Man injured in SWAT standoff

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:35:39 GMT

Authorities say SWAT officers shot a man who was seen carrying a gold-plated, double-barrel shotgun near Leon Springs after he opened fire on them.

A county law enforcement source say the 53-year-old man, who was wearing camouflage clothing, was seen carrying the rifle around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday near the 24700 block of Scenic Loop Road.

When SWAT officers responded, the man fired into the air and at the ground, then pointed his rifle at the SWAT team, who returned fire, hitting the man once in the stomach.

The source said the man was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital with unknown injuries. Police on the scene said the man was "alert and talking" as he was taken to the hispital.

The source said he has a history of mental health issues, including paranoia and schizophrenia

Authorities said police were called to the man's house two days ago for a report of domestic disturbance, but that the man hadn't broken any laws.

They also say he was recently released from jail.

If he survives, the man will likely be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Guadalupe County judge arrested on drug charges

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:50:11 GMT

Guadalupe County Judge Michael Wiggins was arrested Monday in Brazos County after he was caught with 20.1 grams of marijuana.

A College Station Police Department spokesperson said a bellman at the Hilton Hotel in College Station noticed an odor of marijuana coming from one of the rooms. When Wiggins opened the door to his room, officers said a strong odor of marijuana came out of the room.

When asked if he had marijuana in the room, the spokesperson said Wiggins said yes and told officers it was in his duffel bag.

In that bag, the spokesperson said officers also found a grinder and papers for smoking marijuana.

Wiggins was jailed and charged with possession of marijuana less than two ounces.

He was released on $3,000 bond.

Seguin police: Ford F-250 pickups used in human trafficking

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:43:55 GMT

Ford F-250 pickup truck owners beware: A growing trend among thieves has them targeting the popular brand.

"We've had three auto thefts in probably a time frame of about nine days," said Sgt. Victor Pacheco, of Seguin Police.

His department has responded to a string of pickup thefts -- namely targeting Ford F-250s.

"Over the last few years, I think it's been a common trend for these vehicles to be used in the transportation of illegal aliens," said Pacheco.

The big trucks have been targeted in broad daylight -- one from the Seguin Walmart, another from the town's Home Depot, and one from a local daycare. All three trucks had locked doors when they were stolen.

Police say it's the backseat, or the extra cab space, in F-250s that makes the brand so attractive to human traffickers.

Recently recovered stolen trucks have had the tell-tale signs of criminal activity.

"We'll find that vehicle's been gutted, the rear seat removed, the center console ripped out. The more space you create in these things, the more people you can fit in there," said Pacheco.

It takes just a few moments to boost a truck and that makes solving these crimes difficult, Pacheco said.

He advised that truck owners should lock their doors, set their alarms, and stay vigilant.

State Department updates travel warning for Mexico

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:48:11 GMT

In the wake of ongoing violence among what the U.S. State Department characterizes as transnational criminal organizations -- and violence associated with the Mexican government combating such organizations -- the State Department updated a travel warning for U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico.

Despite the the violence in Mexico, a fun and safe time can be had by simply staying in areas geared toward tourists.

"As long as they stay in the major tourist areas such as Cozumel, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas, they should be relatively safe," said travel agent Patti Kirst, of Crystal Travel.

You don't need to real the state department's travel warning to know some of the areas to avoid right now.

"I don't think you could pay me enough to go to a border city right now," said Kirst.

Some of the worst and most frequent episodes of violence have been occurring in close proximity to the border with the U.S.

However, there are many places in the travel warning that are in the nation's interior that should be avoided. Even in Mexico City, extreme caution should be exercised.

"I would not go out at night by myself or even with one other person (in Mexico City)," Kirst said.

According to Kirst, the city of Puerto Vallarta, which is not on the list of places to avoid, is one of the few place people can safely go and experience what life in Mexico is all about.

"I think it's a shame that we have to be so careful and not really get into the small towns and villages where you can truly experience the Mexican way of life," said Kirst.

Arrest spells relief for 2006 murder victim's mom

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:39:17 GMT

The arrest of a suspect in the 2006 murder of an Eastside man has been a long time coming for the victim’s mother, she says.

Police said Charles Ray Scallion, 42, was gunned down Dec. 1, 2006, outside Santa’s Place bar in the 400 block of Spriggsdale Ave.

Witnesses told police at the time that Scallion had gotten into an argument with Joseph Williams, 37, when the two men physically bumped into each other on the way out of the business.

Police believe Williams went to his car, got a gun and shot Scallion in the chest, killing him.

A warrant was issued for Williams a few weeks after the murder, but he went on the run.

A spokesman with the U. S. Marshal’s Office in Dallas said deputies arrested Williams last October in connection with a bank robbery there.

On Wednesday, he was turned over to authorities with the Bexar County jail to answer to the murder of Scallion.

