Austin news

• Texas Rep. James Talarico says he'll move to Austin for 2022 run after Round Rock district redrawn by GOP

  13-10-2021 23:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — State Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, announced Wednesday he is moving to run for reelection in a different House district because his current district is being redrawn to be more favorable to Republicans.Talarico said he would run in nearby House District 50, where the Democratic incumbent, Celia Israel, is not seeking reelection as she prepares to run for Austin mayor. He announced the new campaign with the support of the biggest names in Democratic
  
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• Register for the 2021 Austin Heart and Stroke Walk

  13-10-2021 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Now more than ever, many Central Texans are in need of life-changing medical treatment. This Saturday is your chance to help.The American Heart Association’s Heart and Stroke Walk is back for another year, and back in-person after going digital in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main event kicks off Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Long Center.
  When: Saturday, Oct. 16 | Festival Opens 7 a.m. | Opening Ceremonies 8 a.m. | Walk Begins 8:15 a.m.Where: Long Center, 7
  
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• COVID-19, MIS-C: Austin-area officials talk dangers for kids

  13-10-2021 23:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County and Dell Medical School held a virtual town hall Wednesday for colleagues to talk about the dangers of COVID-19 in children.One of the key people at the event was a doctor who took care of a local teenager who got MIS-C or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children from the virus. KXAN profiled Nikko Dalesandro last month. Central Texas teen on the road to recovery after 8-month battle with rare COVID-19 illnessWhen he was 14, he contracted MIS-C due to COV
  
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• Justice Department investigates conditions at 5 Texas juvenile correctional facilities

  13-10-2021 22:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five secure juvenile correctional facilities in Texas, including one in Lee County, are being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice for the possible abuse of children being held there.
  These facilities are run by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. According to the DOJ, they are:
  Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg (south Texas near McAllen)Gainesville State School in Gainesville (north of Fort Worth) Giddings State School in Giddings (Lee County, east of
  
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• Austin after hours: Police watching late-night clubs closely

  13-10-2021 22:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At 1:18 early Saturday morning, Sgt. Al Garibay of the Austin Police Department started running."We got one with a gunshot wound at 6th and Sabine," he'd told us after listening through his earpiece.Three blocks from the heart of the 6th Street Entertainment District, where thousands were gathered, was a 17 year old in critical condition. It came after a 'gun battle' between two groups, which prompted an APD officer to fire his own weapon. Police have not yet said whether t
  
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• 'This actually affects you': Raising awareness about November election to fight low voter turnout

  13-10-2021 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Next week, Texans will begin voting on a wide range of issues with very real effects. Early voting starts Monday for the Nov. 2 election.Voters statewide will decide whether to approve eight constitutional amendments. Many cities and school districts will have things like mayoral elections and bond votes on their ballots. But in most cases, those items will be decided by relatively few voters. The 8 Texas constitutional amendments on your 2021 ballotIn the 2020 general elec
  
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• Man arrested after pedestrian hit, killed by SUV in south Austin Monday

  13-10-2021 21:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested after another man was hit and killed while crossing East Ben White Boulevard in south Austin Monday night.PAST STORY: Person dead after crash involving vehicle, pedestrian in south AustinAustin police say Felton Deaunte Armstrong III, 27, was arrested in connection to the crash that killed a 45-year-old man. The victim's name hasn't been released yet.
  It happened in the 700 block of East Ben White Boulevard westbound service road just before 9:45 p.m. Mon
  
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• Round Rock police identify person killed in 3-vehicle crash on I-35 Tuesday

  13-10-2021 21:32 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Round Rock police identified the person killed in a three-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on southbound Interstate 35.
  Police say Janette Gaither, 36, of Fort Worth died in the collision that happened on the highway between Hesters Crossing and State Highway 45.1 dead in multi-vehicle crash with an 18-wheeler on I-35 in Round Rock; southbound lanes reopeningThe Tuesday crash involved an 18-wheeler and shut down the southbound lanes of I-35 for a few hours that morn
  
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• Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson stops short of giving away special guest for Friday show

  13-10-2021 21:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson is celebrating 50 years of performances and music brought to Austin and around the world with one question."What's the next thing?" the front man and founder asks. "I always look forward even though we’re cognizant of the past."Benson joined the Austin music scene with Asleep at the Wheel in 1973. "For an 18-year-old kid to have an idea and get it to fruition, really way beyond the success that I ever imagined, is very satisfying," he said.
  
