Austin news

• UT System will expand free tuition to all undergraduates whose families make $100K or less

  20-11-2024 23:30 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — The University of Texas System is expanding its free tuition program so undergraduate students whose families make $100,000 or less will receive free tuition and fees starting next fall.A committee of the UT Board of Regents gave preliminary approval to expand the Promise Plus Program on Wednesday. The full board will take a final vote Thursday. Once approved, the system will send $35 million directly to the universities to support the expansion which will apply to eligib
  
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• Travis County DA's office says man convicted 20 years ago should get new trial

  20-11-2024 23:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Travis County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday a man who has been incarcerated for decades should be granted a new trial and should be released from prison as he waits to hear a decision from the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals.Alvin Stewart was convicted 20 years ago of killing his former teacher and then robbing him of a VCR, according to the DA's office. In the trial, the state alleged Stewart "was in a voluntary sexual relationship" with his seventh-grade m
  
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• Weekend Watch: Tree lightning at the Domain and COTA holiday fun!

  20-11-2024 22:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A pair of events are kicking off the holiday spirit with a focus on family friendly fun across Austin including, a visit from the jolly man in red and the not so jolly man in green!Who-liday Kickoff EventTree Lighting ForecastTaking place at The Domain in North Austin this Saturday is the Who-liday Kickoff Event. This event will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be plenty of fun things to do with the entire family including a meet and greet with the grumpiest man in green and
  
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• Weekend Watch: Tree lighting at the Domain and COTA holiday fun!

  20-11-2024 22:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A pair of events are kicking off the holiday spirit with a focus on family friendly fun across Austin including, a visit from the jolly man in red and the not so jolly man in green!Who-liday Kickoff EventTree Lighting ForecastTaking place at The Domain in North Austin this Saturday is the Who-liday Kickoff Event. This event will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be plenty of fun things to do with the entire family including a meet and greet with the grumpiest man in green and
  
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• APD: 84-year-old man accused of murdering woman, dog in east Austin home

  20-11-2024 22:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Officers arrested an 84-year-old man accused of murdering an 83-year-old woman and her dog in east Austin earlier this week, the Austin Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.Police identified that man as Jack Moore, who was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Travis County Jail. Attorney information was not available via online court records. We will update this story if that changes.APD is investigating after a woman and her dog were
  
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• What to know before traveling through Austin's airport this holiday season

  20-11-2024 21:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video is KXAN coverage from Nov. 18, 2024 on record travel numbers forecasted in Texas and the United States this Thanksgiving.AUSTIN (KXAN) — 'Tis the season for holiday travel at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Austin airport officials are reminding passengers to prepare for busier travel conditions as they take to the skies. An airport spokesperson told KXAN travelers are encouraged to arrive a minimum of 2.5 ho
  
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• Sheriff's office: 2 dead in apparent Llano County murder-suicide

  20-11-2024 20:30 via kxan.com
  
  LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Two people died in Kingsland in what the Llano County Sheriff's Office believes was a murder-suicide.
  The Llano County Sheriff's Office said in a press release Wednesday that deputies responded to a 911 call reporting multiple shots fired in the 2500 block of Skyline Drive Tuesday shortly after 6 p.m.The caller reported that she had locked herself inside with her young daughter and said she believed her friend might have been shot by her ex-boyfriend, who the sherif
  
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• New DPS director announced as Col. McCraw's tenure comes to an end

  20-11-2024 19:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Public Safety Commission (PSC) announced the new Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety is current Senior Deputy Director Freeman Martin.
  According to the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement (TCOLE), Martin received his Texas Peace Officer License 34 years ago in 1990 and has been with DPS for the entirety of his career.Martin began as a Trooper in the Texas Highway Patrol Division before becoming a Sergeant in the Narcotics Service in Houston, then worked his way
  
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• Water plan for Hill Country development meant to protect Texas' 'crown jewels'

  20-11-2024 19:14 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — After several months, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) released the updated water plan for a Texas Hill Country development on Wednesday morning.On Monday, the WTCPUA agreed in a unanimous decision to move forward on a proposed water service line to the Mirasol Springs development, which is located just west of Hamilton Pool. The new water line is meant to help prevent groundwater depletion in the area surrounding what some in the area cal
  
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• Updated water plan for Hill Country development meant to protect Texas' 'crown jewels'

  20-11-2024 19:14 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — After several months, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency (WTCPUA) released the updated water plan for a Texas Hill Country development on Wednesday morning.On Monday, the WTCPUA agreed in a unanimous decision to move forward on a proposed water service line to the Mirasol Springs development, which is located just west of Hamilton Pool. The new water line is meant to help prevent groundwater depletion near what some in the area call the "crown jewels
  
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• Armed drivers rideshare service to roll out in Austin

