Austin news

• Austin busing migrants from San Antonio to AUS as Title 42 ends

  11-05-2023 23:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Title 42 expires Thursday into Friday, Austin says it's working to help other Texas cities with the expected influx of migrants.
  Five days a week, Austin will bus roughly 50 migrants from San Antonio -- which has a migrant shelter -- to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. From there, migrants will fly to a more permanent spot.
  "That's gonna help them by being able to move asylum seekers to their sponsor's hometown and be able to bring the number that are in the migrant re
  
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• Travis County eyes $450M roads, parks bond package

  11-05-2023 23:45 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- New roadway improvements and parks enhancements in Travis County are on the table this November, with voters slated to weigh in on a $450 million mobility and parks bond package.The proposal comes six years after county voters last approved roadway and parks improvements in November 2017. The majority of Travis County voters approved both a $93.4 million transportation plan as well as $91.5 million in parks investments and conservation efforts.This latest considera
  
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• Elon Musk says he's found a woman to lead Twitter as new CEO

  11-05-2023 23:04 via kxan.com
  
  Elon Musk said Thursday he has found a new CEO for Twitter, or X Corp. as it’s now called — and it's a woman. He did not name her but said she will be starting in about six weeks.
  Musk, who bought Twitter last fall and has been running it since, has long insisted he is not the company’s permanent CEO. The Tesla billionaire said in a tweet Thursday that his role will transition to being Twitter's executive chairman and chief technology officer.
  In mid-November, just a few weeks
  
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• Key deadline looms in legislature

  11-05-2023 22:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Thursday promises to be a deadly night for legislation in the Texas House as the legislative clock winds down.Any bill not yet passed through the lower chamber on second reading by midnight is practically dead. The deadline will pass as many of the leadership's top priorities are far from finished, but it will not impact the most hotly-debated headline items of the session.Gun safety regulations
  The most contentious legislative debate to form early Thursday afternoon surround
  
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• Title 42 is ending. Here's what it has done, and how US immigration policy is changing

  11-05-2023 22:01 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.The changes come with the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly turn back migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the last three years. Those restrictions are known as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 of a 1944 public
  
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• Possible flash flooding in Austin, city urges residents to prepare

  11-05-2023 21:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the City of Austin urged residents to be prepared for possible severe flooding following heavy rainfall.According to the National Weather Service, heavy rainfall was in the forecast, with the potential of flash flooding likely from Friday night through Sunday. Large hail and damaging winds are also primary concerns.“Flash flooding can occur very quickly and without warning,” the city said. “It is important to be prepared in advance of a possib
  
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• Man accused of mail theft misses hearing, judge revokes bond

  11-05-2023 20:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man accused of mail theft in Travis County who was out on bond failed to surrender himself into custody for a scheduled hearing April 24, according to Travis County court records. He has since had his bond revoked by a judge.According to documents, 40-year-old Matthew Aaron Smart forfeited his bond after he absconded. Smart was out on bond for mail theft of about 30 addresses in the Leander area. RELATED: Suspected mail, ID thief arrested; KXAN investi
  
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• What did Title 42 do, anyway? A look at US immigration policies and how they're changing

  11-05-2023 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is putting new restrictions into place at its southern border to try to to stop migrants from crossing illegally and encourage them instead to apply for asylum online through a new process.The new rules come with the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum that have allowed the U.S. to quickly expel migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the last three years. Those restrictions have often been referred to as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 o
  
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• Texas law enforcement entities show support after Cameron police officer killed on duty

  11-05-2023 19:29 via kxan.com
  
  CAMERON, Texas (KXAN) -- Several Texas law enforcement entities have shown support for the Cameron Police Department after an officer was killed on duty late Wednesday night.
  According to the Milam County Sheriff's Office, it happened during a response to a report of a gunshot victim around 11 p.m. Wednesday. Cameron Police, the Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the incident. Cameron officer, suspect killed in shootingMCSO
  
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• Survivor Fund activated for family of fallen Cameron officer

  11-05-2023 18:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (FOX 44) -- The 100 Club of Central Texas has activated the Survivor Fund in response to the death of the Cameron Police Department officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty overnight. 
  The Cameron Police Department, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, Rockdale Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety were serving a warrant following a 9-1-1 call of a victim shot in the neck when the incident occurred."The family is facing immense grief and The 100 Clu
  
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• DOJ: Former Austin ISD teacher sentenced after traveling to Colombia for sex with minors

  11-05-2023 18:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A former Austin ISD teacher was sentenced to serve 84 months, or seven years, in prison Wednesday after engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.The DOJ said 41-year-old Michael Wayne Roberts was living in Medellin, Colombia, when he paid money for sex with three Colombian girls between the ages of 13 and 15 on multiple occasions between December 2020 and June 2021. RELATED: Austin ISD employee traveled to Colombia
  
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• How to prepare for flooding

