Austin news

• Elon Musk looks to end deal to buy Twitter

  08-07-2022 23:37 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk’s tumultuous $44 billion bid to buy Twitter is on the verge of collapse — after the Tesla CEO sent a letter to Twitter's board saying he is terminating the acquisition.Twitter did not immediately respond to a message for comment. It is not entirely clear whether Twitter's board will accept the $1 billion breakup fee or if there will be a court battle over the deal.In April, Musk reached an agreement to buy Twitter for roughly $44 billion.At the ti
  
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• Elon Musk looks to end $44 billion deal to buy Twitter

  08-07-2022 23:37 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk’s tumultuous $44 billion bid to buy Twitter is on the verge of collapse — after the Tesla CEO sent a letter to Twitter's board Friday saying he is terminating the acquisition.Twitter did not immediately respond to a message for comment. It is not entirely clear whether Twitter's board will accept the $1 billion breakup fee or if there will be a court battle over the deal. Musk to address Twitter workers in effort to ease concernsThe possible unrav
  
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• Spotting and treating heat illnesses, and when to call 911

  08-07-2022 23:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Between calling 911 and the arrival of first responders, those on the scene during a medical emergency may be able to provide immediate first aid that could save a life.With temperatures climbing to record highs, heat-related illnesses are more prevalent and can kill. Austin-Travis County EMS' advice: "Move Them, Cool Them, Call 911". Is the City of Austin ready for the hottest temps of the year?Heat exhaustion can be recognized when a person shows heavy sweating, weakness,
  
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• Texas State pitcher honoring late father on the diamond

  08-07-2022 22:45 via kxan.com
  
  For Texas State pitcher Austin Smith, his 2022 season was incredible. Getting to pitch in multiple NCAA Regional games against storied programs was a dream come true, but the journey there was not a smooth ride.An Abilene native, Smith was a baseball and football standout growing up. Even in loud atmospheres, his biggest supporter would make his presence known."Usually the only person I could hear in the whole stadium was my dad," said Smith. "Everything else was tuned out, but I could always he
  
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• Spotty strong storms and record heat this weekend

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Most all of Central Texas is under a HEAT ADVISORY through the rest of today and continuing until 1 p.m. Sunday.Blanco, Gillespie, and Mason, for now, are not under the Advisory.Milam County will be under an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING until 9 p.m. Saturday.Heat advisory until Sunday afternoon for most of Central TexasAfternoon heat index values will likely reach a range of 106° to 110° today, near where some of the area was on Friday.
  We'll be watching the chance for some is
  
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• Intense heat this weekend into early next week

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- 29.That's the number of days Austin has had a high reach triple digits.July 2022 has had seven days reach 100 degrees and higher. Friday's high of 104 was the hottest day since 104 on June 23.That 104 came with a maximum heat index of 105.The heat index reached 100 by noon.There were three other cities that had a "feels like" higher than Austin.How hot it actually felt.It gets hotter, if you will, this weekend with a forecast of 105 today and 107 tomorrow.Today's 105 would tie t
  
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• Hottest temperatures since 2020 arrive this weekend

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Just when you think the heat is bad... Mother Nature shows us... it can, indeed, get worse.A dominant high pressure system centering itself over our area in the next coming days will result in dangerous heat across Central Texas. Today's forecast high of 104° will fall a couple degrees shy of the daily record... but the same can't be said for the weekend. Temperatures Saturday and Sunday look to top out at 106°, taking down current records both days.Not since August 28,
  
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• Heat for all and rain for some

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A record was set Saturday with the high of 106°.Austin had not been that hot since August 28, 2020.
  Records will fall this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon.Today's forecast high is 108°.The record is 105° in 1917.Tomorrow's forecast high is 109°.The record is 108° in 1917.An EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING goes into effect at 1 p.m. today from the I-35 counties eastward.This does include the Austin metro area. The warning lasts until 8 p.m. Monday. Feels-like temperat
  
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• Excessive Heat Warning for Austin Metro Sunday

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Most all of Central Texas is under a HEAT ADVISORY through the rest of today and continuing until 1 p.m. Sunday.Blanco, Gillespie, and Mason, for now, are not under the Advisory.Milam County will be under an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING until 9 p.m. Saturday.Heat advisory for most of Central Texas into Sunday afternoonAfternoon heat index values will likely reach a range of 106° to 110° today, near where some of the area was on Friday.Below are the highest heat index values re
  
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• Dangerous heat this weekend as Austin records the hottest temperatures in two years

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Just when you think the heat is bad... Mother Nature shows us... it can, indeed, get worse.A dominant high pressure system centering itself over our area in the next coming days will result in dangerous heat across Central Texas. Today's forecast high of 104° will fall a couple degrees shy of the daily record... but the same can't be said for the weekend. Temperatures Saturday and Sunday look to top out at 106°, taking down current records both days.Not since August 28,
  
