Austin news

• SH 21 near Cedar Creek reopens after crash

  05-05-2017 22:56 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — All lanes of State Highway 21 just west of State Highway 71 in Bastrop County were closed Friday afternoon due to a crash.
  Bastrop County officials say the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. near Cedar Creek. All lanes of SH 21 were blocked for a few hours. All lanes were reopened by 9 p.m.
  Authorities say the crash involves a truck carrying vehicles.
  Traffic was being diverted to Union Chapel Road. For other traffic conditions in the area, check
  
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• SH 21 near Cedar Creek closed due to crash

  05-05-2017 22:56 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — All lanes of State Highway 21 just west of State Highway 71 in Bastrop County are closed due to a crash.
  Bastrop County officials say the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. near Cedar Creek. All lanes of SH 21 were blocked for a few hours. Westbound lanes were opened by 5:30 p.m. but eastbound lanes are still blocked.
  Authorities say the crash involves a truck carrying vehicles.
  Traffic is being diverted to Union Chapel Road. For other traffic conditions in the
  
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• Women jogging in Hyde Park groped at least six times

  05-05-2017 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police are searching for a man who they say has grabbed and groped women’s buttocks at least six times in the Hyde Park neighborhood in the past month.
  Women jogging and walking through the neighborhood have reported the suspect as a white or Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s — thin with an athletic build — and wearing dark shirt, basketball shorts and dark shoes.
  No arrests have been made. Anyone who has been a victim, knows a victim, or has information
  
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• Trump’s Army secretary pick withdraws following criticism of his LGBT remarks

  05-05-2017 22:19 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican state senator from Tennessee picked by President Donald Trump to be Army secretary has withdrawn from consideration.
  Mark Green steps aside amid intensifying criticism over his remarks about LGBT Americans and Muslims.
  Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.
  Several Democrats have denounced Green for declaring that being transgender is a disease. He is opposed to gay marriage.
  Green says in a statement that “false and mislead
  
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• Longhorn mascot Hook ‘Em gives out free hugs to students

  05-05-2017 21:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This week has been a difficult time for University of Texas at Austin students, with a deadly stabbing attack on campus and  finals right around the corner.
  Friday is also notable as “UT Remembers,” established by the UT Cares Committee in order to honor the Longhorns that passed away in the past year.
  The University of Texas Mascot Program came together and brought the UT mascot Hook ‘Em to campus to give out free hugs to students. Hook &rs
  
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• Suspect tried to get boy into his rainbow-colored truck in west Austin

  05-05-2017 21:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man tried to get a boy to get into his car in west Austin last month, but the boy was able to run away, police say.
  Officers say it happened in the 4500 block of Cat Mountain Drive, near Ranch to Market 2222 and Mesa Drive, at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25.
  The suspect drove up in a single cab pickup truck — painted in bright rainbow colors — and cursed at the boy, demanding the boy get into the truck. He was able to run away unharmed and told his pare
  
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• Woman killed in Airport Blvd. crash with semi identified

  05-05-2017 19:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police have identified a woman who died in a crash with a semi truck Monday afternoon.
  According to investigators, just after noon, a purple 2014 Freightliner truck was heading southbound in the center lane in the 3800 block of Airport Boulevard. As the truck driver was slowing to stop for a red light at the intersection of 38 ½ Street, a white 2011 Ford Expedition driven by Deborah Ann Halsell, 52, rear-ended the semi.
  Investigators said Halsell failed t
  
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• Man arrested in connection to Austin bank robbery

  05-05-2017 19:01 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE (KXAN) — Austin police said they captured a bank robbery suspect on Saturday, April 29.
  Police said the robbery took place around 12:33 p.m. at the A+ Federal Credit Union located at 15108 Farm to Market 1825.
  Witnesses told police the man, later identified as 35-year-old Eduardo Hofling, entered the bank, threatened a teller and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Hofling did not display a weapon and didn’t hurt anyone, police said.
  Patrol officers located
  
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• Brush fire slows traffic on I-35 southbound thru Georgetown

  05-05-2017 18:05 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Southbound traffic on Interstate 35 through Georgetown is at a crawl due to a brush fire near the freeway.
  A KXAN viewer picture shows the fire was in a grassy median. Authorities say the fire started around I-35 and Westinghouse but the traffic back-up stretches all the way up to SE Inner Loop.
  To find out what other delays are happening around the area, check KXAN’s Traffic Page. 
  
