Austin news

• 1 dead Thursday in northeast Travis County crash

  19-05-2022 23:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A person died following a crash in northeast Travis County, medics said Thursday.Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted about the crash at 4:17 p.m. and said an adult was pronounced dead at the scene in the 9000 block of Johnny Morris Road near its intersection with Daffan Gin Road. That's just south of U.S. Highway 290.ATCEMS didn't release more details about the crash other than to avoid the area while an investigation takes place.We have a photographer going to the scene and w
  
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• Austin Fire Department sends crew north to Dry Branch fire

  19-05-2022 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Fire Department said they sent a crew of four people as a part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System to help fight the Dry Branch fire near Star, Texas late Wednesday night.
  Star is roughly two hours northwest of Austin. The Dry Branch fire is 4,000 acres and containment is only 35%, AFD said.There are several fires burning across Texas Thursday. The Texas A&M Forest Service said four new wildfires started Wednesday, burning nearly 4,500 acres across our
  
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• Much-needed rainfall and milder temperatures coming soon

  19-05-2022 23:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a 3 week stretch of unseasonably hot and dry weather, our luck turns around with a significant pattern change on the way this weekend.Today will be no different than what we've seen earlier in the week as afternoon highs rival records yet again (Austin forecast high: 99° - current record: 98° in 2008). A very slight storm chance exists into early this evening for San Saba and Lampasas Counties, but most stay sunny and dry.Storms and showers will be isolated Fr
  
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• Car booted? You'll be able to take it off yourself in Austin

  19-05-2022 23:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council passed an item to allow people to take parking boots off their cars themselves Thursday.People who have their cars booted for violations will now be able to remove the boot after they pay the fee. A boot operator will send a code to the person's smartphone to unlock it, and then the person can put the boot in an on-site receptacle. This eliminates a security deposit fee for the customer, the city said.The ordinance said vehicle boot operators have to sen
  
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• Texas voter was sent 2017 mail-in ballot instructions ahead election

  19-05-2022 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — We had a viewer reach out to us, saying her mail-in ballot instructions were incorrect.This comes after thousands of mail-in ballots were rejected in the primary election a couple months ago, because voters simply were not aware of new voting rules. Austin man must pay $5M for cheating hotel investors out of moneyWe took her concerns to the Texas Secretary of State's Office, and found out she had received an old mail-in ballot from 2017.Before CK Carman mails in her ball
  
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• TxDMV appoints executive director amid paper tag troubles

  19-05-2022 21:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board unanimously voted to appoint Daniel Avitia as executive director at its meeting Wednesday, amid ongoing problems with the state's temporary paper license plates.Avitia was appointed interim executive director in February, following the resignations of his predecessor, Whitney Brewster, and the agency's general counsel.He will earn an annual salary of $210,850, the board announced."It is an honor to be selected and trusted for this pos
  
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• Johns Hopkins students create edible tape to keep burritos from bursting

  19-05-2022 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  BALTIMORE (KXAN) — We've all had that universal experience (and disappointment) of biting into a stuffed burrito or wrap and having the filling gush out.Some Johns Hopkins University engineering students have made a fix for that. It's called Tastee Tape.
  A team made up of chemical biomolecular engineering students created the adhesive that's safe to eat, according to the Maryland university.
  How does it work?
  Johns Hopkins explained the small rectangular strips come affixed to sheets of wa
  
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• New pipeline project worries Central Texas landowner

  19-05-2022 20:27 via kxan.com
  
  FLORENCE, Texas (KXAN) — A new oil and gas pipeline is coming to the Lone Star State and plans show part of it could run through Central Texas.
  The more than 400-mile-long Matterhorn Express Pipeline will stretch across Texas and run through Travis, Williamson, Lampasas, Burnet and Lee counties. WhiteWater Midstream is the Austin-based company behind the project.Matterhorn Express Pipeline Project Proposed Route"The project will play a significant role in enhancing energy security, reducin
  
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• Photos: Fires burn across Texas, wildfire activity warning at highest level

  19-05-2022 20:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas A&M Forest Service said four new wildfires started Wednesday burning nearly 4,500 acres across our state. Fire crews with the state forest service are working nine active fires Thursday, including one near Abilene that has burned dozens of homes.As a result, the state raised the wildland fire preparedness level to a five Wednesday. That's the highest level.They said the potential for large fires to get out of hand is high in Texas Thursday. They also said cond
  
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• How close are we to shoe scanners at Austin's airport?

