Austin news

• Pacific Palisades fire now most destructive in Los Angeles history as out-of-control wildfires continue to burn

  08-01-2025 15:28 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) — Two people are dead, many have been hurt, and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed by multiple massive wildfires tearing across the Los Angeles area, authorities said Wednesday.
  Three major fires — the Eaton Fire, the Palisades Fire, and the Hurst Fire — continue to burn from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade. Combined, the fires have consumed about 22 square miles — about half the size of the entire city
  
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• LIVE: Thousands of homes burn in Los Angeles wildfires

  09-01-2025 13:19 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (NEXSTAR) — A fast-moving fire broke out in the hills above Hollywood Boulevard and threatened some of the most popular Los Angeles tourist spots as firefighters battled to get control on two other major blazes that killed five people, put 130,000 people under evacuation orders and ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena.Palisades Fire torches 1,000 structures, most destructive in Los Angeles history Eaton Fire victim dies holding a hose, defendi
  
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• APD investigating 2nd homicide of the year after body found in east Austin

  09-01-2025 12:54 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Police Department detectives are investigating the second homicide of 2025 after a body was found at an apartment complex in east Austin overnight.
  APD officers responded to a call around 1:44 a.m. that reported a body lying in a pool of blood at an apartment complex in the 5700 block of Manor Road.
  Police said during a press briefing early Thursday that officers found the person "with trauma to the neck," and the person was pronounced dead on the scene. Police could not
  
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• Hays County Sheriff opens 2025 Citizens Academy applications

  09-01-2025 05:28 via kxan.com
  
  HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Sheriff Anthony Hipolito announced on Wednesday, that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Spring session of the Hays County Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy.The 12-week program is designed to help Hays County residents gain a deeper understanding of the county's sheriff's office and the criminal justice system, according to the release.
  HCSO said the academy will begin on Feb. 20, and run on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Public Safety B
  
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• Hollywood Hills fire breaks out as deadly wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area

  09-01-2025 04:41 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fast-moving fire in the Hollywood Hills erupted Wednesday night as more evacuations were ordered for Los Angeles residents and fire crews battled three other major blazes that killed at least five people.
  The Sunset Fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and other iconic landmarks in the Hollywood Hills.
  Winds were easing and firefighters from across the state were relieving exhausted crews, but the danger was far from over. As officials provided an update on the fir
  
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• Paxton continues lawsuit against Pfizer regarding vaccine efficiency

  09-01-2025 04:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday to continue his lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., for its alleged "unlawful misrepresentations concerning the COVID-19 vaccine."
  The case was previously dropped by a federal district court. The judge claimed that the federal government had given Pfizer immunity through the Public Readiness and Emergency Act, the release said.
  Back in November 2023, Paxton sued the pharmaceutical company for misrepresenting the ef
  
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• No. 2 Auburn hangs on for 87-82 win after late Texas rally

  09-01-2025 03:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Johni Broome had 20 points and 12 rebounds as No. 2 Auburn withstood a late Texas rally for an 87-82 victory Tuesday night to give coach Bruce Pearl the school record for career wins.Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) led by 21 in the second half, and bullied the Longhorns with its size and length for long stretches, only to watch Texas fight back behind Arthur Kaluma and Jordan Pope to get within three in the final minute.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories lik
  
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• Texas' Jahdae Barron is trying to enjoy the moments with the Longhorns while he can

  09-01-2025 03:26 via kxan.com
  
  IRVING, Texas (KXAN) — Before the Longhorns' overtime win over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 10, Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron took a moment to appreciate his football family.Texas is in its 16th game of the season Friday at the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and while Barron hopes they'll get to 17, he said he had to stop and soak in the time leading up to a thrilling 39-31 win over the Sun Devils. He said the team's connection is w
  
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• Burnet County preparing for winter weather

  09-01-2025 03:09 via kxan.com
  
  BURNET, Texas (KXAN) – With colder temperatures moving across Texas, local and state agencies are gearing up for winter weather.“It is kind of scary, it is mother nature after all,” said Michael Jamail, who was driving through Marble Falls.Jamail said he has been watching the weather forecast all week and is not a fan of the colder temperatures. Gov. Greg Abbott says cold, below freezing temperatures to impact the state through Friday”We live in Texas, we don’t live
  
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• Man survives being buried in avalanche while snowshoeing in Colorado

  09-01-2025 02:39 via kxan.com
  
  DENVER (KDVR) — A man snowshoeing in Colorado's San Juan Mountains survived with only minor injuries after being partially buried by an avalanche on Sunday.According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), a man and woman were snowshoeing north of Red Mountain Pass in Ouray County, about 100 miles south of Grand Junction. The duo said they planned on staying on the road where they were familiar with the area and had traveled during the winter before.The information center said
  
