Austin news

• Pope urges ‘prudent’ choices as hospital weathers new storm

  16-11-2019 14:50 via kxan.com
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has urged the Vatican’s pediatric hospital to make “prudent” choices as it expands to welcome more patients.In the wake of a new investment scandal that led to the ouster of a top manager, Francis held a special audience for Bambino Gesu staff and patients Saturday to mark the hospital’s 150th anniversary.Hospital president Mariella Enoc referred to recent “tortuous” efforts to balance the hospital’s needs and resou
  
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• Chicago appeals court rejects R. Kelly's challenge of 20-year sentence

  27-04-2024 04:22 via kxan.com
  
  CHICAGO (AP) — The singer R. Kelly was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex convictions in Chicago, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.Jurors in 2022 convicted the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, on three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sex.In his appeal, Kelly argued that Illinois' former and shorter statute of limitations on child sex crime prosecutions should
  
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• Texas Eclipse Festival organizers implement refund policy following weather cancellation

  27-04-2024 04:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Organizers for the Texas Eclipse Festival are giving partial refunds to everyone who purchased a ticket after the final day of the festival was cancelled due to weather earlier this month.According to the Texas Eclipse Festival website, all tickets are eligible for "an automatic partial refund based on the number of days less taxes, fees and shipping." Texas Eclipse Fest organizers address rumors and complaintsBelow is the breakdown of the refunds provided on the festival's webs
  
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• VIDEO: SUV crashes into south Austin home

  27-04-2024 03:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department are searching for a person who ran away after video footage showed the vehicle they were driving plowing into a south Austin home.Around 9:18 a.m., APD officers responded to the crash in the 10200 block of Bilbrook Place.When APD officers arrived on the scene, they said the driver ran away immediately after the crash. No injuries were reported, police said.The video, which was captured on a neighbor's doorbell camera, shows what appears to be a black
  
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• Austin FC can make big statement if it handles league-leading LA Galaxy at Q2

  27-04-2024 01:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Winners of three of its last four matches, Austin FC will have a chance to prove they're for real against the Western Conference's top team Saturday at Q2 Stadium.Coming off a 1-0 road win over the Houston Dynamo last week, Verde and Black hosts the LA Galaxy in the lone afternoon match on the Major League Soccer slate. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on FOX.VERDE LIGHTS: It's back for another season! Tune in at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Satur
  
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• 2024 NFL Draft: Titans select Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat at No. 38 overall

  27-04-2024 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, two more rounds will be highlighted Friday night in downtown Detroit.Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and wide receiver Xavier Worthy were selected in the first round, making it 47 Longhorns all-time to be plucked by teams on the first day of the draft. Another Longhorns receiver, Adonai Mitchell, was thought by many to have the talent of a first
  
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• 2024 NFL Draft: Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell expected to go early in Round 2

  27-04-2024 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, two more rounds will be highlighted Friday night in downtown Detroit.Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and wide receiver Xavier Worthy were selected in the first round, making it 47 Longhorns all-time to be plucked by teams on the first day of the draft. Another Longhorns receiver, Adonai Mitchell, was thought by many to have the talent of a first
  
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• 2024 NFL Draft: Panthers trade up, snag Texas running back Jonathon Brooks at No. 46 overall

  27-04-2024 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, two more rounds will be highlighted Friday night in downtown Detroit.Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and wide receiver Xavier Worthy were selected in the first round, making it 47 Longhorns all-time to be plucked by teams on the first day of the draft. Another Longhorns receiver, Adonai Mitchell, was thought by many to have the talent of a first
  
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• 2024 NFL Draft: Colts select Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell No. 52 overall

  27-04-2024 00:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, two more rounds will be highlighted Friday night in downtown Detroit.Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and wide receiver Xavier Worthy were selected in the first round, making it 47 Longhorns all-time to be plucked by teams on the first day of the draft. Another Longhorns receiver, Adonai Mitchell, was thought by many to have the talent of a first
  
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• At least 15 people died in Texas after medics injected sedatives during encounters with police

  27-04-2024 00:46 via kxan.com
  
  TEXAS (AP) -- At least 15 people died in Texas over a decade following a physical encounter with police during which medical personnel also injected them with a powerful sedative, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.Several of the fatal incidents occurred in Dallas and its nearby suburbs. Other cases were documented across the state, from Odessa to Austin to Galveston.The deaths were among more than 1,000 that AP’s investigation documented across the United States of peo
  
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• Bomb-making materials awareness program launches in Austin