  19-05-2022 19:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On the list of air travel hassles, having to remove one's shoes at security checkpoints would likely be near the top.As Austin-Bergstrom International Airport grapples with long security lines, KXAN checked in with a company developing a scanner that would mean everyone could keep their shoes on, not just those with TSA PreCheck. MORE: Austin’s airport: Get here earlierA year ago, Liberty Defense Holdings, a concealed weapons detection company, acquired two technology
  
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• Austin library damaged in 2021 winter storm to reopen with renovations

  19-05-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A public library branch damaged by the February 2021 winter storm will reopen to the public Saturday in style.
  A busted pipe caused water damage to the University Hills Branch of Austin Public Library during the storm.
  After more than a year of work, the branch got a new roof, an expanded parking lot, electrical work and an outdoor sculpture. There are also new ceilings and flooring.
  The sculpture is part of the City of Austin Art in Public Places program.
  Austin Public Lib
  
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• Texas A&M's Fisher fires back at 'narcissist' Saban after 'buying' claims

  19-05-2022 18:47 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) -- Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher called Nick Saban a “narcissist” Thursday after the Alabama coach made “despicable” comments about the Aggies using name, image and likeness deals to land their top-ranked recruiting classes.Saban called out Texas A&M on Wednesday night for “buying” players. Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher calls recruiting rumors ‘clown acts,’ ‘garbage’“I know the consequence is going to be difficult
  
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• UT fans petition for FOX to play Bama game in evening primetime

  19-05-2022 18:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A petition circulating among University of Texas football fans is asking FOX Sports to show the "most anticipated non-conference matchup" of the 2022 season under the lights.FOX announced Monday that it had the rights to the Sept. 10 game between Alabama and UT. The kickoff time hasn't officially been set, but Matt Leinart, an analyst for FOX's Big Noon Kickoff, tweeted shortly after with the hashtag #BigNoonKickoff -- implying it could be aired in that mid-day slot.The petition
  
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• US census estimates it missed more than a half-million Texans during 2020 count

  19-05-2022 17:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Tripped up by politics and the pandemic — and with only a last-minute investment in promotion by the state — the 2020 census likely undercounted the Texas population by roughly 2%, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.The once-a-decade national count put Texas’ official population at 29,145,505 after it gained the most residents of any state in the last decade, earning two additional congressional seats. In a post-count analysis using survey resul
  
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• AG Paxton expands Google lawsuit to include private browsing, calls it 'deceptive'

  19-05-2022 17:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Google's "incognito mode" implies the tech giant will not be tracking users' search history and location, but Paxton alleges that is not the case.The state's top attorney amended a previous lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of violating the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
  In late January, Paxton joined four other bipartisan attorneys general suing Google for allegedly tracking users' location data without their consent. He
  
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• Hays County deputies search for 16-year-old girl last seen in Buda

  19-05-2022 16:47 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Hays County deputies are searching for a 16-year-old girl last seen Saturday in Buda.
  HCSO said Ty’teanna Franklin left her home May 14 and did not come back. She's believed to be in the south Austin area.
  She's described as 5'5" tall and weighs about 140 pounds. Franklin was last seen wearing blue jeans and a spaghetti strap top. She has a tattoo on her left side rib cage and a nose piercing.
  If you have details on where she could be, contact Det. Brian W
  
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• Conservatives, liberals warn about 5th Circuit Court lifting injunction against Texas' social media law

  19-05-2022 16:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — People who fall on all sides of the political spectrum are signaling concern over what implementing Texas' social media law will look like practically. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted an injunction against Texas' H.B. 20 on May 11, which means the law will now prevent social media companies from moderating user-generated content or banning users for speech that goes against the company's terms of service.H.B. 20 was passed by the Texas legislature and signed into la
  
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• LIVE: Council considers actions to counter possible Roe overturning

  19-05-2022 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council members on Thursday are set to discuss a set of resolutions that would cement their support for inclusive reproductive health care.
  This comes after a draft majority opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court was leaked earlier this month that suggested the justices would overturn Roe v. Wade.MORE: Draft ruling shows Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade: reportThe series of resolutions was introduced by District 2 council member Vanessa Fuentes, who will host
  
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• Council considers actions to counter possible Roe overturning

  19-05-2022 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council members on Thursday are set to discuss a set of resolutions that would cement their support for inclusive reproductive health care.
  This comes after a draft majority opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court was leaked earlier this month that suggested the justices would overturn Roe v. Wade.MORE: Draft ruling shows Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade: reportThe series of resolutions was introduced by District 2 council member Vanessa Fuentes, who will host
  
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• Austin man must pay $5M for cheating hotel investors out of money

  19-05-2022 15:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man must pay more than $5 million in restitution and spend 70 months in prison for cheating hotel investors out of money.
  The U.S. Department of Justice said Jason Michael Schubert, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property back in December 2020. 1 injured in police shooting Wednesday in Round RockThe DOJ said according to court paperwork, Schubert carried out the fraud s
  
