Austin news

• Texas men's hoops add 2 big recruits to 2024 class in early period

  09-11-2023 23:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team added two top-50 players in the early signing period that began Wednesday.Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry announced the signings of guard Cam Scott and forward Nic Codie to next year's team.PREVIOUS GAME: No. 18 Longhorns men’s hoops clobber Incarnate Word 88-56 in season opener"We were able to get two quality players that we think have really high ceilings," Terry said Thursday. "They have a chance to be really good Longhor
  
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• TDCJ 'correctional officers' linked to drug smuggling ring, indictment says

  09-11-2023 23:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)- Newly released, sealed federal court records revealed inmates, civilians, and multiple Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officers connected to the Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)."DTO trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids into Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities across Texas, using correctional officers and the mail to smuggle narcotics, cell phones, and other contraband into the correctional facilities," acco
  
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• TDCJ 'correctional officers' linked to drug smuggling ring, indictment said

  09-11-2023 23:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Newly released, sealed federal court records revealed inmates, civilians and multiple Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officers connected to the Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO)."DTO trafficked fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids into Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional facilities across Texas, using correctional officers and the mail to smuggle narcotics, cell phones, and other contraband into the correctional facilities,
  
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• Widespread rain continues as temperatures drop

  09-11-2023 23:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Welcome, beneficial rain is falling in many areas following a midday cold front that is sending temperatures tumbling. This will kick off a stretch of cooler than normal mainly gray weather through early next week.Light to moderate rain continues into the overnight hours, but dissipates a bit by dawn Friday as drier air moves in. Many areas will enjoy 0.25"-0.50" in their backyard from this first round of rainfall, with locally heavier totals.Gusty northerly winds ramp up overni
  
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• Austin City Council advances childcare property tax exemption approved by voters Tuesday

  09-11-2023 22:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin City Council approved a resolution to implement a 100% property tax exemption for eligible childcare facilities just two days after Texas voters approved a proposition allowing the city to do so. Roughly 65% of Texans who voted Tuesday approved Proposition 2, which amended the state constitution to provide some financial relief to childcare facilities through property tax exemptions. In anticipation of the proposition’s passage, Distinct 10 Council Mem
  
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• City of Pflugerville increases water utility rates by $20+ a month

  09-11-2023 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — Pflugerville residents will see an increased utility rate on their October water bills, according to the City of Pflugerville.“The average residential water customer will see a $23 per month increase and the average wastewater customer will see a $22.50 increase. The overall effect to an average residential water/wastewater customer in the City of Pflugerville is a $45.50 increase to the total monthly bill,” the city said.According to a release, the
  
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• No. 13 Texas women's hoops thumps Southern in season opener

  09-11-2023 22:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The No. 13 Texas Longhorns women's basketball team held Southern to single-digits in three of four quarters and rolled to an 80-35 win in the season opener Wednesday at Moody Center.Forwards Taylor Jones and Amina Muhammed both notched double-doubles to lead the Longhorns. Muhammed scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Jones scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 12 boards in 22 minutes off the bench.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like
  
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• 8 Texas school districts receive failing scores in TEA's financial accountability ratings

  09-11-2023 22:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Eight school districts in Texas received a failing grade in the Texas Education Agency's financial accountability ratings for the 2022-23 school year.The TEA released the ratings for each school district Monday. Districts are assigned a letter grade and a corresponding financial management rating.The School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) is designed to encourage districts to improve financial resources "to provide the maximum allocation possible for dire
  
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• New $370M State Emergency Operations Center to be built near Austin airport

  09-11-2023 21:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Construction on a $370 million State Emergency Operations Center near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport was approved Thursday by the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Board of Regents.The center will also serve as agency headquarters for the Texas Division of Emergency Management, according to the board.Of the $370 million, $9.7 million will go toward land acquisition, and the remaining will help build the 295,978-square-foot facility.TAMUS said the current S
  
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• Texas Book Festival to delight 50k attendees this weekend

  09-11-2023 20:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — For nearly 30 years, thousands have gathered in downtown Austin for the Texas Book Festival, an annual tradition that unites hundreds of authors and connects them with readers.In advance of the two-day festivities on Saturday and Sunday, the Texas Book Festival will host its First Edition Literary Gala Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m., hosted at the Fairmont Hotel. The event is headlined by authors Ann Patchett, Roger Reeves and Abraham Verghese, per a TBF release.2022 Texas B
  
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• Quinn's back: Ewers to start Saturday vs. TCU 2 weeks after shoulder injury

