Austin news

• Order up! Whataburger Museum of Art to set up shop in Austin for SXSW

  25-02-2025 22:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Whataburger fans have served up plenty of love for the homegrown Texas brand — and that loyalty will be on display with an art exhibition during the 2025 South by Southwest Conference & Festivals.The Whataburger Museum of Art is an online collection of fan art paying tribute to the burger chain. As the Corpus Christi-founded chain celebrates its 75th anniversary this summer, the Whataburger Museum of Art will set up shop at Wanderlust Wine Co. March 8-9.The two-da
  
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• UT enters $8.5 million partnership with tech company

  25-02-2025 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin is set to become a core research partner for Emerson, a global tech company, through an $8.5 million partnership. According to a press release from UT, the partnership will fund research toward exploring artificial intelligence, automation, energy, semiconductors and other scientific disciplines. "Emerson has been an important partner for UT, the Cockrell School of Engineering and our chemical engineering department for decades. This i
  
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• Measles outbreak in Texas: Over 100 cases currently reported in state

  25-02-2025 21:54 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas -- In its latest update, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said there were 124 cases of measles across Texas and the South Plains. How many Texas ER visits are related to flu, RSV?DSHS said 18 patients were hospitalized. Five cases were vaccinated, but the rest were unvaccinated. The disease is highly contagious.
  Here are the cases in each Texas county:
  Dallam - 4Dawson - 7Ector - 2Gaines - 80Lubbock - 1Lynn - 1Martin 3Terry - 21Yoakum - 5
  Here are the age
  
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• Travis County commissioners approve $1 million for housing loan fund

  25-02-2025 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve $1 million for the Austin Community Foundation's Housing Accelerator Loan Fund.
  The fund is used to help housing developers access fast, flexible and low-cost capital to build more housing units faster, according to the press release.The fund invests in different types of affordable housing from workforce housing to housing for the homeless to homeownership.The county said the Austin Community Foundati
  
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• In Texas, 'energy dominance' is the solar industry's new motto

  25-02-2025 21:22 via kxan.com
  
  Project Summary: This story is supported by the Pulitzer Center and is part of the “Texas Energy Crossroads” project, a partnership between The Hill and Nexstar Texas stations examining the oil and gas industry and the politics surrounding it following President Trump’s second inauguration.AUSTIN, Texas — Solar energy might be clean, cheap and slow the heating of the planet. But that’s not what the solar industry wants lawmakers t
  
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• How many Texas ER visits are related to flu, RSV?

  25-02-2025 21:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Influenza cases reached their highest activity levels in the last 15 years this month, and Texas emergency department visits are also heightened, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Looking at statewide data, overall respiratory illness activity is classified as "moderate" in Texas, lower than the high respiratory levels when comparing overall national data. Influenza and COVID-19 activity are both elevated across the U.S., while respirator
  
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• What will the new Austin Convention Center look like? First renderings give sneak peek

  25-02-2025 21:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The long-anticipated redevelopment of Austin's Convention Center is almost here, and Austinites got a sneak peek of what the new building will look like when the project is complete.
  The Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) released the first renderings of the new Austin Convention Center on Tuesday.Rendering of the New Austin Convention Center: Southeast view from Cesar Chavez Street. (Photo provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page)R
  
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• Spring forecast: What to expect March through May

  25-02-2025 21:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As we wrap up meteorological winter, we see the beginning of spring arriving this weekend with the arrival of March.Meteorological spring includes the entire months of March, April, and May. May is typically our wettest season of the year in Central Texas followed closely by fall.March forecastFirst, the March forecast. Along with the spring seasonal outlook NOAA's Climate Prediction Center also released their monthly outlook for March.They expect odds that likely point to a war
  
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• LIVE: Spring forecast: What to expect March through May

  25-02-2025 21:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As we wrap up meteorological winter, we see the beginning of spring arriving this weekend with the arrival of March.Meteorological spring includes the entire months of March, April, and May. May is typically our wettest season of the year in Central Texas followed closely by fall.March forecastFirst, the March forecast. Along with the spring seasonal outlook NOAA's Climate Prediction Center also released their monthly outlook for March.They expect odds that likely point to a war
  
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• Ravens GM calls sexual misconduct allegations against Justin Tucker 'concerning'

  25-02-2025 19:21 via kxan.com
  
  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta considers the mounting allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against kicker Justin Tucker “serious” and “concerning.”He still wants to see what the the NFL’s investigation reveals before making any decision about one of the Ravens' steadiest players.
  “The allegations are serious, concerning. The amount of allegations are serious, concerning,” DeCosta said Tuesday at the NFL&rs
  
