Austin news

• Blanco father, son plead guilty to Jan. 6 charges

  10-11-2022 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (KXAN) -- A Central Texas father and son entered guilty pleas for their parts in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
  Jason Douglas Owens, 50, and his son, Grady Douglas Owens, 22, both of Blanco, Texas, pleaded guilty in Washington D.C. to assaulting, resisting, or impeding a law enforcement officer, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Grady Owens also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in a Capitol grounds or building.According to court docum
  
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• Digital inclusion grant applications open for Austin area nonprofits

  10-11-2022 23:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Local nonprofits can begin submitting letters of interest for one of four grants provided by the City of Austin's Grant for Technology Opportunities Programs (GTOPs), which offer $400,000 a year through four different grant pathways.The Core grant, the largest grant pathway, is now open and accepting letters of interest until Jan. 8, 2023 from nonprofits operating in the Austin area. Local nonprofits can submit a maximum of three letters of interest for the&n
  
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• Barton Springs Bridge in need of major rehabilitation, here is what is coming next

  10-11-2022 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --The Barton Springs Bridge will have its 100th birthday in a few years. The bridge is in OK condition at the moment but, to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles in the future, the city is exploring a few options to restore the iconic bridge and guarantee its longevity.In 2020, Austinites approved funding to evaluate the bridge so the city staff could begin working on plans to improve the existing structure. The approval came a couple of years after the structure was ranke
  
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• Goodwill veterans program offers yearround job trainings, support services

  10-11-2022 21:54 via kxan.com
  
  CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) — As Texans prepare to honor those who've served this Veterans Day, educational and job training programs through Goodwill Central Texas aim to help those existing the armed services transition to civilian life.GCT operates a veterans program that serves hundreds of people in the Central Texas region. Jason Stewart, GCT's vice president of commercial services, oversees the program and said he leans on his personal military experience to help inform its services. Texas
  
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• Austin Veteran's Day parade canceled due to severe weather threat

  10-11-2022 21:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin's 2022 67th annual Veteran's Day parade has been canceled due to a threat of severe weather.The parade was scheduled to happen downtown on Friday - Veteran's Day - starting at 9 a.m. The city sent a notice Thursday afternoon that the parade is canceled but said there would be another update if it's rescheduled.A sharp cold front is expected to blow through the Austin area Friday, and with it comes a threat of severe weather, a 20-30 degree temperature drop, an
  
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• Texas HHSC to hold hiring event in Austin

  10-11-2022 21:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will host a hiring event in Austin on Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.The job fair event will be held at the Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services Office, located at 6101 E. Oltorf, for various open positions within the Austin office.The positions include Disability Specialists, as well as other positions, such as administrative support to the DS positions, including accounting, budget and tech
  
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• Much colder weather blows in Friday with risk of severe thunderstorms

  10-11-2022 21:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Our five-day stretch of warmer than normal, humid conditions comes to a sharp end on Friday as the strongest cold front of the season blows into Central Texas.We will reach daytime high temperatures Friday morning before the front's arrival. By Friday afternoon, rain and thunderstorms and gusty north winds will drop temperatures into the 50s.Overnight low temperatures drop into the 30s areawide Saturday morning, but likely remain above freezing due to gusty winds mixing up the a
  
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• New transit service makes it easier for Marble Falls residents to get around

  10-11-2022 20:35 via kxan.com
  
  MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) — A new on-demand transit service launched in Marble Falls this week.
  The Capital Area Rural Transportation System brought its CARTS Now service to the town, which is in Burnet County. The service already runs in Bastrop, Taylor and Lockhart.New transit service launches in rural Central Texas town MondayCARTS Now offers on-demand, curb-to-curb rides within the city limits of Marble Falls.
  Rides can be requested through the CARTS Now mobile app, which works like a
  
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• First Muslims & openly gay Black men voted into Texas House

