Austin news

• Austin ISD issues guidance to staff after federal immigration policy changes

  23-01-2025 23:44 via kxan.com
  
  KXAN (AUSTIN) – The Austin Independent School District on Thursday issued guidance to staff on how to respond if federal immigration enforcement comes to its campuses. The guidance comes just days after the Trump administration threw out a long-standing federal policy protecting sensitive areas, like churches and schools, from ICE raids.  “We recognize the emotional toll that recent news cycles may be taking on our students, families and staff. For many in our community, these a
  
  Read more

• 4-year-old girl dies after fire in Spicewood

  23-01-2025 23:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A four-year-old girl died Wednesday after a fire broke out in an RV in Spicewood, according to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).According to the sheriff’s office, 911 received a call around 4:15 p.m. regarding an RV on fire in the 500 block of Deer Path Way.BCSO said first responders were unable to rescue the girl, but both parents were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor burns or smoke inhalation.Preliminary reports said a space heater may hav
  
  Read more

• Austin FC signs free-agent midfielder, extends Kolmanič's contract 1 more year again

  23-01-2025 22:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC keeps tacking on years to the contract of a "unique" defender.The club announced Thursday a 1-year contract extension for fullback Žan Kolmanič. He played mostly as a reserve in 2024 after a knee injury ended his 2023 season early, but sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said he's an important piece to Verde and Black's backline. Austin FC sends all-time leading scorer to Argentine club for record transfer fee"We feel that Žan provides us a unique pro
  
  Read more

• Popular First Aid Beauty moisturizer recalled by FDA

  23-01-2025 22:15 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — A popular moisturizer sold at numerous retailers nationwide is being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration, with the FDA giving its second-highest risk-level for those who use the product.The FDA says about 2,756 jars of First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Coconut Vanilla are being recalled due to a deviation from Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations, which regulates quality, safety, consistency and packaging in drug or cosmetic products.AI controversy hits Os
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Austin council members back major redesign of Congress Ave

  23-01-2025 21:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several Austin City Council members voiced their support for a proposed redesign of Congress Avenue, including the possible introduction of an urban plaza and the removal of a decade-old moratorium on new downtown events.The Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative has proposed a full revamp of Congress Avenue between Riverside Drive and 11th Street to the tune of an estimated $130 million. Transportation leaders are eyeing initial improvements to the corridor betw
  
  Read more

• DNA testing leads to arrest of suspect in 1996 murder of Mary Moore Searight

  23-01-2025 21:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said it identified a man connected with a 1996 cold case of a woman who an Austin park was named after.According to DPS, 86-year-old Mary Moore Searight was murdered in Paris, Texas, on Aug. 18, 1996.DPS said the man was identified using modern evidence testing. The man, later identified as 54-year-old David Paul Cady Jr., was indicted by a Lamar Co. grand jury on Dec. 12.“Mary Moore Searight was found inside he
  
  Read more

• 'A world without us has never existed': Transgender Texans react to Trump's gender mandate

  23-01-2025 21:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Transgender Texans tell KXAN they are shocked but not surprised by President Donald Trump's executive order that declared the government will only recognize binary sexes as unchangeable characteristics decided at a person's conception."As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female," said Trump in his inaugural address.The order, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Res
  
  Read more

• Police response to mental health emergencies being discussed by city, state

  23-01-2025 21:21 via kxan.com
  
  If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 988. Text messaging and online chat options are also available on the website.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An item on the first City Council agenda of 2025 aims to collect, and later analyze, data on mental health calls.The measure asks the City Manager's Office to gather information and present recommendations to the Public Safety Committee on "the City’s police and
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Cyclist found unresponsive in the street, APD investigating

  23-01-2025 20:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Austin Police Department said it was seeking information after a cyclist was found lying unresponsive in the street on Jan. 13.According to APD, around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to the 10400 block of Boulder Lane for a call regarding the cyclist.APD said officers found a man with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition, according to police.Detectives investigating the incident requested assistance from a
  
  Read more

• Austin rents have fallen for nearly two years. Here’s why.

  23-01-2025 20:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Austin rents skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as tens of thousands of new residents flocked there and the region’s job market boomed.Now, Austin is one of the only major U.S. cities where rents are falling.Austin rents have tumbled for 19 straight months, data from Zillow show. The typical asking rent in the capital city sat at $1,645 as of December, according to Zillow — above where rents stood prior to the pandemic but below where they pe
  
  Read more

• James Beard Awards serve up 6 Austin semifinalists

  23-01-2025 19:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Dinner is served: Several Austin-area restaurants and chefs have been named semifinalists for the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards, award leadership announced Wednesday.Texans showed up and showed out in the semifinalist rounds, with 39 total Texas semifinalists in the mix, including six Austin-based semifinalists.From Austin, semifinalists included:
  Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Canje, a semifinalist for outstanding chefLao'd Bar, a semifinalist for best new restaurantTecho
  
