Austin news

• Greater Austin Metro recovered jobs from COVID-19 pandemic faster than rest of state

  16-09-2022 23:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a media call today, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) stated that the Greater Austin Metro area recovered jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic after only 13 months, faster than other Texas metro areas. Texas' recovery occurred after 21 months.Mariana Vega, director of the TWC Labor Market Information Group, said that the area also added 1,000 jobs in August; a positive sign after 3,500 jobs were lost in the area during July. Statewide, Texas has seen employment incr
  
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• Home holdup: Austin Energy application process is backed up

  16-09-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Wesley Olivas and Frederick Schurbuck stand on the second-floor balcony of their new home.
  Well, it's almost theirs. Two construction crew members hammer on the ground floor below. How long you have to work to afford a mortgage in Texas, AustinThey went under contract for the home in December, and their project manager said they paid their Austin Energy application fees in March — the same week they got them.
  But they still haven't gotten the all-clear from Austin Ene
  
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• Liberty Hill, Lampasas football players win Texas player of the week honors

  16-09-2022 23:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Central Texas high school football players were selected as Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week, the Ford Motor Company announced Friday.For Class 5A, Liberty Hill junior running back Noah Long won the honor after his monster Week 3 game against Georgetown. Long led the Panthers to a 49-35 win with an eye-popping 343 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 26 carries to give Georgetown its first loss of the year. Huge 2nd half pushes Manor to 4-
  
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• Texas governor's debate: Submit your questions for Abbott, O'Rourke

  16-09-2022 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two weeks from Friday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke will meet in the Rio Grande Valley for a live debate. Texas Governor’s Debate: Abbott, O’Rourke set to clashIn addition to taking questions from panelists, the candidates who want to represent you as Texas' governor will respond to questions from voters. Please fill out the form below and tell us about the issues that matter to you.
  Submit a form.
  The debate takes place at
  
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• First living kidney donor program starts in Austin

  16-09-2022 23:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — St. David's North Austin Medical center and Donate Life America announced the first living kidney donor in the U.S. on Thursday after a successful procedure in July.
  Donate Life America started the National Donate Life Living Donor Registry program through a grant made by the Fresenius Medical Care Foundation, which invests in innovative solutions and programs to advance transplants as lifesaving solutions.
  The program is currently only available in Texas and allows ages 18
  
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• Student arrested after threat at Akins High School

  16-09-2022 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin ISD Police arrested a student after a threat was made at Akins Early College High School on Thursday.
  Austin ISD tweeted Friday that a juvenile student was arrested on charges of making a terroristic threat and online impersonation. AISD said both of those charges are felonies.
  After a thorough investigation, officers located the student and confiscated items they believe were used in connection with the threats.School threats: Law enforcement warns of severe punishmentTh
  
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• LIVE: Austin Police to discuss changes to protest policing policies

  16-09-2022 20:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department said it would announce changes to its policing policies for protests.APD said the update on the after action report was in regard to the 2020 protests. RELATED: 2 more APD officers indicted related to 2020 protestsAPD Chief of Police Joseph Chacon will lead a news conference at 1:30 p.m.The conference will be streamed in this story and on the KXAN Facebook page.
  This story will be updated with details from the press conference.
  
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• Austin Police to discuss changes to protest policing policies

  16-09-2022 20:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department said it would announce changes to its policing policies for protests.APD said the update on the after action report was in regard to the 2020 protests.APD Chief of Police Joseph Chacon will lead a news conference at 1:30 p.m.The conference will be streamed in this story and on the KXAN Facebook page.
  This story will be updated with details from the press conference.
  
