Austin news

• Elderly woman dead in north Austin fire, officials say

  05-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An elderly woman was pronounced dead after a condo fire off Metric Boulevard near Walnut Creek in north Austin Wednesday afternoon.
  AFD said the call came in at 3:30 p.m., after neighbors reported fire coming out of the windows of a unit in the 12000 block of Metric Boulevard, near Park Bend Drive. The department said the first crews arrived three minutes after the call, and the fire was knocked down by 3:40 p.m.Up to 60 cats found at Round Rock home, crews work to rem
  
  Read more

• Elderly woman, 2 cats found dead in north Austin fire, officials say

  05-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An elderly woman and two cats are dead after a condo fire off Metric Boulevard near Walnut Creek in north Austin Wednesday afternoon.
  AFD said the call came in at 3:30 p.m., after neighbors reported fire coming out of the windows of a unit in the 12000 block of Metric Boulevard, near Park Bend Drive. The department said the first crews arrived three minutes after the call, and the fire was knocked down by 3:40 p.m.Up to 60 cats found at Round Rock home, crews work to r
  
  Read more

• 1 dead in north Austin fire, officials say

  05-01-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person was pronounced dead after a fire off Metric Boulevard near Walnut Creek.
  AFD said the fire happened in the 12000 block of Metric Boulevard, near Park Bend Drive Wednesday afternoon.
  Firefighters searching the residence found a victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
  The fire is under control, and the cause is under investigation.
  No other details were released.
  
  Read more

• Colder, windy weather returns tomorrow

  05-01-2022 23:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The recent warming trend boosted high temperatures to the lower 70s today under gorgeous, sunny skies. We are tracking an Arctic cold front arriving midday tomorrow that will bring the return of cooler, windy weather.High temperatures Thursday will be limited to the upper 40s in the northern Hill Country and 50s elsewhere with northerly wind gusts to 25-30 mph. No rain is expected with this front, which could mean cedar allergies flare to very high levels.The combination of
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Which masks work best against omicron variant

  05-01-2022 23:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Medical experts urge people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and a booster shot to best protect themselves against the more easily spread omicron variant, but they also stress the importance of wearing the right mask during this latest surge.
  A simple cloth mask — no matter how cute the fabric is — will not cut it anymore, according to Dr. Erica Swegler of Austin. However, the family physician with Village Medical said a cloth mask with a filter added into it would b
  
  Read more

• UT Austin resumes COVID-19 wastewater testing after funding pause

  05-01-2022 23:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Researchers at the University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering are again testing wastewater samples in Austin for COVID-19 after a lack of funding put the operation on hold in the fall.
  UT leadership recently shuffled funding to the program, which will allow researchers to both monitor viral loads in wastewater and sequence test for variants. While researchers haven't stopped collecting wastewater samples, those samples were not being tested for months.PREVIOUS COVER
  
  Read more

• Man dies after stabbing in Cedar Park

  05-01-2022 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — A 36-year-old man died after being stabbed Tuesday night in Cedar Park.The Cedar Park Police Department said officers responded to a call near Bagdad Road and Brashear Lane around 11:30 p.m. When they got there, they found Stephen McCoy hurt with a possible stab wound. Police said EMS took him to a hospital, where he died from his injury. San Marcos police looking for suspect in deadly I-35 hit-and-runThe investigation found McCoy was involved in a domestic dispu
  
  Read more

• Big 12 postpones Texas Women's game against Baylor

  05-01-2022 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  IRVING (KXAN) -- The Texas women's basketball game against Baylor on Sunday has been postponed, the Big 12 announced today.The Bears' game against TCU for later tonight had already been postponed. No. 12 Texas opens Big 12 play with 62-51 win at Oklahoma StateThe Longhorns, who have dealt with their own covid issues, are still scheduled to take on Texas Tech tonight at the Erwin Center in their Big 12 home opener.In the conference opener on Sunday, UT was down three players because of health and
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Officials: Next 2 to 4 weeks 'very telling' in Texas hospitalizations, staffing needs

  05-01-2022 22:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As hospitalizations increase amid a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, Texas health leaders said the next few weeks will be "very telling" in hospital capacity levels and healthcare staffing.On Monday, two health indicators rose to Stage 5 levels of Austin Public Health's COVID-19 risk-based guidelines: hospital admissions along with the number of people in intensive care units and on ventilators. Community transmission rates, or the 7-day average of new ca
  
  Read more

• Texas father shot to death while taking daughter's birthday cake into Chuck E. Cheese

  05-01-2022 20:53 via kxan.com
  
  HUMBLE, Texas (KETK) -- A man was shot to death in the parking lot of a Chuck E. Cheese's in Texas on Friday night, according to NBC affiliate KPRC.
  Calogero Duenes, 24, was walking outside of the restaurant in Humble when he reportedly got into an argument with another man, who was driving a Ford. Officers who were stationed nearby said they then heard gunshots.Police responded and found Duenes on the ground with multiple bullet wounds. The shooter had fled the scene before they arrived. Duenes
  
