Austin news

• HCSO: Hays High School student arrested by deputies after 'joke' threat

  17-10-2023 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A 16-year-old student at Hays High School is facing a criminal charge after deputies said a violent threat got shared on social media Monday as a "joke."
  The Hays County Sheriff's Office confirmed deputies took the student in question into custody Tuesday morning and charged the teenager with false alarm, which is a state jail felony. This stemmed from investigations over a threat referring to school violence.San Marcos CISD employee will be charged for bringing
  
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• FDA likely to ban hair straightening products containing harmful chemicals

  17-10-2023 23:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will likely ban some hair straightening products that contain ingredients thought to increase the risk of hormone-related cancers. The FDA released a rule proposal to ban the use of formaldehyde and other chemicals that release formaldehyde in products designed to straighten or smooth hair. Before the ban becomes official, likely in April 2024, the FDA is accepting public comment, which can be submitted online. Research in rec
  
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• Austin-Round Rock metro area housing has most inventory on hand in more than 8 years, ABoR says

  17-10-2023 23:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Board of Realtors said Tuesday in a news release that the housing inventory in the Austin-Round Rock MSA reached four months of inventory -- the highest level in more than eight years.There are four months of inventory on hand, officials noted. However, the market experienced a drop in closed sales, which decreased by 18.2% year over year, according to ABoR. It also pointed to higher mortgage rates helping to a dip in prices. Want to buy a house? Here’s how much
  
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• Austin housing inventory reaches 8-year high, ABoR says

  17-10-2023 23:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Board of Realtors said Tuesday in a news release that the housing inventory in the Austin-Round Rock MSA reached four months of inventory -- the highest level in more than eight years.There are four months of inventory on hand, officials noted. However, the market experienced a drop in closed sales, which decreased by 18.2% year over year, according to ABoR. It also pointed to higher mortgage rates helping to a dip in prices. Want to buy a house? Here’s how much
  
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• A possible solution to Austin's declining Black population?

  17-10-2023 23:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)—From art to food and music—some give credit to Black Austinites for playing an integral role in shaping the city into what it is today.
  Yet over at least a 10-year period, Austin's Black population continues to decline, while the overall population grows.
  To address more Black people leaving year over year, there's one group in particular taking a solution-oriented approach that it hopes might help sustain or even grow that population.The African American Leadership Ins
  
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• How did Texas' Congressional delegation vote for Speaker of the House?

  17-10-2023 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is the live stream of Tuesday's vote from the U.S. House floor.
  (KXAN) — Following Kevin McCarthy's removal as Speaker of the House on Oct. 3, Republicans have struggled to find a replacement.A vote on the House floor Tuesday would have seen Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, elected to the Speaker position, but he fell short of the 217 votes needed, with 20 Republican defections.The Texas delegation makes up 38 members of Congress: 25 Republicans and 13 Democrats.In T
  
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• Tesla outlines workforce, ecological programs in Travis County

  17-10-2023 22:46 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A year and a half after it opened its Austin gigafactory, Tesla officials outlined to Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday some of its community programming efforts and education advancements for the region.Giga Texas has invested more than $750,000 in programming through its community partners, including the Austin Area Urban League, Workforce Solutions Teacher Externships and Del Valle ISD. Some collaborations have included educational programs like Austin V
  
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• Plastic recycling can be challenging

  17-10-2023 22:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- You may be one of the hundreds, or thousands, of recyclers who may not understand what plastics can or cannot be recycled. You're not alone.Recycling plastics creates confusion trying to figure out what PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, and PS all mean. Combine with the numbers that appear inside the recycle icon and you have a recipe for indecision.Rich Segal spoke with Paul Bestgen from Austin Resource Recovery about what plastics the city takes. He said that recycling in general can
  
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• Nearly $1.3 billion on City Council agenda for convention center expansion

  17-10-2023 22:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council is expected to vote on two contracts Thursday worth nearly $1.3 billion to move forward with its Austin Convention Center expansion project.
  The first contract is with LMN and Page, two companies, for design and engineering. That contract is worth $65 million, according to council documents.
  The other is for $1.2 billion and will go toward construction and preconstruction. That contract is with JE Dunn and Turner, documents show.Austin Convention Center to un
  
