Austin news

• Austin hotel suite opens for free use of patients’ families

  22-11-2016 23:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Families with children in the hospital oftentimes sleep in their cars in the parking garage to avoid hotel room costs piling up. Tuesday, a hotel suite, designated just for patients’ families, opened at the Austin Marriott Residence Inn on East 51st Street near Dell Children’s Medical Center.
  Marriott is honoring Dr. Coburn Allen by naming the suite after him, a result of his commitment to promoting and providing accessible healthcare, education and nutrition pr
  
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• RM 2243 reopens after gas leak in Leander

  22-11-2016 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A natural gas leak on Ranch to Market 2243 in Leander temporarily forced drivers to find a different route as crews work on repairing the problem. The road was reopened at around 4:30 p.m.
  Leander police say they had to close RM 2243 between North Bagdad Road and Greener Drive around 3:30 p.m.
  The roads were initially expected to be closed for the next eight hours. The gas line has been shut off while repairs are made.
  
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• Gas leak shuts down RM 2243 in Leander

  22-11-2016 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A natural gas leak on Ranch to Market 2243 in Leander is forcing drivers to find a different route as crews work on repairing the problem.
  Leander police say they had to close RM 2243 between North Bagdad Road and Greener Drive around 3:30 p.m. Riverway Lane at RM 2243 is also closed.
  The roads are expected to be closed for the next eight hours.
  
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• Trouble in Toyland: Recalled dangerous toys from 2016

  22-11-2016 22:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Open your children’s toy boxes and search for toys that have been recalled. That was the message from TexPIRG and Congressman Lloyd Doggett on Tuesday.
  The Texas Public Interest Research Group‘s Helaina Peck and Rep. Doggett addressed the problem of dangerous toys at Escuelita Del Alma.
  “The biggest danger that remains is the very simple matter of choking hazards,” Doggett said. “What I found at our house is that so often… the toy t
  
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• George H.W. Bush shares new photo with boy he shaved his head for

  22-11-2016 21:44 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Three years after shaving his head to show support for a toddler battling leukemia, Former President George H.W. Bush says that same boy “is feeling and doing much better.”
  The 92-year-old Bush provided an update and a new picture of him with the boy on his Twitter account Monday. The boy is the son of a Secret Service agent and has been identified only as Patrick.
  Bush shared a picture in July of 2013 of himself with a freshly shaved head and the then 2-year-
  
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• Crash victim files suit against Pflugerville, Travis County over one-lane bridge

  22-11-2016 21:14 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man who was injured after he crashed his car while traveling on a one-lane bridge in Pflugerville is suing Travis County, the City of Pflugerville and the Texas Department of Transportation claiming the agencies didn’t take the measures needed to make the bridge safer.
  The lawsuit states Joshua Mendez was driving on Weiss Lane on June 27, 2015 when he approached the bridge and didn’t realize the two lanes turned into one. The TxDOT crash report i
  
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• Crash victim files suit against Pflugerville over one-lane bridge

  22-11-2016 21:14 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man who was injured after he crashed his car while traveling on a one-lane bridge in Pflugerville is suing Travis County, the City of Pflugerville and the Texas Department of Transportation claiming the agencies didn’t take the measures needed to make the bridge safer.
  The lawsuit states Joshua Mendez was driving on Weiss Lane on June 27, 2015 when he approached the bridge and didn’t realize the two lanes turned into one. The TxDOT crash report i
  
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• Texas players show support for Coach Strong

  22-11-2016 20:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The expectations in this program in the country are as high as any program in the country. Amidst speculation and reports that Texas Coach Charlie Strong would be fired following the 2016 season, more than 30 players showed up in support of Strong at his briefing on Monday and put the pressure on themselves.
  “It’s not really a surprise to see my teammates over there just showing their support,” senior receiver Jacorey Warrick said.
  From the kick in Kansas,
  
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• Ex-DPS agent charged with stealing fuel

  22-11-2016 20:05 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A former Texas Department of Public Safety employee has been arrested after an investigation shows he stole nearly $9,000 worth of fuel for his personal vehicle.
  According to court documents, Fernando Gonzalez, 40, resigned from his position as a criminal investigation division agent for DPS in September 2015. In November 2015, an audit was conducted on Gonzalez’s state-issued fuel card. The fuel card was only to be used for fuel purchases and ro
  
