Austin news

Follow @Austin_News_US

• Anderson High School senior dies in Monday morning crash

  01-04-2025 23:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Anderson High School Principal Brian Lancaster announced in a letter that a senior died in a Monday morning crash.The Austin Police Department identified the student as 17-year-old Malachi Jenson.APD said on Monday, just before 2 a.m., officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound 8800 block of North Capital of Texas Highway. MAP: Where have Austin’s fatal crashes occurred in 2025?Upon arrival, officers found Jenson had been killed. Another passenger was t
  
  Read more

• 'I feel violated': Florida hurricane victim's belongings auctioned off by storage facility

  04-04-2025 05:34 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida family's home was flooded during Hurricane Helene so they salvaged what they could and placed belongings in a storage facility while they repaired their home.Last week, Tampa resident Laura Gattis went to the unit at a local Public Storage to find it cleared out, and the front desk informed her everything had been auctioned off that morning.She said she was never notified."When I pulled up to the unit, the door was wide open and there was nothing in there, ex
  
  Read more

• Shein, Temu may be more expensive under Trump rule change

  04-04-2025 05:26 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — President Donald Trump is eliminating a trade loophole that allows budget retailers like Shein and Temu to avoid tariffs on cheap Chinese goods.Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to end the so-called "de minimis" exemption on merchandise from China and Hong Kong. The rule allowed companies to avoid import taxes and certain customs paperwork on packages worth $800 or less.It's a decision that could lead to higher costs for consumers who shop at bargain sites like
  
  Read more

• Tom Cruise speaks on death of Val Kilmer: 'I can't tell you how much I admire his work'

  04-04-2025 05:18 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) — Tom Cruise has broken his silence on the death of his "Top Gun" and "Top Gun: Maverick" costar Val Kilmer.While at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, the movie star asked the crowd to "take a moment" to join him in a moment of silence to honor his "dear friend." Cruise surprised the crowd of movie theater owners with this appearance to further promote his upcoming film "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning." Actor Val Kilmer dies at 65 “I can’t tell you how much I admire his w
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• APD SWAT callout 'brought to successful resolution' on South Congress

  04-04-2025 04:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After the Austin Police Department responded to a SWAT situation on South Congress, it confirmed the callout was "brought to a successful resolution," and two suspects were taken into custody.The Austin Police Department said on social media it responded to someone who was barricaded in the 300 block of South Congress at the Embassy Suites and previously called it "an active scene."According to an APD public information officer on the scene, officers were there to serve a warran
  
  Read more

• VIDEO: APD seeks public help finding 2 suspects wanted in connection with deadly shooting near I-35

  04-04-2025 04:28 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking public help identifying two suspects wanted in connection with a deadly shooting that happened earlier this week near Interstate 35 and East 32nd Street, per a news release from the agency.Officers responded to the shooting Monday around 1:50 a.m. in the 400 block of North I-35. When officers arrived on the scene, they found 33-year-old Rex Johnson "unresponsive" with "apparent gunshot wounds," according to police.Johnson was transported t
  
  Read more

• Texas Senate passes bill disallowing sex changes on birth certificates

  04-04-2025 01:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Senate on Thursday voted to pass a bill that would prevent Texans from changing the sex assigned on their birth certificates. The bill will move forward to be heard in the Texas House of Representatives.
  Senate Bill 406 was authored by Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and it was one of the first bills filed in the 89th Legislative Session. What KXAN is watching during the 89th Legislative SessionThe bill relates "to the required inclusion of a person's sex on a
  
  Read more

• Storm damage may delay emissions tests for Texas drivers

  04-04-2025 01:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some Texas drivers may experience delays in getting an emissions test after severe weather damaged a data center connected with Texas vehicle inspections.Emissions tests are required for vehicle inspections in 17 of Texas' most-populated counties, including Travis and Williamson County in Central Texas. What is an emissions test and which Texans need them?The company that operates the Texas Information Management System had its corporate office damaged by severe weather, le
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• TEA can now release 2023 A-F accountability ratings

  04-04-2025 01:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Thursday, a judge with Texas' 15th Court of Appeals ruled that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) can now release its 2023 A-F school accountability ratings."A through F is a bill I championed when I was in the senate, I championed when I was the chair of public education and have championed as Lt. Governor," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. "Before A through F, in districts and schools, parents did not know what the result of their school was in terms of how it graded out."The
  
  Read more

• Texas Lottery Commission hears public comment on proposed lottery courier ban

  04-04-2025 01:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Proposed rule changes from the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) would allow the commission to revoke the license from any retailer that sells tickets to or works with a lottery courier service, which allow people to buy lottery tickets online or through an app.
  On Thursday, the commission held a public comment hearing to allow people to share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Two people signed up to speak. Paul Hardin, the president of the Texas Food and Fuel Association
  