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• Hays CISD passes resolution, reaffirming how to handle possible ICE campus visits

  25-02-2025 18:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)— In its school board meeting on Monday, Hays Consolidated Independent School District passed a resolution to reaffirm admission, safety and privacy for its students calling its schools "protected areas" related to recent federal immigration concerns.In a 7-0 vote, trustees supported the resolution addressing district families' worries. However, some trustees expressed concerns about whether this resolution will give the district unwanted attention. ICE conducts ‘enhance
  
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• Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings

  25-02-2025 18:34 via kxan.com
  
  Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that President Donald Trump's administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program aren’t expected to save the government any money, the administration's own data shows.
  The Department of Government Efficiency, run by Trump adviser Elon Musk, published an updated list Monday of nearly 2,300 contracts that agencies terminated in recent weeks across the federal government. Data published on DOGE's “Wall of Receipts&rdq
  
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• Denny's announces 'pricing decision' about egg dishes

  25-02-2025 18:28 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) – Denny's will be adding a surcharge for meals that include the use of eggs at some locations due to rising costs from a nationwide egg shortage, the company has confirmed to Nexstar.The diner chain did not announce which of its roughly 1,500 locations would impose the surcharge, saying “this pricing decision is market-by-market, and restaurant-by-restaurant.” You won't believe what Denny's was originally calledThe company cited egg shortages caused by bird flu as the re
  
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• How these Austin mobility projects could improve traffic flow

  25-02-2025 18:20 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin wrapped a handful of 2018 mobility projects that are designed to make your commutes around town smoother.Austin voters approved a $160 million transportation bond package in 2018, with $4.5 million allocated to safety and mobility improvements, upgrades for signals, controllers and firmware as well as new signal installations. Those enhancements included a group of major arterial management projects that centered around improved traffic flow.
  Some of thos
  
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• Texas Lottery investigating all courier services in state, limiting terminals at retailers

  25-02-2025 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The above video is KXAN's Monday coverage of a Texas Senate committee hearing about the lottery commission.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Lottery Commission announced Tuesday it has implemented two immediate actions consistent with its intended ban of lottery courier services in the state on Monday. Texas Lottery Commission moves to ban courier servicesThe Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) said it expanded its "ongoing investigations" into courier services to include all couriers operati
  
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• Austin schoolchildren to promote flood safety

  25-02-2025 17:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The beginning of Meteorological Spring (March, April, and May) coincides with the start of a season within the season. The spring storm season is a time when Central Texas has the bulk of its severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding.
  Periods of heavy rain can lead to flooding, so now is the perfect opportunity to make Central Texas citizens aware of the dangers of driving over flooded roads, especially at night when the standing water is harder to see.With that in mind, the
  
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• 4 Texas hospitals ranked top in US for heart care

  25-02-2025 16:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas has some of the best heart hospitals in the country, according to one list.U.S. News and World Report published a list of "Best Hospitals for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery." The publication's website said it evaluated nearly 800 heart hospitals and ranked the top 50 that care for patients with challenging heart and vascular cases.
  Four of those were in Texas.
  “My team combs through records of the bills that hospitals send to the government to get paid,"Ben
  
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• Black holes suck public into 'amazing discoveries' at Texas Science Festival

  25-02-2025 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Exploring black holes and diving into the power of memory are just a couple of highlights from the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Science Festival. The weeklong event hopes to bring the "amazing discoveries" happening at UT to people across the state.University of Texas tower on Oct. 21, 2024. (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)
  "It's so critical that we convey both the importance of the work to the general public, but also bring them in to the kind of awe and wonder that is
  
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• Wildflower Center releases spring flower forecast

  25-02-2025 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center released its annual spring wildflower forecast Tuesday morning.The wildflower forecast for spring 2025 is rather "mixed" depending on what part of Texas you live and what level of drought you're dealing with.Spiderwort growing from a crack (Credit: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)Coral honeysuckle (Credit: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)Frozen anacacho orchid tree buds (Credit: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)Windflower aka an
  
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• Texas pushes to tighten rules for Botox, similar treatments

  25-02-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Medical Board issued new rules when it comes to administering and overseeing certain treatments like Botox injections in response to consumers "demanding more transparency," according to TMB president Dr. Sherif Zaafran in a February bulletin. More changes could come as lawmakers also push for additional oversight.The TMB rules clarify that treatments or procedures including Botox, IV and hydration therapy are considered "medical" and must be administered by
  
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• Pope meets with Vatican No. 2 at hospital, makes major governing decisions

