Austin news

• Purchasing a Blizzard from Dairy Queen Saturday supports local hospital

  18-10-2024 23:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — This Saturday, Dairy Queen restaurants across Texas are supporting children's hospitals in the state in an initiative called "Spoons for Smiles."
  Dairy Queen, in partnership with the Children's Miracle Network, is donating $1 of every Blizzard sold in the Central Texas area toward Dell Children's Medical Center.
  Dell Children's is part of the Children's Miracle Network, which includes 16 hospitals across Texas that help families afford vital care for their children.
  With a
  
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• F1 means big bucks for Austin economy, but how much?

  18-10-2024 23:07 via kxan.com
  
  There’s always something going on in Austin, but this weekend could set records with all the people heading to the Capital City.Not only will the undefeated Texas Longhorns take on a top-ranked Georgia team, but drivers will also hit the track at Circuit of the Americas for F1."We are anticipating this to be a record-breaking weekend,” said a spokesperson with Visit Austin.Many people visiting Austin are from around the nation, but there are also a lot of people visiting from other c
  
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• Thousands in town for F1, ACL, football staying in unlicensed short term rentals

  18-10-2024 22:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When tens of thousands of people flood to Austin for events like Formula 1, Austin City Limits Music Festival, South by Southwest or this weekend's Georgia vs. University of Texas football game, many of them stay in short term rentals (STRs).
  But we found in 2022, thousands of those STRs don't have their required city permit.“Every single day the city is losing out on thousands of dollars that could go to support cultural arts, our music community and historic preservation
  
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• How Austin's mayor, transportation leaders are working to connect light rail to airport

  18-10-2024 21:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin transportation leadership is working with the federal government to identify possible financing options to connect the city's future light rail system to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Mayor Kirk Watson said during KXAN News' mayoral debate Thursday.A KXAN viewer-submitted question asked candidates how they planned to deliver and move the Project Connect program forward amid legal challenges and past financial hardships. Last June, Austin City Council,
  
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• MAP: More than 5,100 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires in 2024

  18-10-2024 21:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 5,100 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far in 2024, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A total of 24 fires have burned 5,108.1 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area. Weather Interactives: How much rain has Austin received this year?KXAN is keeping track of wildfires. Follow along with the map and database below. We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map. Eva
  
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• Another close call near AUS: Small aircraft enters flight path of commercial plane

  18-10-2024 20:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after a small plane "unexpectedly entered the flight path" of an American Airlines flight flying into Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Wednesday.
  This news comes as AUS expects a major travel day Monday following this weekend's F1 races. Last year, the airport recorded its busiest day on record that day. ‘Could have been catastrophic’: NTSB determines likely cause of 2023 near miss at Austin&rsquo
  
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• 1 dead following shooting at apartment off Wells Branch Parkway

  18-10-2024 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said one person died and a homicide investigation was underway related to a fatal shooting at an apartment complex Thursday.TCSO said deputies responded at approximately 6:15 p.m. to a report someone had been shot near the 2800 block of Wells Branch Parkway.A man in his 20s was found at the scene and successfully resuscitated with CPR; however, he later died at the hospital, according to TCSO.The victim’s identity
  
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• Austin code proposal could tackle parking in bike lanes

  18-10-2024 20:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- This winter, Austin City Council could consider new enforcements to prohibit vehicles from parking in city bike lanes.Joseph Al-hajeri, parking entreprises division manager with the city of Austin, spoke before the Austin Mobility Committee Thursday about evaluation work underway on the city's legacy bike lanes. That process, he said, is expected to wrap within three months and will provide greater insight into how to best delineate those bike lanes and what forms of enforcement
  
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• Boat ramps at Lake Walter E. Long closed until further notice as crews prep for Decker Dam upgrades

  18-10-2024 20:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- All boat ramps on Lake Walter E. Long, also known as Decker Lake, are closed for the foreseeable future.
  The Austin Parks and Recreation Department, or PARD, sent out a notice of the closures on Thursday. PARD said lake access is still available for shore-launched watercraft such as canoes and kayaks, and all other park amenities, including volleyball courts, picnic sites, grills, and walking trails, will remain available.PARD said the water levels at the lake are
  
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• Texas man's obituary goes viral: 'He is God's problem now'