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• 3rd hottest day in Austin history brings some storms

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures soared to 110º at Austin's Camp Mabry making for the third hottest temperature in recorded history and tied for the hottest temperature in the month of July.Highest temperatures ever in Austin - Camp MabrySpotty storms have developed and will continue to bring gusty winds, brief downpours and occasional thunder and lightning. Some limited wind damage may result from some of the downburst winds associated with any stronger storms. LIVE RADARStorm coverage will b
  
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• 110º in Austin on Sunday, we could do it again Monday

  08-07-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures on Sunday soared to 110º at Austin's Camp Mabry making for the third hottest day in recorded history and tied for the hottest temperature in the month of July.Hottest days in Austin - Camp MabrySpotty storms that brought isolated damaging winds have faded and we should be dry the rest of the night.It will take a while for temperatures to drop toward comfortable levels, but eventually we'll end up near 80 to start the day on Monday.Believe it or not Monday could
  
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• Uvalde mayor: No officers saw gunman before he entered Robb Elementary

  08-07-2022 21:13 via kxan.com
  
  UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — The Uvalde mayor said a recent report released on the Robb Elementary shooting "does not give a complete and accurate account of what happened."
  Earlier this week, the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center (ALERRT) of San Marcos released its initial report on the May 24 mass shooting, which details the events leading up to when the 18-year-old gunman was killed.Report: Officer saw Uvalde shooter outside of school, but didn’t receive permission
  
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• Is the City of Austin ready for the hottest temps of the year?

  08-07-2022 21:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Friday Heat Advisory is expected to be just the beginning of this weekend's intense temperatures, triggering Austin-Travis County's heat plan.Friday's Heat Advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. and is expected to be re-issued or even upgraded to an Excessive Heat Warning Saturday and Sunday.Temperatures Saturday and Sunday will likely hit 106 degrees, beating current records both days. FORECAST: Record weekend heat brings hottest temps of 2022 so farIn a memorandum last
  
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• Jacob's Well shuts down, other swimming holes impacted by drought

  08-07-2022 19:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With summer heat intensifying, there are increasingly fewer places to swim in Central Texas.
  In May, popular swim sites on the Barton Creek Greenbelt had already dried up. At most, some locations were reduced to stagnant puddles, which have quickly filled with potentially dangerous algae. From May: Drought drains greenbelt swimming holes, but springs may still provideCampbell's Hole on the Barton Creek Greenbelt in May was a very shallow and stagnant pool. (Cora Neas/KXAN P
  
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• HCSO: Man offers to do cabinet work, scams customers out of money

  08-07-2022 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Hays County Sheriff's Office is looking for victims who may have been scammed by a man offering to do cabinet work for them.
  HCSO said warrants are pending for Jesus Leonel Velerio-Santos, who is being investigated for multiple fraud cases.Jesus Leonel Velerio-Santos (Hays County Sheriff's Office Photo)HCSO said Velerio-Santos is accused of offering to do cabinet work for people at a discounted rate. He asks for half of the payment up front, then the rest wh
  
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• Austin committee member recommends more ASL resources within APD

  08-07-2022 18:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Robin Orlowski, a member of the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, said the food truck crash on Barton Springs Road in April prompted her to push for change."It's a draft recommendation to require certified ASL interpreters to be dispatched to a site with deaf survivors," she said, while holding a print-out of the document she wrote up herself.Eleven people from the deaf community got hurt when investigators said two cars collided, sending one vehicle into a group o
  
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• What are the symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5?

  08-07-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations trend upward again in Texas, health leaders are pointing to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants as the reason for the uptick. Here's what we know about the recent mutations of the virus:Severity of BA.4 and BA.5
  Early research shows the omicron subvariants may cause more severe disease than the original strain of omicron, health leaders say. It may also cause more severe long-term illness.APH: New subvariants could open door to more long C
  
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• WATCH LIVE: What are the symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5?

  08-07-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations trend upward again in Texas, health leaders are pointing to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants as the reason for the uptick. Here's what we know about the recent mutations of the virus:Severity of BA.4 and BA.5
  Early research shows the omicron subvariants may cause more severe disease than the original strain of omicron, health leaders say. It may also cause more severe long-term illness.APH: New subvariants could open door to more long C
  
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• COVID-19 in Texas: What are the symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5?

