Austin news

• Possible breeder behind dumped guinea pigs along I-35, in city parks

  15-01-2023 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After dozens of guinea pigs were dumped throughout the Austin metro, an animal rescue nonprofit said pandemic pet returns may play a role in these neglected animals popping up along highways and in city parks.Austin Guinea Pig Rescue late last week asked for the public's help in identifying a breeder who has been releasing dozens of guinea pigs along the I-35 and MoPac Expressway corridors since late summer, with animals often left in city parks.
  Elizabeth Mack, president o
  
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• Murder affidavit provides more details on Tuesday morning north Austin homicide

  15-01-2023 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Court documents filed Jan. 10 provide more details surrounding a fatal shooting that occurred on the same day in north Austin.According to an affidavit, at approximately 3:29 a.m., a 911 caller said her ex-boyfriend, later identified as 35-year-old Eric Matthew LaMountain, had called her saying he shot someone, and he suspected they were dead.Police responded to the suspected victim’s location and found 37-year-old Gavin Wood lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound
  
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• Bastrop County to hold contest for 2023-24 election voter stickers; contest open to K-12 students

  15-01-2023 20:42 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — The Bastrop County Elections Department announced Friday it would be conducting the county’s first "I Voted" and "Future Voter" sticker design contest.Department officials said the contest was open to students in grades K-12 who reside in Bastrop County.Once all the designs are submitted, a panel of five judges will pick the first, second and third place winners for each contest.“Judging will be based on theme, uniqueness of the design, and artistry,&rdq
  
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• Man who faced 40 years for 2019 north Austin murder sentenced to 15

  15-01-2023 20:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County records showed a man who pled guilty to murder in August 2022 was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in state prison Dec. 19.According to court officials, 21-year-old Roosevelt Haynes III faced up to 40 years in prison.Haynes and two others were arrested in connection to the murder of 28-year-old Jannerra Williams at a north Austin hotel in May 2019. Records showed Haynes was 17 years old at the time of his arrest. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man pleads guilty to
  
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• Central Texas man receives sentence for murder, attempted murder charges from 2019

  15-01-2023 19:31 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — On Dec. 14, a Central Texas man was sentenced to 50 years in state prison for murder and 20 years for murder with the attempt to commit, according to Williamson County records. RELATED: ‘It was me, I called him, I killed him’: Cedar Park PD says suspect confessed to deadly shootingRecords showed Jose Ivan Aviles Loza, 30, of Bastrop, pled guilty to the 2019 charges the same day he was convicted.Loza’s confinement began Dec. 14, and records showe
  
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• Texas lawmakers again crack at 'panic alert system' bill for school safety

  15-01-2023 18:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) – In the aftermath of Uvalde, two of the state’s top Republicans have signaled certain school safety measures will be a priority in this legislative session, making some lawmakers more hopeful about passing bills they’ve been unable to in the past. For a second session in a row, Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, is introducing the ‘panic button bill’ — legislation that would require Texas schools to have alert devices with technology that im
  
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• LIST: Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations across Central Texas

  15-01-2023 15:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several marches, celebrations and volunteer opportunities are planned for Monday to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Here are some local events:MLK Celebration: The 30th annual community march will start at 9 a.m. at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas at Austin campus. After a short program, the march will lead to the south steps of the Capitol for a rally. Then, the march will lead to Huston-Tillotson University for more activities.RELATED: W
  
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• Central Texas toll agency, Austin developer face off over crumbling road on former Motorola site

  15-01-2023 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A landowner and developer claims a Central Texas transportation agency damaged a private road on its property while constructing the U.S. Highway 183 Toll Road. However, the toll agency disagrees, leaving the two locked in a years-long legal dispute.Adam Zarafshani, a partner in the development group Tech 3443, said he had high hopes for the former Motorola technology campus when his group purchased the more than 100 acres of land in east Austin a few years ago. Prior to that, t
  
