The 19-year-old man accused of stealing a Dallas Fire-Rescue ambulance earlier this month visited the fire station the day before and inquired about becoming a firefighter, police say. Felix Lopez is currently facing a second-degree felony charge of theft of property after being accused of stealing a $230,000 ambulance from Dallas Fire Station 53 on April 5 and leading multiple police agencies on an hourslong chase that only ended when the emergency vehicle got stuck off-road with flat tires.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: KTVT CBS 11 Fort Worth

PHOTO: A Vietnam veteran in Stafford County received an unexpected gift from the same first responders who came to his aid when his house caught fire nearly two months ago. On Friday, Robert Mihalak was presented a traditional military shadowbox that contained all of the personal military decorations he earned in the 1960s, but then lost in the Feb.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Free Lance-Star

VIDEO: One year ago, 145 mph winds tore through Chattanooga. First responders jumped into action to help thousands and are now telling their stories of what they saw on that Easter Sunday. "There were trees on top of cars on top of houses through houses, trees on top of trees," recalled Chattanooga Fire Department Battalion Chief David Thompson.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WRCB-TV NBC 3 Chattanooga

A bill to remove oversight on school construction projects could impact student safety in the future, according to some fire chiefs in the state. Proponents of HB 220 say the measure will remove a level of bureaucracy and allow districts to complete projects quicker and cheaper, but opponents, including some fire officials, don’t want corners to be cut when it comes to safety.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WIAT-TV CBS 42 Birmingham

As U.S. COVID cases rise, the country is also administering the vaccine shots aimed at preventing the spread of the virus at the swiftest pace ever. Cases are on the rise in 27 states, with Michigan continuing to lead the nation in daily new cases per capita. Following more than 70,000 coronavirus cases reported on Monday, the seven-day average of daily new cases in the U.
- PUB DATE: 4/13/2021 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: CNBC