Austin news

• Meta denies platforms are forcing users to follow Trump, Vance

  22-01-2025 23:15 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) — Meta on Wednesday pushed back against claims its platforms were automatically forcing users to follow the accounts of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance following Inauguration Day.Shortly after Trump and Vance were sworn into office, some users posted online claiming their Instagram or Facebook accounts had followed Trump and Vance automatically. Some insisted they never followed the accounts and called on Meta to explain what happened.Andy Stone, a spokesperso
  
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• APD seeks public help to identify suspect in Tornado Bus Company aggravated robbery

  22-01-2025 23:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking the public's help to find a suspect wanted in connection with an aggravated robbery that happened at Tornado Bus Company in south Austin in December, the agency said in a news release Wednesday.The alleged robbery happened on Dec. 12 around 3:30 p.m. at 711 E. Ben White Blvd. APD responded to the bus company and investigated the incident, which revealed a woman employee said she "was robbed at gunpoint," the release said.APD detectives lea
  
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• Texas budget proposals would fund school choice, border security, property tax relief

  22-01-2025 20:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- On Monday, the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate released their respective state budget outlines for 2026 and 2027. The House proposal includes $335.7 billion in spending, while the Senate proposal comes in at $332.9 billion. Both proposals call for spending $1 billion to establish education savings accounts, which Gov. Greg Abbott calls "school choice." The House and Senate also include $6.5 billion for border security efforts, and $402 million for new sta
  
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• Illegal dams see new pushback from Texas lawmaker

  22-01-2025 20:20 via kxan.com
  
  A structure built along Beaver Creek has slowed flow to Lake Buchanan, according to a KXAN viewer. (Credit: Todd Bailey/KXAN)
  Burnet County, Texas (KXAN) -- Lake Buchanan is loved by many for its wildlife and fishing opportunities, and it could be one of many Texas water sources threatened by an increase in structures acting like dams across the state."It's such a beautiful, pristine area, and I'm concerned that shutting off the water in this area will not only hurt Beaver Creek, it will hurt t
  
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• Maternal Health Awareness Day highlights women's health struggles

  22-01-2025 18:51 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (KXAN) — Thursday marks the fifth national Maternal Health Awareness Day, which is dedicated to bringing attention to unique health struggles faced by mothers, both physical and mental.It started in New Jersey in 2017 before becoming nationally recognized by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). According to ACOG, 80% of maternal deaths are considered preventable. Women of color, especially Black women, face even higher mortality rates.One in seven women exp
  
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• What is the criteria for a blizzard warning?

  22-01-2025 17:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Blizzard warnings are a rare occurrence in the southern states, but on Tuesday morning, the Lake Charles National Weather Service in Louisiana issued its first-ever blizzard warning. This warning extended across parts of eastern Texas and Louisiana, reaching the Gulf Coast.
  While there have been other blizzard warnings issued for portions of Texas, how often do they really happen?To issue a blizzard warning, the National Weather Service follows a straightforward set of criteria.
  
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• Inside Austin's Agenda: What to expect from city council in 2025

  22-01-2025 16:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday's Inside Austin's Agenda episode, host Grace Reader will sit down with Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis at 3 p.m. They will discuss the upcoming year for the city council and what you may see prioritized by your elected leaders.We know one of the major issues city council members will tackle early this year is the regulation of short-term rentals. The city of Austin proposed an overhaul to its regulatory structure earlier this month.Ellis also has several reso
  
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• LIVE: Kristen's Classroom: The magic of snow

  22-01-2025 15:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Many Central Texas kids had the rare experience of a snow day on Tuesday, and although it doesn't come often, it certainly is a memorable (and teachable) moment.Below are five fun facts about snow:
  Every snowflake is unique. Just like our fingerprints, there are no two snowflakes alike. This is because every snowflake follows a different path from the cloud to the ground, falling through layers of various temperatures and moisture levels, colliding with other surrounding snowflak
  
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• Kristen's Classroom: The magic of snow

  22-01-2025 15:46 via kxan.com
  
  Kristen's ClassroomAUSTIN (KXAN) - Many Central Texas kids had the rare experience of a snow day on Tuesday, and although it doesn't come often, it certainly is a memorable (and teachable) moment.Below are five fun facts about snow:
  Every snowflake is unique. Just like our fingerprints, there are no two snowflakes alike. This is because every snowflake follows a different path from the cloud to the ground, falling through layers of various temperatures and moisture levels, colliding with other s
  
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• Chappell Roan on Daniel Johnston: 'King of the weird'

  22-01-2025 13:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Chappell Roan, a queer popstar who skyrocketed to fame last year and performs in drag, is not one to shy away from things society might consider "weird." Perhaps that's why she has an affinity for Austin's Daniel Johnston, whom she referred to as "king of the weird" in a recent interview.AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Chappell Roan performs onstage during weekend two, day three of the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 13, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (
  
