Austin news

• Impeachment investigators expanding probe into Ken Paxton's real-estate spree, WSJ reports

  01-07-2023 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Investigators helping to prosecute impeachment charges against suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are now expanding their probe to examine a property-buying spree that began after he was under federal investigation for alleged abuse of office, the Wall Street Journal reported in an exclusive article Thursday.Paxton, his wife and a family trust spent almost $3.5 million buying six properties across the U.S. in less than 10 months from July 2021 to April 2022, WSJ re
  
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• Cedar Park LGBTQ+ Pride event postponed due to threats over drag queens

  01-07-2023 23:02 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) –  A LGBTQ+ Pride event, originally scheduled to be held on June 24 in a Cedar Park Starbucks, was postponed and will be reimagined due to several “threatening” calls made to the business about the event's drag performances. In a statement to KXAN, Starbucks said that because of the threatening voicemails and recent violence in Cedar Park, the event was moved to August to coincide with Austin's LGBTQ+ Pride events. A Starbucks spokesperson sai
  
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• Teen with disability missing from Bexar County, Sheriff says

  01-07-2023 22:34 via kxan.com
  
  BEXAR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is searching for a missing teen who was last seen Friday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.Julissa Barron, 13, was last seen on foot at 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the 900 block of Cozumel Emerald in San Antonio, officials said.Image provided by the Texas Department of Public SafetyJulissa is described as 5 feet 2 inches, weighs 212 pounds, has brown hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a Rugrat's crop top shirt, r
  
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• Endangered teen in Bexar County found, officials say

  01-07-2023 22:34 via kxan.com
  
  BEXAR COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — An endangered teen who was previously reported missing in Bexar County Saturday has been found, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.Previously, the teen was last seen seen Thursday in San Antonio, officials said.No other details were released Saturday.
  
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• Medical, insect experts share how to avoid summer bug bites

  01-07-2023 20:39 via kxan.com
  
  WACO, Texas (FOX 44) -- The CDC released a health advisory Wednesday after receiving cases of malaria being spread. This was the first time in 20 years the CDC has had to make an advisory.Cen-Tex Pest Control owner Jeff Wooten said bugs nest in wet areas in the springtime to then move and populate in the summer.Wooten said it was best to take care of your surroundings."Mosquitos kill more people than anything else on planet Earth," said Wooten. "Nearly every year, mosquitoes kill the entire popu
  
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• Mr. Natural in south Austin closes

  01-07-2023 19:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mr. Natural, a vegetarian restaurant in Austin, said it has closed one of its locations after being open for more than 20 years.The restaurant’s south Austin location closed Friday, according to the owners. Slow sales and high food prices were cited as the cause of the South Lamar location closure."We're still having the aftereffects of COVID. We were closed for six months during COVID. People still think we're closed, so there's not much foot traffic,” Isabel M
  
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• Austin Police make arrest in downtown Austin robbery

  01-07-2023 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it arrested a man Thursday who was wanted in connection with the robbery and assault of an employee at a downtown Austin grocery store.Image of Terry Accor Darnell Jr. (APD photo)
  Austin Police said 28-year-old Terry Darnell Jr. was charged with robbery by assault, a second-degree felony. PAST COVERAGE: APD searching for suspect wanted in Royal Blue Grocery employee assaultAPD said the robbery occurred in the 300 block of Brazos Street at a
  
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• Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter holding adoption event through July 4

  01-07-2023 19:09 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) said it was partnering with Best Friends Animal Society to offer free adoptions Friday through Tuesday.The adoption event is the fifth National Adoption Weekend the two organizations have worked together. The shelter is located at 1855 SE Inner Loop in Georgetown. Interested adopters and fosters could also preview all adoptable pets online.“Now more than ever, the support from national organizatio
  
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• Pflugerville ISD approves plans for more affordable housing for faculty, staff

  01-07-2023 18:22 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Staff in Pflugerville ISD could expect to get help with affordable housing as the cost of living continues to rise.The district said it approved an agreement Thursday night with the Texas Workforce Housing Foundation to work with certain apartment complexes in the area, providing more affordable rent.The board said it also approved a $2 million contract with a company to develop its own housing for teachers.Adam Harden, an attorney representing Texas Workforce
  
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• Not as many 100-degree days forecast for July

  01-07-2023 17:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — June ended Friday with the one day where a new record high was set. The 102° high broke the previous record of 101° first set in 1980 and tied in 2018. It capped the heatwave that gripped the region during the second half of the month during which the average high temperature was 102.26°.There were 15 days in the month where the high was 100° and higher, six fewer than in 2022. In addition to the record set on the 30th, there were three other records tied.
  A
  
