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• Bill that would expand medical examiner offices passes Senate

  10-04-2025 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – Legislation that would lower the population threshold for requiring a county to adopt a medical examiner system for death investigations passed the Senate [[[TKDAY]]] moving the measure closer to becoming law.Counties with over 2.5 million people are currently required to create a medical examiner office, but Senate Bill 1370 would lower that limit to 1 million. State senators Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Joan Huffman, R-Houston, authored the measure.Read the full story
  
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• Why temps will rise nearly 20° by Tuesday

  11-05-2025 03:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A potentially historic heatwave is becoming more likely in the coming few days. All-time May record high temperatures are forecast to be broken for several cities in Central Texas.
  LATEST FORECAST: From the First Warning Weather teamWidespread Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings are expected to be issued as early as Tuesday.Refresher: Heat Alert Criteria
  BLOG: Here’s why ‘Excessive Heat Warnings’ are going awayHeat Advisories are issued when air temperatu
  
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• Aggies, Sooners crowned SEC co-champions

  11-05-2025 03:29 via kxan.com
  
  ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Four-time defending national champion Oklahoma and Texas A&M were declared co-champions of the Southeastern Conference softball tournament after rainfall forced the cancelation of the championship game on Saturday.The start time was moved ahead four hours with rain in the forecast, but it came sooner than expected and the game never got underway.The top-seeded Sooners (45-7) — in their first season in the SEC — won the regular-season title with a 17-7 rec
  
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• State of Texas: Abbott presses Democrats to back limits on bail for accused criminals

  11-05-2025 01:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) - Governor Greg Abbott made bail reform one of his top priorities this legislative session. But the proposals he's backing appear to be falling short of the support needed to pass the Texas House.
  In February, the Texas Senate passed out State Sen. Joan Huffman's, R-Houston, bail reform package, including two proposed constitutional amendments. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote from each chamber of the Texas legislature before needing a simple majority in a pub
  
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• Asian Americans rally outside Texas Capitol as lawmakers move closer to passing land-ban

  10-05-2025 23:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- As the Texas legislature moves one step closer to making it illegal to own land for citizens from China, Iran, Russia and North Korea who are residing illegally in the country, a group of Asian Americans gathered outside the south steps of the Capitol to express their opposition to the bill.Xiaoyu Wu was one of those people. He is originally from a town north of Shanghai, China, but moved to the the United States 13 years ago to pursue his PhD at the University of Texas at Au
  
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• Graduates to be celebrated at UT commencement

  10-05-2025 22:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin is holding its university-wide commencement ceremony for graduates in the Class of 2025 Saturday evening.The event will be hosted by UT Interim president Jim Davis and will include remarks from university leadership, the student body president, the commencement speaker, and some other faculty members.This year's commencement speaker will be Taylor Sheridan who is a writer, producer, director, and actor. Some of the works Sheridan is known f
  
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• Graduates celebrated with star power at UT commencement

  10-05-2025 22:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin held its university-wide commencement ceremony for graduates in the Class of 2025 Saturday evening.The event will be hosted by UT Interim president Jim Davis and will include remarks from university leadership, the student body president, the commencement speaker, and some other faculty members.This year's commencement speaker was Taylor Sheridan who is a writer, producer, director, and actor. Some of the works Sheridan is known for include
  
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• Man remains in critical condition with pending charges after shooting involving officers

  10-05-2025 20:24 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Sunday, the Austin Police Department provided additional details surrounding a north Austin shooting that involved officers.The shooting occurred at approximately 12:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of East Braker Lane.According to APD, the two officers involved were placed on administrative leave, per protocol.The officers were identified as Officer Jake Pitcher, who had been with APD for 1 year and 7 months at the time of the incident, and Officer Ryne Kirchberg, who
  
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• Lunchables launches dippable, no-thaw PB&J with a remix from Lil Jon, Twista

  10-05-2025 05:45 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) — Lunchables is reimagining a lunchtime classic with the launch of its first-ever dippable, no-thaw crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and bringing along some major star power to celebrate.The new lunch kits include two crustless peanut butter sandwiches per pack, paired with either grape or strawberry-flavored dip. The sandwiches are ready-to-eat straight from the refrigerator, eliminating the thaw time required by frozen alternatives, Lunchables officials said.Promotion
  
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• Teens kidnap Las Vegas man, steal $4M in cryptocurrency: police

  10-05-2025 05:42 via kxan.com
  
  LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Three teenagers are accused of kidnapping a man at gunpoint, driving him to a remote desert area an hour outside of Las Vegas, and stealing $4 million in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher, both 16 and from Pasco County, Florida; and a third teenager, face charges including robbery, kidnapping, and extortion, records said. A juvenile court judge previously certified Ashraf and Fletcher as adults.
  
