Austin news

• Austin artist to paint mural in France ahead of Summer Olympics

  24-09-2023 23:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Artist Fabian Rey is adding a splash of color to Austin's sister city in France ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.Austin-based muralist Fabian Rey is heading to Angers, France as part of the Echappée d’Art project, an international showcase. He'll be painting a mural in the French city from Sept. 25 through Oct. 11 in an effort "to spruce up the city in time for the Summer Olympics," he told KXAN.The City of Angers' Echappée d’Art program offers ar
  
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• Austin leaders reflect on 'defining moment' in mass transit development

  24-09-2023 22:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin's Project Connect light rail program gears up for its federal funding and environmental processes, area transit leaders gathered Sunday to reflect on the past year of transportation developments.Voters approved the multi-billion-dollar Project Connect program in November 2020, with one of its primary appeals being its light rail system. After nearly a year's worth of route reviews, scope scale backs and public feedback, the City of Austin, Austin Transit Partnersh
  
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• AP Top 25: Texas stays at No. 3, Kansas moves into poll ahead of DKR visit

  24-09-2023 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' upcoming showdown with the Kansas Jayhawks will be a top-25 matchup at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.The Longhorns stayed at No. 3 but the Jayhawks jumped up to No. 24 behind a 38-27 win over BYU. The Jayhawks are now the third team from the Big 12 Conference in the rankings, joining Texas and No. 14 Oklahoma.
  Full AP Top 25Full US LBM Coaches Poll
  Texas takes on Kansas at 2:30 p.m. CT, Saturday. The game will be aired on ABC.The top three teams in the poll remained the
  
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• Federal government to relaunch website for free COVID tests

  24-09-2023 21:35 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEXSTAR) — Starting Monday, you can get free COVID tests from the federal government again. The Biden administration is digging into their stockpiles to restart their free test program and paying $600 million to U.S. manufacturers to make more tests.The website COVIDtests.gov will be back up on Sept. 25 and will allow each American household to order four free tests."We think it's really important to prevent the spread of COVID for people to be able to test to know whethe
  
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• AISD to implement 1 armed officer at each campus in 5-2 vote

  24-09-2023 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a meeting Thursday, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to determine the appropriate number of police officers for each campus.The recommendation for the board was to approve that one AISD police officer be placed at each of the district’s schools.During the meeting, the agenda item passed with five in favor and two opposed.The recommendation also stated there should be administrative discretion for assigning additional officers based on the size of the campus a
  
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• VIDEO: Otters spotted at Granger Lake

  24-09-2023 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Otters are usually shy, inconspicuous creatures that are rarely seen, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. But on Saturday, a KXAN viewer was lucky enough to spot a few.The viewer said the otters were seen swimming at Granger Lake, a reservoir on the San Gabriel River in Central Texas."Their short legs and long, slender physique makes their movements on land seem awkward, but they are graceful and nimble in the water," TPWD said.This story
  
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• Alligator killed after human body pulled from Florida waterway

  24-09-2023 17:21 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: This story contains descriptions of events that some readers may find disturbing.PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A woman is dead and an alligator killed after a possible gator attack in Florida late last week.
  Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, authorities were called to a canal in Largo for a person reported deceased in the area.
  A representative with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Nexstar's WFLA that the incident involved an alligator. The gator, w
  
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• Why do they look like that? The story behind how Texas counties got their shapes

  24-09-2023 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — With a unique shape crafted over five centuries, Texas spans more than 268,500 square miles, encompassing everything from briny, picturesque coastlands to vast expansive mesas.
  However, the curious qualities about the regions and areas of the Lone Star State don't stop with its biomes and general shape but go further into the look of its counties.
  They're kind of funny-looking, aren't they? Both born Texans and new visitors seem to think so.
  At a glance, many
  
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• Patrick answers critics questioning Paxton trial process, campaign contributions

  24-09-2023 15:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) - The man who put the gag order in place for the impeachment trial against Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking freely now and answering critics. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is defending the Texas Senate's process as "unbiased" while slamming the House's initial decision to impeach in late May.In a one-on-one interview, Patrick responded to claims that Republican senators' decision to acquit their former colleague was influenced by politics and money. An editorial in the Wall Street
  
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• Suicide among post-9/11 veterans surged in recent decades: Study

  24-09-2023 15:14 via kxan.com
  
  Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45 and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working the help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the frontlines at home.
  (NewsNation) — The suicide rate for veterans who se
  
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• Preventing veteran suicides: Navigating the system and self after service

  24-09-2023 15:13 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people — faced with the twin challenges of trauma from their time as service members and hurdles in their ability to access care once they’re home. But community groups and veteran organizations are creating a variety of solutions to intervene. The statistics are stark. Military veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than their non-veteran counterparts, according to the Am
  
