Austin news

• Texas nonprofit sets sail in global race to highlight veteran mental health

  28-05-2023 22:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 2016, a Texas-based nonprofit has provided "adventure therapy" sailing trips around the globe, utilizing the healing powers of the sea to help veterans and other first responders navigating with post-traumatic stress disorder.Now, Skeleton Crew Adventures has set its sights on the Ocean Globe Race 2023, serving as the only team from the United States to partake in this year's race. Its race team includes:
  Taylor Grieger: U.S. Navy, Houston, TexasMarc Vital: U.S. Marin
  
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• Bill increasing power to TCOLE passes

  28-05-2023 22:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The legislature has passed a bill to give the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement more authority to set law enforcement standards and more control over the creation of new departments. The measure now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.The TCOLE reforms in Senate Bill 1445 by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, were years in the making. Paxton is a member of the Sunset Advisory Commission, and her bill was created from recommendations made by tha
  
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• After four sessions, ‘dead suspect loophole’ closer than ever to ending

  28-05-2023 20:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Four years had passed since Robert and Kathy Dyer lost their 18-year-old son, Graham. I sat with the couple in the kitchen of their home outside of Paris, Texas, in late 2017.
  It was just months since they shared their story with state lawmakers in support of a bill to close an obscure provision in the Texas Public Information Act – something known as the “dead suspect loophole.”“No family should have to go through the suffering of not knowing the de
  
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• Which Austin roads will be closed for the CapTex Tri race?

  28-05-2023 17:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Ascension Seton CapTex Tri race is slated to run Memorial Day in downtown Austin, with the triathlon beginning with a swim in Lady Bird Lake before participants cruise on their bikes through downtown and finish with a run at Butler Park.
  As a result, several roads near downtown will be closed for the event. Here's a look at road closures planned on Monday.
  Congress Avenue: Closed from Cesar Chavez to 11th streets from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m.Cesar Chavez Street: Closed from Co
  
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• Sea surface temperatures set a record

  28-05-2023 16:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Sea surface temperatures have been rising steadily due, in part, to climate change. It was reported that 2023 bested 2016, the last year a global water temperature record was set.In early April, the average temperature of the ocean's surface reached 69.98°/21.1°C. It beat the annual record of 69.8°/21° set in March 2016 and is half a degree above the global average in the 30-year period from 1982 to 2011.How are the temperatures measured? Satellites take the
  
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• APD looking for missing woman last seen in northwest Austin

  28-05-2023 14:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is asking for help finding a missing woman last seen in northwest Austin.
  APD said Donita Silk, 62, was seen walking away from her home on Solano Drive. She was reported missing at 11 p.m. Friday.Photos of Donita SilkSilk was last seen wearing a light blue collared shirt with flowers on the collar and blue jean pants. She is described as a 5-foot-3-inch tall white female with brown hair and green eyes, weighing 110 pounds.
  Police said she has me
  
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• ABJ: Behind Kroger's push into competitive Austin grocery market

  28-05-2023 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The Kroger Co. debuted its grocery delivery service in Austin about a year ago. The nation's largest traditional supermarket chain has grown to reach 90 ZIP codes and aims to capture more market share and mindshare in the Texas capital.The expansion put Kroger (NYSE: KR) in a competitive grocery market: the Austin metro is home to about 40 locations — and counting — of H-E-B LP, seven of Whole Foods Market Inc., five of Sprouts Farme
  
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• Sinking graves, missing headstone highlight lack of cemetery regulation

  28-05-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — From skydiving in their sixties to numerous vacations and spending time with family and friends, John and Alice Touchstone, according to their granddaughter, lived their lives to the fullest.“I mean my grandma and grandpa never met a stranger,” Allison Vanzant said.  “Touchstone Plumbing," the family business John founded in 1979, is a staple in south Austin and Vanzant said he often donated his plumbing services for causes like Habitat for Humanity.J
  
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• Sunshine and dry weather returns ahead of weekend rain

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A period of dry and seasonably warm weather will be part of the forecast today through the middle of Friday afternoon. Most daytime highs will rise to around 90° Tuesday through Saturday. Most overnight lows will be in the upper half of the 60s to low 70s. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days beginWeather disturbances caught up in the flow aloft will lead to a low chance of rain late Friday to better chances of rain and thunderstorms over the weekend into e
  
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• Spotty storm today, but mostly dry until the weekend

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A period of mostly dry and seasonably warm weather will be part of the forecast today through the middle of Friday afternoon. It'll be hotter with temperatures near 90º, but that's where we should be this time of year.Highs next few daysA spotty shower or storm is possible this afternoon through early evening, but most of us will stay rain free until this weekend. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days beginRain chances rise noticeably late Saturday, but esp
  
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• Spotty storm today and a few more for Memorial Day

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Isolated late day showers or storms may pop-up in spots through mid-evening, but most areas stay dry and warm today under a mix of sun and clouds. Highs should reach the mid to upper 80s before peak heating fades.Tonight we'll carry a low (10%) rain chance, but most of the time looks dry and partly cloudy with overnight lows in the upper 60s.Memorial Day stormsThe Memorial Day forecast has started to trend drier, but a few showers and storms remain possible. What looks likely to
  
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• Only a few showers and storms on Memorial Day

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Partly cloudy skies continue the rest of the night. We'll carry a low (10%) rain chance, but most of the time looks dry and partly cloudy with overnight lows in the upper 60s.Memorial Day stormsThe Memorial Day forecast has continued to trend drier, but a few showers and storms remain possible. What looks likely to happen is that a cluster of more widespread storms will miss us to the southwest and south while robbing our area of some of the moisture and instability needed to br
  
