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• Hutto PD investigating attempted child abduction

  12-04-2025 01:38 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Hutto Police Department said it was investigating a report of an attempted child abduction.According to police, a child was approached in the Riverwalk subdivision by two men driving a white Ford Transit-style van, and one of the men attempted to grab the child through the open side door of the van.HPD said the child described one suspect to a Texas DPS Forensic Imaging Specialist.Sketch of suspect in attempted child abduction (Hutto Police photo)
  According to police, t
  
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• Prominent Black family's Austin home receives historic marker

  22-04-2025 18:52 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Nearly 10 years after Dr. Sidney White Jr. and his wife, Helen White, both died, their home now has the honor of receiving a historic marker, which will be unveiled Tuesday.Dr. White, one of the few Black dentists of his time, died in 2002, according to his wife's godson, Lamont Alexander. Helen would go on to be laid to rest 13 years later.The couple is said to have made significant strides for racial equality and a wider impact on the community in Austin.
  Alexander and hi
  
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• Parents, staff voice concern over potential for Lamar Middle to take on students facing Dobie closure

  22-04-2025 18:06 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A meeting at Lamar Middle School on Monday evening was packed with parents, students and staff voicing concern over a potential shake-up looming in the near future.Dobie Middle School is at risk of closure as the Austin Independent School District superintendent and Board of Trustees consider options on how to deal with poor student performance at the school, and Lamar Middle School could be directly impacted.AISD leaders said the entire district is at risk of being taken o
  
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• Oceans are in crisis this Earth Day; how scientists stay optimistic

  22-04-2025 15:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As people around the world celebrate Earth Day this year by planting trees and turning off a few lights, scientists look toward the oceans. According to the United Nations, the ocean has "taken the brunt of the impacts" of human-driven climate change.
  Things look pretty bleak. Rising sea temperatures could lead to half of marine species going extinct by the end of the century. UN estimates found that 60% of marine ecosystems have already degraded, while up to 90% of coral reefs
  
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• Cardinals set Pope Francis' funeral for Saturday morning, public viewing starts Wednesday

  22-04-2025 14:21 via kxan.com
  
  VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals have taken their first decisions following the death of Pope Francis, setting Saturday as the date for his funeral and allowing ordinary faithful to begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter's Basilica.The cardinals met for the first time Tuesday in the Vatican's synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis' successor, as condolences poured in from around the world grieving
  
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• Caldwell County Sheriff's Office investigating Easter Sunday shooting

  22-04-2025 14:11 via kxan.com
  
  DALE, Texas (KXAN) -- The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly shooting that happened in Dale on Easter.
  Deputies responded to a crash in the 6000 block of Taylorsville Road on Sunday, where a vehicle with three men inside had lost control and rolled over.Two of the occupants were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff's office.
  The third person died after first responders attempted life-saving measures.
  The sheriff's office
  
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• Data shows how far school choice funds will go with private special education programs in Texas

  22-04-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the $30,000 maximum amount students with disabilities can receive through an Education Savings Account under the current version of S.B. 2.
  Investigative Summary:As the Texas legislature finalizes a deal on school choice, private schools serving children with disabilities say they are wary of strings that might be attached to taking taxpayer dollars. Our investigative team analyzed data from across Central Texas and found even with help from
  
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• Data show school choice funds won't go far with private special education programs in Texas

  22-04-2025 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  Investigative Summary:As the Texas legislature finalizes a deal on school choice, private schools serving children with disabilities say they are wary of strings that might be attached to taking taxpayer dollars. Our investigative team analyzed data from across Central Texas and found even with help from the state, private schools will still be out of reach for many low-income families without significant financial aid and scholarships.AUSTIN (KXAN) – At Rawson Saunders School, administra
  
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• Steven Snell sworn in as Williamson County judge

  22-04-2025 05:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Steven Snell was sworn in as the Williamson County judge Monday afternoon at the courthouse. He began his tenure on March 27.Before his new role, Snell served as the Liberty Hill Independent School District superintendent. He took over after former county judge Bill Gravell resigned in early March to take a job with President Donald Trump's administration. Meet Williamson County’s next top leader, Steven SnellDuring Snell's time as superintendent, the district grew by 126%
  
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• APD seeking public help finding 62-year-old man last seen in east Austin

  22-04-2025 04:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is seeking public help to find a 62-year-old man who was last seen Friday in east Austin.According to APD, Ernest Amaro was last seen around 5 p.m. in the 6100 block of Perlita Drive. Police said detectives were worried for Amaro's "well-being due to health concerns," a news release from the agency said Monday.Amaro is described as a Hispanic man, with black and gray hair, a gray mustache and beard, brown eyes, 5 feet 4 inches and weighs 155 pounds,
  
