Austin news

• Man enters guilty plea after evading police after June south Austin shooting

  22-07-2023 23:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man entered a guilty plea in reference to a June shooting in south Austin , which led to a police chase, according to court documents.Raymond Anthony Valdez, 27, was charged with a felony count of evading arrest; however, by to entering a guilty plea, the state reduced the charge to evading arrest, court documents said.
  Furthermore, the documents said this is a Class A misdemeanor, which includes a confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, a fine not to exceed $4,
  
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• Manor's Jamal Shead on Houston hoops, Mustang pride

  22-07-2023 23:17 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) - After entering the NBA Draft, Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead reversed course and decided to head back to school for his senior season. This comes as Houston enters the Big 12 in what is expected to be one of, if not the best basketball conference in the country."It's going to be so much fun because competition is supposed to be that much better," said Shead. "People are going to look out for us and [we] have a target on our back."The Manor graduate returned to host a basketbal
  
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• PHOTOS: 'Splooting' squirrel sightings on the rise in Austin, Central Texas as temperatures soar

  22-07-2023 21:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Residents across Central Texas have spotted squirrels in some peculiar spots while the critters attempt to cool off as temperatures soar. This particular position is called "splooting."Over the past month, temperatures in Central Texas have reached triple digits on numerous occasions, oftentimes for several days in a row. Why squirrels are ‘splooting’ in the heat and what we can do to help themSome KXAN viewers noticed squirrels lying flat on their stomachs with thei
  
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• Interactive map shows which US cities will be underwater in 2050

  22-07-2023 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Residents of the northeastern U.S. saw firsthand this summer the devastation flooding can cause in a community. Unfortunately, scientists predict flooding will only become more common as the years go on.
  A map created by Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change, shows what the future may hold for coastal communities as sea level rises.In the first map (below), we set the projections to include sea leve
  
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• Interactive map shows which Texas cities will be underwater in 2050

  22-07-2023 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Residents of the northeastern U.S. saw firsthand this summer the devastation flooding can cause in a community. Unfortunately, scientists predict flooding will only become more common as the years go on.
  A map created by Climate Central, an organization of scientists and journalists focused on studying the impacts of climate change, shows what the future may hold for coastal communities as sea level rises.In the first map (below), we set the projections to include sea leve
  
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• Gun accidentally goes off in Sixth Street bar, injures 2 people

  22-07-2023 18:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people were injured overnight in a Sixth Street bar after a gun went off inside someone's pocket, sources tell KXAN.
  It happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday inside The 512 on 6th bar. General manager Corey Phikus told KXAN someone had a gun in their jean pants pocket, and it accidentally went off inside the club, ricocheting and hitting two people.
  "The bullet hit the floor and some minor injuries occurred from the reaction. APD caught the guy and has him in custody," Phi
  
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• Texas' worst commute is in this southeastern community – and it's not Houston

  22-07-2023 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  (Stacker) – Commuting easily ranks as one of the least enjoyable parts of a person's day. Commuters encounter more physical health problems, and low-income commuters are less likely to gain financial stability—among a host of other negative impacts.
  And yet, America's commutes keep getting longer as people move farther away from the office, according to Census Bureau data. This little-known rule causes speed limits to go up in TexasStacker compiled a list of counties with t
  
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• West Nile Virus found again in Jarrell

  22-07-2023 15:31 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Friday, the Williamson County and Cities Health District, or WCCHD announced that a mosquito trap sample taken from the Sonterra Community has tested positive for West Nile Virus.In response, the Sonterra Municipal Utility District will be spraying for mosquitoes Sunday and Monday evening, and while they do say the spray doesn't pose any significant health risk, they do ask that pets be kept inside if possible.This is the seventh positive trap seen in Willia
  
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• LIST: Endangered species that can be found in Central Texas

  22-07-2023 15:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — There are more than 50 endangered species that can be found in the state of Texas, and 11 are located in Central Texas.KXAN compiled a list of endangered species in Central Texas counties, which includes Travis, Bell, Williamson, Hays, Coryell, Milam, Burnet, Bastrop, McLennan, Lampasas, Blanco and Llano. Texas ranks 4th in US for most number of endangered animalsAustin Blind SalamanderWithin Central Texas, the Austin Blind Salamander can only be found in Travis County, acc
  
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• Weekend cool front brings spotty storms and wind shift

  22-07-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A "cool front" has arrived in Central Texas, bringing only a wind shift (winds out of the northeast) and no temperature changes. This front should serve as the forcing mechanism for very isolated storms and showers to form along this evening, tonight and Sunday.
  10% rain or storm chances continue into this evening with most areas remaining dry. Our main concern for any isolated storms would be briefly gusty winds and lightning. Most of us get no rain.Tonight, we'll maintain low
  
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• VIDEO: Doorbell camera captures dust devil in Georgetown

  22-07-2023 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — A doorbell camera belonging to Meghan Varghese in Georgetown caught incredible footage of a dust devil coming up to her front door.Dust devils happen when intense surface heat causes a column of rising air, which then starts spinning due to the rotation of the earth.They can reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour, but form when there aren't any clouds in the sky.If you want to know more about dust devils, check out our explainer.
  
