Austin news

• Texas-themed amusement park to open in 2026

  24-07-2023 23:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One Texas entrepreneur has a Texas-sized goal: to build a Texas-themed amusement park.
  "Why not put a business model that's meant to bring people together with the content of Texas that already brings people together? It's a match made in heaven," TexasLand USA founder and CEO Lizzy McGee said.McGee, a sixth-generation Texan and Houston native, said she noticed there was a lack of theme parks in Texas — particularly in the Austin and Houston metros — for a state
  
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• LCRA requests water conservation efforts as lake levels dip

  24-07-2023 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority is encouraging water users to "incorporate additional water conservation efforts" into their routines, as high temperatures continue to cause excess water use and evaporation.John Hofmann, LCRA's executive vice president of water, said in a release Monday the triple-digit temperatures paired with the region's dry conditions are impacting lake levels and supplies. Leander water issues improve as repairs continue on barge, water restrictions
  
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• Austin airport to finish 1st phase of new baggage claim system in 2024

  24-07-2023 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Started in 2022, the first phase of a new baggage handling system at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is set to conclude in June 2024.AUS officials said the two-phase plan to build a new system to replace the current 20-year-old system is part of the Journey With AUS improvement program.Once it's done, the new system will be able to process 4,000 bags an hour — more than twice what it can currently. New infrastructure for the system has been replaced above the f
  
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• 2 arrested after gun goes off inside man's pocket in 6th Street bar, affidavit says

  24-07-2023 23:11 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is previous KXAN coverage of the incident on Sixth Street on July 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people were arrested after a gun went off inside someone's pocket in a Sixth Street bar Saturday morning, according to Travis County booking records.It happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday inside The 512 on Sixth bar. General manager Corey Phikus told KXAN that someone had a gun in their jean pants pocket and it accidentally went off inside the club, ricocheting and h
  
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• 2 arrested after gun goes off inside Austin 6th Street bar

  24-07-2023 23:11 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is previous KXAN coverage of the incident on Sixth Street on July 22, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two people were arrested after a gun went off inside someone's pocket in a Sixth Street bar Saturday morning, according to Travis County booking records.It happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday inside The 512 on Sixth bar. General manager Corey Phikus told KXAN that someone had a gun in their jean pants pocket and it accidentally went off inside the club, ricocheting and h
  
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• See the latest designs for Austin's upcoming 1.7-mile Red Line Trail segment

  24-07-2023 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Capital Delivery Services Department is seeking public feedback on the latest designs on a 1.7-mile segment of the Red Line Trail under development.The Red Line Trail is a long-range plan that, ultimately, is expected to become a 32-mile trail and transit corridor running from CapMetro's downtown Austin station up to the City of Leander. The Red Line Trail follows the
  
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• Traffic Alert: 183A toll lanes closed after Leander crash

  24-07-2023 21:59 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — All southbound lanes on 183A toll closed Monday afternoon near RM 2243 after a "major crash," the Texas Department of Transportation and Cedar Park Police said. NEXT: KXAN Traffic MapCPPD said it was helping Leander Police with the crash just north of Crystal Falls Parkway. In an update, CPPD said one lane of northbound 183A Toll is open.Police are asking drivers to avoid the area
  
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• 183A toll lanes reopen after Leander crash

  24-07-2023 21:59 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — The southbound lanes on the 183A toll reopened Monday afternoon near RM 2243 after a "major crash," according to Cedar Park police.NEXT: KXAN Traffic MapAt about 4 p.m., police posted on social media the road is now open, and the scene has cleared.
  Earlier in the afternoon, police said they went to help Leander police with the crash just north of Crystal Falls Parkway. In an update
  
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• Family runs to help victims after plane crashes into Georgetown home

  24-07-2023 20:56 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Dylan King said his family was eating breakfast when his father-in-law saw a plane "coming in low" Sunday morning. Moments later, the plane crashed into the roof of an under-construction duplex in a Georgetown neighborhood."We all just got up from breakfast. Ran across the street barefoot. Went around to the other house and it smelled like fuel. I started to kick down the door," King said. 3 injured after plane crashes through roof of Georgetown houseKing and his
  
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• Man found in Lady Bird Lake died of accidental drowning, autopsy shows

  24-07-2023 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man pulled from Lady Bird Lake near Rainey Street in April died of accidental drowning, according to an autopsy the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office released to KXAN Monday.The autopsy says Jonathan Honey, 33, was drinking at a bar and then "left his friends to find food." Honey was reported missing to the Austin Police Department on March 31, police previously said. His body was
  
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• LIVE: Man found in Lady Bird Lake died of accidental drowning, autopsy shows

  24-07-2023 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man pulled from Lady Bird Lake near Rainey Street in April died of accidental drowning, according to an autopsy the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office released to KXAN Monday.The autopsy says Jonathan Honey, 33, was drinking at a bar and then "left his friends to find food." Honey was reported missing to the Austin Police Department on March 31, police previously said. His body was later recovered from Lady Bird Lake near 10 Rainey Street, KXAN reported. MAP: Trackin
  