  Read more

• Up to 60 cats removed from Round Rock home

  05-01-2022 20:11 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK (KXAN) -- Animal Control officers took dozens of cats from a home in Round Rock Wednesday afternoon.
  Officials said officers were extracting up to 60 cats from a home located near Sam Bass Road and Woods Boulevard. The seizure was voluntary for the sake of the cats' health, officials told KXAN.Animal Control officers took dozens of cats from a home in Round Rock Wednesday afternoon.(KXAN Photo) Animal Control officers took dozens of cats from a home in Round Rock Wednesday afternoon.(
  
  Read more

• Up to 60 cats found at Round Rock home, crews work to remove them

  05-01-2022 20:11 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK (KXAN) -- Animal Control officers took dozens of cats from a home in Round Rock Wednesday afternoon.
  Officials said officers were working to extract up to 60 cats from a home located near Sam Bass Road and Woods Boulevard. The seizure was voluntary for the sake of the cats' health, officials told KXAN.
  Round Rock police said that 28 cats were removed on Wednesday, while the rest were expected to be removed on Thursday."The homeowner recognized, yes I agree with you, please help me wit
  
  Read more

• San Marcos police looking for suspect in deadly I-35 hit-and-run

  05-01-2022 20:08 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Authorities in San Marcos are looking for a white box truck with a yellow cab in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash Monday.San Marcos police say the truck collided with a silver Mazda at 2:15 a.m. on the northbound side of Interstate 35 near Wonder World Drive. Witnesses told police the vehicles ran into each other near the ramp that meets the main lanes, and the Mazda flipped. The truck kept driving and fled the scene, police said. Vandals permanently da
  
  Read more

• Beautiful weather continues even with strong cold front blowing in tonight

  05-01-2022 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The stretch of beautiful, tranquil weather continues Wednesday. Temperatures started out within a few degrees, give or take, from our average lows.
  This afternoon will be sunny and a tad on the warm side with highs near 70 degrees.Our warming trend ends tomorrow as a strong Arctic cold front plows south, dropping our temps to the 50s to finish the work week. No rain is expected with this front, however, breezy to windy conditions can be expected through the day Thursday and
  
  Read more

• Latest study finds Southern Ocean of vital importance in absorbing carbon from atmosphere

  05-01-2022 19:23 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) -- New research found that the Southern Ocean absorbs a lot more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases; more than they initially thought. The Southern Ocean is the ocean body of saltwater located around Antarctica. According to a recent report from NASA, this reaffirms the findings that the ocean plays a major role as a carbon sink. This is in return will continue to mitigate some of the impacts of the greenhouse gasses being emitted by humans.What is a carbon sink?A carbon sink is
  
  Read more

• United Way Austin & Williamson County announce merger

  05-01-2022 18:46 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) -- United Way for Greater Austin and United Way of Williamson County, which combined serve 10 counties in the Central Texas region, have announced a merger.
  The expanded organization will be named United Way for Greater Austin. The organization aims to “bring people, ideas, and resources together to fight poverty in our community.” Austin resident wins $1 million from scratch ticket“As the Austin metro area grows, the bounda
  
  Read more

• How COVID-19 could change higher education

  05-01-2022 18:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN — The University of Texas at Austin, Huston-Tillotson and Texas State announced this week plans to go remote for the first two weeks of the spring semester as the omicron variant continues to rage on. Universities and colleges are continuing to adjust to help keep everyone safe.Ryan Lufkin with Instructure, a web-based learning management system, says many schools initially thought that the pandemic would be a blip on the radar. UT Austin asks faculty to teach remotely for fir
  
  Read more

• Ruling: Austin's Office of Police Oversight went too far investigating complaint

  05-01-2022 18:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A few weeks before contract renegotiations start between the Austin Police Association (APA) and the City of Austin, an arbitrator ruled that the city's Office of Police Oversight (OPO) overstepped its authority within its current agreement with APA.
  The dispute was brought before Lynne Gomez, an attorney from Houston, stemming largely from a complaint that an Austin police officer discriminated against a Black man while on patrol. As a result of that complaint, the OPO rep
  
  Read more

• Austin resident wins $1 million from scratch ticket

  05-01-2022 17:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — For one lucky Austin resident, a scratch-off lottery ticket lived up to its name of Instant Millionaire.
  The Texas Lottery announced someone living in Austin won $1 million after purchasing one of those scratch tickets. This new millionaire is choosing to remain anonymous but bought the winning ticket in south Austin at the Ben White Shell located at 2125 W. Ben White Blvd.Powerball jackpot grows to $610 million after no winners in last draw
  The Texas Lottery labels this $1
  
  Read more

• Original Winnie-the-Pooh book now in the public domain, so what does that mean?

