Austin news

• Georgetown man sentenced to life in prison in wife's death

  21-04-2023 23:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Georgetown man who pleaded guilty to murder this week in the 2021 death of his wife was sentenced to life in prison, according to court records.Travis Hall, 50, faced murder and tampering with evidence charges in the disappearance of his wife, Julie Hall. He pleaded guilty to murder Monday. The tampering charges were dismissed, documents state. Georgetown husband facing murder charge after investigation into wife’s disappearanceIn opening statements of the trial Mon
  
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• Austin could get rid of minimum parking requirements city-wide this year

  21-04-2023 23:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council could strip mandatory parking minimums from its overarching zoning requirements this year. Council Member Zohaib Qadri intends to put forward a resolution next month that would change the city's land development code (LDC).Council item aims to limit parking lot requirements for bars to curb drunk drivingRight now, the city mandates how many parking spots you're required to have on a property. Transit and affordable housing advocates have for years asked the c
  
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• Homeowners frustrated with city after flood waters damage properties

  21-04-2023 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Multiple homes located on Mearns Meadow boulevard became surrounded by a rushing river during Thursday night's torrential downpour after a nearby storm culvert became clogged with dead trees and debris.
  Homeowners in the area are cleaning up the mess and say they are frustrated with the city for not doing more to prevent this level of flooding.
  Severe flooding damageRyan Albright and his wife were enjoying their first night of their month-long European trip when their alarm syst
  
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• APD, ATCEMS respond to tactical situation in Travis County

  21-04-2023 23:35 via kxan.com
  
  ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department and Austin-Travis County EMS were called to assist an agency serving a warrant in Elgin Friday, APD said.At approximately, 1:15 p.m., APD responded to a call to assist in the 17800 block of Rye Spring Drive, according to police. Photos provided to KXAN showed SWAT personnel at the scene.Medics also confirmed it responded to a tactical assist call for APD in the 13000 block of Mussel Run.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
  
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• Body found just north of Temple identified as missing Austin woman

  21-04-2023 22:53 via kxan.com
  
  BELL COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) -- A body found in Bell County has been identified as a missing person out of Austin.Bell County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded Friday morning to a report of a dead person in a bar-ditch near the 1300 block of Berger Road - just north of Temple.
  Investigators identified the person as 25-year-old Tiera Strand - who was listed as a missing person out of Austin. She was last seen on Sunday, April 16 near the 400 block of E. 6th Street in Austin. Investigat
  
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• Execution date withdrawn for Texas death row inmate Ivan Cantu

  21-04-2023 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  COLLIN COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A judge in Collin County ordered that the execution date for convicted murderer Ivan Abner Cantu be withdrawn "pending further order" from the court.Ivan's execution had been scheduled for April 26.Collin County District Court Judge Benjamin Smith signed the order on Wednesday, the same day that Ivan's mother, Sylvia Cantu, went to the Texas Capitol to advocate for a stay of execution from the Governor's Office.PREVIOUS: Mother of death row inmate Ivan Cantu seeks
  
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• 16 people rescued from flash floods, fire chief explains what to do

  21-04-2023 21:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – During Thursday night's severe weather, the Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 saved 16 people stuck in their vehicles during a flash flood. Thankfully, no one was injured.The department can expect to get around 37 calls during a typical 24-hour period, but by the end of last night, they had received 60. Travis County ESD No. 2 Fire Chief Nick Perkins said flash floods, particularly in Travis County, can be extremely dangerous. KXAN First Warning Weather foreca
  
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• Weekend forecast brings both sunshine and rain

  21-04-2023 21:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Quiet weather returned following Thursday night's severe thunderstorms and flash flooding.We will enjoy clear, cool conditions overnight into early Saturday with sunshine to kick off the weekend. As a northwesterly flow aloft continues, however, additional storms are heading to Texas over the next 7 days.The next disturbance approaches late Saturday, increasing clouds through the afternoon and evening and potentially bringing a late-evening strong thunderstorm to the Hill Countr
  
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• Construction on next phase of Texas Capitol Complex project begins

  21-04-2023 20:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New buildings and additions are coming to the Texas Capitol Mall area in downtown Austin.
  The groundbreaking for Phase 2 of the Texas Capitol Complex project took place Thursday, morning, marking the start of construction of two new state office buildings and one additional block of the pedestrian Capitol Mall along North Congress Avenue, according to the Texas Facilities Commission.The new state office buildings will include:A five-story, 165,000-square-foot building
  
