Austin news

• Security cameras up at some Austin parks, trails as part of pilot program to curb break-ins

  04-07-2023 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There are currently 10 cameras up at different park locations across town, according to the city's Parks and Recreation Department (PARD).Crews are adjusting locations as the department works through the pilot program."We get a lot of questions of is there a camera, is there not a camera, so we took this as a chance to get a little more data and see if this is something that’s helpful," Amanda Ross, natural resources division manager for PARD, said. "Just as any city
  
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• Exclusive: Austin vehicle inspector charged with faking safety, emissions tests

  04-07-2023 21:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A state vehicle inspector was arrested in Austin, accused of falsifying safety and emissions tests since 2018 for profit — upwards of $300 a piece — while allowing hundreds of unsafe vehicles on the road, according to law enforcement.The arrest comes weeks after a Hays County vehicle inspector was arrested, accused of illegally selling vehicle inspection reports, and after the Texas Department of Public Safety announced a crackdown on fraudulent vehicle inspecti
  
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• How do fireworks get their colors?

  04-07-2023 20:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Many of us will sit back this Fourth of July to take in dazzling fireworks shows — but have you ever wondered how fireworks get their colors?
  Meteorologist Kristen Currie showed us the science behind this annual tradition.Austin Symphony holds concert and firework showFireworks contain gunpowder and an element like copper or sodium. It's the different elements that produce different colors.
  For example, barium is used to produce green fireworks. Strontium makes red fi
  
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• Austin ISD to install solar panels at select schools thanks to federal energy grant

  04-07-2023 18:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Independent School District will receive a federal grant, which it will use to bring solar panels to 16 school buildings.
  The district originally requested nearly $15 million for its Solar for Schools program, according to U.S. Department of Energy documents.
  Austin ISD is the only school district in Texas to win a grant from the Department of Energy as part of its Renew America’s Schools program.The 16 schools chosen for the energy efficiency projects repr
  
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• 3 dead, 8 injured in Fort Worth festival shooting

  04-07-2023 17:54 via kxan.com
  
  FORT WORTH (AP) — Authorities in Texas say three people were killed and eight people were injured when gunfire erupted following a local festival.The shooting in Fort Worth happened at about 11:47 p.m. Monday in the Como neighborhood on the city's southwest side, just hours after the end of the neighborhood’s annual ComoFest.Police said shots were fired into a crowd of hundreds of people. Responding officers found multiple victims in a parking lot, including one pronounced dead at th
  
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• Houston sues state in attempt to block new law that erodes cities’ power

  04-07-2023 17:33 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (Texas Tribune) — Houston officials sued the state of Texas on Monday to stop a sweeping law aimed at gutting all kinds of local ordinances and sapping the power of the state’s bluer urban areas.The law — House Bill 2127, dubbed the “Death Star” bill by opponents — was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, marking Texas Republicans’ biggest attempt yet to kneecap local governments in a yearslong assault on Texas’ major
  
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• Ken Paxton will not testify at impeachment trial, defense attorney says

  04-07-2023 16:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) -- The lead attorney for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton said his client will not testify in his upcoming impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.Paxton’s defense lawyer, Tony Buzbee, made the announcement in a late Monday night statement on the eve of the July Fourth holiday. The Senate could still try to force Paxton to testify, but the statement makes clear Paxton would fight such efforts.“We will not bow to their evil, illegal, and unprecedent
  
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• 'World's largest lettuce greenhouse' opens in Temple, Texas

  04-07-2023 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  Temple, TX (KXAN) - Central Texas is gaining access to more crisp vegetables. Revol Greens opened their new facility this May and have begun shipping their product. The company claims their new greenhouse is the largest in the world."It's pretty amazing and it's longer than a football field wide, and it's quite a number of football fields the other way," said Revol Green CEO Michael Wainscott.The facility sits on 20 acres of land in Temple, Texas, just down the road from H-E-B's distribution cen
  
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• 'Transition closet' opens in Pflugerville to help Texans become themselves

  04-07-2023 15:30 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The upstairs bonus room in a family's home now looks more like a department store complete with clothing racks, shoe displays and a makeup counter. There's not a price tag in sight, though, because the woman who organized everything intends to give away all of it to people she feels are under attack right now in Texas.
  "Everybody should have someone in their life that makes them feel beautiful," Shelly Barber said, "and we want to make sure that they have that
  
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• Explore Texas' Hill Country at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

  04-07-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (KXAN) — Located about an hour and a half outside of Austin in Central Texas' beautiful Hill Country, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is a dream spot for hikers, campers and stargazers of all ages.Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (KXAN Photo/Kristen Currie)
  Over 18,000 feet in elevation, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is made up of seven peaks with views stretching for miles. Described as a "magical, mystical place," the granite domes making up the state park ha
  
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• From Red Raiders to red wine, why Lubbock is the Texas sweet spot for grapes

