Austin news

• Round Rock kids design and sell solar eclipse sunglasses

  26-07-2017 23:51 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Karina and Garrett Schmitt are two young adult entrepreneurs who have invented glasses which make it safe to view the solar eclipse on Aug. 21.
  The Round Rock kids are selling their glasses online and at flea markets and festivals this summer.
  The idea started at the family’s cabin in Oregon, which is in the path of the total eclipse. Karina says she and Garrett sat down and made modifications to solar glasses that they knew people would need.
  They created
  
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• Up to 30 acres burning in Cedar Creek fire

  26-07-2017 23:33 via kxan.com
  CEDAR CREEK, Texas (KXAN) — Firefighters are trying to put out a 20-30 acre grass fire near Cedar Creek.
  Multiple agencies and STAR Flight are at the scene on Maple Drive — about two miles south of Cedar Creek — after the fire was reported at 2:52 p.m. Wednesday.
  Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management says multiple structures are in the area, which is heavily wooded.
  KXAN will update this page as we get additional information. 
  
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• 60-acre fire in Cedar Creek completely contained

  26-07-2017 23:33 via kxan.com
  CEDAR CREEK, Texas (KXAN) — Firefighters successfully put out a 60 acre grass fire near Cedar Creek. Crews will remain at the scene overnight to monitor.
  Multiple agencies and STAR Flight were called to the scene on Donlee Drive — about two miles south of Cedar Creek — after the fire was reported at 2:52 p.m. Wednesday.
  The fire started when someone was welding a metal fence. Because the welder was not doing anything illegal, Bastrop County ESD 1 Assistant Chief David Gahagan s
  
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• 15 arrested during sit-in protest near Capitol

  26-07-2017 23:32 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fifteen people were arrested on charges of obstructing the road just north of the Texas Capitol complex, Wednesday.
  Department of Public Safety troopers arrested the protesters, who hope to gain “permanent protection, dignity and respect for all 11 million undocumented immigrants,” according to a press release by the group, Movimiento Cosecha.
  Austin police assisted DPS in taking those arrested to jail. Troopers say they made repeated requests for the group
  
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• Brush fire threatening buildings in east Austin extinguished

  26-07-2017 21:59 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crews put out a brush fire that was initially threatening homes in east Austin at Decker Lane and Farm to Market 969.
  Firefighters were called to the four to five acre brush fire at 1:32 p.m. Wednesday and had difficulty gaining access to the fire due to the brush.
  MAP: Texas Burn Bans
  Ten buildings were initially threatened, but protection efforts were put in place to avoid damage.
  The remains of a brush fire on FM 969 and Decker Lane on July 26, 2017 (Austin Fire Departme
  
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• WATCH: Woman steals puppy from south Austin home

  26-07-2017 19:15 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin family is turning to social media to get the word out about a woman who they say stole their puppy.
  Karl Kupecz says his home’s surveillance camera captured the entire theft, which happened on Tuesday evening around 7:16 p.m. on Bluff Street, near South Lamar and Barton Springs Road. The video shows a woman approaching the home and pace around the driveway. After looking around for a few seconds, she approaches the gate where the 3-month-old Labrador puppy i
  
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• Death of newborn found in Oklahoma trash ruled homicide

  26-07-2017 18:33 via kxan.com
  ENID, Okla. (AP/KXAN) – The death of a newborn boy whose body was found in a trash bin in Oklahoma has been ruled a homicide.
  An autopsy report from the state medical examiner’s office released Tuesday says the infant identified only as Baby Boy Green died of methamphetamine toxicity.
  The report does not list an age for the boy, but notes that the umbilical cord was still attached.
  The body was found April 9 wrapped in a blanket and plastic bag inside a wooden box in a trash bin in E
  
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• VIDEO: Round Rock police help soldier surprise family

  26-07-2017 18:12 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — US Army Major Thomas Flynn went from serving his country in Korea, to surprising his family in his return home with the help of the Round Rock Police Department.
  A video posted on the department’s Facebook page Tuesday night shows the emotional reunion, which is causing a buzz on social media. The video had more than 22,000 views before 11 a.m. Wednesday.
  In the video, Major Flynn joins a Rock Rock patrol officer as they pull over his family. Major Flynn th
  
