Austin news

• LBJ coach Andrew Jackson passes away after battle with cancer

  12-12-2017 23:50 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — LBJ head coach Andrew Jackson passed away on Thursday at the age of 50, a member of the football staff confirmed to KXAN.
  The long-time Central Texas football coach was diagnosed this spring with stage four esophageal cancer that had spread to his liver. Despite his diagnosis, Jackson continued to coach the Jaguars throughout the season and into the playoffs.
   
  
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• New Homeland Security secretary praises Texas’ sanctuary cities ban

  12-12-2017 23:43 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Newly confirmed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen praised Texas for its efforts to crack down on so-called sanctuary cities, saying she hopes other states follow this lead.
  “I encourage cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement in eliminating the shadowed society outside the rule of law,” she said during a press conference in Austin Tuesday.
  Senate Bill 4, passed in the 2017 legislative session, allows police to ask pe
  
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• Homeland Security secretary to speak about sanctuary cities in Austin

  12-12-2017 23:43 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — During the legislative session this year, the issue of sanctuary cities became a hot topic and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernadez’s stance on it made national headlines.
  After numerous protests and sit-ins, Senate Bill 4, which bans sanctuary cities, passed and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May. The law, which partially went into effect in September, requires local governments to comply with federal immigration detainers.
  On Tuesday afternoon, Departmen
  
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• Homeland Security secretary talks about sanctuary cities in Austin

  12-12-2017 23:43 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — During the legislative session this year, the issue of sanctuary cities became a hot topic and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernadez’s stance on it made national headlines.
  After numerous protests and sit-ins, Senate Bill 4, which bans sanctuary cities, passed and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in May. The law, which partially went into effect in September, requires local governments to comply with federal immigration detainers.
  On Tuesday afternoon, Departmen
  
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• Austin nurse on board largest hospital ship in Africa gives gift of surgery

  12-12-2017 22:39 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One St. David’s nurse is giving the gift of life-changing surgeries this holiday season. She is on board the Africa Mercy, the largest privately-owned hospital ship in the world.
  “It’s like the wave of an ocean, they come,” said Leesa Sims, of the long lines of patients who gather outside the ship every day.
  Sims waited a year to volunteer on board the Africa Mercy, which is currently docked off the coast of Cameroon. More than 400 voluntee
  
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• Austin releases list of possible MLS stadium locations

  12-12-2017 22:10 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin has released its list of city-owned sites that could possibly house a brand new Major League Soccer stadium.
  Last month, the Austin City Council tasked the city to identify areas such as “underutilized parkland” that could be used either as a stadium or practice field. The city lists five park spaces that could be used: Guerrero Metro Park (both as a stadium and practice field), Walnut Creek Sports Complex (practice field), Butler Shores at To
  
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• Motorcyclist critically injured in 25 ft. fall from US 183 in north Austin

  12-12-2017 21:59 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A motorcyclist in his 50s was critically injured Tuesday afternoon in a 20-25 foot fall from US 183 southbound near the Georgian Drive exit.
  Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the man, who fell onto the 8400 block of the Research Boulevard service road, at 2:12 p.m.
  Medics said initial reports indicated the motorcyclist was in a crash with a vehicle on the upper deck before falling onto the road below. He was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with life-threatening inju
  
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• PHOTOS: You can eat lunch inside a life-size gingerbread house in Austin

  12-12-2017 20:32 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many people carefully bake (or buy) gingerbread to form into houses to decorate, but this season a downtown Austin hotel and restaurant took the concept and made it life-sized.
  Chefs and builders first crafted a house-like structure, then covered it in real gingerbread and both edible and inedible decorations, all in time for National Gingerbread House day, which organizers say was a coincidence.
  A life-size gingerbread dining room at the Westin Austin Downtown on Dec. 12,
  
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• Middle school teacher accused of having sexual contact with Vandegrift High student

  12-12-2017 20:13 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A former teacher in Leander Independent School District was arrested Tuesday on charges of having an improper relationship with a Vandegrift High School student whom she met at a church where she volunteered.
  At the end of October, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an alleged sexual assault and improper relationship involving Cedar Park Middle School’s sixth-grade teacher Nicole Marie Faires Andrews. She was arrested on
  
