Austin news

• NXIVM sex cult founder Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years in prison

  27-10-2020 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Disgraced self-improvement guru Keith Raniere, whose NXIVM followers included millionaires and Hollywood actors, was sentenced to 120 years on Tuesday for turning some adherents into sex slaves branded with his initials.U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis handed down the sentence in federal court in Brooklyn after a lengthy hearing featuring statements by victims of a sex-trafficking conspiracy that resulted in Raniere’s conviction last year.Prosecutors had sought l
  
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• Eva Longoria encourages Texans to get out and vote; campaigns for Biden

  27-10-2020 23:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Political parties sometimes use star power to sway some voters. Texas Democrats are getting some help this election season from Actress Eva Longoria.She's encouraging Texans to get out and cast their ballots.
  "The fact that Texas is in play, like which, you know, and I think historically, Texas has always been such a red state that people just assume, 'well, my vote doesn't matter.' And now we're seeing this outpouring of people who are progressive and want change," Long
  
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• Man who mowed lawns for veterans in all 50 states says US denied him a green card

  27-10-2020 23:02 via kxan.com
  
  HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) -- An Alabama man who made national headlines when he mowed lawns for veterans in 50 states says he may be "forced to leave the country" after his application for a green card was apparently denied.Rodney Smith Jr., the founder of Raising Men Lawn Care Service, announced on Facebook that his application for a green card was denied by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.In the post, Smith asks the public to send letters to the USCIS in favor of the Raisi
  
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• Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton announce engagement

  27-10-2020 22:59 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) -- On Tuesday, Blake Shelton announced Gwen Stefani "saved" his 2020 by saying yes.
  Stefani shared the news on Instagram. Shelton made the engagement announcement on Twitter by saying: "Thanks for saving my 2020... And the rest of my life.. I love you. I heard a YES!"The couple first met while taping The Voice in 2015.Last week, Stefani won her first CMT Music Award for collaborative video of the year for her duet with Shelton on “Nobody But You.”
  The couple shared a hug an
  
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• Florida school district investigating claims that cheerleader was forced to kneel during anthem

  27-10-2020 22:55 via kxan.com
  
  PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) -- Officials with a Florida school district say they are investigating an incident with a cheerleader that allegedly happened during a high school football game Friday.According to the Pasco County School District, the entire cheerleading squad at Anclote High School took a knee during the national anthem as a form of protest. One of the cheerleaders claims she didn't want to but was physically forced to do so.As rumors about the incident swirl at the school, the distri
  
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• Skull found on fireplace mantle belongs to man missing since 2012

  27-10-2020 22:52 via kxan.com
  
  WARTBURG, Tenn. (WATE) -- A skull that wound up on a Tennessee resident's fireplace mantle belonged to a man who had been missing since Sept. 2012, a DNA test determined.According to District Attorney General Russell Johnson, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office retrieved the skull, sporting sunglasses, after getting a tip. The Morgan County resident who had the skull said someone else found it in March, 2019 in the Gobey area, less than 10 miles northeast. 1996 Alaska cold case closed after Arkan
  
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• Travis County bars to remain closed for another two weeks, county judge says

  27-10-2020 22:50 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe is keeping bars and nightclubs in Austin and Travis County closed for at least another two weeks, according to a statement from his office Tuesday afternoon.Biscoe said it's not a risk he's willing to take with schools reopening for more in-person learning soon.“As promised, Dr. Mark Escott and I have spent the past two weeks evaluating the COVID-19 data for Travis County.  Unfortunately, we have not seen significant i
  
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• Central Texas school districts adjust academic calendars to help with student/teacher challenges

  27-10-2020 22:47 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Leander Independent School District is working on finding solutions to smooth the ever-changing COVID-19 school year.
  District leaders say they may have a solution to curb failing grades, and lighten the load on teachers.
  "It's another curve ball to scheduling, keeping them engaged and keeping them on task. I thought it was a bit aggressive for them to take that approach to lesson planning, because it does add a bit of stress since I am still working full-t
  
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• Dripping Springs ISD superintendent to resign at fall semester end, interim role appointed

