Austin news

• SNL’s Kenan Thompson is show’s longest-serving cast member

  17-11-2017 23:48 via kxan.com
  (NBC) Kenan Thompson is a “Saturday Night Live” mainstay now, but in 2003 he was the rookie.
  “I just remember it being like a whirlwind of confusion in the beginning,” he says.
  Thompson eventually adjusted to being part of a show he’d grown up watching, and now 15 seasons in , his run on SNL is longer than any in the show’s 43 year history.
  “It’s a blessing for sure, you know what I mean? Let alone breaking records and all that stuff. I feel very f
  
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• Woman with crude anti-Trump truck decal released from jail

  17-11-2017 22:22 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — The driver of a pickup displaying a profane message to President Donald Trump and his supporters has posted bond after being arrested near Houston on an outstanding warrant.
  Forty-six-year-old Karen Fonseca left the Fort Bend County jail late Thursday after being arrested earlier in the day on a fraud charge.
  The sheriff’s office has not provided details of the warrant and Fonseca says she had been unaware there was a warrant for her arrest.
  Fonseca began speaking publ
  
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• Cleveland zoo welcomes three baby otters

  17-11-2017 21:51 via kxan.com
  CLEVELAND, OH (WCMH) – The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo recently welcomed three male Asian small-clawed otter pups.
  The pups were born September 24 to mom “Bitzy” and dad “Kibble.”
  According to the zoo, otter pups are born with their eyes still closed and take a several weeks before they’re able to develop mobility and eventually swim. The trio are getting bigger and stronger and are expected to be ready to join their parents on exhibit in The Rain Forest in the c
  
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• Police: Newborn punched in the head during domestic violence situation

  17-11-2017 21:49 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 5-week-old baby girl is recovering from a fractured skull after police say her father punched her in the head as he was trying to assault the child’s mother.
  According to an arrest affidavit, on Oct. 31, Ruben A. Rodriguez, 27, came home from work and was angry the mother of his child had been out with her friend. An argument ensued and the woman said that’s when the situation escalated into a physical altercation.
  While the mother was holding the newborn agai
  
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• Round Rock mayor’s law firm netted $622,000 on city contracts

  17-11-2017 21:30 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – When Ken Tuck walked out to his Creek Ridge Lane mailbox last month, he didn’t know it, but he was walking right into some costly legal trouble.
  He pulled an envelope from the box and the first thing he noticed was a law firm’s name in the top left corner: McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. The letter made it clear what this was about.
  "NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE FORECLOSURE LAWSUIT" was written across the top. Williamson County, Round Rock
  
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• Suspected DWI crash on US 183 claims third victim

  17-11-2017 21:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The deadly crash on US 183 near North MoPac that killed a mother and son last Saturday has claimed the life of a third person.
  Scott Latulippe, 41, was taken off life support Friday morning. Earlier this week, Scott’s brother-in-law Tim Enos told KXAN Scott’s brain had been damaged severely in the head-on crash. Now that he’s been taken off life support, the family is working with the hospital to donate his organs.
  Scott’s wife, Nancy, 38, and s
  
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• Actor Brian O’Halloran at Wizard World Comic Con in Austin

  17-11-2017 20:26 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Actor Brian O’Halloran is checking in at the Wizard World Comic Con in Austin this week — but he’s also excited to check out the many other celebrities there as well.
  He’s known for movies like “Clerks,” “Mallrats,” and “Jay and Silent Bob” — the last of which is set for a reboot next year.
  “I know that ill be playing Dante at least once in the film,” O’Halloran said. “I think ill be p
  
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• Former U of H track star qualifies for Olympic bobsledding

  17-11-2017 20:10 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former University of Houston Track star will be making history as she and her teammates become Nigeria’s first women’s bobsled team to qualify for the Olympics.
  Seun Adigun made six NCAA championship appearances for the Cougars before becoming a coach with the university’s team. It won’t be her first time competing under the Olympic rings; the Chicago native competed in the 2012 London games in the 100m hurdles.
  Nigeria has 25 Olympic medals,
  
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• Pflugerville police seeking woman who used phony money

