Austin news

• Victoria mosque fire intentionally set, investigators announce

  08-02-2017 23:12 via kxan.com
  
  VICTORIA, Texas (KXAN) — A fire at the Victoria Islamic Center on Jan. 28 was intentionally set, investigators announced on Wednesday.
  The Victoria Advocate reports that investigators have not found evidence that indicates the fire was a “biased crime,” also known as a hate crime. Details of how that was determined is not included in the official release.
  “We appeal to the arsonist or arsonists to put an end to this tragedy and surrender to law enforcement,” the mos
  
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• VIDEO: Police use stun gun on UT professor acting ‘unstable’ at bus stop

  08-02-2017 22:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A video posted on Facebook showing the arrest of a University of Texas at Austin associate professor in the Hyde Park neighborhood is making the rounds on social media, forcing the Austin Police Department to respond.
  On Tuesday, a woman who was working at a business located at the corner of 42nd Street and Duval Street recorded video of an incident that was happening across the street from her at a bus stop. Witnesses at the scene posted on Facebook stating a man, 35
  
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• ‘This is Us’ finale moved back a week for Pres. Trump speech

  08-02-2017 22:46 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (WCMH) — The season finale of NBC’s “This is Us” will be pushed back a week, according to Entertainment Weekly. 
  This image released by NBC shows Sterling K. Brown as Randall in a scene from the NBC series, “This Is Us.” The series was renewed for two more seasons. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)The finale was originally scheduled on March 7 at 9 p.m. but has been moved to March 14 at 9 p.m. President Donald Trump is scheduled to address a joint
  
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• Cause of Lake Travis mosque fire yet to be determined

  08-02-2017 22:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Investigators on the fire that destroyed a Lake Travis mosque say their report on the cause has still not been finalized.
  The under-construction Islamic Center of Lake Travis, at 4701 Doss Road, burned to the ground on Jan. 7 at 3:55 a.m.
  The Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, due to the sensitive nature of the fire happening at a place of worship, requested assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Austin Fire D
  
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• 5 practicing tightrope act with Wallenda brother injured during fall

  08-02-2017 21:25 via kxan.com
  
  SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) –- Five performers were injured when they fell from a high wire on Wednesday afternoon in Sarasota.
  Eight acrobats were on the high wire at the time of the accident, including world-famous high wire performer Nik Wallenda. The performers were practicing a human pyramid act when one person lost their balance, causing the others to fall. Nik Wallenda was serving as an anchor on the pyramid but did not fall off.
  Four patients were transported to a local hospital, th
  
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• Tattooed fugitive who was supposed to arrive in Austin arrested

  08-02-2017 20:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A convicted sex offender who was supposed to check into the Austin Transitional Center in Del Valle after being released from a Virginia prison is now back in custody.
  Authorities say 45-year-old Matthew Ezekiel Stager was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. after being on the lam for nearly a week. Authorities say Stager was furloughed from a federal prison last Thursday and ordered to self-report to the Austin facility. Although the Bureau of Prisons (BOP
  
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• Search is on for tattooed fugitive who was supposed to arrive in Austin

  08-02-2017 20:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A convicted sex offender who was supposed to check into the Austin Transitional Center in Del Valle after being released from a Virginia prison is now on the lam.
  The U.S. Marshals Office is actively looking for 45-year-old Matthew Ezekiel Stager. Authorities say Stager was furloughed from a federal prison last Thursday and ordered to self-report to the Austin facility. Although the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provided Stager transportation to the Richmond Internation
  
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• Dozens were falsely told they had Alzheimer’s, lawsuits say

  08-02-2017 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Shawn Blazsek would go days without sleeping and was forgetting how to tie his shoes. He knew a string of concussions from high school football and boxing was catching up with him. Still, at age 33, he was stunned when told he had Alzheimer’s disease.
  He started planning out who would take care of his four kids if something happened to his wife, and thought about how hard it would be for them when he could no longer recognize his family. So he stuffed fistfuls of
  
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• 6 mistakes that can wreck your credit score

  08-02-2017 19:37 via kxan.com
  
  KNOXVILLE (WATE) – The next time you check your FICO credit score, you might discover it’s taken a tumble because of a seemingly small mishap on your part. Any small stumble, like forgetting to return library books, can cause your credit score to drop. A low score can affect your interest rates when you borrow money.
  If you’re planning to rent a car and use a debit card to make the reservation, the rental car company might require a credit screening. What that can do is damage
  
