Austin news

• Austin Water responds after AFD struggled to find working hydrants during pawn shop fire

  13-02-2025 23:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Austin firefighters arrived on scene of large fire at a pawn shop in north Austin overnight Wednesday into Thursday, crews said they ran into issues finding working fire hydrants in the area.KXAN observed as firefighters ran a line of hose out of the parking lot and down the street to get water to their scene -- they ran that line past several fire hydrants that appeared to be out of service.
  Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks told KXAN it's something firefig
  
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• AFD struggled to find working hydrants during pawn shop fire

  13-02-2025 23:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Austin firefighters arrived on scene of large fire at a pawn shop in north Austin overnight Wednesday into Thursday, crews said they ran into issues finding working fire hydrants in the area.KXAN observed as firefighters ran a line of hose out of the parking lot and down the street to get water to their scene -- they ran that line past several fire hydrants that appeared to be out of service.
  Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks told KXAN it's something firefig
  
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• Trump administration lays off probationary government workers, warns others of large cuts to come

  13-02-2025 23:36 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday intensified its sweeping efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, the nation's largest employer, by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection — potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of workers.In addition, workers at some agencies were warned that large workplace cuts would be coming.
  The decision on probationary workers, who generally have les
  
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• 3 suspects arrested on capital murder charges

  13-02-2025 23:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three capital murder suspects were arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service related to a May 2024 homicide investigation.Police responded to the 1800 block of Colony Creek Drive in north Austin on May 4, 2024, and found a man lying face down from an apparent gunshot wound. That man was later identified as 38-year-old Nicholas Taylor. PAST COVERAGE | Man dead in north Austin homicideOn Feb. 7, the Austin Police Department obtained search warrants for 18-year-old Aden “Jer
  
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• 'Victims of Cicero' protests against Austin-based think tank

  13-02-2025 23:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Protestors rallied outside of The Cicero Institute in Austin Thursday, calling the think tank's policy proposals and model legislation "ineffective, costly, and harmful approaches" to addressing homelessness.The action included representatives from Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, New York and Grants Pass, Oregon in its "Victims of Cicero" delegation. VOCAL Texas organized the rally.(KXAN Photo/Josh Hinkle)“We’ve lived through the policies that Joe Lonsdale and the C
  
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• Saronic to use huge new facility in Austin to ramp up production, hire hundreds

  13-02-2025 22:50 via kxan.com
  
  (Austin Business Journal) -- After signing one of the largest industrial leases in the metro in 2024, an Austin-based defense technology company plans to hire hundreds as it ramps up production at its new headquarters.Saronic Technologies, which produces three models of autonomous boats for the U.S. Navy, signed its lease at Eastside Commerce Center in December, said co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas. The new office and production facility will be the headquarters of the company, which also oper
  
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• Igloo recalling 1M+ coolers after fingertip amputations

  13-02-2025 22:39 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Igloo is recalling over 1 million of its 90-quart Flip & Tow Rolling Coolers after the company says it received 12 reports of fingertip injuries, including fingertip amputations, bone fractures and slashes.According to the recall, the cooler's tow handle can pinch user fingertips, posing hazards of tip amputation and/or cuts. Customers are advised to stop using the coolers immediately.What’s an atmospheric river? A pineapple express?The recall only involves cooler mod
  
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• Reports: Tashard Choice leaving Texas Longhorns to be running backs coach with Detroit Lions

  13-02-2025 22:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice is headed to the NFL.According to multiple reports, the Detroit Lions will hire Choice as their running backs coach, reuniting him with Jahmyr Gibbs whom he coached while at Georgia Tech. Choice has been with the Longhorns since 2021. Texas football moves Sam Houston game up a week to get bye before SEC play in 2025Inside Texas was the first to report Choice's hiring Thursday.Under Choice's guidance, running backs in the 40 Acres hav
  
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• Austin tops U.S. in new affordable housing projects, but pinch points linger

  13-02-2025 22:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin has the highest concentration of new affordable housing units being developed in the country, according to a new report from market analyst resource Yardi Matrix released this month.The report's findings revealed 14 metros in the country have a minimum of 1,000 fully affordable units in the works, with Austin leading the pack at 2,717 units recorded. Closely trailing behind the Texas capital was Miami with 2,687 units; Los Angeles with 2,196 units; Salt Lake City wit
  
