Austin news

• Team Kristen wins 'Friendsgiving Challenge;' over $65K raised for Central Texas Food Bank

  24-11-2021 23:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was Team David vs. Team Kristen, and Kristen Currie's team came out on top — but ultimately, it was Central Texans who won.KXAN's meteorologists David Yeomans and Kristen Currie challenged one another at the beginning of the month to see who could raise the most money for the Central Texas Food Bank. Each had an initial goal of raising $5,000, but thanks to the generosity of their teams, they quickly surpassed that goal within the first week.Together, the teams rai
  
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• Police pull down eight bodies from trees, bridge in Zacatecas, Mexico

  24-11-2021 23:03 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Police in the state of Zacatecas have pulled down eight bodies hanging from trees and a bridge in rural communities near Fresnillo, where a drug cartel war has been raging for the past two years.The first three bodies were found hanging from a bridge in the town of San Jose early Tuesday morning, the state police said in a tweet.De acuerdo con información preliminar y a reserva de que la @FiscaliaZac, confirme avance en la recolección de indic
  
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• What Thanksgiving foods are safe for your dog/cat to eat?

  24-11-2021 22:53 via kxan.com
  
  AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with friends and family, and beloved animals, but what food is safe for your animal to eat when they are begging for a festive treat? The American Kennel Club released a few tips on what foods to avoid and what foods are safe to give your dog and (or) cat this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving on the High Plains: Free meals and giveaways Here are key tips provided by the American Kennel Club:Vets tend to see many patients on Thanks
  
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• Want to get mom something extra special this year? Check out these high-end gifts

  24-11-2021 22:45 via kxan.com
  
  BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Which high-end gift for mom is best?A great mom is priceless, but when it comes time to buy your mother a gift, you might want to choose a luxury item to show the depths of your appreciation. When looking for the best high-end gifts for moms, consider your own mom’s preferences — some might like fancy jewelry while others would prefer the latest bit of tech. Although there isn’t a single bes
  
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• 8 best tech gifts for teens

  24-11-2021 22:34 via kxan.com
  
  BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Which tech gifts are best for teens?Buying gifts for teens can be challenging, but electronics are always sure to impress. Laptops, tablets and cameras are just a few of the incredible tech gifts that teens will love. If you’re unsure what your teen might want, taking the time to compare the most popular tech items for teens is a surefire way to make the right choice.Do you need a few more gift recommendations fo
  
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• Rain developing, continues through early Thanksgiving Day

  24-11-2021 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's a warm, windy Wednesday with clouds thickening and areas of sprinkles/light rain developing. Rain will become a bit heavier and more widespread through the late evening hours. Live interactive radarA strong cold front associated with the approaching storm system will move through Central Texas early Thanksgiving morning bringing rain, a few thunderstorms and gusty, colder winds to the area.
  Showers will be likely clear out of the Hill Country for the day by 7 a.m. Thur
  
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• Best gifts for new parents

  24-11-2021 22:25 via kxan.com
  
  BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.Which gift for new parents is best?Whether you’re recently a new parent or know someone who is, chances are you’ve already likely noticed that new parents don’t have a lot of time to shop for themselves. Regardless if you want to buy a gift for someone who is welcoming their first child or their third, we can all agree that the parents in your life need a bit of extra care. Look for gifts th
  
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• Texas border landowners ask for federal funding for damage incurred during migrant crisis

  24-11-2021 22:12 via kxan.com
  
  DEL RIO, Texas (Nexstar) — This week, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) met with local leaders in Del Rio to discuss how the current crisis at Texas' southern border is affecting the community.While local law enforcement and city officials asked for more funding, border communities have already secured $30 million from the federal government to reimburse local communities and non-governmental organizations who had spent significant resources on migrant care.Landowners, however, said they
  
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• Suspect in 2012 Austin stabbing murder surrenders to Mexico authorities

  24-11-2021 21:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man has been arrested nearly a decade after a stabbing murder in southeast Austin.Hector Hugo Ramirez-Lopez, 33, was arrested Nov. 20 in relation to the death of Randal Wells on April 28, 2012 in the 2400 block of Wickersham Lane. Austin Police Department officials say officers were responding to an unrelated call at an apartment complex when they heard a loud crash from a distance away. When they went over, they saw a vehicle had crashed into the complex's parking lot.AP
  
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• Travis County inmate dies at Austin hospital

