Austin news

• How to donate to the 33rd Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive

  16-06-2023 22:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive is back this summer, and we need your help, especially as brutal heat has settled over Central Texas.The Summer Fan Drive has provided relief from the Texas heat with free fans for more than 30 years. You can save lives from heat-related illnesses.How can you help? You can make monetary donations now through Sept. 15 or bring inexpensive box fans on July 15 for the Fan Drop-Off Event.
  Where to drop off a fan
  When: July 14 from 7 a.m. to
  
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• Central Texas celebrates Juneteenth with weekend of local events, parade

  16-06-2023 22:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Juneteenth is Monday, June 19, and Texas communities are marking the anniversary over the weekend. 2023 is the first year that Juneteenth is a federal holiday. Austin museum to host week-long festival leading up to JuneteenthAustin's Juneteenth Parade starts Saturday at 10 a.m. It will begin at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Salina Street, and ends at Rosewood Park. After the parade, there will be a festival event at the park until 9 p.m. Free medical marijuana certificat
  
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• Austin Downtown Alliance announces immediate downtown road closures

  16-06-2023 22:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Downtown Alliance announced Friday it would close roads effective immediately throughout downtown.  From June 15 through June 19, Guadalupe between Sixth and Eight Streets will be closed. Seventh Street between San Antonio and Lavaca Streets will also be closed. The Austin entity is closing the roads so that contractors can dismantle a tower crane. Further from July 21 to July 23, the intersection of Guadalupe and 17th streets is expected to close. Thi
  
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• Colt McCoy on Texas football, QB room and NFL future

  16-06-2023 22:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Arizona Cardinals quarterback and former Texas Longhorn Colt McCoy held his 2023 Colt McCoy Performance Camp at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex this weekend for children going into 1st through 8th grades. All proceeds of the camp benefit Dell Children's Medical Center North Campus."This is one of my favorite parts about the summer," said McCoy. "It's just pretty special for me. My dad runs the camp. My brothers come back in town."The NFL veteran is entering into his thirteenth
  
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• Austin Fire Department sent to Perryton after tornado kills three, causes widespread damage Thursday

  16-06-2023 21:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department sent eight of its members to Perryton, Texas, after a destructive tornado touched down Thursday evening.The twister hit Perryton – acity of under 10,000 people northeast of Amarillo – Thursday just after 5:00 p.m. The natural disaster caused widespread damage, killed three people and injured dozens more, according to the Austin Fire Department. MORE: Tornado devastates Texas Panhandle town, killing 3 and injuring dozensReports suggest
  
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• 19-year-old sentenced to 20 years in prison for 2021 Austin murder

  16-06-2023 20:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was convicted of murder June 8 and sentenced to serve 20 years in state prison, according to Travis County court documents.Records showed 19-year-old Charles Michael Walker entered a guilty plea May 17 in connection with the Sept. 2021 murder of Allan David Hernandez-Ferrera. RELATED: 17-year-old charged in Austin murder, arrested in Corpus ChristiWalker was accused of using a firearm to intentionally shoot and kill Hernandez-Ferrera on Sept. 9 2021, according to reco
  
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• Man taken into custody following incident in Pflugerville

  16-06-2023 20:28 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The Pflugerville Police Department said a man was taken into custody Friday after locking himself inside a residence following a disturbance call.PPD said officers responded at 10:49 a.m. to a domestic disturbance involving multiple family members in the 16700 block of North Heatherwilde Boulevard in Pflugerville.“Three of the four individuals involved were successfully evacuated from the residence and received medical attention for non-life-threatening i
  
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• When do passed bills become law in Texas?

