Town of West Sues Over Fertilizer Blast

Getty Images

Search and rescue workers comb through what remains of a 50-unit apartment building (foreground) and the West Rest Haven Nursing Home the day after an explosion at the West Fertilizer Company destroyed the buildings April 18, 2013 in West, Texas. According to West Mayor Tommy Muska, around 14 people, including 10 first responders, were killed and more than 150 people were injured when the fertilizer company caught fire and exploded, leaving damaged buildings for blocks in every direction. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

advertisement

Officials of the small central Texas town devastated by an April 17 fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people have filed suit against the plant owner and supplier.

The lawsuit filed Friday seeks unspecified damages from plant owner Adair Grain and CF Industries, which supplied agricultural-grade ammonium nitrate toe the plant. A fire at the plant ignited the explosive chemical, flattening homes, schools and businesses and killing firefighters and other first-responders fighting the fire.

The lawsuit filed in state district court in Waco alleges Adair Grain was negligent in how it stored the chemical and that CF Industries was liable for an inherently hazardous product.

Adair Grain spokesman Daniel Keeney and CF Industries spokesman Dan Swenson told the Waco Tribune-Herald that they hadn't reviewed the lawsuit and declined to comment.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alligator Found in "Doomsday Prepper's" House

Scott Gordon, NBC 5 News

Clayton Earthman was arrested on Wednesday after officers found bomb-making supplies in his car. Officers also found an alligator in Earthman's home.

Alligator Found in Alleged...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Alligator-Found-in-Alleged-"Doomsday-Prepper"-Home/212584061

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

A man arrested Wednesday with bomb-making materials in his car had drugs and an alligator in his home, a federal agent testified Friday.

Clayton Earthman, 43, was arrested after police said he ran a stop sign near Fair Park.

An officer said Earthman had a gun in his car. A search later revealed he had bomb-making material and notes on how to make bombs, police said.

Earthman claimed to be a "Doomsday Prepper." A cable TV show by the same name profiles people preparing for the end of the world.

On Thursday, agents with the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched his house near Pleasant Grove.

They found 15 marijuana plants, bomb-making material, and an alligator, according to a Dallas police report.

Neighbors say they saw agents carry two alligators from the home on Woodard Avenue.

"That's scary," said neighbor Susan Collins. "We didn't know he had all that."

At his court appearance, a judge ordered Earthman held without bond because he was a danger to the community.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Good Samaritan Helps Deliver Roadside Baby

advertisement

Driver Helps Woman Delivery Baby on Side of Road

A Good Samaritan helped an expectant mother and her husband on the side of the road deliver their baby.

More Photos and Videos

A Good Samaritan helped a Gainesville, Texas couple welcome their first son a bit earlier than expected on Friday morning.

Baby Landon was born at about 7:30 a.m. just off the southbound lanes of Interstate 35W near Alliance Airport in Fort Worth.

The parents were planning to give birth in Fort Worth after recently moving from Arlington to Gainesville. 

Mom Karen Call - a certified EMT - was prepared in case the they didn't make it to the hospital.

"I brought two shoe strings and scissors, and some towels in case the baby came early," Karen Call said.

The couple didn't make it to the hospital.

Four people stopped alongside the road to help. One was them was Charles Harrell, owner of Tex Star Towing, who helped deliver the baby.

"I did what I had to do," Harrell said.

"I help everyone, that's why I started the business, so I could help people," Harrell said.

Harrell was bringing a stranded driver back from Oklahoma when stopped to help the expectant Calls.

"Just seen a car swerve off to the side of the road, seen a guy with a black blanket run out and the lady rolled out of the car," said Harrell. "And I went, 'she's having a baby.'"

Armed with blankets and gloves of his own, Harrell and his passenger sprung into action.

"The husband was kind of panicking and we just told her to push and everything will be all right," Harrell said.

About 10 to 15 minutes after pulling over, at 7:28 a.m. according to MedStar's 911 log, baby Landon was born.