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• Local teen wins international Fortnite contest, splits $1 million with gaming partner 

  17-10-2023 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – A Round Rock teenager and his gaming partner won an international Fortnite competition in Denmark on Sunday, snagging $1 million in prize money. Cooper Smith, 16, competed with his 19-year-old partner from Michigan, Matthew "Mero" Faitel,in the Fortnite Champion Series 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark, from Oct. 13 through Oct. 15, beating out dozens of the best Fortnite players from all over the world. “I put in a lot of preparation. I mean, I was pla
  
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• Mexican, English, German are largest ethnic groups in Texas

  17-10-2023 21:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Mexican, English and German are the three largest racial or ethnic groups in Texas, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.The agency reported state- and county-level data based on results from the 2020 Census, which found Texas was home to more than 29.1 million people.The state's population has since passed 30 million, with July 2022 estimates, released in January, showing 30,029,572 people live in the state.For the first time, respondents to the census in 2020 who
  
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• Dramatic warming trend underway

  17-10-2023 21:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A warming trend is underway as sunshine and south winds return to the area, following a brief taste of winter Tuesday morning. Morning low temperatures Tuesday nearly dropped to the freezing mark in the coldest rural valleys.Daytime and nighttime temperatures warm steadily this week until record heat returns Saturday. Forecast high temperatures for Formula One races at COTA will be unseasonably hot with dry sunshine. PHOTOS: Solar eclipse passes over Austin areaExtended forecast
  
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• Council to vote on city manager search next step

  17-10-2023 21:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council is expected to vote Thursday on whether to move forward with a search firm that will help the City recruit and hire its next city manager.
  City of Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said Tuesday that the City received 12 applications from search firms but ultimately decided to move forward with Mosaic Public Partners. Council will have final say on whether the City can move forward with that selection.Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk is out, some city council members
  
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• Group raises awareness on Texas constitutional amendment to invest $1B in state parks

  17-10-2023 20:39 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group called the Texas Coalition for State Parks is trying to spread awareness about a proposition up for vote in Texas' upcoming election that would fund state parks.LIST: The 14 constitutional amendments Texas will vote on in NovemberProposition 14, or Senate Joint Resolution 74, is a proposed Texas constitutional amendment “providing for the creation of t
  
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• Frozen treat maker breaks ground on Lockhart factory

  17-10-2023 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) - On Tuesday, the Ziegenfelder Company broke ground on its new manufacturing factory in Lockhart, about 30 miles south of Austin. The company makes Twin Pops and Monster Pops, frozen treats you can find in stores across the country."We have a lot of customers, a lot of consumers in Texas. Texas is one of our largest states," Ziegenfelder Company President Kevin Hel
  
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• Harlem Globetrotters to perform at Moody Center

  17-10-2023 19:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a slam dunk for the Moody Center, with the Harlem Globetrotters slated to perform at the Austin venue.The Harlem Globetrotters will return to the Moody Center on Feb. 8, with a live show full of dribbling, spinning and dunking as they battle the Washington Generals.Tickets go on sale Oct. 23 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased on the Harlem Globetrotters' website or on the Moody Center's website. Patrons will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m., with tho
  
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• Georgetown voters to consider $130 million bond election

  17-10-2023 19:28 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) —The City of Georgetown has asked voters to consider a $130 million bond package. If approved, the package's four propositions would allow the city to expand and build new city facilities to accommodate a growing population.Proposition A, which costs $56 million, would allow the City of Georgetown to build an 80,000 square-foot Customer Service Center.City Manager David Morgan said right now, the city is leasing space to accommodate the need for office space. He sa
  
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• Fuel supplier announces new AUS pipeline to increase fuel delivery reliability

  17-10-2023 19:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The primary jet fuel supplier to the Austin Bergstrom Airport (AUS) – Flint Hills Resources – announced Tuesday its plans to build a pipeline to make delivering fuel to the airport easier and more reliable. Currently, AUS is the largest airport in the country to rely on daily truck deliveries for its jet fuel. In order to adequately supply AUS with its daily jet fuel supply, Flint Hills Resources must send 8,000-gallon tanker trucks to travel 40 miles round
  
