Austin news

• Horns Report: UT softball gets top seed in tourney for first time; program as a whole wins record amount of Big 12 titles

  13-05-2024 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The NCAA softball tournament bracket is set and the Texas Longhorns are seeded No. 1 for the first time.The selection committee made the announcement Sunday during a live broadcast on ESPN2, giving the Longhorns the top spot over No. 2 Oklahoma despite the Sooners winning the Big 12 Conference tournament championship game over Texas the day prior. In the end, Texas was still at the top of the RPI table and beat Oklahoma two out of three games during the regular season, so t
  
  Read more

• Democrats in competitive runoff for Houston House seat

  28-05-2024 20:35 via kxan.com
  
  HOUSTON (KXAN) — A Democratic incumbent hopes to hold onto her Texas House seat in Tuesday's runoff election over a challenger who garnered more votes during the initial primary.
  State Rep. Shawn Thierry is facing union organizer Lauren Ashley Simmons in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House District 146 in south Houston.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Primary runoff for Texas Democrat who broke with party on LGBTQ+ votesSimmons, a first-time candidate, came out ahead of Thierry in the March 5
  
  Read more

• Person dies in overnight crash in northwest Austin; 3 children, 2 adults injured

  28-05-2024 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One person died and five others, including three children, were injured in a crash in northwest Austin overnight Monday into Tuesday morning.
  Austin-Travis County EMS said in a post on X it responded to a crash on Research Boulevard and West Braker Lane. The Austin Police Department first posted about the crash shortly after midnight.
  ATCEMS said there were a total of six people involved. One of them was pronounced dead on the scene.
  According to the posts, two of the people had
  
  Read more

• Austin photo labs continue seeing rise in film demand

  28-05-2024 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Everything old(ish) is new again in the world of photography.
  Three Austin film labs have seen rising demand for film development, particularly with younger photographers.
  Turbo Photo Film Lab opened in October, and owners AJ Gerstenhaber and Holly McVeety-Mill have already upgraded their machine to process 50 rolls an hour — up from 15 rolls hourly.
  "I'm speechless about how crazy it's gotten," McVeety-Mill said.
  The film trend is not unique to Austin.
  In 2022, Kodak
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Republican runoff for Central Texas seat on State Board of Education

  28-05-2024 20:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Republican voters are deciding Tuesday which candidate will emerge from the primary runoff for the seat representing much of Central Texas on the State Board of Education.
  The two candidates who advanced to the runoff for the District 10 GOP primary are incumbent Tom Maynard of Florence and school board member Mary Bone of Round Rock.Voter Guide: What to know for the May 2024 primary runoff electionsThis district includes much of the KXAN viewing area, including Bell, Burne
  
  Read more

• Largest Buc-ee's in the country to open in Central Texas in June

  28-05-2024 19:52 via kxan.com
  
  LULING, Texas (KXAN) — Travelers and residents will soon be able to visit the largest Buc-ee's travel center in the country starting next month.
  The new center is located in Luling, Texas, and will open its doors to the public the morning of June 10, according to a news release from the company.
  The new 75,000 square-foot center is symbolic for the Luling community, as it will replace the city's current Buc-ee's store, which was the first Buc-ee's travel center built in 2003.
  “We are
  
  Read more

• Mosquito pool in Travis County tests positive for West Nile

  28-05-2024 19:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A mosquito pool in southeast Austin has tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to officials with Austin Public Health. The agency is urging people to take caution against mosquitoes since recent rainfalls can increase their population.
  APH said the positive result came from routine monitoring for mosquito-borne diseases, and it was found in the 78744 zip code, which includes a large portion of southeast Austin south of Highway 71 and between Interstate 35 and Highway 183
  
  Read more

• Austin airport pausing parking reservations through mid-August

  28-05-2024 19:13 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Tuesday, May 28, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will forego offering reserved parking through mid-August, airport officials confirmed to KXAN Tuesday.A message on AUS' website noted reserved parking services for its Red Garage, Blue Garage and economy parking are unavailable now through Aug. 10 "due to high volumes of travelers." Instead, AUS will operate on a "first-come, first-serv
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Austin's light rail plan enters federal project development phase

  28-05-2024 18:15 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Tuesday, May 28, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Transit Partnership announced Tuesday phase one of Project Connect's light rail program has officially entered the project development phase through a Federal Transit Administration program — paving the way for possible federal funding to help bring the system to life.The project development phase is overseen by the FTA's Capital Investment Grants New Starts pro
  
  Read more

• Was the San Marcos 'can ban' effective over Memorial Day weekend?

