AMARILLO (AP) — Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects in a shooting at a party in Amarillo, Texas, that killed two teenagers and wounded 10 other people.
City authorities say they are looking for two people who opened fire at an apartment complex at about 2 a.m. Saturday and are asking local residents to check their doorbell and surveillance cameras for any unusual activity around that time. Details on a motive were not released.
Surveillance video released by police shows two suspects opening fire at the outside of an apartment. Yelling and screaming follow, then more gunshots ring out.
“When I looked outside and came outside it was complete chaos,” neighbor Phillip Thrasher told KTVT-TV. “I mean there was kids running everywhere, just screaming and running. They didn’t even know where they were running to, you know. And then moms and dads showed up and came to their kids’ rescues. The ones that could, the ones that couldn’t were so upset. I mean there was nothing you could do.”
Amarillo police said two teens, ages 16 and 17, were killed and 10 others injured. The conditions of the wounded were not released.
“The investigation into this morning’s events have identified that the suspects have an affiliation with the targeted location and were known to one of the occupants at the party,” Police Chief Thomas Hover said in a statement on Saturday.
Police said the people involved had been at a party at a different location and were asked to leave, then went to the complex where the shooting occurred.
Phone messages were left Sunday for police officials and management of the apartment complex, located close to Interstate 40 about 6 miles (10 kilometers) west of downtown Amarillo.
Hover said police had increased patrol staffing after separate shootings killed six people in Amarillo on March 22.
UPSHUR COUNTY — The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said that local residents have been scammed out of over $1 million dollars by fake Apple Pay representatives.
“Over the past several months, our county has experienced a significant increase in fraud cases. One scam in particular involves individuals posing as Apple Pay representatives, and it has already resulted in over ONE MILLION dollars stolen from victims in our county alone,” the sheriff’s office said on Sunday.
According to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK, the scammers contact the victims, claiming that a bank employee is stealing money from their accounts. They then insist that the victim should transfer their money into different accounts in order to help with the scammers fake non-existent investigation. Continue reading Over $1M stolen in Apple Pay scam
TYLER – Voters from across East Texas passed 9 out of 11 proposed school bonds on Saturday, investing over $309 million in total to help expand facilities for students, repair campuses and more.
Our news partner KETK has put together a list of school bond proposals that were voted on from areas across East Texas on May 2. You may view that list here.
TYLER — A runoff has been called for the Tyler mayoral race after neither of the four candidates running received enough votes on Saturday to fill the position. According to our news partner KETK, John Nix leads with 32% of the votes, while Stuart Hene trails with 26%. Candidates James Wynee and Shirley McKellar will not appear on the runoff ballot after not receiving enough votes on Saturday to qualify.
The runoff for the mayoral race has been scheduled for Saturday, June 13.
As Nix and Hene look to keep voters engaged leading up to the runoff, Nix said he will continue campaigning and interacting with voters over the next few weeks.
“We’re super excited that our vote total is coming out on top tonight,” Nix said. “We knocked on over 10,000 doors and we’re going to continue to go strong. We’re just excited to be able to continue the conversation with the voters into the runoff.”
Meanwhile, Hene said he will work to sustain the support he received from voters on Saturday while continuing to preach his campaign message of positivity.
“It’s the same positive message that we’ve been running, and I hope to continue to reach out across the city to gain the support that we have with the voters who turned out today,” Hene said. “While hopefully attracting new voters with the same positive message of continuing that momentum that we have going in our city, we have been the second-best place to live in the state of Texas.”
EAST TEXAS – The City of Tyler will need a June 13th runoff to decide a new mayor, as John Nix led with 32% of the votes, while Stuart Hene trails with 26% as of Saturday evening’s count. Candidates James Wynee and Shirley McKellar will not appear on the runoff ballot.
In notable called races, Tyler Junior College’s $167.3M bond fails to secure approval, earning 54.8% of the votes.
Former NBA player Greg Ostertag has won the mayoral election in the city of Mount Vernon with 53.8% of the vote. And Kendra Bircher has won the Tyler ISD District 4 race with 53.4% of the vote.
MARSHALL – A disturbance on the campus of Wiley University led to the arrest of two women. The Marshall Police Department said it was called to the university campus on April 26 regarding a reported disturbance. Working in coordination with Wiley University Security, MPD learned that Marietta Denise Taylor, 50, allegedly made threatening statements in the presence of university security personnel that were directed toward the university.
According to our news partner KETK, it was through their investigation that it was determined there was probable cause to arrest Taylor for making the terroristic threat, a third-degree felony. She was arrested without incident and booked into the Harrison County Jail. On Friday, May 1, Jayla Unique Jackson, 24, was arrested for criminal trespass in connection with the same incident.
“The Marshall Police Department takes all threats of violence seriously and will continue working closely with its law enforcement and community partners to ensure the safety and security of
the public,” MPD said in a statement.
The department asks that anyone with information about this incident to call 903-935-4575.
