Austin news

• $15M designated for new Uvalde elementary school

  27-10-2022 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas leaders on Thursday announced the transfer of nearly $875 million for public safety and recovery initiatives in the state, like school safety and border security.
  Out of the $874.6 million, $15 million is designated to help build a new elementary school in Uvalde.
  A week after the Robb Elementary School shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers in May, the school district announced that students and staff would not return to the campus. That announcement came
  
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• Stadium for inaugural ATX Open will seat 1,500, renderings show

  27-10-2022 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin is preparing for what is expected to be the largest women's professional sporting event in the city's history.
  With the first serve of the inaugural ATX Open set to take place in four months, event organizers with the DropShot Tournament Series unveiled renderings of the stadium for the Women's Tennis Association's ATX Open inaugural 250 Tour tournament on Thursday.ATX Open stadium rendering (Courtesy: DropShot Tournament Series)ATX Open stadium rendering (Court
  
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• How to get rid of unwanted prescription drugs in Travis County

  27-10-2022 22:39 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Time to clean out your medicine cabinet. If you have old, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs lying around, you can safely get rid of them on Saturday during National Drug Take Back Day.
  Travis County Constables are teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Administration on the National Take Back Initiative.
  Residents are encouraged to participate in this event and drop off their medications at any of the five Travis County Constable precincts from 
  
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• How your Goodwill Halloween costumes help Texans earn living wages

  27-10-2022 22:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's a few days before Halloween, and thrift stores across Austin are buzzing with people putting the finishing touches on their costumes. For Goodwill Central Texas, Halloween sales account for 5% of its total annual revenue, with approximately 800,000 people shopping at its stores during the holiday season.The money spent goes toward a bigger payoff: funding job training and career placement programs in the Goodwill Career & Technical Academy. Nearly 90% of proceeds r
  
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• Stormy Friday morning clears into a beautiful Halloween weekend

  27-10-2022 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Clouds are increasing with a few rain showers expected to begin overnight as a potent storm system approaches Central Texas. Full report: Jarrell tornado on the ground for 4.01 miles in Williamson CountyHeat and humidity are blowing in on a breezy south wind ahead of a risk of severe storms on Friday. Rain is likely early in the day, and some of the storms may be severe with hail, wind damage and an isolated tornado. Rain is expected to clear the area by early Friday afternoon w
  
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• Tony Gonzales becomes first major Republican to call for DPS Director Steve McCraw to resign

  27-10-2022 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, on Thursday became the first major Republican to call for the resignation of Steve McCraw, the director of the Department of Public Safety, for his agency’s response to an elementary school shooting in the city that left 19 children and two adults dead and captured the attention of a nation for its failed law enforcement response.“DPS Director McCraw should RESIGN immediately,” Gonzales said on&
  
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• Man faces aggravated assault charges after 4 separate shootings in south Austin

  27-10-2022 20:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man arrested last week by the Austin Police Department faces four aggravated assault charges after reportedly opening fire four separate times in August and September, and in some cases, causing injuries to three people.
  APD said Kaabee Eduardo David Crowder, 33, was arrested Oct. 18. He was taken to the Travis County jail and is currently being held on a combined $400,000 bond on four charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.Affidavit: A
  
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• Texas flu season off to a busy start, CDC numbers show

  27-10-2022 19:42 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. is starting to see signs of an early flu season this year. According to tracking by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, visits to doctors' offices for respiratory illness are already above baseline levels, and more people are testing positive for influenza, especially in the south and southeast.
  Few places are seeing more residents calling the doctor with flu-like symptoms than Texas. Local leaders warn of worse than normal flu seasonThe CDC tracks influenz
  
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• Ye returns to Instagram: 'I lost $2 billion in one day'

  27-10-2022 19:23 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) -- Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, is back on Instagram.Earlier this month, the Yeezy designer was banned from the platform due to antisemitic posts that the social network said violated their policies.
  Ye took to the platform late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning and poked fun at companies ending their partnerships with him and losing his status as a billionaire.
  The Chicago native posted a mock headline that read "Ye has reportedly cut ties with Kanye West." The p
  
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• Affidavit: Austin pedicab crash ejects passengers, driver arrested

