Austin news

• What is turbulence?

  03-03-2023 23:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Aviation is possible for humans through an understanding of physics and engineering, allowing us to overcome gravity and cross long distances in a way that would have been just a dream for most of our history.However, natural occurrences can impede aviation; one of these is turbulence, an atmospheric phenomenon that induces chaotic changes to pitch, roll and yaw. It recently impacted a Lufthansa flight from Austin to Frankfurt, Germany and caused injuries to seven people. 7
  
  Read more

• Austin Police provide details surrounding hit-and-run that killed bicyclist

  03-03-2023 23:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department provided additional details surrounding a February fatal crash between an unknown vehicle and an unidentified bicyclist in north Austin.APD said the crash occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. at the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Rutland Drive when the cyclist was crossing the intersection at the crosswalk.Police said the cyclist died at the scene, and the driver of the unknown vehicle did not stop or call 911. PREVIOUS: 1 p
  
  Read more

• 'It's a happy day': Officials announce $93 million in funding for Austin's chronically unhoused

  03-03-2023 23:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Officials announced Friday that 300 more housing vouchers – including 100 for veterans – will be allocated to housing projects around Austin as a part of the city’s ambitious effort to end homelessness. The 300 vouchers have a price tag of over $93 million and will be utilized over the next 20 years. Each of these housing vouchers costs around $1,300 a month. The resources announced Friday are reserved for Austin’s chronically homeless and
  
  Read more

• KXAN is ending most of our COVID-19 data reporting. Here's why

  03-03-2023 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — For three years, KXAN has been keeping track of COVID-19 statistics across Texas.The first presumptive case of COVID-19 was reported in Fort Bend County on March 4, 2020. Since then, the state has reported more than 8.3 million cases, more than 91,000 deaths, more than 588,000 hospitalizations and more than 50.6 million vaccine doses administered.KXAN has been tracking all of it, and more. But, three years on, we've come to the decision to retire most of our COVID data repo
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• What is the COVID risk in your county? Here are the CDC's latest 'Community Levels'

  03-03-2023 22:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Every week since Feb. 24, 2022, the CDC has assigned a "COVID-19 Community Level" to each county nationwide based on how the virus is impacting local populations.Counties are rated at either high, medium or low risk, determined by three factors: the number of new cases in the past seven days, the number of new hospital admissions in the past seven days and the percent of staffed hospital beds being used by COVID-19 patients.New ratings for each county are released every Thu
  
  Read more

• PHOTOS: Police in San Marcos search for suspect in January hit-and-run

  03-03-2023 22:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The San Marcos Police Department said it was searching for a suspect involved in a Jan. 25 hit-and-run that injured a person.SMPD said on the day of the collision, officers and Hays County EMS were dispatched to the intersection of S. Guadalupe Street and Cheatham Street for a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.“Officers found that a 61-year-old male was crossing the street when he was hit by a vehicle. The driver failed to stop and render aid, which is a thir
  
  Read more

• Rodeo Austin kicks off with Cowboy Breakfast — here's what else is happening

  03-03-2023 21:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Get ready to giddy up, Austin. The rodeo is back.
  The official kickoff happened Friday morning with the Cowboy Breakfast at the Long Center. The breakfast had classic southern food items like biscuits and gravy and breakfast tacos, but there was non-food-related excitement featured as well.
  KXAN's Dylan McKim was joined by Kevin Fitzpatrick to show us the ropes. You'll understand when you watch the video below.
  Dylan also got the chance to speak with Rodeo Austin's CEO Glen
  
  Read more

• Rodeo Austin kicks off — BBQ contest underway

  03-03-2023 21:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Get ready to giddy up, Austin. The rodeo is back.
  The official kickoff happened Friday morning with the Cowboy Breakfast at the Long Center. The breakfast had classic southern food items like biscuits and gravy and breakfast tacos, but there was non-food-related excitement featured as well.
  KXAN's Dylan McKim was joined by Kevin Fitzpatrick to show us the ropes. You'll understand when you watch the video below.
  Dylan also got the chance to speak with Rodeo Austin's CEO Glen
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Austin officials reinstate DWI Enforcement, 'No Refusal' Initiative ahead of Spring Break

