Austin news

• Police release photo of car connected to Wolf Lane murder

  04-11-2016 23:38 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A photo of the type of car connected to the murder of Amber Taylor, 28, has been released by the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies are asking for your help locating the car.
  The black 2003 Mercedes-Benz C230K 4-door sedan, with Texas license plate FKR-6345, may have a missing or recently replaced driver’s side window. Police say the car’s windshield on the passenger side is cracked, the vehicle has minor rear bumper damage and t
  
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• UTPD sees ‘coffee with a cop’ as chance to interact beyond 40 acres

  04-11-2016 23:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At the second “Coffee with a Cop” this year, Officer Michael Murphy with the University of Texas at Austin police department sees an opportunity to answer questions from the whole community, and not just those within the 40 acres.
  Officers sat down with students and community members at the Starbucks at 24th and San Antonio Street in West Campus.
  The department hopes to have two more events this school year, probably next semester. Smaller, informal se
  
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• Jeb Bush to teach 10-day course at Texas A&M in January

  04-11-2016 23:11 via kxan.com
  
  COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is returning to his native state to teach a 10-day elective course on governmental leadership at Texas A&M.
  The university announced Friday that Bush’s class will begin Jan. 6 and conclude before the regular spring semester begins.
  He’s joining the faculty at A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service, named for Jeb’s father, former President George H.W. Bush.
  Jeb graduated from the Universit
  
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• If Trump loses: We’ll be at the White House — ‘in arms’

  04-11-2016 22:52 via kxan.com
  
  SELMA, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump’s legions of followers say they’re growing confident of victory — and many say they won’t accept defeat.
  “We’re going to win. And if we don’t win and Hillary wins, I think we’re going to take over the government,” said Nancy Fraize, 51, who works as a cleaning lady in Manchester, New Hampshire. “I think personally we’ll all be at the White House sitting on the front lawn. In arms.”
  Her v
  
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• Structural damage closes Brown Elementary for the school year

  04-11-2016 22:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — T.A. Brown Elementary will likely remain closed for the school year after an engineer’s report uncovered structural problems at the 59-year-old North Austin school. Officials said it would not be feasible to make repairs, which would also pose a risk to contractors, so the current building will never reopen.
  Thursday night, the district abruptly cancelled Friday classes at the school, citing the structural concerns.
  Starting Wednesday, the 360 students who a
  
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• Structural concerns close Brown Elementary for the school year

  04-11-2016 22:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — T.A. Brown Elementary will likely remain closed for the school year after an engineer’s report uncovered structural problems at the 59-year-old North Austin school. Officials said it would not be feasible to make repairs, which would also pose a risk to contractors, so the current building will never reopen.
  Thursday night, the district abruptly cancelled Friday classes at the school, citing the structural concerns.
  Starting Wednesday, the 360 students who a
  
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• Mock Election: 40 years of political impressions in pop culture

  04-11-2016 22:21 via kxan.com
  
  (MEDIA GENERAL) — The world of politics isn’t always the easiest place to navigate. There are plenty of topics, issues and policies that can be stressful to figure out. It’s only natural then that so many comedians have tackled the weighty world of the Oval Office.
  Gerald Ford
  A year before the 1976 presidential election took place, a little program known as Saturday Night Live – you may have heard of it – debuted on NBC. It’s a staple now to see the show lamp
  
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• Texas not taking basic steps to protect children, report says

  04-11-2016 21:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Experts charged with recommending fixes to Texas’ child welfare program advise the state to dedicate more resources and get back to basics.
  Child Protective Services caseworkers are responsible for finding abused and neglected children in Texas, removing them if necessary, and moving them through the state’s child welfare system. In 2015, Federal District Judge Janis Jack charged child care experts Kevin Ryan and Francis McGovern to recommend reforms to the
  
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• Death of fourth child linked to IKEA’s ‘MALM’ dresser

  04-11-2016 21:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NBC News) – The death of a fourth child has been linked to a major recall of 29 million dressers and chests sold at IKEA in the US and Canada.
  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says a two-year-old boy from Woodbridge, Virginia died after an unanchored Malm 3-drawer chest tipped over, and trapped the child between the dresser drawers.
  The fatality reportedly occurred in 2011.
  Most of the products covered in the recall were sold under the “MALM” model
  
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• New SH 130 to 71 ramp allows drivers to bypass intersection

