Austin news

• Judge asks jurors to rethink mistrial in Michael Slager case

  02-12-2016 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The judge in the case of a former police officer charged with murdering a black motorist has told jurors – who indicated that they were unable to reach a verdict – to continue to deliberate.
  Circuit Judge Clifton Newman told the jurors Friday afternoon that they should try again to reach a verdict in the trial of former South Carolina patrolman Michael Slager.
  The jury had sent the judge a message a 1 p.m. Friday that they wanted to hear the testimony of
  
  Read more

• Missing boy found by K9 Lobos in tree surrounded by donkeys

  02-12-2016 22:38 via kxan.com
  
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — K9 Lobos came to the rescue of a missing boy in Fayette County, Friday morning.
  Around 7:17 a.m., a 911 call to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office reporting a boy missing from his house in the Rutersville area on State Highway 159, just northeast of La Grange.
  Deputies, investigators and state troopers arrived at the home and began to collect information on the boy. A command post was established and Sgt. Randy Thumann and his K9 partner Lobos arrived
  
  Read more

• WATCH: Lamp post saves woman’s life during crash

  02-12-2016 22:37 via kxan.com
  
  WARSAW, Poland (NBC News) — A lamp post saved a woman from being hit by a speeding car that was involved in a crash.
  The crash was caught on video by traffic cameras at an intersection in a city in central Poland.
  The video from multiple angles shows a white hatchback making a left turn, and then getting hit by a black sedan.
  The black car then ricochets into the lamp post, directly in front of where the woman was walking.
  The woman falls down during the crash, but gets right back up.
  No o
  
  Read more

• Williamson County homeowner shoots, kills possible intruder

  02-12-2016 21:37 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A deadly shooting that happened late Thursday night near Round Rock appears to be a case of self-defense, says a spokesperson with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
  A homeowner on Angelico Lane told police that around 10:30 p.m., he was inside the house with a woman when they found out the woman’s ex-boyfriend was in the backyard. The homeowner, armed with a flashlight and pistol, went to the back door when the suspect attempted to force
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Round Rock homeowner shoots, kills possible intruder

  02-12-2016 21:37 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A deadly shooting that happened late Thursday night near Round Rock appears to be a case of self-defense, says a spokesperson with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
  A homeowner on Angelico Lane told police that around 11 p.m., he saw a man in his backyard who was trying to get into his house so he fired his weapon, killing him. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has not said if the possible suspect ever made it inside the home or if he were
  
  Read more

• Border wall seen as threat to Big Bend beauty, wildlife

  02-12-2016 21:26 via kxan.com
  
  BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas (AP) — Opponents of a vast border wall championed by President-elect Donald Trump say it will impair tourism and conservation efforts at Big Bend National Park and beyond.
  They contend Big Bend was first envisioned in the 1930s as Big Bend International Peace Park, extending from Texas into Mexico, and that a wall will ruin the original vision for the park.
  But The Dallas Morning News reports that supporters of the wall say border security is paramount an
  
  Read more

• Police: Man jailed by judge threatened to blow up her house

  02-12-2016 21:24 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man held in contempt of court is accused of threatening to blow up a Williamson County judge’s house during a jail house phone call.
  Eduardo Omar Cardenas, 19, of Taylor, was booked into jail Monday, Nov. 28 for 90 days for being in contempt. By monitoring his calls, police learned he was trafficking drugs from the jail, ordering people on the outside to sell drugs for him.
  In a phone call at 3:34 p.m., Tuesday, Cardenas was heard telling a wo
  
  Read more

• Man accused of threatening to blow up Williamson Co. judge’s house

  02-12-2016 21:24 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man held in contempt of court during a hearing on Monday, Nov. 28, is accused of threatening to blow up a Williamson County judge’s house during a jail house phone call.
  Eduardo Omar Cardenas, 19, was booked into jail Monday for 90 days for being in contempt. By monitoring his calls, police learned he was trafficking drugs from the jail, ordering people on the outside to sell drugs for him.
  Judge Stacey Matthews (Williamson County Photo)In a phone
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Fired APD Officer Freeman settles with the city for $35,000