  27-10-2020 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Superintendent Todd Washburn with the Dripping Springs Independent School District will resign at the end of the fall 2020 semester, according to the district.
  In a Monday meeting, the district's Board of Trustees as well as Washburn, who came to DSISD in November 2019, agreed to the resignation. In the time being, Washburn will take personal leave to handle "family health matters," the district said.
  He says he hopes the transition goes smoothly.“Aft
  
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• Biden on Texas strategy: 'No, the oil industry is not going to go away'

  27-10-2020 21:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — During an interview with KXAS-TV in Dallas on Monday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden clarified comments he made during the second presidential debate about "transitioning" away from the oil industry.Texas Republicans pounced on Biden's comments in the days since the debate. Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign released a digital ad on Tuesday titled "Biden: Bad On Oil, Bad For Texas."Biden told KXAS-TV political reporter Julie Fine he was referring to subsidies given to t
  
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• Austin, Travis County COVID-19 projections for Thanksgiving look 'bleak,' health leaders say

  27-10-2020 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A possible surge of COVID-19 cases projected to be worse than the June/July peak could threaten holiday season activities, health leaders say.On Tuesday, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott warned Travis County commissioners that if cases continue to worsen, we could be back in Stage 4 by Nov. 4 according to University of Texas COVID-19 projections.LAST WEEK'S ESCOTT UPDATE: Health leaders warn 2nd wave of pandemic could be a few weeks out in Centr
  
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• Woman arrested after allegedly firing gun in south Austin parking lot during cell phone dispute

  27-10-2020 21:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 32-year-old woman was arrested on charges of deadly conduct after allegedly firing a gun in a Walmart parking lot near the Austin Independent School District headquarters in south Austin on Monday morning, according to an arrest affidavit.A witness told Austin police he was walking toward the store when he heard a couple arguing nearby. The witness said he saw a woman pointing a gun toward the inside of an open car door that was parked about three feet away from her. Then
  
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• QUIZ: What do you know about early voting?

  27-10-2020 21:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Did you vote early?This year, Texans set records statewide for early voting ahead of Election Day. Here are some questions about early voting to test your knowledge.Check it out!Can’t see the quiz on your device? Tap here.If you haven't yet voted, check out our election guide for all you need to know before heading to the polls. If you have voted early, check out our gallery of voting photos and submit your own.Follow KXAN’s daily election coverage by making us 
  
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• City of Austin warns customers of utility scams

  27-10-2020 20:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin Utilities Department is warning customers about scammers posing as City or Austin Energy employees.Austin Utilities says it has received over 30 calls since Saturday where customers reported someone posing as a utility or energy employee and threatening to cut off their utilities unless they make an immediate payment."The City of Austin Utilities Customer Contact Center does not call residential customers with cut-off deadlines," the City says. "We will n
  
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• QUIZ: Who can vote in elections — and what documents do you need to take to the ballots?

  27-10-2020 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Do you know the requirements and rules for voting eligibility?
  As voters head to the polls for Election Day, it's a great time to know who can vote and what it takes to do it.Want to study up before you take the quiz? Check out our voter guide.Take the voting quiz below:Can’t see the quiz on your device? Tap here.Follow KXAN’s daily election coverage by making us Your Local Election Headquarters. QUIZ: How well do you know your American government facts?
  
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• Pedestrian hit by truck on Airport Boulevard identified

  27-10-2020 19:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 54-year-old man hit and killed while walking across Airport Boulevard has been identified by Austin police.Raymond Cipple was hit by a white, 2015 Dodge 350 truck as he attempted to cross Airport Boulevard in the middle of the block around 8 p.m. on Oct. 19. Cipple was pronounced dead at the scene, according to APD's initial investigation. Pedestrian dies after being hit by vehicle in east AustinThe driver of the truck remained at the site of the crash. It does not appear that
  
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• Full moon will shine on Halloween for first time since 1944

  27-10-2020 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (NEXSTAR/KIAH) -- It hasn't happened in decades.
  For the first time since the 1940s, Halloween will receive some spooky ambiance from a full moon this year.For many people, the Halloween full moon will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. The last time it occurred was in 1944, according to the Farmer's Almanac. The next one isn't expected to happen until 2039, NASA said.Although Saturday's moon will be a "blue" moon, it won't actually appear to be blue. Scientists use the term to describe the
  
