Austin news

• Body of missing Texas teen found, boyfriend held for questioning

  10-11-2016 22:56 via kxan.com
  
  BAYTOWN, Texas (AP/KXAN) — Authorities say the body of a Texas teen missing since Tuesday has been found in a wooded area in Texas City.
  An Amber Alert had been issued for Kirsten Fritch, 16, after her mother and sister were found dead.
  According to KWTX, a Texas EquuSearch team made the discovery Thursday. Baytown police confirmed on their Facebook page the body was Fritch.
  PREVIOUS: Amber Alert issued for Texas teen after mother and sister found dead
  Baytown police said 21
  
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• Police: Austin man threatened violence against Taylor Swift, family

  10-11-2016 21:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who threatened violence against Taylor Swift during her tour stop in Austin last month came close to the singer at the airport.
  An arrest warrant has been issued for Frank Andrew Hoover, 39, of Austin, accused of the repeated violation of a protective order, a third-degree felony.
  On Oct. 22, Austin police officers were dispatched to Atlantic Aviation Fixed Base Operations, located at 4309 Emma Browning Ave., a private terminal adjacent to Austin-Bergstrom Internation
  
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• Police: Austin man arrested for violent threats against Taylor Swift

  10-11-2016 21:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who threatened violence against Taylor Swift during her tour stop in Austin last month came close to the singer at the airport.
  Frank Andrew Hoover, 39, of Austin, is accused of repeated violations of a protective order, a third-degree felony. He was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail at 3 p.m. Thursday. Hoover’s bond has been set at $100,000.
  On Oct. 22, Austin police officers were dispatched to Atlantic Aviation Fixed Base Operations, located at 4
  
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• After COTA performance, Taylor Swift threatened by accused stalker

  10-11-2016 21:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who threatened violence against Taylor Swift during her tour stop in Austin last month came close to the singer at the airport.
  An arrest warrant has been issued for Frank Andrew Hoover, 39, of Austin, accused of the repeated violation of a protective order, a third-degree felony.
  On Oct. 22, Austin police officers were dispatched to Atlantic Aviation Fixed Base Operations, located at 4309 Emma Browning Ave., a private terminal adjacent to Austin-Bergstrom Internation
  
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• Texas woman wanted for sexually assaulting 4-year-old girl

  10-11-2016 21:47 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON, TX (WCMH) – Police say a woman is accused of ‘super aggravated’ sexual assault of a four-year-old girl.
  Authorities say the assault happened on December 4, 2015 at an apartment on Ojeman Road in Houston.
  Caitlin Morrison, 26, is said to still be on the loose.
  KHOU reported the girl told a caseworker that Morrison touched “her hoohoo” and hurt her. A medical exam revealed the girl had been sexually assaulted.
  Morrison stands 5’8”, has blonde
  
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• Missing 3-year-old boys found safe in West Austin park

  10-11-2016 21:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two 3-year-old boys missing in a West Austin park Thursday afternoon have been found.
  Police were called at 12:56 p.m. to Bull Creek District Park, near Loop 360 and Ranch Road 2222. The boys were hiking in the park with their family when the incident happened. Police say one of the boys is wearing an orange shirt. Additional descriptions were not immediately available.
  Officers were looking for the boys on foot and by police helicopter.
  
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• Starbucks brings back holiday designs for 2016 red cups

  10-11-2016 20:14 via kxan.com
  
  SEATTLE (MEDIA GENERAL) — Remember last year’s red cup controversy? Starbucks has made sure it won’t happen again, debuting 13 winter- and holiday-themed red cups Thursday.We crafted coffee. You made it art. Cups warm a hand, beauty warms the heart. #RedCups pic.twitter.com/3QmdvoNM0S
  — Starbucks Coffee (@Starbucks) November 10, 2016
  The 13 designs were created by customers from across the world and include images of holiday lights, snowflakes and snow-covered trees, as w
  
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• Restaurants, stores offering Veterans Day deals

  10-11-2016 20:14 via kxan.com
  
  (MEDIA GENERAL) — Several restaurants and businesses across the United States are offering special Veterans Day deals to salute those who serve.
  All of the deals below are available to active duty military members and veterans, unless otherwise noted. Proof of service is necessary to cash in on most of the deals.
  Restaurants
  Applebee’s is offering a free meal from a limited menu all day November 11. Learn more and see the menu.“On Veterans Day, the whole military
  
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• Veterans find friendship 70 years after fighting on the same battlefield