  28-05-2024 17:38 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – Many took to the cool waters of the San Marcos River to celebrate Memorial Day over the weekend. While people gathering over the holiday is not new, this was the first Memorial Day weekend with the new single-use container ban, colloquially referred to as the “can-ban,” on the books. The ordinance, which went into effect on May 1, bans single-use beverage containers on the San Marcos River within the San Marcos city limits. It limits people to on
  
  Read more

• Physician assistants gather to discuss job growth

  28-05-2024 16:41 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) -- The nationwide shortage of doctors could be linked to the growth of physician assistants, or PAs, whose job is to examine, diagnose and treat patients under the supervision of a doctor.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found the employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 27% from 2022 to 2032.“We are 180,000 strong and growing by the year, but if you look across the states, there's an ever growing need for PAs,” said Jason Prevelige, the President-Elect of Th
  
  Read more

• LIVE BLOG: May 2024 primary runoff elections

  28-05-2024 15:33 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — It's Election Day in Texas. Several local and statewide primary races will be decided Tuesday in the primary runoff election.On Tuesday, voters will choose the final candidates who will represent the Democratic and Republican parties on the ballot in November’s general election. Voter Guide: What to know for the May 2024 primary runoff electionsStatewide, the runoff receiving the most attention is in southeast Texas between House Speaker Dade Phelan and challenger David Cove
  
  Read more

• Phelan, Covey face off in most expensive House race in Texas history

  28-05-2024 14:02 via kxan.com
  
  (KXAN) — Voters in several parts of Texas face crucial decisions with the primary runoff elections Tuesday.There are no statewide races in this runoff but the decisions by voters in a few Texas House districts could have an impact across the state. Campaign Context: Record ad spending in Phelan runoffThe runoff drawing the most attention involves House Speaker Dade Phelan and challenger David Covey in District 21, which is in southeast Texas near the Louisiana state line.Despite a conserva
  
  Read more

• A tour of the almost-finished Rainey Street Trailhead project

  28-05-2024 01:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New park space is set to come to the trail near Rainey Street this summer.The Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing and protecting Austin's trails, broke ground on the Rainey Street Trailhead in September. Brainstorming for the project began in 2019. Rainey Street safety changes set to finish by this summer, where are we now?It sits at the end of Rainey Street between Cummings Street and East Avenue.
  "This is about a two-acre park, it used to be just mowed Bermud
  
  Read more

• Some cooling centers opened Memorial Day amid 40+ heat-incidents

  28-05-2024 01:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With triple digit temperatures approaching and the National Weather Service issuing an excessive heat warning, city officials opened some cooling centers in Austin on Memorial Day when public buildings are typically closed. COOLING CENTERS: See a list of extended hours cooling centers in Austin"I wanted to go to the library, the central one, but it's closed," said Hadrien C., who came to the Little Walnut Creek library instead. "And this is like open, which is perfect."KXAN visi
  
  Read more

• At least 22 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states

  28-05-2024 01:04 via kxan.com
  
  A series of powerful storms swept over the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, killing at least 22 people and leaving a wide trail of destroyed homes, businesses and power outages.
  The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive, early season heat wave setting records from south Texas to Florida.
  Forecasters said the severe weather could shift to the East Coast later Monday and warned millions of peo
  
  Read more

• Texas softball and hot dogs; a unique Longhorns celebration

  27-05-2024 22:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - When Texas softball found themselves down 5-1 to Texas A&M in the sixth inning of Game two of the Austin Super Regional, a celebration was the last thing on their mind. Not only did the Longhorns fight back to force a decisive Game three, they won another thriller against the Aggies to clinch a spot in the Women's College World Series.As the Longhorns celebrated at their home stadium after Game three, many moments sparked laughter, happiness and screams of excitement. One in
  
  Read more

• Fallen soldiers honored through Murph Challenge at CrossFit Central

  27-05-2024 21:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the brave men and women who died serving our country.There are a number of ways to remember our nation's finest, and over at CrossFit Central in downtown Austin, athletes spent their day competing in the Murph Challenge."One hundred pull ups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, 1 mile," said CrossFit Central Co-owner Jeremy Thiel, as he broke down what the challenge looked like.The challenge honors fallen Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy, a
  
  Read more

• At least 21 dead in Memorial Day weekend storms that devastated several US states

  27-05-2024 20:56 via kxan.com
  
  A series of powerful storms swept over the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, killing at least 21 people and leaving a wide trail of destroyed homes, businesses and power outages.
  The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive, early season heat wave setting records from south Texas to Florida.
  Forecasters said the severe weather could shift to the East Coast later Monday and warned millions of peo
  
  Read more

• 'It's made for TV:' Longhorns headed to College Station for NCAA regional

  27-05-2024 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The NCAA baseball tournament selection committee did what people thought they would do — send Texas on a short drive to open the NCAA tournament.The Longhorns are headed to College Station to take on Louisiana in the opening round of the regional tournament at 5 p.m. CT Friday on ESPNU. Texas A&M earned the No. 3 national seed and the right to host the regional. They'll play Grambling to open the tournament at noon Friday. If the Longhorns and Aggies win their fir
  
