Austin news

• Trump has wide lead in Texas primary poll; performs best against Biden in 2024 matchup

  27-10-2023 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Donald Trump enjoys a wide lead over his Republican primary challengers in a new Texas poll, despite his legal challenges.The former president is the first choice candidate for 62% of Republican voters in the state, according to the poll by the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project.No other Republican candidate has more than 15% support across the state. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis comes in second, at 13%, ahead of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 7%.Vivek Ramas
  
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• How Central Texas schools alert parents, community to threats

  27-10-2023 23:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — School emergencies happen unexpectedly and can cause uncertainty for parents as information is made available, but it is up to school districts to provide them with updates.Many districts use a mass messaging system, such as ParentSquare, to send text messages, emails and robocalls to the contact information provided by parents. That particular system is used by Del Valle ISD and Hutto ISD. However, the specific system may vary by district. Manor ISD investigating threats m
  
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• City makes plan to expand homeless shelter near airport

  27-10-2023 23:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The temporary homeless shelter at the City of Austin's Marshalling Yard near the airport will be expanding.Last month, the emergency shelter reached 200 people staying on site. Photos: A look inside Austin’s Marshalling Yard converted to a homeless shelterIn a city memo from the interim homeless strategy officer, based on the overall performance, they want to increase the capacity to 300 people — the initial maximum.The city said it planned to fill the remaining
  
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• No. 4 Westlake hammers Bowie 62-0 to stay undefeated

  27-10-2023 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 4 Westlake flexed its muscles in a big way, shutting out Bowie 69-0 at home Friday to move to 9-0.The Chaparrals rang up 52 points by halftime and the game was over shortly before it began against the Bulldogs, who actually have a good chance at making the state playoffs as the fourth-place team in the district.
  REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll
  
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• LIVE: Bowie starts tough 2-week stretch vs. Westlake on Friday

  27-10-2023 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Bowie Bulldogs run a gauntlet in the last two weeks of the season in the midst of a potential postseason run, and they'll head to undefeated Westlake on Friday to try to lock up a playoff spot.The game kicks at 7:30 p.m. from Chaparral Stadium and will be streamed on KXAN.com/Westlake and in the video player above starting at 7:20 p.m. for those in the Austin area. Folks outside of the KXAN viewing area can watch the game through our official high school football stream
  
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• Bowie starts tough 2-week stretch vs. Westlake on Friday

  27-10-2023 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Bowie Bulldogs run a gauntlet in the last two weeks of the season in the midst of a potential postseason run, and they'll head to undefeated Westlake on Friday to try to lock up a playoff spot.The game kicks at 7:30 p.m. from Chaparral Stadium and will be streamed on KXAN.com/Westlake and in the video player above starting at 7:20 p.m. for those in the Austin area. Folks outside of the KXAN viewing area can watch the game through our official high school football stream
  
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• On-and-off wet weather continues as we await Sunday cold front

  27-10-2023 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Slow-moving heavy downpours are wetting some areas Friday evening, but will slowly taper off during Friday night football games. Warm, humid weather conditions persist on Saturday with a few scattered downpours as we await a taste of winter on Sunday. View your neighborhood rainfall totalsTexas football fans can expect a warm, muggy day Saturday afternoon for the game in Austin. While there is a 40% chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm, the forecast Saturday looks a little
  
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• Student arrested as person of interest in Manor school threat

  27-10-2023 22:02 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — On Friday, Manor Independent School District confirmed a student was arrested as a person of interest in connection with a threat made against the security of a district school.Officials with the district said the student would face “appropriate disciplinary and legal action” because making a terroristic threat was a felony offense.“Although we cannot release the student’s name due to privacy laws, we can now confirm that there was not and is n
  
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• 3D mammograms coming to Caldwell County for the first time

