Austin news

• Austin Film Society to hold special screenings of 'Dear Mr. Brody'

  01-04-2022 23:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Film Society is hosting special screenings of "Dear Mr. Brody" at the organization's cinema in central Austin beginning Friday night.
  The film is about a 21-year-old millionaire, Michael Brody, Jr., who in 1970 decided to give away $25 million to anyone in need. This jumpstarted a whirlwind of events.
  Brody and his wife, Renee, were sent personal letters from people across the country asking for money. Fifty years later, boxes filled with those letters were found
  
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• 'Grown man crying': Elgin tornado survivors hit with new city hurdle

  01-04-2022 23:29 via kxan.com
  
  ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) -- "Walking around here, I was crying," said Chris Cielencki, standing in the front yard of his home. "Grown man crying."
  That was after the tornado hit last Monday. Since then, he said it's been "hell."
  Traces of the tornado remain: A curled-up roof over the two surviving cars, missing windows in the garage, a giant dumpster full of debris.
  "There was plywood, sheet metal, tree trunk pieces, everything just everywhere," Cielencki said. "It was a mess. And it's all cleaned up
  
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• DOJ letter about transgender health care could land Texas in legal hot water

  01-04-2022 23:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If Texas lawmakers end up enacting a bill that officially bans transgender health care options for young people during next year's legislative session, then the state could find itself in hot water with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
  Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ's civil rights division, sent a letter Thursday to state attorneys general, which argued that policies blocking gender-affirming care for children violates the Constitution. The
  
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• 2nd man arrested in connection with mail theft in Leander

  01-04-2022 22:55 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A second man was arrested last week in connection with a Leander mail theft case.
  Travis County Jail records show Christopher Duplantier, 31, has at least nine charges including robbery, interfering with an emergency call, unauthorized use of a vehicle and motion to revoke probation, among other unlisted charges. He's being held on a combined $139,500 bond for all charges.ORIGINAL STORY: Thieves using USPS ‘master key’ to steal mail in LeanderAccor
  
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• APD asks for public's help in finding missing 39-year-old woman

  01-04-2022 22:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing woman last seen on March 25.APD is searching for Belen Ayala, 39, who was last seen at 9 p.m. in the 9700 block of Dallum Drive in east Austin.
  Police said Ayala is unable to speak and is hard of hearing but understands Spanish.
  Ayala is 4-feet-11-inches tall and has brown hair and brown eyes.
  Anyone with information about Ayala's whereabouts is asked to contact 911 immediately.
  
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• Water restrictions may come soon in Austin if dry weather continues

  01-04-2022 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – As the City of Georgetown enters stage one drought restrictions prohibiting residential water users from watering during the heat of the day, we wanted to know if water restrictions may soon return to Austin as well.KXAN's Tom Miller spoke with Austin Water, who said that with lake levels creeping lower during the recent drier than normal stretch of weather, Austin may soon return to stage one water restrictions for the first time since September 2018.Austin Water reminds u
  
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• Applied Materials starts Chapter 313 incentives process as it eyes $2B R&D facility in Hutto

  01-04-2022 21:46 via kxan.com
  
  HUTTO, Texas (Austin Business Journal) – A global supplier to the semiconductor sector is formally eyeing expansion into an Austin suburb, and the capital investment could top $2 billion capital while bringing more than 800 jobs to Hutto.The Hutto Independent School District Board of Trustees on Thursday unanimously voted to accept an application for a Chapter 313 state-funded property tax incentives agreement with Applied Materials Inc. that would aid the construction of a research and de
  
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• APD releases photos of car believed to be involved in deadly hit and run

  01-04-2022 21:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding a vehicle it said was involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash in east Austin.
  APD said the incident happened just after 5 p.m. on Feb. 27 near Seventh Street and Pleasant Valley. Police said 67-year-old Ricardo Alvarado was hit by a white four-door sedan.
  Austin Police is asking for the public's help in finding a vehicle it said was involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash in east Austin. (Austin Police Ph
  
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• Williamson County releases preliminary damage report following tornado outbreak

  01-04-2022 20:51 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Following a damage assessment by county officials, more than 400 structures outside Round Rock and in the unincorporated areas of Williamson County were damaged by tornadoes March 21.The preliminary tally of damaged homes in those areas sits at 430, and county officials urged people with tornado-damaged property to report it to the Texas Division of Emergency Management. FEMA assesses tornado damage in Williamson CountyOn March 30, officials with the City
  
