Austin news

• Texans workout with Saints

  24-08-2017 23:46 via kxan.com
  METAIRIE, La. (AP) — When asked if Deshaun Watson looked like a rookie during joint practices with New Orleans, veteran Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro nodded affirmatively.
  Then Vaccaro added, “I go against Drew Brees every day, so everybody looks like a rookie.”
  Vaccaro said he has followed Watson’s career and is “rooting for the kid,” noting that he and Watson have the same agent.
  “He looks good. He looks real promising,” Vaccaro continued. “O
  
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• Storm forecast could impact weekend events

  24-08-2017 23:13 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Tropical Storm Harvey could bring high winds and flooding rain to central Texas this weekend. The storm could have an impact on outdoor events planned for this weekend.
  In Austin, the storm is forecast to move in on the final day of PRIDE Week, an annual celebration of the LGBTQ community. The Austin PRIDE Festival is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fiesta Gardens. The PRIDE Parade, which draws thousands of participants and spectators, is scheduled for 8 p.
  
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• Event Cancellations due to Hurricane Harvey

  24-08-2017 23:13 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) –Several outdoor events are affected by rain this weekend.SCHOOLS
  San Marcos CISD – canceled all school activities for Sat. Aug 26, including SAT testing. It rescheduled its “Meet the Rattler” event for Thursday, Aug. 31. School is still set to begin Monday.
  Del Valle ISD  – has canceled all events scheduled at its campuses after 3 p.m. Friday. This includes Meet The Teacher.
   
  OUTDOOR EVENTS – FRIDAY:
  Vista Ridge XC Invitatio
  
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• Austin Pride among weekend events affected by Harvey

  24-08-2017 23:13 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Harvey won’t be raining on Austin Pride’s parade this weekend, because the organization decided Friday to reschedule the festivities.
  In a Facebook post, Austin Pride wrote “We know how much everyone had their hearts set on tomorrow’s Celebration, however the safety and security of everyone attending and participating in PRIDE is paramount in our plans for a successful PRIDE Celebration.”The organization is working with the City of Au
  
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• Austin-area first responders prepare for Harvey’s potential wrath

  24-08-2017 22:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — All first responders in Central Texas are on standby as everyone waits to see what Hurricane Harvey does after it makes landfall.
  The Austin/Travis County Emergency Operations Center says as of 2 p.m. Thursday, there have been no requests to activate the Capital Area Shelter Hub Plan, which would provide shelter assistance for people who need to evacuate due to Harvey. However, if shelters are requested by the state, notifications will be sent out.
  The Austin Independent Sc
  
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• Blue Bell introduces new ‘Banana Split Sundae’ flavor

  24-08-2017 21:08 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Blue Bell Ice Cream hopes its new flavor will make people go bananas — and just in time for National Banana Split Day on Friday, too.
  The company announced Thursday it released a new flavor called “Banana Split Sundae,” with a banana ice cream base and filled with crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries, chopped roasted almonds and swirls of strawberry and chocolate sauces.
  The flavor is available in stores as of Thursday.
  Blue Bell also released a new flav
  
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• Navy identifies dead, missing sailors from the USS John McCain

  24-08-2017 20:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) — The U.S. Navy has identified one sailor who died and nine others who remain missing after the USS John McCain collided with an oil tanker near Singapore.
  Divers recovered the remains of Electronics Technician 3rd Class Kenneth Aaron Smith, who the Navy listed as being from New Jersey. His mother said the 22-year-old grew up in Novi, Michigan, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia, as a teenager with his father.
  The military says five sailors were injured and 10 were missing fol
  
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• Charleston Mayor: 1 shot, hostages being held

  24-08-2017 20:15 via kxan.com
  CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a disgruntled employee shot one person and is holding hostages in a restaurant in an area of Charleston, South Carolina, that is popular with tourists.
  Mayor John Tecklenburg said at a news conference that the shooting Thursday at Virginia’s in downtown Charleston was not an act of terrorism or racism.
  Tecklenburg did not have the condition of the person shot, and said he didn’t know how many hostages remained inside the restaurant.
  Witne
  
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• City of Austin sues Texas over massive new telecom bill

  24-08-2017 19:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin sued the State of Texas in Federal Court over its massive new telecommunications law, SB 1004, which takes effect Sept. 1. This year, lawmakers decided to take away much of city’s power to regulate the installation of cell service and wireless internet, and the City of Austin wants to go to court.
  In order to bring faster and better quality internet to cell phones — including preparing for the capability to 5G internet — state lawmakers
  
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• Harvey forces New Braunfels ISD to push back first day of school