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• Fluoridation of Buda water on hold indefinitely, residents will vote

  08-02-2017 19:07 via kxan.com
  
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) — The city of Buda is leaving it up to residents to determine whether or not they want the city to put fluoride back into the city’s water supply. At Tuesday’s city council meeting, dozens of people showed up ready to voice their concerns about fluoridation but before they even got a chance to speak, the city voluntarily submitted the measure for a popular vote.
  “I firmly oppose this idea not only because I’m concerned about its impact on my healt
  
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• SXSW still looking for volunteers

  08-02-2017 18:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – South by Southwest is holding their final meeting on Saturday Feb. 11 for people interested in volunteering at the festival. The meeting will take place on the first floor of the Austin Convention Center in Ballroom ABC from 3-5 p.m.
  SXSW is in need of more than 4,000 volunteers with many different positions available. Help is needed with registration, the trade show, technical support and other production needs. There are day and night time opportunities.
  Volunteers can ea
  
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• Austin teacher accused of sexually assaulting 4-year-old student

  08-02-2017 17:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin pre-school teacher is accused of sexually assaulting his 4-year-old female student in the school’s bathroom, according to an arrest warrant.
  The victim first told her mother about the incident on Oct. 14, 2016, claiming she was touched by her teacher, 51-year-old John Arnold, at the Nature School in Austin, a private pre-school for children between the ages of 1 and 6 in the Oak Hill area. According to the arrest warrant, Arnold followed the g
  
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• Austin pre-school teacher accused of sexually assaulting student

  08-02-2017 17:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin pre-school teacher is accused of sexually assaulting his 4-year-old female student in the school’s bathroom, according to an arrest warrant.
  The victim first told her mother about the incident on Oct. 14, 2016, claiming she was touched by her teacher, 51-year-old John Arnold, at the  Nature School in Austin, a private pre-school that caters to children between the ages of 1 and 6 in the Oak Hill area. According to the arrest warrant, Arnold followe
  
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• 5 kilos of cocaine found hidden under children in Fayette Co.

  08-02-2017 16:10 via kxan.com
  
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A traffic stop on Interstate 10 revealed five kilos of cocaine hidden beneath two children on Feb. 2.
  Around 1:15 p.m., deputies and the K9 Lobos found the illegal narcotics with an estimated street value of $500,000. They searched the truck after observing the driver’s level of nervousness and inconsistencies with his travel itinerary.
  The cocaine was discovered inside the backseats of the car under car seats securing two small children.
  Victor Menses,
  
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• Boy Scouts welcome first transgender member

  08-02-2017 15:52 via kxan.com
  
  MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey boy has become the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts one week after the Boy Scouts of America changed its policy to allow transgender children to join the organization.
  “I am accepted,” Joe Maldonado said Tuesday night as he put on a Cub Scout uniform.
  The Record reported the 9-year-old joined Pack 20 in Maplewood following the organization’s decision to allow transgender scouts. Maldonado was banned from a Cub Scout gro
  
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• Boy Scouts welcome first transgender boy after policy change

  08-02-2017 15:52 via kxan.com
  
  MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey boy has become the first openly transgender member of the Boy Scouts one week after the Boy Scouts of America changed its policy to allow transgender children to join the organization.
  “I am accepted,” Joe Maldonado said Tuesday night as he put on a Cub Scout uniform.
  The 9-year-old joined Pack 20 in Maplewood following the organization’s decision to allow transgender scouts, The Record reported (http://bit.ly/2lqlgPh). Maldonado had be
  
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• Suspect pleads guilty to murder of Blanco Co. toddler

  08-02-2017 14:58 via kxan.com
  
  BLANCO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man has plead guilty to capital murder after injuring and allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s toddler.
  John Cody Lawrence, 24, is waiving all rights to appeal and will now spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of Sunny Bort in May 2016. He has also plead guilty to four counts of assaulting a public servant in the Blanco County Jail, and will serve 10 years for each count.
  Police: Blanco tod
  
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• Murderer will spend life in prison for killing girlfriend’s daughter