  08-07-2022 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations trend upward again in Texas, health leaders are pointing to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants as the reason for the uptick. Here's what we know about the recent mutations of the virus:Severity of BA.4 and BA.5
  Early research shows the omicron subvariants may cause more severe disease than the original strain of omicron, health leaders say. It may also cause more severe long-term illness.APH: New subvariants could open door to more long C
  
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• Dripping Springs fire now 257 acres, 90% contained

  08-07-2022 17:10 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — The Gatlin Creek Fire in Hays County is nearly contained at 90%, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service's latest update.
  The update, which came out Friday at 9:30 a.m., said the fire was around 257 acres large.
  The brush fire broke out Wednesday and prompted evacuations for 10 households. Crews from all over HaysCounty helped fight the blaze, as well as Travis County STAR Flight.PAST STORY: Evacuations lifted for ‘active brush fire’ in Dr
  
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• Honeybee hives extracted from old base building at Austin-Bergstrom

  08-07-2022 15:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport had some visitors who made a home in a building that's set to be demolished.
  The American Honey Bee Protection Agency (AHBPA) and Discovery's Bee Czar Walter Schumacher delicately worked together Thursday to extract and relocate honeybee hives.
  The building where the bees were found was one of the original Bergstrom Air Force Base buildings. It needs to go to make way for a new runway.Austin airport sets another new record: 2 million p
  
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• Beer on Mars - Austin brewery wants to be the first on the red planet

  08-07-2022 15:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Starbase Brewing in southeast Austin has a unique goal: be the first brewery on Mars. Owner Nate Argroves opened the brewery in May. "I've always been a big space fan, and a big beer fan. That's kind of like my, my two big hobbies," Argroves said.Nate Argroves and David Manley run Starbase Brewing in Austin. They want to open the first brewery on Mars. (Courtesy: Eric Henrikson/KXAN News)Argroves has three goals for the brewery:Be the first on marsRaise awareness for space explo
  
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• Watch Live: Biden to sign order on abortion access

  08-07-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden is expected to take executive action Friday morning to protect access to abortion as he faces mounting pressure after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure that had been in place for nearly 50 years.The White House confirmed Biden's remarks saying he will speak "on protecting access to reproductive health care services." NewsNation will live stream Biden's remarks in the player above.
  The actions he wa
  
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• Iconic Matt's El Rancho celebrates 70 years in business

  08-07-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A family-run mainstay in south Austin celebrated 70 years in business Thursday.The iconic Matt's El Rancho has been around since the 1950s. The classic Tex-Mex restaurant marked its anniversary with a live show from local Latin music group, El Tule.KXAN's Robert Hadlock got to tour the local landmark. He's been dining at Matt's since 1974 and got to know the history of the business.
  Matt and Janie Martinez first opened Matt's El Rancho on East First Street and San Jacinto B
  
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• Biden to sign executive order protecting abortion access

  08-07-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden is expected to take executive action Friday morning to protect access to abortion as he faces mounting pressure after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure that had been in place for nearly 50 years.The White House confirmed Biden's remarks saying he will speak "on protecting access to reproductive health care services." NewsNation will live stream Biden's remarks in the player above.
  The actions he wa
  
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• Biden signs order on abortion access

  08-07-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden took executive action Friday morning to protect access to abortion as he faces mounting pressure after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure that had been in place for nearly 50 years.The White House confirmed Biden's remarks saying he will speak "on protecting access to reproductive health care services." NewsNation will live stream Biden's remarks in the player above.
  The actions he was expected to o
  
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• 2 suspects, including teenager, arrested in Austin robbery spree

  08-07-2022 14:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two suspects in a June robbery spree were arrested, one of them being a teenager, the Austin Police Department said.
  APD said a 17 year old, who was arrested after an interview with the Travis County Sheriff's Office on June 19, is charged in connection with four aggravated robberies.
  Jaleel Hureskin, 20, was arrested by Austin Police Wednesday during a SWAT call in north Austin. He's being charged with three felony counts of aggravated robbery. A hearing in the case is sch
  
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• 'All cities trying to get back to the levels they used to be': Reviving Austin tourism after the pandemic

  08-07-2022 13:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting Friday, you can see some of Michelangelo's greatest works at The Sistine Chapel Exhibition at the Circuit of the Americas. It's one of many events making a comeback after the pandemic.
  Austin's tourism and hotel industry took a hit over the last few years.The event will have a collection of reproductions of the artist's art on the chapel's ceiling. Visitors will be able to listen to an audio guide explaining the history behind the art.
  Looking at the numbers, in 20
  
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• Record weekend heat brings hottest temps of 2022 so far

  08-07-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Just when you think the heat is bad... Mother Nature shows us... it can, indeed, get worse.A dominant high pressure system centering itself over our area in the next coming days will result in dangerous heat across Central Texas. Today's forecast high of 104° will fall a couple degrees shy of the daily record... but the same can't be said for the weekend. Temperatures Saturday and Sunday look to top out at 106°, taking down current records both days.A HEAT ADVISORY is in
  
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• Austin Animal Center makes emergency call for fosters