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• Dash cam captures moment driver hits pedestrians, drives away

  22-11-2016 19:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin police officer sitting at a red light captured the moment a driver hit two pedestrians and then drove off. The driver, James Arnett, 52, is now facing charges for failure to stop and render aid, driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana.
  Around 9:40 p.m. Nov. 20 a silver Isuzu Rodeo, driven by Arnett, approached the intersection at Red River Street and East 6th Street. According to the officer, as the driver was turning onto Red River he hit two m
  
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• WATCH: Austin police officers corral loose German Shepherds

  22-11-2016 19:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two roaming German Shepherds are in safe hands thanks to an Austin police officer.
  On Sunday morning, police were called to South Congress Avenue for reports of two dogs roaming the streets. After some coaxing, the two officers were able to get the two dogs into the patrol car. A high-five was also in order for the team effort!
  Animal Control says they were able to find the dogs’ owner via a microchip but once contacted he said he was unable to continue to care for th
  
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• Stay healthy and avoid missing school during the flu season

  22-11-2016 18:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With the holidays swiftly approaching, the flu season is upon us which means runny noses and missing school.
  Educators are stressing the importance of keeping students healthy so they don’t have to stay home before the holidays and miss school. Of the total number of student absences in Texas, 48 percent are due to illnesses like a cold or the flu.
  DATA: E3 Alliance: The Central Texas Absence Reasons Study 
  E3 Alliance found that minimizing illness among stu
  
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• Man accused of killing San Antonio officer says he wants to apologize

  22-11-2016 17:36 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) — The suspect arrested in the ambush shooting of a San Antonio police detective has said he was angry about a child-custody battle and “lashed out at somebody who didn’t deserve it.”
  Otis Tyrone McKane was being led by police to the Bexar County Jail late Monday when he told reporters that he was angry with the court system for not letting him see his son and took it out on Detective Benjamin Marconi. “I’ve been through several custody
  
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• Man accused of killing San Antonio officer got married hours before arrest

  22-11-2016 17:36 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP/KXAN) — The suspect arrested in the ambush shooting of a San Antonio police detective has said he was angry about a child-custody battle and “lashed out at somebody who didn’t deserve it.”
  Otis Tyrone McKane was being led by police to the Bexar County Jail late Monday when he told reporters that he was angry with the court system for not letting him see his son and took it out on Detective Benjamin Marconi. “I’ve been through several cus
  
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• RideAustin raises nearly $50,000 for local charities

  22-11-2016 16:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A ridesharing company called RideAustin has been operating in the city since May.
  What makes them different than other ridesharing companies? They are a non-profit and riders can choose to donate a portion of their fare to a local charity.
  The CEO Andy Tryba joined us in the KXAN studio to discuss how they are giving back to the community every time someone rides.
  Ridesharing apps currently operating in Austin right now
  “We really wanted to create an asset for th
  
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• Man dies in 4 car crash on FM 1431

  22-11-2016 15:23 via kxan.com
  
  JONESTOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A man has been pronounced dead after a four-vehicle crash on Farm to Market 1431 in Jonestown around 8 a.m.
  FM 1431 closed in both directions after man dies in 4-car crash (KXAN Photo)The road is closed in both directions in Jonestown on the 18800 block of FM 1431, near West Reed Park Road.
  KXAN traffic map: Detours 
  STARFlight was supposed to transport a patient, but was cancelled due to weather conditions.
  The man who died is estimated to be in his 60s or 7
  
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• Man dies in 4 car crash closing 1431 in Jonestown

  22-11-2016 15:23 via kxan.com
  
  JONESTOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A man has been pronounced dead after a four vehicle crash on FM 1431 around 8 a.m.
  FM 1431 closed in both directions after man dies in 4-car crash (KXAN Photo)The road is closed in both directions in Jonestown on the 18800 block of FM 1431, near West Reed Park Road.
  KXAN traffic map: Detours 
  STARFlight was supposed to transport a patient, but was cancelled due to weather conditions, according to Austin/Travis County EMS.
  The man who died is estimated to be i
  
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• University of Texas Medical Branch fined for treatment of research animals

