Austin news

• ‘No refusal’ now in effect every weekend through September

  31-03-2017 23:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Department’s “no refusal” initiative will now be in place every weekend, as the department expands its crackdown on drunk driving.
  From Friday to Sunday each weekend — 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day — detectives will be available to apply for a blood search warrant for those suspected of driving while intoxicated and who refuse to give a sample of breath or blood.
  Austin police are expanding the initiative beyond holidays and special e
  
  Read more

• LISTEN: 911 calls regarding erratic driver minutes before deadly bus crash

  31-03-2017 22:41 via kxan.com
  
  CONCAN, Texas (KXAN) — As the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the crash that killed 13 members from First Baptist New Braunfels, authorities have released 911 calls from drivers who reported a person in a pickup truck driving erratically.
  KSAT in San Antonio reports they’ve received copies of the emergency calls from the Real County Sheriff’s Office. Uvalde police Lt. Daniel Rodriguez says a man called about 12:02 p.m. Wednesday to report the swerv
  
  Read more

• Two children abducted north of Abilene found safe, suspects arrested

  31-03-2017 22:13 via kxan.com
  
  HASKELL, Texas (KXAN) — An Amber Alert issued for two children who were abducted from the North Texas town of Haskell on Friday around 11 a.m. has been discontinued.
  The children, who were believed to be in grave danger, were found safe. The two suspects have been arrested.
  Four-year-old Malakai Lara, described as a Hispanic male, 3-feet-tall and around 40 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a blue and red Spiderman shirt, blue jeans and yellow/black Air Jordan sh
  
  Read more

• Two children abducted north of Abilene believed to be in grave danger

  31-03-2017 22:13 via kxan.com
  
  HASKELL, Texas (KXAN) — An Amber Alert has been issued for two children who were abducted from the North Texas town of Haskell on Friday around 11 a.m. Police believe the children are in grave or immediate danger.
  Four-year-old Malakai Lara, described as a Hispanic male, 3-feet-tall and around 40 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a blue and red Spiderman shirt, blue jeans and yellow/black Air Jordan shoes.
  Law enforcement is also searching for 8-year-old Devonte
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Wind slamming glass door triggered Round Rock elementary lockdown

  31-03-2017 21:53 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Double File Trail Elementary School was placed on lockdown for 10-15 minutes Friday afternoon after a glass door was shattered.
  A Round Rock ISD official says they believe wind opened the door and slammed it shut at the school, located at 2400 Chandler Creek Blvd, just after 2 p.m.
  The school was placed on lockdown as officials investigated. The district determined there was no evidence that the glass was shattered by a projectile.
  School dismissal resumed as nor
  
  Read more

• Cats seized from Florence shelter now up for adoption

  31-03-2017 21:20 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The 89 cats that were seized from a no-kill shelter in Florence have been cleared for adoption. The Williamson County Regional Animal Center (WCRAC) says they were given custody of the animals shortly after the owners of the R.U.G. shelter were arrested and charged with animal cruelty earlier this week.
  While the healthy cats are ready to go to a good home starting Friday, the shelter says they are in need of foster parents for the cats who are still sick or preg
  
  Read more

• North Carolina future uncertain after ‘Bathroom bill’ reset

  31-03-2017 20:48 via kxan.com
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tense negotiations over a deal to undo North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” gave way Friday to uncertainty.
  Will the compromise Gov. Roy Cooper signed Thursday quash the furor that made businesses, sporting events, conventions and entertainers pull out of the state in a yearlong economic backlash?
  In a vote of confidence, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Friday that it’s ready to start considering North Carolina again as it schedules future e
  
  Read more

• Crayola boots dandelion for bluish crayon yet to be named

  31-03-2017 20:29 via kxan.com
  
  EASTON, Pa. (AP) — Dandelion yellow has reason to be blue.
  Crayola announced Friday, National Crayon Day, that it’s replacing the color dandelion in its 24-pack with a crayon in “the blue family.”
  The company says it will leave it to fans to come up with a name for the replacement color.
  It’s only the third time in Crayola’s long history that it has retired one or more colors, and the first time it’s swapped out a color in its box of 24.
  Other colors tha
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Police stop attempted rape by man who planned forced marriage of victim