  10-11-2022 20:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The makeup of the Texas House of Representatives will become more diverse after a series of electoral victories during Tuesday's election, resulting in the number of openly gay Black lawmakers to triple and sending the first two Muslim legislators to serve at the State Capitol.
  State Rep. Jolanda Jones won reelection Tuesday to represent the Houston area in Texas House District 147, a seat she first won during a special election earlier this year. That initial victory made
  
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• AUS begins construction for new outbound baggage handling system

  10-11-2022 20:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport held a wrench-turning event Thursday morning to celebrate the start of construction of its new outbound baggage handling system.According to the airport, the current baggage handling system has processed outbound passenger bags for over 20 years. The system was being replaced with a modern system through the Journey With AUS airport improvement program.AUS said it partnered with Whiting-Turner and Siemens Logistics for the construc
  
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• Texas Vet Board still struggling to fix database problems, legislative review finds

  10-11-2022 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Months after a KXAN investigation into problems at the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, a new legislative report reveals the agency is still struggling to manage its data on animal doctors in the state.The report found TBVME failed to implement previous recommendations by the Sunset Advisory Commission -- a group of lawmakers and members of the public that evaluates the function and performance of state agencies. Sunset has reviewed this agency three times over
  
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• MAPS: How did each precinct vote in Austin's city council elections?

  10-11-2022 19:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Half of Austin's 10 city council districts were up for grabs in Tuesday's election. Of the five races, three will move onto runoffs in December.Meanwhile, incumbent councilmembers Natasha Harper-Madison and Paige Ellis were reelected to their seats.For in-depth coverage of the races and election news, head to KXAN's election coverage pageKXAN analyzed precinct-level results in each district to determine where each candidates' support was strongest.Harper-Madison was reelec
  
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• Justin Verlander declines $25M Astros option, becomes free agent

  10-11-2022 19:15 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander declined a $25 million option with the Houston Astros to become a free agent on Thursday, five days after helping the team with its second World Series title.The 39-year-old right-hander likely headed to his third Cy Young Award got his first World Series win in nine starts in Game 5 against Philadelphia. The day before that happened, he said it was too early to think about his future. Baker to return as Houston Astros manager for 2023“Really and trul
  
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• 5 Texas Longhorns NIL groups join together to form Texas One Fund

  10-11-2022 19:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five Texas Athletics-focused NIL groups have merged to launch the Texas One Fund Thursday.Clark Field Collective, Horns with Heart, Occupy Left Field, 40 Pack and the National Championship Golf Foundation are now operating as Texas One Fund, according to the nonprofit. University of Texas to pay some scholarship student-athletes in 2022“After executing numerous NIL deals, we were able to see the need for a bigger positive community impact and a streamlined setup,&rdqu
  
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• Electric Amazon vans to launch in Austin for the holidays

  10-11-2022 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Electric Amazon vans will roll around Austin this holiday season, helping to deliver gifts and packages.
  The company said the Rivian-designed vehicles were first rolled out over the summer in places like Dallas and Nashville. So far, the vehicles have delivered 5 million packages to customers in the country, and the fleet has grown to over 1,000 vehicles.Ford disbands autonomous vehicle company that was testing in AustinNow Austin, along with 13 other cities, including Hous
  
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• Remains of missing Texas woman identified in Colorado 35 years later

  10-11-2022 18:50 via kxan.com
  
  MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Authorities in Colorado have identified the remains of a missing Texas woman 35 years after her disappearance.Nora Elia Castillo, of McAllen, was formally reported missing in 1996 — but the reporting party told authorities that she had been missing since 1986 or 1987, a post from the Baca County Sheriff's Office stated this week.The reporting party told the McAllen Police Department that her last contact was a collect call from "somewhere in Colorado,
  
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• Report: Texas restaurant owner accused of human trafficking, forcing immigrant to work for free

