Austin news

• Ohio attorney general files lawsuit against Columbus Crew owners

  05-03-2018 23:51 via kxan.com
  COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the city of Columbus filed a lawsuit Monday against Precourt Sports Ventures, which hopes to move the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team to Austin.
  “Today I have filed a lawsuit in Franklin County to try to #SaveTheCrew and keep the black and gold in Columbus,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “Loyal Crew fans in Columbus have invested their time and loyalty in this team, and they have allowed the Cr
  
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• Round Rock ISD student arrested on terroristic threat charges

  05-03-2018 23:38 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A 17-year-old high school student in Round Rock Independent School District has been arrested on charges of making terroristic threats against another student.
  Sheriff Robert Chody tweeted Monday afternoon that Aleksei Dodds was arrested for making a threat against a fellow Westwood High School student.
  In a letter to parents, Principal Mario Acosta said Dodds referenced bringing a gun to school. “At no time were any studies at Westwood in danger,&rd
  
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• Complaints about Wells Branch street racing leads to sting

  05-03-2018 22:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 officers launched a sting operation Saturday in a parking lot at the corner of Wells Branch Parkway and MoPac Expressway, targeting illegal street racing.
  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said Monday it has received many complaints from neighbors over the past several months who are fed up with the car enthusiasts who gather on weekends, filling the parking lot with cars and spectators.
  Deputies say drivers use the lot at The Shops at Wells Branch for
  
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• 15 arrested in Wells Branch street racing sting operation

  05-03-2018 22:56 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 officers launched a sting operation Saturday in a parking lot at the corner of Wells Branch Parkway and MoPac Expressway, targeting illegal street racing.
  The Travis County Sherrif’s Office said Monday it has received many complaints from neighbors over the past several months who are fed up with the car enthusiasts who gather on Saturday nights, filling the parking lot with cars and spectators.
  Deputies say drivers use the lot at The Shops at Wells Bran
  
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• Family looks for answers 30 years after grandfather killed in his driveway

  05-03-2018 22:30 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — It’s been 30 years since Carla Ritchey Scruggs and her sister Jennifer lost their grandfather during a robbery.
  “He didn’t deserve to die this way,” said Scruggs with tears in her eyes.
  S.E. Ritchey and his wife Ethel were unloading groceries in their driveway when they were both attacked. Ethel was knocked unconscious and could never remember what happened. She passed away in 2000 without knowing who took her husband’s life.
  On the
  
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• 19-year-old accused of shooting into Texas State University dorm window

  05-03-2018 20:57 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A 19-year-old man allegedly opened fire into a Texas State University dorm room after an earlier shooting incident, authorities said.
  At around 11:21 p.m. Saturday, campus police were called to Angelina Hall at 951 Moore St. following a report of gunshots. A vehicle was seen speeding away and a person was seen running away, according to a police affidavit.
  Ten minutes later, a responding officer heard three more gunshots directly behind the dorm. Officers ran tow
  
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• Two men accused of stealing from numerous Best Buy stores

  05-03-2018 20:41 via kxan.com
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Two men suspected of stealing from numerous Best Buy stores in Texas are in police custody.
  San Marcos police responded to an alarm at one of the electronics stores at 1050 McKinley Place Sunday around 5:29 a.m. that showed motion inside the building. When they arrived, officers saw a car speeding away, and they conducted a traffic stop when it merged onto Interstate 35 northbound.
  Trevon Deonte Marquis Relford, 23, and Kenneth Kenvon Deloch, Jr., 18, were arrest
  
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• Man arrested, accused of stealing Frances McDormand’s Oscar trophy

  05-03-2018 20:02 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man was arrested and is accused of stealing Frances McDormand’s Oscars trophy after the Academy Awards on Sunday night, Los Angeles police said.
  Terry Bryant, 47, was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft, said Officer Rosario Herrera, a police spokeswoman.
  “After some brief time apart, Frances and her Oscar were happily reunited. They celebrated the reunion with a double cheeseburger from In-N-Out Burger,” McDormand’s publicist, Simon Hal
  
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• City encourages commute changes on Austin’s most congested day of the year