  27-10-2022 17:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police arrested the driver of a pedicab early Tuesday morning following a crash that ejected his passengers from the vehicle and sent them to the hospital.According to the arrest affidavit for the driver, who police identified as Raven Na, the pedicab hit an SUV in the 1800 block of East Second St. around 5 a.m. The driver of the SUV told police the pedicab driver left the scene without exchanging any information.Police found the pedicab nearby, "which had been moved into t
  
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• Affidavit: Austin pedicab crash ejects passenger, driver arrested

  27-10-2022 17:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police arrested the driver of a pedicab early Monday morning following a crash that ejected one of his passengers from the vehicle and sent him to the hospital.According to the arrest affidavit for the driver, who police identified as Raven Na, the pedicab hit an SUV in the 1800 block of East Second St. around 5 a.m. The driver of the SUV told police the pedicab driver left the scene without exchanging any information.Police found the pedicab nearby, "which had been moved i
  
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• Texas man arrested in New Braunfels on additional human trafficking charge, other victims possible

  27-10-2022 17:25 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (KXAN) — KXAN has learned new details about a 58-year-old retired U.S. Air Force colonel who has been arrested twice in New Braunfels over the last week on two charges of human trafficking.New Braunfels Police said Marc Stephen Jamison was arrested Wednesday after a second victim came forward. The first arrest was on Oct. 21. 58-year-old Texas man charged with trafficking in New BraunfelsPolice said the crimes against the first victim, a 16-year-old girl, began in May
  
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• Motorcyclist killed in crash last week in southwest Austin

  27-10-2022 16:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Last Thursday, a man was killed in a crash involving two vehicles and a motorcycle in southwest Austin, according to the Austin Police Department.
  APD said the crash took place at 3:17 p.m. on Oct. 20 in the 2300 block of S. Capital of Texas Hwy. in the northbound lanes.
  Two people were taken to the hospital, APD said, including a male motorcyclist who remains unidentified. He died the next day, APD said.
  Anyone with details about the crash can call the Highway Investigatio
  
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• 'Pretty incredible': Local writer, director has film premiering in Austin Film Festival

  27-10-2022 15:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Film Festival kicks off Thursday and is set to run for a week through Nov. 3.
  The festival draws in filmmakers from around the world for panels, round tables and, of course, film viewings. We spoke with an Austin-area writer and director who has a feature film premiering during the festival this weekend.Austin Film Festival: First wave of screenings revealed for 2022Riley Cusick said he attended the Austin Film Festival in 2014 as a high schooler. It was his firs
  
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• Texas public safety officials expected to provide update on Uvalde school shooting

  27-10-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas public safety officials are expected to further discuss the Uvalde school shooting in an open meeting Thursday.
  The Public Safety Commission, a five-member group that oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety, plans to meet at DPS headquarters in central Austin at 9 a.m. Agenda documents list that a "Uvalde Update" is in store under the "directors report" portion of the meeting.
  This comes after at least seven Texas DPS officers were put under investigation for t
  
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• Texas DPS chief: DPS 'did not fail' Uvalde community

  27-10-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The head of Texas’ top law enforcement agency, Col. Steven McCraw, said the Department of Public Safety “did not fail” the Uvalde community in its response to the May 24 mass school shooting.McCraw’s comments come weeks after he said he would step down if there’s “any culpability” among his troopers.  RELATED: DPS sergeant terminated for response to Uvalde school shooting“If DPS as an institution — as an institut
  
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• Texas DPS chief: DPS 'did not fail the [Uvalde] community'

  27-10-2022 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas public safety officials are expected to further discuss the Uvalde school shooting in an open meeting Thursday.
  The Public Safety Commission, a five-member group that oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety, plans to meet at DPS headquarters in central Austin at 9 a.m. Agenda documents list that a "Uvalde Update" is in store under the "directors report" portion of the meeting.
  This comes after at least seven Texas DPS officers were put under investigation for t
  
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• Could a 4-day workweek save the planet?

