Austin news

• Austin Transit Partnership to recruit new executive director to help lead Project Connect launch

  14-04-2022 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Transit Partnership will begin the hiring process for its permanent executive director, after Capital Metro President and CEO Randy Clarke served in an interim capacity since Project Connect's voter approval in November 2020.ATP, in conjunction with CapMetro and the City of Austin, oversees the implementation of Project Connect, a multi-billion-dollar mass transit program designed to expand bus services and bring light rails to the city. After the three entities
  
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• 'A real gut punch': Produce association asks Abbott to reconsider truck inspections at border

  14-04-2022 23:41 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (Nexstar) — Fruit and vegetables bound for grocery shelves and restaurants are rotting on semi-trucks at the Texas-Mexico border.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state officials to inspect every commercial truck that crosses the border, after it passes through U.S. Customers and Border Protection. The governor said he's striking back against the Biden administration's decision to stop enforcing COVID-19 emergency health restrictions at the border next month.
  Trucks are lined up fo
  
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• Truck inspections returning to normal at Texas-Chihuahua border

  14-04-2022 23:39 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is immediately scaling back commercial truck checks in El Paso after the governors of Texas and Chihuahua reached a deal to jointly fight illegal immigration.The memorandum of understanding signed Thursday in Austin by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Chihuahua Gov. Maru Campos is like one penned Wednesday between Abbott and the governor of Nuevo Leon.“Chihuahua is doing more than talking about (border security), they h
  
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• LIVE: Chihuahua governor to meet with Abbott over Texas truck checks

  14-04-2022 23:39 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Chihuahua Gov. Maru Campos is in Austin, trying to convince Texas officials to roll back truck inspections that are tying up the flow of manufactured goods in the El Paso-Juarez area.Campos on Thursday met with Texas Secretary of State John Scott to brief him on her state’s security effort and was to meet with Abbott later in the day, her office said in a statement.The leader of Mexico’s largest northern border state talked to Texas officials ab
  
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• Chihuahua governor meets with Abbott over Texas truck checks

  14-04-2022 23:39 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Chihuahua Gov. Maru Campos is in Austin, trying to convince Texas officials to roll back truck inspections that are tying up the flow of manufactured goods in the El Paso-Juarez area.Campos on Thursday met with Texas Secretary of State John Scott to brief him on her state’s security effort and was to meet with Abbott later in the day, her office said in a statement.The leader of Mexico’s largest northern border state talked to Texas officials ab
  
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• Austin investigating head of Civil Rights office for alleged employee mistreatment

  14-04-2022 23:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A third party, city-funded investigation is underway into the head of the city of Austin's Office of Civil Rights amid allegations of mistreatment and retaliation against office employees.On Monday, the Human Rights Commission hosted a six-hour meeting to discuss the allegations against Civil Rights Officer Carol Johnson, who began her tenure with the city in February 2021. An initial complaint was filed to the Office of the City Auditor in November, which was then forwarde
  
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• Austin rent is up by 25% compared to 2020

  14-04-2022 23:03 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Are you looking to rent instead of buying a home during the hot housing market? You may not find much relief: Since March 2020, the national average rent has jumped nearly 20%, according to a new rental report released Thursday.
  Last month marked the eighth in a row in which rent growth has reached double-digits, Realtor.com found. The average rent for the nation's 50 largest metros even reached a new high at $1,807. That marks a year-over-year average rent increase of 17%.Whil
  
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• 20 Texas lawmakers call for Melissa Lucio's execution to be canceled

  14-04-2022 22:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A group of Texas lawmakers from both sides of the aisle signed a letter Wednesday calling for the execution of a woman convicted 15 years ago of murdering her child to be canceled.
  Melissa Lucio's execution is less than two weeks away, scheduled for April 27. She's maintained her innocence, and her lawyers filed for a retrial last week. They said she may have been coerced into a confession the day her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, died.What’s behind a bipartisan group
  
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• Towering buildings further shape north Austin

  14-04-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN/ABJ) — If the tall towers and soccer stadium don't catch your eye, maybe it's the restaurants, shops or soaring home prices in north Austin. The area is rapidly changing, in many ways becoming a second, if not smaller, downtown Austin.
  Several changes are coming to north Austin, including the creation of Apple and its new campus. More than 5,000 jobs are expected to come to the campus, Austin Business Journal reporter Colin Pope told KXAN.
  As more growth comes to the area, so
  
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• Curative testing site partnership provides patients who test positive access to antiviral pill

  14-04-2022 22:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Curative has announced a new partnership that will give those who test positive for COVID-19 access to antiviral treatment, including the antiviral COVID-19 pill.Curative's partnership with Truepill was announced in early April. Patients who test positive after taking a COVID-19 molecular or antigen test at a Curative testing site will be offered a chance to take advantage of Truepill's virtual care platform, including telehealth, and an antiviral prescription will be sent
  
