Austin news

• Community transmission rate in Travis County skyrockets to Stage 5 threshold

  22-12-2021 23:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The same week national health leaders announced the omicron variant likely accounts for more than 70% of the cases of COVID-19 in the United States, Austin-Travis County's community transmission rate (CTR) has shot upwards.
  Local health leaders have previously said CTR was being added as a metric on the COVID-19 risk-based guidelines because it was a way to adjust behavior before hospitals were overwhelmed, instead of as a product of it.Health leaders switched up their risk-base
  
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• Warmest Christmas forecast in 66 years

  22-12-2021 23:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Do you hear what we hear? It's the sound of long-standing weather records roasting over an open fire, carolers singing in 80-degree sunshine and Santa Claus flying through Central Texas skies in a tank top & shorts.Please don't delete us... here's your forecast:Our midweek weather looks similar to what we had to start the week - mostly sunny skies, dry conditions and light winds. The only difference between each day will be the temperatures, as highs warm a couple degre
  
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• Austin 6 year-old raises money to give gift cards to trash collectors

  22-12-2021 22:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One 6-year-old boy is turning his fascination with trash, recycling and compost pickup into a way to spread holiday cheer.
  For weeks, kindergartener Jojo Feehan has been retrieving his neighbors' trash cans from the street to raise money to get the garbage collectors a Christmas present. On Wednesday morning, he presented them with $400 in Amazon gift cards.Austin honors longest-tenured H-E-B retail employee with proclamation"He created the job, we sent it out on the Facebo
  
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• Congressional panel investigates deadly Astroworld concert

  22-12-2021 22:43 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (AP) — A Congressional committee has launched an investigation into the promoter of the Astroworld music festival in Houston, in which 10 people were killed during a massive crowd surge.
  The House Oversight and Reform Committee sent a letter Wednesday to Live Nation’s president and CEO, Michael Rapino, asking for information about the company’s role in the Nov. 5 festival and concert by rap superstar Travis Scott.
  The committee requested details about security, crowd co
  
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• Census: Texas again leads US in population growth, California continues to slip

  22-12-2021 22:32 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (Austin Business Journal) — The latest federal population data offers some déjà vu for Texas and California.Texas added the most residents of any state by raw numbers in 2021 while California's population continued to dwindle for the second year in a row, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. A years-long trend of residents trading the West Coast for the Lone Star State is likely continuing, especially as companies relocate to Texas in droves.Texas gained
  
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• Cowboys practice competition keeping offense, defense fresh

  22-12-2021 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  FRISCO, Texas (Silver Star Nation) — The Dallas Cowboys have leaned on the defense to victory during their three-road game stretch. The Cowboys have forced 12 turnovers while limiting the Saints, Giants and Washington offenses on the scoreboard.The great teams can find competition in anything. Leaders from the offense and defense are pushing each other in practice this week.Cowboys close in on division crown with 21-6 win over GiantsQuarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawre
  
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• 'Severely undernourished' cattle seized on Bastrop County property

  22-12-2021 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY (KXAN) — Forty-one head of "severely undernourished" cattle were seized Tuesday on a property north of Elgin, the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office said.BCSO said that its Livestock Unit executed a search warrant on the property at 9 a.m. on Dec. 21. The owner of the cattle had been "previously notified and given several opportunities to better care for the animals," BCSO said.
  Deputies were able to round up and pen the herd, loading and transporting them to an impoundment fac
  
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• No makeups for CFP semis if team can't play due to virus

  22-12-2021 22:10 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — If a team is unavailable to play in College Football Playoff semifinals because of COVID-19 issues, the game will be forfeited and the available team will advance to the championship game.With COVID-19 cases spiking across the country due to the omicron variant, the CFP announced Wednesday contingency plans for the semifinals and national championship game, which is scheduled for Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. Texas A&M drops out of Gator Bowl after COVID-19 outbreakNo. 1 Alabama is s
  
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• Run or hide? What to do during a mall emergency

  22-12-2021 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For a period of time, shoppers at Barton Creek Square Saturday night were panicked.
  Some ran. Some hid. When chaos first broke out, some people were under the impression gunshots were fired inside. Police say smashed jewelry cases mistaken for gunshots at Barton Creek MallAustin Police have not found any evidence of gunshots, and continue to investigate this as a theft of the Helzberg Diamonds store. We asked the department what people should do when emergency situations occur."
  
