Austin news

• Counter Culture announces it will be closing by end of the year

  02-12-2022 23:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A beloved Austin business will be closing its doors by the end of the year. Sue Davis announced on her business’ Facebook page that Counter Culture, known for its innovative vegan food, would not renew its lease at the end of December. Starting Monday, Dec. 5, the restaurant will reduce its hours and officially close its doors by the end of the month.   Austin’s iconic Nau’s Enfield Drug closing soon“I don’t have a clear picture
  
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• Gov. Greg Abbott says he supports decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips

  02-12-2022 22:34 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday said he supports decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips, reversing his previous opposition to the idea as he tries to fight an increase in opioid overdoses in the state, which he has made a point of emphasis heading into January’s legislative session.He made the statement after visiting with University of Houston researchers who have developed a fentanyl vaccine that targets the synthetic opioid and could block its a
  
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• Man dies nearly 2 weeks after being hit by SUV on Wells Branch Parkway

  02-12-2022 22:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 65-year-old man died on Sunday nearly two weeks after he was hit by an SUV on West Wells Branch Pkwy.
  It happened in the 1400 block of  W. Wells Branch Pkwy, near its intersection with Interstate 35, on Nov. 17 around 7:07 p.m. Previous coverage: One injured after being hit by vehicle on Wells Branch ParkwayAustin-Travis County EMS took the patient, identified by the Austin Police Department as Martin Duboulet, to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center with “serious,
  
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• Austin City Council approves Statesman PUD, South Congress area set for massive redevelopment

  02-12-2022 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council voted Friday to approve the Statesman PUD, allowing developers to move forward with plans for Austin's South Central Waterfront area, the site of the old Austin-American Statesman building.The contentious 305 South Congress PUD has been under discussion for months.#Final: The Statesman PUD has been approved.
  "This project today has not earned my support and I regret that we were not able to achieve more," Mayor Pro Tem Alter said. Tovo also against. Kelly abs
  
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• Austin City Council approves Statesman PUD

  02-12-2022 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council voted Friday to approve the Statesman PUD after delaying the vote at a regular council meeting Thursday night. The decision allows developers to move forward with plans for Austin's South Central Waterfront area, where the old Austin-American Statesman building used to be.The contentious 305 South Congress PUD has been under discussion for months.#Final: The Statesman PUD has been approved.
  "This project today has not earned my support and I regret that we we
  
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• More than a decade in the making, new Travis County courts facility opens amid space shortage

  02-12-2022 20:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than a decade since State Senator Sarah Eckhardt worked out of the Heman Sweatt Travis County Courthouse, she remembers one day clearly.
  "Sitting on benches outside [Judge] Susan Sheppard's office, negotiating a protective order between two people, one of whom was in an orange jumpsuit," she recalled.
  The then- county attorney worried about the child involved in the case having to face the assailant.
  "Because there was no place to put this child, we asked Judge Sheppar
  
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• More than a decade in the making, new Travis County courts facility opens amid case backlog

  02-12-2022 20:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County leaders are holding a dedication ceremony for the new Civil and Family Courts Facility on Guadalupe Street.
  According to a county press release, the building has 25 courtrooms, including 15 jury courtrooms, six non-jury courtrooms, one child protective services courtroom, one special proceedings courtroom and two State of Texas Attorney General child support hearing rooms.The county said it's been working on these plans for more than a decade. Right now, most
  
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• Poll: Who won the Austin Mayor Debate?

  02-12-2022 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The two candidates for Austin mayor debated the biggest issues facing our city, and now we want to hear who you think had the best showing.Kirk Watson and Celia Israel are headed to a runoff election Dec. 13, with early voting starting Thursday. While that will be the real test of their candidacy, you can also check back in this story to see the latest results of this unscientific poll.Both Watson and Israel served in the Texas legislature — he in the senate and she i
  
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• Deciding between the Austin mayoral candidates? Check out their stances on some big issues

  02-12-2022 19:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN asked our viewers what questions they had for Austin’s future mayor. We received hundreds of well-articulated submissions. While we incorporated some of those questions in the debate Thursday night, the moderators could not get to all of them in the allotted hour. After the debate closed, we grabbed both candidates to ask a few more questions before sending them off to bed. WATCH: Austin mayor debateIs there a part of Austin that you feel has developed posit
  
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• LIVE: Houston Police provide update on deadly shooting of rapper Takeoff

  02-12-2022 19:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston Police Department is expected to release an update Friday on the deadly shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff.
  The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston in early November. He was there alongside his uncle and rapper Quavo.PAST STORY: Migos rapper Takeoff shot dead in HoustonPreviously, an investigator said it appears the shooting occurred after an argument outside the bowling alley
  
