where her house originally stood, Greenslet said. "I am heartbroken," said Greenslet. ALSO READ: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused of adultery in divorce petition. Did his secret affair break his marriage? "Mom was my best friend and confidante and the rock for our family, and I will really miss her," she said. "She loved music, she loved the Beatles and she had a tattoo of some of the Beatles lyrics on her." She said she was never alerted about the potential flooding in the area but if she had known she would have asked her mother to spend the night with her. She said she knows there have been budget cuts at the National Weather Service and feels like its being dismantled. "What can we do as a nation, as a country to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future?" she said. "Why don't we have warning systems that are better than phones saying there's a flash flood warning?" As of Wednesday, July 9, Williamson County has confirmed a total of three deaths, according to Fox7 Austin. There were 54 structures that were destroyed or severely damaged by floodwaters. The focus is now on documenting residential damage. Debris removal sites and dumpsters are being set up around Liberty Hill. ALSO READ: White House under fire for bizarre 'Superman Trump' image, Internet says 'delete this, it's cringe' The county has set up a cleanup assistance hotline at 512-201-4814. County Judge Steven Snell and EMA Director Bruce Clements said the search is going on in Leander and urged those coming to help with the clean-up to work with recognized organizations. "If you want to volunteer, please don't freelance and go out on your own. It can be dangerous out there, so please be part of an organized effort that's already underway. There are trusted folks who are there to organize and give you safety gear, people like the Austin Disaster Relief Network at and there are others as well. But find an organized effort and don't go out on your own, because that can really be rather dangerous," said Clements.
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Jenna Bush Hager emotionally talks dropping her kids off at another Texas camp
While chatting with her celebrity co-host, former NBA star Dwyane Wade, host of 'Jenna & Friends' Jenna Bush Hager discussed the tragic flooding in her home state of Texas that has claimed more than 100 lives. Hager opened up her show discussing the flooding, saying that she and Wade have 'heavy' hearts thinking about those affected by the flooding. Hager went on to mention Camp Mystic, where her mom, former First Lady Barbara Bush, was once a camp counselor, which sat along the Guadalupe River. Due to the heavy rainfall during the July 4 weekend, the river rose 26 feet in 45 minutes, CBS News reports, resulting in catastrophic flooding. Camp Mystic played a special role in the lives of many young woman throughout Texas and beyond, Hager shared, noting that many of the friends she grew up with attended the camp. 'I think, you know, as parents, we think about the horror of sending our kids to a place that that is supposed to be and is, you know, healing and fun and joyful and all the things that kids deserve to have, and then something like this to happen,' Hager said to Wade, who agreed. 'I'm sure all of our hearts are heavy, and all our thoughts and our prayers, our wishes, and our fingers are crossed for the families,' Wade added. 'You know that this community as well, you know, can overcome this together. This is going to be, obviously, it's going to be tough, but like we talked about upstairs, just as parents there are certain places that we send our kids, and we feel those are the places of safety for them, because we know the growth and evolution that happens at these places, but tragedy also occurs. So unfortunate.' Hager said on Sunday, July 6, she and her husband, Henry Hager, dropped their kids off at a different camp in Texas for the summer. Hager and her husband share Mila, Poppy and Hal. 'You know, putting them on the bus, saying goodbye to them, and I know so many parents whose kids are at camp or going to camp, feel that way, like, you know, we send our kids into the world with the faith that they can can have happy lives, joyful lives,' Hager explained. 'As adults, we know pain, we hope that our kids never face and never face it.' 'But you know, Texas is a resilient, incredible state. Y'all know I'm a homesick Texan living in New York, and it always is in my heart,' she added. According to Fox 7 Austin, Camp Mystic, a christian camp for girls, officials have confirmed that 27 campers and counselors have died as a result of the flooding. At least 10 campers and one counselor are still missing as first responders and other volunteers continue their search and rescue missions. On the camp's official website, it reads, 'Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors following the catastrophic flooding on the Guadalupe river. Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly.' 'We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level,' the statement continued. 'We ask for your continued prayers, respect and privacy for each of our families affected. May the Lord continue to wrap His presence around all of us.' A video of some of the campers evacuating the campgrounds on a bus has since gone viral. The video, shared by one of the campers who detailed her evacuation on TikTok, shows the girls singing a spiritual hymn as they made their way to safety together. 'The singing gave me chills,' one comment read. 'So beautiful and heartbreaking.'
International Business Times
31-05-2025
- Health
- International Business Times
DJ Daniel: Heartbreaking New Diagnosis for Teen Cancer Survivor Who Won President Trump's Heart and Was Sworn in as Honorary Secret Service Agent
Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel's family has shared heartbreaking news about a new diagnosis, just months after the brain cancer survivor won the hearts of millions of Americans by being sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent by President Donald Trump. His family revealed that he has developed more tumors and is fighting a hard battle for survival. DJ, who was given just five months to live after being diagnosed with terminal brain and spine cancer in 2018, has "three new tumors," his father, Theodis Daniel, told Fox 7 Austin last week. DJ gained global attention earlier this year when Trump singled him out him during the State of the Union address and honored him as an honorary Secret Service member. Fighting for His Life "It's rough, there isn't a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You're hearing that your child has a nasty disease," the heartbroken father said. "We're just going around showing people, hey, you do care for one another. Let's give compassion and let's try to join and help each other get through things," he added. The young boy has been on a mission to be sworn into as many law enforcement agencies as he can, while he and his family work to spread awareness about his illness. He's now close to reaching his goal of being officially sworn in by 1,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide — a feat that could earn him a spot in the Guinness World Records. He already holds several records, such as receiving the highest number of "keys to the city" and having the most official "proclamation days" in his honor. The county sheriff's office marked his 1,351st swearing-in ceremony, with his remarkable journey also taking him to six other countries where he was honored in similar fashion. Mission Continues Despite Life-Threatening Disease After being honored by the Secret Service, DJ got calls from law enforcement agencies all over the nation, including a call from Deputy Jeffrey Combs of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office in Texas. "I saw Theodis pick his son up. I felt that unconditional love, and I just knew I had to find DJ, so it all worked out," he told FOX 7 last week. The teenager has remained cheerful and positive — at the Williamson County ceremony, he playfully rubbed the deputies' bald heads for good luck, according to reports. He showed the same lively spirit during another recent swearing-in held in Polk County, Florida. "I'll keep going until my gas tank runs out, and that's when God calls you home," Daniel told officers. "The craziest thing is on my 11th brain surgery, God told me I was one of his angels and I'm doing God's work. "On my 12th brain surgery, he gave me my wings, but he told me I'm going to take these back until you graduate the school called life."