  08-07-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Animal Center issued an emergency call for fosters Thursday.The municipal shelter said it is at 115% capacity for medium and large dogs.According to an Instagram post, AAC said it can't house dogs in its truck port when it gets this hot.
  The KXAN First Warning Weather team said to expect temperatures around 105 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory for much of the area from 12 to 8 p.m. Friday.If you can foster a medium o
  
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• Round Rock student is a finalist for 'America's Top Young Scientist'

  08-07-2022 12:24 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A Cedar Valley Middle School student is one of 10 finalists for the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge.Asvini Thivakaran, 12, will compete on Oct. 17 and 18 at the 3M Innovation Center in Minneapolis against nine other students for a grand prize of $25,000 and the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”Thivakaran created a model vehicle that generates clean electric power from tires to charge batteries in electric vehicles.
  The 3M Young Scienti
  
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• Japan ex-leader Shinzo Abe assassinated while giving speech

  08-07-2022 11:02 via kxan.com
  
  NARA, Japan (AP) — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a divisive arch-conservative and one of his nation's most powerful and influential figures, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, hospital officials said.Abe, 67, was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech in Nara. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead despite emergency treatment that
  
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• Ex-leader Shinzo Abe fatally shot in shock Japan attack

  08-07-2022 11:02 via kxan.com
  
  NARA, Japan (AP) — Japan’s NHK television says former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot during a campaign speech.Abe was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech Friday in Nara in western Japan. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was pronounced dead later at the hospital.The 67-year-old Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader before stepping down for health reasons in 2020.Polic
  
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• Japan ex-leader Shinzo Abe apparently shot, in heart failure

  08-07-2022 05:22 via kxan.com
  
  TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was in heart failure after apparently being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, NHK public television said Friday.The broadcaster aired footage showing Abe, 67, collapsed on the street, with several security guards running toward him. Abe was holding his chest when he collapsed, with his shirt smeared with blood. NHK says Abe was rushed to a hospital.Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the apparent attack in
  
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• Statewide program launches to help low-income Texans pay utilities

  08-07-2022 02:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new statewide program launched this week to help eligible low-income Texas homeowners and renters pay utility bills.The Texas Utility Help (TXUH) program has over $50 million ready for Texas homeowners and renters in need, according to a press release from the program. What’s driving electricity and gas bills higher in Texas?The TXUH program will help distribute federal funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Low Income Household Water Ass
  
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• Three local counties upgraded to high risk from COVID by CDC

  08-07-2022 02:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three counties in the KXAN viewing area have been upgraded to 'high' risk for COVID-19, according to the CDC's weekly update.Each week since Feb. 24, the CDC assigns a "COVID-19 Community Level" to each county nationwide based on how the virus is impacting local populations.
  Low, medium and high-risk categories are determined based on three factors: number of new cases in the past seven days, new hospital admissions in the past seven days, and percent of staffed hospital be
  
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• Hays County fire stations battling fires, rising gas prices

  08-07-2022 01:33 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The calls keep coming in at South Hays County Fire and Rescue as the extreme heat and drought spark fires throughout Central Texas. Dan Kramer, the station's deputy fire chief, said it's taking both a financial and physical toll."It's going to be still a long season to go. We're only a week into July and we're seeing fires that are popping up just on the daily basis," Chief Kramer said.Evacuations lifted for ‘active brush fire’ in Dripping SpringsThe
  
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• Job creation in Central Texas isn't slowing down much

  08-07-2022 00:53 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (Austin Business Journal) — 2021 was a record year for corporate relocation and expansion announcements in the Austin metro, with 26,697 jobs announced across Central Texas. That included from giants such as Tesla, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Amazon.com Inc.2022 is lagging that pace slightly. Through April, there were 28 announcements of relocations and 47 of expansions, with companies pledging to create 7,669 jobs, according to data tracked by Opportunity Austi
  
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• $7.25M winning lottery ticket unclaimed in Texas, but it's nowhere near the largest prize in history

  08-07-2022 00:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Could you be the state's next millionaire? Someone is about to be — as long as they claim their prize in time after purchasing a winning Lotto Texas ticket.The jackpot-winning ticket — worth $7.25 million for the Lotto Texas drawing on June 25 — was purchased in Irving.The lucky ticket buyer selected the cash value option at the time of purchase, meaning if claimed, they'll receive $4,632,166.56 before taxes. The winner has 180 days from the draw date to c
  
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• Texas man dies after lighting firework on his head

  08-07-2022 00:01 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANTONIO Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 43-year-old man died after lighting a "mortar-style" firework from the top of his head.According to a report from San Antonio police, the incident occurred shortly after midnight on July 5 at the 800 block of Harriman Place. How Austin murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong tried to hide from authoritiesOfficers arrived at the location and met with EMS personnel who were tending to a man who had severe head trauma. The man, identified as Pablo Ruiz, was unre
  
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