Austin news

• 54th annual Zilker Holiday Tree lighting ceremony going virtual

  24-10-2020 00:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday morning, Austin Energy crews transformed the Zilker moonlight tower into the holiday tree, but this year the lighting ceremony will be virtual.
  The virtual showing will take place Sunday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m., the City of Austin said. It will be streamed on ATXN Channel 6 and the social media channels for Austin Parks and Recreation Department, City of Austin and Austin Energy.The lit tree will be on display Nov. 29 - Jan. 1 from 6 p.m. until midnight. However, due t
  
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• RRISD police chief leaves, says district 'delayed' investigations

  19-05-2024 04:26 via kxan.com
  
  ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Round Rock ISD Chief of Police Dennis Weiner said in a letter to the district's superintendent that he was leaving due to "delayed" investigations, including an alleged student sexual assault that happened last month.In his letter to the RRISD superintendent, Weiner began with the latest investigation involving a 5-year-old who was allegedly sexually assaulted on one of the district's school buses on April 12. He said that while the bus driver witnessed the assault, t
  
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• Texas baseball claims first Big 12 series sweep over Kansas

  19-05-2024 03:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - You can't close out a regular season much better than Texas did over Kansas. The Longhorns finished off a sweep of the Jayhawks, holding off the visitors for a 9-7 win Saturday.The first two wins of the series were walk offs by Jalin Flores of Texas. No walk off was needed Saturday as the Longhorns jumped out to a big lead and held on for the victory for their first Big 12 series sweep of the year.Lebarron Johnson Jr. had one of his best starts of the season for Texas, going six
  
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• How a new Central Texas committee will focus on expanding passenger rail service

  19-05-2024 02:54 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai are spearheading new conversations with state transportation and rail leaders to expand passenger rail services in Texas.Expanding passenger rail in Texas has faced many hurdles, but the new Central Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee is a way to speed up that conversation.The committee includes people from Amtrak, people all over the state and other county judges who are interested in expanding
  
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• APD hosts recruiting event, hopes to fill hundreds of vacancies

  19-05-2024 02:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department hosted its latest recruiting event at its training center in south Austin Saturday in an effort to fill some of its vacancies.Sgt. Destiny Silva in APD's recruiting division said attendees spent the day hearing from the department's different divisions to get a better idea of what the job entails.She said currently the department has 326 officer vacancies."We really need to get the right people here to help us. If we get the right people here, t
  
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• State of Texas: Plea for education funding special session rejected by Gov. Abbott

  19-05-2024 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Texas Democrats urged Gov. Greg Abbott to call lawmakers back for a special legislative session Monday, citing "the urgent need to address school finance and improve funding for all of our school districts." Despite Texas’ record budget surplus, schools face deficitsSome of Texas' largest school districts face significant budget deficits, forcing some to cut teachers and staff for next school year. Democrats blame the cash crunch on the legislature's failure to increase
  
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• USPS asking Texas homeowners to fix mailboxes as part of annual campaign

  18-05-2024 23:18 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - Mailbox Improvement Week runs from May 19-25, and the U.S. Postal Service is asking Texas homeowners to inspect and repair their mailboxes.The Postal Service makes this annual request because of the wear and tear that occurs to mailboxes every year.Repairing suburban and rural mailboxes improves the communities' appearance and makes delivery and receiving mail safer for carriers and customers, according to a press release sent by the Postal Service.There are some of the t
  
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• Texas softball continues dominance, onto regional final

  18-05-2024 23:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Upsets can happen in the postseason of any sport, but the top-ranked Texas softball team looks pretty tough to beat at the moment. The Longhorns rolled past Northwestern Saturday afternoon by a tune of 14-2 to advance to the final day of the Austin regional unbeaten.A game dominated by pitching in the regional opener against Siena made way for an offensive explosion for Texas over the Wildcats. Fourteen runs is impressive enough, but particularly so when made clear that Texas lef
  
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• 'Happy Gilmore' alligator retired after wrecking set of '90s sitcom: caretaker

  18-05-2024 23:05 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) — "Happy Gilmore 2" is coming to Netflix soon, but you won't see all of the original cast. The alligator that stole Adam Sandler's golf ball in the nearly 30-year-old film won't be on set, because he's living out his retirement in Colorado.Talks of a sequel to “Happy Gilmore” have been making the rounds in recent months with Sandler letting slip that he was “working on some stuff” for “Happy 2” on the Dan Patrick Show in April.‘H
  
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• Ohio man, alleged ‘drug mule’ for Diddy avoids prison

  18-05-2024 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  CLEVELAND (WJW) – A Northeast Ohio man who was accused of running drugs for music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has agreed to a plea deal to avoid prison.“Brendan Paul accepted the prosecutor’s offer to permit his entry into the diversion program which, after completion, the case against him will be dismissed in its entirety," according to Brian Bieber, the attorney for Brendan Paul.Common diversion conditions include completing education and or counseling related to the charge, cou
  
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• WCSO investigating a deadly shooting in Austin

  18-05-2024 22:15 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly shooting that happened in an unincorporated area of Austin Friday night, according to a press release issued Saturday afternoon.Around 10:30 p.m. Friday, a 911 caller reported a shooting in the 9800 block of Copper Creek Drive, according to WCSO.
  When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a man with "an apparent gunshot wound/s," the release said. The man was not identified Saturday, as WCSO s
  
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• This Texas city is the 3rd worst for bed bug infestations in the U.S.