  31-03-2017 19:42 via kxan.com
  
  JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Indiana State Police stopped an attempted rape on the side of the interstate after a man said he intended to impregnate a woman he met online so that she would be forced to marry him.
  According to ISP, 19-year-old Kung Bik Cem, from Tucker, Georgia, drove from Lifeway Baptist University in Jacksonville, Florida to Southport to attend a wedding on March 25. The victim in the case is a woman he met online that was also going to be attending the wedding.
  Cem said
  
  Read more

• Overturned gravel truck causes delays on I-35 in north Austin

  31-03-2017 19:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An overturned gravel truck along Interstate 35 in north Austin is causing major delays in the area.
  Austin police say the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. on I-35 northbound in between Braker Lane and Tech Ridge Boulevard. A traffic camera shows the truck is in the grassy median that separates the freeway from the northbound frontage. The northbound frontage is blocked at this time.
  The northbound frontage is blocked at this time. Traffic on the freeway is getting thro
  
  Read more

• Ambulance stolen, found a few blocks away from south Austin hospital

  31-03-2017 19:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin-Travis County EMS works on outfitting its ambulance fleet with theft deterrents, another ambulance was taken for a short joyride this week.
  A spokesperson for ATCEMS says on March 29 an ambulance was taken from the South Austin Medical Center by an unknown person. Capt. Rick Rutledge says the ambulance was sitting at the emergency room drop off location when the theft happened. Authorities found the ambulance a few minutes later about two to three blocks away.
  The
  
  Read more

• APD: Bicyclist killed by DWI driver on South First failed to yield right of way

  31-03-2017 19:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The bicyclist killed Tuesday night on South First Street failed to yield the right of way, Austin police said.
  According to the findings of the investigation, Frank Machacek, 47, was hit while attempting to cross east to west in the 1800 block of South First around 7:25 p.m. Police said he crossed the northbound lanes and continued in front of the person who ended up hitting him.
  PREVIOUS: Bicyclist hit, killed by car on South First Street
  That driver, who was arrested for
  
  Read more

• Rep. Donna Howard will give legislative session update on Saturday

  31-03-2017 18:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — State Representative Donna Howard will hold a town hall meeting Saturday to get the people in her district up to speed on what’s been happening during this legislative session.
  The informal meeting comes at about the halfway point of the session.
  “I hope to hear that we’re moving in the right direction,” Howard said.“And if there are things that aren’t going in the right direction, that I can get an idea from them of how I can best r
  
  Read more

• Girl, 4, sees cop eating alone, decides to keep him company

  31-03-2017 17:53 via kxan.com
  
  HINGHAM, MA (WCMH) — When 3-year-old Lillian Israel saw the officer eating alone at Panera Bread, she asked if she could join him.
  “I had an empty seat there and she looked at it and said can I sit, and I said sure,” Sgt. Steven Dearth with the Hingham Police Department tells WHDH.
  Lillian says she likes police and that’s what prompted her to leave her parents and baby brother behind to have the meal with Dearth.
  According to Dearth, the two had an in-depth conversat
  
  Read more

• El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke makes his 2018 Senate bid official

  31-03-2017 16:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has formally begun his longshot bid to unseat Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
  The former punk rocker made his 2018 Senate run official during an event in his hometown of El Paso Friday morning. O’Rourke’s own website unveiled a “Beto for Senate” logo about two hours before his scheduled announcement.
  “I’m running to represent the great state of Texas in the U.S. Senate,” he said to an ener
  
  Read more

• ‘Shots fired’ call near Pickle Elementary ends with man in custody

  31-03-2017 16:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police and SWAT members responded to a shots fired call in east Austin Friday morning.
  The situation happened in the 7606 Blessing Avenue, the Vue Apartments, at 8:58 a.m. on a shots fired call. A 911 operator reported to police that they did hear multiple gunshots during an initial call.
  Police said, while they were on route to the scene, a woman in the home again called 911 and more gunshots were heard during the call.
  After arriving, crews were able to t
  