TYLER – As the May 2 elections approach, several East Texas School districts are asking their residents to pass school bond proposals to help expand facilities for students, repair campuses and more. Our news partner KETK has put together the following list of school bond proposals that will appear on May ballots across East Texas:
ALBA-GOLDEN
Alba-Golden ISD is calling for a $20.6 million bond proposal to fund the following:
Career & Technology Education (CTE) Facility
Agricultural Mechanics & Metal Tech workshop (3,500 SF)
Construction Tech workshop (3,500 SF) Continue reading Bond measures on May ballot
LINDALE – The City of Lindale honored retiring police chief Dan Somes on Friday after he spent more than 20 years serving with the Lindale Police Department. According to our news partner KETK, Somes was part of Lindale PD for 27 years and lead the department as Chief of Police for the past 20 years. He started his career with the city of Seven Points Police Department before joining Lindale’s police force. He was able to radio out his last call at an retirement celebration held at Picker’s Pavilion on Friday. During the event Somes was presented with a shadow box containing a Lindale PD badge and patches.
Part of the new blood Somes referred to is Brent Chambers, who started his tenure as Lindale PD’s new chief of police in March.
TYLER – Smith County Animal Control and Shelter has announced it’s looking to coordinate with local animal shelters to better help local animals following a recent controversy. Pawsitive Place Rescue and Nicholas Pet Haven took to social media recently to criticize how the Smith County shelter reportedly euthanized a dozen dogs without notifying any of the nearby shelters so they could take the animals and spare them from death. Following these posts, the Smith County Animal Shelter detailed several recent policy changes they’ve made to their euthanasia protocols at a meeting of the Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday.
Pawsitive Place Rescue and Nicholas Pet Haven said they spoke with Smith County Judge Neal Franklin on Wednesday and that he heard their complaints. They explained that even after these recent policy changes, they’d like to see the county, community and state support efforts to foster, spay and neuter pets to prevent shelters from filling up in the first place.
“The real solution is mandatory spay and neuter,” Nicholas Pet Haven said. “The county and city both have the ability to put this into action yet they refuse to do so. Hopefully, this can be done at the state level. If not, the problem remains. If you are a dog owner and let your dog have one liter after another, then you are the problem.” Continue reading Euthanasia controversy sparks meetings
TRAVIS COUNTY (TEXAS TRIBUNE) – For the time being, a Travis County district judge has permitted the sale of naturally smokeable hemp products like rolled joints and flower buds.
The ban that was granted earlier this month is still on hold as a result of Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle’s Friday decision. The Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and a number of dispensaries and manufacturers in Texas were granted a temporary injunction by Lyttle against new testing regulations that establish a 0.3% total THC threshold, thereby prohibiting the sale of natural smokeable hemp products. Additionally, a 3,000% increase in hemp retailers’ licensing fees is temporarily halted by the ruling.
The ban will be temporarily suspended until the next hearing, which is currently set for July 27. However, if the state appeals the most recent decision and the court consents to hear the appeal, the suspension may end sooner. The state’s regulations will resume once the court grants the appeal, necessitating the removal of smokeable hemp from store shelves.
Attorneys representing the hemp industry contended during a three-day hearing this week that the Texas Department of State Health Services had overreached its constitutional authority by amending the statutory definitions of hemp that were created by legislators in 2019.
State attorneys contended in court that Texas law permits the health agency to enact new hemp regulations by requiring them to give Texans’ welfare top priority when making rules. The judge disagreed, claiming that the regulations were causing the industry irreversible harm.
A Spirit Airlines aircraft prepares to depart from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on November 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- The Department of Transportation said on Saturday the majority of airlines will be capping tickets prices for Spirit Airlines travelers who need to rebook their canceled flights.
Some carriers have even reduced fares on high volume routes where Spirit used to operate.
Spirit began winding down operations early Saturday morning after talks between the airline and the federal government over a $500 million rescue deal stalled.
Spirit said that travelers who booked their tickets with a credit or debit card will be automatically refunded.
United, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest said they are capping ticket prices specifically for Spirit customers who need to rebook cancelled flights.
To access these special prices, individuals will need to provide at least a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment, the airlines said.
These fares will only be available for a short period:
JetBlue: Available for 72 hours Southwest: Available for 72 hours; only in person at an airport ticket counter Delta: Available for five days United: Available for two weeks online American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are offering reduced fares on high-volume Spirit routes.
United Airlines said for the next two weeks, customers who were booked on Spirit can get one-way tickets on United flights from most cities where Spirit previously operated, including Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Newark, New Orleans and Orlando.
The airline said it has capped most of its fares at $199, though exceptions apply with longer flights not priced higher than $299.
Travelers will need to enter their Spirit confirmation number and verify they were scheduled to travel between May 2 through May 16 in order to be qualify for these special fares.
American Airlines said it has also launched a page on its website that displays rescue fares to and from a range of domestic and international destinations for Spirit customers needing to rebook travel.
