Austin news

• Bird deaths in Pflugerville caused by cold temperatures, TPWD says

  24-02-2025 23:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Bird deaths at Lake Pflugerville over the weekend were caused by cold temperatures, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department."Purple Martins are insectivores and likely were not getting enough bugs to keep up their metabolic rates in the cold," TPWD said.The department said the birds' symptoms were not consistent with HPAI, and the mortalities were likely due to the cold.
  The city of Pflugerville said that if additional Purple Martins are found deceased as temperatur
  
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• Big Bend National Park home to newly discovered plant species

  24-02-2025 23:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Staffers at Big Bend National Park discovered a new plant species "previously unknown to science," the National Park Service confirmed Monday.Last March, a Big Bend National Park botany program volunteer along with a supervisory interpretive park ranger found some small plants growing among the desert rocks within a northern portion of the park. They noted the plant's "fuzzy foliage and interesting flower" that didn't resemble plants they'd seen previously.Working with expe
  
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• 11 taken to hospital, nearly 2K shelter utilizations during last week's cold snap

  24-02-2025 22:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Travis County EMS said medics responded to 28 cold-related illness calls during last week's cold snap. Of those, EMS said they transported 11 people to area hospitals."The good news is, is that we haven't transported anybody in critical, life-threatening condition. Everyone has been awake and talking, so that leads us to believe that they're probably going to be okay," Captain Christa Stedman with ATCEMS told KXAN Wednesday. Cold snap: 4 people transported to hospital by
  
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• Federal Veterans Affairs layoffs trickle down to Central Texas staff

  24-02-2025 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some employees within the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System were dismissed amid layoffs from the Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this month, a spokesperson confirmed to KXAN.The spokesperson said "a small number of probationary staff" were laid off. In total, the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed it dismissed more than 1,000 employees in February as part of White House and Department of Government Efficiency efforts.Those layoffs concentrated on "non-b
  
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• Former Lottery.com executive indicted on fraud, obstruction of justice, perjury

  24-02-2025 22:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Last week, a Federal Grand Jury indicted former Lottery.com executive Vadim Komissarov on several charges, including conspiracy to commit securities fraud, making false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and obstruction of justice. The news came just eight days after a lawyer accused former Lottery.com executives (not including Komissarov) of working with the Texas lottery to defraud Texans in an April 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.According to charging docu
  
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• More DEI related legislation ahead of filing deadline, what's the likelihood of bills becoming laws in Texas?

  24-02-2025 22:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)— More Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) related legislation is being filed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session ahead of the filing deadline on March 14.The legislation supports the ban of these practices on various levels in Texas.
  On Monday, Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, filed Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 1565. These bills seek to expand the ban of DEI from public universities and colleges to public schools K-12.Creighton introduced Senate Bill 17, which bann
  
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• TCSO investigating after dead body found in Manor

  24-02-2025 20:59 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a body was found in Manor on Sunday.TCSO said it received a call shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday from someone reporting they found a body in the 9700 block of Bitting School Road.TCSO said deputies spoke with the caller, who directed them to a roadside area where the body was concealed under a tarp.
  The body, which TCSO said belonged to an adult man estimated to be in his 40s, was "obviously deceased and in late
  
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• Governor directs Texas Rangers to investigate recent lottery jackpot wins

  24-02-2025 20:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Rangers to investigate two lottery jackpot wins that have been scrutinized by lawmakers and raised questions about the integrity of the state's lottery.“Texans must be able to trust in our state's lottery system and know that the lottery is conducted with integrity and lawfully," Abbott said in a news release. “Today, I directed the Texas Rangers to fully investigate these incidents and identify any potential wrongdoing. Tex
  
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• Received a suspicious TxTag toll bill text? Here's how to report it

  24-02-2025 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Received a fishy-looking text claiming you have unpaid toll fees? You aren't alone -- but there are ways you can report it to state and federal leaders.Both the Texas Department of Transportation and federal agencies are tracking upticks in fraudulent text messages targeting toll customers. TxDOT first began tracking the fake texts last spring before reporting a surge in them in September.Example of a fraudulent text targeting tolling system customers (KXAN Photo/Robert Sim
  