  05-03-2018 19:36 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s busiest traffic day of the year is coming up Friday, and instead of hitting the roads to get to work, the city is encouraging employers and employees to make other plans.
  The city is recognizing March 9 as “ATX Detour Day,” because that’s when students leave for spring break while thousands of visitors start to descend on the city for South By Southwest. The city suggests people try another means of transportation, carpool or avoid driving a
  
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• Chick-fil-A rolls out newest menu item nationwide

  05-03-2018 19:22 via kxan.com
  ATLANTA (KXAN) — Starting Monday, Chick-fil-A fans nationwide can order the new Frosted Sunrise, a blend of the restaurant’s vanilla IceDream and Simply Orange juice.
  The rollout of the newest frosty beverage came after a successful test-run in Jacksonville, Florida, the company said. But get it while you can — the Frosted Sunrise is a limited-time menu item and will only be available through June 2.
  Described as creamy and tart, the Frozen Surnise follows the company’s f
  
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• Police investigate whether bulletproof vest death was a game

  05-03-2018 19:10 via kxan.com
  HOUSTON (AP) — Houston police are trying to determine if two men at a party were playing a game when one put on a bulletproof vest and apparently was fatally shot by the other.
  Police say Jason Allen Griffin of Rosenberg was in custody Monday while hospitalized for undisclosed issues. Griffin was held without bond on charges of manslaughter, unlawful possession of body armor and being a felon in possession of a weapon.
  Investigators are seeking a motive for Sunday’s gunfire.
  A woman
  
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• VIDEO: Man attacks police car with hammer after trashing Home Depot restroom

  05-03-2018 19:00 via kxan.com
  FARMINGTON, N.M. (KOB) — A New Mexico man is in custody after going on a rampage inside a Farmington Home Depot before attacking a police vehicle with a hammer.
  The vehicle’s dashboard camera captured the attack.
  The incident unfolded when Matthew Begaye entered the Home Depot and began trashing the store’s restroom with a hammer.
  Police lapel video shows an extensive amount of damage was caused, leaving the store with a reported $2,000 mess.
  Begaye was then chased outside by s
  
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• Austin firefighter fired after off-duty crash on Halloween night

  05-03-2018 18:06 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A car crash in the early morning hours after Halloween led to an Austin firefighter losing his job. On Friday, Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr placed Firefighter Oel Leon on indefinite suspension, effectively firing him.
  A March 2 memo from Chief Kerr to the city’s Director of Civil Service details the grounds for Leon’s suspension. The memo says Leon violated the department’s code of conduct by being intoxicated off duty and failing to give true statemen
  
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• Williamson County deputy fired after allegedly resisting arrest in Austin

  05-03-2018 17:05 via kxan.com
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A deputy with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested, according to officials.
  While they are not releasing the person’s name, the Sheriff’s Office did say the Austin Police Department arrested the deputy on Saturday, March 3 around 9 p.m. The deputy faces charges of resisting arrest and public intoxication. Other charges could also be filed.
  The deputy was placed on administrative leave after the incident, and his name w
  
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• Police searching for motive in ‘targeted’ northeast Austin explosion

  05-03-2018 16:38 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police believe an explosion in northeast Austin that killed a 39-year-old man was an isolated incident and that there is not a continuing threat to the community.
  Police say Anthony Stephan House was critically injured in the blast when a device exploded around 6:55 a.m. Friday on the front porch of his home in the 1100 block of Haverford Drive. He died less than an hour later at the hospital. Austin police are investigating the death as suspicious but have not
  
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• Police identify man killed in explosion outside northeast Austin home

  05-03-2018 16:38 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police believe an explosion in northeast Austin that killed a 39-year-old man was an isolated incident and that there is not a continuing threat to the community.
  Police say Anthony Stephan House was critically injured in the blast when a “device” exploded around 6:55 a.m. Friday near his home in the 1100 block of Haverford Drive. He later died at the hospital. Austin police are investigating the death as suspicious.
  Austin police homicide detectives
  
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• Judge weighs science behind Monsanto Roundup cancer claim

