Austin news

• Texas couple arrested after child makes outcry

  08-07-2023 21:36 via kxan.com
  
  MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) -- A Texas couple was arrested earlier this week after investigators said they allegedly sent sexual messages to a young family member that made her uncomfortable.Byron Hayes, 40, has been charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and Indecency With a Child by Sexual Contact. Samantha Hayes, 33, has been charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and Failure to Report. Both are from Stanton, Texas.According to court documents, on June 22, a Midland Count
  
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• Mississippi Kite is related to eagles, a famous invention, and hawks

  08-07-2023 21:30 via kxan.com
  
  HOMER, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana has its share of cool, interesting birds, and even some mosquitos large enough to seem like small birds. But one factor some birders appreciate is how easy birds are to see in the Bayou state. It’s exciting to find herons and egrets along the edges of ponds and lakes because you don’t have to be an expert to find such large species, and the same goes for the little guys that come to your feeder.Adult Mississippi Kite feeds a cicada to its fled
  
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• Six killed when small plane crashes, bursts into flames in field near Southern California airport

  08-07-2023 21:04 via kxan.com
  
  MURRIETA, Calif. (AP) — Six people were killed when a small plane crashed and burst into flames in a field near a Southern California airport before dawn Saturday, authorities said.The crash of the Cessna C550 business jet occurred around 4:15 a.m. in Murrieta, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
  It took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish the flames, which had engulfed the plane and charred about an acre of v
  
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• Whatever happened to Whataburger's Whataguy?

  08-07-2023 20:44 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — You may be the ultimate Whatafan, but did you know the iconic orange and white Texas restaurant has a little-seen mascot?According to Whataburger, Whataguy made his debut appearance on kids' meal bags and games in summer 1999 with a mission: "To protect freshness, flavor and the Whataburger Way!" Where did Whataburger’s orange and white colors come from?But despite the character's popularity, Texas' signature fast food restaurant has used the character sparingly, leading
  
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• 8 injured in El Paso shooting

  08-07-2023 18:59 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - Eight victims, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old, were injured after a shooting Friday, July 7 in El Paso's Upper Valley, according to El Paso Police Department.
  Police said six of them were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuriesAt 9:07 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the 4500 block of Swan on a shots fired call. That's in the neighborhood between Doniphan and River Bend Road.Photos by Nigel Wickens - KTSMThe investigation revealed there was
  
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• 8 injured after shooting in El Paso

  08-07-2023 18:59 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - Eight victims, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old, were injured after a shooting Friday, July 7 in El Paso's Upper Valley, according to El Paso Police Department.
  Police said six of them were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuriesAt 9:07 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the 4500 block of Swan on a shots fired call. That's in the neighborhood between Doniphan and River Bend Road.Photos by Nigel Wickens - KTSMThe investigation revealed there was
  
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• 6 dead after a plane crashes, catches fire in Southern California, officials say

  08-07-2023 18:34 via kxan.com
  
  MURRIETA, Calif. (AP) — Six people died after a plane crashed over a Southern California field on Saturday morning before bursting into flames.The plane was engulfed in fire along with about one acre of vegetation when deputies arrived. The plane crashed near an airport in the city of Murrieta, California, in southwest Riverside County, located between Los Angeles and San Diego.The flight had originally departed from the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas before crashing into th
  
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• Man facing murder charge in Hays County found not guilty by jury

  08-07-2023 18:02 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man previously arrested on three charges connected to a November 2020 homicide investigation was found not guilty April 10 and acquitted by a jury, according to Hays County court documents.Roberto Ochoa Jr., 33, faced murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated robbery charges.According to court records, Ochoa pleaded not guilty to each charge before the trial.
  
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• Children's allergies affected by the changing climate

  08-07-2023 17:31 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — It's their time to have fun, to play with their friends. It's a time for them to be happy and relaxed.
  This may not be the case for some children whose health is being affected by what is happening to our climate.
  Pollen on tree (Getty Images)
  There are some parts of the country (and the world) where, in winter, a child spends more time indoors than outdoors because the temperature is too cold to be outside. Spring comes along and allows youngsters to get out there and enjoy thems
  
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• Power outage in Leander no longer impacting traffic signals

  08-07-2023 15:42 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A power outage caused several traffic signals in Leander to temporarily stop working Saturday morning, according to the Leander Police Department.At approximately 10 a.m., LPD said power was restored and signals were working properly again.Officials had drivers temporarily treat the intersections with downed signals as 4-way stops."Please take this time to ensure you know how to handle a signal that has none of the lights active when you encounter one. It is importa
  
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• Power outage in Leander impacting traffic signals

  08-07-2023 15:42 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A power outage has caused several traffic signals in Leander to stop working, according to the Leander Police Department.“Please remember to stop at a signal that is not working! It isn't red, but it isn't green either. Treat the intersection as a 4-way stop,” LPD said.According to Pedernales Electric Cooperative, as of 8:30 a.m., roughly 8,000 meters were out in the Leander area.The cause of the outage is unknown. The PEC outage map estimates power will
  