  20-11-2024 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new rideshare service rolling out in Austin will featured armed drivers, in an effort company officials say will help bolster customers' security.Ride-hailing service BlackWolf announced this month it was expanding its services into Austin, Dallas and Houston. Founder Kerry KingBrown launched the company in Atlanta last year, inspired to develop a rideshare plat
  
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• Trump watches as Musk’s SpaceX launches Starship rocket

  20-11-2024 18:12 via kxan.com
  
  Video courtesy of SpaceX.President-elect Trump joined Elon Musk on Tuesday in Texas to observe the launch of a SpaceX rocket as the two leaders have spent significant time together since Election Day.Trump was joined by some of his staff and Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-S.D.) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas). Trump embraced Musk, the founder of SpaceX, upon arriving at the company’s Brownsville la
  
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• Lago Vista woman sentenced to 5 years in tampering with evidence case after son's death

  20-11-2024 17:58 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A Lago Vista woman was sentenced to serve five years in jail in a tampering with evidence case stemming from her son's death in 2023, according to Travis County court documents.
  Veronica Soriano, 36, was convicted on Nov. 12 of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse, according to sentencing documents.Previous coverage: Lago Vista employee accused of not reporting 16-year-old son’s death, burying himThe charge
  
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• Crime ring may be behind home burglaries of Mahomes, Kelce, other athletes: police

  20-11-2024 17:57 via kxan.com
  
  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Investigators believe a South American crime ring may be behind the October burglaries reported at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Nexstar's WDAF in Kansas City has learned.This comes after WDAF obtained video of another recent incident in which alleged burglars hit another high-end home in the Kansas City area, getting away with more than $500,000 in jewelry."This is a sophisticated operation, it's not some guy that's going
  
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• Man convicted of killing nursing student Laken Riley sentenced to life in prison without parole

  20-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Venezuelan man convicted in the killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February death, and the guilty verdict was reached on Wednesday by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard. Ibarra, 26, had waived his right to a jury trial, meaning Haggard alone heard and decided the case.Haggard
  
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• Man convicted in killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley

  20-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A Venezuelan man has been convicted of murder in the killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, a case that fueled the national debate over immigration during this year’s presidential race.Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February death, and the guilty verdict was reached Wednesday by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard. Ibarra, 26, had waived his right to a jury trial, meaning t
  
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• LIVE NOW: Man convicted in killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley to be sentenced

  20-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  Live above: Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard expected to announce sentencing for Jose IbarraATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A Venezuelan man has been convicted of murder in the killing of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, a case that fueled the national debate over immigration during this year’s presidential race.Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s February death, and the guilty verdict was reached on Wednesday by Ath
  
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• How this Texas Longhorns role player makes an impact

  20-11-2024 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium came alive early in the fourth quarter Saturday. The home team cut Texas' lead to 13-10 and the Razorbacks snatched all of the momentum.The Longhorns offense had struggled against an increasingly confident Arkansas defense but came through when it mattered most. Quinn Ewers, Steve Sarkisian and Texas orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive and the Longhorns never looked back in a key 20-10 road win. The country’s best defense is in
  
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• How this Longhorns role player makes an impact

  20-11-2024 16:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium came alive early in the fourth quarter Saturday. The home team cut Texas' lead to 13-10 and the Razorbacks snatched all the momentum.The Longhorns offense had struggled against an increasingly confident Arkansas defense but came through when it mattered most. Quinn Ewers, Steve Sarkisian and Texas orchestrated a 75-yard touchdown drive and the Longhorns never looked back in a key road win.On that drive, Texas had a second down and eight on the
  
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• Dell pays $2.3M settlement over allegations regarding non-competitive bids to Army

  20-11-2024 15:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-based company Dell agreed to pay $2.3 million to the Army to resolve allegations that the tech giant violated the False Claims Act by submitting and causing the submission of non-competitive bids to the Army, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. This led to the Army being overcharged under its Army Desktop and Mobile Computing 3 contract.Virginia-based company Iron Bow also agreed to pay around $2 million for its role in the allegations, according to the DOJ.
  The
  
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• Tips on how to holiday shop sustainability

  20-11-2024 15:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Some people do their holiday shopping throughout the year. Others start the day after Thanksgiving. Then, there are those who wait until, well, a few hours or so before Christmas Day.No matter which group you may fall in, there are sustainable options that help the effort to Go Green.Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, we Americans will generate 25% more waste between now and the rest of the year.Elizabeth Simmons, the Team Lead of the Take Care of Texas program from the Te
  
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• TxDOT recommends speed reduction along busy Travis County road

  20-11-2024 13:38 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) -- "I have close calls all the time," Arthur Werchan said as he pulled his truck to a stop sign. His 6-year-old son is strapped in his car seat in the back of the truck cab. It's a routine the two have every weekday morning as Werchan makes the three mile drive to his son's school.
  Werchan's head is on a swivel at this intersection of Farm to Market Road 973. Those "close calls" he is talking about involve the morning traffic that speeds past him at 65-plus miles per hour.
  "A
  
