Austin news

• Trump's trade war among allies triggers retaliation from Canada and Mexico

  02-02-2025 21:47 via kxan.com
  
  TORONTO (AP) — Canada and Mexico ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to sweeping tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, and businesses and consumers in both countries questioned Sunday how the new trade war might affect them.
  Canada initially ordered tariffs of 25% on American imports starting Feb. 4, including beverages, cosmetics and paper products worth 30 billion Canadian dollars ($20 billion). A second list of goods was to be released soon, including pas
  
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• USAID security leaders on leave after trying to keep Musk's DOGE from classified info, officials say

  02-02-2025 20:31 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has placed two top security chiefs at the U.S. Agency for International Development on leave after they refused to turn over classified material in restricted areas to Elon Musk's government-inspection teams, a current and a former U.S. official told The Associated Press on Sunday.
  Members of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, eventually did gain access Saturday to the aid agency's classified information, which includes int
  
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• Abbott ends DEI programs in state agencies

  02-02-2025 16:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Friday that directed all Texas state agencies to eliminate any forms of DEI policies.“DEI agendas divide us rather than unite us and have no place in the state of Texas,” Abbott said.Previously in 2023, Abbott signed a bill banning DEI practices at Texas’ public institutions of higher education.“We must always reject race-based favoritism or discrimination and allow people to advance based on talent an
  
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• What is the least-visited state park in Texas? Here’s the top 10 countdown for 2024

  02-02-2025 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole story.
  We've created several data-driven stories and databases on topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available.AUSTIN (KXAN) — From mountains and canyons to forests and swamps, the vast scale of Texas provides so many natural wonders.Across the Lone Star State, there are 85 state parks, natural areas a
  
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• Watch Gov. Greg Abbott's 2025 State of the State address

  02-02-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Gov. Greg Abbott will lay out his priorities for Texas Sunday during his 2025 State of the State address.The hour-long broadcast begins at 4 p.m. MT/5 p.m. CT with Abbott's speech. It will be followed by a response from the Texas Democratic Party and a roundtable with members of the legislature and Nexstar reporters.Abbott is expected to outline "emergency issues" he wants lawmakers to focus on this legislative session.
  "Texas is the blueprint for America’s future,”
  
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• Abbott earmarks session priorities, calls on Texas Lege to be 'guardians of freedom'

  02-02-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Education savings accounts, bail reform and water infrastructure investments are among Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priorities, as outlined in his State of the State address Sunday evening. His 30-minute address solidified emergency items poised to be tackled by the Texas Legislature during the 89th legislative session. Included in his remarks were seven emergency items to be addressed: 
  Property tax relief Water investments Teacher pay Expan
  
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• Groundhog Day 2025: Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow

  02-02-2025 13:26 via kxan.com
  
  PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Each year Punxsutawney Phil predicts whether there will be six more weeks of winter or early spring when he emerges from his home in Gobbler's Knob on Groundhog Day.It's official! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, meaning a prediction of six more weeks of winter.WTAJ's Zach Petey and Tristan Klinefelter were live to bring you the prediction from Gobbler's Knob. Watch the player above for the replay.
  Highlights from Gobbler's Knob 2025
  It is estimated that as many
  
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• Congress eyes probe, reforms in response to aircraft tragedy

  02-02-2025 12:02 via kxan.com
  
  Lawmakers in both parties say Congress is gearing up to play an aggressive role in the federal response to this week's deadly collision between a military helicopter and a commercial passenger plane over the Potomac River near Washington.The lawmakers are treading carefully in the early stages of that process, wary of getting ahead of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) — the independent body that spearheads all federal investigations into aviation disasters — or creating
  
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• Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Anthony Davis to the Mavs in blockbuster trade, AP source says

  02-02-2025 06:49 via kxan.com
  
  Luka Doncic is being traded by the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, a person with knowledge of the agreement said early Sunday.
  Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris are headed to the Lakers, while Davis and Max Christie are going to Dallas, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither team can announce the deal while it awaits league approval.
  The Utah Jazz are also involved in the
  
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• State of Texas: The Cost of Border Security Under a New White House Comes Into Focus

  02-02-2025 04:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As Governor Greg Abbott officially sets his agenda for lawmakers with Sunday’s State of the State Address, border security will remain a focus.Less than two weeks into the second Trump Administration, Gov. Abbott officially called on state agencies to work with the federal government. He issued five new executive orders this past week.These include:
  Directing state agencies to assist federal immigration officers.Directing the Texas Military Department to cooperate
  
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• Vandegrift celebrates program's first UIL football championship Saturday