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• 89 year-old's remains found in bear after deadly attack in Florida

  10-05-2025 05:39 via kxan.com
  
  JEROME, Fla. (WFLA) — The partial remains of an 89 year-old Florida man were found in one of the bears Florida Fish and Wildlife officials captured earlier this week following the first deadly bear attack in the state's history.On Friday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials said preliminary findings confirmed that a 263-pound male bear contained the remains of Robert Markel, a Florida resident who was found dead Monday morning. The bear's DNA was found on Mark
  
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• Round Rock man pleads guilty to trafficking, dealing firearms without license

  10-05-2025 05:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A 50-year-old Round Rock man pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms and to one count of dealing in firearms without a license in a federal court in San Antonio Friday, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.Job Eliezer De La Torre faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the count of conspiracy and five years for dealing firearms without a license, the release said.
  De La Torre was dealing firearms without a license from Jan. 1, 2020
  
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• Ken Paxton says Google will pay Texas $1.4 billion to settle privacy suit

  10-05-2025 03:39 via kxan.com
  
  (The Texas Tribune) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday announced that his office had reached a preliminary agreement to settle a privacy infringement lawsuit against Google for $1.4 billion.Paxton said the deal delivers a “historic win” for Texans’ data privacy and security rights. In 2022, Texas sued the tech giant, alleging it unlawfully tracked and collected users’ private data including geolocation, incognito searches and biometric information.Paxton said
  
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• Texas moves closer to land ban for non-resident citizens of China, Russia, others

  10-05-2025 02:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Legislature voted to make it illegal for citizens of China, North Korea, Iran and Russia to own Texas land if they're not legally residing in the United States.On Friday, the Texas House voted to pass Senate Bill 17 after adding seven amendments to the bill on Thursday evening. The bill will now head back to the Senate to either adopt the House's changes, or to start a conferencing committee to find common ground.BackgroundIn 2021, the Texas Legislature unanimo
  
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• 'Saving lives': Hays County Jail installs Narcan vending machine

  10-05-2025 00:56 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As a way to combat the opioid overdose crisis, the Hays County Jail installed a Narcan vending machine at its facility. The vending machine will be available to the public, as well as discharged inmates, the Hays County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.The initiative to install the vending machine was made possible via a partnership between HCSO,the Behavioral Health Program of the Hays County Health Department and the Texas Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON), the
  
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• Hays CISD laptops damaged due to social media challenge

  09-05-2025 22:48 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- School district officials across the country are warning students against a social media trend directing them to short-circuit their school-issued laptops.Officials said students record themselves short-circuiting their laptops or puncturing the lithium batteries, which causes the battery's temperature to rise uncontrollably.RELATED STORY: Students deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trendThe trend made its way to Central Texas and im
  
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• How to manage mental health on Mother's Day

  09-05-2025 22:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Some may be scrambling to get those last-minute gifts or make plans with Mother's Day right around the corner.However, that day can also bring up mixed feelings for those who have a strained relationship with a parent or someone dealing with the loss of one.Kate Carmichael, a licensed professional counselor supervisor with ATX Counseling, spoke with KXAN's Will DuPree and Sally Hernandez to expand on how those experiencing these feelings can cope.Read a transcription of the inte
  
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• Hail in super slow motion could help us better understand extreme weather

  09-05-2025 21:43 via kxan.com
  
  A hailstone hurdles towards its destruction. This footage was captured by a special rig built by Sean Waugh, a research scientist with NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (Credit: Sean Waugh)
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — While hot weather is in the forecast, a recent string of severe weather events has left its mark across parts of Central Texas. A couple of tornadoes, plus hail storms, have ramped up a quiet severe weather season.Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati
  
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• Abbott signs bill to close 'Do Not Hire' loopholes, another advances

  09-05-2025 21:03 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two bills that could close loopholes in Texas' "Do Not Hire" registry advanced this week, but one is still up against the clock of sine die.Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who authored Senate Bill 571 and Senate Bill 1437, said that he introduced SB 571 "after a contractor in Austin was found working around students despite a history of misconduct." Previous: Texas senators consider $10,000 fine for superintendents who don’t report suspected sexual misconduct"These bills make
  
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• Mexico's head of public safety says 3 out of 4 guns seized came from US

  09-05-2025 20:36 via kxan.com
  
  SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Mexico's head of public safety said of the more than 10,000 guns seized from October of last year through April, 75 percent came from the U.S.Omar García Harfuch made those comments earlier this week during the daily presidential briefing in Mexico City, adding that since 2019, the Mexican government has been asking U.S. officials to put a stop to the "transfer of weapons that nourish organized crime in Mexico.""It's worth mentioning that about 75 percent of w
  
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• DHS says patriarch of Austin family ICE sent to Mexico was deported three times before