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• Porcupines spotted more in Central Texas

  24-02-2025 20:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas' porcupines are moving more and more into Central Texas.The Texas A&M Forest Service said earlier this month that the porcupine population has grown in Central Texas over the last few years.RELATED: Porcupines, or ‘cuddly cactuses,’ popping up more in Central TexasTexas Parks and Wildlife does not survey for porcupines so their exact populations are not known. Tania Peña, a wildlife biologist in Hays and Travis counties at TPWD, said the animals
  
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• See how many students are vaccinated for measles in your school district

  24-02-2025 19:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas Department of State Health Services has flagged measles exposures in Central Texas following an infected person’s trip in mid-February. This person was visiting from Gaines County, the epicenter of an outbreak that has infected 90 people so far. Of those infected, DSHS said only five cases were vaccinated. The rest are unvaccinated or their status is unknown.  Multiple Central Texas health departments report measles exposuresAccording to the World
  
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• Texas is No. 1 in women's AP Top 25 for the first time in 21 years

  24-02-2025 18:04 via kxan.com
  
  Texas is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll for the first time in 21 years and the third different team to hold the top spot in the past three weeks.The Longhorns moved atop the poll Monday after previous No. 1 Notre Dame lost in double overtime to North Carolina State. UCLA had been No. 1 the 12 prior weeks to the Irish. Texas beats No. 5 LSU with ‘really special’ 4th quarter"I’m so happy for my kids, they’ve earned where they are today,”
  
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• LIVE Horns Report: Texas is No. 1 in women's AP Top 25 for the first time in 21 years

  24-02-2025 18:04 via kxan.com
  
  Texas is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll for the first time in 21 years and the third different team to hold the top spot in the past three weeks.The Longhorns moved atop the poll Monday after previous No. 1 Notre Dame lost in double overtime to North Carolina State. UCLA had been No. 1 the 12 prior weeks to the Irish. Texas beats No. 5 LSU with ‘really special’ 4th quarter"I’m so happy for my kids, they’ve earned where they are today,”
  
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• Singer Roberta Flack dies at 88

  24-02-2025 18:03 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) - Singer Roberta Flack has passed away. She was 88 years old.The Grammy-award winner was known for such hits as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "Feel Like Makin' Love."Flack died at home "surrounded by her family," her publicist Elaine Schock said in a statement to the Associated Press. In this March 4, 1974 file photo, Roberta Flack holds the Grammy award for her record, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" as singer Isaac Hayes, right, looks on
  
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• Apple plans new AI server factory in Texas as part of $500B plan

  24-02-2025 17:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Apple will grow its Texas presence with a new factory focusing on its Apple Intelligence system, as part of a $500 billion investment over four years, the company announced Monday.Apple said the Houston factory will focus on building advanced technology and manufacturing servers for the Apple Intelligence system. The AI servers were previously built outside the U.S.Apple said the 250,000-square-foot facility will open in 2026 and create thousands of jobs. The servers are de
  
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• Austin exploring on-demand transit service for city parks, recreation sites

  24-02-2025 17:56 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video is KXAN coverage from Aug. 22, 2024, on ridership totals for the free, city-run shuttles transporting visitors to Zilker Park.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin City Council could consider a possible Pickup van service down the road to help more visitors access city parks and recreation sites.The Austin Parks and Recreation Board will consider Monday night recommending that Austin City Council look into an on-demand transit service linking people to city parks, including
  
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• Ross Chastain hopes Austin gives him another reason to destroy a watermelon

  24-02-2025 17:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Legendary prop comedian Gallagher may have popularized smashing fruit, but NASCAR driver Ross Chastain made it cool.The eighth-generation watermelon farmer from Florida won his first Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas in 2022, and after every win, he pays homage to his roots by slamming a melon like a medicine ball on the track. It's his way of highlighting agriculture and getting it front and center on one of America's biggest stages. How to get tickets for the NAS
  