  10-11-2022 18:48 via kxan.com
  
  ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - The owner of an Abilene, Texas restaurant has been charged with human trafficking, accused of holding an undocumented immigrant in a home and forcing him to work with no money or food for six months.Hai Zhuang was arrested on a Trafficking of Persons warrant Wednesday in connection to the allegations. He remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $200,000 bond.Court documents state an undocumented immigrant gave a statement to the Texas Attorney General's Office, Hu
  
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• Travis County leaders approve $3.1 million to help low-income families with food access

  10-11-2022 17:23 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County commissioners on Tuesday approved $3.1 million to help low-income families get better access to healthy, fresh food.The money will be spread out across seven local organizations that will use the funds to enhance their food delivery services, expand pantry locations and/or fund food distribution programs.Texas SNAP benefits extended for NovemberThe contract awards are made possible through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds the
  
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• Has Austin built too many office towers?

  10-11-2022 16:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The future of Austin’s office market is getting cloudier by the day, but there's cause for optimism from longtime players and a respected institution that tracks local real estate.Adam Perdue, research economist at the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University, said he expects office vacancy to rise as buildings that started construction in recent years are delivered — but he doesn't expect the increase to be anything near
  
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• This new Blanton Museum leader will reintroduce you to the redesigned space

  10-11-2022 16:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin on Wednesday named a new director of public programs who will help introduce the city to the museum's new redesigned grounds.Kenyon Adams will take on the role and help launch a new lineup of programming for the museum when it reopens its grounds, which are currently under construction.The grounds are being redesigned by international design firm Snøhetta, with work expected to be done by the spring.‘Austin’ building at
  
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• Taylor Parker sentenced to death for murder of New Boston mother, unborn baby

  10-11-2022 15:31 via kxan.com
  
  NEW BOSTON, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – A Bowie County jury has sentenced Taylor Parker to death for the capital murder of 21-year-old Reagan Simmons-Hancock and her unborn baby, Braxlynn Sage.  ‘I knew she was gone:’ Mother recounts finding Reagan Hancock’s body
  Parker was convicted last month for the brutal Oct. 9, 2020, murder and kidnapping that led to the baby’s death. Hancock's mother found her daughter's body on the floor of her New Boston living room. Her
  
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• Lanes blocked on I-35 NB in Round Rock after multi-vehicle crash

  10-11-2022 14:41 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Lanes are blocked on Interstate 35 northbound in Round Rock due to a multi-vehicle wreck, police said.The Round Rock Police Department said the highway is down to one lane near McNeil Road.Oh boy, there’s a crash again on northbound I-35 at McNeil in Round Rock - second day in a row! Multiple cars involved - I believe about 10! Only one lane is open.#ATXtraffic @roundrock @KXAN_News #roundrocktexas #roundrocktx pic.twitter.com/PFhftKTasL— Erica Brenne
  
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• 27 cars involved in two days of crashes on same stretch of I-35 in Round Rock

  10-11-2022 14:41 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Lanes were blocked on Interstate 35 northbound in Round Rock due to a multi-vehicle wreck, police said. This accident nearly identical to another multi-vehicle crash on this same stretch of road just the day before.The Round Rock Police Department said the highway was down to one lane near McNeil Road for two hours Thursday morning.Oh boy, there’s a crash again on northbound I-35 at McNeil in Round Rock - second day in a row! Multiple cars involved - I beli
  
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• 27 cars involved in 2 days of crashes on same stretch of I-35 in Round Rock

  10-11-2022 14:41 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Lanes were blocked on Interstate 35 northbound in Round Rock due to a multi-vehicle wreck Thursday morning, police said. This accident was nearly identical to another multi-vehicle crash on this same stretch of road just the day before.The Round Rock Police Department said the highway was down to one lane near McNeil Road for two hours on Thursday morning.
  KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes watched Thursday's crash as it happened and took to Twitter to warn driver
  
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• Zombie Trees return to Central Texas — how to identify the dangerous walking dead

