Latest news with #JustinPowell
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Associated Press
South Carolina celebrates another interstate expansion after influx of money to crumbling system
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The leader of South Carolina 's roads agency has been to so many groundbreaking ceremonies for highway projects that he has the whole routine down. Signs were printed, fancy shovels were readied and, since it's the middle of August, an air-conditioned spot — the welcome center in Hardeeville — was booked for Thursday's celebration of an $825 million project on Interstate 95 to untangle another traffic mess in one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. Justin Powell has been around for a half-dozen of these in his nearly seven years at the South Carolina Department of Transportation. A much different road agency than a decade ago Powell oversees an agency whose reputation and results have turned around in the past eight years. An influx of money raised the gas tax 12 cents under his predecessor Christy Hall, pushing it up to 28 cents a gallon. SCDOT was spending $2.7 billion on roads then. The agency is now about to pass $7 billion in highway construction. It's a far cry from 11 years ago when the DOT secretary before Hall — who continually told lawmakers his job was to 'manage the decline of the state highway system' — resigned after being pulled over for driving under the influence at 8 a.m. on a weekday. He was the third director in two years. 'Thanks to the trust from the General Assembly in 2017, we've delivered what we were asked to do,' Powell told The Associated Press in an interview in his office. Orange construction barrels everywhere Thursday's ceremony marks the start of a 10-mile (16-kilometer) project to widen I-95 to three lanes in each direction and replace the bridges over the Savannah River at the Georgia state line, a bottleneck that often stalls traffic. Elsewhere, crews are working on a $2 billion project to iron out the place where Interstates 20, 26 and 126 all meet in Columbia. Work has started on projects that will eventually expand 70 miles (113 kilometers) of I-26 from Charleston to Columbia to three lanes in each direction. And soon, the state plans to reconstruct the Interstate 526 half loop around Charleston, which could cost up to $7 billion. And it isn't just interstate work. A decade ago nearly half the pavement on the 41,000 miles (66,000 kilometers) of roads was in poor shape. Since then, more than a quarter of South Carolina's roads have been repaved. And, thousands of bridges built in the 1950s and 1960s are now reaching replacement age. As Powell's agency finishes digging out of the hole of decades of neglect, he is well aware South Carolina has added 1.5 million people over the past 25 years. Many complaints he hears have moved from rough roads and potholes to congestion. 'This is not little ol' South Carolina anymore,' Powell said. 'The interstate system was built back when South Carolina had about 2.5 million people. We've got this dual challenge of maintaining what we have and dealing with significant growth pressure.' Accountability instead of horse-trading The highway agency has long been dogged by corruption and horse trading where favored legislators got road projects that were funneled to their friends. In 1935, the governor sent a militia armed with machine guns to the highway commission after the board refused to seat his appointees. Today, Powell and his agency have received unprecedented support from lawmakers who changed the agency's structure. But, there are still DOT critics. The conservative Freedom Caucus said the agency isn't spending money wisely enough and wants to use artificial intelligence to overcome what it calls burdensome regulations without a lot of details. The group also wants to turn roads over to counties. South Carolina is the 40th biggest U.S. state in area, but has the fourth largest state-maintained road network. The state controls three times as many miles of roads as Florida. Powell gets the idea, but said unwinding nearly a century of state control would be difficult. Counties would need money and many would need an influx of new machinery and knowledge. 'It took us 90 years to get here,' Powell said. 'It would probably take us that long to find our way out.'
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
This man's Jeep was stolen in Milwaukee — and police believe it's linked to a local tech-driven crime ring
A high-performance Jeep Trackhawk is a dream ride for a lot of car lovers. But for one Florida man, it turned into a nightmare after his SUV became the target of a tech-enabled theft ring operating in Milwaukee. Police say the alleged thief, Justin Powell, 28, not only stole but flaunted his theft on Instagram, posting a photo behind the wheel of the vehicle in early May with the caption, 'This a trophy for me.' The clear problem? The 'trophy' wasn't rightfully his. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 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 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 The car belonged to Frank Tragesser, who was visiting Milwaukee from Florida to see his fiancée. The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was parked outside a hotel near the airport when it vanished overnight. 'It's probably one of the quickest cars on the road because of that all-wheel drive,' Tragesser told WISN 12 News. 'It's 707 horsepower stock.' Milwaukee police located the Jeep near a condo a day later. Tragesser says, 'There's a million and one things going through your head when your car gets stolen,' he said. 'I've never had that happen before.' Police say the condo where the stolen car was found is tied to Powell's girlfriend. Inside, officers uncovered a cache of tools straight out of a car thief's digital toolkit, including two professional-grade key programmers and over 15 key fobs, including one that police say 'was programmed to work with Tragesser's Jeep.' Powell was arrested and is now facing a string of drug and felony charges, including possessing a firearm as a felon, operation of a vehicle without the owner's consent and possession of a machine gun. 'It's been an awful situation all and all,' says Tragesser. And that's not all. Prosecutors allege Powell is part of a larger tech-driven car theft ring operating throughout the Milwaukee area stealing, chopping, scrubbing VINs and then reselling the cars. WISN's James Stratton tracked Powell to a condo, where a woman claiming to be his girlfriend answered the door. While on the phone with a man claiming to be Powell and calling from the Milwaukee County Jail where Powell is being held, Stratton pressed for answers. 