  Read more

• Ex-South Texas city manager pleads guilty to lying to FBI

  31-03-2017 16:40 via kxan.com
  
  DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Prosecutors say a former South Texas city manager faces up to five years in prison for lying to the FBI in a public corruption probe.
  Former Eagle Pass City Manager Hector Chavez Sr. pleaded guilty Thursday, in a plea agreement, to making a false statement to a federal agent. The 68-year-old Chavez remains free on bond pending sentencing in Del Rio.
  Chavez resigned last year after being indicted in the case that prosecutors say involves bribes and Maverick County cont
  
  Read more

• Lubbock mom gets prison time for throwing hot grease on baby

  31-03-2017 15:56 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK/KAMC) – Ladonna Waynette Johnson, 30, was sentenced on Thursday to eight years in prison for throwing hot grease on a baby.
  Police were called to the report of a domestic dispute in the 2100 block of East 4th Street in March of 2015.
  At trial, the defense attorney said Johnson’s husband hit her and she was acting in self-defense by throwing the hot grease at him.  The defense attorney said Johnson would never have intentionally hurt her baby girl.
  At trial,
  
  Read more

• 85 year old grandma recalls 5 days trapped in the wilderness with her cat

  31-03-2017 15:35 via kxan.com
  
  AKRON, Colorado (KUSA) — A dead car, a candy bar, a roll of bread, and a pile of donated clothes.
  That’s what 85-year-old Ruby Stein depended on for five days after she found her self stranded on a remote dirt road in Eagle County, Colorado.
  “If I make it I make it,” said Stein. “If I don’t then that’s God’s will.”
  On March 21 she was headed back to Akron after visiting her granddaughter and great-grandkids in Gypsum when she took a wrong tur
  
  Read more

• Central Texas Meals on Wheels leader steps down after 13 years

  31-03-2017 14:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Meals On Wheels Central Texas officially hands over the reigns to a new leader this weekend.
  After 13 years, Dan Pruett is stepping down.
  Pruett led the 7,500 volunteers who help care for the Austin Metro area’s senior citizens.
  Central Texas Meals on Wheels worried about federal dollars at stake
  During a talk with KXAN, Pruett explained how the program has evolved to doing more than just food. “One of the things we are looking at right now, this very
  
  Read more

• Three accused of trafficking mentally ill men for sex with wealthy clients

  31-03-2017 13:39 via kxan.com
  
  DANBURY, CT. (WTNH) — A total of three men were arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring that was operating out of Danbury.
  Police say 63-year-old Bruce Bemer, of Glastonbury, and 71-year-old William Trefzger, of Westport, were charged with patronizing a trafficked person on Thursday. A third person, Robert King, of Danbury, was previously arrested during the investigation and charged with promoting prostitution and witness tampering.
  WTNH was at Danbury Superior Court Thu
  
  Read more

• Video shows LA deputy ignoring shooting call

  31-03-2017 13:18 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy is under investigation after a video posted online showed him ignoring a shooting call while he recorded a message to his then-girlfriend, officials said Thursday.
  The video posted on YouTube last month shows Deputy Jeremy Fennell in a patrol car talking into a camera as a dispatcher is heard relaying the shooting alert.
  The deputy uses colorful language and then looks into the camera and says, “Someone got shot. Oh well.
  
  Read more

• SWAT called to barricaded subject in north Austin

  31-03-2017 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police and SWAT members were called to a building in north Austin for a barricaded subject Friday morning.
  Police told KXAN that the call came in around 2:57 a.m. in the 9100 block of North Interstate 35 on the southbound service road south of Rundberg. They would not say what sort of building was being searched but several hotels are in the vicinity.
  THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WILL BE UPDATED AS THE SITUATION PROGRESSES.
  Expect updates on KXAN News Today
  
  Read more

• Man who held wife in hotel room taken into custody after SWAT situation

  31-03-2017 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police said a man they believe was holding his wife in a north Austin hotel room has been taken into custody after a Friday morning SWAT situation.
  Police told KXAN that the call came in around 2:57 a.m. for a subject at the Budget Inn in the 9100 block of North Interstate 35 on the southbound service road.
  The call came in as a reported kidnapping but was determined to be a domestic dispute between a husband and wife. The woman called 911 saying she was not all
  
  Read more

• Fire crews extinguish blaze at south Austin business

  31-03-2017 10:30 via kxan.com
  
  KXAN (AUSTIN) – Investigators are trying to find out what sparked a fire at a south Austin business early Friday morning.
  The fire started around 1 a.m. at 5307 South Congress Avenue, near West Stassney Lane.
  Austin Fire Department says nobody was inside as the flames ripped through the building. Investigators say they think people sometimes sleep inside, based on what firefighters saw inside the building.
  Crews have not named the business, but they think it’s a towing company.
  