  27-10-2023 21:31 via kxan.com
  
  LULING, Texas (KXAN) - Patients in Caldwell County will no longer have to travel out of county to get three-dimensional mammograms. Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis announced it is now the first and only hospital in the county to provide the imaging test that combines several breast X-rays to create a 3D picture.
  The new machine is replacing 2D imagining the hospital previously offered. It's worth noting, according to the hospital, it's also the only permanent spot in the county offering any mammo
  
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• Man charged in investigation after woman's body found in northwest Austin fire, affidavit says

  27-10-2023 20:57 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was arrested in connection with a September homicide investigation where a woman’s body was set on fire in northwest Austin, according to a Travis County affidavit.The affidavit said Andrew Alexander Cole, 45, faced a charge of tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair—a second-degree felony. Cole remained booked into the
  
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• 'Murder-for-hire' trial against former Austin car dealer begins next week

  27-10-2023 20:31 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Austin residents will stand trial next month for their alleged roles in the 2020 kidnapping and murder of a Tennessee couple. PREVIOUS: Texas auto dealer exec Erik Charles Maund indicted in murder-for-hire of Nashville coupleErik Charles Maund, 48, a former partner with the Austin-area Maund Automotive Group, faces felony charges of murder for hire, conspiracy to
  
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• New bike lanes on Barton Springs Road gets warm welcome from drivers, cyclists

  27-10-2023 18:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In late August, the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department reduced Barton Springs Rd from two lanes to one between South Lamar Blvd and Azie Morton Rd. That created a dedicated and protected bike lane for cyclists on the right lane of Barton Springs Rd both eastbound and westbound."It's a much safer experience and much more calm experience for such a dense pedestrian-heavy zone within our city," Lewis Leff, with the Austin Transportation and Public Works Departme
  
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• New bike lanes on Barton Springs Road get warm welcome from drivers, cyclists

  27-10-2023 18:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In late August, the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department reduced Barton Springs Road from two lanes to one between South Lamar Boulevard and Azie Morton Road. That created a dedicated and protected bike lane for cyclists on the right lane of Barton Springs both eastbound and westbound."It's a much safer experience and much more calm experience for such a dense pedestrian-heavy zone within our city," Lewis Leff, with the Austin Transportation and Public Works De
  
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• Austin Film Festival celebrates its 30th year

  27-10-2023 18:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Film Festival announced its entire slate of programming for its 30th anniversary. The film festival began Thursday and will run through Nov. 2.“For 30 years, AFF has been a platform for open discussion, a place where the screenwriting community comes together to pass on experience, craft, and the writers’ journey from script to screen,” organizers said.According to a statement, highlights from the program included a screening of Jeff Nichols&rsq
  
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• 'Spellbinding experience' at downtown Austin power plant for Halloween season

  27-10-2023 18:21 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Art Deco building left standing from the old Seaholm Power Plant in downtown Austin will be turned into a “spellbinding experience" this weekend.The park around what was the pump house for the old power plant, the Seaholm intake facility, will host a spooky family-friendly experience with its first-ever "Trail or Treat" Halloween party.“We just like bringi
  
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• Cruise suspends operations. What’s next for AVs in Austin?

  27-10-2023 18:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The largest operator of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Austin announced via social media that it would be suspending all operations to “rebuild public trust.” Cruise’s fleet makes up roughly 80% of the AVs roaming across Austin’s streets. Austinites will likely observe fewer of these vehicles with the Cruise pause, but there are still three other AV operators in the city, according to a city backup presentation.  MORE: Cruise to pause all dri
  
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• Pilot program brings private security to Republic Square

  27-10-2023 18:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Republic Square is the latest location downtown to implement private security.The pilot program, run by the Downtown Austin Alliance, began Oct. 1. Security guards monitor the park from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. It will run through March 31.KXAN is speaking with the Downtown Austin Alliance this morning about how the program is going. Check back for updates.Private security elsewhere downtownIn August, a group of businesses near Sixth and Brazos Streets pitched in to hire private securi
  
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• Day 5: Testimony continues in APD officer's murder trial Friday