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• Austin ISD to provide free meals on Election Day

  27-10-2020 19:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Free meals will be provided at eight Austin polling sites on Nov. 3 by the Austin Independent School District.Austin ISD will provide seven-day meal packs from 10 a.m. 1:30 p.m. or until they run out on Election Day to children under 19 years of age, according to the district.
  They will also provide meals to people over 19 years-old who are using special education resources, those pursuing a high school diploma, and caregivers who are without children present but have docum
  
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• APD identifies woman who died after crashing into fire truck on I-35

  27-10-2020 18:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department identified the woman who died after her car hit a fire truck Oct. 17 on Interstate 35 in north Austin.APD says India McKinley, 35, was driving south in the outside lane of Interstate 35 when her gray 2015 Dodge Dart crashed into a Pflugerville fire truck that was parked and assisting with another crash. The fire truck had its emergency lights on, APD says.APD says the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about what happened shou
  
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• After backlash, Texas board reverses decision allowing discrimination against people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community by social workers

  27-10-2020 18:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — On Tuesday, the Texas Board of Social Worker Examiners voted unanimously to reverse a rule change made earlier this month that got rid of discriminatory protections for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities.Two weeks ago, the board voted to strike sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and disability from a section that outlines who social workers cannot turn away.
  The Office of the Governor recommended the change to the board in order to
  
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• Balance of power: The races that could flip the Texas House and why you should care

  27-10-2020 17:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Democrats in Texas only need nine more seats to take control of the Texas House, shifting the balance of power in government.Right now, Republicans control the Texas House 83-67. Their goal is to maintain that lead and gain back seats lost in the 2018 election. Before that election, they controlled the House by a much wider margin of 93-55. 150 people charged with voter fraud in Texas since 2004, but convictions rarely mean jail time
  Why does it matter if Republicans mainta
  
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• College GameDay to broadcast live from Augusta National Golf Club during Masters

  27-10-2020 17:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) - The Augusta National Golf Club has announced that ESPN's College GameDay will be broadcasting live from the Augusta National on Saturday, November 14.Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, says that while they will miss the patrons this fall, they are excited to showcase a truly unique Masters Tournament to viewers around the world.“When exploring ways to showcase a fall Masters, we were drawn to the concept of hosting College GameDay at Augusta National
  
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• Thousands of free flu vaccines for students available at local schools

  27-10-2020 17:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas students will have opportunities for free flu shots going into the fall -- many districts are offering vaccines to both on-campus and virtual students.The Austin Independent School district lists 44 elementary, middle and high schools offering the vaccine during the last week of October.
  "Studies suggests  between 40% to 60% of adults and students who receive flu shots reduce their risk of getting the flu," said Shechem Sauls, the Mental Health Coordinator for
  
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• Austin ISD places Casis Elementary principal on leave during pandemic

  27-10-2020 17:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The principal of Casis Elementary School in west Austin is on leave regarding an "administrative matter."A letter sent to parents on Friday, Oct. 23 by the Austin Independent School District said Principal Samuel Tinnon was placed on leave Friday, but did not include additional information.Casis Elementary principal Samuel Tinnon, May 2020 (Courtesy: Austin ISD)"Your child’s education, health and well-being remain at the forefront of our work," said Gilbert Hicks, Associat
  
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• Mobility bond projects get environmental clearance, construction to start

  27-10-2020 16:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Projects approved as part of the 2016 Mobility Bond have received environmental clearance from the Texas Department of Transportation and can continue, the City of Austin announced Tuesday.In the city's press release, the city says the South Lamar Boulevard project, from Riverside Drive to U.S. Highway 290, and the Burnet Road project, from U.S. 183 to the MoPac frontage road, can move toward construction as a result of the clearance."Environmental clearance is a critical m
  
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• 'Covid, Covid, Covid': Pres. Trump says U.S. numbers improving, claims pandemic coverage will end after election

  27-10-2020 16:48 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) -- Despite U.S. cases of COVID-19 reaching close to 9 million, Pres. Donald Trump said Tuesday that America is "rounding the turn" on the pandemic.In a tweet, Trump claimed the media is covering coronavirus for political reasons, tweeting: "Until November 4th., Fake News Media is going full on Covid, Covid, Covid. We are rounding the turn. 99.9%."
  Until November 4th., Fake News Media is going full on Covid, Covid, Covid. We are rounding the turn. 99.9%.— Donald J. T
  