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• WATCH: $3M painting sliced up by disguised man in Aspen

  05-05-2017 17:57 via kxan.com
  
  ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Police are searching for a man who entered an art gallery in Aspen and sliced up a nearly $3 million painting.
  The Aspen Times reports the man had entered Opera Gallery Tuesday wearing a disguise. He then ran toward the painting and sliced it twice with either a knife or razor blade before running out.
  The painting belongs to artist Christopher Wool. It’s called “Untitled 2004.”
  A store employee had been alone in the gallery when the man entered and sa
  
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• Records: Aaron Hernandez was member of Bloods street gang

  05-05-2017 17:47 via kxan.com
  
  BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez was a member of the Bloods street gang and was disciplined for having gang paraphernalia, according to newly released documents related to the investigation into his prison suicide.
  A death report released Friday lists the Bloods under Hernandez’s gang profile and says Hernandez was disciplined for having “STG” paraphernalia. In prison, “STG” stands for Security Threat Group, a euphemism for gangs.
  Hernandez, a for
  
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• Prison: Aaron Hernandez elated about acquittal, not suicidal

  05-05-2017 17:47 via kxan.com
  
  BOSTON (AP) — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez was excited about his acquittal in a 2012 double slaying and did not appear to have thoughts of suicide in the days before he killed himself in his prison cell, according to a report from Massachusetts prison officials.
  The state Department of Correction report released Thursday also said there were no drugs in Hernandez’s system when the former New England Patriots tight end hanged himself at the Souza-Baranowski prison on April 19 while
  
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• Hutto ISD superintendent will fill the role at Pflugerville ISD

  05-05-2017 16:53 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Dr. Doug Killian, the lone finalist for the Pflugerville Independent School District’s superintendent vacancy, was approved in a unanimous vote Thursday.
  Dr. Killian, who has 13 years of superintendent experience, including seven at Hutto ISD, will officially begin his new role on July 1. He received his doctorate in educational administration from Texas A&M University.
  “We had a strong pool of candidates and Dr. Killian quickly rose to the
  
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• Jury awards record-setting $110.5M in baby powder lawsuit

  05-05-2017 15:48 via kxan.com
  
  ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis jury has awarded a Virginia woman a record-setting $110.5 million in the latest lawsuit alleging that using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused cancer.
  The jury ruling Thursday night for 62-year-old Lois Slemp, of Wise, Virginia, comes after three previous St. Louis juries awarded a total of $197 million to plaintiffs who made similar claims. Those cases, including the previous highest award of $72 million, are all under appeal. About 2,000 state a
  
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• Students sue over suspensions for ‘liking’ racist posts

  05-05-2017 15:39 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Four California high school students sued a school district after they were suspended over their responses to Instagram posts that included a black student and coach with nooses around their necks.
  The students at Albany High School in the San Francisco Bay Area — three of whom are Asian — “liked” or briefly commented on the posts, according to the lawsuit filed this week in federal court in San Francisco.
  The suit accuses the district of exceed
  
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• Round Rock’s Profar avoids tag twice, scores

  05-05-2017 15:25 via kxan.com
  
  It’s something you have to see to believe. In a ballpark filled with Jedi, The Force was with Jurickson Profar last night as he danced his way around Nashville Sounds catcher Ryan Lavarnway to score a run.Profar, who was recently assigned to the Express from the Texas Rangers, purposely slid past the catcher and jumped up to tag the plate with his hand.
  In the end, the Express lost to Nashville 5-4. The Express finish the four-game series with Nashville Friday night and hosting Oklahoma Ci
  
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• I-35 ramp to SH 45SE, damaged by heavy rains, to be repaired this weekend

  05-05-2017 15:22 via kxan.com
  
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) — You may have seen the road signs that are already in place meant to alert drivers to the closure of the northbound Interstate 35 exit ramp in Buda which places you on State Highway 45 southeast and SH-130.
  Starting at 9 p.m. Friday, exit 223A will be closed with an expected reopening of no later than 5 a.m. Monday, May 8.
  Drivers should use exit 223, Farm to Market 1327, to reach SH 45SE.
  KXAN has covered the damages that heavy rains caused to the ramp. Ground waters m
  
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• Trayvon Martin awarded posthumous degree in aviation

  05-05-2017 15:02 via kxan.com
  
  MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WFLA) – Trayvon Martin, the Sanford teenager who was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in 2012, will be awarded a posthumous Bachelor’s degree in aviation.
  Florida Memorial University (FMU), a historically black institution, announced on Facebook Thursday that Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton, a FMU alumna, and Tracy Martin will accept the degree on their late son’s behalf.
  The school plans to honor his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot with a posthum
  
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• Round Rock junior hoping to help ‘Light up Depression’

