Austin news

• Texas Gov. Abbott officially announces $17B Samsung plant coming to Taylor

  23-11-2021 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed the much-reported $17 billion Samsung Electronics Co. chipmaking plant will be coming to Taylor in Williamson County."The impact of this will be felt not only here in Texas, but will actually impact the entire world," Abbott said Tuesday from the governor's mansion in downtown Austin. "After a thorough and comprehensive search, Samsung has chosen Taylor, Texas, as the site of its new state-of-the-art semiconductor chip fa
  
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• Texas Gov. Abbott makes 'economic announcement' on Tuesday

  23-11-2021 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is set to announce an "economic announcement" from his mansion in downtown Austin.The governor's office didn't elaborate on what will be announced, but it's widely speculated the event may confirm reports of a $17 billion Samsung chipmaking plant coming to Taylor in Williamson County. Report: Samsung to build $17B plant in TaylorThe plant was reported Monday by The Wall Street Journal, but has yet to be confirmed by the City of Tay
  
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• LIVE: Texas Gov. Abbott officially announces $17B Samsung plant coming to Taylor

  23-11-2021 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed the much-reported $17 billion Samsung Electronics Co. chipmaking plant will be coming to Taylor in Williamson County."The impact of this will be felt not only here in Texas, but will actually impact the entire world," Abbott said Tuesday from the governor's mansion in downtown Austin. "After a thorough and comprehensive search, Samsung has chosen Taylor, Texas, as the site of its new state-of-the-art semiconductor chip fa
  
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• $17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, Texas

  23-11-2021 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed the much-reported $17 billion Samsung Electronics Co. chipmaking plant will be coming to Taylor in Williamson County."The impact of this will be felt not only here in Texas, but will actually impact the entire world," Abbott said Tuesday from the governor's mansion in downtown Austin. "After a thorough and comprehensive search, Samsung has chosen Taylor, Texas, as the site of its new state-of-the-art semiconductor chip fa
  
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• A Samsung beer? Texas Beer Co. to debut new draft as tech giant comes to Taylor

  23-11-2021 23:03 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — A Taylor brewpub is adding a new beer to its draft selection, in honor of the city's securement of a $17 billion Samsung plant, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Monday.Official confirmation of the plant is expected to come Tuesday evening.Ian Davis, founder and CEO of Texas Beer Company, said the idea came to him as a lighthearted concept about a month ago. As he told more people about this plan, however, he said there was overwhelming enthusiasm for this no
  
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• Thanksgiving brings morning rain then cool, windy weather

  23-11-2021 23:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a very cold start to the day, temperatures are rebounding nicely Tuesday afternoon. South winds have returned and will be the main factor behind our warming trend ahead of a Thanksgiving day cold front.High clouds are also filtering in from the southwest. Besides this, Tuesday will be very pleasant with highs in the low 70s. Overnight, temperatures will not be nearly as cold as last night, with lows in the 50s.Wednesday will continue our transition ahead of our next c
  
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• Willie Nelson, Black Pumas among Austin artists nominated for 2022 Grammy Awards

  23-11-2021 21:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some of Austin's most well-known artists may add new, golden hardware to their awards collections after receiving coveted Grammy nominations Tuesday.Country legend Willie Nelson could take home a Grammy in the best traditional pop vocal album category after he got nominated for his Frank Sinatra tribute entitled "That's Life." He previously won a trophy in the same category three years ago for the "My Way" album, another collection of Sinatra songs. Nelson has won 10 Grammy
  
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• Band members across Texas remember Darin Johns, AHS director killed in Friday bus crash

  23-11-2021 21:27 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (Nexstar) — Across Texas, band directors are honoring Andrews High School Band Director Darin Johns. Johns was one of three people killed in a bus crash last Friday as the team headed to Sweetwater to perform at a playoff football game. "I'm going to miss Darin's organization, his sense of community when it comes to the network of band directors. He was a fierce competitor, but also a friend to everyone he met," said Jay Lester,  Abilene ISD Executive Director of Fine Arts.
  