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• News Notes: 2 counties already surpass 2016 vote totals, other stories to know

  27-10-2020 16:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With exactly one week left until Election Day, two counties in central Texas already surpassed the total number of votes cast during the last presidential election.
  Hays and Williamson Counties became the first two counties in the country to reach this milestone. About 75,000 people voted in Hays County so far this election, while more than 215,000 voters cast ballots in Williamson County.
  In a video lasting less than five minutes, Will DuPree breaks down those numbers as w
  
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• Scientists remove 98 'murder hornets' in Washington state

  27-10-2020 15:36 via kxan.com
  
  SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Workers from the state Department of Agriculture managed to destroy the first nest of so-called murder hornets discovered in the U.S. without suffering any stings or other injuries, the agency said Monday.The nest, located in Whatcom County near the Canadian border, created concern because the Asian giant hornets are large and their sting can be lethal, especially if a person is stung numerous times. The hornets also pose a huge threat to honey bees that pollinate man
  
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• $5K reward offered for suspect info in Oct. 7 aggravated robbery

  27-10-2020 15:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are still looking for three suspects in an Oct. 7 gas station aggravated robbery, and the company that runs the gas station is now putting up a reward for one of the suspects.The Austin Police Department said Tuesday that Shell is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of an unidentified suspect. That's in addition to the standard $1,000 reward from Crime Stoppers, APD said.APD says they know who the second and third suspects are, but s
  
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• Don't go flat: Check your tire pressure during cold weather

  27-10-2020 14:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Puffy coats, hot chocolate and a roaring fire. There are a lot of great things that come with Old Man Winter's arrival, but one really bad thing — flat tires.
  On crisp mornings, you might hop into your car and notice the tire pressure light is on. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure drops by one-to-two pounds per square inch, or PSI.
  Why does it happen?Air particles are constantly moving around in our atmosphere. When they move around quickly, the a
  
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• 'Out on the town': 200-pound tortoise back home after escaping Alabama pen

  27-10-2020 13:46 via kxan.com
  
  SARDIS CITY, Ala. (AP) — A 200-pound tortoise named Sparkplug that escaped from a pen in Alabama is back home after a journey across two counties and at least one soybean field.Sparkplug, a 60-year-old African spurred tortoise that lived in an enclosure in Etowah County, pushed its way out of the fenced pen on Thursday. A motorist who spotted the animal on the side of the road took it to his 200-acre (81-hectare) spread in Marshall County, owner Ty Harris told The Gadsden Times in a s
  
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• How to grow the perfect pumpkin

  27-10-2020 13:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lots of people like to head to their local farmers market to pick up a few pumpkins each fall, either to display or carve. But what if you could plant and create a pumpkin patch in the comfort of your backyard?At first thought, this may sound hard, but it's actually not. It just requires a little bit of effort several months leading up to October.Pumpkin planting seasonPumpkin planting season actually starts in summer and takes about 4 months. You'll have to also replant th
  
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• Early voting: 67% of mail-in ballots in for Travis County

  27-10-2020 13:11 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Election Day is one week away and early voting numbers across Central Texas are surpassing previous totals.
  In Travis County, 52% of the county's registered voters have cast their ballots. Four years ago, only 49% cast their ballots before election day. Williamson County is reporting 57%, six percentage points higher than the total early voting turnout in 2016.
  At present, Bastrop County is reporting 46%, close to the county's 47% of early voting four years ag
  
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• With Barrett on Supreme Court, what's the future of Roe v. Wade and abortion?