  Read more

• Rori Harmon, Madison Booker, Vic Schaefer paid for Texas students to go to Final Four

  04-04-2025 01:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN)—The NCAA Final Four is similar to a bowl game during football season in many regards. One is that the players are celebrated everywhere they go and showered with free merchandise and swag.The Texas Longhorns love it, of course, but they know it's a business trip Friday night in Tampa, Florida. Texas Longhorns end 22-year Final Four drought with win over TCU in Elite Eight"All this extra stuff that comes with going to the Final Four, I'm really thankful for it, but we know wha
  
  Read more

• Some Texas lawmakers want to overhaul school discipline. Many worry the plan goes too far

  04-04-2025 00:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While school choice takes center stage in the Texas legislature, a series of bills that would expand how a school district can discipline students is also moving forward. One proposed bill would allow school districts to file a civil suit to remove students from a campus and place them in an alternative education setting, including students receiving special education services.House Bill 6, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-McKinney, Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, and other lawm
  
  Read more

• Border Report Live: US fights smugglers by land, air and sea

  03-04-2025 23:16 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) -- The U.S. continues sending resources to the U.S.-Mexico border, and even some out to sea.The U.S. Coast Guard this week invited reporters to see how they stop other vessels suspected of smuggling migrants.US Coast Guard ‘tripled’ personnel to prevent maritime human smuggling
  Due to inclement weather, the dramatic simulation was confined to San Diego Bay but included a high-speed boat chase and sailors boarding the "non-compliant boat" with guns drawn
  
  Read more

• Trump says Musk will probably leave in 'a few months'

  03-04-2025 23:13 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that Elon Musk would likely leave his administration in “a few months,” the clearest sign that his most powerful and disruptive adviser will be wrapping up his work inside the government.Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “Elon is fantastic” but he has “a number of companies to run."
  “I want him to stay as long as possible," he said. "There’s going to be a point where he’s goi
  
  Read more

• Missing 31-year-old man found dead near Llano River, LCSO says

  03-04-2025 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who was reported missing last week in Llano was found dead near the Llano River Wednesday morning, according to the Llano County Sheriff's Office.Bradley "Ty" Tribble, 31, was reported missing by family members around noon March 29, police said in a news release Thursday. That is when the Llano Police Department issued a missing persons report, including a description of Tribble. Police seek public help to find missing man in LlanoOn Sunday, family, friends, multiple
  
  Read more

• 'A hard fought win': Austin-Travis County EMS vacancies at lowest rate in years

  03-04-2025 22:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — More medics will respond to calls across the city and county as Austin-Travis County EMS continues to grow its staff. The department graduated its largest cadet class in history in March."We graduated 38 sworn field providers. So those new cadets hit the streets. They are now sworn medics," ATCEMS Chief of Staff Wesley Hopkins said. New AFD, ATCEMS joint station opens in northwest AustinThe new graduates helped fill open positions and bring down the department's vacancy rat
  
  Read more

• MAP: What are President Trump's new tariffs in each country?

  03-04-2025 21:50 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on imports from almost every country Wednesday.A base "reciprocal" tariff of 10% will be imposed on most countries beginning Saturday, but rates are higher for places that Trump says are the "worst" offenders when it comes to trade — including major trading partners like the European Union, China and Japan."Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it's not going to happen anymore," Tr
  
  Read more

• APD to make changes following review of sexual assault cases

  03-04-2025 21:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, the Austin Police Department provided an update following the completion of its review of the APD Sex Crimes Unit’s sexual assault cases.According to the department, it looked at past case data and found eight areas that could be improved within the department. APD said those areas were:
  Enhanced Patrol Officer Training to focus on dispatching victim services, coordination with SCU detectives, victim-centered practices, report writing and resource availab
  
  Read more

• Central Texas continues to grapple with use of license plate readers

  03-04-2025 19:54 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – The San Marcos City Council voted on Tuesday to postpone its decision to purchase more license plate readers, citing the need for additional time to review policies on data security and privacy concerns. This move follows concerns raised by some Austin City Council members at their meeting last week.
  The San Marcos City Council agenda item to use around $125,000 to purchase more of the technology was in front of council members in February. At that meeting,
  
  Read more

• New charge for murder suspect previously released on $100 bond

  03-04-2025 19:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Stephon Morson, 19, accused of killing a 20-year-old in October, is set for a hearing Thursday afternoon so the courts can take up an additional charge he now faces in the case.The victim in this case is Keshawn Cage, a young father.
  Keshawn Cage with his child (Courtesy: Dezhary Davila)
  Today's hearing is the latest step in what has become a contentious back-and-forth regarding Morson's bond.PREVIOUS: 2 murder suspects released after missed indictment deadlines, an explanationM
  