  17-11-2017 20:09 via kxan.com
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Police say a woman bought merchandise at the Weiss High School Football game on Nov. 8 using counterfeit bills.
  Friday, Pflugerville police released video of the woman walking up to the store and conducting the transaction.
  She’s described as a white female in her 50s or 60s standing approximately 5’5” to 5’6” with brownish-red semi-curly hair.
  Anyone with information about the woman is asked to contact Officer Campana at jcam
  
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• WATCH: Man destroys his AR-15 in light of mass shootings

  17-11-2017 18:29 via kxan.com
  RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KXAN) — Fed up with recent mass shootings, a gun enthusiast from California destroyed one of his most prized possessions: an AR-15 assault rifle.
  “I feel like I’ve done the only thing that I can do in this equation,” Chad Vachter said. “Even if it’s just a small thing, I did my part to make things better.”
  Vachter says he’s still keeping his shotgun and pistol, and supports people’s Second Amendment rights. He decide
  
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• Navy admits crew created obscene skydrawing over Washington

  17-11-2017 17:50 via kxan.com
  OKANOGAN COUNTY, WA (WCMH) — The U.S. Navy says a flight crew who drew a phallic symbol over a Washington town will face punishment.
  According to The Spokesman-Review, residents of Okanogan, Washington, began reporting a skydrawing of male genitalia over the town, Thursday.
  “After it made the circles at the bottom, I knew what it was and started laughing,” Ramone Duran told The Spokesman-Review. “It was pretty funny to see that. You don’t expect to se
  
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• Street closures for Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade this weekend

  17-11-2017 17:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Grab a toy and head downtown this weekend for a fun parade and a way to give back to children in need. The annual Chuy’s Children Giving to Children Parade is Saturday, Nov. 18 and brings with it numerous street closures.
  Donations from this annual toy drive will benefit Austin Police Operation Blue Santa. People can bring a new, unwrapped toy for children as young as infants to those as old as 14. Although it normally falls the weekend after Thanksgiving, this year t
  
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• Alcohol Beverage Commission investigating Texas State student death

  17-11-2017 16:51 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — In light of the death of a fraternity pledge at Texas State University earlier this week, the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission says it is working to determine the source of any alcohol that may have been involved in the 20-year-old’s death.
  Police say they have not determine a cause of death, but believe alcohol may have been a factor. Matthew Ellis was found unresponsive at an apartment in San Marcos on Nov. 13 following a Phi Kappa Psi fraternity event t
  
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• Suspect dances for Texas officers before police dog ends jig

  17-11-2017 16:09 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — A man who led police on a nearly 20-mile chase through Houston was taken into custody only after dancing for a time once he stepped out of his car.
  The unidentified suspect came to a stop early Thursday before striking spike strips police had laid across Interstate 45.
  He eventually complied with police orders to step out of his car but rather than lay on the ground, the man began a dance with arms above his head. The episode concluded when a police dog attacked him.
  Police
  
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• How to thaw frozen turkey: An essential guide to Thanksgiving prep

  17-11-2017 16:02 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving feast is a frozen turkey, it’s time to think about thawing that bird. There are two classic ways to thaw a frozen turkey: let it gently thaw in the fridge or using cold water in your sink or cooler. Letting a turkey thaw on your kitchen counter is a recipe for food-borne illness and that’s really not how you want to spend Black Friday.
  The food safety experts over at foodsafety.gov suggest allowing 24 hours of refrigerator
  
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• Cheetos turkey? It’s one of a number of unique recipes this Thanksgiving

  17-11-2017 15:12 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some people wanting to spice up their Thanksgiving are taking that challenge literally — with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos as a major ingredient.
  Reynolds Kitchen released that and a few other recipes on its website, including ones that incorporate Cool Ranch Doritos and Funyuns. All recipes involve coating a bird with butter or oil and then adding a cook’s choice of chips. The steps for the other versions can be found on this website.
  Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Turk
  
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• Funeral home mix-up puts wrong man in casket

  17-11-2017 14:11 via kxan.com
  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WRCB) — A family wants answers after a mix-up at a Tennessee funeral home.
  Wednesday, the family gathered to say their final goodbyes to a loved one only to find another man in his place.
  Benjamin Brown Jr. passed away last week from an illness. His nephews say that loss was difficult on its own, but a mistake by John P. Franklin Funeral Home made it harder on their family.
  Willie Brown and his brother Dominique say they were first to notice something wasn’t right
  