  16-06-2023 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In Texas, bills passed by both legislative chambers go to the governor for consideration. However, his signature is not required for a bill to become law. Texas’ 88th Legislative Session: Which bills made it to the governor’s desk?During the legislative session, once a bill is sent to the governor, they have ten days (not including Sundays) to return it with objections. Otherwise, that bill becomes law regardless if the Governor signs it. The Texas Constitution grant
  
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• Some Austin cooling centers to stay open for extended hours

  16-06-2023 19:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some cooling centers for the City of Austin will remain open for extended hours during the Juneteenth holiday weekend, according to a city release. Austin just broke an all-time heat record for the month of JuneThe KXAN First Warning Weather team said an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for the Austin metro and eastern counties until 8 p.m. Sunday. Heat index values could reach up to 115°. A Heat Advisory is in effect for all of the Hill Country u
  
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• Eligible Austin musicians to receive free health services

  16-06-2023 18:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians kicked off its HAAM Loves You event at 10 a.m. Friday.Organizers said the event would have a variety of health care services available for artists.The money comes from HAAM’s Battle of the Bands event, which raised a record-breaking $250,000. RELATED COVERAGE: HAAM Battle of the Bands benefiting Austin musiciansArtists are able to get custom-fitted earplugs, vision exams and glasses, STI testing and a lot of other health servic
  
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• Travis, Hays County Commissioners at odds over the SH 45 Gap

  16-06-2023 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new highway project proposed by Hays County is not going over well with leaders in Travis County.Hays County and the City of Buda hosted their first open house this week on the upcoming SH 45 Gap study.KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes takes an in-depth look at the issue.Thursday night, dozens came to Sunfield Station in Buda to check out for themselves what the new SH 45 Gap project could look like.The SH 45 Gap would connect SH 45 Southeast to SH 45 Southwest, making it easi
  
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• Austin just broke an all-time heat record for the month of June

  16-06-2023 17:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With temperatures in the triple digits expected all week, it's perhaps not surprising to hear that Austin just set an all-time heat record for the month of June.But this record isn't about how hot it gets in the afternoon. It's actually about how hot temperatures remain overnight. 2023 could see one of June’s longest 100° streaks in Austin historyOn Thursday, Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, never dipped below 82°. That makes it the warmes
  
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• Airline check-in issues cause delays at Austin airport

  16-06-2023 17:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport reported delays Friday morning due to check-in issues.AUS said it was seeing longer lines than usual due to an earlier issue with an airline ticket counter’s check-in process around 6:30 a.m. Friday.The airport said it has since resumed normal operations after the issue was resolved, according to an AUS spokesperson.“Operations are normal now but please give yourself extra time to get here early, check bags and get scre
  
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• ATCEMS responded to 5 child near-drownings in two weeks

  16-06-2023 17:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Pools are one of the only outdoor spots to escape the triple-digit weather Austin is seeing.
  As more people head to the water, Austin-Travis County EMS is warning parents or anyone supervising children at pools to be vigilant.According to a tweet from the agency, medics have responded to 16 drowning incidents since the beginning of the year.
  Nine of those, EMS said, were in June.
  "From May 20 - June 3, ATCEMS responded to 5 pediatric drownings (8yo or younger) in pools," the twe
  
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• ATCEMS responded to 5 child drownings in two weeks

  16-06-2023 17:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Pools are one of the only outdoor spots to escape the triple-digit weather Austin is seeing.
  As more people head to the water, Austin-Travis County EMS is warning parents or anyone supervising children at pools to be vigilant.According to a tweet from the agency, medics have responded to 16 drowning incidents since the beginning of the year.
  Nine of those, EMS said, were in June.
  "From May 20 - June 3, ATCEMS responded to 5 pediatric drownings (8yo or younger) in pools," the twe
  
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• 2 Texas suburbs make the top safest suburb list for 2023

  16-06-2023 17:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — If you’re looking to move to a suburban home, you may be weighing a number of aspects — school quality, walkability and proximity to one's job are all common concerns. You’re also likely wondering how safe the area is. As you may expect, there are a number of things that can impact the perceived safety of the suburb. SmartAsset, a personal finance website, reviewed 370 suburbs across the 100 largest cities in the U.S. and analyzed them based on multi
  
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• 9 U.S. theme parks named among the 'most-visited' in the world

  16-06-2023 16:01 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) - Nine theme parks in the U.S. were named among the most visited in the world last year, according to the annual index report released by Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM.To be part of the report, a theme or water park must require a ticket to enter, and "generally must be focused on the visitor experience," authors explained.Analysts with AECOM found the 25 most visited theme parks in the world served roughly 178.5 million guests in 2022, up from 124.6 million in 2021, a
  
