Austin news

• 2 arrested after elderly woman robbed of her purse, hit by suspect's car in Cedar Park parking lot

  07-12-2021 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — Two suspects are in custody after an elderly woman was robbed of her purse, then run over by the suspect's car in an H-E-B parking lot late last month.
  The Cedar Park Police Department on Dec. 3 said Sammy Ferguson, 31, and Clifton Gadison, 49, were arrested with the help of the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety.BACKGROUND: Elderly woman hit by suspect’s car after purse stolen at Cedar Park H-E-BBoth are being charged with a
  
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• Hawaii declares state of emergency as 'Kona Low' brings flooding, power outages

  07-12-2021 23:04 via kxan.com
  
  HONOLULU (KXAN) — A storm system unique to Hawaii called a Kona Low is leading to dangerous flooding,extended power outages and school closures.The Honolulu Airport has tallied nearly 10 inches of rain in the last several days, and heavy rain continues through the overnight hours Tuesday night. Strong, gusty winds are downing trees and leading to power outages that may last for days as weather conditions make it difficult for crews to make repairs. Blizzard in Hawaii? Tonight, there is one
  
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• APD officials target spring start date for next cadet class, pending approval

  07-12-2021 22:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With 72 cadets expected to graduate from the Austin Police Department's 144th cadet academy Jan. 28, officials are looking ahead toward solidifying their next academy start date.During the Austin Public Safety Commission meeting Monday, APD leaders noted a targeted date of March 28 to begin the 145th cadet academy. However, that date is dependent on authorization from Austin City Council, the body that greenlights when classes will begin. RELATED: Demographic breakdown of A
  
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• When does NORAD start tracking Santa?

  07-12-2021 22:48 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Every year, millions of children take to their computers, tablets and smartphones to track the world's greatest traveler — Santa Claus; and every year since 1955, NORAD has helped children of all ages track Santa on his journey around the world.What does NORAD stand for?NORAD stands for North American Aerospace Defense Command.
  NORAD is a United States and Canada bi-national organization that uses radar and satellites to look out for man-made objects in the sky l
  
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• San Marcos CISD gives staff, students extra day off to focus on mental health

  07-12-2021 22:43 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is extending its winter break by one day to make room for a "mental health day" for staff and students.
  All district campuses and offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 17, Superintendent Michael Cardona wrote in an email.
  "As Superintendent, I recognize the burden the pandemic has placed on all of us and I thank our students, employees, and families for their efforts during these unprecedented times," Cardona
  
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• Judge halts Biden vaccine mandate for federal contractors nationwide

  07-12-2021 22:22 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- A federal judge in Georgia on Tuesday temporarily halted the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors across the country.The ruling by U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, is the latest in a series of legal setbacks for President Joe Biden as his administration seeks to blunt the effects of a global pandemic that has killed more than 788,000 people in the U.S.“The Court acknowledges the tragic t
  
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• 2022 dates for Austin City Limits Festival released; 3-day passes to go on sale Thursday

  07-12-2021 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just about two months after this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival wrapped up, festival organizers on Tuesday announced both weekend dates for 2022.
  ACL Fest will return to Zilker Park on Oct. 7-9 for weekend one and Oct. 14-16 for weekend two next year.
  Prices for different three-day passes to the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival (Photo: ACL Festival website)Festival organizers also announced three-day tickets will go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. CT. You c
  
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• Two days of record heat late this week

  07-12-2021 21:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a chilly, and in some cases freezing, start to the day across Central Texas Tuesday morning. Temperatures have warmed nicely this afternoon with lots of sunshine. The pleasant weather will stick around, but the temperatures are on their way up later this week.South winds have already returned to Central Texas, but we won't see too much warming today. Tonight, will be chilly, but nowhere near as cold as last night with lows mostly in the 40s.Southerly winds continue W
  
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• Prescribed burns for SW Travis County to be conducted Dec. 9

  07-12-2021 21:15 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Smoke may be visible in Southwestern Travis County on Friday, December 9 due to prescribed burns from by Austin Water.
  The areas in particular are near south State Highway 45 and MoPac, east of FM 1826, west of Brodie Lane, and northwest of FM 1626 from 10 a.m. to sunset.
  Courtesy of the City of AustinPrescribed burns are conducted to mimic the natural fire cycle that helps reduce the potential for actual destructive wildfires by limiting the intensity and fue
  
