Austin news

• New way to file police reports with Cedar Park police

  05-07-2022 23:27 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Cedar Park Police Department said it was excited to introduce its new online reporting system.The system was "designed to make filing police reports easier and more efficient for the public, while decreasing the time it takes for reports to be created and filed for non-violent crimes."According to CPPD, the new online reporting system was designed for several types of crimes.
  CPPD said only the following incident types can be reported through the online reporting
  
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• Hottest summer on record underway with little relief in sight

  05-07-2022 23:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's hottest summer on record continues as temperatures at Camp Mabry reached 100 degrees for the 26th time this year on Tuesday. Day and night temperatures are running the highest fever we've ever observed to date, and we have recorded more 100-degree days to this point than ever before at Camp Mabry.
  This new stretch of 100-degree heat is expected to worsen through the coming weekend. A strong, August-like ridge of high pressure is meandering around the Central U.S., produ
  
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• Dog remains found buried at Spicewood pet resort, BCSO investigating

  05-07-2022 23:07 via kxan.com
  
  SPICEWOOD, Texas (KXAN) -- The Burnet County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Lucki Dogs Pet Resort in Spicewood after a pet recovery service found the remains of a dog buried on the property.According to Burnet County Sheriff's Office Captain of Support Services Mike Sorenson, greater-Austin non-profit Trapping, Rescue, and Pet Recovery Service (TRAPRS) told investigators on July 1 that group members found a dog buried on the property of Lucki Dogs Resort.
  Investigators say the dog is a go
  
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• LCRA cuts off Highland Lakes water to some agricultural customers

  05-07-2022 22:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority said it will cut off water to agricultural customers in the lower Colorado River basin this year because of a severe drought in Central Texas.
  The river authority said this will affect the second growing season, which is from August to mid-October. Water for the first growing season will be uninterrupted, per the Saturday announcement. RELATED: Lake Travis now at its lowest level since May 2015This will affect agricultural customers in Col
  
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• APD drug bust finds 500 grams of meth, 800 grams of fentanyl at Austin home

  05-07-2022 22:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police officers arrested a man for possession of meth and fentanyl June 28, following investigations into an alleged fentanyl dealer in the city.In April, APD detectives and officers within the department's organized crime division issued a series of search warrants for a residence and two storage units, according to a court affidavit. An investigation led detectives to believe 43-year-old Joseph Nicholas Goodman lived at the home and was distributing narcotics.Goodm
  
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• Kaitlin Armstrong now in Austin from Houston jail

  05-07-2022 22:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Kaitlin Armstrong, 34, arrived in Austin on Tuesday after transferring from a Houston jail.She was transferred from the Harris County Jail and was booked into the Travis County Jail. Kaitlin Armstrong captured in Costa Rica, records show bail set at $3.5 millionArmstrong faces a murder charge for the death of pro-cyclist Moriah Wilson, according to the Harris County booking website.There is currently no bond listed in jail records, but a $3.5 million bond was previously rep
  
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• Kaitlin Armstrong now in Austin

  05-07-2022 22:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Kaitlin Armstrong, 34, arrived in Austin on Tuesday after transferring from a Houston jail.She was transferred from the Harris County Jail and was booked into the Travis County Jail.Armstrong faces a murder charge for the death of pro-cyclist Moriah Wilson, according to the Harris County booking website.There is currently no bond listed in jail records, but a $3.5 million bond was previously reported.Jail records showed she is held on an unnamed first-degree felony charge a
  
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• Struggling travel businesses in Texas can soon apply for a grant

  05-07-2022 20:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Applications will open Wednesday for struggling businesses in the tourism, travel and hospitalities industries to receive state grant money.
  Gov. Greg Abbott announced the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program, which will distribute $180 million in funding to those businesses impacted by the pandemic.
  Applicants in the following industries can get a one-time grant of up to $20,000:
  Arts, entertainment, and recreationFood services and drinking placesTraveler accommoda
  
