Austin news

• Texas student dies after falling from bus when door opens

  14-11-2016 23:11 via kxan.com
  
  EDINBURG, Texas (AP) — South Texas authorities say a middle school student has died after he fell from a moving bus when its rear, emergency door swung open.
  The bus was one of three taking Harlingen students on a field trip Monday to the University of Texas campus in Edinburg.
  It’s not clear if the boy may have opened the door or if it malfunctioned. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
  Harlingen school district spokesman Shane Strubhart tells The Brownsville Herald that no oth
  
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• Officers’ actions in viral video were ‘self-inflicted stupidity,’ says Chief Acevedo

  14-11-2016 22:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Austin police officers seen on video blocking an activist from recording a traffic stop went against department policy, Police Chief Art Acevedo says.
  One of the officers, who Acevedo told a news conference has a “dismissive attitude” towards policy, has been removed from patrol duties for the time being. Both are the subject of internal investigations. Each is in their early 30s and has less than five years with APD, city records show. KXAN h
  
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• Officers’ actions in viral video were ‘egregious,’ Chief Acevedo says

  14-11-2016 22:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Austin police officers seen blocking an activist from filming a traffic stop went against department policy, Police Chief Art Acevedo said at a press conference Monday afternoon.
  One of the officers, who Acevedo says has a “dismissive attitude” towards policy, has been removed from patrol duties.
  Acevedo said he would not comment on the specifics of what’s seen in the video posted to YouTube by activist Phillip Turner, but said one offic
  
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• VIDEO: 3 cows stranded by New Zealand earthquake

  14-11-2016 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Three New Zealand cows looked like they could use a little help Monday after an earthquake triggered landslides all around them and left them stranded on a small island of grass.
  Video taken by Newshub news service from a helicopter near the small town of Kaikoura shows two adult cattle and a calf stuck on a chunk of land in a paddock that had been ripped apart in Monday’s magnitude-7.8 quake. The patch of grass was surrounded by deep ravines of collaps
  
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• FBI report: Hate crimes increase against Muslims

  14-11-2016 21:19 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (MEDIA GENERAL) — Hate crimes against Muslims in the United States increased by 67 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to a report released Monday by the FBI.
  The statistics come from the U.S. Department of Justice.
  Compared to the FBI’s report in 2014, incidents involving Muslims increased from 154 to 257 in 2015.
  The numbers show an increase in hate crimes against African Americans as well. In total, law enforcement counted 371 more hate crimes in 2015 than the previous
  
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• PBS journalist Gwen Ifill dies of cancer

  14-11-2016 20:42 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Gwen Ifill, the veteran journalist and co-anchor of PBS’ “NewsHour” with Judy Woodruff, died on Monday of cancer, the network said.
  She was 61.
  A former newspaper reporter, Ifill switched to television and worked for NBC News and PBS. She moderated two vice presidential debates.
  She took a leave from her nightly show for health reasons earlier this year, never making public her illness. A week ago, she went out on leave again, taking her away from election
  
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• Judge orders release of ‘Making a Murderer’s’ Brendan Dassey

  14-11-2016 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  WISCONSIN (WBAY) – A federal judge has ordered the supervised release of Brendan Dassey as he awaits a possible retrial for the murder of Teresa Halbach.
  The judge’s order on Monday says that a United States Probation Office monitor will make sure Dassey is compliant with the conditions of release imposed by the court.
  Conditions include: Dassey shall not violate any laws, he must appear in court as required, he cannot have a gun or weapon, he cannot possess any controlled substances
  
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• TxDOT sets sights on fixing Bee Caves Road woes

  14-11-2016 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  WEST LAKE HILLS, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Transportation has begun improvements planned on the three-mile stretch of Bee Cave Road for west Austin drivers.
  TxDOT plans to build a center turn lane between Redbud Trail and Walsh Tarlton Lane, turning the four-lane roadway into five-lanes. Fayruz Benyousef uses Bee Cave Road through West Lake Hills daily to get her children to and from school.
  “I’ve noticed the delay that seems to be happening on the road is getting
  
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• Houston mother arrested after tigers, monkeys, skunk found in home

  14-11-2016 19:43 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — A Houston mother is facing charges for child endangerment after police found exotic and wild animals in her home.
  Trisha Meyer was arrested after an investigation spanning several months. Police found several wild animals in her house, including three tigers, a skunk, a fox and several monkeys.
  Meyer is charged with child endangerment for keeping those animals in the same house as her 14-year-old daughter.
  “Having wildlife inside your home or even in your yard is dan
  
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• VIDEO: Texas Chili’s manager takes away vet’s free meal on Veterans Day

  14-11-2016 19:34 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR HILL, Texas (AP) — The parent company of Chili’s says it wants to make things right after a veteran had his free meal taken away on Veterans Day.
  Ernest Walker posted a video to Facebook on Friday of a manager taking away his meal at a Chili’s in the Dallas suburb of Cedar Hill.
  The Army vet writes that the meal was taken away after an elderly white man wearing a Donald Trump shirt raised questions about the uniform Walker was wearing and the man’s service dog, Bara
  