  05-01-2022 17:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Creative minds can now freely adapt the original Winnie-the-Pooh book without fear of violating intellectual property laws.As of Jan. 1, A.A. Milne's book, Winnie-the-Pooh, published in 1926 is officially in the public domain as copyright protections expired after 95 years following publication. Characters from the book — including Pooh Bear, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Owl and Christopher Robin — as well as the plot, dialogue and settings from the book
  
  Read more

• Grackle hordes invade Austin grocery stores; why this species is more than meets the eye

  05-01-2022 15:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You've likely seen them while driving around Austin this month. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of black birds. Grackles. While this species can be seen as an annoyance, they're actually a fascinating species and might be one of the most special on Earth."Folks go out grocery shopping at night at HEB and you see what could be hundreds of grackles roosting up in the trees," said grackle researcher Jessica Yorzinski with Texas A&M. She says that while some grackles are nat
  
  Read more

• Grackle hoards invade Austin grocery stores; why this species is more than meets the eye

  05-01-2022 15:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You've likely seen them while driving around Austin this month. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of black birds. Grackles. While this species can be seen as an annoyance, they're actually a fascinating species and might be one of the most special on Earth."Folks go out grocery shopping at night at HEB and you see what could be hundreds of grackles roosting up in the trees," said grackle researcher Jessica Yorzinski with Texas A&M. She says that while some grackles are nat
  
  Read more

• Some AISD parents still worried about classroom return as COVID-19 cases surge

  05-01-2022 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As students and teachers return to the classroom across Central Texas, COVID-19 cases fueled by the omicron variant continue to surge.Doctors say this variant spreads easier than any we have seen, and this has some parents in Austin Independent School District worried about a return to the classroom. No major staff shortages reported so far for Central Texas schools"Starting out school virtually right now is the best decision," said Nancy Thompson. "Let's get a handle of th
  
  Read more

• Topo Chico launches its version of ranch water, hits stores during 'Dry January'

  05-01-2022 13:24 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (KXAN) — New year, new toast.
  If you've been in Texas a while you've likely (responsibly) ordered a "ranch water." It's a signature mixed drink for thirsty Texans. The drink consists of tequila, lime juice and carbonated water. Most people use Topo Chico for the carbonated water, so it only makes sense that the company is launching its own version as a hard seltzer.New Year, new kind of toast. Introducing Topo Chico Ranch Water Hard Seltzer. Inspired by the classic Texas drink. There
  
  Read more

• Topo Chico launches its version of ranch water, hits stores after 'Dry January'

  05-01-2022 13:24 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (KXAN) — New year, new toast.
  If you've been in Texas a while you've likely (responsibly) ordered a "ranch water." It's a signature mixed drink for thirsty Texans. The drink consists of tequila, lime juice and carbonated water. Most people use Topo Chico for the carbonated water, so it only makes sense that the company is launching its own version as a hard seltzer.New Year, new kind of toast. Introducing Topo Chico Ranch Water Hard Seltzer. Inspired by the classic Texas drink. There
  
  Read more

• Pair of cold fronts keeps temps in flux through the weekend

  05-01-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Our first of two cold fronts is expected tomorrow, kicking off a repeat pattern of "70s to 50s" in the 7-day forecast.Today will be the peak of the work week with sunshine, dry skies and above average temperatures in the low 70s. Our warming trend ends tomorrow as a strong Arctic cold front plows south, dropping our temps to the 50s to finish the work week. No rain is expected with this front, however, breezy to windy conditions can be expected through the day Thursday and
  
  Read more

• 'Reliving' 2020 in 2022: Texas restaurants call for more grants

  05-01-2022 05:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Restaurant Association is calling on Congress to reopen the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, after the program ran out of money and left more than 12,000 Texan business owners without the help they need.
  The TRA said the additional funding is needed now, as the third wave of COVID-19 cases has restaurants scaling back operations or even closing for days.
  "We closed Bar Peached, my downtown location, last Tuesday's service," said owner Eric Silverstein, who added he
  
  Read more

• Carr, Allen lift No. 14 Texas over short-handed Kansas State

  05-01-2022 05:06 via kxan.com
  
  MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Marcus Carr scored 19 points, Timmy Allen had 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, and No. 14 Texas rallied in the second half to beat Kansas State 70-57 on Tuesday night.Courtney Ramey added 14 points and Dylan Disu had 10 for Texas (12-2, 2-0), which has won six in a row.“I think when we get it inside, it creates some momentum for us,” Allen said. “And then when we get inside, they have to react to that and we it inside-out for some 3s.”
  
