Austin news

• White House to offer free COVID tests beginning Wednesday — how to get them

  17-01-2022 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) — Beginning Wednesday, the White House will distribute half a billion free, at-home COVID-19 rapid tests to American households amid the latest coronavirus surge. This comes as President Joe Biden's administration is purchasing one billion tests to increase national testing capacity.Under the initial program, people can request four free tests be sent to their home address. Tests can be ordered online at covidtests.gov and will take between seven to 12 days to ship
  
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• White House to offer free COVID tests beginning Tuesday — how to get them

  17-01-2022 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) — Beginning Tuesday, the White House will distribute half a billion free, at-home COVID-19 rapid tests to American households amid the latest coronavirus surge. This comes as President Joe Biden's administration is purchasing one billion tests to increase national testing capacity.Originally, ordering of tests was to begin Wednesday, but the site through the U.S. Postal Service went live Tuesday morning.Under the initial program, people can request four free tests b
  
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• 30-acre fire east of Kyle damages barn

  17-01-2022 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A 30-acre fire broke out Monday afternoon east of the City of Kyle.
  Travis County ESD 11 told KXAN that the fire happened in the 1700 block of High Road, which is west of Highway 21. The call came in at 12:45 p.m.RELATED: Austin Fire Departments gives tips ahead of critical fire weather threatNo one was hurt in the fire, but one barn was damaged, Travis County ESD 11 said. No other buildings were threatened.Video from viewer Thomas Henley shows a helicopter flyi
  
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• Dallas Cowboys face offseason questions — will coach Mike McCarthy keep his job?

  17-01-2022 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Texas (KXAN) — Second guessing coaching decisions after a playoff loss has become a rite of passage for the Dallas Cowboys.Head coach Mike McCarthy is under fire after the Cowboys came out flat in the first half and botched a last-second chance to pull off a comeback win against San Francisco in the NFL wild card round Sunday. The 23-17 loss to the 49ers can only be considered a failure. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott gives credit to fans who threw debris at officialsDallas' home-field
  
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• Actor James Marsden purchases home in Austin area

  17-01-2022 22:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Records show actor James Marsden in May bought a home estimated to be around $1.8 million in the Commons Ford area of Austin, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
  The Commons Ford area is located in between Bee Cave and West Lake Hills. The Express-News says the five-bedroom, four and a half-bath house was built in 2007. The property is a little over one acre.Austin is no longer Zillow’s hottest housing market in 2022The Express-News says while we don't know exactly
  
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• Lago Vista middle, high schools cancel classes Tuesday and Wednesday amid staff shortages

  17-01-2022 21:21 via kxan.com
  
  LAGO VISTA (KXAN) — Lago Vista Middle School and Lago Vista High School will remain closed to students Tuesday and Wednesday due to increased staff absences, the district announced Monday. Lago Vista ISD was already closed to students Monday in observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day."Despite our best efforts to keep our campuses appropriately staffed to ensure adequate supervision and safe operations, the number of staff absences is greater than the number of available substitutes and
  
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• Texas Secretary of State, Travis County at impasse on dealing with mail-in ballot application rejections

  17-01-2022 20:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With mail-in ballot applications rejected at 50% in Travis County, the Texas Secretary of State wants county elections officials to "immediately review and re-examine" them.John Scott said Jan. 14 that he was "surprised to learn" that Travis County elections officials had rejected about half of all mail-in ballot applications. County officials made the announcement Jan. 13, saying the state hasn't provided enough help so they can tell people how to fix their applications. T
  
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• LIVE: Texas Secretary of State, Travis County at impasse on dealing with mail-in ballot application rejections

  17-01-2022 20:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With mail-in ballot applications rejected at 50% in Travis County, the Texas Secretary of State wants county elections officials to "immediately review and re-examine" them.John Scott said Jan. 14 that he was "surprised to learn" Travis County elections officials had rejected about half of all mail-in ballot applications. County officials made the announcement Jan. 13, saying the state hasn't provided enough help so they can tell people how to fix their applications. Texas
  
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• POLL: Texas ranked No. 23, Baylor slides after 2 straight home losses