'That's not my residence, bro,' the man said. 'I can't even tell you who [the key programmers] belong to.' When asked about the alleged car theft ring, the caller said, 'That expletive been going on before I was in jail and after I was in jail, bro. As you interview me right now that expletive going on right now.' Powell told WISN 12 News he is innocent and denies owning the Instagram account tied to the Trackhawk post. But prosecutors in the case have a different story. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how According to Milwaukee police, at least 19 vehicles have been stolen using key-fob programmers in just the first three months of this year. So, how do the thieves do it? First, they break a window to gain access. Then they plug a device into the car's onboard diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located under the steering column. A programmer can generate a fresh key in under a minute, leaving the thieves free to drive off. This method bypasses immobilizers entirely, especially in models made between 2007 and 2017, like Hondas, Nissans, Infinitis, Dodges, Chryslers, Toyotas and Lexuses. Many of these models don't include a startup delay after key programming which makes them prime targets. There are also relay attacks where thieves amplify the fob signal remotely from inside homes to unlock cars parked outside. And thieves also use CAN (Controller Area Network) injection, accessing the car's internal network (like through removed headlights) to mimic legitimate start signals. Online marketplaces list these inexpensive tools, often disguised as other equipment. Court records paint Powell not as a lone wolf, but as a logistics man in a full-blown criminal enterprise. 'Powell stated his role was to share locations of sought-after vehicles and then members of his crew would come to steal them by use of a key programmer,' according to the complaint. The ring's division of labor allegedly includes scouts, who track and send vehicle locations; techs who break in and program keys; and cleaners who then fix and detail the stolen vehicles. Salesmen then flip the stolen cars to unwitting buyers and middlemen take a cut on each deal. This all leaves legitimate car owners in the dust as their vehicles disappear (often without a trace) and are flipped. But car owners don't have to be helpless against thieves. Here are some simple prevention tips to keep your vehicle safe: Keep your vehicle locked and keys safely stowed away Use the latest security features available on your vehicle Consider registering it with the accredited antitheft tracking system or an electronic engine immobilizer Park in a garage if you own a house and have one Place all remote FOBs in Faraday pouches to block FOB signals Use OBD‑II port locks and steering-wheel locks to prevent access If you have a second, less valuable vehicle, park it in front of the more valuable vehicle with no room to maneuver it out Consider installing your own retractable parking bollards Keep your home's exterior well-lit Check your insurance coverage to see if they reimburse high-tech thefts Prosecutors in Powell's case say the investigation is ongoing and more arrests and charges are likely. This isn't just a Milwaukee problem; it's a national and international crisis fueled by modern tech vulnerabilities. As Justin Powell's arrest shows, inexpensive key‑programming devices in the wrong hands are turning luxury vehicles into easy targets. While police, insurers and automakers are responding, experts say drivers must act now to protect their assets because convenience can come at a steep cost. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now 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? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Berlin G. Myers Parkway Extension project wraps ahead of schedule, should open to traffic in ‘coming days'
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday to mark the completion of the Berlin G. Myers Parkway extension. Construction of the Berlin G. Myers Parkway Phase III Project began in 2022 to improve safety, alleviate congestion, and improve the flow of traffic in the area. Officials with the South Carolina Department of Transportation said the project will reach completion ahead of schedule and should open to drivers in the coming days. 'The Town of Summerville is excited for this much-needed project to open and provide relief to many of our residents. I want to express my gratitude to SCDOT and Banks Construction for their professionalism and community engagement throughout their work,' said Summerville Mayor Russ Touchberry. 'I appreciate them being a good neighbor and congratulate them on completing this project over a year ahead of schedule.' South Carolina's Secretary of Transportation, Justin Powell, said the project is a vital route for the growing town of Summerville. 'We are excited to celebrate this project's completion ahead of schedule so that we can continue to move people and goods through South Carolina and improve our economy,' he added. Construction included roughly 3.25 miles of roadway between U.S. Highway 17 Alternate and East Carolina Avenue. Other elements of the project saw construction along Sawmill Branch to help reduce the potential for flood-related impacts, and upgrades or changes to the Sawmill Branch Walk/Bike Trail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DOT program decreasing serious crashes on rural roads, department says
T.J. Johnson, chair of the Department of Transportation's governing board (left) and Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell (right) at a meeting on March 20, 2025. (Screenshot courtesy of SCDOT) COLUMBIA — Widening shoulders and increasing visibility along more than 400 miles of primary roads in rural areas has significantly reduced the number of life-threatening car accidents in the state, the secretary of the state Department of Transportation said this week. Justin Powell, who has been leading the DOT for almost a year, told the agency's governing board Thursday the improvements have reduced serious and fatal car accidents by 20%. The measures are part of the Rural Road Safety Program, one of the pillars of the department's 10-year-plan set in 2017 when lawmakers passed legislation that raised the state's gas taxes and other fees to fund the repair of the state's roads and bridges. 