Austin news

• Civil suit claiming SXSW had a role in tragic crash dismissed

  20-10-2016 23:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A federal court judge dismissed civil damage claims made against South By Southwest Holdings, SXSW LLC, and the traffic planning consultant hired to design road closures for the 2014 edition of the annual music festival. That was the year convicted drunk driver Rashad Owens, fleeing police crashed through a metal barricade and into a crowd of festival-goers killing four and injuring 20 others.
  “I take these kinds of cases very seriously,” said plaintiffs’
  
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• ‘Lucky pennies’ worth $1,000 hidden in 10 US cities

  20-10-2016 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  DETROIT, MI (AP) — Stopping to pick up a stray penny off the ground may not seem worth the effort, yet one bank is trying to change that mindset by placing 100 fake pennies across the country worth $1,000 apiece.
  Ally Bank says it is hoping to encourage Americans to look for opportunities to save through its “Lucky Penny” promotion, which launched this week. The lucky pennies carry a copper color like real pennies, but feature the Detroit-based bank’s logo instead of Abra
  
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• Police: Man jailed after grabbing girl at Allison Elementary

  20-10-2016 23:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Allison Elementary School student reported being touched inappropriately by a school parent last Friday, Oct. 14.
  In a letter to Allison Elementary families, dated Wednesday, Principal Lupe Velasquez said AISD police launched an immediate investigation. Austin Independent School District police issued an arrest warrant for the parent on a charge of indecency with a child.
  According to the warrant, Florencio Felix Barron, 40, touched a 10-year-old girl on her breast/
  
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• Parent accused of inappropriately touching Allison Elementary student

  20-10-2016 23:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Allison Elementary School student reported being touched inappropriately by a school parent last Friday, Oct. 14.
  In a letter to Allison Elementary families, Principal Lupe Velasquez said AISD police launched an immediate investigation. Thursday, police issued an arrest warrant for the parent on a charge of indecency with a child.
  The name of the accused parent was not released. Allison Elementary is located in southeast Austin near Montopolis Drive and U.S. 183.
  “
  
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• Georgetown homeowner bound, robbed of his guns

  20-10-2016 23:04 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — An alert is being sent out across a Georgetown neighborhood after a homeowner was tied up and robbed while taking out his trash.
  The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office says the robbery happened late Tuesday night in the Escalera Ranch subdivision off of Leander Road. Police say when the victim opened his garage door to take out the trash, two men wearing ski masks and gloves approached him and pointed a gun at him. The suspects told the homeowner to open hi
  
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• ThunderCloud Subs pays $128K in back wages, damages to workers

  20-10-2016 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — ThunderCloud Subs violated overtime, minimum wage and record-keeping requirements, a U.S. Labor Department investigation found.
  Thursday, investigators say the company, which has 30 restaurant locations in the Austin area, failed to pay its employees for all the hours they worked. ThunderCloud allowed employees to work off the clock, but paid only for scheduled hours, not hours actually worked, the Labor Department said in a statement Thursday.
  The company also failed to pa
  
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• Man’s body found in Brushy Creek near ‘The Round Rock’

  20-10-2016 21:16 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A man’s body has been found near “the Round Rock” in Brushy Creek, according to Round Rock police.
  Officers are on scene at Chisholm Trail Road, just west of Interstate 35. Police have shut down traffic on the road at Round Rock Avenue/FM 620. First responders were called at 1:25 p.m. by people who reported seeing what they thought was either a mannequin or a body in the water.
  Round Rock police have not identified the body, but s
  
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• Body found near ‘The Round Rock’ on Chisholm Trail Road

  20-10-2016 21:16 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A body has been found near “the Round Rock” in Brushy Creek, according to Round Rock police.
  Officers are on scene at Chisholm Trail Road, just west of Interstate 35. Police have shut down traffic on the road at Round Rock Avenue/FM 620.
  Authorities have not said if they consider the death to be suspicious. Last weekend, a body was found near Lake Creek and the Allen Baca Center in Round Rock.
  Round Rock police at the time said they were not
  
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• 719 cases of stolen beer, firearms seized from Bastrop County property

  20-10-2016 20:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An interagency investigation led authorities to a home in Bastrop County where they found 719 cases of stolen beer, firearms and more than $100,000 in cash.
  The Austin Police Department said they started investigating in September when Capital Distributing Company reported someone had broken into their business and stole $90,000 worth of alcoholic beverages. With the help of the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission and the United State Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and F
  
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• Bear takes a joyride, crashes car in Colorado