  05-03-2018 16:10 via kxan.com
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Claims that the active ingredient in the widely used weed killer Roundup can cause cancer have been evaluated by international agencies, U.S. and foreign regulators and the product’s manufacturer — agribusiness giant Monsanto.
  Now, a federal judge in San Francisco will conduct his own review during an unusual set of court hearings scheduled to start Monday. It has big stakes for Monsanto and hundreds of farmers and others who have sued the company.
  U.S. Dis
  
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• Judge delves into science behind Roundup cancer claim

  05-03-2018 16:10 via kxan.com
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Monday waded into the arcane science behind claims that the widely used weed killer Roundup can cause cancer. The expected weeklong testimony is intended to help him determine whether a jury should hear from doctors who link the product to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria heard from an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles about how she evaluated scientific studies of glyphosate, the active ingred
  
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• Cancer claims on Monsanto’s Roundup set for court review

  05-03-2018 16:10 via kxan.com
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Claims that the active ingredient in the widely used weed killer Roundup can cause cancer have been evaluated by international agencies, U.S. and foreign regulators and the product’s manufacturer — agribusiness giant Monsanto.
  Now, a federal judge in San Francisco will conduct his own review during an unusual set of court hearings scheduled to start Monday. It has big stakes for Monsanto and hundreds of farmers and others who have sued the company.
  U.S. Dis
  
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• Cancer claim for Monsanto’s Roundup gets judge’s scrutiny

  05-03-2018 16:10 via kxan.com
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Claims that the active ingredient in the widely used weed killer Roundup can cause cancer have been evaluated by international agencies, U.S. and foreign regulators and the product’s manufacturer — agribusiness giant Monsanto.
  Now, a federal judge in San Francisco is conducting his own review during an unusual set of court hearings that began Monday. It has big stakes for Monsanto and hundreds of farmers and others who have sued the company.
  U.S. District J
  
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• Texas Primary Election Day: What you need to know

  05-03-2018 16:00 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Numerous races are in store for the March 6 Primary Election.
  Voters will make decisions on candidates they want to be placed on the ballot for the General Election in November. The primary will determine slots for governor, land commissioner and agriculture commissioner. There are also several high-profile congressional districts up for grabs.
  Election Day is Tuesday, March 6 and polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find out what is on your ballot, check here. &nbs
  
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• SWAT responding to situation in southeast Austin

  05-03-2018 14:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — SWAT was called to the scene of a domestic disturbance in southeast Austin after discovering one of the people involved had a warrant out for his arrest,
  The call came in at 5:05 a.m. to the 1700 block of Nelms Drive, just off the Interstate 35 Frontage Road between E. Stassney Lane and E. William Cannon Drive. A K-9 unit was spotted on scene.
  Austin police say the victim initially called 911, and when they arrived and tried to contact the man, he refused to answer the door
  
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• Southeast Austin SWAT situation ends peacefully

  05-03-2018 14:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A SWAT call came to a peaceful resolution Monday, according to police. SWAT was called to the scene of a domestic disturbance in southeast Austin after discovering one of the people involved had a warrant out for his arrest.
  The call came in at 5:05 a.m. to the 1700 block of Nelms Drive, just off the Interstate 35 Frontage Road between E. Stassney Lane and E. William Cannon Drive. A K-9 unit was spotted on scene.
  Austin police say the victim initially called 911, and when t
  
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• Man’s east Austin death has police seeking clues

  05-03-2018 14:17 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police are asking for the public’s help piecing together clues after a man was killed in east Austin Monday morning.
  Austin-Travis County EMS received reports of a man with a gunshot wound at 6:26 a.m. at the Reserve at Springdale Apartments in the 5600 block of Springdale Road, near Rogge Lane. That area is just west of the Walnut Creek Greenbelt.
  People gather outside the Reserve at Springdale Apartments where a man died of gunshot wounds March 5, 2018 (KXAN Photo/F
  
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• Man shot and killed in east Austin

  05-03-2018 14:17 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was shot and killed in east Austin Monday morning.
  Austin-Travis County EMS received reports of a man with a gunshot wound at 6:26 a.m. at the Reserve at Springdale Apartments in the 5600 block of Springdale Road, near Rogge Lane. That area is just west of the Walnut Creek Greenbelt.
  ATC EMS says the man, who appears to be in his 20s, was the only patient on scene.
  It is not known at this time what led up to the shooting.
  Three people were also shot Sunday morning in
  