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• Heating up

  08-07-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The area had two days with highs at or below normal. Thursday's high was 92°, 3° below normal. Yesterday's maximum was 95°. That is the normal for July 7.
  Highs will be warmer than normal for at least the next seven days. In fact, many locations will return to highs reaching 100° and higher starting today and going out to at least Friday.Afternoon highs back to triple digits starting todayThis means, of course, that heat index values will be rising with maximums
  
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• After 6 days off...triple digits are back

  08-07-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Since last Saturday, high temperatures in Austin at Camp Mabry had stayed under the 100º mark, but today ended our 6 day "cooler" stretch.
  We reached 102º Saturday afternoon and expect similar, if not slightly warmer temperatures for the next week or more as high pressure builds to our west.High pressure in controlWith the higher temperatures, and plenty of humidity, heat advisories have been issued from the National Weather Service for the Austin Metro and our eastern
  
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• Dry field ignites close to homes during fireworks

  08-07-2023 05:09 via kxan.com
  
  With no rain in sight and temperatures that are rising once again, fire dangers are ramping up."I saw like a campfire," said Edward Kim who spotted a fire in the field behind his home in Northeast Austin. "It just started getting closer and bigger and the smoke started billowing over this way and people had their hoses out."After calling 911 Kim grabbed all the fire extinguishers he had in his home and tried to stop the fire from spreading."I just started pulling these (fencing) and snapping the
  
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• APA! waives adoption fees at Town Lake location through July 12

  08-07-2023 03:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Pets Alive! is having a "heat waive" adoption special for all pets at its Town Lake Center location.Adoption fees for all pets at the location will be waived through July 12.
  APA!'s "heat waive" special runs through July 12. (Photo courtesy: Austin Pets Alive!)The shelter said in a release it has dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds, and cats of all colors, ages and temperaments. There are also several puppies waiting for homes in the Parvo Puppy ICU.
  “These puppies a
  
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• Intense heat taking a toll on Texas cotton crops

  08-07-2023 02:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — State agriculture leaders said weeks of extreme heat on top of already tough drought conditions could yield less cotton for Texas farmers. How Central Texas farmers are coping with days of intense heatThe Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service said conditions started out favorably when cotton was planted back in the spring.Josh McGinty, an AgriLife Extension agronomist, said a wet spring overall gave plants the support they needed to root and thrive.Since conditions have
  
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• San Marcos man sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to 9 sexual assault related charges

  08-07-2023 01:52 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A man who was accused in 2019 of sexually assaulting three woman in San Marcos was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to sexual assault.
  Tyshane Thomas, 24, pled guilty to the following charges in May:Aggravated sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultBurglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony or sexual assaultBurglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony or sexual assaultAggravated sexual assaultAggravate
  
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• Commission vote on DPS in Austin won't stand after violation of Texas Open Meetings Act

  08-07-2023 01:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An item voted on during last month's Austin Human Rights Commission meeting won't stand, according to the city, after the commission failed to follow proper Texas Open Meetings Act requirements.
  According to a tweet from Kolby Duhon, which appears to have been deleted Friday, the item would have called on the city council to "hold a vote on the future of the joint policing agreement" with the Texas Department of Public Safety to "do what they know in their hearts is right for th
  
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• LGBTQ+ home buyers face costly choice: Protections versus Price

  08-07-2023 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A recent study by the real estate marketplace Zillow shows that areas with LGBTQ+ protections have higher average home values, but LGBTQ+ people are less likely to be able to afford homes in those areas.Manny Garcia, senior population scientist at Zillow, said that homes in jurisdictions with legal protections are around 46% more expensive than ones without protections. He also notes that around half of U.S. states have LGBTQ+ housing protections. Realtor helps LGBTQ+ Texans lea
  
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• Houston might be getting a fifth area code in 2025 as growth strains current numbers

  08-07-2023 00:52 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for July 7, 2023HOUSTON (KXAN) — The Houston area could soon be getting a fifth area code thanks to continued growth, according to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.The region is currently served by four area codes: 281, 346, 713 and 832, but the North American Number Planning Administrator (NANPA) projects the region will run out of numbers by the third quarter of 2025.The new code would overlay the exis
  
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• Tips from law enforcement officials on how to avoid becoming a victim of jugging

  08-07-2023 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Law enforcement officials are reminding people how to avoid becoming the next victim of jugging, a crime that is happening more often, according to the Sunset Valley police chief.
  Jugging is defined by Austin police as a form of theft that includes robbery. A person will stake out a bank parking lot and wait for people to come out with money. They will then follow that person to their next location and take the money from them or their car.What is ‘jugging’? Austin p
  
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• Sunset Valley Police: Bank juggings becoming more common

  08-07-2023 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Law enforcement officials are reminding people how to avoid becoming the next victim of jugging, a crime that is happening more often, according to the Sunset Valley police chief.
  Jugging is defined by Austin police as a form of theft that includes robbery. A person will stake out a bank parking lot and wait for people to come out with money. They will then follow that person to their next location and take the money from them or their car.What is ‘jugging’? Austin p
  
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