  17-01-2022 20:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) — The Texas Longhorns dropped two spots to No. 23 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll after going 1-1 last week in games against Oklahoma and Iowa State.Texas comfortably cruised to a Red River Showdown win against Oklahoma before turning over the ball too many times in a loss at Iowa State over the weekend. This week, Texas hosts Kansas State and Oklahoma State at the Frank Erwin Center.The biggest shakeup came at the top of the poll after Baylor lost back-to-back
  
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• #BettyWhiteChallenge rallies shelter donations amid staffing, capacity struggles

  17-01-2022 19:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On what would have been actress Betty White's 100th birthday, people across Central Texas are thanking her for being a friend — one animal adoption or shelter donation at a time.White, the beloved television icon whose career highlights included "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died at age 99 on Dec. 31, less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. On Monday, fans around the world set out to honor her legacy as a staunch animal advocate with the
  
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• The most popular cars in Texas and how it compares to the nation

  17-01-2022 18:47 via kxan.com
  
  WOBURN, Mass. (iSeeCars) - Pickup trucks have once again proven their dominance as the preferred vehicles among American consumers. The Ford F-150 has been America’s best-selling new vehicle for an astounding 40 years, and three additional pickup trucks are also among the top 10 best sellers. Pickup trucks are also popular with used car buyers, with pickups accounting for the top three best-selling used vehicles.While pickup trucks dominate sales in Texas and across the country, how do the
  
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• Mom travels 1,200 miles to see both sons play in Sunday's NFL playoff games

  17-01-2022 18:31 via kxan.com
  
  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) - Talk about #momgoals. Just like her famous NFL sons, Donna Kelce refused to let anything get in her way to support both men on Super Wild Card Weekend.Sunday for Donna began at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to watch son Jason and his Philadelphia Eagles teammates face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  It ended more than 1,200 miles away in Kansas City watching her younger son Travis and the Kansas City Chiefs battle Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers
  
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• Which airline rewards program gives the most value

  17-01-2022 18:27 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (NerdWallet) - Airline rewards programs are complicated. It might seem like you need a Ph.D. in complex systems (or at least fine-print reading) to understand them. But underneath the complex gobbledygook lies a simple pair of questions:How many points or miles do you earn per dollar spent on flights?How much are those points or miles worth?At the end of the day, that’s what an airline loyalty program is about: Rewarding frequent flyers with value (in this case, point
  
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• Health insurance costs keep rising in Texas — here's why

  17-01-2022 18:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Insurance costs keep going up, and Texans are often paying more than people in other states.The findings come from a new report from The Commonwealth Fund, which supports independent research on health care issues.It found Texans spent more than 14.2% of the median income on premium contributions and deductibles. That added up to $9,311 in 2020.In 2010, health insurance made up 12.7% of Texans' median income.
  "Texans are doubly disadvantaged. They’re paying more on average
  
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• Man sentenced to 25 years after 2020 Craigslist carjacking turns into gunfight in southwest Austin

  17-01-2022 17:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who pleaded guilty to a southwest Austin carjacking in 2020 was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Jan. 14.The U.S. Department of Justice announced Darrell Morgan Watts. Jr., 24, previously convicted of a separate felony, also pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during a federal violent crime. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2022?Police said on Jan. 30, Watts responded to a Craigslist ad for a Ford Mustang being sold in Austin and went to
  
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• Tuition free for Texas women enrolled in UT campaign school

  17-01-2022 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It just became easier for women living in Texas to prepare to run for elected office.
  Any Texas woman who enrolls in the next cohort of the LBJ Women's Campaign School, a training program at the University of Texas at Austin for potential candidates and campaign managers, will now be able to attend for free.
  Amy Kroll, the founder and executive director of the LBJ Women's Campaign School, said the Texas Woman's University Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy will
  
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• '99% chance' this year will be one of the hottest on record, NOAA officials say

  17-01-2022 14:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This year is likely to rank as one of the hottest on record, according to officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  Earlier in January, NASA and NOAA released their report on global temperatures in 2021. They found that last year ranked as the sixth warmest year on record. They're now saying that trend has a 99% likelihood to continue. La Niña likely to continue into spring: What that could mean for Central Texas"Over the last 10 years, nine
  
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• Business owners continue to face staffing shortages, high food costs as new COVID-19 rules go into effect