  Read more

• Texas House committee sends 'consequential' education legislation to House floor

  03-04-2025 18:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House Committee on Public Education met and approved House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2 on Thursday - two of the most consequential pieces of legislation this session- to the full House floor. The pair of bills, which are a top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, will increase funding to public education while establishing an education savings account (ESA) -- allowing parents to pay a portion of the cost of private school with tax dollars.On Thursday afternoon, the com
  
  Read more

• ‘Texans deserve to see this’: House Democrats make plea to stream public education meeting

  03-04-2025 18:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After the House adjourns on Thursday, the House Committee on Public Education will meet and vote House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2- two of the most consequential pieces of legislation this session- to the full House floor. The pair of bills will increase funding to public education while establishing an education savings account (ESA) -- allowing parents to pay a portion of the cost of private school with tax dollars. Previous coverage: School choice and school finance meet
  
  Read more

• LIVE: House committee may vote on 'consequential' education legislation

  03-04-2025 18:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — After the House adjourns on Thursday, the House Committee on Public Education will meet and vote House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 2- two of the most consequential pieces of legislation this session- to the full House floor. The pair of bills will increase funding to public education while establishing an education savings account (ESA) -- allowing parents to pay a portion of the cost of private school with tax dollars. Previous coverage: School choice and school finance meet
  
  Read more

• Wildflowers bloom after recent rains: What types you can find this spring

  03-04-2025 17:40 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Trail Conservancy, a nonprofit that helps take care of 300 acres along the hike and bike trail in downtown Austin, will host a variety of events in April to promote biodiversity and wildflower conservation.Meteorologist Tommy House sat down with Grady Reed, the Vice President of Park Operations at the Trail Conservancy, to learn about the types of wildflowers you can find this spring.Read an edited version of the conversation below or use the video player above to listen.Met
  
  Read more

• LIVE: Abbott to talk school choice, other legislative priorities in exclusive interview

  03-04-2025 16:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In an exclusive interview with KXAN Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to talk about plans to allow parents to use tax dollars to help pay for private school. The interview comes just hours after a Texas House committee advanced one of the governor's top legislative priorities, education savings accounts.Abbott will speak with KXAN on Thursday evening. The interview will be aired live on KXAN News at 5 p.m. and streamed online in this story and on Facebook.Abbott laid out hi
  
  Read more

• Abbott to talk school choice, other legislative priorities in exclusive interview

  03-04-2025 16:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In an exclusive interview with KXAN Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott was expected to talk about school choice, as well as his top legislative priorities.Abbott laid out his priorities for lawmakers in February during his State of the State address, with Senate lawmakers pushing through one of his top priorities days later. Texas Senators voted to approve Senate Bill 2, the piece of legislation carrying an education savings account (ESA) program. State of Texas: ‘School choice&rs
  
  Read more

• Abbott talks school choice, other legislative priorities in exclusive interview

  03-04-2025 16:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In an exclusive interview with KXAN Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott was expected to talk about school choice, as well as his top legislative priorities.Abbott laid out his priorities for lawmakers in February during his State of the State address, with Senate lawmakers pushing through one of his top priorities days later. Texas Senators voted to approve Senate Bill 2, the piece of legislation carrying an education savings account (ESA) program. State of Texas: ‘School choice&rs
  
  Read more

• Abbott highlights school funding, teacher pay raise as priorities in exclusive interview

  03-04-2025 16:55 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In an exclusive interview with KXAN Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott said lawmakers are making school funding a priority, as well as teacher pay raises. This comes just hours after a Texas House committee advanced one of the governor's top legislative priorities, education savings accounts.Abbott spoke with KXAN on Thursday evening. The interview aired live on KXAN News at 5 p.m. and on Facebook.You can watch that exclusive interview in the video player above."We can prioritize public
  
  Read more

• US, global markets plunge after Trump tariff announcement

  03-04-2025 15:48 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Financial markets around the world are reeling Thursday following President Donald Trump’s latest and most severe volley of tariffs, and the U.S. stock market may be taking the worst of it.The S&P 500 was down 3.3% in early trading, worse than the drops for other major stock markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1,160 points, or 2.7%, as of 9:32 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 4.5% lower.Little was spared as fear flared
  
  Read more

• Stocks plunge in worldwide sell-off following Trump's tariff shock

  03-04-2025 15:48 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Financial markets around the world are reeling Thursday following President Donald Trump’s latest and most severe set of tariffs, and the U.S. stock market is taking the worst of it so far.The S&P 500 was down 4.2% in afternoon trading, more than other major stock markets, and at its bottom in the morning was on track for its worst day since COVID struck in 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 1,394 points, or 3.3%, as of 2:09 p.m. Easter
  
  Read more

Follow @Austin_News_US on Twitter!