Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime friend and bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III, dies at 59

FILE -- Cleto Escobedo from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" arrives at the Imagen Awards on Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci)

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel announced the death of a longtime friend who was also his bandleader on his late-night show.

Kimmel shared on Tuesday that Cleto Escobedo III, the leader of Cleto and the Cletones, the house band on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” has died.

“Early this morning, we lost a great friend, father, son, musician and man, my longtime bandleader Cleto Escobedo III,” Kimmel wrote. “To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement.”

According to People, Escobedo was 59 years old and led Cleto and the Cletones’ live music for the Kimmel show since it first premiered in 2003.

“Cleto and I have been inseparable since I was 9 years old. The fact that we got to work together every day is a dream neither of us could ever have imagined would come true,” the late-night host continued. “Cherish your friends and please keep Cleto’s wife, children and parents in your prayers.”

Just a couple of months ago, Kimmel made an emotional return to his late-night show after ABC pulled the host off air following his comments related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

There was no immediate word given on Escobedo’s cause of death.

Blood pressure medicine recalled over cancer-causing chemical concerns

FILE — Experts share tips for managing stress and high blood pressure. (KWQC)

A pharmaceutical company has issued a voluntary recall for blood pressure medication over a reported cancer-causing chemical being found in the prescription drug.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the recall was issued by Teva Pharmaceuticals after the presence of a carcinogenic compound was found in certain prazosin hydrochloride capsules.

The agency indicated that the recalled medication may contain N-nitroso Prazosin impurity at levels higher than the acceptable limit.

The medication is typically used for the treatment of high blood pressure.

However, the FDA reported that 580,844 bottles could contain excessive nitrosamine impurities, which have been linked to cancer.

The recall affects: 181,659 bottles of 1 mg capsules, 291,512 bottles of 2 mg capsules and 107,673 bottles of 5 mg capsules.

A full list of impacted lot codes can be found online.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is typically defined as a blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or higher, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Girl, 13, escapes alleged kidnapper while walking to school by biting him twice: police

Galveston police released surveillance video of a man who they say attempted to kidnap a 13-year-old girl. (Galveston Police Department)

Galveston, Texas

Police in Texas say they’re searching for a man who attempted to kidnap a teen girl on Monday morning.

According to Galveston police, officers were called just before 7 a.m. after teachers at Central Middle School reported that a 13-year-old student was approached and grabbed by a man while she was walking to school.

Police said they spoke to the student, who told them she heard footsteps approaching from behind near the 900 block of 28th Street that morning.

The student told officers that the man grabbed her from behind, and after a brief struggle, she bit him twice, broke free, and ran to school, the department shared.

Police said the student’s parents helped them retrace the girl’s route from that morning to identify the location where what reportedly happened.

Investigators said they obtained surveillance video from a business on 24th Street that showed the student walking, followed shortly by a man who was also taking the same path.

Authorities said the man appears to be a white or Hispanic man. He was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and what appeared to be a ski mask.

Galveston police are requesting the public’s help in identifying the man in question.

Authorities urged anyone with further information to contact the Galveston Police Department at 409-765-3777.

Police said the girl suffered no injuries in the kidnapping attempt and they have alerted medical facilities to notify them if anyone seeks treatment for bite-related injuries.

19-year-old accused of throwing large rock through window of ICE vehicle

Pasqual Velasquez Martin, 19, is accused of throwing a large rock at a federal agent's vehicle. ( Port St. Lucie Police Department)

Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Authorities in Florida say a man has been arrested for throwing a rock through the window of a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle.

According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the incident unfolded quickly outside of a Wawa convenience store earlier this week.

Pasqual Velasquez Martin, 19, is accused of throwing a rock at a federal agent’s vehicle as it drove by, after his father was taken into custody.

“If you commit a crime in the city of Port St. Lucie, we’re going to enforce the law, and that’s all there is to it,” Port St. Lucie Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said.

Authorities said federal agents were making an arrest during an immigration enforcement operation when Martin threw the large rock at an agent’s vehicle that ended up shattering the rear window.

Martin took off from the initial scene, but police said he didn’t get far, as multiple agents were in the area and quickly took him into custody.

The 19-year-old has been charged with throwing a deadly missile into an occupied vehicle, a second-degree felony.

Police also thanked community members for helping to identify Martin as the person responsible for breaking the ICE vehicle’s window.

Mother pleads guilty in death of adult son who died weighing just 59 pounds: authorities

Authorities said Sherrilynn Hawkins was sentenced to prison in connection with the death of her adult son. (Montgomery County DA, Rivas Reflections Photography)

Norristown, Pa.

Authorities in Pennsylvania say a mother has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with the death of her adult son.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Sherrilynn Hawkins was sentenced by Judge Wendy Rothstein to 25 to 50 years in prison on Monday.

Hawkins’ charges included third-degree murder, neglect of a dependent care person, theft by deception and conspiracy to theft by deception.

Hawkins was arrested last December after her son, 21-year-old Tylim Hatchett, a care-dependent person, died Sept. 18, 2024.

Montgomery County authorities said the investigation started after Upper Dublin police responded to an apartment complex in Dresher for a report of an unresponsive person that night.

Officers arrived and found Hatchett severely emaciated and lying on the floor.

Vernon Hatchett, Tylim Hatchett’s father, was at the scene and told officers he found his son on the floor, but officers noted he did not call 911 until about two hours later.

Tylim Hatchett was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was conducted on Sept. 19, 2024, by a forensic pathologist at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. Tylim Hatchett‘s cause of death was found to be complications of cerebral palsy in the setting of neglect, with his death ruled a homicide.

Detectives said they found that from February 2024 to Sept. 18, 2024, Tylim Hatchett lost 31 pounds, dropping from 91 pounds to 59 pounds in about seven months.

According to investigators, they found that Hawkins and Loretta Harris, a Philadelphia woman, were receiving money and submitting hours to Aveanna Healthcare to be compensated for time they were reportedly caring for Tylim Hatchett.

However, investigators said they were not giving him proper care, leaving him alone at times for upwards of 24 hours at a time.

Medical records for Tylim Hatchett found through Aveanna Healthcare listed several medications he was meant to take daily, prepared and provided by a caregiver, as Tylim Hatchett was unable to self-medicate. However, he was allegedly not receiving the proper medications during the reported care times.

Authorities noted that throughout last September, Hawkins messaged Vernon Hatchett about their son’s deteriorating health, yet continued to leave him alone without providing him with food or medicine.

An arrest warrant remains in effect for Vernon Hatchett on charges that include first-degree felony counts of neglect and abuse of care for a dependent person resulting in death.

Authorities also charged Harris with related charges in the case during their initial investigation.

Anyone with further information on Vernon Hatchett’s whereabouts is urged to contact Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3386.