Austin news

• As more migrant buses arrive, Gov. Abbott visits New York City to talk border policy

  27-09-2023 23:22 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (Nexstar) — On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to the city that Texas has sent the largest number of migrants to, part of his signature policy he said helps border communities dealing with illegal immigration.The Texas Republican visited New York City to speak about the ongoing border crisis in a fireside chat with the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, on Wednesday. More buses arrived from the state during Abbott's visit, according to a source familiar with the
  
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• Water reuse in Hill County imperative to combat water scarcity, report says

  27-09-2023 23:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) –  In a new report, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) detailed the importance of utilizing water reuse, or recycled water, to combat water scarcity in the booming Hill Country counties. The Texas Hill Country region, due to its unique environment, is already vulnerable to water shortages caused by drought and water contamination from water disposal practices. On top of this, the region has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, prompting officials to c
  
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• Austin police, citing staffing issues, take 3 hours to respond to crash

  27-09-2023 22:51 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 13, police said a 911 call came in about a head-on crash just south of Zilker Park and Barton Springs. By the time officers got there at 9:55 p.m., everyone was gone, and the department said it could not take a report.
  It took APD about three hours to respond to this crash, the department said.Murphy McCollough's sister was in the sedan, pictured to the right.
  "I&r
  
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• APD says it's aware of individual impersonating law enforcement

  27-09-2023 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a social media post on Wednesday, the Austin Police Department said it is aware of a person portraying himself as an APD sergeant.The agency said there were several incidents recently where people received phone calls from the man threatening people on the phone that they could be arrested on federal warrants for a failure to testify in a case, according to police.Things you should know
  APD said numbers can be spoofed and appear as if they are coming from a recognized governm
  
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• Austin closes summer cooling centers, extreme heat resources for the season

  27-09-2023 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After Austin broke its all-time record this summer for most consecutive days above 100 degrees, city officials announced Wednesday it was shutting down its extreme heat resources for the season.With sub-100-degree temperatures back continuously on the forecast, the City of Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said it will "halt operations related to heat," including its cooling centers and misting canopy pilot. Austin’s record streak of consecutive
  
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• LIST: Farmers markets to visit in Austin

  27-09-2023 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Farmers markets are a fun way for customers to receive their produce and other goods straight from the source. Here’s a roundup of some farmers markets in the Austin area!Texas Farmers’ Market at MuellerOpened in 2012, the Texas Farmers’ Market has been voted Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin Farmers’ Market for 10 years in a row. Hosted every Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 2006 Philomena St., 78723, the market boasts:
  120+ vendors, abou
  
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• Wait — are there elks in Central Texas?

  27-09-2023 21:42 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Along State Highway 45 near Driftwood, a vibrant yellow traffic sign depicts an animal not typically found in Central Texas' neck of the woods.The sign forewarns of elk in the area. But that begs the question: Since when are there elks in Central Texas?KXAN took that question to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to see if there are any herds dwelling in the greater Austin area. A TPWD spokesperson said while there are elks in the Trans-Pecos and western Panhand
  
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• Wait — are there elk in Central Texas?

  27-09-2023 21:42 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Along State Highway 45 near Driftwood, a vibrant yellow traffic sign depicts an animal not typically found in Central Texas' neck of the woods.The sign forewarns of elk in the area. But that begs the question: Since when are there elk in Central Texas?KXAN took that question to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to see if there are any herds dwelling in the greater Austin area. A TPWD spokesperson said while there are elk in the Trans-Pecos and western Panhandle
  
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• Suspect arrested after man found dead at east Austin park

  27-09-2023 20:55 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man was arrested and charged with murder in connection with an east Austin homicide that happened earlier this month, according to the Austin Police Department.
  Jared Nelson, 45, was arrested by APD Friday, Sept. 15 in connection to the death of Salvador Sanchez, 30.
  Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sept. 11, APD officers responded to a call from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office after&
  
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• Unseasonably hot weather for the last few days of September

