Austin news

• Should the Oscars be canceled? Stephen King says yes

  18-01-2025 22:35 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — The king of horror fiction sparked debate this week over the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony and whether or not Hollywood's biggest night should go on as California's still reeling from devastating wildfires.In a post on Bluesky, the Twitter-alternative social media site, author Stephen King said he would not be voting as a member of the Academy this year. He further stated, "IMHO they should cancel them [the Oscars]. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire." Hanging out at Starbuck
  
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• Reports: Sarkisian gets contract extension after declining NFL interviews

  18-01-2025 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — With the NFL coaching carousel spinning, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian reportedly received interest from multiple teams, leading to a contract extension Saturday.The Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported that Sarkisian declined two interviews with NFL teams, parlaying those into a reported 1-year contract extension to keep him with the Longhorns until 2031. The length of the contract extension was first reported by Pete Nakos with On3 Sports.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay
  
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• Trump says he will ‘most likely’ will give TikTok 90-day extension

  18-01-2025 20:52 via kxan.com
  
  President-elect Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he is likely to give TikTok a 90-day extension while his incoming administration assesses the situation following the Supreme Court decision to uphold a federal ban.“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate. You know, it's appropriate. We have to look at it carefully," Trump said in a call with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. "It's a very big situation."He said he wi
  
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• How Texas plans to support broadband access in rural, unserved areas

  18-01-2025 19:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) said it was developing a grant program to help expand broadband access in rural, unserved areas.The program would use $30 million from the state’s Broadband Infrastructure Fund to support the development of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite.The Texas Comptroller's office said "LEO satellite technology offers a promising solution for connecting remote and sparsely populated areas where traditional broadband infrastructure is
  
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• Man in Hays County given 10 years probation after murder charge dismissed

  18-01-2025 17:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Oct. 7 related to the death of a Texas State football player in 2020.According to Hays County court documents, Christopher Lee Williams Jr., who was 19 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence.Williams was accused of disposing of the gun used in the murder of 20-year-old Khambrail Winters, according to an arrest warrant.He was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, which was suspended and substituted for 10 years prob
  
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• What happens to TikTok and its users after ban starts Sunday?

  18-01-2025 17:28 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – The Supreme Court Friday decided to uphold a law that bans TikTok starting on Sunday unless the social media app is sold off by its Chinese parent company.Several parties have expressed interest in buying the popular platform, but the parent company ByteDance has repeatedly said it does not plan to sell. Unless something changes at the eleventh hour, the ban appears set to take effect on Jan. 19.
  But the app won't suddenly disappear from your phone, and using it won't land
  
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• Live updates: Trump inauguration weekend commences as protesters rally in Washington

  18-01-2025 17:28 via kxan.com
  
  Inauguration festivities will begin in full force Saturday as President-elect Trump and his allies — and protesters — arrive in Washington ahead of Monday's inauguration of the 47th president of the U.S. Trump is expected to arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, and he will later host a reception and fireworks display at his Virginia golf course. There will also be a Cabinet reception and dinner for Vice President-elect Vance at the National Gallery of Art on Saturday evenin
  
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• Austin official testifies before Congress on need for transit infrastructure funds

  18-01-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of Austin's top officials testified before Congress this week about the vitality of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as funding from the historic act is set to expire next year.Congress passed in November 2021 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocated hundreds of billions of dollars to enhancing and revitalizing transportation systems and infrastructure in communities across the country. Here in Austin, the funding has supplied millions toward improvements
  
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• Travis Co. ESD No. 2 crew deploys to California to assist in wildfires

  18-01-2025 13:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As devastating wildfires keep ripping through the Los Angeles area, fire crews from across the country are joining in the fight, including some from right here in Central Texas. Firefighters with Travis County Emergency Service Services District No. 2 are in California right now, specifically working to stop the Palisades fire that is about more than 23,000 acres burned.Travis County ESD No. 2 Chief Nick Perkins spoke with KXAN's Avery Travis and Will DuPree on Friday to give so
  
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• Man dead after homicide at downtown Austin gas station

  18-01-2025 13:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police are investigating a homicide at a gas station parking lot in downtown Austin.Officers responded to a call around 3:05 a.m. regarding a man with a gun at the Citgo gas station on 7th Street, according to the Austin Police Department. Officers found a man with possible gunshot wounds inside a vehicle in the parking lot. He later died at a hospital.MAP: Where have Austin's homicides occurred in 2025?APD said detectives were interviewing witnesses, and one person was det
  
