Austin news

• Ransomware attack limiting some Travis Central Appraisal District services

  05-12-2022 23:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis Central Appraisal District was hit with a ransomware attack Monday, affecting several services. The phone lines and online chat services are down, according to a TCAD release.Property tax bills and payments are unaffected. The TCAD website and online property search tool is also unaffected, the release said. Not much hope in Austin’s 2023 forecast for homebuyers“We are working with the appropriate agencies to resolve this issue,” said TCAD Chief
  
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• Austin Mayoral Runoff: How many bills did the candidates pass at the state level?

  05-12-2022 23:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- "I'm disappointed in him and I think the voters deserve better."
  Those were the last words KXAN voters heard from the Austin mayoral candidates during last week's mayoral runoff debate. They came from Rep. Celia Israel who said her opponent, Senator Kirk Watson, was spreading "negativity" as a part of his campaign.
  The testy end has now taken to Twitter.
  "I haven't told you anything about my opponent and now it's time to," Watson said in a video posted to his campaign page the m
  
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• Website falsely reports active shooter at Bowie High School

  05-12-2022 23:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Independent School District has disputed reports of an active shooter situation at Bowie High School on Monday.
  The reports came from a website which was rated "dubious" and "suspicious" by validity-testing website scam-detector.com. The website validator tool on scam-detector rated the fake website a 1.1 out of 100.Further, the fake website has contact information listed in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the contact phone number that's listed on the outlet's Facebook pa
  
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• Austin FC, 4ATX Foundation help install soccer 'mini-pitch' in Uvalde

  05-12-2022 22:24 via kxan.com
  
  UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — Austin FC wants to make sure that soccer is everyone's game.The club, along with 4ATX Foundation, MLS Works and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, installed a hard-surfaced mini-pitch at Jardin de los Heroes Park in Uvalde. A grand opening and ribbon cutting for the mini-pitch was held Saturday, and then 20 kids from the area were the first to play on it.Images from the Uvalde Mini Pitch Ribbon Cutting Event at Jardin de los Heroes Park in Uvalde, Texas, on Monday, December
  
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• UT men's hoops hold at No. 2, women drop out of AP Top 25 rankings

  05-12-2022 21:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team stayed put at No. 2 in the country while the women's team fell completely out of the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Monday.The men's team, undefeated at 6-0, puts its unblemished record on the line Tuesday as part of the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. They take on No. 17 Illinois at 6 p.m. The Fighting Illini are coming off a 71-66 loss to Maryland while the Longhorns notched another top-10 win 72-67 ove
  
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• 1 of Texas' most wanted fugitives captured in Austin

  05-12-2022 20:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force captured one of Texas' most wanted fugitives in Austin last week.The task force, along with Texas Department of Public Safety special agents, arrested 25-year-old Jaquille Carl Chefney of Austin on Nov. 28. The investigation included help from the Austin Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Texas Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a news release.Chefney wa
  
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• More than 400 Texas Methodist churches vote to leave denomination

  05-12-2022 20:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 400 Texas churches voted this weekend to cut ties with the United Methodist Church (UMC) after decades of disagreements over stances on issues like same-sex marriage.
  Members of the Northwest Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church gathered Saturday for a special session, where 145 congregations agreed to leave or "disaffiliate" from the denomination. This includes churches stretching from Abilene, Amarillo and Lubbock.On the same day, the Texas Annual Con
  
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• Texas Secretary of State resigns from role

  05-12-2022 19:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Secretary of State John Scott announced Monday he is resigning from his office, effective at the end of the year. Scott began his tenure as Texas secretary of state in October 2021, following an appointment from Gov. Greg Abbott.In his announcement, Scott said he would be returning to his private legal practice following his departure. During his time in office, Scott oversaw four statewide elections in 2022, as well as a forensic audit into the 2020 General Election
  
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• Texas Secretary of State resigns; Abbott to appoint senator to take over

  05-12-2022 19:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Secretary of State John Scott announced Monday he is resigning from his office, effective at the end of the year, and the governor already has someone lined up to take over.
  Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday said he accepted Scott's resignation and announced he would appoint Texas State Sen. Jane Nelson to fill the position. She will be the 115th secretary of state for Texas.
  FILE: Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, introduces a bill during the session in the Texas Senate Mo
  
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• Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open champ, to play in 2023 ATX Open tennis tournament

