Austin news

• VIDEO: Jack White performs at The Continental Club on South Congress

  14-11-2024 23:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The"No Name Tour" stopped at one of Austin's most popular music venues Thursday.Ahead of a Thursday night show at Mohawk, The White Stripes frontman and guitarist Jack White performed a matinee show for approximately 250 people at The Continental Club on South Congress Avenue.The Continental Club show was a late addition to White's week-long tour of Texas, featuring intimate, local music venues. White played a show at Trees in Dallas' Deep Ellum on Wednesday and will be in
  
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• Lexington outlasts Rice Consolidated in second-half shootout 38-27 in 3A-DII opening round

  14-11-2024 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After the first half, Lexington led Rice Consolidated 10-7 and neither offense could find its footing. And then, it was mayhem in the third quarter.The teams combined for 41 points in the third and Lexington rode the wave to a 38-27 win in the opening round of the Class 3A Division II playoffs Thursday at Memorial Stadium in Bastrop.Texas high school football first round playoff matchups, times, sitesLexington running back Noah Wright-Harris broke a 28-yard touchdown run a
  
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• KBVO Game of the Week, playoff edition: Lexington meets Rice Consolidated in 3A-DII opening round

  14-11-2024 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's opening night of Texas high school football playoffs Thursday, and Class 3A teams get the spotlight in the KBVO Game of the Week.Lexington and Rice Consolidated meet at Memorial Stadium in Bastrop in the Class 3A-Division II bi-district round, and the Eagles haven't allowed any points in their previous two games. Lexington shut out Comfort and Rogers by a combined score of 97-0 and finished second in District 13 behind Blanco. Texas high school football first round pla
  
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• Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead HHS

  14-11-2024 22:03 via kxan.com
  
  President-elect Trump has tapped anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).HHS has a budget of nearly $2 billion and administers federal health programs including Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. HHS and its subagencies are responsible for responding to diseases and public health threats like COVID-19 and bird flu, as well as approving new drugs, including vaccines.  "I am thrilled to an
  
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• First Warning: First freeze possible in spots next week

  14-11-2024 21:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The First Warning Weather Team is seeing significant signals that the coldest air of the season (so far) looks on track to arrive toward the end of next week.WHAT: The coldest air of fall with highs in the 50s and 60s and lows in the 30s and 40s.WHEN: Arriving next Wednesday, November 20, 2024.IMPACTS: Some frost or a light freeze may be possible in the Hill Country if the colder 30s are realized.First Warning: Coldest air of fall arrives next week FRIENDSGIVING 2024: DONATE HER
  
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• Austin Energy to add 'first-of-a-kind' geothermal facility in 2025

  14-11-2024 21:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Energy said in a Thursday press release that it will bring a new geothermal project online in 2025, and that it will add five megawatts of carbon-free energy to the local grid.The projected output of five MW isn't much when compared to Austin Energy's other facilities. In total, Austin Energy has a generation capacity of 4,600 MW. Unlike some of its other facilities, geothermal can run continuously. Geothermal energy showcased in Austin, potential powerhouse for Texa
  
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• 100 Day Plan: Austin's new police chief wants to hear from you

  14-11-2024 19:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Police Chief Lisa Davis welcomed a steady stream of reporters to ask about the 100 Day Plan she announced this week.It's centered around the following:
  Recruitment, retention, moraleCommunity trust and prevention initiativesAPD's capacity for excellence and innovation
  You can read Chief Davis' full plan here.The objective is currently in phase one, the "Engagement and Outreach" phase.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Lisa Davis named Austin’s next police chiefThroughout this
  
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• Investigation underway after over a dozen human skulls found in New Mexico, near Texas state line

  14-11-2024 19:34 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas -- The Lea County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation in Jal, New Mexico after suspected human remains were discovered.
  A press release from Tuesday said the human remains may be linked to a missing persons case from 2019. The case is being closely tied to the 2019 disappearance of Angela McManes, whose last known residence was near the property under investigation.
  After a comprehensive search, evidence of 10-20 human skulls was located along with portions of skull and jaw
  
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• Apple Music selling $450 book of '100 Best Albums'