  27-10-2022 14:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Amid the pandemic and a general shift in how we got to work, a new proposal is gaining traction: a four-day workweek. Earlier this year, the city of Keller, Texas shifted to a four-day workweek, and last year a bill was even proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives.So what's the deal? Researchers with the UT Haslam College of Business have found a shorter workweek improves productivity, reduces burnout and helps people relax when they're not working. Plus, it forces pe
  
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• Meet the candidates running for Travis county judge

  27-10-2022 14:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County residents will find two candidates on their ballots this election for county judge: incumbent County Judge Andy Brown and political newcomer Rupal Chaudhari.Keep up-to-date by going to KXAN's election page for coverage ahead of election day Nov. 8 and results.KXAN talked to the two candidates to learn more about why voters should choose them to preside over the Travis County Commissioners Court for the next four years. Travis county judge and the Commissi
  
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• LIVE: 2 years into Austin's Project Connect, is the light rail still on track?

  27-10-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary: Earlier this year, the group overseeing Austin’s massive transit initiative, Project Connect, made an announcement: skyrocketing construction costs and the price of land would likely bring the price tag of the project up. The cost estimates for the light rail project, specifically, nearly doubled. Project leaders say they will not be asking taxpayers for another rate increase so they have some potentially tough decisions to make about how to move forward with the fu
  
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• Austin City Council to address text-to-911 language gaps, renters' rights this week

  27-10-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council meets Thursday at city hall. Here's some of what we're watching.
  Filling 911 language gapsCouncil members could direct the city manager to secure translation technology for text-to-911 and bring it back to council within six months.
  "The approval of this item will help fill a critical gap for individuals that speak a language other than English and are unable to utilize a phone call during an emergency," Council member Mackenzie Kelly, who sponsored the resol
  
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• Austin City Council addresses text-to-911 language gaps, renters' rights this week

  27-10-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council meets Thursday at city hall. Here's some of what we're watching.
  Filling 911 language gaps: ApprovedCouncil members directed the city manager to secure translation technology for text-to-911 and bring it back to council within six months.
  "The approval of this item will help fill a critical gap for individuals that speak a language other than English and are unable to utilize a phone call during an emergency," Council member Mackenzie Kelly, who sponsored the
  
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• Austin City Council addresses text-to-911 language gaps, renters' rights

  27-10-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council met Thursday at City Hall. Here's what we were watching:
  Filling 911 language gaps: ApprovedCouncil members directed the city manager to secure translation technology for text-to-911 and bring it back to council within six months.
  "The approval of this item will help fill a critical gap for individuals that speak a language other than English and are unable to utilize a phone call during an emergency," Council member Mackenzie Kelly, who sponsored the resolut
  
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• 2 years into Austin's Project Connect, is the light rail still on track?

  27-10-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary: Earlier this year, the group overseeing Austin’s massive transit initiative, Project Connect, made an announcement: skyrocketing construction costs and the price of land would likely bring the price tag of the project up. The cost estimates for the light rail project, specifically, nearly doubled. Project leaders say they will not be asking taxpayers for another rate increase so they have some potentially tough decisions to make about how to move forward with the fu
  
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• Jarrell business owner recalls cleaning up trailers moved by Monday night tornado

  27-10-2022 13:11 via kxan.com
  
  JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) — After Monday night's EF-1 tornado in the Jarrell area, the owner of Rolling M Trailers said he had to use heavy machinery to remove a gooseneck trailer the storm's strong winds tossed into the road."The sign was crushed down. It was a mess. One was rolled over. The others were turned on their sides," said Douglas Meadows, owner of Rolling M Trailers. Report: Jarrell tornado on the ground for 4 miles in Williamson CountyHe said about eight of his trailers were damage
  
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• First responders rescue 1 person lost near Lake Travis, searching for another

  27-10-2022 12:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS and other agencies are searching for a couple of people who got lost near Lake Travis Thursday morning.ATCEMS said it was initially called out to the 13000 block of Mansfield Dr. just after 4 a.m. after patients with medical complaints said they were lost in the area.
  One patient was found by STAR Flight near Rock Creek and Rainbow 1 streets by the lake. That patient, who is being evaluated, reported there may be a second patient lost in the area, a
  
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• First responders rescue 1 person lost near Lake Travis

