Austin news

• Deaths from West Nile in Texas, although rare, climb this week

  13-10-2016 23:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — First a headache, then confusion, followed by seizures and an illness that can put you in a coma. These are among the severe, but rare reactions from West Nile Virus.
  How rare? Around 1 in 250 people who get West Nile will get a severe symptom. About 75 percent of those who get the virus won’t even know they have it, showing absolutely no symptoms. Most of those in the remaining 25 percent will get a mild illness: a low grade fever, a rash and joint pai
  
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• 8th DWI lands San Marcos man 99 years in prison

  13-10-2016 23:37 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A San Marcos man will spend 99 years in prison for his eighth DWI conviction. The jury deliberated for nearly six hours before sentencing Jose Marin, 64, to the lengthy prison sentence.
  Marin’s DWI history goes all the way back to 1983. For his previous seven convictions, he was sentenced to prison three times. He was released early from prison in 2003 and was on parole when he was arrested on his eighth DWI offense on Jan. 17, 2015 after an officer spotted
  
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• VIDEO: Driver attempting to pass school bus thought there was a lane

  13-10-2016 22:54 via kxan.com
  
  ALBANY, New York (NEWS10) — A video posted shows a BMW quickly attempting to pass a school bus on Tuesday, but instead crashes right into it.
  There were apparently three kids were on the bus. There are no reported injuries, but they were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
  Albany police say they took a report and issued the driver of the BMW a ticket for unsafe passing.
  According to the police, the driver thought there was a right lane. There was not.
  
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• Beaumont student caught on camera driving into crowd during fight

  13-10-2016 22:54 via kxan.com
  
  BEAUMONT, Texas (KXAN) — A fight between to Beaumont students escalated when one of the students tried to run over another student with a car Wednesday, according to KBMT.
  The Beaumont Independent School District Police Department says the argument originally started as a fight at West Brook High School’s parking lot, about an hour before school dismissal. Students who were aware of what was going pulled out their phones to record the fight instead of notifying police or school
  
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• Property buyout flyers ‘concerning’ for some in Govalle neighborhood

  13-10-2016 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some residents of East Austin’s Govalle neighborhood are concerned about what they’re calling predatory buyout flyers mailed to homeowners.
  John Paul Perales, whose mother owns a home on Fiesta Street, says he feels the flyer is “demanding, harsh and intimidating.”
  “When I read it, I just felt that my mom was being bullied. I felt that she was being targeted,” he explained.
  Austin City Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria
  
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• Harper ISD cancels classes for second day after water pump failure

  13-10-2016 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  HARPER, Texas (KXAN) — The Harper Independent School District has canceled classes for a second day after a water pump failure, affecting about 100 customers in the town located around 20 miles west of Fredericksburg.
  Aqua America, which owns Aqua Texas — the water provider in Harper — says the sole well serving Harper lost power Wednesday night. Power was restored around 11 p.m.
  Water pressure had dropped below the required level by the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualit
  
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• Mom says she found pot on fries from Wendy’s

  13-10-2016 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) – A mother who visited a local Wendy’s says she filed a police report shortly after leaving the fast-food chain.
  Dezeray Risner said she ordered french fries for her 4-year-old daughter who said the french fries they ordered “tasted funny”, according to a police report.
  Risner told police she called the manager of the store who said nobody at the restaurant had marijuana. Then Risner went to the Huber Heights Police Department to show officers w
  
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• Round Rock wants to lower speed limit on US 79

  13-10-2016 22:01 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The most dangerous stretch of road in Round Rock has city leaders considering lowering the speed limit in the area to make the road safer. Over the last two years, US 79, also known as East Palm Valley Boulevard, has seen the most crashes in Round Rock.
  The Round Rock Police Department asked the Texas Department of Transportation to conduct a speed study on US 79 due to concern over a high speed in a small, congested part of the city.
  The stretch o
  
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• Lower speed limits along U.S. 79 in Round Rock goes before council

  13-10-2016 22:01 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The most dangerous stretch of road in Round Rock has city leaders considering lowering the speed limit in the area to make the road safer. Over the last two years, US 79, also known as East Palm Valley Boulevard, has seen the most crashes in Round Rock.
  The Round Rock Police Department asked the Texas Department of Transportation to conduct a speed study on US 79 due to concern over a high speed in a small, congested part of the city.
  The stretch o
  