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• How Austin’s storied BookPeople attracts high-profile writers like Hillary Clinton

  17-11-2017 12:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in town Friday to sign copies of her new book at BookPeople, the well-known, well-loved independent shop that in 2005 was named the Bookstore of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly.
  The event, kicking off at noon at the downtown store, sold out within about two-and-a-half hours after tickets went on sale. It’s just the latest in a decades-long tradition of bringing big names to the storied bookstore.
  “They got to do
  
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• Pentagon: Retweet of call for Trump to resign was accidental

  17-11-2017 12:46 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Oops! The Pentagon says it accidentally retweeted a tweet that urged President Donald Trump to resign.
  Without mentioning the content of the original tweet, a Pentagon spokesman, Col. Rob Manning, said it “would not be endorsed by the Department of Defense.”
  The tweet was posted Thursday by a person whose Twitter handle is @ProudResister. It said, “The solution is simple. Roy Moore: Step down from the race. Al Franken: Resign from congress. Donald Trump:
  
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• 79,000 Post-It Notes art project displays desperate plea for help

  17-11-2017 12:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Earlier this year a University of Texas study found that 79,000 kids in Texas are victims of sex trafficking. One organization feels not enough has been done to educate the public in an effort to reduce that number, so they put up an art installation along W. Fifth Street and N. Lamar Boulevard on the windows of the West Elm store that aims to get your attention.
  Seventy-nine thousand Post-It Notes, each with a  name of a girl written on it, hangs from the large window
  
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• City expanding program that provides artists low-rent space

  17-11-2017 05:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city has taken new steps in an effort to preserve a slice of what makes Austin special.
  Over the next two years, the city will spend $240,000 to help support artist residency programs at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center and the Dougherty Arts Center. The Artist Access Program will also expand to the Asian American Resource Center and George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center.
  Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department says expan
  
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• Salvation Army fears GOP tax plan, hopes Senate returns charitable deductions

  17-11-2017 05:21 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The US House stripped a popular deduction from the tax code Thursday and many non-profits hope the Senate puts it back in, including Austin’s Salvation Army.
  All the Republicans who represent Central Texas voted for it. The bill doubles the standard deduction. For many taxpayers, that means no more itemizing to save. But for non-profits, they worry that eliminates the financial incentive for people to donate.
  Thursday night, workers at the Salvation Army did what they
  
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• Sen. Al Franken apologizes following kissing, groping allegations

  17-11-2017 03:20 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (NBC News) — Senator Al Franken has issued an apology for kissing and groping a radio host during a 2006 USO tour.
  Leanne Tweeden, a news anchor with KABC radio, says she met Franken on the USO tour, two years before he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
  Tweeden says the trouble began when the former “Saturday Night Live” cast member wrote a skit that featured a kiss between the two, and insisted on rehearsing.
  WATCH: Sen. Franken talks Texas, health care and Trump
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• Central Texas man indicted in connection to boating deaths of father, daughter

  17-11-2017 03:05 via kxan.com
  BELTON, Texas (AP) — A grand jury has indicted a Texas man on multiple charges in connection with the boating deaths of a father and daughter.
  The Temple Daily Telegram reports that 44-year-old Jason Bernal faces two counts each of criminally negligent homicide and intoxication manslaughter in connection to the June 23 deaths of 31-year-old Patrick Oliver and 4-year-old Kaitlyn Oliver.
  Court documents say Bernal backed up a houseboat at Temple Lake Park and collided with Kaitlyn Oliver, wh
  
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• CodeNEXT third draft release delayed by three months

  17-11-2017 03:03 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city’s third draft plan to reshape the land development code to improve housing density and affordability will be released three months later than expected.
  Originally scheduled to be released on Nov. 28, Draft 3 of CodeNEXT will now be released on Feb. 12, 2018.
  Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Thursday’s announcement is good for Austin. “I’m glad the staff will take the time to deliver a good recommendation as I, and others, have urged them to do,
  
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• Which areas of Austin have an increase in mail theft, and what USPS is doing about it