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Texas senate has passed an anti-squatter bill — but critics call it 'pro-eviction' legislation
A bill that cracks down on squatting in Texas has passed the state senate. Bill 38 aims to provide property owners with a faster legal process to evict squatters from their dwellings and reclaim their properties. 'The current process is so broken that it punishes the rightful property owners while rewarding trespassers who know how to game the system,' State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who authored the bill, said in a press release on April 10. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The bill would give landlords the right to file for an eviction notice if they have given a tenant at least three days' prior notice, unless there's an existing lease or agreement with a different timeframe spelled out. In addition, the courts would be required to act between 10 and 21 days of the landlord's filing. 'You can't stay in the home because we have the ability to do a quick eviction process,' Bettencourt told Fox 7 Austin. There's limited data available to estimate how many squatters are currently holding property illegally in Texas. Cpt. Jim Sharmon, Harris County Constable Pct. 4, testified that there are hundreds of cases each year in a single Harris County Constable Precinct, according to a press release from Bettencourt in May 2024. Bettencourt also cited a third-party survey that reported 475 cases of squatting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He estimated there were thousands of cases across the state. In the April 10 press release, Bettencourt emphasized the problem by recounting victims' stories. 'A homeowner testified a squatter broke into her Mesquite home, sold her belongings for pennies on the dollar, and then a JP in Garland, Texas, ruled to keep the squatter in her home over the holidays, denying her the right to come home for Christmas!' he said. Read more: This hedge fund legend warns US stock market will crash a stunning 80% — claims 'Armageddon' is coming. Don't believe him? He earned 4,144% during COVID. Here's 3 ways to protect yourself Local Texas news station KHOU 11 reported a representative from the Texas Apartment Association testified that a group in San Antonio illegally seized more than 250 apartment units. The apartments were marketed as an immigration services center, but the group kept the rent money they collected for themselves. 'These stories are outrageous, but they're real — and they're happening statewide,' Bettencourt said in the release. State Sen. Molly Cook was among those who opposed the bill. '[Bill] 38 is very clearly a pro-eviction piece of legislation,' she wrote in a social media post. 'This bill would streamline evictions, erode due process and increase homelessness in a time where rent prices are increasing faster than peoples' wages. Housing insecurity is a public health crisis.' The Texas Tribune reported on the state's housing affordability crisis in January. Rising home prices have vastly outpaced incomes, according to the publication. Meanwhile, housing policy group Up for Growth estimates there's a shortage of hundreds of thousands of homes. Proponents of the bill argue that the proposed legislation works for both landlords and tenants with valid leases. 'I think we've struck the right balance between property rights of the owners and the needs of the of the renters, but to drive out the squatters that are really taking advantage of the fact that that they think they don't have to pay anything or they have no penalty of occupying what they don't own,' Bettencourt told Fox 7 Austin. The bill must pass the House before the governor can sign it into law. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Man casually swings from crane in Austin; the Internet stunned by daring stunt: ‘Red Bull gives you swings'
A jaw-dropping video is making waves on social media, leaving viewers asking, 'What just happened?' The footage captures a man casually swinging from a construction crane high above downtown Austin. Dangling from the crane's edge atop a skyscraper, he appears completely at ease as he sways in the air. The video, which has now been widely shared across social media platforms, caught the attention of local authorities. According to Fox 7 Austin, police responded to a welfare check at the 400 block of Guadalupe Street after someone reported a person hanging from a crane. When officers arrived, they found the individual rappelling down from the crane. As a safety measure, the surrounding area was evacuated. Not long after, the man safely climbed down a ladder attached to the crane and entered the high-rise building. At the time of the report, officials hadn't identified him, and no arrests were made. The investigation is still ongoing. Watch the video: Someone took this crane in Austin, TX for a swing byu/Master_Jackfruit3591 innextfuckinglevel The viral clip was filmed by Jack Zimmermann and first appeared on Reddit, posted by a user going by the name 'Master_Jackfruit3591.' The caption simply read: 'Someone took this crane in Austin, TX for a swing.' And with that, the Internet took over — sharing the video, commenting, and trying to figure who the daredevil is. A user said, 'Brought to you by Red Bull. ''Red Bull Gives You Swings'.' Another user wrote, 'I wish these roof topper types would show a 'how they get down' video because I really wanna know how!!' A third individual commented, 'Whenever I think I'm pretty brave, I see a video like this and then think 'Dude, you are a wimp compared to these people'.' A fourth person wrote, 'Look he has a selfie stick. That means there's probably first person video of this. As long as he didn't drop it, I guess.'
