Austin news

• Get a text from T-Mobile? Here's why the Texas Universal Service Fund surcharge is going up

  06-08-2022 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You may have gotten a text from your service provider this week letting you know that the Texas Universal Service Fund assessment is being bumped from 3.3% to 24% for now. The Texas Public Utility Commission voted to implement that increase last month.
  The reason? It will allow service providers to continue serving rural Texans who don't have access to regular cell phone service.
  In July, the Third Court of Appeals ruled in favor of telecommunication providers who said the state
  
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• Q&A: Austin Urban League talks plans for Southbridge shelter

  06-08-2022 23:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the City of Austin works to house people experiencing homelessness and help them transition to more permanent supportive housing, the Austin Area Urban League is continuing its efforts to do the same, but in a new way.The organization is taking over operations for the city's Southbridge shelter, which was once run by Front Steps. Southbridge has about 75 rooms for people living on the streets, or living in encampments.
  Austin Area Urban League President and CEO Mr. Quincy Dun
  
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• Austin wants to expand its airport to the South Terminal, company operating it files lawsuit

  06-08-2022 22:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The company that operates the South Terminal at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport filed a lawsuit Monday against the City of Austin for reportedly breaking its contract with Lonestar Airport Holdings, LLC. in an attempt to expand the main airport.
  Lonestar said it invested over $20 million in renovations at the South Terminal after the city’s department of aviation entered into a 40-year contract with the independent group in 2016.
  The lawsuit claims a few ye
  
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• Robb Elementary principal moves to new role at Uvalde CISD

  06-08-2022 22:08 via kxan.com
  
  UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — Former Robb Elementary School principal Mandy Gutierrez will have a new role at Uvalde CISD in the new school year, Superintendent Hal Harrell wrote in a letter to families.
  Gutierrez will work as the district's assistant director of special education. She is "fulfilling her desire to support special education students across the district," the letter said.
  Gutierrez was previously slated to become principal at Uvalde Elementary, where third-grade and fourth-grade st
  
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• Here's why school districts aren't offering free meals to all kids this year

  06-08-2022 22:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A federal program that funded free school meals for students regardless of income has ended this year, meaning families may have to apply for free or reduced-cost lunches.
  The Child Nutrition Program waivers, a Biden-Harris effort to help families during the pandemic, were extended through June 30 of this year before expiring. Still, its end comes as many families are continuing to struggle."Inflation is at a 40 year high. And at the same time, there are many families who still
  
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• Three arrested in Texas meth-by-mail case

  06-08-2022 19:29 via kxan.com
  
  BURKBURNETT, Texas (KFDX/KJTL) — A tip from a confidential informant led to an investigation by the Wichita County District Attorney's Office Drug Enforcement Division and U.S. Postal Inspector's Office. The investigation led to the arrest of three Burkburnett residents.The investigation began in March and on Friday, July 29, agents intercepted a package from California they say contained almost 900 grams of meth. On Monday, they had the package delivered to the house in the 700 block of G
  
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• 'Walker' prequel set to film in New Mexico, Jared Padalecki to be part of the new series

  06-08-2022 18:40 via kxan.com
  
  SANTA FE, N.M. (KXAN) – The New Mexico Film Office announced Monday that the first season of "Walker: Independence," a prequel to the CW series “Walker” filmed in Austin, began principal photography July in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico.Jared Padalecki, the actor who portrays Cordell Walker in the “Walker” series, was listed as a producer for the new series. RELATED: Jared Padalecki’s ‘Walker’ seeks incentives to stay filming in AustinA synopsis
  
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• 100-degree day streak ends at 21 as welcome rain falls

  06-08-2022 17:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a 21 day stretch of triple digits, the high temperature at Camp Mabry in Austin topped out at 99° Saturday afternoon. The total number of 100-degree days this summer stands at 56 and will continue to climb as the heat wave makes a rapid return.A weak upper level disturbance moved in from the Gulf Saturday triggering widely scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms. The increase in clouds and rain helped keep temperatures slightly lowers as the upper level "hea
  
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• 'We knew this was coming': Another bar on Rainey Street set to close for new residential development projects

  06-08-2022 15:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Reina, a popular bar on Rainey Street, announced in a social media post Friday its last day of operation would be September 11. The announcement comes after city plans to develop the area for additional residential buildings."We knew this was coming and that our days were numbered," the bar said in the post. "It still couldn't prepare us for the sadness we're feeling."Reina is one of many bars in the district to announce its closing due to a construction project on Rainey S
  
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• One dead, another injured after shooting in downtown Austin

  06-08-2022 14:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – One person has died, and another was seriously injured after a shooting in downtown Austin overnight. The Austin Police Department investigated the shooting.Austin police said the shooting occurred in the 500 block of E. 7th St. near the intersection of Neches Street at approximately 2 a.m. after some type of disturbance.During a briefing, APD said there was no suspect currently in custody.When officers responded to a 911 shots-fired call, they found a man with gunshot woun
  
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• East Austin library reopens after renovations