  05-12-2022 19:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens will play at the ATX Open, scheduled for Feb. 27-March 5 at Westwood Country Club, organizers announced Monday.The ATX Open is the first stop in the United States on the 2023 Women's Tennis Association schedule, and now with Stephens and current top-15 American player Danielle Collins both in the tournament, organizers are already expanding the 1,500-seat showcase stadium they planned to build to accommodate for more fans. Stadium for inau
  
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• Expert: How tech job cuts could help smaller startups in Austin

  05-12-2022 19:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the new year nears, many are uneasy about an imminent recession.According to CNBC, U.S.-based firms announced 76,835 job cuts in November, many of which were major tech companies. This left many workers in the Austin area looking for new jobs. Facebook parent Meta cuts 11,000 jobs, 13% of workforceThe massive tower being built at Sixth and Guadalupe was originally set to house nearly 19 levels of office space for Meta. Now, the company plans to sublease the space rather
  
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• Houston had America's first commercial monorail. So what happened to it?

  05-12-2022 19:24 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) -- It may be a surprise to Texans today, but the state was once on the cutting edge of public transit innovation. Not so long ago, people were flocking to Houston to see the technology they believed could be the future of transportation.
  America's first commercial monorail system was created by Houston-based company Monorail Inc. to bring the vision of a suspended monorail track to life.The monorail system consisted of two parts, the monorail coach called “Trailblazer” and
  
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• What Texas is doing to save pregnant women's lives, why some say we need more data

  05-12-2022 19:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar)— It's more dangerous and deadly to be a new mother in Texas compared to many other states.Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new report detailing the state's efforts to save pregnant women's lives. KXAN Investigates: Mother's ErasedNakeenya Wilson is a long-time advocate, spreading awareness about pregnant women losing their lives in Texas. She's on the state's Maternal Mortality and Morbidity review committee."I think all information is helpful," Wilson said
  
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• ACL Music Festival through the years from changing skyline to ticket prices

  05-12-2022 18:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Music fans have something to look forward to. Tickets are already on sale for the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
  The festival continues to grow each year at Zilker Park. Longtime attendees of the iconic festival know that the festival is not what it used to be. The city is not the same, the artists and the price of tickets.
  Just look how the skyline has changed over the years.2011 ACL Music Festival - The crowd at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Te
  
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• REAL ID deadline extended to May 2025

  05-12-2022 17:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Department of Homeland Security will extend the REAL ID enforcement date by 24 months, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.
  That means the deadline is pushed back from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025, giving states more time to ensure their residents' driver's licenses and ID cards meet federal security standards.
  The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, sets minimum security standards for licenses and the production of licenses and prohibits cert
  
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• Austin's Trail of Lights opens to the public this week with some changes

  05-12-2022 17:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Trail of Lights opens to the public Thursday after hosting private events and nonprofits in the days leading up to the grand opening.
  After two years of allowing guests to only drive through the iconic Austin holiday lights display, the event is back to an upgraded walking tour.It also comes after the Trail of Lights was nominated for USA Today's 10 Best holiday lights displays and was named one of the best Christmas lights displays in the nation by U.S. News & Worl
  
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• Texas school districts honor 7-year-old girl found dead by wearing her favorite color

  05-12-2022 16:08 via kxan.com
  
  NORTH TEXAS (KXAN) — After a 7-year-old Texas girl was found dead Friday, local schools and community members are remembering her by wearing pink Monday.
  Athena Strand was last seen on Nov. 30 in the city of Paradise, Texas in Wise County. An Amber Alert was issued the next day. Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said her body was recovered on Dec. 2 near the city of Boyd, which is southeast of Paradise.
  Contract driver for FedEx Tanner Horner, 31, was charged with capital murder and aggravated
  
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• These are the most popular Texas-made beers in Texas, Spec's says

  05-12-2022 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Texas-based liquor chain Spec's — which you may recognize by its bespectacled rabbit mascot — recently released its list of the 10 most popular Texas-made beers at its stores.
  In no particular order, here's Spec's most popular local brews, including a bit about each. What’s the most hated Christmas song?Lone Pint Yellow Rose — Spec's reports this "SMaSH IPA" (single malt, single hop) IPA has received top honors by multiple polls. Lone Pint Brewery, locat
  
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• Texas State University System changes discipline policy for students with drug offenses

  05-12-2022 14:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas State University System (TSUS) in November changed its penalties for students who are found to have illegally possessed, used, sold or distributed drugs.
  Before, if a student had one drug offense, whether it be on or off campus, they were subject to discipline ranging from mandatory counseling to expulsion. A second offense would have resulted in permanent expulsion from the student's school and all other TSUS institutions.
  Now, expulsion on the second offense has
  
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• Crews fighting fire at cart barn on Avery Ranch Golf Course

  05-12-2022 13:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin firefighters are working to extinguish a fire at the Avery Ranch Golf Course in northwest Austin, according to the department.
  The Austin Fire Department said the cart barn is the building that is on fire.
  There could be as many as 80 golf carts inside, AFD said.
  The fire has now gone "defensive," AFD wrote in a tweet. That could mean the building isn't safe enough for firefighters to go inside right now.This is a developing story; stick with KXAN for updates.
  