  02-12-2016 20:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Austin police officer fired for his handling of the fatal shooting of an unarmed and naked teenager has received a settlement from the City of Austin.
  Geoffrey Freeman will receive a $35,000 payment from the city in exchange for the agreement to not file further claims. He will also never work for the Austin Police Department again.
  “The department is aware that Geoffrey Freeman and the City of Austin have come to an agreement to settle the arbitration and th
  
  Read more

• Weekend events cancelled due to inclement weather

  02-12-2016 20:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s the first weekend in December and while there a slew of holiday events taking place, some have already been cancelled due to the cold and wet forecast.
  Here is a current list of events that have been cancelled in Central Texas:
  Budafest – This event will not be rescheduled.
  Pflugerville’s Christmas Parade and Pfestival of Lights – People are still urged to come down for the Holiday Stroll with local arts and craft vendors along Pecan Street
  
  Read more

• Changes on Loop 360 will decrease your time sitting in traffic

  02-12-2016 19:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drivers who regularly use Loop 360 should expect to spend less time stuck in traffic between US 290 and Walsh Tarlton, starting Friday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
  The traffic is expected to improve thanks to a $6.4 million project that added auxiliary lanes and extended entrance/exit lanes on Loop 360 near Loop 1. In addition, crews also constructed another left-turn lane on the northbound Loop 1 frontage road at Loop 360 to create a triple le
  
  Read more

• Oregon pot farm owner allowed to take mugshot with pet bird

  02-12-2016 19:32 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON CO., Ore. (KOIN) — A Washington County man and his companion “Bird” may have the best mugshot of all time.
  Craig Buckner, 38, was booked into jail Monday, but he wasn’t alone. His companion mackaw was right there with him as he took a mugshot you won’t soon forget.
  According to Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Buckner didn’t think he’d be at the courthouse very long and put “Bird” in a tree on the grounds to wait for him.C
  
  Read more

• Free fun in Austin for weekend of Dec. 2 to 4

  02-12-2016 19:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From a holiday sing-along to a gingerbread workshop, here is everything for free Austin has in store for the whole family this weekend.
  Free admission to the Wildflower Center: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can stroll through the gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for free. There will be book signings, demonstrations, food, art and more! It is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It is from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
  Kids Workshop Gingerbre
  
  Read more

• Texas teachers giving students tools to prevent sexual assault

  02-12-2016 19:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas high school teachers and coaches are starting a conversation about dating violence.
  The Texas High School Coaches Association, the Texas Education Agency and Michael Williams, former Commissioner of Education, are starting a new program to raise awareness about abuse in teenage relationships. The program will give coaches and teachers to the tools to help students report and prevent unwanted advances.
  Texas High School Coaches Association, and the Texas Education Agen
  
  Read more

• Bullied Texas teen kills self in front of family as they beg her not to do it

  02-12-2016 18:57 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS CITY, Texas (AP) – Family members of a Houston-area high school student who killed herself are rallying for tighter laws against cyberbullying.
  Brandy Vela’s family says cyberbullying pushed the 18-year-old over the edge, leading her to shoot herself in the chest Tuesday afternoon at the family’s Texas City home as family members watched.
  Her father, Raul Vela, said she had been receiving abusive text messages for months from bullies using an untraceable smartphone applic
  
  Read more

• Toys R Us restocks hot Christmas toys Hatchimals, Nintendo Classic

  02-12-2016 18:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If your child’s list to Santa includes two of the hottest toys this season, Hatchimals and Nintendo Mini NES, you know it’s been hard to get your hands on those toys.
  Well, parents, clear your Sunday, because Toys R Us is stocking the two items in its stores on Dec. 4. According to CNBC, select stores are slated to sell the Hatchimals for $59.99, however, customers are limited to one toy per person. Toys R Us says the Hatchimals are only sold in stores.
  BlackFri
  