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• VIDEO: Austin Fire responds to apartment fire in north Austin Friday

  01-07-2023 17:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department responded to an apartment fire on North Lamar Boulevard and Koening Lane in the late afternoon hours Friday.A video taken by a witness in the area showed smoke and flames coming out of the building, which was vacant.Photo of structure fire on North LamarPhoto of structure fire on North LamarPhoto of structure fire on North LamarAt 5:19 p.m., AFD said crews were working a vacant apartment fire in the 6300 block of North Lamar Boulevard, which cause
  
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• Texas French Bread: Plans underway to reopen after 2022 fire

  01-07-2023 16:50 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The above video shows previous coverage from the day of the fire at Texas French Bread Bakery.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas French Bread Bakery and Bistro said it was securing a building permit and expected to break ground for "(re)construction" later in 2023.In January 2022, a fire broke out at the original bakery location, which was established in 1981 off Rio Grande Street in central Austin. The Austin Fire Department said the fire was accidental and caused by a &ldquo
  
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• Austin kids learn chess with free lessons

  01-07-2023 16:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Young Austinites are getting a chance to learn the classic game of chess at the George Washington Carver Museum.The chess program is part of an Austin Parks and Recreation program with Joyous Tutoring, encouraging the game to improve creativity, intellectual ability, memory and reading skills, according to the city.
  The free lessons are held on the last Thursday of the month through September.Austin kids learn chess at George Washington Carver Museum (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Au
  
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• These are the 'least hot' cities in Texas

  01-07-2023 16:06 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Does the Texas summer have you in need of an escape? If you can't bear the thought of parting with the Lone Star State, there are still a few options for cities and towns that have slightly milder summers.It might not surprise you that Texas doesn't log many cities that are all that cool. In fact, NOAA data compiled by Stacker identified the coldest cities in all 50 states and found that Texas doesn’t even crack the top 150 coldest cities in America. Of the 266
  
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• Lake Austin watercraft ban starts at sunset Monday for July 4 holiday

  01-07-2023 15:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Starting at sunset Monday, no watercrafts will be allowed on Lake Austin. The city’s annual ordinance will lift Wednesday at sunrise.The ban applies to personal watercrafts, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices. Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are allowed.Austin Police Department’s Lake Patrol Unit will enforce the ordinance, according to the city. Boaters should call 911 to report reckless boat operations or for emergencies.Lake Travis is not aff
  
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• VOTE: Help us choose the best KXAN viewer photo of June 2023

  01-07-2023 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.Help us choose the best viewer photo of June 2023. Look through the 10 pictures below, then vote for your favorite. The winning photo will move on to represent June in the best viewer photos of the year competition once 2023 is said and done.If you’d like to submit a
  
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• RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer photo of June 2023, as voted by you

  01-07-2023 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.The winning photo will move on to represent June in the best viewer photos of the year competition once 2023 is said and done.#10. Along the River (2.1% of votes)Llano, June 9. Courtesy Cari North.Wildflowers along the Llano River in Llano on June 9, 2023. (Courtesy Cari No
  
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• Family files wrongful death lawsuit after construction-related death in Austin

  01-07-2023 14:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A wrongful death lawsuit has officially been filed by the wife and family of a man who was killed by falling debris near a construction site in March.Michael Delgado, 29, was riding his bike in the 2400 block of Rio Grande Street on Rio Grande Street when he was hit by falling debris on the evening of March 2.At the time, an attorney for the Delgado family said UT students offered aid before emergency responders arrived, and Delgado was transported to a nearby hospital wher
  
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• Project adds local art to downtown Austin

  01-07-2023 14:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Downtown Austin Alliance is making an effort to beautify downtown.This is part of the organization's Writing on the Walls project, which launched in 2020. The project pays local artists to help create murals and art downtown."There are so many opportunities to enhance downtown through art." Vaness Olson, the communications director for the Downtown Austin Alliance. "One of those includes our box program—transforming utility boxes to be full pieces of art and for p
  
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• Spotty storms for parts of the long holiday weekend

  01-07-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We managed another triple digit day to begin the month. Our high on Saturday at Austin's Camp Mabry of 102º was our 16th triple digit day of the year.Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms have developed and will continue to linger through the evening, mostly in the Hill Country. We can't rule out a spotty storm closer to I-35, but generally the wet weather will stay farther west. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALSLate tonight rain chances drop off and low clouds thicken bac
  
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• One more afternoon in triple digits

