Perry's Target Practice Video the Talk of NRA Meeting

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

A short video that played just before Governor Rick Perry took the stage in Houston is attracting quite a bit of attention.

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Mix Governor Rick Perry, a Ted Nugent song, a military style rifle and n egg exploding during target practice  together and you get the most talked about introduction video at this week's National Rifle Association's meeting in Houston.

The short video played just before Perry took the stage to a welcome applause from the crowd.

The video shows Perry taking aim at an egg from about 100 yards out with a LaRue Tactical rifle - a company that recently opened up shop in Texas.

The video then shows Perry hitting metal targets like a marksman.

The video got quite a reaction online, and not all of it was good.

The responses on Twitter ranged from folks saying Perry's video did nothing but "promote and excite the already gun-thirsty and violent society" to others saying "I love Rick Perry! He should be President...great guy."

Some political pundits accused Perry of shooting the same type of weapon used in the Newtown, Conn. school shooting.

Tom Mannewitz with Target Master Indoor Shooting center, a Garland gun shop and range, said the gun looks like an AR-15 and has the same frame, but is different and shoots a different caliber bullet.

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American Airlines Celebrates 80 Years of Flight Attendants

Marc Fein, NBC 5 News

Eighty years ago today, on May 3, 1933, the first four American Airlines stewardesses graduated from training and headed out on their first flight.

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Friday is a very special day for Fort Worth-based American Airlines.  Eighty years ago today, on May 3, 1933, the first four American Airlines stewardesses graduated from training and headed out on their first flight.

So we thought, what better time to take a trip down memory lane.

Over the last 80 years things have changed quite a bit for stewardesses, now commonly referred to as flight attendants. The four original American Airlines stewardesses graduated after three days of training in 1933. In 1957 the airline opened the world's first school dedicated to the profession, the American Airlines Stewardess College. At graduation,  a "flyover" was not uncommon as part of the celebration.

Traveling the world has always been a glamorous profession. Fittingly, much of the evolution of the profession has had to do with the uniform; from the military look of the early years, to the cutting-edge style of Bill Blass's uniforms in 1972.

They also broke down barriers by being one of the first airlines to hire black stewardesses. They were also the very first to carry AED's on every single flight.

American said Friday it is excited to celebrate and honor the professionals who have been the face of the airline for the last eight decades, and for those to come.

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Pit Bull Saves N.Y. Woman from House Fire

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A pit bull saved a woman from a fire in her home in New York on Friday, barking to alert her as the flames began to spread from the front to the back of the house.

Jackie Bonasera said she was drying her hair in an upstairs bathroom of the home in East Norwich, N.Y., on Long Island, when she heard the dog barking. She ran downstairs and saw the flames on the side of her garage. 

She was able to escape the house.

"I ran out of the house and my neighbors came running over, and then I thought about the dog — I'm like, 'He saved my life, I have to save his,'" Bonasera recounted.

"So I just put my robe over my face and I ran back in and I grabbed the dog and then I stood out here and I watched my house burn," she said.

Bonasera believes she would have been trapped upstairs if the dog, named Cain, hadn't alerted her to the fire.

Bonasera's daughter, Alexus Stallworth, said Cain is "the town hero."

"He's a pit bull, too," said Stallworth. "They have such bad reps, but he's such a good boy."

Stallworth was outside the house when the fire broke out and captured the blaze on her cell phone camera.

More than 70 firefighters were needed to stop the fire. Although the cause of the blaze has not been determined and the arson squad is investigating, police don't believe it's suspicious.

The homeowner is a contractor who is working on several homes that were damaged by Sandy, and he said he now hopes he can get his own home fixed before winter.

--Greg Cergol and Jeff Richardson contributed to this story

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Massive Food Fight at Fla. High School Ends with Student's Arrest

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A student was arrested after a food fight escalated at Cypress Bay High School in the South Florida suburb of Weston, according to authorities.

A 17-year-old was arrested on one charge of battery and one charge of disorderly conduct Friday afternoon after a massive food fight that spilled out into the school's courtyard, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

Officials said school administrators witnessed a 12th-grader throw an object. When the assistant principal tried to stop the student, he resisted by pulling, pushing and striking the assistant principal, authorities said.

He was taken into custody by deputies, one of whom sustained a knee laceration and a twisted ankle, according to police. The student, who turns 18 Sunday, faces felony charges for striking a school employee and resisting arrest without violence, authorities said. BSO initially reported the student faced charges of resisting arrest with violence.

The student's sister said he threw a piece of bread.

"Everyone was throwing things and they told him to move away," she said. "Two of the security guards from Cypress tackled him, apparently, and they were ripping his shirt and they were throwing him everywhere."

One Cypress Bay student said the situation "turned just absolutely insane."

"Everybody just started throwing food and 15 minutes later I see the cops showing up," that student said.

According to another student, the fight began when someone started throwing apples. The students then moved outside to the courtyard and formed a giant circle where they were throwing water bottles and other types of food, he said.

The students said the scene was absolute chaos.

"It turned into a mosh pit for some reason in the middle of the riots and me and a bunch of friends got punched in the face and we started punching people," another student said. "They started chanting, 'Only at Cypress,' it was crazy."