  27-10-2022 12:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS and other agencies were searching for a couple of people who got lost near Lake Travis Thursday morning. One person was rescued, but an immediate search for another was called off.
  The incident will be turned over to the Travis County Sheriff's Office now, ATCEMS said.Person hit, killed on N. I-35 near 51st StreetATCEMS said it was initially called out to the 13000 block of Mansfield Dr. just after 4 a.m. after patients with medical complaints said
  
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• LIVE: Increasing risk of severe storms Friday

  27-10-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One more quiet day today before our next round of storms rolls through Central Texas. Full report: Jarrell tornado on the ground for 4.01 miles in Williamson CountyToday will feature an increase in clouds, warmth, wind and humidity ahead of a powerful upper-level low pressure system moving towards us from the northwest. By tomorrow morning (Friday), a broken line of strong to severe storms is likely to race across the area, potentially impacting the morning commute.A stormy morn
  
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• Increasing risk of severe storms Friday

  27-10-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One more quiet day today before our next round of storms rolls through Central Texas. Full report: Jarrell tornado on the ground for 4.01 miles in Williamson CountyToday will feature an increase in clouds, warmth, wind and humidity ahead of a powerful upper-level low pressure system moving towards us from the northwest. By tomorrow morning (Friday), a broken line of strong to severe storms is likely to race across the area, potentially impacting the morning commute.A stormy morn
  
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• Affidavit: High-profile gang subset 'controls' downtown drug market

  27-10-2022 04:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A drug arrest affidavit from earlier this week, gang drug activity has led to an increase in violent crimes including assault, robberies and murders downtown.
  According to the court document, an officer was "attempting to combat our open-air drug market in the 500 block of Neches and the 600 block of Sabine. Which is controlled by the [gang] subset."We reached out to APD to get more information about this specific drug activity and how officers track it, but have not heard back.
  
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• Person hit, killed on N. I-35 near 51st Street

  27-10-2022 04:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person has died after being hit on N. I-35 near 51st St.
  Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted that it happened in the 5300 block around 7:20 p.m.
  TxDOT said the northbound lanes of the interstate just before 51st St. are all closed. Traffic is being diverted to the frontage road at 51st.
  Drivers should expect closures and delays in the area while the crash is investigated.
  
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• Whole Foods' top 10 food trends for 2023

  27-10-2022 02:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Whole Foods Market Inc. recently unveiled its annual food trend predictions, showcasing some of the zeitgeist inside the organic grocery pioneer as it heads into a new year.Consumer packaged goods companies should pay attention because finding your way onto the shelves of the Austin-based chain can be a huge boost.Whole Foods — an Amazon.com Inc. subsidiary that has 525 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom — on Oct. 19&nb
  
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• Suspect charged after teen shot, killed on Halloween 2021

  27-10-2022 01:15 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — On Monday, a man has been arrested and charged in connection to the murder of an 18-year-old in Pflugerville on Halloween last year.
  According to an affidavit, Roidel Enrique Vivero-Diaz, 19, faces a first-degree murder charge related to the shooting death of Eduardo Jaramillo, 18, which authorities said was a drug deal turned robbery/shooting.Previous coverage: Pflugerville teen found dead inside car Sunday nightThe Travis County Sheriff’s Office said th
  
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• 8.2% toll rate increase coming to Central Texas

  27-10-2022 00:55 via kxan.com
  
  CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) – Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, a new 8.2% toll rate increase will be applied to Central Texas toll roads.The increase results in a $0.04 to $0.14 increase per toll gantry on 183A, 290, 71, 45SW and 183 Toll, and the MoPac Express Lane will increase by $.05 per segment. CTRMA not billing TxTag customers over lack of ‘confidence’ in dataThe Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority board approved the annual toll rate increase during its meeting Wednesday.CTRMA sai
  
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• Williamson County man says daughter wasn't showing up as registered voter despite her registering

  27-10-2022 00:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A few days into early voting and some people are having issues when they arrive at polling locations.Williamson County voter Bobby Knight said he was eager to sign his daughter up to vote, but when they arrived at a polling location on Monday, they were shocked to find out her name was not showing up."We mailed in her voter registration to change her address on about Sept. 11," Knight said. "When we got there they said you arent registered to vote."KXAN asked Williamso
  
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