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• Stream Realty pitches vision for bigger, safer 6th Street

  19-05-2022 14:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — One of the most prolific real estate firms in Austin has set its sights on rejuvenating the iconic Sixth Street Historic District that's increasingly known as Dirty Sixth.The district, which runs from Brazos Street east to I-35, is best known as a nightlife destination for all sorts of revelers — from college students to bachelorette parties to business travelers. But recent concerns about violent crime in the area have led to calls f
  
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• Hutto ISD modernization plan begins with high school as explosive growth continues in district

  19-05-2022 13:04 via kxan.com
  
  HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Just like Austin, communities around the city are growing fast as well.In Hutto, they are seeing explosive growth, with Hutto ISD expected to double in enrollment over the next 10 years."We are growing. I think a simple way of looking at it is roughly at an elementary school population a year," said Henry Gideon, assistant superintendent of operations. "We will be over capacity at the elementary schools in 2023-24, which means we will probably have to bring in some po
  
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• Austin City Council introducing reproductive health resolutions, VMU2 discussion

  19-05-2022 13:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here's what we're watching at the Austin City Council meeting Thursday.Fight Back for Reproductive Health AgendaFacing an impending end to Roe v. Wade, Austin City Council is desperately doing what it can to protect reproductive rights.District 2 councilmember Vanessa Fuentes has introduced a series of resolutions — the Fight Back for Reproductive Health Agenda — which provides protection for women, trans, and non-binary people.“We cannot allow discriminat
  
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• Austin participates in citywide radiation response exercise

  19-05-2022 12:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Throughout this week, teams from federal, state and local agencies are taking part in a massive nuclear incident exercise in Austin.
  Most emergency management personnel are trained for floods, fires, tornadoes and even active shooter situations, but they’re not as familiar with how to respond to a radiological attack. So more than 30 agencies are participating in a weeklong demonstration across Austin.  BACKGROUND: Austin to hold exercise simulating a &
  
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• 24 additional teachers added to TEA's Teacher Vacancy Task Force

  19-05-2022 12:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has assigned 24 additional teachers to the Teacher Vacancy Task Force in response to a recommendation made by the task force and from local educators and education advocacy groups.The task force is responsible for addressing ongoing staffing concerns in districts across the state. The TEA said the task force is working to find teacher-shaped solutions and create policy recommendations that firmly supports the needs of teachers.  Ne
  
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• Soaking rain, cooler temps looking likely next week

  19-05-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a 3 week stretch of unseasonably hot and dry weather, our luck turns around with a significant pattern change on the way this weekend.Today will be no different than what we've seen earlier in the week as afternoon highs rival records yet again (Austin forecast high: 99° - current record: 98° in 2008). But today will actually be one of the quietest days of the next 7 as rain chances kick in starting tomorrow.Storms and showers will be isolated Friday and Satur
  
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• Rainfall measured in inches over the next week

  19-05-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a 3 week stretch of unseasonably hot and dry weather, our luck turns around with a significant pattern change on the way this weekend.Today will be no different than what we've seen earlier in the week as afternoon highs rival records yet again (Austin forecast high: 99° - current record: 98° in 2008). A very slight storm chance exists into early this evening for San Saba and Lampasas Counties, but most stay sunny and dry.Storms and showers will be isolated Fr
  
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• Man dies after being hit by train near downtown Austin

  19-05-2022 10:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police say a man in 40s is dead after a Union Pacific cargo train hit him near downtown Austin early Thursday morning.
  Police say the Union Pacific train hit the man around 12:45 a.m. in the 300 block of Orchard Street. That's southwest of Fifth Street between Lamar Boulevard and MoPac about 1,000 feet from the Amtrak station.
  According to police, the train's driver saw someone ahead of them before the train hit the man. Union Pacific notified 911 after the crash.
  Police
  
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• Mavs fall to Golden State in Game 1 of Western Conference Finals

  19-05-2022 07:05 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Once Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson slowed down, caught their breath and stopped rushing shots, the Splash Brothers got on a roll that proved too much for Dallas to stop.Especially because Andrew Wiggins worked end to end to make sure Luka Doncic couldn't get going.Curry had 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, Golden State held Doncic in check and the Warriors beat the Mavericks 112-87 on Wednesday night for a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.“Just m
  
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• Summer safety at Lake Georgetown amid teen's death

  19-05-2022 06:06 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - Crisis counselors are available all week for students at Stony Point High School in Round Rock. The district confirms one of its teenaged students died after jumping from the cliffs on Lake Georgetown on Sunday.  Police say the 16-year-old did not surface and was rescued by first responders before being pronounced dead.
  In light of that tragedy and with Memorial Day right around the corner, lake management is doubling its staff to ensure continued safety and
  
