Austin news

• Witnesses asked to come forward after attempted kidnapping in SE Austin

  26-09-2017 23:43 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Were you in the area of Georgie Trace Avenue in southeast Austin around 7:55 a.m. Tuesday morning?
  If so, police would like to speak to you if you witnessed an attempted kidnapping or anything out of the ordinary on the street. The incident happened near Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park
  Austin Police Department child abuse detectives are investigating and asking anyone who may have seen something to call 512-974-6880.
  Police emphasized the incident served as a reminder to rem
  
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• Visit Austin spent thousands of dollars in concert tickets, alcohol, jewelry

  26-09-2017 23:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the “Live Music Capital of the World,” critics are concerned that employees of the largely taxpayer funded Austin Convention Center and Visitors Bureau seem to party like rock stars.
  ACVB, officially called Visit Austin, shelled out nearly a half million tax dollars on entertainment, alcohol and gifts in the past two years, according to a KXAN line-by-line analysis of the organization’s American Express credit card statements and receipts. The spending
  
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• Big spending in Austin’s visitors bureau raising concerns

  26-09-2017 23:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the “Live Music Capital of the World,” critics are concerned that employees of the largely taxpayer funded Austin Convention Center and Visitors Bureau seem to party like rock stars.
  ACVB, officially called Visit Austin, shelled out nearly a half million tax dollars on entertainment, alcohol and gifts in the past two years, according to a KXAN line-by-line analysis of the organization’s American Express credit card statements and receipts. The spending
  
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• City of Austin wants your opinion on Spicewood Springs Road changes

  26-09-2017 23:32 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 2016 Mobility Bond, approved by voters in November 2016, included $17 million in funding for preliminary engineering, design and construction of improvements along Spicewood Springs Road between Mesa and Loop 360. Now the city of Austin wants your input about Spicewood Springs Road.
  Reena Kaven is a co-owner of Studio Mantra and travels the road daily. “I’m in a very unique position. I live on the other side of 360 and I own a business here on Mesa.&rdq
  
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• Bomb scare causes evacuation in San Marcos strip mall

  26-09-2017 22:59 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Parts of a San Marcos strip mall were evacuated Tuesday morning as officers investigated a suspicious package.
  The San Marcos Marshal’s Office says the bomb scare led to the evacuation inside a business at 1050 McKinley Place, just south of Interstate 35 and Wonder World Drive, at 10:53 a.m. An employee called police after finding the package.
  The Austin Police Department was called to help find out if the package was a threat. Around 1:30 p.m., officers de
  
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• The Latest: Maria, 9 days a hurricane, now a tropical storm

  26-09-2017 22:25 via kxan.com
  WAVES, North Carolina (AP) — The Latest on Hurricane Maria (all times local):
  5:10 p.m.
  Maria has finally become just a tropical storm. The latest update from the National Hurricane Center says Maria’s top sustained winds have dropped Tuesday to near 70 mph (115 kph), ending a nine-day run as a hurricane.
  The center remained far offshore, centered about 160 miles (260 kilometers) east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and moving north at 7 mph (11 kph). Still, a tropical st
  
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• Full federal court to hear ‘Making a Murderer’ appeal

  26-09-2017 20:03 via kxan.com
  MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal appeals court will consider arguments Tuesday over whether detectives tricked a Wisconsin inmate featured in the “Making a Murderer” series into confessing and whether he should go free in a case that puts police practices in the spotlight.
  Oral arguments in Brendan Dassey’s case are before all 12 judges of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago. Dassey’s lawyers and state attorneys are each expected to speak for half an hour
  
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• Florida teen steals uniform, poses as deputy to impress girlfriend

  26-09-2017 19:25 via kxan.com
  MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WESH) — A Florida teen is behind bars after stealing a uniform, gun and cruiser, then posing as a Marion County Sheriff’s deputy.
  Isael Lima is accused of impersonating his uncle, who is a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Detectives said he stole his uncle’s badge and uniform over the weekend, and the deception started when he tried to impress his girlfriend.
  Officials said Lima called for backup when he was breaking up a fight and identified hi
  
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• Chip and Joanna Gaines ending ‘Fixer Upper’ after season 5

  26-09-2017 18:55 via kxan.com
  WACO, Texas (KXAN) — Home makeover duo Chip and Joanna Gaines announced Tuesday their HGTV show “Fixer Upper” is ending after season 5.
  The couple wrote that the decision was a difficult one, but “the right choice for us,” in a blog post on their Magnolia Market website. They say they are very proud of the last season of the show.
  “Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen,” they write.
  