  24-11-2021 20:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday an inmate died in its custody at a hospital in November.TCSO said a corrections officer found Adan Torres, 35, unresponsive in his cell around 12:55 a.m., Nov. 14. After TCSO staff and the medical unit tried to revive Torres, he was taken to St. David's South Austin Medical Center. Torres was in intensive care "for several days before ultimately passing away," TCSO said. AFD: Resident lights 6 fires inside northeast Austin s
  
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• Rain develops this evening, continues early Thanksgiving morning

  24-11-2021 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Temperatures Wednesday morning were anywhere from 15 to 30 degrees warmer than Tuesday morning, this is due in part to southeast winds that returned Tuesday afternoon.Today will feature increasing cloudy skies, increasing humidity and warm temps (mid-70s). If you're fond of this weather, enjoy today while you can! Cooler and wetter weather comes tomorrow and will last for most of the holiday weekend.A strong cold front will move northwest to southeast across Central Texas T
  
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• How Austin's combatting holiday upticks in impaired driving, crashes

  24-11-2021 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nationally, the night before Thanksgiving is one of the worst for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of substances.
  As some Austinites head downtown to bars tonight to ring in the holidays, the Austin Transportation Department and Austin Police Department have ramped up efforts to curtail drinking-related crashes. TRENDING: Treatment in Texas: For families of kids with rare diseases, it’s a full-time job to advocate for, raise millions for researchBeginn
  
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• APD: 49 arrested for drunk driving during Thanksgiving 'No Refusal' initiative

  24-11-2021 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nationally, the night before Thanksgiving is one of the worst for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of substances.
  As some Austinites head downtown to bars tonight to ring in the holidays, the Austin Transportation Department and Austin Police Department have ramped up efforts to curtail drinking-related crashes. TRENDING: Treatment in Texas: For families of kids with rare diseases, it’s a full-time job to advocate for, raise millions for researchBeginn
  
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• Treatment in Texas: For families of kids with rare diseases, it's a full-time job to advocate for, raise millions for research

  24-11-2021 18:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — How far would you go to save your child's life? That's a question some parents have to ask themselves after learning their child has been diagnosed with a rare disease.
  While each rare disease only impacts a small portion of the population, thousands of them exist. KXAN found many Texas parents are forced to quit their jobs and become full-time advocates for their kids after they're diagnosed. Funding research for potential treatments for rare diseases costs millions of dol
  
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• Ted Cruz jokes 'Cancun is much nicer than Cabo' after CA Gov. Newsom goes on vacation

  24-11-2021 16:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Tuesday, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz made light of the Mexico trip he took during February's deadly winter storm, comparing it to the Cabo San Lucas trip California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom's currently on for the Thanksgiving holiday."Cancun is much nicer than Cabo," Cruz responded Tuesday night to a tweet by California State Assembly member Kevin Kiley reading: "With California in the throes of a "State of Emergency," Governor Newsom is vacationing in Mexico for th
  
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• Jurors reach verdict in Ahmaud Arbery case

  24-11-2021 16:38 via kxan.com
  
  BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — Travis McMichael, the man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery, was convicted of murder Wednesday.The conviction carries a minimum sentence of life in prison. It is up to the judge to decide whether that comes with or without the possibility of parole.McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, grabbed guns and jumped in a pickup truck to pursue the 25-year-old Black man after seeing him running in their neighborhood outside the Georgia port city of Brunswick in February 2020
  
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• All 3 defendants found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery

  24-11-2021 16:38 via kxan.com
  
  BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — All three men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery were convicted of murder Wednesday.The jury reached its decision after more than 10 hours of deliberations following a trial in which prosecutors argued that the defendants provoked a confrontation with Arbery and defense attorneys said their clients were acting in self-defense.Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael grabbed guns and jumped in a pickup truck to pursue the 25-year-old Black man after seeing him runni
  
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• 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Pflugerville

  24-11-2021 16:29 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Police in Pflugerville said a person was killed and another was injured in a shooting Tuesday night.PPD said it responded to assist first responders in the 15000 block of Windermere Drive at 10:22 p.m., close to the intersection with West Pecan Street near a shopping center. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man dead with a gunshot wound.Why is Lady Bird Lake so low?PPD said the man was shot on Foothill Farms Loop, but then went to Windermere Dri
  
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• Blue Genie Art Bazaar seeing uptick in traffic

  24-11-2021 15:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's Blue Genie Art Bazaar opened over the weekend, they say they've already seen a bounce back following last year's pandemic shopping slump.This year, organizers will still offer the online shopping experience launched last year. But those wanting to pick out the perfect gift in person, should have a freer time while shopping at the site off Airport Boulevard. $17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, Texas"Last year we were able to keep the store open. But we w
  
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• Why is Lady Bird Lake so low?