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• Austin Police discusses changes to protest policing policies

  16-09-2022 20:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department announced changes to its policing policies for protests. According to APD, there are 17 focus areas for the changes to the policies.APD said the update to its After-Action Report was in regard to the 2020 protests. RELATED: 2 more APD officers indicted related to 2020 protestsAPD Chief of Police Joseph Chacon led a conference.Of the 17 changes, Chacon highlighted de-escalation techniques in training, improvements to mobile field
  
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• Austin police announce 17 changes to protest response policies

  16-09-2022 20:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After large protests two years ago, the Austin Police Department released a report about how its officers responded then and led to policy changes now, which made the police chief promise the city "will not see a repeat of the events of 2020."
  Chief Joseph Chacon said the After Action Report identified 17 areas where the department could work to improve its protest response. The department took on this review after crowds formed outside police headquarters downtown during t
  
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• How does a concussion impact our brains? Texas university taking an in depth look

  16-09-2022 19:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — How does a concussion impact our brains?The University of Texas Southwestern Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute’s College Level Aging Athlete Study or CLEAATS is hoping to gather more information to understand.The study was designed to advance medical science’s understanding of how participation in collegiate sports and resulting sports-related concussions may impact brain wellness in later life.CLEAATS will study both people in contact and non-conta
  
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• Silver Alert issued for missing 88-year-old Austin woman

  16-09-2022 19:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, a Silver Alert was issued for a missing Austin woman. The Austin Police Department said the woman was diagnosed with a cognitive impairment.Frances Simmons, 88, was described as a 5’3” tall white woman weighing 110 pounds. She has reddish-gray hair and grey eyes.APD said she was last seen at 11 a.m. Thursday in the 3700 block of Orrel Ct. in Austin. Police said she was driving a silver 2013 Honda Accord with TX License Plate CBZ7873.Law 
  
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• Missing Austin woman found safe, APD says

  16-09-2022 19:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A missing Austin woman, who was at the center of a Silver Alert Friday, has been found safe, the Austin Police Department said.The woman in her 80s was last seen Thursday morning and was reported missing Thursday night, APD said.This story has been updated to remove identifying information of the woman.
  
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• Hutto launches SAFE Project for Emergency Preparedness Month

  16-09-2022 19:17 via kxan.com
  
  HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — On Tuesday, the Hutto Police Department launched its Community SAFE (Strategic Actions for Everyone) Project. The project is a part of the City of Hutto’s Emergency Preparedness Month efforts.According to the city, the project is free to the community.Hutto-area churches, daycares and businesses were encouraged to sign up to receive training and guidance from HPD and other partners."This innovative project invites local facilities to become better prep
  
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• How long you have to work to afford a mortgage in Texas, Austin

  16-09-2022 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the Austin housing market continues trending toward more sustainable levels, more people may be considering buying a home.But as home prices may be cooling slightly, mortgage interest rates have jumped in recent months, even climbing above 6% this week for the first time since the 2008 housing crash.A new study shows just how long Americans need to work to be able to afford a monthly mortgage payment.Household review site HouseMethod.com calculated the number of work hou
  
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• DOJ: Human smuggling operation uses Austin 'stash houses' to harbor migrants

  16-09-2022 19:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to indictment records, a human smuggling organization used drivers to pick up migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border and often harbored them at “stash houses” in Austin and another Texas city.“The human smuggling organization allegedly used methods to transport migrants that placed their lives in danger as they were frequently held in contained spaces with little ventilation, no temperature control and in conditions that placed them at great risk,&
  
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• Isolated showers then near triple digits next week

  16-09-2022 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We continue to watch for spotty showers as we round out the afternoon and head into the evening. There are some indications that a low (10%) rain chance is worth keeping in the forecast until as late as midnight, but most of us won't get a drop. Rain coverage will generally favor our eastern counties, although we can't rule out a shower closer to I-35. NEW BLOG: October forecast for Central TexasTonight will be dry by midnight with increasing clouds into Saturday morning.We've g
  
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• Increasingly hot as we approach the start of fall

  16-09-2022 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Tonight will be dry by midnight with increasing clouds into Saturday morning. NEW BLOG: October forecast for Central TexasWe've got one more day of low rain chances for Saturday as morning clouds give way to sun and clouds for the rest of the day. Most of us stay dry with another low (10%) coverage of rainfall.The bigger story will be the heat and humidity this weekend making it feel closer to triple digits heat despite highs in the mid 90s.It's game 3 for the Horns with a 7 p.m
  