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• Preventing veteran suicides: Healing together outside

  24-09-2023 15:13 via kxan.com
  
  Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working to help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the front lines at home.
  (NewsNation) — "We trained and prepared to go to w
  
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• ‘It’s not your fault': Lifting up survivors of military sexual trauma

  24-09-2023 15:12 via kxan.com
  
  Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working to help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the front lines at home.
  (NewsNation) —“He was married. He knew I was
  
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• AI could be the next tool to prevent veteran suicide

  24-09-2023 15:12 via kxan.com
  
  Suicide remains the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45 and U.S. veterans are at an increased risk of suicide compared to other people. Amid this backdrop, many groups are working the help veterans heal and find help when in crisis. On Veteran Suicide Awareness Day, NewsNation's special coverage is aimed at elevating the voices of veterans, their loved ones and caregivers fighting on the frontlines at home.
  (NewsNation) — With over 6,000 veteran suicide
  
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• How psychedelic drugs turned a Texas veteran's life around and the role Austin plays in research

  24-09-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — When C.T. Thompson looks at a picture of himself from a few years ago standing on a snow-covered mountain in Colorado, he sees something others might not. He said he sees a man who was angry and closed off.“I was just struggling to get through a lot of days,” Thompson said. “Everything from anger, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance.”Veteran C.T. Thompson said he sees anger in his face when he looks at this picture taken before psychedelic therapy
  
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• 'Principle over politics': Prosecutors in Paxton impeachment trial debrief after historic loss

  24-09-2023 14:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just over a week after losing a historic impeachment trial, prosecutor Dick DeGuerin said his team, as well as others, were naïve to think principle would win over politics.
  These remarks came during the Texas Tribune Festival. DeGuerin spoke on a panel alongside his colleagues who served as prosecutors in Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial.
  Prosecutors revealed they thought they would win the case until the first vote was read. Paxton would go on to be ac
  
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• Scattered storms overnight; fewer storms Monday

  24-09-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures hit 103º in Austin at Camp Mabry and at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday. This easily smashed the previous record high for this day at Camp Mabry of 99º set in 1926, 2005 and 2011. The record at AUS was also broken today beating the previous record of 101º in 2005.Scattered severe storms continue overnightSevere storms brought tennis and baseball sized hail to the I-35 corridor Sunday evening. We've had reports of massive hail and dama
  
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• Scattered severe storms this evening and tonight

  24-09-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures have hit 102º in Austin at Camp Mabry through 3 p.m. and continue to climb. Highs today should reach 103-105º before all is said and done. This easily smashed the previous record high for this day of 99º set in 1926, 2005 and 2011.
  We've also tied the record high (so far) at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (101º in 2005).A Heat Advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m.Scattered severe storms possible tonightThe excessive heat will destabiliz
  
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• Scattered severe storms moving through the area

  24-09-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures hit 103º in Austin at Camp Mabry and at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday. This easily smashed the previous record high for this day at Camp Mabry of 99º set in 1926, 2005 and 2011. The record at AUS was also broken today beating the previous record of 101º in 2005.Scattered severe storms possible tonightSevere storms with large hail, damaging winds and frequent lightning continue to move through the area. Storms have had a history of p
  
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• Scattered severe storms moving through parts of the area

  24-09-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures hit 103º in Austin at Camp Mabry and at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Sunday. This easily smashed the previous record high for this day at Camp Mabry of 99º set in 1926, 2005 and 2011. The record at AUS was also broken today beating the previous record of 101º in 2005.Scattered severe storms possible tonightThe excessive heat will destabilize the atmosphere enough to develop scattered storms, some of them severe, as we head into the evenin
  
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• First the heat, then the rain and storms

  24-09-2023 14:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The 79th triple-digit high at Camp Mabry happened Saturday with a high of 101°. It set a daily record for September 23. The former record was 100° set in 2000 and tied in 2019.The area will be in similar numbers Sunday afternoon as highs reach a range of 98° to 102°. The forecast high of 101° at Camp Mabry would set a daily record for September 24th, currently 99° last set in 2011.A Heat Advisory is in effect from 1 to 7 p.m. from I-35 eastward for heat i
  
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• LCRA looks at new water supplies for future demand in Central Texas

  24-09-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Lower Colorado River Authority is planning ahead as Central Texas continues to grow.The Lower Colorado River Authority, or LCRA, said it's aiming to add water supply to meet future demand. Its priority goal is adding 60,000 acre-feet of water by 2040 to the Highland Lakes, Austin and Bastrop areas. One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons of water.RELATED: LCRA enters Stage 2 drought responseIn late 2024, the LCRA will begin using the Arbuckle Reservoir to increase the to
  
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• 1 dead in southeastern Travis County following pedestrian crash

  24-09-2023 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — One person died Saturday evening after a vehicle struck a pedestrian in southeastern Travis County, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.Officials responded to the incident at 10:48 p.m. near the 4500-6000 block of South State Highway 45.ATCEMS medics at the scene obtained a “deceased on scene pronouncement” for an adult.EMS officials were no longer at the scene as of 10:51 p.m.
  