  27-10-2023 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The state will continue to bring witnesses Friday in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos.
  Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.Previous coverage of this trial:Medical Examiner walks through autopsy of Mike Ramos in APD officer’s murder trialAPD officers testif
  
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• Day 5: APD Officer Christopher Taylor's statement read during murder trial

  27-10-2023 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The state continued to bring witnesses Friday on the fifth day of trial for Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos.
  Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Friday to provide live updates on social media platform X:
  Day 5: Testimony continues today
  
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• Friday is the deadline to apply for ballot by mail

  27-10-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Secretary of State's Office has sent out a reminder that Friday is an important deadline for Texas voters in the Nov. 7 election.
  Friday is the last day voters can apply for a ballot by mail.The Secretary of State's office said to be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must:
  be 65 years or older;be sick or disabled;be out of the county on election day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance; orbe expected to give birth within three w
  
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• Austin to cut ribbon on Green School Park at Sanchez Elementary

  27-10-2023 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Austin Parks Foundation and the Austin Independent School District are hosting a public celebration Friday morning for a school park that the city says benefits both students and neighbors.
  The city is inviting the public to an outdoor ribbon cutting ceremony to the Sanchez Elementary Green School Park at 11 a.m. at 64 Waller St. According to the city, this park combines nature play, new trees,
  
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• Efforts to make desalination cheaper than tap water

  27-10-2023 14:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- There are water scarcity concerns worldwide, but there's plenty of salt water in the world's oceans. However, you can't drink salt water, so scientists at MIT's Device Research Laboratory are attempting to create desalination technology. The hope is that the technology will turn salt water to fresh water and open up doors to more water access to people and places where it's hard to come by.KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with Yang Zhong, a Graduate Student at MIT's Device R
  
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• Continued staffing challenges pose security risk at TDCJ, report says

  27-10-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is still operating at "critical staffing levels" due to ongoing hiring and retention issues, according to TDCJ's September self-evaluation report submitted to the Sunset Advisory Commission in preparation for next year's review cycle during the 89th Legislative Session.
  TDCJ told KXAN progress has been made in recent months, but staffing continues to be one of its top priorities.RELATED: Chronically understaffed Texas prisons set sta
  
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• Virgin Atlantic to suspend Austin-London route in January

  27-10-2023 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning stories for Friday, Oct. 27.
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Virgin Atlantic announced Friday morning it plans to suspend its route that connects Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to London Heathrow early next year.
  The British airline said in a release it plans to suspend services between London and Austin following a "persistent softening in corporate demand, specifically the tech sector." Austin airport passenger totals still on track fo
  
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• Airline announces plans to suspend route between Austin and London

  27-10-2023 13:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An airline announced Friday morning it plans to suspend its route that connects the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to the London Heathrow airport early next year.
  Virgin Atlantic, a British airline, said in a release it plans to suspend services between London and Austin following a "persistent softening in corporate demand, specifically the tech sector." Jan 2022: Virgin Atlantic starts flying to and from AUS in May 2022The last services to Austin will operate on Januar
  
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• City of Austin, APH, Austin ISD to host health fair Saturday

  27-10-2023 13:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin, Austin Public Health and the Austin Independent School District will hold a health fair Saturday.
  The Fiesta de Salud Health Fair lasts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Palm Elementary School on 7601 Dixie Dr.   The city said the fair will feature live music and entertainment, community resources, health screenings and immunizations for children and adults.   APH could soon test wastewater for influenza, RSV indicators“A good first step to
  
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• International buyer interest in Central Texas housing holds steady, report says

  27-10-2023 12:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Board of Realtors said Thursday international buyers remain interested in investing in the Central Texas housing market.The Central Texas International Homebuyers report from ABoR said international buyers purchased $609 million in residential real estate between April 2022 through March 2023. That is similar to the level seen in the same period in 2021-22 ($613 million).Buying vs. renting housing in Austin
  “The Central Texas region continues to be a magnet
  
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• United Airlines flight attendants picket outside Austin airport