  24-08-2017 19:14 via kxan.com
  NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) — Students in New Braunfels ISD will get an extra day of summer as the district decides to push back its school start date because of Hurricane Harvey.
  There will be no school on Monday, Aug. 28, according to a release. The first day of school should be Tuesday, Aug. 29.
  “We see this weekend’s weather as the perfect storm. We are informing you today, so you will have more time to make any arrangements necessary due to this change,” New Braunfel
  
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• Almost 1,000 customers affected in Round Rock power outage

  24-08-2017 18:48 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Power outages in northwest Round Rock are affecting almost 1,000 customers, down from 15,000 earlier in the day, according to Oncor.
  The outage is reportedly on both sides of Interstate 35 and north of Texas 45. Oncor said it should have power restored by 12:30 p.m. It did not specify what caused the power outage.
  The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that all traffic lights between I-35 and Mayfield Ranch Road on Farm to Market Road 1431 are affec
  
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• Recent category 3 hurricanes in Texas

  24-08-2017 17:55 via kxan.com
  A Category 3 hurricane has the potential for significant loss of life and damages. A Cat 3 has sustained winds of 111-129 mph.
  During the 2016 hurricane season, four storms reached major hurricane strength (category 3 or higher). Hurricane Matthew was the first category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic since Felix in 2007. Matthew ended up making landfall along the Georgia coast as a category 1. Even as a category 1 in the U.S. Matthew was responsible for 34 deaths in America.
  The last Category 3 hur
  
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• Suspect in deadly Uvalde bus crash pleads not guilty

  24-08-2017 17:44 via kxan.com
  UVALDE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a church bus in March and killed 13 people pleaded not guilty Thursday in court.
  Jack Dillon Young, 20,  was arraigned on 28 felony charges including manslaughter and intoxicated manslaughter. A preliminary report accuses him of looking at a text message when the collision happened. It also states he crossed over the solid white line more than two dozen times, crossed the solid yellow lines 15 times, drove ov
  
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• Preparing for tropical weather

  24-08-2017 17:21 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tropical systems bring heavy rain and damaging winds to Central Texas. To help residents prepare for storms, the state launched the Texas Emergency portal which offers a variety of resources for planning.
  TexasPrepares.org offers a simple, step-by-step guide walking you through planning, building a disaster kit and staying up to date.
  For parents, FEMA has a great checklist to help you be ready in the event of an emergency.
  The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA,
  
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• Videos show high school cheerleaders forced into splits

  24-08-2017 16:26 via kxan.com
  DENVER (AP) — Cheerleading coaches and school administrators in a Colorado district have been placed on leave, and Denver police are investigating amid series of videos showing high school cheerleaders screaming in pain while being pushed into splits during practice.
  WARNING: This video may be difficult for some people to watch.
  KUSA-TV reports the videos show eight cheerleaders at Denver’s East High School repeatedly being pushed into splits while their arms are held up by teammates
  
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• 18-wheeler collision closes lanes of FM 969 in east Austin

  24-08-2017 15:31 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Farm to Market Road 969 has one lane open in both directions in east Austin after a collision between an 18-wheeler and a car.
  The wreck happened near FM 969 and Imperial Drive around 8 a.m.
  One woman was taken to the hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries, according to a tweet from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Two others were assessed on scene.
  
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• $758.7M Powerball jackpot largest ever single-ticket win

  24-08-2017 14:56 via kxan.com
  WATERTOWN, Massachusetts (AP/KXAN) — The $758.7 million jackpot claimed by a ticket sold in Massachusetts is the largest grand prize won by a single lottery ticket and the second-largest total prize amount in U.S. history.
  In a statement early Thursday, Powerball Product Group Chair Charlie McIntyre says six other tickets won $2 million apiece, and 34 more are worth $1 million. Two people in Texas picked 5 of the numbers to snag $1 million, and 33 people picked four numbers and the Po
  
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• New technology helping track Harvey as Austin TxDOT crews head south

  24-08-2017 14:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  As Tropical Storm Harvey moves closer to Texas, the state is expected to raise its preparedness level.
  TxDOT crews out of South Austin are packing up to mobilize ahead of the storm. About two dozen crew members will migrate south to a staging area in San Antonio. After the storm hits land, they will determine where to go to clear roadways so people and emergency responders can get through.
  Crews will take 4 Gardalls — machines used to pick up large debris l
  
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• Austin TxDOT crews head south ahead of Tropical Storm Harvey

  24-08-2017 14:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  As Tropical Storm Harvey moves closer to Texas, the state is expected to raise its preparedness level.
  TxDOT crews out of South Austin are packing up to mobilize ahead of the storm. About two dozen crew members will migrate south to a staging area in San Antonio. After the storm hits land, they will determine where to go to clear roadways so people and emergency responders can get through.
  Crews will take 4 Gardalls — machines used to pick up large debris l
  