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• Houston Police to provide update in deadly shooting of rapper Takeoff

  02-12-2022 19:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston Police Department is expected to release an update Friday on the deadly shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff.
  The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston in early November. He was there alongside his uncle and rapper Quavo.PAST STORY: Migos rapper Takeoff shot dead in HoustonPreviously, an investigator said it appears the shooting occurred after an argument outside the bowling alley
  
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• Houston Police provide update on deadly shooting of rapper Takeoff

  02-12-2022 19:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston Police Department released an update Friday on the deadly shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff. A news conference started shortly after 2 p.m. in Houston to provide new information and arrests related to Takeoff's murder.The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston in early November. He was there alongside his uncle and rapper Quavo.PAST STORY: Migos rapper Takeoff shot dead in Houst
  
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• Houston Police: 2 arrests made in connection with deadly shooting of rapper Takeoff

  02-12-2022 19:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston Police Department released an update Friday on the deadly shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff. A news conference started shortly after 2 p.m. in Houston to provide information on arrests related to Takeoff's murder.The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston in early November. He was there alongside his uncle and rapper Quavo.PAST STORY: Migos rapper Takeoff shot dead in HoustonHPD
  
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• Houston Police: 2 arrests made in connection to deadly shooting of rapper Takeoff

  02-12-2022 19:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston Police Department released an update Friday on the deadly shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff. A news conference started shortly after 2 p.m. in Houston to provide information on arrests related to Takeoff's murder.The 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed outside a bowling alley in downtown Houston in early November. He was there alongside his uncle and rapper Quavo.PAST STORY: Migos rapper Takeoff shot dead in HoustonHPD
  
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• Turnout tracker: How many people have voted in the December runoff election?

  02-12-2022 19:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With early voting underway, KXAN is keeping track of how many Central Texans have voted in the Dec. 13 runoff election.Voters will decide the winners of the five races in which no candidate received a majority of votes in the Nov. 8 general election: Austin mayor, Austin City Council Districts 3, 5 and 9 and Kyle City Council District 1. What Austin voters need to know about the December runoff electionThe Austin city limits extend into three counties: Travis, Williamson an
  
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• GJ Kinne hired as next Texas State Bobcats head football coach

  02-12-2022 18:28 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Texas State has named GJ Kinne its new head football coach, the school officially announced Friday.Kinne spent the last year as the head coach of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, guiding the Cardinals to a 10-1 record, a Southland Conference championship, a No. 7 seed in the NCAA FCS playoffs and one of the most prolific offenses in all of college football. UIW leads all FCS and FBS teams averaging 52.9 points per game and 582.4 total yards per game.MORE THAN THE S
  
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• Gen Z, baby boomers find common ground through Texas Walking College

  02-12-2022 17:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Walking College is opening up a new perspective on how Gen Z and baby boomers have more in common than you think.KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes sat down with America Walks and a recent Walking College graduate to learn more. Your business probably has a Gen Z problem — just not the one you thinkAddie Walker grew up in Austin in a family that used all kinds of ways to get around, like cars, walking, biking and public transportation.
  "I think that a communi
  
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• Nonprofit that connects military parents with their kids at home needs your help

  02-12-2022 16:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100,000 U.S. troops have been deployed and stationed within Europe following Russia’s first attacks against Ukraine in February, according to the United Services Organizations.“About an additional 20,000 have been rotating through Eastern Europe,” said J.D. Crouch, the CEO and President of USO.Crouch recently returned from visiting troops in Eastern Europe. Austin nonprofit working to keep people on path to permanent housing“They're deploye
  
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• Community First! Village of Lights returns to Austin

  02-12-2022 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s largest permanent housing development for folks coming out of homelessness has brought back its annual Christmas celebration, the Community First! Village of Lights.Over the next two weekends, local nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes will offer folks an opportunity to see more than 250,000 lights choreographed to holiday music. Community First! Village of Lights returns to AustinIt’s entirely free for all to see, taking place within the massive 51-acr
  
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• Morgan Wallen headed to Austin's Moody Center in May 2023

  02-12-2022 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Country music star Morgan Wallen is bringing his "One Night At A Time" World Tour to Austin in May.
  He'll perform at Moody Center on May 24, 2023, according to a post from the venue.
  Fans can sign up for presale registration now through Ticketmaster. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Dec. 9.How Moody Center will curate an Austin experience at 2023 CMT Music AwardsWallen named the tour after one of three new songs he released this week in his "One Thing At A Time -
  
