Austin news

• Federal judge again throws out Texas voter ID law

  23-08-2017 23:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (AP) — A federal judge has once again thrown out Texas’ voter ID law in the latest court defeat for state Republican lawmakers over voting rights.
  U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos on Wednesday rejected a weakened version of the law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. Texas had made the changes after the same judge compared the original version to a “poll tax” on minorities.
  Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling
  
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• Man’s body recovered from Colorado River near Longhorn Dam

  23-08-2017 23:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Emergency crews have found the body of a man who got swept near Longhorn Dam Wednesday afternoon.
  Austin-Travis County EMS says they responded to the 2800 block of East Cesar Chavez around 4:10 p.m. for a man who had been reported missing in the Colorado River for at least 5-10 minutes.
  A woman told police she was swimming with the man downstream from the dam when he disappeared.
  Crews recovered the body just before 5 p.m. in around 8 feet of water.
  
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• San Marcos CISD prepares for new school year, more students

  23-08-2017 23:38 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District teachers are preparing for full classrooms as students return to school next Monday. For the past three years, the district has seen steady growth at all of their campuses.
  The district reports it had around 7,700 students enrolled for the 2015-2016 school year, this year it is prepared to exceed 8,000.
  “We knew students were going to come into our district and we’re prepared for them,” said SM
  
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• KXAN anchor Shannon Wolfson will say goodbye to viewers

  23-08-2017 23:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Shannon Wolfson will be leaving KXAN News after the upcoming November ratings period.
  Shannon has decided to focus more time on family, traveling and pursuing other professional aspirations.
  “If I were to continue in TV news, I’d be staying right here at KXAN. This is one of the strongest news operations in the country, and I have been so lucky to be an anchor at KXAN,” Shannon explained. “I would like to thank my KXAN family and our loyal viewers fo
  
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• 17-year-old from Austin reported missing

  23-08-2017 23:15 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is putting out an alert for a 17-year-old girl from Austin who is missing.
  The center says Kaila Carter was last seen on Aug. 18 in Austin. Carter may be in the company of an adult man and they may still be in the Austin area.
  Authorities say Carter may be in need of medical attention. She is 5-foot-3-inches and 123 pounds. She has a tattoo on her right forearm.
  Anyone with information about Kaila is asked to contact
  
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• Special features added to keep SH 45SW project environmentally safe

  23-08-2017 23:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Underneath all the dirt at the SH 45SW Project is something particularly special–the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. In order to make sure this water supply is preserved, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has hired environmental scientists to observe construction on the project–basically environmental police officers. They’re on-site daily making sure work is safe and compliant in work zones, especially around caves.
  “Caves an
  
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• Ex-Cowboy Tony Romo welcomes third child

  23-08-2017 22:47 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and his wife Candice Crawford welcomed their third son Wednesday.
  Romo shared the good news with a tweet. The new baby was named Jones McCoy Romo. Romo tweeted that the boy was “All healthy. Almost have my basketball team built.”
  Jones joins his brothers, Rivers, 3, and Hawkins, 5. According to a People Magazine interview, Romo thought their third child was going to be a girl. 
  Romo, 30, is currently working in a
  
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• Austin ISD superintendent talks health technology, Confederate names

  23-08-2017 21:37 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Cruz has been making the rounds this week as school starts.
  He joined KXAN News Today to talk about how the district is implementing new technology, including Chromebooks for high school students, and finding new ways to connect families with health services.
  Some parents voiced concerns earlier this week about potential nursing staff changes. Cruz said while all schools still have in-house health assistants, t
  
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• Thrall police officer rescues pets from burning home

  23-08-2017 21:33 via kxan.com
  THRALL, Texas (KXAN) — A home in Thrall is a total loss following a morning fire that may have started in the kitchen.
  A Thrall police officer was driving near Railroad Avenue and Neill Street around 10:30 a.m. when he saw smoke. He told KXAN he knew the woman who lived there and started breaking windows in the house because he knew she had pets.
  The officer was able to get one dog and three cats out, but a second dog is still missing. The officer says he thought he saw it come out of the
  