  08-02-2017 14:58 via kxan.com
  
  BLANCO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man has plead guilty to capital murder after injuring and allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s toddler.
  John Cody Lawrence, 24, is waiving all rights to appeal and will now spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of Sunny Bort in May 2016. He has also plead guilty to four counts of assaulting a public servant in the Blanco County Jail, and will serve 10 years for each count.
  Police: Blanco tod
  
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• Blanco Co. man will spend life in prison for murdering girlfriend’s daughter

  08-02-2017 14:58 via kxan.com
  
  BLANCO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man has plead guilty to capital murder after injuring and allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s toddler.
  John Cody Lawrence, 24, is waiving all rights to appeal and will now spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of Sunny Bort in May 2016. He has also plead guilty to four counts of assaulting a public servant in the Blanco County Jail, and will serve 10 years for each count.
  Police: Blanco tod
  
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• Phoenix man gets 30 years for helping plot Texas attack

  08-02-2017 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  PHOENIX (AP) — A man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday on charges that he provided support to the Islamic State group by helping two followers carry through on an attempted attack on an anti-Islam event in Texas that resulted in a deadly shootout with police.
  Prosecutors were seeking a life sentence for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, an American-born Muslim convert who became the second person in the U.S. to be convicted of charges of supporting Islamic State. He was convicted of co
  
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• Man convicted of helping plot Texas attack to be sentenced

  08-02-2017 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  PHOENIX (AP) — Sentencing is set Wednesday for an American-born Muslim convert convicted of supporting the Islamic State group and helping to plot a 2015 attack on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas.
  Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem, while his defense attorney has asked for less than six years of prison time.
  Authorities say Kareem, the owner of a moving company in Phoenix, provided the guns that two friends used to open fire outside the anti-Is
  
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• Penn State student dies after frat fall, help not called for 12 hours

  08-02-2017 14:19 via kxan.com
  
  STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Police say a Penn State University fraternity did not summon paramedics for a student who fell down a stairwell until about 12 hours after the incident. He later died.
  Authorities say 19-year-old Timothy Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey, died Saturday at Hershey Medical Center.
  State College police found Piazza unconscious on a couch on the main floor when they were called to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at 11 a.m. Friday.
  Police say frat members told them the
  
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• AISD bus crashes in east Austin

  08-02-2017 13:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin ISD bus crashed Wednesday morning in east Austin at Bolm Road and Shady Lane.
  Police say there were two students on board at the time of the crash, but they were not injured. The bus crashed with a F350 van, according to police.
  “Hopefully we’ll get it all moved out of the way soon since there aren’t any injuries,” said an Austin police officer. The intersection has now reopened.
  Investigators have not said what caused the crash.
  A new
  
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• Groundbreaking underway on Pflugerville’s first hospital

  08-02-2017 13:23 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The city of Pflugerville is one step closer to getting their first hospital with the groundbreaking on Wednesday.
  The Baylor Scott & White operated facility will be on 148.88 acres at State Highway 130 and Pflugerville Parkway.
  It is a part of a $1.38 million economic development deal. The incentive agreement is one piece of the extended process, including zoning changes and the creation of a “planned unit development,” or PUD, within which the
  
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• Border Patrol seizes nearly 2 tons of marijuana camouflaged as limes

  08-02-2017 13:14 via kxan.com
  
  PHARR, Texas (NEXSTAR MEDIA) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office is commending a team of agents that discovered a stash of marijuana among a commercial shipment of limes.
  According to a statement from CBP, the shipment was intercepted January 30 at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility on the Texas/Mexico border. A canine team and the use of an imaging system helped identify the narcotics.
  The CBP states the officers recovered more than 30,000 fake limes that concealed
  
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• PHOTOS: Truck slams into Georgetown home leaving gaping hole

  08-02-2017 12:53 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A family sitting down to dinner was greeted by an unexpected guest when a truck crashed into their home Tuesday night.
  An investigation in underway after the truck slammed into the home in Georgetown. The homeowner, Jeff Seidel, sent KXAN pictures of the aftermath.
  “Some odd years, I do business out of here, and we live out of here, which is you know business and my life. I just think we are all pretty fortunate and blessed that nobody got hurt,” said
  
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• Travis Co. Jail becomes largest provider of mental health help after hospital overcrowding