  10-11-2016 20:12 via kxan.com
  
  COLUMBUS, GA (WRBL)  – Military members young and old are coming together just ahead of Veterans Day Friday. For two WWII veterans, the day after the election is both a time to reflect and a time to embrace the future.
  More than 20 current soldiers visited veterans Wednesday at the Covenant Woods Retirement Community in Columbus. The veterans served from WWII through the Korean conflict, and even in the Vietnam War.
  “It wasn’t easy,” Charlie Maupin said. “It wa
  
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• Austin non-profit raising awareness for millions of orphans worldwide

  10-11-2016 19:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Next Monday is World Orphans Day and an Austin-based non-profit is launching a campaign to raise awareness for the millions of orphans worldwide.
  Caroline Boudreaux with the Miracle Foundation joined us in the studio to discuss the initiative.
  The Miracle Foundation works to transform orphanages into homes, train displaced women to become mothers and fund scholarships for education.
  In addition to Austin, they support  22 orphanages in rural India, with plans help
  
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• Texas State students protest Trump election

  10-11-2016 18:08 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Several dozen students gathered on the Texas State University campus Thursday to protest the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
  The students are gathered at the “Stallions” on the university’s Quad and have remained peaceful.
  Other students have shouted back at the protest as they walk past on their way to class.Thursday’s protest comes after a flyer calling for a ‘Vigilante Squad’ was found on campus W
  
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• Austin mother faces charges after 3-year-old’s feet severely burned

  10-11-2016 17:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin mother is facing charges for injury to a child by omission after her 3-year-old daughter’s feet were severely burned requiring skin-grafts and physical therapy.
  A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Montranae Ellison, 24. According to the affidavit, Ellison brought her daughter to the emergency room on July 6 claiming her the 3-year-old had burned her feet in the bathtub the day before.
  The mother said as she walked away to do laundry she heard her dau
  
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• Flyer calling for ‘vigilante squads’ circulating around Texas State

  10-11-2016 16:01 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A controversial flyer in support of the President-Elect Donald Trump is circulating around Texas State calling for vigilante squads to tar and feather university leaders.
  An image of camo-clad men holding guns and an American Flag stand beside the message with “‘Texas State Vigilantes” written across the bottom. The flyers found in bathrooms on campus claim school officials are spouting “diversity garbage,” and now that Trump has bee
  
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• Austin Mayor pushes for more student interest in STEM jobs

  10-11-2016 15:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A local organization dedicated to improving education outcomes here in Austin is celebrating their 10th anniversary.
  Joining us in the studio to discuss what they have accomplished is Susan Dawson, President and Executive Directors of E3 Alliance and Austin Mayor Steve Adler.
  Their goal is to increase the number of students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) jobs. After eight years of work dedicated to educating central Texans, E3 says t
  
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• Coroner: 1 of 2 Pennsylvania police officers shot has died

  10-11-2016 14:29 via kxan.com
  
  CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) — One of two western Pennsylvania police officers “ambushed” and shot while responding to a domestic situation has died, and police are searching for a suspect, authorities said Thursday.
  Washington County Coroner Tim Warco didn’t immediately identify the slain Canonsburg officer pending notification of relatives.
  State police Trooper Melinda Bondarenka told reporters the incident began at 3:14 a.m. when the Canonsburg officers responded to a report o
  
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• Austin-based security firm closely watching early days of Trump adminstration

  10-11-2016 14:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A pressing concern for President-Elect Donald Trump is who will become his top advisers.
  Some names are already circling for top posts in Washington, D.C. and in Texas. Austin-based security firm, Stratfor, is closely watching the early days of how Trump sets up his administration.
  “The world is on fire with many different issues,” said Stratfor Vice President of Intelligence Fred Burton.
  Trump is heading into a White House that is facing growing conflicts with
  
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• Austin-based security firm closely watching early days of Trump administration

  10-11-2016 14:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A pressing concern for President-Elect Donald Trump is who will become his top advisers.
  Some names are already circling for top posts in Washington, D.C. and in Texas. Austin-based security firm, Stratfor, is closely watching the early days of how Trump sets up his administration.
  “The world is on fire with many different issues,” said Stratfor Vice President of Intelligence Fred Burton.
  Trump is heading into a White House that is facing growing conflicts with
  
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• Rock throwing suspect rejects plea deal

  10-11-2016 13:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The man accused of “the lion’s share” of rock-throwing cases on Interstate 35 has rejected a plea deal that would have added 40 years to his prison sentence.
  Pat Johnson will now stand trial on four charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police said over the past two years Johnson would act like a Good Samaritan and lead officers to the scenes where the attacks occurred.
  IN-DEPTH COVERAGE:
  What we know about Pat Johnson
  One of t
  
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• Rock throwing suspect back in court, offered plea deal again

