Austin news

• UT football offering free tickets for Harvey evacuees

  05-09-2017 23:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin Athletics is offering up to six free football tickets to Hurricane Harvey evacuees.
  The tickets can be requested online for the upcoming game against San Jose State University on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
  A follow-up email will be sent on Friday with a promotional code and instructions on how to claim the free tickets, which will then be delivered via mobile phone, or email as print-at-home t
  
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• Previously free, new parking fees go into effect at One Texas Center

  05-09-2017 23:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting Tuesday, drivers parking at the One Texas Center after business hours will be charged a $10 fee. Parking in the lot and garage on non-special event days was previously free of charge.
  The city of Austin is making changes to the fee structure at the center, located at 505 Barton Springs Rd. — or across First Street from the Long Center — to clear up parking for city customers.
  Those with a validated ticket will get up to two hours of free parking in the
  
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• Tracking Hurricane Irma: the strongest storm ever in the Atlantic

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane watches and warnings are lighting up the northern Leeward islands and the Greater Antilles as Hurricane Irma barrels west across the Atlantic Ocean.
  Irma, which intensified to a category 5 storm early Tuesday, is now the strongest hurricane ever to be recorded in Atlantic Ocean! It’s 185 mph maximum sustained wind speed is higher than any other storm in the Atlantic, outside the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico.
  Latest position of Hurricane Irma as of Sept. 5
  
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• Tracking Hurricane Irma

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane watches and warnings are lighting up the northern Leeward islands and the Greater Antilles as Hurricane Irma barrels west across the Atlantic Ocean.
  Irma, which intensified to a category 5 storm early Tuesday, is now the strongest hurricane ever to be recorded in Atlantic Ocean!
  Latest position of Hurricane Irma as of Sept. 5 at 4 p.m.So far, the state of Florida and Puerto Rico have already issued a State of Emergency. While a direct landfall in these locations a
  
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• Irma weakens to tropical storm, wind damage, flooding spread into GA, SC

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Record storm surge flooding was being reported in Jacksonville, FL Monday afternoon as Irma moved out of the state.
  Even though Irma was a weakened tropical storm, damaging wind gusts were being reported in Georgia and flooding in South Carolina. Millions remained with out power in Florida Monday afternoon, as outages spread into more states.
  The storm will continue to track to the northwest, eventually as a tropical depression over Tennessee, and could move as far west as
  
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• Irma weakens to tropical storm, continues path of destruction through Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Irma weakened to a tropical storm as of 7 a.m. Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. But it is still capable of producing hurricane-force winds across Central Florida as it moves north toward Georgia. Currently the NHC measurements show its wind speeds are 70 mph — at 74 mph or above it would become a hurricane again. Irma is expected to turn northwest at a faster forward speed over the next 24 hours.
  The western side of Florida could receive 10 to
  
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• Irma likely to strengthen again as it turns toward Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Irma came down slightly to a 125 mph, strong Category 3 hurricane early Saturday morning and has maintained its speed. This was just hours after making another landfall, this time in the Cuban Keys Friday night, as a Category 5 storm. It is the first Category 5 hurricane to hit Cuba since 1924.
  The eye wall of Irma began pounding islands off the north coast of Central Cuba Friday evening, still defying predictions of a northwest turn. Interaction with the Cuban ma
  
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• Irma likely to hit the Florida Keys by dawn as a Cat. 3

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Irma is now expected to strengthen slightly to a strong Category 3 major hurricane as it heads toward a potential landfall west of Ft. Myers Florida on Sunday afternoon. Interaction with the Cuban mainland has weakened the storm, but devastating impacts are still likely in the Florida Keys, which could come as early as daybreak Sunday.
  Hurricane Irma has weakened to 120 mph, still a strong Category 3 hurricane as it pulls slowly away from Cuba overnight. Irma began to
  
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• Irma devastates Caribbean islands as 3rd most intense hurricane landfall on Earth

