Latest news with #FOX7
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ERCOT CEO on summer preps, artificial intelligence stressing grid
The Brief The head of ERCOT, Pablo Vegas, expressed confidence that the Texas power grid will have enough supply to meet demand this summer, despite a gloomy forecast in February. Vegas stated that over 3,000 power plant and transmission substation inspections have been conducted since issues during the 2021 winter storm, showing facilities are prepared for peak summer heat. While acknowledging a focus on natural gas by lawmakers, Vegas noted the significant growth of solar, wind, and battery storage, and highlighted new legislation (SB 6) requiring data centers to use on-site backup generation during grid emergencies as a "game-changer" for future reliability. AUSTIN - The head of ERCOT says the grid will have enough power supply to meet demand this summer. The outlook comes after a gloomy report in February that warned of a fast-approaching power shortage. What they're saying ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas spoke with FOX 7's Rudy Koski about the positive outlook and why his optimism goes beyond the summer months. Vegas: "We do have enough power. The grid is ready for that. We've been doing our inspections for the summer season. Some people may not know, but we actually inspect the power plants and the transmission substations in the winter and the summer both. So we want to make sure that they're ready to run in the peak heat and the peak cold and so we've done over 3,000 inspections since this program started. That was something that came out of Winter Storm Uri, a new formal program that ERCOT administers and the inspections are showing that the operators are taking this very seriously, that they're readying their power facilities in order to be able to operate during the peak summer heat." Koski: "We heard all about how the Texas power plants are really built for the hot Texas summer, but with that said, and with those inspections, any problems? Any issues that you saw that you say, I have to address this?" Vegas: "I can tell you there's been nothing significant or concerning that makes me think this is going to be a problem, [or that] we're not going to be able to deal with this summer." Koski: "We just wrapped up the legislative session and state lawmakers really put an emphasis on natural gas plants. But we do know that solar and wind have played a big role in getting us through some peak periods and times. Are you happy in how this new triplet-type situation is merging together and then throwing in batteries?" Vegas: "What we're finding is that each of the different supply resources, whether it's wind or solar, whether it's the traditional gas, nuclear, coal, or the brand new batteries that we're starting to see quite a lot of growth on in our system, all of them are bringing something unique to the game." Koski: "Are you worried that lawmakers are a little bit too focused on natural gas? Are you worried about that kind of rhetoric?" Vegas: "No, because I think what's really underlying it is a desire for balance. We've seen predominantly, almost limited to, wind and solar and batteries growing on the ERCOT grid over the last five years, and very little natural gas. I think legislators and policymakers are concerned about this imbalance for the long term." Koski: "You mentioned the growth of back in February, ERCOT caused a little bit of a stir by saying power demand could nearly double by 2030, supply could fall short by 6% by the summer of 2026 and then there would be an even wider gap in 2029. Does that report still hold?" Vegas: "The core growth story is still the same. So we still expect tremendous economic growth. A lot of it is driven by data centers. You've heard the discussions about artificial intelligence and the amount of energy demand that that uses. That continues to be at the center of the focus and the center of the story. However, the legislature made some really important changes during this last session. They passed a bill called Senate Bill 6. And what Senate Bill 6 did is it kind of defined the rules of the road for how data centers would perform and operate in the ERCOT grid. And one of the key requirements is that data centers, which happen to be built, they all are built with backup generation on site. Those backup generation facilities, if the grid were to get into an emergency condition and be very scarce, those data centers would come off of the grid and use their backup generation. That's now put into law. And that's something that is a game-changer when it comes to reliability. And so that provision, once implemented, is going to, I think, pave the pathway for safe growth on the data center side. And that going to really change the picture of that forecast. I think it's going to change the reliability and improve the numbers when we do our next update." Koski: "Are you confident that the [local power providers] are ready for the summer?" Vegas: "I think there were a lot of lessons learned, Rudy. A lot of lesson learned as to how to do better, how to communicate better, how to prepare better, how to manage vegetation better, how to stage people when there is an issue and respond more quickly. I saw a lot of lessons learned and come out of the experiences from last summer and I do believe that our utility partners are ready for the summer weather ahead of us." The Source Information in this article comes from FOX 7's Rudy Koski's interview with ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
InfoWars writer shooting: Austin teen heard implicating himself with crime
