Austin news

• Newly unveiled Ford pickup truck could set you back $100,000

  28-09-2017 23:45 via kxan.com
  DALLAS (KXAN) — Ford Motor Company unveiled its new F-Series Super Duty Limited trucks Thursday, including an F-450 that — when all options are included — costs $94,455 (before tax, title and license).
  With pricing starting at $87,100 for a 2018 F-450, the truck is promised to deliver technology and comfort previously seen only in luxury sedans. Ford says the trucks will be able to tow more than 30,000 pounds — the weight of an F-35 fighter jet.
  “Super Duty Limited
  
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• East Texas teacher sent to prison for sex with students

  28-09-2017 23:05 via kxan.com
  LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — A 39-year-old East Texas kindergarten teacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of sexual assault with a child and improper relationship with a student for having sex with high school students.
  A judge in Angelina County also has ordered Heather Robertson, of Lufkin, to surrender her teaching certification and register for life as a sex offender.
  Robertson was a teacher in the Hudson school district, just outside Lufkin, for
  
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• ‘Tweeter Laureate’ Texas judge nominated by Trump for federal court

  28-09-2017 22:51 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP/KXAN) — The tweeter-in-chief is nominating a Texas judge recognized as the state’s first “Tweeter Laureate” for a federal appeals court.
  President Donald Trump on Thursday named Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett one of four nominees for the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals. His nomination would require U.S. Senate confirmation.
  Another Texan, Dallas attorney James Ho, has also been nominated to the court. A partner in the office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutche
  
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• City Council postpones budget approval for Convention Center and Visitors Bureau

  28-09-2017 21:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council has postponed for two more weeks the Austin Convention Center and Visitors Bureau’s budget and marketing plan Thursday, amid controversy over the largely tax-dollar funded organization’s spending on food, alcohol and entertainment over the past two years.
  As the resolution is written, the bureau, which is officially called Visit Austin, would receive about $14.79 million in fiscal year 2017-18, according to the resolution. City Council will r
  
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• City Council postpones budget approval for Convention and Visitors Bureau

  28-09-2017 21:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council postponed for two more weeks approval of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau’s budget and marketing plan Thursday, amid controversy over the largely tax-dollar funded organization’s spending on food, alcohol and entertainment over the past two years.
  As the resolution is written, the bureau, which is officially called Visit Austin, would receive $14.79 million in fiscal year 2017-18, according to the resolution. City Council will revisi
  
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• Former H-E-B executive accused of promoting child porn

  28-09-2017 20:35 via kxan.com
  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN/CNN) — A former H-E-B executive accused of possessing and promoting child pornography faced a judge as his trial began Wednesday in San Antonio, Texas.
  A 53-count indictment accuses John Campbell, 63, of seeking out and keeping nude, sexually explicit pictures of boys under 18 years old. He mistakenly attached an inappropriate picture to an internal email he sent a coworker. Prosecutors said when she asked him about it, he told her “you got me.”
  During
  
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• City testing portable, free public restroom downtown

  28-09-2017 20:22 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you’ve got to go, there’s a new place you can go downtown. The City of Austin installed a temporary, free bathroom downtown on Thursday, as part of a pilot project.
  The bathroom is near Interstate 35 and 6th Street, on probationary status for two days, with a plan to assess if it should stay there after that.
  The City Council had staff study the feasibility of having a permanent, free downtown restroom in June 2016. Staff worked with the community to find f
  
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• Raise a glass! It’s National Drink Beer Day

  28-09-2017 19:36 via kxan.com
  COLUMBUS (WCMH) – It’s the perfect excuse to throw back a couple of cold ones after work. Today, Sept. 28, is #NationalDrinkBeerDay.
  A recent study found beer is America’s #1 social drink of choice. Margaritas came in second.
  While many still guzzle the famous brands like Pabst, Schlitz, Miller and Budweiser, craft beer has transcended hipsters and connoisseurs and become big business. The Craft Brewers Association says the industry contributed $55
  
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• Priceless reaction from Prince Harry after sneaky toddler steals popcorn

  28-09-2017 19:29 via kxan.com
  TORONTO, Canada (WFLA) — Prince Harry made a new friend Wednesday night at the Invictus games in Toronto.
  Unfortunately for him, it appeared she was only after one thing — his popcorn.
  According to NBC News, 2-year-old Emily Henson made a bold grab for the Prince’s snack as he was absorbed in conversation while watching the sitting volleyball event.
  The daring raid saw her get away with poaching popcorn for nearly a minute before Harry realized what was going on.
  When he spotte
  