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• Artificial intelligence company relocates headquarters to Austin, AI jobs on the rise

  09-01-2025 01:53 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) --- Another tech company moved from California to Austin's 'Silicon Hills,' a nickname for the thousands of high-tech companies in the Austin area.
  According to local commercial real estate agency, Colliers, there are more than 3,000 tech companies and startups in Austin. Artificial intelligence and intelligent automation company, ABBYY, recently added itself to that growing list.
  Chief Product and Technology Officer Patrick Jean listed several reasons for the move.
  "University of
  
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• 1,010 unhoused Austinites died in six years, deaths are rising

  09-01-2025 01:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) – A new report shows that over 1,000 unhoused people died from 2018 to 2023, according to a release from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). ECHO released Wednesday the Bridging for Better Outcomes report, which was the result of collecting and analyzing six years of data from various entities to get a comprehensive look at who and how people are dying on Austin streets. “[The data] was hard to see,” said Danica Fraher, the health care sy
  
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• Man wanted in El Salvador murder investigation arrested in Lakeway

  09-01-2025 01:05 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday, the Lakeway Police Department said it arrested a man wanted for murder by El Salvadorian authorities.LPD said Luis Manuel Hernandez Bonilla was pulled over for a traffic violation Tuesday near the 2800 block of Ranch Road 620 South.According to police, officers discovered Hernandez Bonilla was a reported gang member, as well as wanted in connection with a homicide in El Salvador.LPD said Hernandez Bonilla was arrested without incident.
  
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• Dealing with anxiety ahead of severe weather in Central Texas

  09-01-2025 00:51 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The transcript of this live Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A recent study released by Thriveworks, a mental health organization in Cedar Park, found that 32% of the people surveyed cited natural disasters or weather as a main source of anxiety.As Central Texas soon sees temperatures drop into the 30s on Thursday, KXAN's Will DuPree and Avery Travis spoke to Licensed Professional Counselor Kathryn "Nin" Emery on managing that anxiety during e
  
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• VIDEO: Pothole in northeast Austin neighborhood causes garbage truck to get stuck

  09-01-2025 00:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A city of Austin garbage truck tire got stuck in a pothole in a northeast Austin neighborhood due to a water line repair that caused the pothole to form, Austin Water told KXAN in a statement Wednesday.KXAN Photojournalist Ed Zavala went to the neighborhood on Newport Avenue, where the truck could be seen dipped into the pothole. The truck had to get pulled out from the pothole, which KXAN captured on video that can be viewed above in the video player.Garbage truck stuck in poth
  
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• Wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area and kill 5 as thousands flee homes

  09-01-2025 00:33 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wind-fueled wildfires continued to grow Wednesday as overtaxed fire crews battled at least three major out-of-control blazes that killed at least five people and ravaged some of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area.The fires blanketed the city with a thick cloud of smoke and ash and destroyed homes across the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade.
  One of the fires was the most destructive in the
  
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• How you can track driverless car incidents in Austin amid new safety concerns

  09-01-2025 00:04 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Waymo driverless car passenger made headlines across the country after getting trapped in an out-of-control car on a trip to an airport.Mike Johns filmed himself in the back of his Waymo taxi as the vehicle malfunctioned in Scottsdale, Arizona last week. Waymo, Uber launching driverless rideshare services in Austin next year"It was just going in circles," Johns told KXAN's sister station, KTLA in Los Angeles. "Like around the fifth, sixth time, that feeling was very uncom
  
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• Bird flu detected in dead birds found in north Austin

  08-01-2025 23:56 via kxan.com
  
  TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Austin Public Health said Wednesday afternoon that a local veterinary lab examined dead birds found in north Austin and detected bird flu, according to a press release. The agency said that those results were confirmed by the Texas Department of State Health Services.APH said it wants the public to be cautious of contact with wild birds. While person-to-person spread of the virus hasn't been reported, there have been at least 60 human infections in the U.S. an
  
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• SXSW seeking volunteers for 2025 events

  08-01-2025 23:34 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- South By Southwest, the annual event focused around music, tech, film, television, music and education hosted in Austin is seeking volunteers for its 2025 events.Since 1987, SXSW has been hosting it's annual event hosting music, comedy showcases, film and television screenings a variety of networking opportunities, and more according to a release from SXSW.
  This year's SXSW and SXSW EDU conferences and festivals will run from March 3-15. SXSW is seeking volunteers now to help wi
  
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• LIST: Central Texas school delays and closures amid wintry weather

  08-01-2025 23:33 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — School districts in Central Texas have adjusted schedules on Thursday, Jan. 9 due to wintry weather.Use our interactive map and list below to see if your school is affected.
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• Hays County moves toward jail-based competency restoration program