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• $230 million expansion for Ascension Seton Williamson, 400+ new jobs to be created

  17-10-2023 19:07 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Ascension Seton Williamson in Round Rock is about to undergo major expansion efforts.
  The hospital on Tuesday announced a $230 million expansion, which will "meet the needs of the growing Round Rock area," according to a press release.
  The expansion will include a six-story tower of 216,000 square feet which will house new operating rooms and additional bed capacity.
  The expansion will include: 
  160 new beds total capacityTwo new operating rooms  Expand
  
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• How to get to, from the F1 United States Grand Prix in Austin

  17-10-2023 18:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Drivers, start your engine! The Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix returns to Circuit of the Americas in Austin this weekend.More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, which features racing and live music. With so many people expected to head out to southeast Austin this weekend, here's what you need to know to get to and from COTA safely.Are there any parking passes available?All on-site parking at COTA requires a pre-purchased parking pass, whi
  
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• I-35 frontage road reopens in Round Rock after crash

  17-10-2023 18:11 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The southbound Interstate 35 frontage road across from the Round Rock Premium Outlets reopened just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after it had been closed for several hours following a crash, Round Rock Police said on social media.Someone was injured in the crash, the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, states. It happened in the 4500 block of the southbound
  
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• Crash shuts down I-35 frontage road in Round Rock

  17-10-2023 18:11 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — The southbound Interstate 35 frontage road across from the Round Rock Premium Outlets is closed Tuesday after a crash, Round Rock Police said on social media.Someone was injured in the crash, the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, states. It happened in the 4500 block of the southbound I-35 frontage road.The southbound road is closed from Westinghouse
  
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• Travis County receives funds for DWI program's alcohol monitoring devices

  17-10-2023 17:46 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Funding accepted by Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday will help aid and add new resources to the county's DWI Court Program, a 15-year-long endeavor to counsel and assist repeat DWI offenders and divert them from jail.Judge Elisabeth Earle oversees Travis County Court No. 7 and has served as judge of the DWI Court Program for the past 15 years. That program works with high-risk DWI offenders and offers both individual and group counseling services alon
  
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• Travis County burn ban extended to October 24

  17-10-2023 17:16 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A burn ban for Travis County has been extended to the end of the month.Travis County Court Commissioners voted Tuesday to extend the ban until Oct. 24 due to forecasted weather conditions, according to the county's social media. The ban was due to expire on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
  The burn ban means that outdoor burning is not allowed in unincorporated county areas.
  The county also asked residents to use caution when grilling and conducting hot works operations.
  For de
  
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• Studies: Hearing aids can reduce risk of dementia, but people may not be buying them over the counter

  17-10-2023 16:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's been exactly one year since the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids on Oct. 17, 2022.
  With more than 37 million adults suffering from hearing loss, usually only 20% get treatment. That's why the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or ASHA, thought this move would be a game changer, until they did a survey.“The polling results were a little bit underwhelming, with only about 2% of individuals actually going to get t
  
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• WATCH LIVE: Jim Jordan loses first bid for Speaker on House floor — Live coverage

  17-10-2023 16:15 via kxan.com
  
  NEXSTAR (The Hill) — The House held its first vote Tuesday for a new Speaker, but GOP nominee Jim Jordan (Ohio) didn't have the votes — at least on this ballot.Today's session of the U.S. House of Representatives is being livestreamed above.Jordan gained some major momentum on Monday, picking up endorsements from four key players who had initially said they would not vote for him: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (Ala.), along with Reps. Ann Wagner (Mo.), Ken
  
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• WATCH LIVE: Jim Jordan faces Speakership test on House floor — Live coverage

  17-10-2023 16:15 via kxan.com
  
  NEXSTAR (The Hill) — The House is set to vote Tuesday for Speaker, but it appears GOP nominee Jim Jordan (Ohio) doesn't have the votes — at least on the first ballot.Today's session of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is expected to include the vote for Speaker, will be livestreamed within this story beginning shortly before 12 p.m. ET.Jordan gained some major momentum on Monday, picking up endorsements from four key players who had initially said they would not vote for
  
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• WATCH: Jim Jordan faces Speakership test on House floor — Live coverage