The victim’s mother, who did not want to be identified, said the news is somewhat of a relief for her.

“It was heartbreaking to see it but I'm glad they caught him, she said. “I didn't think God would let this go without him being punished, and I'm hoping they give him his rightful punishment that's coming."

Scallion’s mother said she had been praying for the arrest and for peace of mind for years. The murder left her and other relatives afraid to sleep in her home.

“I asked God to give me the strength to stay. I couldn't run because he's in my heart. Wherever I go, he was in my heart. That's my baby," she said.

It’s still unclear where Williams has been for the past five years. However, jail records show he was arrested in Dallas County and that he is listed as being homeless.

Williams will stand trial in the murder case first. Once he has completed any sentence he is given if convicted, he will be tried in connection with the bank robbery.

Accused killer angry about DNA request

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:37:00 GMT

A San Antonio police homicide detective investigating the 2009 murder of Dana Clair Edwards, 32, testified that the woman’s ex-boyfriend Jon Thomas Ford, 43, seemed angry when asked for a sample of his DNA.

Ford was arrested and charged with Edward’s murder in December 2009.

Her body was found two days after New Year’s Eve in her Alamo Heights condo.

She had been beaten and strangled, investigators said.

Ford was asked by investigators to submit a sample of his DNA.

Questioned by prosecutor Kathy Cunningham during Ford’s murder trial on Thursday, Detective Jesse Salame said, “I could see the muscles in his jaw line flex and he clenched his fist. He looked very angry.”

DNA matching Ford’s profile was found on a towel that covered Edward’s face when her body was found.

Testimony will continue Friday in Judge Maria Teresa Herr’s 186th District Court.

Yuchnitz claims wife abused him

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:36:44 GMT

The high-profile divorce trial continues between San Antonio eyewear store owner Mike Yuchnitz and his wife, who he is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill.

Yuchnitz ran a chain of discount eyewear stores and was well-known for his commercials for the chain.

Those stores are just one thing at stake as the divorce trial continues.

In his testimony Thursday morning, Yuchnitz painted his wife, Tina, as a greedy woman who picked fights and divided their family.

He said his son’s marriage in 2009 was a turning point for the family, because Tina Yuchnitz didn’t like her daughter-in-law and refused to see her son and grandchild.

He also said his wife would physically abuse him and his son.

Questions then turned to the couple’s financial holdings, including who owned portions of the 19 eyewear stores and their other property.

Yuchnitz’ murder-for-hire trial is set to begin next month.

Hays student arrested in bomb, death threats

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:02:47 GMT

A Hays High School freshman was arrested late Wednesday after investigators confirmed that the student was making death threats toward students and teachers and threatened to set off bombs at the school.

The student, who is not being identified due to his age, was charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class B misdemeanor.

According to a statement made by the Hays County Sheriff's Office, the student is being held at the Hays County Juvenile Detention Center.

No students at the high school were in any "imminent danger," according to the statement.

A sheriff's office investigation revealed the student's plan was in the "initial" planning stages.

According to the sheriff's office, a group of students alerted high school officials that the student was making threats. Those officials immediately alerted law enforcement and district administration, who commended the students for coming forward about the threats.

The arrested student will not be allowed to return to Hays High School while the criminal case remains open.

Swine show kicks off 2012 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55:24 GMT

The 2012 San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo kicked off Thursday morning with a Junior Swine Breeding Show. Kendall Brashear, 12, like most other competitors, started getting her pigs ready for the show long before the sun came up. Young owners had to make sure their pigs are fed, watered, walked, bathed and brushed before they're brought before the judges. "It's really a wonderful experience to see the children here," said Sharon Hearn, a rodeo spokeswoman. "You'll come out at 4 o'clock in the morning and they're up taking care of their animals." The children compete for ribbons, trophies and scholarships. "I have to try to get them in front of the judge so that they can see them, and if they like them they'll pin you," said Daymon Sneed, 12-year-old competitor. "Some judges like long, skinny pigs. Some like short, fat ones." Contestants start raising the pigs from the time they're born. The kids take care of them every day for several months, but inevitably there comes the moment where they have to say goodbye. "I guess the hardest part would be letting them go," Kendall said. "It's very hard because you get attached to them, so it's very hard." Kendall has taken part in shows for years. Although it breaks her heart, temporarily, when she has to say goodbye, she said she doesn't let it affect her too much. "I still eat bacon," she said with a hearty laugh. The Stock Show & Rodeo runs through Feb. 26.

First Premier's $400-a-year credit card

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:21:57 GMT

Would you pay $400 a year to own a credit card?

That's how much the First Premier Platinum card can easily wind up costing its customers, according to CardHub, a credit card-tracking website that has examined more than 1,000 credit card offers.