  27-09-2023 20:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Isolated thunderstorms brought a few communities heavy rainfall on Wednesday, mainly in the Hill Country. One LCRA rain gauge tallied 0.81" of rain 12 miles northwest of Fredericksburg.Thursday, dry weather returns as a heat dome influences our weather from northern Mexico. Unseasonably hot, mainly dry weather persists this weekend including for the Texas home football game on Saturday when high temperatures reach 95 degrees in Austin.Preliminary data shows that Austin is curren
  
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• AFD crews put out fire in west Austin neighborhood

  27-09-2023 20:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Firefighters responded to a fire in a west Austin neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.AFD said the fire was in the 8700 block of Oakmountain Circle, which is near Mesa Drive and MoPac Expressway.AFD said the fire started in the garage and spread to the home. Austin-Travis County EMS also responded to the scene.The cause of the fire is undete
  
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• AFD crews battling fire in west Austin neighborhood

  27-09-2023 20:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Firefighters are responding to a fire in a west Austin neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, the Austin Fire Department said on social media.AFD said the fire is in the 8700 block of Oakmountain Circle, which is near Mesa Drive and MoPac Expressway.AFD said the fire started in the garage and is spreading inside of the home. Austin-Travis County EMS is also at the scene.This is a developing
  
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• Williamson County connects multiple agencies for faster emergency response

  27-09-2023 20:01 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County plans to grow its communication network with several neighboring emergency agencies by adding them to a special dispatch system.In a release, the county said it will add the Georgetown Fire Department, North Lake Travis Fire Department, Pflugerville Fire Department, and Austin/Travis County EMS to its Unify system.The county described Unify as a cross-jurisdictional system that connects public safety agencies to one another, allowing them
  
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• 'We have fallen so short': Audit committee slams poor conditions at Austin Animal Center

  27-09-2023 19:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A city-led audit and independent report conducted on the Austin Animal Center were presented Wednesday and revealed failures in the shelter's open intake operations and poor conditions for animals staying at AAC, despite the shelter meeting its "no kill" policy threshold.The City of Austin produced its own audit of AAC, as well as hired Tim Crum with the National Center for Animal Shelter Evaluations to produce his own independent report. These analyses focused on three critical
  
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• Dallas police: Murder suspect taken into custody by UT Austin police

  27-09-2023 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The suspect in a downtown Dallas murder was taken into custody this week by University of Texas at Austin police, according to the Dallas Police Department.
  According to a release, DPD officers responded to the 1400 block of Elm Street, which is in the downtown area, around 1:15 p.m. Monday and found Jenean Chapman, 46, dead in an apartment.
  The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Of
  
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• Why is Austin behind on tree trimming? Audit calls for more accurate data, planning

  27-09-2023 19:35 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City auditors dug into why Austin Energy is "behind" on tree trimming around the city and recommended more accurate data and long-term planning could help, according to a new report.Austin Energy trims trees around power lines year-round, in order to prevent tree branches from
  brushing up against or falling on power lines -- causing outages or even wildfires. In February, following an i
  
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• 24-year-old dies after crashing on I-35 frontage road

  27-09-2023 19:25 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The driver involved in a single-vehicle crash on the Interstate 35 frontage road earlier this month died from injuries obtained in the crash.
  Merced Junior Elizalde Cortez, 24, crashed a pickup truck near the intersection of East Fourth Street and North I-35 Service Road around 6:20 a.m. Sept. 6.MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2023?Cortez was taken to a local ho
  
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• San Marcos City Council voices support for single-use container ban at city parks

  27-09-2023 19:01 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) --- A single-use container ban could be coming to the City of San Marcos.
  "I am desperate to see this pass," said Council Member Matthew Mendoza. "I think it's well overdue."Last week, the city council showed unanimous support to move forward with creating a ban at all city parks.
  While it was only a discussion item and there was nothing to be voted on, every council member agreed they'd like to see a ban created.
  "Let's do it. Let's leave behind a legacy of a cleaner, g
  
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• Rockdale teacher resigns, accused of inappropriate relationship with high school student

  27-09-2023 18:44 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Sept. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Rockdale teacher has resigned amid allegations she had a relationship with a high school student, according to the district, which said it had also completed an investigation and reported the situation to authorities."While we cannot share specific details regarding the investigation due to privacy laws and in order to protect all parties involved, we can confirm that the process
  