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• 'Jeopardy!' fans stunned after Lord's Prayer question stumps all 3 contestants

  16-06-2023 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  (WFLA) – Fans of the game show "Jeopardy!" were left reeling after a seemingly easy question about the most commonly recited Christian prayer stumped all three contestants.
  The perturbing puzzle popped up during Tuesday night's episode. The $200 clue — typically considered the easiest in its category — read, “Matthew 6:9 says, ‘Our Father, which art in heaven,’ This ‘be thy name.’”The three contestants — Suresh Krishnan, Laura Blyler an
  
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• Here are the top allegations that led to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment

  16-06-2023 15:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — On a late-September Wednesday in 2020, several of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s highest-ranking deputies walked into the FBI’s Austin office to make an explosive accusation: Their boss, one of the state’s most influential Republicans, appeared to be dirty.Paxton, they said, had personally directed his powerful agency to take unusual and probably illegal actions to help a friend and campaign donor, Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, who wa
  
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• Juneteenth: The story behind the federal holiday

  16-06-2023 15:01 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — Americans will soon celebrate Juneteenth, marking the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free.For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts.The U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion — it was only in 2021 that President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by Congress to set aside
  
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• Schizophrenia and nausea drugs recalled after labeling mix-up

  16-06-2023 14:12 via kxan.com
  
  LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WRIC) – The Harvard Drug Group has recalled a single lot of the drugs Dronabinol and Ziprasidone Hydrochloride after labels on the two drugs were mixed up.
  During the distribution process, it was discovered that cartons labeled as Ziprasidone Hydrochloride actually contained packages labeled as and containing Dronabinol, according to the Food and Drug Administration.Ziprasidone Hydrochloride is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while Dronabinol
  
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• Survey: Many companies unprepared for pregnancy protections

  16-06-2023 14:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A recent survey of large companies found many were not prepared for a new law requiring protections for pregnant workers.
  According to the AbsenceSoft survey of companies with more than 5,000 employees, 43% said they were not familiar or only somewhat familiar with the Pregnant Worker's Fairness Act. 50% of employers said their human resources department was "either not at all prepared or only just starting to prepare" for PWFA which goes into effect June 27.
  72% of employe
  
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• Celebrating 100 years, what you may not know about the Texas State Parks system

  16-06-2023 13:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- For 100 years, the Texas State Parks system has invited millions of visitors to recreate in its parklands and experience the state's natural beauty up close.
  All year long, Texas State Parks officials will host events commemorating the centennial, with plans on how to invite the next generation of explorers into the next 100 years.The history of the Texas State Parks systemThe creation of the state parks system dates back in Gov. Pat Neff who, in 1923, appointed a Texas State Pa
  
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• Austin Animal Center launches Meet My Match program

  16-06-2023 13:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Animal Center launched the Meet My Match pilot program this month as a way to give the shelter's staff more time to reunify lost pets with their owners and to create a better adoption experience.
  On Wednesdays and Tuesdays in the month of June, the center will be closed to walk-ins from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center will then reopen to walk-ins from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. During that four-hour window, customers will be able to schedule adoption appointments.
  Mary Brown, a pr
  
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• Carrie Fisher's last film to finally be released

  16-06-2023 12:45 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above is from the late actor's Walk of Fame star dedication.(WJW) -- The late Carrie Fisher is set to appear on the big screen for the final time."Wonderwell" was filmed in 2016, just weeks before Fisher's death at the age of 60.The film's distributor, Vertical, has acquired the rights to distribute the film in North America and the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to Deadline.LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 28:Actress Carrie Fisher signs copies of her new book "The Prin
  
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• Daughters of Gloria Lofton decry Austin Police for its handling of their mother's death

  16-06-2023 12:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – In 2019, days after her mother – Gloria Lofton – died, Sonia Houston said Austin Police handed the keys to her late mother’s house and was told nothing about what she would find inside.“They released the house to me with blood splattered down the hallway. They released the house to me in what was a crime scene,” Houston said. “That's the house I grew up in. That's my mother,” she continued. “I wasn't prepared for it, nor
  
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• Severe thunderstorm watch for Austin metro