  26-04-2024 23:57 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- The City of Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management launched a new program to help spread awareness on bomb-making materials.
  It's called the Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program.
  Funding for the program is provided by the State Homeland Security Grant Program from Gov. Greg Abbott's Public Safety Office.
  “BMAP is one way our office is increasing capacity beyond emergency management response,” said Ken Snipes, HSEM Director. “Preventio
  
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• Sen. Cornyn looks ahead to race for GOP leader 

  26-04-2024 23:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Sen. John Cornyn is running to lead his party come November, and he’s hopeful his new title will be senate majority leader. Current Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced in February he is stepping down from the job after an 18-year reign. Cornyn, a former right-hand man to McConnell, was the first to publicize his bid for the position. “I've been in the Senate a long time now, and I've seen the Senate work well,” Cornyn
  
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• Austin has gaps in its 'tree equity,' nonprofit says

  26-04-2024 22:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Trees have many benefits for a community, from cooling the city to cleaning out air pollution. But the distribution of trees is not the same across Austin, with richer neighborhoods having more trees than poorer ones, according to the oldest conservation group in the U.S.(Courtesy American Forests)Nonprofit group American Forests recently launched a mapping tool that allows users to see the "tree equity" — or the fair distribution of trees in their community. The onli
  
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• UT organization involved in protests suspended

  26-04-2024 21:39 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Protesters gathered on the University of Texas Austin campus again on Friday, but the gathering was not put on by the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC).One member of the PSC, the group that has now been suspended, said other UT groups stepped in to host Friday's gathering.Those in attendance could be seen playing music, making posters and listening to speakers. Protesters KXAN spoke with tell us they were once again out today to raise awareness about the innocent people
  
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• Blue Genie Art Bazaar opens for May Market

  26-04-2024 20:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Blue Genie Art Bazaar opened its annual May Market Friday. The market will be open every weekend through Memorial Day.
  Whether shoppers are looking for a gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduation, birthdays or weddings, the art bazaar has options from nearly 200 regional artists and vendors. There's also a DIY card-printing station on Saturdays.May Market organizers are pledging a $1,000 donation from the event to Austin Creative Alliance. Shoppers can choose to help the p
  
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• Man released on probation after serving 4 months in prison on attempted sex assault charge

  26-04-2024 20:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an Austin-area senior living and memory care facility in March 2022 was given probation, according to Travis County court documents.Documents showed Sidney Leon Holmes was sentenced on a charge of attempt to commit aggravated sexual assault, a second-degree felony. PAST COVERAGE | Police: Ring camera catches sex assault at Austin-area senior living facilityCourt records showed Holmes was originally sentenced in November 2023 t
  
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• CapMetro temporarily removing some e-bikes after dealing with theft, battery failure

  26-04-2024 20:13 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- CapMetro announced on social media earlier this week that it would be temporarily removing some e-bikes that are part of its MetroBike program after dealing with theft and battery failure.
  The transportation provider said it would remove the bikes to charge them securely, and that new equipment coming in July will provide a long-term solution to the issues.RELATED: CapMetro rolling out $21M MetroBike expansion planA spokesperson with CapMetro said the thefts are a "recent develo
  
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• Bird flu virus traces found in 1 in 5 samples of pasteurized milk: FDA

  26-04-2024 20:09 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that about 1 in 5 samples of retail milk contain traces of highly contagious bird flu, though these findings may not be indicative of an infectious risk to consumers.In an update published this week, the FDA shared some takeaways from its nationally representative commercial milk sampling study."The agency continues to analyze this information; however, the initial results show about 1 in 5 of the retail samples tested are quantitati
  
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• Abbott calls for ban on gender non-conforming teachers, LGBTQ+ educators respond

  26-04-2024 19:44 via kxan.com
  
  DALLAS (KXAN) — At the Young Conservatives of Texas' April 19 convention in Dallas, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called for an "end" to gender non-conforming behavior by teachers, according to audio released to KXAN by Texas Observer reporter Steven Monacelli.During Abbott's keynote speech, the Governor brought up a Lewisville ISD teacher who went viral online after wearing a pink dress as a "Spirit Day" costume."In Lewisville, Texas... just a month ago, they had a high school teacher, who i
  
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• Foster care fight heats up in front of appeals court over whether Texas owes $100K daily for violations

  26-04-2024 19:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New court filings in the longstanding legal fight over Texas' foster care system reveal escalating tensions over how the state is investigating certain claims of abuse and neglect and whether it has complied with a federal judge's court-ordered reforms.
  Both the state's attorneys and the attorneys representing the foster children in the case filed briefs with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals this week, as it considers whether to continue blocking daily fines levied against the s
  