Other students said a rivalry with Western High School sparked it.

"I think Twitter had a lot to do with it this morning because Western was talking about having a food fight and they're our biggest rivals, so I feel that Cypress wanted to do something bigger," one student said.

Some parents are saying the situation could have been controlled.

"Cypress Bay has at least five thousand students, and they need more security measures for one thing, but they need people in the cafeteria to not have this happen," mother Jan Silverman said.

The Cypress Bay principal is reviewing video and trying to determine who started the fight, said Broward School Board officials. It is still too early to determine whether or not there will be suspensions, they said.

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In West, Baseball Is Welcome Distraction

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West High School's baseball team is headed to the state playoffs next week -- a welcome diversion that gives the small town something to cheer about after the fatal fertilizer plant explosion two weeks ago.

West beat Melissa 11-2 in a warm-up game Friday night.

"The town has put that on the boys. They're like, 'Win for us, win for us, help us out, '" said Tina Paxton, a West High School teacher and the mother of the team's third baseman. "They're not used to the attention. But they're playing for the town and themselves right now."

In Ennis, where Friday night's practice game was played, strangers turned out to support West.

As team members got off their bus, people shouted "Good luck" and held up signs saying "Go West" and "Keep Smiling."

At first, the players weren't sure what to think.

"I'm just totally shocked," outfielder Coy Schier said. "This is totally surprising, and it's great. It's fantastic to see. People come out to support somebody they don't even know."

They try to focus on baseball, but the reminders are constant.

At the beginning of the game, the public address announcer from Ennis spoke of the tragedy.

"We would like to send our heartfelt sympathies to those in West, Texas," he said. "We all know the devastation that happened there a few weeks ago."

Another player, outfielder Holden Sykora, said he is happy to play.

"It was a close-knit community already, but this -- the tragedy that happened -- is definitely bringing people that much closer," he said.

West also made it to the state playoffs last year but lost in the final game.

This year, the town is rallying behind the team like never before.

"We're playing some pretty good baseball, and it's the perfect time to do that," Schier said.

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American Airlines Celebrates 80 Years of Flight Attendants

Marc Fein, NBC 5 News

Eighty years ago today, on May 3, 1933, the first four American Airlines stewardesses graduated from training and headed out on their first flight.

American Airlines Celebrates 80 Years...

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Friday is a very special day for American Airlines.  Eighty years ago today, on May 3, 1933, the first four American Airlines stewardesses graduated from training and headed out on their first flight.

Over the last 80 years things have changed quite a bit for stewardesses, now commonly referred to as flight attendants. The four original American Airlines stewardesses graduated after three days of training in 1933. In 1957 the airline opened the world's first school dedicated to the profession, the American Airlines Stewardess College. At graduation,  a "flyover" was not uncommon as part of the celebration.

Traveling the world has always been a glamorous profession. Fittingly, much of the evolution of the profession has had to do with the uniform; from the military look of the early years, to the cutting-edge style of Bill Blass's uniforms in 1972.

They also broke down barriers by being one of the first airlines to hire black stewardesses. They were also the very first to carry AED's on every single flight.

American said Friday it is excited to celebrate and honor the professionals who have been the face of the airline for the last eight decades, and for those to come.

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Affidavit: Ricks Admitted to Stabbings in Bedford

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Suspect Caught in Bedford Apartment Slayings

A man suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend and her son at their apartment near Fort Worth is in an Oklahoma jail. Bedford police say Cedric Ricks was caught in Garvin County last night, hours after Roxann Sanchez and her eight-year-old son Anthony Figueroa were found stabbed to death.

Apartment Stabbing Suspect Arrested in Okla.

Oklahoma police have arrested a man Bedford police say fatally stabbed the mother of his child and her 8-year-old son Wednesday night before fleeing the state.

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Oklahoma State Police arrested a man overnight Wednesday that Bedford police say fatally stabbed the mother of his child and her 8-year-old son before fleeing the state in her car that same evening.

At about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday, police were called to an apartment complex on the 1400 block of Park Place Boulevard where a family member reported 38-year-old Cedric Ricks had attacked several people, including children.

When officers arrived, they found a woman, now identified as 30-year-old Roxann Diana Sanchez, and an 8-year-old boy, Anthony Reyes Figueroa, dead.  A 12-year-old boy was also injured in the attack, but survived, and was transported to Children's Medical Center in critical condition. Doctors said the boy suffered a brain injury in the violent attack, but remain hopeful he'll survive.

An 8-month-old child, now in the custody of Child Protective Services, was also in the apartment at the time of the stabbings and was not injured.

Police said Ricks and Sanchez were an estranged couple that had one child together, the 8-month-old found unharmed.

As officers investigated the scene, they learned the woman's car was missing and put out a multi-state alert for officers to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

About three hours later, shortly after 11 p.m., officers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol stopped and arrested Ricks for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle about 70 miles north of the Texas-Oklahoma border in Garvin County.

While being held in the Garvin County Jail, three arrest warrants were issued for Ricks, two for murder and one for attempted murder. Each murder warrant had a $2 million bond while the attempted murder warrant had a bond amount of $500,000.

Ricks was arraigned on the charges Thursday afternoon.

