Austin news

• 7-vehicles crash in Manor caused by 18-wheeler leaking diesel, officials say

  04-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the scene of a reported collision involving seven vehicles and an 18-wheeler in the 13000 block of North FM 973 Road in Manor on Tuesday afternoon.According to ATCEMS, drivers should expect delays in the area. One adult was transferred to the hospital with injuries that aren't expected to be life-threatening. A second ambulance has been requested for additional patients.Per officials on scene, the 18-wheeler was the cause of the i
  
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• 7-vehicles, 18-wheeler collision reported in Manor

  04-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS is responding to the scene of a reported collision involving seven vehicles and an 18-wheeler in the 13000 block of North FM 973 Road in Manor on Tuesday afternoon.According to ATCEMS, drivers should expect delays in the area. There is no information on patients at this time.This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
  
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• 7-vehicle crash in Manor caused by 18-wheeler leaking diesel, officials say

  04-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the scene of a reported collision involving seven vehicles and an 18-wheeler in the 13000 block of North FM 973 Road in Manor on Tuesday afternoon.According to ATCEMS, drivers should expect delays in the area. One adult was transferred to the hospital with injuries that aren't expected to be life threatening. A second ambulance has been requested for additional patients.Per officials on scene, the 18-wheeler was the cause of the i
  
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• Texas physicians monitor flu, COVID dual infections after 1st confirmed case

  04-01-2022 23:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After officials with the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston confirmed Monday its first co-infection case of COVID-19 and influenza, health providers in Austin are monitoring the situation in Central Texas as flu season nears its peak.Dr. Jim Versalovic, pathologist in chief at Texas Children's, said Monday a child contracted a co-infection case and is now recovering at home and should be fine. This follows overseas reports of the first confirmed co-infection case appearin
  
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• Is the Big 12 the best conference in men's college basketball?

  04-01-2022 23:36 via kxan.com
  
  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (GBN) — The Big 12 has long been considered a football conference.
  Despite the on-court success of its basketball programs, the conference hasn't received the national acclaim on the hardwood that other leagues like the ACC, original Big East, and PAC-12 have gotten over the years.
  That is, until recently.
  Over the last few seasons, both Texas Tech and Baylor have played for national championships, with the Bears winning it all last year. Overall, the league has gotten st
  
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• Tesla gathers paperwork to open Austin-area factory

  04-01-2022 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal/KXAN) — Analysts are predicting big things from electric vehicle maker Tesla this year, especially tied to the launch of its new factories in Austin and Berlin.
  According to Austin Business Journal, analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities Inc. said those factories will be key to the company potentially doubling is production capacity in 2022 to about 2 million vehicles. For reference, Tesla put out more than 936,000 vehicles in 2021 — up 87% from 2020.M
  
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• LIST: Central Texas school districts' COVID-19 protocols, start dates

  04-01-2022 23:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As COVID-19 cases in Austin and its surrounding areas continue to skyrocket, another school year is beginning for students. We've compiled a list of local school districts, their start dates and latest COVID-19 protocols.
  Austin ISDClasses resume Wednesday, Jan. 5. Austin ISD said it will continue encouraging/providing masks to students and staff, in addition to encouraging vaccinations and boosters. AISD superintendent ‘will not hesitate to close classrooms or a scho
  
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• Austin police search for suspects involved in December ATM thefts

  04-01-2022 23:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are asking for the public's help in identifying the thieves in a string of ATM thefts in the city.
  The Austin Police Department said at least two attempted thefts took place the morning of Dec. 30, 2021. MORE CRIME NEWS: Sex offender caught assaulting child in south Austin, police sayJust before 6 p.m., suspects tried to rob an ATM at a north Austin bank located off Center Ridge Drive. Then, about three hours later just after 9 a.m., the same suspects went int
  
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• Texas sues Biden administration over National Guard vaccine requirements

  04-01-2022 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the federal government Tuesday over COVID-19 vaccine requirements for members of the Texas National Guard. Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed he was suing the Biden administration over the mandate Tuesday afternoon."Neither the President nor federal military officials can order the Governor of Texas and non-federalized National Guardsmen to comply with a vaccination mandate or to direct a particular disciplinary ac
  
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• Governor Abbott suing Biden administration over National Guard vaccine requirements

