Austin news

• How Austin pharmacy preps supplies for cedar, allergy season

  10-01-2023 23:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the thick of cedar fever and Texas allergy season, an Austin-based pharmacy is giving better insight into how they prepare for allergy medication demand levels they see each winter.Tarrytown Pharmacy's computer system keeps records of medicinal usage from previous years to predict trends and the volume of medicine pharmacists need to order. When it comes to cedar fever, pharmacists look at usage from the previous January — typically when cedar allergies take off &m
  
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• High temperatures threaten records through Wednesday

  10-01-2023 22:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The day dawned with a good deal of cloud cover and areas of fog. Both were gone by mid-morning leading to a sunny sky the rest of the day. Highs will soar to the 80s, not only this afternoon but tomorrow afternoon.Tuesday afternoon forecast high temperaturesThese highs in the 80s, on days where the normal high is 62°. This continues what has been one of the warmest starts to January in Austin record books.Tonight will be mostly clear. Clouds and fog will advance into the are
  
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• Texas bills aim to eliminate gender identity, sexual orientation topics in the classroom

  10-01-2023 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Texas bills filed ahead of the 88th legislative session would ban topics of sexual orientation and gender identity from being discussed in the classroom, with one up until high school. The two bills mirror the controversial Florida “Don't Say Bill” — signed into law last year — that bans discussion on the topics from kindergarten through third grade.HB 631, filed by House Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands), said discussions on sexual orientation a
  
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• MAP: Where have Austin's fatal crashes occurred in 2023?

  10-01-2023 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN is keeping track of the number of traffic fatalities in the City of Austin.In total, zero traffic fatalities have been reported thus far in 2023.Last year, a record 121 fatalities were reported on Austin roads.The charts below will be updated as we learn new information. Scroll down for a map of where each traffic fatality occurred.The chart below shows how the number of traffic fatalities reported in recent years changed over time.Below is a map showing where traffic
  
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• Firefighter feud: Williamson Co. VFD says vote could disband them, increase response times

  10-01-2023 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — The Avery-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department (APVFD) said a vote at this week's Taylor City Council meeting would eventually disband the department. This comes two years after rebuilding after its former fire chief was arrested and charged with stealing over $300,000.APVFD's Fire Chief said if the vote is approved - personnel from Williamson County Emergency Service District (ESD) #10 based in Coupland would respond to calls in his department's service area.
  He said t
  
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• Police share sketch of suspect in northeast Austin burglaries, attempted sexual assaults

  10-01-2023 21:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department shared a sketch Tuesday of a suspect connected to several northeast Austin burglaries with the “intent to commit sexual assault."
  APD first released information in a news release over the weekend saying overnight burglaries were committed at apartments near Berkman Drive and U.S. Highway 290.Sketch provided by Austin Police DepartmentKXAN spoke to residents Monday living in the area who said they were worried about the reported burglaries.APD S
  
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• LIVE: APD provides details on sex crimes in northeast Austin in news conference

  10-01-2023 21:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is hosting news conference Tuesday in reference to burglaries occurring in northeast Austin with the “intent to commit sexual assault," officials said.APD first released information over the weekend saying overnight burglaries were committed at apartments near Berkman Drive and U.S. Highway 290.KXAN spoke to residents Monday living in the area who said they were worried about the reported burglaries.APD Sex Crimes Unit investigating series of b
  
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• APD provides details on sex crimes in northeast Austin in news conference

  10-01-2023 21:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is hosting news conference Tuesday in reference to burglaries occurring in northeast Austin with the “intent to commit sexual assault," officials said.APD first released information over the weekend saying overnight burglaries were committed at apartments near Berkman Drive and U.S. Highway 290.KXAN spoke to residents Monday living in the area who said they were worried about the reported burglaries.APD Sex Crimes Unit investigating series of b
  
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• 2 Texas Muslims make history, sworn into office as State Representatives