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• Tom Hanks to present his short stories at Texas Book Festival

  26-09-2017 18:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Actor Tom Hanks will travel to downtown Austin in November to present his first short story collection during the Texas Book Festival. “Uncommon Type” features 17 stories.
  Hanks will speak alongside Texas author and Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright Nov. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse has also partnered with the festival to live stream the authors’ conversation at theaters around the country.
  People can buy tickets at the Texas Book Festival website.
  
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• Gov. Abbott’s dog celebrates National Pancake Day

  26-09-2017 17:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Today is National Pancake Day and if you’re the First Dog of Texas and also happen to be named Pancake, you get to celebrate with a plush stack of your own.
  Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted a photo of Pancake celebrating with his his pancakes. It’s unclear if the plush toy contained a squeaker.Today is #NationalPancakeDay.So we gave pancakes to @TexasPancake the 1st Puppy of Texas. #txlege pic.twitter.com/W6gCmpmHUS
  — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) Septemb
  
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• Dez Bryant on anthem demonstration: It’s ‘the true definition of unity’

  26-09-2017 17:25 via kxan.com
  Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant discusses why his entire team decided to take a knee before the national anthem.
  The team, coaches and owner Jerry Jones linked arms and knelt before the national anthem prior to Monday night’s game.
  
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• AISD expands free breakfast for students

  26-09-2017 17:21 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 19,000 students in Austin will be able to get free breakfast, after the school district received a grant allowing it to expand the program.
  The Austin Independent School District announced Monday that 39 schools have access to funding, with some planning to roll out the Breakfast in the Classroom program in the near future.
  “Research shows that when students eat breakfast at school, students attend school more often, have better attendance rates and improved
  
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• Colorado driver leaves marijuana joint as apology for damaging car

  26-09-2017 16:52 via kxan.com
  DENVER (KXAN/KUSA) —  Someone in Colorado allegedly left a note, cash and a marijuana joint in one of the more unique ways of apologizing for damaging someone’s car.
  Mandi Shepard was leaving work Sunday when she realized someone had hit her car. There was a long scratch on her back bumper.
  It wasn’t until she started driving that she noticed the piece of paper stuck to her left side mirror, and an envelope rolled up in a baggy.
  “I was laughing so hard on the wa
  
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• Trial begins for wrong-way I-35 driver accused of manslaughter

  26-09-2017 16:23 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — The trial for a man accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 35 and killing a veteran on a motorcycle two years ago begins Tuesday.
  John McClintock, 32, faces intoxication manslaughter charge and murder with a deadly weapon charges. He told police he made a “wrong turn” in  as he was driving home to San Marcos in November 2015. Police received several calls about him that night as he drove north in the southbound lanes, and a police chase e
  
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• NCAA assistant basketball coaches, others charged in corruption scheme

  26-09-2017 16:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN/NBC) — The FBI arrested several Division-1 NCAA assistant and associate basketball coaches Tuesday morning, NBC News reports. Business associates of major sports apparel providers also face charges.
  Federal prosecutors in New York announced the corruption charges against 10 people, arrests made Monday night.
  Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State University, Chuck Person of Auburn University, Tony Bland of the University of Southern California and Emanuel Richardson of the University
  
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• 10 NCAA assistant basketball coaches, others charged in corruption scheme

  26-09-2017 16:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The FBI arrested several Division-1 NCAA assistant and associate basketball coaches Tuesday morning, NBC News reports. Business associates of major sports apparel providers also face charges.
  Federal prosecutors in New York announced the corruption charges against 10 people, arrests made Monday night.
  Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State University, Chuck Person of Auburn University, Tony Bland of the University of Southern California and Emanuel Richardson of the University of A
  
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• Dawnna Dukes’ trial delayed until December

  26-09-2017 15:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The criminal case against Rep. Dawnna Dukes will be delayed until December, a judge ruled Tuesday.
  Prosecutors were asking the judge for more time to prepare their prosecution of the Austin representative on 13 felony charges after a key witness offered contradictory statements to Dukes’ legal team. She was set to be tried Oct. 16, she will now face a Dec. 11 trial date.
  The defense for Rep. Dawnna Dukes alleges she received a racist email shortly after it filed an op
  
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• Dawnna Dukes’ defense cites racist email as reason to proceed with felony trial

  26-09-2017 15:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The defense for Rep. Dawnna Dukes alleges she received a racist email shortly after it filed an opposition to the State’s request to push back her trial on felony corruption charges.
  The email had no content, just a subject that said “Disgusting porch slave, time to resign lying scum.”
  It included that information in a supplemental opposition to motion to delay that it filed Monday, saying it was an example of the “humiliation, threats and vilificati
  