  18-05-2024 17:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Bed bugs can be hiding anywhere but as it turns out, there are some cities across the U.S. where you're more likely to fall prey to these insidious little bloodsuckers.Recently, pest control resource outlet Pest Gnome ranked the U.S.' 500 biggest cities based on several factors in three categories (infestation risk, pest control and urban density). Cities were given scores out of 100, which is based on an average of all factors. And while the top two bed bug cities may not be a
  
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• Grocery prices fall for first time in a year

  18-05-2024 16:50 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- Grocery prices fell on the whole in April for the first time in 12 months, according to data released Wednesday by the Labor Department.Prices for food at home fell 0.2 percent in April, according to the Labor Department's consumer price index (CPI), the closely watched inflation gauge. It was the first time food at home prices fell since April 2023 and followed several months of plateauing.
  After rising quickly for most of the past three years due to supply chain constraints and t
  
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• McDonald's announces 'Grandma McFlurry': But what's in it?

  18-05-2024 16:47 via kxan.com
  
  (WJW/NEXSTAR) – McDonald’s is releasing a new McFlurry said to be inspired by — and celebrating — grandmas.On Thursday, McDonald's announced its new “Grandma McFlurry,” to be available for a limited time starting May 21.The new McFlurry is made with vanilla soft serve blended with "delicious syrup" and chopped pieces of candy, according to a McDonald's press release.McDonald's has not yet revealed the flavors of the syrup or candy in the Grandma McFlurry. (McD
  
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• Widespread power outages from deadly Houston storm raise new risk: hot weather

  18-05-2024 16:45 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (AP) — As the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to thousands after deadly storms that left at least seven people dead, it will do so Saturday under a smog warning and as all of southern Texas starts to feel the heat.Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said three people died during the storm, including an 85-year-old woman whose home caught fire after being struck by lightning and a 60-year-old man who had tried to use his vehicle to power his oxygen tank.Hous
  
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• What are 'zombie' fires, and why are they becoming more common?

  18-05-2024 16:45 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – “Zombie fires,” much like the persistent reanimated corpses for which they’re nicknamed, are known for coming back to haunt the same regions from year to year.These fires, also called holdover fires or overwintering fires, are essentially wildfires that never fully extinguish, and instead continue smoldering under the ground or snow for extended periods of time, emerging as full-on blazes when conditions allow. They typically occur in the boreal (northern) for
  
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• Dallas Cowboys player Tyler Guyton attends Manor Senior High School pep rally

  18-05-2024 16:01 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — On Friday, former Manor ISD student turned Dallas Cowboys football player Tyler Guyton hosted a pep rally for the district.Guyton was a First Round NFL Draft Pick last month, and his hometown is Manor, Texas.Dallas Cowboys Offensive Tackle Tyler Guyton to attend a pep rally at Manor Senior High School | KXAN photo/Todd BaileyDallas Cowboys Offensive Tackle Tyler Guyton to attend a pep rally at Manor Senior High School | KXAN photo/Todd BaileyDallas Cowboys Offens
  
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• Texas restaurant named one of the most beautiful in the US, according to OpenTable

  18-05-2024 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) - While many people would agree that the quality of the food makes a restaurant good, it's the ambiance, looks, and views that make a restaurant great.For those who are looking for breathtaking decor, sights of lakes and rivers, or somewhere to take that special someone on a romantic night on the town, OpenTable has compiled just the list for you.In collaboration with People's magazine, OpenTable announced the 50 most beautiful restaurants in America where diners can find unforgettable
  
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• Dripping Springs restaurant named one of the most beautiful in the US, according to OpenTable

  18-05-2024 16:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) - While many people would agree that the quality of the food makes a restaurant good, it's the ambiance, looks, and views that make a restaurant great.For those who are looking for breathtaking decor, sights of lakes and rivers, or somewhere to take that special someone on a romantic night on the town, OpenTable has compiled just the list for you.In collaboration with People's magazine, OpenTable announced the 50 most beautiful restaurants in America where diners can find unforgettable
  
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• People who had an iPhone 7 may qualify for piece of $35 million Apple settlement

  18-05-2024 15:57 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – If you were once an owner of the iPhone 7, or its larger sibling the iPhone 7 Plus, you could qualify for a piece of the $35 million settlement Apple has agreed to pay out.
  The class action lawsuit stems from claims that both models of the iPhone, which Apple released in 2016, have issues with the audio integrated chip, or audio IC. Signs of a faulty IC chip include not being able to use the phone's loudspeaker, the microphone not working properly, an unresponsive device,
  