  10-11-2022 14:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While it may sound a bit hyperbolic, the dead walk amongst us this fall: zombie trees. It sounds silly, but zombie trees are what arborists call trees that are still standing but aren't alive. This year's drought and the 2021 winter storm have caused a horde of zombie trees to swarm across Central Texas.Zombie trees can be very dangerous. While they may look healthy, arborists said they could fall or break apart easily. A falling branch could damage people, pets and propert
  
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• Austin ISD apologizes to teachers over late payroll, missing stipends

  10-11-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Weeks into the school year, the Austin Independent School District was still trying to recover from the record-high number of teachers who quit or retired the previous year.But amid hiring nearly 1,000 new teachers, the school district missed an important deadline: payroll.Email records and complaints sent to the district’s human capital office show delays in onboarding new hires led to missing money on teachers’ paychecks – and some being paid late.In a S
  
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• Dress for Success helps veterans reach their professional potential with free services

  10-11-2022 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Women are the fastest-growing group in the veteran population. By 2040, they're expected to make up almost 18% of all veterans. Although transitioning to civilian life can be tough for any vet, research from Syracuse University in 2020 found 54% of female veterans didn't feel prepared to navigate the available resources in their community. That's compared to 35% of their male counterparts responding. In 2021, the Warrior Women Project also foun
  
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• Visit Austin touts support for musicians as a way to boost tourism

  10-11-2022 13:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — A local organization is exposing Austin musicians to wider audiences, with the aim of bolstering tourism in the Live Music Capital of the World.Visit Austin — a nonprofit contracted by the City of Austin to market it across the globe — supports artists in multiple ways, including by connecting them with businesses in need of live music. An executive shared updates on some of its programs at a Nov. 7 meeting of the Austin Music Commission.The n
  
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• New restaurants coming to Kyle, including Chipotle, Crust Pizza, Spoon + Fork

  10-11-2022 13:19 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (Austin Business Journal) — Residents of Kyle often complain about not having enough restaurants to keep up with the surging population, but that dynamic is changing as more businesses open in the Hays County city.A lot of them are coming to the second phase of Kyle Crossing, a retail center off I-35 near Kyle Parkway. CSW Development has under construction two more 7,000-square-foot buildings, said Kevin Hunter, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. New ten
  
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• Austin Humane Society celebrates 70 years of serving Central Texas

  10-11-2022 13:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's longest no-kill, nonprofit pet and adoption center will mark a milestone.
  The Austin Humane Society turns 70 on Friday.
  AHS is open from 12 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.It is located at 124 W. Anderson Ln.They have both dogs and cats available for adoption and fostering.
  In June, AHS hosted its "Teddy Bear Surgery” event to give kids a "glimpse into the world of animal care.”
  
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• Austin ISD interim superintendent named lone finalist for Houston-area district

  10-11-2022 12:35 via kxan.com
  
  ALIEF, Texas (KXAN) — The Alief Independent School District Board of Trustees said Wednesday it named interim Austin ISD Superintendent Anthony Mays as its lone finalist to serve as the district's next superintendent.
  Alief is 15 miles southwest of Houston.
  Prior to joining Austin ISD, Mays was the senior director of schools for the Harris County Department of Education. He has worked in Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs, starting at Pflugerville ISD as a special education teacher.“The Boar
  
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• APD, TABC investigating reported assault inside 6th Street bar, friends say victim is in hospital

  10-11-2022 05:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) are investigating a reported assault at The 512 on 6th early Sunday morning.
  Friends of the victim tell us he is still in the hospital as of Wednesday evening."I can see that happening," said Jimmy Flacco, who we told about the incident. PREVIOUS 6TH STREET INCIDENT: Man shot inside of 6th Street tavern says he will be OK after shootingBar management sent KXAN the following statement about the incide
  
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• APD, TABC investigate reported assault inside 6th Street bar; friends say victim is in hospital

  10-11-2022 05:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) are investigating a reported assault at The 512 on 6th early Sunday morning.
  Friends of the victim told KXAN he is still in the hospital as of Wednesday evening."I can see that happening," said Jimmy Flacco, who we told about the incident. PREVIOUS 6TH STREET INCIDENT: Man shot inside of 6th Street tavern says he will be OK after shootingBar management sent KXAN the following statement about the
  
