Austin news

• Why did Nikki Haley outperform Donald Trump in Austin?

  30-04-2024 23:54 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) — With the Texas presidential primaries in th
  
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• Price tag could go up for north Austin hotel meant to house people who are homeless

  30-04-2024 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council could vote Thursday to nearly double the amount of money it will spend renovating a former hotel in north Austin which is intended to become permanent supportive housing for people who are disabled and have a "documented history of chronic homelessness."
  The Bungalows at Century Park, formerly the Texas Bungalows Hotel and Suites, on Burnet Road will be run by Integral Care when opened. It is expected to provide 60 beds.
  Of the more than $2.3 million addition
  
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• 6 pickleball courts now open in Williamson County

  30-04-2024 22:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Several pickleball courts are now open in Williamson County, after county officials celebrated its completion of the project on Tuesday.Officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday at Williamson County Regional Park in Leander to celebrate all six pickleball courts now being open to the public, a news release from the county said.Williamson County officials celebrated the opening of six pickleball courts in the county on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting. (Courtesy: Williamso
  
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• Advocacy group submits petition to San Marcos for changes to police accountability

  30-04-2024 22:20 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — A signed petition was filed Tuesday in San Marcos asking for changes to police accountability.
  San Marcos advocacy group Mano Amiga Safe Communities submitted the petition asking for five changes, which the group calls the "Hartman Reforms." These are named in reference to former San Marcos Police Sgt. Ryan Hartman, who was involved in a fatal crash that killed a woman in 2020. San Marcos police officer: ‘I caused the death of somebody by me not paying atte
  
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• State leaders react to UT Austin campus protests

  30-04-2024 21:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Protests on the University of Texas at Austin campus continued Monday, leading to 79 arrests and law enforcement response from local and state agencies.
  Last week, a pro-Palestinian protest at UT led to 57 arrests with charges ultimately dropped due to not having "sufficient probable cause." The UT protests echoed a nationwide trend of college campus protests.
  After these protests, many state leaders shared their reactions to the protests on social media.
  Gov. Greg Abbott s
  
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• Travis County, UT collaborate on opioid overdose dashboard

  30-04-2024 21:34 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County approved an agreement with the University of Texas at Austin Tuesday to access real-time data on overdoses within the county.The agreement centers around the use of the Texans Connecting Overdose Prevention Efforts (TxCOPE) platform, a dataset that tracks overdose incidents as well as naloxone distribution and supply levels within the county. The goal of the collaboration is for county leaders to be able to better tailor their response and treatm
  
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• US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say

  30-04-2024 20:02 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, The Associated Press has learned, a historic shift to generations of American drug policy that could have wide ripple effects across the country.
  The DEA’s proposal, which still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, would recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation&rsquo
  
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• UT students made up less than half of Monday protest arrests, UT source says

  30-04-2024 19:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A total of 79 people were arrested Monday after a group of pro-Palestine protesters gathered on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin’s campus in the afternoon and set up several tents in the area. The group used metal chains and tables in an attempt to barricade themselves on the lawn.The university issued a dispersal order around 1 p.m. Monday, and law enforcement, including UTPD, Austin Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety, responded short
  
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• Monday's UT protest arrest cases remain active, County Attorney says

  30-04-2024 19:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A total of 79 people were arrested Monday after a group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin’s campus in the afternoon and set up several tents in the area. The group used metal chains and tables in an attempt to barricade themselves on the lawn.The university issued a dispersal order around 1 p.m. Monday, and law enforcement, including UTPD, Austin Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety, responded sho
  
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• Travis County previews emergency response efforts pre-wildfire season

  30-04-2024 19:26 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County leaders along with emergency services district personnel discussed Tuesday some of the risks and preventative measures underway ahead of the 2024 wildfire season.Blake Clampffer, chief deputy emergency management coordinator with Travis County's Office of Emergency Management, said Tuesday the state of Texas has seen an increased loss of homes, businesses and property in recent years due to wildfires. None, however, have compared to the volume of
  
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• Proposal looks into changing model of care for veterans

