Austin news

• Ex-Llano police sergeant accused of giving out confidential information

  26-10-2017 23:48 via kxan.com
  LLANO, Texas (KXAN) — Llano police want the public to know that a former sergeant arrested in August does not work for the department, following repeated questions to the department on social media that the woman was misrepresenting herself as a current officer.
  Llano police said in a Facebook post Thursday that former Patrol Sergeant Melissa Sloan has not been with the department since June. In August, she was accused of giving confidential information to someone outside law enforcement a
  
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• Police track down siblings of newborn found in dumpster

  26-10-2017 23:14 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As a newborn girl remains hospitalized after she was found in an apartment complex dumpster with the umbilical cord still attached, KXAN has learned that her siblings have been placed with family by Child Protective Services.
  While the Austin Police Department has not released any information on how the family was found or if anyone is in custody, a spokesperson for the Department of Family and Protective Services says they are assisting law enforcement and &ldquo
  
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• Police find mother of newborn left in north Austin dumpster

  26-10-2017 23:14 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police say they have identified the mother of the newborn girl who was found in an apartment complex dumpster with the umbilical cord still attached. The girl remains hospitalized in fair condition.
  Police say no charges have been filed at this time, but the case is still ongoing and the investigation continues. The identity of the mother has not been released, “in order to protect the integrity of the case,” police said.
  KXAN has also learned t
  
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• VIDEO: Speeding car crashes into Maryland restaurant during lunch rush

  26-10-2017 22:33 via kxan.com
  UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WFLA) – At least nine people were hurt when a car crashed into a Maryland restaurant, Tuesday afternoon.
  Authorities say it appeared the driver was speeding before the car crashed into the Babes Boys Tavern at Top of the Hill.
  Heart attack triggers chain reaction crash that sends plywood flying 
  Two people were transported to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
  The tavern’s owner, who used to work in law enforcement, said he’s relieved
  
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• One shot, four arrested in late night robbery in Cedar Park

  26-10-2017 21:50 via kxan.com
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — One man was shot and four are in custody following an incident in Cedar Park, Wednesday night. The man’s injuries are not life threatening, police said.
  Officers were called to the 3000 block of Colonial Parkway, near West Parmer Lane, at 11:48 p.m. The block is primarily apartment complexes.
  According to Cedar Park police, the four have been charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
  Police have not released the names of t
  
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• Life in the fast lane, how many drivers are using the Mopac Express Lane

  26-10-2017 21:39 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While some drivers are against toll roads, Liz Markland says the new northbound MoPac toll is saving her time since she lives up north but works in south Austin.
  Markland says life in the fast lane has already shown her benefits. “It saved me a lot of time, I was meeting friends for happy hour up north and I work down south and it saved me probably 20 minutes,” says Markland.
  It has been two weeks since the full northbound MoPac Express Lane opened. The bus
  
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• Austin Public Library pitches $20 million wishlist for 2018 bond

  26-10-2017 21:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two days before the overdue, over-budget new Austin Central Library is set to open, KXAN spoke with Libraries Facility Manager John Gillum about a $20 million wishlist for the 2018 bond.
  With so much focus directed to opening the doors of the new Central Library, Gillum says they’ve never forgotten about their network of 23 other locations. The bottom line? He says serious work is needed on beloved neighborhood branches. We’re talking air conditioning, roof repa
  
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• Texas State’s LBJ Student Center back open after bomb threat

  26-10-2017 20:56 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Texas State University says a bomb threat forced the school to evacuate the LBJ Student Center for several hours Thursday afternoon.
  University police say after making a sweep of the building, they determined there was no danger around 4:15 p.m.
  A student at TXSU posted on Twitter around 12:40 p.m. that they were “locked” inside the building but a university spokesperson said they couldn’t address what the picture showed. A few minutes later, th
  
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• Texas State evacuates LBJ Student Center, dining hall due to bomb threat

