Austin news

• Exploding targets rattle nerves in south Austin

  22-01-2018 23:45 via kxan.com
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – People living in south Austin say something has to be done after a loud explosion Saturday evening shook their home. Multiple law enforcement agencies investigated, the Austin Police Department even sent up a helicopter before determining a person set off tannerite.
  Tannerite (a brand name) is an exploding target meant to be used for firearms practice–if hit by a high powered rifle you’ll hear a loud boom.
  According to those living in south Austin an
  
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• Two APD officers fired for lying about using force during arrest, chief says

  22-01-2018 22:31 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin police officer who was the subject of a use of force lawsuit filed by a woman who he slammed into the ground during a 2015 arrest has been fired from the department after a new allegation surfaced of him using excessive force.
  Chief of Police Brian Manley made the decision to fire Officer Bryan Richter after a disciplinary hearing that wrapped up Monday. According to a Jan. 19 disciplinary memo, on July 26, 2017, the Austin Police Department’s Organized Crim
  
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• ‘Nacho’ your normal vigil for a Taco Bell that was damaged by a fire

  22-01-2018 22:09 via kxan.com
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (KXAN) — Loyal fans of a Taco Bell in Montgomery, Alabama held a vigil in front of the business to lament the loss of their favorite fast food restaurant.
  The restaurant caught fire (no fire sauce jokes included) last week. About 100 people came out in support of the location with candles and matches. “I think it was the best Taco Bell in Montgomery,” said one fan to WSFA in Montgomery.
  Investigators believe the fire began in a small room holding electrica
  
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• ‘Nacho’ normal vigil for a Taco Bell that was damaged by a fire

  22-01-2018 22:09 via kxan.com
  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (KXAN) — Loyal fans of a Taco Bell in Montgomery, Alabama held a vigil in front of the business to lament the loss of their favorite fast food restaurant.
  The restaurant caught fire (no fire sauce jokes included) last week. About 100 people came out in support of the location with candles and matches. “I think it was the best Taco Bell in Montgomery,” said one fan to WSFA in Montgomery.
  Investigators believe the fire began in a small room holding electrica
  
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• Landowners unhappy with 10-lane highway proposed in Williamson County

  22-01-2018 21:41 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Raymond Naivar’s livelihood depends on his farm. He raises cattle and grows crops on 58 acres just outside of Hutto. But after 37 years on this farm, Naivar isn’t sure what the next few will look like as the county prepares for a new highway.
  “The road will probably come right here across our land and split us in two,” explains Naivar.
  As part of its long-range transportation plan, Williamson County wants to create a 10-lane hi
  
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• Land owners unhappy with 10-lane highway proposed in Williamson County

  22-01-2018 21:41 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Raymond Naivar’s livelihood depends on his farm. He raises cattle and grows crops on 58 acres just outside of Hutto. But after 37 years on this farm, Naivar isn’t sure what the next few will look like as the county prepares for a new highway.
  “The road will probably come right here across our land and split us in two,” explains Naivar.
  As part of its long-range transportation plan, Williamson County wants to create a 10-lane hi
  
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• Doughnut-eating champ charged with stealing from Dunkin’

  22-01-2018 21:22 via kxan.com
  ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man who made headlines when he was caught for break-ins after winning a doughnut-eating contest has been arrested again. And this time he’s accused of stealing from a doughnut shop.
  The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reports 27-year-old Bradley Hardison of Elizabeth City was charged Thursday with stealing from a Dunkin’ Donuts in November.
  An Elizabeth City Police Department statement says he’s charged with felonies including breaki
  
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• VIDEO: Large grass fire near Fort Worth comes dangerously close to homes

  22-01-2018 21:11 via kxan.com
  PARKER COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A large grass fire forced evacuations and came within feet of destroying homes in Parker County on Monday, about 20 miles west of downtown Fort Worth.
  Helicopter video from Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS showed fire crews keeping the line of flames away from homes, schools and livestock along Interstate 20 and Walsh Ranch Parkway in the town of Willow Park.
  TxDOT put out a warning around 2:30 p.m. Monday that all lanes of Interstate 20 and Interstate 30 from I-830
  