  30-04-2024 17:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- There is a proposed change over how veterans get anesthesia if they need surgery.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs current system includes a doctor working with an anesthetist nurse to provide anesthesia care. It's been like that for decades, but it varies by state and VA officials want to know if a National Standard of Care would better care for veterans.“What's being proposed is to remove the physician from that team. So, that it would be a nurse anesthetist practicing
  
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• San Marcos man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for fentanyl distribution charge

  30-04-2024 16:50 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- A San Marcos man was sentenced to serve 120 months, or 10 years, in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
  The DOJ said Colten Romeo Thayer, 20, was arrested during a traffic stop in August 2022 by Hays County sheriff's deputies.
  Deputies searched his vehicle during the traffic stop and found a bag of 11 grams of fentanyl, according to the DOJ. Thayer had been purchasing fenta
  
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• Happy Anniversary, 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'

  30-04-2024 15:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a slogan designed to save lives. KXAN meteorologists have been using it ever since its creation."Turn Around, Don't Drown" celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
  Those who have lived in Central Texas for a long time know that flooding is one of the top weather-related killers. The National Weather Service reports an average of 90 deaths each year from flooding. More than half of those deaths are caused by people driving through barricaded roads into flooded roadways.What some peo
  
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• UT to reinstate standardized testing, reviving equity debate in college admissions

  30-04-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines for Tuesday, April 29, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — In early March, the University of Texas released a statement announcing the reinstatement of standardized test scores in admissions for Fall 2025 applicants. The announcement reintroduced the debate on whether standardized tests disproportionately affect marginalized students -- new research shows they do the opposite.
  The test-optional policy became normalized in s
  
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• LIVE: UT to reinstate standardized testing, reviving equity debate in college admissions

  30-04-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In early March, the University of Texas released a statement announcing the reinstatement of standardized test scores in admissions for Fall 2025 applicants. The announcement reintroduced the debate on whether standardized tests disproportionately affect marginalized students -- new research shows they do the opposite.
  The test-optional policy became normalized in schools across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to testing became too dangerous for some st
  
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• Proposed wastewater plant by Central Texas elementary school sparks opposition, possible change

  30-04-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) – Leila Liberman lives close enough to hear kids at Veterans Hill Elementary School shrieking over her backyard fence.On her Siena neighborhood street, which straddles the boundaries between Hutto and Round Rock, children outnumber adults, she said. So, opposition was fierce when homeowners caught wind last year of a proposed sewage treatment plant that would be built next to the school and their houses.Local residents and Hutto ISD have come out against the potent
  
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• Rancher considers letting Texas build its 'beautiful' border wall on his riverfront property

  30-04-2024 13:03 via kxan.com
  
  ZAPATA, Texas (Border Report) -- A local rancher is weighing the pros and cons of letting the State of Texas build a new segment of border wall, which he says is "an engineering marvel," on his rural riverfront property. 1st segment of Texas-funded border wall in Zapata County is going up
  Dr. Gary Schwarz is an oral surgeon from the Rio Grande Valley who owns La Perla, a deer hunting and bass fishing ranch in far western Zapata County along Highway 83. He also owns a nearby strip of land that go
  
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• WATCH LIVE: New poll shows Trump ahead of Biden in seven key swing states

  30-04-2024 12:59 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Former President Donald Trump maintains a lead over President Biden in multiple key swing states, according to a new poll from Emerson College Polling and The Hill.Voters favored the leading Republican candidate – who is currently balancing court and rally appearances – over Biden in Arizona (48% to 44%), Georgia (47% to 44%), Michigan (45% to 44%), Nevada (45% to 44%), North Carolina (47% to 42%), Pennsylvania (47% to 45%) and Wisconsin (47% to 45%).The poll, which
  
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• New poll shows Trump ahead of Biden in seven key swing states

  30-04-2024 12:59 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Former President Donald Trump maintains a lead over President Biden in multiple key swing states, according to a new poll from Emerson College Polling and The Hill.Voters favored the leading Republican candidate – who is currently balancing court and rally appearances – over Biden in Arizona (48% to 44%), Georgia (47% to 44%), Michigan (45% to 44%), Nevada (45% to 44%), North Carolina (47% to 42%), Pennsylvania (47% to 45%) and Wisconsin (47% to 45%).The poll, which
  