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• Mushers hit the snowy trail as Iditarod kicks off in Alaska

  05-03-2018 13:35 via kxan.com
  WILLOW, Alaska (AP) — Competitors took to the snowy trail as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off Sunday in Alaska following a trying year for the annual event.
  Musher Cody Strathe of Fairbanks and his 16-dog team were the first to take off across frozen Willow Lake, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Anchorage.
  Before taking off on the trail, Strathe said he was excited to be the first to leave. He said he had a harmonica in his pocket and he plans to teach himself to play du
  
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• Whole Foods employee brings in hair-raising totals during donation drives

  05-03-2018 13:10 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An employee known for his fundraising efforts at Whole Foods’ flagship store in downtown Austin is hoping to see a spike in donations this month, thanks in part to some spikes on his head.
  The Austin-based grocery chain is raising money through March for their Whole Planet Foundation, which provides microloans to budding entrepreneurs all over the world, and part of the drive includes cashiers asking if customers want to donate.
  Nathaniel Prosser is one of them, but h
  
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• Thousands in town for SXSWedu

  05-03-2018 12:47 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Let the South By Southwest fanfare begin! SXSWedu kicks off Monday. The four day festival at the Austin Convention Center attracts teachers, administrators and business leaders from around the world to learn new techniques for inside and outside the classroom.
  This year 400 sessions, 1,000 speakers, film screenings and start-up competitions will take place.
  Since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, school safety has been a big topic. The Sandy Hook Promise, which
  
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• Pop-up movement giving moms a voice in gun reform

  05-03-2018 05:01 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Chatter fills a living room in Central Austin. Most of the women in the room know each other through a friend. Most are moms, and they’re trying to figure out what to do after the Parkland, Fla., shooting.
  It’s the first neighborhood pop-up meeting in Austin. One mom there says she’s had enough and is worried about her children in elementary school.
  “We are fighting for the safety of our children,” said Elva Mendoza, who is with Moms Deman
  
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• The Latest ‘The Shape of Water’ wins best picture Oscar

  05-03-2018 04:16 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on the 90th annual Academy Awards, which are being bestowed Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (all times local):
  8:45 p.m.
  The Cold War fantasy film “The Shape of Water” is the winner of the best picture Academy Award.
  Director Guillermo del Toro’s film has been considered one of the front-runners for the evening’s top honor. It received a leading 13 nominations for this year’s Oscars, and won four Oscars on Sunday night.
  I
  
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• Partial list of winners for the 90th Academy Awards

  05-03-2018 04:15 via kxan.com
  Partial list of winners for the 90th Academy Awards presented Sunday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences:
  Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
  Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya.”
  Foreign Language Film: “A Fantastic Woman,” Chile.
  Adapted Screenplay: “Call Me By Your Name.”
  Original Screenplay: “Get Out.”
  Production Design: “The Shape of Water.”
  Cinematography
  
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• Cultural powerhouse ‘Coco’ wins Oscar for best animation

  05-03-2018 04:15 via kxan.com
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Coco,” the tear-jerking adventure tale of a Mexican boy who learns the importance of honoring his ancestors after getting stuck in an eye-popping netherworld of the dead, won the Oscar for best animated feature on Sunday.
  The Pixar film, one of the largest U.S. productions ever to feature an almost entirely Latino cast, struck a chord among audience members unaccustomed to seeing their culture so accurately and tenderly reflected on the big screen.
  “Wi
  
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• 2018 Oscars: Star who gives shortest speech gets a jet ski

  05-03-2018 04:13 via kxan.com
  (WFLA) — At the 2018 Academy Awards, Oscar winners have two choices.
  Get played off stage by wrap music or make your speech shorter than anyone else’s, and get a jet ski.\
  Jimmy Kimmel has a clever trick up his sleeve this year to keep the show moving.
  “Here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m not saying you shouldn’t give a long speech, but whoever gives the shortest speech tonight, will go home with…Johnny, tell them what they’ll win,” K
  
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• Stars wear supportive pins for Gun Control, AIDS, and Time’s Up at 2018 Oscars