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• The 8 Texas constitutional amendments on your 2021 ballot

  13-10-2021 20:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Nov. 2, Texas voters will decide once again whether to change the state's constitution. There are eight constitutional amendments on the ballot. These amendments were passed by a two-thirds majority of both the Texas House and Senate. Now, it’s up to Texas voters to decide whether these proposed amendments pass.  SEND YOUR QUESTIONS: KXAN hosts 'Ballot Breakdown' virtual town hallBackground on Texas Constitution:
  Are you curious why there are so many amendment
  
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• 'Spamarama' set at COTA to see who stands alone as world's top canned meat eater

  13-10-2021 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Competitors ... start your stomachs!The green flag will wave at Circuit of the Americas a day before the United States Grand Prix for a race against appetites during the "Spamarama" eating contest that features the infamous spiced ham in a can.Major League Eating, the world's governing body for competitive eating, will stage the event at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 23 at the track. Officially called the Spamarama World SPAM Eating Championships, some of the world's most ferocious eater
  
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• DATA: How has Austin's crime levels evolved in the past decade?

  13-10-2021 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in late September reported violent crime rates rose during 2020, as property crimes and reported rapes declined nationally. FBI figures reported on Austin crime levels aligned with national trends.In 2020, aggravated assault cases increased by 12.1% nationally, as murder and nonnegligent manslaughter cases grew 29.4%. Comparatively, burglaries declined 7.4%, larceny-thefts decreased 10.6% and the estimated number of rapes
  
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• Austin ISD confirms incident of TikTok challenge where student slaps teacher

  13-10-2021 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Independent School District has confirmed to KXAN that at least one incident related to a recent TikTok challenge where students slap educators has happened in the district.
  The school district said one incident related to the challenge has occurred at a school, but no other details were released.Round Rock ISD says ‘devious lick’ challenge will cost more than $15K, warns about future challengesIn a newsletter sent to parents, the district said this is a
  
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• Kyle police investigate death at CVS Pharmacy

  13-10-2021 19:16 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE (KXAN) — Kyle police are investigating a death at a CVS on Wednesday.
  Police said an officer found a body on the premises of the pharmacy located at the intersection of Center Street and Interstate 35.
  No other information was released.
  
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• APD: Teen killed after SUV crashed, rolled off U.S. 183 flyover in northwest Austin

  13-10-2021 18:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police identified the driver who died in a crash on the U.S. Highway 183 flyover to State Highway 45 on Oct. 4.Police said the crash happened just before 9 p.m. The initial investigation found that a Honda CRV driven by Aaliyah Martinez, 16, was traveling southbound on the U.S. 183 flyover when Martinez lost control and hit the concrete wall.
  Police said after hitting the wall, the CRV rolled over the concrete wall and fell to the roadway below.
  Martinez was taken to
  
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• Strongest cold front of the season could push low temps into the 40s this weekend

  13-10-2021 18:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A powerful, slow-moving system bringing heavy snow to the Rocky Mountains and severe weather and flooding rain to the south will eventually send our strongest cold front of the season down to Central Texas.
  Before it does, though, we of course have to get through some flooding rain through the next 24 to 36 hours. We are currently under a Flash Flood Watch with a potential for up to 5-7 inches of flooding rain in isolated areas. Here is our current forecast for our potentia
  
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• Texas GOP governor candidate takes credit for state pulling down websites with LGBTQ resources

  13-10-2021 17:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Web pages with resources for LGBTQ youth in Texas were taken down after social media posts from a gubernatorial candidate slammed them for "advocating transgender ideology."Don Huffines, a Dallas-area real estate developer, former state senator and challenger to Gov. Greg. Abbott in the 2022 election, posted on Twitter that he got Texas officials to take down pages on the Texas Department of Family Protective Services website and said, "We're just getting started."
  I told T
  
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• Texas GOP governor candidate takes credit for state pulling down websites with LBGTQ resources

  13-10-2021 17:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Web pages with resources for LBGTQ youth in Texas were taken down after social media posts from a gubernatorial candidate slammed them for "advocating transgender ideology."Don Huffines, a Dallas-area real estate developer, former state senator and challenger to Gov. Greg. Abbott in the 2022 election, posted on Twitter that he got Texas officials to take down pages on the Texas Department of Family Protective Services website and said, "We're just getting started."
  I told T
  
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• Border travel restrictions to be lifted in November to fully vaccinated

  13-10-2021 14:58 via kxan.com
  
  McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- The Biden administration in November plans to reopen the southern and northern borders and will allow travelers who are fully vaccinated to cross into the United States, DHS announced. CBP adding new radiation detectors at ports to find weapons of mass destructionU.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Donna, Texas, on May 7, 2021. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photo)Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the administration
  
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• LIVE: Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to send William Shatner to edge of space

  13-10-2021 14:55 via kxan.com
  
  VAN HORN, Texas (NewsNation Now) — William Shatner, 90, prepares to be beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight and to become the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier.
  In a 10-minute trip, Shatner will be joined by three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Unlike his fictional galactic voyages in “Star Trek,” Shatner will launch from a site in west Texas, southeast of El Paso.
  Bezos’ space travel company,
  