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• How to sign up for alerts as Harvey heads toward Texas

  23-08-2017 19:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) for Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties is holding a press conference Wednesday to reach out to area residents in preparation for Tropical Depression Harvey. CAPCOG is hoping for more people to register with WarnCentralTexas.org during September, which is National Preparedness Month.
  The campaign is part of a first-ever push to increase awareness for the 10-co
  
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• Suspected hit-and-run victim actually died in a shooting

  23-08-2017 19:42 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  A man who was run over by a car on Sunday in north Austin actually died of a gunshot wound, according to the Travis County Medical Examiner’s office. This marks the 20th homicide in the city this year.
  Austin police officers originally got a call about a potential hit-and-run on 8930 Galewood Dr. around 3:18 a.m. Police and EMS responded and despite life saving efforts, the victim died at the scene. Police report Valente Garcia-Hernandez, 35, had “obvious
  
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• Woman who drove off parking garage suing for $1M

  23-08-2017 18:17 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The woman who drove off of the seventh story of a downtown Austin parking garage last month is suing the owner of the garage and its management.
  In the lawsuit filed Wednesday, Christi Bowmer is seeking more than $1 million in damages after suffering “physical injuries, physical pain, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish and medical expenses.” The suit also asserts that Bowmer’s husband, Jay Bowmer—who was not in the car—has also
  
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• $1M lawsuit after car plunges from parking garage

  23-08-2017 18:17 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The woman who drove off of the seventh story of a downtown Austin parking garage last month is suing the owner of the garage and its management.
  In the lawsuit filed Wednesday, Christi Bowmer is seeking more than $1 million in damages after suffering “physical injuries, physical pain, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish and medical expenses.” The suit also asserts that Bowmer’s husband, Jay Bowmer, has suffered serious damages from the crash
  
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• State readiness level increased to prepare for Tropical Depression Harvey

  23-08-2017 17:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the State Operations Center to increase its readiness level as Tropical Depression Harvey heads toward the Texas coast.
  Harvey is expected to reach the Texas coast by Friday and could make its way into Southcentral Texas. The National Weather service issued numerous watches Wednesday morning.
  Weather alerts for Austin, Texas, area
  At 7 a.m. the SOC went from a “normal” alert level of IV to “increased readiness” at level 3, ac
  
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• Whole Foods shareholders say yes to Amazon deal

  23-08-2017 16:40 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — Whole Foods shareholders voted to bless a union with Amazon that the organic grocery chain’s CEO called “love at first sight.”
  The approval from Whole Foods shareholders on Wednesday is one of the steps required to close the deal. It also needs the go-ahead from government regulators. Seattle-based Amazon.com Inc. has said it expects the deal to close before the end of the year.
  Before agreeing to the $13.7 billion offer, Whole Foods had been under intense
  
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• California university opts to leave ‘E’ out of Shakespeare’s name

  23-08-2017 15:53 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Visitors to the University of Southern California might well be muttering, “What fools these mortals be” as they stroll past a statue of the legendary queen of Troy and notice William Shakespeare’s name seemingly misspelled at its base.
  To USC officials, it’s much ado about nothing.
  “To E, or not to E, that is the question,” the school responded in a statement Tuesday when asked why Shakespeare’s name is missing the last letter E
  
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• Slain Houston officer’s son, 5, gets police escort to school

  23-08-2017 15:34 via kxan.com
  TOMBALL, Texas (AP) — Dozens of police officers escorted a Houston-area boy to his first day of kindergarten in place of his officer father who was struck and killed in 2011 while investigating a traffic accident.
  Some officers were on horseback Tuesday to escort 5-year-old Kevin Will Jr. to Wildwood Elementary School in Tomball. The boy’s mother earlier sent a text asking if some officers could come to her home and help walk her son to school as he started kindergarten.
  Houston poli
  
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• Man hit, killed along US 183 near airport