  04-01-2022 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday his intention to sue the federal government over COVID-19 vaccine requirements for members of the Texas National Guard. Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed he was suing the Biden administration over the mandate Tuesday afternoon.
  In a letter to Major General Tracy Norris, commander of the Texas Military Department, Abbott said he will "not tolerate" efforts of the Biden Administration and U.S. Department of Defense to compel members t
  
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• Gov. Abbott suing Biden administration over National Guard vaccine requirements

  04-01-2022 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday his intention to sue the federal government over COVID-19 vaccine requirements for members of the Texas National Guard. Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed he was suing the Biden administration over the mandate Tuesday afternoon.
  In a letter to Major General Tracy Norris, commander of the Texas Military Department, Abbott said he will "not tolerate" efforts of the Biden Administration and U.S. Department of Defense to compel members t
  
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• What will Africa's 'Great Green Wall' mean for climate change?

  04-01-2022 21:52 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — Back in the 1970s and 80s, the area just south of the Saharan Desert, known as the Sahel, began to turn barren with worsening drought. The Sahel was known as a fertile stretch of land before this time and brought food security and seasonal monsoon rains to the regions nearby.
  But food and water have become a scare commodity since those days — which is why the African Union launched Africa's "Great Green Wall" initiative in 2007. The goal, which is about 15% complete, is to p
  
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• When another Arctic cold front blows through

  04-01-2022 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The warming trend accelerates today with high temperatures well into the 60s, fueled by gusty south winds and full sunshine. But we are tracking another Arctic cold front with its sights set on Central Texas just 36 hours from now.This cold front is projected to bring high temperatures from near 70 on Wednesday down into the 50s Thursday and Friday. The combination of another widespread freeze Friday morning with lows in the 20s, plus gusty north winds, may produce wind chi
  
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• Austin ISD COVID-19 testing over 2 days yields 14.5% positivity rate

  04-01-2022 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The rush is on to test Austin Independent School District students and staff for COVID-19 before they return from winter break Jan. 5, but even after a third of 1,200 tests came back positive Monday, superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde said students are headed back to class.
  “We will continue to utilize the data and science to make decisions, but at this point, we are not ready to go to a virtual option,” Elizalde said in an interview with KXAN. Get tested and
  
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• AISD superintendent 'will not hesitate to close classrooms or a school' if COVID-19 cases surge

  04-01-2022 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The rush is on to test Austin Independent School District students and staff for COVID-19 before they return from winter break Jan. 5, but even after a third of 1,200 tests came back positive Monday, superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde said students are headed back to class.
  “We will continue to utilize the data and science to make decisions, but at this point, we are not ready to go to a virtual option,” Elizalde said in an interview with KXAN. Get tested and
  
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• Omicron surge could last until early March, Austin health leaders say

  04-01-2022 20:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — How long will we be dealing with this surge of COVID-19, fueled by the omicron variant? Health leaders predict it could be a couple months.
  "The case numbers will go up because schools are getting ready to start again," Dr. Desmar Walkes, the local health authority, said. She also reported the impact of holiday gatherings on COVID-19 spread is still playing out.Testing positive for COVID-19 in the hospital: Does it count toward hospitalization numbers?"What we know now is t
  
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• COVID-19: 1 in 3 in Austin-Travis County testing positive

  04-01-2022 20:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 30% of tests for COVID-19 taken in Austin-Travis County last week came back positive, Austin Public Health says.APH reports 1 in 3 residents are now testing positive. This comes as the area veers toward a return to Stage 5 risk-based guidelines for COVID-19. Currently, Austin-Travis County meets two of APH's criteria to trigger upgrading risk. Two of APH’s COVID metrics are now in Stage 5 territoryMonday marked a full week of an average 66 COVID-19 hospital
  
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• COVID-19: 1 in 3 Austin-Travis County tests positive

  04-01-2022 20:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 30% of tests for COVID-19 taken in Austin-Travis County last week came back positive, Austin Public Health says.APH reports 1 in 3 residents are now testing positive. This comes as the area veers toward a return to Stage 5 risk-based guidelines for COVID-19. Currently, Austin-Travis County meets two of APH's criteria to trigger upgrading risk. Two of APH’s COVID metrics are now in Stage 5 territoryMonday marked a full week of an average 66 COVID-19 hospital
  