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• Hot now and getting hotter next week

  16-09-2022 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The start of Friday was warm and muggy under an overcast to mostly cloudy sky. Fog significantly reduced the visibility over many areas east of I-35. Warm lows were in the lower to middle 70s with a few upper 60s. Austin's low was 75°, five degrees above normal. NEW BLOG: October forecast for Central TexasSurface and upper-level winds are pumping in Gulf moisture. Rain moving in from the coast produced a few showers in Fayette County. There will be a 20% chance of additional
  
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• Construction industry group launches mental health, suicide prevention initiative

  16-09-2022 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A recent press release from the Associated General Contractors of America on Thursday announced a new mental health initiative aimed at construction workers with a focus on suicide prevention.
  According to the AGC, the annual suicide rate among construction workers is 53.2 suicides per 100,000 workers. A 2020 study pub
  
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• LIST: Central Texas cities, counties with license plate readers

  16-09-2022 16:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cameras with license plate readers have been touted by law enforcement in Central Texas as an effective way to solve crimes, but some residents and organizations have concerns about privacy.
  Here's a list of cities and counties in Central Texas where the LPRs are being used by local law enforcement.
  AustinAustin City Council in September 2022 chose to reinstate the Austin Police Department's license plate reader program, which allowed it to start back up immediately. The pr
  
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• Local business helps Mexican women gain financial stability by selling their artisanal goods

  16-09-2022 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Scroll Origin Mexico’s Instagram, and you will see vibrant hand-painted hats, handwoven shoes and embroidered dresses. You will also see the hope in the eyes of the women making them.
  It is part of Origin Mexico’s brand, which promises to invite customers into the lives of these women. Owner and founder Yazmin Castaneda said she works directly with Mexican women, offering them a path to financial independence by selling their goods to the U.S. m
  
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• Dripping Springs business helps Mexican women gain financial stability by selling their artisanal goods

  16-09-2022 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Scroll Origin Mexico’s Instagram, and you will see vibrant hand-painted hats, handwoven shoes and embroidered dresses. You will also see the hope in the eyes of the women making them.
  It is part of Origin Mexico’s brand, which promises to invite customers into the lives of these women. Owner and founder Yazmin Castaneda said she works directly with Mexican women, offering them a path to financial independence by selling their goods to the U.S. m
  
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• Platelet supply running low to help survivors of cancer, organ transplants

  16-09-2022 14:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — We Are Blood is the largest supplier of blood to 40 Central Texas hospitals, but it needs more donors to help cancer patients and kids awaiting organ transplants.“We've seen a significant increase in the need for platelets in our community, over 40% more platelets are needed today than they were in 2017. That's the result of population growth in Central Texas,” said Nick Canedo, vice president of We Are Blood Community Engagement.Part of that growth is an expand
  
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• Blood supply running low to help survivors of cancer, organ transplants

  16-09-2022 14:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — We Are Blood is the largest supplier of blood to 40 Central Texas hospitals, but it needs more donors to help cancer patients and kids awaiting organ transplants.“We've seen a significant increase in the need for platelets in our community, over 40% more platelets are needed today than they were in 2017. That's the result of population growth in Central Texas,” said Nick Canedo, vice president of We Are Blood Community Engagement.Part of that growth is an expand
  
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• Mosquitoes have been dormant all summer; they could soon return

  16-09-2022 14:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — We're just weeks away from the second rainiest month in Central Texas. With that rain comes a sneaky pest that's been lying in wait all summer — floodwater mosquitoes.
  This breed of mosquito is larger than the common standing water mosquitoes. They're also stronger with a more intense bite."The floodwater mosquito species will lay their eggs essentially on the ground in areas that are going to get flooded by water," said Wizzie Brown, entomologist with the Texas A&
  
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• He lost everything in a fire. Days later, his landlord terminated his lease.

