• Travis County on par for record number of evictions in 2024, says tenant rights group

    Travis County on par for record number of evictions in 2024, says tenant rights group
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — A local tenant rights group debuted a new eviction tracking tool last month, compiling 10 years of data into an online dashboard. While analyzing that data, BASTA Austin said the Austin-Travis County area is poised to see a record number of eviction filings this year.In a release, BASTA Austin said its eviction dashboard is a first of its kind tool for the area. The agency said it provides a more precise look at eviction data, allowing those that use it to see filings in th
  • What happened to Austin airport's frequent parker program?

    What happened to Austin airport's frequent parker program?
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Recurrent passengers traveling out of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will have to wait to use AUS' frequent parker program amid its extended outage.AUS' frequent parker program is an automated rewards program for travelers to earn points toward free parking, per AUS' parking guide. Membership is free for those interested.KXAN received a viewer tip inquiring about the system and its longer-term outage. AUS confirmed to KXAN that airport officials paused the frequent p
  • Austin Water wants customer feedback on potentially higher rates for 2025

    Austin Water wants customer feedback on potentially higher rates for 2025
    Austin, Texas (KXAN) — Austin Water is asking for customers to weigh on potentially higher rates in the coming year. The agency said the increase would be used to pay for projects needed for its systems to keep up with demand.Austin Water has already hosted several open houses for its Cost of Service Rate Study in recent weeks. The next open house is planned for Saturday, June 15 from 10am-1pm at the Austin Public Library at 5500 Menchaca Road.Christina Romero, a financial manager for Aust
  • Georgetown man sentenced to life in prison, pleads guilty to murder of wife

    Georgetown man sentenced to life in prison, pleads guilty to murder of wife
    GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- A Georgetown man pleaded guilty this week after he was charged with shooting and killing his wife in December 2022, Georgetown District Attorney Shawn Dick said in a news release Thursday. He will serve a sentence of life in prison.The shooting happened on Dec. 27, 2022. This was less than two weeks after Lindsey Whitman, 31, filed for divorce from Ricardo Quinones, 39, the release said. Whitman was living with a family member at a home in Georgetown, and Quinones liv
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  • El Paso man electrocuted in jacuzzi at Puerto Peñasco resort

    El Paso man electrocuted in jacuzzi at Puerto Peñasco resort
    EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An El Paso man has died after he was electrocuted in a jacuzzi Tuesday evening, June 11, at a private resort in Puerto Peñasco, according to the General Prosecutor's Office of Justice for the State of Sonora.
    Jorge Guillen, 43. Photo: Western Technical College of El Paso's Facebook pageThe General Prosecutor's Office for the State of Sonora says Jorge Guillen, 43, and his wife, Lizzette Zambrano, 35, were in a jacuzzi just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, at
  • Trash bag of dead puppies dumped near mailboxes in Burnet

    Trash bag of dead puppies dumped near mailboxes in Burnet
    AUSTIN (KXAN) --- A neighborhood wants answers after someone dumped a bag of dead puppies right near their community mailbox.
    Now, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating the case.
    "Inside this plastic bag were several decomposed puppies. They were decomposed to the point that they couldn't really be made as to what type of dog that might have been," said BCSO Support Services Captain Michael Sorenson.'Hope they didn't suffer'Miranda Lowry and her family were the ones who saw
  • Austin's pro pickleball team hosts watch party

    Austin's pro pickleball team hosts watch party
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Calling all pickleball fans!The Texas Ranchers, Austin's Major League Pickleball team is inviting you to kickoff the season and cheer on the team as they take on the D.C. Pickleball Team at the upcoming Major League Pickleball Tournament.The team will host a watch part at Skinny's Off Track Bar on Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.The event is free, but you do have to register online.There will be a pickle eating contest, trivia night, prizes and much more.The team is supported by a l
  • 'Why us?': Pride, BLM signs stolen from Austin church

    'Why us?': Pride, BLM signs stolen from Austin church
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — A West Austin Church wants to know why they were targeted after putting up signs to welcome everyone to their church."One was an LGBTQ rainbow sign that said y'all means all -- we had a sign that was supporting our Jewish and Muslim friends -- and one that said Black Lives Matter," said The Church at Highland Park Pastor Cheryl Kimble.Kimble said they put the signs out to let their neighbors know that they are accepting of anyone and everyone no matter race, religion or sex
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  • City of Pflugerville breaks ground on wastewater treatment plant

    City of Pflugerville breaks ground on wastewater treatment plant
    PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- A wasteful treatment plant nearly 20 years in the making is one step closer to being complete.City of Pflugerville officials broke ground today at the Wilbarger Wastewater Plant after they brought the land back in 2009. The $247 million dollar plant is meant to double the amount of water the city can process.
    The city's utility director, Brandon Pritchett, said growth is one of the drivers for increasing that processing capacity.
    Officials with the City of Pflugervi
  • TV host and musician Johnny Canales dies at 77