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• LIVE: Large grass fire threatens home, forces evacuations west of Fort Worth

  22-01-2018 21:11 via kxan.com
  PARKER COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A large grass fire is forcing evacuations and threatening homes and buildings in Parker County, about 20 miles west of downtown Fort Worth.
  Helicopter video from Dallas NBC affiliate KXAS shows fire crews attempting to keep the line of flames away from homes, a school and nearby livestock in the area along Interstate 20 and Walsh Ranch Parkway in the town of Willow Park.
  TxDOT put out a warning around 2:30 p.m. Monday that all lanes of Interstate 20 and Inter
  
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• Police identify woman who died after car slid off icy bridge

  22-01-2018 20:30 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A passenger who died after the truck she was in lost control on an icy bridge and fell 30 feet down has been identified by police.
  Eva Marie Gonzales, 56, died at the scene near the 1500 block of Slaughter Lane, just east of Manchaca Road, on Jan. 16 around 5:36 p.m., according to Austin police. She was a passenger in the truck. At the time of the crash, authorities indicated the deceased was a man. The driver was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
  Police
  
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• Tonga flag bearer from Rio qualifies for Winter Olympics

  22-01-2018 20:22 via kxan.com
  Pita Taufatofua, the shirtless, oiled-up Tongan flag bearer from the Rio Games, qualified for the PyeongChang Olympics in cross-country skiing on Saturday.
  “This was my last race possible, and we did it,” Taufatofua said in an interview with Olympic Channel, which also reported that he qualified. “This is a miracle.”
  Taufatofua qualified at the final weekend of the Olympic qualifying period in Iceland, which is more than 9,000 miles from his home archipelago.
  The last two
  
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• President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania celebrate 13th wedding anniversary

  22-01-2018 19:59 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (WCMH) — Just two days after celebrating the anniversary of his inauguration, President Donald Trump is celebrating his wedding anniversary.
  Pres. Trump married Slovenian model Melania Knauss on this day 13 years ago. The couple married during a brief ceremony at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church followed by a reception at the president’s Mar-a-Lago Club.
  The guest list was full of well known people, including Mr. Trump’s rival in the 2016 elections, Hil
  
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• Austin outlines plans on how city-wide paid sick leave would work

  22-01-2018 19:18 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An ordinance introduced last week could pave the way for more Austin workers to take paid sick days.
  The proposed ordinance highlighted that denying earned sick time to employees “is unjust,” “is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City” and “contributes to employee turnover and unemployment, and harms the local economy.” According to Work Strong Austin, 37 percent of Austinites — about 223,000 peo
  
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• Father accused of driving drunk with family onboard

  22-01-2018 19:02 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 41-year-old husband and father is in jail accused of driving drunk, crashing the family’s minivan into a creek and putting his wife and three children in danger.
  On Saturday, Jan. 20, just before 10:30 p.m., a Manor police officer responded to a crash in the along US 290 near Shadow Glen Boulevard. According to an arrest affidavit, witnesses said a driver in a Honda Odyssey was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of US 290 when the car went off a bridge and int
  
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• YMCA launches STEM program for kids at its child care

  22-01-2018 18:04 via kxan.com
  ROUND ROCK (KXAN) – Sunday afternoon the sounds of an earthquake filled the halls of the Chasco Family YMCA in Round Rock. A group of kids being watched while their parents exercised was deep into a few lessons.
  The YMCA is launching a new program which that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
  “I would rather come here where it’s part of my membership for him to learn then for me to go and spend $300, $400., $500 on a preschool that’s do
  
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• Burned body being investigated in Bastrop County

  22-01-2018 16:59 via kxan.com
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — An Austin man’s body was found burned on the side of a road in Bastrop County Thursday, according to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office.
  A passerby found the body of 23-year-old Donald Ray Davis around 6 a.m. near Pope Bend North, which is just west of the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort. His body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
  The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office says the public is not in danger and tha
  
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• 14-year-old dies following surgery to remove basketball-sized tumor