  26-10-2017 20:56 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Texas State University says a bomb threat has forced the school to evacuate the LBJ Student Center.
  University police are currently making a sweep of the building. A student at TXSU posted on Twitter around 12:40 p.m. that they were “locked” inside the building but a university spokesperson said they couldn’t address what the picture showed. A few minutes later, the same student tweeted that they were evacuated.
  The University Star, the campus n
  
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• New trial date set in Meagan Work case

  26-10-2017 20:13 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial date for a woman charged in connection with the death of her 3-year-old has been pushed back to allow her defense more time to review evidence.
  Originally, Meagan Work’s trial was scheduled for Oct. 30, but will now take place May 7, 2018. She has pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and injury to a child after her son, Colton Turner, was found in a shallow grave in 2014.
  Police say Work changed her story numerous times when they questioned her. How
  
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• TxTag Troubles: Nearly $1B added to TxTag accounts as billing woes continue

  26-10-2017 19:17 via story.kxan.com
  App users tap here to get the full immersive storytelling experience.
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mela Louviere let out a laugh when she opened a collections letter for her TxTag toll account earlier in June. The bill showed she owed $5,750 in administrative fees for only $412.85 in toll usage.
  “We assumed there had to be some sort of computing error, human error, something,” said Louviere, of Pflugerville. “There had to be something mistaken because we hadn’t done anything tha
  
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• Off-duty deputy saves man choking in New Jersey restaurant

  26-10-2017 19:08 via kxan.com
  ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (KXAN/CNN) — An off-duty deputy is getting major praise for saving the life of a man choking on his food at a New Jersey Buffalo Wild Wings.
  Surveillance video shows Trooper Dennis Palaia enjoying a Sunday dinner with his son at the restaurant in Rockaway Township, N.J., when he noticed a man behind him choking. He leaps to his side and starts performing the Heimlich maneuver. The food dislodged from his airway and he began to breathe again.
  Here are the steps to do
  
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• Jury finds man guilty in deadly Sixth Street shooting

  26-10-2017 18:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – It took a Travis County jury around five hours to find Endicott McCray guilty of murder in the deadly shooting of Teqnika Moultrie on July 31, 2016. 
  Attorneys on both sides made their final case Thursday morning in McCray’s murder trial, which started on Tuesday. McCray, 26, also injured four others in the shooting on Sixth Street.
  The sentencing phase began immediately after he was found guilty. The first woman called to testify during sentencing was Michelle M
  
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• Defense claims witnesses ‘untrustworthy’ in Sixth Street murder trial

  26-10-2017 18:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Endicott McCray’s fate is now in the hands of a Travis County jury.
  Attorneys on both sides made their final case Thursday morning in McCray’s murder trial, which started on Tuesday. McCray, 26, is accused of shooting and killing Teqnika Moultrie on July 31, 2016 and injuring four others in downtown Austin.
  During their closing arguments, prosecutors say one of the victims identified McCray as the shooter along with two of McCray’s friends who were with hi
  
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• Vandals continually targeting Buda skate park

  26-10-2017 18:09 via kxan.com
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) — A Buda skate park named in honor of a teenager who died in a car crash several years ago is constantly being vandalized.
  The city of Buda says in the past six months, they have seen an increased amount of vandalism at Jackson Tyler Norris Memorial Skate Park located at 480 South Loop 4. The vandalism ranges from tagging to damage to the bathrooms and fence.
  Recently, vandals uprooted a memorial tree and hung it upside down from the pergola. The city has spent approxima
  
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• Kellogg’s redesigning Corn Pops box after claims of racism

  26-10-2017 17:15 via kxan.com
  BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) — Kellogg’s is redoing its Corn Pops cereal boxes after a complaint that the art on the back is racially insensitive.
  The box shows cartoon Corn Pops hanging out in a retail mall. Author Saladin Ahmed complained on Twitter that the cereal box is “teaching kids racism” because the only brown Corn Pop depicted is working as a janitor scrubbing the floor.hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pop on the whole cereal box the janitor? thi
  