  16-09-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Days after a fire ripped through his Austin apartment complex and sent families to the hospital, Lovensky Plaisime received a letter telling him his lease was terminated.“They basically said they could not put me in another unit,” Plaisime said. “I pretty much had to figure something out as soon as possible."Plaisime said in the days after the devastating fire in February 2022, the Red Cross put him up for a few days. But, afterward, he was paying out of p
  
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• Child killed in east Austin crash on Sunday

  16-09-2022 13:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police said Thursday a child is dead after a sedan and van crashed in east Austin on Sunday afternoon.
  According to APD, the crash happened at the intersection of Decker and Loyola Lanes at 4:49 p.m. Sunday.
  The police release did not give the name or the age of the child but said the child was a passenger in the sedan.
  According to the release, the driver of the sedan was heading north on Decker and trying to turn left on Loyola when it crashed into the Chevrolet va
  
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• Another Jo's Coffee appears to be in the works

  16-09-2022 12:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Jo’s Coffee shop, known for its picturesque green wall with "I love you so much" written in red, may be expanding further into south Austin.A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing states Jo’s Coffee will begin renovations on a building located at 5532 Menchaca Rd. starting next month. It’s slated to finalize the work at the end of the year, according to the filing.The building is nearly 2,200 square feet, located near Crock
  
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• Man critically hurt in downtown Austin hit-and-run

  16-09-2022 10:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police say a man was struck by a vehicle on East Seventh and Red River Streets just before 2 a.m. Friday. APD says the vehicle drove off.
  Austin Travis County EMS says paramedics took the man to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries.
  Police briefly shut down East Seventh Street between Red River Street and the southbound frontage road of Interstate 35. The road reopened just after 3 a.m.
  A white SUV was possibly involved in the crash, according to APD. The
  
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• Texas high school football scores for Thursday, Sept. 15

  16-09-2022 05:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Manor stayed undefeated as running back Quinten Joyner scored four touchdowns in a 45-14 win over McNeil to open district play Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.McCallum took down Crockett 49-28 and Travis topped Navarro 27-21. The Texas School for the Deaf scored a win over the Oklahoma School for the Deaf 46-33.The rest of the Thursday scores from around Texas are listed below.Scores from around Central TexasManor 45, McNeil 14McCallum 49, Crockett 28
  Texas Sc
  
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• Tech upgrades coming to Round Rock Police Department

  16-09-2022 05:18 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - More than $150,000 in tech upgrades are to be made to crime-solving tools at the Round Rock Police Department.The city council during its September meeting approving funding for these upgrades. The two agenda items greenlighting RRPD to get the latest versions of its 3D scene rendering technology, and improving its Flock camera systems which include license plate readers.
  RRPD's Crime Scene and Evidence Supervisor Scott Cheshire said the 3D crime-scene rendering tech h
  
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• School Threats: Law enforcement warns of severe punishment

  16-09-2022 04:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A number of Central Texas schools have had to deal with threats being made toward their campuses in recent weeks.On Thursday, Akins Early College High School was the latest to deal with a threat. The school was put into a hold after a social media threat was made."The fear that people have is a valid fear and we take those threats seriously," said Hutto Police Chief, Jefferey Yarbrough.Yarbrough, who has no affiliation to the Akins incident, said in the many years he has be
  
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• Austin ISD employee traveled to Colombia for sex with minors, DOJ says

  16-09-2022 02:58 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — An Austin ISD employee was arrested Thursday in Round Rock after he traveled to Colombia to "engage in illegal sexual conduct with minors," the U.S. Department of Justice said in a release.Michael Roberts, 40, is a current employee at Sadler Means Young Women's Leadership Academy and Garcia Young Men's Leadership Academy, and a former employee at Navarro ECHS, according to an Austin ISD letter. Roberts has been placed on administrative leave, according to an Aust
  
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• Roadrunners come to Austin with high-flying offense, full respect of Sarkisian