  09-11-2023 20:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After sitting out two weeks with an injury to his throwing shoulder, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will start Saturday night in Fort Worth against TCU.During Thursday's media availability, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said that Ewers, "had a great week of practice," and that "the team is excited about that." Longhorns remain No. 7 in College Football Playoff rankings, top 8 unchanged"I feel very comfortable with his ability to operate the offense," Sarkisian said. "
  
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• Memo highlights Austin airport safety operations

  09-11-2023 20:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin airport's interim CEO Jim Smith this week sent a memo to the Austin city council and mayor detailing safety operations in place at the airport following two employee deaths this year.
  Last week, Interim Austin City Manager Jesús Garza sent a memo to the mayor and city council stating that he had asked Smith to review the Department of Aviation’s safety programs to “help identify what elements of the airport enterprise is specifically under the City&
  
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• Man sentenced to life in prison following plea to 2019 capital murder charge

  09-11-2023 19:20 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to life in prison Nov. 2 on a capital murder charge in connection with a 2019 shooting in Hays County. PAST COVERAGE: Two men arrested in connection to June 5 San Marcos murderAccording to court documents, 30-year-old Lapear O’Neal Willrich pleaded guilty to the charge for the death of 23-year-old Demarcus Trey Allen on June 5, 2019.In April 2022, another man was convicted and sentenced in connection with Allen’s death. PAST
  
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• Cruise issues voluntary software recall following October crash

  09-11-2023 19:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly two weeks after Cruise announced it was pausing all its driverless vehicle operations, the company announced Wednesday it was voluntarily issuing a recall for a portion of its autonomous vehicle software.Officials wrote that the recall followed "a new analysis of our AV's post-collision response on October 2." That refers to an Oct. 2 crash where a pedestrian was hit by a driver in San Francisco and thrown into the path of a Cruise car nearby, according to reporting
  
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• ESAs inch forward: Texas lawmakers hold marathon hearing on future of education

  09-11-2023 19:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A special committee of House lawmakers on Thursday is considering a massive educational package that would establish an education savings accounts program while improving public school funding.The hearing shows the first signs of progress for education savings accounts in the House across four special legislative sessions. Gov. Greg Abbott this week called lawmakers back into a rare fourth special session after the House failed to pass his plan for "school choice." His plan w
  
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• DPS asks for help, new details in 2001 Mason County cold case

  09-11-2023 18:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) asked for help regarding a 2001 cold case.DPS said the case was a Mason County Texas Ranger Cold Case investigation that involved the death of James “Jimmy” Schuessler.Officials said on Oct. 14, 2001, Schuessler was found dead at his residence in Mason County.Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1 (800) 252-TIPS. Officials said a $3,000 cash reward was also available.More
  
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• Which roads will be closed for Texas Book Festival, Veterans Day Parade?

  09-11-2023 18:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tens of thousands will flock to downtown Austin this weekend, with the Texas Book Festival running Saturday and Sunday and the city's annual Veterans Day Parade planned for Saturday morning.Here's a look at some of full and partial road closures planned throughout downtown this weekend.Veterans Day Parade The 2023 Veterans Day Parade is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in downtown Austin, running through 11:30 a.m. Due to the procession, Congress Avenue will be closed from West Ri
  
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• Following ACL stint, Hozier bringing 2024 tour to Austin's Moody Center

  09-11-2023 17:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Following a headliner stint at the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival, Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Hozier will bring his 2024 Unreal Unearth Tour to the Moody Center.The Austin event venue made the announcement in an Instagram post Thursday morning. Hozier is slated to perform with opener Allison Russell on April 30, per the post.The general public ticket sale begins at noon on Nov. 17, per Ticketmaster. More details about Hozier's tour — including in
  
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• Officials investigating 'hazardous materials' incident at downtown state office building

  09-11-2023 16:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Several agencies are investigating after potentially hazardous materials were found at a state office building in downtown Austin.
  The Austin Fire Department said on social media at 9:20 a.m. that special operations crews and Austin Travis County EMS were investigating the William P. Clements building on West 15th Street in downtown Austin.
  The Department of Public Safety told KXAN there was an "envelope with substance" being investigated.
  ATCEMS said three ambulances and two di
  
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• LIVE: Officials investigating 'hazardous materials' incident at downtown state office building

  09-11-2023 16:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Several agencies are investigating after potentially hazardous materials were found at a state office building in downtown Austin.
  The Austin Fire Department said on social media at 9:20 a.m. that special operations crews and Austin Travis County EMS were investigating the William P. Clements building on West 15th Street in downtown Austin.
  The Department of Public Safety told KXAN there was an "envelope with substance" being investigated.
  ATCEMS said three ambulances and two di
  