  10-01-2023 21:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Pure adrenaline, joy and immense gratitude could be felt throughout the Texas' Capitol on Tuesday, as two Texas Muslims made history.
  Salman Bhojani — a convenience store cashier-turned-attorney- and business-owner from Euless, Texas, will represent District 92, the Arlington-area in North Texas. Data: What you need to know about TX sessionDr. Suleman Lalani, who came to the U.S. with a dream to help people through medicine, will represent District 76 in Ft. Bend Coun
  
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• How an Austin pharmacy is combatting infant Tylenol shortage

  10-01-2023 20:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since the onset of cold and flu season in November, Tarrytown Pharmacy in Austin has been fielding calls from parents seeking infant and children's Tylenol. It comes amid a nationwide shortage in children's medicine, along with the rising "tripledemic" of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases."What's happening is there's a lot of demand and not that much supply of the products itself," said Rannon Ching, pharmacist-in-charge at Tarrytown Pharmacy.
  
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• How an Austin pharmacy is combatting children's medicine shortage

  10-01-2023 20:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since the onset of cold and flu season in November, Tarrytown Pharmacy in Austin has been fielding calls from parents seeking infant and child-friendly acetaminophen, including name brands like Tylenol. It comes amid a nationwide shortage in children's medicine, along with the rising "tripledemic" of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases."What's happening is there's a lot of demand and not that much supply of the products itself," said Rannon Ching
  
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• Dade Phelan reelected as Speaker of the Texas House

  10-01-2023 20:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Members of the Texas House of Representatives reelected State Rep. Dade Phelan Tuesday to serve as the House Speaker for the second consecutive time.
  The only other nomination was Rep. Tony Tinderholt, a Republican from Arlington.
  Phelan, also a Republican, clinched 143 votes, while Tinderholt received three.Texas Legislative history: How long do sessions last and how many bills are typically passed?Phelan was first chosen as the 76th Speaker of the House in 2021 and is currentl
  
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• Austin artist Dayglow to perform on The Tonight Show Friday

  10-01-2023 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Dayglow, a 23-year-old alternative indie artist based in Austin, is taking the stage of The Tonight Show later this week.
  He made the announcement on Instagram Monday.
  "Can’t believe I’m playing live on @fallontonight this Friday ❤️ Tune into NBC at 11:35 ET to watch me play music professionally and commercially!!!!! YES!!!!!" the post said.
  Dayglow, whose actual name is Sloan Struble, is originally from Fort Worth but moved to Austin and refe
  
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• ACC hopes online nursing course helps solve Central Texas shortage

  10-01-2023 19:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Community College is looking to help solve the Texas nursing shortage by adding a new program.ACC says the demand for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing credentialed nursing degree is increasing, especially in Central Texas, with an aging workforce and increased population.ACC will launch a new online option this spring for its bachelor degree program. The program will offer registered nurses a way to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing."This new flexibility allows
  
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• 2022 Texas wildfire year worst in over a decade

  10-01-2023 19:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas is no stranger to wildfires with thousands of acres burned every year. Vegetation, weather conditions and drought all play a role in the intensity of wildfires and the year as a whole.In 2022, severe drought, worsened by an ongoing La Niña pattern, resulted in one of the worst wildfire years since 2011. Many in Central Texas remember the devastating wildfire year of 2011 by the Bastrop Complex Fire, the most destructive wildfire in our state's history, a fire that b
  
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• 1983 Round Rock murder case reopened, suspect may be in Mexico

  10-01-2023 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A decades-old cold case in Round Rock has been reopened after a change in international extradition policy.Round Rock Police are re-investigating the murder of a 56-year-old woman at a bar in October 1983. Police said the suspect connected with the shooting has been on the run for nearly 40 years and was last seen in Mexico in 2017. Taylor police find alcohol in vehicles involved in fatal crashRRPD is investigating after a 13-year statute for international extrad
  
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• Police: Award-winning Texas teacher found shot dead in backyard of Sugar Land home

