Austin news

• Two GOP senators share photos from Zoom call with Zelensky despite requests not to

  05-03-2022 23:36 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) shared photos from U.S. lawmakers' virtual meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after they were reportedly asked not to do so due to security concerns.Both senators shared photos of Zelensky speaking to Congress on Twitter with captions indicating that they were on the call.  GOP Sen. Scott signals he is willing to consider voting for JacksonMultiple aides told NBC News lawmakers present 
  
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• Twitter bans accounts that repeatedly tweeted #IStandWithPutin

  05-03-2022 21:55 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – Twitter has banned more than 100 accounts that repeatedly tweeted the #IStandWithPutin hashtag, which trended on the platform earlier this week amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.A spokesperson for Twitter told NBC News on Friday that the company is still investigating the people behind the accounts and that the profiles were banned for participating in "coordinated inauthentic behavior" and violating Twitter's "platform manipulation and spam po
  
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• Star basketball player, Brittney Griner, arrested in Russia on drug charges

  05-03-2022 21:40 via kxan.com
  
  (Associated Press) -- WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested last month at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges.The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women's team and did not specify the date of her arrest. Russian media
  
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• Elon Musk says Starlink will not block Russian news outlets 'unless at gunpoint'

  05-03-2022 20:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Starlink will not block Russian news sources, despite getting requests from some governments, Elon Musk tweeted overnight.
  "Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources,' the tweet said. "We will not do so unless at gunpoint. Sorry to be a free speech absolutist." Elon Musk is helping Ukraine connect to the internet during Russia’s attackMusk then responded to a commenter challenging the move by saying: "All news sources are partia
  
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• 8 things to know about the war on Ukraine and its impact on Texas

  05-03-2022 19:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a war that can feel far from home, for some, but it's going to have a ripple effect in Texas.
  Here are eight things you need to know about Russia's war on Ukraine and their direct impact to you.
  You have neighbors from Ukraine
  Most importantly, your neighbors who are from Ukraine and have family and friends in Ukraine, are hurting.
  "My heart is with my country, we have nothing to lose," said Darya Ledesma, who was born and raised in Ukraine and moved to the United States in
  
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• Box of human heads stolen from truck in Denver

  05-03-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) – A box of human heads was stolen from a truck that was transporting the body parts for medical research, officials in Denver said.The theft occurred Thursday morning at 11 a.m., when the Denver Police said someone broke into the box truck and took a cardboard box of human remains as well as a dolly. Sources told Nexstar's KDVR the box was blue and white, and had "Science Care" written on the sides.Inside the box? Human heads.
  Science Care is a program for donating bodies to
  
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• Rep. Doggett, Sen. Cruz want to send fighter jets to Ukraine after call with Zelenskyy

  05-03-2022 18:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat that represents Austin, said after an hour-long conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday morning, he supports sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
  Rep. Doggett during a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Courtesy Office of Congressman Lloyd Doggett)"Without engaging U.S. pilots in direct conflict with Russians, we can facilitate Ukrainian access to aircraft with which Ukrainian pilots
  
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• Rep. Doggett, Sen. Cruz want to send fighter jets to Ukraine after call with Zelensky

  05-03-2022 18:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat that represents Austin, said after an hour-long conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky Saturday morning, he supports sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
  Rep. Doggett during a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Courtesy Office of Congressman Lloyd Doggett)"Without engaging U.S. pilots in direct conflict with Russians, we can facilitate Ukrainian access to aircraft with which Ukrainian pilots a
  
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• Rep. Doggett says he wants to send fighter jets to Ukraine after call with Zelensky

  05-03-2022 18:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat that represents Austin, said after an hour-long conversation with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky Saturday morning, he supports sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
  Rep. Doggett during a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Courtesy Office of Congressman Lloyd Doggett)"Without engaging U.S. pilots in direct conflict with Russians, we can facilitate Ukrainian access to aircraft with which Ukrainian pilots a
  
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• 'Avengers assemble': Neighbors rush to help during Chicago home invasion