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• Tesla production plant on track to finish on time, state filings suggest

  23-11-2021 20:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Recent filings with the state show construction of the Tesla gigafactory in eastern Travis County is almost done.Tesla filed paperwork Nov. 19 with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for construction and interior finishing work on a combined 4.28 million square feet at its plant near Del Valle. The company is on track to finish construction of the $1.1 billion plant by the end of the year, which is a long-running goal for its CEO Elon Musk.T
  
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• Tennessee man demands pizza with AK-47, police say

  23-11-2021 19:19 via kxan.com
  
  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) -- A Tennessee man is accused of holding employees of a Little Caesar's restaurant at gunpoint with an AK-47 after being told it would take 10 minutes to make his pizza.
  Officers responded to the store around 9 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said the suspect, later identified as Charles Doty Jr., of Knoxville, became angry after being told about the wait, then demanded free breadsticks.
  According to an incident report, he then left the store and returned with an AK-47, demanding
  
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• Warming temperatures ahead of Thanksgiving day storm

  23-11-2021 19:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many of us saw our first freeze of the season this morning with lows bottoming out in the low to mid-30s. The good news? Milder weather will follow. The not-so-good news? The warming trend won't last long.Today will look and feel similar to what we felt yesterday with sunshine filtered by high clouds, warm temps (70s) and light winds. Increasing clouds and southerly winds by evening will help keep overnight temperatures 5-10 degrees warmer, most of us staying in the 40s and
  
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• 'We did not have time': Inside TABC's 'rocky' $8.5M web launch and how it impacted Texas business

  23-11-2021 18:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Workers inside the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission were coming up on a deadline back in August. For two years, the agency worked to build a new web portal for bar and restaurant owners to apply for alcohol permits.It was set to be a big step-up from a system that required owners to apply and renew their licenses in person.“For years, I would make a trip up to headquarters for a renewal and I would take two copies, stamped,” said Bob Woody, who owns more than
  
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• Austin homegrown Tiff's Treats hits $500M company value

  23-11-2021 18:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — What started as a delivery business founded by two sophomores at the University of Texas at Austin in 1999 has now transformed into a $500 million company.Last week, Austin-based Tiff's Treats announced it had added $30 million in additional funds and reached a company value of $500 million. Co-founders Tiffany and Leon Chen founded the cookie delivery business more than two decades ago, and have since expanded the company to nearly 70 retail locations throughout Texas, Geo
  
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• 'Babysit your bird:' Austin Fire shows what not to do when frying Thanksgiving turkey

  23-11-2021 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Deep frying a turkey is a quick way to pack a ton of flavor into Thanksgiving's main course in a short amount of time, but as the Austin Fire Department demonstrates, a lot can go wrong if the rules aren't followed.AFD released its yearly video about frying a turkey the safe and correct way Tuesday, just in time for rookie chefs to learn the proper way to get the bird done and not burn your house down. What stores are open on Thanksgiving 2021?First thing is first, don't ov
  
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• Alzheimer's Awareness: Important questions to ask and common misconceptions

  23-11-2021 17:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many have witnessed the heartbreaking impact dementia can have on a person and their families.
  According to the World Health Organization, around 55 million people have dementia worldwide, and as the proportion of older people in the population is increasing in nearly every developed country, this number is expected to rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states in 2020, as many as 5.8 million Americans were
  
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• LIVE: Austin-Travis County health leaders issue warnings about COVID-19 spread ahead of Thanksgiving

  23-11-2021 16:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As millions of people are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, Austin-Travis County health leaders are holding a media Q&A Tuesday to warn about COVID-19 spread ahead of the busy holiday.During the briefing, we expect to hear from Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority, Adrienne Sturrup, the interim director of Austin Public Health and several others. Are the goalposts for Stage 2 COVID-19 risk-based guidelines moving?Austin-Travis Coun
  
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• Healthy holidays: Leaders warn COVID-19 case numbers could be rising again in Austin-Travis County