  09-05-2025 20:32 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Department of Homeland Security said on Friday that the patriarch of the Austin family that ICE transported to Mexico, along with their two U.S.-born children, had illegally entered the country three times before and was convicted of multiple crimes while living in Texas.Omar Gallardo-Rodriguez, 43, and his partner Denisse Parra-Vargas were pulled over outside Dobie Middle School in north Austin last Wednesday over expired tags, according to the Texas Department of Publ
  
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• Suspects plead guilty in two separate deadly fentanyl cases in Travis County

  09-05-2025 20:27 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The 167th District Courtroom at the Travis County Courthouse saw two guilty pleas Friday related to deadly fentanyl cases.In the case of 67-year-old Curtis Habbit, prosecutors and defense attorneys reached a plea deal for 10 years of probation with conditions.
  Habbit was arrested last year in connection with a 2023 case where police believe he sold suspected fentanyl pills to a woman, who was later found dead in her southeast Austin apartment. Further details about his punishmen
  
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• Man faces murder charge after 50-year-old shot 12 times in southeast Austin

  09-05-2025 20:02 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police arrested a man Wednesday related to an October 2023 fatal shooting that occurred in southeast Austin.According to an arrest warrant affidavit, 21-year-old Jalen Alexander Hemphill was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 50-year-old Feliciano Alvarado-Lajuj, who medical examiners said was shot 12 times. RELATED | APD identifies victim in Saturday homicide investigationKXAN has reached out to Hemphill’s attorney. This article will be
  
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• 'Yes, and approach': Council members combing through alternate funding options for I-35 covers

  09-05-2025 19:31 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: A previous version of this story identified an incorrect member of the city council as being one of those behind the new funding plan. This story has been updated to reflect the accurate list of council members involved with the plan.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In a final scramble to fund park decks over the Texas Department of Transportation's I-35 expansion project, some Austin city council members are combing through possible funding options that wouldn't take away from the city's borrowi
  
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• Police affidavit details events leading to Philomena Street shooting in April

  09-05-2025 18:46 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Police detective's affidavit details the events leading up to an April 27 murder outside of an apartment complex near Mueller, including information from CCTV footage and an interview with a witness. PAST COVERAGE | Woman shot, killed outside Mueller-area apartment complexThe detective said that surveillance camera footage shows the victim, Samantha Fernandez, approach a red pickup truck before being shot in the head. The truck left the scene immediately after, ac
  
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• TCSO: Suspect shot himself in leg during struggle with deputy in grocery store parking lot

  09-05-2025 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was injured after shooting himself in the leg during a struggle with a Travis County Sheriff's Office deputy Friday morning, TCSO said.It happened around 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Randall's on FM 620, near Lake Travis. TCSO Dispatch received a notification from the Austin Police Department about an allegedly stolen vehicle that was expected to move out of Austin and into the sheriff's office jurisdiction.Within 30 minutes, a TCSO deputy spotted the
  
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• TCSO: Person injured, deputy unharmed after grocery store parking lot shooting

  09-05-2025 18:18 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Travis County Sheriff's Office said a shot was fired and a person was injured during an altercation with a deputy, but it's unclear whose weapon was fired.It happened around 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of Randall's on FM 620, near Lake Travis.TCSO Public Information Officer Kristen Dark said during a noon press conference Friday, the Austin Police Department contacted the sheriff's office about a potentially stolen vehicle they expected to move out of Austin a
  
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• 'Quite a privilege'; Diocese of Austin celebrates election of first American Pope

  09-05-2025 17:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Catholic Church on Thursday experienced a moment of history when cardinals elected the first-ever U.S. pope.
  Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order who spent his career ministering in Peru, was named the 267th pontiff. He took the name Leo XIV.Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIVCatholic communities across the world celebrated the news of the new leader of the Cat
  
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• Woman shot by off-duty APD officer in 2021 reaches settlement with City of Austin

  09-05-2025 17:22 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Following a January 2023 lawsuit, the Austin City Council approved a $550,000 settlement with Jessica Arellano, who was shot in January 2021 by an off-duty Austin Police officer while riding as a passenger in a car. RELATED | Wrongful death lawsuits filed against 2 APD officers, City of AustinEdwards Law, the firm that handled Arellano’s “use of excessive force” lawsuit, provided a statement regarding the settlement:“While Austin police found a gun i
  
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• Texas lawmakers want to spend millions on Child ID kits. Experts say there’s no evidence they work.

  09-05-2025 16:58 via kxan.com
  
  (The Texas Tribune/ProPublica) — Two years ago, Texas lawmakers quietly cut millions of dollars in funding for kits intended to help track down missing kids, after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune revealed there was no evidence they had aided law enforcement in finding lost children.The company that made the kits had used outdated and exaggerated statistics on missing children to bolster their sales and charged for the materials when similar products were available for
  
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