  23-08-2017 15:05 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man in his 20s is dead following an auto versus pedestrian collision along US 183 sometime this morning, Austin-Travis County EMS reports.
  EMS was notified of a body on the side of the road, north of McKinney Falls Parkway, at 7:13 a.m. when someone called to report a body on the side of the road.
  Austin Police tell KXAN they suspect the man was hit by a car because of debris in the area.
  “It appears that it was struck by a vehicle that left the scene,” Sgt. R
  
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• Collision involving school bus in east Austin

  23-08-2017 14:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A school bus was involved in a collision with a car Wednesday morning that sent two people to the hospital.
  The people who were hurt have non-life threatening injuries. Police did not say whether they were students, but did confirm the bus involved was an Austin Independent School District vehicle.
  The collision happened in the westbound lane of the US 290 Frontage Road and Cameron Road in east Austin around 6:31 a.m.
  The car was towed and the school bus was waiting to be t
  
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• Austin ISD bus t-boned by driver who allegedly ran a red light

  23-08-2017 14:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A school bus was involved in a collision Wednesday morning that sent two people to the hospital, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
  Austin Independent School District reports two students and two adults were in the bus at the time. The students were treated for minor injuries, released at the scene and are now at school.
  The collision happened in the westbound lane of the US 290 Frontage Road and Cameron Road in east Austin around 6:31 a.m. when a car allegedly ran a re
  
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• AISD bus technology helps catch those who don’t obey stop-arms

  23-08-2017 14:18 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — AISD school buses leave the district’s southwest terminal Wednesday morning with technology that is helping give a better idea of just how many people blow by buses when stop-arms are deployed.
  Roughly 22,000 Austin students are transported to and from school by bus each and every day. That’s a lot of kids to keep safe, especially when drivers keep ignoring stop-arms.
  “My gosh, we have issued about — almost 13,000 tickets last school year. One is too
  
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• ESPN broadcaster Robert Lee won’t work UVA game due to name

  23-08-2017 13:56 via kxan.com
  BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN broadcaster Robert Lee will not work Virginia’s season opener because of recent violence in Charlottesville sparked by the decision to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
  A spokeswoman for ESPN says Lee has been moved to Youngstown State’s game at Pittsburgh on the ACC Network on Sept. 2. The network says the decision was made “as the tragic events in Charlottesville were unfolding, simply because of the coincidence of his name.&r
  
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• $72M Katy high school stadium to hold first game next week

  23-08-2017 13:17 via kxan.com
  KATY, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area school district will hold its first game next week in its new $72 million football stadium, believed to be the most expensive high school stadium ever built.
  The 12,000-seat stadium in Katy will be the home field for eight high schools in the district. Soccer will be played there, too.
  Katy voters in 2014 approved the construction as part of a whopping $748 million bond that will pay for new schools for a district of 74,000 students that’s growing at
  
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• Watches issued as Tropical Depression Harvey intensifies

  23-08-2017 12:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey redeveloped into a tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico and could reach the Texas coast on Friday, according to the First Warning Weather team.
  The National Hurricane center issued numerous watches for the Texas coast and into south central Texas. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Fayette County. These areas are shaded in pink.
  There is a Tropical Storm Watch for Fayette County because of Tropical Depression Harvey.Coastal
  
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• It’s official: Harvey has now reformed into a tropical depression

  23-08-2017 12:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey redeveloped into a tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico and could reach the Texas coast on Friday, according to the First Warning Weather team.
  The National Hurricane Center predicts a 100 percent chance that remnants of Harvey redevelop in the next two days.
  After the storm reaches the coast, it will likely slow down as it potentially moves into Central Texas. That could cause heavy rainfall and even significant flooding anywher
  
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• Harvey now a tropical storm; will become a hurricane Friday

  23-08-2017 12:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A late Wednesday evening update from the National Hurricane Center says Harvey is now officially a tropical storm. It is still on track to become a hurricane on Friday.
  An Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft measured tropical storm force winds in Harvey with maximum winds around 40 mph around 11 p.m. Harvey is expected to reach the Texas coast late Friday, according to the First Warning Weather team. Current projections have the storm making landfall possi
  