'This program is one of the most impactful things we do because I feel that our work is leading to people being able to go home at the end of day,' Powell told the SC Daily Gazette in a phone interview after the Thursday meeting. He added that increased highway patrol presence and efforts from other departments have been crucial to dropping the rate as well. South Carolina has the highest fatality rate on non-interstate, rural roads in the nation, according to a report from The Road Information Program, a nonprofit transportation research group, that evaluated 2022 statistics. As of March 7, the department had removed trees, added rumble strips and brighter signs, and widened shoulders, among other fixes, along more than 417 miles of rural roads in the state. The state has an additional 700-plus miles that are either in the process of being improved or are contracted. Powell said he was confident the DOT would meet its objective of having 1,300 miles completed or under construction by the end of 2027, saying the program has been aggressive in initiating projects. He said the Rural Road Safety Project has spent nearly $500 million since 2017. The department has $50 million annually dedicated to the program and had $96 million in one-time funds allotted in last year's budget. Powell told DOT commissioners that $66 million of the nonrecurring money had been contracted. The roads being targeted by DOT are high-traffic rural roads that have accounted for 30% of serious crashes despite making up only 5% of rural roads in the state. These streets are often worn down and might not have clear road markers, Powell said. That means it's easier for people to swerve out of their lane, which is how the highest number of rural road accidents occur, he added. Ensuring that road markers are clear and new, as well as laying down bump strips are a pair of measures that Powell told the SC Daily Gazette have been effective. Crashes from a vehicle leaving roads all together have gone down more than 40% in areas that have been treated, according to DOT. 'Anything we can do to keep their attention on the lane,' Powell said. The law that started the Rural Road Safety Program also created parallel efforts for bridges and interstates, as well as paving around South Carolina. Goals for those programs are also on track to be met as well, Powell said. The department's Momentum 2050 Plan that aims to modernize roadways and bridges and ease congestion as South Carolina's population continues to rise was approved Thursday. Stuck in traffic? SCDOT has a new plan. And a price tag. The program will cost more than $3 billion annually, according to the presentation given during the meeting. DOT will have to make up a nearly $1 billion gap to meet that price, Leah Quattlebaum, the deputy secretary for planning explained during the meeting. Despite that hurdle, the plan was applauded by multiple commissioners during the meeting. Each of South Carolina's seven congressional districts has its own DOT commissioner and there are two at-large appointees from the governor. One of the at-large spots is currently vacant. 'It's so nice in South Carolina we have plans we're proud of,' said Max Metcalf, commissioner in the fourth district that is made up of parts of Greenville and Spartanburg Counties. 'We feel like we're focused and we can get this accomplished. … That gives us the ability to go out and talk to people and say 'we got something.''
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Road fatality stats shared ahead of Super Bowl weekend
Feb. 6—LIMA — Allen County saw eight fatal crashes in 2024, according to the regional planning commission's draft of its fatal crash report. The commission, with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Allen County Coroner's Office, held a press conference Thursday morning to present this information ahead of Super Bowl Sunday. "2024 was a fairly safe year, not the safest by far, but in terms of fatalities, it was a good year," Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Powell said. "Over the last year, we did see an increase in crashes with mature drivers, so we talked a bit about making that decision to maybe not drive at night as you age. There might be a point where you have to decide it's not safe for you to drive because you don't want something bad to happen or if you have to help a family member in that same situation so they're safe." Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission planning engineer Adam Haunhorst drafted the report and said the vast majority of crashes occur on dry roads during the day. "Of all those, three people who died were not wearing their safety equipment," he said. "Two of them involved alcohol and drugs, so those are the important things we like to emphasize every year. There isn't always a pattern, so we all need to be doing our part all the time." Haunhorst said this can happen because drivers are lulled into a false sense of security, unlike when conditions are as severe as Thursday's icy, wet roads. Powell stressed the importance of wearing safety belts. "When you're in a rollover crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, it's completely rolling the dice," he said. "You could be ejected from the vehicle, and it could roll on top of you. That's a crash you would have probably walked away from otherwise, so we want everyone to be safe all the time on the roadway." Ahead of a weekend in which many people are hosting parties around a football game, Powell advised residents to make a plan ahead of time to avoid driving under the influence. "You do need to be sober to drive, and .08 is a fairly low number, especially if you have a lower body weight," he said. "If you're going to a party and you're going to be drinking and/or using marijuana, you need to have a plan for how you're going to get home. Have a designated driver set up or someone you can call to get a ride home, or even spend the night where you are. If you see somebody that's about to drive, if you care about them, step in and keep them from making a big mistake." The Ohio Divisions of Liquor and Cannabis Control sent out a reminder along those lines, advising party attendees to plan ahead, stay hydrated and nourished and follow the rules. Among the nine fatalities from the crashes, one was recorded as a pedestrian, seven as motorists and one as a bicyclist. The county compared favorably to the national average in data crashes involving impaired driving and lack of safety belt but was above the national average of fatal crashes involving speeding. For more information and to provide comment on the report, visit Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399. Featured Local Savings