    TV host and musician Johnny Canales dies at 77
    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (ValleyCentral) — TV host and musician Johnny Canales has died at 77. Canales' wife, Nora Canales, posted on Facebook Thursday of his passing just before 8 a.m.American Norteno/Tejano Band "Siggno" (Lead Singer Jesse Turner & Professional Drummer Cesar "Chato" Sanchez), Tejano Singer Lucky Joe with La Machy from La Conquista, and Nora and Johnny Canales.Texas State Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa expressed his thoughts on Canales's passing, "Today, we lost an icon, a
  • Joey Chestnut, Kobayashi to go head-to-head in live hot dog eating contest on Netflix

    Joey Chestnut, Kobayashi to go head-to-head in live hot dog eating contest on Netflix
    (WXIN/WTTV) — Being banned from America's most famous eating competition isn't stopping Joey Chestnut from staying in the news.Streaming giant Netflix announced on Wednesday that Chestnut, the number one ranked competitive eater in the world, will face off against long-time rival Takeru Kobayashi, who was dubbed "the godfather of competitive eating" before claiming to retire earlier this year.The event is set to stream live on Monday, Sept. 2 on Netflix, the streamer posted on social media
  • Texas woman celebrates 107th birthday: 'I don't feel my age'

    Texas woman celebrates 107th birthday: 'I don't feel my age'
    WACO, Texas (KWKT) – The family of a Texas woman held a special get-together to celebrate her 107th birthday this week.June Vera's family traveled across the country to St. Anthony's Care Center in Waco to celebrate her 107th trip around the sun.Gifts, birthday cake, flowers and hand-written letters filled her room Wednesday as her family sang "Happy Birthday.""This has been so wonderful," said Vera.The centenarian was born on June 12, 1917, in Welch, Oklahoma, and grew up and raised her f
  • Disney owes 100K people money: Are you one of them?

    Disney owes 100K people money: Are you one of them?
    (NEXSTAR) — Some Disneyland fans who purchased a Dream Key pass nearly three years ago will be able to claim their piece of a $9.5 million class-action lawsuit settlement as early as this week, according to an email obtained by Nexstar.The lawsuit, filed by California passholder Jenale Nielsen in 2021, alleged the company misled customers into believing its most expensive yearly pass would have "no blockout dates" when making reservations at Disneyland Resort theme parks.
    However, whe
  • Austin FC needed a break, but they're back into a quick schedule with Colorado up next

    Austin FC needed a break, but they're back into a quick schedule with Colorado up next
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC needed a break after suffering its worst loss of the season. Thankfully, the schedule obliged and now they've reset only to have another 3-match week ahead.Verde and Black had a weekend off to collect their thoughts after a 5-1 defeat in Salt Lake on June 1, but there's no rest for the weary with a trip to Denver to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.VERDE LIGHTS: It's back for another season! Tune in at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays on CW Austin throughout the s
  • LIST: Juneteenth events in Central Texas

    LIST: Juneteenth events in Central Texas
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Those planning to celebrate Juneteenth have a number of options in communities throughout Central Texas this weekend.What is the history of Juneteenth?Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the day in 1865 that people in Galveston learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation freeing those who were enslaved on Jan. 1, 1863.Celebrations commemorating the day began the fol
  • Group files petition to reverse decision that allows council members to access health insurance

    Group files petition to reverse decision that allows council members to access health insurance
    KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – A group of citizens have filed a petition hoping to reverse a decision the Kyle City Council made on April 2, saying the move violated the city’s charter. Kyle City Council members earn $1,000 monthly for their service and an additional $500 stipend for expenses. For the last five years, city council members could access the City’s health insurance but premiums were deducted from their monthly salary. In a 4-3 vote on April 2, the city council vot
  • Austin housing market report shows decline in homes sold in May

    Austin housing market report shows decline in homes sold in May
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The May 2024 report from the Austin Board of Realtors showed the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area housing market had a 12.8% decline in homes sold with 4.9 months of available inventory. The report stated this was a level that hasn't been seen in 13 years.
    The May report also said active listings saw an uptick of 37.7% year-over-year. Due to this increase in available options, buyers now have the ability to be more selective when purchasing a home, acco
  • City of Austin could revive homeless prevention services lost during pandemic

    City of Austin could revive homeless prevention services lost during pandemic
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nonprofit groups that work to end and prevent homelessness are asking the City of Austin to reinvest in some homelessness prevention measures -- like rental and utilities help -- as the homeless strategy office balances its budget.
    The City of Austin will be forced to make tough cuts as federal pandemic funding dries up, KXAN has previously reported.
    As a result, some groups have asked the city focus its limited resources on permanent supportive housing, other groups are asking
  • Zilker Park Boat Rentals launches petition to preserve business

    Zilker Park Boat Rentals launches petition to preserve business
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — For more than half a century, Zilker Park Boat Rentals has been a mainstay for outdoor recreation on Barton Creek. Now, the business is rallying community support amid contract uncertainties with the City of Austin.Laura Massengale serves as co-owner of Zilker Park Boat Rentals, a business started in 1969 by her father, Howard Barnett. A writer at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine at the time, Massengale recounted how her dad wanted to create a space where people could
  • Garden dedicated to KXAN station mascot, Kaxan