  04-07-2023 14:38 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas – Over the last decade, many believe that “Red Raiderland” has gradually become “Red Wine Country.”Wine experts call Lubbock and its surrounding area the new “Wine Capital of Texas,” mostly because 80% of wine grapes grown in Texas come from the South Plains.“The reason is because of our climate, our elevation, and the amount of wind blowing. That really helps out,” said Jason Centanni, winemaker at Lubbock’s Llano Estaca
  
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• Law change allows someone to give up baby anonymously at safe site in Texas

  04-07-2023 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There's a new change to a longtime law in Texas that allows someone to give up a baby, leaving them at a safe place like a fire, EMS or police station. In the past, a person was required to physically leave an infant with an employee on site. Now, "baby boxes" could now be installed throughout Texas, allowing a person to surrender a child anonymously. However, there are a number of logistics to figure out before this happens. Nonetheless, there has been a lon
  
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• Best thrifting spots in Austin, according to KXAN viewers

  04-07-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ready to "pop some tags" a la Macklemore?
  Austin has a number of local thrift shops with one-of-a-kind finds, in addition to larger thrift shops like Goodwill Central Texas stores and The Salvation Army Family Stores.KXAN asked y'all on Facebook and Twitter where you thrift in Central Texas. Here are some of your responses:
  Assistance League Shop: 4901 Burnet Road, AustinAustin Creative Reuse: 2005 Wheless Lane, AustinAustin Pets Alive! Thrift Shop
  5801 Burnet Road, Austin1
  
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• What were the hottest cities in Texas during the 2023 heat dome?

  04-07-2023 13:47 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Texas has been scorching under an unprecedented heat wave that doesn't seem to want to leave. While the summer heat has been bearing down on the entire state, these 10 Texas cities were the hottest during the month of June.This heat wave is not only surpassing calendar day records, but it has also rewritten the record books for all-time high temperatures in some places where weather observations have been made for over a century.MORE: ‘Hea
  
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• Austin weather history: The hottest, coldest and wettest Fourth of Julys

  04-07-2023 13:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — What kind of weather does Austin typically see on the Fourth of July?A high of 95, a low of 74 and about 0.06" of rain. But what about the extremes?The National Weather Service has weather data for Austin dating back to the 1890s.KXAN dug through the archives to find the hottest, coldest and wettest Fourth of Julys in history.Austin has hit 100° a total of 12 times on July 4. Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, got to 104° on the Fourth of July in
  
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• Austin Symphony holds concert and firework show

  04-07-2023 13:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Symphony is hosting the HEB Austin Symphony July 4th concert and firework show on Auditorium Shores Tuesday night, open and free to the public.
  Here's what you need to know if you are planning to attend the event, which involves music from the Austin Symphony, food and drinks, and a firework show with the Austin skyline as the backdrop.
  Schedule of events
  According to the Austin Symphony website, the event will open to the public starting at 5 p.m. at the Long Center
  
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• Housing developer at a crossroads with City of Buda, planning to remove itself from ETJ

  04-07-2023 04:36 via kxan.com
  
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of Buda and housing developer MileStone Community Builders are at a crossroads.
  For about six years, the two have been going back and forth about a proposed residential development. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City of Buda to discuss 775-acre housing developmentThe letterAt the end of June, MileStone sent a letter to people in Buda about its residential development called Persimmon. It's located in the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
  In it, the company claimed t
  
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• Bastrop County food pantry in need of donations amid record demand

  04-07-2023 04:14 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — Those working to combat hunger in Central Texas are seeing a rise in food insecurity in rural areas.The Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry has been hit hard this year, seeing a 30% increase in calls for food and support services. The pantry has served a record number of people in a six-month period.Along with the increase in demand, the pantry is also dealing with a 50% reduction in the food supply from sources like the Central Texas Food Bank."When the pandemic w
  
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• Man taken into custody after south Austin SWAT call

  04-07-2023 03:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police say a man is in custody after a SWAT situation in south Austin.Police were initially called to the 4800 block of S. Congress Ave., between Stassney Lane and Ben White Boulevard, around 5:40 p.m. The SWAT team was called in almost an hour later, according to an APD watch commander.According to Austin police, an officer was pursuing the suspect, who had felony warrants out for his arrest, earlier this evening. The man was able to get away from the officer and ra
  
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• APD SWAT team responds to call in south Austin

  04-07-2023 03:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin police are responding to a SWAT situation in south Austin.Police were initially called to the 4800 block of S. Congress Ave., between Stassney Lane and Ben White Boulevard, around 5:40 p.m.The SWAT team was called in almost an hour later, according to an APD watch commander.Police have not said why they were initially called. Further details were not immediately available.KXAN has a crew on scene and will update this story as more information becomes available.
  
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• How did APD response times change while DPS was deployed in Austin?