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• Can Hillary Clinton still win? Unlikely, but possible

  14-11-2016 18:09 via kxan.com
  
  COLUMBUS (WCMH) – Is there still a chance Hillary Clinton could win the presidency? Technically, yes.
  There’s a petition online with over 3.5 million signatures as of Saturday evening, asking electors of the electoral college to cast their votes for Clinton instead of President-elect Donald Trump.
  The petition’s creator Elijah Berg writes:
  “If they all vote the way their states voted, Donald Trump will win. However, they can vote for Hillary Clinton if they choose. E
  
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• Lights of Love helping families of sick children for the holiday’s

  14-11-2016 16:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a couple of weeks you can take part in an annual holiday tradition and provide comfort for families with children in the hospital.
  Carolyn Schwarz with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas joined us in the KXAN studio to discuss the Lights of Love event.
  Ronald McDonald House provides housing for families when their children are in the hospital and seriously ill. This year they are bringing back the tradition of “buying a light” for
  
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• Free Fun in Austin for week of November 14

  14-11-2016 16:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)- Making plans this week? Here are some ideas from our partners at Free Fun in Austin.
  Homeschool Day (RSVP) – Tuesday, November 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Explore American history and innovation with STEAM related activities for kids of all ages and receive free educator resources. Enjoy a day of exploration and learning at the Bullock Museum on this day reserved specifically for homeschool families. Registration is requested for planning pu
  
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• Parents pushing for art education in Texas classrooms

  14-11-2016 16:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There is a new push to get more funding for arts education in schools across Texas.
  Jennifer Ransom Rice, the Executive Director of the Texas Cultural Trust, joined us in the KXAN studio to discuss the results of a recent poll of parents.
  Parents were asked statewide about their opinions of art education in classrooms.
  Parent poll results:92 percent have a positive opinion of arts education
  89 percent said arts is as important as athletics
  85 percent say arts should be at e
  
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• Closing arguments expected for doctor accused of molesting patients

  14-11-2016 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Closing arguments are expected to begin on Monday for the trial of a former Austin State Hospital psychiatrist accused of sexually assaulting his patients.
  The case now depends on if Dr. Charles Fischer takes the stand. He was indicted on multiple charges of sexual assault and indecency with a child in 2012.
  Fischer now faces five felonies, including two child sexual assault charges. He was fired from the hospital in 2011 when the allegations surfaced.
  “This picture e
  
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• Leander ISD school bus crashes on RR 620, Steiner Ranch

  14-11-2016 14:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Leander ISD school bus crash on RR 620 and Steiner Ranch Boulevard resulted in minor injuries.
  According to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, there were only a couple of students on board at the time of the crash. None of the students were injured.
  The driver of the other vehicle involved suffered minor injuries. The crash was reported around 6:49 a.m.
  The scene is now cleared. Traffic reporter Amanda Dugan says traffic is still backed up in the area all the
  
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• Motorcyclist dies after crash with semi-truck in Pflugerville

  14-11-2016 13:39 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A man estimated to be in his 40’s has been pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Pflugerville, according to Austin/Travis County EMS.
  The crash between a motorcycle and a semi-truck ended with a man dead after he was pinned beneath the semi-truck trailer around 6 a.m. Police are investigating at the 18600 block of N Heatherwilde Blvd, near SH 45. Heatherwilde Blvd will remain closed between Kingston Lane and Wilke Ridge for the next two hours.
  D
  
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• Man dies after pinned under semi-truck in Pflugerville crash

  14-11-2016 13:39 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A man estimated to be in his 40’s has been pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Pflugerville, according to Austin/Travis County EMS.
  The crash between a motorcycle and a semi-truck ended with a man dead after he was pinned beneath the semi-truck trailer. Police are investigating at the 18600 block of N Heatherwilde Blvd, near SH 45. Heatherwilde Blvd is closed between Kingston Lane and Wilke Ridge.
  Detours 
  This intersection has been under
  
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• Texas lawmakers looking at proposals for border security, CPS funding

  14-11-2016 13:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers can start filing bills on Monday for the 2017 legislative session that begins in January.
  Bulletproof vests 
  The first item is from the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. He wants to give nearly 60,000 police officers in Texas bulletproof vests capable of stopping high-caliber rounds. This comes after the deadly shooting of five Dallas police officers in July.
  “I would love to do it actually as soon as we can so we can start this money flowing even if we
  
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• Billions on the table as Texas lawmakers look at bill proposals

