Austin news

• Predominately Black charter school to open new campus in Manor

  19-08-2023 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN)—Students at the predominately Black K-12 charter school, The Texas Empowerment Academy, are spending some of their final days on their current Austin campus.
  It's moving to accommodate more students who some argue won't get an educational experience the school offers anywhere else.
  A new 81-thousand square-feet campus will be opening in 2024. (Photo credit: Texas Empowerment Academy).
  This is a big moment for the school, as the project has been years in the ma
  
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• Did the Frito Pie actually originate in Texas?

  19-08-2023 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — It may be a Texas classic and you may like to consider it a Texas creation, but the origin of the Frito Pie — the cheesy, crunchy county fair treat — is not so cut-and-dry. In fact, Texas is in a long-standing rivalry with another state for birthplace bragging rights.And a winner appears to have been proven with historical records, but you'll have to keep reading to find out.What’s the deal with the Bass Pro Shops pyramid in Memphis?The popularity of Fritos Pi
  
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• Westlake High School senior honored for her environmentalism

  19-08-2023 21:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) –  A Westlake High School senior is one of only 17 young people from across the world to be honored for their environmentalism by an international organization. Anushka Dogambe, 17, received an honorable mention in the 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Awards for her “Plants in Classrooms” project.“I started this project during freshman year to bring a plant to every single classroom in [the Eanes] school district. It's been three years since I sta
  
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• West Lake High School senior honored for her environmentalism

  19-08-2023 21:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) –  A West Lake High School senior is one of only 17 young people from across the world to be honored for their environmentalism by an international organization. Anushka Dogambe, 17, received an honorable mention in the 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Awards for her “Plants in Classrooms” project.“I started this project during freshman year to bring a plant to every single classroom in [the Eanes] school district. It's been three years since I st
  
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• Texas Eclipse wants to change the way you interact with nature

  19-08-2023 21:56 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KDAF) — A festival celebrating Earth's cosmic gift is coming to Central Texas in 2024."In April 2024 the moon will give us a gift. One that won't occur in the United States for another twenty years in the Central Texas sky. The moon will come out mysteriously blocking the sun for four minutes and twenty seconds. People from all over the Earth will celebrate this Cosmic gift of temporary night. "Texas Eclipse is a celebration of music, art, space and technology. The event will take
  
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• Affidavit says Texas woman was allegedly bludgeoned to death by husband

  19-08-2023 21:54 via kxan.com
  
  ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- 56-year-old Michael Brian Miller was arrested Aug. 12 in connection with the death of his wife, 58-year-old Lisa Clark Miller. Now, an affidavit has revealed new details about the case. Around 7:00 a.m., deputies with the Ector County Sheriff's Office were called to an RV park in the 16000 block of Snow Moon Road after Michael's brother called 911 and asked for a welfare check. According to the affidavit, the call for help came after Michael reportedly calle
  
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• This Texas city is the least 'pet-friendly' in America

  19-08-2023 21:52 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KDAF) — Many owners see pets as their family or their fur babies. According to a new study by WalletHub, Dallas doesn't care about your pets the way you do!"With animal parents in mind, WalletHub compared the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest U.S. cities across 23 key metrics. Our data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability," WalletHub mentions.
  When it comes to expenses, veterinary care costs, insurance and more Texas
  
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• Man sentenced in fatal central Austin shooting

  19-08-2023 21:38 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 19, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in state prison for manslaughter, according to Travis County court documents. The manslaughter charge was in connection to a central Austin shooting.Image of Antonio McCullen (Bell County Photo)
  According to documents, 35-year-old Antonio McCullen previously faced a murder charge, but he accepted a plea deal. RELATED: Man dies after being found shot ins
  
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• UT recommends 2030 contract extension for athletics director

  19-08-2023 21:14 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 19, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, The University of Texas at Austin asked the UT System Board of Regents to approve a contract extension for UT Athletics Director Chris Del Conte.The university said Del Conte’s contract extension would be up to $19.255 million through 2030. VIDEO: UT unveils new burnt orange stadium lightsAccording to a release, under Del Conte’s leadership since joining Texas in December
  
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• Barton Springs pecan tree ‘Flo’ diagnosed with infection