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• Ex-Cedar Park MS teacher accused of having relationship with minor

  12-12-2017 20:13 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A former teacher in Leander Independent School District was arrested on charges of having an improper relationship with a minor at a church where she volunteered, who did not attend the school where she worked.
  At the end of October, the Williamson County Sheriff began investigating an alleged sexual assault and improper relationship involving Nicole Marie Faires Andrews. She was arrested Dec. 12 after authorities said she had an ongoing relationship with
  
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• Ex-Cedar Park MS teacher accused of having relationship with high schooler

  12-12-2017 20:13 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A former teacher in Leander Independent School District was arrested Tuesday on charges of having an improper relationship with a male high school student at a church where she volunteered.
  At the end of October, the Williamson County Sheriff began investigating an alleged sexual assault and improper relationship involving Cedar Park Middle School’s sixth-grade teacher Nicole Marie Faires Andrews. She was arrested Dec. 12 after authorities said she h
  
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• Man accidentally shot, killed at gun range near Houston

  12-12-2017 19:20 via kxan.com
  CYPRESS, Texas (KXAN) — One person is dead in what appears to be an accidental shooting at a gun range northwest of Houston Tuesday morning.
  KPRC reports the shooting was reported at 9:13 a.m. at the Hot Wells Shooting Range located along Northwest Freeway and Barker Cypress Road. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the man who was shot was flown to the hospital where he died.
  While authorities have not indicated how the shooting happened, aerials from KPRC shows investigators lo
  
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• One flown to hospital after 4-vehicle crash on SH 21 in Caldwell County

  12-12-2017 18:48 via kxan.com
  CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — One person had to be taken by medical helicopter to a hospital after a four vehicle crash on State Highway 21 in Caldwell County Monday night.
  The Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management said the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. on SH 21 at Calder Road, which is a few miles southeast of Mustang Ridge.
  In a Facebook post, the agency said three vehicles and one 18-wheeler were involved in the crash. The crash forced SH 21 to close to traffic for several
  
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• Polls close across Alabama as bitter Senate campaign ends

  12-12-2017 18:14 via kxan.com
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — After all the charges, denials, claims and promises, Alabama voters have had their say. Polls closed across the state Tuesday night after a scandal-stained Senate election campaign that tested the limits of party loyalty in the age of President Donald Trump and — win or lose — promised significant political consequences for Republicans everywhere.
  At the center of the special election was fiery Christian conservative Roy Moore — “Judge Moore&
  
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• Jones victorious in stunning Alabama Senate upset

  12-12-2017 18:14 via kxan.com
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama’s special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed GOP rebel Roy Moore despite a litany of sexual misconduct allegations.
  It was the first Democratic Senate victory in a quarter-century in Alabama, one of the reddest of red states, and proved anew that party loyalty is anything but sure in the age o
  
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• Democrat Jones wins stunning red-state Alabama Senate upset

  12-12-2017 18:14 via kxan.com
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama’s special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed GOP rebel Roy Moore despite a litany of sexual misconduct allegations.
  It was the first Democratic Senate victory in a quarter-century in Alabama, one of the reddest of red states, and proved anew that party loyalty is anything but sure in the age o
  
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• Decision day in Alabama after long, bitter Senate campaign

  12-12-2017 18:14 via kxan.com
  MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — Voters finally lined up and voted across Alabama Tuesday after a scandal-stained Senate election campaign that tested the limits of party loyalty in the age of President Donald Trump and — win or lose — promised significant political consequences for Republicans everywhere.
  At the center of the special election was fiery Christian conservative Roy Moore — “Judge Moore” to his supporters. The 70-year-old Republican was twice ousted as
  
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• After bitter campaign, Alabama Senate race goes to voters

  12-12-2017 18:14 via kxan.com
  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The bitter Senate race in deeply conservative Alabama went to the voters Tuesday as they chose between an embattled but well-known Republican accused of child molestation and a Democrat who hopes to break the GOP’s lock on the state and uphold “decency.”
  Roy Moore, the 70-year-old GOP nominee who was twice ousted as state Supreme Court chief justice after flouting federal law, was attempting another political resurrection amid the accusations of se
  