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• Study finds maternal link between drinking diet soda daily while pregnant and autism in boys

  27-09-2023 18:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A team led by UT Health San Antonio researchers found in a new study a link between autism diagnosis in boys and their mothers drinking at least one diet soda daily or consuming an equivalent amount of the sweetener aspartame during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The researchers did not find a statistically significant association with girls. For the study, the researchers asked the parents of 235 children with an autism spectrum disorder and 121 children without au
  
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• Pflugerville police search for missing woman last heard from in August

  27-09-2023 18:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Pflugerville police are searching for a missing woman who they say was last seen or heard from in mid-August.They said Asma Amattul Al-Hadi, 30, would spend time in Pflugerville and Austin. She may need medical attention.She's described as 5'3" and 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who knows where she is should call Pflugerville police at (512) 990-6700.
  
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• Police searching for suspects connected to several Austin-area robberies

  27-09-2023 17:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is searching for multiple suspects it said are involved in several aggravated robberies in and around the Austin area.
  APD said the robberies happened at check cashing stores between June 26 and Sept. 9, at the below locations:Mi Pueblito - 8905 North Lamar Boulevard                             Dinero Express - 1800 Scofield Ridge Parkway        &
  
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• LIVE: Inside the Investigations: Texas patient safety law concerns

  27-09-2023 15:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning about this week’s top stories with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree. The live stream will begin at 9 a.m. in this story and on the station's Facebook page.Inside the Investigations: Suspected inaccuracies of Austin Water smart metersThe stories they'll discuss include the following:
  
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• Inside the Investigations: Texas patient safety law concerns

  27-09-2023 15:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each week the in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team will get a spotlight on KXAN Live.A conversation will happen Wednesday morning about this week’s top stories with investigative reporter Kelly Wiley and KXAN Live anchor Will DuPree. The live stream will begin at 9 a.m. in this story and on the station's Facebook page.Inside the Investigations: Suspected inaccuracies of Austin Water smart metersThe stories they'll discuss include the following:
  
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• The month will end with plenty of heat

  27-09-2023 13:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The day will start with sunshine before scattered clouds roll in during the afternoon. A weak disturbance will move from west to east leading to a low chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon ending around sunset.This afternoon's high temperatures will be in similar numbers to those the area felt Tuesday. Most maximum temperatures will peak in the middle 90s with an east wind 5 to 10 mph. Today's normal high is 89°.Unseasonably warm temperatures will maintain acros
  
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• Neighbors living near planned rock-crushing plant voice concerns at TCEQ meeting

  27-09-2023 05:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Neighbors living near the site of a planned rock crushing plant in east Austin said they're worried about the impact on their air quality at a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality public meeting Tuesday.The location of the plant is at 300 Edwin Lane, which is less than two miles away from more than 250 single-family homes.
  The TCEQ decided to move forward with the approval process for the plant in April.According to TCEQ, Ranger Excavating Inc. applied to register the rock
  
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• Justin Thomas cares more about winning the Ryder Cup than whether he should be on the US team

  27-09-2023 03:53 via kxan.com
  
  GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — Justin Thomas is too occupied with helping the Americans end three decades of losing the Ryder Cup on European soil to worry about any criticism of him being part of that effort.U.S. captain Zach Johnson had no second thoughts about using one of his six wild-card selections on Thomas, in a slump so severe that he failed to reach the PGA Tour’s postseason for the first time in his career.Neither did the six automatic qualifiers or
  
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• "Our children deserve more" Austin ISD board approves TEA plan for state-appointed monitor

  27-09-2023 03:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --  After weeks of delaying a vote, Austin Independent School District board trustees voted on Tuesday 8-1 to approve a plan for the Texas Education Agency to bring in a state-appointed official to monitor and report back to the agency the way the district handles special education services. Trustee Kevin Foster was the only trustee who voted to reject the proposal.
  The decision means the district remains in control of its special education operations for now. But it
  
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• LIVE: "Our children deserve more" Austin ISD board approves TEA plan for state-appointed monitor