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• Air traffic audio: Other pilot helped search for missing plane after 'engine failure'

  24-07-2023 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Air traffic control audio and an early Federal Aviation Administration investigative report indicate engine failure occurred before a plane crashed into a Georgetown home Sunday.The FAA's report notes the damage to the plane, a Beech model 35 Bonanza (BE35), was "substantial" but that injuries were "minor." Three people, including the pilot, were on board at the time. 3 injured after plane crashes through roof of Georgetown houseAudio between the Georgetown Executive Airpor
  
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• Roughly 300 people to be housed at Austin's Marshalling Yard, here's what we know

  24-07-2023 19:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin is moving forward with a one-year, $9.1 million contract with Family Endeavors to run homeless shelter operations at the Marshalling Yard after Austin City Council signed off on the funding Thursday.
  The nearly $10 million will come from the city's allotment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
  Council Member Zohaib Qadri -- who ultimately ended up being the lone vote against the resolution -- attempted to introduce an amendment that would hav
  
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• 'Texas will see you in court,' Abbott tells President Biden over border buoys

  24-07-2023 19:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- In a hostile letter to President Joe Biden, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott rebuked the Department of Justice's threat to sue Texas over the buoy barriers he ordered into the Rio Grande River and welcomed a federal lawsuit."Texas will see you in court, Mr. President," Abbott wrote Friday. "The fact is, if you would just enforce the immigration laws Congress already has on the books, America would not be suffering from your record-breaking level of illegal immigration." State of Texas:
  
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• DOJ files lawsuit against Texas over buoy barrier in Rio Grande

  24-07-2023 19:18 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday over the state's floatation barrier along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass that the federal government says violates international and federal law.
  In the lawsuit, the DOJ argues Texas' construction of buoys in the river violates the Rivers and Harbor Act, as it obstructs the "navigable capacity" of U.S. wa
  
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• ATCEMS: Adult found 'unresponsive' in downtown Austin tent

  24-07-2023 19:05 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for July 24, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — An adult was found dead in downtown Austin Monday morning, Austin-Travis County EMS said.ATCEMS said it responded to an area near Interstate 35 and Seventh Street after someone was found in a tent unresponsive.The person was pronounced dead at 8:26 a.m. Monday.KXAN reached out to the Austin Police Department for more information. This story will be updated with a response.
  
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• Why you should buy your solar eclipse glasses early for next year's event

  24-07-2023 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is previous KXAN coverage of Central Texas communities preparing for the total solar eclipse.AUSTIN (KXAN) — On April 8, 2024, the Texas Hill Country will be in a prime viewing area for a total solar eclipse, which is anticipated to bring in thousands of tourists and visitors to the region. Total solar eclipses happen approximately every 18 months somewhere on the planet, leading visitors to the path of totality — a prime viewing spot where the eclipse
  
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• City worker rescues kitten stranded on log in Seguin

  24-07-2023 17:09 via kxan.com
  
  SEGUIN, Texas (KXAN) — A city worker came to the rescue last week of a small animal that somehow found itself stranded in a river.
  Seguin Animal Services posted on its Facebook page that field supervisor Brendon Moore swam into the Guadalupe River below one of the Interstate 10 bridges on July 20 to retrieve a small black kitten. According to another social media post from Seguin police, a call came in that morning about a cat stuck on a log near the boat ramp.
  Photos shared by the two cit
  
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• More than a third of Americans choose to have a 'sleep divorce'

  24-07-2023 16:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Whether your partner is prone to snoring or you need to wake up at 3 a.m. the next day, couples have plenty of reasons for sleeping in different beds at home.The nontraditional sleeping arrangement is described by experts as a "sleep divorce" and is more common than you might think.A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows 35% of respondents sleep in a different room from their partner consistently (15%) or occasionally (20%)."The question really is why
  
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• What was that mysterious light flying over Central Texas Sunday night?

  24-07-2023 15:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Another set of mysterious lights were reported flying over Central Texas Sunday night. The lights were spotted as far away as San Angelo. According to viewers, the lights were spotted moving east between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.According to a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration, the culprit was most likely a SpaceX rocket launch. The launch occurred at 7:50 p.m. CT on Sunday.
  The Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites into orbit launched from Cape Cana
  
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• DPS investigating after man dies in Bastrop County

  24-07-2023 15:53 via kxan.com
  
  BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Texas Department of Public Safety said it is investigating after a man died on FM 672 near Red Rock early Sunday morning.According to DPS, deputies with the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office found the man's body in the middle of the road after arresting the driver of a Toyota.
  DPS said the man was a passenger in the Toyota.
  DPS said the driver was arrested on what it called "separate offenses." KXAN emailed for more details from DPS about why the driver was
  
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• Eclipse roundtables 'like preparing for a hurricane' in the Hill Country