  24-11-2021 14:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you've been by Lady Bird Lake recently, you might have noticed the water looks lower than usual.It's all because of Zebra mussels. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Zebra mussels are spreading in Central Texas — can dogs help stop them?Austin Water contracted with Underwater Construction Corporation to perform an annual zebra mussel cleaning of the gates at Longhorn Dam.
  To keep divers safe, Austin Water lowers the lake level approximately one foot while they work on the two basc
  
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• Williamson County landowners upset about proposed road that would cut through historical properties

  24-11-2021 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  LIBERTY HILL, Texas (KXAN) — With all the growth in Central Texas, the need for traffic improvements is one of the biggest concerns, but neighbors in northern Williamson County are saying no to a proposed road.Some residents near Liberty Hill are concerned about the proposed Corridor I-2 project. The potential route would connect State Highway 29 to U.S. Highway 183 near the Burnet and Williamson county lines. $17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, TexasAccording to a fact sheet p
  
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• Warm & muggy ahead of overnight/early morning storm chance

  24-11-2021 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After 3 weeks of rain-free skies, darker clouds and high moisture levels move in today and stick around for part of Thanksgiving Day.Today will feature mostly cloudy skies, increasing humidity and warm temps (mid-70s) as we transition from warm, sunny weather... to cooler, wet weather. Spot showers will be possible late this evening with rain increasing in coverage and intensity overnight into Thanksgiving morning.A strong cold front will move northwest to southeast across
  
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• Thanksgiving Day starts with rain, finishes with wind

  24-11-2021 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After 3 weeks of rain-free skies, darker clouds and high moisture levels move in today and stick around for part of Thanksgiving Day.Today will feature mostly cloudy skies, increasing humidity and warm temps (mid-70s) as we transition from warm, sunny weather... to cooler, wet weather. Spot showers will be possible late this evening with rain increasing in coverage and intensity overnight into Thanksgiving morning.A strong cold front will move northwest to southeast across
  
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• House fire kills two cats

  24-11-2021 08:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin fire crews say two cats died in a house fire in Central Austin Tuesday night.Crews were called to the home on East 52nd Street near Avenue G just before 10 p.m. They were able to quickly put the fire out.Austin Fire says the fire caused $200,000 in damage. The cats were the only ones inside at the time.
  The home's owner has been notified.
  Austin Fire is investigating the cause of the fire.
  
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• House fire in central Austin kills two cats

  24-11-2021 08:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin fire crews say two cats died in a house fire in central Austin Tuesday night.Crews were called to the home on East 52nd Street near Avenue G just before 10 p.m. That's east of North Lamar Boulevard and the UT intramural fields.
  AFD was able to quickly put the fire out, but efforts to resuscitate the cats were unsuccessful.AFD says the fire caused $200,000 in damage. The cats were the only ones inside at the time.
  The home's owner has been notified.
  AFD is investigating th
  
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• House fire in central Austin causes $200K in damage, kills two cats

  24-11-2021 08:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin fire crews say two cats died in a house fire in central Austin Tuesday night.Crews were called to the home on East 52nd Street near Avenue G just before 10 p.m. That's east of North Lamar Boulevard and the UT intramural fields.
  AFD was able to quickly put the fire out, but efforts to resuscitate the cats were unsuccessful.AFD says the fire caused $200,000 in damage. The cats were the only ones inside at the time.
  The home's owner has been notified, AFD said, and it is inv
  
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• Migrant teen with learning disability lost in Chihuahuan desert

  24-11-2021 06:00 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Omar Reyes Lopez turns 20 on December 2, and his aunt Sheila still hopes he will make it to his birthday party.But as the days pass, that hope fades. The last time anyone heard from him, he was wandering the Chihuahuan desert somewhere south of Presidio, Texas.“He made a 911 call that was picked up on the U.S. side. Border Patrol couldn’t help him because he was on the other side. The Mexican army couldn’t find him because he had walked aw
  
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• 'General Hospital' actor Steve Burton fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine

  24-11-2021 05:51 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Actor Steve Burton will not be starring in future episodes of ABC soap opera "General Hospital" after a dispute over the COVID-19 vaccine, Burton confirmed on Instagram Tuesday."I know there's been a lot of rumors and speculations about me and 'General Hospital,' and I wanted you to hear it from me personally," Burton said on Instagram. "Unfortunately 'General Hospital' has let me go because of the vaccine mandate."Burton, who joined the show in 1992 and played the role of Jaso
  
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• Here's what Austin's Trail of Lights will look like this year