Police are now working with Oklahoma authorities to transfer Ricks back to Texas, but he is fighting extradition. To get Ricks back in Texas, the Garvin County District Attorney will have to ask Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to get a governor's warrant and force the extradition.  A judge advised the Garvin County Sheriff's Department that process may take as long as two months.

NBC 5 learned Thursday afternoon that a protective order that expired in January was the result of an assault that took place in Nov. 2012 where police said Ricks choked Sanchez.  After that incident, Child Protective Services became involved to determine the welfare of the children.

According to an affidavit obtained by NBC 5, Ricks called a cousin and admitted to killing Sanchez and her son.

The affidavit reads:

"Cedric Ricks informed her that he admitted to the stabbings. The witness related that Cedric Ricks told her that he was, 'hurt,' 'needed stitches,' and was 'cut up.'"

"The witness further stated that Cedric Ricks told her he was, 'Sorry,' 'Couldn't take it anymore,' and was 'Stressed,' and stated that 'Nobody loves me,' and that he was, 'Not going to jail.'"

Investigators were able to track Rick's cell phone to Ardmore, Okla. 

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was able to stop Ricks for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and arrest him. 

According to Judy Ramos with the Hurst-Euless-Bedford independent School District, the 8-year-old was in the third grade at Spring Garden Elementary and the 12-year-old is a sixth grader.

Both children have attended the school since 2011 and, in a letter sent home to parents Thursday, the principal said the boys' grandmother worked at the school. 

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra, Ray Villeda, Shane Allen, Greg Janda and Frank Heinz contributed to this report.  Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Bedford police arrested Cedric Ricks.  He was arrested by Oklahoma Highway Patrol. We regret the error.

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Home Destroyed in Ellis County Fire

NBC 5 News

Fire engulfed a home in 1200 block of Dixie Lane in Ellis County. The man who lived in the home escaped unharmed.

Home Destroyed in Ellis County

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Fire investigators will look for the cause of a fire near Waxahachie just after midnight Friday.

Firefighters got the call to the 1200 block of Dixie Lane in unincorporated Ellis County at around 12:30 a.m.

When firefighters arrived they found a one-story brick home on fire. The man who lived at the home got out without injury.

Because of a lack of nearby fire hydrants and a strong north wind, Ellis County called for backup from four surrounding departments.

Tanker trucks were used to haul water to the fire, however the home was destroyed.

The Ellis County fire marshal will try to determine the cause of the fire.

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5.5-Months Pregnant Sheriff’s Deputy Saves Drowning Teen

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Jenna Underwood Nunez saved a 17-year-old boy from drowning on April 27, 2013, in Silverwood Lake. She was 5.5 months pregnant and off duty at the time of the rescue.

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A 17-year-old boy will celebrate his high school graduation month thanks to a 5.5-months pregnant, off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy who rescued him from the bottom of a lake.

Deputy Jenna Underwood-Nunez was having dinner with her family in the Silverwood Lake campground in San Bernardino County when she heard screaming coming from the lake. A glance toward the water revealed frantic splashing about 200 yards away from the shore.

Authorities revealed the details of their colleague's harrowing April 27 rescue on Thursday.

"Placing herself and her unborn child at potential risk, Deputy Underwood sprang into action and immediately ran toward the drowning victim," Underwood's department said a statement.

Fully dressed, Underwood swam about 200 yards into the water to find the teen had already become fully submerged 15 feet below the surface. He was laying on lake bed.

Underwood dove to the bottom, pulled the victim up and then to shore, where she performed four cycles of CPR before the teen regained consciousness.

The boy was airlifted to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

A six-year veteran of the force, Underwood works at the Century Regional Detention Facility.

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$12,000 Custom Bike Stolen From Double-Arm Amputee

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Double-Arm Amputee Taking on Ironman

On Saturday Hector Picard will compete in his first full Ironman competition – and try to become the first double-arm amputee to start and finish an Ironman. He talks about what made him not quit after the electrical accident that cost him his arms, discusses his triathlon "addiction," and shares some inspirational words.

Latin heartthrob, Cristian de la Fuente stops by the set to talk to Roxanne Vargas about this years Nautica South Beach Triathlon and his efforts to help St. Jude.

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A Florida triathlon athlete who is a double-arm amputee says someone stole his custom bike early Thursday morning.

"It's only fitted, it's modified for me. You can't sell it. You can't ride it. You can't do anything with it," Hector Picard said. "So by stealing it, they are doing a lot more damage than they really know."

Picard, 46, who has completed 73 triathlons in the past four years, said his special bike is worth $12,000 – but it's worthless to anyone besides him. It's a Seven Axiom titanium road bike, he said.

"It's definitely obvious. The handlebars are different, the brakes are different," he said. "The body of the bike, the frame, is completely modified. I mean, a regular person won't be able to use it."

Picard was involved in a work-related electrical accident in 1992.

"I received an electrical shock 21 years ago," he said. "Thirteen thousands volts of electricity went through my body and caused the amputations and the burns."

The accident left him in a coma for four weeks. His entire right arm and half of his left one were amputated.

Cristián de la Fuente Takes on Triathlon To Help St. Jude's Hospital

But Picard didn't quit – and now his mission in life is to inspire. Last August he became the first double-arm amputee to start and finish an Ironman race, and he has completed two more Ironman competitions since then.

