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Texas girl Audrii Cunningham found dead in river as officials eye capital murder charge for suspect

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Texas girl Audrii Cunningham found dead in river as officials eye capital murder charge for suspect

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Missing Texas girl Audrii Cunningham was found dead Tuesday afternoon.

The 11-year-old’s body was found in the Trinity River near the US Highway 59 bridge in Livingston, Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons confirmed during a Tuesday press conference.

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“We will continue to process the evidence that has been gathered to ensure that there is justice for Audrii,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said.

Polk County District Attorney Shelly Sitton said her office is preparing arrest warrants for Don Steven McDougal, 42, in connection with Cunningham’s Feb. 15 disappearance. They are eyeing capital murder charges. 

Audrii Cunningham was supposed to get on her school bus on Feb. 15 but never made it, authorities said. (Polk County sheriff)

McDougal was arrested on Friday on unrelated charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and gave him “several opportunities to cooperate” with their investigation into Audrii’s disappearance, said Lt. Craig Cummings, spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Southeast Texas.

“He was probably taking her to…the bus stop, and we do feel that he was the last person to see Audrii,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said of McDougal during the Monday press conference, adding that there were “some occasions” when McDougal would take Audrii to the bus stop or even to school if she missed the bus.

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Lyons urged the public not to “jump to conclusions” as his office works to build a strong criminal case.

AUDRII CUNNINGHAM DISAPPEARANCE: TEXAS BABYSITTER WITH CRIMINAL RECORD NAMED AS PERSON OF INTEREST

Texas authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert for Audrii Cunningham on Feb. 17. (Facebook/ Joshua Cunningham)

The 11-year-old girl should have gotten on her school bus on the morning of Feb. 15, when she was last seen at her residence in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive, in Polk County, Texas, but she never made it on the bus or to school that day, officials said.

McDougal lived in a camper behind the residence where Audrii lived with her father, grandparents and other family, Cummings said. Audrii’s mother, Cassie Matthews, told FOX 26 Houston that she believed McDougal would babysit the 11-year-old girl while he was staying at her father’s home.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHING FOR MEN WHO WENT MISSING OFF GULF OF MEXICO

Don Steven McDougal was named as a person of interest in connection with the Feb. 15 disappearance of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham of Polk County, Texas. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office/ TDPS)

Investigators are trying to piece together a timeline of McDougal’s movements on the morning of Feb. 15. McDougal agreed to show investigators “certain locations” after his arrest, Lyons said.

A statewide Amber Alert was issued on Feb. 16.

FLORIDA WOMAN DISAPPEARS IN MADRID AFTER SUSPICIOUS TEXT, BLACKED-OUT SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

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Lyons said later that there is a “high probability” that a backpack located in a wooded area near the Livingston Dam belonged to Audrii.

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McDougal has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 2000s. His charges range from enticement of a child in Brazoria County in 2008 to assault of a family member and evading arrest in Liberty County, among dozens of other crimes.

Don Steven McDougal was convicted of enticement of a child in 2008. (Facebook)

Investigators are asking the public to submit any video footage they may have of FM 3126 in Polk County between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 15.

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Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that could help them convict the person responsible for Audrii’s disappearance.

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Southwest

Jasmine Crockett cites Mamdani-Trump, AOC-Trump voters when confronted on path to victory in Texas

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Jasmine Crockett cites Mamdani-Trump, AOC-Trump voters when confronted on path to victory in Texas

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, pointed to Mamdani-Trump voters, AOC-Trump voters and Obama-Trump voters when confronted Tuesday on her difficult path to victory in the Texas Senate race.

MS NOW host Chris Hayes asked Crockett about people who question her ability to win the “8 to 10% of Republican voters necessary to win this race,” who cited the voters who supported both President Donald Trump and Democrats like Zohran Mamdani, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former President Barack Obama.

Crocket, who launched her Texas Senate bid on Monday, disagreed with the notion that she needs to win over a percentage of Republican voters and said she hoped to energize her base in a way Democratic candidates have failed to do in the past.

Hayes pointed to Georgia’s Senate races and said Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were the closest model after their hard-fought wins in the 2020 and 2022 cycles. He said, “They definitely got high levels of turnout, but they also did win crossover voters.”

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From left, Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images; John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn; Neil Constantine/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND MOCKED FOR TEXAS SENATE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: ‘CAN’T STOP LAUGHING’

The lawmaker agreed that Texas was a difficult place to win, but said some Trump voters were unsatisfied and pointed to the recent congressional election in Tennessee, which was a closer race than it had been in the past.