  27-10-2023 12:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – United Airlines flight attendants in Austin on Thursday took part in an international effort to negotiate a new contract with the airline.
  Dozens of flight attendants picketed as part of a "day of action" from their union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA). According to the union, similar pickets took place in nearly 20 airports around the world. A busy summer pushes United Airlines to a $1.14 billion profit, but fuel cost will hurt 4Q resultsUnited reported on
  
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• Williamson County elections employee fired after votes go uncounted

  27-10-2023 12:23 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said a county elections employee has been terminated after a programming error resulted in 18 votes on a sales and use tax election going uncounted.Gravell said the error was limited to voters deciding on a proposition in Emergency Services District #9 which serves the Round Rock and Leander area.He said the voters affected all live in a part of the county that was annexed into ESD #9 back in 2021 which was not properly
  
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• Watch Live: Officials hold briefing on Maine mass killing

  27-10-2023 12:03 via kxan.com
  
  LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Shocked and fearful Maine residents kept to their homes Friday as hundreds of heavily armed police and FBI agents searched intensely for Robert Card, an Army reservist authorities say fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the worst mass killing in state history.Much of Thursday’s search focused on a large property belonging to one of Card’s relatives in rural Bowdoin, where trucks and vans full of armed agents from the
  
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• Fearful Maine residents remain behind locked doors on day 2 of search for mass killing suspect

  27-10-2023 12:03 via kxan.com
  
  LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Shocked and fearful Maine residents kept to their homes Friday as hundreds of heavily armed police and FBI agents searched intensely for Robert Card, an Army reservist who authorities say fatally shot 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in the worst mass killing in state history.Much of Thursday’s search focused on a large property belonging to one of Card’s relatives in rural Bowdoin, where trucks and vans full of armed agents from
  
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• Authorities scour woods, water and homes searching for suspect in Maine mass shooting

  27-10-2023 12:03 via kxan.com
  
  LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities scoured the woods and hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sent dive teams with sonar to the bottom of a river and scrutinized a possible suicide note Friday in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of fatally shooting 18 people and wounding 13 at a bowling alley and a bar in Maine.Nearly two days after the shooting, law enforcement officials gave no indication that they have any leads on Robert Card's whe
  
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• Texas high school football scores for Thursday, Oct. 26

  27-10-2023 05:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — McCallum clinched an eighth consecutive playoff spot with a 35-24 win over Travis in Class 5A District 12 play Thursday.Westwood appears to have locked up a playoff spot in 6A-District 25 with a 28-21 win over Manor, but there's still a lot to be decided in that district before the final week of the regular season next week.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] a
  
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• Cruise to pause all driverless operations as a way to 'rebuild public trust'

  27-10-2023 04:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a statement on social media Thursday, Cruise said it is pausing all driverless operations as it takes "steps to rebuild public trust.""Part of this involves taking a hard look inwards and at how we do work at Cruise, even if it means doing things that are uncomfortable or difficult," the self-driving car company said in the statement. Cruise expands driverless rideshare services in Austin, but not everyone is on boardTherefore, the company said during this pause it will exami
  
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• Texas judge orders state not to release A-F school ratings after districts sue

  27-10-2023 02:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Travis County judge on Thursday ordered the Texas Education Agency not to release its annual A-F school ratings after more than 100 school districts sued the education commissioner over the anticipated changes to how the scores will be calculated.
  The districts, including Dallas ISD and Pflugerville ISD, allege the state agency and its top leader did not provide adequate notice, under Texas law, of changes to how the 2022-23 A-F rating will be calculated. The school leade
  
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• LIVE: Texas judge orders state not to release A-F school ratings after districts sue

  27-10-2023 02:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Travis County judge on Thursday ordered the Texas Education Agency not to release its annual A-F school ratings after more than 100 school districts sued the education commissioner over the anticipated changes to how the scores will be calculated.
  The districts, including Dallas ISD and Pflugerville ISD, allege the state agency and its top leader did not provide adequate notice, under Texas law, of changes to how the 2022-23 A-F rating will be calculated. The school leade
  