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• BLOG: Threat of storms in Central Texas

  26-04-2024 17:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Storms are sweeping through Central Texas into the weekend, with the possibility of hail and gusty winds on Friday. KXAN First Warning Weather forecastWeather Resources
  How to talk to your kids about severe weatherWatches vs Warnings: Understanding how a storm is madeTraffic mapLive Central Texas radarCentral Texas rainfall totalsDownload KXAN Weather AppSign up for KXAN daily forecast newsletter and severe weather alerts newsletter
  Check for updates in the live blog belowW
  
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• AFD responds to fire with 'multiple explosions'

  26-04-2024 17:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department said it was responding to reports of a structure fire with “multiple explosions” Friday morning near east Austin.AFD said there were reports of a disturbance inside a home in the 4600 block of Imperial Drive "associated with multiple explosions, fire and smoke" inside.AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crew
  
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• AFD respond to fire with 'multiple explosions'

  26-04-2024 17:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Department said it was responding to reports of a structure fire with “multiple explosions” Friday morning near east Austin.AFD said there were reports of a disturbance inside a home in the 4600 block of Imperial Drive "associated with multiple explosions, fire and smoke" inside.AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crews respond to fire near east Austin (AFD photo)AFD crew
  
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• APD looking for leads in assault that left woman in her 60s injured

  26-04-2024 16:29 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Department detectives are asking for the public's help finding leads in an aggravated assault that left a woman in her 60s injured earlier this year.
  It happened on Monday, Feb. 19 between 5:50 a.m. and 6 a.m. Police said a Hispanic woman in her 60s showed up to her workplace with several severe head injuries and was taken to a hospital to be treated.
  In their investigation, police found that she did not have injuries when she got off a CapMetro bus at a stop
  
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• Manor man convicted on wire fraud, money laundering charges

  26-04-2024 16:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Manor man arrested in July 2023 was convicted by a federal jury Wednesday on four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.The DOJ said between April 2021 and July 2023, 52-year-old Saint Jovite Youngblood, aka Kota Youngblood, claimed Mexican drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against his victims and offered protection from the cartels in exchange for money.Youngblood falsely claimed to have bee
  
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• Thorndale ISD voters to consider first school bond in 25 years

  26-04-2024 16:11 via kxan.com
  
  THORNDALE, Texas (KXAN) — The Thorndale Independent School District superintendent said the district has asked voters to consider a $34.5 million bond to help it keep up with a growing student population.TISD Superintendent Zack Kleypas said the district anticipates enrollment to grow as nearby developments are completed. An example he pointed to was the Samsung Semiconductor facility under construction in Taylor.The district's webpage on the bond proposal said it would upgrade parts of ex
  
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• Austin-area mentors needed to help veterans

  26-04-2024 15:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Every year, nearly 200,000 men and women leave the U.S. Military and many have a tough time transitioning out of service.“You're part of the military. You're part of a team. It's very structured—your life—very regimented, and you're losing that. For many, it's a feeling of a loss of identity, possibly a loss of purpose,” described Brigadier General Mike Eastman with Onward Ops.As a service member, Eastman said he knows the pressures.“You're con
  
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• Hutto ISD superintendent resigns

  26-04-2024 14:16 via kxan.com
  
  HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) -- The Hutto Independent School District accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Raúl Peña Thursday. His resignation comes less than a year after he stepped into the role.
  The ISD Board of Trustees sent a letter to staff Thursday notifying them of the change and said it named Dr. Cara Malone as the Acting Superintendent. Peña served in the position for seven months.
  Malone joined Hutto ISD in the Fall of 2022 as Assistant Superintendent of Human Re
  
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• TxDOT to move bats of Walnut Creek Bridge to new home during reconstruction

  26-04-2024 13:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bats living under the Walnut Creek Bridge in north Austin are being re-homed, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.TxDOT said since that portion of Interstate 35 was being reconstructed, the department was making a new home for the colony.“Throughout the years, TxDOT has worked to preserve the homes of colonies that visit Austin every year,” TxDOT wrote in a social media post.TxDOT said a biologist would help re-home the colony to a more desirable
  
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• TxDOT to move bats during I-35 construction in north Austin

  26-04-2024 13:53 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect the bats will be moving from the Wells Branch and Howard Lane bridges to the Walnut Creek Bridge.
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Bats living under two bridges in north Austin are being re-homed because of construction on Interstate 35, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.The bats live under the I-35 bridges at Wells Branch Parkway and Howard Lane. Those are being demolished as part of the I-35 Capital Express North project, which will
  
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