  27-10-2020 12:42 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- With Amy Coney Barrett joining the U.S. Supreme Court, many are wondering what that might mean for the future of abortion rights, specifically Roe v. Wade.President Donald Trump, who has now appointed three justices during his first term in office, vowed to nominate justices who would overturn Roe. And with a 6-3 conservative majority, the door has opened on that possibility.However, experts say it wouldn't be a quick or simple process.To overturn Roe, the high court woul
  
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• 1 dead, 1 hurt in overnight fire Tuesday in Manor

  27-10-2020 11:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person died and another was hurt in a fire Tuesday morning in Manor.Travis County ESD No. 12 tweeted at 4:41 a.m. that thee fire was at a single-story structure on Hamilton Point Circle in Manor. That's south of U.S. Highway 290 and just off Brenham Street east of SH-130.They later confirmed someone died in the blaze and they took another person to the hospital. They did not say how badly that second victim was hurt.KXAN has a photographer at the scene, and we will have
  
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• 'No plans' to provide support at polling locations, Texas Army National Guard says

  27-10-2020 04:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There are new questions about the role Texas Army National Guard troops will play on Election Day, after reports 1,000 troops could be deployed to major Texas cities.On Monday afternoon, the San Antonio Express News reported the Texas Military Department said it could send troops to Austin and other major Texas cities as soon as this weekend, ahead of possible "post-election disturbances."Military officials told KXAN on Monday night they had no plans to provide support at p
  
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• Austin ISD 'at the front of the line' for rapid COVID-19 tests

  27-10-2020 04:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District is preparing to rapidly test students and staff for COVID-19.
  The district tweeted it is now "at the front of the line" for rapid testing. AISD hopes to have those COVID-19 tests on hand as early as next week.The district said it would get a new supply of tests every month.
  We are now at the front of the line for the rapid COVID-19 tests and are working on having this possibly on hand next week.The rapid testing is 97 percent accurate
  
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• UT basketball starts Big 12 schedule on road at Baylor

  27-10-2020 02:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Longhorns basketball schedule will look different this year -- just like every other sports schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Big 12 has set its conference schedule, which is expected to start much earlier compared to previous seasons.The Longhorns will start in Waco at Baylor on Dec. 13 and then host Oklahoma State on Dec. 20 before a holiday break in the schedule. Texas will end the regular season on the road at Texas Tech on Feb. 27.Texas' season o
  
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• One dead in plane crash near 37th and Avenue A

  27-10-2020 00:32 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas -- One person died in a plane crash just before 4:00 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of East 37th Street, according to Lubbock Fire Rescue.
  Police confirmed the plane did catch on fire, but that no structures were damage other than a fence. No one was in the home at the time of the crash, and no injuries were reported on the ground.Officials provided a few new details in a press conference at Citizens Tower.
  Lubbock Fire Rescue said this in a release:Around 4pm, a small, single engin
  
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• Kyle police identify person killed in train accident last week

  27-10-2020 00:26 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — The Kyle Police Department has identified the person who was killed in a train accident last week.On Monday, officers said the victim is 36-year-old JP Burchett, who was from Kyle. The pedestrian-train accident happened at the Opal Lane Railroad Crossing on Friday.Kyle police investigate deadly pedestrian-train accident on Opal LaneHays County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Beth Smith responded to the accident and pronounced Burchett dead, according to officers.
  The i
  
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• Texas State, Texas Tech University systems discuss COVID-19's impacts on college football

  27-10-2020 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, as part of the Texas Tribune's week-long Future of Higher Education virtual event, Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall and Texas Tech University System Chancellor Ted Mitchell met in a prerecorded conversation with the Texas Tribune's Matthew Watkins.Together, these two chancellors represent more than 141,000 Texas students across the state.
  The conversation in this virtual event covered the range of ways university systems have been impacted by
  
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• State, federal governments surge resources to El Paso as hospitals reach capacity

  27-10-2020 00:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — El Paso is reporting a nearly 300% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since the beginning of the month, and its local healthcare system is completely strained.Over the weekend, county officials advised residents to stay home for the next two weeks as much as possible and established a nightly curfew."A curfew is imposed for all citizens between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.," El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said Sunday.
  "All area hospitals have reached capaci
  
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• Cirque d'Vote: Nonprofit circus group encourages voting in Austin

  27-10-2020 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A nonprofit circus group that has entertained hospitals, refugee camps and disaster shelters brought their talents to Austin over the weekend to encourage voters.
  Emergency Circus launched 'Cirque d’Vote', a nonpartisan voter empowerment initiative aimed at showing people that exercising their right to vote can be fun.
  On Sunday, the circus came to the Carver Branch Library early polling location on Angelina Street in east Austin.
  Clowns, acrobats and stilt-walkers en
  
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