  20-10-2016 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER, Colo. (KUSA) — When the snow falls then melts in the mountains of Colorado this time of year, the Grand County Sheriff’s Department usually sees an uptick in calls relating to bears.
  “As fall sets on us, there are a lot of bears in our area,” Sheriff Schroetlin said.
  But a call to deputies on Saturday was a little different than most.
  A 200 pound black bear got inside Danny Archer’s car and accidently got carried away.
  “The bear put the car in neutral
  
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• Judge refuses to remove prosecutor in Waco biker shootings

  20-10-2016 20:43 via kxan.com
  
  WACO, Texas (AP) — A judge has refused to disqualify a Central Texas district attorney who’s prosecuting more than 150 bikers indicted in last year’s deadly gun battle at a Waco restaurant.
  District Judge Matt Johnson on Thursday denied a motion, on behalf of two bikers, to have McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna removed.
  Critics say Reyna overstepped his authority in having so many bikers arrested following the May 2015 shootout that left nine people dead. Records sh
  
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• Dallas woman convicted in $1.2M identity theft and tax scam

  20-10-2016 20:08 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (AP) — Prosecutors say a Texas woman has been convicted in a $1.2 million tax scam using stolen identities to get refunds and then buying and shipping used cars to Nigeria.
  LaTonya Carson of Dallas faces up to 191 years in prison in what officials say was a scheme since 2012. Some victims were in prison when their ID information was stolen.
  Carson was convicted Tuesday of multiple counts of aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, wire frau
  
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• Austin toddler dies, mom’s boyfriend accused of injury to child

  20-10-2016 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man is accused of causing enough injury to his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter that it resulted in her death.
  According to an arrest warrant, the child’s 22-year-old mother and her boyfriend, Stephen Cortez Jr., 27, brought the child, Juleanna Arevalo, into the Dell Children’s Medical Center at 2:23 p.m. on Oct. 18 and said she had fallen down a flight of stairs. The child died less than 30 minutes later.
  Doctors say the child had inju
  
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• Austin toddler dies, mom’s boyfriend accused of injury to a child

  20-10-2016 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man is accused of causing enough injury to his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter that it resulted in her death.
  According to an arrest warrant, the child’s 22-year-old mother and her boyfriend, Stephen Cortez Jr., 27, brought the child into the Dell Children’s Medical Center at 2:23 p.m. on Oct. 18 and said she had fallen down a flight of stairs. The child died less than 30 minutes later.
  Doctors say the child had injuries that did
  
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• Austin man arrested, accused of killing girlfriend’s daughter

  20-10-2016 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man is accused of causing enough injury to his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter that it resulted in her death.
  According to an arrest warrant, the child’s 22-year-old mother and her boyfriend, Stephen Cortez Jr., 27, brought the child, Juleanna Arevalo, into the Dell Children’s Medical Center at 2:23 p.m. on Oct. 18 and said she had fallen down a flight of stairs. The child died less than 30 minutes later.
  Doctors say the child had inju
  
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• Home explodes in Kansas, injures one

  20-10-2016 16:51 via kxan.com
  
  LINCOLN COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) – Authorities in Lincoln County, Kan. are investigating a house explosion.
  Lincoln County Sheriff Mike Weigel said when EMS and fire crews arrive around 7:30 a.m., they found the home completely on fire.
  A 57-year-old woman inside the home was airlifted to a Wichita hospital. She is in critical condition.
  “I think it’s probably a miracle she’s alive. It sounds like she’s probably going to be alright,” said Weigel.
  A neighbor te
  
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• Recap: Time spent per topic by debate

  20-10-2016 14:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — How much time did the candidates spend on immigration versus candidate fitness for office in each of the debates? This infographic breaks down the topics from each debate by the amount of time spent.
  App users: Tap here to launch the interactive experience Visualization by GraphiqCandidate breakdown Visualization by Graphiq
  
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• RRISD School Board gets updated plan to rezone middle schools

  20-10-2016 14:11 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – After three community meetings and input from parents, Round Rock school leaders will get their first look at a revised plan to rezone hundreds of middle school students.
  Administrators will unveil the plan at Thursday’s school board meeting.
  Last month, the original proposal caused debate and uproar among parents who were against moving elementary and middle school students out of their neighborhood schools. The district considered moving students at
  
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• It’s time to slam now! Space Jam returns to Austin theaters

  20-10-2016 13:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — “Here’s your chance, do your dance at the Space Jam!”
  Get ready to jam at the movies with the return of the out-of-this-world classic to the big screen. November 15 will mark 20 years since Space Jam’s release. The classic basketball movie starring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny will celebrate the anniversary with a two-day showing of the movie in more than 450 theaters across the country.
  On Nov. 13 and 16 you can watch the movie again in Austin
  
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• Parent: Teacher threatened to cut off heads, bury students who acted up