  03-03-2023 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, the Austin Police Department said officers would be on patrol and looking out for drunk drivers during Spring Break.APD said two initiatives would run consecutively during the patrols.“The first DWI Enforcement will focus on having more officers on the street making traffic stops from March 3 through March 19,” APD said. “The second, a 'No Refusal' initiative, will focus on gathering evidence in DWI arrests and will occur each night from&nb
  
  Read more

• City of Austin announces pay package for police department

  03-03-2023 19:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin announced details of its pay plan for the Austin Police Department.
  The plan details how the city will pay, provide benefits to, and implement a retention strategy for APD. It comes after the city council unanimously passed an ordinance last month that directed Interim City Manager Jesús Garza to develop such a plan. Previous coverage: Council votes to extend Austin police salaries even if contract endsThe plan includes the following:4% increase in pay
  
  Read more

• APD investigating theft from Girl Scouts at south Austin grocery store

  03-03-2023 19:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department received reports of theft from a local Girl Scout troop at the Randalls grocery store on Ben White Boulevard near Highway 290.APD said the call came in around 6:16 p.m. Wednesday.
  "The safety of our members is our top priority, and we are thankful that no one was harmed during the incident," said a spokesperson for the Girl Scouts.She further called this a "grab-and-go" theft incident and said the girls were never in any danger."This is so unfortunat
  
  Read more

• Officials arrest teen in connection to Hays County fatal fentanyl overdose involving a minor

  03-03-2023 19:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, a teen was arrested by Kyle and San Marcos Police in connection to a fatal fentanyl overdose case involving a minor.Officials said 18-year-old Jubenal Flores Sanchez was arrested following an investigation involving the delivery of fentanyl and the "death of a child" in Hays County. He does not have an attorney listed online at this time.KXAN reached out to the city of Kyle communications department about when the death occured, and it said to prot
  
  Read more

• Family files lawsuit against APD for 2021 killing of son during hostage situation

  03-03-2023 18:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The parents of Jordan Walton, a man killed by Austin Police officers during a hostage situation in Feb. 2021, filed a lawsuit on Feb. 1 against APD and several police officers involved in their son's death.Plaintiffs Anissa Stovall and Terrell Walton said in the lawsuit Jordan "experienced severe mental health symptoms, including paranoia" and he received new medication two days prior to his Feb. 10, 2021, death "that had an unexpected effect on him." Previous: APD identifi
  
  Read more

• After KXAN report, council member taking steps to add new ladder trucks to AFD fleet

  03-03-2023 18:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After a KXAN report highlighting the impact of the Austin Fire Department's lack of new ladder trucks, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly intends to put forward a resolution that would secure funding and staffing for two of them, the city council message board shows.
  Last week, KXAN reported on an internal memo from Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker explaining that even though the new Davenport/360 loop station expected to open up this month was intended to house an extension of the depa
  
  Read more

• Here's why your car looks disgusting today

  03-03-2023 18:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms on Thursday resulted in isolated wind damage, scattered power outages and a lot of dirty cars. Why?That's not pollen sticking to your vehicle, that's dust!The cold front responsible for Thursday's storms also brought a significant west wind that blew dust across Texas on Thursday. Wind gusts ranged from 50-80 mph, easily strong enough to transport a lot of dust across much of the state.This specific satellite view (below) highlights dust in the atmosphe
  
  Read more

• Woman receives lesser charges after 2019 motorcyclist death

  03-03-2023 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County court records showed a woman was convicted of two lesser charges Feb. 23 after a 2019 collision resulted in the death of a motorcyclist in south Austin.Amanda Kate Overman (Travis County Jail Photo)
  Records showed 33-year-old Amanda Overman originally pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and an accident involving death, but instead, she received a conviction for an accident involving damage to a vehicle and driving while intoxicated.The s
  
  Read more

• Doctor warns social media can have lasting consequences for teen girls

  03-03-2023 16:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control teen girls are experiencing record high levels of sadness.The report found nearly three in five US teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, a nearly 60% increase from 2011.“Yes, so disturbing,” said Dr. Allison Chase. “And unfortunately, from a clinical standpoint and what I'm seeing in real life, these numbers are quite accurate.”Dr. Chase is the regional clinical director for Eating Recove
  