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• Amid omicron news, Austin-Travis County administers record number of COVID-19 boosters

  07-12-2021 20:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin Public Health put it: the best offense is a good defense. As new information comes out about the omicron variant and its spread across the United States, APH says they gave a record number of COVID-19 booster vaccines over the past week.
  "APH staff was able to scale up during high vaccine demand and their flexibility during this pandemic never ceases to amaze me,” said Austin Public Health Interim Director Adrienne Stu
  
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• Westlake's Cade Klubnik named Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year

  07-12-2021 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake quarterback Cade Klubnik is the Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year, the company announced Tuesday.Klubnik, a senior committed to Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, is also one of three nominees for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award. That award will be announced next week, a Gatorade representative said. Westlake rolls past Vandegrift to set up semifinal showdown against KatyKlubnik leads the Chaps into the Class 6A Division 2 semifi
  
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• Does the nickel needed to make electric car batteries cancel out the benefits?

  07-12-2021 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — Electric vehicles are the the forefront in the battle against climate change — and they're top of mind for many as Tesla relocates its headquarters to the Austin area.Yet, these cars still need resources to power their lithium-ion batteries.And that resource? Nickel — and lots of it.NBC News tracked nickel mining from the the Philippine rain forest all the way to Tesla the U.S. and found this mining is shrinking the rain forest and polluting the waters.
  Last year, arou
  
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• Does the nickel needed for electric car batteries nix the benefits?

  07-12-2021 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — Electric vehicles are the the forefront in the battle against climate change — and they're top of mind for many as Tesla relocates its headquarters to Austin.Yet, these cars still need resources to power their lithium-ion batteries. Tesla headquarters officially move to AustinAnd that resource? Nickel — and lots of it.NBC News tracked nickel mining from the the Philippine rain forest all the way to Tesla the U.S. and found this mining is shrinking the rain forest and p
  
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• Gov. Greg Abbott remarks following meeting at Sheppard AFB with US Air Force Reps

  07-12-2021 20:05 via kxan.com
  
  WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Governor Greg Abbott will be meeting with U.S. Air Force representatives at Sheppard Air Force Base on Tuesday, December 7.After the meeting with representatives, Gov. Abbott will deliver brief remarks and answer questions which will be live-streamed inside this story.
  These remarks were originally slated to take place on the base, however, due to reelection laws, Gov. Abbott's remarks and questions will take place at a second location.
  The estimated time for th
  
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• Gov. Greg Abbott meets with US Air Force reps at Sheppard Air Force Base

  07-12-2021 20:05 via kxan.com
  
  WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Governor Greg Abbott will be meeting with U.S. Air Force representatives at Sheppard Air Force Base on Tuesday, December 7.After the meeting with representatives, Gov. Abbott will deliver brief remarks and answer questions which will be live-streamed here at 1:15 p.m.Gov Abbott Ban on mask mandate in Texas back in place after Federal Appeals Court Ruling
  It is unclear what Abbott and Air Force representatives will be discussing.This story will be updated with a
  
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• Texas AG Ken Paxton launches investigation into deadly Lubbock shooting

  07-12-2021 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) —  After receiving repeated inquiries about a shooting that led to a death in Lubbock County, the Texas attorney general's office has begun a criminal investigation. The case involves Kyle Carruth, Chad Read, and Carruth’s partner — who has been identified as Read’s ex-wife. A circulating video from November 2021, shows a heated confrontation between Carruth and Read in front of Carruth's home. Carruth can be seen bringing out a gun and threatening
  
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• Crime Stoppers of Houston gifts $20,000 to plumber who found money in Lakewood Church wall

  07-12-2021 19:41 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KIAH) -- After no response from Lakewood Church on the money found in the wall recently, Crime Stoppers of Houston is gifting $20,000 to the man who found it.
  In 2014, Lakewood Church reported a theft of approximately $600,000 in cash and checks and Crime Stoppers of Houston helped Houston police, Lakewood and the community find those responsible. At the time, Crime Stoppers of Houston offered a cash reward of up to $5,000. Lakewood Church added a supplement reward of $2
  
