Austin news

• Woman injured in crash on I-35 dies a week later

  08-09-2017 23:52 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A passenger in a crash on Interstate 35 through downtown Austin last month has died from her injuries.
  Officers say a Dodge Dakota was traveling in the middle lane of I-35, near East 15th Street, when the driver hit a trailer being towed by a truck around 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 24.
  The passenger in the Dakota, Frances Berry, 87, was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries on Saturday, Sept. 2.
  Police say the crash is still under investigation. Anyone with informat
  
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• Woman who died after crashing into fence has been identified

  08-09-2017 23:49 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who died after she struck a car and then ran through a fence Tuesday evening has been identified.
  Austin police say Ashley Clark, 28, was driving her Jeep Liberty southbound on US 183 near Burleson Road around 7:16 p.m. when she hit another vehicle, left the highway and crashed through fences.
  Clark died at the scene. No one else was injured. Police have not said what might have caused Clark to veer off the road.
  Anyone with information regarding this incident is as
  
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• Indoor skydiving being used to teach kids about science

  08-09-2017 23:35 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s only a few weeks into the school year, but students at Palm Elementary in Austin are already taking a field trip. This one will likely set the bar high: indoor skydiving at iFly in northwest Austin.
  This trip is a treat for first through fifth grade students who completed a reading challenge over the summer, but it’s not all fun and games. Field trips to iFLY include science instructions, demonstrations, classroom experiments and a chance to go flying in th
  
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• MUGSHOTS: Suspects busted in ‘Spero’ drug sting around the ARCH

  08-09-2017 22:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In an effort to tackle the ever-present drug problem around the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless in downtown Austin, the Austin Police Department conducted a massive undercover drug sting over the summer.
  Dubbed operation “Spero,” officers bought narcotics from 81 suspects over eight days between June 20 and July 20. Here are some of the suspects that have been arrested in connection with Spero. Austin police Spero drug sting near the ARCH Lemond Bon
  
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• Seventh grader arrested after gun found in backpack in northwest Austin

  08-09-2017 22:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A seventh grader has been arrested at Grisham Middle School in northwest Austin after a loaded gun was found in the student’s backpack, according to Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody.
  The suspect was taken to the Juvenile Justice Center. Sheriff Chody said no one was injured and there were no known threats. The school, located at 10805 School House Ln., near the intersection of US 183 and Lake Creek Parkway, is in the Round Rock Independent School District.
  A par
  
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• Austin ISD graduation rate at the highest it’s ever seen

  08-09-2017 22:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The largest school district in Central Texas raised its federal graduation rates by 1 percent for the class of 2016. The Austin Independent School District says the class of 2015 graduation rate was 89.7 percent, and now it’s at 90.7 percent graduation rate — the highest the district has ever experienced.
  “I am so #AISDProud of the gains our students and staff have made in graduation and dropout rates,” said Superintendent Paul Cruz. “This far
  
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• WATCH: Dramatic ending to high-speed chase in Detroit

  08-09-2017 22:00 via kxan.com
  DETROIT (AP) — Police have arrested a motorist following a nearly 30-minute high-speed chase along freeways and surface streets near downtown Detroit.
  The driver, who appeared to be a man, bolted from the vehicle and jumped a concrete barrier separating the directional lanes of an interstate before being struck by a SUV and landing on top of that vehicle.
  He then was surrounded and tackled to the ground by officers.
  WDIV-TV reports that the chase started about 12:20 p.m. The motorist led p
  
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• Austinite trapped in St. Thomas post Hurricane Irma

  08-09-2017 20:45 via kxan.com
  ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (KXAN) — An Austinite is trapped in St. Thomas Friday, after enduring the eye of Hurricane Irma.
  Victoria Fitzpatrick was on vacation this week and tried to fly home to Texas before the hurricane hit, but wasn’t able to get a flight out in time. So she sought shelter on the island and hoped for the best.
  Fitzpatrick says the damage at her resort is extensive, but she’s grateful to be alive. Now her emotions have turned to fear, as supplies there
  
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• PHOTOS: Irma tears through Caribbean

  08-09-2017 19:50 via kxan.com
  THE CARIBBEAN (KXAN) — Hurricane Irma left devastation in its wake as it passed through the Caribbean.
  It destroyed buildings, toppled trees and knocked out power and water for thousands of people when it began its track through numerous islands Wednesday, including Puerto Rico, St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Thomas, Barbuda and Anguilla.
  As of noon Friday, officials say 21 people had died, and the death toll could rise. Irma leaves destruction in its wake in the Caribbean In this image made f
  