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Devastation is reported on several of the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, where Category 5 Hurricane Irma made landfall Wednesday. Barbuda, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin and the British Virgin Islands all took direct hits.
  With winds of 185 mph, Hurricane Irma tied the 1935 Labor Day Florida Keys hurricane as the most powerful on record to make landfall in the Atlantic basin, tying two other hurricanes as the third most intense landfalling tropical cyclone ever recorded
  
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• Irma continues path of destruction through Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Irma is producing hurricane-force winds across Central Florida overnight as it moves north at about 10-15 mph along Florida’s west coast. Irma is still expected to be a hurricane through Monday morning, and will likely hit Tampa shortly after midnight. Irma is expected to turn northwest at a faster forward speed over the next 24 hours.
  The western side of Florida could receive 10 to 15 inches with a possible isolated 20 inches of rain as Irma moves through the st
  
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• Hurricane Irma to pass just north of Puerto Rico Wednesday night

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Devastation is becoming apparent in the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, where Category 5 Hurricane Irma made landfall overnight on Barbuda, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin. On its current track, Irma’s center will pass just north of Puerto Rico tonight, near the coast of Hispaniola Thursday and close in on the Turks and Caicos and southeastern Bahamas by Thursday night.
  Irma, which intensified to a category 5 storm early Tuesday, is breaking records. Its 185 mph
  
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• Hurricane Irma regains Category 5 strength, will turn toward Florida soon

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Irma intensified back to a 160 mph Category 5 hurricane Friday night as the storm made another landfall, this time in the Cuban Keys. It is the first Category 5 hurricane to hit Cuba since 1924.
  The eye wall of Irma began pounding islands off the north coast of Central Cuba Friday evening, still defying predictions of a northwest turn. Interaction with the Cuban mainland could weaken the storm, but official projections still indicate a direct impact in the Florida
  
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• Hurricane Irma one of the strongest on record, battering island nations

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Devastation is feared in the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, where Category 5 Hurricane Irma made landfall overnight.
  Irma, which intensified to a category 5 storm early Tuesday, is breaking records. Its 185 mph maximum sustained wind speed is higher than any other storm on record in the Atlantic, outside the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. The strongest storm ever recorded in the entire Atlantic Basin was Hurricane Allen (Gulf of Mexico) in 1980, with winds of 190
  
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• Hurricane Irma on track to reach southern tip of Florida Sunday morning

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At least 16 deaths and utter devastation are being reported in the wake of Hurricane Irma’s track through the Caribbean.
  The longest-lived 185 mph hurricane in history (37 hours) weakened only slightly as it slammed into the Turks and Caicos Islands Wednesday afternoon. The Category 5 storm’s winds weakened to 165 mph with gusts to 200 mph as it approached the southeastern Bahamas Wednesday night.
  As of Friday morning, it has weakened slightly again, now a
  
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• Hurricane Irma on track for a “worst case” scenario in South Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — 10 deaths and utter devastation are being reported in the wake of Hurricane Irma’s track through the Caribbean.
  The longest-lived 185 mph hurricane in history (37 hours) weakened only slightly as it slammed into the Turks and Caicos Islands Wednesday afternoon. The Category 5 storm’s winds weakened to 165 with gusts to 200 mph as it approached the southeastern Bahamas Wednesday night.
  As of this morning, it has weakened slightly again, now a category 4 stor
  
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• Hurricane Irma makes two U.S. landfalls today as a major hurricane

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Irma has just made its second landfall in the U.S. at Marco Island, Florida at 3:35 p.m. eastern as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph and gusts up to 130 mph.
  Irma strengthened early Sunday morning to a Category 4 major hurricane as it made landfall in the lower Florida Keys around 7:30 a.m. It will likely be near Tampa overnight/early Monday morning. This is the first time a single Atlantic hurricane season has contained two Category 4 landfa
  
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• Hurricane Irma makes landfall in the Florida Keys as a Cat. 4 storm