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• Texas Lottery Commission moves to ban courier services

  24-02-2025 16:12 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Lottery Commission announced Monday morning it's moving to ban lottery courier services in the state. The decision comes after pressure from state lawmakers to ban the services from doing business in Texas.Lawmakers have raised concerns including the potential for enabling money laundering and allowing underage players to buy lottery tickets. State of Texas: ‘A hard line,’ Lt. Governor calls on Texas Lottery to end courier salesCourier services take lott
  
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• Woman shot, injured in Pflugerville Sunday night

  24-02-2025 14:52 via kxan.com
  
  PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- A woman was injured in a shooting in Pflugerville late Sunday night, according to police.
  The Pflugerville Police Department said officers responded around 11 p.m. to a shots fired call located at 1202 FM 685.
  When police arrived, they found a female victim who was struck by gunfire. An officer aided the victim until EMS got to the scene. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the police department.
  Pflugerville Poli
  
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• Thick fog for some tonight as warmth rolls on

  24-02-2025 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Sunshine and 70s will give way to a cool night under mostly clear skies. Low clouds and fog will develop after midnight and into Tuesday morning.
  The fog may be rather thick, especially east of I-35. A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for Tuesday morning for our eastern counties where the potential for dramatically reduced visibility may impact the morning commute.Dense Fog Advisory Tuesday morningTuesdays early fog will give way to sunshine and 70s again for the afternoon.We'
  
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• Sunshine dominating the new week with a cold front lurking

  24-02-2025 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --A beautiful, if foggy, start to the week as we leave freezing conditions behind and welcome in above average temperatures and sunny skies.Each and every day this week we will be reaching a more spring-like 70° temperature mark, which is still above where we should be. Wednesday, clouds will return but not enough to really affect temperatures.Front arrivesA front will arrive on Thursday taking us back down to the upper 60s and low 70s for a day or two before we head back up to
  
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• Morning fog gives way to warm sunshine

  24-02-2025 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --After an extended stretch of cold weather last week, our pattern takes a much warmer and sunnier turn this week.Dense fog is plaguing parts of the Austin-metro and eastern counties this morning. A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 9AM in those areas. By late morning, fog will lift leaving behind mainly sunny skies areawide.Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 9AMAfternoon highs will warm well into the 70s for most, the exception being the Hill Country where low 80s are expec
  
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• Texas lottery commissioner resigns amid allegations against agency

  24-02-2025 04:36 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Clark E. Smith resigned from his position on the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) as the agency faces a sunset review and growing pressure from state lawmakers to ban lottery couriers from doing business in the Lone Star State.A spokesperson for the TLC confirmed Smith resigned on Feb. 21. The spokesperson did not provide any other information as to why the commissioner resigned from his position. We tried reaching Smith at his Vela Wood law firm email, of which he is a partner
  
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• No. 16 Texas sweeps Ivy League opponent, faces former Big 12 rival in Vegas

  24-02-2025 03:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Capped by a 4-1 win Sunday, No. 16 Texas swept Dartmouth in its first home series to move 5-1 this season.Texas pitching allowed three hits, striking out six Big Green hitters and giving up a first-inning run on a groundout. Freshman Dylan Volantis picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 4 2/3 innings and allowing one hit with four strikeouts and no walks in 42 pitches.
  MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than
  
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• Losing at South Carolina put Texas men's March Madness bid in jeopardy, analytics say

  24-02-2025 02:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas allowed the worst offensive team in the Southeastern Conference to score more than 20 points above their season average Saturday, and that certainly won't bode well for the Longhorns when the NCAA tournament selection committee starts making decisions.Not only was the Longhorns' 84-69 loss brutal because it gave South Carolina its first SEC win in 14 games, but Texas' metrics took a big hit in key categories that the selection committee uses to award at-large bids. St
  
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