Austin news

• City of Lockhart named 'Music Friendly Texas Certified Community'

  20-12-2024 23:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Lockhart was announced as a "Music Friendly Texas Certified Community," and Gov. Greg Abbott said the city will celebrate the certification with a ceremony in January 2025.That ceremony will happen at 5 p.m. on Jan. 3 at Downtown Lockhart- January First Friday, located at 107 North Main St., in Lockhart, according to a news release from Abbott's office.The "multi-step certification process" was completed by the city, which the Texas Music Office (TMO) then designated
  
  Read more

• Buda PD recovers $300K worth of equipment in attempted burglary

  20-12-2024 22:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Buda Police Department said it helped a local business save thousands of dollars after an attempted burglary that happened last week, the agency said on social media.BPD said it responded to a call for a burglary in progress at Vermeer equipment supply in Buda around 11 p.m., Dec. 13. Police said its "rapid response" deterred the thieves, and they ran from the area.Officers searched the area and did not find any suspects. However, they "recovered over $300,000 of tools, mach
  
  Read more

• Samsung finalizes CHIPS Act incentive; scope of factory less than previously announced

  20-12-2024 22:07 via kxan.com
  
  (Austin Business Journal) — Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has finalized the incentive it will get through the federal CHIPS and Science Act, although the company won't be making as big of an investment in Taylor as what was proclaimed when dignitaries descended on the small town to announce a preliminary CHIPS award earlier this year.The company plans to invest $37 billion at its sites in Taylor and North Austin, down from initial projections of $45 billion but still a huge sum th
  
  Read more

• Texas’ citrus industry — once an agricultural powerhouse — is on the brink of disaster

  20-12-2024 21:54 via kxan.com
  
  MISSION, Texas (Texas Tribune) — In January, Elle Holbrook will be crowned Queen Citrianna, the face of the Rio Grande Valley's citrus industry for the next year.Her title and the competition created to earn it are part of the Texas Citrus Fiesta, a decades-old celebration of the industry rooted in the Valley.Holbrook was among the dozens of young women competing for the crown as duchesses, each representing a citrus product.As the duchess of Rio Red Grapefruit, a staple of Texas citrus, s
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Is it legal in Texas to decorate your car with Christmas lights?

  20-12-2024 20:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In the thick of the holiday season, it's not unusual to see the occasional car donning a bright red nose or reindeer antlers. But what about a vehicle completely decked out in Christmas lights?Yes, you read that right. Some Texans are jumping on a viral trend of attaching glittering, flashing holiday lights to their vehicles.Is that festive? Beyond. But is it illegal? We brought that question to the Austin Police Department.Unsurprisingly, the Texas Transportation Code doesn't h
  
  Read more

• Party City going out of business, starting process 'immediately': report

  20-12-2024 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Party City, once among the top names in party-supply retailers, is going out of business, according to an announcement from CEO Barry Litwin that was viewed by CNN.Litwin, during a conference call with employees, broke the news Friday, the outlet reported.“Unfortunately, it’s necessary to commence a winddown process immediately,” Litwin reportedly said.Big Lots: ‘Going out of business’ sales to begin at all locations
  Bloomberg reported earlier this
  
  Read more

• Austin police investigating body found near Lady Bird Lake

  20-12-2024 19:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said detectives were investigating a body found near Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin.APD said the incident was being treated as a death investigation with no foul play suspected.Police said the body was found in the water near the First Street Bridge and the 300 block of Cesar Chavez.APD is expected to hold a briefing to provide additional details.
  
  Read more

• Lakeway woman arrested in 'soon-to-be' adopted daughter's death, police say

  20-12-2024 19:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman was arrested after her "soon-to-have-been-adopted" 6-year-old daughter died following an incident at a Lakeway home in 2023, the Lakeway Police Department said in a press release.Chelsye Reagan Witcher, 41, was arrested Friday morning and charged with Injury to a Child, a first-degree felony, and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence, a third-degree felony, police said.KXAN is in contact with Witcher's attorney about the accusations. This story will be upd
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• What services are impacted when the government shuts down?

  20-12-2024 18:08 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — Federal lawmakers have until midnight to pass a budget, or else the government will shut down, impacting millions of employees and consumers ahead of the holiday.Without a funding plan, the shutdown would begin at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 21 and last until Congress passes a spending bill.Here are the government services and agencies that would be affected if the government shuts down.What does a government shutdown impact?Federal employees, including military members, would not be pa
  
  Read more

• Employee accused of stabbing company president during meeting: 'Haven't ruled out copycat motive'

  20-12-2024 18:08 via kxan.com
  
  FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — New details are emerging after the stabbing of a Michigan company's president by one of his own employees at a Muskegon-area manufacturer.The stabbing incident took place Tuesday morning during a company meeting, police said.
  The suspect, 32-year-old Nathan Mahoney of Walker, Michigan, has been charged in the attack, and also for allegedly trying to flee police.A booking photo of Nathan Joseph Mahoney shared by the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office.Police
  
  Read more

• Round Rock library to celebrate retirement of beloved ball python Rocksssanne

  20-12-2024 17:33 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Round Rock Public Library (RRPL) announced its beloved ball python Rocksssanne was preparing for retirement.The “well-read reptile” has been captivating library visitors of all ages for 25 years. She has been a staple during storytimes and has made appearances at local schools. She has also inspired art installations, city officials said.Rocksssanne was adopted on Jan. 20, 2000, when she was estimated to be three years old.“At t
  
  Read more

• How many Texans are traveling for the holidays this December?