The Brief Audio of a teen believed to be involved in the murder of an InfoWars writer in Austin was obtained In the recording, the teen implicates himself with the deadly shooting Four teens have already been arrested in the shooting AUSTIN, Texas - FOX 7 has obtained audio of a teenager believed to be involved in the murder of an InfoWars writer in Southeast Austin in March. In the recording, first reported by Breanna Morello, he is reacting to the news and implicates himself with the crime. Meanwhile, Austin police have already arrested four teenagers in connection to the deadly shooting. It is unclear if the teen heard in the audio recording has been arrested or questioned by Austin police, but it seems he knows information about what happened. However, APD said they are looking into the recording. What they're saying The recorded conversation is between an unidentified woman and an unnamed teen. "The one that I f****, um, the one that threw away recently after the f****, what happened with the reporter, that was a little Taurus. That was like a little Taurus," the teen said. The teen is talking about a gun and a reporter, which is circled back to later in the conversation. "You said your homeboy shot a dude that was a reporter, right?" the woman asked. "Yeah," the teen responded. "Okay, that's what I just said. I said, show me. I don't even know what you're reading. I don't watch the news, dawg," the woman said. "Oh, they made a whole TikTok about it," the teen said. "What's your homeboy's name?' the woman asked, 'I can just look it up from there, right? I can Google him or some s***, Google his name, and it'll show me, right?" "His name is Eloy," the teen said. "What is it?" the woman asked. "Eloy," the teen said. A 17-year-old named Eloy Camarillo has been arrested by Austin police for the murder of InfoWars writer, Jamie White. During the conversation, the teen reads off a news article. "Austin police have released new information regarding the investigation into the fatal of shooting of InfoWars reporter Jamie White. Authorities say White was attempting to prevent a burglary of his vehicle when he was shot outside his southeast Austin apartment Sunday night. If you discover someone breaking into your vehicle, please call 911 said John Jason Jones of APD Homicidal Unit," the teen said. "Damn, what is InfoWars? What is InfoWars?" the woman asked. "I don't know, that's what I'm saying," the teen said. "What the f*** is that s***," the woman said. "I think that's like a, what, like a news channel or something?" the teen said. The teen then alludes to being at the scene of the crime. "But that s*** was crazy. I didn't even expect, we didn't even expect that s***, to like kill someone, I mean I didn't kill him, but my homebody did," the teen said. "Yeah, you just acted like you did, shouldn't have said that. I'll act like I didn't hear it, I'll act like I didn't hear it," the woman said. "We didn't expect that s*** to happen. That s*** happened out of nowhere," the teen said. Dig deeper Police said back in March, four teens were trying to steal White's Kia when he confronted them. That's when White was shot and killed. "This is a very big problem in Austin, and we are trying to do what we can, hold those individuals accountable," Austin Police Homicide Detective Jason Jones said. Camarillo and Rodney Hill, both 17, and two 15-year-olds, have been arrested and charged with capital murder. Court records revealed Camarillo told police Hill was the shooter. When police went through Hill's phone, they found audio recordings of him rapping about White's murder, mentioning his name, and hitting him with a 9. The affidavit stated the rap in part said: "I'm so 5k. White boy came outside. Hit his d*** a** with a 9. F*** with a n**** called Jamie White. His a** should've hit a pipe." What's next "At this time, we do not believe that Jamie was targeted. Instead, we believe this is a very unfortunate and tragic series of senseless events leading to, involving the four individuals who obviously have no value for human life," Detective Jones said. The names and information of the 15-year-olds haven't been released because they are juveniles. The 17-year-olds are still in the Travis County Jail. Hill is being held on a $900,000 bond and Camarillo is being held on $250,000. The Source Information from the Austin Police Department, previous FOX 7 Austin coverage, and an audio recording
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13-Year-Old with Brain and Spinal Cancer Faces New Health Struggle 2 Months After Becoming Honorary Secret Service Agent
DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old honorary U.S. Secret Service agent living with brain and spinal cancer, has three new tumors DJ's father Theodis Daniel shared the health update at a May 19 swearing-in ceremony, two months after President Donald Trump made DJ an honorary agent 'It's rough — there isn't a class that can teach you how to deal with it,' Theodis said about his son's latest diagnosisAs a small child, Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel was given months to live. In 2018, the Texas native was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer, with doctors giving him five months to live, according to the United States Secret Service. Five months turned into five years. Now, after seven years and more than 13 brain surgeries, DJ is still standing. But a new diagnosis has shaken his family and supporters. When the teen — who wants to be a police officer — was sworn in as an honorary agent of the U.S. Secret Service in March, his father Theodis Daniel said DJ's family is hopeful about his future, thanks in part to a research study he is participating in. 'He's beating the odds," Theodis said at the time. But two months later, the proud parent shared that the odds have changed. During a swearing-in ceremony at Williamson County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) in Texas, Theodis told FOX 7 Austin that the teen is 'just winging it day by day' in the face of new health hardships. 'He does have three new tumors,' the father told the Texas outlet at the May 19 ceremony. 'It's rough — there isn't a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You're hearing that your child has a nasty disease.' But DJ, whose desire to become a law enforcement officer stemmed from his family's experiences during Hurricane Harvey, has already achieved his goal, according to FOX 7. He has been sworn in by more than 1,300 agencies, including multiple on May 19. And his family remains hopeful. Amid DJ's health struggles, Theodis told FOX 7, 'We're just going around showing people, 'Hey, you do care for one another. Let's give compassion and let's try to join and help each other get through things.' ' Perhaps the crowning jewel of DJ's honorary law enforcement titles is U.S. Secret Service agent. President Donald Trump bestowed him with the honor on March 4 in a joint address to Congress. 