  05-05-2017 13:24 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A Round Rock high school student is bringing suicide to light in front of his classmates Friday night after a personal tragedy fueled his mission to save lives.
  Zachary Handshoe can sit in class with a smile on his face knowing he’s making his late friend proud. “I think I went through the first stages of grief, Handshoe said. “I actually denied it.” Denied the reality that his friend had taken his own life.
  Two months later, Han
  
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• Everything you need to know for the May 6 election

  05-05-2017 12:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you’re getting ready to cast your vote on Saturday, there may be some issues you’ll want to read up on. While there aren’t any city of Austin races or propositions, some Austinites living in certain jurisdictions could have a school bond on their ballot. School district bonds are some of the largest items residents in Round Rock and Hays County will have to vote on.
  To find out what is on your ballot, check here. 
  Where to Vote
  Registered and eligi
  
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• PHOTOS: Pre-K students release 1,500 ladybugs

  05-05-2017 06:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s a bug’s life at Xplor Preschool of Anderson Mill, where 1,500 ladybugs were released by the students throughout the schoolyard.
  Students dressed for the occasion in the likeness of ladybugs, wearing red and black colors.
  Leading up to Earth Day, students learned that ladybugs serve as a natural pesticide by feeding on insects that could otherwise harm the health of gardens, trees and shrubs. Pre-K students release ladybugs Students release 1,500 ladybugs (C
  
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• San Marcos non-profits looking to move under the same roof

  05-05-2017 05:10 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — From homeless shelters to food banks, thousands of people every year use non-profit services right here in Central Texas. However, those needing the services locally say they are spread out too far and it’s hard to get to those services without a car.
  Non-profits in San Marcos are now teaming up to move into the same building in hopes of fixing that problem. Located just off Hunter Road, an empty field will be the new Village Campus.
  “I’ve been
  
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• UTPD officer stopped stabbing suspect while paramedics treated patients

  05-05-2017 04:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The main officer who stopped the stabbing suspect Monday is fairly new to the University of Texas Police Department.
  Officer Eric Park approached Kendrex White, 21, in the Jester dorm minutes after police say White stabbed four students, killing one.
  Police Chief David Carter said it looked like White was heading toward another group of students when the officers told him to stop and put the knife down. Chief Carter and UT Chancellor Greg Fenves both said Officer Park&
  
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• Motorcyclist killed in major crash on SH 130 in Georgetown identified

  05-05-2017 04:44 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A motorcyclist is dead after being involved in what was described as a major crash on State Highway 130 in Georgetown.
  The rider has been identified as 50-year-old Johnie Ray Franklin of Hewitt, Texas. An investigation and witness accounts revealed Franklin was riding at a high rate of speed southbound when he came up on traffic slowing due to a vehicle fire ahead.
  Franklin was unable to stop in time and hit the back and side of a vehicle, and was thrown into the
  
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• Motorcyclist killed in major crash on SH 130 in Georgetown

  05-05-2017 04:44 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A motorcyclist is dead after being involved in what was described as a major crash on State Highway 130 in Georgetown.
  The city of Georgetown warned drivers that the southbound lanes of the toll road were closed at County Road 152 — not far from Interstate 35 — following the crash at around 7 p.m. The lanes have since been reopened.
  Officials say the deceased man was initially taken to Seton Medical Center Williamson, but he was later pronounced dead.
  
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• Kitten thrown out of car in Cedar Park slowly recovering

  05-05-2017 04:26 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — Construction workers saw a kitten thrown out the window of a moving car on US 183A in Cedar Park on Monday.
  Named Merida, after the Disney princess in “Brave,” the kitten is currently blind and has brain lesions due to head trauma, but her veterinarian says she’s doing better every day.
  Merida is now eating and drinking on her own, but keeps turning left when trying to walk. She was brought to New Hope Animal Hospital by a Good Sa
  
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• Kitten ‘doing better every day’ after being thrown out of car in trash bag

  05-05-2017 04:26 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — Construction workers saw a kitten thrown out the window of a moving car on US 183A in Cedar Park on Monday.
  Named Merida, after the Disney princess in “Brave,” the kitten is currently blind and has brain lesions due to head trauma, but her veterinarian says she’s doing better every day.
  Merida is now eating and drinking on her own, but keeps turning left when trying to walk. She was brought to New Hope Animal Hospital by a Good Sa
  
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• Four adults, two children injured in northeast Austin head-on crash

  05-05-2017 02:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A head-on crash in northeast Austin Thursday evening has left four adults and two children with potentially serious injuries.
  Austin-Travis County EMS says the crash happened in the 12500 block of Tech Ridge Boulevard, near East Parmer Lane, at around 5:20 p.m.
  Additional information on the crash was not immediately available.
  