  Read more

• Graupel: The winter wonder you’ve never heard of

  23-01-2025 19:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Graupel is a weather phenomenon that often gets mistaken for snow, but it’s actually quite different. Sometimes referred to as "ice pellets," graupel has a distinct texture that resembles the "dip and dot" ice cream.According to the National Weather Service, "graupel forms when supercooled water droplets (water that is below 32°F but still in liquid form) freeze onto a snow crystal in a process known as riming." This process occurs when snowflakes collect these superco
  
  Read more

• MAP: More than 100 acres have burned in Central Texas wildfires in 2025

  23-01-2025 18:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 100 acres have burned in wildfires across Central Texas so far in 2025, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.A total of two fires have burned 135 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area. Weather Interactives: How much rain has Austin received this year?KXAN is keeping track of wildfires. Follow along with the map and database below. We'll keep them updated as new information becomes available. Fires that are still uncontained are red on the map. Evacuati
  
  Read more

• Austin's cold weather shelters will be open overnight Thursday

  23-01-2025 18:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin's cold weather shelters will be open overnight Thursday as temperatures are expected to hover around the low-to-mid thirties Thursday night into Friday morning, per the KXAN First Warning Weather Team.Today's ForecastThe city of Austin posted on X at 9 a.m. saying cold weather shelters will be open overnight Thursday, Jan. 23.
  Those in need of a warm place to stay should go to One Texas Center at 505 Barton Springs Road from 6-8 p.m. to register for overnight shelter. Mor
  
  Read more

• 'The risk is real': Austin to vote on wildfire mitigation contracts for city park land

  23-01-2025 18:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As wildfires continue to force tens of thousands of evacuations in Los Angeles, and as the Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) has warned Austin needs to prepare for the chance of catastrophic fires itself, the city of Austin is turning an eye toward vegetation management and wildfire mitigation."We've gotten a bunch of questions from folks about what is the city doing or what can a homeowner do to help protect their property," Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis said. "We
  
  Read more

• The best ways to receive severe weather alerts

  23-01-2025 17:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Meteorologist Paul Yura, Warning Coordinator at the National Weather Service in San Antonio/Austin, to discuss ways to stay informed when severe weather is in the forecast.Meteorologist Tommy House: Last week, we discussed the types of severe weather. This week, I want to focus on preparedness. So, how can viewers stay ready during the severe weather season?Meteorologist Paul Yura: The key is to be truly weather aware. It may sound simple,
  
  Read more

• PHOTOS: Texas Parks & Wildlife rescues 'cold-stunned' sea turtles

  23-01-2025 17:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas' wintry weather this week brought plenty of cool air and snow to parts of the coast -- and sea turtles are, decidedly, not a fan.The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department collaborated with Texas Game Wardens and other rescue partners to help save sea turtles impacted by the winter storm. As freezing temperatures blasted the coast, many turtles were left "cold-stunned" and in need of rehabilitation.The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department collaborated with Texas Game Warde
  
  Read more

• Office vacancies in Austin at record highs to start 2025

  23-01-2025 16:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — As Austin's downtown skyline climbed higher and higher in 2024, so too did the city's office vacancy rate.Downtown has seen years of development and expansions that have resulted in glittering high-rise additions — such as the impressive Sail Tower on Lady Bird Lake and Austin’s current tallest tower, Sixth and Guadalupe. But as striking as those additions have been, the Central Business District is having trouble filling up all of its office
  
  Read more

• Weekend Watch: Lord of the Rings Day & WWE SmackDown returns

  23-01-2025 15:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - This weekend is looking eventful for anyone wanting to get out of the house after staying indoors. WWE is back in town with its Friday Night SmackDown show with plenty of WWE Superstars while Lord of the Rings fans can enjoy a free and family-friendly trip to The Shire.Showers are expected to return Saturday night, with temperatures slowly warming up into the upper 50s and low 60s. A front is expected to arrive at the start of the next week.Weekend ForecastWWE Friday Night SmackD
  
  Read more

• Buc-ee’s to break ground on new San Marcos store

  23-01-2025 15:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Wildly popular gas station and travel center chain Buc-ee's will soon be one step closer to serving customers making trips down I-35.Buc-ee’s will break ground on Jan. 29 on its new location in San Marcos and it's expected to be done by the end of the year.
  The San Marcos store is expected to bring more than 200 full-time jobs to the area, according to the Lake Jackson-based company. Starting pay for workers at the new location will be “well a
  
  Read more

• DPS: 3-year-old reported missing found Thursday

  23-01-2025 06:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 3-year-old who was reported missing in San Antonio on Wednesday was found Thursday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.The 3-year-old was last seen around noon Wednesday, and DPS said the toddler was found Thursday around 5:30 p.m.No other details were released Thursday.
  