  22-01-2018 16:40 via kxan.com
  MIAMI, FL (WCMH) — A 14-year-old boy who underwent surgery to remove a 10-pound tumor from his face has died.
  NBC Miami reports Emanuel Zayas died after undergoing surgery to remove the basketball sized growth from his face.
  “Our condolences and prayers for Emanuel’s family and the loss of a very brave young man,” said Dr. Robert E. Marx, a surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital. “Another angel has arrived in Heaven.”
  WFOR reported Zayas, who is from Cuba, was d
  
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• Ulta Beauty accused of reselling used makeup

  22-01-2018 16:26 via kxan.com
  BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (WAVY/TODAY) — A Twitter user who said she used to work for Ulta Beauty posted a series of tweets alleging that her managers at the retailer instructed her to clean used makeup products so they could be repackaged and sold again.
  TODAY reports the woman, known on Twitter as @fatinamxo, described how employees used Q-tips to make used foundations look new again. She also said one manager would clean a used lipstick with alcohol before putting it back on
  
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• School shooting reported in North Texas

  22-01-2018 15:59 via kxan.com
  APP USERS: Tap the image above to start the live streamITALY, Texas (KXAN) — Authorities are reporting a shooting near a school in North Texas Monday morning.
  The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that the incident happened near a school in Italy, which is south of Dallas. A suspect is in custody, but it is not known if anyone is injured. The ECSO said it would provide more information soon. Aerials of the school showed students being escorted from the area. ECSO tweeted “t
  
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• School shooting in North Texas injures one student

  22-01-2018 15:59 via kxan.com
  ITALY, Texas (KXAN) — A 15-year-old girl is in the hospital after a shooting at a high school in North Texas Monday morning, according to KXAS in Dallas.
  The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that the incident happened near a school in Italy, which is south of Dallas. A 16-year-old male suspect, who was also a student at the school, is in custody. Aerials of the school showed students being escorted from the area. ECSO tweeted “the kids are being moved, under guard to
  
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• With Senate talks falling short, shutdown enters workweek

  22-01-2018 14:48 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is set to sow more disruption and political peril Monday after the Senate inched closer but ultimately fell short of an agreement that would have reopened federal agencies before the beginning of the workweek.
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said negotiations lasted late into the night, with a vote to break a Democratic filibuster on a short-term funding bill scheduled for noon Monday. Under the proposal t
  
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• End to shutdown in sight as Senate breaks Dem filibuster

  22-01-2018 14:48 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sped toward reopening the government Monday, as Senate Democrats dropped their objections to a temporary funding bill in return for assurances from Republicans leaders that they will soon take up immigration and other contentious issues.
  Senate Republican leader McConnell’s commitment to quickly tackle the issue of immigrant “Dreamers” was contingent on Democrats providing enough votes now for a stopgap spending measure lasting a little less tha
  
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• End to government shutdown in sight as Dems halt filibuster

  22-01-2018 14:48 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sped toward reopening the government Monday, as Senate Democrats dropped their objections to a temporary funding bill in return for assurances from Republicans leaders that they will soon take up immigration and other contentious issues.
  Senate Republican leader McConnell’s commitment to quickly tackle the issue of immigrant “Dreamers” was contingent on Democrats providing enough votes now for a stopgap spending measure lasting a little less tha
  
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• Convicted killer at Fort Worth kids party gets death date

  22-01-2018 14:33 via kxan.com
  HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Fort Worth man on death row for the shooting deaths of a 5-year-old girl and her grandmother at a children’s birthday party a decade ago has received an execution date.
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials have received court documents setting 30-year-old Erick Davila for lethal injection April 25.
  Evidence showed Davila opened fire in April 2008 on a rival gang member at the party where 15 children were eating cake and ice cream on the front porc
  
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• Possible tornado touched down in North Texas

  22-01-2018 13:59 via kxan.com
  WINNSBORO, Texas (KXAN) — Storm spotters say a tornado touched down in a north Texas town and the storm caused damaged in another.
  The mayor of Winnsboro, Texas, declared a state of emergency. The city is about 100 miles east of Dallas, and although the National Weather Service has not confirmed the tornado, storm spotters trained to identify tornadoes do believe that’s what hit the area late Sunday night.
  The storm knocked out power to many parts of the city, ripped roofs off of som
  