  Read more

• What to do about hail, severe weather damage

  03-03-2023 15:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas is no stranger to severe weather, so when it happens, residents should know how to protect their property.
  Richard Johnson with the Insurance Council of Texas joined KXAN to give some insight on how to prepare for a storm to ensure the least amount of damage possible and what to do if your property is damaged.
  Before the stormJohnson said there are two things you can do to prepare.
  The first is to secure any outside items you may have, like lawn furniture, any
  
  Read more

• Future of farming: Why one Austin-area farm is growing crops in the air

  03-03-2023 15:28 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX (KXAN) -Vermillion Farms is taking an unusual approach to farming. Instead of planting their crops in the ground, they're growing them in the air."As many times as I have explained this system to as many people, every single person that walks in this door, that is the exact response," said owner Will Vermillion, after we gasped upon entering the greenhouse on the mostly empty plot of land.Inside the 4,300 square-foot greenhouse, rows and rows of towers stretch into the sky.
  
  Read more

• Texans turn to telehealth while battling 'primary care deserts'

  03-03-2023 14:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You may have trouble finding a primary care doctor.As Austin's population grows, plenty of people are experiencing increased wait times and delays in health care.This is a direct result of primary care deserts — when there aren’t enough healthcare workers to provide primary care for most of the local population.According to Teladoc Health — a telehealth company founded in the Lone Star State — only 9% of counties have enough primary care providers to
  
  Read more

• TIMELINE: How long did it take Austin Energy to restore power during ice storm?

  03-03-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At the peak of Austin's February ice storm, almost a third of Austin Energy customers were without power.According to data from Austin Energy, 173,879 customers were without power at 3:49 p.m. on Feb. 1. That's approximately 31.6% of all customers.We're now getting a detailed look at just how quickly power outages spread across the city, and how long it took crews to restore power to thousands of customers. Will people get relief money for power outage costs?Widespread outa
  
  Read more

• What is the least-visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown

  03-03-2023 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From mountains and canyons to forests and swamps, the vast scale of Texas provides so many natural wonders.Across the Lone Star State, there are 87 state parks, natural areas and historic sites currently operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here’s the top 10 countdownThe first parks were opened to the public in the 1930s and the newest, Old Tunnel State Park, opened in 2012. TPWD also has plans to develop f
  
  Read more

• ACC Round Rock campus reopens after storm-related power outage

  03-03-2023 13:44 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Austin Community College Round Rock campus announced it would reopen at noon Friday after a storm-related power outage closed campus briefly.
  The Round Rock and Eastview campuses closed shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday night due to power outages. The Round Rock campus, located at 4400 College Park Dr., remained closed Friday morning but the Eastview campus was open all day Friday.
  A tweet posted by ACC at 10:14 a.m. Friday said the campus would reopen at noon and cla
  
  Read more

• ACC Round Rock campus remains closed Friday due to power outage after Thursday storm

  03-03-2023 13:44 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Austin Community College says its Round Rock campus at 4400 College Park Dr. remains closed Friday morning due to an "ongoing power outage."ACC said in a tweet Friday morning the power has been restored to the Eastview campus at 3401 Webberville Rd.
  Both Round Rock and Eastview campuses closed Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. due to storm-related power outages.
  ACC says it will offer updates on its webpage.
  
  Read more

• Austin nonprofit passes $100 million fundraising milestone

  03-03-2023 12:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A local nonprofit announced Thursday night it passed the $100 million milestone thanks to an annual 24-hour fundraising challenge it started a decade ago.
  I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH) said it has raised $102.7 million for the local community since its started Amplify Austin Day in 2013.
  The group said Thursday the 11th annual Amplify Austin Day, which started on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and ended on Thursday at 6 p.m., raised $9.9 million from 28,275 donors and 701 organizations.
  