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• Police: Man failed to call 911 during suspected fentanyl overdose at east Austin grill

  14-04-2022 21:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man is facing felony tampering with evidence charges after he allegedly failed to call 911 while two people inside the Victory Grill in east Austin overdosed, according to court documents. One of those men died, per documents.
  Documents show the man who died, Eddie Flores, talked to his wife, Crystal, a little before 6 a.m. on March 19. Crystal told police she could tell Eddie was "very intoxicated" so she drove to Victory Grill to pick her husband up, documents s
  
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• Police: Man failed to call 9-1-1 during suspected fentanyl overdose at east Austin grill

  14-04-2022 21:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man is facing felony tampering with evidence charges after he allegedly failed to call 9-1-1 while two people inside the Victory Grill in east Austin overdosed, according to court documents. One of those men died, per documents.
  Documents show the man who died, Eddie Flores, talked to his wife, Crystal, a little before 6 a.m. on March 19. Crystal told police she could tell Eddie was "very intoxicated" so she drove to Victory Grill to pick her husband up, documents
  
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• 1 dead, 3 injured in 2-vehicle crash near SH 130, FM 973

  14-04-2022 21:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS said one person died and three others were injured in a two-vehicle wreck on State Highway 130 Thursday in eastern Travis County.Tweets from ATCEMS said the vehicles collided and burst into flames on SH 130 near its intersection with FM 973, just east of Walter Long Metropolitan Park.Three ambulances responded to the scene, ATCEMS said, and three people were taken to the hospital.
  Two were taken to Dell Seton — one, declared a trauma alert wit
  
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• State's paper tag fraud problem coming to 'screeching halt,' local law enforcement says

  14-04-2022 20:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The mass-producing of fraudulent paper license plates -- a problem that has plagued Texas -- has hit "almost a screeching halt" amid tighter restrictions, according to local law enforcement.
  "What y'all have done over the past three months is exemplary," central Texas law enforcement officer David Kohler said, speaking to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles board on Thursday. "Leaps and bounds [improvement] over the last two months compared to the previous three years. It's v
  
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• Margaritaville-themed communities are coming to Austin

  14-04-2022 20:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ever dreamed of living the Margaritaville life? You may soon be able to.
  Margaritaville and Minto Communities USA announced in a press release on April 12 that Latitude Margaritaville communities are expanding to Texas.
  The 55+ communities will be expanding to Austin, Dallas and Houston.
  "These communities are inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett," the press release said.
  Three Latitude Margaritaville communities a
  
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• Lawsuit filed against both drivers involved in Barton Springs Rd. crash

  14-04-2022 19:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of the 11 people injured after a collision April 8 on Barton Springs Road has filed a lawsuit against both drivers involved.Brad Bonilla, an attorney representing Jesus Moncada, said he's "disappointed that no criminal charges have been filed yet," and that a "lack of criminal prosecution/tickets is a driving factor for dangerous roads."Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Pablo Vargas Castro and Bryan Dodson. Austin Police have not identified the pair as drivers as o
  
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• Travis Co. Appraisal District says their market values have been 'too low.' What does that mean for your notice?

  14-04-2022 18:29 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) said appraisal notices for the year are on their way to homeowners. Spoiler alert: Values are up. Way up.
  TCAD said according to this year’s values, the 2022 median market value for a residential property in Travis County is $632,208. ‘Never seen anything like this’: Realtors caution dramatic tax bill hikes for new homeownersKXAN has previously reported that according to TCAD, the median home value was
  
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• Travis Co. Appraisal District says its market values have been 'too low.' What does that mean for your notice?

  14-04-2022 18:29 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) said appraisal notices for the year are on their way to homeowners. Spoiler alert: Values are up. Way up.
  TCAD said according to this year’s values, the 2022 median market value for a residential property in Travis County is $632,208. ‘Never seen anything like this’: Realtors caution dramatic tax bill hikes for new homeownersKXAN has previously reported according to TCAD, the median home value was
  
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• Turn it down: Concerts at new Round Rock venue are too loud, complaints say

  14-04-2022 16:51 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Neighbors who live near Round Rock's newest music venue want acts to keep it down.According to the City of Round Rock, noise complaints from people in two neighborhoods near the venue on Interstate 35 came in during the first two weekends it was open. City officials said people in the Hidden Glen and Glen Wood neighborhoods, located southwest of Round Rock Amp, sent them in complaining about noise from concerts April 1-2 featuring Cody Jinks and a concert with Sn
  
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• Pickpocketing up 175% in downtown Austin, expert shares safety tips

  14-04-2022 15:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Getting your wallet, purse or phone stolen can cause a whole lot of headaches but it's happening more and more in Austin. Pickpocketing is up 65% across the city since last year."You see some lady with a Louis Vuitton purse in their shopping cart, or just barely sat down next to her feet or hanging off a chair at a restaurant, and she's so engaged (in conversation) that (pickpocketers) know (they) get cash for that," said Valor Defense Academy business owner Kelsey Crouch.
  