  17-11-2017 01:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cases of thieves prying open mailboxes seem to happen in every neighborhood, and the crimes are picking back up heading into the holidays.
  In the Sendera neighborhood in south Austin off Slaughter Lane, it’s been a vicious cycle. Last week, it only took thieves two days to destroy a set of replacement mailboxes that had already been hit once. Data from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service shows 11 break-ins of mailboxes were reported from Oct. 1 through Nov. 16 in the f
  
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• As more thieves target mailboxes, USPS providing community outreach

  17-11-2017 01:53 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cases of thieves prying mailboxes open seem to happen in every neighborhood and it feels like it’s happening more often.
  In one south Austin neighborhood off Slaughter Lane, it’s a vicious cycle. In this one particular neighborhood, the replacement cluster of mailboxes was broken into within a few days of being installed. Data from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service shows 11 break-ins of mailboxes were reported from Oct. 1 through Nov. 16 in the follow
  
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• Report: State should form task force to tackle youth homelessness

  17-11-2017 01:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A new report about youth homelessness in Texas highlights a need for comprehensive policies and a funding stream to address the ongoing issue.
  Texas Appleseed partnered with Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) and conducted more than 100 interviews with youth who had experienced or are experiencing homelessness in Texas. Both groups also pulled data from state agencies related to youth.
  Clair Cole, 19, became homeless when she was 16. “I had a lot of struggles con
  
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• Motorcyclist killed in crash with pole on SH 79 near Hutto

  17-11-2017 01:27 via kxan.com
  HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a pole on the side of State Highway 29 between Hutto and Taylor, Thursday afternoon.
  The Texas Department of Public Safety was not able to immediately give an exact location or time of the crash, but said a stopped train next to the crash scene was not involved.
  Troopers say no other vehicle or person was involved.
  The victim’s identity has not been released, as authorities work to notify family members.
  Additional infor
  
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• Dunkin’ Donuts dropping the ‘Donuts’ from name in test concept

  17-11-2017 00:48 via kxan.com
  BOSTON (NBC News) — Dunkin’ Donuts is testing out a rebranded name that drops the “Donuts.”
  The company is testing the shorter name at several of its stores in Boston, which are set to open next month. In August, the company said they it was considering shortening the name in an effort to help consumers see the stores as a destination for coffee, not just doughnuts.
  Man gets $37,500 after police mistake doughnut glaze for meth
  The chain’s parent company, Dunkin&rsqu
  
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• Franklin BBQ announces reopening date after fire destroyed smokehouse

  17-11-2017 00:44 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A fabled Austin barbecue joint has announced its reopening date, about three months after a fire destroyed its smokehouse.
  “Hey y’all, Franklin BBQ reopens Tuesday, Nov. 21,” a sign reads in front of Franklin, located at 900 E. 11th St.
  The Austin Fire Department says the fire started just before 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 26 after wind blew an ember from the fire pit, which then hit the back of the building. Four of the seven smokers were working when the fire sta
  
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• 2 accidentally shot at Tennessee church during church shooting discussion

  17-11-2017 00:01 via kxan.com
  TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. (WATE) – Police say two people were accidentally shot at a church in Tellico Plains Thursday afternoon during a discussion about the recent church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
  The Tellico Plains Police Department says elder members of First United Methodist Church were meeting for a Thanksgiving dinner around 1 p.m. and began discussing the Texas shooting when someone asked if anyone brought a gun to their church.
  A man spoke up and said he carries his every
  
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• No new toll roads: Lt. Gov. Patrick’s message to TxDOT

  17-11-2017 00:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking the Texas Department of Transportation to revise its Unified Transportation Plan and come up with one that does not include additional toll lanes.
  Patrick said he spoke with Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. on Wednesday to remind him of the legislature’s commitment to reducing tolls. The Unified Transportation Plan, as is, includes 15 managed toll lanes.
  “Since I became Lt. Governor and before, as a s
  
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• Lt. Gov. Patrick comes out against TxDOT’s plans for more toll roads

  17-11-2017 00:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking the Texas Department of Transportation to revise its Unified Transportation Plan and come up with one that does not include additional toll lanes.
  Patrick said he spoke with Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. on Wednesday to remind him of the legislature’s commitment to reducing tolls. The Unified Transportation Plan, as is, includes 15 managed toll lanes.
  “Since I became Lt. Governor and before, as a s
  
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