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• Swipe right on COVID-19 vaccines: APH now advertising on dating apps

  01-04-2022 20:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You've probably seen the advertisements on Facebook and Twitter, you may have gotten a text from Austin Public Health and you may have even gotten a physical letter in the mail.
  Now, APH is tapping into an advertisement opportunity that they're hoping you don't swipe past. The new medium, dating apps. The message — get up to date on the COVID-19 vaccine.
  "As people start to think about dating and getting back out there in the real world and in person, this is a great oppor
  
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• Virginia-based robotics company opens new office in southwest Austin

  01-04-2022 19:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A company specializing in self-driving trucks just rolled into Austin.
  Torc, a robotics company, hosted a ribbon-cutting at a new office in southwest Austin. The office is located near MoPac Expressway and Loop 360.The company says it hopes to add 40-50 people this year.The Virginia-based company says it chose Central Texas for one special reason.
  "We feel Austin has a great wealth of talent in the areas we need to expand. Which includes software engineering and product dev
  
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• What's next for Texas, as neighboring New Mexico legalizes recreational marijuana

  01-04-2022 19:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar/AP) — The U.S. House passed a bill Friday that would decriminalize marijuana nationwide, the patchwork of legalization efforts in neighboring Texas states is expanding, with New Mexico's recreational program now in effect.As of Friday in New Mexico, anyone 21 and older can purchase up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana — enough to roll about 60 joints or cigarettes — or comparable amounts of marijuana liquid concentrates and edible treats.New Mexico has nurture
  
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• Poll finds tight race between Abbott-O'Rourke, many still undecided

  01-04-2022 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A newly-released poll found that Texas voters are almost evenly split on their preference for Texas governor, but many of them said they have yet to make up their mind about which candidate to support in November.
  The Texas Lyceum Poll asked 926 people whom they would vote for if the gubernatorial election happened today. The results showed that 42% of them said they would give Gov. Greg Abbott another term in office, while 40% supported Beto O'Rourke unseating the incumben
  
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• 1 in hospital after car rolls into ditch off MoPac frontage road

  01-04-2022 18:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Medics took one person to a hospital following a single-car crash Friday in northwest Austin.A car rolled into a small ditch Friday off the MoPac service road in northwest Austin and 1 person was sent to the hospital. (AFD photo)The Austin Fire Department tweeted about the crash at 10:11 a.m., showing a car turned on its side in a small ditch next to a footbridge on the service road in the 8200 block of N. MoPac Expressway. That's near MoPac's intersection with Steck Avenue
  
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• 50 animals flown out of Texas in new Austin Pets Alive! partnership

  01-04-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Several pets from Austin Pets Alive! took to the skies Thursday for their next chapters at other shelters in the country.
  APA! posted photos and videos to its Instagram page of the transport, where 50 pets left on a flight with Dog Is My CoPilot, a nonprofit animal rescue air transport organization that flies pets to new shelters in order to find them a home.100K pets alive — and counting — for Austin animal shelterThe pets flown out on Thursday are heading to s
  
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• Deep fried air? Don't miss these epic April Fools' Day jokes from Texas companies

  01-04-2022 17:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- No, the Texas State Fair isn't going to be selling deep fried air and Elon Musk isn't trying to hyperloop Californians here to eat them.
  Here are some of our favorite April Fools' Day jokes from Texas companies.
  Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs debuting 'deep fried air' at Texas State Fair
  It's convincing. There's a press release and the state fair posted a video on Facebook -- plus, Texans really will deep fry anything.
  Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs joked that they would be sell
  
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• Round Rock IKEA will pay you to return old furniture

  01-04-2022 15:49 via kxan.com
  
  (ABC4) - If you're tired of looking at old furniture that you bought last year from IKEA, the retailer has announced that it will now pay customers to bring back old furniture.
  The IKEA buyback and resell option has now been made available for 37 of its U.S. stores, and Round Rock is one of them. As a way to help pave a path toward sustainable living, the company has brought back the initiative that was launched late last year.How does it work?You start by filling out a form on IKEA's website in
  
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• Leaks cause 2 million gallons of wastewater to flow into Brushy Creek

  01-04-2022 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Round Rock reports crews have found four leaks to date that account for about 2 million gallons of extra water each day. That extra water means the city is dumping more water into the creek than it's permitted to, meaning it may not be properly treated. Last month KXAN saw untreated sewage in the water.Round Rock's Utilities Department Director Michael Thane gave the Round Rock City Council an update with the latest. During the presentation, he explai
  
