Austin news

• Suspected mail, ID thief arrested; KXAN investigation credited

  16-03-2022 23:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A KXAN investigation is credited with helping to catch a suspected mail and identity thief.Matthew Smart, 39, was arrested and charged with first degree mail fraud two days after KXAN aired exclusive surveillance video capturing a mail theft in Leander. It turns out, authorities -- along with Smart's own girlfriend -- recognized him from KXAN's news report, which is referenced multiple times in the arrest affidavit.
  "I asked Matthew [Smart] if he had seen the video on the n
  
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• Elon Musk's spat with Russian leaders highlights social media's place in war

  16-03-2022 23:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you haven't tuned into Twitter over the past few days you've missed a 'meet me by the flagpole' moment between a billionaire and the president of Russia, complete with folks forming a virtual circle on the outside of the fight and shouting insults in.
  In many ways Elon Musk's interactions with Ukrainian and Russian leaders have become a glaring example of how connected technology and social media make us to the conflict. It also shows how third-party instigators play a r
  
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• 'No evidence' Refuge girls were abused or trafficked while at shelter, DPS says

  16-03-2022 23:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A letter from the Texas Department of Public Safety claims "there is no evidence" girls at The Refuge Ranch in Bastrop County were sexually abused or trafficked while at the shelter.
  The letter was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday and gave an update on ongoing investigations into the shelter, which is contracted by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to house victims of sex trafficking — typically girls between the ages of 11 and 17.
  A court docum
  
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• Mark Adams leads Texas Tech toward potential deep tournament run

  16-03-2022 22:58 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — Mark Adams describes himself as an old West Texas farm boy who grew up on the cotton field and dreamed of being Texas Tech’s head basketball coach.He has done it, though it was a decades-long journey that rarely got too far away from home for the 65-year-old Adams. There were times he gave up on his dream; he even spent seven seasons out of college coaching when he started a minor league hockey franchise.“When I look back, I guess God had a plan all along,” Adams s
  
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• Cloudier St. Patrick's Day for some

  16-03-2022 22:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gusty southerly winds are signaling an impending change in the weather as we enjoy a gorgeous March evening. High temperatures Wednesday in Austin reached 84 degrees -- more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.Our first of two weather-makers arrives Thursday. The majority of this system stays well north of us but a dry line and a cold front will get dragged through the state bringing more wind, a slight cool down and a few spot showers east of I-35 Thursday a
  
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• TEA Commissioner Morath explains latest decision to add 24 teachers to Teacher Vacancy Task Force

  16-03-2022 21:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This week, the Texas Education Agency announced it will be adding 24 teachers to its Teacher Vacancy Task Force, which is aimed at addressing teacher shortages statewide.
  When it was first established, the task force only had two teachers on its 28-member team.
  At the time, teachers like Stephanie Soebe, a fourth-grade teacher in Round Rock, expressed disappointment with the imbalance of teachers versus administrators on the task force.
  "I was kind of disappointed when I sa
  
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• As a war rages in Ukraine, here's how one man led a peace effort that's reached 2 billion people

  16-03-2022 20:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's something you might do on Valentine's Day or Mother's Day without even recognizing it.Do you buy flowers, take your partner to dinner, write a nice letter? You're changing your behavior because someone out in the world decided you should.
  That's exactly what the founder of Peace One Day, Jeremy Gilley, hoped would happen when he set out to create the International Day of Peace, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly four decades ago. That day is recogn
  
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• Reaction and support after 9 dead in USW van crash

  16-03-2022 19:58 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS and LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech University said Jones AT&T Stadium will be lit in blue and red Wednesday night to honor the lives lost in an Andrews County crash. The University of the Southwest (USW) men’s and women’s golf teams were headed back to Hobbs Tuesday evening after a competition in Midland.Reaction and support came in Wednesday from all over Texas.
  The Texas Department of Public Safety said six students and one faculty member died in a passenger van. Two
  
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• Walmart distribution center catches fire near Indianapolis airport

  16-03-2022 19:52 via kxan.com
  
  AVON, Ind. -- A fire at a Walmart warehouse distribution center has cast a large plume of smoke visible throughout Indianapolis.
  Photos by Plainfield Fire Department Photos by Plainfield Fire Department
  Plainfield Fire Department officials confirmed the fire is at a Walmart warehouse located at 9590 AllPoints Parkway between Avon and the Indianapolis International Airport.
  Fire officials said there are no injuries as a result of this fire and that around 1,000 people were inside the warehouse at
  
