Austin news

• Texas still not drug testing unemployment benefit applicants

  24-11-2017 23:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing for the drug testing of certain out-of-work Texans applying for unemployment. Republicans say politics is the reason they haven’t been able to start the testing. They are waiting on the Trump administration to launch new federal guidelines on who the state is allowed to test.
  Under Senate Bill 21, those who test positive would be ineligible to receive benefits for at least a month, until they pass
  
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• Ice rink opens for the season at Whole Foods

  24-11-2017 23:34 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — People are getting a taste of winter now that an outdoor rooftop ice rink is open for business.
  The Rooftop Plaza at Whole Foods Market at 525 N. Lamar Blvd. is hosting the annual activity, which is in its 13th year. Each year more than 16,000 people stop by to glide around the ice and sip on hot cocoa. The rink is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day and costs $10 a person, which includes ice skate rentals.
  It’s already attracting some avid skaters on its opening day
  
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• Amid holiday donation lull, family makes tradition of donating blood

  24-11-2017 23:10 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, TX (KXAN) — 20-year-old Hannah Winkler skipped out on Black Friday shopping this year. Instead, she joined her mom, her brother, and her dad early Friday morning at We Are Blood in Round Rock to donate blood together.
  The morning donation is becoming a tradition for the Winkler family.
  “I feel like over the holidays, if you’re in the hospital, it’s terrible to begin with and if you don’t have the necessary blood for transfusion or something, that’s
  
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• WATCH: Officers save woman from tracks seconds before train arrives

  24-11-2017 21:39 via kxan.com
  MELBOURNE, Australia (KXAN) — Subway workers in Australia saved a woman stuck on the tracks in the nick of time.
  Surveillance video footage released Friday shows the woman walking across the tracks on Tuesday and trying to get up to the platform. Someone tries to lend her a hand, and then three police officers rush to help her as a train approaches. With seconds to spare, they pulled her up.
  “When we seen her on the tracks we just sprinted over and I guess we were lucky enough to be
  
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• Prescription drug abuse leading to more grandparents raising grandchildren

  24-11-2017 20:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The bond between grandparents and their grandchildren is unwavering and Gail Gallagher remembers the day more than a decade ago that feeling grew even stronger.
  “The older one took the hand of the younger one and said we’re safe now,” Gallagher said.
  It was the day Gallagher and her husband, Dr. W. Neil Gallagher, became parents again. Their daughter had struggled with being bipolar and borderline personality disorder and prescription drug problems and eve
  
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• People in La Grange get break from Harvey on Thanksgiving

  24-11-2017 19:41 via kxan.com
  LA GRANGE, Texas (KXAN) — To feed hundreds of people hard-hit by Harvey, you need an army of volunteers, and that’s just what the city of La Grange got this Thanksgiving Day.
  With 50 turkeys donated by the group Celebration of Love smoked for free by Southside Market and Barbecue, Thursday’s meal was just what the people in the small town needed nearly three months after the flooded Colorado River destroyed large swaths of neighborhoods. After all, on Thanksgiving, home is
  
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• A Thanksgiving text mix-up is now a holiday tradition

  24-11-2017 19:37 via kxan.com
  MESA, Ariz. (KXAN) — An accidental invite to a Thanksgiving feast is now turning into a holiday tradition for two people in Arizona.
  Last year, a woman texted a person she thought was her grandson and invited him over for Thanksgiving. It turned out to be a stranger, but he asked if he could come along anyway and showed up for a plate.
  “I said sure you can. That’s what grandmas do – they feed everybody,” Wanda Dench told NBC affiliate KPNX.
  This year, Jama Hinton vi
  
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• AFD contains fire at Iron Works Barbecue

  24-11-2017 19:09 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fire crews responded to a fire in a wall at Iron Works Barbecue in downtown Austin Friday.
  Firefighters responded after 11:30 a.m. to the restaurant at 100 Red River St. and said the fire was extinguished about 15 minutes later. No one was injured but they did evacuate the building.
  The fire was in a wall, according to AFD. It says it was caused by a heat source too close to combustibles. About $12,000 in damage was done to the structure and $3,000 of contents were damaged.
  