"It was a beautiful baby, it didn't really set in until I got back into the truck to leave," Harrell said.

Mom and baby are doing fine now at Texas Health Harris Methodist.

When asked whether he'd ever delivered a baby before, Harrell smiled and simply said, "some puppies."

Landon is the couple's second child. The two already have a 17-month-old daughter.

The family expects to be back home in Gainesville by the end of the weekend.

NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

FBI Makes Arrest in "Mesh Mask Bandit" Case

Kevin Cokely, NBC 5 News

The FBI says Luis Delgarza, photo inset from October 2012 arrest by Dallas Police, is the "Mesh Mask Bandit" responsible for more than a dozen bank robberies across North Texas. He was arrested and charged with robbing a Wells Fargo Bank in Farmers Branch on April 22.

FBI Makes Arrest in "Mesh...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/FBI-Makes-Arrest-in-"Mesh-Mask-Bandit"-Case/212583561

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

The FBI says it has finally arrested the North Texas man believed to be the "Mesh Mask Bandit."

The FBI said Luis Delagarza, 59, of Farmers Branch, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing armed bank robbery.

Delagarza was once considered one of the most dynamic local leaders in the Latino community.

"This was somebody that associated with some of the most important people in Dallas," said Carlos Quintanilla, Accion America president and longtime community activist.

NBC 5's sister station Telemundo interviewed Delagarza several years ago about immigration reform.

The FBI said a witness identified Delagarza from a photo lineup.

According to the FBI's complaint and affidavit, the witness saw the face of the man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in the 13000 block of Josey Lane in Farmers Branch on April 22.

The bank is blocks from Delagarza's home.

The witness reported seeing the man's face both before he pulled on his dark mask and entered the bank with a handgun and after the robbery, when he removed the mask outside the bank.

"The identification of the 'Mesh Mask Bandit' by the FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force was the result of collaborative local and federal investigation across nine cities," said Diego G. Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division. "The arrest of this dangerous individual illustrates the effectiveness of task forces, the support provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office and cooperation within the law enforcement community."

The FBI had dubbed the bank robber the Mesh Mask Bandit because of his mesh mask that hid his face.

The Mesh Mask Bandit was linked to robberies at 19 banks in North Texas since New Year's Eve.

Bank customers said they are relieved an arrest has been made.

"I'm glad they caught him," Brandon Vidal said. "It's a good thing. Put him away."

Delagarza made his initial appearance in federal court Friday. A judge ordered that he remain in federal custody.

He will be back in court on Tuesday.

Delagarza was arrested twice before on charges of speeding and theft.

Previous Reports:

NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Safe Room Program to Open Wait Lists

advertisement

After a flurry of applications forced a North Texas agency to close a storm shelter rebate program, a new waiting list for applicants in multiple counties is rolling out.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments will open an online wait list for Safe Room program rebates June 21-30.

All 16 counties in the NCTCOG region will have wait lists open in a rolled-out schedule. Once a wait list has been opened for a specific county, it will not close.

To be placed on the wait list, applicants will need to provide their name and address at www.nctsaferoom.com once the wait list for their county opens.

Those without Internet access can call 817-695-9235 and leave a voice mail with their name, phone number, address and county. All submissions online or via phone will have a time and date stamp, the NCTCOG said.

Here is the list of each county's open date and time:

• Collin County: Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m.
• Dallas County: Saturday, June 22 at 8 a.m.
• Denton County: Sunday, June 23 at 8 a.m.
• Ellis County: Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m.
• Erath County: Monday, June 24 at 7 p.m.
• Hood County: Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
• Hunt County: Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
• Johnson County: Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
• Kaufman County: Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
• Navarro County: Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
• Palo Pinto County: Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m.
• Parker County: Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
• Rockwall County: Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
• Somervell County: Saturday, June 29 at 8 a.m.
• Wise County: Saturday, June 29 at 8 a.m.
• Tarrant County: Sunday, June 30 at 8 a.m.

