Austin news

• Dallas County’s first black sheriff sworn into office

  01-01-2018 23:16 via kxan.com
  DALLAS (AP) — Dallas County has sworn in its first black sheriff to lead the nation’s seventh-largest jail system after former sheriff Lupe Valdez resigned to run for governor.
  Marian Brown took the oath during a midnight ceremony Monday. The Dallas Morning News reports that Brown has been with the department for three years and was Valdez’s recommended choice for a successor.
  The 52-year-old Brown will serve as interim sheriff until voters elect a new sheriff in November.
  Brow
  
  Read more

• Prosecutor: Teen held in shooting death of parents, sister

  01-01-2018 22:08 via kxan.com
  LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) — A 16-year-old New Jersey boy armed with a semi-automatic rifle shot and killed his parents, sister and a family friend inside the home where they lived, authorities said Monday.
  Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni said the teen will be charged with four counts of murder and a weapons offense stemming from the shooting that occurred late Sunday night, less than 20 minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve in the shore town of Long Branch.
  A possible m
  
  Read more

• Round Rock Police investigating suspicious death on New Year’s Eve

  01-01-2018 21:51 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock Police are still trying to figure out how a person died inside a home in a cul-de-sac on Preserve Place Sunday night. Investigators have called the death “suspicious,” but have not released any new details on the death.
  Emergency crews were called to a house at 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with a report of a possible suicide. A family member of the victim said they found him dead, but after police investigated, they now believe th
  
  Read more

• Round Rock Police investigating 2nd suspicious death on New Year’s Eve

  01-01-2018 21:51 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock Police are investigating a suspicious death in the 1100 block of Preserve Place south of Forest Creek Drive in Round Rock.
  Police said they were called to a house at 8:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve with a report of a possible suicide. A family member of the victim said they found him dead, but after police investigated, they now believe that the death is suspicious.
  Police are also investigating another suspicious death of a woman on Leslie Court&nbs
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Woman charged in shooting death of fiancé

  01-01-2018 20:41 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman has been arrested after the Travis County Sheriff’s Office says she shot and killed her fiancé.
  Authorities received a call at 4:19 a.m. Sunday from a woman requesting an ambulance in the 4800 block of Doss Road in the Hudson Bend near Lake Travis. Deputies say when they arrived at the home, they found 37-year-old Bradley Cole Sullivan unconscious with a gunshot wound.
  Police said he later died at the hospital. His fiancé, 48-year-old Charit
  
  Read more

• 12 displaced in New Year’s Day fire

  01-01-2018 19:46 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire Department responded to a fire at the Avesta Agave apartments on 1901 East Anderson Lane on the morning of New Year’s Day.
  Fire crews were able to extinguish the fire but not before it caused an estimated $90,000 worth of damages.  The department says the fire started after an air conditioning system malfunctioned in the attic.
  12 people were displaced and are being assisted by Red Cross to find temporary housing.
  This is a developing story. KXAN
  
  Read more

• Toll roads start rate increase New Year’s Day

  01-01-2018 18:04 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting New Year’s Day toll prices on going up on some Central Texas toll roads. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is increasing the rates on 183A, 290, and 71 by one to 3 cents at each toll plaza. For example, those driving the length of the 290 East toll will pay an additional 5 cents since drivers have to go through three toll plazas. CTRMA cites the reason for the increase is inflation.
  “Each year we adjust the rate to keep up with consumer pric
  
  Read more

• Words banned for the new year? ‘Fake news’ gets top vote

  01-01-2018 17:26 via kxan.com
  DETROIT (AP) — Let me ask you this: Would a story that unpacks a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, could it just be fake news?
  Northern Michigan’s Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness . The tongue-in-cheek, non-binding list of 14 words or phrases comes from thousands of suggestions to the Sault Ste. Marie school.
  This
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Colorado shooter was lawyer, Iraq war veteran

  01-01-2018 15:21 via kxan.com
  DENVER (AP) — A man who shot and killed a Colorado deputy and wounded four others along with two civilians was an attorney and an Iraq war veteran who had posted videos online in recent months criticizing professors and law enforcement officials, authorities said Monday.
  Shooter Matthew Riehl, 37, died Sunday during what officials called an ambush at his apartment building in Highlands Ranch, 16 miles (28 kilometers) south of Denver.
  Authorities say Riehl fired more than 100 rounds in his
  
  Read more

• Colorado authorities were warned about gunman’s mental state

  01-01-2018 15:21 via kxan.com
  DENVER (AP) — A man who shot and killed a Colorado deputy and wounded four others along with two civilians was an attorney and an Iraq war veteran who had posted videos online in recent months criticizing professors and law enforcement officials, authorities said Monday.
  Shooter Matthew Riehl, 37, died Sunday during what officials called an ambush at his apartment building in Highlands Ranch, 16 miles (28 kilometers) south of Denver.
  Authorities say Riehl fired more than 100 rounds in his
  
  Read more

• 4 deputies wounded, 1 dead in Colorado attack

  01-01-2018 15:21 via kxan.com
  DENVER (AP) — Authorities in suburban Denver were investigating what led a 37-year-old man to fire more than 100 rounds in his apartment on sheriff’s deputies, killing one and injuring four others. Two civilians were also injured.
  The Douglas County coroner identified the suspect as Matthew Riehl.
  A YouTube user named Matthew Riehl posted a YouTube video Dec. 13, saying he wanted to replace Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock and railing against the sheriff and other officers in pro
  
  Read more

• Overnight stabbing sends man to hospital with serious injuries

  01-01-2018 09:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Travis County EMS paramedics took a man with serious injuries from a stabbing to Dell Seton Medical Center early Monday morning.
  According to the ATC-EMS tweet, the man in his 20s was the only patient at the scene at West 6th Street and Rio Grande Street. Paramedics were called out at 2 a.m.
  KXAN News reached out to Austin Police Watch Command but the on-duty commander did not have any information about the stabbing.
  