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• Former Cowboys QB, Hall of Famer Troy Aikman announces new beer brand

  04-01-2022 20:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) -- Troy Aikman is getting back to the field - no, not the football field, the beer field.
  The Hall of Famer, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, and longtime NFL broadcaster is rolling out a new beer. Aikman teased the announcement on New Year's Eve on Instagram, saying "Ringing in 2022 with a lot of new adventures ahead. Big news coming January 4 – stay tuned," followed by the beer emoji.
  On Tuesday, Aikman posted a new video to Instagram for Eight, a 90 calorie light beer. Accor
  
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• APD identifies woman who died in multi-vehicle crash on RM 2222

  04-01-2022 19:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police identified the person Tuesday who died in a multi-vehicle crash Dec. 29 on RM 2222 and Loop 360 in northwest Austin.APD said Egypt Catai West, 27, was driving a Ford Escape when a truck carrying solid waste was forced over a concrete divider after it was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup. West's Escape then hit the truck, sending both off the road according to APD. Emergency responders arrived at the scene at 7:53 a.m. and West was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:0
  
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• Sunny and mild ahead of midweek front with another freeze late week

  04-01-2022 19:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mother Nature will continue to work in pairs this week with the last two days falling below average... today & tomorrow climbing above average... the following two days cooler... and the next two warmer. Weird, right? Let's get into the details.Both today and Wednesday will favor mainly sunny skies, dry conditions and warmer temperatures (TUE: 60s / WED: 70s).Winds will be noticeable at times with gusts 20-25 MPH, elevating the fire danger in parts of the Hill Country.T
  
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• Cedar Park police arrest 10 in statewide fentanyl bust

  04-01-2022 18:31 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — The Cedar Park Police Department have arrested nearly a dozen people suspected of selling drugs laced with fentanyl.
  During a Tuesday morning drug bust, the Cedar Park Police Department said they issued 13 federal indictments and have arrested 10 so far.
  "This is a regional investigation and we've been working a lot with our regional partners throughout Central Texas — from San Antonio to Cedar Park — and across four states, as well," said Cedar Park
  
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• Testing positive for COVID-19 in the hospital: Does it count toward hospitalization numbers?

  04-01-2022 18:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you go to the hospital with an injury or illness not related to COVID-19 but then test positive while you're there, does your case get counted in Austin-Travis County's COVID-19 hospitalization numbers?The short answer is yes.
  "We are counting those people who are admitted for COVID-related illness and people who are admitted for other illnesses who happen to test positive. This has been going on throughout the pandemic," Dr. Desmar Walkes, the local health authority, sa
  
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• These are the 5 finalists for Austin-Travis County EMS Chief

  04-01-2022 17:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — City Manager Spencer Cronk has named five finalists for the next chief of Austin-Travis County EMS.Cronk said 37 people applied for the job, and one of the finalists is Jasper Brown, the interim chief. Doctors hoping more families put down the phone with ‘Turn It Off Today’ pledgeThe city's EMS department serves 2.2 million people across Austin and Travis County and covers more than 1,000 square miles. The chief is responsible for "strategic planning, leadership
  
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• Doctors hoping more families put down the phone with 'Turn It Off Today' pledge

  04-01-2022 15:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The average American spends seven hours and 11 minutes a day looking at screens, and whether it's the TV or your phone, all that time looking at screens is impacting your health.Doctors say too much screen time is linked to anxiety and depression, inability to focus, sleep problems and neck and back pain. That's why doctors have launched a campaign to get you to unplug. RRISD board considers placing superintendent on leave as TEA investigation continuesThe Texas Medical Ass
  
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• Omicron complicates Winter Olympics

  04-01-2022 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With one month until the start of the Winter Olympics, cases of COVID-19 continue to rise worldwide as the omicron variant spreads, but deaths are on a downward trend according to data from Worldometer.
  Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, told USA Today Monday there's "no indication" the Olympics would be canceled but the possibility of doing so remains.US Speedskating announced this week it will bar all spectators from watching it
  
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• LIVE: Omicron complicates Winter Olympics

