Austin news

• Coalition says Hays County transportation bond would negatively impact environment

  08-10-2024 23:56 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A Hays County coalition is concerned that if Proposition A passes – the $440 million transportation bond package– it could damage aquifers and deplete already scarce resources, per the Hays Coalition for Better Bond.The bond program would allow the county to take on around 30 projects, fairly evenly dispersed across the region. Some officials said the project would improve safety and mobility, respond to the city’s continued growth, address exi
  
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• Is Texas-OU college football's greatest rivalry?

  08-10-2024 22:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas and Oklahoma will meet for the 120th time Saturday afternoon. While the best college football rivalries are largely regional, Texas vs. Oklahoma, or the Red River Rivalry, can certainly stake its claim as the best of the best with its regular fall meeting at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.The setting immediately sets it apart from all others. The game has been played at a neutral site in Dallas since 1912 and at the State Fair of Texas since 1929. Nothing is decided, but S
  
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• Austin City Council, police association outline tentative police agreement

  08-10-2024 22:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin residents got a better look at the tentative five-year labor agreement between the city of Austin and the Austin Police Association at a council work session on Tuesday.The proposed contract includes a 28% pay raise for officers over the course of five years, changes to the department's hiring process and more transparency to comply with the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA). Voters approved that act back in May 2023.One of the sticking points throughout the negotia
  
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• Animal rescues save 100+ dogs from Lockhart hoarding situation

  08-10-2024 21:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 dogs are safe and sound after multiple animal rescue organizations helped retrieve them from a hoarding situation.Suzy Falgout is the founder and CEO of the Caldwell County Animal Coalition (CCAC). She confirmed to KXAN CCAC rescued more than 100 chihuahuas from a Lockhart home Oct. 1-2, after family members reached out about the situation.More than 100 dogs are safe and sound after multiple animal rescue organizations helped retrieve them from a hoarding situ
  
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• 'People are very anxious': Texas sends help to Florida ahead of Milton

  08-10-2024 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As the west coast of Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, residents there will get some help from Texas.Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday he's sending hundreds of crews across the southeast to help in ongoing clean-up from Helene and with recovery efforts. That includes Florida, where search and rescue crews will help along the gulf coast.'People are very anxious'"People are very anxious and most people have evacuated," Sue Rowe said. The longtime Sarasota resident is still dea
  
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• Report: Austin leads U.S. cities in remote worker share

  08-10-2024 19:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new report found about one in every four Austin workers is part of the remote workforce.
  The report, published Wednesday, found Austin's metro has the country's largest share of work-from-home employees. RELATED: New survey tracks Central Texans’ commuting, telework habitsCoworkingMag, a digital magazine focused on coworking, used U.S. Census Bureau data to measure changes in remote work across 109 metro areas between 2014 and 2023. The number of remote workers peak
  
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• Outer Heaven to close and be replaced by condos, owner says in social media post

  08-10-2024 18:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A popular east Austin nightclub is being forced to close its doors early next year, according social media posts published from its accounts Tuesday morning.
  Outer Heaven Disco Club's owner posted the announcement on the bar's Instagram and Facebook pages Tuesday, saying the landlord declined to renew the bar's lease and will instead tear the building down to construct "luxury condos."
  The bar's lease ends in March 2025, per the announcement.
  Outer Heaven debuted in March 2020 b
  
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• Rep. Greg Casar, others call for ban on herbicide linked to Parkinson's, cancer

  08-10-2024 18:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, is leading calls for a ban on the use of a herbicide that has been linked to serious health risks.Casar, along with 46 other members of Congress, penned a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advocating for a ban on Paraquat, according to a release from Casar's office Tuesday. More than 70 countries have already banned the herbicide, and the EPA has already prohibited its use in places like golf courses and recreation areas, per
  
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• Texas’ abortion laws are straining the OB/GYN workforce, new study shows

  08-10-2024 17:10 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (Texas Tribune) — Texas’ new abortion laws are stressing the state’s already beleaguered OB/GYN workforce, and threatening the pipeline of new doctors that would help provide relief, a new survey shows.More than 70% of practicing OB/GYNs in Texas feel the near-total ban has negatively impacted their work, prohibiting them from providing high-quality, evidence-based care for their patients, according to survey results released Tuesday.One in five have considered leaving Te
  
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• Climate change affects hurricanes

  08-10-2024 16:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Hurricane Milton is moving through the western Gulf of Mexico. It is headed to the central west coast of Florida with landfall late Wednesday night/very early Thursday morning.
  This is on the heels of devastating Hurricane Helene which struck the Florida coast at 10:10 p.m. Sept. 26. Top sustained winds were estimated at 140 mph, a Category 4 hurricane. The death toll and the incomprehensible damage are staggering.We have talked a lot in our weathercasts about the incredible inc
  
