Austin news

• Last freeze? Here's when we leave winter behind

  05-02-2023 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Central Texas continues to pick up the pieces, chainsaw broken tree limbs and watch power restoration numbers climb, you may be ready to leave winter behind.Based on the 30-year average from 1991-2020, the typical last freeze of winter is not far away for some of us.In an average year, Austin - Camp Mabry gets its last freeze around Feb. 15. That's less than two weeks away! The latest freeze of the colder months was in 1914 when we saw a freeze on April 9 that year.
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• 3 Central Texans charged in connection with deadly fentanyl-laced overdose

  05-02-2023 22:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Three Central Texans were indicted by a federal grand jury in Austin on five counts related to fentanyl distribution resulting in death and serious bodily injury.According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a man and two women were accused of possessing and selling counterfeit oxycodone and other fake prescription pills with traceable amounts of fentanyl, leading to the death of at least one person.The DOJ said David Lee Jr., 45, and Virginia Zepeda, 43, of Austin, along with Ja
  
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• CapMetro Rail service to return Monday

  05-02-2023 20:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro officials tweeted Sunday full-service rail operations would resume Monday morning.
  Beginning at 5:40 a.m., CapMetro Rail trips will begin heading from the Leander Station to downtown Austin. Rail service discontinuations extended through the weekend due to continued power outages from last week's ice storms.All other CapMetro services have already resumed normal operations. Click on CapMetro's Trip Planner tool to plan out your route.
  
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• Austin ISD returning to classes Monday post-ice storm

  05-02-2023 20:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin ISD said in an email Sunday the district plans to welcome students back to campus Monday, with only two schools remaining without power.As of 11 a.m., both Hill and Perez elementary schools still don't have power. Officials said they will offer a modified school day at an alternative campus for those students and staff if power doesn't return by Sunday afternoon.Hill and Perez campus families and staff will receive information from those campuses' principals by 5 p.m
  
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• One transported with life-threatening injuries post-flash fire

  05-02-2023 19:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department said one person is being treated with critical, life-threatening injuries after a flash fire in north Austin Sunday morning.AFD responded to the flash fire in the 11000 block of Georgian Drive Sunday. Officials tweeted the fire emerged after a person poured out gasoline to burn a tree stump.
  Austin-Travis County EMS transported the patient following the incident. No additional information is available.
  
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• Travis County residents say neighborhood feels like a truck stop with parked big rigs

  05-02-2023 19:00 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – In their natural habitat, like the interstate or a truck stop, 18-wheelers and other commercial vehicles blend right in.But when they’re lined up in a neighborhood, that’s a different story.“I don't personally love it,” said Carly Howard, who lives in the Presidential Meadows subdivision in Travis County. The subdivision is surrounded by, but not inside, Manor city limits.“It's definitely not what we want in the neighborhood,&rdqu
  
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• Austin airport plane incident under Federal Aviation Administration investigation

  05-02-2023 18:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Federal Aviation Administration said it was looking into an incident involving two planes at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Saturday. The National Transportation Safety Board initially tweeted about a "possible runway incursion and overflight" that involved a Southwest Airlines and FedEx plane.In an initial statement, the FAA said preliminary information found FedEx Flight 1432 had been cleared to land on Runway 18-Left at AUS around 6:40 a.m. Saturday morning.
  
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• Nearly $23M grant to help fund safety improvements in Austin

  05-02-2023 18:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the City of Austin said it would receive a $22.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help make its streets safer.According to the city, the grant was a part of a $5 billion Safe Streets and Roads for All program established as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."In total, Austin Transportation plans to implement safety improvements at more than 60 locations through this grant, with at least half of project funding allocated
  
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• Texas politicians call for release of detainee in China

  05-02-2023 18:09 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (KXAN) — Several Texas state and federal lawmakers have called for the release of a resident detained in China since 2012.U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) presented the resolution Feb. 1 calling for the release of Mark Swidan, a Houston man detained for more than a decade. Sen. Cornyn (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) cosponsored the measure, with Cloud submitting the resolution in the House of Representatives.Last May, Cruz submitted a letter to Secretary of State Antony B
  
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• 'A very dangerous time' - Rep. McCaul raises concern about conflict with China

  05-02-2023 17:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texan who leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Congress is sending a strong warning about potential military conflict with China.Congressman Michael McCaul called the risk "very high."It comes amid rising tension over Taiwan and the South China Sea.On Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an agreement to increase the U.S. military presence in the Pacific.The agreement includes $82 million to enhance military infrastructure in the Philippines, includin
  
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• String of burglaries target downtown Austin businesses, residents

  05-02-2023 17:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Downtown Austin Alliance called on downtown property owners, businesses and tenants to be on the lookout amid recent burglaries. Per the DAA, suspects are suspected to be entering properties "by driving closely behind tenants through secured garage entries," the release said.
  Several incidents have been reported to the Austin Police Department that involved a white Cadillac Escalade with a Texas license plate DL6 4094, per the release. APD said most events took place be
  
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• Council member calls for Austin Energy audit post-storm, outages