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• Man accused of killing 3-year-old because she didn’t have pajamas on

  12-12-2017 18:09 via kxan.com
  CARL JUNCTION, Mo. (KSN) — Charges are filed in the death of a 3-year-old Carl Junction girl. Jalen Vaden, 22, is charged with 2nd degree murder and abuse of a child resulting in murder.
  Carl Junction police responded to a home at 405 Meadow Lake Dr. on Nov. 27 and found Jayda Kyle, 3, in her bedroom unresponsive.
  According to the probable cause affidavit, Vaden, who is dating the child’s mother, admitted to entering the bedroom previously that night and was upset over the child not
  
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• Man who’s been arrested 55 times in 19 years wanted in robbery case

  12-12-2017 17:49 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who has been arrested 55 times is wanted in connection with a robbery in which he allegedly stole a necklace from a legally blind man.
  According to jail records, Charles Ramirez, 37, was out of Travis County Jail on a general release on Nov. 2. According to an affidavit, five days later he robbed a man at his south Austin home.
  Police responded to a 911 call Nov. 7 around 8:43 p.m. in the 1300 block of Falcon Cove. The victim told police he was talking on the phone wh
  
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• Sean Spicer book coming out next summer

  12-12-2017 17:44 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Spicer, the former White House press secretary, has a book deal. But don’t expect him to criticize his former boss, President Donald Trump. Spicer’s target will be some of the media outlets he once sparred with.
  Regnery Publishing, a leading conservative press, announced Tuesday that Spicer’s book will come out next summer. Its working title is “The Briefing.”
  Spicer quit as press secretary in July, just six months into Trump’s presi
  
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• Man intervenes in couple’s argument, is thrown from bridge

  12-12-2017 17:21 via kxan.com
  DERBY, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut police say a man threw another man 45 feet off a bridge because he intervened in an argument between the suspect and his girlfriend.
  Derby police charged Gregory Rottjer with attempted murder in connection with the Thanksgiving morning encounter that left the victim seriously injured. He faces arraignment Tuesday.
  Rottjer’s friend Matthew Dorso was charged with assault while Rottjer’s girlfriend, Jennifer Hannum, was charged with lying to police.
  
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• WATCH: Dogs dress up for ‘Howliday’ party at the U.S. Capitol

  12-12-2017 16:38 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) — A Christmas party for the canines happened Monday in the nation’s capital. A few members of congress and staffers were there, too.
  It was all for the first-ever “bi-pawtisan howliday” party — in which House members and their staff brought their dogs to the U.S. Capitol. Dogs big and small showed up in their best outfits. Some sported full-on elf costumes or reindeer antlers, while others went with festive collars instead.
  Rep. Lamar Smith f
  
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• Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2017: ‘Feminism’

  12-12-2017 15:21 via kxan.com
  NEW YORK (AP) — This may or may not come as a surprise: Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2017 is “feminism.”
  Yes, it’s been a big year or two or 100 for the word. In 2017, lookups for feminism increased 70 percent over 2016 on Merriam-Webster.com and spiked several times after key events, lexicographer Peter Sokolowski, the company’s editor at large, told The Associated Press ahead of Tuesday’s annual word reveal.
  There was the Women’s March
  
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• Langford Elementary evacuated for fire in light fixture

  12-12-2017 14:51 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An elementary school in southeast Austin had to be evacuated Tuesday morning after a light fixture in its gym caught on fire.
  Austin Fire Department firefighters went to Langford Elementary at 2206 Blue Meadow Dr. before 7:30 a.m. Firefighters found the light was the only issue and put it out in a few minutes. It hasn’t spread, but crews are working on ventilating the space and getting staff and students back into the building
  Students were in separate wings of the sc
  
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• Officer who adopted drug-addicted baby honored with new award

  12-12-2017 14:08 via kxan.com
  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque Police Department officer received a first-of-its kind award for adopting a drug-addicted baby.
  The story of Officer Ryan Holets caught national attention. He met a pregnant woman addicted to heroin and decided to adopt her baby.
  “Hope” is now eight weeks old. She spent her first few days of life suffering from heroin withdrawals.
  Monday, Officer Holets accepted the “Outstanding Service to the Community” award, but
  