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• A Trump DOJ could bring an end to the yearslong investigation of his ally Ken Paxton

  18-01-2025 04:13 via kxan.com
  
  (The Texas Tribune and ProPublica) -- When President Donald Trump appeared in a New York courtroom last spring to face a slew of criminal charges, he was joined by a rotating cadre of lawyers, campaign aides, his family — and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.Paxton had traveled to be with Trump for what he described on social media as a “sham of a trial” and a “travesty of justice.” Trump was facing 34 counts of falsifying records in the case, which focused on hush
  
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• Hays CISD closes school Tuesday ahead of wintry weather

  18-01-2025 03:30 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) --- On Friday, Hays Consolidated Independent School District families received an email from the district that there wouldn't be school on Tuesday for inclement weather.Part of the email said, "Our district's corporate weather service has high confidence that we will receive snow on Tuesday. Exactly how much snow is still an uncertainty, but it is anticipated to be enough to accumulate." LIST: Central Texas school delays and closures amid wintry weatherHays CISD Spokesp
  
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• Battle for school funding continues at the Capitol

  18-01-2025 03:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Many school districts across the state are facing budget deficits and are now having to make difficult decisions.Because there has been no increase in funding since 2019, districts are having to cut programs or close down schools because deficits are too large to manage.This week Eanes Independent School District announced it would be closing Valley View Elementary School at the end of the school year. The district also cut a Spanish immersion program that catered to more t
  
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• College students accused of online 'catch a predator' plot appear in court

  18-01-2025 01:17 via kxan.com
  
  WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) – Six students at Assumption University in Massachusetts appeared in court Thursday to face charges in a connection with an alleged plot to lure a man to their campus and then seize him as part of a “catch a predator” trend on social media.The students were arraigned on conspiracy and kidnapping charges, after allegedly ambushing the man upon arrival and trying to hold him against his will. The victim, a 22-year-old active-duty military service member, l
  
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• Human trafficking survivor shares her story to raise awareness

  18-01-2025 01:09 via kxan.com
  
  WACO, Texas (FOX 44) -- Randa Rice's story starts at the age of 12 years old. That's when she said she began selling her body for money.Rice grew up in a heavily drug-involved home with two of her siblings. As the oldest sibling with no sort of income, Rice was desperate for money and said she was willing to do anything.At the age of 18, she said she was still struggling for money. A friend of hers convinced her to do nude modeling, telling her it was fast easy money and safe -- but it was not."
  
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• The baby names going 'extinct' in 2025, according to BabyCenter

  18-01-2025 01:08 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – Much like the doomed flightless dodo, baby names like “Emory,” “Jamie” or “Remy” are quickly being stamped out by the same humans who once found them so uniquely remarkable.These names — and more — are among the entries on BabyCenter’s latest list of 2025’s “Baby Names at Risk of Going Extinct,” as based on data submitted by registered users of the parenting resource website.“Hundreds of thousands of
  
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• Greathouse, Moore shining for Notre Dame heading into CFP title game

  18-01-2025 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's Jaden Greathouse is coming off the best game he's ever had in a Notre Dame uniform and Round Rock's Leonard Moore is having one of the best seasons ever by a Fighting Irish freshman heading into the College Football Playoff national championship game.Greathouse, a sophomore who graduated from Westlake and helped lead the Chaparrals to three state championships, looked like he was back in Chaparral Stadium against Penn State in the CFP semifinals at the Orange Bowl
  
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• Busta Rhymes turns himself in after fight with man in NYC, police say

  18-01-2025 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Rapper Busta Rhymes turned himself in at a Brooklyn police precinct on Tuesday after being accused of assault, police said. Trevor Tanhiem Smith, Jr., 52, also known as Busta Rhymes, is accused of punching a man in the face during a fight last week, police said. The assault was reported to police on Jan. 10, according to the NYPD. The baby names going ‘extinct’ in 2025, according to BabyCenterThe victim was transported to Woodhull Hospital for trea
  
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• Texas lawmakers push for decriminalization of fentanyl test strips

  18-01-2025 00:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) – Fentanyl overdose looms large on the docket heading into the Texas Legislature’s 89th regular session. One Texas lawmaker is advocating for the decriminalization of fentanyl test strips as part of the solution.“I filed House Bill 1496, where the goal is to make sure that people can legally purchase testing kits to determine if there is fentanyl,” State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D - Driftwood, said. “If they have pills or other material where they have a
  
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