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Irma strengthened early Sunday morning to a Category 4 major hurricane as it made landfall in the lower Florida Keys around 7:30 a.m. early Sunday, with its next potential landfall west of Ft. Myers Florida on Sunday afternoon. Interaction with the Cuban mainland has weakened the storm, but devastating impacts are still likely in the Florida Keys, which could come as early as daybreak Sunday.
  Hurricane Irma has weakened to 120 mph, still a strong Category 3 hurricane a
  
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• Hurricane Irma is approaching the Florida Keys as a Cat. 4 storm

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Irma strengthened early Sunday morning to a Category 4 major hurricane as it heads towards the Florida Keys by sunrise Sunday, with its next potential landfall west of Ft. Myers Florida on Sunday afternoon. Interaction with the Cuban mainland has weakened the storm, but devastating impacts are still likely in the Florida Keys, which could come as early as daybreak Sunday.
  Hurricane Irma has weakened to 120 mph, still a strong Category 3 hurricane as it pulls slowly awa
  
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• Hurricane Irma inflicts death, destruction; track shift ominous for Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — 10 deaths and utter devastation are being reported in the wake of Hurricane Irma’s track into the Caribbean.
  The longest-lived 185 mph hurricane in history weakened only slightly as it slammed into the Turks and Caicos islands Wednesday afternoon. The Category 5 storm continued to bring 175 mph sustained winds, with gusts over 200 mph as it approached the southeastern Bahamas Wednesday night.
  A persistent westerly track prompted the National Hurricane Center to s
  
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• Hurricane Irma forecast to become Category 5 again just as it reaches Florida

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While Irma’s peak winds dropped to 155 mph Friday, the National Hurricane Center predicts the storm may increase to Category 5 strength once again, and just as the storm slams into the Florida Keys early Sunday morning.  The historic hurricane is now on a certain course into South Florida and the Keys with sustained winds up to 160 mph, gusting to around 200 mph.
  A persistent westerly track prompted the National Hurricane Center to shift the forecast track s
  
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• Hurricane Irma downgrades to Category 3 strength, will turn toward Florida soon

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hurricane Irma came down slightly to a 125 mph Category 3 hurricane early Saturday morning as the storm. This was just hours after making another landfall, this time in the Cuban Keys, as a Category 5 storm. It is the first Category 5 hurricane to hit Cuba since 1924.
  The eye wall of Irma began pounding islands off the north coast of Central Cuba Friday evening, still defying predictions of a northwest turn. Interaction with the Cuban mainland could weaken the storm, but of
  
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• Hurricane Irma becomes strongest on record–185 mph winds, gusting to 225 mph

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Devastation is feared in the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, where Category 5 Hurricane Irma is bearing down.
  Irma, which intensified to a category 5 storm early Tuesday, is breaking records. Its 185 mph maximum sustained wind speed is higher than any other storm on record in the Atlantic, outside the Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico. The strongest storm ever recorded in the entire Atlantic Basin was Hurricane Allen (Gulf of Mexico) in 1980, with winds of 190 mph.
  Cat
  
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• 10 deaths now confirmed from category 5 Hurricane Irma

  05-09-2017 23:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Devastation is reported on several of the northeastern islands of the Caribbean, where Category 5 Hurricane Irma made landfall Wednesday. Barbuda, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin and the British Virgin Islands all took direct hits. The death toll this morning stands at 10, and may rise higher.
  With winds of 185 mph, Hurricane Irma tied the 1935 Labor Day Florida Keys hurricane as the most powerful on record to make landfall in the Atlantic basin, tying two other hurricanes as th
  
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• Florida Keys to issue mandatory evacuations ahead of Irma

  05-09-2017 22:48 via kxan.com
  MONROE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Monroe County officials will be issuing mandatory evacuations due to Hurricane Irma’s storm track headed for the Florida Keys.
  On Tuesday, officials announced they would be issuing a mandatory visitor evacuation starting at sunrise on Wednesday.
  Evacuations for residents will also be issued, but officials have not determined exactly when.
  Tourists and residents are being encouraged to start getting their evacuation plans in place now. The earlier people l
  
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• Drivers whose cars were flooded by Harvey can’t find rentals