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• Nearly 900K Yogi tea bags recalled for excessive pesticide residue

  18-05-2024 15:35 via kxan.com
  
  (WJW) – Nearly 900,000 Yogi tea bags have been recalled after excessive levels of pesticide residues were detected, according to details posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The parent company of Yogi, East West Tea Company, LLC, issued the recall of 54,846 16-count boxes of Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support tea bags (a total of 877,536) that were distributed nationwide.“Organic Yogi Echinacea Immune Support product is recalled because pesticide residues were detected
  
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• Migration flows unchanged in El Paso in April

  18-05-2024 15:34 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Migrant encounters are holding steady in El Paso and New Mexico, bucking a national downward trend in apprehensions and the surrender of asylum-seekers.The El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol reported 30,393 migrant encounters in April compared to 30,421 in March, a difference of only 28 apprehensions. In all the Southwest border, surrenders and apprehensions fell by 8,583, or more than 6 percent.Since Oct. 1, though, El Paso has seen a 41 percent decr
  
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• House Democrats propose ban on .50-caliber rifles

  18-05-2024 15:34 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two members of Congress from Texas and one from Florida have filed a bill they say will cut down on drug cartel violence by banning .50-caliber rifles in America.The Stop Arming Cartels Act of 2024 proposes banning the manufacture, sale, possession, importation or transfer of .50-caliber rifles by civilians in the United States. The legislation filed by Democratic U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and Veronica Escobar of Texas, and Maxwell Frost of Florida would re
  
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• Groups sue to get info on child who died in CBP custody in South Texas

  18-05-2024 15:34 via kxan.com
  
  HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Two nonprofits on Friday filed a federal lawsuit for more information on an 8-year-old migrant girl who died exactly a year ago in custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in this Rio Grande Valley border town.New rocket docket for adult migrant arrivals announced
  The Texas Civil Rights Project and Haitian Bridge Alliance filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit Friday to obtain medical records and other information on Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez
  
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• ATF seizes grenade launcher, 'machine-gun pistols' in Laredo

  18-05-2024 15:34 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Two men are in police custody for allegedly trying to sell a cache of high-powered firearms to an undercover federal agent in Laredo, Texas, this week.The guns include a grenade launcher and four modified "machine gun pistols." The guns were purchased in the Dallas area and delivered in San Antonio to a man identified as Luis Azael Berlanga, court records show.House Democrats propose ban on .50-caliber rifles
  Berlanga brought the guns to Laredo and hired Ju
  
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• Easy Tiger announces new CEO

  18-05-2024 15:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin bakery and restaurant Easy Tiger has brought in a new CEO to lead the business, according to a press release.The new CEO will be Todd Coerver, who previously worked as the CEO of P. Terry’s Burger Stand from 2019 to 2023.“We're excited to welcome Todd on board; his proven success in shaping top-notch organizations and brands aligns with our vision for Easy Tiger,” said Easy Tiger founder David Norman, in the press release. “We are eager to ben
  
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• These are the highest paid employees in the City of Austin

  18-05-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin pays its employees more than $1.3 billion each year in base salaries, according to data obtained by KXAN.The data, as of March 26, 2024, shows the City has 15,164 paid full-time employees and 2,771 paid part-time employees. A further 10 people appeared on the city's payroll, most of whom are unpaid interns.The average full-time employee earns $82,727.13 annually, while the average part-time employee earns $31,439.93. The figures only include base salaries
  
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• The heat is on

  18-05-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. for Fayette Co. Visibility reports from Lee and Fayette Cos. were under one mile at 6 a.m.More dense fogToday is an Ozone Action Day for Williamson, Travis, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop counties. A sunny sky, the forecast of hot temperatures and light winds out of the south will lead to ozone levels on the lower end of the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range on the south side of Austin.An Ozone Action Day in the Austin Metro
  
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• Early season heat wave to continue next week

  18-05-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Saturday became the hottest day of the year so far with a high of 95° at Camp Mabry and 96° at the airport. These are temperatures more typical of mid-June, and the unseasonably hot weather is expected to continue well into next week.Sunday should be very similar, with some early morning low clouds, patchy fog/mist, then plenty of afternoon sun with highs in the 90s.Monday and Tuesday will be dry. A weather disturbance in the upper atmosphere gives us rain and thund
  
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• Flores, Longhorns baseball walk off Kansas again

  18-05-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - The series opener between Texas and Kansas baseball did not disappoint. The Longhorns gave up a late lead, just to come back and win via the walk off. Friday's game two also brought some burnt orange magic.No. 25 Texas clinched a series win over Kansas with a 3-2 win. Thursday's hero was Jalin Flores who hit a walk off double. Flores came up clutch again Friday with a walk off sac fly.The Longhorns entered the ninth inning down 2-1 before Jared Thomas tied it up with an RBI singl
  
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