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• AFD: Grocery store in south Austin catches fire, severely damaged

  20-11-2024 12:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A grocery store in south Austin caught fire Wednesday morning resulting in severe damage, according to the Austin Fire Department.
  The store is located in a commercial strip center at South First Street and West Stassney Lane.A grocery store in south Austin caught fire Wednesday morning resulting in severe damage, according to the Austin Fire Department. The store is located in a commercial strip center at S 1st Street and W Stassney Lane.
  AFD said that no one was hurt in the fi
  
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• Tom's of Maine toothpaste made with bacteria-filled water, FDA warns

  20-11-2024 04:28 via kxan.com
  
  SANFORD, Maine (WJW) — Water contaminated with dangerous bacteria was used to manufacture batches of Tom's of Maine toothpaste, a brand owned by Colgate-Palmolive, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The FDA said in a Nov. 5 warning letter that inspectors found Pseudomonas aeruginosa — a bacteria that can cause blood and lung infections — in water used to produce the brand's Simply White Clean Mint Paste and to rinse cleaning equipment at its Sanford, Maine, plan
  
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• Trump nominates WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to lead Department of Education

  20-11-2024 04:07 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday that he will nominate Linda McMahon to serve as secretary of the Department of Education on Tuesday. 
   
  McMahon is co-leading Trump’s transition team. She was considered a front-runner to lead the Department of Commerce and her co-lead on the transition team, Howard Lutnick, is expected to be named for that role. 
   
  McMahon previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. 
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• Mattel releases doll honoring EGOT winner Rita Moreno

  20-11-2024 03:59 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- Toy maker Mattel is releasing a doll honoring Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winner Rita Moreno, a prominent Latina actor.“Rita Moreno has long been a star on-stage, and a heroine in real life. As the first Latina to win the venerated EGOT prize, and a fiercely outspoken advocate for representation, her most important role to date is being the role model she never had,” the official Barbie account said Tuesday in a post on Instagram.“Barbie is proud to honor
  
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• Longhorns steady at No. 3 in CFP rankings

  20-11-2024 03:55 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) - Boise State received the fourth and final bye in Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff rankings, leaving BYU out of that mix and placing the Big 12 alongside the SEC on the list of power conferences with a gripe.Undefeated Oregon received top billing once again, delivered by the committee a few hours after Big Ten number crunchers ran through tiebreaker scenarios and realized the Ducks had clinched a spot in the conference title game no matter what happens between now and Decembe
  
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• Texas offers Starr County ranch to Trump for mass deportation plans

  20-11-2024 03:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- The Texas General Land Office is offering President-elect Donald Trump a 1,400-acre Starr County ranch as a site to build detention centers for his promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, according to a letter the office sent him Tuesday.Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said in the Tuesday letter that her office is “fully prepared” to enter an agreement with any federal agencies involved in deporting individuals from the country “to
  
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• APD: Pedestrian identified in August deadly crash, searching for suspect vehicle

  20-11-2024 03:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department identified a pedestrian in a deadly crash that happened in south Austin in August, the agency said in a news release Tuesday. Police are also searching for a suspect vehicle in connection with the crash.The crash happened on Aug. 27 shortly after 1 a.m. in the 700 block of East Ben White Boulevard SVRD westbound near the Murphy's gas station, according to police.Police identified the pedestrian as Michael Schoenherr, 38. He was pronounced dead on the
  
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• Hays CISD installing, replacing fencing to bolster security

  20-11-2024 00:35 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Hays Consolidated Independent School District is installing six to eight-foot perimeter fences on all school campuses to increase safety. Thanks to the 2023 bond acquisition and safety grants from the state, the district is able to replace and install security fences. The district said recent tragedies have motivated the projects. “Tragedy brings awareness,” said Jeri Skrocki, Chief of Safety and Security for Hays CISD. “We reprio
  
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• UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course names

  20-11-2024 00:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (The Texas Tribune) -- Katherine Mansfield found out that the title of her spring semester course at the University of North Texas had been changed via email.The graduate level class that she taught to seasoned teachers who were trying to earn a master’s in educational leadership used to be called “Race, Class and Gender Issues in education.” Now, it would be called “Critical Inquiry in Education.”The course description was also tweaked. Before the course sai
  
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• UT Austin flagging DEI-related words in 'routine scans' of its website

  20-11-2024 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)—Routine audits of the University of Texas Austin's website are flagging words related to diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI.This is part of the university's effort to find potential DEI programs or events that are no longer allowed, according to a UT spokesperson. State lawmakers banned DEI on public university campuses earlier this year. UT System shuts down 21 DEI offices and cuts hundreds of positions to comply with lawA post of some of the words UT is repo
  
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