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• Amazon Web Services are down, taking huge parts of internet offline

  07-12-2021 19:36 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) - Amazon Web Services (AWS) were down Tuesday morning, leaving large parts of the internet reliant on the tech giant’s services offline. On its health service dashboard, AWS posted a message at 11:22 a.m. ET that the company is "investigating increased error rates for the AWS Management Console."“We are experiencing API and console issues in the US-EAST-1 Region. We have identified root cause and we are actively working towards recovery,” AWS said in t
  
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• West Campus' housing affordability crisis is taking a toll on UT students

  07-12-2021 19:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — West Campus’ skyline is becoming a collection of densely built hotel-like apartment complexes. “Every single one [apartment complex] that goes up is nicer than the last, and they go up every single year now,” said Leah Davis, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin.Waterloo Tower, developed by Austin-based Lincoln Ventures, is a new apartment complex coming to West Campus. It will be decked out with a rooftop bar overlooking downtown Austin,
  
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• Omicron variant found in wastewater at 8 Houston treatment plants

  07-12-2021 19:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The omicron variant has been found in Houston's wastewater, the Houston Health Department announced Monday night. Though genomic testing of wastewater samples came back positive for the variant, an individual case has not been confirmed in Houston as of Tuesday morning.Texas announces first detected case of omicron variant in Harris CountyThe health department reported samples taken in late November showed omicron was present in eight of the city's 39 treatment plants.
  The
  
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• City of Austin faces hiring challenges, low retention as economy continues to grow

  07-12-2021 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several City of Austin (COA) departments struggling with post-pandemic hiring and retention challenges are trying to bring more attractive options for job seekers as the city's economy continues to grow.According to the city, employee turnover has increased this year compared to previous years and hundreds of vacant positions have yet to be filled.
  "Good employees are changing career fields or going to the private sector after being offered more money," said Jen Samp, Publi
  
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• New COVID-19 antibody fusion center to launch in El Paso, more to come

  07-12-2021 18:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will launch a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in El Paso.The infusion will begin accepting patients with a doctor referral Tuesday, and offers them treatment at no cost. The treatment will use Regeneron’s monoclonal antibodies to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19. Regeneron antibody treatment ‘may be’ less effective against omicron — what’
  
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• Real or fake: Which Christmas trees are better for the environment?

  07-12-2021 18:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you've yet to purchase your Christmas tree this year, you may be considering a fake one.
  With their lack of maintenance, perfect shape, and no needles, it's easy to choose a fake one. But the decision to choose a fake tree for it's convenience for just a few weeks out of the year may be significantly more harmful to the environment for years to come. Christmas tree shortages aren’t just because of the pandemicAaron Stottlemyer, Forest Resource Analyst from Texas A&
  
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• Travis County closes rental assistance portal, waiting on possible additional funds

  07-12-2021 17:26 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The application portal for Travis County's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is officially closed as of midnight Sunday.
  For people who live in Austin, Travis County was the last available government agency to close their ERAP portal, cutting off new applications for rental help. Both the City of Austin and State of Texas were forced to close their portals in early November because the number of applicants outpaced the funding passed down by the U.S.
  
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• 'Hamilton' the musical returns to a different Austin

  07-12-2021 16:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The last time this set constructed of wood, bricks and rope graced the stage at Bass Concert Hall was 2019. On the rotating section of the floor at the center, actors costumed in apparel reminiscent of the early days of America danced, sang and rapped about the birth of the United States.That was before the pandemic, before Black Lives Matter protests like the ones that spilled onto Interstate 35 in Austin.But now, the musical "Hamilton" is back in the city.Josh Tower (Cour
  
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• Fredericksburg museum remembering Pearl Harbor 80 years after the attack

  07-12-2021 15:56 via kxan.com
  
  FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — The National Museum of the Pacific War will show a virtual presentation at 11:55 a.m. in remembrance of the attacks on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago.The museum's video will be shown via Facebook Live, according to the museum's Facebook page, and will be hosted by Karen Stevenson, the museum's director.It features footage from the National Archives, Naval History and Heritage Command, National Park Service and the museum's own archives. Joe Richard and J.C. Alston
  