On June 8 he will set off on a 3,200-mile bike journey to Spokane, Washington to raise money for a little boy with no arms.

But with his bike stolen, Picard has to turn to his old bike. Picard said it is a lot more difficult for him to use – not to mention the hours he will have to spend repairing it.

"I struggle a little more. I'm still going to do it," he said. "I'm not going to let anything like this stop me."

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Picard isn't looking for donations, just his bike. Anyone with information is asked to call Fort Lauderdale Police.

He said he won't let his latest challenge slow him down.

"I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it," Picard said. "God willing, as long as I'm healthy, bike or no bike, I'm going to do this, and it would just be nice to have that bike back."

For more information on Picard and his cross-country ride, see his website, dontstopliving.org.

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Solar-Powered Plane on Cross-Country Tour

One pilot is making a very slow 16-hour tour of the Bay Area Tuesday on board a plane that is run on the power of the sun.

Raw Video: Solar Plane Flies Over Bay Area

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Solar Plane Takes Off For 16-Hour Flight Across Bay Area

A solar-powered plane that had a successful - but short - test flight last week, is set to take off from Moffett Field Tuesday morning and soar across the Bay Area for its longest route yet: 16 hours. Bob Redell reports.

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A solar-powered plane - energized by the power of the sun - took off just as dawn broke Friday morning from Mountain View's Moffett Field on its first cross-country tour, bound for New York as its final destination.

Considered the world's most advanced sun-powered plane, which only travels about 30 or 40 mph, the Solar Impulse has already taken successful test runs over California's Bay Area.

The point of the powering a plane with 12,000 photovoltaic cells, all powered by the sun, is to show the world that it can be done, and to inspire engineers to look for advances in clean tech.

"We're here to inspire," Swiss creator André Borschberg told NBC Bay Area before an earlier flight, adding that that he hoped this science and technology - and imagination - would trickle down to the "younger generation."

The plane has the wing span of a 747, but the weight of the mid-sized car. It can only carry one passenger who has to stay awake through the entire flight. On the longer flights, the pilot is allowed to take naps eight minutes at a time. There is no auto-pilot. 

The cockpit seat is the only seat in the plane, but it has a dual purpose and it equipped with a toilet.

The Solar Impulse was designed to show the potential of solar power. Its creators say it will never replace commercial flights.  The plane reaches a top speed of 43 mph and holds the record for  altitude for solar-powered planes at 30,300 feet, according to the company's  website. 

The Solar Impulse will first stop in Phoenix, and then head to Dallas, St. Louis, Washington, D.C.,  and New York. Each flight leg will take 20 to 25 hours, with 10-day stops planned in each city.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Calif. Hiker Rescued After Massive, $160K Search Charged with Drug Possession

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Taxpayers Likely to Foot $160K Bill for OC Hiker Rescue

The Costa Mesa teens who went missing in Trabuco Canyon could be responsible for the $160,000 it cost Orange County officials to find them. Dozens of deputies and firefighters searched around the clock for the hiking duo. Nicholas Cendoya, 19, said he didn't want his parents to be burdened with the cost, but if it came to it, he would help out. Vikki Vargas reports from Santa Ana for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on April 30, 2013.

Lost Hiker Thought He Was Going to Die

Nicholas Cendoya, who was lost in an Orange County forest for four days, said he didn't know whether he'd make it out alive. Jane Yamamoto reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2013.

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One of two teen hikers who got lost in the wilderness in Southern California, prompting a massive five-day search effort that cost more than $160,000, has been charged with the possession of methamphetamine found during the hike.

Authorities found an illegal substance in the car in which Nicolas Cendoya, 19, had traveled to the trailhead in the Trabuco Canyon area of Cleveland National Forest, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Gail Krause said Wednesday.

A felony charge of possession of a controlled substance was filed against Cendoya on Tuesday, according to Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's office.

The substance was 497 milligrams of methamphetamine, which was found in his car April 2, when sheriff's deputies were looking for information on him, Emami said.

That amount of methamphetamine is likely to be a supply rather that a dosage that could be consumed at one time, according to NBC4 Los Angeles' Dr. Bruce Hensel.

Authorities had said that they could only attempt to recover the $160,000 cost for the massive search for Cendoya and his companion, 18-year-old Kyndall Jack, if a criminal charge was filed against the hikers.

The cost of the multiagency search was released Tuesday and included the services of six agencies.

Cendoya, who spoke to NBC4 on Tuesday and said he would help pay back the cost of the search if needed, was not being held, Emami said. Cendoya said he didn't want his parents to be burdened with the search costs, which he called "insane."

Asked on Tuesday if he was on drugs during the hike, Cendoya said "absolutely not."

Cendoya and Jack, both of Costa Mesa, had headed onto the popular trails of Holy Jim Canyon in the Cleveland National Forest on Easter only to get separated at night. They had entered the wilderness with a single water bottle and no warm clothing.

Lost for several days, the two were found separately by rescuers in dense brush on April 3 and April 4.

A reserve deputy was seriously injured during Kyndall's rescue after he fell 60 feet and hit his head.