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• What record voter registration could mean in November

  13-10-2016 21:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 15 million Texans have registered to vote for the first time in state history.
  As of Thursday, 15,015,700 people are registered to vote according to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. That’s 78 percent of the estimated 19.3 million Texans who are old enough to vote.
  Since Texas has never had this many registered voters, the Lone Star State could see record turnout when voters head to the polls Nov. 8.
  In 2012, 13,646,226 Texans were registered to v
  
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• Outrage forces Chick-fil-A to bring back original barbeque sauce

  13-10-2016 20:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Over the summer, Chick-fil-A introduced a new Smokehouse Barbeque sauce, but apparently of being welcomed by the chicken nugget eating public, the company experienced downright outrage from its customers.
  The company said they thought customers would enjoy the “bold new flavor” but apparently everyone wanted their traditional barbeque sauce back. The company said some passionate customers even started petitions to get their original sauce back.
  The backlash
  
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• VIDEO: Surveillance camera captures Samsung phone catching fire

  13-10-2016 20:41 via kxan.com
  
  KALIHI, HI (KHNL) Usually, when someone says their phone is blowing up, it means they’re being overwhelmed by phone calls, but for dozens of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 owners around the country the meaning to the phrase is literal.
  Samsung has discontinued the Galaxy Note 7 and is recalling them nationwide after several of the phones caught fire.
  The company is now working with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to assist in the recall.
  How Samsung’s recent product malfunctions will
  
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• Kyle woman accused of sex trafficking 16-year-old girl

  13-10-2016 19:41 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – A Kyle woman is facing serious charges after being arrested late Wednesday night for three counts of trafficking a child and three counts of compelling prostitution. The Hays County Sheriff’s Department is charging 43-year-old Nancy Cisneros.
  According to court documents, the case dates back to June 29, 2015. The documents read that Cisneros knowingly trafficked the victim by posting online escort advertisements to Backpage.com and securing various hotels f
  
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• Hays County charges woman for trafficking a child

  13-10-2016 19:41 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – A Kyle woman is facing serious charges after being arrested late Wednesday night for three counts of trafficking a child and three counts of compelling prostitution. The Hays County Sheriff’s Department is charging 43-year-old Nancy Cisneros.
  According to court documents, the case dates back to June 29, 2015. The documents read that Cisneros knowingly trafficked the victim by posting online escort advertisements and securing various hotels for the purpose o
  
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• Florida animal refuge takes in 73 Great Danes at once

  13-10-2016 19:35 via kxan.com
  
  FREEPORT, Florida (WJHG) A Florida animal shelter is dealing with a unique problem.
  Alaqua Animal Refuge founder Laurie Hood says in the history of her non-profit they’ve had only one Great Dane up for adoption. Now, they can multiply that number by 73.
  Last Wednesday, Alaqua Animal Refuge employees were contacted by family members of a Walton County dog breeder saying he was not in good health.
  “He abandoned all these dogs and was at a point where there was no one to care for t
  
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• Babysitter accused of causing severe head trauma to 18-month-old

  13-10-2016 19:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly a year after a toddler was rushed to the hospital when he stopped breathing, authorities are charging his babysitter, Ashley Crabtree, 38, with injury to a child.
  On Nov. 19, 2015, a woman called 911 because her 18-month-old grandson was having medical issues. When police arrived at the South Austin home, the grandmother told officers she had just picked up her grandson from Crabtree’s home when she noticed he was not “feeling like his normal se
  
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• Dak: This Is Tony’s Team

  13-10-2016 17:50 via kxan.com
  
  Although some fans want Dak Prescott to start when Tony Romo gets healthy, listen to what the rookie had to say about the matter.
  Who Should Be the Cowboys QB?!
  