  25-02-2025 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  ROME (AP) — Hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, Pope Francis was well enough to meet with the Vatican secretary of state to approve new decrees for possible saints and make some major governing decisions that suggest he is getting essential work done while remaining very much in charge.The audience, which occurred Monday, signaled that the machinery of the Vatican was still grinding on and looking ahead even with Francis, 88, hospitalized and doctors warning his
  
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• Pope Francis is critical but stable with no new respiratory crises: Vatican

  25-02-2025 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was in critical but stable condition Tuesday, with his blood parameters remaining stable and no new respiratory crises, as he worked from the hospital while battling double pneumonia, the Vatican said.The Vatican’s evening update said the 88-year-old pope underwent a follow-up CAT scan in Tuesday evening to check the lung infection. But it provided no details of what the scan showed, suggesting the results weren’t back yet. Doctors said regardless he ha
  
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• Pope critical but stable, Vatican says, as he makes major governing decisions

  25-02-2025 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  ROME (AP) — Pope Francis remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday, with his blood parameters remaining stable as he works from the hospital while battling double pneumonia, the Vatican said.The Vatican’s evening update said the 88-year-old pope underwent a follow-up CAT scan on Tuesday evening to check his lung infection. But it provided no details of what the scan showed, suggesting the results weren’t back yet. Doctors said the prognosis remained guarded.“In th
  
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• Pope continues recovery, sleeps well as Vatican launches marathon prayers

  25-02-2025 13:28 via kxan.com
  
  ROME (AP) — Pope Francis continued his treatment for pneumonia Tuesday as the Vatican set in motion a nightly marathon of prayers from “his house” and allies cheered him on from afar in hopes that the 88-year-old would recover.The Vatican’s typically brief morning update said: “The pope slept well, all night.”On Monday evening, doctors said he remained in critical condition with double pneumonia but reported a “slight improvement” in some
  
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• More days in the 70s than not this week

  25-02-2025 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Central Texas is waking up to another morning of hit and miss fog. Although not quite as widespread as yesterday morning, it is enough to slow us down, especially east of i-35.A Dense Fog Advisory has been issued for our eastern counties until 10AM.Dense Fog Advisory in effect for eastern counties until 10AM TuesdayWe'll see more clouds and fog come back for Wednesda
  
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• Another round of fog by Wednesday morning

  25-02-2025 12:00 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Afternoon clear skies pushed highs into the middle and upper 70s making for a beautiful second half of the day. NEW BLOG: Wildflower Center issues spring wildflower forecastSkies should stay clear this evening, but overnight into Wednesday morning we'll see the return of low clouds and potentially dense fog. Cloud-cover may be more widespread Wednesday morning and ma
  
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• VA employees must return to in-person work per Trump's directive

  25-02-2025 05:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees now must return to in-person work to comply with President Trump's Presidential Memorandum (PM), according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.On Jan. 20, Trump took presidential action to "take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis," the PM said on the White House website.Those who h
  
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• Senators question why Texas Lottery Commission didn't ban courier services sooner

  25-02-2025 04:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Major changes are coming to the way millions of Texans play the lottery in our state. On Monday, the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) announced it will ban lottery courier services, which allow people to order tickets online or through an app.Texas Lottery Commission moves to ban courier servicesThe decision came after pressure from state lawmakers who have concerns about potential money laundering and underage players buying tickets.
  The issue received Governor Greg Abbott's atte
  
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• Kyle offers warrant amnesty program through March

  25-02-2025 04:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Kyle's Municipal Court is offering a way for individuals to take care of unpaid citations, warrant fees on outstanding cases and have active warrants cleared through the warrant amnesty program.
  The press release said individuals with charges filed at the court could utilize the program every Wednesday in March between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Kyle City Hall Council Chambers.
  The city said individuals who voluntarily appear during these times will not be arrested. No appointmen
  
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• PHOTOS: Injured owl rescued from Austin park

  25-02-2025 04:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An injured owl was rescued over the weekend after it was spotted near a park in Austin, according to the Austin Animal Center.The animal center said on social media the owl was "unable to fly or move away" when spotted at the park.An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)"Our team safely secured
  
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• Injured owl rescued from Austin park

  25-02-2025 04:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An injured owl was rescued over the weekend after it was spotted near a park in Austin, according to the Austin Animal Center.The animal center said on social media the owl was "unable to fly or move away" when spotted at the park.An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)An injured owl was rescued from an Austin park (Photo: Austin Animal Center)"Our team safely secured
  
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• Travis County Republican chair resigns after 10 years