“I don’t think anyone who is super in love with Trump would ever vote for me or any other Democrat. That is just the reality. I think what it is, is who is going to talk to people and make them understand that they will fight for them. That is why you have Mamdani-Trump voters. That is why you have AOC-Trump voters. That is why you had Obama-Trump voters,” she told Hayes.

“Let me tell you something, Mamdani has not backed down whatsoever from his rhetoric against the president in the Oval Office. He stood there and he said what he said about him being a fascist. Yet he was able to win those voters. So, Democrats that believe the only way that you can win is by being soft and sounding like a Republican, that is not true,” Crockett said.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks during the Won’t Back Down event at The Van Buren on August 3, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (John Medina/Getty Images for MoveOn)

FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SPENDS EYE-POPPING AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CASH ON LUXURY HOTELS, ‘TOP-TIER’ LIMO SERVICES

She argued voters were looking for someone to fight for them and that’s what she plans to do.

Crockett similarly said she didn’t need to win over Trump’s supporters on Tuesday during an interview on CNN and said that it wasn’t her “goal.”

CNN host Laura Coates asked Crockett if she needed to garner support from Trump voters.

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“Our goal is to definitely talk to people. No, we don’t, we don’t need to. Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to, because there’s so many people that get ignored, specifically in the state of Texas,” she said.

Crockett is trying to become the first Democrat since 1988 to win a U.S. Senate race in Texas.

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Crockett faces blowback from GOP, Hollywood for far-left agenda, media presence after launching US Senate bid

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Crockett faces blowback from GOP, Hollywood for far-left agenda, media presence after launching US Senate bid

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From Congress to Hollywood, Texans are pushing back on Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s U.S. Senate launch as she faces scrutiny for her far-left policies and presence on social media. 

Crockett, a progressive known for her viral social media clashes and sharp exchanges in the House of Representatives, rolled out her Senate bid on Monday. She framed her candidacy as an effort to stand against President Donald Trump, something she said incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn will not do. 

“I’m done watching the American dream on life support while Trump tries to pull the plug. The gloves have been off, and now I’m jumping into the ring,” she said.

EX-NFL STAR ABANDONS SENATE BID AS JASMINE CROCKETT NEARS MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, speaks to reporters after announcing her run in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate on Dec. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (LM Otero/AP Photo)

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, responded to her announcement on Tuesday, blasting her record on policing and border enforcement.

“Texans want somebody representing them who’s gonna stand for law and order, and that is certainly not Jasmine Crockett,” Gill said on “Hannity.” “If Texans support one thing, it’s law and order. And listen, this is probably the most pro-criminal candidate Democrats could have possibly found.”

TOP GOP SENATOR SAYS CROCKETT ANNOUNCEMENT EXPOSES HOW ‘RADICAL’ DEMS ARE NATIONWIDE

The congressman cited Crockett’s past support for the defund-the-police movement, adding that Crockett “has said on record that just because you commit a crime doesn’t mean that you’re a criminal.”

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“This is somebody who has said on record that just because somebody crosses our border illegally, that is not a crime,” Gill added. 

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump during her time in Congress. (Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images)

Gill also warned that the Democrat was misreading the state’s politics.

“Remember, Texas is a state where President Trump won by 14 points,” he said. “She’s saying she doesn’t need Trump voters for her to win this. Yes, she does.”

JASMINE CROCKETT GETS STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR HER ‘PHENOMENAL’ MESSAGING ABILITY FOR DEMOCRATS

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The pushback against Crockett isn’t limited to Capitol Hill, however. 

“I live in Texas, I love Texas, I really don’t want her representing Texas,” actor Zachary Levi said on “Gutfeld!” Tuesday.

The “Shazam!” star called out Crockett’s social media habits.

“I think that a lot of people are digging themselves in some pretty big holes because they think they’re taking advantage of social media, and yet they’re coming out with this really bizarre stuff,” Levi said. “And I think that a lot of people that might otherwise support her are cringing because of that.”

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Levi suggested that her participation in viral TikTok trends wouldn’t age well.

“And more than that, you’re supposed to be a responsible adult in the room as a politician. You should be doing things that are of more value to your constituency,” he added.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser, Peter Pinedo, Elizabeth Elkind and Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report. 