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• The Hill Country is celebrating the stars and night sky throughout October

  08-10-2024 16:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The fifth annual Hill Country Night Sky Month is here. The October celebration affords people the chance to enjoy one of the region's most beloved features, the star-filled sky.The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) and dozens of partners make this a community-wide event. They encourage groups to host events and offer an event toolkit to help those in planning, promoting, and hosting events.The HCA also offers a calendar that allows people to submit an event and to learn more about Nig
  
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• Army surpasses recruiting goal with prep course

  08-10-2024 15:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the first time in years, the United States Army has exceeded its recruiting goal.This fiscal year, the Army brought in 55,000 new soldiers. Military officials said it has to do with a recruiting push to help future soldiers get into shape.“The Future Soldier Prep Course is a pre-enlistment course that's designed to educate and train future soldiers to either overcome academic or physical fitness barriers to army service,” First Sgt. Eric Immel explained.Twen
  
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• Texas' 'crown jewels' threatened by new development; landowners and activists worried

  08-10-2024 15:47 via kxan.com
  
  Travis County, TX (KXAN) -- Activists and landowners are speaking out against a new development on the borders of Travis County and Hays County today that they say could threaten the springs that feed several of Texas' "crown jewels."On Tuesday, representatives with Save the Pedernales and the Save Our Springs alliance are hosting a press conference highlighting the impact they believe Mirasol Springs will have on the water near Hamilton Pool and Reimers Ranch. Travis County enters fray over &ls
  
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• Texas' 'crown jewels' threatened by new development; landowners and activists say

  08-10-2024 15:47 via kxan.com
  
  Landowners gather to protest Mirasol Springs, a development aiming to set the "gold standard" for conservation. (Credit: Eric Henrikson/KXAN)
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Activists and landowners spoke out against a new development on the borders of Travis County and Hays County today that they say could threaten the springs that feed several of Texas' "crown jewels."On Tuesday, representatives with Save the Pedernales and the Save Our Springs alliance hosted a press conference that highlight
  
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• How Texas' changing demographics can impact the election

  08-10-2024 14:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Since 2020, Texas has seen a population increase estimated at 1.5 million people, according to the Texas Demographics Center, and that's something researchers say can influence election results.The increase adds to the citizen voting age population (CVAP) statistic in Texas, which consists of people who are eligible to register and vote in the election. Professor Rogelio Saenz researches demographic trends at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and he says the influx of
  
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• Milton dips to Category 4 as Florida braces for impact

  08-10-2024 14:02 via kxan.com
  
  FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Gulf Coast braced Tuesday for the impact of Hurricane Milton's winds and expected massive storm surge, which could bring destruction to areas already reeling from Helene's devastation 12 days ago and still recovering from Ian's wrath two years ago.Almost the entirety of Florida's west coast was under a hurricane warning early Tuesday as the storm and its 155 mph (250 kph) winds crept toward the state at 12 mph (19 kph), sucking energy from
  
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• Gov. Abbott deploys resources to Florida, Tennessee ahead of Hurricane Milton

  08-10-2024 13:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Governor Abbott announced on Monday he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy Texas emergency resources to Florida and Tennessee ahead of Hurricane Milton, which is slated to make landfall on Wednesday.This comes after Florida's Division of Emergency Management requested aid ahead of Hurricane Milton and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency needs assistance for recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene."Texas is swiftly deploying emergency response pers
  
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• Travis County Safety Action Plan aims to reduce deadly crashes

  08-10-2024 13:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While music fans are getting ready for weekend two of the Austin City Limits Festival, Travis County transportation leaders have their eyes beyond the city limits.Travis County leaders are hoping to get federal funding from the Infrastructure Bill to reduce serious and deadly car crashes."If we can change what would have been a death or serious injury crash into a minor injury or property damage only clip crash, we consider that a success within this paradigm," said Dan Malson,
  
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• Frozen out! The NWS won't issue these winter alerts anymore

  08-10-2024 13:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As some parts of the country feel their first chilly air of fall, the National Weather Service is consolidating their cold and freeze alerts to streamline the messaging.What's changing?Weather alerts for extreme cold and freezing temperatures are being simplified. The new consolidation of watches, warnings and advisories took effect October 1 nationwide.Cold weather alertsThere will no longer be 'Wind Chill' weather alerts, but the new Cold Advisory, Extreme Cold Watch or Extrem
  
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• Longhorns, Bulldogs meet in pivotal SEC matchup under the lights Oct. 19