  04-01-2022 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With one month until the start of the Winter Olympics, cases of COVID-19 continue to rise worldwide as the omicron variant spreads, but deaths are on a downward trend according to data from Worldometer.
  Dick Pound, the longest-serving member of the International Olympic Committee, told USA Today Monday there's "no indication" the Olympics would be canceled but the possibility of doing so remains.US Speedskating announced this week it will bar all spectators from watching it
  
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• Demand for COVID-19 testing still high in Austin — along with positivity rates

  04-01-2022 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — COVID-19 at the Long Center in Austin continues Tuesday morning as many try to get their hands on one.
  Those with Nomi Health have been on-site since last Monday. Initially, the healthcare company only had plans to stay through Wednesday of last week but decided to extend its time at the Long Center as long lines of cars filled Riverside Drive.Two of APH’s COVID metrics are now in Stage 5 territoryA couple of thousand tests, no more than 5,000, have been administered
  
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• Temperature roller coaster as two more cold fronts eye Central Texas

  04-01-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mother Nature will continue to work in pairs this week with the last two days falling below average... today & tomorrow climbing above average... the following two days cooler... and the next two warmer. Weird, right? Let's get into the details.Both today and Wednesday will favor mainly sunny skies, dry conditions and warmer temperatures (TUE: 60s / WED: 70s).Winds will be noticeable at times with gusts 20-25 MPH. This midweek warm up gets cut short by 'cold front #1' e
  
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• Texas high school hoops LIVE — watch Westwood vs. Round Rock Tuesday

  04-01-2022 09:56 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas high school basketball season is hitting the district schedule in the first week of 2022. KBVO will be in Round Rock this week for a matchup between 2021 playoff teams.Westwood (19-2) hosts Round Rock (17-4) Tuesday night in the second district game of the season for each team. You can watch High School Basketball Live on KBVO and KXAN.com at 7 p.m. NEXT: Westlake Coach Todd Dodge named national coach of the yearBoth teams enter Tuesday night's game wit
  
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• Texas high school hoops live on KBVO — watch Westwood vs. Round Rock Tuesday

  04-01-2022 09:56 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas high school basketball season is hitting the district schedule in the first week of 2022. KBVO will be in Round Rock this week for a matchup between 2021 playoff teams.Westwood (19-2) hosts Round Rock (17-4) Tuesday night in the second district game of the season for each team. You can watch High School Basketball Live on KBVO and KXAN.com at 7 p.m. NEXT: Westlake Coach Todd Dodge named national coach of the yearBoth teams enter Tuesday night's game wit
  
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• Overnight fire damages North Austin apartment

  04-01-2022 09:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin fire crews kept a fire at a North Austin apartment from spreading beyond a bedroom of one apartment Tuesday morning.Crews went to the Arcadian Apartments on Shoal Creek Boulevard, just north of Steck Avenue, just before midnight Monday.They say no one was hurt, and they are investigating what started the fire.
  
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• No. 14 Texas hoops ready for another road test at Kansas State

  04-01-2022 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 14 Texas has already accomplished its goal of going 1-0 (in conference play at least), and now the Longhorns mission turns to adding to that total by beating a gritty Kansas State team.
  Kansas State gave Oklahoma all they could handle on Saturday night, coming back from double digits in a 71-69 loss at the Lloyd Noble Center.
  Texas had a much better Saturday, with the Longhorns defense shutting down West Virginia 74-59, improving to 11-0 in the 21-22 season when holding
  
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• Another freeze expected Tuesday morning

  04-01-2022 03:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Another round of freezing temperatures is expected overnight into Tuesday morning, although temperatures will not be as cold as the last two mornings due to light southerly winds and a few high clouds acting like a blanket.We still advise that you protect pets, pipes, plants and people to err on the safe side.Forecast low temperatures Tuesday morningMorning lows on Monday were frigid, dipping into the 10s and 20s areawide. This was the second consecutive morning of some of
  
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• RRISD board considers placing superintendent on leave, as TEA investigation continues

  04-01-2022 02:57 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Just a few days before students in the Round Rock Independent School District head back to school, the district's Board of Trustees met behind closed doors to discuss a recommendation to place the district's superintendent on leave.
  The recommendation comes from a monitor appointed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) last year to oversee the school board. In mid-December, this monitor issued a memo to the board members, recommending they place Superintendent Dr.
  
