Austin news

• Miscues cost Texas baseball chance to sweep Indiana at home

  26-02-2023 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns head baseball coach David Pierce said poor communication led to a squandered opportunity to sweep the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.The Longhorns were thrown out at second base four times by Indiana catcher Peter Serruto and missed numerous signals stored on their armbands, and Pierce didn't sugarcoat anything after the 4-2 loss."That was the most embarrassing loss I've had in 35 years of coaching, simply because we didn't execute our c
  
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• How Texas-founded zoo response network helps facilities, animals in disasters

  26-02-2023 22:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While Central Texans recovers from this month's ice storm and influx of downed trees and other debris, a group founded by Texas officials has provided relief to some furry friends over at the Austin Zoo.
  Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue and Recovery (ZDR3) was founded in Texas in 2019 following Hurricane Harvey. Julia Wagner, executive director of ZDR3, told KXAN the organization is designed to provide relief and assistance before, during and after significant incidents
  
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• Austin a top destination for 'thirst trips': What does that mean?

  26-02-2023 21:51 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KDAF) — If you're an avid Instagram user you're either familiar with or even posted your own thirst trap picture to get likes and comments galore, but have you ever done a "thirst trip?"Hotels.com claims that a new type of vacation is trending. They're called thirst trips, or "short weekend stays that satisfy our desire for a day off by the pool" – just enough to quench a person's thirst for vacation.They're predicting that shorter, more frequent two to three-day trips will s
  
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• 2 Texas cities are home to some of the happiest Americans, report says

  26-02-2023 21:37 via kxan.com
  
  (Smart Asset) - Research shows that in some cases, money does lead to happiness. In fact, a 2021 University of Pennsylvania study found a correlation between happiness and income growth, even past an annual income of $80,000. This is in contrast to previous research that found happiness stagnated after an individual earned $75,000. However, not all places can offer the same level of happiness, as some cities offer more economic opportunities and a better quality of life than others.To uncover th
  
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• Austin man sentenced in 2020 road-rage killing in Burnet County

  26-02-2023 21:25 via kxan.com
  
  SPICEWOOD, Texas (KXAN) — An Austin man accused of killing another man during a January 2020 road-rage incident in Spicewood was sentenced to serve 10 years in state prison.Burnet County court records showed 40-year-old Milton Sik Kim submitted a guilty plea for manslaughter Feb. 17 related to the death of 44-year-old Thao Ton.According to records, Kim was originally charged with murder, but convicted of the lesser, second-degree charge of manslaughter.With Kim’s plea, he faced up to
  
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• Blanton Museum to celebrate new grounds, hours and programs this spring

  26-02-2023 20:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas at Austin plans to unveil its new grounds and slate of programming with a grand opening celebration this spring.The Blanton Museum of Art will celebrate the renovated space on Saturday, May 13 from 2-3 p.m., and it will include live music, guest speaker remarks and "activation of the primary outdoor gathering space, the Moody Patio," per a release. PHOTOS: Check out some of the homes from this year’s Austin Modern H
  
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• Judge sentences man in 2021 shooting death of stepfather in southeast Austin

  26-02-2023 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in state prison for murder Feb. 15.According to Travis County court records, 31-year-old Richard Nunez submitted a guilty plea Jan. 19 for an October 2021 shooting incident in the 2800 block of Palomino Trail that killed one person.Nunez was charged in connection with the murder of his stepfather, 46-year-old Leyder Vidal-Diaz. According to a previous KXAN report, police said witnesses reported they were involved in
  
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• Carver Museum holds kids day event

  26-02-2023 14:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Black History Month comes to a close, the George Washington Carver Museum hosted its last event in February’s lineup, catering specifically to the kids.Kids Day this year featured CDF Freedom Schools Austin, Ballet Afrique, Tree Folk and more with crafts and activities focused on the 2023 Black History Month theme "Black Resistance."“I get to celebrate me,” Taylen Christian, a student from CDF Freedom Schools said. “And all the people who helped Black
  
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• Round Rock students envision a sustainable downtown Austin in STEM project

  26-02-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — A group of Round Rock ISD students are taking sustainability initiatives to new and futuristic heights, reimagining downtown Austin as a 100% green energy hub.Cedar Valley Middle School's Future City club built a model of downtown Austin 100 years into the future that outlines green initiatives the city can take to combat climate change. Their project won third place at a Texas Future City's competition this year.Cedar Valley Middle School's Future City club buil
  