  10-01-2023 17:14 via kxan.com
  
  SUGAR LAND, Texas (KIAH) — A Houston-area teacher was found shot dead in the backyard of her home in Sugar Land, a suburb of Houston, police said.On Saturday night around 10 p.m., Sugar Land police officers found a woman with multiple gunshot wounds at a home at the 1100 block of Oxford Mills Lane in the New Territory subdivision. Police said neighbors heard gunshots around 9:50 p.m. and believe the shooting was related to domestic violence.The victim was later identified as Wendy Duan, 28
  
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• Grants available for Austin-area artists facing displacement

  10-01-2023 17:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin Economic Development Department announced grants to support creative organizations and artists facing displacement.
  The Creative Space Assistance Program is providing $1.5 million in available funding, which will offer grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to creative organizations and independent artists facing displacement or new commercial leases at higher and unaffordable rates.Grant funds may be used for revenue-generating space improvements, lease payme
  
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• Taylor police find alcohol in vehicles involved in fatal crash

  10-01-2023 16:57 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) -- The Taylor Police Department is investigating a deadly crash that occurred over the weekend.
  Police responded to a major collision in the 4300 block of North Main Street Saturday around 11 p.m.According to TPD, a 2016 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling south and crossed into northbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a 2003 GMC Yukon that was driving northbound.
  The driver of the Chevrolet was pronounced dead on the scene, and the two occupants of the GMC were tra
  
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• New report: Texas ranks No. 1 in lightning count in 2022

  10-01-2023 16:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The numbers are in... and to no surprise, Texas had a very active lightning year in 2022. But how did we stack up compared to the other states?Lightning capital by countAccording to a new report by Vaisala, Texas came in on top for the most lightning count of 2022 with over 27 million cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground bolts recorded. Florida followed with a count of over 18 million, with Louisiana (11.5 million), Oklahoma (11.3 million) and Mississippi (9.9 million) rounding ou
  
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• New report: Texas ranks #1 in lightning count in 2022

  10-01-2023 16:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The numbers are in... and to no surprise, Texas had a very active lightning year in 2022. But how did we stack up compared to the other states?Lightning capital by countAccording to a new report by Vaisala, Texas came in on top for the most lightning count of 2022 with over 27 million cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground bolts recorded. Florida followed with a count of over 18 million, with Louisiana (11.5 million), Oklahoma (11.3 million) and Mississippi (9.9 million) rounding ou
  
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• January warmth: good for humans, bad for fruit trees

  10-01-2023 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Although it's hard to argue that 80°+ "winter" afternoons are unpleasant, if you ask a fruit tree, they're not as joyful.Fruit trees need a certain amount of hours of "chill time", or time spent between 32° and 50°, for ideal spring growth. This is an important part of the tree's life cycle. Colder temperatures and shorter days (less sunshine) during the winter months signal the hormones in the tree to go dormant, suppressing bud and/or flower development.Fruit trees
  
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• Lake Travis ISD superintendent talks safety, staffing, legislative hopes

  10-01-2023 15:57 via kxan.com
  
  LAKE TRAVIS, Texas (KXAN) -- KXAN is sitting down with superintendents across the Central Texas area to talk to them about challenges, goals, and safety measures.
  Lake Travis Independent School District Superintendent Paul Norton spoke with KXAN anchor Tom Miller about hiring more bus drivers, but their discussion started with safety.
  Below is a transcript of their conversation:
  Tom Miller: So much of the focus going into this school year was on school safety after what happened in Uvalde, and a
  
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• Texas Legislative session could boost business in downtown Austin

  10-01-2023 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 88th regular Legislative session will have a huge impact on many major statewide decisions.In downtown Austin, it could bring back business to an area that's significantly slowed down since the pandemic pause.A historically popular spot for politicians to meet and eat is the Texas Chili Parlor. 2023 Texas legislative session: What to expect on first dayLongtime owner Scott Zublin says that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, his restaurant was typically packed with people e
  
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• Did you know? The Rolling Stone was first an Austin newspaper

  10-01-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When you think of Rolling Stone you probably think of the 55-year-old monthly entertainment publication.
  But did you know there was an Austin Rolling Stone first?
  The Rolling Stone was a newspaper in 1894-1895 published by O. Henry covering the Austin and San Antonio areas. (Photo courtesy: Austin History Center)
  The Rolling Stone was a weekly newspaper published by William Sydney Porter --better known for his pseudonym O. Henry -- in 1894 and circulated through Austin and San A
  
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• Texas Legislative history: How long do sessions last and how many bills are typically passed?