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• Two local cities among best 'Christmas Towns' in Texas

  02-12-2022 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Central Texas cities have been named among the best "Christmas Towns" in the state.Digital travel magazine Trips to Discover published its list of the top 10 Christmas destinations in Texas.Fredericksburg and Wimberley both appear on the list.Other cities listed in the top 10 include San Antonio, Galveston and College Station.The magazine calls Fredericksburg a "charming German town with a traditional Christmas market."Fredericksburg also has an ice skating rink, a 30-f
  
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• Trevor Noah, Seth Meyers headed to Austin in 2023 for Moontower Just For Laughs

  02-12-2022 14:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Trevor Noah and Seth Meyers are just two of the names on the 2023 lineup for Moontower Just For Laughs Austin.
  The annual comedy festival takes place April 12-23 and will feature over 100 comics across more than 10 venues in Austin. Badges for the festival are on sale now.Ballet Austin kicks off performances of ‘The Nutcracker’ on SaturdayIn recent years, the festival has grown from four days to two weeks under the partnership of Moontower Comedy, the Paramount
  
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• Lawsuit calls work at Texas DPS a 'Racially Hostile Environment'

  02-12-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An ongoing federal lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety and its Director Steven McCraw raises concerning claims about the culture and environment inside DPS.Three DPS officers — two African American officers assigned to different units, and a Hispanic officer — all continue to work for the agency they are suing.The lawsuit alleges these officers have been subjected to years of hostile work environments involving racism, discrimination, unlawful
  
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• Ballet Austin kicks off performances of 'The Nutcracker' on Saturday

  02-12-2022 13:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This Saturday, Ballet Austin will kick off performances of "The Nutcracker" at the Long Center.
  Ballet Austin says it was the first ballet company in the state to produce "The Nutcracker" in 1962, and the tradition has continued 60 years later.
  The first performance takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
  The choreography was done by Stephen Mills, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra will be providing the live accompaniment.
  Many shows are already sold out, including ones on Dec.
  
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• Fog, drizzle to return ahead of Saturday morning cold front

  02-12-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- High temperatures climbed into the 60s and 70s across Central Texas Friday after a dreary start to the day when low clouds, fog and drizzle were widespread. Sunshine even returned to the Hill Country.The low clouds, fog and mist will return late Friday night and linger into Saturday morning until our next front blows through. That should take place an hour or two after sunrise in the Austin area. Temperatures will be cooler and a breezy north wind will blow Saturday.
  Next cold f
  
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• Brief warm up ahead of weekend cold front

  02-12-2022 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Low clouds, fog and drizzle will make for a wet commute in spots this morning - be sure to factor in extra time to get to where you need to go.By this afternoon, mostly to partly cloudy skies will stretch areawide with only a few isolated pockets of light rain possible. Southerly winds will help boost temperatures 10°-15° over yesterday's readings, leaving most of us in the 70s. Faster clearing and more sunshine west of I-35 will result in a nice Friday afternoon for the
  
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• 4 key moments from Austin mayor runoff debate

  02-12-2022 06:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Voters are now deciding if either Celia Israel or Kirk Watson will become the next mayor of Austin, and the two candidates who advanced to the runoff election debated Thursday evening and laid out some of the ways they differ on policy.
  Here are a few of the moments from the hour-long debate hosted by KXAN that may have caught your attention:
  'Focus on the fundamentals'Whether discussing Project Connect or solutions to homelessness or public safety, Watson kept coming back
  
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• No.1 Texas rolls in opening NCAA tournament match, sweeps Fairleigh Dickinson

  02-12-2022 05:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 1 Texas flexed its muscle in the opening match of the NCAA tournament in a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday at Gregory Gym.The Longhorns blasted the Knights in straight sets 25-6, 25-13, 25-13 to advance to the second round set for 8 p.m. Friday night against Georgia. The Bulldogs upset No. 8 Towson 3-1 in the other first-round match in Austin.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsle
  
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• No. 1 Texas rolls in opening NCAA tournament match, sweeps Fairleigh Dickinson

  02-12-2022 05:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 1 Texas flexed its muscle in the opening match of the NCAA tournament in a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday at Gregory Gym.The Longhorns blasted the Knights in straight sets 25-6, 25-13, 25-13 to advance to the second round set for 8 p.m. Friday night against Georgia. The Bulldogs upset No. 8 Towson 3-1 in the other first-round match in Austin.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsle
  
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• Austin Pets Alive!, Austin Animal Center reduce adoption fees for the holidays