  08-10-2024 06:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas and Georgia will play in primetime Oct. 19.The No. 1 Longhorns and No. 5 Bulldogs clash under the lights at 6:30 p.m. in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on ABC, Texas Athletics announced Monday. Nothing is decided, but Sarkisian ‘feels good’ about Quinn Ewers returning for Red River RivalryIt's the middle game of what is turning into a very tough three-game stretch with the Red River Rivalry coming up. The game against the Bulldogs could decide who plays in the
  
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• Costco gold bars are selling out as prices for the precious metal break records: survey

  08-10-2024 05:30 via kxan.com
  
  Related video: The hidden meaning in Costco price tags(NEXSTAR) – Move over, gas and hot dogs. Costco shoppers are snatching up the store's 1-ounce gold bars despite the market's lofty price for the precious metal.A recent Bloomberg survey of Costco stores in 46 states found that roughly 77% sold out of the 1-ounce bars in the first week, despite fully replenishing their stock in recent weeks.Demand for the bars comes amid soaring gold prices, with the spot price for bullion hitting a reco
  
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• 'I am devastated': Burnet church leader discusses shock from false shooting report

  08-10-2024 04:55 via kxan.com
  
  BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A 45-year-old man was arrested after allegedly making a false report surrounding a Sunday incident at a church in Burnet, Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said during a media briefing on Monday.On Sunday, BCSO searched for two suspects who were allegedly outside the church. A safety team member said he confronted them before they got into a white minivan and drove away northbound on U.S. 281, Boyd said. Man arrested after BCSO says he lied about armed suspects out
  
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• Raccoon sparks chaos in stands during Broncos game against Raiders

  08-10-2024 04:09 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) — Football fans packed Empower Field in Denver on Sunday to watch the Broncos take on the Las Vegas Raiders, but they weren’t the only ones in attendance. A feisty raccoon made a surprise appearance in the stands.The game started with the Broncos down 10-0 in the first quarter, but the team came back for a 34-18 win against the Raiders, marking their first victory against them in nearly five years.
  The stadium erupted with cheers, especially when Pat Surtain II ret
  
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• Singer Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

  08-10-2024 04:05 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cissy Houston, the mother of the late Whitney Houston and a two-time Grammy winner, who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, has died. She was 91.FILE - Singers Cissy Houston, left, and her daughter Whitney Houston appear at the "Keep A Child Alive Black Ball" in New York on Sept. 30, 2010. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)
  Houston died Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease, her daug
  
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• How Central Texas lawns are weathering the longest dry spell of 2024

  08-10-2024 03:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After frequent rains in winter, spring and the first half of summer, the longest dry stretch of the year is here. KXAN Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin asked a lawn professional how the grass is fairing as we slowly cool off but continue a rain-free stretch.KXAN Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin: So give us a wrap up. What's the state of lawns here in Central Texas now that we're heading out of what was not a terrible summer, at least early in the summer, we had some rain, but now
  
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• Portions of city under boil water notice in Taylor

  08-10-2024 03:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Taylor issued a boil water notice after a report of a water main break, the city said in a news release Monday.The city said the water main break happened on Fourth Street, and now there are portions of the city under a boil water notice, the release said. Those who are affected will experience low water pressure until the repairs are completed. The city did not have give a time frame on when the repairs would be done.Map of portions of city affected under boil water
  
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• Texas observes one year mark since Hamas attack on Israel

  08-10-2024 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- More than 7,000 miles away from Texas, Israelis grieved the more than 1,200 lives lost and prayed for the return of the hostages still in Gaza. And for many Jewish Texans, the pain is all too close to home.There are just about a thousand Jewish families in the Austin area, Shalom Austin's Rabbi Daniel Septimus said, and nearly all of them know someone personally impacted by the violence one year ago. ‘Struggling with hope’: Israeli hostage families urge Texas supp
  
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• Taylor Swift is now the world's richest female musician: Forbes

  08-10-2024 02:41 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill)— It's time to write Taylor Swift's name atop the list of the world's wealthiest female music artists — the "Shake it Off" singer is now in the No. 1 spot, according to Forbes.The business magazine estimated in an update this week that Swift's net worth comes in at $1.6 billion. The staggering figure surpassed the amount amassed by the previous holder of the title, Rihanna, who Forbes reported is worth $1.4 billion.The 34-year-old, who made headlines las
  
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• 'Spirit Christmas': Spirit Halloween is now opening Xmas-themed locations

  08-10-2024 02:30 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – How foolish of us to assume they’d stop at Halloween.Spencer’s Spirit Holdings, the parent company of Spirit Halloween, has announced plans to open 10 locations of its seasonal Spirit Christmas locations, to sell gifts and decorations ahead of the holidays.All 10 of the shops also plan to offer photos and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, who doubles as the brand’s mascot.(Spencer's Spirit Holdings)“Discover thousands of stocking stuffers, holiday appare
  
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