Austin news

• APD officer facing 2 separate murder charges heads to first pretrial court hearing

  04-05-2023 23:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Court proceedings for two separate murder charges against Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, 31, continued Thursday morning with a scheduled hearing.Thursday’s hearing was a pretrial with witnesses, according to Travis County records.In July 2019, Taylor was accused of shooting and killing 46-year-old Mauris Nishanga DeSilva in downtown Austin during a check welfare call. In addition to a murder charge, he also faces a charge of deadly conduct for the discharge
  
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• Who's funding Austin police oversight measures? Most money coming from outside of Texas

  04-05-2023 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin voters will have the option to vote "yes" or "no" on two separate propositions this Election Day. Both will impact police oversight.KXAN has extensively covered the groups behind these competing propositions -- one a political action committee focused on public safety and the other backed by the Austin Police Association -- but who's funding those groups? Let's get into it.
  Prop A: Equity ActionThe group behind Prop A, Equity Action, wants the Office of Police Oversight t
  
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• Who's funding Austin police oversight measures? Equity Action money largely national

  04-05-2023 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin voters will have the option to vote "yes" or "no" on two separate propositions this Election Day. Both will impact police oversight.KXAN has extensively covered the groups behind these competing propositions -- one a political action committee focused on public safety and the other backed by the Austin Police Association -- but who's funding those groups? Let's get into it.
  Prop A: Equity ActionThe group behind Prop A, Equity Action, wants the Office of Police Oversight t
  
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• PHOTOS: Check out a sneak preview of this year's Austin Outdoor Living Tour

  04-05-2023 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This Saturday, Austinites will have the opportunity to tour 10 backyards decked out by local landscape architects. The annual Austin Outdoor Living tour, organized by the Modern Architecture Design Society that puts on the Austin Modern Home Tour, showcases local landscape architectural feats to inspire those with landscape aspirations themselves.  MORE: A shed filled with dolls, a house adorned with mermaids and more in Austin’s Weird Homes Tour"Some people
  
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• 18-wheeler crash cuts PfISD's access to internet, phone lines

  04-05-2023 22:51 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An 18-wheeler crash with network and power poles Wednesday night cut Pflugerville ISD's access to its internet and phone lines, PfISD posted on social media.
  PfISD said all campuses have power with lights and air conditioning, and school was expected to continue as normal Thursday.The district expects the outage for internet and phone lines to continue potentially through Friday, and
  
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• Del Valle student awarded $40K Amazon engineering scholarship

  04-05-2023 22:36 via kxan.com
  
  DEL VALLE, Texas (KXAN) -- A Del Valle High School student was named a recipient of the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, which includes a $40,000 scholarship to study computer science or engineering at their school of choice, as well as a paid Amazon internship following their freshman year of college.Del Valle High School senior Noel Mendez was just one of 400 high school seniors across the country named as a recipient. The scholarship sought out eligible students from underserved communitie
  
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• Senate medical transparency bill headed to House floor

  04-05-2023 21:59 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) — The House Public Health Committee voted out Senate Bill 490 on Wednesday. The legislation pushes for medical billing transparency by requiring itemized medical invoices for patients.The legislation – authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola – is headed to the House floor next. The bill would requir
  
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• Waterloo Greenway redesign underway

  04-05-2023 21:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The major park redesign along Waller Creek at the Waterloo Greenway began Wednesday. The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy said The Confluence would bloom at the spot where the Creek meets Lady Bird Lake.This is the second phase of the parks project along the creek. It runs up to 4th Street, and it would connect to East Austin and Rainey Street.According to the conservancy, construction on The Confluence would last two and a half years.Jesus Aguirre, the CEO of Waterloo Greenwa
  
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• City of Austin settles lawsuit with pregnant 2020 protester shot with less-lethal round, woman receives $100K

  04-05-2023 21:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council approved a settlement Thursday with Saraneka Alexander, a then-pregnant woman who was hit with a non-lethal round during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.KXAN reported on Alexander's case previously, she gave us a different last name at the time.Alexander told us she was shot in the back, stomach and head with rubber bullets by Austin Police during a protest. She went to the hospital and her baby was unharmed, she said. PAST COVERAGE: ‘I was no
  
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• Support businesses for Samsung semiconductor plant look to settle nearby