Both Jack and Kyndall were found dehydrated, disoriented and covered in cuts and bruises -- but they suffered no major injuries. Each said they had hallucinated through much of their time in the steep canyon area.

"I was in lucid dreams and hallucinations for days. I could see the helicopters flying over me every day. When the firefighters came up to me, I couldn't even believe it," Cendoya said after his ordeal. "We weren't meant to die."

He is set to be arraigned in Santa Ana Superior Court on May 22, Emami said.

NBC4's Ryan Bourgard and Vikki Vargas contributed to this article.

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Mayor of West: "We're Gonna Rebuild"

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West Mayor Tommy Muska is continously working to rebuild his town.

These days Muska spends his time attending funerals for friends, attending daily city council briefings, speaking time with any one of the dozens of residents whose homes were destroyed in the fertilizer plant explosion that rocked his town two weeks ago.

Muska is applying for emergency aid from both the state and federal level.

Muska sat down with NBC 5 Wednesday night to discuss his town's recovery.

"They didn't teach this in mayor's school," Muska said about handling a crisis the magnitude of which his town is going through." It's a learning process." 

The April 17 explosion killed 15 people, injured approximately 200 more and destroyed many of the homes in a five-block area surrounding the West Fertilizer plant.

As a volunteer firefighter in West, Muska was on his way to the plant to help put out the fire that preceded the explosion. The force from the explosion knocked his hat off of his head, Muska said.

Muska said there's too much work to be done to reflect.

But early Wednesday he did just that, and posted his thoughts on the city's website for all to see.

This is an excerpt from his letter:

I know you have heard me say over and over that it will be ok…I say that with all my heart and soul…knowing full well the great citizen of West have the resilience, dedication, love for each other and faith in the almighty God that makes us so unique and special.  We will be ok… we will rebuild this town… we will be better and stronger because of it.

"It comes from the heart," Muska said about what he wrote. "And I know these people and they know me and we're gonna get through it. We're gonna get through it together."

Muska said the next achievable hurdle his town needs to clear is the process of tearing down the damaged buildings and starting over.

"This town is not gonna die on my watch," Muska said. "We're gonna rebuild."

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Corinth Pastor Arrested, Accused of Sex Charge

Omar Villafranca, NBC 5 News

A pastor in Corinth is out on bond after he was arrested Wednesday on charges of attempted sexual performance of a child.

Corinth Pastor Arrested, Accused of...

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A pastor in Corinth was arrested at his home Wednesday on charges of attempted sexual performance of a child.

Pastor Jeffrey Dale Williams of The Church of Corinth is accused of attempting to persuade a child under the age of 18 to remove clothing and show herself completely naked, according to Corinth police.

The charges against Williams are a third degree felony.

Williams was booked into Denton County Jail. He was released on a $10,000 bond Wednesday night.

Police say the alleged incident did not happen at the church, but at a private residence. When asked whose house, the officer declined to comment.

Captain Greg Wilkerson with the Corinth Police Department says Child Protective Services alerted officers about allegations of sexual abuse. 

Wilkerson says officers followed up with the tip. Detectives also got their hands on a piece of recorded evidence which helped them get a warrant for an arrest.

"We were actually able to obtain an audio recording of the actual event and after locating the victim and interviewing her, she was able to corroborate what we already had heard on the tape," Wilkerson said.

Church members were shocked to hear the news of the arrest.

Tina Martin attends the Church of Corinth. She's known Williams for more than four years, and she can't believe the allegations against him.

"From what I know about Pastor Jeff Williams is that he is a God-fearing man who does everything to teach his congregation, his town and his people everything about God," Martin said.

The Church of Corinth released the following official statement early Thursday morning:

"We have no knowledge of nor any reason to suspect any inappropriate behavior. We intend to and will fully investigate the allegations, and we will fully cooperate with the authorities. Our prayers go out to this family of our Church."

Corinth police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking for any additional victims or witnesses to contact Corinth PD at 940-498-2017. 

No additional information has been provided at this time.

NBC 5's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.

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Suspect in Fatal Apartment Stabbing Arrested

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Bedford police have arrested a man they believe killed a 30-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy at an apartment complex Wednesday night. 

Officers said Cedric Ricks, 38, is the suspect in the double-homicide.

Around 8:40 p.m. another police agency transferred a 911 call to Bedford Police. Authorities say the caller was identified as a relative of the suspect and told police Ricks had attacked the family at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of Park Place Boulevard. 

When they arrived, officers found the Hispanic woman and 8-year-old child dead inside a second floor apartment. 

A 12-year-old Hispanic boy was also injured with stab wounds. Paramedics rushed him to Cook Children's Hospital in critical condition. Doctors say they are hopeful the 12-year-old will survive, but say the boy suffered a brain injury due to the violent attack.

An 8-month-old was also in the apartment, but did not appear to be hurt. That child is in Child Protective Services custody.

Initially after the arrest, officers named Ricks as a suspect, but were unable to locate him. 

As officers investigated the apartment, they found the woman's car was missing and put out an alert to Texas and surrounding states to be on the lookout.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol found and arrested Ricks approximately three hours later about 70 miles north of the Texas/Oklahoma border about 11:15 p.m.

Police are now working with Oklahoma authorities to transfer Ricks back to Texas.