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• Attorney says Boone Elementary School rape kit stuck in backlog

  05-05-2017 02:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An attorney representing the family of the 4-year-old girl they say was sexually assaulted at Boone Elementary School, says the rape kit in still in a backlog. They have not been made aware of any results.
  Attorney Paul Guinn told KXAN he has not been contacted by the district attorney’s office or APD regarding any results, further supporting the family’s argument the case was closed too soon.
  Guinn said it was when AISD officials, including Chief Eric Mend
  
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• Texas high-risk patients call GOP health care bill a ‘frightening reality’

  05-05-2017 01:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Back in 2014, Julie Sullivan lived through six chemotherapy sessions — 30 days of radiation and a mastectomy with reconstructive surgery.
  Today, she is in remission, but takes a daily diet of hormones to keep her breast cancer at bay. Her treatment costs thousands of dollars.
  Under the American Health Care Act, Sullivan would join millions of patients across Texas with preexisting conditions, who may see their health care costs skyrocket.
  “I am going to face ext
  
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• Austin small businesses get chance to enter Chinese market

  05-05-2017 01:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many Americans may be used to buying products made in China, but China is looking for more American good—specifically those made in Texas.
  Thursday, small businesses in Austin have the rare opportunity to break into one of the largest markets in the world by pitching products on a global scale. The Small Business Festival is hosting a midnight pitch event where 14 product-based businesses from Central Texas will pitch live via web streaming to 45,000 buying
  
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• Missing Wimberley woman has been found safe

  05-05-2017 00:35 via kxan.com
  
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — Sixty-two-year-old Gina Marie Edwards, last seen at around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday in Wimberley, has been found safe.
  At around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, a woman saw the missing person’s report and called deputies to say that Edwards was with her.
  The Hays County Sheriff’s Office was asking for your finding the woman, described as 5-foot-1, 105 pounds, with light brown hair and green eyes. Deputies say Edwards was in the 11400 block of Ranch Road 12, just so
  
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• VIDEO: Burglar targeting apartments in The Domain, South Lamar areas

  05-05-2017 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police need help identifying a man they say is stealing items from high-end apartments in The Domain area as well as the Lamar Union area, which is near South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road.
  Authorities believe he’s burglarized numerous apartment units in these two areas. Surveillance video from an apartment unit at The Domain showed the suspect sneaking inside the unit and carrying various items. At this one particular unit, the suspect comes in and out
  
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• Trump makes return to NYC fresh off health vote win

  05-05-2017 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump turned his first trip home as president into a victory lap on Thursday, returning to the city that has largely opposed him while celebrating House passage of legislation undoing much his predecessor’s health law.
  Trump only received 18 percent of the vote in New York in November’s presidential election. Multiple modest protests were held across the city during his visit, some visible from the presidential motorcade as it roared past Wall Street and
  
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• Trump enjoys health care victory, hails ties with Australia

  05-05-2017 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump turned his first trip home as president into a victory lap on Thursday, returning to the city that has largely opposed him while celebrating House passage of legislation undoing much his predecessor’s health law.
  Trump only received 18 percent of the vote in New York in November’s presidential election. Multiple modest protests were held across the city during his visit, some visible from the presidential motorcade as it roared past Wall Street and
  
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• Trump celebrates health vote win with jubilant Republicans

  05-05-2017 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring it “an unbelievable victory,” President Donald Trump delayed his first trip home to New York as president to celebrate House passage of legislation undoing much of former President Barack Obama’s health law, a top campaign promise and a long-sought GOP goal.
  Trump celebrated with jubilant Republicans at the White House Thursday for a hastily called press conference to exult in the passage of their replacement health care bill, which squeaked by
  
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• Within the year Austin looks to upgrade signal light software

  05-05-2017 00:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Transportation Management Center has been monitoring Austin roads for 16 years.
  Last year, the city of Austin expanded the TMC and boosted staff coverage to increase the hours of center operation, improve operational efficiency, help manage incidents and events and ultimately improve transportation system performance. The city has released a performance report on how the expansion has benefited Austin drivers and what’s next for the transportation
  
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• Wicked Weed beer sale marks flashpoint in brewery turf wars

  05-05-2017 00:06 via kxan.com
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Within hours of announcing its sale to the maker of Budweiser, North Carolina’s beloved Wicked Weed beer lost its voting rights in a craft beer guild, was booted from collaborations with two independent breweries and exiled from at least a handful of stores and restaurants.
  The deal announced Wednesday represents the latest front in the battle between macro- and micro-brewers as behemoths such as Anheuser-Busch Inbev acquire independent brewers to harness the cra
  
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