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• More texts turned over from FBI agent taken off Mueller team

  22-01-2018 13:26 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has turned over to Congress additional text messages involving an FBI agent who was removed from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigative team following the discovery of derogatory comments about President Donald Trump.
  But the department also said in a letter to lawmakers that its record of messages sent to and from the agent, Peter Strzok, was incomplete because the FBI, for technical reasons, had been unable to preserve and retrieve a
  
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• Free tax preparation centers open Monday in Austin, Round Rock

  22-01-2018 13:08 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Like it or not, it’s time to start thinking about filing your taxes.
  For thousands in Central Texas, volunteers will provide free tax preparation starting Monday at six community tax centers run by the nonprofit Foundation Communities. Families making less than $55,000 are eligible, unless there are more than four people in the household. In that case, the salary limit increases $5,000 for each additional family member.
  Jazmin Estrada, who now works for Foundation Com
  
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• Amazon to debut store without checkout in downtown Seattle

  22-01-2018 12:10 via kxan.com
  SEATTLE (AP) — Amazon employees have been testing it, but is the public ready for a cashier-less store?
  More than a year after it introduced the concept, Amazon is opening its artificial intelligence-powered Amazon Go store in downtown Seattle on Monday.
  The store on the bottom floor of the company’s Seattle headquarters allows shoppers to scan their smartphone with the Amazon Go app at a turnstile, pick out the items they want and leave. By combining computer vision, machine learnin
  
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• Amazon opens store with no cashiers, lines or registers

  22-01-2018 12:10 via kxan.com
  SEATTLE (AP) — No cashiers, no lines, no registers — this is how Amazon sees the future of in-store shopping.
  The online retailer opened its Amazon Go concept to the public Monday, selling milk, potato chips and other items typically found at a convenience store. Amazon employees have been testing the store, which is at the bottom floor of the company’s Seattle headquarters, for about a year.
  The public opening is another sign that Amazon is serious about expanding its physical
  
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• Two stories of traumatic brain injury spark hope for new recovery center

  22-01-2018 04:58 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two separate Texas foundations — sparked after two separate life-altering stories of traumatic brain injury — merged together this January in an effort to give Texas families more support.
  In 2008, J.D. Hartman suffered an anoxic brain injury when he was 11 years old, nearly drowning in a family hot tub. The Austin non-profit Hope 4 Minds began to support his family and others with loved ones who have severe brain injuries.
  This year, Ronda Johnson with Hope 4 M
  
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• No Texas probes involving California torture suspects

  22-01-2018 03:51 via kxan.com
  RIO VISTA, Texas (AP) — An official in Texas says authorities there had no reports involving the couple charged in California with shackling and starving 12 of their 13 children.
  David and Louise Turpin have pleaded not guilty in Riverside County, California, to multiple counts of torture, child abuse and false imprisonment. The couple moved to California from near Fort Worth, Texas, in 2011.
  Patrick Crimmins with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said Saturday that hi
  
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• Shutdown extends into workweek, as Senate talks continue

  22-01-2018 03:50 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is set to sow more disruption and political peril Monday after the Senate inched closer but ultimately fell short of an agreement that would have reopened federal agencies before the beginning of the workweek.
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said negotiations were still underway late into the night, with a vote to break a Democratic filibuster on a short-term funding bill scheduled for noon Monday. Under t
  
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• New east Austin apartment community looks to fight homelessness

  22-01-2018 03:46 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A groundbreaking to be held Monday for a first of its kind permanent support housing community in east Austin is hoping to help end homelessness.
  Integral Care’s Housing First Oak Springs apartment community will feature 50-units, along with an integrated health clinic offering mental and primary health care, which will be open to the community, as well as treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. There will also be a community room with a library, employment services, an
  
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• Patriots open as favorite over Eagles

  22-01-2018 03:30 via kxan.com
  Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl in search of a sixth title.
  They’ll face a Philadelphia Eagles team looking for their first Lombardi Trophy.
  Brady led the Patriots (15-3) back from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-20 in the AFC championship game Sunday.
  Starting his 36th playoff game, Brady shook off an injury to his right hand and the loss of top target Rob Gronkowski to rally the Patriots to their record 10th S
  