  04-11-2016 20:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting Saturday morning, the ramp from westbound State Highway 71 to the 71 toll will open. The ramp, located just west of SH 130, will allow drivers coming from north and southbound SH 130 to access the FM 973 overpass and bypass the traffic signal.
  The new ramp is expected to improve traffic flow in the area. No tolls will be charged at this time. TxDOT says they’ll start charging in early 2017.
  Also on Saturday, Cheviot Lane at westbound SH 71 will close for 
  
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• San Antonio Chief: Officer fired for giving homeless man feces sandwich

  04-11-2016 20:01 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) – A San Antonio police officer is off the force for, what the department’s chief calls, “a vile disgusting act.”
  According to My San Antonio, several sources confirmed that bike-patrol officer Matthew Luckhurst, a five-year veteran, placed feces between two pieces of bread, put the ‘sandwich’ in a sytrofoam container and gave it to a homeless man in May. He then allegedly bragged about it to a fellow officer.
  “The officer report
  
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• UT murder case stalled due to DNA testing backlog

  04-11-2016 19:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — During a scheduled hearing for Meechaiel Criner, the 18-year-old accused of killing University of Texas at Austin student Haruka Weiser, the state revealed to defense attorneys they are still waiting for DNA to be processed in the case.
  “There was genetic material found on the body of Ms. Weiser that was not hers. That is why we are all anxiously awaiting the DNA results. It is crucial to this case for the state and defense,” said Criner’s attorney Ar
  
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• Dave Chappelle to host Saturday Night Live November 12

  04-11-2016 18:55 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Comedian Dave Chappelle is set to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 12, marking his debut appearance on the show. He will be joined by hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest.
  Chappelle’s comedy career includes movie roles in “The Nutty Professor,” ”Con Air” and “Blue Streak.”
  In 2003, he achieved heightened fame and critical acclaim headlining his Comedy Central sketch series, “Chappelle’s Show,&rdqu
  
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• High school student suspended for ‘theft’ of chicken nugget

  04-11-2016 18:36 via kxan.com
  
  FARRAGUT (WATE) – A Farragut High School student was suspended for a day, all over a chicken nugget that school officials alleged he had stolen.
  Senior Carson Koller said the lunch amounts are portioned out and on Monday students were offered five chicken nuggets in a tub. He said he was feeling extra hungry and put a sixth chicken nugget in his tub, taken from another tub.
  When the cafeteria worker on the cash register noticed the extra nugget, Koller said he was informed that he had to p
  
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• 2 former Gov. Christie allies convicted in Bridgegate

  04-11-2016 17:23 via kxan.com
  
  NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Two former allies of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have been convicted in a plot to use traffic jams for political retaliation.
  Bridget Kelly, Christie’s former deputy chief of staff, and Bill Baroni, a Christie appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were found guilty Friday of all counts against them.
  Kelly and Baroni were convicted of scheming with former Christie ally David Wildstein to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endor
  
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• African American Youth Harvest Foundation celebrates a decade of service

  04-11-2016 17:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This weekend, community leaders will gather to celebrate a local non-profit dedicated to helping youths in Austin’s underprivileged communities.
  On Saturday, the African American Youth Harvest Foundation (AAYHF) is hosting its Changing the Story Gala to honor and recognize Austin leaders for their work with the agency. The gala’s goal is to raise funds to benefit free programs and services for at-risk youth and their families.
  First Lady Cecilia Abbott annd Aust
  
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• Samsung issues recall for ‘exploding’ washing machines

  04-11-2016 16:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After receiving more than 700 reports of front-loading washing machines experiencing excessive vibration and potentially causing injuries, Samsung is issuing a recall for 2.8 million of its washers. The recall involves 34 models of Samsung top-load washing machines.
  In some cases, the top of the washing machine detached from the washing machine chassis. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been in nine injuries related to the washing machines. Some consume
  
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• Governor urges vigilance in wake of al-Qaeda threat against Texas

  04-11-2016 16:12 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP/KXAN) — The FBI and New York Police Department say they are assessing the credibility of information they received of a possible al-Qaeda terror attack against the U.S. on the eve of Election Day. Austin police say they had already increased their security posture for the week ahead and will make additional changes if the need arises.
  Sources told CBS News that U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning attacks in three states for
  
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• Feds assess possible al-Qaida threat against Texas on Election Day eve

