Austin news

• How Austin Energy is expanding electric vehicle access

  26-09-2023 23:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the City of Austin works toward reducing its carbon footprint, city officials are working to expand programs and infrastructure to help make electric vehicle technology more accessible citywide.Amy Atchley, senior lead with Austin Energy's EV equity program, spoke Tuesday at MOVE America 2023, a mobility conference held in downtown Austin. Atchley's presentation centered around providing EV access to underserved community members, particularly as the city moves toward a
  
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• Second-hottest September continues with mainly dry weather

  26-09-2023 22:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As we continue to sweat in the second-hottest September to date, we are tracking signs of a weather pattern change in the long-range forecast that may bring cooler, stormier conditions.In the short-term forecast, a few isolated showers remain possible -- mainly south of Austin -- close to a stalled frontal boundary. Most areas remain dry, with slightly lower and more comfortable humidity than recent days.Rain chances drop to zero Thursday through the coming weekend with unseason
  
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• Swiss sportswear company to replace now-closed Lucy in Disguise on South Congress

  26-09-2023 22:41 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN reporting on the closure of Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds costume shop.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Swiss athletic company will replace the now-shuttered Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds shop on South Congress, bringing another international brand to the street.
  On, a Swiss sportswear company popular for its running shoes, is opening an Austin store in summer 2024, a company representative said. This is part of the company's expansion into the U.S.Exterior of for
  
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• Travis County call for better transparency, briefing on I-35 expansion project

  26-09-2023 22:27 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County commissioners approved Tuesday submitting a new letter to the Texas Department of Transportation outlining requests and concerns with the Interstate 35 Capital Express Central project.TxDOT's I-35 expansion near downtown Austin is a $4.5 billion, eight-mile project expected to begin construction as early as mid-2024. In late August, TxDOT officials released its final environmental impact statement and record of decision, a required process through the
  
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• Federal judge issues permanent injunction on Texas drag performance law

  26-09-2023 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — A federal judge issued a permanent injunction Tuesday against a Texas law that would restrict and even criminalize drag performances, handing a legal victory to a local drag performer who joined four other plaintiffs in suing state leaders to block the law from taking effect.In his lengthy 56-page ruling, U.S. District Judge David Hittner concluded his order by saying Senate Bill 12 "is an unconstitutional restriction on speech," adding he believed it violates the First an
  
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• 'Not about the wisdom of the policies': City of Austin back in court over zoning notification process

  26-09-2023 21:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group of homeowners that has successfully sued the City of Austin over its zoning notification process was back in front of a judge Tuesday arguing the City still isn't following the rules.
  The group's lawsuit claims the City of Austin neglected to follow a ruling made in 2020 -- which overturned an overhaul of the city's Land Development Code (LDC) -- when City Council pushed through several additional LDC changes aimed at affordability over the past few years.
  "The hear
  
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• Police investigating southeast Austin death as a homicide

  26-09-2023 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 26, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police are investigating after a person died in southeast Austin late Tuesday morning.
  The Austin Police Department said on social media it is investigating a homicide in the 2300 block of Greenfield Parkway. That area is just east of I-35 off of East Oltorf Street.
  Austin Travis County EMS said medics were called to the scene at 10:59 a.m. and obtained a deceased on scene pronouncement
  
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• One person dead, police investigating as homicide at southeast Austin apartment complex

  26-09-2023 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead after a shooting near a southeast Austin apartment complex, the Austin Police Department said during a media briefing Tuesday.At approximately 10:55 a.m., 911 received multiple calls about gunfire heard near the parking lot of 2319 Greenfield Parkway, APD Officer Alexandra Parker said during the briefing. That area is just east of I-35 off of East Oltorf Street. Officers arrived on the scene at 10:59 a.m. and were flagged down by someone who needed assistance.
  
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• AFD: Two south Austin homes on fire

  26-09-2023 18:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Tuesday morning, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.According to a photo shared by AFD, the front of a home in the 500 block of Fort Drum Drive, which is near Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue, is covered in flames.Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Sept. 26, 2023. Photo: Austin Fire DepartmentAustin firefighters respond to house on fire in 500 block of Fort Drum Drive Tuesday, Sep
  
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• AFD: Two south Austin homes damaged in fire

  26-09-2023 18:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Tuesday morning, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.According to a photo shared by AFD, the front of a home in the 500 block of Fort Drum Drive, which is near Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue, was covered in flames.Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Sept. 26, 2023. Photo: Austin Fire DepartmentAustin firefighters respond to house on fire in 500 block of Fort Drum Drive Tuesday, Se
  