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• Chili’s slashes menu by 40 percent to focus on burgers, ribs

  08-09-2017 19:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If there is a certain dish you really enjoy at Chili’s Grill and Bar, it could potentially be cut as the restaurant chain says it is slimming down its menu by 40 percent.
  In a release, Chili’s says over the years the restaurant has “chased consumer trends” and expanded its menu to appeal to everyone, which resulted in a “fuzzy food reputation.” That is why the restaurant is paring down its menu from 125 items to 75.
  “By eliminating
  
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• Irma leaves a trail of ruin in Caribbean

  08-09-2017 19:32 via kxan.com
  CAIBARIEN, Cuba (AP) — Hurricane Irma scraped Cuba’s northern coast Friday on a course toward Florida, leaving in its deadly wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands strewn with splintered lumber, corrugated metal and battered cars.
  The death toll in the Caribbean stood at at least 21 and was expected to rise as rescuers reached some of the hardest-hit areas. And a new danger lay on the horizon to the east: Hurricane Jose, a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds that could pun
  
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• Former US presidents raising money for hurricane relief

  08-09-2017 19:28 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The five living former U.S. presidents said Thursday they would team up to create the “One America Appeal” to raise money for storm recovery as Texas and Louisiana seek to regroup from Harvey and Florida and the Atlantic coast brace for Hurricane Irma.
  The hurricane recovery effort was announced by former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
  Online donations can be made at OneAmericaAppeal.org.
  The current p
  
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• Florida State, Florida cancel football games because of Irma

  08-09-2017 19:18 via kxan.com
  Florida State and Florida canceled their Saturday home football games Thursday because of Hurricane Irma.
  No. 10 Florida State was set to play Louisiana-Monroe, and No. 22 Florida was scheduled to face Northern Colorado.
  The storm also impacted games involving Florida teams outside the Top 25. South Florida and UConn called off their game in Connecticut because of travel concerns. Central Florida also announced its scheduled Friday night home game with Memphis had been called off. The Memphis-UC
  
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• PHOTOS: How Floridians are preparing for Irma

  08-09-2017 19:06 via kxan.com
  MIAMI, Fla. (KXAN) — With mandatory evacuations in some parts of Florida, people who can gas up and get out are doing so.
  Other spent the past few days boarding up their businesses and homes. Irma is on track to potentially reach Florida this weekend. It has already reached higher wind speeds than Hurricane Andrew, which devastated parts of Florida and had highest sustained winds at 175 mph in August 1992. Floridians Bracing for Irma A boarded up building on normally bustling South Beach i
  
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• Florida man offers last generator to woman in need during Irma preparations

  08-09-2017 17:37 via kxan.com
  ALMOTE SPRINGS, Florida (KXAN and NBC News) — As Hurricane Irma heads closer to the Florida coast, many are scrambling to get the supplies they need when the storm hits.
  Despite the stress, there are also moments of generosity.
  The latest details as Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida
  Pam Brekke was at a store in Almote Springs, Florida, when she realized the last generator sold out.
  “My father’s on oxygen and I’m worried about this storm,” she said. She also added
  
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• Tip leads Travis County deputies to $300,000 worth of cocaine

  08-09-2017 16:58 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three men are in custody accused of distributing cocaine in the Austin area.
  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office says their VICE Unit recently received information that a man, who authorities later identified as Sergio Gorostieta, was “distributing large amounts” of cocaine. During an Aug. 17 surveillance of Gorostieta, 32, TCSO said they saw the drugs being exchanged for money between Gorostieta and another man.
  When the team moved in to arrest them, Goros
  
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• Thousands of Texas cattle may have died in wake of Harvey

  08-09-2017 16:44 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Texas agricultural officials fear thousands of cattle may have died in the aftermath of Harvey, resulting in losses to ranchers of tens of millions of dollars.
  The counties that sustained damage when Harvey first came ashore Aug. 25 were home to 1.2 million head of cattle, representing 1-in-4 of all beef cows in Texas, the nation’s largest producer.
  The Houston Chronicle reports that most ranchers don’t insure their herds because of the cost, so a rancher could b
  
