Austin news

• Trying to make anti-DWI messages stick

  26-12-2022 23:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Every year, DWIs keep Texans from making it home to their families for the holidays.
  Drunk driving crashes rose 14% from 2020 to 2021, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
  "There's a lot of noise out there that we're competing with," said TxDOT Public Information Officer Brad Wheelis about the agency's holiday safe-driving campaign.
  In attempts to make sure their noise isn't white noise, Wheelis said TxDOT continues to look for ways to grab people's
  
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• Coast Guard cleaning up 3,800-gallon oil spill in Corpus Christi Bay

  26-12-2022 23:18 via kxan.com
  
  CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (KXAN) — The U.S. Coast Guard is working to clean up approximately 3,800 gallons of light crude oil in Corpus Christi Bay.The spill was reported around 11 p.m. Saturday near the Flint Hills Ingleside facility in the La Quinta Channel, according to the USCG. That's when watchstanders sent Coast Guard pollution responders to the area to assess the spill.
  Responders arrived on the scene and estimated up to 3,800 gallons of oil spilled into the water from a cracked pipe.
  
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• Boil water notice for parts of Caldwell, Bastrop counties

  26-12-2022 22:40 via kxan.com
  
  CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A portion of Caldwell County and a small part of Bastrop County are under a boil water notice, according to Aqua Water Supply.
  The affected area mostly includes customers north of FM 20 in Zone 9, Polonia WSC, and a small part of Zone 8 south of FM 812, the water utility said. Below is a map of customers who need to boil their water.
  Aqua Water Supply Boil Water Notice Map on Dec. 26, 2022Water for drinking, cooking and ice-making must be boiled and cooled b
  
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• Warming trend takes hold as we wrap 2022

  26-12-2022 22:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Monday was our warmest day in a week and a half as high temperatures crested above 60 degrees. A weak cool front blowing through quietly tonight will leave us with our final morning of freezing temperatures for the week early Tuesday. Continue to protect pets, pipes, plants and people through 9 a.m. Tuesday.Forecast low temperatures Tuesday morningPleasant sunshine continues Tuesday afternoon with high temperatures only slightly lower behind the front, still climbing to near 60
  
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• Southwest passengers struggle to rebook flights at Austin airport after Christmas

  26-12-2022 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Passengers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday struggled to rebook canceled flights and find missing luggage after winter storms in other parts of the country and bitterly cold temperatures impacted air travel nationwide during the Christmas holiday weekend.
  CNBC reported Saturday that as many as 12,000 flights were canceled by U.S. airlines from Wednesday through Saturday.Viewers have been telling us about their air travel issues through Report It, particul
  
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• Passengers struggle to rebook flights at Austin airport after Christmas

  26-12-2022 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Passengers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Monday struggled to rebook canceled flights and find missing luggage after winter storms in other parts of the country and bitterly cold temperatures impacted air travel nationwide during the Christmas holiday weekend.
  CNBC reported Saturday that as many as 12,000 flights were canceled by U.S. airlines from Wednesday through Saturday.Viewers have been telling us about their air travel issues through Report It, particul
  
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• Austin cold weather shelters open again Monday night

  26-12-2022 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Cold weather shelters are opening again Monday night following a weekend of frigid temperatures due to an Arctic front.
  The First Warning Weather team says for Monday night, a clear sky, low dew points and light winds will send most lows to the low 30s, with a few stations falling below 32 degrees briefly, again. FORECAST: Warming trend to end 2022Those seeking out shelter can register at the One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd.) between 6 and 8 p.m. Monday, according t
  
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• The best restaurant in Texas, according to Guy Fieri

  26-12-2022 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — One of the best known food personalities is spilling his secrets.
  Known for his spiked hair and sunglasses, many have put their trust in Guy Fieri when it comes to home style cooking, cheap eats and comfort food. It is estimated that Fieri has visited over 1,250 restaurants for his popular Food Network television show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
  The show, which is in its 42nd season, focuses on finding the best local food spots around the country.After reviewing thousands of
  
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• These universities are ranked the safest in the Texas

  26-12-2022 17:24 via kxan.com
  
  TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Campus safety has been an important issue for school districts in Texas, and it can also be a concern for university families and students.
  Niche is a website that connects colleges and schools with students, uses reviews, ratings and other tools to gather data on every school and college in America.According to Niche, their top-ranked schools offer a "safe and healthy environment with little or no campus crime, drugs, or alcohol usage."See below for Niche's list of t
  
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• Busy Taylor intersection to install new safety measures in 2023

  26-12-2022 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Where FM 3349 meets U.S. Highway 79, vehicles often yield in the middle of the intersection as they try to cross.When that vehicle is a big rig, cars going 60 mph may not stop. A Williamson County Commissioner said the new year will ring in the start of big safety projects for the crossroads. One of the last homes in Rainey Street District hits the market for millionsPrecinct 4 commissioner Russ Boles said a true stoplight will be installed early next year.
  Right now
  
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• Most women ever will serve in Texas House next year

  26-12-2022 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the state legislature convenes next month for the 88th regular legislative session, the composition of the Texas House of Representatives will include the most women ever.
  The November election resulted in the number of female House members growing to 45, so they'll soon make up 30% of the 150 seats in the lower chamber. The most growth is happening in the Republican caucus. The number of GOP women in the Texas House will double to 13, as seven female candidates emerge
  
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• Feral hogs causing headaches for some people living in northeast Austin