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• Pickpocketing up 175% in downtown Austin

  14-04-2022 15:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Getting your wallet, purse or phone stolen can cause a whole lot of headaches but it's happening more and more in Austin. Pickpocketing is up 65% across the city since last year."You see some lady with a Louis Vuitton purse in their shopping cart, or just barely sat down next to her feet or hanging off a chair at a restaurant, and she's so engaged (in conversation) that (pickpocketers) know (they) get cash for that," said Valor Defense Academy business owner Kelsey Crouch.
  
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• 2-story home burns in east Austin early Thursday

  14-04-2022 15:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A home in east Austin burned early Thursday morning, causing an estimated $450,000 in damage, the Austin Fire Department said.AFD tweeted photos of the fire at 1:36 a.m., saying the two-story home located at 1407 E. 37th St., was "significantly involved," when firefighters arrived.A 2-story home in east Austin burned Thursday morning, and AFD said the fire caused an estimated $450,000 in damage. (AFD photo)AFD said it was a "defense fire," meaning it could only be fought fr
  
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• Austin airport expansion means more space for local stores, restaurants

  14-04-2022 14:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is expanding, and retailers and restaurants need to consider their plans to get in on it early.Traffic at AUS is expected to double within the next 10 years, and leaders are planning for a second concourse with at least 10 more gates. That means there's going to be more room for shops and restaurants to move in. New beer at H-E-B can help protect the Texas Hill CountryMukesh Patel, AUS chief business and finance
  
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• Lawmaker to take fresh look at Texas homebuilding industry

  14-04-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, said in an interview he believes it may be time for the state legislature to take a closer look at the residential home building industry following a KXAN investigation. KXAN found families across the state are dealing with crumbling foundations and years-long disputes with developers."It’s something that was attempted to be fixed and addressed more than a decade ago and was not, so it may be time for us to take another look at it,
  
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• 4th round of food benefits approved for Texas families affected by COVID-19

  14-04-2022 05:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A fourth round of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits for Texans has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a state release.The benefits will help Texas families with children who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19.The release says a student must be approved for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or have COVID-related absences, virtual attendance or campus clo
  
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• State soccer: Dripping Springs makes 2nd state appearance

  14-04-2022 03:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Dripping Springs will face Katy Jordan in the University Interscholastic League boys soccer 5A title game at 5 p.m. Thursday at Georgetown's Birkelbach Field.
  The Tigers (25-3) defeated Porter 2-0 in the state semifinals after a 2-0 win in the regional final match. Longhorns linebacker Derrick Johnson donates thousands to Austin ISD librariesEven though their defense has been what has set them apart, they're no slouches offensively. Seniors Brenden Gajewski and captain Adam
  
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• Expert: Truck delays at border will have impacts on Austin

  14-04-2022 03:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The delays and protests at the international crossings between Mexico and Texas could soon mean a shortage of produce and other supplies in our area, according to an economic expert.
  Edward Anderson with the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business said Central Texans should expect shortages on produce and more delays when it comes to vehicle inventory at car dealerships with fresh ingredients and key car components shipments stalled.
  "We're going to start
  
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• Husband of deaf woman hurt in crash wants more interpreter resources

  14-04-2022 03:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Joel Barish got a frantic video call from his wife Friday night."I saw ambulances, and I wasn't sure what was going in," he told us through an ASL interpreter with Communication by Hand, LLC.
  His wife was near the Holla Mode food truck on Barton Springs Road when a car crashed through a group of people outside. Barish said his wife, who is also deaf, did not have to go to the hospital, but people fell on top of her.BACKGROUND: 9 taken to hospital after car crashes into food
  
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• Silver Alert issued for elderly man last seen in Kyle

  14-04-2022 02:50 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — Law enforcement is searching for an elderly man last seen in the Meadows of Kyle neighborhood Wednesday afternoon. A Silver Alert was issued in connection with his disappearance.
  His name is John Bohac III, 74. He was last seen around 2:25 p.m. in the 100 block of Dusky Thrush Drive. That's near Windy Hill Road.
  He's described as a white man with white hair and hazel eyes, who's about six feet tall and weighs 210 pounds. He was last seen wearing a camo veteran hat, a g
  
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• Residents affected by power outage near Manor

  14-04-2022 02:45 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Crews restored power to customers near Manor after an outage, Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative said in a tweet Wednesday evening.The cooperative said the outage came from a substation that serves more than 5,000 members near Manor. Power was restored to more than 1,700 just before 7:45 p.m.The outage cause is unknown, Bluebonnet said.
  Bluebonnet said those affected can get updates by texting STATUS to 85700. You can also view the outage information online.This is a dev
  