  05-03-2022 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  CHICAGO (WGN) — Several residents of a Chicago neighborhood stepped in to stop a home invasion after hearing the screams of the mother who was forced out of her house in the middle of the night.Amanda Johnson, who is eight months pregnant, was at home with her 6-year-old and 4-year-old on Wednesday night. Everyone was in bed. Her husband Colin was out of town. Watch: Teens rescued from Missouri lake after falling through iceAround 11 p.m., Johnson was startled out of her sleep after police
  
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• 'The Batman' showing in north Austin paused after real bat breaks into theater

  05-03-2022 17:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's not exactly the bat moviegoers in north Austin signed up to see, but it certainly made for a good show.
  During a 7 p.m. viewing of the new "The Batman" movie, Breann Peña says the film had to be paused because there was a real live bat flying around the theater.
  It happened on Friday night at the Moviehouse & Eatery by Cinépolis in northwest Austin.
  Peña says management paused the movie and made multiple attempts to get the bat out of the theater, b
  
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• Real bat disrupts screening of 'The Batman' in north Austin theater

  05-03-2022 17:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's not exactly the bat moviegoers in north Austin signed up to see, but it certainly made for a good show.
  During a 7 p.m. viewing of the new "The Batman" movie, one of the moviegoers says the film had to be paused because there was a real live bat flying around the theater.
  It happened on Friday night at the Moviehouse & Eatery by Cinépolis in northwest Austin.
  That viewer says management paused the movie and made multiple attempts to get the bat out of the theater
  
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• Ukraine pauses civilian evacuations, says Russia broke cease-fire

  05-03-2022 17:29 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – Ukraine is pausing civilian evacuations in the southeastern city of Mariupol, with Ukrainian officials saying that Russia violated a cease-fire agreement it had announced for both Mariupol and the eastern city of Volnovakha, the Associated Press reported.“The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area,” the deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said, a
  
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• Austin to become a 'Bee City USA' affiliate

  05-03-2022 04:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You may one day notice more bees buzzing around Austin.
  City council unanimously voted to designate Austin as a Bee City USA affiliate. The designation means staff members will work to improve bee pollinator habitats and educate the community about the importance of these pollinators.
  Bees are responsible for keeping 75% of our major crops growing. They help pollinate most of your favorite foods and plants around the world.
  Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes wore "bee ears" show
  
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• Brush fire near Travis County Expo Center contained following fireworks show

  05-03-2022 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire responded to a brush fire near the Travis County Expo Center Friday night that was caused by fireworks.
  According to officials, the fire is confined to a large field near the parking area.
  Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said the fire started after the fireworks show at Rodeo Austin.
  In a video on her Twitter, Kelly said there were multiple units responding to multiple fires.
  Rodeo Austin released a statement late Friday addressing the fireworks, stat
  
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• Brush fire near Travis County Expo Center contained after fireworks show

  05-03-2022 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire responded to a brush fire near the Travis County Expo Center Friday night that was caused by fireworks.
  According to officials, the fire is confined to a large field near the parking area.
  Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said the fire started after the fireworks show at Rodeo Austin.
  In a video on her Twitter, Kelly said there were multiple units responding to multiple fires.
  Rodeo Austin released a statement late Friday addressing the fireworks, stat
  
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• Austin Fire works to put out brush fire near Travis County Expo Center

  05-03-2022 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire is working to put out a brush fire near the Travis County Expo Center Friday night that was caused by fireworks.
  According to officials, the fire is confined to a large field near the parking area.
  The fire is not threatening any structures or cars, AFD said.
  This is a developing story, check back for details.
  
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• MAP: Where did Flores perform best in the HD 51 primary?