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• Sexy Ken Bone costume rises from debate hero’s stardom

  13-10-2016 17:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Well, that didn’t take long. The internet’s fascination with Ken Bone has turned the crowd-proclaimed winner of Sunday’s presidential debate into a sexy Halloween costume.
  Officially called “The undecided voter,” the costume was available from Yandy.com (potentially NSFW) for $100.
  The costume kit comes with a crop-top edition of Bone’s iconic red sweater, a mustache, glasses and a microphone.
  Bone, who asked Donald Trump and Hillary Clin
  
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• Ramp replaces detour on SH 71 to SH 130 near Austin airport

  13-10-2016 17:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While construction on the expansion of State Highway 71 near SH 130 will continue for the next year, one section is getting a little better for drivers.
  On Thursday, the temporary off ramp from the westbound SH 71 overpass at SH 130 to north and southbound SH 130 opened. With the temporary ramp in place, drivers won’t have to detour through the U-turn lane at Presidential Boulevard to get to SH 130, which drivers are happy about since the detour took drivers eight min
  
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• Gun enthusiasts gearing up for Texas Firearms Festival

  13-10-2016 17:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Annie get your gun, it’s time for the Texas Firearm Festival!
  If you are a gun enthusiast or just want to see what local officers go through with firearm training, then you can check out the festival going on this weekend in Central Texas.
  Joining us in the KXAN studio is Robert Farago, President of the festival.
  Buy tickets here
  One of the things the festival features is a SWAT team challenge involving local law enforcement. There will also be more than 20 firearm de
  
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• 3 injured in MoPac, 290 crash closing eastbound ramp

  13-10-2016 15:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  A trauma alert has been put out for a man and two other people who were injured in a crash on MoPac, according to Austin/Travis County EMS.
  The crash between two vehicles is on Highway 290 and MoPac, closing the eastbound 290 ramp to northbound MoPac. Two additional ambulances have been called to the scene.
  The man, estimated to be in his 70s, has critical injuries and is being transported to the South Austin Medical Clinic. A woman, in her 60s, is also being tra
  
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• US launches missiles strikes on Yemen coast

  13-10-2016 15:50 via kxan.com
  
  Briefly:
  A US destroyer launched cruise missiles at rebel-controled radar sites in Yemen
  Rebels have targeted and launched anti-ship missiles at US Naval ships twice this week
  It’s the first time the US has struck Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen
  WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S.-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen’s Red Sea Coast early Thursday, officials said, a retaliatory action that followed two incidents
  
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• Deadly defect has Toyota recalling 340,000 Prius cars

  13-10-2016 14:43 via kxan.com
  
  U.S. (KXAN) — Toyota is recalling 340,000 Prius gas-electric hybrids due to a life threatening defect.
  The company says there could be a potentially deadly defect involving the parking brake. Of the total recalled cars, 92,000 are in the U.S.
  The recall includes the Prius 2016 and 2017 models. Toyota says the parking brake could become “inoperative,” leading to the car rolling away. The problem arises if the car is in a gear other than park with the ignition on a
  
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• Deadly defect has Toyota recalling 340,00 Prius cars

  13-10-2016 14:43 via kxan.com
  
  U.S. (KXAN) — Toyota is recalling 340,000 Prius gas-electric hybrids due to a life threatening defect.
  The company says there could be a potentially deadly defect involving the parking brake. Of the total recalled cars, 92,000 are in the U.S.
  The recall includes the Prius 2016 and 2017 models. Toyota says the parking brake could become “inoperative,” leading to the car rolling away. The problem arises if the car is in a gear other than park with the ignition on a
  
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• Fans, critics react to Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize

  13-10-2016 14:24 via kxan.com
  
  The iconic songwriter is the first American to win the prize in more than two decades.
  The iconic songwriter is the first American to win the prize in more than two decades.
  The iconic songwriter is the first American to win the prize in more than two decades.
  View the story “Bob Dylan wins 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature” on Storify
  
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• Don’t think twice, it’s all right: Bob Dylan wins Nobel Lit

  13-10-2016 14:06 via kxan.com
  
  STOCKHOLM (AP) — American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday, a stunning announcement that for the first time bestowed the prestigious award on a musician for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
  Reporters and others gathered at the Swedish Academy’s headquarters in Stockholm’s Old Town reacted with a loud cheer as his name was read out.
  Dylan, 75, is arguably the most iconic po
  
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• Don’t think twice, it’s all right: Bob Dylan wins Nobel

  13-10-2016 14:06 via kxan.com
  
  STOCKHOLM (AP) — American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday, a stunning announcement that for the first time bestowed the prestigious award on a musician for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
  Reporters and others gathered at the Swedish Academy’s headquarters in Stockholm’s Old Town reacted with a loud cheer as his name was read out.
  Dylan, 75, is arguably the most iconic po
  
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• Largest Latino civil rights group rallies Austin voters