  05-09-2017 22:40 via kxan.com
  BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — When Hurricane Harvey flooded tens of thousands of cars, the storm also created an instant shortage of rental vehicles in Texas.
  Jason Bell had three cars flooded. When he checked at one car-rental office, about 2,500 people were ahead of him on the waiting list. At another location, the reservations numbered about 300.
  Rental companies say they are bringing in more vehicles, but the logistical problems left by Harvey could get worse as Hurricane Irma threatens Flori
  
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• Woman attacked while jogging on Austin High School track

  05-09-2017 22:08 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officers are asking for your help finding a man who attacked a jogger on the Austin High School track last month.
  The woman had finished several laps on the track, at 1715 Cesar Chavez St., around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22 when she was grabbed from behind in a “bear hug,” Austin police said Tuesday. The male suspect then tried to put a cloth over her mouth during a brief struggle.
  Officers say the woman was able to run away and call police. The victim told poli
  
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• K9 Lobos discovers 50 lbs of meth in car at IH-10 rest stop

  05-09-2017 20:56 via kxan.com
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Narcotics K9 Lobos discovered more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine in a family’s car at a rest area on Interstate Highway 10 last Friday.
  Around 2 p.m. Lobos and Sgt. Randy Thumann spoke with the mother, father and two young children who had parked their Chevy Cruz at the rest stop at mile 658, near the city of Waelder. Thumann became suspicious that they were involved in drug trafficking, according to a press release from the Fayette County Sheriff&r
  
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• Police identify east Austin homicide victim, arrest roommate

  05-09-2017 20:43 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police identified a man who was killed in a home in east Austin last Thursday and are hoping to speak with his roommate about the case.
  The Medical Examiner ruled that Charles Edward Peterson III, 59, died as a result of a homicide, according to a release. Around 12:46 p.m. on Aug. 31 police went to a home at 7500 Berkman Drive for a welfare check. They found Peterson dead inside.
  Detectives said Tuesday afternoon that the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force located Peterson&rsqu
  
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• Hays County moves forward with plan to help improve dispatch times

  05-09-2017 20:32 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – In an effort to improve dispatch times across Hays County, the Hays County Commissioners Court is considering creating a Combined Emergency Communications Center (CECC) that will take on dispatch responsibilities for the city of Kyle.
  Currently, the Hays County Sheriff’s Department dispatches for all agencies affiliated with Hays County as well as the Buda Police Department. By combining the Kyle Police Department’s dispatch team of 14 into the county
  
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• Maine lobster predicts six more weeks of summer

  05-09-2017 19:35 via kxan.com
  BELFAST, Maine (NBC News/KXAN) — People can expect six more weeks of summer, if a weather-forecasting lobster in Maine is to be believed.
  While Pennsylvania has groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, Maine has Passy Pete, who predicts how long summer will last. Each September he’s plucked from the water and uses his claw to select from two scrolls — one for winter and one for summer.
  “Now the last two years he was right both years,” said local businessman David Crabiel. &ldqu
  
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• Paxton’s legal threat convinces Trump administration to wind down DACA

  05-09-2017 19:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday, the Trump Administration announced a “wind down” of the DACA program — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — which protected people who came to the U.S. illegally as children from being deported.
  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue the administration for continuing a program brought by “executive overreach” if the program was continued past Sept. 5.
  Citing possible Texas litigation, which included nine other st
  
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• AG Paxton’s legal threat convinces administration to wind down DACA

  05-09-2017 19:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday, the Trump Administration announced a “wind down” of the DACA program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which protected people who came to the U.S. illegally as children from being deported.
  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue the administration for continuing a program brought by “executive overreach” if the program was continued past Sept. 5
  Citing possible Texas litigation, which included nine other states, United St
  
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• Austin mother accused of encouraging 4-year-old daughter to fight

  05-09-2017 19:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An arrest warrant has been issued for an Austin woman who is accused of encouraging her 4-year-old daughter to fight with other children while filming it on her phone.
  On Aug. 12, Austin police say they received a report of a child endangerment from a man who said Jennifer Sanchez, 19, the mother of his child, was taping videos that showed the children fighting. The father also posted the videos on his Facebook page, making the videos go viral–the videos have since be
  