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• Weekend Watch: Creek Show, Wurstfest, Seismic Dance Event

  09-11-2023 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you're wanting to find something fun to do this weekend, here are a few ideas of events to check out throughout Central Texas.
  Meteorologist Sean Kelly took a look at what's happening around the area and shared these ideas:FORECAST: Temperatures tumble as rain spreads out
  Creek Show 2023 kicks off Friday evening. The Waterloo Greenway is inviting people to experience nine nights of illuminated art along Waller Creek. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. from Nov. 10 through
  
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• LIVE: Weekend Watch: Creek Show, Wurstfest, Seismic Dance Event

  09-11-2023 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you're wanting to find something fun to do this weekend, here are a few ideas of events to check out throughout Central Texas.
  Meteorologist Sean Kelly took a look at what's happening around the area and shared these ideas:FORECAST: Temperatures tumble as rain spreads out
  Creek Show 2023 kicks off Friday evening. The Waterloo Greenway is inviting people to experience nine nights of illuminated art along Waller Creek. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. from Nov. 10 through
  
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• Austin blocks plan to demolish Rainey Street bungalow as bar empties out

  09-11-2023 15:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- A plan to demolish one of Rainey Street’s last bungalow homes has been met with a wave of resistance by Austin City Hall, leaving a local bar caught in between.Now home to the closing Placeholder Tiki Bar, the owners of the approximately 1,100-square-foot, single-story building at 96 Rainey St. were blocked from demolishing the existing structure to redevelop the site. The Austin Historic Landmark Commission on Nov. 1 declined to vote on the ow
  
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• Witness list nearly 10 pages long for Kaitlin Armstrong trial

  09-11-2023 15:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The State continues calling witnesses Thursday for day six of Kaitlin Armstrong's murder trial.
  Police say she shot and killed pro cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson on May 11, 2022.
  State prosecutors have presented a timeline of GPS, DNA, video and electronic evidence they say pins the murder on Armstrong.Detective addresses Kaitlin Armstrong’s online searches in days, weeks after Wilson’s deathWhile the Defense has not called any of their own witnesses yet, during ope
  
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• Kaitlin Armstrong's first interview with APD played during murder trial

  09-11-2023 15:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The State continues calling witnesses Thursday for day six of Kaitlin Armstrong's murder trial.
  Police say she shot and killed pro cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson on May 11, 2022.
  State prosecutors have presented a timeline of GPS, DNA, video and electronic evidence they say pins the murder on Armstrong.Detective addresses Kaitlin Armstrong’s online searches in days, weeks after Wilson’s deathWhile the Defense has not called any of their own witnesses yet, during ope
  
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• City of Austin to host Senior Job Fair Nov. 16

  09-11-2023 14:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin said Thursday it will host a Senior Job Fair on Nov. 16.  The free fair will be at the Texas Workforce Solutions Capital Area on 9001 N IH-35. It will start at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.The city said the fair will give people a chance to meet potential employers from the city as well as local businesses.   According to the announcement, the potential employers will hire and assist people from all backgrounds including anyone involved in the
  
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• We Are Blood, Austin FC to host blood drive

  09-11-2023 14:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Facing what it called record patient needs for blood transfusions at Central Texas hospitals, We Are Blood (WRB) said it and Austin FC will hold a blood drive Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Q2 Stadium.
  WRB wants people to register in advance but walk-ins will be accepted at the stadium, which is located at 10414 Mc Kalla Pl. Parking is available on site. All donors will receive a free Bleed VERDE t-shirt.We Are Blood cites historic patient need in donor callWe Are Blood
  
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• City council to consider creating science and research district in north Austin

  09-11-2023 14:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City council will discuss creating a mixed-use science and research district in the area surrounding the Domain that could help provide resources for the emerging life sciences industry in Austin.
  The resolution says council will support an amendment to the North Burnet/Gateway Regulating Plan to create new rules for how the area can be developed and used. The plan was created in 2006 as a way to guide the development of the area to make sure it helped tackle the growth challeng
  
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• Undercover sting, rejected car inspections: How emissions testing fraud impacts Austin

  09-11-2023 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:This summer, KXAN reported on state inspectors in Austin and Kyle, arrested for selling fraudulent vehicle inspection reports. Since then, we learned two Texas Department of Public Safety program inspectors in Dallas, were charged with "organized criminal activity" for helping facilitate fraudulent emissions tests. The Travis County Constable's Office Pct. 3, which tracks and investigates these type of felonies, called "clean scans," estimates five million vehicles were fr
  