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• Man arrested in connection with threats against Lago Vista ISD, teachers

  21-04-2023 19:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lago Vista police were dispatched to the 3200 block of Burnside Circle Monday after a man’s Facebook posts threatening Lago Vista ISD teachers were reported.LVPD said at the time of the threat, 56-year-old David Lee Kneblick had access to two handguns, both of which were loaded to capacity, according to court documents.An arrest affidavit said Kneblick made three separate threatening posts to the social medial platform. One post referenced killing teachers.In that pos
  
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• SILVER ALERT: Police looking for Austin man with medical condition

  21-04-2023 19:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Silver Alert has been issued for a 65-year-old Austin man with a medical condition, the Austin Police Department said in a release.
  Austin police are looking for James Joseph Moran. He was last seen on Thursday, wearing a two-tone baseball cap, a blue long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and brown shoes, APD said.APD said it is "concerned for Mr. Moran’s wellbeing due to his medical condition." If you see Moran, you should call 911 or APD Missing Persons unit at 512-
  
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• SILVER ALERT: Austin man found safe

  21-04-2023 19:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 65-year-old Austin man at the center of a Silver Alert has been found safe, the Austin Police Department said Friday afternoon.
  The man was previously last seen in the Kimble Cove and Ohlen Road area on Thursday.
  
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• Texas House moves to expand Medicaid coverage to new moms for a year after childbirth

  21-04-2023 18:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — The Texas House advanced a bill Thursday that would allow low-income moms to stay on Medicaid for a full year after childbirth. The bill was preliminarily approved with bipartisan support in a 125-11 vote. All of the votes against the bill were from Republicans. It is expected to pass the House in a final vote on Friday.Currently, postpartum Medicaid expires after two months in Texas. The House passed a similar measure last session, but the Senate reduced it to six
  
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• Memo: More to come on Rainey Street safety improvements

  21-04-2023 18:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said its taken even more steps toward making the Rainey Street area safer after a push this year for safety changes by friends and loved ones of people who died in or near Lady Bird Lake.
  In a memo, the city said since March 7, the Parks and Recreation Department had installed temporary solar lighting, a temporary fence barrier, a gate at top of steps to lake access, installed signage, increased park ranger patrols and conducted multiple site visits to mo
  
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• Public schools would have to display Ten Commandments under bill passed by Texas Senate

  21-04-2023 17:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Public schools in Texas would have to prominently display the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting next school year under a bill the Texas Senate approved Thursday.Senate Bill 1515 by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, now heads to the House for consideration.This is the latest attempt from Texas Republicans to inject religion into public schools. In 2021, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Mineola Republican, authored a bill that became law requiring sc
  
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• Man arrested, charged in 42-year-old Comal County cold case

  21-04-2023 17:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A San Antonio man was arrested last week and faces a murder charge in a 42-year-old cold case out of Comal County, Texas.
  Larry Allen West, 68, was arrested by Texas Rangers on April 13 and charged in the 1981 murder of Carol Joyce Deleon, who was 18 at the time, according to a release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
  West was linked to the murder through new evidence in the case, which was subjected to advanced DNA testing under DPS' Sexual Assault Kit Initiativ
  
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• Austin Resource Recovery: How to celebrate Earth Day, reduce plastic waste

  21-04-2023 15:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Earth Day events are taking place all across Austin this weekend.With a wide variety of environmental protection efforts underway, the city has asked Austinites to drop off plastic bags and bottles at Public Library locations."Our goal is to get out in the community and encourage Austinites to bring us their single-use plastic bags and plastic bottles for use over Earth Day weekend,” Austin Resource Recovery spokesman Andrés Cantú said.Friday is the fina
  
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• Google searches for sustainability spike as Earth Day approaches. Tech expert weighs in

  21-04-2023 15:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Searches for climate and sustainability are hitting all-time highs, according to Google technology expert Sarah Armstong.“We're seeing searches for how to save fuel when driving, spiking,” said Armstrong. “We're seeing a lot of interest in saving energy at home.”This Saturday, April 22, is Earth Day, and if you’re searching for ways to help the environment, here are some options. Earth Day around the world“Two big tips here. One is to try usin
  