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• Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin successfully sends William Shatner to edge of space

  13-10-2021 14:55 via kxan.com
  
  VAN HORN, Texas (NewsNation Now) — William Shatner, 90, beamed up Wednesday for his first real-life spaceflight and became the oldest person ever to enter the final frontier.
  In a 10-minute trip, Shatner was joined by three others on the second passenger flight from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Unlike his fictional galactic voyages in “Star Trek,” Shatner launched from a site in west Texas, southeast of El Paso.
  Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin, used the sa
  
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• Catalytic converters thefts going down but still high when compared to pre-pandemic levels

  13-10-2021 13:42 via kxan.com
  
  CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — Austin police report they're seeing thefts of catalytic converters go down. From August to September, those thefts dropped by nearly half.
  Despite that drop, APD said thefts remain high when compared to pre-pandemic cases. Police said they believe the reason for that is because of what is inside these devices. Each catalytic converter carries a small amount of three precious metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium. Prices for these have gone up during the pand
  
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• Texas House passes proposed new map for chamber’s 150 districts, aiming to protect Republicans’ majority for the next decade

  13-10-2021 13:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas House on Wednesday approved proposed political boundaries for the lower chamber’s 150 districts that aims to fortify Republicans’ strength in the state House for the next decade.House Bill 1, authored by state Rep. Todd Hunter, a Corpus Christi Republican who chairs the lower chamber’s redistricting committee, will now head to the Senate for consideration. Abbott vaccine mandate ban creating confusion for short-staffed nursing homes
  
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• Why more than 400 Fredericksburg short-term rental owners are opposing city ordinance changes

  13-10-2021 12:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fredericksburg is dealing with a large number of short-term rental properties, and the city is looking to make some changes to how it manages them.Right now, the city has 850 active and pending short-term rentals (STRs) and city council members are considering more oversight for them, and more than 400 STR owners are voicing concern.APD: 17-year-old killed during ‘gun battle’ in downtown Austin identifiedRandy Briley is one of them — he owns three STR prop
  
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• Criminal jury trials to resume soon in Travis County, with move to Stage 3

  13-10-2021 05:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Jackson Dyre-Borowicz remembers his friend Christian Meroney as intelligent and a voracious reader.
  "He could talk your ear off about anything and tell you more than you ever wanted to know about it," Dyre-Borowicz said.
  He said it was their shared love of University of Texas atheltics, however, that ultimately brought them close. He even asked Meroney to be a groomsman in his wedding in Mexico during the summer of 2018.
  "Basically the weekend I got back was when I found ou
  
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• US to reopen land borders in November for fully vaccinated

  13-10-2021 05:25 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the country moves to require all international visitors to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.Vehicle, rail and ferry travel between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico has been largely restricted to essential travel, such as trade, since the earliest days of the pandemic. The new rules, to be announced Wednesday, will allow fully vaccinated fore
  
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• Leander ISD moving to 'Phase Yellow' of its COVID-19 safety protocols

  13-10-2021 04:05 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — The Leander Independent School District will return to Phase Yellow of its COVID-19 safety protocols Wednesday, the district announced Tuesday night.
  This is due to "encouraging signs that COVID-19 mitigation efforts are working," and declining daily case rates across the district, according to LISD.
  Austin-Travis County health leaders on Tuesday also downgraded the area to Stage 3 of its COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, saying the delta variant surge is winding down
  
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• How Texas' defense can find consistency against Oklahoma State

  13-10-2021 02:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, Texas will take the field hoping to shake off the previous week's loss to Oklahoma — the way the Sooners were able to shake off tackle attempts by the UT defense.The main issue the Longhorns say is consistency throughout the entire game.‘Nobody feels sorry for us’: What Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said ahead of Oklahoma State game"I think we be so wired up in the first half and then it's like you get comfortable or something like that and
  
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• APD: 17-year-old killed during 'gun battle' in downtown Austin identified

  13-10-2021 02:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The teenager who was shot and killed during a "gun battle" in downtown Austin on Oct. 9 has been identified. Austin police have also identified the officer who fired his gun during the shootout.
  Austin police reported officers were conducting a DWI investigation near the intersection of 5th and Sabine streets just after 1 a.m. when they heard multiple gunshots north of their location. When the officers arrived on scene, police say they saw two groups of people shooting at e
  
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• MISSING: 70-year-old woman with Alzheimer's last seen in Liberty Hill

  13-10-2021 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A 70-year-old woman with Alzheimer's last seen in Liberty Hill is missing Tuesday, according to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.WCSO is looking for Sharon, who was last seen in the vicinity of 305 Remuda Drive in Liberty Hill.
  Police say she was last seen wearing a red/yellow top, tan pants, white slippers and may have a tricolor pit bull with her. If you see her, you're asked call 911.
  