  04-05-2023 21:51 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — City of Taylor leaders said interest from businesses that supply or distribute elements that would support production at Samsung's semiconductor plant has increased and accelerated in recent months.Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell said those businesses include companies that make components crucial to the making of microchips. Williamson County enters cooperation agreement with Korean trade-investment agencyRydell was among Williamson County and Austin business leaders tha
  
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• Over 465K Texans will get payment from Intuit TurboTax

  04-05-2023 20:54 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Around 4.4 million Intuit TurboTax U.S. customers, including more than 465,000 Texans, will receive money from the tax filing service after a 2022 settlement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a release.The $141 million, multi-state settlement is for customers for tax years 2016, 2017 and 2018 who were "misled" into paying Intuit for federal tax returns. Customers who paid In
  
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• Texas State rolls out online teacher credentialing program

  04-05-2023 20:08 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- Educators looking to teach advanced academic courses will have a new online program to help secure state credentialing.Texas State University's College of Education announced Tuesday a new, fully online Master of Education in Secondary Education with a concentration in teaching advanced academics.The program is set to launch in the fall, per a Texas State release. It is catered toward "practicing teachers seeking a graduate degree with qualifications to teach advanced
  
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• AAC seeking help, fosters after 20-dog intake reinforces capacity issue

  04-05-2023 19:46 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Animal Center is requesting the public's help after 20 large dogs were relocated to the shelter following a seizure from another location.AAC is requesting foster volunteers to help care for medium and large dogs for at least a month to help relieve space concerns at the shelter. Outside of fostering, adoption fees are currently $25 for all AAC animals as part of the "Empt
  
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• The boundless benefits of trees in cities like Austin

  04-05-2023 18:55 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for May 3, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — America’s urban population is growing rapidly. In fact, 80% of the U.S. population is located within a city.This means a large population of people are increasingly more vulnerable to the extremes of climate change, including heatwaves, flooding rain and poor air quality (events that often get exacerbated in a growing city).Cities, however, are stepping up to mitigate and
  
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• University of Texas students build advanced rocket, compete for $1 million prize in race to stars

  04-05-2023 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Star Wars here on Earth: two universities, a million-dollar prize and a race to space. Students with the University of Texas are building an advanced rocket as part of the Base-11 Space Challenge."(It) was just like a project that just like blew my mind. And I was like, this is this is awesome," said Steven Ortega.
  Ortega is the Director of Operations at the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab, also known as TREL. Formed to build the rocket as part of the challenge, the lab is fully sta
  
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• Austin City Council: Nixing parking requirements, addressing flooding issues

  04-05-2023 15:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council will meet Thursday. With dozens of items on the agenda, here's some of what we're watching:
  Nixing parking requirements
  Austin City Council could start the process of stripping mandatory parking minimums from its overarching zoning requirements. Council Member Zohaib Qadri put forward a resolution that could change the city’s land development code (LDC).Right now, the city mandates how many parking spots you’re required to have on a property. Tran
  
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• City of Austin to discuss financial aid for homes damaged in flood

  04-05-2023 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City council member Chito Vela placed a resolution on the agenda that would direct the Watershed Protection, Austin Resource Recovery, and the Parks and Recreation departments to quickly clear creek beds of vegetative debris. The resolution is in response to the more than 30 homes that were flooded in north Austin after the April 20 storm. Vegetative debris, such as dead trees, clogged a storm culvert in Little Walnut Creek, leading to heavy flooding in the area that
  
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• City of Austin approves aid for homes damaged in flood

  04-05-2023 14:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin City council Thursday approved a resolution from council member Chito Vela directing the Watershed Protection, Austin Resource Recovery, and the Parks and Recreation departments to quickly clear creek beds of vegetative debris. The resolution is in response to the more than 30 homes that were flooded in north Austin after the April 20 storm. Vegetative debris, such as dead trees, clogged a storm culvert in Little Walnut Creek, leading to heavy flooding in the are
  
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• Why students across Central Texas biked and walked to school this week

  04-05-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN (KXAN) — This week we’ve seen thousands of students, teachers and parents rolling around on bikes, roller skates, or other wheels.that’s because school districts across our area are taking part in National Bike & Roll to School Day.On Wednesday, several schools in the Austin area participated, and on Thursday, hundreds hopped on bikes in Georgetown. The event was spread throughout seven elementary school campuses within Georgetown ISD.Typically, this city-wide ev
  