Safe room rebate program officials said the wait lists will help the NCTCOG assess demand for the program and allow them to communicate the need to federal funding sources.

The NCTCOG said the safe room program is not retroactive, meaning applicants must be approved before installing a storm shelter.

Those who have already applied to the safe room program will be notified that their application has been received and do not need to apply again. The NCTCOG will contact applicants who join the wait list after the program receives additional funding. Organizers say the process could take three to 18 months.

The Metro Safe Room Rebate Program is funded by a $1.395 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

The rebate program offers residents living or developing in North Texas counties a chance to qualify for half the cost of construction for an individual safe room, up to $3,000. But the rooms must be from a vendor approved by the National Storm Shelter Association or the American Tornado Shelter Association to qualify for reimbursement.

NBC 5 Investigates first told you about the federal funding May 23.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

DISD Faces Teacher Shortage for Summer School

advertisement

The Dallas school district says it is working on plans to deal with a teacher shortage for summer school.

The Dallas Independent School District is not quantifying how many teachers are needed for summer school, saying only that the need is real. Summer school begins Tuesday.

"The need is critical, but we're not pushing the panic button just yet," district spokesman Jon Dahlander said.

Administrators are already working on contingency plans to accommodate classes, he said.

"Some of the changes that we are considering is having larger class sizes," Dahlander said. "We had planned to have class sizes at about 16 to 18:1. It may be a little bit more than that."

Bilingual and secondary math teachers are among the most critical of the district's needs.

Abigale Vera, an eighth-grader who needs a course to move on to the ninth grade, needs a bilingual teacher.

"I don't know English that much," she said. "I know Spanish better."

Without the course, she could be forced to repeat, but her mother, Irma, said her daughter would rather drop out than repeat eighth grade.

Angela Davis, president of the National Education Association, a teachers group, said this is the first time in memory that the district has had a summer school teacher shortage.

"We've never had a shortage for summer school, never," said Davis, who blames the lack of interest in teaching summer school on administrative policies.

She said DISD teachers are so fed up with random pop evaluations in class that they have decided to pass on summer jobs that promise more money and fewer hours so they do not have to face more scrutiny and stress.

Davis said it is all a reflection on a sour relationship between teachers and DISD Superintendent Mike Miles.

DISD administrators met Thursday to address the teacher shortage and will continue to meet until Tuesday morning. So far, no decisions have been made about closing summer programs at some schools, and the district promises to be ready for the thousands of enrolled children.

"We're going to have summer school ready to go on Tuesday," Dahlander said. "It may not be quite the way that we had planned, but we'll be ready for your child."

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Three Boys Home Alone During Burglary Attempt

Scott Gordon, NBC News

Daniel Rodriguez, 12, was at his cousin's house when burglars broke in. The thieves were scared off when his cousin's mother came home.

Three Boys Home Alone During...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Three-Boys-Home-Alone-During-Burglary-Attempt/212431751

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Three young boys were home alone in North Fort Worth playing video games when two masked men broke in on Thursday afternoon.

"We were playing games until I saw a shadow," 12-year-old Daniel Rodriguez said.

"I saw somebody with, like, a black bandana and yellow right here," 12-year-old Kevin Avila said.

Avila and his two cousins, Rodriguez and a 14-year-old, hid in a bedroom.

"I saw them, but they didn't see me," Avila said.

His mother happened to come home from work, unaware of what was going on inside.

"My mom came right in time," Avila said.

Without even knowing it, she apparently scared the burglars away.

"If I didn't show up on time, they would have been dead," Jessica Henderson said.

She called police.

"They got here in two minutes," she said. "Oh my God, it's crazy. You wouldn't think that somebody could come into your house with a freakin' mask on in broad daylight."

