Austin news

• Texas Memorial Museum debuts new name, renovations this fall

  09-07-2023 23:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a year's worth of renovations, the Texas Memorial Museum is set to reopen to the public in stages beginning this fall — as well as debut a new name.The Texas Memorial Museum has changed its name to the Texas Science and Natural History Museum. After announcing "extensive renovation" work last November, the facility is slated to reopen to the public in September. RELATED: Texas Memorial Museum to unveil renovations starting in fall 2023Some of the improvements to
  
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• Adult transported from Hamilton Pool Reserve in 'serious' condition after heat incident Sunday

  09-07-2023 23:09 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County STAR Flight transported a patient in "serious, but stable" condition from Hamilton Pool Preserve Sunday afternoon after a heat-related incident.Austin and Travis County emergency crews responded to Hamilton Pool Preserve Sunday after reports of a patient experiencing a "heat-related issue" along the trail. The call came in just before 3 p.m. Sunday. Travis County Parks staff, the Lake Travis Fire Department, STAR Flight and Austin Travis Count
  
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• TxDOT: Northbound I-35 rolling closures planned Sunday night

  09-07-2023 21:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Transportation tweeted Sunday some "rolling closures" are planned along a stretch of northbound Interstate 35 lanes in the late evening and overnight hours.The closures will impact northbound I-35 between William Cannon Drive and Stassney Lane between 9 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. early Monday. TxDOT attributed the planned closures to crews needing to remove overhead signs.Several entrance and exit ramps will be closed during the outlined hours. Officials said
  
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• What to do if you have an emergency on Lake Travis

  09-07-2023 21:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With the summer months fully underway, many people are taking to Central Texas' local waterways to beat the heat and find some reprieve. But emergency specialists are urging residents to take extra precautions on their boat and swimming excursions.Last week, an eight-year-old boy died after falling off a boat into Lake Travis without a life jacket. The Travis County Sheriff's Office assisted the Pedernales Fire Department, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, STAR Flight and Austin-Travis C
  
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• Texas floating barriers will cause 'imminent and irreparable harm,' lawsuit claims

  09-07-2023 21:37 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – A Texas kayaking company has sued Gov. Greg Abbott (R) over his plan to install floating barriers in the middle of the Rio Grande River that would prevent people from being able to swim across it.Jessie Fuentes, owner of Epi’s Canoe & Kayak Team, filed a suit in Austin, Texas on Friday to stop the state from placing the buoys which he claimed would prevent him from giving tours on the river and cause his company "imminent and irreparable harm."The buoy construct
  
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• Bizarre kidnapping, murder of California mother Sherri Dally on 'Dateline'

  09-07-2023 21:03 via kxan.com
  
  (NBC NEWS) — Friday on "Dateline," when a young mother is reported missing, detectives learn witnesses last saw her handcuffed in a Target parking lot and led to an unmarked car by a mysterious blonde woman.Josh Mankiewicz reports on the disappearance of wife and mother Sherri Dally, who vanished in Ventura County, California in 1996. The classic "Dateline" episode, titled "The Life She Wanted," is a two-hour Friday mystery, that will revisit Dally's strange kidnapping and murder.Watch "Da
  
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• Two dead, multiple injured in shooting at Texas shopping center

  09-07-2023 21:00 via kxan.com
  
  AMARILLO, Texas -- Two people were killed and five more were injured in a shooting that took place at a shopping center just before 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to a press release from the Amarillo Police Department.
  According to the release, the shooting happened in the 3500 block of South Georgia Street. Officers found seven people shot, and one of the victims died at the scene. The remaining victims were taken to three different emergency rooms by Amarillo Medical Response and private vehic
  
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• Carousel Lounge celebrates 60 years in Austin

  09-07-2023 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Carousel Lounge celebrated 60 years in Austin Friday.While the city has grown, the owner said the vibe inside the lounge is still the same. It is known as a bar and wine hangout with live music.Carousel is family owned. Nicki Mebane said her parents opened the lounge in 1963.“I never thought I would be running a bar. My expertise was in banking, but you love the people and the customers,” Mebane said. “It’s a labor of love. It was something I nev
  
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• PHOTOS: Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings from storm drain

  09-07-2023 19:27 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Friday was all it was quacked up to be when firefighters with the Round Rock Fire Department rescued ducklings from a storm drain.Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings (City of Round Rock photo)Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings (City of Round Rock photo)Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings (City of Round Rock photo)Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings (City of Round Rock photo)Round Rock firefighters rescue ducklings (City of Round Rock photo)The cit
  
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• Unwanted, expired COVID-19 tests mailed to Central Texans; Medicare billed for them

  09-07-2023 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Richard McGinn recalls the first package of COVID-19 tests he received in the mail in April. He said he was puzzled since he had never ordered the tests or requested them.Richard McGinn sits at his desk with a collection of unwanted COVID-19 tests he's received in the mail. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost)
  "We get them in continuous days, and it went on for about four or five weeks," McGinn explained.
  He said that something didn't seem right, so he start
  
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• UT students protest end of affirmative action at Texas Capitol over weekend

  09-07-2023 15:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — All college campuses are going to be affected by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action.The Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Texas at Austin protested the ruling at the Texas Capitol on Saturday. They feel somewhat powerless against the country's highest court, which recently banned college admission considerations based on race. According to our partners at the Texas Tribune, a potential 25 percent of college admi
  
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• Sorry, no real heat relief in sight