  Read more

• New Year’s Eve fire at 3-story boarding house displaces 6 in east Austin

  01-01-2018 05:52 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A fire at a three-story boarding house in east Austin displaced at least six adults Sunday night, said the Austin Fire Department.
  The call for the fire came in at about 9:53 p.m. in the 5600 block of Manor Road north of East 51st Street and just south of Rogge Lane.
  The first firefighters to arrive reported fire coming from the second floor of the house, AFD said. They began an aggressive attack, but then fire conditions got worse, and firefighters retreated from the build
  
  Read more

• Amber Alert issued for 2 Round Rock girls after police respond to house, find dead woman

  01-01-2018 05:31 via kxan.com
  Luluvioletta Mariposo Bandera-Magret and Lilianais Victoria Cake Griffith, who are the subject of an Amber Alert issued Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (Photo: Round Rock Police Department)
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – An Amber Alert was issued Sunday for two missing Round Rock girls in relation to a suspicious death investigation, said the Round Rock Police Department.
  Police said that earlier in the day, they responded to a welfare concern call to a house in the 2600 block of Leslie Court east of I
  
  Read more

• Amber Alert issued for 2 Round Rock girls after police find dead woman in house

  01-01-2018 05:31 via kxan.com
  Luluvioletta Mariposo Bandera-Magret and Lilianais Victoria Cake Griffith, who are the subject of an Amber Alert issued Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (Photo: Round Rock Police Department)
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – An Amber Alert was issued Sunday for two missing Round Rock girls in relation to a suspicious death investigation, said the Round Rock Police Department.
  Police said that earlier in the day, they responded to a welfare concern call to a house in the 2600 block of Leslie Court east of I
  
  Read more

• PHOTOS: Snow lightly dusts Central Texas

  01-01-2018 04:48 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As light snow from areas near Killeen moved into our northern counties … Williamson, Milam, Burnet, Lampasas … KXAN viewers took the opportunity to share their snowy photos. Dec. 31, 2017, dusting of snow in Central TexasTaylor (ReportIt: Sam) Lampasas (ReportIt: Phyllis Stillwell) Briggs (ReportIt: Morgan Kinsey) Thrall (ReportIt: Leah Jernigan) Teravista in Round Rock (ReportIt: Joshua Camargo) Burnet (ReportIt: Jason Moore) Georgetown (ReportIt: Hisham ELBa
  
  Read more

• Austin’s biggest party goes on as planned

  01-01-2018 04:14 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s New Year party kicked off, but without the big crowds this year.
  As the temperature dipped in the 30s, some families braved the cold and joined friends at Vic Mathias Shores formerly known as Auditorium Shores.  They waited for hours for a big fireworks show and also snow.
  As the snow started blanketing the ground, fireworks lite the sky above downtown.
  Trying to stay warm at Austn’s New Year celebration.
  “We love the adventure,” s
  
  Read more

• Multiple crashes, icy bridges in Central Texas as frigid conditions set in

  01-01-2018 01:37 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – There are lots of icing reports rolling in now from KXAN viewers and Central Texas emergency and law enforcement agencies.
  At 4:17 p.m., Austin-Travis County EMS reported icing conditions on the MoPac ramp at Cesar Chavez. During the same hour, weather spotters reported sleet and freezing rain in Hye–which is on US 290 in between Fredericksburg and Johnson City.
  A wintry mix was reported at the Llano and Lago Vista airports. Freezing drizzle was reported in Cedar Cree
  
  Read more

• Longhorns ring in 2017 with dominant win over undefeated West Virginia

  01-01-2018 01:27 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Brooke McCarty scored 17 points and No. 8 Texas beat No. 9 West Virginia 79-58 on Sunday.
  Texas (11-1, 2-0 Big 12) held West Virginia scoreless for seven minutes starting late in the second quarter and without a field goal for more than 12 minutes. The Longhorns put together an 18-0 push during that span. Texas led by 30 in the fourth quarter.
  Freshman Rellah Boothe scored a season-best 14 points, converting 6 of 8 shots in 13 minutes. Alecia Sutton scored 11 points, w
  
  Read more

• Malik Jefferson declares for NFL draft

  01-01-2018 01:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a video post through the Players’ Tribune, Malik Jefferson announced he is leaving school early to enter the NFL Draft.
  The only surprising part of the move is how long it took for the junior linebacker to announce his decision.
  Jefferson, a Mesquite native, had to sit out the Texas Bowl due to a turf toe injury. But despite missing the season finale, he led the team in tackles with 110, 37 more than the next closest total. He also had team bests in tackles for los
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!