  Read more

• San Marcos CISD to take mental health half-day Friday

  03-03-2023 12:46 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- San Marcos CISD campuses will close early on Friday for a Mental Health half-day.
  The district says San Marcos High School will dismiss students at 12 p.m.
  Middle schools will dismiss students at 12:15 p.m.
  The district's elementary schools as well as the Bonham Pre-K school will dismiss students at 1:30 p.m.In a note to San Marcos CISD families posted on the district website, San Marcos CISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Cardona thanked students, staff and the community
  
  Read more

• Sunshine, comfortable temperatures through the weekend

  03-03-2023 11:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - After a day of severe hail, 60+ mph winds and Tornado Warnings on Thursday, our Friday starts much quieter.Gusty winds will continue through mid-morning before gradually relaxing through the day. Bright blue skies will stretch areawide today with afternoon highs in the low to mid-70s -- cooler than what we had most of the week but still warmer than average.Near-perfect weekend weather will follow with sunshine, dry skies and warmer temperatures (upper 70s to low 80s).Our next cha
  
  Read more

• 4,000-foot drop: Matthew, Camila McConaughey on flight with severe turbulence

  03-03-2023 05:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Both Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila were both on a flight from Austin to Washington D.C. that had to force land Wednesday due to severe turbulence, NBC Universal confirmed.Lufthansa flight 469 dropped nearly 4,000 feet, and seven people went to the hospital, Camila confirmed in an Instagram post. She said everything was flying everywhere, and the plane was chaos.Camila posted a short video with her Instagram caption but said she would not show anyone else around ou
  
  Read more

• Pflugerville limb, brush drop-off sites no longer accepting debris

  03-03-2023 05:17 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — On Thursday, the City of Pflugerville said it would no longer accept limbs or brush at its drop sites.The city said Travis County residents would be directed to take limb debris to the Travis County drop site, which will have drop-off available daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.The Pflugerville Recycle Center has returned to normal operational hours, according to the city.The city said the recycle center would continue accepting limbs and brush at no cost throug
  
  Read more

• Sex assault survivor pushes back against 'harmful,' rampant rape graffiti

  03-03-2023 04:46 via kxan.com
  
  The SAFE Alliance encourages anyone who is a survivor of sexual violence to seek help. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 512-267-SAFE (7233), text 737-888-7233, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4573) for help.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rampant graffiti alluding to sexual abuse appears to be more widespread than KXAN originally knew. Now, one sexual assault survivor is pushing back against a message some are finding harmful instead of healing."To be honest, I'm tir
  
  Read more

• Brushy Creek calls off ice storm damage pickup

  03-03-2023 02:35 via kxan.com
  
  BRUSHY CREEK, Texas (KXAN) — The Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District announced Wednesday that it was not renewing its contract with the company it hired to cleanup brush from February's ice storm.Thursday, General Manager of the Brushy Creek MUD Shean Dalton said the special district wanted to pickup ice storm brush but quickly became overwhelm with the volume of damage.He said it would take around $500,000 to pick up all the damage left by the ice storm and making room for that effort
  
  Read more

• 'Real relief' or 'disaster?' Top Republicans spar over property tax plans

  03-03-2023 02:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Top Texas Republicans agree property tax relief is their top priority, but remain sharply at odds about how to get it done.On Thursday, House Speaker Dade Phelan unveiled what he said would be "the largest property tax decrease in history of state of Texas." It's in House Bill 2, the coveted bill number carried by Ways and Means Chair Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas).HB 2 would lower the appraisal value cap to 5%. That means local appraisal districts could not value your home at more
  
  Read more

• Nonprofit deploys "mobile billboards" around Texas with abortion pill access information

  03-03-2023 00:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – In response to a looming court decision that could reverse the 2000 FDA approval of pills used to end pregnancies, a nonprofit has deployed vehicles around Texas and the U.S. with billboards aiming to inform women how to access abortion pills. Mayday, a health education nonprofit, sent out two vehicles in Texas – 15 nationwide – with mobile billboards promoting abortion pill access. “They don’t want you to know this – you can still get abo
  
  Read more

• City of Austin opens short-term safe havens ahead of thunderstorm

  03-03-2023 00:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it would be opening short-term safe havens Thursday to help anyone needing a safe place to wait out the expected thunderstorm.The city said 20 recreation centers and four public libraries would remain open until 10 p.m. The most severe impacts of storm are expected between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., according to the city. LIVE BLOG: Severe thunderstorms hit Central Texas ThursdayAccording to the National Weather Service, there are severe weather threats acro
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!