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• Texas ranked 2nd most moved-to state — and most moved-away state

  22-12-2021 21:28 via kxan.com
  
  Lots of people have moved to Texas in the past year, but according to a new study, there’s a lot of people who have also moved out of the Lone Star State.According to a study by Move.org, Texas ranked second in the U.S. for the most moved-to state, and also ranked second for the state people moved away from.Texas ranked just behind Florida for most states moved to, followed by California. Also, California was the top state people moved away from, with New York third.The study showed people
  
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• 6 things to know about Pfizer's anti-COVID pill Paxlovid

  22-12-2021 20:41 via kxan.com
  
  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 pill for home use. It is the first pill authorized against COVID-19 in the U.S.
  Here are six things to know about the Pfizer antiviral pill and the next steps health regulators could take as the country faces what officials are calling another troubling surge in COVID-19 cases.Travis County runs out of free COVID-19 test kitsAnti-COVID pill name: Paxlovi
  
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• Is 1999's erotic thriller 'Eyes Wide Shut' a Christmas movie?

  22-12-2021 19:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Are you tired of being asked if "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie?
  While the 1988 Bruce Willis action film has sucked up much of the oxygen in recent re-examinations of movies that happen at Christmas but aren't traditionally considered Christmas movies, many other happens-at-Christmas-movies don't receive the same attention. The "Die Hard" discourse spawns several thinkpieces each year, including a Tuesday IGN poll of over 23,000 people. "Yes," won handily with 18,011 votes
  
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• Texas Longhorns: 3 things to know vs. Alabama State

  22-12-2021 19:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's and women's basketball teams will play its final games before the holiday break Wednesday.Chris Beard's Longhorns will host Alabama State at 1 p.m. on Longhorn Network after their game against Rice was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Owls' program. POLL: Baylor stays atop college basketball, Texas ranked No. 16The Texas Longhorns women's team is in New Jersey to face Princeton Wednesday at 11 a.m. You can watch Vic Schaefer's Longhorns o
  
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• Texas A&M drops out of Gator Bowl after COVID-19 outbreak

  22-12-2021 19:20 via kxan.com
  
  COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) — Texas A&M will not play in the Gator Bowl against No. 17 Wake Forest after an outgoing outbreak of COVID-19 cases has left the team without enough available players. Texas A&M's decision was first reported by Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger."It is unfortunate, but we just don't have enough scholarship players available to field a team," Texas A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher said in a statement.Multiple reports surfaced Tuesday that the A
  
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• Report: Texas A&M drops out of Gator Bowl after COVID-19 outbreak

  22-12-2021 19:20 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — Texas A&M will not play in the Gator Bowl after an outgoing outbreak of COVID-19 cases has left the team without enough available players, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's Ross Dellenger.Multiple reports surfaced Tuesday that the Aggies haven't been able to practice in recent days due to the outbreak. The team has been holding meeting virtually.This is the first bowl game of the 2021 season affected by COVID-19. Dellenger reports the Gator Bowl is trying to find
  
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• Pause on federal student loan payments extended through May 1

  22-12-2021 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday extended a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic.Under the action, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through May 1. Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic, but were set to expire Jan. 31.President Joe Biden said financial reco
  
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• FDA authorizes first pills for COVID-19 treatment

  22-12-2021 18:38 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (KAMR/KCIT) - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer's Paxlovid, a packaged mixture of pills intended to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults, and children over 12 years old, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are at high risk of severe impacts from the virus. According to the FDA, Paxlovid is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of sym
  
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• Travis County runs out of free COVID-19 test kits in 1 day

  22-12-2021 18:11 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Just one day after Travis County opened several community centers to distribute free at-home COVID-19 test kits, the county says the system was "overwhelmed" and tests are now gone.A Travis County representative says one site distributed 400 tests alone. The program was originally intended to be a by-appointment test pick-up for residents, but demand was so high, kits were ultimately given on a first-come-first-served basis.Travis County said people can seek o
  
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• Travis County runs out of free COVID-19 test kits

  22-12-2021 18:11 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A day after health leaders promoted free at-home COVID-19 test kits through Travis County, the county says the system was "overwhelmed" and tests are now gone.A Travis County spokesperson says one site distributed 400 tests in an hour Wednesday morning. The program was originally intended to be a by-appointment test pick-up for residents, but demand was so high, kits at some locations were ultimately being given on a first-come-first-served basis.
  FYI: @Travis
  
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• COVID-19 tests in Austin-Travis County hard to find heading into holidays

  22-12-2021 18:11 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A day after health leaders promoted free at-home COVID-19 test kits through Travis County, the county says the system was "overwhelmed" and tests are now gone.
  The county reported roughly 1,300 test kits were passed out in less than 24 hours Tuesday into Wednesday. The program was originally intended to be a by-appointment test pick-up for residents, but demand was so high, kits at some locations were ultimately being given on a first-come-first-served basis."
  