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• Judge grants temporary injunction in lawsuit over TEA A-F ratings

  27-10-2023 02:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Education Agency is prohibited from assigning A-F performance ratings for the 2022-23 school year until the court issues another order or a final judgment in the suit, whichever occurs first.Pflugerville Independent School District, Del Valle Independent School District and multiple other districts are suing the head of the Texas Education Agency over the agency’s decision to change how the state grades schools. Lawsuit: Texas school districts ask court to tempor
  
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• Westwood picks up huge win to help playoff position 28-21 over Manor

  27-10-2023 01:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westwood and Manor slugged it out for four quarters and the Warriors came away with a 28-21 win over Manor to just about solidify a state playoff spot Thursday at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.Westwood running back Demani Stewart scored on a 14-yard run with 7:25 left in the third quarter to break a 21-all tie and that ended up being the only score of the second half for either team.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help
  
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• KBVO Game of the Week: Manor, Westwood clash in key 6A-25 matchup

  27-10-2023 01:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Manor and Westwood meet Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in the KBVO Game of the Week to hopefully provide clarity to a wild District 6A-25 playoff picture.Vandegrift is the clear No. 1 in the district, but after that six of the seven remaining teams are either tied at 3-2 or a game behind at 2-3. Westwood is one of the 3-2 teams while Manor needs to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The top four teams in the district advance to the postseason with Vista R
  
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• Northwestern State calls off remaining games following death of Cedar Park player

  27-10-2023 01:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A college football program canceled the final four games of its season following the death of a Cedar Park native earlier in October.Northwestern State University, an FCS program in Natchitoches, Louisiana, called off its remaining games and head coach Brad Laird resigned after junior Ronnie Caldwell, 21, died Oct. 12. Caldwell went to Cedar Park High School, then attended Tyler Junior College before transferring to NSU.Maalik Murphy will start at QB for No. 7 Texas Longhor
  
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• 'It was scary': Central Texas woman recounts moment she saw a tornado

  27-10-2023 01:11 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- A tornado touched down in Central Texas Thursday morning.Tornado Warnings were briefly issued in various counties across the KXAN viewing area.RELATED COVERAGE: Tornadoes spotted as severe weather moves through Central Texas'Hands were still shaking'Some viewers sent us videos of the twister that was spotted near Lockhart. One of those people was Jennifer Vela."When I realized what it was, I had one of those 'Oh, heck. What do I do?' moments," Vela said.While on her
  
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• One person ejected in east Austin crash, ATCEMS says

  27-10-2023 00:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person was ejected after a vehicle struck a guardrail in east Austin on Thursday, Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media.Shortly before 5 p.m., medics responded to the 600 block of 183 Toll SB for reports of a rollover, which then led to the vehicle crashing into the guardrail.One adult person, who was not identified Thursday, was taken to St. David's South with "potentially serious" injuries, medics said. One additional person on the scene refused EMS assistance, med
  
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• Maalik Murphy will start at QB for No. 7 Texas Longhorns on Saturday vs. BYU

  27-10-2023 00:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy will start at quarterback for the No. 7 Texas Longhorns against BYU on Saturday.Murphy, named the backup quarterback during training camp, will fill in for Quinn Ewers while Ewers recovers from a shoulder injury he suffered last week against Houston.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/newslettersLonghorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday
  
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• Is the recent storm going to fill Lake Travis?

  27-10-2023 00:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A classic October rainstorm fueled by tropical moisture from Hurricane Otis led to over 8 inches of welcome rainfall in parts of the Hill Country Wednesday night. But with the rain falling on drought-stricken soil, how much of an impact will it make on our lake levels? KXAN First Warning Weather forecastRain totals were as high as 8.34" on the San Saba/Llano County line, and 7.41" near Castell in western Llano County. Heavy rain falling in a short period of time briefly boosted
  
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