  23-11-2021 16:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As millions of people are expected to travel and gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, Austin-Travis County health leaders are warning that case numbers locally are starting to inch upwards again.Austin Public Health's chief epidemiologist, Janet Pichette, said there was a 33% increase in the number of new cases reported last week from the week prior. Community transmission rate, something APH introduced to the public a few weeks ago, is also slowly rising.
  "We just are aski
  
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• Austin-Travis County health leaders issue warnings about COVID-19 spread ahead of Thanksgiving

  23-11-2021 16:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As millions of people are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, Austin-Travis County health leaders are holding a media Q&A Tuesday to warn about COVID-19 spread ahead of the busy holiday.During the briefing, we expect to hear from Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority, Adrienne Sturrup, the interim director of Austin Public Health and several others. Are the goalposts for Stage 2 COVID-19 risk-based guidelines moving?Austin-Travis Coun
  
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• AFD: Resident lights 6 fires inside northeast Austin senior center, charged with arson

  23-11-2021 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Six fires were set on the third floor of a northeast Austin senior center Tuesday and a resident was arrested in connection with the fires, according to an affidavit.
  Mid-rise structure fire at 12433 Dessau Rd-Fire reported on 3rd floor. Units arrived on scene to find multiple fires on 3rd floor, controlled by the fire control system and extinguished by Austin Fire.
  No injuries reported, Suspect is in custody.— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) November 23, 2021
  AFD
  
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• AFD: Multiple fires put out at senior living center in northeast Austin

  23-11-2021 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department sent firefighters Tuesday to a senior living center in northeast Austin following reports of multiple fires on one of the building's floors.
  Mid-rise structure fire at 12433 Dessau Rd-Fire reported on 3rd floor. Units arrived on scene to find multiple fires on 3rd floor, controlled by the fire control system and extinguished by Austin Fire.
  No injuries reported, Suspect is in custody.— Austin Fire Info (@AustinFireInfo) November 23, 2021
  AFD
  
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• Home generator demand on the rise as winter approaches

  23-11-2021 13:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As winter approaches, last February's storm is still fresh on many people's minds.While the state works to avoid another massive power outage, some Texans aren't taking any chances, and that is why they are turning to home generators. December weather forecast for Central Texas released as La Niña strengthensDuring the historic storm that sent temperatures into single digits for about a week, Texas' electricity supply plummeted and demand for energy to heat homes inc
  
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• Mild weather leading up to rain and cold Thanksgiving Day

  23-11-2021 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many of us saw our first freeze of the season this morning with lows bottoming out in the low to mid-30s. The good news? Milder weather will follow. The not-so-good news? The warming trend won't last long.Today will look and feel similar to what we felt yesterday with sunshine filtered by high clouds, warm temps (70s) and light winds. Increasing clouds and southerly winds by evening will help keep overnight temperatures 5-10 degrees warmer, most of us staying in the 40s and
  
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• Dripping Springs extends moratorium on new developments

  23-11-2021 08:57 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) - New developments will be on hold for a few more months in one of Central Texas' fastest growing cities.Dripping Springs city leaders Monday voted to extend the city's moratorium on new permits for homes, site planning, commercial projects and construction in the city limited and extraterritorial jurisdiction.
  They extended it by 90 days, meaning it will stay in effect until late February.
  Earlier in November city leadersDripping Springs has only one wastewater tr
  
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• Biden intends to run for reelection in 2024, Psaki says

  23-11-2021 05:10 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – President Biden intends to run for reelection in 2024, White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Monday, following a flurry of reports on discussions among Democrats about whether he would follow through on a bid for a second term."That’s his intention," Psaki told reporters, confirming reports that Biden has been telling advisers and staff he plans to run again in 2024.The Washington Post reported over the weekend 
  
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• U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert joins Texas Republicans running against Attorney General Ken Paxton

  23-11-2021 03:27 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, announced Monday he is running for attorney general, challenging fellow Republican Ken Paxton, in the already crowded primary."Texas I am officially running to be your next Attorney General and will enforce the rule of law," Gohmert tweeted after announcing his campaign on Newsmax.Gohmert announced earlier this month that he would join the GOP lineup against Paxton if he could raise $1 million in 10 days. The 10th
  