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• Border Report Live: US, Mexico put pressure on drug cartels

  13-02-2025 22:00 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) -- A U.S. spy plane was spotted off the coast of Sinaloa.Green Berets are bound for Campeche to instruct Mexican marines how to conduct special operations against an enemy.US special forces landing in Mexico to train marine infantry
  Mexican soldiers in Juarez have begun checking cars headed to the United States.And Mexico's National Guard has been poking the ground looking for more cross-border tunnels under the Rio Grande.The U.S. and Mexico appear to be putting p
  
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• Judge blocks Trump’s gender-affirming care executive orders nationwide

  13-02-2025 21:37 via kxan.com
  
  BALTIMORE — A federal judge Thursday blocked parts of two executive orders issued by President Trump that collectively seek to restrict gender-affirming care.U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson at the conclusion of a hearing found a group of transgender teens and LGBTQ organizations that sued were likely to prevail on all of their claims that the orders are without authority and amount to illegal and unconstitutional discrimination.“Stopping care in the middle of receiving it, any car
  
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• Report details Texas children's deaths, as divided 5th Circuit confirms removal of longtime judge in foster care case

  13-02-2025 21:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A federal judge who, for more than a decade, presided in the legal fight surrounding Texas foster care will be removed from the case, after a divided appeals court declined to reconsider its earlier decision. PREVIOUS: What’s next after an appeals court removes federal judge in longstanding Texas foster care case?In October, a panel of three judges from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided to re-assign U.S. District Judge Janis Jack. It cited her “antagonist
  
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• Armed suspect at large following south Austin burglary

  13-02-2025 21:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police said a suspect is at large following a burglary in south Austin Thursday, officials shared on social media.Police said the burglary happened in the 7700 block of Menchaca Road in south Austin. Officials described the suspect as a Black man with a pistol who was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a black beanie or a face mask.Police said to not approach the suspect and, if spotted, call 9-1-1.This is a developing story. Please check back for upda
  
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• Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

  13-02-2025 21:00 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports, possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances.
  "I’ve decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff," Trump said in the Oval Office at the proclamation signing. “It’s fair to all. No other country can complai
  
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• Which roads will be closed for the 2025 Austin Marathon?

  13-02-2025 20:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On your mark, get set, go!
  More than 23,000 runners will take to the streets of Austin for the Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K, beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday. The annual tradition offers courses ranging between 3.1 miles and 26. 2 miles, with runners coursing across town through plenty of hills and neighborhoods.Crews will begin road closure work on Friday, with Friday and Saturday allocated to set up ahead of the Sunday morning kickoff. Here are the setu
  
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• Senate approves $140K homestead exemption to increase property tax relief

  13-02-2025 20:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas Senators voted unanimously to increase the homestead exemption to a record amount for homeowners, but during the debate some lawmakers brought up concerns about local taxing entities offsetting the savings created by the state government.
  The exemption would allow homeowners to deduct $140,000 off the appraised value of their home that is ultimately taxed by school districts. For senior and disabled homeowners the exemption would be raised to $150,000.The tax exemption,
  
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• St. Edward's achieves research university designation

  13-02-2025 20:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- St. Edward's University announced Thursday that it has achieved a historic milestone by attaining a designation as a research university.
  The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognized St. Edward's under the Research Colleges and Universities classification for investing an average of at least $2.5 million per year in research and development opportunities, according to a release from the university.
  The Carnegie Fo
  
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• Man kills woman before lighting southwest Austin apartment on fire, APD says

  13-02-2025 19:37 via kxan.com
  
  Content Warning: This article discusses domestic violence. If you are in distress and need someone to talk to, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “Start” to 88788.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department has identified the two people found dead Wednesday at a southwest Austin apartment complex.While working to put out a fire at the Pearl Lantana apartment complex on Rialto Boulevard, firefighters from two bodies inside. In
  
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• A new AI data center is coming to San Marcos