  08-01-2025 23:10 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Hays County Commissioners Court began the process of approving a jail-based competency restoration (JBCR) program Tuesday, according to a statement from the county.The program is expected to “provide therapy and treatment to help incompetent defendants understand the judicial system to assist their attorneys effectively in their own defense.”Defendants deemed incompetent typically remain in the county's jail until Texas’ mental hospitals can accommodat
  
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• US Fish & Wildlife recommends golden-cheeked warbler lose endangered status

  08-01-2025 22:44 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its report on the Golden-Cheeked Warbler's conservation status Monday, where it recommends that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior downgrade the bird species from endangered to threatened.The service said in a Tuesday press release that its review used "the best available scientific and commercial data" as well as "contributions from scientific experts, including an independent peer and technical review by federal, state, and loca
  
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• Traffic has gotten way worse in these US cities, report finds

  08-01-2025 22:25 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) – You're not imagining it. Traffic congestion worsened last year in just about every American city studied by navigation and GPS company TomTom.Residents of 90 large and mid-sized cities, from Tampa, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, were stuck in traffic more often and for longer in 2024 than they were the year prior.
  Things grew terribly worse in Providence, Rhode Island, last year, with a massive 54% more time spent in traffic than in 2023. The sudden closure of the Washington Bri
  
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• What kind of masks protect from wildfire smoke?

  08-01-2025 22:21 via kxan.com
  
  (NewsNation) — With nearly 3000 acres burning in Califonia, health experts say N95 respirator masks offer the best protection against harmful wildfire smoke, provided they are worn correctly and fit properly.The masks, readily available at hardware stores and pharmacies, can filter out fine particles found in smoke that can irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs, according to public health officials.However, they do not protect against hazardous gases sometimes present in smoke.Health offic
  
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• Wildfires burn out of control across Los Angeles area and kill 2 as thousands flee homes

  08-01-2025 21:10 via kxan.com
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Massive wildfires roaring through the Los Angeles area left neighborhoods in ruins Wednesday, killing at least two people and threatening landmarks made famous by Hollywood as desperate residents escaped through flames, hurricane-force winds and towering columns of smoke.
  Three major blazes that erupted just a day earlier blanketed the city with a dangerous, thick cloud of smoke and ash and destroyed homes across the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pa
  
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• HUD Secretary tours Rosewood Courts redevelopment project

  08-01-2025 20:43 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development's acting secretary, Adrianne Todman, visited the build site of an Austin affordable housing project Wednesday morning.The Prospect Heights project is a redevelopment of the former Rosewood Courts, one of the nation's oldest public housing sites. The development is under the direction of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin and the Austin Habitat for Humanity.(KXAN Photo/Cora Neas)Todman's remarks honored the legacy of form
  
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• Travis County, Austin leaders share emergency plans ahead of potential wintry weather

  08-01-2025 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Austin braces for wintry weather to potentially hit on Thursday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, and other city and county officials on Wednesday discussed updates to city and county cold weather preparations.The KXAN First Warning Weather Team anticipates Thursday morning will see the arrival of scattered storms along with freezing rain and sleet showers in the Hill County. Temperatures throughout Thursday will be in the 30s.Thursday storm bringing
  
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• Travis County, Austin leaders give tips on preparations ahead of winter storm

  08-01-2025 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Austin braces for a winter storm expected to hit on Thursday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, and other city and county officials on Wednesday discussed updates to city and county cold weather preparations.The KXAN First Warning Weather Team anticipates Thursday morning will see the arrival of scattered storms along with freezing rain and sleet showers in the Hill County. Temperatures throughout Thursday will be in the 30s.Thursday storm bringing soa
  
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• City of Austin to provide update on cold weather preparations ahead of winter storm

  08-01-2025 18:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As Austin braces for a winter storm expected to hit on Thursday, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Judge Andy Brown, and other city and county officials will hold a 1 p.m. press conference on Wednesday at the City Hall Atrium.The press conference will focus on updating the community on city and county operations regarding the winter storm, according to the release. Thursday storm bringing soaking rain and limited icing The KXAN First Warning Weather Team anticipates Thursd
  
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• REPORT: Austin tops US in housing affordability gains

  08-01-2025 18:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin saw the most improvements in housing affordability last year among the country's largest metros, according to a new analysis released by Redfin on Monday.The median income in Austin in 2024 was $103,717, according to Redfin's report. Under that income level, homeowners would have to spend 39.6% of their salary on monthly housing costs for a median-priced home — down from 42.8% in 2023. Compared to the U.S.' Top 50 metros, Austin had the largest affordability im
  
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