  14-11-2024 19:30 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Thinking of getting started on holiday shopping? This week, Apple Music announced the release of a new coffee table book that's sure to entice many hardcore music fans. It'll only cost you $450.The book, "Apple Music: 100 Best Albums," was created in partnership with luxury lifestyle publisher Assouline, who describes the item as, "A celebration of Apple Music’s inaugural list of the greatest records ever made, [the book] is a lasting companion piece to the digital i
  
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• Tropical tracker: Tropical Storm Sara forms off coast of Honduras

  14-11-2024 19:13 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. This year is expected to be very active, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an 85% chance of an above-average season.This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole story.
  We've created several data-driven stories and databases on topic
  
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• Central Texas high schools make history in state marching band competition

  14-11-2024 18:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- High school marching band competition season in Texas just wrapped up, and several area school districts sent their student musicians to the state contest this week and last week, some making history in the process.Getting to the state level in the University Interscholastic League, or UIL, marching band competitions is a rigorous process. Only a few dozen schools wind up placing in the final rounds of competition.
  Each year, marching bands from across the state compete in regio
  
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• APD identifies woman killed in Sunday hit-and-run crash, requests help finding suspect

  14-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department identified a woman who died Sunday evening following a hit-and-run crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian.Police said the crash occurred near the intersection of East Stassney Lane and Teri Road in southeast Austin.APD said the pedestrian, identified as 39-year-old Kyla Walker, died at the scene.According to police, the vehicle involved did not stop and left the scene.The suspect vehicle is described as a 2008 to 2010 White Honda Accord with p
  
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• APD identifies woman killed in Sunday hit-and-run crash

  14-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department identified a woman who died Sunday evening following a hit-and-run crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian.Police said the crash occurred near the intersection of East Stassney Lane and Teri Road in southeast Austin.APD said the pedestrian, identified as 39-year-old Kyla Walker, died at the scene.According to police, the vehicle involved did not stop and left the scene.The incident is being investigated as Austin’s 76th fatal crash of 202
  
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• State Rep. Hinojosa calls for federal help in I-35 expansion

  14-11-2024 17:38 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN coverage from Jan. 29, 2024, when Rethink35 and other local organizations filed a lawsuit and civil rights complaint against the Texas Department of Transportation over the I-35 Capital Express Central project.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, is calling on the federal government to intervene in the expansion efforts already underway along Interstate 35 near downtown Austin.The Texas Department of Transportation approved in August 2023 th
  
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• Tacodeli aims to nearly triple its restaurant count by 2029, new CEO says

  14-11-2024 17:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (ABJ) — Tacodeli has brought in restaurant industry veteran Peter Gaudreau as its new CEO in preparation for a major expansion that's set to begin next year.The 25-year-old company has 14 restaurants across Austin, Dallas, Houston and Plano, but most are located in Tacodeli’s home base — Austin. The expansion over the next three to five years will be in Texas, Gaudreau said, and by 2029 there may be 40 Tacodeli locations. Expanding beyond the Lone Star State is on the ag
  
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• OSHA Director, Travis County DA speak on Oct. 2021 fatal trench collapse

  14-11-2024 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)-- After being asked to finish a job and return to a site where hours earlier a partial trench collapse happened, two workers were nearly completely buried and experienced fatal injuries.On Oct. 23, 2021, two workers employed by an Austin contractor were asked to return and finish the job at a site where a partial trench collapse had just occurred.
  When the employees began their duties at the 13-foot-deep unprotected trench, the trench collapsed again. Both workers were partially bu
  
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• Central Texas company indicted after trench collapse kills employee

  14-11-2024 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County Grand Jury indicted a Central Texas contracting company after one worker died in October 2021, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said at a press conference Thursday.A worker employed by D Guerra Construction LLC died in October 2021 after being asked to finish a job and return to a site where hours earlier a partial trench collapse happened, according to a U.S. Department of Labor release.When the employees began their duties at the 13-foot-deep unp
  
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• San Marcos CISD considering four-day school week