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• Texas mail ballot rejections soar under new restrictions

  16-03-2022 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas threw out mail votes at an abnormally high rate during the nation's first primary of 2022, rejecting nearly 23,000 ballots outright under tougher voting rules that are part of a broad campaign by Republicans to reshape American elections, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.Roughly 13% of mail ballots returned in the March 1 primary were discarded and uncounted across 187 counties in Texas. While historical primary comparisons are lacking, the double
  
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• Roughly 13% of Texas ballots were rejected in March primary election, AP finds

  16-03-2022 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas threw out mail votes at an abnormally high rate during the nation's first primary of 2022, rejecting nearly 23,000 ballots outright under tougher voting rules that are part of a broad campaign by Republicans to reshape American elections, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.Roughly 13% of mail ballots returned in the March 1 primary were discarded and uncounted across 187 counties in Texas. While historical primary comparisons are lacking, the double
  
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• AP: Texas mail ballot rejections soar under new restrictions

  16-03-2022 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas threw out mail votes at an abnormally high rate during the nation's first primary of 2022, rejecting nearly 23,000 ballots outright under tougher voting rules that are part of a broad campaign by Republicans to reshape American elections, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.Roughly 13% of mail ballots returned in the March 1 primary were discarded and uncounted across 187 counties in Texas. While historical primary comparisons are lacking, the double
  
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• Man accused of torturing, killing dogs in Austin hotel rooms

  16-03-2022 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Buda man is in jail accused of torturing and killing a dog in a downtown hotel room, and police suggest he may have done this previously.Tyler Hastings Berry, 27, is facing several animal cruelty charges after police stated in an arrest warrant that "he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortured an animal or in a cruel manner killed or caused serious or bodily injury to an animal."
  Police said a felony charge stems from a gruesome discovery made at the Doubletree Su
  
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• Man accused of torturing, killing dog in downtown Austin hotel room

  16-03-2022 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Buda man is in jail accused of torturing and killing a dog in a downtown hotel room, and police suggest he may have done this previously.Tyler Hastings Berry, 27, is facing several animal cruelty charges after police stated in an arrest warrant that "he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortured an animal or in a cruel manner killed or caused serious or bodily injury to an animal."
  Police said a felony charge stems from a gruesome discovery made at the Doubletree Su
  
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• Sec. Pete Buttigieg to address how bipartisan infrastructure law will impact Texas

  16-03-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is joining Austin Mayor Steve Adler and city leaders at the Plaza Saltillo Station to highlight how President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will impact Texas.  The conversation will be centered around how investments in roads, airports and EV charging will help Texas with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities and affordable housing.  Secretary Buttigieg will also speak at SXSW a
  
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• Sec. Pete Buttigieg addresses how bipartisan infrastructure law will impact Texas

  16-03-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is joining Austin Mayor Steve Adler and city leaders at the Plaza Saltillo Station to highlight how President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will impact Texas.  The conversation will be centered around how investments in roads, airports and EV charging will help Texas with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities and affordable housing.  Secretary Buttigieg will also speak at SXSW a
  
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• LIVE: Sec. Pete Buttigieg addresses how bipartisan infrastructure law will impact Texas

  16-03-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is joining Austin Mayor Steve Adler and city leaders at the Plaza Saltillo Station to highlight how President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will impact Texas.  The conversation will be centered around how investments in roads, airports and EV charging will help Texas with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities and affordable housing.  Secretary Buttigieg will also speak at SXSW a
  
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• APD: Man faces capital murder charge after drug deal gone bad in south Austin

  16-03-2022 17:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man faces a capital murder charge after Austin police accused him of shooting someone during a botched drug deal Feb. 23 in south Austin, an arrest affidavit said.Sevon Herman Randle, 19, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Jacob Andrew Turner outside a gas station on Ben White Boulevard. According to the affidavit, a witness said Randle confessed to shooting Turner. The affidavit said Randle was going to buy "at least 50 Percocet M30 pills" from Turner,
  
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• APD: Man faces capital murder charge after botched drug deal in south Austin

  16-03-2022 17:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man faces a capital murder charge after Austin police accused him of shooting someone during a botched drug deal Feb. 23 in south Austin, an arrest affidavit said.Sevon Herman Randle, 19, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of Jacob Andrew Turner outside a gas station on Ben White Boulevard. According to the affidavit, a witness said Randle confessed to shooting Turner. The affidavit said Randle was going to buy "at least 50 Percocet M30 pills" from Turner,
  
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• 7.3 magnitude quake hits north Japan, tsunami alert issued

  16-03-2022 17:15 via kxan.com
  
  TOKYO (AP) — A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday evening, triggering a tsunami advisory and plunging more than 2 million homes in the Tokyo area into darkness.The region is part of northern Japan that was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that also caused nuclear plant meltdowns.The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant where the cooling systems faile
  
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• Economists worry about warning sign suggesting future recession

  16-03-2022 17:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While many consumers have been anxiously watching rising gas prices and surging inflation, economists are sounding the alarm about a different warning sign that could point to a future recession.
  The yield curve tracks the difference in how much it costs to borrow money in the short-term and the long-term.
  When that curve inverts, meaning it's cheaper to borrow money in the long-term than in the short-term, economists say that's a sign a recession could be around the corner.
  On
  
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• Watch Live: Biden to announce millions more in aid to Ukraine

  16-03-2022 16:54 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech to Congress Wednesday morning, President Joe Biden is expected to announce $800 million in new aid for Ukraine, bringing the total amount given to the country to $1 billion.
  Money is being put aside for the more than 3 million people fleeing Ukraine in the wake of the Russian attacks on the country as well— $186 million.
  "We're moving urgently to further augment support to the brave people of Ukraine, as they d
  
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• Biden announces millions more in aid to Ukraine

  16-03-2022 16:54 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech to Congress Wednesday morning, President Joe Biden is expected to announce $800 million in new aid for Ukraine, bringing the total amount given to the country to $1 billion.
  Money is being put aside for the more than 3 million people fleeing Ukraine in the wake of the Russian attacks on the country as well— $186 million.
  "We're moving urgently to further augment support to the brave people of Ukraine, as they d
  
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• Report: Child was driving truck in deadly West Texas crash involving college golf team

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — The National Transportation Safety Board said a child was driving the truck involved in a deadly crash Tuesday night outside of Midland, which killed nine people, according to the Associated Press. The child also died in the crash.
  Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died in the crash Tuesday.Reaction and support after 9 dead in USW van crashBoth men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwes
  
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• LIVE: DPS identifies 9 killed after van carrying college golf teams crashes in West Texas

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the nine people killed in a fiery crash Tuesday night outside Midland.
  Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died in a crash Tuesday outside Midland.
  Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when a Dodge pickup drove into the other lane and collided h
  
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• LIVE: 7 dead, 2 in critical condition after van carrying college golf teams crashes in Texas panhandle

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died when its van crashed into oncoming traffic Tuesday outside Midland.Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when the team's Ford Transit van collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup. The crash happened at 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 11
  
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• DPS identifies 9 killed after van carrying college golf teams crashes in West Texas

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the nine people killed in a fiery crash Tuesday night outside Midland.
  Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died in a crash Tuesday outside Midland.
  Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when a Dodge pickup drove into the other lane and collided h
  
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• 9 dead, 2 in critical condition after van carrying college golf teams crashes in West Texas

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died in a crash Tuesday outside Midland.
  Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when the team's Ford Transit van collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup. The crash happened at 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 115 and FM 1788 near Andrews, acc
  
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• 7 dead, 2 in critical condition after van carrying college golf teams crashes in West Texas

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died when its van crashed into oncoming traffic Tuesday outside Midland.Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when the team's Ford Transit van collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup. The crash happened at 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 11
  
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• 7 dead, 2 in critical condition after van carrying college golf teams crashes in Texas panhandle

  16-03-2022 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  ANDREWS, Texas (KXAN) — Officials from a New Mexico university confirmed Wednesday seven members of its golf program died when its van crashed into oncoming traffic Tuesday outside Midland.Both men's and women's golf teams from the University of the Southwest, located in Hobbs, New Mexico, were returning to campus from a tournament in Midland when the team's van collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup. The crash happened at 8:17 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 115 and FM 1788
  
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• Top-10 Austin water user list may be thing of the past

  16-03-2022 15:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new state law will steadily shut off the flow of water-use information in Austin that journalists and environmentalists traditionally used to spotlight the city’s biggest water-guzzling residences.Last year, lawmakers passed a bill – HB 872 by State Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio – that shields public utility water-use records collected by a smart meter. The City of Austin is in the midst of smart meter installation spree, so each swapped-out meter will be
  
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• Concerns surrounding future of buildings lining I-35 as TxDOT moves forward with expansion plans

  16-03-2022 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Transportation continues to move forward with its plans to expand Interstate 35 through downtown Austin between U.S. 290 East and State Highway 71/Ben White Boulevard. That stretch is about eight miles long, and there are concerns surrounding the homes and businesses that line the highway.I-35 project costing $4.9B challenged by Austin eastside residentsPlaces like Aria Grand, an affordable housing complex in Austin's Travis Heights neighborhood on t
  
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• Formula 1's U.S. Grand Prix tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. CDT Wednesday

  16-03-2022 13:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tickets for the Formula 1 Aramco U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday.Last year's event, which ended with Dutchman Max Verstappen taking the checkered flag over England's Lewis Hamilton, sold out about a month before race weekend. This year's weekend event is scheduled for October 21-23. Formula 1 renews contract with COTA, US Grand Prix to stay in Austin through 2026More than 360,000 race fans passed through the gates last year, and it
  
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• Owner worried iconic Austin restaurant will be forced to close because of Project Connect

  16-03-2022 13:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — Dirty Martin's on Guadalupe Street has been serving up its famous burgers for years, but the owner says he's worried his business will be forced to close."The business has been here since 1926, so it is 96 years old this year," said owner Mark Nemir. Project Connect leaders ask for community feedback on Orange Line south Austin sectionNemir's grandfather owned the spot years ago, and Mark took over 33 years ago. He said since the pandemic began, his business has been
  
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• Watch Live: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses Congress

  16-03-2022 11:43 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver an address to U.S. Congress on Wednesday as he works to rally support as the Russian invasion of his country continues.
  Zelenskyy will speak to members of the House and Senate. NewsNation will livestream Zelesnkyy's remarks on this page at 9 a.m. ET.
  The remarks come one week after Zelenskyy's stirring address to the U.K. Parliament that carried echoes of Winston Churchill during World War II. Earlier t
  
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• 'Take the lead': Ukrainian President Zelenskyy addresses Congress

  16-03-2022 11:43 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to U.S. Congress on Wednesday as he works to rally support as the Russian invasion of his country continues"Right now the destiny of our country is being decided," Zelenskyy said to members of the House and Senate. "We need you right now."
  He asked the U.S. to "please take the lead."However, he thanked Congress for its overwhelming support but he says he needs more aid.The Ukrainian president has specifically
  
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• 'Take the lead': President Zelenskyy pleads with Congress for help

  16-03-2022 11:43 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to U.S. Congress on Wednesday as he works to rally support as the Russian invasion of his country continues.
  "Right now the destiny of our country is being decided," Zelenskyy said to members of the House and Senate. "We need you right now. I call on you to do more."
  He asked the U.S. to "please take the lead" while citing Pearl Harbor and the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 in his appeal. Zelenskyy thanked C
  
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• Warmest day of the week is today ahead of a temp drop and severe threat

  16-03-2022 11:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Our springtime warmth continues this week with comfortable afternoon temperatures here to stay.Today will feature dry, sunny skies... and although our winds won't be quite as strong as yesterday, they'll still be noticeable with sustained speeds 10-15 mph, gusting to 20 mph.Our first of two weather-makers arrives Thursday. The majority of this system stays well north of us but a cold front will get dragged through the state bringing more wind, a slight cool down and a few s
  
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• Strong spring storm in the 7-day forecast

  16-03-2022 11:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Our springtime warmth continues this week with comfortable afternoon temperatures here to stay.Today will feature dry, sunny skies... and although our winds won't be quite as strong as yesterday, they'll still be noticeable with sustained speeds 10-15 mph, gusting to 20 mph.Our first of two weather-makers arrives Thursday. The majority of this system stays well north of us but a cold front will get dragged through the state bringing more wind, a slight cool down and a few s
  
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• Blanco County wildfire now 100% contained after growing to 1,456 acres

  16-03-2022 04:29 via kxan.com
  
  BLANCO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A fire that broke out Sunday in Blanco County west of Johnson City near Ranch Road 2721 is now 100% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
  In a final update on social media Tuesday night, the forest service said the Buddy Fire grew to a total of 1,456 acres.PAST STORY: Buddy Fire in Blanco County now 90% contained, 1,325 acres burnedAir resources were utilized to help ground crews with stopping the fire's spread, according to earlier updates
  
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• Passenger traffic at Austin airport up 165% in January over last year

  16-03-2022 04:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The number of passengers traveling through Austin's airport increased by 165% in January 2022 compared to the previous year.A total of 1,097,442 passengers went through TSA security at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in January. That's compared to just 414,117 in January 2021 as airline traffic picked up following the COVID-19 slump.January's total is the lowest for any month since May 2021. Looking at historical data, January and February typically see lower passeng
  
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• Permanent Daylight Saving Time: What that would mean for Central Texas

  16-03-2022 03:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S. Senate passed a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country. If it passes in the House and is then signed by President Biden, we would essentially move ahead one time zone (+1 hour) during standard time. MORE: Bill to make daylight saving time permanent passes SenateStandard time runs from the 1st Sunday in November until the 2nd Sunday in March ... so only those times of the year would be different than we have currently. The rest of the time we
  
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• Texas Education Agency adds more teachers to task force addressing staff shortages in schools

  16-03-2022 02:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Education Agency announced Tuesday it's adding two dozen public school teachers to a task force focused on addressing staffing challenges in school systems across the state.
  The agency launched the Teacher Vacancy Task Force last Thursday. Last week, KXAN reported out of the 28 members on the task force, only two were teachers when it first launched.RELATED: Teacher Vacancy Task Force to address staffing shortages in TexasTEA said with the addition of more classro
  
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• Report: Cowboys flop negotiation, Gregory signs with Denver

  16-03-2022 01:30 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — The Denver Broncos and defensive end Randy Gregory have agreed on a $70 million, five-year contract that will prevent the Dallas Cowboys from keeping one of their top targets in free agency, a person with knowledge of the deal said Tuesday.Gregory’s contract includes $28 million guaranteed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be announced until Wednesday when the NFL’s business year begins. DeMarcus Lawrence agr
  
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• TV schedule, tipoff times for NCAA women's basketball tournament

  16-03-2022 01:27 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — It's NCAA Tournament time. The NCAA women's basketball tournament tips off this week with 68 teams vying for a spot in this year's Final Four in Minneapolis.The NCAA women’s basketball national championship will be played April 3. NCAA Tournament: Here’s the TV schedule for the 1st roundThe Stanford Cardinal won the 2021 NCAA women’s national championship beating Arizona at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
  Below is a breakdown of the first-round schedule for the NCA
  
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• DA, APD target specific downtown Austin area amid fentanyl lacings

  16-03-2022 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With a recent spike in overdoses tied to drugs laced with fentanyl — and with South by Southwest in full swing — the Travis County District Attorney's Office and the Austin Police Department are looking to "disrupt" illegal narcotics sales as well as violent crime in Downtown Austin.That's according to three drug arrest affidavits obtained by KXAN which point to a joint operation currently underway, approved by Asst. Dist. Attorney Efrain De La Fuente.
  The arres
  
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• Williamson County appraisal district estimates 40% spike in home valuations

  16-03-2022 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Homeowners in Central Texas could see some significant increases in their home values this year. Williamson County's appraisal district is projecting a near 40% increase for some neighborhoods in the county.
  "Seeing your investment increase by 40 to 50% in one year — that's a really good thing," said Alvin Lankford, Williamson County chief appraiser.
  Inside Williamson County's appraisal district, Lankford's hands have been full as his team looks to s
  
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• Williamson County appraisal district estimates 40% rise in home valuations

  16-03-2022 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Homeowners in Central Texas could see some significant increases in their home values this year. Williamson County's appraisal district is projecting a near 40% increase for some neighborhoods in the county.
  "Seeing your investment increase by 40 to 50% in one year — that's a really good thing," said Alvin Lankford, Williamson County chief appraiser.
  Inside Williamson County's appraisal district, Lankford's hands have been full as his team looks to s
  
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• Resentment grows as Ukrainians getting 'preferential treatment' at the border

  16-03-2022 00:27 via kxan.com
  
  TIJUANA (Border Report) -- According to Tijuana officials, the migration of Ukrainian and Russian nationals into this border city has intensified since last week.
  Officials said many are going to shelters, but only to seek information about crossing into the U.S. to ask for asylum."There's a lot of confusion since President Biden declared all Ukrainians are welcome in the U.S. but there's no system in place to receive them," said Patrick Murphy, director of the migrant house in Tijuana. "But it'
  
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• Former Austin firefighter arrested in APD human trafficking sting

  16-03-2022 00:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two men, ages 52 and 53, were arrested Saturday on charges of solicitation of prostitution.According to the Austin Police Department, the Human Trafficking Unit carried out a "counter human trafficking operation."One of the suspects arrested is 53-year-old Keith Radovcich.
  The Austin Fire Department said a firefighter named Keith Radovcich retired from the department Monday. We showed Austin Fire Association president Bob Nicks the mugshot APD provided for the man they arre
  
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