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Tennessee couple transporting $3M in suspected cocaine killed in shootout with authorities in Texas

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Tennessee couple transporting M in suspected cocaine killed in shootout with authorities in Texas

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A Tennessee couple found transporting millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine was killed in Texas on Thursday during a traffic stop shootout with law enforcement, authorities said.

Edward and Elizabeth Stevenson were first identified through undercover buys of illegal drugs, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

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The undercover work allowed investigators to get a search warrant for the Stevensons’ home, where detectives uncovered nearly a pound of suspected methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl, multiple firearms, body armor and ammunition on Thursday, the sheriff’s office said.

During the search, detectives learned that the Stevensons were driving a semi-truck through Texas with illegal drugs and were armed. 

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STRUGGLE TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS TOTALING MORE THAN $50B

Edward and Elizabeth Stevenson were killed Thursday in a shootout with law enforcement in Texas. The couple were suspected of running illegal drugs for a Mexican cartel. (Putnam County Sheriffs Office)

“Both Edward and Elizabeth had made previous statements that they would die by ‘suicide by cop’ if law enforcement attempted to stop them,” the sheriff’s office said.

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firearms, body armor and ammunition

Authorities found multiple firearms, body armor and ammunition inside the couple’s home while executing a search warrant on Thursday. (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

Detectives immediately alerted the Donley County Sheriff’s Office in Texas and Texas Department of Public Safety about the couple.

When deputies in Donley County tried to pull over the semi-truck, the couple continued to drive for several miles before coming to a stop, officials said. 

Edward and Elizabeth then exited the vehicle and opened fire on deputies and troopers, the sheriff’s office said. The Stevensons were killed in the ensuing shootout.

POLICE BUST FINDS OVER 700 POUNDS OF DRUGS INSIDE TRANSFORMERS STATUES

Authorities searched the couple’s vehicle and found about 64 pounds of suspected cocaine valued at an estimated $3.4 million. The sheriff’s office said the drugs appeared to be en route to Tennessee.

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drugs

Authorities found drugs inside the couple’s residence and the semi-truck they were driving through Texas, the sheriff’s office said. (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris blamed open border policies that are making it “much easier for Mexican cartel members and their associates” to traffic illegal drugs into smaller communities.

Farris said the cocaine seized from the Stevensons would likely have been mixed with fentanyl before being sold to individuals.

The sheriff thanked community members for calling in anonymous tips about the couple.

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“Anytime you see anything that you feel is suspicious, please call us and we will investigate it,” Farris said. “In this particular incident it most likely saved lives.”

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Southwest

Who is Mark Kelly? What to know about the senator from Arizona and possible VP pick

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Who is Mark Kelly? What to know about the senator from Arizona and possible VP pick

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat, is rumored to be under consideration to serve as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election.

Kelly, a 60-year-old former astronaut and U.S. Navy captain, has represented Arizona in the U.S. Senate since 2020.

Kelly was elected to the Senate in a 2020 special election that was held following the death of longtime Republican Sen. John McCain in 2018, defeating incumbent GOP Sen. Martha McSally.

A native of Orange, New Jersey, Kelly graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1986. He later attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, receiving a Master of Science in aeronautical engineering in 1994.

ARIZONA SENATE CANDIDATE SAYS MARK KELLY WOULD GIVE HARRIS ‘JOLT’ AS VP

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Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks with reporters on July 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Kelly became a naval aviator in 1987 and was assigned to Attack Squadron 115 in Japan. He made two deployments and flew nearly 40 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm.

He received an array of commendations for his service in the military and retired from the Navy in October 2011. At the time, he wrote in a post on social media, “From the day I entered the United States Merchant Marine Academy in the summer of 1982 to the moment I landed the Space Shuttle Endeavour three weeks ago, it has been my privilege to advance the ideals that define the United States of America.”

Along with his identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, he was selected by NASA to serve as a space shuttle pilot in 1996.

