Austin news

• Ascension continues to investigate cybersecurity event, notified the FBI

  13-05-2024 19:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- It's now been several days since Ascension, a healthcare company in Central Texas, said it detected unusual activity on network systems, which they believed to be a “cybersecurity event.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ascension warns of cyber security event amid ‘unusual activity’The announcement came on Wednesday, May 8.
  “At this time we continue to investigate the situation,” Ascension said. “We responded immediately, initiated our investigation
  
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• Construction on FM 812 upgrades could begin as early as 2027, TxDOT says

  07-06-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Following a public hearing in January, officials with the Texas Department of Transportation said improvements to Farm to Market 812 could begin as early as 2027.TxDOT has proposed substantial upgrades along the roadway between U.S. Highway 183 in Travis County and State Highway 21 in Bastrop County, including enhancements to a sliver of Farm to Market 973 from north of McAngus Road to south of FM 812. That proposed project comes as traffic along FM 812 has fa
  
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• Austin charter school applies for dormancy period to fix building issues

  07-06-2024 13:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A public charter school in north Austin filed for a dormancy period with the Texas Education Agency and is telling its students they need to find another school for the upcoming academic year.
  Jubilee Wells Branch, a pre-K through 12th grade public charter school, said it applied for the dormancy so it could fix issues with the building, including the A/C units, leaking roofs and walls. The news came as a shock to parents.
  "We're heartbroken. Our children grew up since Kinder to
  
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• Insight: How severe weather across Texas impacts the ongoing drought

  07-06-2024 05:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas has faced a barrage of severe weather recently, and families across the state have been impacted by flooding, loss of power, damaging winds and more.
  Despite the recent torrential rainfall and storms, drought remains an ongoing concern and requires more than isolated downpours to be resolved. Texas Water Utilities Vice President of Engineering Todd Danielson spoke to KXAN about what crews are doing during the drought and what small changes Texans can make to minimize droug
  
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• Man accused of shipping protected turtles faces 25 years prison

  07-06-2024 05:08 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (NewsNation) — A New York man faces federal charges after he allegedly shipped protected species of turtles from the U.S. to China for the pet trade black market, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Russell Milis, 26, of New York City, was charged with two counts of smuggling goods from the U.S. and one count of violating the Lacey Act, a conservation law aimed at preventing the illegal trade of fish, wildlife and plants. 1.2M rechargeable lights recalled nationwide after
  
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• Oklahoma wins record fourth straight NCAA softball title, beating Texas 8-4 for 2-game sweep

  07-06-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma slugged its way to a record fourth straight NCAA softball title, getting a go-ahead, bases-clearing double from Cydney Sanders and beating Texas 8-4 on Thursday night for a two-game sweep of the Women’s College World Series championship.
  The Sooners won their eighth title overall, all under coach Patty Gasso, and moved into a tie with Arizona for the second-most national championships behind UCLA's 12.
  Second-seeded Oklahoma (59-7) scored eight runs in e
  
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• 'I am heavily armed,' Las Vegas bank robber showed tellers notes with iPad: police

  07-06-2024 05:04 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man accused of robbing a Las Vegas bank and attempting to rob another allegedly used an iPad to display his demand notes to tellers, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.Donald Malone, 53, faces charges of robbery, burglary and attempted robbery, documents said. Over 1.2M rechargeable lights sold nationwide recalled after death, firesOn Wednesday, May 29, Malone allegedly displayed a prewritten note on an iPad to a teller at a bank on Sunset Roa
  
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• Travis County drought-free for the first time in two years, experts say won't last long

  07-06-2024 04:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- For the first time in two years, parts of Central Texas are no longer in a drought.
  According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Travis County, Williamson County, Burnet County, Llano County and Bastrop County are drought-free.
  The map has parts of Hays County considered abnormally dry with a moderate drought.
  Much of the Central Texas area was previously under a drought for 26 months. (Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor)
  'May just be temporary'Texas State Climatologist Dr. John Nielson-Gam
  
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• Travis County drought-free for the first time in two years

  07-06-2024 04:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- For the first time in two years, parts of Central Texas are no longer in a drought.
  According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, Travis County, Williamson County, Burnet County, Llano County and Bastrop County are drought-free.
  The map has parts of Hays County considered abnormally dry with a moderate drought.
  Much of the Central Texas area was previously under a drought for 26 months. (Photo: U.S. Drought Monitor)
  'May just be temporary'Texas State Climatologist Dr. John Nielson-Gam
  
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• No jumping! Austin working to stop bridge jumpers

  07-06-2024 04:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — As crowds gather in Austin Lakes and Rivers to cool off, Austin Parks and Recreation is reminding people that jumping off bridges into the water is not only illegal, but it's also dangerous."This is the bridge over Barton Creek, and honestly, this is the most popular spot to jump off," said Park Ranger Melissa Hand. "It is illegal to jump over any bridge over the Colorado River, so not just in Austin proper-- but those bridges include anything that goes over Lady Bird Lake,
  