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• What was the most common car insurance claim in 2021? AAA Texas says it's this

  07-12-2021 15:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — AAA Texas released its top three auto insurance claims of 2021, and what seems minor could actually have a big impact on your premiums and on others around you.The agency's auto insurance division processed three types of claims the most over the past year.
  Rear-end collisions/fender bendersCrashes while backing upHail damage AAA Texas: State’s gas price of $2.97 per gallon is 2nd-lowest in the countryMost of the rear-end collisions and fender benders the agency proce
  
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• Leander ISD removes books, graphic novels from student book club options list

  07-12-2021 14:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students at Leander Independent School District will have fewer options to choose bookshelves after the district got rid of nearly a dozen books and graphic novels.The concerns about some books came up a year ago at a district board meeting. Parents were worried about sexual content kids had access to in the book clubs. 183 North Project set to bring more toll lanes to northwest AustinTeachers, librarians, administrators and vendors normally participate in a book review pro
  
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• Leander ISD removes books, graphic novels from libraries after review

  07-12-2021 14:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students at Leander Independent School District will have fewer options on their library bookshelves after the district got rid of nearly a dozen books and graphic novels.The concerns about some books came up a year ago at a district board meeting. Parents were worried about sexual content kids had access to in the book clubs. 183 North Project set to bring more toll lanes to northwest AustinNormally, teachers, librarians, administrators and vendors participate in a book re
  
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• Leander ISD removes books, graphic novels from classroom libraries

  07-12-2021 14:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Students at Leander Independent School District may notice certain book selections have disappeared from their classroom libraries.The changes come after the district got rid of nearly a dozen books and graphic novels.The concerns about some books came up a year ago at a district board meeting. Parents were worried about sexual content kids had access to in the book clubs. 183 North Project set to bring more toll lanes to northwest AustinTeachers, librarians, administrators
  
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• Olympics: Omicron, boycotts and new transgender athlete guidelines

  07-12-2021 14:16 via kxan.com
  
  BEIJING, China (KXAN) — China says it's still on track to host the Olympics in Beijing as scheduled in February, but organizers say the omicron COVID-19 variant is a concern.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a briefing last week the new variant would “certainly bring some challenges in terms of prevention and control," according to the Associated Press.
  Dr. Stephen Thomas, an infectious disease specialist at the Upstate University Hospital in New York, said early evid
  
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• LIVE: Olympics: Omicron, boycotts and new transgender athlete guidelines

  07-12-2021 14:16 via kxan.com
  
  BEIJING, China (KXAN) — China says it's still on track to host the Olympics in Beijing as scheduled in February, but organizers say the omicron COVID-19 variant is a concern.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a briefing last week the new variant would “certainly bring some challenges in terms of prevention and control," according to the Associated Press.
  Dr. Stephen Thomas, an infectious disease specialist at the Upstate University Hospital in New York, said early evid
  
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• 101-year-old returns to Pearl Harbor to remember those lost

  07-12-2021 13:09 via kxan.com
  
  HONOLULU (AP) — When Japanese bombs began falling on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class David Russell first sought refuge below deck on the USS Oklahoma.But a split-second decision on that December morning 80 years ago changed his mind, and likely saved his life.“They started closing that hatch. And I decided to get out of there,” Russell, now 101, said in a recent interview.Within 12 minutes his battleship would capsize under a barrage of torpedoes. Altogether 429 sailor
  
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• 101-year-old returns to Pearl Harbor to remember the 'day that will live in infamy'

  07-12-2021 13:09 via kxan.com
  
  HONOLULU (AP) — When Japanese bombs began falling on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class David Russell first sought refuge below deck on the USS Oklahoma.But a split-second decision on that December morning 80 years ago changed his mind, and likely saved his life.“They started closing that hatch. And I decided to get out of there,” Russell, now 101, said in a recent interview.Within 12 minutes his battleship would capsize under a barrage of torpedoes. Altogether 429 sailor
  
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• Warming trend turns mild days into record warmth late week