  14-11-2016 13:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers can start filing bills on Monday for the 2017 legislative session that begins in January.
  Bulletproof vests 
  The first item is from the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. He wants to give nearly 60,000 police officers in Texas bulletproof vests capable of stopping high-caliber rounds. This comes after the deadly shooting of five Dallas police officers in July.
  “I would love to do it actually as soon as we can so we can start this money flowing even if we
  
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• Food safety tips to avoid getting sick this Thanksgiving

  14-11-2016 12:51 via kxan.com
  
  GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – With Thanksgiving just days away, many of you are getting ready to spend lots of time in the kitchen preparing your feast. But if you don’t follow proper food safety guidelines, you could be putting your family’s health at risk.
  The last thing you want to have to worry about on Thanksgiving is getting sick from your food, but it happens all too often. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening simply by following guidelines.
  Be sure to thaw your
  
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• PHOTOS: Super-moon hovers over Austin-area

  14-11-2016 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A super-sized moon filled the sky Sunday night.
  According to NASA, the moon was 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than average making it the closest full moon in the 21st century. This will be last time the moon is this close to Earth until the year 2034.
  This moon is especially ‘super’ for two reasons: it is the only supermoon this year to be completely full, and it is the closest moon to Earth since 1948. Supermoon fills the night sky Supermoon (KXAN V
  
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• Elliott scores twice late, Cowboys top Steelers 35-30

  14-11-2016 07:01 via kxan.com
  
  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys just keep on rolling. Not even a fake-spike special from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could derail the hottest team in the NFL.
  Elliott ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns — both in the final two minutes — and had an 83-yard catch-and-run for a score as the Cowboys pulled off a thrilling 35-30 victory on Sunday night for their eighth straight win.
  Dak Prescott overcame an early fumble to pass for 31
  
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• David’s Law hopes to stem cyber-bullying in Texas

  14-11-2016 06:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – This week lawmakers can begin to file bills for the 2017 legislative session. Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control show suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers.The most common is traffic accidents.
  “David’s Law” hopes to tackle the uptick of bullying caused suicides by putting punishments behind the laws, including punishments for parents of bullies.
  David Molak would have turned 17 last month. He loved playing video
  
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• After teen’s suicide David’s Law hopes to prevent cyber-bullying

  14-11-2016 06:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – This week lawmakers can begin to file bills for the 2017 legislative session. Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control show suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers.The most common is traffic accidents.
  “David’s Law” hopes to tackle the uptick of bullying caused suicides by putting punishments behind the laws, including punishments for parents of bullies.
  David Molak would have turned 17 last month. He loved playing video
  
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• Pro-Immigration news conference brings impromptu rally

  14-11-2016 05:52 via kxan.com
  
  Austin, (KXAN) – Hundreds of people gathered at Austin City Hall this morning to rally against Trump’s plans for immigration.
  Undocumented families, along with their supporters, spoke about their worries and concerns for their children and fellow minorities after the now President-Elect promised he would deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and build a wall around the Southern border to prevent anyone from getting in illegally.
  “I’m six months pregnant and my husban
  
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• Troopers arrest six during Anti-Trump protest at Capitol

  14-11-2016 05:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN)– Six were arrested at an Anti-Trump protest that was held at the Capitol Sunday evening.
  Sgt. Victor Taylor, Department of Public Safety spokesperson, said they can confirm that six people were transported to the Travis County Jail.
  Taylor said more information will be available tomorrow.
   
  This page will be updated when more information is released. 
  
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• Mother claims teacher injured autistic son, police investigating

  14-11-2016 05:33 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Bartlett Police Department and the Taylor Independent School District are investigating claims that a substitute teacher’s aide at Bartlett Elementary School injured a special education student.
  Seven-year-old Zakary Thompson has autism, ADHD and epilepsy. His mother says the second grader has been more attached these days after what Zakary told her happened at school this month.
  “His teacher aide put his foot on his chest, his private area
  
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• Students tackle ambitious inventions in 24-hour hackathon

  14-11-2016 02:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN)– A weekend-long Hackathon brought together over 400 students from different schools and universities at the Travis County Exposition Center.
  The Southwest Regional Hackathon was hosted by Major League Hacking, Dell and Windows. It kicked off Saturday shortly after noon and continued on until 4:00 p.m. Sunday when the winners were announced. This event will host students from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.
  The teams consist of programmers, designers and make
  
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• Court documents shed new light on serial robber

  14-11-2016 00:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN)– The Austin Police Department arrested Cristian Omar Caceras Avila, 25-year-old male, on Saturday after he confessed to robbing 8 local businesses within a 48-hour period.
  On Wednesday at 6:21 p.m., Avila robbed Yari’s Beauty Salon at 614 E. St. John’s. At 6:38 p.m. he robbed Fujian Grand China Buffet at 8709 N. Interstate 35 and at 7:07 p.m. Avila then robbed Thomas Buffet located at 9710 N. Lamar Blvd. at 7 p.m.
  On Thursday, at 6:37 p.m. Avila robbed the M
  
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