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• Towering buildings could be coming to ‘Dirty 6th’

  22-07-2023 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin City Council voted Thursday in favor of allowing taller buildings to be constructed on a portion of the Sixth Street Historic District, affectionately referred to as “Dirty 6th.” The change in zoning was needed by Stream Realty, which already owns more than 40 properties on the iconic street between Interstate 35 and Brazos. The developers want to transform the strip between Neches and Sabine Streets on Sixth into a place where people go during t
  
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• Water restrictions rolled back for some, not all in Georgetown

  22-07-2023 04:52 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — After water supply issues, high demand, and infrastructure interruptions last week, the City of Georgetown has loosened water restrictions for some. Those left in Stage 3 restrictions are still regulated to hand-watering only outdoors.This week, the city announced that residents west of D.B. Wood Road and southwest of Williams Drive will remain in Stage 3 restrictions through Sept. 4.According to the city's update FAQ on the restrictions, customers not in the aff
  
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• Lampasas man pleads guilty to 2021 double homicide, will spend life in prison

  22-07-2023 04:38 via kxan.com
  
  BURNET COUNTY, Texas -- A Lampasas man pleaded guilty in connection to a 2021 double homicide in Burnet County, and he will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole, according to court documents. Man arrested after 2 found dead at Burnet County homeIn September 2021, Burnet County Sheriff's Office deputies found a 39-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man dead at a home in the Overlook subdivision.
  James Joseph Luckenbach, 33 at the time of the incident, had been previously charged with
  
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• During record-breaking heat, can your power be shut off for non-payment?

  22-07-2023 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- AARP Texas and the Texas Consumer Association sent an emergency petition to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUCT) this week calling for the PUCT to put a pause on cutting people's power because of record temperatures.
  But the PUCT Chief Press Officer Ellie Breed said a moratorium is already in place.How to donate to the 33rd Family Eldercare Summer Fan Drive“The PUCT has rules in place to ensure reliable and continuous electric service during extreme he
  
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• August forecast: Any break from the dog days of summer?

  22-07-2023 02:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- So far July is running neck and neck as the hottest July-to-date with LAST July (2022). This week, the Climate Prediction Center released its August forecast.August OutlookThis year the August forecast favors a hotter-than-normal month. Typically, August is our hottest month of the year anyway, so hotter than that is the opposite of what you wanted to hear.August temperature forecast (CPC)The best news about the forecast for next month is the rainfall forecast, which is looking
  
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• HCSO: registered sex offender engaged in this behavior 'shortly after bonding out'

  22-07-2023 02:02 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- A 24-year-old man in the Hays County jail facing several charges for sex crimes involving children has a history of those types of attacks, police said.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Registered sex offender receives new charges, HCSO finds evidence of additional victimRegistered sex offender, Diego Alejandro Cortez, was recently charged with harboring a runaway, trafficking a child to engage in sexual conduct, 10 counts of possession of child pornography and continuous sex abus
  
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• Texas A&M president retires immediately in wake of hiring controversy

  22-07-2023 01:38 via kxan.com
  
  COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) -- On Friday, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp announced Dean Mark A. Welsh III will be acting university president after M. Katherine Banks submitted a letter late Thursday announcing she would retire immediately, according to a news release from Texas A&M.This comes after the Faculty Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to create a fact-finding committee into the mishandling of the hiring of Dr. Kathleen McElroy, a University of Texas professor and former N
  
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• HVAC repairs underway in AISD as temperatures rise, but more work needs to be done

  22-07-2023 00:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – For years, air conditioner issues have plagued campuses around Austin ISD, school officials said."We have to go to rental equipment, use emergency funds, some of those pieces of equipment are $10,000 a month," said Michael Mann, AISD's executive director of construction management.Last November, voters approved a historic $2.44 billion bond package. The money will go towards modernizing schools, adding new technology and addressing HVAC issues -- which is a high priority."O
  
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