First Premier's Platinum card, aimed at consumers with poor credit, not only boasts a sky-high 36% APR but it also comes loaded with some of the highest fees in the credit card industry, said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of CardHub.

First Premier, which has 2.6 million customers and sends solicitations to 1.5 million consumers each month, says it is helping consumers who would otherwise be rejected by most credit card issuers and therefore needs to price in risk by assessing high fees and interest rates.

"All of our products are priced based on the risk associated with offering the product to these individuals, many who find themselves at the lower end of the credit scale," CEO Miles Beacom told CNNMoney in an email.

While Papadimitriou agrees that fees and interest rates for high-risk customers should be steeper than they are for customers with good credit, he said the kind of fees First Premier charges are doing little to help customers who are already in a bad financial situation.

"[First Premier] is claiming to be helping people with bad credit. How are you helping them by charging these outrageous costs of your products?" he said.

The nastiest fee is the "Credit Limit Increase Fee." Customers pay the fee each time their credit limit is increased. Papadimitriou said he knows of no other card company that charges such a fee.

When First Premier increases a customer's credit limit, it charges 25% of the amount by which the limit is increased. Customers can apply for a credit limit increase any time, but can't receive an increase until they have been a customer for 13 months. Increases range between $100 and $200.

Thousands of customers apply for credit limit increases every month, and about one quarter of requests are granted based on credit risk and a customer's performance within their current limit, First Premier said.

When customers call to ask about a credit limit increase, First Premier representatives tell them the fee will be assessed if they are approved -- before processing the request, according to a customer service script that First Premier sent to CNNMoney. When customers apply for a limit increase online, they are provided with the same information then given the option to cancel their request, the card issuer said.

If the cardholder's limit is raised by $200, they pay a $50 fee. Customers have 30 days following the credit limit increase to contact First Premier if they want to cancel the increase and get the fee refunded.

Taking this and other fees and interest into consideration, a customer who gets a $200 credit limit hike and has a revolving balance of $500 would end up paying $453 per year to use First Premier's Platinum card after the first 13 months of owning it -- including $180 in interest with its 36% APR, a $50 credit limit increase fee, an annual fee of $49 and $174 in monthly fees. During the first year, the annual fee is $175 and monthly fees are waived.

Carrying a balance of $322, which First Premier said is the average balance of its customers, would bring the total annual cost down but it would still be a steep $389.

Even for customers with horrible credit, this is far too much to pay for credit, said Curtis Arnold, founder of credit card comparison website CardRatings.com. Customers start to become undesirable to typical credit card issuers when their scores dip into the low 600s, he said.

While many issuers steer clear of this market, there are other options besides First Premier. Orchard Bank, for example, offers a Platinum credit card for consumers looking to rebuild their credit, said Arnold. The card comes with fees totaling $39 or $59 a year and an APR of 14.99% or 19.99%, depending on their credit. Like First Premier, Orchard also reports to the credit bureaus, allowing customers to improve their credit histories.

"I worry that a lot of consumers get solicitations from [First Premier] and think it's their only option -- they say: 'At least this place is giving me a chance'," said Arnold. "But while [First Premier] is bragging about helping people back on their feet, they're in fact beating people when they're down."

Another alternative to First Premier's credit card is a secured card. Secured cards come with much lower fees because they require the cardholder to deposit their own money into the account. Many banks issue them to their highest-risk customers instead of credit cards.

Interestingly, First Premier offers a secured card with reasonable rates, but the card is not mentioned on the homepage of its website, said Papadimitriou. First Premier said it wants to highlight one product at a time on its website.

First Premier has been experimenting with new cards, fees and interest rates ever since the Card Act was announced in 2009, which limited the fees the issuer could charge, First Premier said.

In 2009, First Premier made headlines for offering a card with a 79.9% interest rate for a brief period of time. It later offered a card with a 59.9% APR, before getting rid of the card altogether last year. It is still offering a card with a high 49.9% rate.

And while its fees may have taken different forms in recent years to meet the Card Act regulations, both Papadimitriou and Arnold agree that First Premier still takes the cake for offering the costliest credit cards in the industry.

"I've looked at credit cards for over a decade, and these credit cards are downright scary," said Arnold. "They're definitely not the only bad apple out there, but I can't think of an issuer that is worse."

Oops!: Everyday items invented by mistake

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:14:50 GMT

Call it dumb luck or a miracle... but certain products you use everyday were created totally by accident.

Viral Video: Lifelike Robotic Model

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:20:31 GMT

Often times, department stores will use real models instead of mannequins to display their most popular fashions. One store in Tokyo, Japan teamed up with a nearyb university to create a lifelike robotic mannequin.

She sits in the front window and watches as customers walk by. The mannequin is capable of 60 different emotions; she can yawn, smile, and even play with her iPhone when she's bored.

She's so lifelike, some customer have trouble telling if she is real.

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