  04-11-2016 16:12 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP/KXAN) — The FBI and New York Police Department say they are assessing the credibility of information they received of a possible al-Qaida terror attack against the U.S. on the eve of Election Day.
  Sources told CBS News that U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning attacks in three states for Monday. It is believed New York, Texas and Virginia are all possible targets, though no specific locations are mentioned.
  It wasn’t i
  
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• Feds assess possible al-Qaeda threat against Texas on Election Day eve

  04-11-2016 16:12 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP/KXAN) — The FBI and New York Police Department say they are assessing the credibility of information they received of a possible al-Qaeda terror attack against the U.S. on the eve of Election Day.
  Sources told CBS News that U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning attacks in three states for Monday. It is believed New York, Texas and Virginia are all possible targets, though no specific locations are mentioned.
  It wasn’t i
  
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• FBI, NYPD assess possible al-Qaida threat against Texas on US election eve

  04-11-2016 16:12 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP/KXAN) — The FBI and New York Police Department say they are assessing the credibility of information they received of a possible al-Qaida terror attack against the U.S. on the eve of Election Day.
  Sources told CBS News that U.S. intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that al Qaeda could be planning attacks in three states for Monday. It is believed New York, Texas and Virginia are all possible targets, though no specific locations are mentioned.
  It wasn’t i
  
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• Water main break damages road in front of Maplewood Elementary

  04-11-2016 14:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A water main leak is causing some traffic delays around Maplewood Elementary School in central Austin.
  The leak was reported around 7 a.m. on Maplewood Avenue near East 38 1/2 Street. Initial reports indicate before the leak was capped, the water was shooting 12 feet into the air.
  As of 8 a.m., the water has been turned off but there is some damage to the pavement. Austin police are assisting with traffic around the school.
  Water main break in front of Maplewood Elementary
  
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• Austin grants permission for shelter to sterilize animals on first visit

  04-11-2016 13:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — City council voted to let the animal shelter spay or neuter cats and dogs the first time they show up at their door.
  The ordinance is designed to help lower the number of stray pets you see on the street and alleviate overcrowding at the Austin Animal Center, aiding the city’s “No Kill” policy. This resolution asks the city manager to amend the city code and allow the animal shelter to sterilize and animal if it has been impounded at least one time, r
  
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• Austin Monitor gives insight into items voted by council

  04-11-2016 13:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Monitor’s Mike Kanin joined KXAN News Today on Friday to discuss the DNA backlog facing the Austin Police Department.
  There’s a backlog of DNA that needs to be tested, so the city is turning to Dallas County for some help. Council members decided to authorize a 12-month interlocal agreement with Dallas County, acting through the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences at Dallas, for forensic services not to exceed $1,600,000 with five 12-month extensi
  
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• San Marcos giving away free trees for Texas Arbor Day

  04-11-2016 13:06 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — In celebration of Texas Arbor Day, the city of San Marcos is giving away free trees starting Friday morning.
  The trees will be distributed on a first come first serve basis at the San Marcos Discovery Center, located at 430 Riverside Drive, starting at 9 a.m. Customers must present a current San Marcos electric utility bill in order to claim their free trees.
  Residents can pick from a variety of trees including: Texas mulberry, Texas red oak, roughleaf dogwood, r
  
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• School bus driver in Baltimore crash shouldn’t have been driving

  04-11-2016 12:34 via kxan.com
  
  BALTIMORE (AP) — State officials say the driver of a Baltimore school bus involved in a deadly crash with a commuter bus shouldn’t have been driving because his commercial license had been suspended two months earlier.
  Glenn Chappell also could have been kept from driving because he pleaded guilty in 2012 to second-degree assault. A State Board of Education regulation says a school system “may not” permit someone convicted of a violent crime to operate a school vehicle.
  C
  
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• Analyzing history: What factors, voting trends tilt presidential elections?