  13-10-2016 13:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Less than four weeks until voters head to the polls and Central Texas Latinos are making a major push to get as many Hispanics out to the ballot box.
  The nation’s largest civil rights group for Latinos is hosting a rally and round table discussion among Austin voters Thursday. The National Council of La Raza said political parties aren’t courting the Hispanic vote.
  The group’s president Janet Murguia will host a panel on the low voter outreach at
  
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• Rollover I-35 crash causing delays stretching into Round Rock

  13-10-2016 13:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A rollover crash on southbound Interstate 35 will have morning commuters sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour.
  One man has been transported to the North Austin Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries after the crash near Howard Lane around 6 a.m. Austin/Travis County EMS estimate him to be in his 30s.
  The road is now open after police cleared the crash, but heavy delays are still being reported. The back-up is stretching all the way to Ro
  
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• Rollover I-35 crash caused delays stretching into Round Rock

  13-10-2016 13:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A rollover crash on southbound Interstate 35 had morning commuters sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour Thursday.
  One man was transported to the North Austin Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries after the crash near Howard Lane around 6 a.m. Austin/Travis County EMS estimate him to be in his 30s.
  The road is now open after police cleared the crash, but heavy delays were reported for several hours. During peak time, the back-up stretche
  
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• Police searching for missing woman with disabilities

  13-10-2016 12:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who suffers from brain tumors is missing after she was last seen in East Austin.
  According to Austin police, Angela Gonzales was spotted on Wednesday morning around 7 a.m. on Garcreek Circle, near the Travis County Expo Center.
  The 51-year-old has mental disabilities and police are concerned about her welfare. She was seen wearing a Texas orange shirt and maroon sweat pants. She has a tattoo of a pink heart with wings on her right shoulder blade.
  
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• Missing Austin woman with disabilities found safe

  13-10-2016 12:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who suffers from brain tumors who went missing Wednesday has been found safe.
  According to Austin police, Angela Gonzales was last seen on Wednesday morning around 7 a.m. on Garcreek Circle, near the Travis County Expo Center.
  The 51-year-old has mental disabilities and police were concerned about her welfare. She was seen wearing a Texas orange shirt and maroon sweat pants. She has a tattoo of a pink heart with wings on her right
  
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• Man dies after truck flips in southeast Austin

  13-10-2016 11:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man has died after a crash in southeast Austin Wednesday night around midnight near Burleson Road and Metropolis Drive.
  Man dies after truck flips on Metropolis Drive and Burleson Road (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala)Police say a security guard found the driver underneath the truck after it flipped over. According to investigators, the man was ejected from the truck after it hit a guardrail and light pole before rolling over.
  The truck was the only vehicle involved in the cras
  
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• Council searching for cheap housing options, new city manager

  13-10-2016 11:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – New affordable housing options, the city manager search and mobile home amenities are among the topics city council will cover at Thursday’s council meeting. Here’s a closer look:
  Affordable housing partnership: City of Austin, Austin Independent School District and Travis County
  This resolution would direct the city manager to explore partnership opportunities between the entities for affordable housing and other development projects. According to the resolutio
  
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• Plans for The Grove at Shoal Creek parkland unveiled

  13-10-2016 06:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — We’re getting a new look at the 16-acre major project near 45th Street and MoPac Expressway, The Grove at Shoal Creek.
  Plans include future restaurants, playgrounds, recreational spaces and a trail system. The park’s proposal is being called “superior” by the Austin Parks and Recreation department.
  The major mixed-use project also has plans for affordable housing.
  “Most of the affordable housing is congregated on the east si
  
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• Fire at Austin Energy substation left thousands without power

  13-10-2016 04:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An electrical fire at an Austin Energy substation near the intersection of FM 620 and RM 2222 caused thousands to lose power Wednesday night.
  Around 3,300 customers were without power initially. Electricity was restored to the River Place area at around 9 p.m. The Austin Fire Department was called to the substation at 7013 River Place Blvd. at around 7:30 p.m.
  Austin Energy says the outage was the result of a failed conductor at the substation. The AFD says one transfo
  
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• Lt. Governor wants better body armor for every Texas officer

  13-10-2016 03:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said the state needs to step up and write a big check to protect Texas law enforcement.
  Better body armor is the first step to improve policing and community relations in Texas, according to Patrick.
  “The state needs to write that check, whatever that amount,” Patrick said.
  Lt. Governor Patrick announced Wednesday he wants to outfit every law enforcement officer across the state with the better armor at an estimated price ta
  