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• Migratory birds die, babies fall from trees after fireworks show in Taylor

  05-07-2022 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Some residents in Taylor are pushing the city to move its annual firework display in Murphy Park after a number of egrets were killed during this year's Fourth of July show.Residents who spoke to KXAN said the birds scattered after the fireworks went off, and some of them flew into nearby powerlines.
  Dead birds could be seen in the road near the island, as well as in the trees where the birds nest.
  "The Taylor Police Department reports that at 9:16 p.m., when th
  
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• Migratory birds die, babies fall from trees after firework show in Taylor

  05-07-2022 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Some residents in Taylor are pushing the city to move its annual firework display in Murphy Park after a number of Egrets were killed during this year's Fourth of July show.Residents who spoke to KXAN say the birds scattered after the fireworks went off and some of them flew into nearby powerlines.
  (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)(KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)(KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Dead birds could be seen in the road near the island, as well as in the trees where the bi
  
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• Austin Police arrest woman after 103 checks stolen

  05-07-2022 20:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department arrested a woman in connection to 103 stolen checks found in her possession, with a total of 24 victims impacted.Police responded to a bank in the 2300 block of East Anderson Lane June 30 following a suspicious person call. A woman was trying to open the front doors despite the bank being closed, and she'd previously been reported to APD for making death threats to bank employees at the location.A member of the bank's security team also provided
  
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• Austin Public Health investigating 5 more potential cases of monkeypox

  05-07-2022 20:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The virus that causes monkeypox may have infected five more people in the area, according to Austin Public Health (APH).
  In a newsletter released Tuesday afternoon, the agency shared it's investigating "five presumptive cases in which the individuals are experiencing symptoms consistent with monkeypox." APH already confirmed one positive case after testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that person is still in isolation at home.‘We are hav
  
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• Austin-area firefighters worked 133 fires in 24 hours

  05-07-2022 19:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Over 24 hours, local firefighters worked 133 various fires between noon on the Fourth of July and noon on Tuesday, the Austin Fire Department said.
  AFD said 90 of the blazes occurred within the span of four hours between 8 p.m. and midnight on July 4. Most were "presumably" related to fireworks.
  The fires ranged from grass and brush fires to trash fires, including at least 10 structure fires. AFD is still working to learn the causes of those building fires, but said there w
  
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• What's driving electricity and gas bills higher in Texas?

  05-07-2022 18:51 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — Texans are seeing skyrocketing home electric bills this spring and summer, with many customers paying at least 50% more than they did for electric bills at this time last year.And nobody seems to know when costs will go down.“I am worried people are going to be shocked,” said John Ballenger, vice president at Texas retail electric provider Champion Energy. “Realizing this is 50 or 60 or 70% higher than what they had paid before, I’m just not sure i
  
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• Daniel Marin anchors KXAN as legendary Robert Hadlock retires

  05-07-2022 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The longest-serving news anchor in Austin is stepping down from the desk in mid-July after 32 years at the helm of KXAN's evening newscasts."It can feel like a thousand years ago or just yesterday, depending on the situation. I've had a great time working here. It's a great job in a great city," Hadlock said, reflecting on his storied career that was, of course, filled with stories.
  Highlighting Hadlock's careerViewers first saw Hadlock on KXAN at 6 p.m. Aug. 29, 1990. He r
  
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• 5 weird things we learned about Austin during a Duck Adventures tour

  05-07-2022 17:58 via kxan.com
  
  Austin Duck Adventures602 E 4th Street
  Austin$25-50 M-F 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. | Sat. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.. 4 p.m. | Sun. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You've probably seen the Austin Duck Adventures tours around town. If you're lucky enough to be standing on the side of the road when one passes, you'll likely get "quacked at," meaning the folks on board blow into whistle-like duck bills at you. Meet the Austin couple taking care of bats in their homeThe
  
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• Man sentenced to life in prison for 2015 murder of pregnant woman

  05-07-2022 17:44 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man accused of helping to kill a pregnant woman in 2015 was convicted of capital murder on June 30.
  Samantha DeanAccording to Bastrop County records, Freddie Lee Smith was given a life sentence in prison. His trial began June 22.In 2015, Smith helped kill Samantha Dean, who was a victim services coordinator for Kyle Police. She was seven months pregnant at the time of the murder.
  Court documents showed former Austin Police officer Vontrey Clark paid Smith,
  
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• Slow start to hurricane season? Not quite...