  25-02-2025 03:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Travis County Republican Party chair Matt Mackowiak announced on Monday that he was stepping down immediately.
  According to a press release, Mackowiak served as the volunteer chair of one of the largest Texas County GOP organizations since June 2017 and succeeded Travis County GOP chair James Dickey after he was elected State GOP chair.
  “There is a season for everything, and this past weekend my wife Amy and I decided that our most important goals are starting a family and
  
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• Newly No. 1 Texas overcomes sluggish start, rolls to 57-26 win over Georgia

  25-02-2025 03:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 1 Texas outscored Georgia 17-2 over the final 6:18 to run away with a 57-26 win Monday in Southeastern Conference women's basketball action at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.Taylor Jones ruled the paint for Texas with 17 points and 16 rebounds, nine on the offensive end, to help the Longhorns surge after struggling to score in the first half. Texas shot 29% over the opening two quarters yet still led 20-16 at halftime thanks to stout defense, holding the Bulldogs
  
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• Supreme Court declines to take up challenge to Tennessee law restricting drag shows

  25-02-2025 03:12 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) – The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to a Tennessee law restricting some drag performances, allowing the first-in-the-nation law to remain largely intact. In a brief, unsigned order, the justices denied a Tennessee theater company’s request to intervene in its challenge to the state’s limits on drag, first enacted in 2023 by the Republican-dominated Legislature. While the law does not explicitly mention drag shows, state lawmakers said the
  
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• Antivirus software company ordered to pay customer $16.5M: How to file a claim

  25-02-2025 03:01 via kxan.com
  
  Related video: Software update causes global outage(NEXSTAR) – Millions of American consumers who bought antivirus software from Avast may be eligible to receive a portion of a $16.5 million settlement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Monday.The FTC said Avast is making the payment after failing to protect its customers' privacy, instead collecting "a treasure trove of user information through its antivirus software and browser extensions without people’s consent." Bewar
  
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• Starbucks removing over a dozen drinks from its menu next week: Here's the list

  25-02-2025 02:57 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) — Starbucks customers are about to see a much smaller menu.In January, Starbucks announced it would cut its menu by about 30% as part of a slew of changes rolled out since chairman and CEO Brian Niccol joined the company in September.On Monday, Starbucks revealed 13 drinks that will no longer be on the menu starting Tuesday, March 4."We’re simplifying our menu to focus on fewer, more popular items, executed with excellence," Starbucks said in a release. "This will make wa
  
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• American detained in Paris after baby is allegedly thrown from hotel window

  25-02-2025 02:21 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – An American has been taken into custody in Paris after a newborn baby was allegedly thrown from the window of a hotel in the city’s 20th arrondissement, the Paris Prosecutor’s Office said.Witnesses reported the incident early on Monday morning, France’s Le Parisien news outlet reported. The baby was treated for injuries but ultimately died, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office confirmed in a statement shared with Nexstar.Officer killed in Pennsylva
  
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• Another Longhorns assistant leaves for NFL job, 'DBU' architect to reportedly replace him

  25-02-2025 02:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Another Texas Longhorns assistant coach is headed to the NFL.Terry Joseph, the Longhorns' defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach, is taking a similar role with the New Orleans Saints. He joined the Longhorns' staff in 2021 after spending three seasons at Notre Dame. Steve Sarkisian says no to Texas Longhorns spring football gameJoseph's impact on the program was obvious, particularly in the past two seasons with the improvement of the secondary. This season, Te
  
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• 21-year-old arrested in connection with shooting that killed teen near The Domain

  25-02-2025 01:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A second person was arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 17-year-old, which police say happened as a result of a drug deal turned attempted robbery in a parking garage near The Domain last year, according to police and court documents.Carlos Sotelo, 17, died in December 2024, at a hospital after he was shot during what police called an attempted robbery in the parking garage of a north Austin apartment complex.17-year-old dead after being shot in apartment park
  
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• Spring blooms soon with seasonal allergens returning

  25-02-2025 00:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - March 20 marks the very first day of spring and with the arrival of a new season comes allergens many haven't had to deal with in months. From oak, mulberry, mesquite, and grass, there will be plenty of pollen in the air to give those with allergies a run for the medicine.Dr. John Villacis with St. David's North Austin Medical Center says you can normally tell when oak is picking up by the yellow dust-like powder you see on your cars."Typically we will see the oak pollens really
  
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• Georgetown launches askGTX for residents to report issues, ask questions

  25-02-2025 00:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Georgetown has a new way for residents to connect to services, whether it's reporting an issue or asking a question.On Monday, the city said in a news release it launched askGTX, which is similar to 311 services, and "can be accessed through a website, phone call, and soon by using a smartphone app."Residents can use askGTX to report a pothole, learn about water rebates or even find a park nearby, the release said."Other common issues include traffic signal or traffi
  
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