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• Groom saves drowning boy during wedding photo shoot

  26-09-2017 15:37 via kxan.com
  LONDON, Ontario (WFLA/CNN) — A groom in Canada went from the bride’s dream man to a superhero.
  Clayton and Brittany Cook just said their “I do’s” and were taking their wedding photos when Clayton noticed a little boy struggling in a river.
  Without hesitation, all dressed up, the groom rushed over, got into the water and pulled the boy out — and the wedding photographer captured the whole thing.In the photos, you can see a well-dressed Clayton Cook in the nearl
  
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• Equifax CEO steps down in wake of damaging data breach

  26-09-2017 15:29 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — Credit reporting agency Equifax is ousting CEO Richard Smith in an effort to clean up the mess left by a damaging data breach that exposed highly sensitive information of about 143 million Americans.
  The shake-up announced Tuesday comes after Equifax disclosed that hackers exploited a software flaw that the company didn’t fix to heist Social Security numbers, birthdates and other personal data that provide the keys to identify theft.
  Smith had been Equifax’s CEO
  
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• Texas families who use au pairs fear cuts to visa program

  26-09-2017 14:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin area family is growing concerned about President Donald Trump’s desire to cut a visitor exchange program they depend on.
  The J-1 Visa is one critics say employers exploit to avoid hiring more expensive American workers and instead hire cheaper labor. The President ordered the review as part of his “Buy American, Hire American” executive order signed in April.
  Tiffany Anschutz said the program makes taking care of her children much more manag
  
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• Carsharing car2go replacing smart cars with compact Mercedes-Benz

  26-09-2017 14:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Those tiny smart cars you can rent and drive around Austin will slowly start disappearing. Car2go announced Tuesday it is transitioning to a new fleet of Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLA compact cars.
  The German-based company launched in 2009 and houses its North American headquarters in Austin. It allows drivers to use an app to rent cars based on how long they use them — anywhere from a few minutes to an entire day. Users also don’t have to pay for gas, insurance or
  
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• GOP’s latest health care bill won’t get a vote

  26-09-2017 12:13 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans will not vote this week on the latest, last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
  That’s the word from senators as they emerged from a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona shook his head and said “no” when asked about plans for a vote.
  Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ decision to oppose the GOP push to repeal President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul leaves
  
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• Group questions Austin ISD bond dollars for west vs. east side

  26-09-2017 06:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In less than a month, Austinites will be able to vote in the Austin Independent School District bond election.
  Monday night the group Save East Austin Schools made some noise outside the board meeting, trying to convince people to vote “no.”
  Around 20 people were at a small rally taking a stand against the $1 billion bond on the ballot in November. They do not see enough investment in east Austin campuses.
  “As we’re losing homes as we’re losing
  
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• Cowboys run away from the Cardinals

  26-09-2017 05:46 via kxan.com
  PHOENIX (KXAN) — A night that began with solidarity between both teams ended in a 28-17 Dallas Cowboys win over the Arizona Cardinals.
  Receiver Brice Butler provided the spark with a fourth quarter touchdown and a game clinching 53 yard snag with 6:20 to go in the game. Running back Ezekiel Elliott extended the lead to 28-17 running for an eight yard score to cap off the Cowboys win.
  In pregame, Cowboys and Cardinals players met near midfield linking arms with their respective teammates. C
  
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• Fort Hood soldier injured by pickup truck driver in hit-and-run

  26-09-2017 05:26 via kxan.com
  KILLEEN, Texas (KWKT) — The Killeen Police Department is currently investigating a hit-and-run incident.
  Last Saturday, police responded to what was reported as a traffic crash in the 2600 block of Savage Drive.
  When officers arrived, they saw EMS was in the process of transporting the victim from the scene.
  Witnesses said a Ford pickup truck was following the victim’s vehicle, and the victim stopped her vehicle and got out.
  As the victim stood next to her vehicle, the pickup tr
  
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• Some University of North Texas staff oppose Trump Jr. invite

  26-09-2017 05:10 via kxan.com
  DENTON, Texas (AP) — More than 80 faculty members at the University of North Texas have signed a letter opposing Donald Trump Jr. as a speaker in a donor-sponsored lecture series.
  The letter asks administrators of the school in Denton, 35 miles northwest of Dallas, to rescind the invitation to the oldest son of President Donald Trump. The open letter says the invitation shows disrespect for women, people of color and the LGBTQ community.
  Trump Jr. is scheduled to speak Oct. 24 and be paid
  