  27-09-2023 03:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --  After weeks of delaying a vote, Austin Independent School District board trustees voted on Tuesday 8-1 to approve a plan for the Texas Education Agency to bring in a state-appointed official to monitor and report back to the agency the way the district handles special education services. Trustee Kevin Foster was the only trustee who voted to reject the proposal.
  The decision means the district remains in control of its special education operations for now. But it
  
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• One-third of Texas foster care caseworkers left their jobs last year as the agency continued putting kids in hotels

  27-09-2023 02:00 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — Lucy, a caseworker for Texas’ child welfare agency, sat in her car outside a major-chain hotel, readying for her work shift. She flipped through the pages of her blue Bible, the size of her palm, trying to find the compassion and will to go inside.While much of the state was about to end the workday or thinking about dinner, Lucy would keep an eye on two kids in the foster care system.Lucy recited Bible passages to herself as she made her way to the hotel room where
  
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• Travis County commissioners OK $744M budget for Central Health after changes

  27-09-2023 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Travis County commissioners approved Central Health's new $744 million budget Tuesday. The vote comes after back and forth between commissioners and the hospital district's board of directors.
  Commissioners also approved a $0.100692 tax rate per $100 valuation for Central Health. This means the average homeowner will pay $56 more per year on property taxes. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Travis County commissioners to revisit Central Health’s budget TuesdayOn Sept. 6, the Central
  
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• Man charged in 2022 'random' sex assault arrested repeatedly while on bond

  27-09-2023 01:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County judge raised the bond Tuesday for a man accused in an alleged 2022 sex assault. The man is now charged with criminal trespass in a second case, and sex assault and aggravated kidnapping in a third.
  Police first arrested Dublas Vasquez in November of last year in connection with a sexual assault near downtown Austin's Sixth Street in June.PREVIOUS: Car in downtown rape arrest linked to additional incident: AffidavitThe Austin Police Department said the case t
  
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• Texas Comptroller: Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive pay back from suspension time

  27-09-2023 01:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Attorney General Ken Paxton cannot receive back-pay for the months he was suspended from office after the Texas House impeached him, the state's top accountant said in a letter Tuesday.Paxton demanded a reimbursement of his $153,750 annual salary for the time period in which he wasn't getting a paycheck. He's also threatening legal action against Comptroller Glenn Hegar if he does not comply, according to a letter obtained by the Texas Tribune."Public servants may contin
  
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• 'Struggling to eat:' Thousands of Texans wait months for SNAP benefits

  27-09-2023 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' Democratic Congressional Delegation is urging the federal government to take "corrective action" against the state Health and Human Services Commission, citing delays in processing food assistance applications that whistleblowers say have denied food assistance to thousands.In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and 12 other U.S. House Democrats said Texas has failed to comply with federal requirements by delaying the admini
  
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• Leander intersection sees frequent left-turn crashes

  27-09-2023 00:15 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Residents near the intersection of US 183 and Heritage Grove Road said they avoid the crossroads as it has a reputation for frequent crashes.Vehicles that pull up where Heritage Grove Road meets US 183 and need to turn left, must cross north and southbound traffic. At this intersection, there is only one stop sign at the end of the road.Viewers reported their concerns about the intersection to KXAN's ReportIt tip line this past week. They said there had been a left-
  
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• Affidavit: Man accused of holding food truck owner at knifepoint

  27-09-2023 00:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One man was arrested after he was accused of robbing a food truck owner at knifepoint in downtown Austin last week, according to an affidavit.The man was identified as Russell Bosley, 59, according to court records. He was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.Shortly after 10 a.m., on Sept. 23, a man told an Austin Police officer that the robbery occurred on Sept. 22 at his food truck in the 700 block of East Seventh Street, according to the affidavi
  
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• Austin Animal Center audit finds poor conditions, challenges with 'no kill' policy

  27-09-2023 00:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council members on the Audit and Finance board will walk through an audit done on the Austin Animal Center Wednesday.
  Austin City Council asked for the audit in July of 2022, KXAN previously reported.The audit focused on why the shelter is overcrowded, why intake has been restricted since September 2022, if the animal shelter is treating animals well and if the City of Austin's set no-kill rate is sustainable.Austin’s animal shelter took in thousands fewer pets
  
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