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• Illegal dam on James River torn down, while another dam pops up in Mason County

  30-04-2024 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  MASON COUNTY, TX (KXAN) -- An illegal dam in the Texas Hill Country is being demolished following reports from KXAN. The dam, constructed along the James River in Mason County, was built in 2023. Illegal dam in Mason County blocking water from refilling Highland LakesInvestigations from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) found the dam was constructed without permits.Meanwhile, in western Mason County, a second dam has been loca
  
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• AISD to talk about future of closed campus

  30-04-2024 10:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)—The Austin Independent School District will start a conversation Tuesday about the future of a now-closed school campus in East Austin.The district constructed Sims Elementary School in 1956 at 1203 Springdale Road.It merged Sims with Norman Elementary after the 2020-2021 school year and shut down the campus on Springdale, according to AISD.The district wants to know what the community is thinking about the eight acres the Sims campus occupies.The district plans three virtual
  
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• 'Unusually deadly': 4 dead, more than 30 'suspected overdoses' reported in Austin

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials said they continue responding to a 1000% increase in overdose calls after responding to more than 30 "suspected overdoses" and four deaths on Monday, City of Austin Chief Medical Director Heidi Abraham said during a media briefing.Around 9 a.m., the city experienced a sudden surge in opioid-related calls. A rapid response team comprised of ATCEMS, the Homeless Strategy Office and Urban Alchemy were immediately deployed to the area, according to officials."The trend tha
  
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• LIVE: 'Unusually deadly': 4 dead, more than 30 'suspected overdoses' reported in Austin

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officials said they continue responding to a 1000% increase in overdose calls after they reported more than 30 "suspected overdoses" and four deaths on Monday, City of Austin Chief Medical Director Heidi Abraham said during a media briefing.Around 9 a.m., the city experienced a sudden surge in opioid-related calls. A rapid response team comprised of ATCEMS, the Homeless Strategy Office and Urban Alchemy were immediately deployed to the area, according to officials."The trend tha
  
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• LIVE: Austin police investigate 51 suspected overdoses that left 8 dead

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police said Tuesday they're launching an investigation into who provided drugs that resulted in 51 suspected overdoses and possibly eight deaths throughout Austin.
  During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, detectives told reporters they detained at least two people, calling them persons of interest in this deadly overdose investigation. One of those people is now facing a felony charge of in possession of a firearm, police said. However, more charges and arrests could b
  
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• Austin police investigate 51 suspected overdoses that left 8 dead

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police said Tuesday they're launching an investigation into who provided drugs that resulted in 51 suspected overdoses and possibly eight deaths throughout Austin.
  During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, detectives told reporters they detained at least two people, calling them persons of interest in this deadly overdose investigation. One of those people is now facing a charge of felon in possession of a firearm, police said. However, more charges and arrests could be forthc
  
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• Austin police investigate 51 suspected overdoses that left 4 dead

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police said Tuesday they're launching an investigation into who provided drugs that resulted in 51 suspected overdoses and possibly eight deaths throughout Austin.
  During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, detectives told reporters they detained at least two people, calling them persons of interest in this deadly overdose investigation. One of those people is now facing a charge of felon in possession of a firearm, police said. However, more charges and arrests could be forthc
  
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• ATCEMS to provide more details on 'multiple overdose incident' downtown

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS said it would provide more details after "multiple overdose incidents" were reported Monday in downtown Austin.All of the overdoses were "presented as opiate-like," and people were taken to local hospitals "responded well to Narcan administration," according to a news release from the City of Austin.“We’ve been passing out Narcan kits and teaching people how to use them to empower our community members to help us save lives,” said ATCEM
  
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• ATCEMS: 'Multiple overdose incidents' reported downtown