  10-11-2016 13:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Prosecutors are expected to offer Pat Johnson a plea deal once again. He is the man police say caused “the lion’s share” of rock-throwing cases on Interstate 35 for years leaving behind a trail of blood and injured drivers.
  The deal includes a 40 year sentence on each of the four new charges to run concurrently. Johnson is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police said over the past two years Johnson would act like a Good
  
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• Austin firefighter suspended for social media comments

  10-11-2016 13:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 19-year veteran firefighter is off the job for 30 days after a memo shows he posted inappropriate material on a social media account.
  The memo does not specify what Captain Gregory Zenkner wrote, only that it went against city policy for social media use. From Sept. 9 to the Oct. 16 the memo states that Zenkner “posted inappropriate comments on his social media account.” While he did not specify himself as an Austin firefighters in the posts it was connected t
  
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• Austin launches new curbside clothing recycle service

  10-11-2016 12:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is launching a new effort to keep textiles from ending up in landfills.
  Starting Dec. 5 residents who receive curbside service from the city will be able to leave unwanted items like clothes, kitchenware, and toys on the curb for pick up. The for profit company called Simple Recycling is contracting with the city for the pickup. Next week residents will receive a green bag in the mail to put those items in and leave next to their recycling bin during
  
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• Fire burns west Austin home with $1.2M in damage

  10-11-2016 10:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crews with the Austin Fire Department are investigating the cause of a Thursday morning house fire in Southwest Austin.
  The first call about the fire came in at 2:40 a.m. when neighbors reported seeing large flames at a two-story house at the corner of Lacey Avenue and Stratford Drive. That is located near the city of Rollingwood.
  Fire crews say the house is being remodeled. The fire started on the second floor causing the roof and second floor to cave in. Nobody was living
  
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• Fire burns southwest Austin home with $1.2M in damage

  10-11-2016 10:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crews with the Austin Fire Department are investigating the cause of a Thursday morning house fire in Southwest Austin.
  The first call about the fire came in at 2:40 a.m. when neighbors reported seeing large flames at a two-story house at the corner of Lacey Avenue and Stratford Drive. That is located near the city of Rollingwood.
  Fire crews say the house is being remodeled. The fire started on the second floor causing the roof and second floor to cave in. Nobody was living
  
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• Fire at Southwest Austin home under construction

  10-11-2016 10:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)- Crews with the Austin Fire Department are fighting a fire Thursday morning at a home under construction in Southwest Austin. According to the Austin Fire Department, the fire is at a two-story house at the corner of Lacey Avenue and Stratford Drive. That is located near the city of Rollingwood. Fire crews say the second story is on fire.
   
  
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• Immigration advocates torn between Travis Co. sheriff, Trump wins

  10-11-2016 05:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the aftermath of local and federal elections Tuesday, area immigration advocates are expressing their concern about the future of the issue in Travis County.
  “As the night went forward, we realized this sort of sickening feeling, of like, ‘Oh no, I think that Donald Trump is going to win this,’” explained Alejandro Caceres, an Immigration Organizer for Grassroots Leadership in Austin. “There’s a sudden fear of what happens to me tomorr
  
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• The Texans who will potentially be in a Trump cabinet

  10-11-2016 05:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  Former governor and one-time Trump challenger Rick Perry has openly said he’s open to serving in a Donald Trump administration.
  One of his tweets Wednesday made it sound like Perry may have been offered a position. He wrote, “Just got the call to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain. Saddle up and ride, bro”.
  Perry’s press office tells us: no offer. He was just having a little fun.
  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick originally backed challenger Ted Cruz, before
  
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• Police: 5 shot in Seattle not related to anti-Trump protest

  10-11-2016 05:16 via kxan.com
  
  SEATTLE, Wash. (KXAN/AP) — The shooting of five people in downtown Seattle Wednesday night is not related to a nearby anti-Trump protest, police say.
  At around 7 p.m. Pacific time, gunshots were heard in downtown. The Seattle Fire Department says two of the five have life-threatening injuries.
  Live video from the scene shows hundreds of protesters moving peacefully through the streets of Seattle, separate from the violent incident near Pine Street and Third Avenue.
  Protesters we
  
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• After election, Texans prepare for possible health care changes

  10-11-2016 04:25 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (KXAN/AP) — Elated congressional Republicans pledged swift action Wednesday on President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda as they heralded an extraordinary new era of unified GOP control in Washington.
  “He just earned a mandate,” House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin declared of Trump. “We are going to hit the ground running.”
  Said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky: “We would like to see the country go in a different direction and i
  
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• Valedictorian, UT freshman behind viral tweet fears deportation

