Austin news

• SWAT disturbance in southeast Austin ends peacefully

  10-06-2017 21:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A SWAT call in southeast Austin ended peacefully Sunday morning.
  Police responded to the 5000 block of Allyson Court for a disturbance in the area at about 11:33 a.m.
  According to police, a person was barricaded inside a building and refused to come out.
  Authorities believed the person was armed and that’s when SWAT crews were dispatched to the scene. Once they arrived, the person exited the location and the situation was immediately resolved.
  Police do not believe th
  
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• $800k grant to help Dell Seton study how to prevent Alzheimer’s

  10-06-2017 21:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new report recently released on Alzheimer’s disease resulted in new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  The new CDC report shows that more people are dying of Alzheimer’s disease than ever before. The mortality rate jumped by 55 percent between 1994 and 2014.
  Despite the growing numbers, Seton Healthcare and the Dell Medical School are tackling the problem head-on with their new research.
  Dr. John Bertelson with Seton Brain and Spi
  
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• BarkHappy’s ‘doggy fashion show’ benefits Austin Dog Rescue

  10-06-2017 21:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Pets around the Austin area have a chance to get some star treatment on Sunday.
  Nordstrom Domain Northside will open an hour early for BarkHappy’s doggy fashion show.
  The store will give an exclusive time for owners and their dogs to shop for the first hour, following a fashion show featuring adoptable dogs from Austin Dog Rescue. All proceeds to the event will benefit the shelter.
  Ninis Samuel with BarkHappy was in the studio to talk about the app’s latest
  
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• Grandfather convicted in 2-year-old grandson’s drug death

  10-06-2017 20:27 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A San Antonio man has been convicted of murder and other charges in the death of his 2-year-old grandson, who authorities say swallowed a lethal dose of methamphetamine.
  Investigators say Joel Soto allowed his grandson Jeremy to take the drug in November 2013 and then set his truck on fire with the child’s body inside to hide the crime.
  A jury on Friday found Soto guilty of murder, injury to a child, drug possession and arson charges.
  Medical examiner Dr. Kimberly
  
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• Adam West, who played 1960s-era Batman, dies at 88

  10-06-2017 18:42 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of Adam West, whose straight-faced portrayal of Batman in a 1960s TV series lifted the tight-clad Caped Crusader into the national consciousness, says he has died at age 88.
  Family members said on a verified Facebook page that West died Friday night after “a short but brave battle with leukemia.”
  West played the superhero straight for kids and funny for adults.
  He initially chaffed at being typecast after “Batman” went off the air after
  
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• Weekend Gardener: Succulent and cactus gardens

  10-06-2017 15:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Succulent and cactus gardens have been a popular item to add to any yard.
  John Dromgoole with the Natural Gardener has some tips to properly plant succulents and cacti in your garden.
  
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• Marches against Islamic law to be held in many US cities

  10-06-2017 14:52 via kxan.com
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Marches against Islamic law were planned Saturday in more than two dozen cities across the United States, but scholars and others say the protesters are stoking unfounded fears and promoting a distorted and prejudiced view of the religion.
  The group organizing the rallies, ACT for America, claims Shariah “is incompatible with Western democracy and the freedoms it affords.”
  But most Muslims don’t want to replace U.S. law with Islamic law, known as Sha
  
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• Disabled community members call for alternative to ‘jarring’ speed cushions

  10-06-2017 05:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many areas in Austin are vying for tools to slow down speeders in their neighborhood, but some in west Austin have raised concerns about speed cushions themselves. Members of the disabled community say this particular method is causing unnecessary harm.
  Karen Sironi is bringing her concerns to city leaders, backed by a petition with about 100 signatures. The petition states, “While safety is still the concerns and the reason for speed controlling devices, these S
  
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• Austin officer suspended 20 days for use of Taser during arrest

  10-06-2017 05:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Police Department officer has started a 20-day suspension after shocking a suspect with a stun gun who was not resisting arrest.
  Officer Chris Limmer, who has been with the department since July 1994, was suspended beginning Wednesday continuing through June 26.
  According to a department memo, Officer Limmer was working the Property Crimes Task Force on Jan. 17, trying to find a suspect with an active warrant for burglary of a habitation.
  Officers found the man in
  
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• PHOTOS: Hail blankets Dripping Springs

  10-06-2017 03:36 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Dripping Springs appeared to become a winter wonderland Friday evening as severe storms moved through the Hill Country.
  But it only appeared that way. Hail blanketed yards around Dripping Springs as KXAN viewers sent in photos of up to golf ball-size hail.
  The report of golf ball-size hail came from a gas station in west Dripping Springs.
  Did you take a great photo or video of the hail? Send it to us here!  Hail blankets Dripping Springs Hail blankets
  
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• Calls to remove Confederate statues continue after Hero Protection Act fails

  10-06-2017 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — Should they stay or should they go? That’s the question at the center of controversies over Confederate statues.
  Known as the Texas Hero Protection Act, a bill that would have protected memorials for Confederate leaders, failed to pass this session.
  A 100-year-old statue of a Confederate soldier towers over Georgetown’s square. The city answered calls to take it down with another statue — the goal was balance.
  “I don’t see how he balances th
  
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• Abbott’s special session could take teeth out of Austin’s ‘hands-free’ law

  10-06-2017 01:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — When state lawmakers return for a special session in July, they could drag Austin back to the past when it comes to driving with mobile devices.
  While Gov. Greg Abbott signed a statewide texting-while-driving ban this week, he wants that to be the limit. That would override anything beyond things like Austin’s “hands-free” ordinance which bans the use of any electronic device while driving.
  “We don’t need a patchwork quilt of regulations that d
  
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• VIDEO: Brand new boat catches fire, sinks into Lake LBJ

  10-06-2017 00:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A fun Friday on the lake turned into a fiery one for a few boaters.
  Game wardens say the new boat caught fire on Lake LBJ, sinking to the bottom of the lake near Horseshoe Bay.
  Boaters injured in hit-and-run crash on Lake LBJ
  Authorities say they don’t know why the boat caught on fire and it’s a sad situation for the new owner. There were a few people on board when the fire started, but no one was injured.
  LCRA rangers, game wardens and the Horseshoe Bay Police
  
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• Celebrating shows on the small screen at the ATX Television Festival

  10-06-2017 00:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From the hottest shows on TV to the most memorable series from days past, the ATX Television Festival has something for everyone.
  The festival, which runs from June 8-11, features writers, show runners, creators and actors from shows like This is Us, The Americans and Girls. The festival’s closing night features the cast of Battlestar Galactica, presented with Entertainment Weekly and SYFY.
  There are also premieres of new shows coming this fall like one called Louder-
  
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• Travis County Sheriff’s Office offers retort to Abbott’s diss

  10-06-2017 00:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott knew exactly what pot he was stirring when he recently spoke about Travis County and Austin’s tendency to be left-leaning.
  During the Bell County Republic Dinner earlier this week, Abbott said, “as you leave Austin and start heading up north you start feeling different and once you cross the Travis County line, it starts smelling different and you know what that fragrance is? Freedom. It’s the smell of freedom that does not exist in Austin
  
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