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• 10 Texas mayors invited to meet with governor over ‘harmful’ legislation

  26-07-2017 18:11 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mayors from 10 Texas cities are making their way to the capitol to meet with Gov. Greg Abbott to discuss how new laws and proposed legislation could potentially “impede the ability” of cities to provide services their residents need.
  Last week, San Marcos Mayor John Thomaides signed a letter along with 18 other mayors requesting the meeting with Abbott. In the letter, the mayors stated recent proposals such as revenue and spending caps and preempting local
  
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• KXAN Investigates wins Texas Gavel Award from State Bar of Texas

  26-07-2017 17:10 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN’s investigation into the state’s spending along the border has been honored with the Texas Gavel Award (Major Metro) from the Texas State Bar.
  The Texas Gavel Awards honor journalism that deepens public understanding of the legal system. The award was presented to the KXAN-TV team for their investigative reporting series, “Border Splurge: Texas’ Billion-Dollar Drug War,” which covered the state’s costly border security operation
  
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• New York testing out ‘textalyzer’ to bust drivers for texting while driving

  26-07-2017 16:54 via kxan.com
  ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says his traffic safety committee will be taking a closer look at the technology behind the “textalyzer” tool.
  The device is similar to a Breathalyzer, but instead of helping police detect if a driver was drinking, it determines if he or she was texting while driving.
  Here’s how it works. Either police find your phone at the scene of a crash, or you hand it over yourself. They can then plug a cord in to your phone and
  
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• Be aware of new bicycle signals around central Austin

  26-07-2017 16:54 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Red means stop and green means go, most drivers know those driving basics but what about a red bicycle light? Pretty soon, drivers and bicyclists alike will see more of those traffic signals at various intersections across Austin.
  The Austin Transportation Department installed bicycle signals at 12 intersections, some of which were turned on this week. The signals help guide bicycle traffic through busy intersections. The city hopes the new signals will improve traffic oper
  
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• Man accused of smuggling king cobras in potato chip cans

  26-07-2017 16:11 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man was arrested on federal smuggling charges Tuesday after customs officers intercepted a shipment with three live king cobras hidden inside potato chip canisters that were being mailed to his California home, U.S. prosecutors said.
  Rodrigo Franco, 34, was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles on a charge of illegally importing merchandise. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
  The three king
  
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• Trump: Transgender people will not be allowed to serve in the military

  26-07-2017 15:39 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (KXAN) — In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump said he will not allow transgender individuals to serve in the military at any capacity.
  Trump started his tweets stating he came to the decision after consulting with his generals and military experts. He tweeted that the “military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming… victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would
  
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• Surviving victim in live streamed crash doesn’t blame anyone

  26-07-2017 15:16 via kxan.com
  FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE) — A teenage driver is behind bars after allegedly live streaming herself in a car crash that killed her sister.
  The California Highway Patrol says 18-year-old Obdulia Sanchez was also driving while intoxicated.
  The suspect’s sister who died was 14-year-old Jacqueline Sanchez. Another 14-year-old, Manuela Seja, survived the crash. Authorities say neither of the two had on seat belts.
  “I was horrified,” said Pete Gaona, who saw the Instagram live strea
  
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• Major Austin soccer announcement rumored for today

  26-07-2017 14:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin and soccer rumors go hand-in-hand, or is that foot-and-foot? According to the rumor mill, there is a “big announcement” expected Wednesday regarding Austin’s soccer presence.
  On Tuesday, Mayor Steve Adler told KXAN he believes Austin would be a great market for Major League Soccer and Austinites are ready for a major league sports team.
  “I would support a team coming to the city,” said Adler. “I don’t think I would support pu
  
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• Austin mayor says city would be a great market for MLS team

  26-07-2017 14:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the men’s USA soccer team tries to secure the CONCACAF Gold Cup win Wednesday night over Jamaica, the discussion about whether Austin is poised for a major league sports team is still on the front burner.
  This spring, when FC Barcelona announced it was operating a soccer school in Austin, many in the soccer and sports community believe that was a step in the right direction when it comes to growing the sport in Central Texas.
  On Tuesday, Mayor Steve Adler told KXAN
  
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• Owner of The Peached Tortilla expects to bring in $3M in revenue this year

  26-07-2017 14:13 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN/CNBC) — The restaurant business is one of the hardest businesses you can get into. Some might even say running a food truck is just as hard.
  Recently, CNBC highlighted several food trucks, including one in Austin, who have put in the hard work and grown their food truck into multi-million dollar businesses.
  Former attorney Eric Silverstein launched his food truck The Peached Tortilla in 2010 after he couldn’t raise the capital he needed for a brick and mortar restaurant.
  