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• Temperatures tumble as rain spreads out

  09-11-2023 12:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Grab the rain gear - it's cold front day!Timing
  Hill Country: 6AM-9AMAustin-metro: 9AM-2PMEastern counties: 2PM-5PM
  ImpactsWinds - Gusty north winds will follow the cold front, reaching speeds of 15-25 mph. Wind gusts could top 30 mph tonight into Friday morning.Gusty north winds follow today's cold frontTemperatures - Morning lows in the 60s and 70s are likely to be the warmest of the day, as temperatures fall to the 50s and 60s this afternoon.Temperatures nosedive behind today
  
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• MoPac shut down after rollover crash

  09-11-2023 11:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin-Travis County EMS said the southbound lanes of MoPac in North Austin were shutdown Thursday morning after a rollover crash.
  According to ATCEMS, the single-vehicle crash happened on MoPac just north of the Highway 183 intersection around 1:50 a.m.ATCEMS said one adult was taken to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries. The adult was the only person in the car and the only patient, according to ATCEMS.
  Austin Police shut down MoPac after Nov. 9 crash. (
  
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• MoPac reopens after rollover crash

  09-11-2023 11:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Southbound lanes of MoPac in North Austin reopened Thursday morning after Austin-Travis County EMS said they were shut down following a rollover crash.
  According to ATCEMS, the single-vehicle crash happened on MoPac just north of the Highway 183 intersection around 1:50 a.m.ATCEMS said one adult was taken to the hospital with critical life-threatening injuries. The adult was the only person in the car and the only patient, according to ATCEMS.
  Austin Police shut down MoPac
  
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• Although mold is gone, classes for Hays County elementary school not resuming until Monday

  09-11-2023 05:36 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Although Hays Consolidated Independent School District said the mold is gone inside Hemphill Elementary School, classes will not resume until Monday, the district said Wednesday.In an update to Hemphill parents Wednesday, the district said it would take the remainder of the week "until the school is ready for students." Hays County elementary school closed for one week due to mold discoveryLast week, mold was discovered in 13 classrooms, and classes were originally s
  
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• One seriously injured after semi-vehicle crash in northwest Austin

  09-11-2023 04:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a semi-vehicle crash in northwest Austin, which left one person seriously injured, Austin-Travis County EMS said on social media Wednesday.Shortly before 8:40 p.m., medics said the crash happened in the 7300 block of McNeil Drive, which is near Highway 183.Medics said one vehicle went through a metal barrier to the surface street below.One person was found on Highway 183 and another found on McNeil Drive, medics said.
  One person was taken to St. David
  
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• Husband of Austin High School orchestra director dies after October fire

  09-11-2023 02:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man who was injured in a fire that happened at Austin High School last month died on Thursday, according to a GoFundMe that continues raising funds for victims involved.Sam Herrera was the husband of orchestra director Ana Maria Solis-Herrera, the fundraiser said. 3 burned at Austin High School after fuel tanks catch fireOrganizers of the pages said he died surrounded by his family. Herrera and two others were burned outside Austin High School in the concessions area for a &ld
  
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• Williamson County sees some confusion from voters on election day

  09-11-2023 01:28 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Williamson County's elections administrator says this week's election came with the same familiar speedbumps she sees during most elections.Judith Ritchie, elections administrator, said elections ran smoothly for the most part on Tuesday. Some of the county's more heavily foot-trafficked polling sites, like those in grocery stores, had the typical line of locals waiting to cast their ballots.As voting districts between counties become muddied as they grow
  
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• 8 dead in South Texas following fiery crash involving suspected human smuggler

  09-11-2023 00:26 via kxan.com
  
  ZAVALA COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported eight deaths Wednesday following a two-vehicle crash near Batesville, Texas — about 20 minutes south of Uvalde in south Texas.According to DPS, a preliminary investigation found a suspected human smuggler was driving from Houston on U.S. Highway 57 while evading the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office. Texas police: Migrants found ‘suffocating’ in train; 2 deadWhile evading, the suspect's
  
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• RESULTS: How did Texans vote on each of the 14 proposed constitutional amendments?

  09-11-2023 00:09 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Thirteen of the 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution were passed by voters Tuesday.More than 2.5 million votes were cast statewide. With more than 17.7 million registered voters, turnout was around 14.41%, according to the Secretary of State's office. Click here for full election resultsHere's a look at the results for each proposition:Props 4 and 9 each passed with more than 80% of the vote in favor. Prop 4 will increase the homestead tax exemption and provide
  
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