  05-03-2022 03:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite a crowded candidate field, Maria Luisa "Lulu" Flores won the Democratic primary for Texas House District 51 outright Tuesday night, winning 60.26% of the vote.KXAN projected Flores the winner at 10 p.m.District 51 covers portions of Travis County, stretching from downtown Austin to Del Valle, Elroy, Creedmoor and Mustang Ridge. Incumbent Rep. Eddie Rodriguez chose not to run for reelection in the district, instead choosing to run for Congressional District 35. Greg
  
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• How you can share your thoughts on APD body cam usage

  05-03-2022 03:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) wants to know how the community feels about Austin Police Department's body camera policy.After the 2020 protests, as part of the city's "Reimagining Public Safety" campaign, OPO was asked to analyze APD's general orders. How Austin police could update its body-camera, dash camera policies"We conducted research comparing APD's current policies to best practices of policing across the U.S.," said Cristina Tangredi, the group's public info
  
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• Grocery giant Kroger expands to Austin metro with delivery service

  05-03-2022 03:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — A massive grocery retailer is jumping into the Austin market soon with grocery delivery services.The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) announced March 4 it will launch its e-commerce delivery service later this year in the Austin metro, which is expected to create up to 161 jobs.Kroger's arrival brings new competition to the market for H-E-B LP, which has mostly dominated the grocery delivery space since it bought Favor in 2018 to help it flesh out delivery
  
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• Case reopened for Texas man convicted of killing three children

  05-03-2022 03:04 via kxan.com
  
  Graphic warning: Details of the case are disturbing.
  CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A Brownsville man on death row for decapitating three children in 2003 has had his case reopened as his attorneys look to prove he was wrongfully convicted.John Allen Rubio, 41, had his writ of habeas corpus case reopened on Tuesday, Feb. 22 in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas. His attorneys will have until April 20 to submit a new petition to prove what issues there were with his case
  
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• MAP: Talarico wins every precinct in the HD 50 primary

  05-03-2022 02:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — State Rep. James Talarico handily won the Democratic primary for Texas House District 50 Tuesday night, winning 78.42% of the vote.KXAN projected Talarico the winner at 9:25 p.m.District 50 covers portions of Travis County, including parts of north and northeast Austin and Pflugerville. Talarico currently serves in House District 52, but was drawn out of his district during the redistricting process.The map below shows which candidate received the most votes in each precinc
  
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• 2 taken to hospital after multi-car crash in north Austin

  05-03-2022 02:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people were taken to the hospital Friday evening after a multi-vehicle crash in north Austin.
  Austin-Travis County EMS said the crash happened just before 6:15 p.m. on the southbound Interstate 35 service road near Parmer Lane.
  One person who was pinned had to be rescued, ATCEMS said. They were taken to the hospital with potentially serious injuries.
  Another person was evaluated and taken to another hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
  ATCEMS said it's clearing
  
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• FIRST WARNING UPDATE: Hold off on planting; yet another freeze possible in Central Texas

  05-03-2022 01:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite signs we may be done with freezes until next fall, we have yet another shot at cold before thawing out for spring.A strong cold front looks to arrive Friday morning of next week with enough cold that our morning temperatures the weekend of March 12 and 13 may bring parts of Central Texas below freezing.Potential freeze mid-MarchThe beginning of next weekend is now within the bounds of our 7-Day Forecast and we're currently forecasting a low of 33 degrees in Austin S
  
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• FIRST WARNING: Hold off on planting; yet another freeze possible in Central Texas

  05-03-2022 01:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite signs we may be done with freezes until next fall, we have yet another shot at cold before thawing out for spring.A strong and dry cold front looks to arrive Thursday night or Friday morning of next week with enough cold that our morning temperatures the weekend of March 12 and 13 may bring parts of Central Texas below freezing.That weekend is beyond the extent of our First Warning Weather Seven-Day Forecast, but there is some consistency among some of our extended
  
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• House Speaker: Paper license plate problem 'a priority' for lawmakers

  05-03-2022 01:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas legislature will take up the state's paper license plate problem before the next session, a spokesperson for House Speaker Dade Phelan's office confirmed to KXAN."Among the other interim charges that will be announced," a spokesperson for Phelan said, "this issue is going to be a priority for Texas House members to take up."The issue will be studied during interim hearings and is expected to be announced with the full list of interim charges in the coming weeks. K
  
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