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• Texas first baseman Kimble Schuessler named SEC co-player of the week

  22-04-2025 01:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas first baseman Kimble Schuessler had one heck of a week.The Llano native was named the Southeastern Conference co-player of the week after hitting .714 with three home runs and 10 RBIs to help the Longhorns beat UTRGV in a midweek game and sweep No. 8 Auburn in a 3-game series. Schuessler smashes two homers, No. 1 Texas run-rules, sweeps No. 8 AuburnJace LaViolette of Texas A&M was the other player honored alongside Schuessler. LaViolette hit four home runs and dro
  
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• Drug-induced accidental deaths falling in Travis County, officials say

  22-04-2025 01:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Drug-induced accidental deaths in Travis County are falling, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Travis County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Keith Pinckard said during a news conference Monday.The 2024 Travis County Medical Examiner report shows accidental drug-related deaths dropped by 22% in Travis County, which fell from 486 in 2023 to 380. Fentanyl deaths also saw a decline, dropping from 279 in 2023 to 179 in 2024. ATCEMS: Opioid deaths declining in Travis County for 1st time i
  
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• Pope Francis had a unique history with Texas. What will his successor do?

  22-04-2025 01:16 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," the late Pope Francis said in 2016 of then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump. At the time, Francis had just spoken in Juarez, Mexico -- right across the border from El Paso -- to advocate for migrants.His criticism of America's politicians wasn't one-sided.“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants, or be it the one who kills babies
  
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• Student loans in default will be sent to debt collection, education officials say

  22-04-2025 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.The Trump administration 's announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection
  
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• Stocks and the dollar tumble as investors retreat from the US

  22-04-2025 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street weakened Monday as investors worldwide get more skeptical about U.S. investments because of President Donald Trump’s trade war and his criticism of the Federal Reserve, which are shaking the traditional order.The S&P 500 sank 2.4% in another wipeout. That yanked the index that’s at the center of many 401(k) accounts 16% below its record set two months ago.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 971 points, or 2.5%, while loss
  
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• Mexico urges TV stations to stop running ‘discriminatory’ DHS ads

  22-04-2025 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The President of Mexico says she will ask her congress to change broadcast law so that foreign governments can’t buy television spots to influence affairs in her country.This follows backlash after television and online platforms ran a U.S. Department of Homeland Security ad warning migrants not to come.“If you are considering entering America illegally, don’t even think about it. If you come to our country and you break our laws, we will
  
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• Trump, first lady to attend Pope Francis funeral

  22-04-2025 00:43 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) — President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend Pope Francis’s funeral, following the death of 88-year-old pontiff on Monday morning.“Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” Trump said on Truth Social.The president told reporters earlier on Monday that he was going to be briefed after the traditional White House Easter egg roll on whether he can attend the funeral. When asked if he&
  
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• Catholic Diocese of Austin bishop appointment delayed after Pope Francis' death

  22-04-2025 00:37 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Catholic Diocese of Austin does not have a bishop, and that search is now prolonged after the death of Pope Francis.Effective on March 25, former Bishop Joe Vasquez is now the archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Since the pope appoints new bishops to a diocese, that leaves the Diocese of Austin without one until further notice.Catholics at mass services in Austin on Monday expressed feeling the weight of the loss of the global leader, and what's happening locally. Catholic
  
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• Climate center for Texas is back online after funding 'lapse'

  22-04-2025 00:23 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The four regional climate centers that lost federal funding late last week are"in the process of going live again," Texas' state climatologist told KXAN's Nick Bannin on Monday.Funding for the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC) at Texas A&M, along with three other centers nationwide, stopped operations on Thursday, April 17, after funding "lapsed." Funding ‘lapse’ cuts Southern Regional Climate Center at Texas A&MThe climate center's website wa
  
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• Texas Lottery executive director resigns from position amid controversy

  22-04-2025 00:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Ryan Mindell, the executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission, resigned from his position on Monday, according to a statement from commission Chair Robert G. Rivera.Mindell started with the TLC in August 2016 as deputy general counsel. He stayed with the agency and eventually became the executive director following the retirement of Gary Grief -- who was accused of conspiring with lottery courier services, which allow people to buy lottery tickets over the phone and f
  
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• Texas Lottery executive director resigns amid controversy