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• Trump wants to send man back to moon, on to Mars

  12-12-2017 13:48 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to send man back to the moon — and on to Mars.
  Trump signed a policy directive Monday instructing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to “refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery.”
  The move, Trump said, “marks an important step in returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 for long-time exploration.”
  NASA builds tires that won’t go fl
  
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• Woman faces criminal charges for rescuing starving dog

  12-12-2017 13:28 via kxan.com
  PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WCMH) — A dog rescued in Scioto County was so emaciated, an official said it lost half of its body weight. That official, Rhonda Rose from the Scioto Area Humane Society, said she rescued the dog at the last minute, only to be charged with two crimes.
  Rose works as the Treasurer of the Humane Society. She has been charged with criminal trespass and petty theft after rescuing the dog.
  More than a dozen supporters showed up and marched near the front doors of the Portsmouth
  
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• Houston 18-year-old arrested on charges of trying to aid IS

  12-12-2017 13:01 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — A Houston 18-year-old has been arrested and charged with illegally distributing explosive-making information and attempting to support the Islamic State organization.
  The U.S. Justice Department said Monday that Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya, a U.S. citizen, was arrested on Dec. 8 following an undercover FBI operation. A statement says Damlarkaya said he intended to travel overseas and fight for IS and said he tried to get to Syria twice. He told agents that he would commit a U.S.
  
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• Public gets chance to meet Austin City Manager candidates

  12-12-2017 12:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday is the public’s opportunity to get to know the two finalists for Austin City Manager during a town hall-style meeting.
  The city manager acts as the CEO of Austin, and council wants to make sure the public has an opportunity to talk one-on-one with the two candidates.
  Those candidates are Spencer Cronk, 38, and Howard Lazarus, 61. Cronk is currently the city coordinator in Minneapolis where he has been for the past three years. Lazarus is currently the city adm
  
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• Meet Austin City Manager candidates Tuesday

  12-12-2017 12:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday is the public’s opportunity to get to know the two finalists for Austin City Manager during a town hall-style meeting.
  The city manager acts as the CEO of Austin, and council wants to make sure the public has an opportunity to talk one-on-one with the two candidates.
  Those candidates are Spencer Cronk, 38, and Howard Lazarus, 61. Cronk is currently the city coordinator in Minneapolis where he has been for the past three years. Lazarus is currently the city adm
  
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• Police and fire chief to race the clock in Operation Blue Santa shopping spree

  12-12-2017 12:27 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two top Austin public safety officials will participate in a shopping spree Tuesday morning to support Operation Blue Santa, the organization staffed by Austin Police Department employees that collected and delivers donates gifts to families in need.
  APD interim Chief Brian Manley and Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr will have two minutes to run through the aisles of the Sam’s Club store in southwest Austin and collect as many toys and supplies for next year’s d
  
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• Police and fire chief race the clock in Operation Blue Santa shopping spree

  12-12-2017 12:27 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two top Austin public safety officials took part in a shopping spree Tuesday morning to support Operation Blue Santa, the organization staffed by Austin Police Department employees that collects and delivers donated gifts to families in need.
  APD interim Chief Brian Manley and Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr had two minutes to run through the aisles of the Sam’s Club store in southwest Austin and collect as many electronics and toys as they could — up to $10,00
  
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• MAP: Route of slain San Marcos officer’s funeral procession on Wednesday

  12-12-2017 05:49 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The public will be getting a chance to pay their respects to the San Marcos police officer shot and killed while serving a warrant earlier this month.
  The funeral procession for Officer Kenneth Copeland will leave from Thomason Funeral Home in San Marcos on Wednesday at 8 a.m. and make its way down Interstate 35 to Community Bible Church in San Antonio.
  The city says the public may be their respects along the procession route. The procession will start at the fun
  
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• UT supercomputer tasked with finding Austin traffic solutions

