Austin news

• Health data, entire pages wiped from federal websites as Trump officials target 'gender ideology'

  31-01-2025 23:34 via kxan.com
  
  Public health data disappeared from websites, entire webpages went blank and employees erased pronouns from email signatures Friday as federal agencies scrambled to comply with a directive tied to President Donald Trump's order rolling back protections for transgender people.
  The Office of Personnel Management directed agency heads to strip “gender ideology” from websites, contracts and emails in a memo sent Wednesday, with changes ordered to be instituted by 5 p.m. Friday. It also d
  
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• Nearly $7 million awarded to City of Austin for more affordable housing

  31-01-2025 23:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin received $6.7 million to develop, assess, and implement housing plans to help create more affordable housing.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the grant through its program -- Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing — and will be spread over six years, according to a city press release.Around $3 million of the grant will help finance the Ryan Drive affordable housing development and future developments in the South Cong
  
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• Second federal judge orders temporary pause to Trump administration efforts to freeze funding

  31-01-2025 23:24 via kxan.com
  
  BOSTON (AP) — A second federal judge on Friday ordered a temporary pause in Trump administration efforts to freeze federal funding in the latest twist over the spending of trillions of dollars in grants and loans.Judge John McConnell sided with nearly two dozen states that requested an emergency order preventing most federal agencies from halting funding.Another judge in Washington halted the plan earlier this week minutes before it was set to go into effect, but her short-term order is on
  
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• Abbott, echoing Trump, demands State agencies adopt binary sex system

  31-01-2025 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to state agencies Thursday, in which he said that Texas would follow President Donald Trump's executive order declaring a sex binary. ‘A world without us has never existed’: Transgender Texans react to Trump gender mandate"This office has consistently reiterated a simple truth: The State of Texas recognizes only two sexes," Abbott wrote. "[Trump's order] confirms what my office has repeatedly stressed before."Abbott's letter
  
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• Trump targets FAA diversity efforts in plane crash probe despite no evidence they played any role

  31-01-2025 23:09 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump wasted little time this week trying to assign blame for the nation’s deadliest air disaster in more than two decades. Among his chief targets: An FAA diversity hiring initiative he suggested had undermined the agency’s effectiveness.
  “But certainly for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest. We want somebody that’s psychologically superior,” Trump said at a news conference Thursday.
  N
  
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• Two new board members named for ERCOT

  31-01-2025 23:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The operators of the Texas electric grid have two new leaders.
  This week, a selection committee announced the selection of two new board members, Alejandro “Alex” Hernandez and Sigmund “Sig” Cornelius, for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Their three-year terms began on Monday.
  Both Hernandez and Cornelius have ties to Houston. They will join ten other members of the ERCOT board of directors.INVESTIGATION: 5 ERCOT board members don&rsquo
  
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• Economic report: Texas music industry at an 'all-time high' in 2024

  31-01-2025 21:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The economic impact of the music industry in Texas was at an all-time high in 2024, according to the 2025 Texas Music Industry Economic Impact Report.
  The Texas Music Office started releasing a series of biennial studies on the impact of the music business on the Texas economy in 2015. The 6th annual report was completed at the end of 2024 and released on Thursday.It tracks the growth of the Texas music industry, including music businesses and music education, according to
  
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• One challenge in Austin's fight against homelessness? The cost of land

  31-01-2025 20:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new report from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) showed even though Austin's capacity to shelter and house people experiencing homelessness has grown significantly over the past five years, it's still far from enough to meet the need.Thursday, as Central Texas leaders talked about how they may come together to fund shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness over the next decade, one obstacle was hard to ignore. $350M over 10 years: Austin City C
  
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• Where Abbott said Chinese AI, social media apps were now banned

  31-01-2025 20:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott banned the use of artificial intelligence and social media apps that were affiliated with the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party—but only on government-issued devices.According to Abbott, the ban now prohibits state employees and contractors from downloading and using the following apps on state-owned or personal devices used for work:
  RedNoteDeepSeekWebullTiger BrokersMoomooLemon8
  "Texas will not all
  
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• Women's sports bar finds location, sets sights on opening ahead of March Madness

  31-01-2025 20:07 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a first for Texas, a sports bar dedicated to women's sports will open soon in Austin.
  Co-founders Debra Hallum and Marlene Du Plessis have been working for about a year to bring the concept to life, and the finish line is now in sight.
  Finding a location was the biggest obstacle to opening the bar, which was initially referred to ATX Women's Sports Pub but was recently rebranded to 1972: ATX Women's Sports Pub.
  The hunt for its home is finally over, and the keys were handed o
  
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• City of Austin to dig into mental health response model

