Austin news

• Central Texas' December bird forecast

  27-11-2024 22:41 via kxan.com
  
  Bird Forecast December 2024What to watch for in December: People Counting Birds and Crowd-pleasing BluebirdsHere’s the Central Texas bird forecast for the month, courtesy of Travis Audubon. Learn more about Central Texas birds and bird-related events for all ages at travisaudubon.org or by calling 512-300-BIRD. Follow us at www.facebook.com/travisaudubonWhen mid-December rolls around, bird watchers get out and count birds, participating in one or more Christmas Bird Counts. The Christmas B
  
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• Texas sues investment firms for anti-trust violations, price hikes

  27-11-2024 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas is suing three huge investment firms claiming the companies violated anti-trust laws making you have to pay more for power. The suit claims it happened through climate activism, which in turn reduced coal production and made energy prices soar.
  Texas is one of 10 states suing Black Rock, Vanguard and State Street. Paxton suing TikTok, referencing SCOPE Act violations"This is a federal anti-trust case. These things are complicated," University of Texas law professor Randy E
  
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• Man sentenced to 20 years for March 2021 deadly shooting

  27-11-2024 22:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A man was convicted of murder after he entered a guilty plea for a March 2021 shooting that happened in north Austin, according to court documents.Jose Negrete was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Oct. 23 for the shooting that happened March 28, 2021, at the WoodSpring Suites Austin. PAST STORY | APD identifies man killed at north Austin hotelThe Austin Police Department responded to the hotel and found 40-year-old Brandon Williams with gunshot wounds inside a room. He was tak
  
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• Tesla fined $7K for federal violations at Texas Gigafactory

  27-11-2024 21:33 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Electric automaker Tesla was fined nearly $7,000 in federal violations at its Texas Gigafactory in Travis County.
  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines come from two violations related to hazardous exposure to employees. Each fine totals $3,457 after informal settlements on Oct. 31.
  The first violation related to not assessing employees for chromium exposure in the cybertruck body area of the facility in June. The second violation related to
  
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• Man sentenced for 2023 shooting death in Travis County

  27-11-2024 21:18 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY (KXAN) — A Pflugerville man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 2020 death of a man in Travis County.
  Alian Davis pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced Nov. 13 to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility, according to court records. He remained in the Travis County Correctional Complex as of Wednesday.
  Deputies responded to a call on Linville Ridge Lane on Jan. 13, 2023, after a ride-share driver reported a man approached their vehicle and "tol
  
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• Austin golf course employees accused of misusing city resources, report says

  27-11-2024 21:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several Austin Parks and Recreation Department employees within the golf division were accused of misusing city resources and abusing their positions for personal gain in 2023, according to a report from the Office of the City Auditor and a PARD spokesperson.The report said one employee was running a golf club repair business while on the clock at a municipal golf course. Several other employees were accused of holding golf clinics and "picking themselves to be the paid ins
  
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• Man sentenced to community supervision for hit-and-run death of 70-year-old woman in Austin

  27-11-2024 20:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 21-year-old man was sentenced to community service following the 2022 hit-and-run death of a woman in Circle C.
  Weston Holtz pleaded guilty to an accident involving death charge and was sentenced to five years of community supervision on Nov. 14, according to court documents.The fatal crash happened Aug. 17, 2022, near Way Lane and South Bay Lane. Austin police said officers responded to a crash where a car hit a pedestrian crossing the street. The driver did not stop.
  Sa
  
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• Texas experts anticipating heightened Christmas tree demand this season

  27-11-2024 20:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Christmas tree producers in Texas are experiencing heightened demand this year after back-to-back seasons impacted by drought, Texas A&M Forest Service experts shared Wednesday.Experts said higher prices are probable for any choose-and-cut and shipped-cut trees this holiday season.“Demand is up, whether the previous seasons impacted supplies or supplies held steady, so there is a potential for price increases and limited selection,” said Fred Raley, Ph.D., T
  
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• Ted Cruz significantly underperformed Trump's vote share along Texas' southern border