  06-08-2022 14:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With an east Austin branch reopening following renovations, all Austin Public Library locations will be open since the start of the pandemic.The Eustasio Cepeda Branch Library reopens Saturday after more than one year of renovations.A reopening party will start at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting, a performance from Austin Latin musicians, crafts and other activities. The event is free and open to the public.The library closed in Jan. 2021 for foundation repairs, new floors, p
  
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• Smoke Rider Fire near Dripping Springs displaces shelter animals

  06-08-2022 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) -- This week, staff at the Paws Shelter of Central Texas evacuated around 55 dogs and cats from its facility because of a nearby fire. Staff needed to find space to temporarily house them with a neighboring kennel and foster homes.The shelter's general manager Leslie Hutson said the smoke could be seen from a short distance away but rapidly approached the shelter.“We loaded up all 55 dogs and cats and got out of here as quickly as possible,” said Hutson
  
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• More clouds with a chance of rain along with no triple-digit highs

  06-08-2022 13:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It is looking a little more promising that the streak of 21 consecutive highs of 100° will end today. It will be brief as highs in triple digits are in the forecast Sunday through Friday.A weather disturbance has moved off the Gulf of Mexico into Texas. It will move across our area today as it heads to northeast Mexico. It brings with it increased clouds and a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Most rain totals will be under .10" in areas that do get the rai
  
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• Abilene police investigate man accused of abusing 6-year-old, runaway teen in separate child sex crimes

  06-08-2022 05:24 via kxan.com
  
  ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - Abilene police are investigating a man accused of abusing a 6-year-old child and a runaway teen during two separate sex crime incidents.
  Lane Myers was arrested Saturday on warrants for Sexual Assault of a Child and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, issued in connection to both sets of allegations.
  Court documents from the first case, where Myers is facing the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child charge, say a child came forward in 2021 and claimed he had sexuall
  
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• Indicted APD officer Justin Berry appointed to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

  06-08-2022 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Governor Greg Abbott appointed Justin Berry to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for a term set to expire August 30, 2027. Abbott also appointed Martina Lemond Dixon to a term set to expire in 2023.Berry, an Austin native, is a senior police officer for the Austin Police Department. He tweeted thanking Gov. Abbott for appointing him to TCOLE on Friday afternoon.
  "The demands and expectations of today's professional police officer have never been so great. I look fo
  
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• Parents raise concerns about school safety at Oak Hill Elementary

  06-08-2022 04:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some Austin ISD parents are worried about school safety at Oak Hill Elementary.Melissa Neslund said she loves the the community and staff at the school, but school safety needs an upgrade."We love this school and that is why we have stayed," said Neslund. "Our kids, and these teachers and these staff deserve to be in a safe place."Neslund says there are holes in the fencing surrounding the school, zipties being used to hold a gate together and other issues that raise safety
  
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• Protecting your home from wildfires

  06-08-2022 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  WEST LAKE HILLS, Texas (KXAN) -- Most of Travis County is under high risk for wild fires.
  The City of Austin has an interactive map that shows you what the fire danger level is where you live.Map breaks down fire dangers across Travis County.
  West Lake Hills falls in the red zone, meaning most homes are within 150 feet of wildlands. Wildlands are stretches of at least 10 acres of trees and plants.
  White zones are the least at risk, sitting more than 1.5 miles from wildlands. The Austin Fire Depa
  
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• Mother of Sandy Hook victim responds after Alex Jones verdict

  06-08-2022 01:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN was the first to speak with the families of the Sandy Hook victims once the jury returned a verdict saying Alex Jones must pay an additional $45.2 million in punitive damages.Jesse Lewis was one of the children that died in the Sandy Hook shooting Dec. 14, 2012. His mother, Scarlett Lewis, said he stood up to a bully that day.“He stood up to the bully—Adam Lanza—and saved nine of his classmate's lives,” Lewis said, “and I hope that I did t
  
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• 'Love is a choice': Mother of Sandy Hook victim responds after Alex Jones verdict

  06-08-2022 01:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When Scarlett Lewis stepped onto the witness stand and looked conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in the eye, she was thinking of her son, Jesse.
  Jesse was only 6 years old when he reportedly faced Adam Lanza, the young man who walked in Sandy Hook Elementary school with a gunon Dec. 14, 2012and killed 20 children and six adults. Accounts at the time revealed Jesse yelled, 'Run!' -- which helped some of his classmates escape the gunfire. Jesse was shot and killed.MORE: Alex Jones ord
  
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• Austin Energy works to keep Earth's last Moontowers on forever

  06-08-2022 01:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's moonlight towers (aka moontowers) are a unique piece of the city's history, and recent sightings of one being dismantled can be a shock for some. But Austin Energy said not to worry, as the utility plans to keep them in Austin (and on this planet) forever.
  Austin Energy is solely responsible for maintaining the towers, each of which is a historic landmark.
  According to Austin Energy, the towers were last refurbished in 1995. Now, the time has come again to repair,
  
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• WCSO investigates Thursday night homicide after woman found shot near Florence

  06-08-2022 00:33 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – Detectives with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said Friday an investigation was underway after a woman was shot and killed Thursday night in the 4500 block of County Road 245, outside the City of Florence.Deputies said the homicide occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m.
  According to the sheriff’s office, when deputies arrived, a 70-year-old woman was found dead in the roadway. The victim’s name is being withheld until next of kin is
  
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