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• Two bodies found in Paige mobile home fire

  26-07-2017 14:12 via kxan.com
  PAIGE, Texas (KXAN) — After putting out a house fire in Paige early Wednesday morning, authorities found two bodies inside.
  Firefighters with the Bastrop County ESD No. 2 responded to the fire on Cooke Road around 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived, there was already heavy fire coming from the home. The fire had burned more than half of the building.
  Fire Chief Josh Gill says the first victim was found during the primary search and the second victim was located after the bulk of the fire was
  
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• Two bodies found in Paige house fire

  26-07-2017 14:12 via kxan.com
  PAIGE, Texas (KXAN) — After putting out a house fire in Paige early Wednesday morning, authorities found two bodies inside.
  Firefighters with the Bastrop County ESD No. 2 responded to the fire on Cooke Road around 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived, there was already heavy fire coming from the home. The fire had burned more than half of the building.
  Fire Chief Josh Gill says the first victim was found during the primary search and the second victim was located after the bulk of the fire was
  
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• Taco Bell partners with Lyft to offer ‘Taco Mode’

  26-07-2017 13:29 via kxan.com
  IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Taco Bell is testing a new service that allows users of the ride-sharing app Lyft to add a Taco Bell stop to their ride with the click of a button.
  The companies have announced “Taco Mode,” an option for Lyft app users. Taco Bell says Lyft users who select Taco Mode get a custom menu, a taco-themed car and a free taco when they make their “ride-thru” stop at a nearby Taco Bell.
  The fast food chain and Lyft are set to test the feature in Orange
  
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• US Rep: Truck passed checkpoint 2 hours before discovery of immigrants

  26-07-2017 13:14 via kxan.com
  SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A Texas congressman says a truck that carried dozens of immigrants passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint about two hours before it was discovered outside a San Antonio Walmart. Ten people found in the rig died.
  U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told The Associated Press on Tuesday that authorities informed him that the truck James Matthew Bradley Jr., 60, is charged with driving cleared the checkpoint near Laredo around 10 p.m. Saturday. Police arrived at the Walmart parking l
  
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• Fraternity brothers building their way across the country

  26-07-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — A group of 20 men are are giving up six weeks of their summer and building their way across the country to help kids with disabilities.
  This week, the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi from all over the country are in Elgin at Down Home Ranch as a part of The Ability Experience’s Build America, a summer long event traveling the country to build accessible camp structures like nature trails, ramps, and playgrounds.
  Down Home Ranch sits on more than 400 acres and allo
  
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• San Antonio police officer shot twice during robbery call

  26-07-2017 12:48 via kxan.com
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) — A San Antonio police officer is in surgery Wednesday morning after he was shot while responding to a home invasion call in northwest San Antonio.
  WOAI reports the initial call came in just before midnight at an apartment complex on Ingram Road near Callaghan. During a news briefing, Chief of Police William McManus said the officer, who is a 4-year veteran with the department, started struggling with the driver of a car believed to be involved in the home invasio
  
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• State senators pass so-called ‘bathroom bill’ in overnight session

  26-07-2017 12:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 16-hour session at the Texas State Capitol wrapped up just before 2 a.m. Wednesday with state senators passing more than 10 bills. Two big ones include Senate Bill 4 (not the original SB4 that dealt with sanctuary cities) which is referred to as the abortion related bill and the controversial so-called “bathroom bill.” Both bills passed by a vote of 21-10.
  After an eight-hour debate Senate Republicans passed the bathroom bill which requires a transgender
  
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• ‘Bathroom bill’ passed by Texas senators in overnight session