Kelly, who took numerous trips beyond Earth’s atmosphere during his illustrious career as an astronaut, has reportedly logged more than 54 days in space.

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Kelly, an independent turned Democrat in 2018, is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., who he married in 2007.

Following the attempted assassination attempt of Giffords in 2012, Kelly shied away from public life to assist with his wife’s recovery efforts.

He is also the author of multiple books, including one he co-authored with Giffords in 2012 titled, “Enough: Our Fight to Keep America Safe from Gun Violence.”

HARRIS EDGES CLOSER TO TRUMP IN NEW POLL CONDUCTED AFTER BIDEN’S WITHDRAWAL

Mark-Kelly,-Kamala-Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to swear in Sen. Mark Kelly, D-riz., with his wife Gabrielle Giffords, center, in the old Senate Chamber for the Ceremonial Swearing on Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

In January 2013, Kelly and Giffords launched a political action committee named Americans for Responsible Solutions. The organization’s mission promoted what it believed to be solutions to gun violence with elected lawmakers and members of the public.

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He won re-election to the Senate in November 2022, when he defeated Republican nominee Blake Masters.

Kelly is not the first astronaut to be elected to Congress. Others include John Glenn, Harrison Schmitt and Jack Swigert.

He is viewed by many political strategists, primarily Democrats, as a safe move for Harris as she considers who will appear alongside her on the November ballot.

Three days after President Biden announced his decision to step aside in the 2024 race for the White House, Kelly fielded questions from reporters in the hallways of the U.S. Capitol, where he was asked whether he would accept the vice presidential nomination.

“This is not about me. This is about the future of this country,” Kelly said at the time.

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Kamala Harris speaks at her Presidential Campaign headquarters in Wilmington

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at her presidential campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024. (Erin Schaff/Pool via REUTERS)

“This is a choice between Kamala Harris, who’s an experienced prosecutor, vice president, U.S. senator, [California] attorney general, and a guy who’s a convicted felon,” Kelly added.

Kelly also predicted, following Biden’s drop out, that Harris “is going to win” the state of Arizona in the 2024 election.



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Los Angeles, Ca

Iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel to light up for Team USA

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Iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel to light up for Team USA

The iconic Ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier will light up nightly during the Paris Olympics to cheer on Team USA beginning Friday.

The nightly light display will feature the five colored rings to symbolize the Olympic rings, a 90-foot-tall waving American flag to celebrate Team USA, a French flag for the current host country and the American flag to represent the games returning to the United States, specifically Los Angeles in 2028.  

The Ferris wheel will be lit up from sunset until 12:30 a.m.

The Pacific Wheel is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, featuring 174,000 LED lights mounted on its 40 spokes and two hubs. The wheel’s lighting system features 16.7 million color value combinations to display dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment, according to a news release.

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Visitors can visit the theme park from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. to catch a ride on the nine-story carnival ride, which takes riders to heights of more than 130 feet over the Pacific Ocean.

If you can’t make it out to the Santa Monica Pier yourself, Pacific Park offers an online stream of the Ferris wheel.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Security guard attacked, hit with skateboard in Santa Ana

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Security guard attacked, hit with skateboard in Santa Ana

Police asked the public for help this week in their search for a man who attacked a Target security guard with a skateboard in Santa Ana last month.

The altercation occurred on June 10, when the security guard asked a trespassing suspect to leave the store located at 1441 W. 17th Street, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

“The suspect struck the victim multiple times with his skateboard, causing injuries, and then fled the store,” the Police Department stated in a post on Instagram.

Police are searching for a suspect following an assault on a security guard in Santa Ana. (Santa Ana Police Department)

Video embedded on the post shows the suspect swinging a skateboard at the guard and then running out of the store.

The attacker was described as a White man between 18 and 25 years old. He had a thin build, curly blonde hair, and was wearing a black sweatshirt, light-colored shirt, blue plaid shorts, black socks and black shoes.

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Anyone with information was asked to call police at 714-245-8441.

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