  Read more

• Texas Democrat says vote in favor of ‘bathroom bill’ was not bought

  31-03-2017 06:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — Only one Democrat in the Texas Senate voted in favor of the state’s so-called “bathroom bill.”
  Since the upper chamber passed Senate Bill 6, Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. has come under fire from reports claiming he sold his vote, something the Brownsville Democrat vehemently denies.
  “No one can tell you that I’ve plotted or schemed on anything,” Lucio said. The day after SB 6 was passed in the Senate, the author of the controversial bill helpe
  
  Read more

• Armed serial robber targeting Austin restaurants late at night

  31-03-2017 06:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Surveillance photos show a man who has robbed several Austin restaurants at gunpoint this month.
  The man, described as a black male, around 5-foot-11 to 6-feet tall, was seen wearing two different styles of Letterman jackets with a bandana over his face. He is believed to be the suspect in the following robberies:
  Wednesday, March 15 11:44 p.m. – Domino’s Pizza, 719 William Cannon Dr.
  Thursday, March 16 12:55 a.m. – Domino’s Pizza, 720 Bastrop Highwa
  
  Read more

• Rainey Street neighbors want city to follow through with traffic study recommendations

  31-03-2017 05:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of the hot areas of Austin nightlife is trying to deal with the next wave of changes. Rainey Street. In between I-35 and Red River Street, the residential neighborhood has been transformed since the first bungalow was converted to a bar eight years ago. Almost all of the homes have been bought out. Now some of the bars have given way to high rise apartments and condos. Through it all, the popularity and traffic has been a constant issue.
  Now, those who call the str
  
  Read more

• More than the Score: Mack Brown one-on-one

  31-03-2017 05:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Texas football coach and MJ&M co-founder Mack Brown joins Roger Wallace on More than the Score.
  
  Read more

• Up to 45 people displaced by northwest Austin apartment fire

  31-03-2017 03:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Flames were seen going through the roof of a 3-story apartment building in northwest Austin when firefighters responded Thursday evening.
  Crews were called to 12403 Mellow Meadow Dr., the Westwood Apartments, located near Lake Creek Parkway and US 183. The fire department raised their response level to two-alarm.
  AFD says 16 units were affected by the fire. No one was injured, and firefighters say they are not aware of any pet injuries.
  The apartment complex owner
  
  Read more

• 43 people displaced by northwest Austin apartment fire

  31-03-2017 03:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Flames were seen going through the roof of a 3-story apartment building in northwest Austin when firefighters responded Thursday evening.
  Crews were called to 12403 Mellow Meadow Dr., the Westwood Apartments, located near Lake Creek Parkway and US 183. The fire department raised their response level to two-alarm.
  AFD says 16 units were affected by the fire and 43 people were displaced. No one was injured, and firefighters say they are not aware of any pet injuries
  
  Read more

• New Braunfels church mourns 13 members killed in bus crash

  31-03-2017 02:37 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) – A New Braunfels church is grieving the loss of thirteen of their senior church members after a car crash Wednesday afternoon. Fourteen members were on the bus, only one is alive.
  The First Baptist Church of New Braunfels says it has received an overwhelming amount of support from the community. On Thursday morning, dozens of people could be seen entering the church to offer their sympathy, some even leaving flowers.
  “Many might ask the question, ‘w
  
  Read more

• ‘Mass casualty incident’ declared for downtown K2 spike

  31-03-2017 01:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS has declared a mass casualty incident in downtown Austin as medics work to treat 15 patients for use of the drug K2.
  Medics were called Thursday evening to 500 E. 7th St., the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH). Ten of the patients at the ARCH have been taken to multiple Austin hospitals, one with CPR in progress.
  Since midnight, ATCEMS says they have responded to 26 K2 incidents, eight of which had multiple patients, and have taken
  