  13-02-2025 19:31 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – A new Artificial Intelligence data center is reportedly going to be built in San Marcos. Construction could start as soon as April, according to the company behind it, CloudBurst Data Centers. CloudBurst has signed a contract with Energy Transfer to supply natural gas via a pipeline to power the facility. The company said the San Marcos data center will be its flagship facility. The City of San Marcos told KXAN the company is currently working through t
  
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• Charley Crockett, Julien Baker & Torres, Aly & AJ, more on Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion lineup

  13-02-2025 19:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Luck Reunion will be back for its 13th year this March, featuring a lineup of more than 40 musical acts, surprise guests and renowned chefs.Luck Reunion is an annual festival hosted at Nelson’s “Luck Ranch” in Spicewood, Texas. The 2025 event will be held on March 13. Luck Presents announced the lineup on Thursday.
  Luck Presents will also hold its 10th annual benefit potluck on Wednesday, March 12. WATCH: Willie Nelson, Kermit the Frog perfo
  
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• Austin prepares for its first-ever esports competition

  13-02-2025 18:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin is set to host its first arena-based esports competition this June. RELATED | Austin’s Moody Center to host major esports competition with $1.25M prize poolThe Counter-Strike Austin Major esports tournament is expected to have a major economic impact on this city.Mayor Kirk Watson was among the speakers Wednesday who talked about the event, which is set to be broadcast on several platforms in almost 30 languages.Officials expect the economic impact of this even
  
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• Texas Speaker of the House announces committee assignments

  13-02-2025 17:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, announced the assignments for the standing committees in the House of Representatives for the 89th legislative session. The Speaker said it is the first time in the state's history that every standing committee will be chaired by a Republican during a regular session. It also ties the record for most Republican chairs, at 30."Taking the time to get this right was not just necessary -- it is what Texans deserve of their government, and I am c
  
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• Senate confirms RFK Jr. as Health secretary; McConnell lone GOP dissenter

  13-02-2025 17:38 via kxan.com
  
  Longtime vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now the nation’s top health official, after the Senate on Thursday voted almost entirely on party lines to confirm him atop a department of nearly 100,000 employees that runs 13 agencies.The 52-48 confirmation vote for the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services brings to a close a contentious three-month confirmation fight that served as a significant test of the Republican Party’s loyalty to President Trump.  On
  
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• Austin airport conducting emergency drill at South Terminal Thursday

  13-02-2025 16:58 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Travelers at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Thursday may witness potentially nerve-wracking sights and sounds at the South Terminal, but there's no need to fear.
  AUS said an emergency exercise will be held at the South Terminal from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.
  There will be no impact to airport operations, and detours will be in place to limit the public's exposure to the area, but AUS officials warned that people might see an increased police presence and hear gu
  
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• Leander Police investigating single-vehicle fatality

  13-02-2025 15:15 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) -- Leander Police Department officers responded to the parking lot of a convenience store Thursday morning after a death in the area.Leander police posted on Facebook shortly before 8 a.m. that officers were investigating a single-vehicle fatality in the parking lot of a convenience store in the 11000 block of 183A Toll.
  Police said there is no threat to the public and the scene was secured.This story will be updated if we receive more information.
  
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• Weekend Watch: UT Basketball at Moody and Austin Marathon

  13-02-2025 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Showers this week won't stop anyone in Austin from enjoying exciting weekend events including a much-anticipated Texas basketball game at the Moody Center and a marathon through Downtown Austin.Weekend ForecastTemperatures will make their way back up into the low 70s for Saturday with a partly cloudy day.After a weather-perfect Valentine's Day, the weather will be perfect to be out and about on Friday. A front will swing through overnight into Sunday and temperatures will tumble
  
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• La Niña ending soon: The impact on spring storms

  13-02-2025 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- La Niña only just started in December, and already we're setting our sights on its departure.On Thursday, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center released its monthly update on ENSO, or El Niño Southern Oscillation, which is currently in its cool phase known as La Niña.As you may know by now, La Niña is driven by cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in specific regions along the equatorial Pacific Ocean.These waters have been cool enough to be conside
  
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• Spurs' Jameer Nelson Jr. is forging his own path with help from his family