  04-11-2016 12:11 via kxan.com
  
  (MEDIA GENERAL) — Ever wonder how political scientists — and the campaigns, for that matter — determine how states will vote in presidential elections?
  What demographics are they looking at? What statistics tell us who is likely to vote for whom?
  Political scientists and pollsters do this by studying voter trends, which are carefully identified and studied to try to determine which personal affiliations and demographic qualifiers can help predict which way a specific person is
  
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• WATCH: Robbery suspects bumrush San Antonio 7-11

  04-11-2016 12:07 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) — The San Antonio Police Department is seeking the public’s help identifying a group of people who came in and robbed a 7-11 store last month.
  Surveillance video from the store shows numerous young individuals standing around the entry and within a few seconds, the store is swarmed with people grabbing beer and snacks. During the brazen Oct. 1 robbery, one of the suspects looks directly at the surveillance camera and points a handgun at it.
  As the emplo
  
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• VIDEO: Robbery suspects bumrush San Antonio 7-11

  04-11-2016 12:07 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) — The San Antonio Police Department is seeking the public’s help identifying a group of people who came in and robbed a 7-11 store last month.
  Surveillance video from the store shows numerous young individuals standing around the entry and within a few seconds, the store is swarmed with people grabbing beer and snacks. During the brazen Oct. 1 robbery, one of the suspects looks directly at the surveillance camera and points a handgun at it.
  As the emplo
  
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• Early voting numbers trending downward heading into final day

  04-11-2016 10:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Friday is the final day to vote early before Election Day on Tuesday and the Travis County Clerk has big concerns about voter turnout. While it started out strong during the first week of early voting the number of voters coming back to the polls after the weekend significantly dropped off.
  “That’s unusual and could lead to really long lines on Election Day because at this point voters might be thinking they will just come out then,” said Dana DeBeauvoir,
  
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• Free Fun in Austin for weekend of Nov 5-6

  04-11-2016 09:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)- Looking for some ideas to spend the weekend here in the Capitol City? Here are some thoughts from our partners at Free Fun in Austin.
  ANSC Fall Festival– Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. See Texas wildlife up close, give back to the animals, relax in the planetarium, and learn how to leave no trace. FREE! Austin Nature & Science Center, 2389 Stratford Dr, Austin.
  Texas Book Festival– Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  
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• Special needs student injured, after aunt’s request for cameras denied

  04-11-2016 04:53 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) —  A law passed to help protect special needs students in the classroom has some holes in it. A woman in Bastrop ISD made a request for the district to put cameras in her niece’s classroom, but the district said it didn’t meet state qualifications.
  The aunt asked KXAN to keep her identity anonymous. “I was shocked, I was frustrated, and I was angered. This is a child who has special needs. She has rights, she’s entitled to protec
  
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• More than the score: Texas college football and the Cowboys

  04-11-2016 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Erin Hogan from 104.9 The Horn joins Roger Wallace on More than the Score to talk college football  and the Dallas Cowboys.
  
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• Investigators hope new clues will help identify victim in burned trunk

  04-11-2016 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Investigators hope a sports jersey and specific tattoos will help investigators identify the burned body found in a truck in Del Valle on Sunday, Oct. 30
  Travis County Fire Rescue responded at 7:45 a.m. to a report of a car fire on Buck Lane. In the process of extinguishing the fire, a body was discovered in the trunk of the vehicle. Due to extensive damage caused by the fire, it has been difficult to positively identify the body.
  Punisher jersey example (TCSO Photo)The per
  
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• Texas oil magnate sits out pipeline vote after protests

  04-11-2016 02:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Environmental advocates blasted a Gov. Abbott appointee over a “conflict of interest” on a small pipeline vote in east Texas.
  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission called in extra game wardens and state troopers as shouting protesters interrupted their Austin public meeting several times. Protesters had their sights on Commissioner Kelcy Warren, the oil magnate behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, who recused himself from a smaller pipeline vote Thursday af
  
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• Structural concerns force Friday cancellation at Brown Elementary

  04-11-2016 02:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Classes at Brown Elementary School have been cancelled on Friday, November 4th due to ‘structural concerns.’
  A statement from Austin Independent School District said a recent engineer’s report brought the situation to light. An engineer was onsite for an assessment which was part of the Facility Master Plan process.
  “We are working quickly to identify the best alternative for T.A. Brown Elementary School students in the long term.”
  It’s u
  
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• Brown Elementary abruptly closes due to structural concerns

  04-11-2016 02:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Classes at Brown Elementary School in north Austin have been cancelled on Friday, Nov. 4 due to “structural concerns.”
  A statement from Austin Independent School District said a recent engineer’s report brought the situation to light. An engineer was onsite for an assessment which was part of the Facility Master Plan process.
  Based on the last structural assessment, the campus, which was built in 1957, got a poor grading in ceiling finishes, door and wall
  