  10-01-2023 13:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lawmakers are convening the 88th Legislative Session at the Texas Capitol Tuesday.The 31 state senators and 150 state representatives will be meeting for 140 days, officially beginning Tuesday at 12 p.m. 2023 Texas legislative session: What to expect on first dayThe regular session will end on May 29, but Gov. Greg Abbott could potentially call special sessions after that date. By state law, special sessions can last a maximum of 30 days, but the governor has the power to c
  
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• Police investigating suspicious death in north Austin near Quail Creek area

  10-01-2023 12:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is on the scene of a suspicious death in north Austin.
  Police and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the 1400 block of South Meadows Drive early Tuesday morning. That's just north of the Quail Creek Neighborhood Park.
  ATCEMS says one person was pronounced dead on the scene just before 4 a.m.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
  
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• Police investigating homicide in north Austin near Quail Creek area

  10-01-2023 12:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating the city's third homicide of the year. It happened early Tuesday morning in north Austin.
  Police and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the 1400 block of South Meadows Drive around 3:20 a.m. That's just north of the Quail Creek Neighborhood Park.
  APD said the call came in as shots fired in the area, and when officers arrived they found a man with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
  ATCEMS performed life-saving measures but he
  
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• Unusually warm leading up to windy cold front

  10-01-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- January continues to feel very "un-January-like" as temperatures continue to warm ahead of our next cold front.Morning fog will mix out to mainly sunny skies later this morning. Sunshine and southerly winds will help temperatures soar well above average, with most of us likely to top out in the upper 70s to low 80s.Tuesday afternoon forecast high temperaturesMore of the same is expected tomorrow (morning fog to afternoon sunshine) allowing temperatures to top 80°+ once again
  
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• Two days of 80s to three days of 60s

  10-01-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The day dawned with a good deal of cloud cover and areas of fog. Both were gone by mid-morning leading to a sunny sky the rest of the day. Highs will soar to the 80s, not only this afternoon but tomorrow afternoon.Tuesday afternoon forecast high temperaturesThese highs in the 80s, on days where the normal high is 62°, will add to the warmest start to January at Camp Mabry.Warmest January on Record UnderwayHourly temperatures in Austin have thus far averaged out to our warmes
  
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• Texas executes ex-officer who hired 2 people to kill wife

  10-01-2023 06:27 via kxan.com
  
  HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A former suburban Houston police officer was executed Tuesday for hiring two people to kill his estranged wife nearly 30 years ago amid a contentious divorce and custody battle.
  Robert Fratta, 65, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the November 1994 fatal shooting of his wife, Farah. He was prounounced dead at 7:49 p.m.Prosecutors say Robert Fratta organized the murder-for-hire plot in which a middleman, Joseph Prystash, hired t
  
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• Austin murder convict might get retrial due to faulty DNA, other cases still under review

  10-01-2023 04:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Areli Escobar, who a jury convicted of capital murder, is one step closer to getting a retrial on his case following a Supreme Court ruling.Escobar was sentenced to death for the May 2009 deadly stabbing and sexual assault of 17-year-old high school student Bianca Maldonado.
  Bianca Maldonado was 17 when she was killed.
  On Monday, Supreme Court justices threw out a ruling from the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas that refused to grant Escobar - who is on death row - a new trial
  
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• UT professor provides insight on Brazil Capitol Riot

  10-01-2023 04:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- University of Texas Austin Professor Wendy Hunter interviewed on KXAN to provide more insight one day after supporters of former right-wing President Jair Bolsanero's supporters stormed Congress, the supreme court and presidential palace.Many of Bolosonaro's supporters said they wanted the Brazilian army to restore the far-right Bolsonaro to power and oust the newly inaugurated leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to the Associated Press. READ MORE: Aut
  