  14-11-2024 16:13 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District is considering a four-day school week for students and staff. SMCISD recently sent out a survey to students, staff and parents asking what changes they would like to see in the district. Many survey respondents indicated they would like the district to consider implementing a four-day school week. “We're in the very early stages of this process, and so we're not leaning one way or another,”
  
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• How to participate in the Office of Police Oversight's quarterly meeting Thursday

  14-11-2024 15:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department's Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is holding its quarterly meeting Thursday evening to share updates with the public.The quarterly meetings occur so the Police Oversight Implementation Workgroup can share complaints data and other updates with the community. This upholds the requirements set by City Council Resolution 99, according to a release from the OPO.
  The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cepeda Branch Library (651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.,
  
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• APD looking for 3 men involved in north Austin August robbery

  14-11-2024 12:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Police are looking for three men after they were allegedly involved in an aggravated robbery, according to the Austin Police Department Robbery Unit.
  APD said the incident happened around 5:18 a.m. on August 17 in the 14200 block of The Lakes Boulevard.The individuals held the victim at gunpoint and took his personal belongings, that included his car keys. The three men then took the victim's vehicle from the parking lot, where it was later found a couple hours later along the 1
  
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• Birders get help from neural network finding unusual Central Texas birds

  14-11-2024 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Heidi Williams' love for birding grew from her father. "He always had bird feeders, and he was always very aware of them," the assistant manager at Wild Birds Unlimited in South Austin said.Finding birds on her property in Buda relied on bird feeders until recently. "I see mostly cardinals, tint mice, chickadees, several woodpeckers."Now, a new tool in her arsenal is helping her track the birds that don't come to feed. It's called Haikubox."If you're a bird nerd, this is a great
  
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• ‘Sell or you get pushed out.’ Texas property owners face 14-day eminent domain deadline

  14-11-2024 11:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:
  Neighbors in east Williamson County say they’re worried they’ll lose their land if plans for a county road project, which is still in its early stages, continues. The county says the project is an effort to keep roads safe for a population set to double in 20 years. KXAN looks at the growing number of eminent domain cases and how a recent Texas law lays out just how quickly fights like these can be over.WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — An old coffee can
  
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• ‘Sell or you get pushed out.’ Some Texas property owners face 14-day eminent domain deadline

  14-11-2024 11:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:
  Neighbors in east Williamson County say they’re worried they’ll lose their land if plans for a county road project, which is still in its early stages, continues. The county says the project is an effort to keep roads safe for a population set to double in 20 years. KXAN looks at the growing number of eminent domain cases and how a recent Texas law lays out just how quickly fights like these can be over.WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — An old coffee can
  
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• Austin mayoral race still too close to call with Travis County ballots counted; Race comes down to Williamson County

  14-11-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than a week after Election Day, Travis County ballots have been unofficially tallied, after a new round of results was posted Wednesday. It's still not enough for KXAN to call the Austin mayoral race -- which means it will come down to Williamson County voters.Williamson County is expected to do its canvass around Nov. 15, according to the clerk's office, and the deadline set by the Texas Secretary of State to finalize results is Nov. 19.There are 3,737 outstanding provisio
  
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• Austin mayoral race still too close to call with all Travis County ballots counted; Race comes down to Williamson County

  14-11-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than a week after Election Day, all Travis County ballots have been unofficially tallied, after a new round of results was posted Wednesday. It's still not enough for KXAN to call the Austin mayoral race -- which means it will all come down to Williamson County voters.Williamson County is expected to do its canvass around the Nov. 15, according to the clerk's office, and the deadline set by the Texas Secretary of State to finalize results is Nov. 19.There are 3,737 outstand
  
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• Austin mayoral race still too close to call all with Travis County ballots counted; Race comes down to Williamson County

  14-11-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- More than a week after Election Day, all Travis County ballots have been unofficially tallied, after a new round of results was posted Wednesday. It's still not enough for KXAN to call the Austin mayoral race -- which means it will come down to Williamson County voters.Williamson County is expected to do its canvass around Nov. 15, according to the clerk's office, and the deadline set by the Texas Secretary of State to post finalized results is Nov. 19.There are 3,737 outstandin
  
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• 'I am not missing' post appears on actress' Instagram amid bizarre missing person saga