  05-07-2022 17:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Now one month into the Atlantic hurricane season, some may think the tropics have been relatively quiet with only 3 named storms to date. However, this is normal, as the early summer months rarely come with high tropical activity. In fact, we are currently on track to keep up with the most active season on record, 2020, which had a total of 5 named storms by the end of July.
  What can we expect as the season progresses?Hurricanes require a few key ingredients in order to form, th
  
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• Man accused of harboring teen girls in Williamson County out on bond

  05-07-2022 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A man accused of harboring two teen girls at the center of a recent Amber Alert was being held in Williamson County.The man has since been released from a set $10,000 bond.
  KXAN's sister station KWKT in Waco reported James Robert VanHouten was arrested by Williamson County authorities in connection with the disappearance of the two 14-year-old girls.RELATED: Amber Alert canceled after 2 teen girls foundOnline Williamson County records show VanHouten was arrested
  
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• Man accused of harboring teen girls at center of Amber Alert in custody in Williamson County

  05-07-2022 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A man accused of harboring two teen girls at the center of a recent Amber Alert is being held in Williamson County.
  KXAN's sister station KWKT in Waco reported James Robert VanHouten was arrested by Williamson County authorities in connection with the disappearance of the two 14 year old girls.
  Online Williamson County records show VanHouten was arrested by Georgetown Police and booked into the jail Tuesday. He has two charges of harboring a runaway child.The McL
  
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• Sunscreen alert! Why your favorite sun protection may not be best for you

  05-07-2022 15:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — We're told to wear sunscreen all year round but especially in the summer months. There's a lot about the required lotion you likely don't know. Meteorologist Kristen Currie spoke with experts at Westlake Dermatology about sunscreen and learned some interesting facts. You can read the transcript below.KRISTEN CURRIE, KXAN: We're talking some safety today with Dr. Lindsay Hunter Elul. She's a board-certified dermatologist and a medical doctor with Westlake dermatology. Doctor
  
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• Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2016 Austin murder

  05-07-2022 13:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The second man charged in an October 2016 murder was sentenced to 20 years in state prison, according to court records.
  Jose Cruz Rivera pleaded guilty to the murder charge and was sentenced in mid-May. He already has credit for 1,729 days spent in jail already, records show.
  Rivera, along with Henry Lopez Leon, were suspects in the murder of 20-year-old Alexander Macias-Garcia in northeast Austin. Leon was sentenced to 10 years in prison in May.RELATED: Man sentenced to 10
  
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• Fireworks stand worker shoots at 2 robbery suspects in Travis County

  05-07-2022 12:34 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY,Texas (KXAN) — A person working at a fireworks stand in Travis County opened fire on two suspects trying to rob the business early Tuesday morning, officials said.
  The Travis County Sheriff's Office said the robbery took place around 2 a.m. at a fireworks stand in the 100 block of West Howard Lane. That's just east of South Heatherwilde Boulevard.The person working at the stand shot at two suspects, TSCO. One suspect, a man, was taken to the hospital. TCSO didn't have informa
  
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• Austin man drowns in Guadalupe River