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• U-Haul offers free self-storage to those impacted by Salado tornado

  14-04-2022 02:25 via kxan.com
  
  SALADO, Texas (KXAN) — U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage to residents affected by Tuesday's tornado in Salado.
  The National Weather Service for the Austin/San Antonio area said the tornado was a high-end EF-3 tornado when it caused damage to about 63 buildings in the Salado area. Bell County Judge David Blackburn said 23 people were hurt.Judge: More than 20 injured in tornado reported in Salado, FlorenceThe company said the storage applies to self-storage and U-Box container
  
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• Memo: How Austin plans to address its lifeguard shortage

  14-04-2022 02:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's Parks and Recreation Department is sorting through several strategies to boost the city's lifeguard staffing issues, a City memo says.The memo says Austin's Aquatics department still needs around "599 lifeguards to fully operate the aquatic system during the summer season" and "200 temporary employees for summer camp operations." Additionally, the department is looking for 25 employees for ongoing summer maintenance. Due to lifeguard shortage, Barton Springs Pool w
  
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• Pregnant Texas woman loses baby after she and family are ripped from home by tornado

  14-04-2022 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  SALADO, Texas (Nexstar) — "That's all I have left, just sighs," Naomi Benavidez said Wednesday.Bulldozers crunched through snapped trees and crumbled homes in Central Texas Wednesday, showing the impact of a bad storm. But, it’s really stories from families like Benavidez, that show how a vicious tornado changes lives forever.“She was picking up... holding on to her babies as much as she could," Benavidez said.According to Benavidez, her sister, her sister’s husband and t
  
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• Pregnant Texas woman loses baby after family ripped from home by tornado

  14-04-2022 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  SALADO, Texas (Nexstar) — "That's all I have left, just sighs," Naomi Benavidez said Wednesday.Bulldozers crunched through snapped trees and crumbled homes in Central Texas Wednesday, showing the impact of a bad storm. But, it’s really stories from families like Benavidez, that show how a vicious tornado changes lives forever.“She was picking up... holding on to her babies as much as she could," Benavidez said.According to Benavidez, her sister, her sister’s husband and t
  
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• Texas police evaluating how they can crack down on thieves reselling catalytic converters

  14-04-2022 01:14 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — On Wednesday, law enforcement officials from the Austin and San Antonio areas took a tour at PGM of Texas, a catalytic converter recycling facility in San Marcos.
  Officials were there to better educate themselves on the recycling process in an effort to learn how law enforcement can collaborate with the private sector to crack down on thieves reselling the converters."This whole catalytic converter theft and recycling portion, it's something that's new. And so we
  
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• Austin ISD sees enrollment spikes for elementary schools

  14-04-2022 01:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Registrations for Austin Independent School District pre-K and kindergarten have doubled what they were last spring. This comes after the district saw its largest decrease in enrollment among these grades throughout the pandemic.
  The district failed to meet enrollment expectations in October 2021. It was 1,500 students short of its 10,472 enrollment projection for the 2021-22 school year.
  This year, pre-K registrations are up 188%, and kindergarten registrations are up 123%
  
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• State Board of Education may expand Texas history instruction for select grades

  14-04-2022 00:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas students in some grade levels will begin learning additional Texas history. The State Board of Education voted April 8 to ‘significantly increase’ Texas History instruction in Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, according to TEA. These Texas-specific standards will expand to kindergarten, first grade, second grade, sixth grade, and eighth grade Texas history is currently taught in grades 4-7.  Texas Education Agency adds more teachers
  
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• Rare violent tornado confirmed Tuesday evening in Williamson, Bell counties

  14-04-2022 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  SALADO, Texas (KXAN) — A tornado touched down near the Williamson-Bell County line Tuesday evening, moving toward Salado where significant damage was reported to homes and businesses. Bell County Judge David Blackburn reported 23 people were injured, 12 of whom were hospitalized and one was in critical condition. Judge: More than 20 injured in tornado reported in Salado, FlorenceWhile the Williamson County portion of the storm's track was rated as an EF-1 with 100 mph winds, the tornado pe
  
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• Texas coach explains why he shoved umpire during youth baseball game

  14-04-2022 00:27 via kxan.com
  
  ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — An Abilene coach says he takes "full responsibility" for shoving an umpire during a youth baseball game, sending him to the hospital.
  Robbie Johnson was coaching his select team, the Texas Phenoms, while they were playing two games in The Colony over the weekend.
  Johnson says the first game was played without incident, but during the second game, one of the umpires, identified as Sam Phelps, was making unfair calls.
  During the game, Johnson says he and Phelps h
  
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