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• Uber driver allegedly sexually assaulted by drunk passenger

  05-09-2017 18:51 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man is accused of sexually assaulting an Uber driver who dropped him off at a hostel in Austin last Monday.
  Eric Alvarado, 32, faces a second degree felony charge of sexual assault.
  The victim called 911 at 3:06 a.m. on Aug. 27 to report the alleged assault that happened around 1:30 a.m. According to an arrest warrant, she told officers that when she picked Alvarado up, he got into the front seat of her car and at one point “began talking about how he had not had se
  
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• Restaurant, casino owner to buy Rockets from Alexander

  05-09-2017 18:32 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Restaurant and casino owner Tilman Fertitta has agreed to buy the Houston Rockets from Leslie Alexander.
  Terms were not released and must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. The deal includes Clutch City Sports and Entertainment, which puts on shows and concerts at the Toyota Center.
  Fertitta will be the team’s sole owner, calling this a “lifelong dream come true.” He is the owner of the Landry’s restaurant chain and Golden Nugget casino and ho
  
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• Restaurant, casino owner to buy Rockets for $2.2 billion

  05-09-2017 18:32 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Restaurant and casino owner Tilman Fertitta agreed to buy the Houston Rockets from Leslie Alexander on Tuesday for an NBA-record $2.2 billion, a person with knowledge of the details said.
  The price surpasses the $2 billion Steve Ballmer paid for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. The value was confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were to remain private.
  The deal must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. It includes Clutch City Sports
  
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• Parts of SH 21 closed while crews repair flood-damaged culvert

  05-09-2017 17:01 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Parts of State Highway 21 will be closed for almost a week as Texas Department of Transportation crews fix Harvey damage.
  Flood waters caused a culvert to collapse, and TxDOT will close both lanes of SH 21 between High Road and Farm to Market Road 2001 while it works to repair it. The section of road will close from 9 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 5 to Monday Sept. 11.
  Eastbound traffic will be detoured at High Road while westbound traffic will detour at Fm 2001. Drivers s
  
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• Trump to phase out program protecting young immigrants

  05-09-2017 16:56 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will phase out a program that has protected hundreds of thousands of young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children and call for Congress to find a legislative solution to protect the immigrants, sometimes known as “dreamers.”
  That’s according to two people who were briefed on the plan set to be announced later Tuesday. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans before the announcement.
  Trump sugges
  
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• Trump rescinding DACA program protecting young immigrants

  05-09-2017 16:56 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday began dismantling the government program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children. Attorney General Jeff Sessions declared the Obama administration’s program “an unconstitutional exercise of authority” that must be revoked.
  New applications will be halted for President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has provide
  
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• Trump orders end to program protecting immigrant ‘dreamers’

  05-09-2017 16:56 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday began dismantling Barack Obama’s program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children, declaring he loves the “dreamers” who could face deportation but insisting it’s up to Congress, not him, to address their plight.
  Trump didn’t specify what he wanted done, essentially sending a six-month time bomb to his fellow Republicans in Congress who have
  
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• Gas prices spike as refineries remain shut

  05-09-2017 16:53 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP/KXAN) – Gas prices hit a high for the year on Labor Day as the effects of Harvey continued to shut in refineries. As of Monday the nationwide average for a gallon of gas averaged $2.638, according to the AAA. That’s up from $2.45 on Thursday.
  Exxon Mobil said Sunday it’s making progress on restarting its Baytown refinery and chemical plant, which was spared significant damage from Harvey. The company’s Beaumont refinery is flooded and remained shut.
  And Colon
  
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• Beyonce, Streisand to headline Harvey relief telethon

  05-09-2017 16:14 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — Beyonce, Blake Shelton, Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey will headline a one-hour benefit telethon to benefit Hurricane Harvey victims that will be simulcast next week on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CMT.
  The event will be telecast live at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 12, and on tape delay at 8 p.m. on the West Coast. It is being organized by Houston rap artist Bun B and Scooter Braun, founder of SB Projects.
  George Clooney, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, Julia Rober
  