Three people were in custody Thursday evening and were being questioned, said Fort Worth police spokesman Sgt. Kelly Peel.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Joshua ISD Apologizes to Valedictorian Over Speech

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Joshua Independent School District Superintendent Fran Marek apologized to Remington Reimer after meeting with him and his attorney Thursday.

Joshua ISD Apologizes to...

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Joshua-ISD-Apologizes-to-Valedictorian-Over-Speech/212431791

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

The Joshua Independent School District has apologized to a high-school valedictorian whose microphone was switched off during a graduation ceremony when he deviated from prepared remarks.

Superintendent Fran Marek apologized to Remington Reimer after meeting with him and his attorney Thursday.

Marek released this statement on the Joshua ISD website:

On behalf of the school district, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Mr. Todd Reimer and Remington Reimer for any interpretation of a threat by Mr. Cochran in expressing his displeasure at a meeting on Friday morning between Mr. Todd Reimer and Mr. Cochran following Remington Reimer's valedictory address. The District has never intended to nor will take punitive action against Remington Reimer for deviating from the prior-reviewed speech. The District endorses Remington Reimer's appointment to the Naval Academy and wishes him success for all future endeavors in his naval career. District officials will ensure that district policy is followed at future graduation ceremonies.

Fran Marek, Superintendent
Joshua ISD

Reimer's microphone was switched off during the June 6 ceremony after he deviated from prepared remarks and began talking about his religious beliefs.

He also alleged that his principal threatened to contact the U.S. Naval Academy, where Reimer has been accepted, to complain about his bad character. But Marek said "the district has never intended to, nor will take, punitive action."

Reimer says he's thankful and knew the school district would support him.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beware of Scorpions Sneaking Into Homes

Amanda Guerra, NBC 5 News

Dallas-Fort Worth area pest control companies say they're seeing an increase in scorpions lurking in homes in several cities.

Scorpion Sightings on the Rise

Copy

Close

Link to this video

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Scorpion-Sightings-on-the-Rise/212434661

Copy

Close

Embed this video

Replay

advertisement

Pest control shops across Dallas-Fort Worth say they're seeing an increase in scorpions lurking in homes in several cities.

A lot of it has to do with the heat, but homeowners also could unknowingly be bringing them into their homes, said Marty Keane, with The Pest Shop in Plano.

Often, scorpions hide in sand. Keane said they can "stay in those areas for up to six months and stay alive without ever feeding."

Many homeowners use sand during housing construction and in gardening.

Parents should also be aware of the possibility of scorpions hiding in children's sandboxes.

"So six months, you know, after kids going back outside and start playing in sandboxes, they start shoveling and there you go -- there are the scorpions," Keane said.

The best way to prevent scorpions is to go to a pest control shop and buy a repellant that can spray around the home and at-risk areas such as sandboxes, she said.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dozens Displaced by Dallas Apartment Fire

advertisement

Dozens of residents have been displaced by an apartment fire that destroyed eight units early Friday morning.

Neighbors reported seeing the fire start at about 3 a.m. Friday on the outside of the Spanish Garden Apartments at 2838 Royal Lane in Dallas.

Investigators said they are looking into whether an electrical program is to blame for the blaze. Fire crews said power lines run from a transformer on the backside of the building and into the complex.

Firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained to one building, but had trouble knocking down the fire after it spread to an area of flat line roof that had another, sloped roof constructed on top of it during a remodeling of the buildings. A Dallas fire chief told NBC 5's Kendra Lyn that situation was not uncommon.

A total of 29 people, 19 adults and 10 children, have been displaced by the fire. Residents were able to evacuate and no one has been reported as missing.

Firefighters have been able to enter the units to retrieve essential items like medications for some of the residents, but crews are concerned about the possibility of collapsing ceilings in areas where water is sitting on top of the roof.

Some residents reported that smoke alarms did not go off when the fire started. Investigators said they are looking into those claims.

NBC 5's Kendra Lyn contributed to this report.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

19.31 | 0 komentar | Read More