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• It was the warmest December on record for Austin — and others

  04-01-2022 02:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you noticed yourself wearing more shorts and T-shirts in December instead of sweaters and boots, you weren't alone.
  For most of the month of December, Central Texas weather was dominated by the above average temperatures. This is because we just experienced the warmest December on record in Austin.
  And while we may sound like a broken record iterating the importance of this, new data is coming in that it wasn't just Austin that saw record warmth in December.According to
  
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• Buchanan Dam residents under boil water advisory after leak causes outage

  04-01-2022 02:40 via kxan.com
  
  BUCHANAN DAM, Texas (KXAN) — Residents of the Buchanan Dam area in Llano County are under a boil water advisory, after a leak caused a water outage over the weekend.
  President Darrin Barker of Corix Utilities said they started getting reports about the outage Sunday morning. The utility was able to dispatch crews and locate the leak that day.Texas pediatric COVID hospitalizations up 200% from ChristmasWhile the leak is fixed now, Corix is gradually pressurizing the system, so some resident
  
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• Two of APH's COVID metrics are now in Stage 5 territory

  04-01-2022 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two of Austin Public Health's COVID-19 metrics are now above the threshold required to move to Stage 5 in the city's risk-based guidelines.As of Monday, an average of 66 people have been admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 each day over the past week. The Stage 5 threshold, as set by APH, is 50 hospital admissions per day.APH did not publish daily numbers over the holiday weekend, but data released Monday shows the Austin area crossed the Stage 5 threshold on Dec. 31.KXA
  
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• Texas pediatric COVID hospitalizations up 200% from Christmas

  04-01-2022 01:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As Texas students head back to the classroom after the holidays the state is grappling with its fasting-growing COVID-19 surge to date, giving pediatricians more concern about unvaccinated children. The state’s largest pediatric hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, said in a Monday press conference that 90% of its children hospitalized had the omicron variant of the coronavirus. One-third of those children are under the age of five, a group st
  
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• No major staff shortages reported so far for Central Texas schools

  04-01-2022 00:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Omicron has caused staffing shortages across all industries as employees call out sick.With school back in session this week after holiday travel reached pre-pandemic levels, districts across Central Texas hosted testing clinics for students and staff."We had an overwhelming response at our 11 hubs," said Alana Bejarano, Austin Independent School District director of health services. "We’ve done over 1,200 tests in a short time frame." Get tested and boosted: How dist
  
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• Hearing finds Austin's Office of Police Oversight overstepped its authority

  04-01-2022 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A hearing between the Austin Police Association (APA) and the City of Austin concluded the city violated contract agreements by allowing the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) to investigate complaints against officers and interview witnesses without having the authority to do so.
  The hearing was held over three days in late July 2021, overseen by arbitrator Lynne M. Gomez, a lawyer from Houston. Results from the hearing were released late December.
  Hearing documents say the
  
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• Texas State University moves classes online through January

  04-01-2022 00:50 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Texas State University says it will switch classes online or remote to start the new year due to the omicron variant of COVID-19.An email from the university says remote learning will run from Jan. 18 — the first two days of classes — through the end of the month. No classes are being canceled, and all campuses and offices will stay open for business, student services and library use.Texas State currently requests all students, faculty and staff get t
  
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• Twitter philanthropist helps Texas family after losing everything in house fire

  04-01-2022 00:34 via kxan.com
  
  BURKBURNETT (KFDX/KJTL) — A sign of hope is beaming on a Burkburnett family that lost their house to a fire on Sunday.Twitter philanthropist Bill Pulte saw the GoFundMe set up after a Nexstar's KFDX digital content producer tweeted at Pulte asking for help.Around 4 p.m., Pulte tweeted the GoFundMe link and donated $1,000.
  Yesterday, Our Teammates (the Kosechata family of Burkburnett Texas) had a fire tear through their home.The fire destroyed everything in their home. They have nothing.GOA
  
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• APD: Fraudulent QR codes found on Austin public parking meters

  04-01-2022 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — QR code stickers on city of Austin public parking meters could have people paying a fraudulent vendor.
  The Austin Police Department said Financial Crimes detectives are investigating after fraudulent QR code stickers were found on parking meters. Officials said that people attempting to pay for parking using those QR codes may have been directed to a fraudulent website and submitted payment to a fraudulent vendor.
  Anyone who believes they were a victim of credit card breach
  
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