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• Proposals for new Travis County election system rejected

  28-09-2017 19:15 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County Commissioners court rejected all proposals to build its custom-designed voting system that was supposed to improve security, turning it toward more traditional methods of finding a replacement for its current system.
  Officials made this decision after proposals to build STAR-Vote did not meet the requirements to create a complete system that fulfills all of the county’s needs. A request for proposals went out late last year, with vendors submitting t
  
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• MoPac Express open date set, lane closures Thursday and Friday

  28-09-2017 18:07 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Crews will be working on MoPac during the day on Thursday and Friday what could be the last round of closures before its new Express Lane opens.
  The left northbound lane will be closed north of 45th Street and will be extended throughout the day until 3 p.m. Thursday. That lane is set to be shut down from 35th Street to Ranch to Market Road 2222 (Northland Drive) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday
  The daytime closures are an effort to make up for lost time after this week’s
  
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• Trump says supplies streaming into storm-tossed Puerto Rico

  28-09-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure to do more for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, President Donald Trump on Thursday waived federal restrictions on foreign ships’ transportation of cargo to the island. He tweeted that relief supplies are getting through.
  “The electric power grid in Puerto Rico is totally shot. Large numbers of generators are now on Island. Food and water on site,” he wrote.
  Hurricane Maria hit the U.S. territory more than a week ago, leaving it without power
  
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• Puerto Ricans say US relief efforts failing them

  28-09-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The Trump administration declared Thursday that its relief efforts in Puerto Rico are succeeding, but people on the island said help was scarce and disorganized while food supplies dwindled in some remote towns eight days after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory of 3.4 million people.
  President Donald Trump cleared the way for more supplies to head to Puerto Rico by issuing a 10-day waiver of federal restrictions on foreign ships delivering cargo to
  
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• Facing criticism, Trump clears way for more Puerto Rico aid

  28-09-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — President Donald Trump cleared the way Thursday for more supplies to head to Puerto Rico and tweeted that relief was getting through, but on the island food and water remained scarce in devastated towns where a growing number of people decried the federal response as an uncoordinated disaster.
  Nine days after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Trump issued a 10-day waiver of federal restrictions on foreign shipments of cargo to the island. And House Speaker Paul
  
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• Royal Caribbean cancels cruise to deliver aid to Puerto Rico

  28-09-2017 15:56 via kxan.com
  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WCMH/NBC News) — The Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company has asked for cruise lines and airlines to help transport aid to the island following Hurricane Maria.
  He said Wednesday, “This is the moment to help us.”
  He was speaking in the capital San Juan after the Royal Caribbean cruise liner “The Adventure of the Seas” delivered a cargo of electric generators, water and medical supplies. The cruise line canceled its September 3
  
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• ‘Downtown Puzzle’, sick days policy and juvenile curfew on Council agenda

  28-09-2017 15:18 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here’s a quick rundown of the items topping Thursday’s Austin City Council agenda:
  Adopt the Visit Austin (Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau) Marking Plan and Proposed Budget
  Council is scheduled to approve Visit Austin’s nearly $15 million budget. All but $2 million comes from the city’s hotel occupancy tax — the money we get from visitors who stay in Austin.  When council passed the city budget two weeks ago, Visit Austin learned $2
  
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• Up to $50,000 reward for information in Rachel Cooke case

  28-09-2017 14:37 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Officials announced they will offer up to $50,000 for information in a missing persons case from 15 years ago in Georgetown.
  Rachel Cooke disappeared while on a morning run in January 2002. A neighbor saw her walk past her driveway during her cool down. Cooke was 19 years old at the time.
  Representatives from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the Texas Rangers are holding a press conference at 11 a.m. in the area where she was last seen.
  &
  
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• Up to $100,000 reward offered for information in Rachel Cooke case

  28-09-2017 14:37 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Officials announced they will offer up to $50,000 for information in a missing persons case from 15 years ago in Georgetown.
  Rachel Cooke disappeared while on a morning run in January 2002. Her family is also offering a $50,000 reward, for a total reward of up to $100,000. A neighbor saw her walk past her driveway during her cool down. Cooke was 19 years old at the time.
  “Taking somebody’s child is not right,” said Janet Cooke, Rachel’s mo
  
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• Officials to announce reward for Rachel Cooke case information

  28-09-2017 14:37 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Later Thursday morning, officials are set to announce a reward for information in a missing persons case from 15 years ago in Georgetown.
  Rachel Cooke disappeared while on a morning run in January 2002. A neighbor saw her walk past her driveway during her cool down. Cooke was 19 years old at the time.
  Representatives from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the Texas Rangers are holding a press conference at 11 a.m. in the area where she was
  
