Austin news

• Local hairstylist puts away his shears after 60 year career

  31-12-2016 23:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN) — After 60 years of being a hairstylist and confidant to his clients, Clayton Johnson gave his last haircut Saturday afternoon at his barber shop, Clayton’s Hair Styles in Central Austin.
  Johnson attended Austin Barber College in 1958 and has been at his current location since 1971. Johnson made the decision to retire this year due to the pain in his feet from standing all day. He said he is looking forward to being able to do something when he wants to
  
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• Texas judge halts federal transgender health protections

  31-12-2016 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge in Texas on Saturday ordered a halt to another Obama administration effort to strengthen transgender rights, this time over health rules that social conservatives say could force doctors to violate their religious beliefs.
  The latest injunction signed by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor comes four months after he blocked a higher-profile new set of transgender protections — a federal directive that required public schools to let transgender
  
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• Federal judge in Texas again blocks Obama administration over rules strengthening transgender protections

  31-12-2016 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) — Federal judge in Texas again blocks Obama administration over rules strengthening transgender protections.
  
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• Person shot in the leg in East Austin, suspect not in custody

  31-12-2016 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN) — A man was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being shot in the leg in East Austin.
  According to the Austin Police Department, the incident occurred around 2:37 p.m. Saturday near Reinli Street and Sheridan Avenue in East Austin.
  APD is investigating the incident and said that no suspect is in custody at this time.
   
  
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• Man shot in the leg in East Austin, suspect not in custody

  31-12-2016 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, (KXAN) — A man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being shot in the leg in East Austin on Saturday.
  According to the Austin Police Department, the incident occurred around 2:37 p.m. near Reinli Street and Sheridan Avenue in East Austin.
  APD is investigating the incident and said that no suspect is in custody at this time.
  
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• Texas judge takes specialized court for veterans on the road

  31-12-2016 21:28 via kxan.com
  
  ANNA, Texas (AP) — In the Army, Richard Ress survived duty in some of the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, but on a July day in 2009, he seemed ready for his life to end in the back of a Texas police car facing his third drunken-driving arrest in less than a year.
  According to the arrest report, Ress asked the officer “to shoot him and get it over with.” He was struggling with flashbacks and nightmares associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, which went untreated dur
  
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• Sharing your dog’s resolutions with Bark Happy

  31-12-2016 20:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You probably have a list of New Years resolutions, but what about your dog?
  Bark Happy, an app for pet owners to find other dogs nearby, started a campaign after Christmas for dogs to share their their resolution with others.
  Ninis Samuel was in the studio with Gigi Barnett to talk about the campaign and how you can share your dog’s New Years resolution.
  
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• Planned Parenthood asks judge to halt Texas Medicaid cuts

  31-12-2016 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Planned Parenthood has asked a federal judge to stop Texas from cutting it from the state’s Medicaid program, which the nation’s largest abortion provider says would reduce health services for nearly 11,000 low-income women.
  The request to U.S. District Sam Sparks was filed late Friday in Austin and is part of an ongoing lawsuit filed last year. Texas is one of several Republican-controlled states that have sought to deny Medicaid funding to Planned Parenth
  
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• Doctor shares tips for healthy kids options this New Year’s

  31-12-2016 18:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With so many temptations around during the holiday season, it can be tough to find healthy options, especially for kids.
  Dr. Goddy Corpuz with Baylor Scott & White was in the studio with Gigi Barnett Saturday morning to talk about ways to keep the sweet tooth at bay.
  
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• Santa Claus is back on Facebook after proving his identity

  31-12-2016 15:21 via kxan.com
  
  FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Santa Claus’ Facebook account has been reinstated after the social media company suspended his access and demanded proof of identity on Christmas Day.
  Claus, a North Pole city councilman, said he was never given a reason why his page was blocked. He said he thought Facebook didn’t believe his name was Santa Claus or that he lived in North Pole.
  A Facebook spokeswoman apologized in an email Tuesday for suspending Claus’ account and said it was done
  
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• Rudy’s Bar-B-Q in Round Rock reopens after small fire

  31-12-2016 05:26 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Rudy’s County Store and Bar-B-Q restaurant in Round Rock is open after a fire started in their pit Friday evening.
  The Round Rock Fire Department says the fire happened just before 7:30 p.m. The fire started in the firing pit and went across the warming pit and went up the chimney. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the chimney.
  Customers were evacuated when the fire broke out. No one was hurt.
  The restaurant’s maintenance crews are on
  
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• Fire shuts down Rudy’s Bar-B-Q in Round Rock