  22-11-2016 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — The University of Texas Medical Branch has paid a $33,000 federal fine as part of a settlement over the treatment of research animals.
  The university’s chief research officer, Dr. David Niesel, said in a message to campus employees Monday that a series of changes have been implemented, including additional training for staff and new leadership.
  UTMB is home to the prestigious Galveston National Laboratory, one of the nation’s leading research facilities
  
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• University of Texas fined for treatment of research animals

  22-11-2016 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — The University of Texas Medical Branch has paid a $33,000 federal fine as part of a settlement over the treatment of research animals.
  The university’s chief research officer, Dr. David Niesel, said in a message to campus employees Monday that a series of changes have been implemented, including additional training for staff and new leadership.
  UTMB is home to the prestigious Galveston National Laboratory, one of the nation’s leading research facilities
  
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• Father arrested for allegedly drowning 4-year-old daughter in baptismal pool

  22-11-2016 14:51 via kxan.com
  
  HEALDSBURG (KRON) — A Healdsburg father has been arrested for allegedly drowning his 4-year-old daughter in a baptismal pool at a Catholic church, police announced Monday.
  Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz, 42, was heard yelling for police in the back lot of the Healdsburg Police Department at around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, police said.
  Officers responded and found Ordaz naked and holding the unresponsive girl, police said. Medical responders gave her CPR. She was then taken to a local hospital where s
  
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• Parent thought bus driver drove too fast before 5 children died

  22-11-2016 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) —  The parent of two of the children who were on a school bus that crashed in Chattanooga, killing at least five children, says he sometimes saw the bus driver going faster than he should have.
  In an interview that aired Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Craig Harris said his daughter and stepson were on the bus. He says the two children were in pain and in shock after the Monday afternoon crash but were doing better Tuesday morning.
  Th
  
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• Cheetos unveils $20,000 jewelry for the holiday’s

  22-11-2016 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  U.S. (KXAN) — If you are looking for some delicious gift ideas for the holidays look no further than Cheetos.
  They are now selling Cheetos-themed jewelry and other miscellaneous items on their website.
  Shop for Cheetos accessories here
  One of the items comes with a $20,000 price tag for the one-of-the-kind Eye of the Cheetah 18 karat yellow gold ring and earring set from the Chestora Collection. It has 190 black and white diamonds.
  If you love the smell of Cheetos you might
  
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• Houstonians already lining up for Black Friday

  22-11-2016 13:38 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — With four days away the Black Friday countdown has begun.
  Some eager shoppers near Houston are already camping out at Best Buy.
  This video shows people already in line at the Best Buy in Rosenberg.
  The group of bargain shoppers started to camp out on Monday.
  Shopping experts say the excitement for Black Friday may be diminishing. Sales for the day after Thanksgiving have dropped in recent years.
  
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• Package explodes in Philadelphia apartment, 1 injured

  22-11-2016 12:56 via kxan.com
  
  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police are trying to determine if an explosion that injured a man in an apartment in downtown Philadelphia was intentional or an accident.
  Police say the 62-year-old opened a package that contained medication for an inhaler and there was an explosion around 4 a.m. Tuesday. The package had arrived on Monday.
  The man was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hands and chest. There is no word on his condition.
  Police say they don’t know whether there was an explos
  
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• Timeline: How football became a Thanksgiving tradition

  22-11-2016 12:49 via kxan.com
  
  (MEDIA GENERAL) — For most American households, Thanksgiving is all about the three Fs – family, food and football.
  Most TVs are tuned into the NFL’s games on Thursday afternoon, but the tradition of football on Thanksgiving extends beyond the National Football League. It actually stretches back to the birth of the sport.
  The birth of football
  Although there is some disagreement, Princeton and Rutgers played in what is considered the first-ever football game on Nov. 6, 1869. A
  
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• Northbound MoPac lanes reopen after construction to improve traffic

  22-11-2016 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Your drive along MoPac is expected to become a bit smoother north of Lady Bird Lake.
  However, until the improvements are complete drivers should expect additional closures and delays during the holiday season. After overnight construction, the northbound lanes have reopened at the Enfield Road exit.
  Crews are making a major lane change that is supposed to help with traffic flow. The two northbound lanes will no longer curve through the construction barriers. The lanes
  
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• Drivers will see changes to northbound MoPac after lane shift