  27-11-2024 20:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Republican Ted Cruz was reelected to a third term in the U.S. Senate after defeating Congressman Colin Allred in Tuesday's election.Cruz received just shy of 6 million votes statewide, about 1.7 million more than he did in the 2018 election. Allred won a little more than 5 million voters, about 985,000 more than Beto O’Rourke did in 2018.More election coverage:
  233 of Texas’ 254 counties swung toward Trump in 2024 electionInteractive maps: President, Senate and
  
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• 233 of Texas' 254 counties swung toward Trump in 2024 election

  27-11-2024 19:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former President Donald Trump is heading back to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s presidential election.In Texas, Trump received almost 6.4 million votes — more than any other candidate in presidential election history. His vote total was just over 500,000 more than he received in 2020.Harris received a little more than 4.8 million votes, about 425,000 fewer than Joe Biden received in 2020.More election cov
  
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• Texas maternal mortality committee to skip over full reviews in years after abortion ban

  27-11-2024 18:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — In its next meeting on Dec. 6, the Texas Maternal Mortality Committee will begin reviewing death cases from 2024 and will skip over two years of full death reviews.The committee's chair Dr. Carla Ortique made the announcement during a public meeting on Sept. 27.This means maternal mortality rates won't be fully examined from the time period directly after federal abortion laws were overturned in June 2022."This is not the first time we've leapfrogged forward," Ortique said.
  
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• TxDOT says smaller projects help improve traffic, as big projects get underway

  27-11-2024 18:14 via kxan.com
  
  It might be hard to fathom by the looks of the flow of traffic on Interstate 35 during rush hour, but new data from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute showed Austin drivers are spending 21% less time in traffic.KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes Spoke with the Texas Department of Transportation about what projects are contributing to that improvement, and what projects are now underway that may change that data.I-35 stretches 509 miles across the state of Texas. Data from the Texas A&
  
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• 5 hospitalized after I-35 rollover crash late Tuesday

  27-11-2024 17:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Five people were hospitalized following a rollover crash along North Interstate 35's southbound lanes late Tuesday night, Austin-Travis County EMS said.Both ATCEMS and the Austin Police Department responded to the crash, which happened just before 11 p.m. Tuesday. ATCEMS said one vehicle rolled over, leading to two patients being ejected.Medics transported four patients to Dell Seton Medical Center. Those included one adult and one teenager with potentially serious injuries, one
  
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• H-E-B to open new southeast Austin store, eyeing 2027 opening date

  27-11-2024 17:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- H-E-B lovers, rejoice! A new store is coming to southeast Austin, the Texas grocer announced Wednesday.H-E-B will open a new location at McKinney Falls Parkway and William Cannon Drive, the company announced. Officials noted this project is being "aligned with community investments," adding H-E-B will gift $1 million to Habitat for Humanity to support the development of two affordable housing projects in east Austin.Construction on the McKinney Falls store is expected to begin i
  
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• Pancreatic cancer survivor shares tips on early warning signs, screenings

  27-11-2024 17:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- When Manuel Ruiz first started developing stomach pains -- a needle-like pressure that would come and go -- his wife encouraged him to go to a doctor and get it checked out.That stomach pain was a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Ruiz underwent surgery to remove tumors from his pancreas and liver last June and is now cancer free. It's an especially rare situation, his doctor said, as pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest in the U.S.Dr. Shaun McKenzie at St. David's Medical Cent
  
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• LIVE: Kristen's Classroom: what weather would cancel the Thanksgiving Day parade?

  27-11-2024 16:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a family tradition for many Americans on Thanksgiving but relies heavily on the weather being cooperative. We're talking about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.Originally a Christmas parade, the now Thanksgiving Day parade has been a holiday tradition since 1924. The balloons were added in the year 1927 and are, more often than not, the most-impacted by inclement weather.The most limiting meteorological factor is the wind. City regulations require the sustained winds to b
  
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• Kristen's Classroom: what weather would cancel the Thanksgiving Day parade?