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• Some senators warn bill to save Fairfield Lake State Park could lead to litigation

  04-05-2023 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some state senators are raising concerns that a bill intended to save a state park from permanent closure and development could open Texas up to possible litigation.The House approved House Bill 4757 last month in an attempt to stop development on the land currently occupied by Fairfield Lake State Park.The park, about 70 miles east of Waco, closed to the public at end of February after almost 50 years in operation. It has since temporarily reopened but is slated for p
  
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• Risk of severe storms today, tomorrow and Saturday

  04-05-2023 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today marks 'day 1' of an active weather pattern settling in over Central Texas.Our Thursday starts with warm and humid conditions under mainly cloudy skies. By late afternoon, a broken line of storms will fire up along the dry line out west and attempt to push west to east across our area. There is uncertainty as to how well these storms will hold together, but as of now, we expect isolated strong storms over the Hill Country that likely fall apart before moving into Austin.If
  
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• Drying overnight with higher storm chances Friday

  04-05-2023 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thursday marked 'day 1' of an active weather pattern settling in over Central Texas.We're watching isolated severe storms that are clipping parts of Central Texas with large hail. Storm coverage does not look to grow, but instead stay isolated before drier weather settles in near and after midnight.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for most of the Hill Country and also Milam County until midnight.Severe thunderstorm watch until midnightFor the storms that develop and hold
  
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• Video: Travis County ESD No. 2 ambulance collides with car in north Austin

  04-05-2023 05:39 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect it was a Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 ambulance.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On-board video showed an ambulance crashing into another vehicle at an intersection in north Austin Wednesday, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 confirmed in a statement to KXAN.Shortly before 8:45 a.m., a vehicle with three people inside collided with a Travis County ESD No. 2 ambulance at the intersection of Burnet Road and Shoreline Drive in n
  
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• Video shows Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 ambulance crash into car in N. Austin

  04-05-2023 05:39 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated the ambulance was an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance. This story has been updated to reflect that it was a Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 ambulance.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On-board video showed an ambulance crashing into another vehicle at an intersection in north Austin Wednesday, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 confirmed in a statement to KXAN.Shortly before 8:45 a.m., a vehicle with three people inside colli
  
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• VIDEO: ATCEMS on-board video shows crash at north Austin intersection

  04-05-2023 05:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On-board video showed a crash between an Austin-Travis County EMS ambulance crashing with another vehicle at an intersection in north Austin Wednesday, Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2 confirmed in a statement to KXAN.Shortly before 8:45 a.m., a vehicle with three people inside collided with a Travis County ESD No. 2 EMS ambulance at the intersection of Burnet Road and Shoreline Drive in north Austin, the statement said.One person was taken to St. David's Hospital
  
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• Martinez belts game-ending grand slam in Longhorns' 12-2 win over Sam Houston

  04-05-2023 04:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After 11 days between games, the No. 5 Texas Longhorns made easy work of the Sam Houston State Bearkats 12-2 in five innings on Wednesday at McCombs Field.
  A grand slam by Texas shortstop Viviana Martinez in the bottom of the fifth pushed the score past the 8-run mercy rule limit and sent the Longhorns to victory in walk-off fashion. It was part of a 6-run frame for the Longhorns as Bella Dayton and Mia Scott both had RBI singles before Martinez's fourth home run of the sea
  
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• Manor ISD names new superintendent

  04-05-2023 04:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Manor ISD has named a new superintendent.Dr. Robert Sormani took over as superintendent on May 1. He most recently worked for Hutto ISD, where he served as an associate superintendent. In the past he served as head of curriculum and instruction at Manor ISD."He is going to know in a much more intimate way, the things that could potentially work and benefit our community," said Bobby Garcia, Manor New Technology High School principal.Garcia has worked for Manor ISD since 200
  
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• With parents caught in middle of war in Ukraine, UT's Zeynalova leans on the spirit of her people for inspiration

  04-05-2023 03:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns women's tennis coach Howard Joffe doesn't know how Sabina Zeynalova does it.An excellent student and half of a Longhorns doubles team that qualified for the NCAA tournament this season, the sophomore has more than enough on her plate being a Division I student-athlete.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersOn top of those demands and everything else,
  
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• Hays County grand jury clears 2 officers in connection to Dec. 2022 deadly shooting