  11-05-2023 18:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A high-impact flash flood event is looking more likely as we inch closer to the weekend. The time to prepare is now.
  Here are some measures you can take ahead of a flooding threat to best protect your life and property. Here is the latest forecast from the First Warning Weather TeamFlash Flood Preparation TipsSecure or bring in patio furnitureBring in or tightly secure your patio furniture to avoid any damage or displacement from flooding water.
  Unplug outdoor appliancesAny
  
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• How to avoid pickleball injuries

  11-05-2023 16:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Over the past few years, pickleball's popularity has picked up throughout Austin.East Austin resident Drew Callahan regularly plays pickleball and has watched its growth.“It's sweeping the nation, it's gotten huge,” he said.With more people playing the sport, an abundance of injuries are piling up. Is pickleball becoming too popular? ‘Turf wars’ break out in south AustinAccording to USA Pickleball, in an estimated 19,000 pickleball injuries occur eac
  
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• Q&A: New innovative composite material that is recyclable

  11-05-2023 16:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – ALUULA Composites is collaborating with the University of British Columbia to develop some of the world's first composite materials that are strong, durable, and light but also recyclable.
  Meteorologist Sean Kelly spoke with Richard Myerscough, CEO and founder of innovative composite materials firm ALUULA, about how they created a more sustainable material. You can read the interview below to learn more.Sean Kelly, KXAN News: Can you can you tell us
  
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• Police revive, arrest woman after possible fentanyl overdose

  11-05-2023 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – Kyle Police said Wednesday officers arrested and charged a man and woman after reviving the woman following a possible fentanyl overdose on April 26.According to the Kyle Police Department, officers went to the Plum Creek subdivision on April 26 to help EMS respond to a possible fentanyl overdose.
  Police said officers found the woman unconscious and unresponsive inside the home when they arrived.
  Officers gave her four rounds of NARCAN and the
  
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• State's largest refugee resettlement agency lays off 45% of staff, closes offices

  11-05-2023 14:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Refugee Services of Texas, the state's largest refugee resettlement agency, announced it is laying off almost half of its staff and closing its offices in Fort Worth and Houston because of a budget shortfall.
  The agency is asking local Texans for donations as it puts a pause on accepting new refugee arrivals for the next 120 days. It is trying to raise $4 million by June 1.
  A budgetary shortfall
  Refugee Services of Texas (RST) helps people who have been granted refugee, or asyle
  
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• Tollway fixes once again face bumpy ride at Texas Capitol

  11-05-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to usabout resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who h
  
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• Best practices: North Texas tollway's human-centered approach

  11-05-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to usabout resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who h
  
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• Severe and flash flooding concerns begin late Friday

  11-05-2023 13:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Impactful weather bringing the threat for severe storms and, more significantly, flash flooding looks set to begin as early as late Friday afternoon and continuing through the weekend into early next week.Tonight will be partly to mostly cloudy and mainly dry. A spotty shower or storm could pop up, but rain chances are only 10% and most of us stay dry with overnight lows dropping into the low 70s.FRIDAY (DAYTIME)Friday starts with clouds and spotty sprinkles or light showers in
  
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• ALERT: Severe storms, flash flooding risk begins tonight

  11-05-2023 13:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Impactful weather bringing the threat for severe storms and, more significantly, flash flooding looks set to begin as early as late Friday afternoon and continuing through the weekend into early next week.FRIDAY (DAYTIME)Today starts with a mainly cloudy sky and a few pockets of light rain. Isolated storms are possible late afternoon through evening, but coverage will be few and far between to start. NEW BLOG: HOW TO PREPARE FOR FLASH FLOODINGOur main concerns with any isolated
  
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• Cameron officer, suspect killed in shooting identified

  11-05-2023 13:34 via kxan.com
  
  CAMERON, Texas (KXAN) – The Milam County Sheriff's Office said Thursday an officer with the Cameron Police Department died after a shootout with a suspect late Wednesday night.
  The Department of Public Safety identified the officer as Sgt. Joshua Lee Clouse, 39, and the suspect as Albert Rafael Acosta, 29. DPS said both men were from Cameron.According to the press release from MCSO, police responded to the 700 block of North Travis Avenue in Cameron at 10:55 p.m. on a report of a gunshot v
  
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• Cameron officer, suspect killed in shooting

  11-05-2023 13:34 via kxan.com
  
  CAMERON, Texas (KXAN) – The Milam County Sheriff's Office said Thursday an officer with the Cameron Police Department died after a shootout with a suspect late Wednesday night.
  According to the press release from MCSO, police responded to the 700 block of North Travis Avenue in Cameron at 10:55 p.m. on a report of a gunshot victim.
  The victim told police they were shot in the back of the neck by the their spouse, according to the release.Cameron PD investigated and applied for a search war
  
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• Ways to save big on summer concert tickets in Austin

  11-05-2023 12:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A nationwide concert ticket deal that launched Wednesday means savings for area music fans from May to October.
  According to Live Nation, you can get $25 tickets from its Concert Week deal through Tuesday, May 16 or while supplies last.Live Nation says the venues include:ACL Live at The Moody TheaterEmo's AustinGermania InsuranceMoody AmphitheaterMoody Center ATXQ2 StadiumScoot InnStubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
  Among the Austin performances covered by the deal are:BeckCu
  