  13-02-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Nelson household had an attic growing up. It wasn't a particularly popular place."Nobody uses the attic because everyone wants to be throwing balls in the kitchen," said Austin Spurs guard Jameer Nelson Jr.Utah State guard Darius Brown II runs down a loose ball in front of TCU guard Jameer Nelson Jr. (4) in the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)VIDEO: Alabama player ina
  
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• Central Texas mom awaits nearly $40K in child support. Parents owed $21B statewide

  13-02-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary: Across Texas, parents are owed billions of dollars in child support. The Office of the Attorney General enforces child support in the state, but some parents feel like they're fighting on their own. For years, they've shared frustrations with KXAN investigators over challenges to track down delinquent payments and are pushing lawmakers to do more to help children this legislative session. 
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — On the Saturday morning we were supposed to m
  
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• Austin pawn shop goes up in flames overnight

  13-02-2025 12:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A pawn shop in north Austin went up in flames overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, prompting a defensive response from the Austin Fire Department.AFD posted on X shortly after 2 a.m. that firefighters were on the scene of a structure fire at 805 E. Rundberg lane with "heavy fire inside." That is the address of Action Pawn.Wayne Parrish with AFD said when firefighters arrived on the scene they tried to enter the building but couldn't locate the fire itself because the smoke
  
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• Reports: Texas hires Rutgers' Mark Orphey to coach safeties, replacing Blake Gideon

  13-02-2025 04:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to multiple reports, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has filled his open safeties coach position.Anwar Richardson with OrangeBloods first reported that Mark Orphey, a cornerbacks coach for Rutgers since 2022, will replace Blake Gideon who left for the defensive coordinator job at Georgia Tech. ESPN's Pete Thamel later confirmed it.The Houston native who played for Texas Southern was a defensive analyst for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021 and he spent two years a
  
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• Man arrested after injuring girlfriend's toddler, US Marshals say

  13-02-2025 04:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The US Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force has arrested a Del Valle man on an injury to a child charge after a two-year-old was hospitalized with significant injuries.Marcos Amaya Maldonado, 25, allegedly injured the child at the mother's residence on Dessau Road, near Rundberg Lane, on Feb. 7. Maldonado is the boyfriend of the victim's mother, according to an affidavit by an APD Child Abuse Unit investigator.According to investigators, the mother observed injuries on th
  
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• Dripping Springs and Driftwood neighborhoods hit with break-ins

  13-02-2025 03:40 via kxan.com
  
  DRIFTWOOD, Texas (KXAN) — Neighborhoods in both the Driftwood and Dripping Springs areas were hit with break-ins earlier this week."An active investigation is being conducted with multiple leads being followed up on," the Hays County Sheriff's Office told KXAN in a statement. "This is all we can release at this time due to the active investigation." SIMILAR COVERAGE: Dripping Springs sees several auto thefts in recent weeksThe HCSO said it would release more information at a later time.
  'I
  
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• Texas Lotto jackpot questions lead lawmakers to call for action

  13-02-2025 03:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — State lawmakers called for leaders of the Texas Lottery Commission to take action to ban services that let players buy tickets through courier services. The issue came up Wednesday as commission leaders testified before the Senate Finance Committee.Several senators on the committee asked questions related to a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot from April 2023. A Houston Chronicle investigation revealed a group of wealthy investors spent more than $25 million to buy tickets wi
  
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• VIDEO: Alabama player inadvertenly scores for Texas

  13-02-2025 00:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas could have used more help like this Tuesday night.Texas head coach Rodney Terry reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
  During Alabama's 103-80 win over the Longhorns at Moody Center in Southeastern Conference men's basketball action, Crimson Tide senior guard Chris Youngblood scored for the wrong team. Texas moves up to No. 3 in women’s AP poll after
  
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• Lockhart ISD calls $93M bond election to build new middle school

  13-02-2025 00:31 via kxan.com
  
  LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) — The Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees on Monday called for a bond election that, if passed, would allow the district to build a new middle school. Lockhart ISD voters on May 3 will weigh in on the $93.5 million bond package -- money that would build a second middle school and secure land for future projects. As with many other Central Texas school districts, growth is the driving factor behind calling the election.   MORE: These
  
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