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• House passes $4T budget in step forward for Trump tax plan

  26-10-2017 17:13 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday gave a significant boost to President Donald Trump’s promise to cut taxes, narrowly passing a GOP budget that shelves longstanding concerns over federal deficits in favor of a rewrite of the tax code that Republicans promise will jump-start the economy.
  The 216-212 vote permits Republicans to begin work on a follow-up $1.5 trillion tax cut and move it through Congress without fear of blocking tactics by Democrats. The tax bill is the top item o
  
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• House backs $4T budget, faces challenges on Trump tax plan

  26-10-2017 17:13 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans powered a $4 trillion budget through the House on Thursday by a razor-thin margin, a close vote underscoring the difficulties that lie ahead in delivering President Donald Trump’s promise to cut taxes.
  For now, Republicans sidestepped divisions within the party by voting 216-212 to permit them to begin work on a $1.5 trillion tax cut without fear of blocking tactics by Democrats. The legislative landscape is strewn with land mines, however, as GOP tax-wr
  
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• Trump declares US opioid emergency but pledges no new money

  26-10-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — In ringing and personal terms, President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged that “we will overcome addiction in America,” declaring opioid abuse a national public health emergency and announcing new steps to combat what he described as the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.
  Trump’s declaration, which will be effective for 90 days and can be renewed, will allow the government to redirect resources in various ways and to expand access to medical services in
  
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• Trump declares opioids a public health emergency

  26-10-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — In ringing and personal terms, President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged to “overcome addiction in America,” declaring the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency and announcing new steps to combat what he described as the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.
  Trump’s declaration, which will be effective for 90 days and can be renewed, will allow the government to redirect resources, including toward expanded access to medical services in rural
  
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• Officials say Trump’s opioid emergency won’t mean new money

  26-10-2017 16:57 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plan to declare the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency won’t bring new dollars to fight a scourge that kills an estimated 142 Americans each day, but will expand access to medical services in rural areas and shift some federal HIV money to help addicts, White House officials said Thursday.
  Trump intended to use an afternoon speech to announce that he was directing his health department to take that step, according to th
  
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• WATCH: Eastern black rhino calf is too cute for words

  26-10-2017 16:41 via kxan.com
  DVUR KRALOVE, Czech Republic (KXAN/NBC) — The newest member of a Czech Republic zoo is strutting his stuff and showing just how charismatic she can be. The eastern black rhinocerous calf was born Oct. 2, and is a big step to helping preserve her species from extinction.
  There are only a few of these black rhino subspecies in African reserves — where people work to try to protect them from poachers. There are about 140 of the rhinos living in zoos in Europe, with the most living at Dv
  
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• Elderly Missouri couple receives mysterious Amazon packages

  26-10-2017 16:18 via kxan.com
  CRESTWOOD, Mo. (KSDK) — A couple in Missouri keeps receiving packages they did not order from Amazon.
  The couple, Carol and Louis Matustik, have received a down comforter, a breast pump attachment, and a talking stuffed animal so far.
  “That was weird. When you are 83 years old, that is very weird,” said Carol holding the breast pump attachment attachment.
  These are just three of the seven items Amazon has delivered to the Matustik’s Crestwood, Missouri home since August.
  
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• Police post ‘pumpkin lineup’ after recovering stolen squash

  26-10-2017 14:51 via kxan.com
  MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (AP) — Police who caught three teenagers orange-handed with 48 stolen pumpkins — and one gourd — are asking residents of a St. Louis suburb to view a “pumpkin lineup” online to see if their Halloween squash are among those recovered.
  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that pumpkins began vanishing last week from subdivisions of Maryland Heights. Police quickly tracked down the boys and their pumpkin-crammed SUV that Capt. Scott Will says was &
  
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• Free tacos after Astros’ Cameron Maybin steals a base in World Series

  26-10-2017 14:32 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (KXAN) — The Houston Astros weren’t the only ones who came out with a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night. Everyone around the country can get a free taco, thanks to the Astros’ Cameron Maybin.
  It’s part of Taco Bell’s “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion during the World Series. On Nov. 1, people can go to any Taco Bell and get a free Doritos Locos taco from 2-6 p.m.What's better than a win in extra innings? Free @tacobell!
  