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• Greg Kelley Foundation works to raise money for legal fees

  08-09-2017 16:19 via kxan.com
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Supporters of Greg Kelley gathered Wednesday night for a fundraiser to help his family pay for legal expenses.
  Hundreds turned out to Uncle Gary’s Bar in Pflugerville for the GRK Foundation’s event. The goal was to help Kelley’s family recover costs of the original trial three years ago. Kelley’s mother had to sell her home and belongings to pay attorney’s fees.
  “I think we are believing and fighting in something that is grea
  
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• TRAFFIC ALERT: Southbound MoPac down to 1 lane at RM 2222 this weekend

  08-09-2017 16:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Construction crews on the MoPac Improvement Project are still working on resurfacing the asphalt which means there are more closures scheduled for this weekend.
  Starting Friday at 10 p.m., southbound MoPac between Ranch to Market 2222 and Enfield Road will be reduced to one lane — only the right lane will be open. The closure runs through 5 a.m. Monday.
  Drivers should avoid using southbound MoPac during these closures since significant travel delays are expected.
  Whil
  
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• Houston records highest TX ozone level in 2017 in Harvey pollution spike

  08-09-2017 15:30 via kxan.com
  GALENA PARK, Texas (AP) — People living near the nation’s highest concentration of petrochemical plants in metro Houston say the air is bad enough on normal days.
  It got worse as Harvey crashed in and the nation’s fourth-largest city recorded the highest ozone pollution of the year in Texas.
  Petrochemical plants and refineries reported more than 1.5 million pounds of extraordinary emissions over eight days beginning Aug. 23 in Harris County, which encompasses Houston.
  That was
  
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• Super letdown: Patriots routed in 2nd half, Chiefs win 42-27

  08-09-2017 15:25 via kxan.com
  FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Winning at New England when the Patriots are coming off an historic Super Bowl victory is worth getting a little wild over.
  That’s not the Kansas City Chiefs’ style. Not even when a rookie is setting records.
  Kareem Hunt, after fumbling on his first NFL carry, scored three times and set an NFL mark in a 42-27 stunner Thursday night to open the NFL season. Hunt’s 246 yards in his pro debut were a record since the 1970 merger.
  “We’re goi
  
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• Music teacher plays saxophone during brain surgery

  08-09-2017 15:03 via kxan.com
  ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — In 2015, Dan Fabbio was a music teacher in a school in New Hartford, New York. One day he felt ill and visited a hospital in nearby Utica. That visit changed his life.
  “My mind was fighting over okay, which is real?” Dan Fabbio began seeing and hearing things he knew weren’t real. At 25, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
  Fabbio was referred to doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
  Dr. Webster Pilcher was one of the doctors who
  
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• House sends $15B Harvey aid bill, debt hike to Trump to sign

  08-09-2017 14:19 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted overwhelmingly on Friday to send a $15.3 billion disaster aid package to President Donald Trump, overcoming conservative objections to linking the emergency legislation to a temporary increase in America’s borrowing authority. The legislation also keeps the government funded into December.
  The 316-90 vote would refill depleted emergency accounts as Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Irma this weekend and Texas picks up the pieces after the de
  
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• House heads toward passage of Harvey aid bill, debt hike

  08-09-2017 14:19 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative grumbling aside, the House is heading toward backing a $15.3 billion disaster aid package that President Donald Trump and Democrats have linked to a temporary increase in America’s borrowing authority and keeping the government funded through December.
  The House vote on Friday would send the massive package to Trump for his signature, replenishing rapidly dwindling emergency accounts as Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Irma this weekend and Te
  
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• Congress sends aid bill, debt hike to Trump

  08-09-2017 14:19 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress on Friday sent President Donald Trump a massive package of $15.3 billion in disaster aid linked to an increase in the nation’s borrowing authority that angered conservative Republicans who hissed and booed senior administration officials dispatched to Capitol Hill to defend it.
  The House voted 316-90 for the measure that would refill depleted emergency accounts as Florida braces for the impact of Hurricane Irma and Texas picks up the pieces after the devast
  
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• Officers, medics sue over chemical plant fire after Harvey

  08-09-2017 14:05 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Seven sheriff’s deputies and medical emergency responders who say they were sickened by a chemical fire at a plant outside Houston that flooded during Harvey sued the owner Thursday for gross negligence, seeking $1 million in damages.
  A state judge granted a temporary restraining order to prevent plant owner Arkema Inc. from removing evidence or altering the scene, said Kimberly Spurlock, the attorney for the plaintiffs.She said a hearing was set for Sept. 22.
  The suit
  