  12-12-2017 05:45 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin traffic continues to grow, the city has a unique tool at its disposal to find solutions to traffic woes: UT Austin’s Stampede 2 supercomputer.
  For the past year, the city has been collaborating with researchers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center. They’re using raw video and censors from the preexisting traffic cameras at major intersections all around Austin, including spots like 38th and Lamar, Third and Lavaca and William Cannon and Westgate. The
  
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• Texas mother remains hospitalized 150 days after 4-year-old son killed in fire

  12-12-2017 05:18 via kxan.com
  ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — More than 150 days after she rushed into an Abilene apartment fire to save her 4-year-old son, Ashley Hardy is still fighting for her life inside a burn unit at a Lubbock hospital.
  Despite Ashley’s heroic efforts, 4-year-old Liam lost his life when the Hardy family’s unit at the Warwick Apartment complex caught fire on July 12, 2017. Ashley was able to get Liam’s brother, 9-year-old Aiden, to safety, but in the process, she was overcome by fla
  
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• Sobering center one step closer to opening with first executive director

  12-12-2017 04:52 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The sobering center serving Austin and Travis County is one step closer to opening its doors after city leaders named the facility’s executive director on Monday.
  Rhonda G. Patrick will launch the center next summer.
  Patrick has been a professional social worker for 30 years, working specifically in behavioral health and addiction. She’s worked with treatment providers and helped open centers across Texas.
  “I’m looking forward to working with ou
  
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• Austin mom opening city’s first American Ninja Warrior gym for kids

  12-12-2017 03:57 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From rock-climbing to gymnastics, fencing to rowing, children in the Austin area have had their choice of gyms, clubs and teams to join if they want to try out a new sport.
  Now you can add being a ninja warrior — Austin is getting its first American Ninja Warrior-style gym completely catered to kids, thanks to a local mom.
  “My kids watch the show, they are 6 and 8 years old and it’s the only show we watch as a family,” said Jennifer Halla. &ldqu
  
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• Texas still waiting for additional funds to extend CHIP through February

  12-12-2017 01:48 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A federal health insurance program covering nearly 400,000 Texas children is still in limbo as the state remains hopeful it can get additional funding to extend coverage for an additional month.
  Congress failed to renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, at the end of September. Texas has existing funds keeping CHIP running, but it’s slated to run out by the end of January.
  “There’s no time left for an, ‘It’ll work ou
  
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• Texas honors war hero who sacrificed himself to save fellow soldiers

  12-12-2017 01:23 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Texas war hero was honored by the governor for his “courage and heroism in the face of true evil.”
  Master Sergeant Travis Watkins was posthumously awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor. Gov. Greg Abbott presented the award to Watkins’ great-grandson, also named Travis. Watkins grew up in Troup, and has family in Gladewater.
  According to Abbott, Watkins served in World War II, earning a Bronze Star during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He stayed in
  
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• Leander PD orders new body cams after glitches with existing cameras

  12-12-2017 01:16 via kxan.com
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — It only takes a flip of a switch to capture your face on a Leander Police Department body camera — if they’re actually working.
  “Batteries not working, not recording, I think we’ve even had some complaints of cameras getting hot and officers were worried they may start to melt or catch on fire,” explains Lt. Derral Partin with the Leander PD.
  The department has gone through three sets of body cameras from the same vendor in the last two
  
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• George P Bush draws unlikely GOP challenger from predecessor

  12-12-2017 01:06 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (AP) — Former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is making the unusual move of running again for his old office against his successor and fellow Republican George P. Bush.
  Patterson said Friday that he’s entering the Republican primary. He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2014 and endorsed Bush for land commissioner that year.
  But Patterson has since criticized Bush’s cutting hundreds of jobs at the powerful agency and his leading of a $450 million Alam
  
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• Nebraska woman gives birth to baby in toilet

  12-12-2017 00:18 via kxan.com
  OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) — Lareatha Rahn calls her newborn son Malikai her “miracle baby” after he survived a surprise delivery at home in the family’s toilet.
  “For him to have fallen into the toilet and nothing to happen to him, it’s just a blessing. It really is,” she says.
  Late Saturday night, two days past her due date, Rahn felt sudden, intense pressure in her abdomen as she went to use the restroom.
  “I just felt like I couldn’t get off the to
  
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