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• Local JFK assassination witness supports planned records release

  26-10-2017 13:20 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The National Archives are scheduled Thursday to release thousands of documents the public’s never seen related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
  The FBI and CIA files, just a fraction of the total number of records in the federal collection, have been shielded from the public entirely for the last five decades. President Donald Trump — who tweeted Wednesday the document dump is “so interesting” — has said he won’t block t
  
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• Bypass lane proposed to ease traffic at RM 620 and FM 2222

  26-10-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — It can be a long commute to work and school for those living in Lakeway and Steiner Ranch who have to pass through the light at Ranch to Market Road 620 and Farm to Market Road 2222. Backups are typical, but the Texas Department of Transportation is looking to change that.
  Thursday night they want to hear feedback from residents about building a bypass road that would be located about one mile north of Steiner Ranch Boulevard.
  “This would be a
  
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• A traffic fix could be coming to the light at RM 620 and FM 2222

  26-10-2017 13:09 via kxan.com
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — It can be a long commute to work and school for those living in Lakeway and Steiner Ranch who have to pass through the light at Ranch to Market Road 620 and Farm to Market Road 2222. Backups are typical, but the Texas Department of Transportation is looking to change that.
  Thursday night they want to hear feedback from residents about building a bypass road that would be located about one mile north of Steiner Ranch Boulevard.
  “This would be a three lane
  
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• New testing better predicts the likelihood of developing cancer

  26-10-2017 06:38 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — New medical advancements are making it easier to detect and predict certain types of cancer than ever before, but doctors say too many people don’t know their options when it comes to testing for genetic predispositions to the disease. A simple blood test could save some from a life threatening diagnosis years in advance.
  “We’re in a really hopeful day and age where we can do our best not just to detect cancer early, but to prevent it from happening,&
  
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• Astros win 11-inning thriller, 7-6, even World Series at 1-1

  26-10-2017 06:36 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (KXAN) — George Springer hit a two-run home run in the 11th inning that propelled Houston to a 7-6, extra-innings win in Game 2 of the World Series.
  The series now shifts to Houston for games three, four and five tied at 1-1.
  Chris Devenksi earned the win. He threw 1.1 innings in relief of Ken Giles, who gave up the game-tying runs in the 10th. Devenski gave up a solo homer to Charlie Culberson in the 11th that cut it to a one-run game, but he struck out Yasiel Puig on the next
  
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• A&M and UT, longtime foes, unite for Harvey fundraising game in Houston

  26-10-2017 06:20 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — To see the Texas Longhorns face off against the Texas A&M Aggies on the basketball court is a rarity these days. That’s exactly what happened in Houston on Wednesday night, as the teams played an exhibition game to raise money for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
  The game was played at neutral Rice University, with ticket proceeds benefiting the Rebuild Texas fund. The Longhorns won the game, 73-69.
  “This is the latest example of how Texans respond to a challen
  
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• City of Austin and police association reach tentative, 5-year contract

  26-10-2017 06:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin and the Austin Police Association reached an agreement Tuesday on a tentative five-year contract. KXAN obtained a copy of the contract which has several significant changes following the negotiations. For example citizens will now be able to make complaints against officers in more ways, including online and anonymously.
  The current police contract received criticism for the 180 day rule, which gives the department 180 days to investigate and discipl
  
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• Trump hails ‘tremendous success’ in Texas’ storm recovery