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• AISD sees fewer absences with ‘breakfast in the classroom’

  13-10-2016 03:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A program aimed at providing the most important meal of the day to thousands of students is getting a boost. And now there’s another way the state can pay for it.
  Every morning at St. Elmo Elementary School in South Austin, red baskets greet students at their classroom doors. They’re packed with cereal, bacon, bread and other breakfast items.
  No more going to the cafeteria for the most important meal of the day. Just this week, St. Elmo students started eating i
  
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• Newly released video shows officer’s past use of force

  13-10-2016 02:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A day following the city of Austin’s motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by Breaion King, who was slammed to the ground during a traffic stop by an Austin police officer, KXAN uncovers more video of the officer using force against people he's arrested.
  Officer Richter joined the Austin Police Department in late 2009. Records obtained by KXAN show Richter has charged 34 people with resisting arrest, more than any other APD officer in the past decade. In e
  
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• San Marcos adds new buses, Wi-Fi to their fleet

  13-10-2016 02:11 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The city of San Marcos is improving their public transportation system by adding five new buses to their fleet. What used to be called CARTS for the city is now called “The Bus.”
  All new buses are equipped with Wi-Fi and will operate more economically by using ultra-clean diesel.
  With the addition of more buses, the company will be able to make more frequent stops at bus stops. They also say waiting for The Bus to arrive will soon be a little more com
  
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• Hope of rescue diminishing for dog trapped 2 weeks in abandoned mine

  13-10-2016 01:44 via kxan.com
  
  MINGO COUNTY, West Virginia (WSAZ) – A family says they’ve run out of avenues to turn as they try to rescue their dog, trapped in an abandoned mine shaft for nearly two weeks.
  Ivan Thornsbury was coon hunting with his 4-year-old dog Kate, a Treeing Walker breed, when Kate disappeared.
  He used a GPS tracking device to pin her location and discovered she was stuck underground at an abandoned mine site.
  “When I got to this hole right here, she started barking,” Thornsbury sa
  
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• Newly paved access roads prompt safety concerns in San Marcos

  13-10-2016 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Upgrades to the I-35 access road in San Marcos is leading to safety concerns from those who live nearby.
  The roads have been grated and repaved over the past couple of weeks and the lines have not been repainted. “The bridge is right after the exit, so if a semi truck is going down it, they’ll just run you off the road so I’m just very concerned. I’ve seen two or three almost accidents already because it’s not striped right now,
  
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• Hays County EMS looks to add more ambulances as call volume increases

  13-10-2016 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — Hays County continues to grow and that means more calls for emergency services. This year, Hays County EMS has responded to around 1,200 more calls than what they were responding to last year.
  “On a daily basis the trucks are busier and with the hospitals all being in Austin it takes them longer to get back and it takes the ambulances longer to be available for the next call,” said San Marcos Hays County EMS Administrative Battalion Chief Matt Wei
  
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• Groups pushing for stricter nutritional standards at day cares

  13-10-2016 01:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kids in daycare can spend up to 10 hours a day there, playing a big role in their development. And right now, the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is re-writing standards for child care centers in Texas
  Since so many children are enrolled in day care, the Partnership for a Healthy Texas says making sure the centers follow certain rules is imperative to making sure young children develop a healthy weight and healthy habits.
  “C
  
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• Family sends pizza delivery driver to check on grandma after hurricane

  13-10-2016 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  PALM COAST, FL (WCMH) — Family members of a 87-year-old Florida woman know she’s okay, thanks to a helpful pizza delivery driver.
  The family of 87-year-old Claire Olsen hadn’t heard from her for two days after Hurricane Matthew came through. They started looking for a way to get someone to check on her.
  When police said they couldn’t help, they decided to order a pizza.
  WFTV reports when driver Lance Tyler looked at the receipt, there was an instruction to call a specific
  
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• Woman tells her story of survival against West Nile encephalitis

  13-10-2016 00:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just two days after the family of a 13-year-old Bastrop County boy said they are worried the boy’s death was caused by West Nile Virus, a Travis County woman is telling KXAN News her story of surviving West Nile encephalitis.
  Keri Bollman was in her early 20s when she was diagnosed and says the recovery was lengthy.
  Bollman is now a physician’s assistant at Premiere Family Physicians. She understands the toll the virus can take, both as a patient and n
  
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