'Tonight, DJ, we're going to do you the biggest honor of them all. I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States Secret Service,' Trump, 78, told the teen, whose eyes widened upon hearing the news. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. The following day, DJ also visited the president in the Oval Office. And, after his father shared his latest health update in Texas, the White House released a statement of support for the teen. 'We're lifting up Agent DJ Daniel in prayer after his dad, Theodis, shared that DJ is now facing three new tumors,' an X post from the White House said. 'DJ is one of the strongest, bravest young men—and has now been sworn into 1,351 law enforcement agencies across the country," the post continued. "Agent Daniel, you're a true legend. 🇺🇸.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Austin weather: Hot Sunday, severe storm chances Monday
The Brief Sunday will be warm and muggy. Parts of the Hill Country could see rain and storms on Sunday night. There's a shot at strong to severe storms on Memorial Day. AUSTIN - Sunday will be another hot, muggy day, but wet weather could be right around the corner. Temperatures will climb into the mid and upper 90s on Sunday with lots of sunshine. Parts of the Hill County could see some rain in the evening to overnight hours. There is a chance at some severe weather. It is mostly just for the far western portions of our viewing area. Temperatures will be a bit lower on Monday. The chance of showers, storms and severe weather will start to rise. There is a lot of inconsistency between models at this point. Monday afternoon into evening we could see strong to severe storms. The farther north you live, the better chance you will have to see storms. Gusty winds, large hail, heavy downpours, and even isolated tornadoes are possible. Make sure you stay weather-aware on Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to be a bit more seasonable for this week. Highs will be in the low 90s and high 80s. We also see chances of rain throughout the week. All-in-all, it's a very spring-like forecast. Meteorological summer starts next Sunday and astronomical summer starts on June 20. The Source Information in this article comes from the FOX 7 Austin weather team.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- New York Post
Texas student-teacher who allegedly had sex with teen told cops she saw him as ‘a little brother'
A Texas high school student teacher who admitted to having sex with a teen boy she taught told cops she saw him 'as a little brother,' authorities said. Darian Christine Rogers, 22, has been charged with second-degree felony improper relationship between an educator and a student, arrest records show. She first met the boy at a grocery store where the pair worked at the time, before she became a student teacher at Rouse High School in Leander, a suburb north of Austin, FOX 7 reports. Advertisement Rogers, who has been working at the high school since January this year, was reported to authorities in April by a student who said she had 'personal knowledge' of a teacher being involved in a sexual relationship with a minor, court paperwork seen by the local outlet states. 7 Texas student teacher Darian Christine Rogers, 22, told police she saw her victim as a 'little brother.' Williamson County Jail The student also provided a voicemail from a woman — identified as Rogers by Williamson County Sheriff's Office — in which she admitted to sending explicit photos to a 17-year-old male. Advertisement Her alleged victim initially denied the illicit relationship to police until he was confronted with messages detectives found on his phone between him and Rogers discussing the Plan B contraceptive pill, FOX 7 reported. Rogers denied having sex with the boy in her police interview and described their relationship as that of a 'big sister and little brother,' according to the affidavit. 7 Rogers started working as a student teacher in January this year. Instagram / Darian Rogers She then admitted to having sex with the student 'one time' in his truck in a parking lot near the H-E-B grocery store where they both worked after she was confronted with the text evidence, the affidavit states. Advertisement 7 Rogers also confessed to an illicit relationship with another student. Facebook / Darian Rogers Rogers warned the student to avoid 'inappropriate comments' in front of school staff as she was interviewing for a position there, the affidavit states. 7 The illicit relationship happened before Rogers started working as a student teacher at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas. Google Maps A video of Rogers taking the Plan B pill and a screenshot of the receipt were also found on her phone by detectives. Advertisement 7 Rogers had sex with the underage boy when the pair worked at an H-E-B grocery store. LinkedIn / Darian Rogers Another text thread between Rogers and a friend described a previous sexual relationship between her and a different child who was 17 and a student in the Leander Independent School District at the time. 7 The school's principal sent a letter to students' families after Rogers' arrest. Google Maps The school's principal sent a letter to the families of students on Friday following Rogers' arrest. 7 Rogers confessed to having sex with the boy in his truck outside the H-E-B where they worked together. Google Maps 'The individual was not a Leander ISD or Rouse High School employee and was immediately removed from campus once the district was made aware of the situation,' the letter from Rouse High School principal Vincent Hawkins and seen by FOX 7 reads. 'Any accusations of misconduct did not happen on our campus, during school hours, or at any school-sponsored event,' the letter continues. Advertisement Rogers was booked into Williamson County Jail on Friday and released the following day on a $20,000 bond. She is next due in court on June 4 for a pre-indictment docket call, arrest records show.