  27-11-2024 16:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's a family tradition for many Americans on Thanksgiving but relies heavily on the weather being cooperative. We're talking about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.Originally a Christmas parade, the now Thanksgiving Day parade has been a holiday tradition since 1924. The balloons were added in the year 1927 and are, more often than not, the most-impacted by inclement weather.The most limiting meteorological factor is the wind. City regulations require the sustained winds to b
  
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• Overcoming addiction and chronic pain: 'You're going through hell.'

  27-11-2024 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – “When I was on pain meds and in pain all the time, you’re going through hell, and you are really just trying to make it sometimes, one hour at a time,” said Eric Bumpus, a 43-year-old husband and father of two, reflecting on five years of living with an addiction to pain pills.Today, Bumpus competes in ultramarathons and fitness competitions, like Hyrox, a functional fitness obstacle course race.Eric Bumpus' son joined him at the Austin Rattler finish line
  
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• LIVE: Overcoming addiction and chronic pain: 'You're going through hell.'

  27-11-2024 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – “When I was on pain meds and in pain all the time, you’re going through hell, and you are really just trying to make it sometimes, one hour at a time,” said Eric Bumpus, a 43-year-old husband and father of two, reflecting on five years of living with an addiction to pain pills.Today, Bumpus competes in ultramarathons and fitness competitions, like Hyrox, a functional fitness obstacle course race.Eric Bumpus' son joined him at the Austin Rattler finish line
  
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• Demolitions to parts of old Williamson County jail will make room for new development

  27-11-2024 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Construction crews are tearing down parts of the old, historic Williamson County Jail. The City of Georgetown and Williamson County are looking for a buyer interested in the site.The jail was in use from 1889 to 1989. Williamson County Commissioner Valerie Covey stressed that the historical part of the jail won't be touched.
  There are parts of the Williamson County Historic Jail that will be preserved. (Photo: KXAN)There are parts of the Williamson County Histori
  
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• 2 Texas cities among the 'Most Sinful' in America, study finds

  27-11-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  (KDVR/NEXSTAR) — It should come as no surprise that Las Vegas — aka "Sin City" — has once again nabbed the top spot on WalletHub's latest "Most Sinful Cities in America" list. But which of the nation's other cities are full of folks who more often indulge in their bad behavior or embrace their many vices?The devil is in their little details, it seems.To compile the 2024 list, WalletHub's analysts studied statistics from 182 of the country's most populated cities, delving into d
  
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• Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry resumes, but Hex Rally tradition won't return right now

  27-11-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As the rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies returns, the tradition the University of Texas brought to life nearly a century ago will not come back this year.The University of Texas Austin Hex Rally in 1941 (Courtesy: Texas Exes)
  The last time the Longhorns played the Aggies was in 2011 right before A&M left the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference.The rivalry, which started in 1894 with a 38-0 UT victory,will be reignited Saturday ni
  
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• Battle-tested Longhorns confident heading into Kyle Field

  27-11-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas football team has been incredible at not getting ahead of themselves in 2024. Trap games don't trap them. Bulletin board material does not materialize. Now the most anticipated game of their season though, is here.The Longhorns are now set to face Texas A&M with the winner clinching a spot in the SEC Championship game the following week against Georgia. For the first time since 2011, Texas and Texas A&M will play each other. Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed is
  
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• Pedestrian hurt after south Austin crash Sunday, APD looking for driver

  27-11-2024 12:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is searching for a driver who they said failed to stop and render aid after hitting a pedestrian on Sunday night in the 7800 block of South First Street. This is located near the corner of South First Street and West Dittmar Road.APD said the pedestrian was taking to a local hospital, but did not provide any details about injuries.
  APD said the driver was driving a small black sedan, possibly a 2019-2023 Toyota Corolla. The vehicle had front-end coll
  
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• How the Austin Zoo prepares for the winter months

  27-11-2024 05:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Zoo is a nonprofit rescue zoo located about 25 minutes west of downtown. The zoo is home to dozens of species, ranging anywhere from tiny lizards to tigers and lions.As the winter months approach, Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Dillon Horger, director of animal care at the Austin Zoo, to talk about how the zoo prepares for the cooler weather ahead.Meteorologist Tommy House: What kind of animals does the Austin Zoo have during the winter months?Dillon Horger: So w
  