  31-12-2016 05:26 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Rudy’s County Store and Bar-B-Q restaurant in Round Rock is temporarily closed after a fire started in their pit Friday evening.
  The Round Rock Fire Department says the fire happened just before 7:30 p.m. The fire started in the firing pit and went across the warming pit and went up the chimney. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the chimney.
  Customers were evacuated when the fire broke out. No one was hurt.
  The restaurant’s maintenance
  
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• Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher to be buried together

  31-12-2016 05:14 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Debbie Reynolds’ son said Friday his mother and sister, actress Carrie Fisher, will have a joint funeral and will be buried together.
  Todd Fisher said the actresses will be buried together at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills, the final resting place of numerous celebrities, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Patten, Liberace, Florence Henderson, David Carradine and Bette Davis.
  The son said no date for the funeral has been set, but it will be private. A public memorial is
  
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• Father of soldier killed in Apache helicopter crash talks

  31-12-2016 05:08 via kxan.com
  
  DAISETTA, Texas (KXAN) — The father of a soldier who died when an Apache helicopter crashed into Galveston Bay Wednesday says he’s proud of his son.
  Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Lowe, 33, of Hardin, Texas, was one of two pilots killed in the crash. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dustin Lee Mortenson, 32, of League City, Texas also died in the crash.
  The soldiers were conducting a “routine training flight” out of Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base when the helicopter crashed
  
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• Leander neighborhood seeks better recycling options

  31-12-2016 04:42 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Residents of the Trails End neighborhood along Farm to Market 1431 in Leander are fighting for additional recycling options. Currently, homeowners in the area are not eligible for recycling pick-up services as contracted through Al Clawson Disposal, Inc., or ACDI.
  “My husband and I have recently moved to this area and just assumed that there would be recycling,” said Debra Herrmann, whose home sits alongside Lake Travis. “We have recycled for years
  
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• New Year’s tipsy tow option for north Austin, Georgetown and Round Rock

  31-12-2016 04:32 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Downtown Austin will be bustling with taxis and ridesharing companies ready to get people around safely who will be taking part in New Year’s celebrations this weekend.
  Several tow truck companies will also be offering their services over the holiday weekend to get a driver and their vehicle home. As a last resort, AAA Texas is offering a “tipsy tow” to keep drinking drivers off the road. Drivers, bartenders, restaurant managers,
  
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• Austin gets rid of garbage, recycling calendar mailers

  31-12-2016 04:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In an effort to cut down on waste, Austin Resource Recovery is doing away with the printed calendars they send to Austin customers. But how will you know when it’s your recycling week? Have no fear, it’s all digital now.
  But how will you know when it’s your recycling week? Have no fear, it’s all digital now.
  Austin Resource Recovery says your annual recycling, trash and yard trimmings collection calendar can now be loaded directly onto your
  
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• UN Security Council to vote Saturday on Syria cease-fire

  31-12-2016 03:39 via kxan.com
  
  UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a vote Saturday morning on a Russian resolution that would endorse the cease-fire agreement in Syria and reiterate support for a roadmap to peace that starts with a transitional government.
  The draft resolution also calls for “rapid, safe and unhindered” access to deliver humanitarian aid throughout the country. And it looks forward to a meeting in late January between the Syrian government and opposition in Kazakhst
  
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• Record-breaking catfish caught on Lake LBJ

  31-12-2016 02:17 via kxan.com
  
  LAKE LBJ, Texas (KXAN) — An avid Hill Country angler caught one for the record books last week.
  On Dec. 22, Tim Webb was fishing from the bank of Lake LBJ when he caught what appeared to be a catfish, but this catfish was like none other. Using his rod and reel, Webb was able to get the big fish out of the water.
  Since the sun was already setting, Webb tied the fish up along the boat dock with a rope and fish stringer. He jokingly says he spent the night with “big blue.” The fo
  
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• Advocacy group to examine ‘criminalization of homelessness’

  31-12-2016 02:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As House the Homeless handed out thermal underwear and prepared people without a home for the winter at its annual party Friday, the organization was also surveying homeless individuals about their interactions with police.
  “There has been a push by the business community across America to get the homeless away from their patrons on Saturday night who are trying to relax and whatnot,” said president and founder of House the Homeless Richard Troxell. “So [c
  
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• LCRA lowering Lake Austin & Lake LBJ levels

  31-12-2016 01:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Lower Colorado River Authority is lowering Lake Austin and LBJ levels on Monday. The LCRA hasn’t been able to do that in the last five years because of the drought.
  This will give homeowners along the lakes a chance to fix and repair docks and retaining walls. The LCRA said the lower lake levels will also help with controlling hydrilla and watermilfoil.
  On Lake Austin, LCRA will drop it 10 feet from Jan. 2, 2017 to Feb. 13, 2017. The plan includes letting the
  
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