  22-11-2016 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Your drive along MoPac is expected to become a bit smoother north of Lady Bird Lake.
  However, until the improvements are complete drivers should expect additional closures and delays during the holiday season. After overnight construction, the northbound lanes have reopened at the Enfield Road exit.
  Crews are making a major lane change that is supposed to help with traffic flow. The two northbound lanes will no longer curve through the construction barriers. The lanes
  
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• Thousands share holiday meal at HEB’s Feast of Sharing

  22-11-2016 11:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Palmer Events Center is transforming into a massive dining room for the 27th annual ‘HEB Feast of Sharing’.
  Thousands of HEB partners and community volunteers will work to prepare and serve more than 14,000 meals to residents of Austin on Nov. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. Altogether, 3,500 pounds of sliced turkey; 3,500 pounds of mashed potatoes; 3,080 pounds of vegetable medley; 280 gallons of brown gravy; 1,400 pies; 14,000 dinner rolls and soft drinks will be
  
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• HEB’s Feast of Sharing will feed thousands on Tuesday

  22-11-2016 11:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Palmer Events Center is transforming into a massive dining room for the 27th annual ‘HEB Feast of Sharing’.
  Thousands of HEB partners and community volunteers will work to prepare and serve more than 14,000 meals to residents of Austin on Nov. 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. Altogether, 3,500 pounds of sliced turkey; 3,500 pounds of mashed potatoes; 3,080 pounds of vegetable medley; 280 gallons of brown gravy; 1,400 pies; 14,000 dinner rolls and soft drinks will be
  
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• ‘I know deep inside that he’s scared too,’ police wife reacts to killing

  22-11-2016 05:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — For many in the police community, it’s a difficult time for the profession, but no one knows the difficulty more than the loved ones closest to officers.
  “He straps on that vest, he straps on his belt and we kiss him, we tell him we love him, because these days you turn on social media, you turn on the news, it’s almost daily or weekly, that were hearing of police officers being shot or killed,” Rita James says. James knows first-hand what it&rs
  
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• Source: UT Austin donors can influence future of Charlie Strong

  22-11-2016 05:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Sources said Monday afternoon that some University of Texas at Austin donors are pushing the school to fire coach Charlie Strong.
  At his weekly press conference, Coach Strong said his focus is on Friday’s game against Texas Christian University.
  Donors said it’s no secret that those who make the biggest contributions have the biggest impact.  A few who wanted to remain anonymous said that it’s best to leave Coach Strong alone and let him finish out hi
  
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• APD ordered to continue at 100% staffing in light of SAPD shooting

  22-11-2016 04:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hours after a San Antonio detective was ambushed and killed, about an hour north on Interstate 35, the Austin Police Department was asking their officers to continue at 100 percent staffing levels.
  Staffing was already up because of the national elections. They wanted officers to be available in case any protests turned violent.
  Detective are also being asked to be on tactical alert, meaning they must come to work in full uniform in case they need to respond to any eme
  
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• Major rollover crash on I-35 frontage in Round Rock

  22-11-2016 03:58 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A major rollover crash Monday evening temporarily shut down the southbound Interstate 35 frontage road in Round Rock. The closures were cleared at around 9:20 p.m.
  In an 8:43 p.m. tweet, police say three vehicles were involved and four people were taken to the hospital.
  The crash happened at the intersection of westbound Louis Henna Boulevard and the southbound I-35 frontage road.
  Find detours with the KXAN Traffic Map
  
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• Winter Predictor: Be prepared for possibly more ice, snow

  22-11-2016 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Winters in Central Texas are typically quite tolerable, but can occasionally be completely disruptive. As has proven true in the past, it only takes a little bit of ice and snow to shut down the city for days.
  One of the strongest El Niño patterns on record was largely responsible for causing the recent wet 24-month period across Central Texas. El Niño is the natural ocean cycle that leads to warmer than normal water in the eastern equatorial Pa
  
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• MoPac shift will cause northbound delays Monday night

  22-11-2016 02:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting at 8 p.m., MoPac Expressway northbound traffic will be shifted between Lady Bird Lake and Enfield Road. Smaller closures will lead up to a complete shutdown of northbound MoPac at 11 p.m.
  The following lane and ramp closures will be in place during the shift:
  The Cesar Chavez and Sixth Street entrance ramp to northbound MoPac will be closed after 8 p.m. Traffic will be detoured to the Enfield Road entrance ramp.
  The left lane of northbound MoPac will be closed from
  