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• Cart barn fire on Avery Ranch Golf Course under control, AFD says

  05-12-2022 13:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin firefighters are working to extinguish a fire at the Avery Ranch Golf Course in northwest Austin Monday morning, according to the department.
  The Austin Fire Department said the cart barn is the building that is on fire and has since collapsed.There could be as many as 80 golf carts inside, AFD said.
  Cart barn catches fire on Avery Ranch Golf Course (Austin Fire Department Photo)Cart barn catches fire on Avery Ranch Golf Course (Austin Fire Department Photo)Cart barn
  
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• Unseasonably warm, humid most of the week

  05-12-2022 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Dense fog is plaguing our Monday morning commute. Be sure to factor in extra time for the morning drive as visibilities could drop to 1/4 mile at times.Dense Fog Advisory in effect until noon todayClouds will stick around through most of the day with only a few peeks of sunshine here and there. Afternoon highs will be comfortable with most of us in the 70s.This week's warming trend will take us to the low 80s by Wednesday before our next cold front slides through. It's likely th
  
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• Our warm-up still a few days away from peaking

  05-12-2022 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a cloudy start, we've seen some decent breaks of sun during the afternoon to help push temperatures well into the 70s, almost 20 degrees warmer than we were on Sunday!We'll continue to feel the warming impacts from the warm front that moved northeast of the area last night as well as high pressure over the Gulf.
  Tonight, low clouds will again take over the sky with patchy drizzle and areas of fog redeveloping into Tuesday morning.Tuesday's weather looks rather similar to t
  
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• Much too warm for early December

  05-12-2022 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The afternoon started with some areas seeing more sunshine than others. You can see who is seeing the sun versus those who aren't seeing much of it by checking our web cams at KXAN.com.A warm front drifted north Sunday delivering a south wind. Moisture surged back to the area as dew points rose to the 60s, where they were during the noon hour. While there wasn't any rain with the front there were a few reports of drizzle/mist overnight along with the dense fog that plagued the a
  
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• Dark days: Austin's earliest sunset of the year is here

  05-12-2022 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While we haven't reached the winter solstice yet (Dec. 21) we're already experiencing the earliest sunsets of the year in Central Texas (and really most of the Northern Hemisphere).5:30 p.m. is the earliest the sun sets each year in Austin. Nov. 25 was the first Austin sunset of the year at 5:30 p.m. and it will continue to set at 5:30 p.m. through Dec. 10.
  On Dec. 11 the sun sets in Austin at 5:31 p.m. and will continue getting later until late June/early July when we reach the
  
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• Central Texas teacher supply nonprofit needs new space and money

  05-12-2022 04:48 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A nonprofit that gives free school supplies to teachers all across Central Texas is holding on by a thread.The Teacher Reuse got priced out of their old spot, and now they're the ones who need help."A week ago I had my two cars in this garage," said the founder of the nonprofit, Shelly O'Donnell.But now, O'Donnell's Buda garage is packed with boxes and boxes."These are journals. These are recognition certificates. We have backpacks," O'Donnell said.
  The boxes are fill
  
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• Child, adult transported in Travis County rollover crash

  05-12-2022 01:01 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County emergency personnel transported one adult and one child to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in southern Travis County Sunday afternoon.Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services responded to a rollover crash at 2100 West FM 1626 Road, Manchaca just before 2 p.m. Sunday, per an ATCEMS tweet.Medics transported an adult patient to South Austin Medical Center with potentially serious injuries. Travis County STAR Flight transported a
  
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• Former Westlake QB Cade Klubnik wins ACC championship game MVP, leads Clemson to big victory

  05-12-2022 00:44 via kxan.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (KXAN) — Former Westlake quarterback Cade Klubnik, "came in and took it," according to Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.Klubnik replaced starting quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in the third series and had a tremendous game, winning MVP honors with 279 yards on 20-of-24 passing and two total touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 39-10 win over North Carolina.Times, locations for Texas high school football semifinal
  
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