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• Tetris in your Tesla? Feds probe potential of drivers playing video games behind the wheel

  22-12-2021 17:08 via kxan.com
  
  ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — The U.S. has opened a formal investigation into the potential for Tesla drivers to play video games on a center touch screen while the vehicle is in motion.In a document posted Wednesday on its website, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the feature, called “Passenger Play,” may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. Austin to honor longest-tenured HEB retail employee with proclamation“To date, the agency has receive
  
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• Man accused in San Marcos nightclub death arrested, charges elevated to manslaughter

  22-12-2021 16:35 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A former San Marcos nightclub bouncer now faces a manslaughter charge following an incident Dec. 12 in which he was previously booked for aggravated assault.The San Marcos Police Department said Wednesday that Milton Heyliger, 25, has been arrested for the second time in connection with the incident outside the Red Room Social Lounge.
  Heyliger is accused of hitting Emmett Worsham "multiple times" during an argument. One of the blows caused Worsham to fall backwar
  
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• Cedar fever or COVID-19? Allergists want you to know the symptoms to watch for

  22-12-2021 15:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two problems are converging on Central Texas this month: cedar season and the omicron variant of COVID-19. With so many of us dealing with allergies, meteorologist Sean Kelly spoke with Dr. Scott Oberhoff with Austin Diagnostic Clinic at St. David's Medical Center about the symptoms to watch out for. Watch the full interview above to learn more.Common cedar fever symptoms:Extreme tirednessSore throatRunny noseItchy, watery eyesStuffy noseFrequent sneezingMost Common COVID-1
  
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• Austin to honor longest-tenured HEB retail employee with proclamation

  22-12-2021 14:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's Ophie Garcia Day in Austin on Wednesday.The City of Austin, led by District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis, will honor Ofelia "Ophie" Garcia, 84, and her 56 years of service with HEB at 10:30 a.m. at the new store located at 7901 U.S. Highway 290. That's where US 290 intersects with FM 1826 in southwest Austin. Latest increase in COVID-19 cases may mean changes to your favorite Austin spotsThe ceremony will officially proclaim Dec. 22 as Ophie Garcia Day. Garcia spent mo
  
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• Austin to honor longest-tenured H-E-B retail employee with proclamation

  22-12-2021 14:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's Ophie Garcia Day in Austin on Wednesday.The City of Austin, led by District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis, will honor Ofelia "Ophie" Garcia, 84, and her 56 years of service with H-E-B at 10:30 a.m. at the new store located at 7901 U.S. Highway 290. That's where US 290 intersects with FM 1826 in southwest Austin. Latest increase in COVID-19 cases may mean changes to your favorite Austin spotsThe ceremony will officially proclaim Dec. 22 as Ophie Garcia Day. Garcia spent
  
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• Austin honors longest-tenured H-E-B retail employee with proclamation

  22-12-2021 14:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's Ophie Garcia Day in Austin on Wednesday.The City of Austin, led by District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis, honored Ofelia "Ophie" Garcia, 84, and her 56 years of service with H-E-B at 10:30 a.m. at the new store located at 7901 U.S. Highway 290. That's where US 290 intersects with FM 1826 in southwest Austin. Latest increase in COVID-19 cases may mean changes to your favorite Austin spotsThe ceremony proclaimed Dec. 22 as Ophie Garcia Day. Garcia spent most of her 56 ye
  
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• Leander ISD looking into ways to manage growth as more people move into the district

  22-12-2021 14:07 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Leander Independent School District is growing fast and it's looking into ways to handle it.District leaders expect to add at least 1,000, and potentially 2,000 students, every year for the next 10 years.The plan to handle that growth was to fund new schools , renovations and technology infrastructure projects, but voters voted against both propositions A and C in November, now they are looking at different ways to handle that growth.Leander ISD said through focus g
  
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• Snow-less, freeze-free, no-jacket-needed holiday forecast

  22-12-2021 12:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Do you hear what we hear? It's the sound of long-standing weather records roasting over an open fire, carolers singing in 80-degree sunshine and Santa Claus flying through Central Texas skies in a tank top & shorts.Please don't delete us... here's your forecast:Our midweek weather looks similar to what we had to start the week - mostly sunny skies, dry conditions and light winds. The only difference between each day will be the temperatures, as highs warm a couple degre
  
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• Decomposed body found Monday near Seguin not believed to be missing TXST student

  22-12-2021 05:19 via kxan.com
  
  SEGUIN, Texas (KXAN) — A "decomposed body" was found Monday just outside of Seguin, the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KXAN on Wednesday.
  The GCSO said the remains were found above the flood area of the Guadalupe River near FM 1117. Monday marks one year since Jason Landry’s disappearanceGCSO said it doesn't know how long the body had been there, but given the area it was found in, there was a level of public concern the body could be missing Texas State University st
  
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• Decomposed body found Monday near Seguin