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• Pregnant Pflugerville woman thought a pain in her breast was mastitis — it was cancer

  01-04-2022 15:05 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Pregnancy is supposed to be a time filled with happiness, but for a Central Texas pregnant woman, soon after receiving the best news of her life, she received some of the worst."Honestly, I don't think anyone is ever really prepared for something like this," Tiffany Madison-Fogg said. Doctors say 52K could die after missed screenings for this type of cancerMadison-Fogg said during her last pregnancy she developed mastitis, which is a swelling of the breast tiss
  
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• Expectant mother thought a pain in her breast was mastitis — it was cancer

  01-04-2022 15:05 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Pregnancy is supposed to be a time filled with happiness, but for a Central Texas mother-to-be, soon after receiving the best news of her life, she received some of the worst."Honestly, I don't think anyone is ever really prepared for something like this," Tiffany Madison-Fogg said. Doctors say 52K could die after missed screenings for this type of cancerMadison-Fogg said during her last pregnancy she developed mastitis, which is a swelling of the breast tissue
  
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• Who is representing Texas on 'American Song Contest?'

  01-04-2022 14:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Get ready to vote for Texas in America's newest music competition.
  "American Song Contest" debuted March 21 on NBC. The show features live performances from artists hailing from all 50 states, five major U.S. territories and Washington D.C. You can think of it like “Eurovision.” Artists compete in three rounds: qualifying, semifinals and grand finale. The winner gets bragging rights for Best Original Song.“The Live Qualifiers Part 2” Episode 102 host
  
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• 2 Central Texas school districts boost pay for teachers, educational assistants

  01-04-2022 13:17 via kxan.com
  
  CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) -- Two Central Texas school districts made new efforts Thursday night to keep staff members around.Pflugerville Independent School District's Board of Trustees increased pay for all staff and teachers by 3% during its regular meeting. The district increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the motion passed unanimously. The increases cost the district about $6 million, with teachers and librarian raises totaling $3.3 million.PfISD pay rises to $60,500 for teachers with 2
  
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• Severe weather possible next week

  01-04-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A nice warming trend heading into the weekend ahead of our next storm system likely to impact Texas early next week. New outlooks | What to expect this AprilFRIDAY: Mostly sunny, warm and dry with afternoon highs in the low 80s. Winds will increase to 10-20 MPH with gusts reaching 30 MPH. Very high to extreme fire danger returns to areas along and west of I-35.Counties under outdoor burn bansSATURDAY: A quick passing shower will be possible before sunrise as a weak boundary
  
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• April starts with sunshine and 80s

  01-04-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A nice warming trend heading into the weekend ahead of our next storm system likely to impact Texas early next week. New outlooks | What to expect this AprilFRIDAY: Mostly sunny, warm and dry with afternoon highs in the low 80s. Winds will increase to 10-20 MPH with gusts reaching 30 MPH. Very high to extreme fire danger returns to areas along and west of I-35.Counties under outdoor burn bansSATURDAY: A quick passing shower will be possible before sunrise as a weak boundary
  
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• Meta plans for $800M data center in Temple — what that means for Austin

  01-04-2022 05:50 via kxan.com
  
  TEMPLE, Texas (KXAN) — Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is expanding its presence in Central Texas.It plans to make an $800 million investment — this time outside of Austin. The company is creating a Hyperscale Data Center about an hour north of Austin in the city of Temple."We sort of jokingly, but not so jokingly call Temple the northern-most suburb of Austin," said Tim Davis, the mayor of Temple.Being about an hour from such a tech hub has it benefits.Meta's new center will sit o
  
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• Downtown Austin Alliance looking for artist to create 5-story mural

  01-04-2022 03:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Downtown Austin Alliance is looking for a muralist or artist to bring to life a five-story mural in downtown Austin on Fourth Street, just east of Congress Avenue.
  The deadline to apply is April 15 at 5 p.m.
  The mural is for HPI Management. The company worked with the Downtown Austin Alliance in 2020 to transform its outdoor pocket plaza. The community suggested an art piece to go along with the space. Why are there blue trees in Austin?The finished mural would be 10 fe
  
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• Deadly motorcycle crash in south Austin

  01-04-2022 03:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At least one person is dead after a motorcycle crash in south Austin Thursday night. At least one other vehicle was involved.
  Austin-Travis County EMS said the collision took place at the intersection of West Slaughter Lane and South Congress Avenue around 7:15 p.m.
  CPR was being done at the scene, but the crash turned fatal, according to the agency.
  ATCEMS said to expect closures in the area while an investigation is being done.No other information was released.
  