  26-12-2022 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There's something destroying parks and yards in northeast Austin, and neighbors said it is not the first time they have had to deal with the issue."There is that area over there that is torn up and this over here," said Grace Howell, who lives near Walnut Creek in northeast Austin.Feral hogs were spotted in the area, and now neighbors are concerned."The feral hogs are terrible," said Catherine McMullen, who has seen the destruction they leave behind."They will take a yard l
  
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• City receives signature retraction forms connected to confusion over police oversight petitions

  26-12-2022 13:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Dec. 19, Equity Action said it had to submit hundreds of signature retractions to the City of Austin after confusion over petitions for police oversight ballot items.Equity Action said it received more than 600 retraction requests from people who said they were "deceived" by Voters for Oversight and Police Accountability (VOPA) into signing a petition seeking to weaken police oversight in Austin.According to Equity Action, the retractions were provided ahead of VOPA's of
  
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• Warming trend to end 2022

  26-12-2022 13:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Afternoon temperatures Christmas Day peaked in mostly the lower half of the 50s. Camp Mabry reached a high of 54°. Overnight temperatures dropped to below freezing at several locations.
  Cirrus clouds are sweeping through Central Texas ahead of an upper-level trough that will move south into Texas today. It will send a weak cold front that will act more as a wind shift front leaving a northwest to north wind for the afternoon. The front arrives with no rain.Highs this afterno
  
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• PD: Texas man hits himself with hammer after 911 call; charged in sex assault of child

  26-12-2022 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  Warning: The following story contains graphic details that may be disturbing for some.MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Texas man has been arrested in connection to an alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old, police allege.
  Welester Sanchez III was taken into custody Dec. 16 on charges of assaulting a peace officer/judge, interfering with an emergency request for assistance, terroristic threat of family/household, and aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to Hidalgo County Jail
  
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• Sheriff: Texas teen breaks into ex's house with gun, fights guy she is dating

  26-12-2022 03:26 via kxan.com
  
  ALTON, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office arrested a man accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend's house and fighting the man she is dating.Justin Tovar, 19, was arrested on charges of a habitation with the intention to commit other felony, according to Hidalgo County Jail Records.At 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of New Mexico Street in Alton, a probable cause affidavit obtained by ValleyCentral stated.The deputy made contact with
  
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• Florida 'mistress' demands taxpayer-funded BDSM dungeon at city commission meeting

  26-12-2022 03:22 via kxan.com
  
  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) - A latex-clad "mistress" presented an unusual proposal during a Florida city commission meeting on Tuesday: Scrap the proposed waste disposal contract and divert some of the funds to build a "dungeon."Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners were discussing a proposed $906,500 yard waste disposal contract with Waste Management, Inc. when they called upon a woman who signed up to speak.The woman — identified only as 'Miss Crave' — stepped up to the microphone,
  
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• Texas filmmaker receives recognition nationwide at film festivals

  26-12-2022 03:16 via kxan.com
  
  BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Brownsville native Marie J. Magdaleno has been recognized by film festivals across the nation for her new short film "Petals."
  Filmmaker Marie J. Magdaleno. Courtesy of Marie J Magdaleno
  "Petals" was filmed in Brownsville and San Antonio within a span of one weekend. The short film was in post-production for 48 hours and grabs inspiration from real-life situations.
  Magdaleno added a more personal touch to the film as she not only wrote, directed, and pr
  
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• Texas city ranked among the most 'dazzling' for Christmas

  26-12-2022 03:13 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KDAF) — It's that time of the year when you want to experience everything the holidays with friends and family – but where is the best place to spend it?Your brain might just conjure up the biggest cities across the country and assume they do Christmas better than anyone else, but you'd be wrong."Whether you love Christmas for the family time and well-worn traditions or the bright lights and festive atmosphere, the best places to get your holiday fix aren't big cities like Ne
  
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• Sea Turtle Inc. rescues over 120 cold-stunned sea turtles

  26-12-2022 03:04 via kxan.com
  
  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Sea turtles are being affected by the recent cold front, which caused water to drop below 50 degrees.Sea Turtle Inc., Cameron County officials, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and volunteers rescued over 120 cold-stunned turtles Christmas Eve.Sea turtles are stunned by cold water when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees, causing the turtles to become weak and unable to swim.
  Due to the freezing temperatures across Rio Grande Valley, Sea
  
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• Warning signs, risks of developing hypothermia

  26-12-2022 03:01 via kxan.com
  
  TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – Frigid, Arctic air is sweeping the nation, and a doctor in Texarkana is reminding residents of the dangers of long-term exposure to the cold and
  Dr. Matt Young, a physician at Texarkana Emergency Center, said it is best to stay inside during this type of weather.“For those that do have to be outside or have to go outside for an extended period of time, we want people to layer up, to have several layers of clothes,” Young said. “We’re g
  
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• Why a single cedar bush on a Texas trail is decorated with Christmas ornaments

  26-12-2022 02:58 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANGELO, Texas (KLST/KSAN) — Located outside San Angelo – at coordinates 31.39033°N, 100.53102°W, to be precise – hikers, bicyclists and runners can find a single scraggly cedar bush in the west Texas terrain, glittering with ornaments and a red ribbon.
  Bill Cullins, a resident of San Angelo, began decorating the bush with Christmas decorations in 2017 after his wife passed away. The bush can be found just beyond the yellow gates at Middle Concho Park on a trail at t
  
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• APD: Body found in Lady Bird Lake on Christmas

  26-12-2022 01:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said it recovered a body from Lady Bird Lake near the pedestrian bridge that runs alongside South Lamar Sunday evening.First responders had repeatedly been called out to the area as people reported the body, but couldn't find anything, according to APD.
  Law enforcement said it was too early to identify the person or determine what caused their death.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for updates.
  
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