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'Highly misled and misguided.' Capitol leaders react to TxTag viewer tips

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — “No explanation, no communication, no transparency,” wrote one KXAN viewer in March 2021, pleading for an investigation into TxTag to bring TxTag's issues to the public’s attention.The viewer, who wished to remain anonymous, told KXAN his troubles with TxTag, Texas' largest tollway operator, started over two years earlier when he said he realized multiple transactions totaling $1,60...

Latest TxTag contractor penalized millions, but driver complaints persist

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Auto-payment issues, double billing, incorrect statements and customer service runaround — those are just some of the complaints KXAN has received, by the hundreds, from Texas Department of Transportation toll road and TxTag users.KXAN has uncovered TxDOT toll system problems for nearly a decade. During that time, the state agency has repeatedly vowed improvement.In this latest investigative effort, KXAN dedicated more than two dozen journalists to hold TxDOT officials accountable, fight for public records, catalog hundreds of tips and complaints, and sift through thousands of pages of vendor contracts. When TxDOT wouldn’t schedule an interview, we attended public meetings to question the agency’s top brass. One regional toll authority finds success in focusing on its customers. Explore» -->Despite years dealing with vendor hiccups and software glitches, TxDOT officials now say they’re seeing big improvements to TxTag and their toll road system — a system that imp...

Minnesota United’s defense falters in 3-2 loss to Vancouver

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

Minnesota United’s winless skid hit a different chord Saturday.Lack of goal scoring had been the previous orimary culprit, but it was the Loons shoddy defense that led to  a 3-2 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at BC Place. They gave up a season-high goal total and their winless streak reached five matches.MNUFC is completely out of tune.Giveaways from Wil Trapp and Robin Lod directly led to Whitecaps goals. While Lod and Micky Tapias didn’t assert themselves for a header and it led to another ‘Caps goal.In a role reversal, the Loons were able to manufacture two goals — Michael Boxall off a corner kick and Sang Bin Jeong’s first MLS tally.But MNUFC’s attack still had its issues. Luis Amarilla was subbed out in the 29th minute and Mender Garcia had two quality scoring chances in the final 20 minutes.The Loons said earlier Saturday that all-star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso has ended his holdout after nearly four months. With Minnesota’s offense still not humming, Reynoso’s...

Orange County woman fighting for life after vehicle crashes into apartment

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

A woman is fighting for her life on Saturday after being struck by a hit-and-run driver who crashed through an apartment building in Santa Ana.The woman was identified as 32-year-old Ayoleone Bufkin, a Fullerton resident. Bufkin has undergone multiple surgeries since the devastating crash.“It’s so hard to even put into words,” said Roland Gonzalez, Bufkin’s father. “It’s just unfathomable. She’s such a good girl. She’s with her family and her partner just minding her own business and something like this happens.”On Monday, officers responded to an apartment complex on the 1600 block of Memory Lane around 10:20 p.m., according to the Santa Ana Police Department.When police arrived, they discovered a minivan driver had slammed into the first-floor apartment while Bufkin was relaxing on the couch. The impact left the woman pinned underneath the vehicle.Paramedics extricated Bufkin and rushed her to the UC Irvine Medical Center where she remains on Saturday night, fighting for her life....

Video captures two vehicles slamming into Santa Clarita deputy

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on Saturday.The crash happened near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Whispering Leaves Drive around 3:35 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.In the video, a patrol car is seen making a U-turn when a sedan crashes into the passenger side. Within seconds, another car traveling in the same direction also strikes the patrol car.The impact pushed the second vehicle into a nearby wall, authorities said.Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security video captured the moment two cars slammed into a deputy vehicle in Santa Clarita on May 6, 2023. (KeyNews)Security ...

Kurtenbach: After an embarrassing Game 3 loss to the Lakers, it’s time for the Warriors to let Jonathan Kuminga out of the doghouse

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

Lakers center Anthony Davis is lazily nicknamed AD, but that moniker has picked up a new meaning this postseason.It stands for “alternating days.”As in, you only get the big man’s best every-other game this postseason.Saturday was one of those good days. That was bad news for the Warriors.Yes, LeBron James had a few turn-back-the-clock moments and the Lakers’ role players made 3-pointers, but Davis was the catalyst for the Los Angeles win and the reason for the Lakers’ 2-1 series advantage over the Dubs.As if it wasn’t obvious enough before the series began, the formula for success in this series for the Warriors is simple: if you stop Davis, you stop the Lakers. So far, not so good for Golden State.Hey, perhaps Davis will stop himself in Game 4. The pattern says he will.But hoping for bad games isn’t a strategy, and the Warriors need a better one for defending the Lakers’ All-Star center.So far in this series, the Warriors have used t...