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• Austin voters passed billions in bonds: Here's how it may add up on your bill

  10-11-2022 04:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Money is about to get tighter for many in Austin.Inflation is expected to stay high, and it comes as Austin voters approved billions of dollars worth of bonds.We're digging deeper into the historic bonds.
  The City of Austin's affordable housing bond was the largest of its kind, at $350 million.So was Austin Independent School District's bond package, at $2.44 billion.Voters also approved Austin Community College's $770 million bond.So, what's the impact of all that to your tax b
  
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• $13.1M in grants to Texas military communities

  10-11-2022 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that $13.1 million in grants is being awarded to military communities across Texas.
  The money is coming from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission's Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant program. The grants assist military communities that may be impacted by any future Base Realignment and Closure process.
  The funds will be invested in infrastructure projects and other initiatives to increase the value of military installatio
  
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• Odessa police save teen following overdose, older brother arrested

  10-11-2022 01:58 via kxan.com
  
  ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Earlier this month, officers with the Odessa Police Department saved the life of a 14-year-old boy who reportedly overdosed on fentanyl laced pills; investigators said the teen's older brother supplied the drug. Angel Ramos, Jr., 18, has been charged with Endangering a Child, a state jail felony.According to an affidavit, on November 4, officers responded to a home after someone called 911 and reported the overdose. At the scene, investigators found an unconscious teen
  
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• Man commits 2 bank robberies in Austin while wearing fake beard

  10-11-2022 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Wednesday, the Austin Police Department asked for help identifying a man connected to two armed bank robberies — one in northwest Austin and the other in southwest Austin.APD said the latest bank robbery occurred late Tuesday morning in the 9700 block of Research Boulevard, where the suspect wore a fake beard mask, entered the bank, approached the teller and gave her a note that stated a robbery was happening.“The suspect pulled out a handgun during the robbe
  
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• $53.1M expansion underway at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center

  10-11-2022 01:19 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – On Tuesday, St. David's Round Rock Medical Center began the construction for its hospital expansion.The $53.1 million expansion would include two additional floors with a 34-bed patient care unit, as well as four additional operating rooms and support spaces, according to the hospital.“The expansion will provide the hospital with more space to grow surgical specialties including neurosurgery, advanced orthopedic and robotic services, among other complex spe
  
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• UT football fans will experience winter chill at Saturday's TCU game

  10-11-2022 01:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas football fans heading to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday need to dress for the coldest game of the season. First Warning Weather forecastAs the Longhorns take on TCU Saturday at 6:30 p.m., kickoff temperatures will be near 54° under mostly cloudy skies with gusty north winds. Though we do expect dry weather through the evening, temperatures by the end of the game will dip to 48° -- cold enough to generate a wind chill temperature close to 40°.Coldest rea
  
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• Friday's cold front brings severe risk, then wind chill

  10-11-2022 00:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hold on tight! Our weather takes a hard right turn behind tomorrow's cold front.Today will be our last day of unseasonably warm and humid conditions as temperatures return to the 80s under a mix of sun and clouds.Tomorrow will be a wild weather day as a sharp cold front blows through the area. Temperatures plummet from the 70s Friday morning to the 40s and 50s by the afternoon and evening. Breezy north winds won't make it feel any warmer -- expect speeds to reach 10-20 mph, gust
  
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• AISD bond passes, but some districts say no to new facilities, athletic upgrades

  10-11-2022 00:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Voters in several Central Texas school districts approved millions, and in some cases billions, in school bonds on Tuesday."This $2.44 billion will enable the district to provide the security, facilities and modern technology that all our students and teachers deserve," said Dr. Anthony Mays, AISD interim superintendent.With aging facilities and maintenance costs adding up in the millions, Austin voters approved all three AISD propositions that showed up on the ballot.Prop
  
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