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• Texas retailers forecast a strong shopping weekend amid strengthening economy

  24-11-2017 18:42 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Retailers Association is predicting a big season for businesses big and small as the holiday shopping season officially kicks off this week.
  That’s despite a slow start to Black Friday for stores in the shopping center at Interstate 35 and 51st Street in north Austin. Metal barricades lined the front of the Best Buy there, but just a handful of people waited behind them for the store to open. A few people shopped at the other stores in the strip mall, but th
  
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• Ambulance crew grants dying woman’s wish to see the beach

  24-11-2017 18:02 via kxan.com
  QUEENSLAND, Australia (WCMH) — A woman being moved to palliative care was given a final wish by the ambulance crew taking care of her.
  According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, in Australia, an ambulance crew was taking a woman to palliative care unit at a local hospital, when the woman said she wished she could see the beach one last time.The crew decided to grant the woman her wish and took her to the beach at Hervey Bay, where “…tears were shed and the patient felt ver
  
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• Texas woman accused of mailing bombs to Obama, Abbott

  24-11-2017 17:48 via kxan.com
  FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman is accused of sending homemade bombs to President Barack Obama and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2016 that prosecutors say could have maimed or killed the two leaders.
  Court documents filed in district court in Houston last week show Julia Poff was indicted earlier this month on six counts, including mailing injurious articles and transporting explosives with the intent to kill and injure.
  Records show the 46-year-old woman is being held at the Housto
  
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• Woman killed, one other injured in east Austin crash

  24-11-2017 15:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman is dead and another person has serious injuries after a crash in east Austin Thursday evening.
  It happened on Martin Luther King Junior Blvd. and Temple Drive around 10:30 p.m.
  It’s not clear how many cars were involved or if speed and alcohol were a factor.
  
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• Woman killed, man injured in east Austin crash

  24-11-2017 15:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman is dead and a man has serious injuries after a crash in east Austin Thursday evening.
  It happened on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Temple Drive around 10:30 p.m. The two people were taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, but the woman later died. Austin Travis County EMS says the man had serious injuries that aren’t expected to be life threatening.
  It’s not clear how many cars were involved.
  
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• Two men, one critically injured in North Austin shooting

  24-11-2017 15:05 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —Austin are investigating a shooting that injured two men, one critically, in North Austin early Friday morning.
  It happened around midnight in the 9600 block of North Lamar Blvd.
  One man with non-life threatening injuries and another man with life-threatening injuries were taken to the hospital.
  Police say no suspects are in custody.
  This is a developing story.
  
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• Suspect dead, deputy injured in shooting in Wimberley

  24-11-2017 14:36 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas –The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what it believes was an ambush against some of its deputies, prompting a shootout that left the suspect dead and one officer injured Friday morning in Wimberley.
  HCSO Deputy Benjamin GieselmanThe shooting happened around 3:48 a.m. at Spoke Hollow Road near Ranch Road 12.  According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Benjamin Gieselman, 28, was one of several deputies responding to a 911 call about someone b
  
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• Sheriff: Buckshot used in deadly ‘ambush’ attack in Wimberley

  24-11-2017 14:36 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas –The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what it believes was an ambush against some of its deputies, prompting a shootout that left the suspect dead and one officer injured Friday morning in Wimberley.
  HCSO Deputy Benjamin GieselmanDeputies rushed to the 11500 block of Ranch Road 12 after a 911 caller told dispatchers an armed man was trying to break into Jean’s Antiques. The caller described the armed man to dispatchers, right down to the clothing
  
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• Sheriff: ‘Ambush’ attack led to deadly officer-involved shooting in Wimberley

  24-11-2017 14:36 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas –The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what it believes was an ambush against some of its deputies, prompting a shootout that left the suspect dead and one officer injured Friday morning in Wimberley.
  HCSO Deputy Benjamin GieselmanDeputies rushed to the 11500 block of Ranch Road 12 after a 911 caller told dispatchers an armed man was trying to break into Jean’s Antiques. The caller described the armed man to dispatchers, right down to the clothing
  
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• Hays Co. Sheriff’s office investigating officer-involved-shooting near Wimberely

  24-11-2017 14:36 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas –The Hays County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting Friday morning near Wimberley.
  The shooting happened around 3:48 a.m. Spoke Hollow Road near Ranch Road 12.
  The Hays County Sheriff’s Office isn’t releasing much information but say a press conference is expected later this morning.
  KXAN has a crew on the way to the scene.
  