  20-10-2016 13:42 via kxan.com
  
  NEWARK, OH (WCMH) — Denver Ham gripped his daughter Riley’s shoulders tight in a protective hug outside Legend Elementary School in Newark.
  “I couldn’t lose another child,” Ham said, choking back tears.
  Riley, 7, told her family she had a “bad day” at school on Wednesday. The second-grader said a substitute teacher who called himself “Mr. S” threatened her class.
  “He doesn’t deal with bad behavior and said if we act up or do anyth
  
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• Fact checking final presidential debate as candidates point fingers

  20-10-2016 13:09 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (KXAN) — A showdown in Las Vegas had the presidential candidates pointing fingers at each other during Wednesday night’s final debate. One of the biggest moments was when Donald Trump said he would not accept the results of the election.
  Immigration — Half true 
  The battle began with immigration. Trump claims the U.S. has some “bad hombres” that have to get out. Hillary Clinton challenged him asking what happened when he met with the Mexican Pres
  
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• Controversial ‘Grove’ development moves forward at council

  20-10-2016 12:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council Thursday voted to keep the ball rolling for a controversial development in central Austin.
  The Grove at Shoal Creek would be located on 75 acres of former state owned land at the corner of 45th and Bull Creek Road. The developer, ARG, have been asking city council to zone the property as a planned unit development or PUD. That would allow them to build homes, office and retail space as well as require affordable housing in the mix. Neighbors have said th
  
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• Controversial ‘Grove’ development expected to move forward at council

  20-10-2016 12:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A vote by Austin City Council Thursday could keep the ball rolling for a controversial development in central Austin.
  The Grove at Shoal Creek would be located on 75 acres of former state owned land at the corner of 45th and Bull Creek Road. The developer, ARG, have been asking city council to zone the property as a planned unit development or PUD. That would allow them to build homes, office and retail space as well as require affordable housing in the mix. Neighbors have
  
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• Controversial development expected to move forward at council

  20-10-2016 12:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A vote by Austin City Council Thursday could keep the ball rolling for a controversial development in Northwest Austin.
  The Grove at Shoal Creek would be located on 75 acres of former state owned land at the corner of 45th and Bull Creek Road. The developer, ARG, have been asking city council to zone the property as a planned unit development or PUD. That would allow them to build homes, office and retail space as well as require affordable housing in the mix. Neighbors hav
  
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• Social Hub: Final Round of Presidential Debate

  20-10-2016 05:51 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (KRQE) – The final presidential debate is underway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will face off for the last debate of the 2016 Presidential Race.Take Our PollPeople from around the world took to social media, tagging their posts with #Debate.The audience has been asked to take their seats–20 minutes away from the final #debate moderated by #ChrisWallace @FoxNews
  — Bret Baier (@BretBaier) October 20, 2016The real question is, which
  
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• At debate, Rick Perry says Texas will not turn blue this election

  20-10-2016 05:33 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (KXAN) — Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was at Wednesday night’s debate.
  He says there is no way Texas will turn blue this election, despite recent polls showing a tight race in the Lone Star State.
  “Democrat operatives talk people into spending money in Texas and it’s a bottomless pit for them,” Perry said. “I’m always stunned that anybody buys into that to begin with, but if they want to spend their money in Texas, they can spend thei
  
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• ‘Pivotal’ year for Formula 1 in Austin amid declining attendance

  20-10-2016 04:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Drivers and fans are preparing for the start of Formula One weekend at Circuit of the Americas.
  Attendance for F1 in Austin has gone down each year, according to numbers provided by a spokesperson for Circuit of the Americas. In 2012, attendance was 265,499. Last year the numbers decreased to 224,011 during a rain-soaked weekend.
  The race weekend includes performances from Taylor Swift, Usher and The Roots. Organizers also lowered prices on most tickets, are guaranteeing to
  
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• Despite assurances from state, group doesn’t have faith in elections

  20-10-2016 04:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ahead of Wednesday’s debate Donald Trump continues to say this election could be “rigged” against him. Your state officials have said that’s not the case.
  After being turned away elsewhere a group of people want their lawmakers to hear them.
  “We want our paper back up records!” Dr. Laura Pressley yelled amid a clapping audience in the basement of the State Capitol. She’s a former Austin city council candidate and team
  
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• In last debate, Trump is noncommittal on honoring election result

  20-10-2016 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trailing in the polls, Donald Trump had little to lose in his final debate against Hillary Clinton. He still managed to send shock waves, refusing to say he would accept the results of the 2016 election if he loses.
  Trump largely steered clear of making personal attacks against Clinton at the start of the debate, but repeatedly clashed with the former secretary of state as it went on. He called her a liar, questioned her experience and at one point labeled her “such
  
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• Clinton, Trump face off in final presidential debate