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• Planned Parenthood Texas sees huge donation increase since election

  22-11-2016 02:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — The presidential election has sparked the spirit of giving in some Texans.
  Planned Parenthood Texas has seen donations increase ten fold since Donald Trump became president-elect. The surge in online donations and volunteer sign-ups is breaking records here in the State of Texas and across the country.
  Nationwide, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America received donations from 182,000 people in the week after the election. That’s about 40 times more than
  
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• Austin ISD employees dealing with payroll problems since June

  22-11-2016 02:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Employees with the Austin Independent School District have been reaching out to KXAN for the last four months claiming they have not been getting paid correctly, and asking for help.
  The first email came on August 1, 2016:
  Austin ISD has not paid its summer employees on time, or at all. I have spoken to AISD payroll on six occasions and they tell me they are working on it… I have not gotten paid for hours I worked in June and payroll tells me I will be paid by Septem
  
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• Women charged with prostitution get second chance in Travis County

  22-11-2016 02:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Women arrested for prostitution in Travis County are being offered a choice: go to jail or agree to take part in the Phoenix Program.
  It has been underway for a year now. The court looks past the police citation and sees the invisible struggles, like severe mental health issues and drug addiction.
  “A lot of PTSD. A lot of the women we get in the program were molested as children, and so they haven’t resolved any of these issues yet,” said Ph
  
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• Texas State student jumps into action after bus crashes

  22-11-2016 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) —  It was a scary weekend for the Texas State University football team and its support staff, after their buses crashed in El Paso on the way to a game. Several students were sent to the hospital.
  Student videographer Russell Reed was there, “I saw that the bus in front of us came to an abrupt stop and I noticed we were creeping up on the bus, and we weren’t stopping,” said Reed. “My best friend was sitting to the right of me and I
  
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• A third of Texas foster care runaways remain missing: CPS

  22-11-2016 01:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grim reality is adding to the ongoing shortage of foster homes in Texas. State lawmakers are now hearing a third of the children who ran away from foster care this year have not been found — some as young as 11.
  In Texas, 973 foster kids ran away this past year, sometimes simply because they didn’t like the house rules, others wanted to return to their parents. A third of those kids — 340 vulnerable young people — have simply disappeared.
  &ldq
  
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• Lower rent apartment complex proposed in Round Rock

  22-11-2016 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock City Council will vote Tuesday night on a new affordable housing complex. A developer wants to put a 256-unit apartment complex on about 23 acres of land, just northwest of A.W. Grimes Boulevard and East Old Settlers Boulevard.
  All but four of the units will be available for renters making 60 percent of the Austin Metro area median income ($77,800) which ends up being around nearly $47,000 a year. Four units will be offered to people who make 50 percen
  
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• CLEAT says Austin mayor is interfering with officers’ rights

  22-11-2016 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In response to Austin Mayor Steve Adler’s comments during a news conference to announce the creation of a task force to address institutional racism across the city, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas says it’s issuing a subpoena against Adler stating he’s interfering with cases involving two Austin police officers.
  Last week, Adler highlighted two high-profile cases. The first one he spoke about was Officer Geoffrey Freeman’s de
  
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• Several deaths, at least 23 injured in Tennessee school bus crash

  22-11-2016 00:16 via kxan.com
  
  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WKRN) – Deaths were reported and at least 23 were injured in a “very serious” school bus crash in Chattanooga on Monday.
  It happened on Talley Road at 3:30 p.m. local time. Police stated that the bus driver is being questioned and cooperating with investigators.
  Both police and fire officials say 23 people were injured, and Lt. Bill Miller with the Tennessee High Patrol says the crash is fatal, although it’s unclear at this time how many have
  
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• 6 dead, at least 23 injured in Tennessee school bus crash

  22-11-2016 00:16 via kxan.com
  
  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Hamilton County District Attorney’s office confirms at least six children are dead after a school bus crash in Chattanooga Monday afternoon.
  It happened on Talley Road at 3:30 p.m. Police stated that the bus driver is being questioned and cooperating with investigators.
  Both police and fire officials say 23 people were injured.Texas seat belt law fails to protect students
  (Courtesy: Chattanooga Fire Department)Col. Tracy Trott with the Tennessee H
  
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