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• Dozens stranded behind flooded northwest Austin road

  04-11-2016 02:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Around 50 cars are stranded behind a low water crossing on Spicewood Springs Road in northwest Austin.
  A KXAN Viewer says she has been stuck for around 2 hours with dozens of other drivers. The fire department is at the scene monitoring the situation.
  Trucks are being allowed to move through the low water crossing.
  The road is notorious for its dangerous low water crossings following heavy rain. In June, the body of a man swept away in flood water was found near Spicew
  
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• Woman seriously injured in fall from Mount Bonnell

  04-11-2016 01:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who fell 50 feet from Mount Bonnell has been rescued by helicopter.
  Austin-Travis County EMS say the woman, in her 40s, was in verbal contact with emergency crews before being rescued. EMS and Austin firefighters were called to the scene at 7:13 p.m. Thursday.
  Medics say the woman has potentially serious injuries from the fall. She was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge.
  Palmer Buck, division chief in the Austin Fire Department, said it&r
  
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• Woman falls 40-50 feet from Mount Bonnell; rescue underway

  04-11-2016 01:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who fell 40-50 feet from Mount Bonnell is being rescued by helicopter.
  Austin-Travis County EMS say the woman, in her 40s, is in verbal contact with emergency crews. First responders were called to the scene at 7:13 p.m. Thursday.
  In August, a man was trying to retrieve personal items when he fell over the edge of Mount Bonnell and died. “We don’t know exactly what happened here, but obviously you should stay behind the rail,” Austin-Travis County
  
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• PHOTOS: Rainbows after a November rain

  04-11-2016 00:38 via kxan.com
  
  Rainbows! Double rainbow in Lockhart (ReportIt photo/Alison Clark)Rainbow (ReportIt photo/JD Dillard)Round Rock rainbow (ReportIt photo/Paul Pason)Rainbow by Seton Kyle Hospital (Facebook submission by Jesse Vargas)Lovely view of a rainbow near San Marcos (Facebook submission by Jeremiah Rios)Double rainbow in Elgin (ReportIt photo/Jen Banks)Austin rainbow (ReportIt photo)Buda rainbow (CJ West)Double rainbow in Elgin (ReportIt photo/Vicki Milam)Pflugerville double rainbow (ReportIt photo/Michael
  
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• Photos: Rainbows!

  04-11-2016 00:38 via kxan.com
  
  Rainbows! Double rainbow in Lockhart (ReportIt photo/Alison Clark)Rainbow (ReportIt photo/JD Dillard)Round Rock rainbow (ReportIt photo/Paul Pason)Rainbow by Seton Kyle Hospital (Facebook submission by Jesse Vargas)Lovely view of a rainbow near San Marcos (Facebook submission by Jeremiah Rios)Double rainbow in Elgin (ReportIt photo/Jen Banks)Austin rainbow (ReportIt photo)Buda rainbow (CJ West)Double rainbow in Elgin (ReportIt photo/Vicki Milam)Pflugerville double rainbow (ReportIt photo/Michael
  
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• Art Acevedo’s name mentioned for top Houston police job

  04-11-2016 00:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A well-placed source close to Houston police says Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is a name they keep hearing, even though Austin’s chief himself confirms he has not applied for the Chief’s job there, open now since last February.
  “It’s inaccurate,” Chief Acevedo responded to KXAN’s Robert Maxwell in a text message reply to the question of whether the Chief had put in for the job and if the whispers were true.
  In September 2015, Chie
  
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• Dozens of Central Texas children get forever families at adoption day

  04-11-2016 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The theme at this year’s Austin Adoption Day was the “Wizard of Oz.”
  Organizers say, for 31 Central Texas families, it represents the end of the road in the adoption process. “They know that they are committing themselves to these children,” said adoption attorney Denise Hyde, who is also the event chairperson. “That’s what’s so amazing about these families.”
  More than 50 children had their adoptions finalized Thursday.
  
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• ‘Cartels are alive and well in Austin,’ sheriff warns

  04-11-2016 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton says a string of recent murders are all directly related to dug violence. He says the past few years, a lack of resources along the county line have allowed groups like cartels to come in and settle here.
  “Were not saying that they’re not tied into each other, but I can tell you that it is drug-related, we think each one of them are drug related,” Hamilton said about recent murders in the Del Valle area.
  The sheriff is c
  
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