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• Harvey could become a tropical storm later tonight

  23-08-2017 12:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A hurricane hunter aircraft that was sent to survey Tropical Depression Harvey early Wednesday evening found that the storm has not strengthened and is moving erratically toward the northwest. The hurricane hunter aircraft indicate the maximum sustained winds remain near 35 mph.
  Harvey could reach the Texas coast late Friday, according to the First Warning Weather team. According to the National Hurricane Center, Harvey would become a tropical storm later Wednesday night an
  
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• A strengthening Harvey could bring hurricane-force winds to Texas coast

  23-08-2017 12:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey are expected to redevelop Wednesday over the Gulf of Mexico and could reach the Texas coast on Friday, according to the First Warning Weather team.
  The National Hurricane Center predicts a 100 percent chance that remnants of Harvey redevelop in the next two days.
  After the storm reaches the coast, it will likely slow down as it potentially moves into Central Texas. That could cause heavy rainfall and even significant flooding anywhere f
  
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• Wimberley residents taking a close look at new FEMA flood insurance maps

  23-08-2017 05:42 via kxan.com
  WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — With two major floods in the past couple of years, residents in Hays County are taking a close look at the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance rate maps.
  On Tuesday, residents got a chance to review the preliminary maps and speak to FEMA representatives as well as insurance experts. The Flood Insurance Rate Maps provide updated flood risk information for those who live along the San Marcos and Blanco Rivers, along with the many trib
  
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• The Latest: Trump says US will ‘probably’ end NAFTA

  23-08-2017 05:00 via kxan.com
  PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s visit to Arizona (all times PDT):
  8:40 p.m.
  President Donald Trump says he thinks the U.S. will “end up probably terminating” the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico “at some point.”
  Trump tells supporters at a Phoenix, Arizona rally that, “Personally, I don’t think we can make a deal because we have been so badly taken advantage of.”
  But he cautions he has yet to ma
  
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• Car slams into east Austin apartment

  23-08-2017 03:58 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A driver who slammed into an apartment complex in east Austin managed to walk away without any injuries.
  Austin police say the crash happened just after 6 p.m. at the Springdale Garden Apartments, which is at the corner of Springdale Road and Oak Springs Drive. Authorities are still trying to determine what caused the crash, but no one inside the apartment was injured.
  Driver drove into the Springdale Garden Apartments on Aug. 22, 2017. (KXAN Photo/Andrew Choat)  
  &nbs
  
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• Foreman shines early for Texans

  23-08-2017 03:34 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — D’Onta Foreman’s performance through Houston’s first two preseason games has many raving about the rookie.
  Texans coach Bill O’Brien is not among them.
  “That’s the second preseason game … he’s got a lot of talent, but I think he’s got a long way to go,” O’Brien said.
  While O’Brien was careful not to heap too much praise upon the running back so early, it’s hard to deny that he’s been one of
  
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• State prepares for Sandra Bland Act to take effect

  23-08-2017 03:18 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) — With a week and a half remaining before the Sandra Bland Act goes into effect, lawmakers met at the Texas State Capitol to discuss its implementation.
  The House Committee on County Affairs, chaired by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, heard testimony from experts on three different panels. The groups, representing advocacy organizations, inmate health and safety, and law enforcement, offered recommendations and answered questions from state representatives.
  “If imple
  
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• Touching photo captures woman helping elderly father watch eclipse

  23-08-2017 03:11 via kxan.com
  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – For many, the total solar eclipse evoked emotion we never expected—pure amazement, joy, and wonder.
  For others, it evoked a deep sense of gratefulness. This was the case for Middle Tennessee woman Hedy Morrison.
  A touching photograph shows Morrison with her elderly father during the eclipse’s totality. She’s gazing up at the sky with her father’s wheelchair propped in her lap so he can look, too.
  The photo was taken by a family member and p
  