  18-10-2024 19:56 via kxan.com
  
  CLARENDON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Panhandle town of Clarendon where the late Robert Boehm called home has a population of only about 2,000 people. But by the time of his memorial service on Monday morning, his antics had managed to bring joy to people around the world.Robert Adolph Boehm, who died on Oct. 6 at 74, did not gain international fame during his time on this earth. But, like innumerable others who have gone before him on the High Plains, he was loved by his family and his
  
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• Police: 23-year-old killed in single-vehicle crash on I-35 Svrd. Tuesday

  18-10-2024 19:11 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 23-year-old man died Tuesday night after crashing on the service road of Interstate 35.
  Austin Police Department officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 5600 block of south I-35 Service Road northbound around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday night.
  The driver, identified by police as Emmanuel Bioko-Makoli, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to APD.
  That area of the I-35 service road is near the Capital Plaza shopping center.
  Police did not provide any other information
  
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• Roads reopen near RM 620 after gas leak repairs; some Leander ISD schools closed Monday

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — All roads are open as crews repaired an 8-inch gas line Monday after a construction crew damaged it Friday.The damaged line was near Ranch-to-Market 620 and Ranch-to-Market 2222. Gas line repairs were completed Sunday.
  Some schools in the Leander Independent School District were closed Monday as crews finished up on road repairs in the area.In a Monday, update, the Texas Department of Transportation said all roads near RM 620 and RM 2222 are open. The eastboun
  
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• RM 620 expected to re-open Monday after gas leak repairs; some Leander ISD schools closed

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Crews continued fixing an 8-inch gas line Sunday after a construction crew damaged it Friday.The damaged line is near Ranch-to-Market 620 and Ranch-to-Market 2222.Some schools in the Leander Independent School District are closed on Monday as crews finish up on road repairs in the area.
  According to a late Sunday night update from the Texas Department of Transportation, RM 620 is expected to re-open fully by 5 a.m. Monday.The eastbound lanes of the bypass from
  
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• RM 620 expected to fully re-open Monday morning after gas leak repairs, TxDOT said

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Crews continued fixing an 8-inch gas line Sunday after a construction crew damaged it Friday.The damaged line is near Ranch-to-Market 620 and Ranch-to-Market 2222.According to the Texas Department of Transportation, RM 620 is expected to re-open fully by 5 a.m. Monday.The eastbound lanes of the bypass from RM 2222 to RM 620 are open but the westbound lanes will remain closed through at least midday Monday, TxDOT said.After technicians finish preparing the dama
  
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• Gas leak shuts down part of FM 620, unknown timeline for reopening

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Lake Travis Fire Rescue responded to a gas leak Friday morning after a construction crew hit an 8-inch gas line.
  LTFR said the leak was near Farm-to-Market 620 and Ranch Road 2222.The northbound lanes near the 6400 block of FM 620 have been closed while crews responded, and traffic was being redirected. Comanche Trail can be used as an alternate route, according to LTFR.In a 4 p.m. update Friday, LTFR said crews began digging to repair the pipe damage and leak
  
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• Gas leak shuts down part of FM 620, traffic redirected

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Lake Travis Fire Rescue responded to a gas leak Friday morning after a construction crew hit an 8-inch gas line.LTFR said the leak was near Farm-to-Market 620 and Ranch Road 2222.The northbound lanes near the 6400 block of FM 620 have been closed while crews respond, and traffic was being redirected. Comanche Trail can be used as an alternate route, according to LTFR.Texas Gas also responded to the scene, according to LTFR, but there was not an estimated time
  
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• Gas leak shuts down part of FM 620, southbound lanes open

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Lake Travis Fire Rescue responded to a gas leak Friday morning after a construction crew hit an 8-inch gas line.
  LTFR said the leak was near Farm-to-Market 620 and Ranch Road 2222.The northbound lanes near the 6400 block of FM 620 have been closed while crews responded, and traffic was being redirected. Comanche Trail can be used as an alternate route, according to LTFR.In an update around 7 p.m. Saturday, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said so
  
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• Gas leak shuts down part of FM 620

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Lake Travis Fire Rescue responded to a gas leak Friday morning after a construction crew hit an 8-inch gas line. Service is not expected to be restored until Saturday morning.LTFR said the leak was near Farm-to-Market 620 and Ranch Road 2222.The northbound lanes near the 6400 block of FM 620 have been closed while crews respond, and traffic was being redirected. Comanche Trail can be used as an alternate route, according to LTFR.In a 4 p.m. update, LTFR said c
  
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• FM 620 expected to fully re-open Monday morning after gas leak repairs, TxDOT said