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• Missouri mom donates 1,000 oz of breast milk to Harvey survivors

  05-09-2017 16:06 via kxan.com
  OWENSVILLE, Mo. (NBC News/CNN) — A woman from Missouri is pitching in a unique donation for the youngest Hurricane Harvey survivors: breast milk.
  Danielle Palmer had an oversupply of breast milk that she wanted to use to help. Her son was born with a heart defect and had to be fed through an IV for the first month of his life, so her freezer was full of  an extra 1,000 ounces of milk.
  “I know there’s mothers who want to feed their babies breast milk that can’t and it
  
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• FDA recalls pacemakers due to hacking concerns

  05-09-2017 14:55 via kxan.com
  SILVER SPRING, MD (WCMH) — The FDA is issuing a major recall, saying that half a million people’s pacemakers could be hacked.
  The Food and Drug Administration discovered flaws that could allow a hacker to change the settings or even turn it off.
  “This access could be used to modify programming commands to the implanted pacemaker, which could result in patient harm from rapid battery depletion or administration of inappropriate pacing,” the warning reads.
  So far,
  
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• Record-breaking Hurricane Irma bears down on Caribbean

  05-09-2017 14:32 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Wielding the most powerful winds ever recorded for a storm in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Irma bore down Tuesday on the Leeward Islands of the northeast Caribbean on a forecast path that could take it toward Florida over the weekend.
  The storm, a dangerous Category 5, posed an immediate threat to the small islands of the northern Leewards, including Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
  “The Leeward Islands
  
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• Irma strengthens to a Cat 5 storm as it nears Caribbean

  05-09-2017 14:32 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it roared toward the northeast Caribbean on a path toward the U.S.
  The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Irma had sustained winds of 175mph and was centered about 270 miles east of Antigua. It was moving west at 14 mph.
  Irma’s center was expected to move near or over the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday and early Wednesday, the hurricane center said. The eye was later expected
  
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• Irma strengthens into Category 5 hurricane, nears Caribbean

  05-09-2017 14:32 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Irma grew into a dangerous Category 5 storm, the most powerful seen in the Atlantic in over a decade, and roared toward islands in the northeast Caribbean Tuesday on a path that could eventually take it to the United States.
  The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Irma was a “potentially catastrophic” storm with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (285 kph) as it bore down on the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. It was centered ab
  
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• ‘Build the wall’ takes back seat to rebuilding after Harvey

  05-09-2017 14:23 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — The U.S. government carefully designed a path of least resistance to building a border wall in Texas, picking places it already owns or controls to quickly begin construction.
  All it needed was Congress to approve the money. Then came Harvey.
  The Trump administration must now grapple with a storm that devastated the Texas Gulf Coast, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes.
  Rebuilding will cost tens of billions of dollars and will probably have to come at the ex
  
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• Harvey volunteer keeps spirits up through laughter and hugs

  05-09-2017 14:07 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin area volunteers continue to work non-stop to help to Harvey evacuees. We found one volunteer keeping all the others motivated through laughter.
  It takes a lot of work to gather, sort and pack all the supplies either heading to Houston, or to flood survivors in Austin, according to Chris Reighley.  He said volunteers at the Austin Disaster Relief Network do that work with smiles on their faces. If you see how Chris interacts with them, it’s easy to kno
  
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• Relief comes slowly for coastal towns recovering from Harvey

  05-09-2017 13:37 via kxan.com
  SEADRIFT, Texas (AP) — Some shoreline communities that bore the brunt of Hurricane Harvey still need clean water, electricity and health care more than a week after the winds and rain subsided.
  Locals in Port Aransas, Seadrift and Sargent awoke on Aug. 25 expecting a hurricane along the lines of Bret and Dolly, storms weak enough to have their names recycled by the National Hurricane Center.
  But by nightfall, when it was too late for more people to leave, Harvey had grown stronger than Kat
  
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