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• Father and 14-year-old son killed in Llano County shooting

  15-01-2023 05:43 via kxan.com
  
  LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A father and his son are dead after an early Saturday morning shooting in Tow, Texas, according to the Llano County Sheriff's Office.The office issued a press release at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. In it, the agency says that Preston Wessling, 38, and Evan Wessling, 14, were both found with gunshot wounds around 4:49 a.m. at the driveway of the family's home on Airport Rd.Both were pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. The case is under investigation as a
  
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• 2 killed in Llano County shooting

  15-01-2023 05:43 via kxan.com
  
  LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Two people are dead after an early Saturday morning shooting in Tow, Texas, according to the Llano County Sheriff's Office.The office issued a press release at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. In it, the agency says that Preston Wessling, 38, and Evan Wessling, 14, were both found with gunshot wounds around 4:49 a.m. at the driveway of the family's home on Airport Rd.Both were pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. The case is under investigation as a homicide.T
  
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• Austin group against I-35 expansion wants to keep momentum going in 2023

  15-01-2023 04:39 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — At their latest meeting, members of Rethink35 reflected on their 2022 efforts to resist TXDOT's plans to expand I-35. One of the group's leaders said increased efforts to reach the public were successful in spreading the group's mission. It plans to keep those efforts going in 2023.Executive Director of Rethink35 Adam Greenfield said the group will continue its campaign against widening the major road through means it found successful last year.Those actions include going d
  
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• Another comeback win for the No. 10 Longhorns, this one over Texas Tech 72-70

  15-01-2023 04:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 10 Texas was down at halftime for the second consecutive game at Moody Center on Saturday, but as the cliche goes — the comeback is bigger than the setback.The Longhorns rallied from a nine-point deficit at the break to beat Texas Tech 72-70 and hand the Red Raiders their fifth straight Big 12 Conference loss. Texas came back from an 18-point deficit against No. 17 TCU on Wednesday to win, and it was Jabari Rice again who sealed the win from the foul line.MORE THA
  
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• IN DEPTH: Measuring global temperature and the tech behind it

  15-01-2023 04:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — 2022 was one of the warmest years on record. How do we know? NASA and NOAA are partners in data collection, study and modelling.
  KXAN spoke with Rachel Tilling, a polar scientist at NASA, about the latest findings and how technology that measures our changing planet continues to evolve.2022 Temperature Anomaly (Compared to 1951-1980 average). Courtesy: NASANick Bannin | KXAN News: Rachel, NASA and NOAA just released the global temperature report for 2022. Tell us what it sa
  
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• Longhorns OL Kelvin Banks Jr. named to FWAA Freshman All-America team

  15-01-2023 01:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. made himself known to the college football world in his true freshman season.Banks was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team, capping off a myriad of postseason honors. Banks was named to The Athletic's Freshman All-America team and ESPN's True Freshman All-America team.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter
  
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• 'Part of your legacy': City of Elgin unveils mural honoring its black leaders

  15-01-2023 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) — Elgin unveiled a new mural on its Central Avenue Saturday with a community event, with powerful images of influential members of Elgin's Black community.
  The 20-foot high and 50-foot long mural grabs the attention of passerby, showing the faces of civil rights activist Harvey Westbrook, educator Annie Lee Haywood, musician Monty Joe Thomas, and business owners and community leaders S.H. McShan and Dororthy McCarther.
  The mural shows civil rights leader Harvey Westbroo
  
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• State of Texas: 'We're going to war'—Rules battle highlights fights to come at the Capitol

  15-01-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Lawmakers at the State Capitol wrapped up their first week back at work. While much of the first week was taken up with ceremonial events and procedural work, there were moments of tense debate.There was little debate surrounding the reelection of Rep. Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House.The Beaumont Republican won the post in a 143-3 vote. After the vote, Phelan laid out some of his priorities for the House."Texans want a reliable supply of water, resiliency from floodi
  
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