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• Texas holds off Butler 61-48 in the PK80

  24-11-2017 06:01 via kxan.com
  PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Texas is confident they’ll muster enough enthusiasm for Duke.With a 61-48 victory over Butler on Thursday, the Longhorns advanced at the Phil Knight Invitational to face the top-ranked Blue Devils on Friday.
  “We’re playing Duke, so I think that’s enough said right there,” guard Matt Coleman said. “No. 1 team in the country.”
  Andrew Jones had 16 points and Texas held off a late rally by the Bulldogs. Mohamed Bamba had six point
  
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• Texas already bowl bound as pressure mounts at Texas Tech

  24-11-2017 05:59 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tom Herman has cleared his first big hurdle with the Texas Longhorns. Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury faces a potentially even bigger one this week with escalating tension over whether another stumble could cost him his job.Texas (6-5, 5-3 Big 12) became bowl eligible for the first time in three seasons with last week’s win at West Virginia. Kingsbury’s Red Raiders (5-6, 2-6) need to beat the Longhorns on Friday night if they want to get to a bowl a
  
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• Gov. Abbott joins Meals on Wheels to serve Austin’s elderly

  24-11-2017 05:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN)– Gov. Gregg Abbott and his wife Cecilia joined Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to 500 homebound seniors throughout the city on Thanksgiving Day.
  For this mission, the organization partnered with H-E-B to deliver the meals which include turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dinner roll and milk.
  Much of the work was done by volunteers like Gail Bell who simply saw a need and wanted to help.
  “I saw something on Facebook about needing volunteers and I thought ‘that&r
  
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• Family of oldest living veteran says more help is needed to continue home care

  24-11-2017 01:47 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At 111 years old, Austin’s beloved Richard Overton is not only America’s longest living veteran, he’s now the oldest man in the country. But funding Overton’s 24/7 home care isn’t cheap, which is why his family is putting out a plea to keep the donations coming.
  This Thanksgiving, the Overtons are thankful to still have Richard by their side.
  “It has made a major difference, it’s like he has a second lease at life,” cousi
  
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• Cowboys dropped by Chargers lose 3rd straight game

  24-11-2017 01:17 via kxan.com
  DALLAS (KXAN) — The Dallas Cowboys are floundering without running back Ezekiel Elliott and are now buried in the NFC playoff race after a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cowboys (5-6) have lost three straight games since the Elliott suspension.
  Quarterback Dak Prescott threw two interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown, and finished 20-27 with 179 passing yards. The Chargers led 16-0 in the 4th quarter before Dallas got on the board with a Rod Smith two yard rushing
  
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• Houston speed skater hopes to bring Olympic gold home

  24-11-2017 01:00 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — When an athlete is training for the Olympics, they need to stay focused on the task at hand.
  For Houston speed skater Jonathan Garcia, he was left feeling hopeless when Hurricane Harvey came through and wreaked havoc on his hometown. Garcia is training for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah and going back to Texas wasn’t an option.
  “It was pretty awful, you know, I just feel helpless. I was here, I couldn’t really do anything,” says Garcia.
  
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• Texas DPS trooper shot and killed in Freestone County

  24-11-2017 00:54 via kxan.com
  FREESTONE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper has been shot and killed in Freestone County, the Navarro County Office of Emergency Management confirmed in a tweet Thursday afternoon.
  KXAS reports it happened about 4 p.m. south of Fairfield on Interstate 45, citing Navarro County EMS.
  Authorities say the gunman is Darbrett Black, who is currently at large. Freestone County is about 90 minutes southeast of Dallas.
  The suspect is a black male, 5-foot-11 inc
  
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• Slain DPS trooper identified, suspect in custody

  24-11-2017 00:54 via kxan.com
  WALLER COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)–  Officials in Waller County say the suspect who shot and killed a DPS trooper in Freestone County and engaged in a shooting with deputies Thursday, has been captured in Waller County near Praire View.
  The Waller County Sheriff’s office said in a Facebook Post that the suspect, Dabrett Black, drove into the county and “shots have been fired inthe area of Liendo Parkway and Wyatt Chapel.”
  Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Damon Alle
  
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• Thanksgiving meals donated for Harvey evacuee families now in Austin

  24-11-2017 00:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Disaster Relief Network partnered with Gobble Gobble Give and Austin Ridge Bible Church to bring Thanksgiving meals to 55 families evacuated to Austin after Hurricane Harvey.Gobble Gobble Give delivered meals to over 100 people (21 families) now living in Austin as a result of Harvey. Some of the families picked up their meals earlier in the week. In addition to meals, these families were given HEB gift cards to make sure they were well fed on this holiday.
  Gobbl
  
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• Pflugerville residents wake up to vandalized cars, homes

  24-11-2017 00:30 via kxan.com
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Some families in the Windermere neighborhood in Pflugerville had a difficult start to their Thanksgiving day after waking up to find that their cars and homes had been vandalized.
  The Pflugerville Police Department, in a Facebook post, said that most of the vehicles had broken windows and suspect they may have been shot at with a BB gun or Airsoft gun. They say some residences also had broken windows. Police say much of the vandalism was done to houses and cars
  
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