  16-06-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another day in June, another day with triple digits and feels-like temperatures over 110º in many areas. It was the hottest day of the year with highs in Austin at Camp Mabry reaching 103º. Some areas had "feels like" temperatures close to 120º in our eastern counties!! Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change'An Excessive Heat Warning continues for the Austin-metro and eastern counties until Sunday 8 p.m.Heat index values could reach up to 115°+. A He
  
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• Isolated storms Saturday on an excessively hot weekend

  16-06-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Isolated to scattered severe storms finally brought some much needed rain to parts of the Austin Metro Friday evening. Rain chances will continue to drop overnight as we temporarily dry out. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALSFriday was the hottest day of the year with highs in Austin at Camp Mabry reaching 103º. Some areas had "feels like" temperatures close to 120º in our eastern counties!! Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change'An Excessive Heat Warning continue
  
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• Extreme Heat Warning issued for Austin-metro all weekend

  16-06-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Good news? Humidity gets a touch better next week. Bad news? The hottest temperatures are still to come. Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change'This week's Heat Advisory has been expanded to now include most of the Hill Country (in addition to all of the Austin-metro and eastern counties) and extended through Sunday evening. Dangerous heat and humidity will continue to be the top concern areawide - be sure to frequently check in on friends, family and neighbors, partic
  
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• Excessive heat for Father's Day weekend

  16-06-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another day, another day with triple digits and feels-like temperatures over 110º in many areas. Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change'An Excessive Heat Warning continues for the Austin-metro and eastern counties until Sunday 8 p.m.Heat index values could reach up to 115°+. A Heat Advisory is in effect for all of the Hill Country until Sunday evening as well where feels-like temperatures will only be slightly lower.Extreme Heat Warning issued for all of the A
  
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• Excessive heat for all, low storm risk for some

  16-06-2023 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Same song, different verse. Get ready for another day of intense heat and humidity across Central Texas. Scratch that -- many days of intense heat and humidity. Expert: Texas heatwave 'driven by climate change'This week's Heat Advisory has been expanded to now include most of the Hill Country and extended through Sunday evening. Dangerous heat and humidity will continue to be the top concern areawide - be sure to frequently check in on friends, family and neighbors, particularly
  
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• Teens with severe obesity are turning to surgery and new weight loss drugs, despite controversy

  16-06-2023 12:26 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) — John Simon III was a hungry baby, a “chunky” toddler and a chubby little boy, his mother said. But by age 14, his weight had soared to 430 pounds and was in a life-threatening medical condition.Nine months after weight-loss surgery that removed a portion of his stomach, John has lost about 150 pounds, boosting his health — and his hopes for the future.“It was like a whole new start,” said John, who will start high school in California this fall.In Minne
  
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• 'Best of Austin': KXAN named best in TV news, team members also receive honors

  16-06-2023 12:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN News took top honors Thursday in the Austin Chronicle 2023 TV News Reader Poll for Best TV News in Austin.Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans won Best Weatherperson, Sports Director Roger Wallace won Best Sportscaster and KXAN News Today Weekend Anchor Jala Washington won the critics award for TV Reporter on the Case for her coverage of the Daniel Perry trial. Daniel Perry sentenced to 25 years in protester murder, defense prepares for appealYeomans is a three-time Emmy
  
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• Best in Austin: KXAN named best in TV news; Washington wins critics award; Yeomans, Wallace named best weather, sports

  16-06-2023 12:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN News took top honors Thursday in the Austin Chronicle 2023 TV News Reader Poll for Best TV News in Austin.KXAN News Today Weekend anchor Jala Washington won the critics award for TV Reporter on the Case for her coverage of the Daniel Perry trial.
  Jala WashingtonDavid YeomansRoger Wallace
  Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans won for Best Weatherperson and Sports Director Roger Wallace won for Best Sportscaster.
  Among the finalists were Jennifer Sanders for Best Anchor, Tah
  
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• Best in Austin: KXAN named best in TV news, team members receive honors as 'best' in the business