  05-03-2018 04:11 via kxan.com
  (WFLA) — Celebrities are sharing their stances openly at the 2018 Oscars, wearing pins to support multiple charities and political causes.
  Lin-Manuel Miranda walked the red carpet Sunday, showing his thoughts against gun violence, which seems to be on top of everyone’s mind these past few months. He wore a “Wear Orange to Prevent Gun Violence” pin from Michael Bloomberg’s advocacy group.
  The View’s co-host Whoopi Goldberg wore a red ribbon to show su
  
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• Twitter fans give ‘Remember Me’ mixed reviews from Oscars stage

  05-03-2018 04:10 via kxan.com
  (WFLA) — Lyrical performances are a huge part of the 2018 awards season and the Sunday night Oscars was no different.
  Mary J. Blige gave an incredible performance at the Academy Awards of the nominated Mudbound song, “Mighty River.”
  Mary J. Blige: *sings one note*
  Me:#Oscars pic.twitter.com/PHIBXzpB6P
  — Marissa D (@marissad415) March 5, 2018The 47-year-old is also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her acting performance in the hit film.
  Ta
  
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• FASHION PHOTOS: Drama in red and neutrals on Oscars red carpet

  05-03-2018 04:10 via kxan.com
  (AP) — Looks in neutrals, reds and purples brought the drama Sunday on the Oscars carpet at Hollywood’s biggest fashion show.
  Salma Hayek looked like exotic royalty in a custom Gucci gown in lilac. It was heavily jeweled and had a busy, ruffled tiered skirt. Rita Moreno, meanwhile, honored Academy Awards history by donning the same gown (with a bold patterned full skirt) she wore in 1962 when she won an Oscar for “West Side Story.”
  “It’s been hanging in my clo
  
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• Customers, friends remember Austin jeweler killed in home invasion

  05-03-2018 03:55 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Customers who became friends of an Austin jewelry store owner killed last week in his Travis County home remember him as a cheerful family man who was as interested in making friends as he was making a living at his shop.
  The Travis County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for whoever shot 55-year-old Theodore “Ted” Shaughnessy, who owned Gallerie Jewelers at 35th and Jefferson streets in central Austin.
  “I think one of the things we really enjoyed a
  
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• Texas women advance to Big 12 Tournament Championship game

  05-03-2018 01:35 via kxan.com
  OKLAHOMA CITY, OK –(KXAN) The 7th ranked Texas Longhorns women beat West Virginia 68-55 to advance to the Big 12 tournament championship game.The Longhorns will face Baylor Monday night at 8:00 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
  Junior Jatarie White led a balanced Texas attack with 11 points and 12 rebounds. White was one of four Longhorns scoring in double figures.Texas improves to 26-5 and will try to knock off the top seeded and 3rd ranked Lady Bears after losing both regular
  
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• Chase the Chief 5K raises funds to support PE programs in Georgetown ISD

  05-03-2018 01:26 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Kids laced up their running shoes Sunday in Georgetown to “chase the chief” — the Georgetown police chief, that is.
  The Sixth Annual Chase the Chief 5K and Fun Run took place at East View High School.
  The goal of Chase the Chief is to encourage students and their families to lead active, healthy lives. It’s a joint fitness initiative by the Georgetown Police Department, Georgetown Independent School District and the Georgetown Health Found
  
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• 3 teens who escaped Wilco Juvenile Justice Center were on cleaning detail

  05-03-2018 01:11 via kxan.com
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office released new details Sunday about three teenagers who escaped from a juvenile justice center on Saturday.
  The three 16-year-old boys got out of the Williamson County Juvenile Justice Center in Georgetown, and deputies tracked them down less than a mile away.
  We now know that they were on a cleaning detail at the justice center when a perimeter door was accidentally left open, allowing them to escape.
  Williamson County
  
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• Government sues over jogging stroller it says is dangerous

  05-03-2018 00:05 via kxan.com
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) — The federal government says the makers of a popular jogging stroller must stop selling the product, and they’re suing to make sure that happens.
  The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the front wheel of B.O.B. jogging strollers made by Britax Child Safety, Inc., can detach from the stroller sending the front fork digging into the ground and causing it to suddenly stop and tip over.
  They say they’ve received reports of 100 people injured — ki
  
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