  02-02-2025 04:45 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After claiming the program's first UIL football championship in December, the Vandegrift Vipers threw a party Saturday to celebrate the historic achievement.Vandegrift defeated Southlake Carroll 24-17 on Dec. 21 to claim the 6A Division II state title behind a punishing rushing attack and a defense that made the Dragons one-dimensional. Head coach Drew Sanders said the support from the community was second to none, especially during the playoffs.Vandegrift celebrated its fi
  
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• Longhorns blow out LSU 89-58 to inch closer to .500 SEC record

  02-02-2025 03:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas made 10 3-pointers and shot 56% from the field to thump Louisiana State 89-58 in Southeastern Conference men's basketball action Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.The Longhorns shot well above their season average from the 3-point line, sinking 48% of their long distance attempts. They came into the game shooting 37%. The Texas defense held the Tigers to 13% shooting from 3-point range and 45% from the field. Arch Manning inks NIL deal with
  
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• Trump puts tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, spurring trade war as North American allies respond

  02-02-2025 03:49 via kxan.com
  
  PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, drawing swift retaliation from the country's North American neighbors in an emerging trade war.
  The Republican president posted on social media that the tariffs were necessary “to protect Americans," pressing the three nations to do more to curb the manufacture and export of illicit fentanyl and for Canada and Mexico to reduce illegal immigratio
  
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• Elon Musk's DOGE commission gains access to sensitive Treasury payment systems: AP sources

  02-02-2025 03:16 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Government Efficiency, run by President Donald Trump's billionaire adviser and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, has gained access to sensitive Treasury data including Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems, according to two people familiar with the situation.The move by DOGE, a Trump administration task force assigned to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs and slash federal regulations, means it could have wide leeway to access important t
  
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• Pflugerville community protests potential ICE facility

  02-02-2025 03:06 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- A protest was held Saturday afternoon outside a possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Highway 130 and Highway 45 in Pflugerville.Dozens of people showed up, at times chanting, with signs in hand demanding change. Two Department of Homeland Security officers and their patrol cars sat outside the facility. Little to no local oversight at ICE facility in Taylor"The Party for Socialism and Liberation was first informed of this facility [in Oct
  
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• USAID website goes offline in Trump administration's 2-week-old freeze on foreign aid worldwide

  02-02-2025 02:37 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The website of the U.S. Agency for International Development went offline without explanation Saturday as thousands of furloughs, layoffs and program shutdowns continued in President Donald Trump's freeze on U.S.-funded foreign aid and development worldwide.
  Congressional Democrats battled the Trump administration increasingly openly, expressing concern that Trump may be headed toward ending USAID as an independent agency and absorbing it into the State Department. Democr
  
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• Newcomers rip homers for Longhorns in 6-3 alumni game victory

  02-02-2025 02:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Freshmen Cole Chamberlain and Adrian Rodriguez hit home runs as the current Texas Longhorns squad topped the alumni team 6-3 Saturday at UFCU-Disch Falk Field.Chamberlain's 2-run blast came on a 3-1 pitch in the second inning, ripping a low fastball over the right-center field wall just below the video board. Rodriguez's dinger was also of the 2-run variety, an opposite-field line drive over the left field wall in the fifth inning. Texas baseball enters Schlossnagle’s
  
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• Trump imposes tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, raising prospect of inflation and trade conflict

  02-02-2025 00:42 via kxan.com
  
  PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China — fulfilling one of his post-campaign commitments to voters that also carries the risk of sparking higher inflation and disrupting businesses across North America.
  Trump’s order also includes a mechanism to escalate the rates if the countries retaliate against the U.S., as they are possibly prepared to do.
  The decision throws the global eco
  
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• Report: Cowboys interviewing Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice for same role

  02-02-2025 00:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As new Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer fills out his staff for next season, he's looking at one of the Longhorns' top assistants, according to reports.According to Clarence Hill Jr., of AllDLLS.com, the Cowboys will interview Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice for the same role Saturday. Hill said the team is picking between either Choice or New Orleans Saints running backs coach Derrick Foster.Arch Manning inks NIL deal with major energy drink companyC
  
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• Man dead after Friday shooting in Travis County, one arrested

  02-02-2025 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 53-year-old man is dead after a Friday night shooting in the 14900 block of Chamberlain Court, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office.
  TCSO said deputies responded to the scene at 9:52 p.m. Friday after 911 callers reported shots fired and people screaming.Deputies found the victim, Ruel Saintmark Hill, in the street with a gunshot wound. Responders began CPR at these scene. According to TCSO, the man was brought to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.Euseb
  
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