  04-05-2023 03:16 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A grand jury did not return an indictment for two officers involved in a December 2022 deadly shooting, Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins said in a news release. The grand jury determined the shooting was justified.Shortly after midnight, Dec. 25, 2022, San Marcos police officers were dispatched to an apartment complex at 490 Barnes Drive in reference to a disturbance, the release said.Officers were told 36-year-old Kyle Lobo was at the home, drink
  
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• Ex-San Francisco fire commissioner attacked homeless people with bear spray, attorneys say

  04-05-2023 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Don Carmignani, a former San Francisco fire commissioner, attacked homeless people with bear spray in the city's Marina neighborhood, according to attorneys who spoke in court Wednesday.
  The defense attorneys spoke on behalf of a 24-year-old unsheltered man, Garret Allen Doty, who is being held in jail without bail. Doty is charged with assaulting Carmignani and accused of beating him with a metal pipe. The April 5 pipe beating was recorded on surveillance video foot
  
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• Texas counties spend millions on ice-storm recovery, when will they be reimbursed?

  04-05-2023 01:49 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — Central Texas leaders say they're relieved now that President Biden has approved federal reimbursement for millions spent on ice storm recovery.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said recovery efforts from the city and county level have reached a cumulative $56.8 million. That number is made up of expenses for things like debris cleanup, overtime for Austin Energy employees, and first responders being on the job.With this approval Bastrop, Blanco, Burleson, Burnet, Hays, Hender
  
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• Congress Mobile Home Park Tenants sue developer over intimidation, coercion

  04-05-2023 00:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Former residents of the Congress Mobile Home Park filed a lawsuit Wednesday against California developer Reza Paydar, claiming that he violated the Deceptive Trade Practice Act (DTPA). Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that they were not given the legal amount of time to move out of their former homes.KXAN reached out to Paydar for comment, and will update the article when received.
  Assisting the plaintiffs are lawyers from Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Austin Community La
  
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• City of Dallas issues statement after ransomware attack compromises city servers

  04-05-2023 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the City of Dallas confirmed in a statement that a number of its servers were compromised with ransomware.The city's security monitoring tools notified the agency's Security Operations Center (SOC) that a "likely ransomware attack had been launched within our environment," the statement said.Furthermore, the city also confirmed "a number of servers" were compromised with ransomware, which impacted several functional areas, including the Dallas Police Department web
  
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• Poll shows Ted Cruz approval rating increases as Colin Allred announces Senate challenge

  04-05-2023 00:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — New polling out Wednesday shows U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's approval rating among Texas voters increased from a net negative to a net positive, as the incumbent senator gets his first major Democratic challenger for his seat in 2024.
  Pollsters from the Texas Politics Project asked 1,254 registered voters about the job the Cruz is doing. Up from a February poll, 45% said who approve of his job performance and 41% disapprove.
  It comes as U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas
  
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• Victim, suspect identified in April 27 suspected murder/suicide investigation

  04-05-2023 00:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department released an update surrounding an April 27 homicide investigation.APD said officers responded at approximately 12:12 p.m. to the 1200 block of Kenyon Drive in reference to a welfare check.Police said the caller had not heard from 47-year-old Shannon Norton and requested officers to check on her. According to a release, the caller also stated that Norton lived with her boyfriend, 52-year-old James Flom. PAST COVERAGE: APD says south Austin double
  
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• Victim, suspect identified in April 27 suspected murder-suicide investigation

  04-05-2023 00:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department released an update surrounding an April 27 homicide investigation.APD said officers responded at approximately 12:12 p.m. to the 1200 block of Kenyon Drive in reference to a welfare check.Police said the caller had not heard from 47-year-old Shannon Norton and requested officers to check on her. According to a release, the caller also stated Norton lived with her boyfriend, 52-year-old James Flom. PAST COVERAGE: APD says south Austin double homi
  
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• Police name woman shot, killed by husband in north Austin

  04-05-2023 00:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police released the name Wednesday of a woman shot and killed by her husband in their north Austin apartment earlier this week.
  Joyce Pingul Clarke, 55, died Monday evening from the shooting that happened at the apartment at 10015 Lake Creek Parkway. Police said her husband, 56-year-old Gary Clarke, shot and killed her before he took his own life.APD investigating homicide in northwest Austin after 2 found dead in apartmentPolice responded to the couple's apartment a little
  
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