  Read more

• 13 people have died from Tennessee fires

  02-12-2016 17:44 via kxan.com
  
  GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee mayor says 13 people have died from wildfires that ravaged the Great Smoky Mountains, including a person who appears to have had a heart attack while fleeing the flames.
  Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters announced the additional deaths during a news conference Friday. The mayor also raised the number of homes and businesses that were damaged to nearly 1,000.
  Waters spoke as business owners and home owners were returning to the city of Gatlinburg for the
  
  Read more

• Boil water notice issued for Plum Creek, Kyle

  02-12-2016 17:15 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Residents in both Plum Creek and the central portion of the city of Kyle should boil their water before consumption after a notice was released that water samples are being tested for bacteria.
  The boil notice is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as a result of recent conditions in the water system and a major water main break in Kyle.
  Boiling water for drinking, cooking and ice kills any harmful bacterium hidden to the naked eye. Th
  
  Read more

• Boil water notice issued for northeast Hays County, Kyle

  02-12-2016 17:15 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Customers in northeast Hays County with the Plum Creek Water System and the central portion of the city of Kyle should boil their water before consumption after a notice was released that water samples are being tested for bacteria.
  The boil notice is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as a result of recent conditions in the water system and a major water main break in Kyle.
  Boiling water for drinking, cooking and ice kills any harmfu
  
  Read more

• Teens driving on COTA track to learn about safety

  02-12-2016 16:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This weekend, teens and their parents have a chance to drive on the Circuit of the America’s track to learn how to be safe behind the wheel.
  Matt Reilly joined us in the KXAN studio to discuss BRAKES, which stands for Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe.
  Register here
  The program is for teens ages 15 through 19 who have a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit. Partnering with a parent, the teens will drive for 30 hours while they learn the skills to
  
  Read more

• Teen hit, killed on I-35 in New Braunfels after he ‘walked’ in front of truck

  02-12-2016 15:49 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS (KXAN) — All southbound lanes of Interstate 35 are back open after a teenager was hit and killed by an 18-wheeler Friday morning.
  A 17-year-old from San Marcos was found lying in the road around 8:15 a.m. by New Braunfels police. Unable to revive him, the teen was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the 3900 block of I-35.
  Witnesses told police the teen pulled his truck over to the side of I-35 and then intentionally walked in front of a semi-truck. The driver of the
  
  Read more

• Teen dies after hit by semi-truck closing SB I-35 in New Braunfels

  02-12-2016 15:49 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS (KXAN) — All southbound lanes of Interstate 35 are closed at Kohlenberg Road after a teenager was hit and killed by an 18-wheeler.
  A 17-year-old from San Marcos was found lying in the road around 8:15 a.m. by New Braunfels police. Unable to revive him, the teen was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on the 3900 block of I-35.
  Witnesses told police the teen pulled his truck over to the side of I-35 and then walked in front of a semi-truck. The driver of the 18-wheeler w
  
  Read more

• Pedestrian hit by car closing southbound I-35 in New Braunfels

  02-12-2016 15:49 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS (KXAN) — All southbound lanes of Interstate 35 are closed at Kohlenberg Road after a pedestrian was hit by a car.
  KXAN traffic map: Detours
  Traffic is being diverted to the access road. Drivers are warned to avoid the area as traffic is backing up.
  
  Read more

• New police chief discusses Austin’s immigration policies

  02-12-2016 15:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The new interim police Chief in Austin, Brian Manley, has a lot on his plate after the departure of Art Acevedo.
  Manley joined us in the KXAN studio to discuss some issues on the minds of Austinites.
  When asked if he will question the legal status of citizens during traffic stops, Manley said that has never been the practice of the Austin Police Department.
  “That is not within our policy and we have no reason to ask someone their immigration status. We’re focuse
  
  Read more

• Police on the prowl for distracted drivers in Austin

  02-12-2016 14:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department will reignite their hunt for distracted drivers.
  This is an initiative they have launched several times this year. The officers will board a Capital Metro bus and look for drivers on their cell phones. Once they have spotted an offender, they will call a mobile patrol unit to pull over the violator. The Texas Transportation Safety and Security professionals will also ride along to help create a similar effort across the state.
  Bus hau
  