  05-07-2022 12:34 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) — New Braunfels Police said an Austin man is dead after he drowned in the Guadalupe River Monday afternoon.
  According to police, Pablo Daniel Calzada Rodriguez, 27, was pulled from the water off Gruene Road after he went under for an unknown amount of time around 5:30 p.m.RELATED: Person nearly drowns in Lake TravisFirst responders took Rodriguez to the hospital where he died.
  Comal County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Jennifer Saunders ordered an autopsy on Rodri
  
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• TCSO investigating July 4 death on Lake Travis

  05-07-2022 12:16 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Travis County Sheriff's Office is investigating the third death on Lake Travis this year, it said Monday.
  TCSO responded to a call July 4 at 7:45 p.m. at Mansfield Dam Park for a person that was rescued from Lake Travis by family and bystanders. The sheriff's office said CPR was given, and STAR Flight took the person to a hospital. The person was pronounced dead July 6, TCSO said.RELATED: Travis County officials provide tips for avoiding water tragediesThe
  
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• Person nearly drowns in Lake Travis

  05-07-2022 12:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS paramedics were able to revive a person who was submerged in Lake Travis for 10 minutes Monday evening.
  Paramedics were called to Mansfield Dam Park just after 7:45 p.m., after an adult went into the water.
  After the person was brought to shore, ATCEMS said a bystander gave the person CPR.
  ATCEMS paramedics and Lake Travis Fire and Rescue were able to revive the person's pulse.
  A STAR Flight helicopter took the person to the hospital in critical con
  
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• Long stretch of triple digit heat ahead

  05-07-2022 12:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rinse and repeat... broken record... same ol', same ol'... call it what you want, but the dog days of summer are here.Today will look and feel similar to yesterday - morning clouds clearing to afternoon sun, hot temps (low 100s) and an occasional breeze. Austin's forecast high of 102° will be matched with a heat index of 105° - be sure to take breaks in the A/C when possible.A stubborn ridge of high pressure will keep us hot, dry and mainly sunny through the upcoming wee
  
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• Dripping Springs brewery cancels firework show due to dry conditions

  05-07-2022 05:00 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Tonight, fireworks are popping off throughout Central Texas. However, 12 Fox Beer Company in Dripping Springs made a last minute decision to not light up their fireworks.
  The owner, Joe Hogge, posted a video letting customers know he wouldn't be hosting his fourth annual show.
  Hogge said for someone who dubs himself the "fireworks director", it wasn't a decision he took lightly.
  Hogge said he paid $2,000 out of his own pocket for the fireworks. But he said
  
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• Swimmer missing, water rescue underway

  05-07-2022 01:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders are conducting a water rescue after a swimmer went missing in the 6300 block of Bob Wentz Park Road.Lake Travis Fire Rescue and the Austin-Travis Count EMS both responded to the scene."After extensive searching by @STAR_Flight_TC & rescue swimmers w/ nothing found, this incident has now transitioned into recovery mode & the scene has been turned over to @TravisCoSheriff. No other info available, EMS departing scene," ATCEMS said in a tweet.At 6:15 p
  
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• Swimmer missing in Lake Travis, recovery underway

  05-07-2022 01:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders are conducting a recovery operation after a swimmer went missing in the 6300 block of Bob Wentz Park Road.Lake Travis Fire Rescue and the Austin-Travis Count EMS both responded to the scene."After extensive searching by @STAR_Flight_TC & rescue swimmers w/ nothing found, this incident has now transitioned into recovery mode & the scene has been turned over to @TravisCoSheriff. No other info available, EMS departing scene," ATCEMS said in a tweet.At
  
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• Firefighters on high alert for 4th of July

  05-07-2022 00:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Independence Day cookouts are an annual tradition for many folks.However, they are also a yearly concern for local firefighters in Central Texas.With plenty of people planning to set off sparks tonight, Lake Travis Fire Rescue is prepared."Fireworks are synonymous with celebrating the Fourth of July, so our stations are staffed up and ready to respond,” Lake Travis Fire Rescue spokeswoman Rachel Neutzler said.On Saturday night, their crews helped put out a large house
  
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