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• World's oldest man has died in England at 112

  27-11-2024 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  LONDON (AP) — For nearly nine months, John Alfred Tinniswood held the title of world's oldest man, marking his 112th birthday during his reign.His record-holding status ended Monday when Tinniswood died in a care home in northwest England near Liverpool, where he was born on Aug. 26, 1912, his family said in a statement.Tinniswood attributed his longevity to “pure luck.”“You either live long or you live short, and you can’t do much about it,” the retired accou
  
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• 23-foot Virginia pine tree installed in the House Chamber

  27-11-2024 03:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas House of Representatives is getting into the holiday spirit by installing a 23-foot Virginia pine tree in the House Chamber.The tree arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the Texas Capitol at the John H. Reagan loading dock after a four and a half hour journey from Elves Christmas Tree Farm in Denison, according to a news release from the Texas House of Representatives.The Texas House of Representatives installed its annual Christmas tree in the House chamber at the Texas State
  
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• Where Longhorns, Aggies rank in CFP poll before showdown

  27-11-2024 03:19 via kxan.com
  
  (AP) - The Southeastern Conference’s losses were almost everyone else’s gain in the College Football Playoff rankings, with SMU nudging its way into the top 12 and Indiana staying in the mix at No. 10 despite a lopsided loss of its own.The 12-team bracket released Tuesday placed undefeated Oregon on top for the fourth straight week. It did not include Alabama or Mississippi of the SEC, both of which suffered their third losses of the season last week.That helped place SMU in the nint
  
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• Mega Millions jackpot reaches $489M ahead of Thanksgiving: When's the next drawing?

  27-11-2024 01:12 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Someone could start their Thanksgiving Eve a few million dollars richer thanks to a massive Mega Millions jackpot that's up for grabs.
  Without a winner on Friday, the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an estimated $489 million with a cash option of $229.3 million ahead of the next drawing. If you're hoping to try your luck, you may only have a few hours to buy a ticket before the drawing at 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
  The current Mega Millions grand prize has been growing since Sep
  
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• San Francisco watchdog Ricci Wynne arrested, suspected of pimping

  27-11-2024 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – One of San Francisco's most viral residents was locked in a jail cell on Monday. Neighborhood watchdog Ricci Wynne was booked into jail around 2 a.m. on suspicion of felony pimping, San Francisco jail inmate records show.Wynne has legions of social media followers. Over the past three years, videos posted on his social media pages, RawRicci415, garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
  The former drug dealer served time behind bars before he became an anti-crime and a
  
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• Texas women's hoops gearing up for Florida tournament

  27-11-2024 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas women's basketball has played four games so far this season, and have won all four of those games by at least 30 points.Evaluating early season competition can be tricky with the Longhorns clearly overmatching a lot of their opponents. Head Coach Vic Schaefer and his staff look at effort as much as the play itself."I was pleased with how we played at DePaul," said Schaefer. "That was our first true road test. I thought we played really hard. Didn't necessarily play re
  
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• Subway ending $6.99 value meal early, reports say

  27-11-2024 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — National sandwich chain Subway is ending its value meal deal earlier than anticipated, according to reports.
  Citing a memo shared with Subway operators on Friday, Restaurant Business Magazine reports the company is ending its $6.99, 6-inch Meal Deal on Wednesday, Nov. 27. The promotion was scheduled to run through Dec. 26.With the deal, which began on Nov. 3 in honor of National Sandwich Day, customers could order a six-inch sub, a small fountain drink, and a bag of chips or tw
  
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• APD: Thefts 50% higher in December compared to rest of the year

  27-11-2024 00:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The end of the year marks a time of celebration and family fun, but there's also an unfortunate trend that looms over the holiday season -- an increase in burglaries.On Tuesday, the Austin Police Department held a press conference to inform the community about the increase of burglaries that happen around this time of the year.Police said November and December typically see 11% more burglaries than at any other point in the year. The good news is those crimes have seen a slight
  
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