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• Highs in the 80s for several days

  26-02-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Part of Central Texas will be under a Dense Fog Advisory until 9 a.m. Fog was prevalent throughout the area.Dense fog covers most of the area early this morningAfter a cloudy start (which also included areas of light rain/drizzle) we'll see a little more of the sun by the middle to late afternoon. South winds 15 to 20 mph with higher gusts will send temperatures back to some low 80s, with similar highs forecast for Monday.
  Starting a string of several 80° highs BLOG: March f
  
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• Cold front keeps it windy tonight, but warmth remains

  26-02-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Afternoon sun and a strong wind out of the south helped to push temperatures into the upper 70s and low 80s on Sunday.It'll stay windy into this evening, with gusts over 30mph possible from the south at first and then eventually the northwest after a cold front pushes through in the middle of the night. BLOG: March forecast: What to expect as severe weather season beginsMilam, Lampasas and San Saba Counties are under a Wind Advisory until early Monday morning where gusts up to 5
  
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• Texas lawmakers push for more transparent medical billing: What it means for you

  26-02-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  This report is an update to KXAN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" investigation. Our team will continue to follow the bills during Texas' legislative session. AUSTIN (KXAN) — As soon as State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, was elected, she knew one of her top priorities would be healthcare. State Rep. Caroline Harris is a freshman lawmaker who represents part of Williamson County. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)"If you look at how much money is spent in a family's budget, a large po
  
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• 'That's not like her': Friend of teen mom of missing infant hasn't heard from her in days, says final call ended abruptly

  26-02-2023 05:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A friend of missing Alexis Garza, 15, says she's worried after her phone call with Garza ended abruptly that same night.Austin Police said Garza was last seen with her two-week-old son around 10 p.m. Thursday near the 2600 block of South Interstate 35. APD also said Garza had run away from a state facility, but did not specify what kind. APD searching for teen mom, missing baby
  Faith Corona, the previously mentioned friend of Graza, is also a young mother and has been frien
  
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• Uvalde CISD still uses alert system lawmakers cited as faulty

  26-02-2023 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  UVALDE, Texas (Nexstar) — During the Robb Elementary School mass shooting, which left 19 children and two teachers dead, the campus lockdown alert was delayed, partially because of the district's alert system. However, the district has not replaced the system, which lawmaker cite as one of the key communication failures during the shooting.UCISD's alert system, Raptor, is a phone app for staff to use in the event of lockdowns, evacuations and other emergencies. The district's interim super
  
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• Texas women's basketball dominates rival Oklahoma

  26-02-2023 01:37 via kxan.com
  
  Norman, Okla (KXAN) - In what was their biggest game of the season so far, the Texas women's basketball team played about as energized and effective as imaginable. The No. 19 Longhorns throttled No. 13 Oklahoma 67-45 as the two rivals entered the day tied for first in the Big 12.
  Led by Shaylee Gonzales with 19 points, Texas moves a game clear of Oklahoma and the rest of the Big 12 with just two games left in the regular season. The win vaults the Longhorns a massive step closer to their first B
  
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• More than 9,000 children attend STEM Girl Day at UT Austin

  26-02-2023 01:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – More than 9,000 Texas children from all over the state attended Saturday the 22nd STEM Girl Day at the University of Texas in Austin. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at UT Austin hosts the event to spark creativity and inspire future STEM field careers.“It's important to have events like this so that girls can see themselves as scientists and engineers; so that they can be scientists and engineers for a day and connect with STEM role models who
  
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• State of Texas: Task force report aims to improve teacher pay, working conditions

  26-02-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A “steep increase” in Texas teachers leaving. More than 20% of teachers enter schools with no certification. Salary increases not keeping up with inflation.Those are just a few of the challenges described in the long-anticipated report from the Teacher Vacancy Task Force. That's a group of 45 Texas teachers and administrators Gov. Greg Abbott ordered to take on the growing teacher shortage in the state.“This is not a new trend. This has been a 30-year t
  
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• PHOTOS: Check out some of the homes from this year's Austin Modern Home Tour

  26-02-2023 00:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Hundreds of design enthusiasts traveled Saturday across the Austin City Limits to check out some of Austin’s most modern and elegant homes. 13 houses were featured in this year’s Austin Modern Home Tour, organized by Modern Architecture + Design Society. The tour gives local architects, designers, home builders and developers the opportunity to show off their work. “It's incredible. It's my first time on the Modern Home Tour. Basically, every yea
  
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