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• Skilled labor shortage affects Austin manufacturers ‘across the board’

  28-09-2017 14:01 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  A nationwide shortage in skilled laborers is straining Austin area manufacturers hoping to grow.
  Tom Lonsdale started Cypress Industries almost two decades ago and has grown more than he ever thought possible. The company manufactures electrical components for use in many different applications.
  He fears the future generation of workers aren’t considering manufacturing and may be missing out on opportunities.
  “I saw a banner on Burnet the other day that &l
  
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• Three people injured in I-35 service road crash north of Stassney Lane

  28-09-2017 13:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man had to be rescued after being pinned in a vehicle in southeast Austin. In all, three people were taken to the hospital.
  The collision happened around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, on the northbound Interstate 35 service road near Teri Road. That’s just north of Stassney Lane. A KXAN viewer describes the scene as cars piled on top of each other near a light post.
  Austin police shut down the road to investigate and clean up, telling drivers at the time that the service road
  
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• Collision shuts down northbound I-35 service road north of Stassney Lane

  28-09-2017 13:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man had to be rescued after being pinned in a vehicle in southeast Austin. In all, two people were taken to the hospital.
  The collision happened around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, on the northbound Interstate 35 service road near Teri Road. That’s just north of Stassney Lane. A KXAN viewer describes the scene as cars piled on top of each other near a light post.
  Austin police shut down the road to investigate and clean up. They say the service road will not be usable for &l
  
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• Sonic: ‘unusual activity’ on some credit cards

  28-09-2017 13:04 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — Sonic says there’s been some “unusual activity” on credit cards used at some of its restaurants.
  The fast food chain said in a statement that its credit card processor told them about the incident last week and that it’s now “working to understand the nature and scope of this issue.” It did not disclose how many credit cards were potentially involved in the incident or when the incident took place.
  There are more than 3,500 Sonic restaura
  
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• APD increases enforcement after woman fights off attacker on trail

  28-09-2017 12:29 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At 4 a.m. Thursday Austin police began beefing up their enforcement around the 10 mile loop of the Hike and Bike Trail downtown. This comes after a woman was attacked Wednesday morning — the third in a month.
  The attacks have happened in various locations — the most recent near Lakeshore Boulevard and east Riverside Drive. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley announced that officers who normally patrol downtown at night will include more of the Hike and Bike Trail o
  
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• Playboy founder Hugh Hefner dead at 91

  28-09-2017 05:24 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Playboy magazine founder and sexual revolution symbol Hugh Hefner has died. He was 91.
  The magazine released a statement saying Hefner died at his home of natural causes Wednesday night surrounded by family.
  Founding the magazine in 1953, Hefner built a brand that defined the sexual culture of the second half of the 20th century.
  Playboy’s buxom models were the objects of millions of men’s fantasies as Hefner challenged what he derided as America’s &ldq
  
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• Parking spot painting causes controversy in small town

  28-09-2017 05:19 via kxan.com
  MARION, Kan. (KSNW) – Marion High School allows students to paint their parking spots on campus as part of a tradition that gives them something fun to look forward to. This year, one student was told his painting needed to be removed.
  A senior at Marion High School painted the image of a rainbow flag in his designated parking spot. The choice of expression caused some issues for some community members as well as some unwanted attention for the school.
  “I mean it’s just a rainb
  
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• 4 indicted in identity fraud scheme filing phony tax returns

  28-09-2017 05:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Three men have been arrested and a fourth person is sought in what federal authorities say was an Austin-based stolen identity fraud scheme that filed fraudulent income tax returns seeking more than $3 million in refunds.
  According to a 10-count indictment unsealed Wednesday, the defendants collected more than $630,000 in refunds and nearly $17,000 in bogus credit card transactions.
  Federal authorities say they arrested 54-year-old Nigerian national George Najomo in Au
  
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• East Texas mom arrested after kids eat paint

  28-09-2017 05:09 via kxan.com
  GARRISON, Texas (KETK) — An East Texas mother was arrested Wednesday morning after it was discovered her children had eaten paint and were living in deplorable conditions.
  According to the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, Meggan Barstow, 28, of Garrison, was arrested and charged with child endangerment.
  The Sheriff’s Office responded to a sick call on Francis Loop in the city of Garrison around 2 a.m.
  Deputies along with EMS arrived on scene and found two of the woman&rsquo
  