  01-07-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- June ended Friday with record heat. Camp Mabry had a high of 102° to establish a new maximum daily record. The previous record was 101° first set in 1980 and tied in 2018. The month closed with 15 days of a triple-digit high temperature.
  The beginning of July will find highs just a few degrees lower with most readings in the upper 90s to around 100°. Based on the current forecast it looks like this may be the end of highs reaching three figures for awhile.One more da
  
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• ATCEMS: 1 dead in auto-pedestrian crash on I-35 flyover ramp

  01-07-2023 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One person died after an auto-pedestrian crash on a flyover ramp late Friday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.It happened just before midnight on a flyover ramp from northbound I-35 to East Ben White Boulevard.ATCEMS said an adult was pronounced dead at the scene.
  Traffic delays were expected at the time, according to ATCEMS.
  
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• New affordable housing is on its way to Austin

  01-07-2023 13:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — At a meeting Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved $6.5 million in loan documents for Foundation Communities' affordable housing project, Juniper Creek. It's expected to open in late 2023 at 11630 North Lamar Boulevard.The project is meant to mainly benefit families making below 60% of the area's median income, with 20% of units set aside for those experiencing homelessness.The construction of the 110 units is expected to be completed by February 2025.Prev
  
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• 'The Firecracker Open' kicks off at historic Austin golf course

  01-07-2023 05:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — July 4th weekend means more than just fireworks in Austin, there will be parades and gatherings, but also the historic Firecracker Open.The golf tournament started back in 1946 and has moved around to a few different Austin golf courses over the years, but the majority of those tournaments has been at Lion's Municipal Golf Course.The tournament will start on Saturday morning and run through Monday."The Austin community is really invested in this tournament, they are really
  
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• What's in the water? Toxic algae thriving

  01-07-2023 05:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Lady Bird Lake is a popular place for paddle boarders and kayakers. But with more signs of toxic blue green algae, it's getting some unwanted attention.Toxic blue-green algae thrives in warm, slow-moving water and as the temperatures rise in Austin, it's thriving.Lady Bird Lake recently made the top 10 list of troubled lakes to watch this toxic algae season."It made No. 6 on the list," said Lucia Ross with BlueGreen Water Technologies, the company that put the list together.This
  
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• CASA seeing dip in volunteers, uptick in alleged neglect and abuse cases

  01-07-2023 04:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- CASA of Travis County said since the end of the pandemic, it's seen a dip in volunteers. Meanwhile, the number of complex cases involving foster care kids is going up.
  CASA -- which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates -- is a volunteer-based group that steps in when a child enters the foster care system. CASA volunteers serve as an advocate for and the voice of a foster child during the legal process.
  But CASA of Travis County said they've seen a roughly 20% drop in new
  
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• 1 dead after crash involving APD officer in northwest Austin

  01-07-2023 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead and another was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after a crash in northwest Austin Friday, Austin-Travis County EMS confirmed to KXAN.The Austin Police Department tells us one of its officers was involved in the crash.
  First responders were called out to the 18000 block of North U.S. 183 in the northbound service road for a rollover. Two people were involved in the crash, medics said.One person was pronounced dead on the scene, and the other person wa
  
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• Ex-Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti released from federal prison in Bastrop

  01-07-2023 00:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A former Texas state senator who pleaded guilty to bribery in 2019 was released from federal prison in Bastrop Friday, an Office of Public Affairs spokesperson confirmed to KXAN.Furthermore, the spokesperson said Uresti was moved to a community confinement overseen by the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) San Antonio (RRM) Office. Community confinement means the inmate is in either home confinement or a Residential Reentry Center -- which is an RRC or halfway house.Uresti's projected rel
  
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• Ascension Seton Medical Center nurses to return Saturday morning after strike

  01-07-2023 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After some nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin went on strike Tuesday “to protest management’s resistance to bargain in good faith," nurses will be allowed back at work Saturday morning.Though the strike was one day, the hospital said it did not allow participating nurses to return until Saturday, July 1 because of the required length of contracts for staff brought in to fill the gaps. Nurses called it a "union-busting tactic."
  A return-to-work march w
  
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• Ascension Seton Medical Center nurses return to work Saturday morning after strike

  01-07-2023 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After some nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin went on strike Tuesday “to protest management’s resistance to bargain in good faith," nurses were allowed back at work Saturday morning.Though the strike was one day, the hospital said it did not allow participating nurses to return until Saturday, July 1 because of the required length of contracts for staff brought in to fill the gaps. Nurses called it a "union-busting tactic."
  "It's really frustrating,"
  
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