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• Austin-Travis County EMS swears in 30 new cadets

  24-09-2023 13:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin-Travis County EMS celebrated the graduation of 30 new cadets Friday.
  ATCEMS said the class includes 30 cadets. Of those, 22 are medic-field cadets and eight are lateral clinical specialists.
  "Academy graduation is a huge milestone for our Cadets. It marks the completion of the first major step as they embark on their careers caring for our community," ATCEMS Assistant Chief Heather Phillips said in a release.In 2022, ATECMS swore in 15 field cadets and one communicat
  
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• Texas State Bobcats come from behind to beat Nevada 35-24 behind Mahdi's 216 yards

  24-09-2023 06:52 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — Ismail Mahdi rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns and Texas State scored 35 unanswered points to rally for a 35-24 victory over Nevada on Saturday.Brandon Talton kicked a 30-yard field goal and KK Meier returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown to give Nevada (0-4) a 10-0 lead after one quarter. The Wolf Pack took a 17-0 lead into halftime after Zac Welch recovered a fumble in the end zone. No. 3 Texas blows out Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener before
  
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• Aggies lose starting QB in 2nd quarter, still beat Auburn 27-10

  24-09-2023 06:47 via kxan.com
  
  COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Max Johnson threw for 123 yards and two second-half touchdowns after taking over for an injured Conner Weigman to lead Texas A&M to a 27-10 win over Auburn Saturday.“We won the game and still didn’t play close to what we’re capable of,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Hopefully we’ll get better and move on from here.” No. 3 Texas blows out Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener before next year’s SEC moveWeigman threw
  
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• Instant Analysis: Texas leaves Waco for final time with resounding victory over Baylor

  24-09-2023 06:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a dominant performance by No. 3 Texas in a 38-6 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Conference opener Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco.Texas stuffed Baylor's running game to allow just 60 yards while the high-flying Longhorns offense piled up more than 500 total yards.Noah Gross and Billy Gates broke down the win and looked ahead to the Longhorns' next opponent, the Kansas Jayhawks, who they'll play at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
  
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• One last time: No. 3 Texas, Baylor clash in Big 12 opener before Longhorns bolt to SEC

  24-09-2023 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's game day Saturday between No. 3 Texas and Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco to kick off the final Big 12 Conference opener for the Longhorns.The Longhorns opened as a 14-point favorite in most sportsbooks, and throughout the week moved to 17-point favorites in some of them. Baylor will be without its No. 1 quarterback Blake Shapen who is still recovering from an MCL sprain, so backup Sawyer Robertson will get the start.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stor
  
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• No. 3 Texas blows out Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener before next year's SEC move

  24-09-2023 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Baylor will have a long time to think about this loss before they play Texas again.The No. 3 Longhorns went into McLane Stadium and ran all over the Bears to win 38-6 in what's presumably the final meeting Saturday between the teams for the foreseeable future. Texas will jump to the Southeastern Conference next season.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersTexas pile
  
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• Austin Energy says extreme heat caused increased energy use in August

  24-09-2023 01:02 via kxan.com
  
  Austin (KXAN) — Austin Energy said customers used 15-20% more energy in the month of August compared to last year. The agency said the extreme heat is the largest reason behind that jump in usage.Matt Mitchell, public information officer for Austin Energy, said the agency compiled energy usage data from this summer. It ultimately found that customers used about the same amount of energy in June and July of 2023 compared to those same months in 2022.Mitchell said the increase in energy dema
  
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• State of Texas: 'We did it right,' Lt. Gov. Patrick defends Paxton trial process

  24-09-2023 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) - The man who put the gag order in place for the impeachment trial against Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking freely now that the gag order is over. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is defending the Texas Senate's process as "unbiased" while slamming the House's initial decision to impeach in late May.In a one-on-one interview with Nexstar, Patrick responded to claims that Republican senators' decision to acquit their former colleague was influenced by politics and money. An editorial
  
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• Sen. Ted Cruz says there is no domestic issue he cares more about than 'school choice'

  24-09-2023 00:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told a lively crowd at the Paramount Theater on Sunday that “there is no domestic issue I care more about than school choice." Cruz, who is seeking a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2024, answered questions posed by Texas Tribune Political Reporter Patrick Svitek about several hot topics Texans care about during a TribFest appearance. READ MORE: Gov. Abbott will call special session for school vouchers in October“I look at e
  
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