  20-12-2024 16:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As a record number of Americans travel for the holiday season this December, 9.1 million Texans are also expected to take to the roads or the skies.That figure is based on projections from AAA Texas, analyzing how many Texans will travel 50 miles or more from home between Dec. 21 and Jan. 1. In Texas, 2.2% more residents will be traveling for the holidays compared to last year, but the overall number is still 3.9% lower than the 2019 holiday season (the last before the onset of
  
  Read more

• Texas school districts report a rising number of assaults on employees | Inside the Investigation

  20-12-2024 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The number of school employees assaulted on the job is rising in Texas with more than 2,600 assaults on educators reported to the state last year. This week on Inside the Investigations, Investigative Reporter Kelly Wiley and Investigative Intern Nina Banks explain what can happen after teachers are hurt in the classroom.Join Kelly Wiley and Esmeralda Zamora every Friday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reporting from the KXAN Investigates team.Relat
  
  Read more

• Types of Nor'easters: Miller Type A vs. Type B

  20-12-2024 11:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A nor'easter is one of the most powerful weather phenomena, capable of bringing severe and often dangerous conditions. The term "nor'easter" refers to the strong northeast winds that sweep along the eastern seaboard during a coastal low storm. These storms deliver significant snowfall, blizzard-like conditions, ice accumulation, coastal flooding, and widespread power outages caused by damaging winds.Did you know there are two primary setups for a typical nor'easter? The Miller c
  
  Read more

• Austin police seeking help in locating missing 81-year-old man

  20-12-2024 10:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department's Missing Persons Unit asked Thursday night for the community's help in locating 81-year-old Jaime Tamariz.APD said he was last seen on Thursday, around 7:00 p.m. in the 900 block of East 2nd Street. That's near the intersection of East Cesar Chavez Street and North Interstate 35 Frontage Road.
  Authorities said Tamariz has dementia and only speaks Spanish. Police said they were concerned about his safety and immediate welfare.
  The Austin Police Depar
  
  Read more

• City activates overnight cold weather shelters for Friday

  20-12-2024 04:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Austin will activate its overnight cold weather shelters Friday, due to temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-30s going into Saturday, the city said in a news release Thursday.The city said the Homeless Strategy Office can decide to activate shelters "up to one day in advance and no later than 9 a.m. each day.""Shelters will open when forecasted overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are expected to reach 35 degrees or below," the city said. Previous: More than 100
  
  Read more

• Thief returns baby Jesus figurine stolen from Colorado nativity scene: 'I made a dumb mistake'

  20-12-2024 04:17 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) — Police in Fort Collins, Colorado, were looking for a suspect who reportedly stole a baby Jesus figurine from a nativity scene, but said the thief returned the figurine on Thursday with a brief note.Fort Collins Police first noted the figurine was stolen from the area's Old Town Square nativity scene on Tuesday. What is ‘coffee badging?’ Workplace trend seen as protest to return-to-office push"This Grinch tried to ruin Christmas by stealing the Baby Jesus from th
  
  Read more

• 100 more 3D printed homes coming to Community First! Village

  20-12-2024 03:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- A community that's helping people emerge from chronic homelessness continues to grow with the help of technology.25 years: Local nonprofit is national model for tackling homelessnessOne hundred 3D printed homes will come to Community First! Village. The community, created by the nonprofit Mobiles Loaves & Fishes, provides affordable and permanent housing for people leaving chronic homelessness.
  “Community First! Village is at the center of innovation in our country in
  
  Read more

• New bill, in response to KXAN report, would require safety barriers at Texas ERs

  20-12-2024 03:47 via kxan.com
  
  Project Summary:This story is part of KXAN’s “Preventing Disaster” investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospital’s emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation – including whether medical sites had security barriers – known as bollards – at their entrances. Experts say those could stop cr
  
  Read more

• AG Paxton files order to prevent Robert Roberson from testifying at Texas Capitol

  20-12-2024 03:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a new motion filed Thursday in hopes of keeping death row inmate, Robert Roberson, from testifying in front of a state House committee hearing, Paxton's office said in a news release.Paxton filed for a motion to prevent a "procedurally deficient and overly burdensome subpoena" from allowing Roberson to testify. Roberson is scheduled to testify at the Texas Capitol Friday, Dec. 20. Texas House panel subpoenas death row inmate Robert Rob
  