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• 3 bikers plead guilty in 2006 Austin murder of alleged rival

  26-09-2017 04:59 via kxan.com
  SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Three Bandidos motorcycle club members have pleaded guilty in the 2006 slaying of an Austin man who allegedly sought to establish a chapter of the rival Hell’s Angels.
  The U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Antonio said Monday that brothers Robert and Johnny Romo pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering. Jesse Benavidez pleaded guilty to a weapons charge linked to the murder.
  All three face up to life in federal prison. Spokesman Daryl Fields says a fourth
  
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• California boy dies from hammer attack after trying to protect sister

  26-09-2017 04:40 via kxan.com
  SACRAMENTO (KRON) — The grandmother of an 8-year-old boy who was brutally murdered with a hammer says he was killed trying to protect his young sister from a predator.
  Investigators say Dante Daniels was attacked by his mother’s ex-boyfriend, 23-year-old Deandre Chaney Jr., early in the morning on Sept. 1, according to KTXL.
  Dante was in third grade at Oakridge Elementary in South Sacramento. He didn’t make it to his second day of school.
  “This guy beat my grandson with a
  
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• Lone Steelers lineman who attended national anthem now has best selling jersey

  26-09-2017 04:30 via kxan.com
  PITTSBURGH (WCMH/AP) — According to the site that runs the NFL’s gear shop, Alejandro Villanueva now has the NFL’s best selling jersey, after he was the lone Pittsburgh Steelers player to attend the singing of the national anthem at Sunday’s game.
  Villanueva, an offensive lineman for the Steelers, was the team’s only player to come on to the field while the “Star Spangled Banner” played before Pittsburgh’s game against Chicago.
  Earlier in the
  
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• Parents using NFL controversy as learning lesson for young players

  26-09-2017 04:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many football fans are reacting to the controversy surrounding the National Football League where some players or even entire teams are taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem.
  Parents are also paying close attention — especially those with kids playing football. Now, these player protests are inspiring more than just controversy, it’s inspiring conversations.
  At House Park in Austin on Monday night, it was the Covington Colts vs. the Martin Eagl
  
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• Parents say drivers aren’t stopping for school buses along US 290

  26-09-2017 02:08 via kxan.com
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Parents living along US Highway 290 say they are fed up with drivers speeding past school buses stopped to pick up students. Leaders with Dripping Springs Independent School District say it’s a problem they deal with often.
  The district says it has five bus stops along US 290. It’s not an ideal location but the district says it really has no other options.
  “If the bus could travel down the road, there’s absolutely nowhere for the bus
  
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• State deer breeding rules to stave off deadly disease upheld in court

  26-09-2017 02:01 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A district judge recently upheld rules that regulate deer breeders in Texas, relating to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer.
  But, the conversation about CWD in the deer population has been going on for a few years.
  “In Medina County they found a 2-year-old white-tailed deer in a breeding facility that had chronic wasting disease,” Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist Aaron Sisson said in a 2015 interview.
  CWD is a deadly neurological disorder, s
  
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• Texas state senator stands by ‘Gringolandia’ comment

  26-09-2017 01:08 via kxan.com
  EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Texas state Senator Jose Rodriguez could not be reached for comment but issued a statement on Facebook standing by his interview with Texas Monthly.
  As KTSM previously reported, city and county leaders are asking Rodriguez to apologize for using the word “Gringolandia” and accusing city council members of working for developers.
  In his statement posted on Facebook, Rodriguez accused the public of “misconstruing” his comments.
  He said, “
  
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• Northbound MoPac express underpass to open Saturday

  26-09-2017 00:59 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The MoPac construction nightmare is almost over, as the northbound express underpass — just south of 10th Street near downtown Austin — is supposed to open Saturday.
  It is the first underpass of its size in Central Texas, about 200-400 feet long, depending on which side of MoPac you’re on. “It is something new and different,” said Thayer Smith, division chief with the Austin Fire Department.
  Austin firefighters got a personal tour, so they know
  
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• Baby left on side of Oklahoma freeway in car seat with cash

  26-09-2017 00:27 via kxan.com
  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A 1-month-old baby found on the side of an Oklahoma interstate in a car seat stuffed with $5,500 in cash and a birth certificate is in state custody as authorities investigate why the boy was abandoned.
  Oklahoma City police say a church group returning from an amusement park spotted the child Saturday about 10 feet from the shoulder of Interstate 40. Sgt. Gary Knight said Monday that officers also found a Social Security card with the baby.
  Police say they located the
  
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