  Read more

• Amber alert issued for 3-year-old boy last seen in San Antonio

  23-01-2025 06:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Department of Public Safety on Wednesday evening issued a local Amber alert for 3-year-old Chandler Baker who was last seen at noon Wednesday in the 7900 block of Midnight Stage in San Antonio.DPS described Baker as 3'0" tall, 35 Ibs., and having brown eyes and brown hair.
  DPS issued an Amber alert for 3-year-old Chandler Baker Wednesday evening. (Texas Department of Public Safety Photo)DPS said 38-year-old Samantha Castaneda was last seen with missing 3-year-old Chand
  
  Read more

• SAPD: 7 officers injured after shooting in San Antonio

  23-01-2025 05:05 via kxan.com
  
  If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 988. Text messaging and online chat options are also available on the website.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Seven San Antonio police officers were injured in a shooting after they responded to a suicide call Wednesday night.
  San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus initially said on social media that four officers were injured, but he said in an update overnight that there were a t
  
  Read more

• SAPD: 4 officers injured after shooting in San Antonio

  23-01-2025 05:05 via kxan.com
  
  If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 988. Text messaging and online chat options are also available on the website.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At least four officers were shot after San Antonio police responded to a suicide call Wednesday night, SAPD Police Chief Bill McManus said on social media.SAPD responded to the call near the area of Stone Oak Parkway and Loop 1604, where police said the scene was still act
  
  Read more

• One dog dies, another rescued in Williamson County animal cruelty case

  23-01-2025 02:52 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- With another freeze expected Wednesday night, a deadly and heartbreaking animal cruelty case out of Williamson County is top-of-mind.Judge KT Musselman, Williamson County Justice of the Peace in Precinct 1, said he received a call on Tuesday with an animal control officer on the line.
  "There were two dogs outside of Bartlett on a property in a chain link fence with no support. No housing out in the cold with the wind blowing, whipping up the ice and the sn
  
  Read more

• Trump expands on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's border policies

  23-01-2025 02:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (NEXSTAR) - Only minutes after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, President Donald Trump praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security policies and promised Texas would have support from Washington now that he was in office.“He was a very popular governor and now he's an unbeatable governor because of [his] border policies," Trump said of Abbott in remarks at the Capitol following his inauguration.To back this up, the president signed ten immigration
  
  Read more

• Deportations will not stop illegal crossings, advocate says

  23-01-2025 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Large groups of migrants have been deported to Tijuana, Mexico, in the past 24 hours, including two bus loads that arrived Tuesday night and more on Wednesday morning at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego.Just south of the border, migrants can be seen walking along a pedestrian bridge that leads to a Mexican Customs facility in Tijuana. Once outside, the migrants are ushered into waiting vans and driven to an undisclosed location.One deported migrant told repo
  
  Read more

• What are these 'sea cherubs' washing up on Oregon beaches?

  23-01-2025 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Small, translucent creatures, known as sea cherubs, are washing up along Oregon beaches, and more sightings are occurring in 2025 than usual, according to Seaside Aquarium.In a Jan. 18 Facebook post, Seaside Aquarium announced they have been seeing and receiving reports of the “highly specialized sea slugs” washing up on Oregon beaches.Sea cherubs, or Cliopsis krohni, are about the size of a nickel and can take down prey that is triple their size.They sp
  
  Read more

• Look up tonight: All 8 planets to be visible during Planetary Parade

  23-01-2025 00:53 via kxan.com
  
  EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — If you needed a sign from the cosmos, the planets are in fact aligning for you this evening.
  ValleyCentral spoke to Christian Hernandez, Program Specialist at UTRGV for the Center of Excellence in STEM Education, to learn more about a special phenomenon that is taking place tonight.
  Hernandez runs the planetarium at UTRGV and says all the planets in our solar system will be visible tonight. Six planets will be visible to the naked eye and eight can be seen
  
  Read more

• Man sentenced to life in prison for August 2022 Leander homicide

  23-01-2025 00:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Leander man was sentenced on Jan. 17 in connection with a homicide that occurred in August 2022.Williamson County court documents said Edward Figueroa was found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
  Figueroa was sentenced in connection with the death of his 24-year-old girlfriend Kathryn Lynn Gibson, according to the Leander Police Department. LPD said the then 41-year-old Figeroa had shot Gibson with a pistol.
  Figueroa had pleaded not gu
  
  Read more

• 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic on Trump, Biden pardons: 'You forgot me...again'

  23-01-2025 00:33 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – "Tiger King's" Joe Exotic is knocking President Trump and former President Biden for not issuing him a pardon, saying he'd have a better chance of a commuted sentence if he "broke in the [Capitol]" or was "related to the Bidens.""You forgot me...again," Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado, said via an image directed to Trump and posted on his Instagram account on Tuesday."If I was a crack dealer, maybe if I broke in the capital [sic] or even have been related
  
  Read more

• 'It's disrespectful': Travis County property being used as dump site

  23-01-2025 00:13 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A Travis County property has become a small dumping ground, according to a concerned neighbor. Located near the intersection of Dee Gabriel Collins Road and McKinney Falls Parkway, an onlooker can see hundreds of tires, shopping carts, mattresses and dozens of bags of trash. “It’s disrespectful. It’s no way to live in Texas. I mean it shouldn’t be happening,” said the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. “This
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!