  18-10-2024 19:04 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Crews continued fixing an 8-inch gas line Sunday after a construction crew damaged it Friday.The damaged line is near Farm-to-Market 620 and Ranch Road 2222.According to the Texas Department of Transportation, FM 620 is expected to re-open fully by 5 a.m. Monday.The eastbound lanes of the bypass from 2222 to 620 are open but the westbound lanes will remain closed through at least midday Monday, TxDOT said.After technicians finish preparing the damaged natural
  
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• Cedar Park Middle School student arrested related to 'hoax' threat

  18-10-2024 18:41 via kxan.com
  
  CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — A Cedar Park Middle School student was arrested Friday for an offense related to a school threat, according to the Cedar Park Police Department.CPPD said it was investigating a separate reported threat when a new report was found.According to police, detectives learned where the threat originated, and officers made an arrest.“There is no credible threat to Cedar Park Middle School and this specific incident was a ‘hoax,’” CPPD said.Accordi
  
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• Audiologist urges Formula 1 fans to protect hearing

  18-10-2024 17:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thousands of people visit Austin each year for the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.Watching the race cars loop the track and hearing their roaring engines can be a thrill, but fans should be cautious with their hearing.
  According to Dr. Brittany Thompson, an audiologist with Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, it can cause hearing damage if you’re not careful.“It can be immediate, especially if you're real close to the rac
  
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• Is the MoPac Express Lane price going up? It did, 10 months ago

  18-10-2024 17:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As traffic in Austin continues to get heavier as more people move to the area, and there's little relief from inflation, we heard from a viewer who commutes on North MoPac every day, who noticed a change in her toll bill.Jeanne McAlpin has been driving on Mopac for decades. KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes spoke with her and found out the base price for the MoPac Express Lane will be going up again soon.The MoPac Express Lane saw an increase of $.07 per segment at the beginning
  
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• Deadly crash reported on SH 71 near Old Bee Caves Road Friday morning

  18-10-2024 15:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Lanes were closed in both directions on State Highway 71 in southwest Austin due to a crash early Friday morning.Real-Time Traffic MapThe Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) posted on X at 7:29 a.m. saying all lanes of westbound and eastbound SH 71 were closed at Old Bee Caves Road and traffic was being detoured to Southwest Parkway.That crash was reported as a traffic fatality on the Austin-Travis County Traffic Report Page at 6:55 a.m. The Travis County Sheriff's Office
  
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• Texas high school football scores for Thursday, Oct. 17

  18-10-2024 05:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hendrickson hung with the No. 3 team in 5A-Division I for about a quarter, but A&M Consolidated exploded after the opening frame to win 55-14 Thursday at The Pfield in Pflugerville.LBJ thumped Austin Achieve 72-0 in a night of blowouts in the Austin area. Buda Johnson won a district game against Schertz Clemens 42-21 while Eastside topped Northeast 42-14 at House Park.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score in this scoreboard, but we need your help to do
  
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• Lee County: Proposed power plant gets pushback

  18-10-2024 04:53 via kxan.com
  
  LEE COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A proposed power plant in Lee County has some residents worried that their peaceful country lifestyle might be ruined."It is just a great quiet piece of rural Texas that we want to protect," said Travis Brown, who is on the "Move the Gas Plant" steering committee.Brown said the construction and operations at the proposed plant could change the area he lives in."There will be noise, lights, traffic and of course there are concerns about our property values," Brown
  
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• Ken Paxton sues Dallas pediatrician over providing hormone treatments to teens

  18-10-2024 04:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a Dallas pediatrician, accusing her of violating state law by providing gender-transitioning treatments to at least 21 teenage patients.Thursday’s filing is Paxton’s first attempt at suing a doctor by leveraging Senate Bill 14, a 2023 legislation that prohibits physicians and health care providers from prescribing hormones to minors to transition their biological sex.The lawsuit accuses May La
  
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• Walter White of 'Breaking Bad' returns for New Mexico litter campaign

  18-10-2024 04:28 via kxan.com
  
  NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — Walter White is back with a mission.This week, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham joined state and city officials to announce the launch of a statewide beautification campaign, featuring the return of award-winning actor Bryan Cranston as Walter White from AMC's "Breaking Bad" television series.The "Breaking Bad Habits" anti-litter campaign focuses on reducing litter and beautifying New Mexico. A conference on Thursday included the premiere of two tele
  