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• Downtown program aims to boost Austin small businesses, vacant storefronts

  07-06-2024 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new initiative launched Thursday to support Austin creatives and small businesses while enhancing vacant downtown Austin storefronts.The Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) unveiled the Downtown Austin Space Activation program and will celebrate its first storefront location at 506 Congress Avenue on June 13. Not enough demand to fill 2.5M square feet of new office space in downtown Austin, report saysThe program's "goal is to create affordable and flexible spaces that not onl
  
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• Dripping Springs man gets life in prison for continuous sexual abuse of child

  07-06-2024 01:11 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was sentenced to life in prison May 30 after he was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14 years of age, according to Hays County Criminal District Attorney Kelly Higgins.According to the DA’s office, 38-year-old Andrew Brown, of Dripping Springs, sexually abused an 8-year-old, who was the child of a family friend, for more than a year.The DA’s office said the abuse occurred after Brown volunteered to care for the ch
  
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• Texas could be getting its own stock exchange 

  07-06-2024 00:21 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (Nexstar) — A group of financiers announced on Wednesday plans to create a Texas stock exchange based in Dallas. TXSE Group Inc. released a statement outlining their plans to register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, including that it is backed by major investing firms like BlackRock and Citadel Securities. TXSE raised approximately $120 million in capital with the help of investors. The group said it expects to be the “most well capital
  
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• Mayor Kirk Watson talks efforts to shelter homeless amid dangerous summer heat

  06-06-2024 23:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- KXAN's Grace Reader sat down with Mayor Kirk Watson Thursday to talk about a variety of topics from ARPA funding and the upcoming budget process to homelessness and the spectrum of services the city provides. Here's some of what you need to know:
  Providing services this summerWatson said the City of Austin is building on changes made last year including: how the city communicates with service providers and people experiencing homelessness, bringing water to encampments, having c
  
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• Barton Springs Conservancy gives additional $450K toward bathhouse project

  06-06-2024 23:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Barton Springs Conservancy gave an extra $450,000 toward the Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project.According to the conservancy, the funds were solicited from supporters of Barton Springs.“As a result of this additional contribution, the total amount of private contributions to date from Barton Springs Conservancy is $3,834,000,” the conservancy said.Check presentation for Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project (KXAN p
  
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• Texas father, son discover message in a bottle on Gulf coast

  06-06-2024 23:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Central Texas father and son duo can add "treasure hunters" to their list of accolades, after discovering a message in a bottle washed ashore at Padre Island National Seashore last weekend.Markus Hogue and his 12-year-old son, Gabriel, were searching for seashells for Gabriel's mom and girlfriend, Liah, on the beach when they saw the bottle sticking out of a pile of debris.
  "We were walking and saw a lot of debris and then saw a bottle and were surprised when we picked it
  
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• 'Gonna be tight': Mayor Kirk Watson talks upcoming budget process

  06-06-2024 23:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Financial leaders with the City of Austin have warned: The city is likely to see a budget deficit in the 2024 fiscal year largely caused by an unexpected dip in sales tax revenue. That will also bleed into how the city addresses its FY 2025 budget.City of Austin could see budget deficit, headed for ‘fiscal cliff’ with ARPA funding"While it's been up a few of these months, including last month, it's still overall under what the forecasts were for sales tax revenue," M
  
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• Austin Energy prepares for summer season

  06-06-2024 22:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Energy said it has completed its weatherization readiness activities as it prepares for the summer, the agency said in a news release Thursday.The utility said its summer weather preparedness was certified via the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which is "in compliance with state regulations," the release said.The utility said it is preparing for another "record-breaking season" when it comes to energy demand.
  AE said Texas reached 10 "new all-time peak dem
  
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• 6 Alamo Drafthouse theaters shutter outside Austin metro, although they could come back

  06-06-2024 22:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is losing six locations outside Central Texas after a franchisee filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.The company that operated all five theaters in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, plus one in Woodbury, Minnesota, under a franchise agreement abruptly closed them on June 6.“We are heartbroken for the franchisee’s teammates and the local film communities, however, we are working as quickly as possible to get Alamo Dra
  
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• Chiefs cancel practice after player goes into cardiac arrest

  06-06-2024 22:06 via kxan.com
  
  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) -- The Kansas City Chiefs canceled practice on Thursday following a medical emergency involving defensive end B.J. Thompson.Thompson, a second-year defensive end for the Chiefs, was taken to the hospital after suffering a seizure and going into cardiac arrest.The Chiefs planned to wrap up their voluntary offseason workouts on Thursday, but a team spokesman said the practice would be pushed to Friday. Chiefs coach Andy Reid and other players plan to speak to reporters then
  