  14-11-2024 04:43 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The missing person case involving actress Chanel Banks took another turn on Wednesday night when the 36-year-old apparently posted on social media, announcing that she is "finally free" from the family that has been urgently searching for her.Banks, according to family members, moved to Los Angeles more than a decade ago to pursue a career in acting. According to her IMDB page, she is best known for her roles on "Gossip Girl," "Blue Bloods" and "Twelve."Her cousin, Dan
  
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• Employers for Childcare outline legislative priorities for upcoming session

  14-11-2024 03:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- Nearly 70 businesses, local chambers and associations came together to come up with a plan to help make childcare more accessible for working families in Texas.
  The Employers for Childcare Task Force created a blueprint laying out its priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. The group was launched by the Texas Restaurant Association, Early Matters Texas, Texas Association of Business, and Texas 2036. "We heard from business leaders in our networks that they really
  
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• What is the 'super' 401(k) catch-up contribution for older workers?

  14-11-2024 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Employees in their early 60s can contribute several thousand dollars more to their 401(k) retirement plan starting next year thanks to a recent change in tax law.People 50 and older were already able to put in more than the general 401(k) limit as a "catch-up" contribution but in 2025 workers ages 60 to 63 have a "super catch-up" option, a chance to save an additional $3,750 tax-deferred. Elections have less impact on your 401(k) than you might thinkHere's how 401(k) contrib
  
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• Personal care product use during pregnancy may increase exposure to ‘forever chemicals’: study

  14-11-2024 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- The use of certain personal care products during pregnancy or lactation may be linked to increased levels of "forever chemicals" in both blood plasma and breast milk, a new study has found.While past research has confirmed the presence of these toxic compounds in such items, the study authors sought to determine whether the use of nail polish, makeup and hair dyes alters the concentrations of the compounds in the body during and after pregnancy.Exploring this question in the matern
  
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• Grubhub to be sold to Wonder in $650 million deal

  14-11-2024 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  (WJET/WFXP) — Europe's largest meal delivery firm announced Wednesday that it will be selling its U.S.-based Grubhub to Wonder in a $650 million deal.Just Eat Takeaway.com originally acquired Grubhub in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic for $7.3 billion. The firm has been looking to offload the company since 2022 due to the growing tensions between its competitors, Uber Eats and Doordash.
  In addition, delivery service companies have struggled with a decline in customers, partly
  
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• APD: Suspect faces murder charge after stabbing at south Austin gas station

  14-11-2024 01:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A suspect identified on Thursday by the Austin Police Department is facing a first-degree murder charge after a stabbing Wednesday night at a south Austin gas station, APD said.The suspect was identified as Luis Marroquin, 32. He was arrested by police Wednesday and was booked into the Travis County Jail, where he remained Thursday, according to Travis County online court records.Luis Marroquin, 32 (Courtesy Austin Police Department)An attorney was not listed for Marroquin. We w
  
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• APD: One dead in stabbing at south Austin gas station

  14-11-2024 01:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person is dead after a stabbing that happened at at a south Austin gas station on Wednesday, Austin Police Department Cpl. Matthew Nonweiler said during a media briefing.Around 4:17 p.m., Austin 911 received multiple calls about a man stabbing another man in the 7800 block of South First Street at a gas station, Nonweiler said. Less than three minutes later, at about 4:20 p.m., the first officer arrived on the scene and found a man in the parking lot bleeding.Less than two m
  
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• APD investigating after person found dead in south Austin

  14-11-2024 01:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating after a person was found dead in south Austin Wednesday.APD said on social media it responded to the 7800 block of South First Street, which is near South Congress.Police are expected to hold a media briefing to provide more details.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
  
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• Gov. Abbott enforces tuition freeze at Texas public colleges, universities

  14-11-2024 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a Wednesday letter to Texas universities and colleges, Gov. Greg Abbott said undergraduate tuition and fee increases in the next two years are prohibited.Abbott said in the letter this is a way for public universities to "ease the financial burden on our students and their families.""As this tuition freeze expires, let me be clear: I will not support any tuition increase at any public
  higher education institution in the upcoming biennium. My office has spoken to the Board of
  
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