  07-12-2021 12:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — December: the month of snowflakes, chilly temperatures & hot cocoa...allegedly.Today will be our "recovery" day after Monday's strong cold front. Our daily warm up will get back to normal with chilly morning lows in the 30s/40s climbing steadily through the day, eventually topping out near season averages in the upper 60s by late afternoon. Mostly sunny skies and dry skies will stretch areawide.Southerly winds will help boost temperatures ~10 degrees tomorrow, leaving m
  
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• Federal government's lawsuit over Texas redistricting might delay state's primary election

  07-12-2021 05:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas primary election is scheduled for March 1, but some say it could be put on hold because of a new federal lawsuit.The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the state over its new redistricting maps, alleging the new maps for state and federal districts deny or dilute the votes of Black and Latino Texans. U.S. DOJ sues Texas over redistricting that will ‘deny Black, Latino voters choice’
  U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said he's fought against Texas red
  
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• UT Austin requiring federal contractors to get COVID-19 vaccine

  07-12-2021 03:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin is requiring federal contractors to get the COVID-19 vaccine — a decision that is at odds with Gov. Greg Abbott's recent ban on vaccine mandates.UT's announcement comes in response to President Joe Biden's executive order in September requiring federal employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.UT Professor and Policy Expert Eric McDaniel believes Biden's mandate is here to stay unless a court can prove it's not necessary."I think the
  
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• When temperatures soar to near 90 degrees this week

  07-12-2021 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — High temperatures in Austin on Monday of 73° were reached at 1:41 a.m., before the sunrise cold front dropped daytime temperatures into the lower 60s with gusty north winds. BLOG: Brightest comet of 2021 to make its closest pass to Earth in just days: When to see it over Central TexasThough it will be seasonably cold tonight, we do not expect any freezing temperatures in areas that have not yet seen their first freeze. A deck of mid and high-level clouds and a continued
  
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• A quarter of a million Texans have been hospitalized because of COVID-19 so far this year

  07-12-2021 02:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than a quarter of a million Texans have been admitted to hospitals statewide so far this year because of COVID-19.State data shows 250,677 Texans were admitted to the hospital with the virus between Jan. 1 and Dec. 2, 2021. More than 360,000 Texans have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic.During the same Jan. 1 to Dec. 5 time period, state health officials have reported at least 41,682 deaths caused by COVID-19. This figure will increase as death certific
  
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• Texas announces first detected case of omicron variant in Harris County

  07-12-2021 02:18 via kxan.com
  
  HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Officials in Harris County confirmed on Monday evening Texas' first detected case of the omicron variant of COVID-19.
  Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo posted to social media the variant was found in a woman in her 40s from the northwest part of the county. She had no recent travel history.Fauci encouraged that omicron doesn’t appear to be more severe"The best way to protect ourselves and our community from this virus is to get vaccinated & boosted,"
  
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• San Marcos PD seeks state grant funding to keep people with mental health struggles out of jail

  07-12-2021 01:37 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The San Marcos Police Department is asking for funds to create a program that would keep people with mental health issues out of jail.SMPD Chief Stan Standridge admits there are several people in jail right now who belong in a state hospital instead."Our calls post-pandemic have increased as much as 40 percentile, we have got to figure out what kind of staff I'll have to add," Standridge said.Paid EMT trainings, job offers coming to Austin amid medical labor shor
  
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• San Marcos PD seeks state grant funding to keep people with mental health issues out of jail

  07-12-2021 01:37 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The San Marcos Police Department is asking for funds to create a program that would keep people with mental health issues out of jail.SMPD Chief Stan Standridge admits there are several people in jail right now who belong in a state hospital instead."Our calls post-pandemic have increased as much as 40 percentile, we have got to figure out what kind of staff I'll have to add," Standridge said.Paid EMT trainings, job offers coming to Austin amid medical labor shor
  
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• DATA: Demographic breakdown of APD cadets to join force in January

  07-12-2021 01:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Seventy-two cadets are anticipated to graduate the Austin Police Department's 144th cadet academy Jan. 28.
  Beginning with 100 enrollees this summer, 28 will no longer be graduating this winter for a host of reasons, including:1 terminated2 physical training failures10 for personal reasons4 for academic failures4 for illness6 for injuries1 for medical-related concernsOf the remaining 72 cadets, 10 are female and 62 are male, APD officials said.
  Following questions raised by
  
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