  22-04-2025 00:14 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- Ryan Mindell, the executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission, resigned from his position on Monday, according to a statement from commission Chair Robert G. Rivera.Mindell started with the TLC in August 2016 as deputy general counsel. He stayed with the agency and eventually became the executive director following the retirement of Gary Grief -- who was accused of conspiring with lottery courier services, which allow people to buy lottery tickets over the phone and f
  
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• Austin's LGBTQ+ commission discussing police relations Monday

  21-04-2025 23:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As part of April's meeting of Austin’s LGBTQ Quality Of Life Advisory Commission, the group is asking members of the LGBTQ community to tell the commission about its interactions with Austin police officers."We welcome both positive and negative comments," the commission's chair, John Scott Neal, said in a media advisory.You can learn more about the commission here.The official agenda item regarding this discussion states "Discussion with Austin Police Department on the st
  
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• Austin's LGBTQ+ commission discusses police relations

  21-04-2025 23:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As part of April's meeting of Austin’s LGBTQ Quality Of Life Advisory Commission, the group asked members of the LGBTQ community to tell the commission about its interactions with Austin police officers."We welcome both positive and negative comments," the commission's chair, John Scott Neal, said in a media advisory.You can learn more about the commission here.The official agenda item regarding this discussion states "Discussion with Austin Police Department on the state
  
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• Austin City Council to vote on $26M office building purchase

  21-04-2025 22:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thursday, Austin City Council members are expected to sign off on the purchase of an office building near the University of Texas for a little more than $26 million. The money will come from the Financial Services Departments' capital budget, according to the city."That office in particular is brand new. It has ground floor commercial. It has a huge parking lot, which actually can generate revenue because it provides parking during University of Texas football games," Austin Cit
  
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• With the border quiet, Texas ponders spending another $6.5 billion on border security

  21-04-2025 21:57 via kxan.com
  
  (Texas Tribune) — Texas’ massive, multibillion-dollar mission to reinforce its border with Mexico helped Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland hire two full-time deputies and three part-timers. It gave him the money to buy equipment and new vehicles. In the lawman’s words, it “kept us alive” as the number of illegal border crossings skyrocketed under the Biden administration to record highs.And Cleveland, who became sheriff after 26 years as a Border Patrol agen
  
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• Engine of Delta aircraft carrying 282 passengers catches fire at Orlando airport, video shows

  21-04-2025 20:22 via kxan.com
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA/NEXSTAR) – A Delta flight was evacuated at a Florida airport on Monday after an engine caught fire, officials with the Federal Aviation Administration said.The incident took place just after 11 a.m. local time at the Orlando International Airport, according to the FAA. The plane, an Airbus A330, was leaving the gate while preparing to depart for Atlanta when the fire broke out, the agency said.The flames were first observed coming from a tailpipe, Delta said. There were
  
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• 'Weekend warriors' reap similar health benefits to regular exercisers, study says

  21-04-2025 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN - (KXAN) - A new study offers good news for busy adults struggling to squeeze exercise into their weekly routine. If you can only work out on the weekends, you may still enjoy major health benefits.  Finding community through sweat and friendship: The story of SweatPals“The most important exercise regimen is the regimen that the person sitting in front of us can comply with,” explained Dr. Vivek Goswami, Cardiologist with Heart Hospital of Austin&
  
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• It will be 'epic': Texas volleyball to host Stanford at Moody Center

  21-04-2025 19:48 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott said something big was in the works for 2025. Now it's official — the Longhorns will play a match in Moody Center for the first time against another national powerhouse.Texas will play Stanford on Sunday, Sept. 7, in the first "home" match of the season. The match comes after a big opening weekend for the Longhorns in Madison, Wisconsin, for the Opening Spike Classic against Wisconsin and Creighton. Austin captures inaugural Leag
  
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• Walmart mass shooter pleads guilty to state charges

  21-04-2025 19:25 via kxan.com
  
  EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Saying the only way he will leave prison will be in a coffin, a state district judge on Monday accepted the guilty pleas of El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Wood Crusius and sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.Crusius, a North Texas resident, posted an online manifesto decrying the "Hispanic" invasion of Texas and drove 10 hours to El Paso, killing 23 people and wounding 22 with a rifle in the parking lot and inside the Walmart
  
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• Head of local weather warnings takes early retirement as NOAA cuts continue

  21-04-2025 18:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Paul Yura, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office, has announced he has taken the early retirement offer as part of NOAA's recent cuts to personnel and budget.Yura has over 32 years experience, spending more than half of his career at the NWS Austin/San Antonio office. In the process, he gained tremendous experience understanding local weather patterns while ensuring timely warnings get disseminated to the public in a mul
  
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