  26-07-2017 12:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 16-hour session at the Texas State Capitol wrapped up just before 2 a.m. Wednesday with state senators passing more than 10 bills. Two big ones include Senate Bill 4 (not the original SB4 that dealt with sanctuary cities) which is referred to as the abortion related bill and the controversial so-called “bathroom bill.” Both bills passed by a vote of 21-10.
  After an eight-hour debate Senate Republicans passed the bathroom bill which requires a transgender
  
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• City struggles to come up with fix for Austin’s public pools

  26-07-2017 05:59 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin officials say the city’s public pool system needs a fix if it’s expected to operate sustainably in the future. The majority of the city’s public pools are growing old, with issues that could end up beyond repair if left without a fix for much longer.
  The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled the Austin Aquatic Master Plan, which would address concerns of failing infrastructure and issues regarding placement of neighborhood p
  
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• St. Edward’s rushing to find temporary housing for 400 students

  26-07-2017 05:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — St. Edward’s University is working to find temporary housing for around 400 of their students who were supposed to live in new campus apartments this fall. Students were notified through an email Monday that the Pavilion apartments were not ready yet and still under construction.
  “At first I was pretty mad, but I live [in Austin over the summer] and my dad used to work in construction and I would drive past [the Pavilions] and be like it doesn’t look like
  
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• Wisconsin company offering implanted microchips to employees

  26-07-2017 05:36 via kxan.com
  RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WCMH) — A company in Wisconsin will begin offering its employees implanted microchip technology, starting in August.
  Three Square Market (32M) will offer the chips to its employees on a volunteer basis, according to a news release.
  The chips can be used to make purchases in the break room, open doors, login to computers, or even use the copy machine.
  “We foresee the use of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology to drive everything from making purchas
  
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• 72-year-old woman killed in crash near Bertram

  26-07-2017 05:19 via kxan.com
  BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Christopher Bussell died Tuesday morning following a crash on State Highway 29, a couple miles east of Bertram.
  The Department of Public Safety says the crash between a Dodge Ram pickup and a BMW sedan happened just before 8 a.m.
  The truck was heading east on SH 29 in the outside lane as the BMW, driven by Bussell, 72, was stopped at the stop sign on County Road 303.
  Another vehicle was traveling east and about to turn onto the county road, blocking Bussell&rs
  
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• 72-year-old man killed in crash near Bertram

  26-07-2017 05:19 via kxan.com
  BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Christopher Bussell died Tuesday morning following a crash on State Highway 29, a couple miles east of Bertram.
  The Department of Public Safety says the crash between a Dodge Ram pickup and a BMW sedan happened just before 8 a.m.
  The truck was heading east on SH 29 in the outside lane as the BMW, driven by Bussell, 72, was stopped at the stop sign on County Road 303.
  Another vehicle was traveling east and about to turn onto the county road, blocking Bussell&rs
  
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• High School football conversation with Thomas Jones

  26-07-2017 05:04 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — High school football is only five weeks away. Thomas Jones from the Austin American Statesman joins More than the Score with a 6A Central Texas breakdown.
  
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• 7-year-old electrocuted while playing catch with his sister

  26-07-2017 04:17 via kxan.com
  WINNSBORO, La. (KARD) — It was in a backyard on Lincoln Street in Winnsboro where an innocent game of catch turned deadly for 7-year-old Brandon McFarland.
  “A little before 11 o’clock my office got a call about a child that was missing,” Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobbs said. “The description was a 7-year-old male that was missing at 229 Lincoln Street.”
  After a neighborhood-wide search, deputies said the boy was found dead. He was located next door from wh
  
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• Photo captures ‘beautiful display of love’ between elderly couple

  26-07-2017 04:07 via kxan.com
  FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) – A Fairview minister captured a photo that is grabbing hearts across the country.
  Pastor Brent Kelley took his kids for some ice cream Monday at the Sonic on Old Hillsboro Road. When he glanced at the car next to him, he knew it was a special moment.
  An elderly man was spoon feeding his wife ice cream in the heat of the afternoon.
  Kelley posted it to Facebook and wrote,”So today, I took the kids to the pool and we stopped for ice cream on the way home. When I
  
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• Austin companies look to fill demand for IT workers with ACC grads