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• AFD: South Austin home on fire

  26-09-2023 18:36 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 26, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Firefighters responded to a house fire in south Austin Tuesday morning, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.According to a photo shared by AFD, the front of a home in the 500 block of Fort Drum Drive, which is near Stassney Lane and South Congress Avenue, is covered in flames.Around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, AFD said the fire reached a second structure. Austin-Travis County E
  
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• $1.37M to help with childcare costs in Travis County

  26-09-2023 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 26, 2023.TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — On Tuesday, Travis County commissioners voted to continue a partnership with United Way for Greater Austin to expand childcare access in the county for two years.
  The $1.37 million contract extension will help childcare centers and home-based providers for families with low to moderate income in Travis County.RELATED: Child care in Travis County is the most expensive
  
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• 'Combating mental health provider shortage': New Pflugerville facility seeks to serve veterans

  26-09-2023 17:57 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Mental health and the growing need for mental health services have become a frequent topic of discussion.
  Now, in Pflugerville, there's a new Family Care Center that hopes to primarily serve veterans, according to the healthcare system.
  "Family Care Center’s proximity to the needs of Veterans, active-duty military service members, military families and first responders in the area is no accident," Family Care Center said in a press release. "The founder,
  
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• Year-round farmers market to open in The Domain

  26-09-2023 17:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- If you've got a hankering for fresh, local produce in north Austin, a new farmers market could soon be your go-to stop.
  The Domain is set to open a year-round farmers market in November. The website www.domainfarmersmarket.com said the market will be open weekends from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., rain or shine.
  "Our mission is twofold: to cultivate sustainable practices and to foster a sense of community while making shopping locally an engaging and enjoyable experience," the website said
  
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• Austin nonprofits discuss how to spend millions to address homelessness

  26-09-2023 15:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We are getting a better idea how the City of Austin plans to distribute millions of dollars to nonprofits to combat homelessness. Recently, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA, awarded nearly $65 million to Austin community groups addressing homelessness.Tuesday morning Austin Mayor Kirk Watson along with the Austin Downtown Alliance and other community leaders held a panel to discuss the plan.“There is a lot going on in different ways with what
  
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• Texas Parks and Wildlife warns of red tide event on gulf coast

  26-09-2023 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Monday warned of a red tide event currently underway in the upper Texas coast and the Lower Laguna Madre.
  The department said it found red tide on Sept. 3 at a monitoring station near Freeport. It said low to moderate concentrations of red tide have been found near Freeport and the Texas City Dike.
  Parks and Wildlife said low concentrations of red tide have been detected in water samples from Good Hope Circle Beach and the Gulf Beach
  
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• It's still too hot

  26-09-2023 12:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today's normal high temperatures are in the upper 80s. But today through Monday will find our daytime maximums peaking in mostly the middle 90s.
  Afternoon forecasts today and Wednesday will include only a 10% chance of a few spot showers with just a few hundredths of an inch measured. It will be followed by five days of dry weather.The wind coming from the northeast lowered the dew points a touch but it still feels a bit humid this afternoon.
  That's how simple this short-range f
  
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• Forecast trending hotter and drier

  26-09-2023 12:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After Mother Nature threw baseballs at us Sunday night, we're in for a much quieter and drier week ahead.Mainly to partly sunny skies will stretch areawide today with afternoon highs soaring well above average, most of us topping out in the low to mid-90s. A stray shower or storm can't be ruled out, mainly in the southern counties, but the majority of us are expected to stay dry today.More of the same can be expected for the rest of the work week - hotter than normal temperature
  
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• 'Safe Routes to School' project starting in southeast Austin

  26-09-2023 12:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This fall, the city of Austin will start work on a project to make the trip to Palm Elementary safer for students. It is part of the city's Safe Routes to School program that started back in 2017.
  The project will come in phases, according to district 2 council member Vanessa Fuentes. This project is located in her district.
  The first phase will add safer crossings along Salt Springs Drive with partial medians at certain intersections. It will also add two new city bus stops, gi
  
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• Austin ISD to vote on TEA state intervention plan Tuesday night

  26-09-2023 12:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday night to vote on the Texas Education Agency’s plan for state intervention in the district's special education services.The board postponed the vote Thursday night. It has to decide what to do before the end of the month.Since March, the Texas Education Agency has said it intends to appoint a conservator to tell the district how to operate matters related to special education.The recom
  
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• Dripping Springs ISD joins lawsuit against TEA over school rankings