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• VIDEO: Suspects break into gun store in Hutto

  28-09-2017 04:57 via kxan.com
  HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Two unidentified suspects forced their way into Blackland Gun Works in Hutto early Wednesday morning.
  Williamson County deputies say the break-in happened around 3:30 a.m. at 12365 US 79, near County Road 101.
  The suspects stole a number of pistols from the store’s Glock gun case, but did not attempt to break into other gun cases.
  After getting the pistols, they left the store immediately. Surveillance cameras show the suspects outside the store — both wea
  
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• Cities worry they have no jurisdiction over proposed Marble Falls rock quarry

  28-09-2017 04:19 via kxan.com
  MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) — Three central Texas cities oppose an asphalt company’s plans to build a rock crushing plant and quarry right where they all three come together. But because of a zoning loophole, they can’t do much about it.
  Asphalt Inc. applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Equality for permitting to build the plant on US 281 just south of Marble Falls. The land it would be built on is unincorporated. It falls in the ETJ — or extraterrito
  
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• VIDEO: Central Texas school bus driver fired after railroad incident

  28-09-2017 03:46 via kxan.com
  COPPERAS COVE, Texas (KWKT) — Copperas Cove ISD has fired a bus driver after an incident involving a railroad crossing.
  Video sent to FOX44 shows bus #52 at a railroad crossing with the crossing arm across the vehicle’s front.
  CCISD says the bus was crossing the tracks when a train came into view, activating the warning lights and crossing arms.
  The district says the driver reversed the bus, but could not get back far enough to avoid the arm.
  The train did not hit the bus, but anothe
  
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• Fights at Lehman High School in Kyle trigger ‘hold in place’

  28-09-2017 02:32 via kxan.com
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — About eight students were involved in a series of small fights spanning Tuesday and Wednesday at Lehman High School in Kyle, the school district said.
  District spokesperson Tim Savoy says, contrary to concerned calls from parents about one really large fight, that did not happen.
  The fights started Tuesday with two boys fighting over a girlfriend, and spilled over into tension with their friends on Wednesday, the district said.
  In response, the high school initiated wh
  
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• A third of Texas special Olympians held back by Harvey

  28-09-2017 02:26 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The impact of Hurricane Harvey has stretched beyond families along the Texas coast.
  Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) reported that it has had to cancel competitions and fundraisers due to the storm.
  “We’ve probably had to cancel several dozen of our fundraising events in the east region,” Dr. Rick Brown, vice president of resource development for the organization, said. Some were postponed indefinitely.
  “If we have a golf tournament and the golf cour
  
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• Hays County jury finds man guilty for sex trafficking 16-year-old girl

  28-09-2017 01:26 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – A Hays County jury found a man accused of sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl guilty on three counts of compelling prostitution and three counts of trafficking a person.
  It took the jury just over an hour to find Bernell Quillens guilty. Very few people were in the courtroom Wednesday afternoon — a few family members of Quillen and the victim’s mother.
  This case dates back to the summer of 2015. Quillens met the victim through a mutual friend. Court do
  
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• Audit says Austin’s Public Works ‘bypassed’ quality management process

  28-09-2017 01:18 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin’s Public Works Department wasn’t consistent in tracking project costs and ensuring the quality of projects during 2016 and part of 2015, according to an audit released this month by the city.
  “Public Works did not reliably follow its quality management process, and has bypassed it in the past, which may negatively affect project cost and quality,” according to the audit, titled Capital Project Delivery Process. “The purpose o
  
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• Woman who stabbed victim 21 times in Hyde Park already up for parole

  28-09-2017 01:14 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 21 scars are a painful reminder, but even more troubling for the victim is the person who left her for dead could soon walk free.
  “I felt as though I deserved at least five years of not having to think about this,” said Katie, who asked that we not use her last name.
  Pearl Moen, 20, was sentenced in January to 15 years in prison for attempted murder. She stabbed Katie 21 times near 44th Street and Speedway in Hyde Park in November 2015. She’s already u
  
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• Oklahoma longhorn bull with record horn span sold in Texas

  28-09-2017 00:27 via kxan.com
  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A longhorn bull from Oklahoma with a record horn span of more than 8 feet has been sold for $165,000 at the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas.
  The bull named Cowboy Tuff Chex owned by Bob Loomis of Overbrook, Oklahoma, was sold Friday to Richard and Jeanne Filip of Fayetteville, Texas.
  Richard Filip told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the bull will be used for breeding on the couple’s ranch, which has more than 100 longhorns. Jeanne Filip said the bull will b
  
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