Ricks has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Each count of murder carries a $2 million bond and the attempted murder charge carries a bond of $500,000.

Police say Ricks and the victim were an estranged couple that had one child together, the 8-month-old child found unharmed in the apartment. Investigators say there was a protective order issued in the past but that the order had expired in January of this year.

Neighbors told NBC 5 at the time of the stabbing they heard loud screams coming from the apartment. 

"It was wailing," said neighbor Jeri Watson. "It was extremely loud, I mean we heard it from across the street. Like, 'Oh my gosh. Something happened,' you know?" 

'It's just sad," Watson said. "No matter what the age, it just makes you wonder what happened and why and who's the person and is the person caught."

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

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North Crowley Students Hold Vigil For Fallen Classmate

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North Crowley High School Students are mourning the loss of fallen classmate Paul Sneed.

Sneed, a senior, was diagnosed with lymphoma before the school's winter break in 2012. He passed away April 29 from complications due to the disease.

Friends described Sneed as a talented football player and positive person that "always smiled."

Classmates said Sneed was planning to attend Kansas State University and dreamed of playing football as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys.

Students will host a candlelight vigil for Sneed at 8 p.m. Thursday on North Crowley's football field.

Organizers hope to raise money to help Sneed's family pay for medicial expenses.

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Overnight Fire Burns Garage

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Dallas firefighters say a fire that started in a van spread to a nearby garage overnight Tuesday.

Firefighters were called to the 2400 block of Kenesaw Drive in Dallas after a minivan caught fire.

That fire then caught a nearby small garage on fire. Firefighters were able to get the fire out pretty quickly and keep anything else from burning.

No one was injured.

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Eyes Turn to Crowded Sky Above LA After Midair Collision

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The midair collision of two planes over Westlake Village in California this week points out that no matter how big the sky, it's rarely wide open. And the skies over Southern California are among the most crowded in the country.

Part of the reason for that is the sheer number of airports in the Los Angeles area. From the biggest ones like LAX and John Wayne to smaller ones like Hawthorne and El Monte, there are 30 airports in the area.

From those airports are millions of takeoffs and landings. In 2009, Van Nuys Airport earned the title of "world's busiest general aviation airport" with 400,000 takeoffs and landings that year.

The recession and the high cost of fuel has helped reduce that number, but the latest statistics available show there have been more than 61,000 takeoffs and landings in Van Nuys in the first three months of this year. That averages nearly 700 takeoffs and landings each day from a single Southland airport.

Both planes involved in Tuesday's midair collision took off from Santa Monica Airport, where records show there were nearly 8,500 takeoffs and landings in January, with more than 8,700 in February.

A tremendous number of aircraft are in the sky at any one moment.

Larry Welk has flown planes and helicopters over California for more than 20 years, including the NBC4 helicopter.

"Airspace continues to get more and more dense," said Welk, who added that LA airspace is "complex." Pilots have to contend not only with substantial traffic, but other issues like terrain.

There have been notable midair collisions in the past five years in Southern California.

In May 2009, two planes collided over Long Beach, killing three people.

In January 2008, two planes hit each other over Corona, raining down debris over a strip of auto dealerships. Four people on board the planes were killed, along with one victim on the ground.

According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Southern California rivals New York for the volume of air traffic. In New York, pilots complain about what they say can be a hazardous flight over the Hudson River, where nine people died in a 2009 collision between an airplane and a tour helicopter.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there have been 120 midair collisions since 1999, killing more than 160 people.

Welk said technology that can warn pilots even of small planes of approaching aircraft is minimizing the danger posed by midair collisions.

"I wouldn't say it's not safe, but accidents will happen," Welk said.

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Police Search for Missing NRH Teen

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Police Search for Missing North Richland Hills Teen

The North Richland Hills Police Department wants the public to help find 14-year-old Ruby Contreras. She's been missing since Wednesday and police believe she may be with 24-year-old Stephan Cox who they say is dangerous.

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North Richland Hills police want the public's help in finding a 14-year-old girl who has been missing since Wednesday.

Ruby Contreras failed to return home from North Oaks Middle School in Haltom City on April 24. Police they were notified at 8 p.m. that night of her disappearance.

Investigators said they believe she has left North Texas and could be with 26-year-old Stephan Andrew Cox.

Cox currently faces charges after a teen girl from Pennsylvania reportedly stole her parents car to drive to Ohio to meet him.

Court records show that Columbus, Ohio, authorities in January charged Cox with two counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor.

Cox, who has been on house arrest since February, was supposed to have an ankle monitor. He is due in court in Ohio on Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania girl's parents told investigators that she and Cox met online.

North Richland Hill police said they do not believe Contreras had met Cox face-to-face before Wednesday but will not say how they met.

Police say Cox is dangerous and that Contreras is not safe with him.

Police believe they might be traveling west by bus service. Investigators have photographic evidence that the pair traveled to El Paso on a Greyhound bus that left from Wednesday from the downtown Fort Worth terminal.

The Contreras family told police that her disapperance is not normal behavior and that there is no reason to believe she ran away from home. The family said she did not take her cellphone with her and that they have never heard of Cox.

Ruby Contreras is 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 95 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans.