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• Missing teen kayaker found clinging to kayak off Waikiki

  18-10-2024 04:18 via kxan.com
  
  HONOLULU (KHON2) — A teenager survived a night on the ocean with his kayak after he was reported missing Wednesday night.The 17-year-old Kamehameha student athlete was practicing with his kayaking team who were to kayak from the Ala Wai Channel to Diamond Head and back. The team alerted first responders after noticing he was missing when they turned around due to rough conditions. First responders search for missing kayaker near Magic IslandHFD did a search of the shoreline around 6:35 p.m
  
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• Menendez brothers' uncle requests DA meeting; says boys' motive was greed

  18-10-2024 04:12 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Not every Menendez family member feels the brothers should be released.Kathy Cady is a victim's rights attorney representing Milton Andersen, the brother of Kitty Menendez. He believes Erik and Lyle Menendez weren't molested by their father Jose and that "justice was served.""Mr. Anderson believes, based on the evidence, that it was only when they learned that their father was going to take them out of the will, essentially because they wouldn't get a job," Cady said during
  
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• Texas point guard Rori Harmon says she's cleared to play this season

  18-10-2024 03:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — She's back.Texas point guard Rori Harmon, who missed most of last season after tearing the ACL in her right knee during a shootaround, posted the news on social media Thursday that fans have been begging to hear."I was cleared earlier today," her post on X said, followed by the praying hands emoji. She made the post at 6:11 p.m. and it had nearly 800 likes by 7:30 p.m. With Harmon back, Texas women’s basketball looking to build off historic 2023-24 seasonLonghorns wom
  
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• Intel to cut workers in Austin amid cost-cutting move

  18-10-2024 03:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Intel Corp. is laying off more than 250 employees in Austin, part of a broad cost-cutting move announced by the chipmaker over the summer in which it is eliminating about 15,000 jobs companywide.The Santa Clara, California-based company detailed plans for 251 Austin layoffs in a notice to the Texas Workforce Commission required under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which mandates that employers alert local governments to large jo
  
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• 4 key takeaways from the Austin mayoral debate

  18-10-2024 02:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The race for Austin's next mayor is in the final stretch, and all five candidates joined KXAN News to discuss their stances on major policy issues, including affordability, public safety, transportation and homelessness. Here's a recap of candidates' perspectives on aspects of those topics.Affordability: How to help lower-income and middle-income residents struggling to pay their bills
  Llanes Pulido said affordability is a concern that is "probably affecting 80% of Austinit
  
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• 30-year-old man arrested in connection with shooting in Round Rock

  18-10-2024 01:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 30-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a September shooting that happened in Round Rock, according to the U.S. Marshals Office.Officials identified Jalen Levon Williams, of Round Rock, as the suspect in the shooting, which happened Sept. 25 in the 1300 block of Zephyr Lane.Round Rock Police Department officers responded to the scene after receiving a report of a man who was shot, according to the U.S. Marshals office. When officers arrived, they found a man
  
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• Sarkisian wants it louder than ever vs. Georgia on Saturday

  18-10-2024 01:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Georgia played the loudest college football game in history last season at Neyland Stadium against the Tennessee Volunteers, with decibel levels reaching 137. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian hopes Longhorn Nation can pump the noise even higher when the Bulldogs come to town Saturday.Sarkisian said in Thursday's media availability that home-field advantage at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is "a huge component" and he hopes that with a new sound record comes another victory on
  
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• Sarkisian hopes to break sound record, make it 'as difficult as possible' on Georgia

  18-10-2024 01:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Georgia played the loudest college football game in history last season at Neyland Stadium against the Tennessee Volunteers, with decibel levels reaching 137. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian hopes Longhorn Nation can pump the noise even higher when the Bulldogs come to town Saturday.Sarkisian said in Thursday's media availability that home-field advantage at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is "a huge component" and he hopes that with a new sound record comes another victory on
  
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• Poll: Who won the Austin mayor's debate?

  18-10-2024 00:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five candidates running to be Austin’s mayor met Thursday at KXAN for a debate ahead of the Nov. 5 election. LIVE BLOG: Austin mayor debateJeffery Bowen, Doug Greco, Carmen Llanes Pulido, Kathie Tovo and Kirk Watson, the mayoral candidates listed alphabetically, answered questions on a variety of topics important to Austin voters.After hearing their answers, we want to know who you think performed best during the debate. Make your choice below in this unscientific pol
  
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