  05-02-2023 17:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly has called for a "comprehensive audit of Austin Energy's response" following last week's ice storm and amid ongoing power outages.She also called for an audit reviewing Austin Energy's Vegetation Management plan.The measure received support via co-sponsorship from three additional council members. On an Austin City Council forum, Council Member Leslie Pool said she supported status briefings and progress reports from affected agenc
  
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• Sunday morning rescue shifts to recovery for missing person at Lady Bird Lake

  05-02-2023 14:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An early Sunday morning water rescue conducted by Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Police and the Austin Fire Department has shifted to a recovery after the missing person was not found.ATCEMS responded to the call around 2:20 a.m. Sunday between 7-39 East Ave., following reports a person in the water, went under. A bystander who tried to rescue them was attended to by EMS crews for hypothermia.AFD launched a rescue boat to assist with the search. APD's Air 1 was also calle
  
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• One more dry day for clean-up before our next storm

  05-02-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures Sunday afternoon reached the mid 70s, the warmest they've been since last weekend! This was quite the recovery from not being able to climb above freezing on January 31st and February 1st.This evening will be mainly clear, but just like the past few nights, low clouds and fog will build back in for Monday morning as overnight lows drop into the low 50s.Prepare for fog and low visibility for the return to work and school on Monday morning. Clouds and fog should be mo
  
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• Highs in the 70s for two days before two days of rain

  05-02-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The day is dawning with areas of fog, at times dense. A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for our I-35 counties eastward until 9 a.m.A Dense Fog Advisory for the eastern half of Central TexasAfter the fog lifts what few clouds there are will give way to a sunny afternoon. A southwest to south wind will warm temperatures this afternoon to the lower half of the 70s. Tomorrow will be warmer as highs peak in mostly the mid 70s.Today will be much warmer than the normal of 65°An upp
  
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• Latest ice storm produced 10 times more service calls than 2021 freeze, Austin Energy says

  05-02-2023 04:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In an update Saturday afternoon, Austin Energy leaders said 68,000 customers were still waiting for power. They say the ice storm caused more damage to trees and power poles than the 2021 freeze which is taking longer to repair.Austin Energy General Manager Jackie Sargent said 278,000 customers' power had been restored by Saturday.LIVE BLOG: Power outages persist throughout Austin as ice storm thawsShe stressed that people without power in an area where "no outage is being
  
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• DeYona Gaston has career night as No. 24 Texas turns away Kansas on the road

  05-02-2023 02:36 via kxan.com
  
  LAWRENCE, Kan. (KXAN) — The No. 24 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team used a 20-12 advantage in the fourth quarter to edge the Kansas Jayhawks 68-65 on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.Texas forward DeYona Gaston poured in a career-high 24 points on 12-of-20 shooting with eight points in the final frame to help seal the win. Sonya Morris was the other Longhorn who scored in double figures with 13 points and Khadija Faye ripped down 10 rebounds with blocked three shots.MORE THAN THE SCORE:
  
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• No. 10 Longhorns rally in 2nd half to top No. 7 Kansas State in Manhattan

  05-02-2023 01:18 via kxan.com
  
  MANHATTAN, Kan. (KXAN) — Down by as much as 14 points in the first half, the No. 10 Texas Longhorns mounted a huge comeback in the second half on the road to beat No. 7 Kansas State 69-66 at Bramlage Coliseum.Forward Christian Bishop came alive to charge up the Longhorns by scoring all 14 of his points in the second half, and he grabbed six rebounds in the half as well. Tyrese Hunter scored all of 10 of his points in the second half also to help the Longhorns recover from a dreadful 7-of-2
  
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• State of Texas: 'A full time job,' Border Czar to lead TX border wall, security efforts

  05-02-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  LOS INDIOS, Texas (Nexstar) - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott named a “border czar” for the state during a media news conference on Monday afternoon where construction crews are building the second segment of the state-funded border wall in South Texas.Abbott said the new Texas border czar position is “a full-time job that requires a leader whose only focus is responding to President Biden’s open border policies.”He has named former Border Patrol Agent Mike Banks, who served
  
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• Gov. Greg Abbott issues ice storm disaster declaration for some Texas counties

  05-02-2023 00:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration Saturday for seven counties impacted by the ice storm this week.
  Counties included are Denton, Hays, Henderson, Milam, Smith, Travis and Williamson, but more counties may be added. The release said infrastructure repairs, debris disposal and damage assessments are underway. LIVE BLOG: Power outages persist throughout Central Texas as ice storm thaws"Through this disaster declaration, we will be able to provide additional
  
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• 1 child dead, 1 adult injured after auto-pedestrian crash in north Austin

  05-02-2023 00:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An auto-pedestrian crash killed one child and injured an adult in north Austin on Saturday afternoon, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
  It happened in the 900 block of North Meadows Drive.
  ATCEMS said the child was declared dead at the scene. An adult patient was taken to Dell Seton with serious injuries.
  Austin Police Department said the area around North Meadows Drive and Newmont Road would be closed for a while.
  This is a developing story; stick with KXAN for update
  
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