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• Fayette County prepares for Harvey to bring potential flash flooding

  24-08-2017 14:02 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Officials in Fayette County are gearing up for the effects of a possible hurricane and warning residents to use caution as they travel this weekend.
  Fayette County will be under a Flash Flood Watch from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to strengthen into a category 1 hurricane by Friday and reach the Texas coast between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
  Officials warn areas that traditionally flood in Fayette County c
  
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• Fayette Co. officials meet to finalize Hurricane Harvey preparations

  24-08-2017 14:02 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — Emergency preparedness officials, including county commissioners, fire department heads and police chiefs from around Fayette County, met Thursday afternoon to discuss final preparations as Hurricane Harvey took aim at Central Texas.
  Some hotels in the county began to fill up Thursday evening with people fleeing the Gulf Coast; others, meanwhile, stocked up on the usual: canned food and water. Beth Starmack and her sister Becky Bray were among them.
  “Ho
  
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• Harvey wind speeds 15 mph away from becoming hurricane

  24-08-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As coastal areas of Texas find themselves under a Hurricane Warning, flooding and rain are the main concerns for southcentral Texas as Tropical Storm Harvey could strengthen over the next 24 hours into a hurricane as it heads through the Gulf of Mexico. It is projected to make landfall on the Texas coast north of Corpus Christi between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning.
  Reconnaissance planes report maximum sustained winds increased to near 60 miles per hour as of
  
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• Harvey reaches Category 1 hurricane status

  24-08-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Harvey is a Category 1 hurricane as of noon, with sustained winds of 80 miles per hour.
  It’s forecast to be a Category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall north of Corpus Christ, Texas, sometime Friday morning.
  Bastrop, Fayette and Caldwell counties are all under Tropical Storm Warnings
  Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee counties are under Flash Flood Watches
  As coastal areas of Texas find themselves under a Hurricane Warning, flooding and rain are the main concerns
  
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• Harvey holding as a Category 1 hurricane but continually strengthening

  24-08-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Harvey is a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour. It’s forecast to be at least a Category 3 hurricane when it makes landfall, which is now pointing towards Friday night or early Saturday. Harvey is then likely to stall near or just inland of the middle Texas coast through the weekend.
  The current forecast shows the Austin-metro under tropical storm conditions beginning late Saturday and through Sunday. Counties southeast of Austin are
  
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• Harvey expected to be Category 3 Hurricane when it makes landfall

  24-08-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tropical Storm Harvey is now forecast to be a Category 3 Hurricane when it makes landfall north of Corpus Christ, Texas, between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning.
  Bastrop, Fayette and Caldwell counties are all under Tropical Storm Warnings.
  As coastal areas of Texas find themselves under a Hurricane Warning, flooding and rain are the main concerns for southcentral Texas as Tropical Storm Harvey strengthens over the Gulf of Mexico.
  LATEST FORECAST – Tap Here
  
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• Deadly crash kills 1 on FM 1626

  24-08-2017 09:52 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Department of Public Safety troopers are investigating a deadly crash that happened Wednesday night on FM 1626.
  The agency is not releasing many details at this point but we do know at least one person was killed in the multi-car crash. It happened at 11 p.m. Wednesday along the county line between Travis and Hays counties.
  FM 1626 was closed for a time but has since reopened. 
  
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• Some Aqua Water customers under boil water notice

  24-08-2017 06:07 via kxan.com
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — People who live in southwest Bastrop County and get their water from Aqua Water need to boil their water before consuming it.
  The boil water notice was issued late Wednesday night due to a water main break that caused the system to experience a loss of pressure. Aqua Water Supply says the loss of pressure may have allowed harmful microbes to enter the water supply.
  Customers who are impacted by this live in zone 8, which is mainly the Cedar Creek area.
  To ens
  
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• AFD didn’t implement adequate overtime cost saving measures, audit says

  24-08-2017 05:11 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you hate working weekends, you might have something in common with a lot of Austin Fire Department employees. A brand new city audit shows hundreds of firefighters are using large chunks of their sick leave on Saturdays and Sundays—forcing last-minute fill-ins who rack up plenty of overtime.
  The city ordered the audit after a KXAN Investigation revealed skyrocketing overtime spending with AFD topping the list. The audit shows overtime pay in the department shot fro
  
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• What would be the impact of a nuclear explosion in the US?