  24-07-2023 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, TX (KXAN) - The Hill Country Alliance, a non-profit focused on conserving and protecting the Texas Hill Country, will host the latest of its Hill Country Eclipse Roundtables on July 25th. The total solar eclipse, happening on April 8th, 2024, is expected to bring thousands of people to Central Texas."Think of it kind of like preparing for a hurricane. You want to be totally prepared and self sufficient ready so that you don't need to go into H-E-B on the day of," said Katherine
  
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• Austin Community College to launch partnership to train more nurses

  24-07-2023 13:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Community College said it and a Maryland-based non-profit will launch a partnership Monday aiming to train more nurses to fill a gap in health care in Central Texas.
  According to the ACC announcement, the partnership between the college and Dwyer Workforce Development will begin with the school’s certified nurse aide (CNA) program.
  The school said the CNA program can be completed in as little as 8 weeks.
  According to the announcement, students in the progr
  
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• How to keep your car cooler in the Texas summer heat

  24-07-2023 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video shows how heat can impact your car.TEXAS (KXAN) -- Oh, Texas. The sun is high, the UV index is something fierce, and stepping inside of your car feels like a personal sauna gone bad. RELATED: How to cool your Texas home without an A/CWhile we can't wave a magic wand and discontinue the triple-digit heat, here are some tips and tricks on how to help minimize the heat inside your car during the unforgiving summer months.Invest in a windshield sunshadeDoes it look lik
  
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• Last week of July stays hot with little rain

  24-07-2023 13:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Our triple digit heat rolls on. We're now in our 17th consecutive day with highs of 100º or hotter, which ties for the 8th longest streak on record at Austin's Camp Mabry. By the end of the month we'll have moved into 2nd place. 2023 AUSTIN WEATHER DATAA very isolated shower or storm remains possible into the early evening, mainly in Fayette County. Otherwise, a drier weather pattern is setting up shop for the rest of the week.
  High pressure will nudge eastward to put an en
  
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• Heat ... and a little rain

  24-07-2023 13:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Much of the rain Sunday fell in our southern viewing area. Blanco measured .35" and San Marcos .09". There may be a few more showers in our far eastern counties this afternoon. Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties could see that rain from an active sea breeze. That same area could see a little rain Tuesday. It really is less than 10% both days.A few sea breeze showers in our eastern counties CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALSSunday's high was 106°. That, combined with the morning lo
  
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• Splash pad malfunctioning at Pease Park

  24-07-2023 12:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An unknown issue has kept the splash pad at Pease Park turned off for the majority of the summer season, according to the interim CEO of the Pease Park Conservancy.
  A controller that monitors the water quality at the splash pad is falsely reading the water pH and the ORP (oxidation reduction potential), which is then automatically shutting off the splash pad. The park has tried replacing the controller, probes that monitor the water, and the problem is still happening."As much f
  
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• Kyle to break ground on playground and splash pads

  24-07-2023 12:44 via kxan.com
  
  KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – The City of Kyle will hold groundbreaking ceremonies on a playground and two splash pads this week.
  The city's Parks and Recreation Department will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Lake Kyle Park Inclusive Playground at 9 a.m. Monday at 700 Lehman Rd.
  The city said visitors will be able to see renderings of what the new playground will look like and the features it will have. City staff will be present so residents can ask any questions they may have.20
  
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• Austin FC has to rebound against FC Juarez to avoid early Leagues Cup elimination

  24-07-2023 05:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC's woes in matches outside of Major League Soccer continued Friday with a 3-1 loss to Mazatlan FC in the opening game of group play of Leagues Cup at Q2 Stadium.They aren't out of the tournament with another group stage game against FC Juarez coming Saturday. Verde and Black is 1-2 in U.S. Open Cup play and they failed to advance in the opening round of the Concacaf Champions League against undermanned Violette FC of Haiti 3-2 on aggregate. The loss to Mazatlan FC,
  
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• Quinn Ewers, Ja'Tavion Sanders 'level up' from last season

  24-07-2023 02:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A pair of Texas football stars were out sharing their knowledge and perhaps helping develop the next generation of Longhorns on Saturday.Quarterback Quinn Ewers and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders held a youth football camp at Hill Country Middle School for boys and girls ages 8-16 years old, and the DFW duo are building on a relationship they've had since high school.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score spor
  
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• NAACP office vandalized, burglarized Sunday

  24-07-2023 01:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The office of Austin's NAACP chapter was broken into before sunrise Sunday, according to Nelson Linder, the chapter's president."These are very difficult and challenging times," said Linder in a Sunday evening Facebook post, "So please trust me that at this moment everything is in alignment and our collective intent is to focus on ensuring we are in agreement to hold whoever did this accountable."No one was in the building at the time, he said. The office is located at 1050
  
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• Grass fire near US 290, William Cannon Drive brought under control

  24-07-2023 01:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A grass fire in southwest Austin was brought under control at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, according to an Austin Fire Department shift commander.(Courtesy Austin Fire)(Courtesy Austin Fire)(Courtesy Austin Fire)The initial call came in at 5 p.m., near the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and West William Cannon Drive.The fire was in an "undeveloped area surrounded by roadways," according to an AFD post on Twitter. It did not threaten any structures.It spread to four acres before fire
  
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