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• Mainly dry and mostly cloudy for your Memorial Day

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Memorial Day forecast has continued to trend drier, but a few showers and storms remain possible. What looks likely to happen is that a cluster of more widespread storms will miss us to the southwest and south while robbing our area of some of the moisture and instability needed to bring us more rain.
  That being said, we still think a few spotty showers and storms remain possible, especially Monday afternoon and evening.Rain chances continue to decrease for your Memorial Day
  
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• Hill Country storms produce heavy rains

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Showers and thunderstorms increased in coverage and intensity over the Hill Country this afternoon. The biggest threat has been from lightning. Radar indicated most hail to be marble-sized but there is one report of pea-sized hail before 3 p.m. west of Fredericksburg at Highway 290 and Cedar Hills Dr.There are three Flash Flood Warnings in Gillespie County. One for the southern part of the county, including Morris Ranch, runs until 7 p.m. The second for Cherry Spring and Doss ru
  
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• A little rain today then a much better chance tomorrow

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas will have another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms today similar to Saturday. Most of the area will stay dry.Much of Saturday's rain fell in the Hill Country. There were a few reporting stations that measured more than one inch of rain. A rain gauge 11 miles west-northwest of Lampasas picked up 1.39" during the afternoon. A gauge six miles south of San Saba recorded 1.15".A few showers did cross out of the Hill Country into northwest Bastrop, northern T
  
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• A few days of sunshine & fair-weather clouds

  28-05-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Rain came to an end during Monday evening. Thirteen (13) rain gauges spread over Blanco, Gillespie, Llano and San Saba Counties measured more than one inch of rain during Memorial Day.
  Afternoon thunderstorms, producing these high rain totals, provided a generous amount of lightning. Pea-sized hail was reported west of Fredericksburg for the only hail report.
  Monday afternoon's Local Storm Reports Central Texas rain totalsThere was very little rain measured in areas along and ea
  
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• Late Houston goal sinks Austin FC in Copa Tejas battle

  28-05-2023 05:41 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) - After winning their previous two MLS matches, Austin FC was unable to keep the streak going against the Houston Dynamo. The Verde and Black struck first but ultimately fell 2-1 Saturday night on the road.Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring with a header into the corner of the net in the 22nd minute off an impressive cross from Nick Lima. The goal for Zardes was the 100th of his MLS career. The veteran has now scored in three straight MLS games.Houston quickly adjusted to try to even
  
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• Texas lawmakers pass bill aimed at Veterinary Board

  28-05-2023 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas lawmakers voted to temporarily attach the state's Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to another state agency, in order to help with data collection and management issues.The legislation, Senate Bill 1414, stems from a review earlier this year by the Sunset Advisory Commission, which found "unreliable and inconsistent" practices persisted at the Board in charge of regulating the state's animal doctors. Over the last six years, prior Sunset reviews had already highli
  
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• Mixed emotions after Paxton impeachment vote

  28-05-2023 04:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Long winding lines of people could be followed to the gallery of the Texas House of Representatives Saturday, as many waited for a seat to watch the House vote on impeachment for Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas House votes to impeach Ken PaxtonMany of those in line were supporters of Paxton, donning stickers with the now-suspended Attorney Governor's name to stand in solidarity with him.
  Kathie Glass was among those that answered Paxton's call to show up at the Capitol f
  
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• State of Texas: Paxton impeachment - how we got here and what comes next

  28-05-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The historic vote in the Texas House to impeach Ken Paxton is adding to the intensity of the final days of the legislative session.House members spent nearly four hours Saturday considering the impeachment resolution, before voting to approve the measure. It's the first time in Texas history that lawmakers took up, let alone passed, a resolution to impeach a sitting Attorney General.Paxton is a Republican. So is State Rep. Andrew Murr, R - Junction, who leads the House G
  
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• No teacher raises, no voucher program: Lawmakers fail to reach compromise on school funding bill

  28-05-2023 03:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — A multibillion-dollar school funding bill that became a last-ditch effort to enact a voucher-like program in the state — a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott this legislative session — died Saturday after lawmakers failed to reach a compromise before a key deadline. Previous: Districts in "dire straits" as they watch school funding fights in Texas legislatureIt was a dramatic end for one of the top items on the governor’s wish list. Abbott, who tra
  
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• Biden, McCarthy reach debt ceiling deal to avoid default

  28-05-2023 03:01 via kxan.com
  
  Top leaders in both parties reached a long-sought deal on Saturday to avoid an unprecedented government default, announcing an agreement on a plan to lift the debt ceiling immediately and apply new caps on federal spending in the name of curbing deficits, according to sources familiar.To get there, negotiators had to iron out their differences on a small but crucial list of outstanding issues that had dogged the talks in recent days, including spending levels, new work requirements for social be
  
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• Texas lawmakers find consensus on bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public universities

  28-05-2023 02:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — Texas public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion offices likely have six months left before they’re banished. Previous: Texas bill banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public universities closer to being signed by Gov.State lawmakers came to an agreement Saturday on legislation that would ban DEI offices, programs and training at publicly funded universities, largely adopting the version that the Texas House approved a week ago, with
  
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• An effort to ban faculty tenure in public universities has failed in the Texas Legislature

  28-05-2023 02:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) — A year and a half ago, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick shocked the higher education world when he pledged to eliminate tenure for faculty at Texas public universities, a century-old practice that provides continuous employment so professors can teach without fear of political interference or retribution. Previous: Texas professors petition for keeping tenure systemLast month, the Texas Senate passed a bill to kill tenure. Faculty members around the state, some u
  
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