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• 15th annual Corporate Battle of the Bands to raise money for musicians' health care

  06-06-2024 20:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, also known as HAAM, hosted its 15th annual Corporate Battle of the Bands Wednesday night, along with a silent auction, all in the name of helping raise money to support area musicians.
  HAAM is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable health care for greater Austin’s low-income, working musicians.
  Each year, it hosts a "Corporate Battle of the Bands" event where local companies' employees compete in front of a panel of loca
  
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• Over 1.2M rechargeable lights sold nationwide recalled after death, fires

  06-06-2024 20:19 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) — Illinois-based Good Earth Lighting Inc. is recalling more than 1.2 million units of its Good Earth Rechargeable Integrated Lights after the reported death of one user and reports of injury and/or fires from others.Customers should immediately stop using the lights, which contain lithium iron batteries that can potentially overheat and cause the lights' plastic housing to catch flame, according to the recall.These jobs may not exist in 50 yearsThe recalled units can be identifie
  
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• Anthrax in Texas rancher linked to infected lamb

  06-06-2024 19:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A rancher in southwest Texas was linked to an "unusual winter case of anthrax" following the butchering of an infected lamb in December 2023.According to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on Jan. 4, the rancher went to the hospital for fever, leukocytosis, a black eschar on his wrist, and extensive edema and blistered lesions on his arm.Investigators determined anthrax to be the cause of his illness 11 days after he butchered a lamb that died u
  
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• Texas Girl Scout awarded for LGBTQ+ library project

  06-06-2024 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — One Central Texas Girl Scout is being recognized for her work to improve access to LGBTQ+ literature.Girl Scouts of Central Texas recognized Norah S. with a Silver Award for her project creating the Little Rainbow Library. The library includes a "carefully curated selection of books that represent and celebrate the LGBTQ+ experience," per a news release. Record number of book titles challenged in 2023 — here’s how Texas faredNorah's middle school doesn't feature
  
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• Downtown crime down since APD increased patrols, police say

  06-06-2024 18:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- About 8 months ago, the Austin Police Department (APD) launched an initiative to beef up downtown patrols. Now, Lt. Christopher Juusola, the operations lieutenant for the Downtown Area Command (DTAC), says the program has had an "immediate positive impact."The initiative was born from downtown stakeholder complaints primarily related to property crime and other "quality of life" issues."The vast majority of crimes in DTAC dropped compared to the year(s) prior," Juusola said. "Cr
  
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• Hutto man found guilty of sexual assault of a child, sentenced to 99 years in prison

  06-06-2024 18:42 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Following a three-day trial, a Williamson County jury found a Hutto man guilty of sexual assault of a child on Tuesday.According to the county’s district attorney, 39-year-old Josue Antonio Gurrola was given a sentence of 99 years in prison related to the conviction.“The jury's verdict of 99 years is a testament to the severity of the crime committed and the enduring impact on the victim’s life. We hope this sentence brings solace to the
  
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• CapMetro considering Leander Pickup Zone expansion

  06-06-2024 17:58 via kxan.com
  
  LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — CapMetro is considering a possible expansion to its Leander Pickup Zone to add new residential communities, shopping and medical centers to its coverage scope.The transit authority is proposing a 0.64-square-mile expansion to the existing zone. If approved, that expansion would offer transit services connecting riders to DaVita Leander Dialysis, Cedar Park Regional Emergency Center, Crystal Falls Crossing Apartments, the Lakeline Apartments and Randall's.CapMetro is
  
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• Travis Co. Clerk’s Office offering free wedding ceremonies to celebrate Pride, Marriage Equality

  06-06-2024 17:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Travis County Clerk's Office is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride month and marking the ninth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision ruling same-sex couples have a right to marriage by offering free wedding ceremonies in late June.
  The office did the same thing last year for one day, but has expanded the offering to several days because of the success of last year's event, the office said in a release.Events happening in Austin to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride this month
  
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• Man arrested in hit-and-run during South by Southwest indicted on several counts

  06-06-2024 16:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video is from previous, related coverage we reported on April 1, 2024.
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The man who was arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run in downtown Austin during South by Southwest was handed three indictments by a grand jury earlier this week, according to the Travis County District Attorney's Office.Man arrested in hit-and-run during South by Southwest now facing murder chargeDistrict Attorney José Garza's office said Tyrone Thompson, 23, faces
  
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• Is Austin's housing market overvalued? At least by one measure, the answer is yes

  06-06-2024 14:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- Home prices in Austin are eclipsing the median buying power of local residents.That's according to data from First American Financial Corp., which found the housing markets in at least half of the nation's major metro areas are overvalued compared to local buying power.Home prices have soared nationally over the past decade — especially during the pandemic — and that's driving a significant affordability crisis in many regions. High interest r
  
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