  31-01-2025 19:55 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) -- The Austin City Council voted unanimously this week on a resolution that calls on the City Manager's Office to create a comprehensive report on how city staff respond to mental health calls."A very rare event happened in Austin politics, everyone agreed on something,"
  
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• APD searching for man caught on camera in downtown Austin mail theft case

  31-01-2025 19:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was searching for a man in connection with a mail theft case in downtown Austin.APD said the theft occurred at approximately 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at 308 ½ West Avenue.According to police, the suspect took parcel mail that was in front of a resident's door at the apartment complex. APD said the theft was captured on the resident’s doorbell camera. KXAN Investigates | Mail-theft ring tied to USPS robberies busted in AustinPolice sai
  
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• Black History Month starts with rescheduled MLK Jr. Day Festival, Carver Museum block party

  31-01-2025 18:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Black History Month begins February 1, and Austin has a few celebrations planned for Saturday.At 11 a.m. Saturday, the postponed MLK Community Festival will be held at Huston-Tillotson University. The event was scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but severe cold weather led to the event being postponed.Related: Pentagon agency pauses celebrations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History MonthThe event will feature performances from five local musical acts: Blue V
  
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• University of Texas microgrid upgrade incoming; could prevent outages during extreme weather

  31-01-2025 17:53 via kxan.com
  
  A massive gas-powered turbine roars, keeping power on at the University of Texas (Tim Holcomb/KXAN)
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A gentle roar pierces the ears of anyone who sets foot with the University of Texas' Weaver Powerplant. The historic building situated just east of the campus' historic tower provides power to the entirety of the school's campus. It is the largest microgrid in the nation.The building for the most part is automated. Temperatures beyond the observation deck soar to a crippling degr
  
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• Inside the Investigation: Disabled vet's TxTag account among 1.4M now inactive

  31-01-2025 17:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly two years after a KXAN investigation exposed major billing and customer service issues with the state's tollway system, TxTag is turning operations over to the Harris County Toll Road Authority. This week on Inside the Investigations, Senior Investigative Producer David Barer explains, for most, that transition means having their accounts not transferred and inactive.
  Join Kelly Wiley every Friday morning for a live recap of the latest headlines and in-depth reportin
  
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• Antiviral drug shortens flu duration, infectious disease expert says

  31-01-2025 15:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Influenza cases have been spreading at a high level in Texas, according to health officials.The Centers for Disease Control reports flu activity is trending up in most states. Texas flu positivity rate surges above national trendInfectious Disease Expert Dr. William Schaffner explained how taking an antiviral drug early oncould shorten how long you have the flu.“The studies do show that if you take an antiviral particularly early after the onset of the illness, that the du
  
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• Little to no local oversight at ICE facility in Taylor

  31-01-2025 14:59 via kxan.com
  
  TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) — Whatever lies behind the razor wire and concrete walls of the T. Don Hutto Detention Center has gone unseen by local officials for the last five years.The Williamson County Commissioners Court voted to terminate its agreement with ICE and CoreCivic, the contractor ICE hired to run the facility, back in 2018. That contract officially came to an end in 2019.In that meeting, Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said she was voting to terminate to hand the responsibility
  
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• Beyoncé, Post Malone and all the Texans who were nominated for 2025 Grammy Awards

  31-01-2025 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One of the most prestigious awards musicians can earn is a Grammy, and many artists consider even receiving a nomination a huge honor.
  Texas, a state known for its pride, can claim several musicians who could go home with a gramophone trophy after the 67th annual award ceremony in February -- including the most Grammy-decorated artist of all time: Beyoncé.With the 2025 nominations, which were announced in November, the Houston native set new records. Beyoncé in 202
  
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• Migrant advocates decry 'horrific' conditions at Guantánamo Bay

  31-01-2025 14:13 via kxan.com
  
  McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Migrant advocates on Thursday were speaking out against plans by President Donald Trump to revamp Guantánamo Bay to detain and hold thousands of undocumented immigrants sent from the United States.Migrant tent complex nearly ready; Mexican officials confident they’ll avoid Trump tariffs
  "We denounce Trump's plans to more than double the capacity of the immigration detention system in the U.S. and detain some 30,000 immigrants at Guantánamo Ba
  
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• Recovery work continues after deadliest US air disaster in almost a quarter century

  31-01-2025 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — A midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said, as they scrutinized the actions of the military pilot in the country's deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet late Wednesday while it was landing at Ronald Reaga
  
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• LIVE: DC plane crash: Officials give latest updates on recovery

  31-01-2025 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  Police boats combed the banks of the Potomac River on Friday, slowly scanning the shoreline under rainy skies as investigators sought clues into the midair collision that killed 67 people and raised questions about air traffic safety around the nation’s capital.No one survived the Wednesday night collision between the commercial airliner and an Army helicopter. Forty-one bodies had been pulled from the river as of Friday afternoon, including 28 that had been positively identified
  