Espinoza shines as Earthquakes beat reigning MLS champs. Here’s why it was so important

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

SANTA CLARA – The San Jose Earthquakes celebrated a successful return to Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, as Cristian Gonzalez bolstered his MVP case with a brace in the team’s 2-1 win over reigning MLS champion Los Angeles Football Club.A crowd of 45,112 came for a celebration of Mexican heritage that the Quakes called the largest Cinco de Mayo party on the West Coast, followed by the team’s game against LAFC, the league’s last unbeaten team.The pre-match festivities featured luchadores, mariachi bands, dancing groups, and an appearance by Jared Borgetti, who has the second-most goals in the history of the Mexican national team.Plenty of Mexican flags were flying in the parking lots before the game, and then in the seats as the Quakes played their third-ever game at Levi’s, and first since 2015, and singer-songwriter El Fantasma provided the halftime entertainment.In moving the game from their regular home at PayPal Park, San Jose gave up the home-field advantage of playing in front of ...

Bruin’s late goal gives Austin a 2-2 draw over Portland

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Will Bruin scored in stoppage time to pull Austin into a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Jon Gallagher also scored for struggling Austin (2-4-4), which hasn’t won a game since March 11. The draw snapped a three-game Portland win streak in the series. Claudio Bravo and Dario Zuparic scored for Portland (3-5-3). Zuparic scored his first goal of the season in the 33rd minute. His header off a long cross from Evander bounced into the goal, evading Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver. Evander nearly scored himself in the final moments of the first half but his header was just wide.Gallagher, who leads Austin with four goals this season, scored in the 59th from the far post off a cross from Emiliano Rigoni. It was the team’s first goal at Providence Park since joining the league in 2021.Bravo’s goal in the 71st was also his first of the season. Portland has scored 15 goals in 11 matches this season. Twelve different players have scored for the T...

Canelo beats Ryder by unanimous decision in return to Mexico

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Canelo Alvarez returned home and remained the undisputed super middleweight champion Saturday night, beating John Ryder by unanimous decision before more than 50.000 fans in his first fight in Mexico since 2011.Alvarez bloodied the British challenger’s nose and knocked him down, cruising to the victory by scores of 120-107 on one card and 118-109 on the other two to improve to 59-2-2.Ryder had his four-bout winning streak stopped and is 32-6.It was Canelo´s first fight since he had surgery on his left wrist last March. Before the fight, he said the injury slowed him down in his previous four fights, including his loss to light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol a year ago. After getting a hard-fought victory over Ryder, Canelo has his eyes set on a rematch against the Russian in September.In a fight that was touted as the “King is Coming Home”, the sold-out crowd at Akron stadium in Guadalajara, just 25 miles away from Juanacatlan, the small town wher...

Abubakar, Ronan spark Rapids to 3-1 victory over Galaxy

Published Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:15:04 GMT

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Defender Lalas Abubakar scored early, Connor Ronan had three assists and the Colorado Rapids defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on Saturday night.It took just 14 minutes for Abubakar to give Colorado the lead, using an assist from Ronan to find the net for the first time this season.Kévin Cabral stretched the lead to 2-0 when he took passes from Diego Rubio and Ronan in the 65th minute and scored for the second time this season. Ronan picked up his third assist in the 81st minute on Jonathan Lewis’ first score of the campaign.The Galaxy avoided the shutout on an unassisted goal by Preston Judd — his first — in the 89th minute. Colorado (2-3-6) improves to 7-1-2 in its last 10 match-ups with the Galaxy (1-6-3). LA’s lone win was a 4-1 victory in September of last season.LA had advantages of 17-9 in shots and 7-5 in shots on target.William Yarbrough finished with six saves for the Rapids. Jonathan Klinsmann turned away two shots for the Galaxy.The Ga...