  Read more

• The 10 best albums of 2024

  20-12-2024 02:48 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — The year is quickly coming to a close and with that comes a cascade of year-end lists. While 2024 was a great year both in amount of music releases and their quality, some albums stuck around with us more than others.Honorable mentions who didn't make the list include the carefree pop perfection of Sabrina Carpenter's "Short n' Sweet," Vampire Weekend's return-to-form record "Only God Was Above Us," the breezy and relaxed vibe of Kacey Musgraves' "Deeper Well" and Clairo's "Cha
  
  Read more

• Car crashes into Bexar County school, injures children, teacher killed

  20-12-2024 02:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Bexar County Sheriff's Office said that a 20-year-old teacher died and several children were injured in an accident Thursday afternoon at a school on West I-10 Frontage Road in Boerne, Texas.Emergency responders transported the driver and five children to nearby hospitals as a "precaution" following the accident, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. At the time of the accident, parents were picking up students from a school holiday party."This is a heartbre
  
  Read more

• ECHO in need of volunteers for 2025 homelessness count in Austin

  20-12-2024 01:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Registration is now open for anyone wanting to volunteer for the 2025 Point in Time (PIT) Count, and the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) said it hopes to see volunteers who have participated in previous counts, the foundation said in a news release.ECHO said it needs around 50 more team leads and "hundreds more general volunteers" for the January count. Point in Time data released, not likely a full count of people experiencing homelessness in AustinThe Austin/Tra
  
  Read more

• Georgetown ISD waives certification requirement for counselors

  20-12-2024 00:39 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — As more students reach out for mental health services, mental health professionals who provide the help can be hard to find.In many school districts across Texas there are vacancies for school counselor positions, and it can be a challenge to find candidates to fill them."Depression, anxiety, bipolar, autism," said former school counselor Amy Goodwin. "There is a lot of learning and education that goes into learning about those childhood disorders."Goodwin spent
  
  Read more

• Burnet County judge quits amid legal, harassment claims

  20-12-2024 00:32 via kxan.com
  
  BURNET, Texas (KXAN) -- Burnet County Judge James Oakley has resigned. It comes after years marred by legal troubles and sexual harassment claims against him.Oakley would have normally been at Thursday's Burnet County Commissioners Court meeting. But a day earlier he handed in his resignation to Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arrendondo. Burnet County Judge could face once-dismissed criminal charges again, following appeals court decision"You're going to naturally have a lot of questions about wha
  
  Read more

• Big Lots: 'Going out of business' sales to begin at all locations

  20-12-2024 00:12 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closing hundreds of stores, Big Lots is preparing to close all of its locations, the company confirmed on Thursday. In a press release, the company said it will begin "going out of business" sales at all of its remaining locations — totaling 963 as of Thursday — after failing to complete its previously announced sales to Nexus Capital Management, a private equity firm.More than 400 Big Lots stores have alrea
  
  Read more

• 'Murder hornets' eradicated from US, officials announce

  20-12-2024 00:11 via kxan.com
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – It’s official: The northern giant hornet — colloquially known as a “murder hornet” — has been eradicated from the United States, according to federal officials.The state of Washington has not had any confirmed detections of the world’s largest hornet for three years. State and federal agencies announced the accomplishment on Wednesday.“We’re pleased to announce the eradication of the northern giant hornet in Washington
  
  Read more

• Did you feel the earthquake near Uncertain, Texas?

  20-12-2024 00:11 via kxan.com
  
  SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) - A magnitude 3.3 earthquake was felt in parts of the Arklatex early Thursday morning.According to the United States Geological Survey, the tremor was just 2.48 miles from Uncertain, Texas.We asked our viewers to tell us if they felt the earthquake and received confirmation from Bossier City, Blanchard, and North Shreveport residents. One resident in North Shreveport says she thought a tree had fallen on her home from the intensity of the shake. More Local News
  "It's
  
  Read more

• Amazon workers strike at facilities around the country as Teamsters seek contract

  20-12-2024 00:11 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK CITY (WPIX) - Amazon workers in New York City are rallying with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union and going on strike amid the holiday rush.The strikes kicked off at 6 a.m. on Staten Island, in addition to warehouses in Atlanta, Southern California, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.The strike is an effort by the Teamsters to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period.The Teamsters say the workers, who authorized s
  
  Read more

• Suspect in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO will return to New York to face murder charges

  20-12-2024 00:09 via kxan.com
  
  HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO faces new federal charges of murder, stalking and weapons charges, according to a complaint unsealed Thursday.Luigi Mangione agreed to return to New York to face a state murder charge Thursday at a morning court appearance in Pennsylvania where he was arrested last week after five days on the run. It was unclear when he would be in court on the federal charges.After his Pennsylvania court ap
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!