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• After a perfect season in 2015, Cedar Park High is back even more hungry

  23-08-2017 03:02 via kxan.com
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — After a perfect 16-0 season in 2015 capped the school’s second state championship, Cedar Park High School has a new hunger. The Timberwolves had their 28-game win streak snapped with a 3rd round playoff loss to Manvel.
  The Timberwolves are ranked 5th in the preseason 5A A.P. poll. The Timberwolves open the season against Waco Midway on Sept. 1.
  Senior Quarterback Mak Sexton leads the T’wolves offense. Sexton has started the last two years and threw fo
  
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• Ag. Comm. Sid Miller criticizes Six Flags’ removal of Confederate flag

  23-08-2017 02:47 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller — the cowboy-hat wearing Republican known for wading deep into partisan and cultural divides — is furious with the Six Flags amusement park chain, calling its decision to take down the Confederate flag and four others that had flown over the park part of a “militant, anarchist movement sweeping our country, destroying and attempting to sanitize our nation’s history.”
  Miller took aim at the icon
  
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• Burglar accused of shooting at Albuquerque couple in their driveway

  23-08-2017 02:25 via kxan.com
  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The suspected burglar accused of shooting at a couple in the driveway of their Albuquerque home has been arrested.
  Albuquerque police say 30-year-old Miranda Gilbert has been identified as the woman caught on video pointing a gun at the couple on Sunday.
  The couple was on their way out the door when they noticed something odd happening in their neighborhood. A white car was circling the block near their home.
  On a hunch, the Thompsons turned around
  
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• Dan and Fran Keller compensated $3.6M for time served

  23-08-2017 02:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As attorney Keith Hampton was working to get his client Greg Kelley out of jail on Tuesday, he was also signing off on the compensation package for his other clients, Dan and Fran Keller, who were recently declared innocent in their case.
  The Kellers are entitled to $80,000 for each year they were incarcerated. In the couple’s case, they were in prison for 23 years, which means each person will receive approximately $1.84 million for their time served.
  
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• SH 71 reopened at Falls Creek Estates after multi-vehicle crash

  23-08-2017 01:10 via kxan.com
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — All lanes of State Highway 71 have been reopened as of Wednesday morning at Falls Creek Estates just southeast of Spicewood as crews finished their clean-up work after a crash involving three vehicles.
  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and one of the vehicles involved is an 18-wheeler that rolled over. According to Austin-Travis County EMS, STAR Flight took a man in his 20s to the hospital with poten
  
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• All lanes of SH 71 blocked at Falls Creek Estates due to crash

  23-08-2017 01:10 via kxan.com
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — All lanes of State Highway 71 are blocked at Falls Creek Estates just southeast of Spicewood as crews work a crash involving three vehicles.
  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 5:30 p.m. and one of the vehicles involved is a utility truck that rolled over. STAR Flight has been called in to help transport a patient who Austin-Travis County EMS says is a man in his 20s.
  Drivers are asked to avoid the area as emergency cre
  
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• AMC reopens theater at Lakeline Mall

  23-08-2017 00:15 via kxan.com
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — The new AMC theater at Lakeline Mall is now open for business after a multi-million dollar renovation that had the theater closed since the beginning of the year.
  The theater, which AMC took over from Regal, now has power recliners and new sound systems. AMC also changed out all the old carpet and remodeled its concession stand.
  Tickets are currently on sale. The AMC is located inside Lakeline Mall, between Dillard’s and JCPenney.
  A few months ago
  
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• 3 guilty in Texas, Louisiana rare turtles trafficking case

  23-08-2017 00:15 via kxan.com
  BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Investigators say three men have pleaded guilty in a scheme to sell dozens of rare alligator snapping turtles caught during Texas fishing trips and hauled to Louisiana.
  Prosecutors on Tuesday announced Travis Joseph Leger and Rickey Paul Simon, both of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Jason Gene Leckelt of Wilburton, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally traffic alligator snapping turtles. They face up to five-year federal prison terms during sentencing in Beaum
  
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