  26-07-2017 03:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As more tech jobs come to Austin, there is a growing demand for workers, especially in the Information Technology field.
  Austin Community College and the nonprofit Capital IDEA are now partnering with employers to help connect underemployed people in Austin with with the positions the tech sector needs to fill.  Through expanding on work they’re already begun in this area, ACC is hoping to bring students pursuing careers in IT educational assistance, internships,
  
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• Second officer joining lawsuit against Ford over carbon monoxide poisoning

  26-07-2017 03:36 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A second Austin police officer is joining a lawsuit against Ford after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.
  Since March, more than 20 officers have been treated and released in carbon monoxide incidents in their Ford Explorer SUV units.
  Attorney Brian Chase says Officer Ryan Hancock became sick on Friday, July 21. After going home and not feeling any better, he was taken to the hospital.
  That’s when he says they found elevated levels of carbon monoxide in his system.
  
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• As high school football season nears, brain injury research raises new questions

  26-07-2017 02:52 via kxan.com
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Professional athletes who donated their brains to science suffered very high rates of a degenerative brain disorder called CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is typically caused by repeated blows to the head.
  In research published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, out of 111 brains researchers studied of National Football League players, 110 of them — 99 percent — had developed CTE.
  School districts like Manor IS
  
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• Lightning damage claims common in Texas

  26-07-2017 02:38 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — In Texas, lightning damage is more common than you may think. We got a taste of that Monday night, when several fires broke out in Williamson County.
  “It is very common. You wouldn’t think it’s this common. And lightning damage could be very significant like we have here where there’s a house fire,” Mike Nestor, with State Farm Insurance said, pointing to a home that was severely damaged if not destroyed in Cedar Park on Monda
  
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• A look at how police departments modify their patrol SUVs

  26-07-2017 02:26 via kxan.com
  ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — Lights and sirens are a familiar sight, but police SUVs go through a major overhaul before you see them on the road.
  “It comes equipped from the dealer as a basic car,” said Elgin Police Chief Chris Bratton.
  In light of carbon monoxide concerns with the Austin Police Department’s Ford Explorer Police Interceptors, the chief wants people to know how police interceptors are modified. He hopes to give clarity on what could possibly go wrong and cau
  
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• Texas Senate initially passes ‘bathroom bill’ in 21-10 vote

  26-07-2017 01:48 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After hours of discussion, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 3, also known as the “bathroom bill,” in an initial 21-10 vote, Tuesday.
  The legislation would require Texans to use public facilities, such as restrooms, locker rooms and showers, based on their birth sex, regardless of gender identity.
  The bill also includes components that address Title IX. “I don’t believe it’s right for boys to compete against girls in UIL events,” the
  
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• AK-47 shooting leads to chase, crash in Manor

  26-07-2017 01:06 via kxan.com
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — A 19-year-old man is facing charges after police say he fired several rounds from an AK-47 in an attempt to settle a beef early Monday morning in Manor.
  According to the affidavit for his arrest, Luis Alejandro Gonzalez fired the shots toward a man on Lampasas Street and sped off in a Tahoe.
  Officers tried to catch up to Gonzalez but ultimately backed off as the SUV reached speeds up to 90 mph on Blake Manor Road. Shortly thereafter, police learned that a Tahoe wrecke
  
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• Police seek monkey, owner after Buc-ee’s biting incident

  26-07-2017 00:05 via kxan.com
  TERRELL, Texas (KXAN) — Police in Terrell are hoping to identify a man and his monkey after the primate is said to have bit a girl inside a Buc-ee’s off Interstate 20 last Friday.
  According to a Facebook post, police want to make sure the monkey’s shots are up to date.
  The monkey and his owner visited the store, at I-20 and FM 148, around 3:45 p.m. Friday.
  VIDEO: Monkey loose in Walmart parking lot bites employee 
  Anyone with information that can identify the owner or the
  
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• Fayette County man charged with murder near Schulenburg

  26-07-2017 00:04 via kxan.com
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A suspect has been charged with murder in the death of a Fayette County man, Tuesday morning.
  Deputies were called at 8:31 a.m. for a welfare check on the man who lived on US Highway 90, east of Schulenburg — about 15 miles south of La Grange.
  When deputies and medics arrived, they found 45-year-old Russell Holub dead. Texas Rangers were brought in to help with the investigation.
  Deputies then located a man who they believe to be involved in the man&rsq
  
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