  Read more

• Another Lone Star Showdown in the postseason? Longhorns headed to College Station for NCAA regional

  27-05-2024 19:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The NCAA baseball tournament selection committee did what people thought they would do — send Texas on a short drive to open the NCAA tournament.The Longhorns are headed to College Station to take on Louisiana in the opening round of the regional tournament at 5 p.m. CT Friday on ESPNU. Texas A&M earned the No. 3 national seed and the right to host the regional. They'll play Grambling to open the tournament at noon Friday. If the Longhorns and Aggies win their fir
  
  Read more

• New initiative wants to reduce light pollution in Texas

  27-05-2024 15:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – DarkSky Texas launched a new program to decrease light "waste" and pollution.Called the BOLD initiative – Better Outdoor Lighting Decisions Initiative – DarkSky Texas' goal is to help organizations, businesses, landowners and government entities decrease their light pollution output. DarkSky Texas said that around 35% of lights shining at night are not helping and polluting. “We have put up lights indiscriminately and spend millions and millions of do
  
  Read more

• After nearly 90 years, San Marcos VFW post at risk of closing

  27-05-2024 14:30 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — Next year will mark 90 years since the establishment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in San Marcos, but there are real concerns among those who keep it running that it may not make it to that milestone.
  "Without this space for veterans in San Marcos, there's not many other spaces that we can call our own, honestly," said Stephanie Brown, the post commander at the Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post 3413.On the evening of May 9, a strong storm blew through the commun
  
  Read more

• 104-year-old WWII veteran loves jumping out of planes

  27-05-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — At 104-years-old, Ernie Columbus could be called a thrill seeker — especially after his latest adventure taking to the skies.KXAN caught up with the WWII veteran in San Marcos as he geared up for his second-ever skydiving trip.“I don’t remember doing this the last time,” Ernie said as the instructor strapped on some new devices.“This is your Altimeter, look at it anytime you want and you will know how high we are,” the ins
  
  Read more

• APD: Suspect dies after shooting involving police, woman in critical condition after being stabbed

  27-05-2024 12:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said officers were involved in a shooting early Monday morning in north Austin.APD said the suspect involved in the incident died, and a victim was in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times.
  According to APD, officers responded to the 12500 block of Tech Ridge Boulevard at approximately 1:45 am. for a disturbance hotshot call where a caller reported hearing arguing and glass shattering.APD said 911 received another call shortly af
  
  Read more

• APD: 2 injured in shooting involving police

  27-05-2024 12:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said officers were involved in a shooting early Monday morning in north Austin.According to APD, officers responded to the 12501 Tech Ridge Boulevard for a disturbance hotshot call.APD said two people were taken to the hospital, but no officers were injured during the incident.Scene at Tech Ridge Boulevard shooting involving police (KXAN photo/Todd Bailey)Scene at Tech Ridge Boulevard shooting involving police (KXAN photo/Todd Bailey)Scene at Te
  
  Read more

• Storms fading, but higher severe risk late Tuesday

  27-05-2024 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Storms and showers continue to lose their punch as the sun sets. Generally speaking the severe weather threat is much lower than earlier with the odds of additional severe storms being very low.Still, for now the Severe Thunderstorm Watch for most of the area remains in effect until 10 p.m., although it should get cancelled early.Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m.We did receive some large hail reports in Granite Shoals and Kingsland along with some very isolated wind d
  
  Read more

• Severe weather possible tonight

  27-05-2024 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 6 p.m. for Bastrop, Fayette, Lee, Travis, and Williamson Counties. A High Wind Warning is in effect until 2 p.m. for Mason and San Saba Counties. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are forecast. A wind gust of 61 mph was clocked at Craddock Field in Burnet at 11:25 today.There is a significant risk of strong to severe storms for parts of our area this evening into tonight.Low clouds and haze is dropping visibility a few miles this morning
  
  Read more

• Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10 p.m. as heat rolls on

  27-05-2024 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Heat continues to be the most widespread concern with heat-index values topping 105º in most places today. Air temperatures may still reach 100º at Austin's Camp Mabry for the first time.Heat alerts in place for areas along and east of I-35 -- heat index up to 115° possibleStorms todayWe're also watching out for isolated to widely scattered storms that may turn strong or severe moving through the Hill Country toward the Austin Metro.The National Weather Servic
  
  Read more

• Higher severe risk Tuesday with strong wind threat

  27-05-2024 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Storms and showers continue to lose their punch. Generally speaking the severe weather threat is done for the night. The National Weather Service have cancelled the Severe Thunderstorm Watch.We did receive some large hail reports in Granite Shoals and Kingsland along with some very isolated wind damage reports.Higher severe risk on TuesdayOvernight low clouds will take over and give us another gray start on Tuesday. Clouds in the morning will give way tomix of sun and cloud
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!