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• Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson says he'll be back at UT next season

  23-11-2021 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson is dispelling any rumors of a possible departure from Texas this offseason.The sophomore told reporters Monday that he will return to the Longhorns next season, squashing any idea that he'll transfer or sit out to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Texas super senior Tope Imade to finish 6-season Longhorns career Friday"This is God's plan for me," Robinson said.Robinson, who will miss the final two games of the season with an elbow i
  
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• Former Astros, Indians All-Star Doug Jones dead at 64

  23-11-2021 03:06 via kxan.com
  
  CLEVELAND (AP) — Doug Jones, a five-time All-Star reliever who had his best success closing for the Cleveland Indians, has died. He was 64.Jones spent seven seasons with the Indians and ranks third on the club's career saves list with 129. The club, which officially transitioned to Cleveland Guardians last week, said Monday it was “saddened by the loss of one of our organization's all-time greats.”The team said Jones died in Arizona. A cause was not immediately known.One of Jon
  
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• Report: Samsung to build $17B plant in Taylor

  23-11-2021 02:27 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Samsung Electronics Co. is set to announce plans to build a $17B chipmaking plant in Taylor, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.Samsung previously indicated in its application filings that it wanted to start construction in January 2022. How Taylor, Williamson County are trying to win the coveted spot of Samsung’s next chip plantTaylor and Williamson County leaders voted unanimously in September to approve multiple agreements with Samsung, allowi
  
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• COTA tight-lipped on details after Rolling Stones concert causes Austin traffic headaches

  23-11-2021 01:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mary Ellen Roche has been attending Rolling Stones concerts since the 1960s, but the traffic leading in and out of Saturday's show at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was a first for her."That was just ridiculous, the other night," Roche told KXAN. "There were too many cars on small country roads." COTA points to hiring difficulties, GPS app issues for traffic trouble at Rolling Stones concertLike many who have taken to social media, Roche said she and her family waited t
  
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• EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn meets with local leaders & border patrol in Del Rio to discuss migrant crisis

  23-11-2021 01:13 via kxan.com
  
  DEL RIO, Texas (Nexstar) — On Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R - TX) met with local leaders and law enforcement to discuss how the current crisis at our state's southern border is impacting border communities.He's trying to spark momentum for the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, which would establish four new processing centers and add staffing to help process migrants to relieve local criminal justice systems.Thousands of Texas DPS and National Guardsmen have been deployed all across the
  
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• 'Undermining of democracy': UN expert cites Texas voting law as failure to protect minority rights

  23-11-2021 00:40 via kxan.com
  
  UNITED NATIONS (KXAN) — A human rights expert working for the United Nations cited the new voting law and political maps approved in Texas as examples of the country's broader failures to protect the rights of minorities.
  Fernand de Varennes, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on minority issues, said he visited Texas as one of the stops during his 15-day trip to several states and American territories that concluded Monday. He said he did so to highlight "progress, opportunities and challenges e
  
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• Republicans more willing to live among Democrats than vice versa, survey says

  23-11-2021 00:40 via kxan.com
  
  (TheRealDeal) - Where you live and whom you vote for have never been more closely tied. Mapped election results over the past few decades show the red middle has grown redder and the blue coasts bluer.But when it comes to settling down in another party’s territory, a report by apartment-listing site Zumper shows registered Republicans are more liberal about living among Democrats than the other way around — with one caveat.To conduct the survey, Zumper asked
  
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• Personifying perseverance: Texas super senior Tope Imade to finish 6-season Longhorns career Friday

  23-11-2021 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tope Imade will take the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Friday for the final time in six seasons on the Forty Acres.
  After three coaching changes, multiple position changes, and the passing of his mother, Imade has found a way to remain upbeat and positive despite dealing with so much pain.
  Imade is a five-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, has two degrees and will earn a third degree in marketing from the McCombs School of Business.
  Every
  
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