  24-08-2017 04:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — University of Texas at Austin faculty and students are beginning research through a grant with the Department of Homeland Security to learn more about what would happen if a nuclear explosion occurred in the U.S.
  These UT researchers alongside the Air Force Technical Applications Center are looking for the type of information that would help senior decision makers respond to a nuclear event.
  Assistant Professor Derek Haas and his students have just started on this nucl
  
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• Audit: Safety risks are not fully considered in Austin demolitions

  24-08-2017 03:51 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Buildings being torn down to make way for new ones–it’s happening all across Austin. A newly released city audit shows safety risks involved aren’t all being taken into consideration.
  Currently, the areas around South Lamar Boulevard and east Austin have the most open demolition permits for single family homes.
  The audit found some properties may not even be tested for asbestos as state law requires. Another concern is the presence of lead paint. The audit
  
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• Texas to start outsourcing gas pump inspectors

  24-08-2017 03:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  At a time when inspectors are seeing a surge in credit card skimmers at gas pumps across the state, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says a new state law will allow you to get cheated more often. Supporters of the new law say his fears are overblown.
  Part of a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspector’s job is to make sure gas pumps don’t have skimmers that steal your identity. This legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 2174 which
  
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• Agriculture Comm. worried new law makes Texans more vulnerable at the pump

  24-08-2017 03:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  At a time when inspectors are seeing a surge in credit card skimmers at gas pumps across the state, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says a new state law will allow you to get cheated more often. Supporters of the new law say his fears are overblown.
  Part of a Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) inspector’s job is to make sure gas pumps don’t have skimmers that steal your identity. This legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 2174 which
  
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• Rush gaining momentum for Cowboys backup QB job

  24-08-2017 03:01 via kxan.com
  FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Cooper Rush isn’t likely to duplicate Dak Prescott’s remarkable rookie year with the Dallas Cowboys.
  The undrafted quarterback is doing quite an impersonation in the preseason though — enough to get him second-team looks ahead of veteran Kellen Moore in practice this week and raise the question of whether the former Central Michigan standout could land the backup job for good.
  Rush’s exhibition numbers look strikingly similar to those of Prescot
  
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• Harvey and its impacts on airlines this week

  24-08-2017 02:21 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Tropical Depression Harvey continues to churn and gain strength in the Gulf of Mexico this week, airlines are keeping a close eye on its track. In preparation for its Texas landfall, here is a list of notifications airlines are issuing to their customers:
  American Airlines
  If you’re traveling to/through/from:
  Austin, Texas (AUS)
  Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas (BPT)
  Brownsville, Texas (BRO)
  College Station, Texas (CLL)
  Corpus Christi, Texas (CRP)
  Houston, Texas (HOU)
  
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• Harvey and its impact on airlines this week

  24-08-2017 02:21 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Tropical Depression Harvey continues to churn and gain strength in the Gulf of Mexico this week, airlines are keeping a close eye on its track. In preparation for its Texas landfall, here is a list of notifications airlines are issuing to their customers:
  American Airlines
  If you’re traveling to/through/from:
  Austin, Texas (AUS)
  Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas (BPT)
  Brownsville, Texas (BRO)
  College Station, Texas (CLL)
  Corpus Christi, Texas (CRP)
  Houston, Texas (HOU)
  
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• Lake Travis ISD bus damaged in crash

  24-08-2017 02:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Lake Travis Independent School District school bus with no school children on board was involved in a crash Wednesday afternoon.
  The crash happened around 4:15 p.m. at Bee Creek Road near Barnett Glen Road. A spokesperson for the district said a driver lost control and hit the bus. A photo from a KXAN viewer shows the front driver side of the bus with extensive damage.
  The bus driver had already finished their route from Lake Travis Middle School and was headed back to th
  
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• Travis County appeals Austin police shooting case to Supreme Court

  24-08-2017 01:39 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County District Attorney is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a deadly police shooting from 2013.
  Margaret Moore released a statement Wednesday saying she filed the petition to seek justice and provide clarity.
  “The District Attorney’s Office remains firmly committed to seeking the fair administration of justice in this matter, as well as clarity regarding the immunity granted by the court in this matter.”
  Four years ago, Austin Police Dep
  
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• Georgetown postpones testing for warning sirens

  24-08-2017 01:08 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — If you’re outside when severe weather hits, warning sirens are supposed to alert you to seek shelter. The city of Georgetown says their sirens will work during an emergency, even though they aren’t being fully tested like they were supposed to this weekend.
  The city was supposed to sound their 23 new sirens on Saturday, testing them for the first time, but because of possible severe weather, they won’t. “So we don’t send any kind of
  
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• WATCH: Woman strategically hiding stolen bottles of liquor

  24-08-2017 00:20 via kxan.com
  SHREVEPORT, La. (KXAN) — Police in Shreveport, La. released surveillance video of a woman who managed to steal numerous bottles of booze from a liquor store last Friday.
  The cameras captured the woman coming into the store and initially, she started putting bottles in her purse. But as she continued “shopping,” she started hiding bottles in her pants and even her top.
  As she left the store, she put one bottle on the counter and walked out.
  Police say there may be more than one
  
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