  22-12-2021 05:19 via kxan.com
  
  SEGUIN, Texas (KXAN) — A "badly decomposed body" was found Monday just outside of Seguin, the Seguin Gazette reports.
  A man looking to buy land was out surveying the area when he found the body in the 3400 block of FM 1117 near the Guadalupe River bridge, the Gazette said.
  Investigators with the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office told the Gazette the body couldn't be readily identified, because of the decomposition and the fact it was without clothes or ID.
  Guadalupe County investigators ar
  
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• Latest increase in COVID-19 cases may mean changes to your favorite Austin spots

  22-12-2021 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some of your favorite local food joints may be operating differently as we approach the holidays or even closing completely. The rising number of COVID-19 cases is making a labor shortage even worse."We still have a significant portion of our workforce that has not returned to our restaurants," said Kelsey Erickson Streufert, spokesperson for the Texas Restaurant Association.
  She said the Austin metro's leisure and hospitality industry is still down about 7,000 workers comp
  
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• Search underway for 3 missing kids out of Hondo, abduction suspect

  22-12-2021 04:48 via kxan.com
  
  MEDINA COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Law enforcement is searching for three missing children out of the Hondo area and a man believed to be involved in their abduction.COVID-19 risk-based guidelines are changing again, Austin-Travis County leaders explain whyThe Medina County Sheriff's Office is looking for Lucas Wright, 9, Ariana Wright, 8, and Jonathan Wright, 11. Detectives believe they could be in danger. Their descriptions are as followed:
  Lucas: white, 4'5", 70 pounds, brown hair, hazel eye
  
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• Texas Congressman Doggett calls Manchin's no-vote on Build Back Better 'sabotage'

  22-12-2021 04:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Like most Democrats, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said he was shocked when a member from his own party effectively killed the president's signature policy item, calling the action "sabotage."
  Doggett told Nexstar on Tuesday that for months, conversations and decisions around the Build Back Better Act had revolved around appeasing Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, a key centrist who has gained voting influence in a 50-50 divided Senate.
  "We have really worked for the last six
  
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• After book controversy, Williamson Co. leaders approve millions in funding for Round Rock, Leander schools

  22-12-2021 02:13 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Round Rock and Leander Independent School District will each receive several million dollars from Williamson County CARES Act funding, after all.Last week, County Commissioners voted to set aside roughly $14 million of remaining federal funds for area schools, but withheld the distribution of funds to those two specific school districts.PREVIOUS: 2 Williamson County school districts may lose out on millions in funding due to book controversies
  They made the
  
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• Fireworks shortage is over in Central Texas, retailers say

  22-12-2021 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Expect the Central Texas sky to shine and sparkle with fireworks over the New Year's holiday weekend. Fireworks retailers are reporting the supply chain issues that forced shortages during July 4 "are no longer an issue," according to a release from American Fireworks.Chester Davis, owner of American Fireworks, said the company "received large shipments of fireworks and [the] warehouse is the fullest it's been in months." BACKGROUND: Texas sky may not sparkle as fireworks s
  
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• Rittenhouse gets standing ovation at conservative conference

  22-12-2021 00:59 via kxan.com
  
  PHOENIX (AP) — A month after his acquittal on murder charges, Kyle Rittenhouse was given a standing ovation at a conservative group’s conference in Phoenix where panelists discussed the 2020 deadly shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin.Kyle Rittenhouse cleared of all charges in Kenosha shootingsMost of the comments during Monday’s discussion were made by other panelists, but the 18-year-old Rittenhouse reflected on how the trial had matured him and spoke about his decision to take th
  
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• Forecasting the warmest Christmas Day you can remember

  22-12-2021 00:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Even after a weekend cold snap, the warmest December on record continues in Austin. Southerly flow returning will mean a significant warming trend again this week, boosting temperatures to the second-warmest Christmas Day in Austin history and record heat thereafter.Light south winds are increasing humidity overnight, leading to potentially dense fog in some areas on Wednesday morning's commute. Rounds of fog will likely repeat again early Thursday and Friday.Fog forecast e
  
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• Forecasting second-warmest Christmas in Austin history

  22-12-2021 00:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Even after a weekend cold snap, the warmest December on record continues in Austin. Southerly flow returning will mean a significant warming trend again this week, boosting temperatures to the second-warmest Christmas Day in Austin history and record heat thereafter.Light south winds are increasing humidity overnight, leading to potentially dense fog in some areas on Wednesday morning's commute. Rounds of fog will likely repeat again early Thursday and Friday.Fog forecast e
  
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• NHL to pull out of Winter Olympics after COVID disrupts season

  22-12-2021 00:09 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — The NHL will withdraw from the Winter Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the announcement had yet to be made on the NHL pulling out of Beijing. The NHL informed the NHLPA on Tuesday that it was retaining its right to withdraw from Olympic participation because there was a material disruption t
  
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