  26-10-2017 05:50 via kxan.com
  DALLAS (AP) — President Donald Trump pointed to “tremendous success” in Texas’ work to recover from Hurricane Harvey on Wednesday, suggesting that the federal government might serve as a partner in addressing long-term flood mitigation plans in the state.
  Arriving in Dallas ahead of a fundraising stop, Trump praised the work of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and all of the emergency responders in the aftermath of the devastating hurricane that dumped record
  
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• VIDEO: Clerk clocks robbery suspect with a powerful punch

  26-10-2017 05:28 via kxan.com
  CINCINNATI (WLWT) — A convenience store clerk in Ohio sent a robbery suspect to the ground with a powerful punch to the the face early Tuesday morning.
  Andre Young, 52, jumped over the counter while brandishing a blade. The store clerk stopped him with a devastating right hook.
  Andre Young (NBC Photo)The knockout punch was captured by a security camera. The store clerk called 911 shortly after delivering the blow.
  “He’s still in here,” the clerk told a 911 dispatcher. &ld
  
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• Austin did not offer incentives in Amazon second HQ bid, city says

  26-10-2017 04:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city’s chief financial officer said Wednesday in a letter to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members that the bid to Amazon for their second headquarters did not include an incentive package on behalf of the city.
  Greg Canally said that doesn’t mean there won’t be one in the future. He said city protocol would be followed, including public comment and a vote from the council.
  Council Member Leslie Pool says she still wants to know what is in the bid
  
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• Abandoned newborn serves as a reminder about Texas’ Safe Haven law

  26-10-2017 02:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There have been 131 babies surrendered under Texas’ Safe Haven or Baby Moses law since the state started tracking them in 2004, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
  Officials are reminding people about the law after a newborn girl was found inside a north Austin dumpster Wednesday.
  The law protects parents who are unable to care for their baby that’s up to 60 days old if the infant is dropped off unharmed at a designated safe plac
  
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• Local help available for overwhelmed expecting moms

  26-10-2017 02:05 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As police continue to investigate what led to a newborn baby being left in a dumpster in north Austin, local pregnancy centers hope to help soon-to-moms before she even starts to feel overwhelmed.
  “There are pregnancy centers throughout Austin that will help that mom,” said Debi Wehmeier, founder of Heart of Texas Pregnancy Resource Center. “We do everything that would make either being a mom successful or if she wants to place the baby up for adoption. I&
  
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• Four Horseshoe Bay Resort servers arrested, accused of bilking restaurant

  26-10-2017 01:06 via kxan.com
  HORSESHOE BAY, Texas (KXAN) — An internal audit of the Horseshoe Bay Resort revealed more than $22,000 had been stolen from the business for eight months this year in an inside job.
  Four servers at the Horseshoe Bay Resort have been arrested and charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. Horseshoe Bay police say the audit showed funds were missing from sales receipts in the Yacht Club Restaurant.
  Between February and September, investigators say the four employees at the restaur
  
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• Georgetown Head Start teacher accused of slapping 4-year-old boy

  26-10-2017 00:51 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A teacher accused of slapping a 4-year-old boy at a Georgetown school last year has been arrested on a charge of injury to a child.
  Georgetown police were called by a parent of the child, who reported her son had been hit in the face by Susan Seymour, 61, at his school on Sept. 23, 2016.
  The parent told police the school called her and said her son was stuffing toilet paper in the toilet and made it overflow. According to an arrest affidavit, another teacher witn
  
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• Doctor admits he took kickbacks to prescribe fentanyl spray

  26-10-2017 00:16 via kxan.com
  PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island doctor pleaded guilty on Wednesday to accepting kickbacks in return for prescribing a highly addictive fentanyl spray.
  Jerrold Rosenberg pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to one count each of health care fraud and kickbacks conspiracy.
  The case is one of several criminal cases brought around the country against people associated with Insys Therapeutics and the prescribing of Subsys, which is meant only for cancer patients with severe
  
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