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What did Baker Mayfield really see in the skies over Austin? Clues may lurk in new government report

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said he saw a "bright ball of light" over Lake Austin. (Pixabay)
It's easy to quickly dismiss reports of alien life, like when Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife said they saw a "bright ball of light" over Lake Travis earlier this year. However, Texans might be walking among other planetary life, according to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
What Mayfield truly saw that night is unclear. Nearly all reports of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, similar to what the football star saw, remain unexplained. There have been multiple reported sightings in Austin this year and what better place for some extraterrestrials than the city of weird?
On Feb. 21, an Austin family reported seeing a "flame-like" structure that hovered and rotated before disappearing and a May 8 report recounted someone seeing a yellow-green oval-shaped orb.
Due to a limited amount of "high-quality reporting" on UAPs, the UAP task force has been unable to come to a firm conclusion on the nature of such reported unidentified flying objects. The office studied 144 reports spotted by U.S. government sources from 2004-2021, the majority from the last two years, and said all but one are currently unexplainable.
But that doesn't mean you need to put on your tinfoil hat just yet.
It's likely that these phenomena lack a single explanation. Some patterns have been documented: unusual flying patterns, seemingly advanced technology and similar descriptions on size and shape, but the organization provided a few possible explanations:
Airborne Clutter
Birds, balloons, recreational unmanned aerial vehicles and debris can all muddle a scene and sometimes appear different than what they truly are.
Natural Atmospheric Phenomena
Ice crystals, moisture and thermal fluctuations have potential to show up on infrared or radar systems.
U.S. Government or Industry Developmental Programs
Some of the sightings could be attributed to "developments and classified programs by U.S. entities," though the report was unable to confirm this in any cases.
Foreign Adversary Systems
The report stated that UAPs could be a product of Chinese, Russian, another nation or a non-governmental entity's work.
So if you see something that doesn't appear Earthly, get it on camera and maybe share it with Mayfield to compare notes. There's a chance you just glimpsed into outer space.
We want to hear from you!
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(Shutterstock)
In his three years as an Uber driver in Austin, Salai Ya has seen a range of items left behind in his car: cell phones, wallets, sunglasses and bags.
It’s become such a pattern that Ya started reminding riders before they leave to check that they collected all of their belongings. Ya’s experience is quite common in Austin, as the city topped the list of the most forgetful cities for the second year in a row on Uber’s Lost & Found Index.
But it's not just an Austin trend. Other Texas cities that made the top 10 most forgetful include Houston and Dallas at No. 3 and No. 5, respectfully.
Ya said the people who forget stuff are commonly those who request rides downtown on weekend nights.
“It’s the time most people drink, hang out,” Ya said.
While Ya said the dark could add to the likelihood of riders leaving items behind, Uber reports 5 p.m. as being the most forgetful time of day.
On weekends, cash, fanny packs, IDs and clothing are the items likely to be left behind.
But there are also some unique items Uber reports people leaving behind including a brown tortoise, a spray tan machine, part of a soft-serve ice cream machine and even an urn with pet ashes and an urn with family member ashes.
If you plan on taking an Uber this Independence Day, make sure you’re mindful of your stuff. St. Patrick’s Day and July 4 were the most popular two days of the year to leave possessions in the back seat.
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(Austin Water/Facebook)
Corie Darian Dornist Jr., a 31-year-old Austin Water employee, is accused of raping, robbing and running over a woman while on the clock June 3, according to Austin Police.
An APD arrest affidavit says Dornist has been charged with second-degree sexual assault and second-degree robbery by assault. The charge comes after APD found the alleged victim bleeding from a "bad hip and leg injury" on a welfare call, according to the affidavit.
The victim, who was quickly hospitalized, said in the affidavit that a man in a large white truck offered her a ride near I-35 and Ben White Boulevard. The sexual assault occurred inside the vehicle before Cornist pushed her into a bush and took her phone as she looked to call for help, the affidavit said.
As officers were looking for surveillance footage, the affidavit said Cornist approached officers as a self-proclaimed city of Austin employee. Cornist said that he picked up the victim on Pleasant Valley Road before dropping her off because of her strange behavior.
The affidavit said that as the victim reached into the truck window for her phone, Cornist rolled the window up into her hands and dragged the victim before she got loose and was run over. In the affidavit, Cornist acknowledged that the victim was dragged by the marked Austin Water truck.
Cornist is currently held in the Travis County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
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