  08-02-2017 12:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers this Legislative Session are proposing to spend $1 billion to fix state hospitals in order to treat more people suffering from mental illness.
  This fix could wind up having a big impact on those waiting in jail for a hospital bed and tax dollars. On Wednesday, hundreds are expected at the State Capitol to rally for this proposed funding within Senate Bill One.
  “I think it’s important to remember that folks in jail waiting for a bed have not been convic
  
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• Lawmakers propose $1 billion to fix state hospitals

  08-02-2017 12:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers this Legislative Session are proposing to spend $1 billion to fix state hospitals in order to treat more people suffering from mental illness.
  This fix could wind up having a big impact on those waiting in jail for a hospital bed and tax dollars. On Wednesday, hundreds are expected at the State Capitol to rally for this proposed funding within Senate Bill One.
  “I think it’s important to remember that folks in jail waiting for a bed have not been convic
  
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• Woman killed in southeast Austin crash after speeding

  08-02-2017 11:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police say speed was a factor in a crash that killed a woman after slamming into water barrels on the East Ben White Boulevard frontage road.
  The crash was near the US 183 service road and Montopolis around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday. A 911 call around 11:43 p.m. alerted police that a driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and hit several water barrels, before crashing into the guard rails.
  According to Austin police, the woman was not wearing a seat belt
  
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• Person dies in southeast Austin crash

  08-02-2017 11:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person is dead after a crash in southeast Austin.
  The crash was on the US 183 service road, near Montopolis around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday. One car was involved in the crash.
  Police aren’t releasing much information at this time.
  We are working to get more information.
  
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• 11 years later, Chili’s officially lifts ban on Pam Beesly

  08-02-2017 11:36 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR MEDIA) — Spurred by a random tweet from actress Jenna Fischer, Chili’s has absolved her lovable “Office” character from her misdeeds 11 years ago and has lifted Pam Beesly Halpert’s ban from their restaurant chain.
  Fischer took a selfie outside of a Chili’s restaurant and commented, “Should I go in?” The tweet referenced her most popular character’s regrettable decision to have one too many drinks during a Dundies award presentation.
  
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• VIDEO: President Trump offers to ‘destroy’ career of Texas state senator

  08-02-2017 05:25 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (KXAN) — President Donald Trump says he was just joking when he talked about destroying the career of an unnamed Texas state senator.
  Rockwall County Sheriff Harold Eavenson, whose county is located just northeast of Dallas, told the president at the White House Tuesday, “On asset forfeiture, we’ve got a state senator in Texas that was talking about introducing legislation to require conviction before we can receive that forfeiture money.”
  “Can you believ
  
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• Longhorns win another close game at home

  08-02-2017 05:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN(KXAN)–The Texas basketball team won another close one on Tuesday, beating Iowa State 67-65 at the Erwin Center in Austin.It marks UT’s 3rd straight home win, all by three points or less.Freshman Jarrett Allen hit a pair of free throws with 7.2 seconds to go to break a 65-65 tie and then ISU’s Matt Thomas missed a three point shot that would have won it for the Cyclones.Texas improved to 10-14 and 4-7 in the Big 12 while Iowa State falls to 14-9 and 6-5 in conference play
  
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• Air tanker base for fighting wildfires coming to Austin airport

  08-02-2017 04:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A portable air tanker base, capable of handling the large airplanes that drop fire retardant on wildfires, will be coming to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
  State Rep. John Cyrier, R-Lockhart, says the move to establish the base follows a key recommendation from the Lost Pines Property Owners Fire Protection Task Force, a citizen committee affected by the Hidden Pines fire.
  The state previously had only one portable air tanker base, located in Abilene, capable of su
  
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• Texas Senate will make final vote on ‘Sanctuary City’ bill with more teeth

  08-02-2017 04:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After more than five hours of debate, Texas senators voted down party lines on an updated version of SB 4 against “Sanctuary Cities” on Tuesday before the final vote on Wednesday to determine if it heads to the House. Gov. Greg Abbott declared it an emergency item in his State of the State address and it’s now halfway to his desk.
  Coming into the Senate Tuesday, the bill would already have cut funding for law enforcement agencies not fully complying with f
  
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• Texas Senate passes ‘Sanctuary City’ bill with more teeth