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Mayor Tim Keller defeats law-and-order challenger to secure third term as Albuquerque mayor

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Mayor Tim Keller defeats law-and-order challenger to secure third term as Albuquerque mayor

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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has been re-elected to lead New Mexico’s largest city, according to the unofficial results from the Bernalillo County clerk’s office. 

While officially nonpartisan, Tuesday’s runoff carried a clear ideological split as Keller faced a challenge from his right in former Sheriff Darren White, who cast himself as the law-and-order candidate promising to restore public safety.

Keller defended his record on crime and homelessness, ultimately securing a third term to continue leading the blue city through the next four years as it confronts public safety and housing challenges.

Keller and White advanced from a 7-candidate field on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2025, when other high-stakes mayoral races were playing out across the United States, from Seattle to New York City. Because neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the mayoral contest advanced to Tuesday’s runoff election.

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ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS TO DECIDE MAYORAL RUNOFF AS LAW-AND-ORDER CHALLENGER TAKES ON INCUMBENT IN BLUE CITY

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller greets then-Vice President Kamala Harris at the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (Sam Wasson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Despite Albuquerque’s officially nonpartisan mayoral election, Keller aligns with the Democratic Party while White is a Republican.

“Thank you for believing in this campaign, in our city, and in the work ahead. I’m honored to earn your trust for another historic term, and I’m ready to keep delivering progress for every community in our city. Let’s get back to work, together,” Keller said Tuesday night after securing a third term.

THE RESULTS ARE IN: 2025’S BIGGEST WINNER AND LOSERS FROM THE OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS

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“While we are disappointed by the final result, we have no regrets. We walk with our heads held high, proud of the movement we built and the issues we helped elevate,” White posted on X.

Both candidates made public safety and housing central to their campaigns as Albuquerque has struggled with some of the highest violent-crime rates in the region and a homelessness crisis.

Keller is a former state senator and auditor who has served as mayor of Albuquerque since 2017, while White is the programming manager for a local radio station, the former chief public safety officer for Albuquerque and lost a congressional race as a Republican in 2008.

According to Keller’s campaign website, he ran for re-election, in part, because Albuquerque “needs strong, reliable leadership” to “stand up” against President Donald Trump’s sweeping, second-term agenda.

Then-U.S. House candidate Darren White speaks at the New Mexico’s Republican Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 15, 2008. (Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images)

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Earlier this year, Keller issued an executive order “reaffirming Albuquerque’s longstanding commitment as an immigrant-friendly city and outlined specific actions to safeguard the rights and safety of immigrant and refugee communities,” amid Trump’s nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.

“He’s done the real work to repair decades-long challenges holding our city back. Now we know what’s working — and it’s time to press the pedal down and move Albuquerque forward through these tough times,” Keller touted on his campaign website, as he pointed to “tough times” locally and nationally.

Keller leaned on his record throughout the campaign, including his efforts to combat crime, reform homelessness and housing services and his “breakthrough achievements,” including public safety and community investment projects, as outlined on his website.

The mayor also highlighted his initiatives to reform the city’s emergency response system, invest in neighborhoods, fight for survivors of sexual violence, modernize the economy, leadership on “climate action” including a commitment to being “100% renewable by 2025,” expanding youth programs and “leading with courage” through the COVID-19 pandemic, per his campaign website.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller delivers remarks at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022.  (Sam Wasson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Meanwhile, White emphasized his law enforcement experience as a U.S. Army veteran who has served as “the head of the New Mexico State Police and Sheriff of Bernalillo County,” according to his own campaign website.

Chief among his campaign promises was a commitment to fighting crime by restoring law and order and “giving officers the support and tools they need to enforce the law and clean up our streets” and ending “Mayor Keller’s Sanctuary City law for criminals and fight to end Catch and Release,” according to his website.

Drawing a contrast to Keller’s own record, White campaigned on cleaning up homeless encampments and addressing “the homeless crisis with policies that work.”

Other campaign promises included partnering with businesses to create jobs and boost the economy and prioritizing government efficiency by cutting the waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars, per his campaign website.

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“I have a proven record of fighting crime, protecting our communities, and upholding law and order,” White said. “I’ll unshackle the police, end Mayor Keller’s failed sanctuary policies, clean up homeless encampments, and restore safety to Albuquerque’s streets, parks, and businesses while cutting government waste and making our city a place where families and businesses can thrive again.”

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