  Read more

• Third lane of MoPac finally opens at Lady Bird Lake

  02-12-2016 14:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drivers will be rejoicing as the third lane of northbound MoPac has finally opened at Lady Bird Lake and the Enfield Road exit.
  Video released by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority shows a simulation of what it will look like for drivers to get onto the new MoPac Expressway Lanes from northbound MoPac. While the third lane of MoPac is open, crews are still working to complete the northbound Express Lane.
  The final stage of the lane construction was completed Thu
  
  Read more

• Remembering San Bernardino’s victims 1 year later

  02-12-2016 13:36 via kxan.com
  
  SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (MEDIA GENERAL/AP) — Friday marks one year since 14 people were killed and 22 others injured in a mass shooting at a holiday gathering in San Bernardino, California.
  The Dec. 2 shooting took place at the Inland Regional Center as employees of the San Bernardino County Health celebrated the holiday season.
  In this July 27, 2014 file photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows Tashfeen Malik, left, and Syed Farook, as they passed through O’Hare Int
  
  Read more

• Millions on the table during new UT coach contract negotiations

  02-12-2016 13:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas’ new head football coach is tasked with turning around the program. Starting on Saturday, the UT Board of Regents will finalize new coach Tom Herman’s contract.
  Now the question is what price-tag comes with the new coaching job. Millions of dollars are on the table for Herman. According to reports, in the first year he will get $5 million and then see a pay increase the following years up to $6 million a year.
  The Board of Regents will al
  
  Read more

• Contract negotiations underway for new UT coach Tom Herman

  02-12-2016 13:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas’ new head football coach is tasked with turning around the program. Starting on Saturday, the UT Board of Regents will finalize new coach Tom Herman’s contract.
  Now the question is what price-tag comes with the new coaching job. Millions of dollars are on the table for Herman. According to reports, in the first year he will get $5 million and then see a pay increase the following years up to $6 million a year.
  The Board of Regents will al
  
  Read more

• Interim Chief Manley will be pinned at Blue Santa Breakfast

  02-12-2016 12:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin police department will officially make Brian Manley the new interim chief on Friday.
  This will happen during the department’s Blue Santa Breakfast Friday morning at the Palmer Events Center. Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo will be there to welcome the new chief. The department will also wish Acevedo good luck on his new role as Houston’s police chief.
  Manley was previously the chief of staff for the Austin Police Department. He has been with th
  
  Read more

• Brian Manley pinned as new interim police chief by Art Acevedo

  02-12-2016 12:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s official, Austin has a new interim Police Chief. Former chief Art Acevedo passed the torch as he pinned Brian Manley Friday morning.
  Manley was pinned during the department’s annual Blue Santa Breakfast at the Palmer Events Center. Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo welcomed the new chief as the department wished Acevedo good luck on his new role as Houston’s police chief.
  The Blue Santa Breakfast goes from 6 a.m. and to 10 a.m. The
  
  Read more

• Lexibook baby bath seats, chairs recalled for drowning risk

  02-12-2016 12:27 via kxan.com
  
  U.S. (WCBD) — Lexibook has issue an immediate recall for all Baby Bath Seats and Chairs. These products meant for children over 6 months old do not meet federal safety standards, including stability requirements.The bath seats pose a drowning hazard to babies. Around 7,000 units were sold between January 2013 and August 2016.
  The bottom of the base is stamped with “2014 Lexibook Limited IT028/IT029 SN: 1407/VA09.”
  Consumers with this product should stop using the seat immediate
  
  Read more

• Credit card skimmers found at Lago Vista gas station

  02-12-2016 05:47 via kxan.com
  
  LAGO VISTA, Texas (KXAN) — Police are warning drivers who have pumped gas at a Lago Vista gas station within the past 48 hours to call their banks.
  Skimming devices were found on three pumps (#1, #2 and #7) at the CEFCO convenience store at 20520 FM 1431 near the intersection with Lohman Ford Road.
  Lago Vista police alerted drivers to the skimmers at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Officers advised anyone who used any of the three pumps to contact their bank, cancel their cards and report any fr
  