The airline said it's also reviewing adding additional capacity, including flying bigger planes and adding more flights on routes Spirit used to fly, to accommodate as many passengers as possible.
Allegiant Air has also committed to freezing fare prices across routes that overlap with Spirit. To support impacted travelers, Frontier Airlines is offering up to 50% off base fares across its network until May 10.
To help Spirit employees, the Department of Transportation said most major U.S. carriers are extending travel pass benefits and spare jump seats so employees can return to their homebases.
Airlines are also offering Spirit team members preferential employment interviews to ensure they jump the queue. American and United said they're creating microsites for Spirit employees looking to continue a career in aviation, per the federal agency.
MARSHALL – The Marshall Police Department made an arrest in a shooting that occurred Saturday, April 25. Officers responded to a call that afternoon in the area of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. and Holland Street. When the officers arrived they found a man who received a gunshot wound. Their investigation found that 24-year-old Shakira Nysha Brazzell had allegedly shot the victim over an incident from the night before.
Brazzell had left the scene before officers arrived, but came back and turned herself in. The victim was transported to a hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Brazzell was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a weapon. This investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Marshall Police Department at 903-935-4575.
LONGVIEW —Several members of the Longview Fire Department were honored by Governor Abbott recently for their heroic efforts. The incident occurred during the morning of Feb. 28 after a hot air balloon carrying two people crashed into a 920-foot cell tower. Once on the scene, firefighters began using multiple rope systems to safely remove both people from the balloon and bring them back to the ground.
The firefighters who helped safely remove both people from the balloon were honored by Abbott at the department’s annual banquet last Saturday.
“We were deeply honored to welcome Governor Abbott and his team, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Longview and every one of our incredible sponsors,” the Longview Fire Department said. “Your support and generosity transformed this evening into a night to remember for all our members and their families.”
The Food and Drug Administration headquarters is shown in White Oak, Md. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images, FILE)
(NEW YORK) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug Auvelity this week for the treatment of agitation in adults with Alzheimer's dementia.
The extended-release tablet is the first FDA-approved medication for this condition that is not an anti-psychotic.
Anti-psychotics carry serious risks including stroke, sedation and increased death in older adults, according to the FDA. Having a non-antipsychotic option may be safer for patients, experts say.
"We've needed a drug like this for decades, because agitation related to Alzheimer's disease is one of the most challenging, disheartening symptoms that we manage," Dr. Richard Issacson, director of research at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, told ABC News. "This new drug would be used because their tolerability profile is better."
Auvelity was initially approved by the FDA in 2022 to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It carries a boxed warning for a higher risk of suicidal thoughts in teens and young adults taking antidepressants.
However, two recent randomized clinical trials found that the drug improved agitation symptoms in patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease based on caregiver reports and survey data, and helped delay relapse compared to a placebo.
Studies show the drug works by affecting brain chemicals such as glutamate and dopamine to help calm the overactive signals in the brain linked to agitation. Reported side effects include dizziness, nausea, headache, dry mouth, sweating and diarrhea.
The FDA cautions that Auvelity can worsen or reveal suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially when starting the medication. It may also worsen irritability or mania in some patients. It's additionally been linked to an increased risk for seizures, especially at higher doses, and may increase blood pressure.
Clinicians should closely monitor patients when initiating this treatment and throughout the treatment course, experts advise.
As of 2026, about 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. This number is expected to grow to 13.8 million by 2060.
Studies show the drug works by affecting brain chemicals such as glutamate and dopamine to help calm the overactive signals in the brain linked to agitation. Reported side effects include dizziness, nausea, headache, dry mouth, sweating and diarrhea.
The FDA cautions that Auvelity can worsen or reveal suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially when starting the medication. It may also worsen irritability or mania in some patients. It's additionally been linked to an increased risk for seizures, especially at higher doses, and may increase blood pressure.
Clinicians should closely monitor patients when initiating this treatment and throughout the treatment course, experts advise.
As of 2026, about 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. This number is expected to grow to 13.8 million by 2060.
Agitation is one of the most common and burdensome symptoms for those with Alzheimer's dementia. A JAMA Neurology study found that 50 to 60% of people with Alzheimer's experience agitation symptoms at some point.
Issacson said there needs to be more hope for Alzheimer's patients and their loved ones.
"We also know that it's not just about drugs. People can exercise, live a healthy lifestyle, eat a Mediterranean style diet, and manage risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes," Issacson said. "People can really take control of their brain health, reduce their risk of Alzheimer's and have better treatment outcomes. There's hope and there's so much education and information now online. I think we're making a lot of progress."
Dr. Crystal Joseph, MD, MS is an anesthesiology resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.
TYLER – As the May 2 elections approach, several East Texas School districts are asking their residents to pass school bond proposals to help expand facilities for students, repair campuses and more. Our news partner KETK has put together the following list of school bond proposals that will appear on May ballots across East Texas:
