Austin news

• News Notes: High wildfire danger in Central Texas, other stories to know

  28-03-2022 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite how picturesque the weather might appear at first glance in Austin, the conditions could make wildfires quickly burn out of control.
  A Red Flag Warning is in effect through the evening Monday for most of Central Texas, meaning the warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds could lead to an increased risk of fire danger. However, the latest forecast shows a chance for severe weather emerging mid-week.
  In addition to sharing the latest on weather conditions, the
  
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• New population estimates reveal which areas of Texas are growing the fastest

  28-03-2022 22:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Five counties in Texas grew by more than 25,000 residents from 2020 to 2021, newly-released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows.The agency published its July 1, 2021 population estimates Thursday. Williamson, Travis and Hays Counties all appear in the 10 counties that added the most residents. Of the 254 counties in Texas, 169 saw an increase in population, while 85 had a population decline.Kaufman County, southeast of Dallas, grew at the fastest rate of any county in th
  
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• MAPS: Which Texas counties are growing the fastest?

  28-03-2022 22:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Five counties in Texas grew by more than 25,000 residents from 2020 to 2021, newly-released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows.The agency published its July 1, 2021 population estimates Thursday. Williamson, Travis and Hays Counties all appear in the 10 counties that added the most residents. Of the 254 counties in Texas, 169 saw an increase in population, while 85 had a population decline.Kaufman County, southeast of Dallas, grew at the fastest rate of any county in th
  
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• New Zilker Eagle train undergoing safety tests; opening date coming soon

  28-03-2022 22:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You'll soon be able to see a miniature train chugging through Austin's iconic Zilker Park once again, just not yet.
  The new train, dubbed the Zilker Eagle, is undergoing a crucial last step before opening to the public: safety testing. That testing has been going on for at least a couple weeks now, according to updates about the train on Instagram.
  The new train operators, the Austin Parks Foundation, said in a statement to KXAN, "there are still several steps that need to
  
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• Longhorns coaching staff takes issue with Stanford coach's 'rugby' comment

  28-03-2022 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  SPOKANE, Wash. (KXAN) — A pregame quote from Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer struck a nerve with the Texas Longhorns' assistant coaches following Texas' NCAA Tournament loss to the Cardinal Sunday night.KXAN Sports Director Roger Wallace was in Spokane for the region final this weekend and shared the context of VanDerveer's quote on Twitter Saturday. A reporter asked Stanford's legendary coach about how her team would handle Texas' aggressive defense. Texas’ season halted in Elit
  
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• APD: 1 person killed in auto-pedestrian crash in east Austin

  28-03-2022 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police are investigating a deadly auto-pedestrian crash that took place on March 21 in east Austin.
  The Austin Police Department said the crash happened just after 11 p.m. in the 3000 block of East Cesar Chavez, near Linden Street. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2022?
  According to APD, a person was hit by a car, and the person died on the scene. APD has not identified the victim and the driver is cooperating with the investigation.
  Anyone with info
  
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• Austin, Williamson County collaborate on new tech to lower emergency response times

  28-03-2022 21:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department and Williamson County Fire personnel are collaborating on new technology to lower emergency response times.In February, the City of Austin and Williamson County partnered on a new fire dispatch system to help send automatic resources and assistance during emergencies. The system, Tellus, allows teams to detect where an incident is occurring and locate nearby fire units that would be able to respond, regardless of the city or jurisdiction. This app
  
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• Cedar Park police identify person killed in single-vehicle crash

  28-03-2022 21:12 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK (KXAN) — One person died after a single-vehicle crash in Cedar Park on March 23, police said.
  The crash happened at 5:45 p.m. at North Lakeline and Surrey Lane, Cedar Park Police said.
  It's believed the car left the roadway and crashed into a nearby tree, resulting in the car catching fire and the driver was pinned, according to Cedar Park Police.
  The driver was identified as Devon Moyer, 27. Moyer was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
  No other details w
  
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• Fire danger continues today ahead of next severe weather threat

  28-03-2022 21:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Morning clouds should burn off through the afternoon keeping our high temperature a few degrees cooler today. Highs will climb into the middle 80s.Despite the increase in humidity today, gusty winds will continue to keep our wildfire danger elevated through the evening. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Monday for most of Central Texas from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Red Flag Warning MondayCounties under outdoor burn bansTuesday should be a cloudier and m
  
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• Rental cars, travelers wrap around Austin airport Monday morning

  28-03-2022 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lines at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport wrapped around outside the entrance this morning amid an influx of travelers and more than 28,000 passengers projected to pass through on Monday.
  After this morning's extended lines, airport officials confirmed Monday afternoon AUS is also navigating a fuel shortage alert. These alerts, issued to airlines, often occur when airports experience busier traffic volumes."No immediate impacts to passengers, but it’s possib
  
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• 'Messy' and 'chaotic': Austin airport grapples with influx Monday morning

  28-03-2022 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lines at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport wrapped around outside the entrance this morning amid an influx of travelers.
  More than 28,000 passengers were projected to pass through on Monday, after a historically busy Sunday.
  "It was so messy, it was so chaotic," said Jeannelyn Gadiano, who is in town for a family wedding.
  Gadiano and her sister, Jocelyn Franz, were at the airport around 4 a.m. to drop off another sister.
  "She came early just to, you know, to make i
  
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• 'Messy' & 'chaotic': Austin airport grapples with influx Monday morning

  28-03-2022 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lines at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport wrapped around outside the entrance this morning amid an influx of travelers.
  More than 28,000 passengers were projected to pass through on Monday, after a historically busy Sunday.
  After this morning's extended lines, airport officials confirmed Monday afternoon AUS is also navigating a fuel shortage alert. These alerts, issued to airlines, often occur when airports experience busier traffic volumes."No immediate impacts
  
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• Austin ISD's school board boundaries to get 10-year refresh

  28-03-2022 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District is redrawing its school board districts, and is hosting a "community conversation" via Zoom on Monday night.On its website, AISD explained that it redraws districts every 10 years in accordance with U.S. Census data to best balance the populations of its seven single-member board of trustees districts. That means each elected trustee from a specific area represents roughly the same amount of people, AISD said.What triggered the redraw
  
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• 1 killed in deadly Cedar Park crash; 21-year-old arrested

  28-03-2022 20:01 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK (KXAN) — A 21-year-old was arrested after police say he hit a man walking on a sidewalk in Cedar Park on March 25 with his car.
  Cedar Park Police said the crash happened at Avery Ranch Boulevard and South Bell Boulevard just after 6:30 p.m. Police said an initial investigation found that a car driven by Ismael Sanchez appeared to hit a man who was walking on the sidewalk.
  The victim was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
  Sanchez was arrested and charged with in
  
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• Red, sports car at center of deadly pedestrian crash in south Austin

  28-03-2022 19:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police identified the pedestrian who died after an early morning crash in south Austin Monday, March 14.APD said 46-year-old Terry Ziegler Jr. died at the hospital eight days later, March 22, after being hit by a red, sports car in the 5600 block of West Gate Boulevard.Police said the car left the scene of the crash, driving southeast on West Gate Boulevard.Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Highway Investigation Tip Line at 512-974-8111, us
  
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• 1st of Austin's 6 new international flights this year takes off today

  28-03-2022 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is getting a little more international.A new nonstop route to Amsterdam takes off Monday evening, with airport officials and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines hosting a celebration to commemorate it.The airline — the flag carrier of the Netherlands — will fly the new route three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flights are overnight, taking off from Austin at 6 p.m. and landing in Amsterdam at 10:25 the fol
  
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• DA: Houston gang member gets life for shooting in dispute over rifle

  28-03-2022 18:43 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KIAH) — A Houston gang member was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder for shooting a 19-year-old woman during a dispute over an assault rifle in 2019, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced.Maria Fuentes (Harris County District Attorney's Office)Patrick B. Jackson, a 30-year-old member of a street gang known as the Vice Lords, was convicted late Friday of killing Maria Fuentes, 19, whose body was found in the 5900 block of Hopetown in east H
  
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• Police chase turns into shooting in Marble Falls

  28-03-2022 18:33 via kxan.com
  
  LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A police chase in Llano County Sunday night ended in a man being shot by a Llano County sheriff's deputy, according to a release from LCSO.LCSO said Zachary David Williams, 34, refused to stop when a sheriff's deputy attempted to pull him over around 9:49 p.m. Sunday. Pursued by LCSO and Sunrise Beach police, Williams drove east on Highway 71 at a high rate of speed before the Marble Falls Police Department slowed him by spiking his tires.Zachary David Williams
  
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• Lakeway at-home day care can reopen amid lawsuit

  28-03-2022 18:09 via kxan.com
  
  LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) — An at-home day care shut down following noise complaints can reopen as the lawsuit it filed against the City of Lakeway moves forward.Bianca King's day care backs up onto a golf course in northwest Austin. She started the business in March 2020 after she was laid off at the start of the pandemic. She told KXAN in February that golfers complained about the noise and visibility and that although she received a permit from the Department of Licensing, Lakeway's Plannin
  
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• Texas State University women under 40 among top income earners

  28-03-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A new survey has named Texas State University in San Marcos one of the top R2, or high research activity), universities in the country.
  The survey, conducted by steppingblocks.com, ranked universities by region and scored Texas State as the sixth-best in the south. Within Texas, Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University are the state's other R2 universities included on the list.Among female alumni under the age of 40 making more than $100,000,
  
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• Man in hospital after Sunday night drive-by shooting, TCSO says

  28-03-2022 17:41 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY (KXAN) — A man was taken to a hospital after what law enforcement thinks was a drive-by shooting in eastern Travis County on Sunday.The Travis County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the call at 11:20 p.m. in the 9000 block of Sansom Road. That's just north of State Highway 290 and east of Springdale Road.
  TCOS said the nature of the incident is "aggravated assault with a deadly weapon," and the incident "appears to be isolated."TCSO said the man taken to the hospi
  
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• 'The virus of Theseus': Elon Musk says he has COVID-19 again

  28-03-2022 17:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just after 3 a.m. Monday, Tesla founder Elon Musk said he has COVID-19 for the second time.The billionaire who owns both the electric car manufacturer headquartered in Austin, and space exploration company SpaceX, tweeted the news early Monday, saying, "Covid-19 is the virus of Theseus." Here’s what we know about Tesla’s planned massive Giga party"How many gene changes before it’s not Covid-19 anymore?" he continued. "I supposedly have it again, but almost
  
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• Mosquito season: when does it begin in Austin?

  28-03-2022 15:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Spring just started, but already we're coming up on prime time for mosquitoes in Central Texas."It's definitely picking back up and I'm not looking forward to it, but we're still right before it gets bad, so I've been enjoying this walk without having to put mosquito repellent or anything on just yet," said Neeti Swami from Round Rock. VIDEO: Fireball streaks through sky live on Georgetown weather camWe typically have two mosquito seasons each year. The first from April into earl
  
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• A cancer diagnosis then a tornado: Round Rock family deals with devastating life-changing events

  28-03-2022 14:48 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Former hospice nurse Bobbi McClain said she's never been one to put herself first so when she started to feel some pain a couple of months ago she ignored it. When she finally decided to go to the doctor, after several tests, McClain was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
  "I got the news that I was sick," she said. "I was given one to two to three months to live." VIDEO: Fireball streaks through sky live on Georgetown weather camShe said doctors think it's peritoneal
  
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• Austin trying to rebuild its depleted lifeguard base — or else pools won't stay open

  28-03-2022 13:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin is on the search for lifeguards as summer approaches.Staffing shortages have plagued many industries, and Aaron Levine, Austin Parks and Recreation aquatics supervisor, said the lifeguard situation the city is facing right before peak swimming season in Austin is in the same boat. Due to lifeguard shortage, Barton Springs Pool will close 2 more days per weekWithout enough lifeguards, that means city pools could stay closed this summer."In 2019, we were up
  
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• Smith's slap aside, here's how Texas won big at the Oscars

  28-03-2022 12:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas made a few appearances during Hollywood’s biggest night. The Academy Awards rolled out the red carpet in Los Angeles for a return to a traditional Oscars night.From the start, Texans were in the spotlight. Beyoncé opened the 94th annual award show with a performance of “Be Alive,” from "King Richard." The performance took place on a tennis court in Compton to coincide with the film about the father of the Williams sisters.
  Fellow Houston nativ
  
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• Changes sets stage for shopping network to moving HQ Cedar Park

  28-03-2022 10:20 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (ABJ) - Shop LC Global Inc., a television shopping network that reaches roughly 80 million households, has moved a step closer to putting its headquarters in Cedar Park.Cedar Park City Council on March 24 unanimously passed the rezoning application to change a 19.5-acre plot at 1700 N. Bell Blvd. to light industrial zoning, which would allow the company to build at minimum a 200,000-square-foot facility in the suburb north of Austin. It is expected employ at least 1,000 people
  
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• South Texas wildfire destroys 3 homes, Abbott declares disaster

  28-03-2022 06:30 via kxan.com
  
  CASTROVILLE, Texas (AP) — A wildfire has burned more than 1,000 acres in South Texas forcing some people to evacuate, destroying three homes and knocking out power to more than 100 others, officials said Sunday.Gov. Greg Abbott declared a disaster in Medina County during a news conference and said the blaze that’s forced 40 households to evacuate was only 10% contained.The fire has not caused any reported injuries or deaths, but officials in the county west of San Antonio warned resi
  
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• Texas' season halted in Elite Eight by defending champs Stanford

  28-03-2022 05:56 via kxan.com
  
  SPOKANE, Wash. (KXAN) — Texas' season ended Sunday night in the Elite Eight round for the second straight year.Stanford stopped a potential Longhorns sweep with a 59-50 win to keep its title defense alive and extend the season into the Final Four next weekend. The Longhorns will continue to build under head coach Vic Schaefer boosted by another appearance in the regional final.Lexie Hull spurred the Cardinal with 20 points. Joanne Allen-Taylor led Texas with 15.
  Aaliyah Moore scored Texas'
  
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• Oscar-winning director calls on Biden to 'bring Brittney Griner home'

  28-03-2022 05:16 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — Director Ben Proudfoot used part of his winning Oscar moment to call upon President Joe Biden and urge him to obtain the release of two-time Olympic gold medalist and top women’s player Brittney Griner, who has been jailed in Russia.Griner was detained after arriving at a Moscow airport, reportedly in mid-February, after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis.Griner may face up to 10 years in pri
  
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• Will Smith, Chris Rock confrontation shocks Oscars audience

  28-03-2022 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 94th Academy Awards that steadily maintained a buoyant spirit was rocked by an unbelievable exchange after Will Smith took offense to a joke made by Chris Rock about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.After Rock joked to Smith that he was looking forward to a sequel to “G.I. Jane,” Smith stood up from his seat near the stage, strode up to Rock and slapped him. After sitting back down, Smith shouted at Rock to “keep my wife's name out of your (expl
  
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• Saving Melissa Lucio: Supporters push for death sentence of Texas woman to be dropped

  28-03-2022 04:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (NEXSTAR) — In just one month, a Latina Texas woman is set to be executed.
  Melissa Lucio, from the Rio Grande Valley--would be the first Latina to be executed in the state of Texas.Her family, and other supporters feel she was wrongly convicted--arguing coercion, and corruption surrounds her case.
  Lucio was convicted of killing her 2-year-old daughter in 2008. She's been on death row for 15 years.
  "Free her now!," a group chanted.Execution date set for Texas woman convicted o
  
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• Kansas joins Duke, Villanova and North Carolina in Final Four

  28-03-2022 04:23 via kxan.com
  
  CHICAGO (AP) — Ochai Agbaji was all over the court. David McCormack dominated inside, and Christian Braun connected from deep.With one dazzling finish, Kansas roared into the Final Four.Agbaji, McCormack and Braun led the top-seeded Jayhawks to a brilliant second half in a 76-50 victory over Miami on Sunday, sending one of college basketball's top programs to the national semifinals for the 16th time.“That was about as well as we can play, the second half,” coach Bill Self said
  
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• Austin FC's Brad Stuver takes Laundry Project to 4 locations

  28-03-2022 03:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver expanded the Laundry Project to four Austin laundromats Sunday.The Austin FC fan favorite, his wife Ashley and volunteers provided free laundry services to help ease the financial burden for families who may be forced to choose between putting food on the table or having clean clothes. Austin FC goalkeeper’s SXSW talk centers on sports, activismStuver, alongside a nonprofit called Current Initiatives, have hosted multiple Austin Laundr
  
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• First-timer Ross Chastain wins NASCAR race at Circuit of the Americas

  28-03-2022 01:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ross Chastain is a first-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, claiming the checkered flag with a frenetic finish at Circuit of the Americas in Austin.Twice a runner-up this year, Chastain broke through during Sunday's race in his 121st start, fending off strong challenges from AJ Allmendinger and Alex Bowman for the win.
  Chastain led 31 of the 68 laps, but had to fight back from second when this chaos broke out on the track with four laps to go. As Joey Logano and others got caug
  
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• Scottie Scheffler becomes World No. 1 with WGC-Match Play win in Austin

  28-03-2022 00:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorn won at Austin Country Club Sunday afternoon for his third victory of 2022.Former UT golfer Scottie Scheffler defeated Kevin Kisner for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship and earned No. 1 status in the Official World Golf Rankings. Scottie Scheffler’s walk-off chip sends former Longhorn to Match Play semisScheffler is also the first Texas Longhorn to win the tournament in Austin.This is Scheffler's first time at the top of the OWGR. He
  
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