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• 70-year-old woman with Alzheimer's found

  13-10-2021 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A 70-year-old woman with Alzheimer's previously missing Tuesday has been found, according to Williamson County's emergency management Twitter account.WCSO was looking for the woman who was last seen in Liberty Hill.
  
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• 'Depression is a silent killer': Texas State expands mental health outreach

  13-10-2021 02:02 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN)--Texas State University is making sure it does everything it can to stay in touch with how its students are doing mentally.
  Texas State launched a new webinar series, giving students guidance on mental health.The university just hosted one about social confidence skills on Tuesday.Being in tune with how you're feeling, isn't always easy."I have struggled with mental health for more than half of my life," Texas State Freshman, Emma Lindsey said.
  Emma is a theatre major. S
  
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• Abbott vaccine mandate ban creating confusion for short-staffed nursing homes

  13-10-2021 01:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order banning all vaccine mandates is creating confusion for already short-staffed nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state.
  The governor's order, announced Monday, directly contradicts President Joe Biden's own mandate that requires all nursing home employees to be vaccinated in order to receive federal funding. MORE: Gov. Abbott orders ‘no entity in Texas’ can mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees"There
  
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• Former Longhorns men's basketball coach Leon Black dies at 89

  13-10-2021 01:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former University of Texas men's basketball coach and player Leon Black died Tuesday in Austin, UT Athletics announced in a release. He was 89 years old.The nine-year Longhorns head coach was a key figure in the university's history, recruiting the first Black players to the Longhorns men’s basketball program. Black was the head coach from 1967 to 1976, leading Texas to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and two Southwest Conference titles in 1971-72 and 1973-74. H
  
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• Austin’s LGBTQ+ Commission releases quality of life survey

  13-10-2021 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A survey done by Austin’s LGBTQ+ Commission found respondents want the city to create more LGBTQ+ community spaces, keeping people in recovery, queer and transgender people of color and other marginalized communities in mind.
  The study's results, which looked at the quality of life for LGBTQIA+ individuals in the Austin area, were released last week and presented Monday.
  READ IN FULL: LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life StudyThe study included more than 200 interviews from town
  
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• Houston Astros clinch 5th straight trip to AL Championship Series

  13-10-2021 01:03 via kxan.com
  
  CHICAGO (AP) — It was Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman once again.Led by their October-tested stars, the Houston Astros are going back to the AL Championship Series for the fifth straight year. Sign-stealing accusations lofted at Houston Astros againAltuve hit a three-run homer, scored four times and stole a base, and Houston eliminated the Chicago White Sox with a 10-1 victory in Game 4 of their AL Division Series on Tuesday.Correa and Bregman each hit a two-run double as the A
  
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• Conflicting Biden and Abbott vaccine rules leave Texas businesses confused

  13-10-2021 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas businesses are left questioning whether to follow the state or the federal government, the day after Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any entity in Texas from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine.
  Last month, the Biden administration issued an executive order requiring federal contractors to get the shot. President Biden also instructed OSHA to create a rule that would mandate businesses with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated.
  There's a $1,000
  
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• Local leaders talk strategy for COVID-19 vaccine rollout once it's authorized for young children

  13-10-2021 00:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin Public Health announced Tuesday the area is moving down to Stage 3 COVID-19 risk-based guidelines, questions remain about getting the youngest in the population vaccinated.In Tuesday's joint APH briefing with Travis County commissioners and Austin City Council members, local leaders expressed a desire to make the Pfizer vaccine — once it gets emergency use authorization for children ages 5-11 — more accessible for families. Here’s what’s ch
  
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• Deliver by Christmas? USPS, FedEx, UPS release holiday shipping deadlines

  13-10-2021 00:29 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — The U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS have released recommended shipping dates to ensure that gifts and cards arrive in time for Christmas.
  In an economy upended by the coronavirus pandemic, shortages and price spikes have hit everything from lumber to computer chips to toilet paper, prompting retailers to recommend that consumers shop early or risk not finding what they want for Christmas, which falls on a Saturday this year.
  Additionally, the USPS has slowed mail delivery as
  
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• UT expands affordable housing blueprint for students with purchase of Dobie 21

  13-10-2021 00:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin is looking to expand its affordable housing blueprint for students and keep them closer to campus. UT just bought a long-standing apartment building on Guadalupe Street to provide more on-campus opportunities.
  The university has purchased Dobie 21 for over $104M. Dobie 21, formally known as the Dobie Center, has the capacity to house 980 students. Currently, the tower isn't completely full, nor is it composed of all university students."Wit
  
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