  20-10-2016 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (AP) — Here is The Latest news from the third and final presidential debate between Republican Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, less than three weeks before the Nov. 8 election (all times EDT):
  9:15 p.m.
  Donald Trump is opening the final presidential debate by promising to appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will uphold Second Amendment gun rights, saying it is “under such trauma.”
  The first question in Wednesday’s debate focused on what kind of justices
  
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• Mother of teen charged with aggravated assault says he was defending her

  20-10-2016 03:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin mother is coming to the defense of her teenage son after he was charged with aggravated assault–family violence.
  Dena Trybendis tells KXAN News that her son, Brandon Trybendis, 17, was only trying to protect her when he stabbed his mother’s boyfriend Friday, Oct. 14 at their home in the 6100 block of Smith Oak Trail in southwest Austin.
  “[My ex-boyfriend] had grabbed a shotgun and threatened to kill us,” explained Dena Trybendis. &ldqu
  
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• Mother defends teenage son who stabbed her ex-boyfriend

  20-10-2016 03:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin mother is coming to the defense of her teenage son after he was charged with aggravated assault–family violence.
  Dena Trybendis tells KXAN News that her son, Brandon Trybendis, 17, was only trying to protect her when he stabbed his mother’s boyfriend Friday, Oct. 14 at their home in the 6100 block of Smith Oak Trail in southwest Austin.
  “[My ex-boyfriend] had grabbed a shotgun and threatened to kill us,” explained Dena Trybendis. &ldqu
  
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• Study: Texas low-income parents not utilizing child care services

  20-10-2016 02:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The results of a study on child care in Texas shows that low-income parents are not utilizing $500 million worth of services they qualify for because they don’t know about them.
  Children at Risk, a non-profit group, is releasing their report showing a need for a partnership between the Texas Work Force Commission and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children to inform parents of the services that aren’t being used for the most vuln
  
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• Construction on SH 45SW project slated for November

  20-10-2016 02:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Now that a federal judge has dismissed an injunction against the developers of the SH 45SW project, construction is expected to begin next month.
  The lawsuit filed earlier this year claimed the Texas Department of Transportation and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority launched the project without “undertaking any advance look at the cumulative environmental consequences of their action and without considering any alternatives to their South Mo
  
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• Bullets ‘whizzing’ by Brushy Creek Trail, neighbors say

  20-10-2016 01:26 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – A wooded area with bullets whizzing by. It sounds more like a war zone than what’s supposed to be a peaceful trail. A string of concerns posted on Nextdoor have shed light on a safety concern on Brushy Creek Trail in the Round Rock-area.
  Neighbors say bullets are flying onto the trail from a nearby private property, near the portion of the trail that connects Collingwood Drive to Forest Ridge Boulevard.
  A woman, who wishes to remain anonymous told KXAN
  
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• Confiscated hemp products from Austin pharmacies have no THC

  20-10-2016 01:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hemp Cannabidiol (CBD) products confiscated from four Austin pharmacies in September have been found to contain no detectable amounts of THC. Based on the results, the Department of Public Safety says they will not pursue any enforcement action.
  THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the mind-altering ingredient found in cannabis. On Sept. 7, DPS arrived at four People’s Pharmacy locations and confiscated various industrial hemp products.
  Pharmacy owner Bill Swail says be
  
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• Restore Rundberg grant runs out, community projects to continue

  20-10-2016 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s a project that has made big changes in an Austin neighborhood troubled by crime. Now, the Restore Rundberg Revitalization Project is facing a tough question after federal grant money ran out: What now?
  In 2013, the project, alongside the Austin Police Department, received a three-year, $1 million Byrne Crim­inal Justice Innovation grant from the Department of Justice. The mission of the project was “to improve the quality of life, health, safety, e
  
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• VIDEO: Tense moments in deadly officer involved shooting

  20-10-2016 00:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin police officer who suffered a gunshot wound won’t face any charges for shooting and killing the man who shot him. A Travis County Grand Jury found the officer was justified in his shooting Wednesday.
  Officer Armando Perez was on regular patrol in the downtown corridor on April 3 when he came across a man chasing after Darrin Martin, 25. Police say Martin was trying to get away from an apartment complex concierge who said he saw the suspect trying to bre
  
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• Officer who returned gunfire after being shot won’t face charges

  20-10-2016 00:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin police officer who suffered a gunshot wound won’t face any charges for shooting and killing the man who shot him.
  Officer Armando Perez was on regular patrol in the downtown corridor on April 3 when he came across a man chasing after Darrin Martin, 25. Police say Martin was trying to get away from an apartment complex concierge who said he saw the suspect trying to break into cars at a nearby parking garage.
  Officer Perez caught up to the men in the par
  
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