  16-09-2022 02:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The UTSA Roadrunners might be from a smaller conference, but they still have the full attention of Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian."Clearly, we've got a heck of a challenge ahead of us," he said during his Thursday news conference. "We're playing a really veteran football team that's really well-coached. They've got a lot of seniors that have won a lot of football games. We have to prepare for a very physical game." Texas needs to be careful of ‘rat poison&rsquo
  
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• Dallas anesthesiologist accused of tampering with IV bags

  16-09-2022 02:13 via kxan.com
  
  PLANO, Texas (KXAN) -- A Dallas-based anesthesiologist was arrested on Tuesday on charges related to tampering with IV bags, which caused at least one death and multiple cardiac emergencies.According to an affidavit for his arrest, Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. is an anesthesiologist who provides medical services to surgical patients at a surgical center in Dallas, where a "substantial portion" of his income comes from. He also provides services at other surgical facilities in the area. He has been
  
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• South Austin bakery Crema closes due to rising rent, inflation

  16-09-2022 01:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Crema Bakery in south Austin is closing its doors for good after nearly a decade of serving the community. They said rent was just too high, and they couldn't keep up with the rising cost.
  Co-owner Janessa Tomberlin said they're paying $7,000 in rent every month for their space. It's a price she said they just couldn't afford anymore. IBM files RFP, seeks new Austin home"Our landlord expected us to sign a 5-year lease in this economy. And we didn't even know if we could survive a
  
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• New steps to address human trafficking in Austin

  16-09-2022 01:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It started when she was a child. Crystal Sepulveda was trafficked by a family member.
  "This person was convicted and sent to federal prison for-- he not only trafficked myself, he trafficked other people who were from Mexico," she said.
  As a juvenile, Sepulveda ended up in the Bexar County probation system and was sent to a facility for trafficked young people.
  Now, she helps others in Austin through the SAFE Alliance.
  "It is something that our team specifically deals with and h
  
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• Liberty Hill prohibits all outdoor watering due to pipe leak

  16-09-2022 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  LIBERTY HILL, Texas (KXAN) —Liberty Hill has entered Phase 4 Water Restrictions, prohibiting all outdoor watering, as of Sep. 15.The Phase 4 outdoor watering restrictions prohibit the following:
  Washing vehiclesWashing sidewalks, parking lots and drivewaysFlushing of guttersAdding water to swimming pools or hot tubsUsing water in a fountain or pond except where necessary for aquatic lifeIrrigation of landscaping areas and athletic fieldsDuring a water inspection on Aug. 8, contractors
  
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• Hidden gems: Central Texans share their favorite H-E-B groceries

  16-09-2022 01:13 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (KXAN) -- After an Austin Reddit post gained some traction, KXAN asked the community to share their favorite H-E-B hidden gems.Some viewers weren’t as willing to provide their favorites—one viewer even saying, “I’m sure not going to tell you. They wouldn’t be hidden then.” BUT there were others more willing to share their go-to groceries!KXAN compiled a list of the Top 10 favorites (based on the number of times an item was mentioned or a commen
  
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• Republicans endorse Democratic candidate for Texas Lt. Governor

  16-09-2022 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (Nexstar) — Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mike Collier's campaign says he has met with more than a dozen elected Republican officials, and has been publicly endorsed by two.
  Collier will have to compete with Republican incumbent Dan Patrick's campaign war chest and lead in the polls. New polling out this week from the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin shows Patrick leading by 7 percentage points amongst registered voters.
  The former Republican hopes his GOP roots,
  
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• Hays County downgraded to low COVID risk as Fayette County jumps to high risk in CDC update

  16-09-2022 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Almost the entire KXAN viewing area is now rated low risk from COVID-19 in the latest weekly update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Each week since Feb. 24, the CDC has assigned a "COVID-19 Community Level" to every county nationwide based on how the virus is impacting local populations.
  In the Thursday, Sept. 15 update, Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Lampasas, Lee and Milam Counties were all downgraded to low risk, joining Blanco, Gillespie, Llano, Mason, San S
  
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