  19-08-2023 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 19, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said the iconic Barton Springs pecan tree, “Flo”, has been diagnosed with the wood decay fungus Kretzschmaria deusta, also known as brittle cinder fungus.The city said the disease weakens roots and wood at the base of the tree and has been known to cause whole tree failures in trees that otherwise look healthy.According to the city, there are no effective treatmen
  
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• Longtime UT sports figure Bill Little dies at 81

  19-08-2023 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One of the legends on the 40 Acres has died. Bill Little died Friday at age 81, according to The University of Texas at Austin Athletics.
  Little worked in UT athletics for more than 50 years—many of those years as the sports information director. UT said he worked 37 bowl games, over 1,700 baseball games and set a record streak of 571 consecutive football games. He retired in 2014.Little worked in a variety of roles at UT, including assistant sports information direct
  
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• Texas hospitals to get $984M in funding

  19-08-2023 19:00 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 19, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott said the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) got $984 million in annual funding to support private hospitals throughout the state.According to the governor’s office, the funding comes after HHSC submitted requests to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to amend the state Medicaid plan and allow payments to privately owned or operated
  
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• Williamson County names new elections administrator

  19-08-2023 17:03 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Judith Ritchie will be Williamson County's next elections administrator, the county announced Wednesday.
  Ritchie was appointed the interim elections administrator until the Williamson County Elections Commission starts a permanent replacement search. She has worked as the county's deputy elections administrator for over two years.
  Ritchie replaces Chris Davis, who resigned from the role Aug. 9. The reason for Davis' resignation was not shared.PREVIOUS: Wil
  
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• ATCEMS: 2 dead near Bee Cave after crash

  19-08-2023 14:28 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Two people died after a crash near Bee Cave on Friday night, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.Officials said a vehicle rescue call came in at 9:23 p.m. in the 7000 block of Farm-to-Market Road 2244. ATCEMS said it arrived on the scene of a two-vehicle collision with three patients involved.ATCEMS said two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and one adult was taken to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.  Officials had no other
  
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• ATCEMS: 2 dead after crash on Bee Caves Road

  19-08-2023 14:28 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Two people died after a crash on Bee Caves Road on Friday night, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.Officials said a vehicle rescue call came in at 9:23 p.m. in the 7000 block of Farm-to-Market Road 2244. ATCEMS said it arrived on the scene of a two-vehicle collision with three patients involved.ATCEMS said two adults were pronounced dead at the scene, and one adult was taken to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.  Officials had no o
  
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• Rain for some next week, but heaviest misses south

  19-08-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After another triple digit day, we enjoyed a slight drop in temperatures Saturday with highs of 104º at Austin's Camp Mabry, but Austin-Bergstrom reached 106º, which ties the record high from 1984.Temperatures will likely jump up a bit more for Sunday as we approach 108º in Austin making for the hottest day of the next week.Sunday's forecastHumidity and clouds both increase a little on Monday, which should both serve to drop temperatures slightly. Still, 105º
  
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• Rain chances look best Tuesday

  19-08-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Friday's high at Camp Mabry was 106°. There have been 42 consecutive days of a triple-digit high. Yesterday was the 58th day of a high temperature reaching 100° and higher. It's also the 34th day where the high reached 105° and higher.
  There won't be much of a change today with most highs this afternoon peaking at 102°to 106° along with maximum heat index readings back up to 108°.Today's normal high is 98°Excessive Heat Warnings for 13 of our 15 count
  
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• Tour highlights artists in Texas border towns

  19-08-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  SAN ELIZARIO, Texas (KTSM) – Just east of El Paso along the border sits San Elizario, where local artists are showing off their works as part of a new art tour.El Paso County and Visit El Paso teamed up to create the new experience called First Friday Tour of Mission Valley. It takes people to several stops throughout San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta.In San Elizario, guests are welcome to take a tour of the several art galleries for the Art Walk Experience. One of those galleries is Escami
  
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• 'Dine with Maui': Austinites can eat at this list of restaurants for a good cause