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• Texas senators discuss more work-from-home flexibility for state employees

  19-05-2022 06:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Holly Montoya is one of many who commutes from out of town to work in Austin daily. For her, the cost of rent in Austin and surrounding areas isn't affordable, so she drives about an hour-and-a-half every day from Temple.
  Montoya's job shifted to remote during the pandemic and she just returned to the office in April. Between surging gas prices and traffic from more people returning to the office, she misses that flexibility.
  "Even if it was like a hybrid thing — l
  
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• Officers involved in Round Rock shooting Wednesday

  19-05-2022 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Austin and Round Rock police departments, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, are in Round Rock responding to a shooting involving officers Wednesday.APD said officers are in the 900 block of Louis Henna Blvd. in Round Rock. That's the address for a Circle K gas station at the corner of Louis Henna and A.W. Grimes boulevards. Louis Henna Boulevard is the frontage road for State Highway 45.APD said to avoid the area, and a public information officer
  
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• LIVE: 1 injured in police shooting Wednesday in Round Rock

  19-05-2022 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — One person was injured in a shooting involving police Wednesday in Round Rock, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
  Austin and Round Rock police departments, along with Texas DPS, responded to the 900 block of Louis Henna Blvd. in Round Rock. That's the address for a Circle K gas station at the corner of Louis Henna and A.W. Grimes boulevards. Louis Henna Boulevard is the frontage road for State Highway 45.APD said to avoid the area, and a public informati
  
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• 1 injured in shooting involving police Wednesday in Round Rock

  19-05-2022 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — One person was injured in a shooting involving police Wednesday in Round Rock, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
  Austin and Round Rock police departments, along with Texas DPS, responded to the 900 block of Louis Henna Blvd. in Round Rock. That's the address for a Circle K gas station at the corner of Louis Henna and A.W. Grimes boulevards. Louis Henna Boulevard is the frontage road for State Highway 45.APD said to avoid the area, and a public informati
  
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• 1 injured in police shooting Wednesday in Round Rock

  19-05-2022 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — One person was injured in a shooting involving police Wednesday in Round Rock, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
  Austin and Round Rock police departments, along with Texas DPS, responded to the 900 block of Louis Henna Blvd. in Round Rock. That's the address for a Circle K gas station at the corner of Louis Henna and A.W. Grimes boulevards. Louis Henna Boulevard is the frontage road for State Highway 45.APD said to avoid the area, and a public informati
  
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• Austin ISD superintendent lone finalist for top job with Dallas ISD

  19-05-2022 02:14 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KXAN) — Austin Independent School District superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde has been named as the lone finalist in Dallas ISD's search for a new superintendent.Dr. Elizalde has been with AISD since August 2020. Prior to joining, she worked for Dallas ISD as the chief of school leadership.In a press release sent on Wednesday evening, Dallas ISD said that the state requires a 21-day review period for the superintendent position.After those three weeks, trustees are expected to o
  
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• Man arrested, accused of touching young girl at Barton Springs

  19-05-2022 01:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man is accused of inappropriately touching a young girl at an Austin swimming pool earlier this week, according to an Austin Police Department affidavit.APD said Moses Adrian Guitierrez, 29, faces a second-degree felony charge of indecency with child sexual contact after an incident at Barton Springs Pool May 15. The affidavit said Guitierrez inappropriately touched a 12-year-old girl multiple times and also tried to give the girl money.In an interview with APD, Guitierre
  
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• House members hold hearing on potential post-Roe v. Wade nation

  19-05-2022 00:29 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (Nexstar) — House lawmakers heard from experts Wednesday about what the country could look like if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court.In a hearing following the court's leaked draft opinion that said they'd indeed reverse the landmark decision, Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., told the House Judiciary Committee that the impact of having Roe v. Wade overturned would be "devastating.""Roe v. Wade protected millions of Americans by assuring that they have access to safe, lega
  
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• Biden invokes Defense Production Act for formula shortage

  19-05-2022 00:24 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday invoked the Defense Production Act to speed production of infant formula and authorized flights to import supply from overseas, as he faces mounting political pressure over a domestic shortage caused by the safety-related closure of the country's largest formula manufacturing plant.The Defense Production Act order requires suppliers of formula manufacturers to fulfill those orders before other customers. Biden is also authorizing the Defen
  
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• Equals on the field: US Soccer to pay men's, women's players the same

  19-05-2022 00:19 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation reached milestone agreements to pay its men's and women's teams equally, making the American national governing body the first in the sport to promise both sexes matching money.The federation on Wednesday announced separate collective bargaining agreements through December 2028 with the unions for both national teams, ending years of often acrimonious negotiations.The deals grew partly out of a push by players on the more successful women's team, including
  
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