  Read more

• K2 spike in downtown Austin sends 33 to the hospital

  31-03-2017 01:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS declared a mass casualty incident in downtown Austin Thursday as medics worked to treat multiple patients for use of the drug K2.
  Medics were called Thursday evening to 500 E. 7th St., the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH). Ten of the patients at the ARCH have been taken to multiple Austin hospitals, one with CPR in progress.
  Since midnight, ATCEMS says they have responded to 34 K2 incidents, nine of which had multiple patients, an
  
  Read more

• K2 spike in downtown Austin sends 33 patients to the hospital

  31-03-2017 01:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS declared a mass casualty incident in downtown Austin Thursday as medics worked to treat multiple patients for use of the drug K2.
  Medics were called Thursday evening to 500 E. 7th St., the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH). Ten of the patients at the ARCH have been taken to multiple Austin hospitals, one with CPR in progress.
  Since midnight, ATCEMS says they have responded to 34 K2 incidents, nine of which had multiple patients, an
  
  Read more

• Second person of interest named in central Austin murder

  31-03-2017 01:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A second person of interest is being sought by Austin police in connection with a murder from this weekend.
  Michael Blaylock was shot and killed on Sunday around 9:30 p.m. at 300 Carmen Court in central Austin.
  Authorities are searching for 21-year-old Marvin Jermaine Flint. He is currently wanted for unlawful possession of a firearm. Earlier this week, police said they were also searching for 20-year-old Karl Ray Stokes as a person of interest in the case.
  There are $1,000
  
  Read more

• Austin mayor talks sanctuary cities with federal officials

  31-03-2017 01:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mayor Steve Adler has returned from Washington where he pressed for answers after the federal government announced a crackdown on sanctuary cities earlier this week. The mayor met with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
  He says he did not get a clear answer what the government defines as a sanctuary city. But the mayor says no one has told him Austin is violating federal law despite being called a sanctuary city by some.
  Fate of DWI Court in limbo after Gov. Abbot
  
  Read more

• PGA Tour reaching out to Central Texas veterans

  31-03-2017 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of the PGA Tour’s big initiatives is reaching out to veterans.
  While the tour was in town for the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play last week, Matthew Castillo del Muro was one of the beneficiaries.
  “It’s been a blessing,” Castillo del Muro said. “You see ticket prices are crazy, and this year, they offered free tickets to the military. It’s just amazing that I get to come out and see guys I look up to and bring my children out here. I
  
  Read more

• Texas Senate approves scaled-back school voucher plan

  31-03-2017 00:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas Senate has approved vouchers offering public money to children attending private and religious schools — but only after including a major exemption for rural areas.
  Sen. Larry Taylor’s bill appeared stalled before he agreed to make wholesale changes. It no longer applies to communities with fewer than 285,000 residents.
  Taylor wants to create state-subsidized education saving accounts for parents while offering tax credits to businesses that sponsor priv
  
  Read more

• Man hit, killed by car had 5 previous pedestrian-in-road convictions

  31-03-2017 00:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A pedestrian who had five previous convictions for walking in the road died after being hit by a car on Friday, March 24 in northeast Austin.
  A Volvo sedan was heading eastbound in the 1830 block of E. Anderson Lane — not far from US 290 — when Ronnie Lee Hall, 65, crossed the road mid-block.
  Hall was hit by the car’s right front side and taken to the hospital with critical injuries. He died from his injuries at 8:19 p.m. that night.
  READ: Pedestrian death
  
  Read more

• Amazon sued for unsafe delivery practices following Austin crash

  31-03-2017 00:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In mid-January, Central Texas teenager Macie Martinez was injured in a crash involving a driver making deliveries for Amazon, now she’s suing the company, the contractor and the driver.
  A DPS crash report shows Martinez was driving south on Ranch to Market 620 when the delivery driver in a commercial van pulled out in front of her, trying to go northbound on RM 620 and hit her Jeep. According to the lawsuit, the delivery driver was “hurriedly exiting an adjacent
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!