Stephan Andrew Cox is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

The Texas State Operations Center has refused to call Contreras' disappearance an Amber Alert because of the lack of information on the vehicle they may be traveling in, but North Richland Hills police say they are still working to classify it as an Amber Alert and the classification doesn't lessen the need for the public to help locate her.

The North Richland Hills Police Department is asking anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of Contreras or Cox to call 911 immediately.

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

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Police Searching For Missing 11-Year-Old Girl

NBC 5

Charleisa Ector, 11, inset.

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Ted Cruz Mulls 2016 Presidential Run: Report

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Sen. Ted Cruz.

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The National Review Online is reporting Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is considering a bid for the nation's top office in 2016.

According to the article, Cruz is already discussing a presidential run with supporters.  If he makes a run, he'll likely face senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Paul Rand of Kentucky as contenders for the Republican nomination.

Supporters argue the 42-year-old attorney would be a Barry Goldwater-type who would rattle the GOP establishment.

Although he was born in Canada, Cruz feels he's eligible to be President of the United States since his mother was a U.S. citizen.

Before running for the senate seat vacated by retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2012, Cruz was the Solicitor General for the state of Texas between 2003 and 2008.

Cruz has said nothing publicly about any plans to run in the next presidential election.

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Boston Carjack Victim: "God was with Me"

The 26-year-old Chinese engineer who was carjacked by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects said he was "lucky" to survive an agonizing 90-minute car ride that ended with his escape.

"God was with me," said the man, who goes by the nickname Danny, in an interview on the "Today" show Wednesday.

Danny appeared on "Today" with his face concealed and his voice modified to describe his harrowing encounter with the bombing suspects on April 18.

For Danny's full story, visit NBCNews.com

Three nights after the marathon attack that killed three people and wounded more than 260, Danny was sitting in his Mercedes when a man approached from behind, put his hand through the open window and opened the door from the inside, Danny said. He then pointed a gun at him while asking if he knew of the bombing.

"I said, "Yes, of course,''' Danny recalled. "Then he said, 'I did that. And I just killed a policeman in Cambridge.'''

The attacker was Tamerlan Tsarnaev, Danny said. He ordered him to drive the car while pointing a gun at him. Tsarnaev's younger brother Dzhokhar was following them in a sedan. Danny's body was shaking so much that he had trouble driving, he said.

"Tamerlan told me, 'Relax, man. Slow down. Don't drive too fast,'' Danny said.

Tamerlan soon took over the wheel and Dzhokhar joined them in the Mercedes, he said. The attackers transferred items from the sedan into the Mercedes. Danny didn't know it at the time, but those items were explosives, which the brothers later hurled at police during a firefight in Watertown, Mass., according to authorities.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Danny, meanwhile, was plotting his escape. The brothers stopped as a gas station in Cambridge, with Dzhokhar leaving the vehicle go to an A.T.M. and get gas. That's when Danny unbuckled his seatbelt with his left hand, opened the door with his right hand and ran from the car.

I took off,'' Danny said. "[Tamerlan] tried to grab me. He was trying to grab me. It was very close. I can feel it."

Danny ran to another gas station and called 911. Authorities used his car's satellite system and the iPhone he left in his car to track the suspects.

"I think Dzhokhar is, like, a follower,'' Danny said of the surviving suspect. "He went out to the A.T.M. (at the gas station). He went out to get the gas. Tamerlan never got out of the car."

While Danny plans to testify at Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's trial and expects to be identified, he wants to remain under the radar for now, NBC's Matt Lauer said.

For Danny's full story, visit NBCNews.com

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Eight Children Left at Dallas Fire Station

Catherine Ross, NBC 5 News

Two women drop off eight children at fire station in Oak Cliff

8 Children Left At Dallas Fire Station

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Child Protective Services is trying to figure out why eight children in Dallas were left alone in a home and later dropped off at a fire station.

CPS investigators have located and are talking with the mother of the eight children, aged 3 to 12, who were reportedly left alone Sunday morning at a house in Oak Cliff.

Police said two women who described themselves as acquaintances from church had gone over to the family's house to check on the children and did not find their mother at the house.

Around 7 a.m., the women dropped the children off at the fire station at 745 West Illinois in Dallas.

Dallas Fire Rescue told NBC 5 that the children were at the station for about 40 minutes before police and Child Protective Services responded. Firefighters fed and entertained the children before they were taken into custody.

The children could not tell investigators how long they had been on their own. 

All eight siblings are now in foster care and in good health. The children will remain in foster care temporarily while the investigation continues, according to CPS spokesperson Marissa Gonzales.

Investigators would not comment on what, if any, explanation was provided by the mother for leaving the children. CPS did not reveal if the mother would face charges.

NBC 5's Reginald Hardwick, Catherine Ross, and Kendra Lyn contributed to this report.

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Two People Shot In Hurst

NBC 5

Police investigate a shooting along Thousand Oaks Drive in Hurst.

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Police in Hurst are trying to figure out why two people were shot late Sunday night. A suspect is in police custody.

Officers told NBC DFW that it happened at a home in the 700 block of Thousand Oaks Drive, a block from the  Hurst Police station.