  04-07-2023 03:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As patrols by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in Austin resume, we're getting a look at how police response times changed during the first deployment.The city has created a "dedicated webpage about the partnership," Mayor Kirk Watson said. The page says the partnership, which first started in March, are "the result of staffing challenges currently faced by the Austin Police Department." How does DPS traffic stop data differ from APD’s?In addition to reducin
  
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• Some rain today and tomorrow, then dry, dry, dry

  04-07-2023 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas will have two afternoons/early evenings where some areas will get a little rain. A few isolated thunderstorms might yield about .25" to .50" of through Thursday evening.Rain for some today and ThursdayThis region is sandwiched between two areas of upper-level high pressure. A mid-level trough between the two is moving through Texas will bringing in moisture from the Gulf leading to the chances of showers and thunderstorms forecast today and Thursday.A weak low in C
  
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• Hot July 4th with only an isolated storm chance

  04-07-2023 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Happy 4th of July from the First Warning Weather Team! We'll have partly sunny skies for Independence Day with the weather generally cooperating for your outdoor festivities.That being said, it will still be a hot day with highs just below 100º, but feels-like-temperatures reaching 100-105º during the late afternoon and early evening.July 4th forecastThe location of high pressure to our west means we can't completely rule out a spotty storm or shower this afternoon and
  
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• Fireworks forecast looks great, but searing heat returns soon

  04-07-2023 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Happy 4th of July from the First Warning Weather Team! The heat wasn't too excessive with readings remaining below 100° thanks to significant cloud cover.
  A few isolated showers and thunderstorms developed, but Austin remained dry and favorable weather was forecast for all area fireworks displays.4th of July evening forecastThe location of high pressure to our west means we can't completely rule out a spotty storm or or rain shower again Wednesday, but the probabilities are
  
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• Best chance of rain for a week comes today and tomorrow

  04-07-2023 03:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We continue our "mini" stretch with highs below 100º that began on Sunday and should continue through the end of the work week.Early clouds will give way to a mix of sun and clouds today as high temperatures push into the upper 90s.Our best chances for rain for at least a week come today and tomorrow with rain chances at 30% both days.GRAF Model at 3pm WednesdayDuring the afternoon showers look to generally be developing and moving from southeast to northwest with the highe
  
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• Astros rally for 12-11 win to take series over AL West-leading Texas after blowing 8-run lead

  04-07-2023 02:00 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Houston Astros know they are in for quite a fight to overtake their instate rival to win another AL West title.They won this round, even after blowing an eight-run lead on Monday.José Abreu and Chas McCormick had back-to-back RBI doubles in the ninth inning in a wild 12-11 win for the second-place Astros over the division-leading Texas Rangers to take three of four games in the series.“It gives us momentum. Obviously we’ve got a long way to go
  
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• TDCJ correctional officers burning out in Texas heat

  04-07-2023 01:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- For years, Michael Webber would sweat in the searing metal attics above Texas' state prisons as he powered through electrical maintenance trips minutes at a time. That was all the time the oppressive heat would allow."We'd see temperatures as high as 130, 140. You'd work in that for a couple of hours, and you can only be up there for so long," Webber said. "Then you'd have to come back down into that 105, 110 degree weather that everyone lives in so you could cool off. The co
  
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• City of Bee Cave City allows HOAs to pay for extra police patrols

  04-07-2023 01:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — You could soon see police officers patrolling private neighborhoods in Bee Cave.In a recent meeting, the Bee Cave City Council approved a resolution to allow homeowners associations to pay for overtime so officers can patrol neighborhoods.Bee Cave City Manager Clint Garza says speeding and drivers not stopping at stop signs are causing issues in the Falconhead neighborhood."We can put them in the neighborhoods, but outside the normal patrol hours, so I think it is a good id
  
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• Thrilling finish at 77th Firecracker Open Golf Tournament in Austin

  04-07-2023 00:53 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) - Heading into the final hole of round three at the 2023 Firecracker Open, Jonathan Alden and Nick Schafer were tied. Schafer was the furthest away of the three in the group so shot first."I had a perfect number," said Schafer. "I had 80 yards and I had a good lie in the fairway. [I] was just glad I didn't have to putt it."Schafer, who has lived in Austin about six years, sure did not have a very difficult putt. He chipped onto the green and had his second shot all but go in. The s
  
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• Spots fill fast at Austin's July passport fair but you might have other options

  04-07-2023 00:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — People showing up for Austin's passport fair Monday didn't expect to be turned away.The event was scheduled from 12 to 6 p.m. However, by 10:45 a.m., the office had already begun pre-screening walk-ins. US passport applications taking at least 3 monthsMost at Monday's event were trying to plan ahead to get a passport.In fact, it's been hard for some people to get a passport appointment with longer wait times for processing applications throughout the U.S.It's why the City o
  
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