  09-07-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sunday's temperatures were the third warmest of the year with a high of 104º at Austin's Camp Mabry making for our 18th triple digit day of the year.It'll be a warm night with lows only dropping to 79º by Monday morning, which would tie the record warm low for the date most recently set in 2020.Monday will be mostly sunny with similar high temperatures as we had on Sunday, if not slightly hotter.Monday afternoon highsA Heat Advisory continues for most of Central Texas
  
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• Heat Advisory returns

  09-07-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Heat Advisory goes into effect at 1:00 this afternoon. Counties under this latest advisory are shaded in orange. Maximum heat index values this afternoon will climb up to 106° to 112°.
  Heat Advisory for some of Central Texas starting early this afternoonHighest heat index readings Saturday afternoon included 109° at La Grange and 107° at Camp Mabry.Saturday's high at Camp Mabry was 102° making it the 17th day of a high reaching three digits. This number wil
  
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• What is swimmer's ear and what causes it?

  09-07-2023 13:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With plenty of people turning to swimming pools and local waterways for reprieve this summer, some might unfortunately find themselves dealing with swimmer's ear. But what, exactly, is it, and what causes it?Mayo Clinic defines swimmer's ear as an infection in the outer ear canal, often caused by water that lingers in your ear and leads to bacteria growth. Symptoms traditionally start off mild before worsening if the infection is left untreated.
  What are the symptoms of swimmer'
  
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• Four goals leads to three big points for Austin FC against Minnesota

  09-07-2023 04:46 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) - Austin FC headed north and made things go south for Minnesota United FC Saturday evening. The Verde and Black struck for four goals to secure the 4-1 victory over Minnesota at Allianz Field.In the second of three matches in the group's road trip, Austin withstood a strong start from the hosting bunch. Minnesota came out aggressive with plenty of chances around the goal but was unable to get anything past Austin's goalkeeper Brad Stuver.In the 35th minute, the visitors were the fi
  
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• TravCo officials receive national award for linking a man's firearms with an unsolved murder

  09-07-2023 04:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Travis County officials got national recognition for how they handled a 2022 violent crime investigation and tracked down a suspected murderer. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) awarded Travis County District Attorney's Office attorneys Habon Mohamed and Victor Erbring, and investigator Fred Spenser, for their collaboration with members of the ATF, Austin Police Department and U.S. Attorney's Office in the handling of the investigation, per
  
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• Driverless cars stop traffic on Austin streets, company responds

  09-07-2023 04:31 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — Two autonomous vehicles blocked lanes of traffic Friday night, the company that owns them said the vehicles stopped as a safety measure. Self-driving cars roll around AustinCruise, a rideshare and delivery company, responded to KXAN's inquiry about the cars. One vehicle was stopped in a lane of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, another was stopped near the intersection of W.15th Street and Trinity.A Cruise spokesperson said when the driverless cars are uncertain of the saf
  
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• Hays County brush fire 90% contained, officials say

  09-07-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County is about 50 acres in size as of Sunday evening, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services.Hays County said the Vineyard Hill fire was about 90% contained as of 6 p.m. Sunday. County officials said minimum crews will remain on scene overnight to observe and extinguish any potential hot spots. 
  "We've got plenty of water on hand," Mike Jones, Hays County's director of emergency services, said.No h
  
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• Hays County: Brush fire 90% contained

  09-07-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County is about 85 acres in size as of late Saturday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Hays County said the Vineyard Hill fire was about 90% contained as of 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The county said crews worked overnight, and work may be completed by noon. More dozers will come to improve the fire line Sunday morning.
  "We've got plenty of water on hand," Mike Jones, Hays County's director of emergency services, said.
  
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• Brush fire in Hays County around 150 acres

  09-07-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County has reached nearly 150 acres as of 9 p.m. Friday.
  Mike Jones, Hays County director of emergency services, said that emergency responders are calling it the "Vineyard Fire.""We've got plenty of water on hand," said Jones.No homes are currently at risk from the fire, and Jones said that his agency is not planning any evacuation of civilians.South Hays Fire Department is leading the firefighting effort with the assista
  
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• Brush fire in Hays County about 85% contained

  09-07-2023 04:00 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A brush fire near Hilliard Road in Hays County is about 85 acres in size as of late Saturday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Mike Jones, Hays County director of emergency services, said that emergency responders are calling it the "Vineyard Fire.""We've got plenty of water on hand," said Jones.No homes are currently at risk from the fire, and Jones said that his agency is not planning any evacuation of civilians.
  As of around 10:30 p.m. Saturday,
  
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• 17 people arrested in Texas in human trafficking operation

  09-07-2023 03:43 via kxan.com
  
  WACO, Texas (FOX 44/KWKT) -- McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara called a press conference Friday morning to discuss a human trafficking operation recently completed by his office.Sheriff McNamara says his team arrested 17 people during a ten-day sting operation that started in June.13 people face charges of trying to purchase sex from an adult; two more are accused of trying to pay for sex with a minor; and another two people face charges of online solicitation of a minor.Joshua Dewitt of
  
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• State of Texas: New property tax relief plan aims to help renters

  09-07-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As top Texas Republicans show scant signs of progress towards a deal to lower property taxes, some Democrats in the Texas House are taking the impasse as an opportunity to present their own ideas.State. Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas, led a small coalition of progressives on Thursday in supporting a new package of property tax relief measures that tops out larger than any other proposal yet.His bill proposes $20.9 billion to provide homestead exemptions of up to $200,000, ca
  
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