    Garden dedicated to KXAN station mascot, Kaxan
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN honored one of its own, celebrating the life of station mascot and therapy dog Kaxan.KXAN dedicated a garden in memory of Kaxan Thursday at the station's Austin building. Kaxan died in March 2023.Kaxan was found in an alleyway behind the KXAN studios more than a decade ago. He was taken to the Austin Animal Center by KXAN senior forecaster Jim Spencer, and his former owners were notified. They decided to surrender Kaxan back to the shelter, and Spencer decided to make
  • Report: Texas ranks second to last for maternal health care access

    Report: Texas ranks second to last for maternal health care access
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new report by ValuePenguin found more than 30% of women giving birth don't have access to adequate postnatal care.KXAN's Erica Brennes sat down with Divya Singh from Lending Tree to discuss the numbers.Brennes: Joining me today is Divya Singh with Lending Tree, we're going to be discussing a recent report that found that Texas is the second to last worst state when it comes to prenatal and maternal care in the country. Personally, as a mom in Texas, this is a tough thing
  • Police searching for suspect in series of east Austin burglaries

    Police searching for suspect in series of east Austin burglaries
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying a suspect detectives believe is connected to a series of burglaries that happened in east Austin earlier this month.
    APD said the burglaries happened on June 7 around 5 p.m. in the 1600 block of Chatham Avenue.
    Police said during one of the burglaries, the suspect broke into a home in the area holding a knife. Preliminary investigation revealed he may live near the Windsor Park area.
    The suspect is describe
  • Williamson County animal shelter introduces new program, hosts free adoption weekend

    Williamson County animal shelter introduces new program, hosts free adoption weekend
    AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter on Thursday unveiled a pilot adoption program aimed at speeding up the rehoming process for pets in need of a new family.
    The program's launch will coincide with the shelter's upcoming free adoption weekend, commencing with its inaugural PAWjama Party on Friday evening.Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter PAWjama Party (Photo courtesy: WCRAS)WCRAS said in a press release the shelter's primary focus remains on reuniting lots pets wit
  • Texas pastor sentenced to 35 years after stealing three churches

    Texas pastor sentenced to 35 years after stealing three churches
    (NewsNation) — A Texas pastor has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury convicted him of stealing three churches valued at more than $800,000.Whitney Foster, 56, the pastor at the True Foundation nondenominational church in Dallas, was sentenced after he was convicted of theft of property involving three local churches, Dallas County prosecutors announced.Foster was the pastor of a small congregation that did not have a physical place to meet. Foster was accused of stealing rea
  • Austin comes up short in bid for EV HQ project, loses to North Carolina city

    Austin comes up short in bid for EV HQ project, loses to North Carolina city
    AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- A California-based electric vehicle charging company backed by several of the world's biggest car manufacturers almost picked the city of Austin for a $10.1 million corporate headquarters and research project before opting for a North Carolina city instead, according to interviews and documents obtained by the Austin Business Journal.Ionna LLC — a joint venture created by BMW, General Motors Co., Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellanti
  • Austin's Marbridge Foundation provides 'a whole new way of life' for residents

    Austin's Marbridge Foundation provides 'a whole new way of life' for residents
    As a part of Nexstar's Founder’s Day of Caring 2024, KXAN is volunteering with the Marbridge Foundation this week. Here's an in-depth look at the organization's mission.
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — On over 200 acres just south of Austin sits a residential facility — a haven — to support adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
    Marbridge Foundation recently celebrated 71 years of cultivating communities designed to give "a whole new way of life" to their residents. Right n
  • Man arrested, accused of selling suspected fentanyl pills to woman who later died

    Man arrested, accused of selling suspected fentanyl pills to woman who later died
    TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was arrested and charged after police said he sold suspected fentanyl pills to a woman who was later found dead in her northeast Austin apartment in December 2023, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.Curtis James Habbit, 66, was charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance causing death or significant bodily injury.KXAN reached out to Habbit's attorney for a statement and said there was no comment on the case at this time.Curtis James
  • Supreme Court unanimously preserves access to abortion medication in case that began in Texas

    Supreme Court unanimously preserves access to abortion medication in case that began in Texas
    Editor's Note: The video above shows coverage of the arguments in this caseWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.The nine justices ruled that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval
  • Energy expert weighs in on concerns about ERCOT power grid this summer

    Energy expert weighs in on concerns about ERCOT power grid this summer
    AUSTIN (KXAN) — As another hot Texas summer ramps up, the state’s power grid operators are raising concerns about grid reliability and the prospect of rolling blackouts.Earlier this week, a Texas House committee heard testimony from energy leaders about growth forecasts, the summer outlook and market design initiatives.University of Texas at Austin Professor Emeritus Ross Baldick works in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and researches electric power. He joined
  • Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication

    Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication
    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
    The justices ruled that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and the FDA's subsequent actions to ease acces

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