  02-12-2022 04:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's two largest animal shelters lowered adoption prices to help their furry friends find a new home for the holidays.From Dec. 1-31, Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) and Austin Animal Center (AAC) reduced their adoption fees to $31 for cats, kittens, puppies and dogs. Surgery deposits still apply.Without the holiday special, adoption fees are usually around $100, depending on the animal.Austin Animal Center creates tool to show intake status“Our shelters are packed with anim
  
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• City of Austin, police union clash over police oversight in contract negotiations

  02-12-2022 04:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Contract negotiations between the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association have been ongoing for the better part of the year, but Thursday night, they hit a setback over police oversight.
  The current labor agreement would have expired Sept. 30, but it was automatically extended until March of next year so negotiations could continue.Previous coverage: As contract negotiations for Austin Police continue, Austin Justice Coalition calls for more transparencyHowever, on Thur
  
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• San Marcos launches space heater donation drive this winter

  02-12-2022 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The City of San Marcos launched Thursday its first Winter Heat Drive, an effort to collect and distribute donated space heaters to residents in need.The initiative is done in collaboration between the city and Community Action Inc. of Central Texas as well as The Salvation Army San Marcos, according to a city release.
  Space heaters can be purchased online through the city's SMTX Utilities Amazon wish list. Monetary donations can be dropped off to the San Marcos E
  
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• No. 2 Texas stays undefeated, fends off No. 7 Creighton 72-67

  02-12-2022 03:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 2 Texas survived a late rally by No. 7 Creighton to claim a 72-67 win Thursday at the Moody Center.
  Texas guard Marcus Carr hit a pair of clutch foul shots with 10 seconds left, and then Brock Cunningham iced the game with a pair of his own with four seconds left.Leading by as much as 11 points in the second half, the Longhorns withstood a barrage of offense by the Bluejays including sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman suddenly coming to life. Scheierman, a 44% 3-point shoot
  
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• UT Police seeking information on attempted robbery near campus

  02-12-2022 03:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The University of Texas Police Department is seeking information about an attempted robbery that happened off campus Wednesday.
  UTPD said on Twitter this happened near the intersection of 24th and Guadalupe Streets around 3:45 p.m.
  Three people said they were walking in the area when a man approached them and demanded money, according to a release from UTPD.
  When they walked away from him, the victims realized he was armed with a knife and were able to safely get away from the s
  
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• No bomb found after threat evacuates Bastrop Walmart

  02-12-2022 02:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bastrop police said no bomb was found after someone called in a threat to a Bastrop store that led to an evacuation.Just before 5:37 p.m., someone called the Walmart at 488 State Highway 71 and talked about an "explosive device," police said. The store was evacuated out of an abundance of caution as Bastrop police, Bastrop ISD police and the Bastrop Fire Department responded.A KXAN viewer wrote in, saying officers rushed people out of the store and told them to leave their
  
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• Williamson County adds Narcan to county buildings

  02-12-2022 02:23 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County officials announced Thursday the county added Narcan and automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, to county buildings.Narcan is a medication that is used to reverse an opioid overdose and can be used when a known or suspected overdose is happening. The medication added to county buildings is a nasal spray and doesn't involve a needle-based injection. Officials said the drug isn't harmful for people not suffering from an opioid-related
  
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• What is a water key? And why can it save you in the next freeze

  02-12-2022 01:41 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) -- This week, the City of Austin began giving out winter weather supplies, but one tool that's going fast could save your home: water keys.
  In the instance of a pipe burst, it's essential to halt the flow of water by shutting off the main supply.
  If you are unable to access your property's shut-off valve, you will have to open the nearest city water meter box. To do this, you need a water meter key. Wintry weather home preparedness tipsHow to use the water keyThe tool consists of a
  
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• Elon Musk 'confident' that Neuralink's brain implant is ready for humans

  02-12-2022 00:33 via kxan.com
  
  (Austin Business Journal) — As he juggles CEO jobs for Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX, Elon Musk's attention is increasingly being diverted to his Neuralink brand. It's almost go-time for this startup, which hopes to put its brain implant device into humans within six months.As Neuralink Corp. held its much-awaited demonstration of its device on the night of Nov. 30, co-founder Elon Musk made a big prediction: The California-based company with an office in Austin expects to "uplo
  
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• Equity Action: Canvassers collecting signatures on "fraud" police oversight petition

  02-12-2022 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Equity Action claims video and audio recordings show canvassers claiming to work for Equity Action asking for signatures on a petition."There are people circulating a petition in our community collecting signatures, and they're doing so falsely in our name," said Equity Action Board President Chris Harris, adding that he believes these canvassers are trying to tap into early voting crowds.Harris said the new petition is titled "Austin Police Oversight Act."
  That's the same name
  
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