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• How to help: collect toys for Harvey and Irma’s displaced children

  08-09-2017 13:07 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is working to better manage donations so they get to those in need.
  Toys are part of that and right now Austin is collecting and sorting toys for children staying at the city’s shelter who were displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
  Ben Ornelas has volunteered for Operation Blue Santa for more than 20 years. Normally, Blue Santa is all about Christmas, but this September mission is one of the more memorable and meaningful operations for Ornelas.
  &
  
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• Did you feel it? Mexico hit by biggest quake in decades, 58 killed

  08-09-2017 12:48 via kxan.com
  MEXICO CITY (AP/KXAN) — A major earthquake off Mexico’s southern coast killed at least 58 people, with the country’s president saying Friday it was the biggest in decades to hit the country. Houses and at least one hotel toppled, electricity was cut and people fled into the streets in panic. Some people reported feeling it in Austin, and a few said they felt rumblings as far north as the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel
  
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• Did you feel it? Mexico hit by biggest quake in decades, 26 killed

  08-09-2017 12:48 via kxan.com
  MEXICO CITY (AP/KXAN) — A major earthquake off Mexico’s southern coast killed at least 26 people, with the country’s president saying Friday it was the biggest in decades to hit the country. Houses and at least one hotel toppled, electricity was cut and people fled into the streets in panic. Some people reported feeling it in Austin, and a few said they felt rumblings as far north as the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel
  
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• Local business owner fears changes to RM 2222 will shut down his business

  08-09-2017 12:32 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN)– The Four Points area where Ranch to Market 2222 intersects with Ranch to Market 620 is notorious for traffic headaches. The Texas Department of Transportation is working to alleviate that problem with several proposed changes to the intersection that will improve mobility and safety. However, some business owners in the area say that the proposed changes will do more harm than good.
  Currently, 38,000 vehicles travel through this section of roadway and predicti
  
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• Dead bat found on Main Street in Buda sparks another rabies alert

  08-09-2017 05:55 via kxan.com
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) — Officials in Buda put out the second rabies alert in a week after a dead bat was found on the ground on Main Street.
  The bat was found in the 760 block of the street, near Bradfield Drive, around 10 a.m. Wednesday. The bat was untestable due to decomposition, but as a precaution the state treats these cases as a positive result, the city of Buda said.
  Anyone who may have come in contact with the bat is asked to call Animal Control at 1-512-312-1001, the Hays County Hea
  
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• Hidden compartments in vehicle reveal $147K during I-10 traffic stop

  08-09-2017 05:54 via kxan.com
  FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Fayette County deputy uncovered $147,000 in hidden U.S. currency during a traffic stop Tuesday on Interstate 10.
  Deputy David Smith pulled the vehicle over near Flatonia at around 3:30 p.m. The deputy saw multiple indicators of possible criminal activity, and got the driver’s consent to search the vehicle.
  Smith found several bundles similar to narcotics packaging concealed in compartments within the vehicle.
  Francisco Alanis-Valero, 47, of Monterrey,
  
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• Pflugerville scores 24 unanswered to beat Leander

  08-09-2017 05:17 via kxan.com
  LEANDER (KXAN) — Pflugerville used two third quarter touchdowns from I.K. Ebayiro to overcome a 10-6 deficit to beat Leander, 30-13, for its first win of the season.
  The Panthers scored 24 straight en route to the win.
  They’ll play Westlake next Friday.
  Leander falls to 0-2 on the year. They’re in action against Stony Point on Thursday. Quarterback Rashad Carter left the game in the first half with a finger injury, so his status for next week is up in the air.
  