Officers got the report of shots fired around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. The adult male and female victims, both in their 30's, were taken to the hospital. Their conditions have not been released publicly.

Police arrested the suspected shooter along the 600 block of Harwood Drive in Hurst.  His name has not been released.

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Woman Dies After Motorcycle Crash

A woman is dead after being ejected from her motorcycle along Interstate 20 in Dallas.

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A woman is dead after being ejected from her motorcycle along Interstate 20 in Dallas.

The Dallas Sheriff's Office responded to a multivehicle crash along eastbound I-20 at Cedar Ridge Drive around 10 p.m. Sunday evening.

When they arrived, they found 33-year-old Amanda Beachum of Duncanville lying dead in the road as well as several wrecked vehicles.

Investigators said they believe several motorcycles were quickly weaving in and out of traffic along I-20. The victim reportedly came to an abrupt stop and was struck from behind by a small black car, causing the motorcycle she was riding to tumble down the highway and eject the woman. That car spun into the center wall and at least two other vehicles spun out while trying to miss the original crash.

All eastbound lanes of the freeway were closed, causing a traffic backup.

Investigators did not reveal if charges would be filed.

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Family Research Council Shooter Faces Sentencing

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The Virginia man who shot a security guard at the Family Research Council headquarters last year while carrying a backpack full of Chick-fil-A sandwiches is expected to be sentenced Monday.

Prosecutors want Floyd Corkins II to spend 45 years in prison. Corkins pleaded guilty in February to shooting Leo Johnson, who was filling in as a security guard on Aug. 15.

Surveillance video that day shows Johnson wrestling with Corkins right before Johnson was shot in the arm. Johnson managed to get the gun from Corkins, and has been hailed as a hero for preventing others from being hurt.

Corkins pleaded guilty to three charges against him: interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill while armed and committing an act of terrorism while armed.

The terrorism charge is based on a fact Corkins acknowledged in a plea agreement: that he wanted to kill as many people as possible at the Family Research Council because he thought the organization is anti-gay.

According to the plea agreement, Corkins told FBI agents after the shooting that he wanted to smear the 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches that he was carrying on the faces of victims to "make a statement against the people who work in that building... and with their stance against gay rights and Chick-fil-A," The Associated Press reported.

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy had spoken out against gay marriage at the time.

Sentencing guidelines recommended a maximum of 10 years on the first count and up to 15 years on the two other counts.

Corkins also acknowledged in his plea agreement that he considered making a bomb, but didn't have the patience to do it.

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Jets Release Tim Tebow

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The New York Jets have released backup quarterback Tim Tebow, NBC 4 New York's Bruce Beck has confirmed.

Tebow's release comes three days after Gang Green drafted former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, one of this year's top prospects at the position, with the 39th pick overall in the second round of the NFL draft. 

The move was expected, given the celebrity backup's unproductive tenure with the Jets, and the fact that Smith's addition bumped the Jets' number of rostered quarterbacks to an untenable six.

Fourth-year quarterback Mark Sanchez, who struggled mightily this past Jets season, is expected to compete with Smith for the starting job in training camp. Veteran quarterback David Garrard, whom the Jets signed to a one-year $1.1 million deal in March, is expected to enter the season third on the depth chart. 

Tebow threw the ball just eight times for the Jets during the 2012-13 season, completing six of those passes for 39 yards. He also carried the ball 32 times for 102 yards and no touchdowns.

In a statement confirming the release, head coach Rex Ryan lauded Tebow's work ethic and said the team has "a great deal of respect" for him.

"Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped," Ryan said. "Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this off-season. We wish him the best moving forward."

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McKinney Murder Suspect Jumps to His Death

Catherine Ross, NBC 5 Collin County Reporter

Sgt. Jon Felty confirmed to NBC DFW that Allen Police discovered the body of 42-year-old Eric Merz on Sunday afternoon at the interchange of U.S. 75 and Highway 121. Merz was charged with murder in his wife's death.

McKinney Murder Suspect Jumps to His Death

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Man Arrested, Charged With Murder in Collin County

McKinney police say 42-year-old Eric Merz was arrested and charged with murder in Collin County.

Man Arrested in McKinney Murder

McKinney police say Eric Merz was found unresponsive after he shot and killed his wife Wednesday. Merz was arrested and charged with murder, his bond is set at $150,000.

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Allen police have identified the victim of an apparent suicide as 42-year-old murder suspect Eric Merz.

Merz was out on bond, after being charged in March with the murder of his wife, Mary "Beth" Merz in their McKinney home.

On Sunday afternoon, Allen police responded to an emergency call, reporting a man had jumped from the Highway 121 overpass down to the main lanes of U.S. 75 – reportedly an 80 foot drop.

Police found an unattended vehicle in the same area which was determined to be a rental car.

The identity of the jumper was eventually traced back to that of Merz.

Police say the preliminary investigation indicates his death was a suicide. Plice do not believe he was pushed, however, confirmation from the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office is still pending.

According to McKinney Police, on March 6, one of the two Merz children came home from school to find the family home locked.

When the child looked through a window, they saw their mother's body lying on the ground.

The child ran to a neighbor, who called 911.

Eric Merz was also discovered injured in the home, but was later charged with his wife's murder.

The couple's two children are now living with relatives.

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