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• Is it true? City says misinformation spreading about Zilker Park Vision Plan

  11-05-2023 05:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Social media posts and a website claiming Zilker Park and Barton Springs could move into private ownership are causing quite the stir.Councilmember Paige Ellis says her office has received dozens of emails from constituents over the misinformation regarding management of Zilker Park.One social media post states that Zilker Park and Barton Springs are being moved into the hands of Live Nation."We don't have a scenario like that in the plan," said Ricardo Soliz, Division Mana
  
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• Austin FC gets first-ever U.S. Open Cup victory 2-0 over New Mexico United

  11-05-2023 05:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC picked up its first-ever victory in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win over New Mexico United on Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.After falling in their first-ever U.S. Open Cup match last year 2-1 to San Antonio FC, Verde and Black righted the ship in the tournament and advanced to the Round of 16 with the win. They'll find out who they play and where on Thursday. The game will be in two weeks, and that'll add to an already-hectic May schedule of games.MORE THAN
  
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• Senator breaks records after casting 70,000th consecutive vote in Texas Senate

  11-05-2023 05:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) cast her 70,000th consecutive vote in the Texas Senate, which marked an unparalleled statewide and nationwide record, according to a news release from Senatorial District 21.
  Zaffirini has never missed a vote in the Texas Senate since her swearing-in in 1987, the release said."That is unbelievable," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said as he presented her with a commemorative gavel. Additionally, the Senate Ladies Club presented her with a bou
  
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• House comes close to allowing Texans to decide on casinos, sports gambling

  11-05-2023 04:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House came close to approving resolutions to expand gambling in the Lone Star State on Wednesday evening, but fell short of the votes needed to advance the constitutional amendments.
  Since both measures propose to change the Texas Constitution, there's a higher threshold of votes needed for the legislation to pass out of the House, needing support from two-thirds of the members to advance. If both of these proposals eventually pass both chambers, Texas voters w
  
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• ALERT: severe storms, flash flooding likely this weekend

  11-05-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A high-impact flash flood event is looking more likely as we inch closer to the weekend. The window to prepare will close Friday night.Not since 2018 have we seen widespread, significant river and lake flooding in the Hill Country, and not since 2015 have we seen it in the Austin Metro area. Both of those happened during an El Niño pattern -- a pattern that is quickly reestablishing itself as we speak in the Pacific Ocean.Today will be our last full day of relatively quie
  
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• Insight: City of Austin's Flood Early Warning System

  11-05-2023 02:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Scott Prinsen, Austin's Flood Early Warning Division program manager talked to David Yeomans on the program and the expected rain this weekend.Read a transcription of the discussion below or use the video player above to watch.DAVID: All right. Joining us this afternoon is Scott Princeton. He is Austin's flood early warning Division program manager. Scott, thank you so much for your time. Sure. So we've been talking leading up to this event, the National Weather Service is
  
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• Texas ranks as worst state for mental healthcare

  11-05-2023 01:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A recent study has ranked Texas as the worst state for mental healthcare in the U.S. and claimed the state has the highest percentage of uninsured adults with mental illness.The study, conducted by Forbes, evaluated states on the availability of mental health services and the barrier to accessing those services. Along with the aforementioned metric, Texas also ranked the highest for the "highest percentage of adults with a cognitive disability who could not see a doctor due to c
  
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• Texas House passes bill that would require DFPS to give luggage to foster children

  11-05-2023 00:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to maintain a supply of transportation bags, like duffle bags and suitcases, for children in foster care. House Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) filed the bill – called Bags of Love – to ensure children being removed from their homes have something to transport items. The bill text states that the luggage becomes the child’s
  
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• Texas forward Dillon Mitchell works out for Trail Blazers, invited to NBA Combine

  11-05-2023 00:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While his college eligibility is still intact, Texas forward Dillon Mitchell is scheduled to work out for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, the team announced.Mitchell is one of six players the Blazers hosted Wednesday before the NBA Draft on June 22, and Mitchell will surely get more invitations for individual workouts with teams before it's time to make the picks. The Blazers are in the draft lottery and could have anywhere from the No. 1-14 pick this year. The pin
  
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• 'Priority for my constituents:' Medical billing fix voted out of House

  11-05-2023 00:11 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) — On Wednesday, the Texas House voted out an amended version of Senate Bill 490, which pushes for medical transparency to bills patients receive after being treated. State Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round, explaining the itemized medical bill legislation on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.(Courtesy
  
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• EMS plans pilot staging program near Rainey Street

  11-05-2023 00:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) plans to begin a pilot program this summer that will place medics in charge of the Rainey Street Historic District.This is in response to, in part, certain concerns about deaths in Lady Bird Lake.
  "Considerations for the pilot include staffing during peak periods of pedestrian traffic and using Special Response Units (SRUs) to facilitate access to patients," the memo reads.MAP: Tracking deaths near Lady Bird Lake in AustinDuring the course of th
  
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