  Read more

• Three charged with theft, accused of breaking into mailboxes

  02-12-2016 05:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police arrested three people Thursday on theft charges after recovering a large amount of stolen mail from southwest Austin. Around 100 people were impacted, potentially more, as the investigation remains ongoing.
  Patrick Moffet, Jacob Lambert and Courtney Mayes are accused of hitting up 7-8 community style mailboxes. Police say the tip came in around 2:50 a.m. about people loading a truck with packages.
  “The postal service delivers millions of checks, money or
  
  Read more

• More than the Score: Babers on Herman and Texas football

  02-12-2016 05:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Rod Babers from AM 1300 The Zone and former Texas defensive back joins Roger Wallace on More than the Score to talk about Tom Herman being the new Texas football coach.
  
  Read more

• Post-election, Travis Co. professional women tell little girls to dream

  02-12-2016 04:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County professional women are sending a message to little girls: Be what you want to be. That was the focus Thursday in Austin at the first-ever “Foremothers For Our Daughters event,” aimed at celebrating important women and little girls.
  Dozens of women and their young daughters attended the event, including local prominent female judges, prosecutors, doctors, first responders and law enforcement officers.
  The organizer told KXAN she knew she h
  
  Read more

• Austin gains highest fire protection rating possible

  02-12-2016 04:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is now among the most well-protected cities from fire in the country.
  Thursday, the city announced Austin’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating climbed from Class 2 to Class 1 on the 10-point scale. The Austin Fire Department worked with Austin Water for the “arduous and lengthy” re-classification process, which began in October 2015.
  Only 204 cities in the country have the superior rating, and only two other cities in Texas have a Cl
  
  Read more

• More Austin schools face problems beneath the floors

  02-12-2016 03:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The abrupt closure of T.A. Brown Elementary School because of safety concerns grabbed the attention of parents, but schools across the district are also facing problems with their buildings, but remain safe.
  Inspectors found the failures at Brown after inspecting the crawl space at the school.
  A new KXAN analysis of crawl space inspection reports district-wide found 11 schools with a “poor” ratings for the condition of the underside of the school’s suspend
  
  Read more

• Child Protective Services can begin hiring and paying more

  02-12-2016 03:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The agency looking over abused and neglected children has approval from key lawmakers and Gov. Abbott to hire more than 800 more employees and give employees a raise.
  The head of the Department of Family and Protective Services, Hank Whitman, said he needed more resources for the agency to do it’s job; look into cases of abuse and neglect and ensure children in Texas are in a safe environment. After tough negotiations the four members of the legislative budget bo
  
  Read more

• Top 3 things Coach Herman needs to turn Longhorns around

  02-12-2016 03:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas coach Tom Herman isn’t interested in a rebuilding project, he wants to win right away. Herman is Texas’ third coach in four years. Charlie Strong replaced Mack Brown after 16 years where Texas had just one losing season and from 2001 to 2009 the Longhorns won at least 10 games, a national title and played for another one.
  There are so many keys to Herman’s immediate success at Texas, so after three straight losing seasons, we look at three of them. H
  
  Read more

• Top 3 things Coach Herman needs to do to make a winning team

  02-12-2016 03:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas coach Tom Herman isn’t interested in a rebuilding project, he wants to win right away. Herman is Texas’ third coach in four years. Charlie Strong replaced Mack Brown after 16 years where Texas had just one losing season and from 2001 to 2009 the Longhorns won at least 10 games, a national title and played for another one.
  There are so many keys to Herman’s immediate success at Texas, so after three straight losing seasons, we look at three of them. H
  
  Read more

• Williamson Co. sheriff-elect claims sheriff is making transition difficult

  02-12-2016 02:51 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Sheriff-elect Robert Chody says he first reached out to current Sheriff James Wilson about eight months ago after he won the primary, requesting to meet at the sheriff’s office to help with a smooth transition. To this day, Chody says he still hasn’t received a clear answer.
  Chody unleashed his frustration on Facebook calling a lack of response from the current sheriff ‘another example of leadership failure.’ “In some aspects
  