  24-11-2021 05:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This year's Trail of Lights in Austin will once again be a drive-thru event because of COVID-19 concerns — but there will be some differences.Last year, all windows had to stay rolled up, but not this year. You also won't have to worry about traffic as much because Barton Springs Road is staying open. That's partially because that's not where the trail begins this time. Instead, people will start the trail on Stratford.KXAN talked to the Trail of Lights Foundation Exe
  
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• 'We dream big': Williamson County leaders discuss Samsung's journey to Taylor

  24-11-2021 04:54 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — When Mayor Brandt Rydell heard a large international company was eyeing his city as a potential site for their latest large construction project, he knew Taylor, Texas, would shine.
  Without even knowing which company it was, he described the city as a community of problem-solvers — and hoped that would resonate more than any big promises or expectations.$17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, Texas"We are going to find a wat to work through any issues t
  
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• Police identify man killed in hit and run on I-35 on Saturday

  24-11-2021 04:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police have identified the man killed in a hit and run on Interstate 35 late Saturday night.Officers initially responded to the scene around 11:45 p.m. in the 12300 block of N. I-35, near Parmer Lane.Police say the occupants of a Honda had exited their car after a crash in the southbound lanes. One of the occupants, John Herrera Boanerge, 18, was hit by an unknown vehicle, according to police.
  That driver then left the scene. The other occupant of the Honda also left
  
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• Kyle police increasing bike patrols during holidays: 'We can sneak up on the criminal'

  24-11-2021 04:45 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — Some police departments are planning on increased patrols around busy shopping areas during the holidays this year.In Kyle, officers will be doing it on bikes.
  It's not the average patrol unit you usually see out and about but the Kyle Police Department feels it's just as critical in helping serve and protect."One of the benefits of our bicycles, is we can get into areas that police cars can't," Kyle Police officer James Plant said. "We're quiet and we want to be
  
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• McConaughey says we'll know 'shortly' if he's joining Texas governor race

  24-11-2021 03:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Time's ticking for Matthew McConaughey.With just over two weeks before the candidate filing deadline on Dec. 13, the Oscar-winning actor and Austin resident has yet to announce whether he's running for Texas Governor — but the star says the world will know "shortly." Matthew McConaughey thinks he’ll die by alligator, will he run for Texas governor in the meantime?In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McConaughey, 52, explained he's been preparing and stud
  
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• Developers prepare for Samsung plant's arrival in Williamson County

  24-11-2021 02:37 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — While the land in Taylor, Texas, is staked for something new, home developers are in the process of turning the dirt already.
  On Tuesday evening, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed a $17 billion Samsung Electronics Co. chipmaking plant will be coming to Taylor in Williamson County. $17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, TexasThere are already two home builds in progress near the area where Samsung is slated to land."I saw the opportunity in Taylor. Just as a t
  
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• How will new Samsung factory affect construction jobs?

  24-11-2021 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Texas lost more than 46,000 construction jobs since the pandemic began, more than any other state, including California and New York.But experts say there's reason for optimism. As Samsung plans to build a $17 billion chipmaking plant in Taylor, Texas, the construction industry in the state is rebounding. How Taylor-made Samsung chips could alleviate a global shortageKen Simonson, Chief Economist at the
  
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• How Taylor-made Samsung chips could alleviate a global shortage

  24-11-2021 01:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Samsung's newest manufacturing plant in Taylor, Texas, will produce the company's most advanced computer chips to date.State and local leaders say this project is important for national security, helping the country become less reliant on semiconductors made in other countries. $17B Samsung plant officially coming to Taylor, TexasTuesday's announcement comes amid a a major shortage of the micro-chip that most people use every day."You can't get chips to be put into cars, so
  
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• Behind the deal: How Taylor landed historic Samsung project

  24-11-2021 00:07 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (Austin Business Journal/KXAN) — After 10 busy months, South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. announced Tuesday it has picked the small city of Taylor for the massive project. It beat out other finalists, including Austin, Phoenix and upstate New York.
  Construction is expected to begin next year, with the factory up and running in late 2024.With the decision finalized, those who have worked quietly behind the scenes to win the project for Taylor offered Austin Busine
  
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• When Thanksgiving Day rain clears out

  24-11-2021 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Thanksgiving morning storm is approaching from the west, increasing humidity and cloud cover across the area overnight and on Wednesday. This change leads to overnight lows 20-30 degrees warmer Wednesday morning with no threat of a freeze anywhere.As low-level moisture increases and the storm system approaches, expect mostly cloudy skies through the day Wednesday, then a chance of light rain showers developing through the evening hours.The main rain events from this storm
  
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