  Read more

• Round Rock beats Westwood to stay unbeaten in district play

  05-01-2022 04:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Even if their team height doesn't reach the level of the Westwood Warriors, the Round Rock Dragons stood the tallest in Tuesday night's 25-6A matchup. Round Rock defeated Westwood 65-58 in the Warriors home gym.
  It was a close first quarter, with Round Rock holding a narrow 19-18 lead at the end of the first period, but the second quarter saw more scoring from the Dragons as they took a six point lead into halftime.
  The second half provided more of the same, despite a valia
  
  Read more

• Hays CISD begins installing air purifiers in every classroom

  05-01-2022 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A $4.1 million investment in air purifying equipment to help fight COVID-19 is now coming to fruition in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.
  In late September, Hays CISD got approval to use the money to get more than 1,700 units of Novaerus Air Purifiers, which aid in neutralizing viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. They can also help reduce other airborne contaminants, like pollen, which cause allergies.Hays CISD board approves $4.1M to buy air pu
  
  Read more

• Powerball jackpot grows to $610 million after no winners in last draw

  05-01-2022 02:46 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) - The next Powerball jackpot on Wednesday will be worth an estimated $610 million - a top-10 jackpot in Powerball's history - after no one matched all six numbers in the last draw.Monday night's winning numbers were 2, 13, 32, 33, 48 and the Powerball 22. More than 1.8 million tickets did win a cash prize in the drawing, according to May Scheve Reardon, Powerball Product Group Chair and Missouri Lottery Executive Director.Three tickets matched five digits to win seven-figure prizes, inclu
  
  Read more

• More than 100 insurance companies sue ERCOT, power generators over winter storm losses

  05-01-2022 02:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than 100 insurance companies are suing the Texas power grid operator and dozens of power generators, over losses and property damage sustained during the winter storm last February.
  The lawsuit, filed in Travis County District Court, said the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and 37 different power generating entities were "at fault" for the energy failure and power loss that left millions of Texans in the cold and dark for days. It alleges gross negligence when
  
  Read more

• UT Austin asks faculty to teach remotely for the first two weeks of spring semester

  05-01-2022 01:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the omicron COVID-19 variant continues to spread in the Central Texas area, the University of Texas at Austin said it will be shifting to a brief online start to the 2022 semester and ask for students to get tested within three days of returning to campus.
  In a letter sent Tuesday evening, the university said it would be asking faculty members to teach remotely for the first two weeks of the semester, with a target date of Jan. 31 to return to the originally assigned teaching
  
  Read more

• UT Austin asks faculty to teach remotely for first 2 weeks of spring semester

  05-01-2022 01:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the omicron COVID-19 variant continues to spread in the Central Texas area, the University of Texas at Austin said it will be shifting to a brief online start for the 2022 semester and ask for students to get tested within three days of returning to campus.
  In a letter sent Tuesday evening, the university said it would be asking faculty members to teach remotely for the first two weeks of the semester, with a target date of Jan. 31 to return to the originally-assigned te
  
  Read more

• Concerns, teacher changes arise as Texas students return to classrooms

  05-01-2022 01:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thousands of students across Central Texas will return to the classroom Wednesday, many of them for the first time in two years as remote learning ends for some districts.
  KXAN spoke with a concerned Round Rock ISD parent who said the in-person influx means her 3rd grade daughter will have to switch classrooms and teachers mid-year, as the district adjusts.
  "My concern is that this is going to affect her academically," said Kelly Williams whose daughter Sadie attends Spicew
  
  Read more

• Texas hospitals face staffing shortages as COVID hospitalizations double

  05-01-2022 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas continues to break records this week. On Tuesday, the state reported the positivity rate hit a record high for the 11th day in a row, sitting at 34.4%.While positive case counts are no longer the best metric to gauge the pandemic, hospitalizations in the state have also doubled in just 10 days.
  Meanwhile, hospitals statewide are experiencing staffing shortages.
  "At this point, we have rooms where we could put people, but we don't have enough staff to to match up, w
  
  Read more

• Highly-anticipated Moody Center racks up $15M in ticket sales before opening

  05-01-2022 00:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Even though it's not scheduled to open for at least another three months, the Moody Center has already surpassed $15 million in ticket sales.
  The 15,000-seat arena still under construction on the University of Texas campus is set to open in late April, with one of its first performances being George Strait, Willie Nelson and the Randy Rogers Band. They're set to christen the venue in two sold-out shows on April 29 and 30.MORE: George Strait, Willie Nelson to play at Moody C
  
  Read more

• Brian Laundrie's parents ask for notebook found near his remains, attorney says

  05-01-2022 00:13 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The parents of Brian Laundrie are looking to reclaim a notebook related to the FBI investigation into their son's death, according to statements made by their attorney.Laundrie was the sole person of interest in his fianceé Gabby Petito's death but died of a self-inflicted gunshot while on a hike in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in mid-September, according to the medical examiner in Sarasota County.Attorney Steven Bertolino said Laundrie's parents w
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!