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• 5-year-old girl receives 16 doses of anti-venom after rattlesnake bite

  22-01-2018 02:58 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 5-year-old girl is recovering at Dell Children’s Medical Center Sunday night after she was bitten by a rattlesnake in the Hill Country on Saturday.
  Emily Rose Oehler was playing by the picnic area at Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County when a western diamondback rattlesnake struck her on the ankle.
  Emily Rose Oehler is treated at Dell Children’s Medical Center Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, after suffering a rattlesnake bite in Burnet County. (Photo Courtesy A
  
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• 2 killed in major crash on SH 95 near Williamson/Bell county line

  22-01-2018 02:20 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A fiery crash in Williamson County between a pickup and a sedan killed two people and injured at least three others Sunday evening, said the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
  The call came in at about 6:14 p.m. on SH 95 just south of the Bell County line, the Sheriff’s Office said.
  One of the vehicles was fully engulfed in flames, they said. Northbound traffic was diverted to CR 387 and southbound traffic was being asked to turn around and fi
  
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• Woman dies after being shot in east Austin

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A woman who was shot in east Austin Sunday afternoon died a short time later at the hospital, said the Austin Police Department.
  Medics responded to a call at about 4:46 p.m. in the 5300 block of Wellington Drive near Manor Road and began CPR on the woman, who is in her 30s, when they arrived. She was then taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with critical, life-threatening injuries while medics continued CPR. Police said she later died there.
  ATCEMS said there were no other
  
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• UPDATE: Police confirm woman dies after being shot in east Austin

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A woman in her 30s was critically shot in east Austin Sunday afternoon, said Austin-Travis County EMS. She later died at the hospital, the Austin Police Department said.
  Medics responded to a call at about 4:46 p.m. in the 5300 block of Wellington Drive near Manor Road and began CPR on the woman when they arrived. She was then taken to Dell Seton Medical Center with critical, life-threatening injuries while medics continued CPR.
  ATC EMS said there were no other patients inv
  
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• ‘Ongoing domestic violence’ issue ends with woman’s death in east Austin

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin police are searching for an “armed and dangerous” suspect in a shooting that killed a woman in east Austin Sunday evening.
  Ronda Beans, 50, died a short time later at the hospital, said the Austin Police Department. It says Waymon “Keith” Eason Sr., 49, is a suspect.
  Officials received multiple 911 calls around 4:46 p.m. Austin firefighters were the first on scene in the 5300 block of Wellington Drive near Manor Road and began CPR on Bean
  
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• ‘Ongoing domestic violence’ ends with woman’s death in east Austin

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – An “armed and dangerous” suspect in a shooting that killed a woman in east Austin Sunday evening has been captured by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
  Waymon “Keith” Eason Sr., 49, was arrested Monday afternoon in north Austin in the death of Ronda Beans, 50. According to an arrest affidavit, on Sunday around 4:45 p.m., Eason pointed a handgun and fired several rounds at Beans as she tried to take cover.
  When first responders arrived to the 53
  
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• ‘Ongoing domestic violence’ ends in Austin ISD student health assistant’s death

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – An “armed and dangerous” suspect in a shooting that killed a woman in east Austin Sunday evening has been captured by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
  Waymon “Keith” Eason Sr., 49, was arrested Monday afternoon in north Austin in the death of Ronda Beans, 50. According to an arrest affidavit, on Sunday around 4:45 p.m., Eason pointed a handgun and fired several rounds at Beans as she tried to take cover.
  When first responders arrived to the 53
  
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• ‘Ongoing domestic violence’ ends in Austin ISD nurse’s death

  22-01-2018 00:16 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – An “armed and dangerous” suspect in a shooting that killed a woman in east Austin Sunday evening has been captured by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force.
  Waymon “Keith” Eason Sr., 49, was arrested Monday afternoon in north Austin in the death of Ronda Beans, 50. According to an arrest affidavit, on Sunday around 4:45 p.m., Eason pointed a handgun and fired several rounds at Beans as she tried to take cover.
  When first responders arrived to the 53
  
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