  10-11-2016 04:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hundreds of protesters lined the UT campus and marched around Austin just one day after Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th American president.
  Some students worried their lives could be torn apart, as they rely on something called DACA (deferred action childhood arrivals) to stay in the country legally to work and go to school.
  “I’m kind of like in this stage of numbness, like I don’t really know how to feel, it’s like a mix of all the
  
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• City gets to work after massive mobility bond passes

  10-11-2016 03:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Immediately after voters gave the green light to a $720 million mobility bond, the largest transportation bond the city has ever approved, city staff knew it was time to get to work. Capital Planning Officer Mike Trimble is one of the top people responsible for turning the plan into action, coordinating with other city departments like the transportation department and public works.
  “For a single proposition, like mobility, this is the largest proposition like th
  
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• Do Not Call lists: Why they’re not really working anymore

  10-11-2016 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The calls might sound familiar.
  “This is Rachel at Card Holder Services.”
  “Congratulations you’ve been selected to receive a free cruise.”
  One of the most common ones is the IRS recording which has been making the rounds recently. The recorded message says, “Hello, this call is an official notice from IRS Internal Revenue Service.”
  Beth Peacock was caught off guard by the IRS scam.
  "Wow! What? I'm in trouble with the government? No! No!
  
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• Clinton on pace to win popular vote, despite losing election

  10-11-2016 02:07 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite losing Tuesday’s presidential election, Hillary Clinton appears to be on pace to win the popular vote, an ironic twist in an election in which her opponent repeatedly said the system was rigged against him.
  In 2012, Republican businessman Donald Trump tweeted: “The Electoral College is a disaster for a democracy.”
  As it turns out, without the Electoral College, Trump probably wouldn’t be the president-elect.
  A day after Election Day, Clinto
  
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• Austin immigrant families anxious after nation elects Donald Trump

  10-11-2016 02:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Immigrant families in Central Texas say they’re feeling very anxious that President-elect Donald Trump will follow through with his campaign promise to deport millions from the United States.
  “Alex,” who wants to protect her family, is among the families worried. She works at an East Austin restaurant and says she’s been feeling uneasy all day, “I feel sad, depressed, I don’t know what’s going on with our future.”
  The sin
  
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• Austin researchers develop alternative treatment to painkillers

  10-11-2016 02:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin researchers at Clarity Science are on a mission to treat pain differently. With thousands of people addicted and losing their lives to opioids, they say patients need alternative options.
  “There are enough opioid prescriptions out in this country for everybody to have a bottle, and really probably everybody knows someone that has a problem,” said Dr. Dennis Harris, chief medical officer of Clarity Science.
  Dr. Harris and his team have been developing
  
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• San Marcos police search for men tied to convenience store shooting

  10-11-2016 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – Police in San Marcos are searching for two men who, they say, attacked and shot at another man in a convenience store parking lot.
  Police say the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Monday night.
  Oscar Alcantara, a Sunny’s Food Mart employee, started his shift as usual and had already helped a few customers before he heard an argument in the parking lot.
  “He came flying by, I look, I heard a big ol’ hit and the next thing I know I look behind me
  
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• Texas Lt. governor compares Trump victory to American Revolution

  10-11-2016 00:54 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The day after Donald Trump won enough electoral college votes to become the next president, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas, compared it to times when this country was forged.
  “Not since the Revolution in this country have we seen people rise up for their rights like we saw last night,” Patrick told KXAN in the Houston office of his political consultant, Blakemore & Associates.
  Patrick chaired Trump’s campaign in Texas, which the New York billionaire wo
  
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• Thousands of files shared in Samantha Dean murder case

  10-11-2016 00:43 via kxan.com
  
  Bastrop, TEXAS (KXAN) – There is still no trial date set nearly a year after a former Austin police officer pleaded not guilty in the murder of his one-time girlfriend, Samantha Dean. Wednesday, at a brief status hearing for capital murder suspect VonTrey Clark, Special Prosecutor Jane Starnes told the judge a hard drive containing 5 terrabytes of video, computer and phone forensic material has been shared with defense attorney Bristol Myers with ‘more to come.’
  One teraby
  
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• Snowflakes, Santa look to be back on Starbucks holiday cups

  10-11-2016 00:07 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) – Starbucks is unveiling its holiday coffee cups for this year and appears to be bringing back snowflakes, candy canes and other holiday symbols, after last year’s more subdued red cups caused an uproar from critics who said the chain was part of a so-called war on Christmas.
  The coffee chain was set to roll out the red cups to stores Thursday. But a New York store had a display Tuesday showing 10 different cups it said were designed by customers around the world, some
  
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