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• Person killed in crash on Highway 71 east of Austin

  21-04-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A person was pronounced dead after an early-morning crash on Highway 71 east of Austin Friday.
  Austin-Travis County EMS responded to the crash around 6:30 a.m. It happened near Granny Drive on Hwy 71.Real time traffic mapATCEMS said a vehicle was pinned and a patient had potentially gone into cardiac arrest.Around 6:44 a.m., the person was taken out of the vehicle and medics performed CPR, according to ATCEMS. The person was pronounced dead on the scene around 7 a.m.ATCEMS said
  
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• QUIZ: How many of these native Texas flowers can you name?

  21-04-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Every spring, polychromatic flowers pop up along Texas roads making our commutes just a little more pleasant.While some Texas wildflower's peak has already passed, others are still thriving. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin said people can expect to see many well-known Texas wildflowers from March through May.QUIZ: Do you know Texas’ official state symbols?There are over 5,000 species of wildflowers growing throughout the Lone Star State. Take the quiz bel
  
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• APD: Woman stabbed on CapMetro bus, man detained

  21-04-2023 13:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said a man was detained Friday morning after stabbing a woman on a CapMetro bus in downtown Austin.
  According to police, officers were called to the bus at the corner of 5th Street and North Lamar Boulevard just before 2 a.m.INDEPTH: CapMetro updates plans to develop police forcePolice say the victim was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
  The woman and the man did not know each other, according to police.
  
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• APD: Driver stabbed on CapMetro bus, man detained

  21-04-2023 13:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said a man was detained Friday morning after stabbing a driver on a CapMetro bus in downtown Austin.
  According to police, officers were called to the bus at the corner of 5th Street and North Lamar Boulevard just before 2 a.m. CapMetro said "one of our operators is believed to have been assaulted and cut by a customer." INDEPTH: CapMetro updates plans to develop police forcePolice say the woman was taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, and
  
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• Man dies after being shot by officers on Highway 290

  21-04-2023 12:41 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) – Texas Rangers and the Travis County Sheriff's Office are investigating after officers shot a man along Highway 290 late Thursday night. Police say the man was armed with a knife.
  According to Manor Police Chief Ryan Phipps, Austin Police were called about an attempted carjacking and stabbing at the Capitol Wright Distribution Center around 8:50 p.m.Phipps said officers went to look for the suspect when a Travis County deputy found the man around 9:25 p.m. on Highway 2
  
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• Man describes getting caught in high water during north Austin flash floods

  21-04-2023 06:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As storms moved through Central Texas, parts of the area were hit with flash flooding. One Austin man spoke with KXAN’s Nabil Remadna about his experience getting stuck in the water near Duval Road and U.S. Highway 183 in north Austin. LIVE BLOG: ATCEMS responding to water rescues in north Austin“It just happened all of a sudden,” the man said. “I was coming down the exit ramp, and I had seen the car in front of me and they kept going. And basically,
  
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• PHOTOS: Hail, flash flooding hits Central Texas during severe weather

  21-04-2023 05:44 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) -- Severe thunderstorms moved through Central Texas Thursday, bringing flash flooding and hail. BLOG: ATCEMS crews respond to water rescuesGolf ball-size hail was reported in Liberty Hill and Georgetown Thursday evening. Austin-Travis County EMS crews responded to multiple water rescues, mostly in north Austin, after rapid, heavy rain created flash floods.Weather Resources
  How to talk to your kids about severe weatherWatches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is madeTraffic mapLive Ce
  
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• Temporary drying, but more storms later this weekend

  21-04-2023 05:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After flooding rainfall and golf ball-sized hail Thursday evening, our weather quiets down today... but the break will be brief.The rest of the day we'll have increasing sun, low humidity and seasonable temperatures as highs push into the upper 70s to near 80.Our Saturday starts clear and quiet with a good amount of sun expected through most of the afternoon. By late Saturday evening, isolated storms and showers return to the forecast with a low severe risk, mostly for the Hill
  
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• Severe storms bring flash flooding, hail and tornado warnings