  Read more

• Williamson Co. sheriff-elect claims current sheriff making transition difficult

  02-12-2016 02:51 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Sheriff-elect Robert Chody says he first reached out to current Sheriff James Wilson about eight months ago after he won the primary, requesting to meet at the sheriff’s office to help with a smooth transition. To this day, Chody says he still hasn’t received a clear answer.
  Chody unleashed his frustration on Facebook calling a lack of response from the current sheriff ‘another example of leadership failure.’ “In some aspects
  
  Read more

• Stark contrasts as gun bills are filed ahead of ’17 legislature

  02-12-2016 02:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers this session will again take up who can carry guns and where they can carry them. Last session they decided Texans can carry guns openly and into college classrooms.
  Susan Nelson says a burglar shot her in the back of the head from four feet away after taking her friend’s gun. “That night, April 4, 1993, my world stopped and totally changed,” said Nelson. Her friend didn’t survive.
  “After the rehab I spent five years wandering.
  
  Read more

• Staff cuts in city program could worsen graffiti in Austin

  02-12-2016 02:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin program aimed at helping at-risk youth and cleaning up graffiti is being forced to cut staff. This comes at a time when graffiti removal requests continue to climb, with a backlog of over 600 service requests.
  The Austin Youth Development (AYD) program was created to help at-risk youth. They’re paid to remove graffiti, and also get workforce development.
  Derrick McKnight is the AYD program manager, “They’re very busy. They work Monday t
  
  Read more

• Early voting for San Marcos mayoral, city council runoff election begins

  02-12-2016 02:18 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Early voting for December’s runoff election began Thursday in San Marcos. Voters will be looking to elect a new mayor and three of the four city council positions. You can see a list of all of the candidates on the city of San Marcos website.
  In July, the current mayor, Daniel Guerrero, announced that he would not be seeking re-election. Those looking to vote early on Thursday were in and out in less than 15 minutes.
  “I came here for the November
  
  Read more

• Attorneys: Keeping the secret of a broken DNA freezer may be a crime

  02-12-2016 01:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hours after an Austin Police Department memo was released about a broken freezer holding evidence, attorneys say it could be a violation of the law.
  “This is outrageous. This set of circumstances is preposterous,” defense attorney Skip Davis says. “In their own memo, they acknowledge that they have probably degraded and compromised their samples.”
  Davis says he’s concerned about his cases and others, saying, “I guess they were going to pr
  
  Read more

• Q&A with interim APD chief on broken DNA freezer

  02-12-2016 00:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the Austin Police Department tries to figure out if a malfunctioning freezer might have compromised DNA being held at the DNA lab, KXAN’s Sally Hernandez spoke to Interim Chief of Police Brian Manley to find out why scientists didn’t notify the legal community and if they were covering anything up.
  Sally Hernandez/KXAN: KXAN broke a memo that we got showing that a freezer in the lab for almost a week and nobody outside the lab was notified. How big was a prob
  
  Read more

• Company launching marijuana-infused coffee and tea Keurig pods

  02-12-2016 00:29 via kxan.com
  
  COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A California based company is about to make it a lot easier for people to wake and bake.
  Cannabiniers is launching a new line of THC and CBD infused coffee and tea. The product, known as BrewBudz, is designed to work in your at home Keurig brewer.
  “It’s an opportunity to bring together two different rituals in life,” BrewBudz Vice President Jeffry Paul told Eater. “Drinking coffee or tea is something that’s part of your every day…. The
  
  Read more

• Drums, flutes, clapping echo through downtown pipeline protest

  02-12-2016 00:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dozens of protesters gathered in front of Energy Transfer Partners at the corner of Guadalupe and 15th streets Thursday morning.
  They’re calling for the business to be denied its building permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) in North Dakota by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  Dr. Tane Ward, director of Equilibrio, a decolonial organization project, says the protesters rallied with song, prayer and speeches for two main reasons: to close their
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!