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• Man found guilty in 2019 hit-and-run crash that killed 2 teens in Kyle

  01-04-2022 03:06 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was found guilty on multiple charges, including murder, for hitting and killing two teens then running away from the scene of the crash in April 2019.
  According to Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau, a jury returned their verdict Thursday afternoon and convicted Macario Hernandez of the following:
  Two counts of murderTwo counts of intoxication manslaughterThree counts of intoxication assaultTwo counts of accident involving death Three counts of accident
  
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• Business owners want Austin to reconsider opening E. 6th to traffic

  01-04-2022 02:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several business owners think reopening East Sixth Street to traffic is the only way to curb the violence that's plagued downtown.
  "Before anything else is done, the reopening of the streets is the most important," said Marc Roppolo, who has operated Roppolo's Pizza on East Sixth Street for more than 30 years.Councilmember Kathie Tovo said she has received emails from multiple business owners following the downtown shooting that injured four people the last weekend of South
  
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• Austin airport hiring TSA officers, gathering input on expansion

  01-04-2022 01:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Days after a Monday morning headache at Austin-Bergstrom International, the airport is looking ahead to the upcoming warm-weather travel season and future expansion plans.As KXAN has reported, the airport plans to hire 80 new full-time employees ahead of the summer rush. Thursday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed it's currently looking to hire two security officers in Austin.In the meantime, Austin-Bergstrom is working on a new baggage handling sys
  
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• Gov. Greg Abbott endorses APD officer Justin Berry for HD 19 race

  01-04-2022 01:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed Justin Berry for the House District 19 race.
  On Thursday, Abbott announced the endorsement, stating that Berry had a history of serving his community as a member of law enforcement. Berry is a police officer with the Austin Police Department.TX House GOP candidate Justin Berry among 19 APD officers indicted"Police officer Justin Berry’s strong conservative values and experience stopping violent crime are exactly what we need in the
  
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• Houston computer glitch leads to hundreds being released from jail, shines light on bigger issue

  01-04-2022 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (Nexstar) — A computer system glitch in Houston led to the release of hundreds of people being held in jails there on Wednesday.
  The glitch kept people who had been arrested waiting in custody for more than two days, without having their case processed. That's longer than state law allows, leading to those defendants being released.At least one judge blamed a backlog in cases, making it nearly impossible to hold defendants any longer.
  That draws attention to a larger statewide issu
  
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• WATCH: Austin cyclist OK after being hit by car that sped off

  01-04-2022 00:24 via kxan.com
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man's evening bike ride almost turned deadly, after video shows a car hitting the cyclist on Riverside Drive and then speeding off.
  A video captured by a bystander shows cyclist Nick Gardiner riding in front of the Long Center, when a car appearing to change lanes hits Gardiner, and drives off. He said it happened a little before 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
  You can see Gardiner roll over from the impact almost three times before he makes his way to the sidewalk and co
  
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• EMS responds to 'critical incident' in south Austin

  01-04-2022 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS said it's responding to a "critical incident" in south Austin Thursday evening. At least two people are hurt.
  The agency said it's taking place in the 1700 block of Teri Road. That's near Interstate 35 south of Highway 71. There are at least three schools, a hotel, a storage facility, an apartment complex and an IRS building in the area.
  Of the two patients ATCEMS said it has, none have been shot.
  Dispatch said at least six people are being detained
  
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• At least 3 hurt after incident in south Austin

  01-04-2022 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS said it's responding to a "critical incident" in south Austin Thursday evening. At least three people are hurt.
  The agency said it's taking place in the 1700 block of Teri Road. That's near Interstate 35 south of Highway 71. There are at least three schools, a hotel, a storage facility, an apartment complex and an IRS building in the area.
  Of the three patients ATCEMS said it has, none have been shot. No one has been taken to the hospital, either.
  D
  
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• Travis County DA releases witness list in APD officer indictments

  01-04-2022 00:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For the first time since 19 Austin Police officers were indicted by a grand jury on felony charges earlier this year, we are learning new details about the indictments from a court document filed by the Travis County District Attorney's office.
  In February, this grand jury indicted each officer on two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, accusing them of harming or injuring a total of 10 people during the May 2020 racial justice protests.
  Earlier this month, attorne
  
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