  21-04-2023 05:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A complex of severe thunderstorms brought flash flooding and water rescues in north Austin, large hail to many communities, and Tornado Warnings in several counties.Isolated storm development Thursday afternoon produced brief quarter-size hail in Leander. An evening cold front then brought the main event.
  Ping pong ball size hail was reported in Fredericksburg, Liberty Hill and La Grange as a lumbering complex of storms made its way southeastward. Storms stalled over north Austi
  
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• Another round of rain, severe storm risk this weekend

  21-04-2023 05:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After heavy rain, hail and a threat of tornadoes, our weather quiets down some today... but the break will be brief.A few quick, light showers may breeze through the area this morning, but cooler and dry weather are expected Friday afternoon through Saturday midday.Weekend forecastStorm chances return late Saturday evening with a low severe weather risk for some in the Hill Country. Sunday looks like a cool, rainy day.Recap of Thursday's severe weather eventA complex of severe t
  
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• ECHO: Soon to be released PIT data likely to be an undercount of Austin's homeless

  21-04-2023 03:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Several months after hundreds of volunteers canvassed Austin overnight, looking for people sleeping outside, the Point-In-Time (PIT) count data is expected to be released this spring.
  But the Ending Community Homeless Coalition (ECHO) said the in-person count is not the most accurate depiction of how many people are sleeping outside and the numbers are likely to be an undercount.
  "There are some requirements that HUD have that make it to where you're not really actually counting
  
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• Tornado Warning issued for Bastrop, Fayette County

  21-04-2023 02:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hail up to the size of ping pong balls has been reported from Fredericksburg to Georgetown and Liberty Hill from a complex of storms moving through the area.Storms are developing southward into the Austin area, and are capable of producing damaging hail and wind gusts. Over 3 inches of rain has fallen in Walnut Creek in North Austin, with observed rain rates over 1.5" in just 15 minutes. LIVE BLOG: Potential severe weather causes Central Texas cancellationsA Severe Thunderstorm
  
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• Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Bastrop County

  21-04-2023 02:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hail up to the size of ping pong balls has been reported from Fredericksburg to Georgetown and Liberty Hill from a complex of storms moving through the area.Storms are developing southward into the Austin area, and are capable of producing damaging hail and wind gusts. Over 3 inches of rain has fallen in Walnut Creek in North Austin, with observed rain rates over 1.5" in just 15 minutes. LIVE BLOG: Potential severe weather causes Central Texas cancellationsA Severe Thunderstorm
  
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• Severe threat continues after hail and flooding

  21-04-2023 02:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hail up to the size of ping pong balls has been reported from Fredericksburg to Georgetown and Liberty Hill from a complex of storms moving through the area. Later Thursday evening the National Weather Service was warning about hail up to baseball size in parts of Fayette County!Hail, but also flash flooding, remain our primary concern during the overnight hours.4-5" of rainfall reported in parts of northwest Austin and also in the Pflugerville area has caused road closures and
  
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• Is pickleball becoming too popular? 'Turf wars' break out in south Austin

  21-04-2023 02:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – There is no doubt that pickleball is exploding in Texas. In the U.S., The Sports and Fitness Industry Association said that participation in the sport nearly doubled in 2022, seeing a year-over-year increase of around 85% and a 158.6% increase over the last three years. At the South Austin Recreation Center, the increase in participation in the sport is overwhelmingly clear. Matt Winebright started playing three years ago. He said he started seeing the courts get more
  
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• 'Shocking and tragic': San Saba Police investigating murder/suicide incident

  21-04-2023 00:28 via kxan.com
  
  SAN SABA, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people are dead after the San Saba Police Department said was the result of a murder/suicide incident in San Saba Thursday, according to a news release from the agency.At approximately 3 p.m., SSPD responded to a report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Wallace Street, the release said. Furthermore, police said the shooting occurred in the parking lot area of the location, and two adults were shot.When officers arrived on the scene, they determined an altercation o
  
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• Texas baseball set for back half of Big 12 play

  21-04-2023 00:14 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) - Texas baseball has fought to an 8-4 conference record halfway through the 24 game Big 12 slate, good for tops in the league. This weekend the Longhorns will battle the team at the bottom of the Big 12 in their rival Oklahoma.The Longhorns are coming off a 20-0 victory in a midweek showdown against Abilene Christian after an eventful series win on the road against Baylor. Now even as their opponent this weekend has lost three of four conference series, they know it will still be q
  
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