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• Divers return to Potomac River for DC plane crash recovery and investigation

  31-01-2025 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Divers are expected to return to the Potomac River on Friday as part of the recovery and investigation after a midair collision killed 67 people in the United States' deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.Investigators have already recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army helicopter as the plane was landing Wednesday night at Ronald Reagan National Airport next t
  
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• DC plane crash: Recovery continues, NTSB says investigation ongoing

  31-01-2025 14:03 via kxan.com
  
  Police boats combed the banks of the Potomac River on Friday, slowly scanning the shoreline under rainy skies as investigators sought clues into the midair collision that killed 67 people and raised questions about air traffic safety around the nation’s capital.No one survived the Wednesday night collision between the commercial airliner and an Army helicopter. Forty-one bodies had been pulled from the river as of Friday afternoon, including 28 that had been positively identified
  
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• Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes scores NCAA freshman record 53 in win over Florida

  31-01-2025 05:48 via kxan.com
  
  GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Mikayla Blakes scored an NCAA freshman record 53 points after making 16 field goals and 16 free throws to help No. 23 Vanderbilt beat Florida 99-86 on Thursday night.Blakes, who scored 33 in a win over then-No. 19 Alabama last time out and whose previous season high was 36, broke the previous freshman mark of 51, set last season by Southern California’s JuJu Watkins. Fifth-ranked Texas shrugs off halftime deficit, tops Missouri 70-61Blakes is the only player
  
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• Fifth-ranked Texas shrugs off halftime deficit, tops Missouri 70-61

  31-01-2025 05:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 5 Texas turned the game around in the third quarter to dispatch a pesky Missouri squad 70-61 in Southeastern Conference women's basketball action Thursday at Moody Center.The Longhorns trailed 35-33 at halftime but outscored the Tigers 19-10 in the third and held them off with an 18-16 advantage in the final frame. Texas played just eight players due to injuries and illness.Texas forward Madison Booker (35) shoots past Missouri forward Angelique Ngalakulondi (30) during
  
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• 5 arrests made in 24 hours; suspects facing capital murder charges in Austin homicide investigation

  31-01-2025 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five people were arrested within 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday related to a November 2024 homicide investigation.The U.S. Marshals Service said Camron Josh-Anthony Perkins, 22; Lorance Jones, 22; Rhianna Doreen Farillas, 21; Jon Charles Williard Jr., 20; and Judaren Makeel Forbes, 20, were all charged with capital murder. PAST COVERAGE | APD identifies man in East Wonsley Drive homicideAccording to past KXAN coverage, 20-year-old Xavier Jones Sr. was shot and killed a
  
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• 5 arrested, charged with capital murder in Nov. 2024 homicide investigation

  31-01-2025 03:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Five people were arrested within 24 hours from Wednesday to Thursday related to a November 2024 homicide investigation.The U.S. Marshals Service said Camron Josh-Anthony Perkins, 22; Lorance Jones, 22; Rhianna Doreen Farillas, 21; Jon Charles Williard Jr., 20; and Judaren Makeel Forbes, 20, were all charged with capital murder.According to past KXAN coverage, 20-year-old Xavier Jones Sr. was shot and killed at his residence in the 400 block of East Wonsley Drive on Nov. 25,
  
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• Round Rock PD shuts down illegal game room, confiscates gambling machines

  31-01-2025 01:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Round Rock Police Department said it shut down an illegal game room Thursday after finding “numerous gambling machines.”Following months of surveillance, the department said it issued a search warrant for illegal gambling at Sky Digital Lounge, located at 2000 South Interstate 35, Ste. Q3.Officers confiscated approximately 64 gambling machines, gambling proceeds and other related paraphernalia/documents, according to RRPD.Illegal gambling machines seized in
  
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• Del Valle man who allegedly sold more than 3,000 fake oxycodone pills to DEA sentenced

  31-01-2025 00:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man was sentenced Thursday related to distributing fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.The DOJ said 22-year-old Gabriel Cecilio Osorio, of Del Valle, received a federal prison sentence of 10 years. Osorio was also ordered to forfeit $45,701.00, four firearms and assorted jewelry seized during a search of his residence.According to the Justice Department, Osorio was investigated, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ag
  
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• After decades of controversy, San Marcos inches towards a decision on Cape’s Dam

  31-01-2025 00:20 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – One side thinks it is dilapidated, dangerous and bad for the environment. The other wants to preserve it, saying it is historically significant, provides recreation opportunities, and is good for the environment. The San Marcos City Council issued a request for proposals in December to study Cape's Dam further. The city wants an independent group to examine the potential impacts of removing or preserving the dam before making a final decision.
  “This da
  
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