  17-01-2022 13:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting Monday, Austin businesses are being told to follow the city's new COVID-19 orders or face a fine of $1,000. However, Gov. Greg Abbott says business owners should not worry about it.
  The new rule goes into effect at noon Monday. The city is requiring businesses to put up signs about vaccines and masking. One of the signs encourages masks and vaccines in general. The other sign shows customers the COVID precautions businesses are taking. Businesses that fail to put u
  
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• Missing Jason Landry: What Caldwell County Sheriff's Office hopes release of new evidence will do

  17-01-2022 05:57 via kxan.com
  
  CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — More than one year since Texas State student Jason Landry disappeared, the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is releasing new evidence in the case.
  And they're hoping it will catch the attention of the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton. 86 points of interest circled in search for missing Texas State student Jason Landry
  A call log, more than an hour of body camera footage from responding law enforcement, cell phone videos taken by Landry's father, Kent, a
  
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• Central Texas universities begin semester virtually, anticipating COVID-19 surge

  17-01-2022 05:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Managing the surge in COVID-19 cases on college campuses is a top concern for educators, parents and students.The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State are set to resume classes this week — many of them will be virtual for the time being.Classes will be virtual for the first two weeks at UT, unless professors choose to teach in person while providing an online option too."I'm excited, but also kind of like dreading. Because college is not supposed to be online
  
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• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott credits fans who threw debris at officials

  17-01-2022 05:21 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Texas (KXAN) — A video on social media showed fans throwing bottles and debris toward the NFL officiating crew who worked the Dallas Cowboys' 23-17 wild card playoff round loss to San Francisco Sunday.The video shows several pieces of trash flying from the stands as officials ran into the tunnel just moments after Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott came up short on a potential, game-winning drive at the end of the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman Demarcus Lawrence used his helmet
  
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• La Niña likely to continue into spring: What that could mean for Central Texas

  17-01-2022 02:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The newest ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) forecast from the Climate Prediction Center now expects La Niña conditions to continue into the early spring.The updated forecast calls for a 67% chance of La Niña continuing March-May with more neutral pattern favored (51%) to develop by the April-June period. Still, La Niña may linger with around a 47% chance during April-June. Forecasts are broken up into overlapping three-month periods.ENSO forecast.
  
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• Dallas Cowboys' season ends with playoff failure, losing to 49ers

  17-01-2022 02:16 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Texas (KXAN) -- The most-penalized team in the NFL stayed true to its brand. The Dallas Cowboys committed 14 penalties as the San Francisco 49ers eliminated Dallas from the playoffs with a 23-17 win Sunday.A game full of errors for both sides ended with a perplexing decision from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Dallas built a drive in the final 30 seconds of the game without a timeout, moving to the San Francisco 41-yard line with 14 seconds left.In what turned out to be the final p
  
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• Thousands of US flights canceled due to winter storm, including Reid International on Sunday

  17-01-2022 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (KLAS)--  Thousands of flights have been either delayed or canceled around the United States as a winter storm hits the East Coast on the holiday weekend.As of Sunday afternoon, Harry Reid International Airport reported at least 34 flight cancelations and at least 59 flights delayed in arrival and departure flights involving various airlines, including American, Southwest, and Delta. Southwest Airlines flight cancellations woes continueAccording to Flightaware, 4,910 flights world
  
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• Rising costs add to pandemic pain for small businesses

  17-01-2022 00:53 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — In just two weeks, the cost of pecans for the pies at Peggy Jean’s Pies in Columbia, Missouri, has surged nearly 40%, perplexing co-owner Rebecca Miller and adding to the cost of doing business. Miller will soon have to bump up the price of her Southern Pecan, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan, and German Chocolate pies by $2 to $24.While pecans have risen the most, Miller is seeing price increases across the board, from blackberries to condensed milk and eggs. She consults wit
  
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• Kevin Durant to miss more than a month with injury

  17-01-2022 00:38 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant has a sprained medial collateral ligament of his left knee, sidelining the NBA's leading scorer just as the Brooklyn Nets were poised to finally have a lengthy run with their Big Three.Durant was injured Saturday in a victory over New Orleans when teammate Bruce Brown was knocked backward and fell into his knee. Durant had an MRI exam Sunday that confirmed the injury.The Nets said Durant was expected to return to full strength following a period of rehabil
  
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