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• Waco Police: murder suspects wanted to put their victim, "out of his misery"

  10-01-2023 03:47 via kxan.com
  
  WACO, Texas-- Arrest affidavits obtained by FOX 44 News show the people suspected of killing 59-year-old Stanley Wilcox lived in the home he purchased.Waco Police received a missing person report for Wilcox on December 29, 2022. The next day, a homeless woman found his cell phone and turned it in at a convenience store.
  Detectives also learned that Wilcox had not visited his gym for ten days, which they were told was highly unusual for him, even in the middle of the holiday season.Stanley Wilcox
  
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• Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, Steve Aoki and others to perform at South Padre Island

  10-01-2023 03:40 via kxan.com
  
  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — Clayton's Beach Bar and Grill announced the lineup for its spring break 2023 concerts on South Padre Island.
  The concerts begin March 11 at Clayton's, located at 6900 Padre Boulevard., and will continue throughout the week, according to the bar's Instagram post.
  Rap artist Lil Wayne dominated music charts in the early 2000s and was announced as one of the performers, scheduled to take stage Sat., March 11. The artist confirmed the appearance on his social media
  
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• River Plate tops CF Monterrey 1-0 on late goal in Austin

  10-01-2023 02:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Argentine side River Plate left Q2 Stadium with a 1-0 win over Liga MX's CF Monterrey on Tuesday in an international friendly.Lucas Beltran entered the match for River Plate in the 78th minute, and then almost immediately supplied the game-winning strike. He collected a pass from Ezequiel Barco near the top of the box, advanced toward the goal with a couple of touches, and then skipped a low shot by Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date o
  
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• River Plate, CF Monterrey bring international friendly to Q2 Stadium on Tuesday

  10-01-2023 02:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two storied soccer franchises from Mexico and South America will take the pitch at Q2 Stadium on Tuesday to give local soccer fans a taste of international play before Austin FC gets its preseason started.River Plate, one of the most successful clubs in Argentina, takes on Liga MX's CF Monterrey at 8 p.m. in Austin. CF Monterrey completed a continental treble in 2019-2020, becoming only the second Mexican club in history to do so by winning Liga MX, Copa MX and the CONCACAF
  
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• Supreme Court of Texas considers if ERCOT is a gov't entity that can be sued

  10-01-2023 01:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Supreme Court of Texas heard oral arguments Monday in a case that could affect how the state's electric grid is regulated in the future.
  The question before justices was whether or not the board which oversees the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is part of the state government. The case originates from two lawsuits against ERCOT in the aftermath of the 2021 February winter freeze, when the grid came minutes away from completely shutting down and hundreds of Tex
  
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• Is the City of Austin living up to its promise to improve quality of life for Black people?

  10-01-2023 01:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)— Even though Austin's population continues to grow, people in the city's Black population is shrinking, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Less than 10% of Austin’s population is Black, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.Measure, an Austin-based nonprofit that does research on racial disparities, conducted a survey in May 2022. It found 80% of Black people who leave Austin said they felt a lack of belonging. Why Black people are leaving Austin, new efforts brin
  
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• Austin's retail rent increases more than 8%, Texas restaurants struggle to pay rent, survey says

  10-01-2023 00:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)-- New data shows that Texas ranks second in the country when it comes to rent delinquency for small businesses, second only to New York, according to a survey from Alignable.Alignable calls itself the largest online referral network for small businesses.Forty-five percent of Texas businesses surveyed said they were delinquent on rent in December. That's up two percent from November and up 22% from last December.
  In New York, 55% of businesses surveyed said they were delinquent.
  Ali
  
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• Watch out Tesla! Georgetown High School students build electric car

  10-01-2023 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There is a car in the Georgetown High School automotive garage that is creating quite the buzz."This our 1992 Fox Body Mustang," said GHS junior Michael Friemel. Del Valle ISD students join new Tesla programAutomotive technology instructor Kelly Mayo said you won't find any Mustang parts under the hood though."We built this from scratch," Mayo said. "It wasn't like we bought a kit and said step one, step two, step three, it was OK what is step one."Students were tasked with
  
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