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• Sec. of Education blasts university sex assault hearings as ‘kangaroo courts’

  08-09-2017 05:15 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thursday the US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos compared university administrative hearings on sexual misconduct to “kangaroo courts.”
  In a wide ranging speech, she criticized the current process of investigating sexual assault allegations within individual universities and lays the blame on an Obama-era memo on Title IX.
  She said keeping the process within a university leads to too much injustice for victims of sexual assault and people who’ve been fal
  
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• Those affected by Harvey receiving assistance at new resource center

  08-09-2017 04:33 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Stephanie Myers arrived in Austin four days ago, after her home in Houston was still flooded.
  “It took me some days to even realize what happened,” Myers said. “I was brushing my teeth in the mirror and it hit me – I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve kind of lost everything. I have to start my life over.’”
  Myers found a place to stay through Airbnb and HomeAway, but came to Austin’s mega shelter Wednesday to get medicine, c
  
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• Man accused of killing roommate in east Austin with fireplace poker

  08-09-2017 04:08 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police believe the victim in an east Austin murder was beaten to death with a fireplace poker and strangled by his roommate.
  Detectives say Dijon Reid, who was found Tuesday after crashing the victim’s vehicle into gravestones at a southwest Austin cemetery, confessed to the crime.
  A friend who had not heard from the victim, 59-year-old Charles Peterson III, went to check on him at his home on Aug. 31 in the 7500 block of Berkman Drive, near the intersection of Camero
  
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• Police search for woman, 73, last seen in Pflugerville

  08-09-2017 04:04 via kxan.com
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A woman who often experiences confusion is missing in Pflugerville, police say.
  Julia Bazan Guerra, 73, was last seen around 2:45 p.m. Thursday in the area of Kingston Lacy and North Heathwilde Boulevard.
  Officers believe she is driving a blue Honda CR-V with license plate number GCZ0389.
  Anyone with information on her possible location is asked to call Pflugerville police at 512-990-6700.
  The type of car Pflugerville police believe Julia Guerra is driving (Pho
  
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• Missing woman in Pflugerville found safe

  08-09-2017 04:04 via kxan.com
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — A woman who often experiences confusion and went missing in Pflugerville Thursday night has been found safe.
  Julia Bazan Guerra, 73, was last seen around 2:45 p.m. Thursday in the area of Kingston Lacy and North Heathwilde Boulevard.
  Officers believe she was driving a blue Honda CR-V with license plate number GCZ0389.
  The type of car Pflugerville police believe Julia Guerra is driving (Photo via Pflugerville police)
  
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• Austin facing a rental car shortage after Harvey

  08-09-2017 02:54 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Harvey’s impact continues to be felt across Texas, many times in every day situations Texans might not expect. In Austin, many are finding out that the hurricane has created shortages in rental car supply.
  At Austin Bergstrom International Airport, rental counter employees say they’re extremely short on vehicles after the majority were sent to Houston, where countless cars were flooded out.
  Nat Rea traveled to Austin to rent a car after that happened to his truc
  
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• Williamson Co. DA slams commissioners for budget process

  08-09-2017 02:19 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — “I was elected to restore integrity, professionalism and experience. I can’t do that by remaining silent and allowing this process to continue.”
  That was one of many bold statements Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick made to the county commissioners court at its Aug. 29 meeting.
  “You neglect law enforcement and the administration of justice,” said Dick. “If you wanted to take care of our people and our commun
  
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• TxDOT: 90 percent of roads affected by Harvey are back open

  08-09-2017 02:02 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texans continue to clean up the destruction Hurricane Harvey left as it ravaged the Coastal Bend and Houston area. That clean up includes thousands of staff members with the Texas Department of Transportation. The agency dispatched about 3,600 employees and 2,500 pieces of equipment to areas affected by Harvey, an official said.
  “Harvey was a storm that was really beyond anything that TxDOT has taken on ever, in terms of its size and extent,” deputy executive
  
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• Emergency Stage 4 water restrictions in place for parts of Travis, Hays counties

  08-09-2017 00:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — People who get their water from the West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) are being asked to eliminate non-essential water use due to a 20-inch transmission line that was damaged.
  The water agency says it is implementing emergency Stage 4 water restrictions as it works to repair the broken line, which is on US 290 at Nutty Brown Road. During Stage 4, customers should not water their lawns and golf courses should not be watered.
  The emergency measures are in effe
  
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• Mother charged in death of son with cerebral palsy due to ‘severe neglect’

  08-09-2017 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin woman was arrested Thursday, months after the death of her 26-year-old son with cerebral palsy, who was found to be suffering from “severe neglect,” police said.
  Officers were called around 10 p.m. on June 20 to a home on Prince Drive, near the US 183 and I-35 interchange in north Austin, for the death of Edgar Carbajal. Based on his age and his diagnosis with cerebral palsy from birth, a homicide detective and a Travis County Medical Examiner&rsq
  
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