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS said it would provide more details after "multiple overdose incidents" were reported Monday in downtown Austin.All of the overdoses were "presented as opiate-like," and people were taken to local hospitals "responded well to Narcan administration," according to a news release from the City of Austin.“We’ve been passing out Narcan kits and teaching people how to use them to empower our community members to help us save lives,” said ATCEM
  
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• ATCEMS: 25 'overdose incidents' reported downtown

  30-04-2024 02:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Police responded to a total of 25 "overdose incidents" on Monday in downtown Austin.All of the overdoses were "presented as opiate-like," and people were taken to local hospitals "responded well to Narcan administration," according to a news release from the City of Austin.“We’ve been passing out Narcan kits and teaching people how to use them to empower our community members to help us save lives,” said ATCEMS Assistant
  
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• Report: Austin FC 'finalizing a deal' to host 2025 MLS all-star game

  30-04-2024 02:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to a report by ESPN on Monday, Austin FC is in the process of becoming the host of the 2025 Major League Soccer all-star game.ESPN cited anonymous sources that said Austin is "finalizing a deal" and "nearing the completion of all relevant legal contracts," to hold the match at Q2 Stadium.
  VERDE LIGHTS: It's back for another season! Tune in at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays on CW Austin throughout the season.This year's all-star game is in Cleveland on July 24, and t
  
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• Freshman powers Lake Travis to Day 1 lead at UIL 6A boys golf championships

  30-04-2024 01:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lake Travis freshman Bennett Kuhns has a 2-shot lead after the first round of the UIL 6A boys golf tournament Monday at White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown.Kuhns' round of 6-under-par 66 included birdies on three of White Wing's four par-5s, and he carded three birdies on each set of nine holes without a bogey.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/newslettersKuhns will start Tu
  
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• Longhorns add former San Marcos star Malik Presley in transfer portal

  30-04-2024 01:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Malik Presley is coming back home.The former San Marcos basketball star spent his freshman year at Vanderbilt and announced his transfer to Texas on Monday.
  Was clear when Presley was in high school at San Marcos that he had a good relationship with #Texas, Rodney Terry.
  Some help on the wing for #HookEm https://t.co/d8zbu5Xdwj— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) April 29, 2024
  Presley played in 26 games with five starts for the Commodores, scoring a season-high 11 points aga
  
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• UT jumper Ackelia Smith eyeing Paris 2024 Olympic Games for Jamaica

  30-04-2024 01:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ackelia Smith, a University of Texas at Austin track and field junior, has been building momentum with some of her best long and triple jump distances to date.She just won in both jumps on home turf at the Texas Invitational track meet over the weekend. Her sights on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games are becoming clearer. Longhorn runner Rhasidat Adeleke expected to compete in Paris OlympicsAckelia Smith with family
  Smith, a first-generation college student from Jama
  
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• Man in 'disturbance' before deadly shooting near Rainey Street, police say

  30-04-2024 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department identified the man who died after a shooting near Rainey Street over the weekend.APD said it was called to the Quincy Apartments, 91 Red River Street, for multiple shots fired calls Saturday around 6:30 a.m., according to an APD release. MAP: Where have Austin’s homicides occurred in 2024?Police found a man, later identified as 24-year-old Alan Picazzo, with "apparent gun shot wounds," the release said. Picazzo was taken to the hospital wh
  
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• Man charged with murder in shooting near Rainey Street, police say

  30-04-2024 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's previous coverage of the shooting.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Homicide detectives found the man believed to be connected with a deadly shooting near Rainey Street over the weekend, the Austin Police Department said in a release Wednesday.Timmel Eggleston, 25, is accused of shooting and killing a 24-year-old Saturday morning at the Quincy Apartments on 91 Red River St., APD said. Eggleston was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. As of Wednesday aftern
  
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• A transfer shuffle: Texas women's hoops lose player to Oregon, adds another from Miami

  30-04-2024 00:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns women's basketball program broke even in the transfer portal Monday.Amina Muhammad announced her departure from the Longhorns after two seasons on social media, but the team added a 6-foot-6 forward to the roster.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/newslettersMuhammad is headed to the Oregon Ducks, who are coming off an uncharacteristic 11-21 season and 2
  
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