  17-10-2023 16:15 via kxan.com
  
  NEXSTAR (The Hill) — The House is set to vote Tuesday for Speaker, but it appears GOP nominee Jim Jordan (Ohio) doesn't have the votes — at least on the first ballot.Today's session of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is expected to include the vote for Speaker, will be livestreamed within this story beginning shortly before 12 p.m. ET.Jordan gained some major momentum on Monday, picking up endorsements from four key players who had initially said they would not vote for
  
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• US regulators investigate GM's Cruise division over incidents involving pedestrians in roadways

  17-10-2023 14:14 via kxan.com
  
  U.S. regulators are investigating General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle division after receiving reports of incidents where vehicles may not have used proper caution around pedestrians in roadways.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the reports involve automated driving system equipped vehicles encroaching on pedestrians present in or entering roadways, including crosswalks. This could raise the risk of a vehicle striking a pedestrian, which could result in severe in
  
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• Gov. Abbott gets sneak peak of race car ahead of Formula 1 US Grand Prix

  17-10-2023 12:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix begins this weekend, and Gov. Greg Abbott got a sneak peak Monday at one of the race cars.Abbott was joined by Circuit of The Americas chairman and co-founder Bobby Epstein for a car presentation at the governor's mansion. Abbott said since F1 has been at COTA, it's brought in about $10 billion in tourism for the state.Furthermore, he said it has exposed Texas to 400 million people across the entire world. Additionally, Abbott said t
  
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• Warming trend kicks into high gear late week

  17-10-2023 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's been a bit since we've had to reach for the jackets... but we wouldn't judge you if you did this morning. It's cold!Morning temperatures in the 30s and 40s will warm well into the upper 70s later today. Plenty of sunshine, dry skies and light winds will make for a beautiful October day across Central Texas.Tuesday afternoon forecast highsOur weather pattern remains relatively unchanged the next few days as high pressure generally remains over the western U.S. and a trough s
  
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• From winter this morning to late summer by Friday

  17-10-2023 12:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas weather the next few days will feature a taste of all four seasons. Today will be sunny with highs headed to the middle to upper 70s, an autumn feel.This comes after morning lows that made it feel like winter as many minimum readings were in the mid to upper 30s to low 40s.The winds are back out of the south to southeast this afternoon allowing for a warming into the 80s on Wednesday and Thursday for a taste of spring.A cold front will slide across the area Thursda
  
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• Williamson County announces Segment 1 of Samsung Highway open

  17-10-2023 04:28 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- On Monday, Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles announced Segment 1 of Samsung Highway opened on Monday, according to a news release from the county.According to the county, Segment 1 is a four-lane portion of the Samsung Highway project constructed to reduce curves on County Road 404 and increase safety. Once the roadway is complete, it will connect Farm-to-Market Road 3349 to Farm-to-Market Road 973, which is south of the Samsung plant, the re
  
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• Biden will head to Israel and Jordan as concerns mount that Israel-Hamas conflict will spread

  17-10-2023 02:52 via kxan.com
  
  TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Israel and onto Jordan Wednesday to meet with both Israeli and Arab leadership, as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.
  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Biden’s travel to Israel as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire and as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory to
  
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• Texas men's hoops ranked No. 18 in preseason AP poll, hosts Orange-White scrimmage Tuesday

  17-10-2023 02:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance last season, the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team checked in at No. 18 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday.The Longhorns are the third-highest ranked Big 12 Conference team in the AP Top 25 with Kansas earning the No. 1 ranking and Houston at No. 7. Baylor is the remaining Big 12 team in the rankings at No. 20. The Longhorns were also picked to finish third in the Big 12 behind the Jayhawks and Cougars.
  Full
  
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• Checking President Biden's claims over border wall funding

  17-10-2023 00:01 via kxan.com
  
  As campaign season nears, politicians are turning up the volume on campaign rhetoric. To cut through the noise, we’re launching Campaign Context, a weekly series providing clarity on the messages you’re hearing from candidates on the campaign trail. We’re digging past the politics and into the facts to provide you with the transparent, spin-free information you need to make informed decisions this election season.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Biden Administration recently anno
  
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