  19-08-2023 04:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austinites can eat at multiple restaurants and know a portion of proceeds from sales will go to the Maui Food Bank to help aid victims after the deadly wildfire in Maui, according to the Austin Food Adventures website.'Dine With Maui' is what the website is calling the initiative, which will happen Saturday."Our hearts are heavy for the citizens of Maui. We are working together with our favorite restaurants in Austin, TX to organize Dine with Maui. On Saturday, August 19th, a pe
  
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• Cruise driverless cars turning heads in Austin

  19-08-2023 03:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Driverless vehicles have caused complications along Austin’s streets this summer.These Cruise cars drive only at night with their bright lights, slowed speeds and nobody behind the wheel.Raina Hornaday lives in a quiet and quaint neighborhood in west Austin.Yet, in the middle of the night, her street becomes crowded with driverless cars. Driverless cars stop traffic on Austin streets, company responds"I see them all night long with their blinkers and hazards on, just
  
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• Ahead of Paxton impeachment trial, House dumps 4,000 pages of evidence and new allegations

  19-08-2023 02:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Since the beginning of discussions around impeachment, suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton and his lawyers have decried the effort as a "political witch hunt," and said there is no evidence to support the allegations against the Republican. But late Thursday night, the House impeachment managers released nearly 4,000 pages of exhibits after teasing for months that "damning" evidence to back their case for removal from office.Managers on Wednesday began to release new e
  
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• APD seeks help identifying suspect involved in north Austin robbery

  19-08-2023 02:22 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 18, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was searching for a suspect involved in a north Austin robbery.According to APD, the robbery occurred at 10:20 p.m. July 16 at a Quick Trip in the 500 block of West Wells Branch Parkway. APD asked for help identifying a suspect and vehicle involved in the gas station robbery.APD said the suspect attacked a woman in front of her young child before driving away
  
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• LIST: First day of class for Central Texas universities

  19-08-2023 02:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- First day of class is only days away for Central Texas universities as the fall semester kicks off for students. Photos: UT students ‘Mooov In’ for 2023-24 school yearFor anyone who wants a quick list of start dates, KXAN has you covered.University of Texas AustinUniversity residence halls open for the University of Texas Austin Aug. 18. First day of class begins Aug. 21, according to the UT website.See the remaining schedule up to the last deadline for fall registra
  
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• Hole In The Wall avoids closure after receiving $1.6M, 20-year lease from city

  19-08-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 18, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — With the 50th anniversary on the horizon, The Hole in the Wall, an Austin bar, received a new grant to keep the music playing for 20 more years.The club on Guadalupe Street near Dean Keeton Street received $1.6 million through the Iconic Venue Fund and the Austin Economic Development Corporation (AEDC).Before this grant, owners noted how The Hole in the Wall had been at risk of closing."The Drag
  
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• 'This situation – it just sucks': Hundreds of UT students told new apartment building isn't ready

  19-08-2023 00:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Ahead of classes starting Monday, Aug. 22, at UT Austin, hundreds of students were told that they couldn't move into their new building for another week.The Rambler is a student apartment complex with over 215 units – floor plans ranging from studios to six-bedroom apartments. Many of the new residents had move-in dates scheduled for the morning of Saturday, Aug. 19. But late Thursday night at around 11:00 p.m., a Rambler spokesperson sent out an email saying the
  
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• Austin working to mitigate risk of wildfires at homeless camps

  19-08-2023 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As you walk some parts of the Violet Crown Trail in southwest Austin, it's hard not to see the abandoned campfires and propane canisters along the way. That's where Jamie Hammonds, who has created a small group called DASH, was Friday morning.
  DASH documents homeless camps, largely for social media, and brings supplies to people in those camps. Right now, the team of two has spent much of its time bringing ice water to people and trying to educate homeless people about fire dang
  
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• Clear the Shelters: Austin pets wait for fosters, new owners

  19-08-2023 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's not a secret that the Austin Animal Center has an overcrowding problem. Austin Pets Alive! (APA) and other groups are assisting with the overflow, but the only true solution is for the public to step up and foster or adopt animals.Alison Swearingen, APA Dog Adoption Manager, tells KXAN that the overcrowding means that animals are sheltered in rooms they would not normally occupy, such as the facility's conference room."We are constantly fighting a space crisis," Swearingen
  
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