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• Kaluma scores 14 and Texas pulls away late to earn 1st home SEC win, 61-53 over No. 22 Missouri

  22-01-2025 06:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arthur Kaluma scored 14 points and Texas pulled away late to beat No. 22 Missouri 61-53 on Tuesday night for the Longhorns' first home win in the Southeastern Conference.Kadin Shedrick scored five points in a 6-1 Texas run that gave the Longhorns (13-6, 2-4) the lead in the final four minutes, and they never trailed again. His free throw tied the game at 49, and his layup for Texas' next basket put the Longhorns ahead.Texas locked down Missouri's perimeter shooters as
  
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• Child tax credit: Could the amount change during Trump's presidency?

  22-01-2025 05:37 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – President Trump has returned to the White House, and with tax season just days away some Americans may be wondering how the 47th president's administration might affect their child tax credit.Thanks to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the child tax credit is capped at $2,000 per eligible child – down from a maximum of $3,600 per child during the pandemic, but double that of tax year 2016.However, there is some uncertainty about the credit entering Trump's second term as hi
  
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• AI controversy hits Oscars talk: 'The Brutalist' under fire

  22-01-2025 05:03 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — It wouldn't be movie awards season without a little drama, would it? But with the 97th Academy Awards just months away, recent revelations about the use of AI in one of the ceremony's biggest contenders has film industry folks and film fans alike unsure how — if at all — these developments will (or should) affect its consideration.For starters, it's quite likely that Brady Corbet's historical drama "The Brutalist" will be a frontrunner for Best Picture at this year'
  
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• Texans who attended President Trump's inauguration

  22-01-2025 03:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As President Donald Trump was inaugurated as the United States' 47th president on Monday, some Texans were also seen in attendance at the event.Gov. Greg Abbott
  As Trump addressed the inauguration's overflow crowd at the Capitol Building's Emancipation Hall, he made a mention of building the border wall in South Texas.WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is seen in an overflow room in Emancipation Hall as they watch Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th Pres
  
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• PHOTOS: Texans who attended President Trump's inauguration

  22-01-2025 03:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As President Donald Trump was inaugurated as the United States' 47th president on Monday, some Texans were also seen in attendance at the event.Gov. Greg Abbott
  As Trump addressed the inauguration's overflow crowd at the Capitol Building's Emancipation Hall, he made a mention of building the border wall in South Texas.WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Texas Governor Greg Abbott is seen in an overflow room in Emancipation Hall as they watch Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th Pres
  
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• Trump pardons founder of Silk Road website

  22-01-2025 01:40 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he had pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs.Ulbricht had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after a high-profile prosecution that highlighted the role of the internet in illegal markets.Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media website, that he had spoken to Ulbricht's mother on his first full day in office.“It was my pleasure to have just signed a full and
  
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• Holiday season package theft numbers in Austin

  22-01-2025 01:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Christmas Eve, Evan Dorshorst got word from his dog sitter that his package - an order of food and medication for his dog - got stolen."First off, I was sad more than anything," he said.It was worth about $250, and the company sent him a new box free of charge, but Dorshorst's concern quickly pivoted to his neighbors when his sitter told him he wasn't the only one hit."She showed me a post on Nextdoor, and was like 'hey, you should reach out, I think it's the same person,'" D
  
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• Siete's $1.2B acquisition by PepsiCo finalized

  22-01-2025 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Siete is officially part of PepsiCo Inc.The global food and beverage company announced plans to acquire Austin-grown Garza Food Ventures LLC, known as Siete, late last year — a $1.2 billion deal that was finalized Jan. 17. It’s unclear if Siete will move its headquarters or continue to be based in Austin."We love the Siete brand for the same reason so many loyal consumers do and are dedicated to preserving its special attributes
  
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• PHOTOS: Pets, animals playing in the Central Texas snow

  22-01-2025 00:25 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Kids (and adults) weren't the only ones to enjoy the snow across Central Texas Tuesday morning.KXAN viewers from across the region sent in photos of their pets, and wild animals alike, in the snow.Have a photo to share? Email it to [email protected]!Check out our other photo galleries:
  Snowmen pop up across Central TexasKids enjoying a rare snow daySnow and sleet cover the gro
  
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• Texas legislation considers AI rules for health insurance claims

  22-01-2025 00:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- This legislative session, artificial intelligence (AI) is on the minds of many Texas lawmakers. There are several bills already filed that have to do with regulating AI in different ways.Texas lawmaker files bill to regulate artificial intelligenceSen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, filed SB 815 to stop health insurance companies from using AI to delay, deny or modify claims.“Artificial intelligence is a technology that is still rapidly developing and has enormous pote
  
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