  16-06-2023 12:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – KXAN News took top honors Thursday in the Austin Chronicle 2023 TV News Reader Poll for Best TV News in Austin.
  Jala WashingtonDavid YeomansRoger Wallace
  KXAN News Today Weekend anchor Jala Washington won the critics award for TV Reporter on the Case for her coverage of the Daniel Perry trial.Jala has been a member of the KXN team since November 2020 when she started as the Hays County Reporter and eventually moved up to being the weekend morning anchor and weekday multicul
  
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• 2nd West Nile positive sample of 2023 reported in Williamson County

  16-06-2023 12:11 via kxan.com
  
  JARRELL, Texas (KXAN) – A mosquito trap sample collected in the Sonterra Community of Jarrell tested positive for West Nile virus, the Williamson County and Cities Health District said Thursday.
  WCCHD said the positive sample was collected from a trap site near the community pool on Sonterra Boulevard. Workers will begin expanded trapping in the area Friday and post signs.This is the second reported West Nile virus-positive trap of the 2023 season in Williamson County. That positive sample
  
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• Cosby accusers seek to expand time frames for lawsuits by sex-assault victims

  16-06-2023 12:01 via kxan.com
  
  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A group of women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault and were dismayed when he had his conviction overturned and left prison are trying again to seek justice in the courts, by urging states to give them more time to pursue civil damages.More than a dozen women have sued the actor and comedian since his June 2021 release, including nine who brought cases Wednesday in Nevada, weeks after successfully lobbying to eliminate the statute of limitations for adul
  
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• Fire truck carrying Jokic, Murray hits police officer during parade

  16-06-2023 05:47 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) -- A Denver Police officer was seriously injured after being struck by a fire truck during the Denver Nuggets parade Thursday.The incident happened near the end of the parade route at West 13th Avenue and Cherokee Street, DPD said.The officer was transported to the hospital and was in serious but stable condition with a serious lower leg injury.
  Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said the officer was trying to protect people that had made their way into the street in front of the fire
  
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• 3 dead, 75-100 injured after tornado hits Perryton Thursday afternoon

  16-06-2023 05:19 via kxan.com
  
  PERRYTON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) -- Three people are dead, and 75 to 100 people have been reported as injured after a Thursday afternoon tornado touched down north of Perryton.
  According to Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher, three people are dead and 75 to 100 have been reported as injured after a multiple-vortex storm that hit north Perryton and Ochiltree County around 5:13 p.m. Thursday. Officials with the Ochiltree General Hospital said that 75 individuals have come through the hospital as a result
  
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• 3 dead, 56 injured, 2 missing after tornado hits Perryton Thursday afternoon

  16-06-2023 05:19 via kxan.com
  
  PERRYTON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) -- Three people are dead, 56 people have been reported as injured and two people are missing after a Thursday afternoon tornado touched down north of Perryton.
  According to Perryton first responders, including Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher and Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard, three people are dead, 56 have been reported as injured and two people are missing after a multiple-vortex storm that hit north Perryton and Ochiltree County around 5:13 p.m. Thursday.
  
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• Tornado devastates Texas Panhandle town, killing 1 person and injuring dozens

  16-06-2023 04:44 via kxan.com
  
  PERRYTON, Texas (AP) — A tornado ripped through the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton on Thursday, killing one person, injuring dozens more and causing widespread damage as another in a series of fierce storms carved its way through Southern states.The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed that a tornado hit the area Thursday afternoon. But there was no immediate word on its size or wind speeds, meteorologist Luigi Meccariello said. “There are still reports of ongoing rescues
  
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• Longhorns land 4 on ABCA All-Central Region Team

  16-06-2023 02:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Four Longhorns were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Region Team, the organization announced Tuesday.Pitchers Lucas Gordon and Lebarron Johnson Jr. were named to the first team while Dylan Campbell and Porter Brown made the second team. Gordon and Johnson are now eligible for the organization's All-American team with their first-team distinction.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the
  
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• A historical look at Texas and its 8 SEC regular season opponents in 2024

  16-06-2023 00:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some of the schools Texas will play in its inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference are firmly entrenched in program history as rivals, and some haven't played the Longhorns since the Coolidge administration.While Texas A&M and Oklahoma are the obvious rivals for the Longhorns, another one from the days of the Southwest Conference will be reborn when Texas goes to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. The schools have played occasionally in nonconferen
  
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