  08-02-2017 04:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After two days of debating, Texas senators voted down party lines on an updated version of SB 4 against “Sanctuary Cities” on Wednesday. The bill will now move to the Texas House Committee. Gov. Greg Abbott declared it an emergency item in his State of the State address and it is now halfway to his desk.
  The bill cuts funding for law enforcement agencies not fully complying with federal immigration detainer requests. This became a national issue when Travis Coun
  
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• Texas Senate approves ‘Sanctuary City’ bill with more teeth

  08-02-2017 04:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After more than five hours of debate, Texas senators voted down party lines on an updated version of SB 4 against “Sanctuary Cities.” Gov. Greg Abbott declared it an emergency item in his State of the State address and it’s now halfway to his desk.
  Coming into the Senate Tuesday, the bill would already have cut funding for law enforcement agencies not fully complying with federal immigration detainer requests. This became a national issue when Travis Count
  
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• Neighbors near Loop 360 Bridge welcome new parking enforcement

  08-02-2017 03:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Parking citations are being issued to those parking illegally along the Loop 360 Bridge overlook.
  While hikers are upset about this new crackdown on parking, neighbors like Marisa Lipscher said it was time for a change.
  “When they leave they back out of the spots and when you’re driving down, you’re turning a corner and you’re not expecting to see a car with its reverse lights on.”
  Austin police posted on Nextdoor that the area along the scenic
  
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• Moms secretly treating postpartum depression with marijuana

  08-02-2017 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  Highlights
  28 states allow medical marijuana for a number of conditions including postpartum depression
  1 in 7 women battle postpartum depression
  Newly filed SB 269 looks to cover more debilitating medical conditions under the law including post-traumatic stress disorder
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Her long brown hair hangs over her face, her big brown eyes full of wonder, she has an ease about her which she’ll tell you doesn’t come easy.
  At first glance, she doesn’t look l
  
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• Austin moms turning to marijuana to treat postpartum depression

  08-02-2017 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  Highlights28 states allow medical marijuana for a number of conditions including postpartum depression
  1 in 7 women battle postpartum depression
  Newly filed SB 269 looks to cover more debilitating medical conditions under the law including post-traumatic stress disorder
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Her long brown hair hangs over her face, her big brown eyes full of wonder, she has an ease about her which she’ll tell you doesn’t come easy.
  At first glance, she doesn’t look li
  
  Read more

• Immigration ‘detainers’ are subject of federal court fights

  08-02-2017 03:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As top Texas lawmakers push for a bill to limit so-called sanctuary policies in the state, some of the immigration issues in the bill remain the subject of challenges in federal court.
  Last year, a federal judge in Illinois ordered immigration officials to get a warrant or more proof that a person is likely to flee before asking to hold a person in jail. In that case, court documents state Immigration and Customs Enforcement tried to hold two men who were legally in the cou
  
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• Trump says media ‘doesn’t want to report’ extremist attacks

  08-02-2017 02:54 via kxan.com
  
  MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump is accusing the media of deliberately minimizing coverage of the threat posed by the Islamic State group, saying news outlets “have their reasons” for not reporting what he described as a “genocide” underway at the hands of the group.
  The president did not immediately offer evidence to support his claim, made during the new commander in chief’s visit Monday to the headquarters for U.S. Central Command.
  
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• Williamson County animal shelter sheds breed labels

  08-02-2017 01:55 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — We’ve heard the phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” now the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is saying “Don’t judge a dog by its coat.”
  The shelter is no longer labeling shelter dogs with specific breeds, unless staff members are absolutely certain of the breed.
  “We wanted to focus more on the personality of the dog, instead of what they look like,” said Joel Hess, kennel manager at WCRAS. &ldqu
  
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• Breaking down Super Bowl LI

  08-02-2017 01:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN(KXAN)–Roger Wallace and Andrew Schnitker break down Super Bowl LI.Great comeback and great collapse?
  
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• Man burned in Round Rock explosion remains in critical condition

  08-02-2017 00:36 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO (KXAN) — The father of a man severely burned in an explosion at a Round Rock business on Friday, Jan. 3, says his son remains in stable, but critical condition.
  Joe Cisneros, the father of victim Ben Cisneros, described his son’s injuries as second and third degree burns from his hands to his face. Ben Cisneros is being treated at the Burn Center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which serves a large area of South and Central Texas.
  Cisneros’ father
  
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