  26-09-2023 12:23 via kxan.com
  
  DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) – The Board of Trustees for the Dripping Springs Independent School District voted Monday night to join a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency.
  The lawsuit says the new rules for how the state will grade schools and districts were not provided before the school year they will be applied to. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Districts ask court to stop state from issuing A-F ratings based on new methodsOther school districts, including Hays CISD and Leander, are alread
  
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• Hays CISD board approves superintendent's request for additional school resource officers

  26-09-2023 04:42 via kxan.com
  
  BUDA, Texas (KXAN) -- On Monday, the Hays Consolidated Independent School District board approved the superintendent's request to the Hays County Sheriff's Office for additional school resource officers.Back in August, the HCISD Board of Trustees voted to get a good cause exception to a new Texas law on school security. Hays CISD approves good-cause exception for HB 3According to the resolution before board members, the district said it could not comply with House Bill 3 because of a “lack
  
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• RRPD: 9-year-old girl reported missing found safe

  26-09-2023 04:22 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- A 9-year-old reported missing in Round Rock was found safe and was reunited with her family on Monday, the Round Rock Police Department said.Earlier Monday, the girl was reported missing after seen leaving her home, police said.No other details were released around the incident Monday.
  
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• Round Rock Police searching for missing 9-year-old girl

  26-09-2023 04:22 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The Round Rock Police Department is seeking the public's help to find a missing 9-year-old girl, the agency said in a news release on Monday.Evelyn Justice was last seen leaving her home in the 900 block of Lawnmont Drive at approximately 7 p.m., RRPD said.Image of Evelyn Justice courtesy of the Round Rock Police DepartmentThe girl is described as a white female, 5 feet, weighing approximately 90-100 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes and was last seen wearing an oran
  
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• Travis County Commissioners to revisit Central Health's budget Tuesday

  26-09-2023 03:46 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The back and forth over what Central Health should be charging you, and what services should be provided with that money, continues this week.
  The board overseeing Travis County's health district took another pass at its budget Monday after Travis County Commissioners questioned their first proposal, but several Central Health Board of Managers members expressed frustration about why they had to return to the table.
  "When the commissioners court says you have the m
  
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• Man threatens to put 'bullet in face' of Texas congresswoman

  26-09-2023 03:04 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A Las Cruces man is pleading guilty to a federal charge of making threats through interstate communications.The plea agreement brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Damian L. Martinez of U.S. District Court in New Mexico on Thursday has to do with a telephone call Michel David Fox admits making last May to the Houston office of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.In the call, Fox allegedly stated he was “going to put a bullet” in the fa
  
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• Quiet, hot weather returns following significant hailstorm

  26-09-2023 02:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After Sunday night's damaging hail storm, much quieter weather returns through the work week with unusually hot late-September temperatures.Sunday night, an intense supercell thunderstorm produced nearly softball size hail in Round Rock, and damaging hail from Georgetown down to East Austin. The largest hailstone reported was 3.75" in diameter in Round Rock, where windshields were shattered. PHOTOS: Large, damaging hail pummels parts of Central TexasFollowing a few isolated stor
  
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• Photos: Hail destroys cars in north central Austin

  26-09-2023 02:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As hail hit towns across Central Texas Sunday night, several people living in a townhome complex off Koenig Lane got their windows smashed during the storm."It sounded like someone was banging on our windows and doors trying to get in," said Joshua Brisbin. His car is fine, but "seeing my neighbors' property being destroyed by this, it's deeply troubling."Below are photos of the aftermath he described.Hail smashed through several cars in north central Austin.Shattered glass from
  
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• Boil water notice issued for Bell-Milam-Falls WSC customers

  26-09-2023 02:28 via kxan.com
  
  MILAM COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A boil water notice was issued on Monday for Bell-Milam-Falls Water Supply Corporation customers, due to a power outage caused by Sunday storms, according to a news release from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).The boil water notice affects Bell-Milam-Falls WSC customers in the areas below:
  BarlettRogersRogers to BuckholtsRogers to WilsonPHOTOS: Large, damaging hail pummels parts of Central TexasWhen the notice is no longer in effect, water syste
  
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• Police searching for Barton Creek Greenbelt aggravated assault suspect

  26-09-2023 00:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help to identifying a man accused of firing shots at a person on the Barton Creek Greenbelt over the weekend, APD said on social media.On Saturday, officers responded to Barton Creek Greenbelt trailhead near Spyglass Drive and Barton Skyway, according to police. Officers found a victim and several witnesses when they arrived on the scene, who said a man in the trail area fired shots in the direction of at least one person.Offi
  
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