Austin news

• Tropical tracker: Cat. 4 Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, landfall expected tonight

  09-10-2024 17:10 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. This year is expected to be very active, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an 85% chance of an above-average season.This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole story.
  We've created several data-driven stories and databases on topic
  
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• H-E-B breaks ground on Manor location

  09-10-2024 22:08 via kxan.com
  
  MANOR (KXAN) -- On Wednesday morning, H-E-B broke ground on a new store location in Manor.The grocery store chain held a private groundbreaking ceremony for the new store, which will be located across from the Whataburger on U.S. 290 East, near the Walmart, according to a release from H-E-B.“It’s always an honor and a privilege to open our first store in a new community, allowing us to serve even more Texans,” said Cathy Harm, H-E-B senior vice president for Central Texas.
  
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• How to make sure your donation goes to Hurricane relief

  09-10-2024 21:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN viewers have reached out to our ReportIt inbox, asking how they can make sure a donation is spent on hurricane relief. But state and federal officials warn that opportunists will try to take advantage of potential donors during disaster recovery.How you can help after HeleneThis story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to [email protected] or through KXAN's contact page.Where does it go?While actually tracking where a specific donation gets spent
  
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• Austin hot air balloon business abruptly closes, customers left without refunds

  09-10-2024 21:41 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — A hot air balloon business shut down and left people without hundreds of dollars for their bookings.Austin Aeronauts abruptly closed its doors at the beginning of October, according to the business. Customers tell KXAN it didn't provide a way for them to reach out about refunds.Leslie Crowe was one of the people who received an email that her booking was canceled."My throat dropped into my stomach. I was like, what? Wait a minute. What's going on? Is this a joke? Is this a
  
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• Caldwell County updates disaster declaration, removes language about immigrants spreading disease

  09-10-2024 21:20 via kxan.com
  
  CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Caldwell County Commissioners Court voted to amend the language in its disaster declaration it initially approved in 2022.According to a county press release, the change was to “make the county eligible for potential state and federal aid that would help communities that are seeing population growth due to an influx of immigrants.” In the original disaster declaration approved in December 2022, the resolution stated Caldwell County might
  
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• Caldwell County updates disaster declaration, removes language about immigrants

  09-10-2024 21:20 via kxan.com
  
  CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Caldwell County Commissioners Court voted to amend the language in its disaster declaration it initially approved in 2022.According to a county press release, the change was to “make the county eligible for potential state and federal aid that would help communities that are seeing population growth due to an influx of immigrants.” In the original disaster declaration approved in December 2022, the resolution stated Caldwell County might
  
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• The process of retiring hurricane names

  09-10-2024 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Tropical Storms and Hurricanes are named for organizational purposes so meteorologists can better communicate storms to the public. Each basin has its own respected list of alphabetical names, which are cycled to avoid confusion.The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized United Nations agency made up of scientists across 193 member states and territories, not only names tropical systems but can also retire them. The WMO prioritizes making meteorological data more
  
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• Multi-year review found no lead pipes in Austin's public water system

  09-10-2024 20:49 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's public water system doesn't contain any lead pipes, Austin Water officials confirmed in a Wednesday release.The update came after a multi-year inspection effort facilitated by Austin Water in an effort to achieve compliancy with guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Officials noted the agency has been working to "prevent exposure and get the lead out of our water" for over 50 years, the release added.Lead has been prohibited in the city's public
  
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• This Texas 'Skeleton House' has a spooky and heartwarming backstory

  09-10-2024 20:45 via kxan.com
  
  LUBBOCK, Texas -- Over the last year, a Lubbock house has put a smile on the community's face with its scene of skeletons in the front yard.The mastermind behind the skeleton set-up, Justin Locke, told EverythingLubbock.com why he arranges the skeletons in his yard.
  "Halloween is a special holiday for us," Locke said.
  Locke and his wife, Mandy, got married on Halloween at Nightmare on 19th Street nearly seven years ago. The pair celebrates October birthdays and decided to make October an extra s
  
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• Ants at the dam: Lady Bird Lake level lowered due to insect intrusion

  09-10-2024 20:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paddleboarders and kayakers may have noticed the water levels were a little lower on Lady Bird Lake this week. It turns out ants were the culprit.According to Austin Water, on Sunday night, it experienced a malfunction of the Longhorn Dam gate that allows precise control of the the water level."Ants intruded on the instrument panel, causing a short circuit, which tripped a breaker and partially opened the gate," a spokesperson for Austin Water said.The Lower Colorado River
  
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• San Marcos launches website for city's transportation network

  09-10-2024 20:16 via kxan.com
  
  SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) -- The city of San Marcos this week unveiled what it called a "powerful tool" to navigate the city's transportation network.
  It's called SMTX Go. According to a news release from the city, it's a "web-based platform designed to help residents, students, and visitors easily access real-time information on traffic conditions and multi-modal transportation options."
  SMTX Go is a comprehensive map that shows several transportation resources including real-time bus tracking,
  
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• Austin man gets 80 years related to death of 14-year-old in 2022 crash

  09-10-2024 19:44 via kxan.com
  
  WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — An Austin man was sentenced Wednesday related to the death of a 14-year-old boy in 2022, according to the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office.The DA’s Office said a jury found 28-year-old Leandro Brito-Martinez guilty of murder in the vehicular homicide of Tobias Soto.Williamson County court documents showed Brito-Martinez was given a sentence of 80 years in prison. The range of punishments was 15 to 99 years or life in prison. PAST CO
  
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• Austin introduces AI in building permit process for single-family homes

  09-10-2024 19:35 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The city of Austin has been using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the past three months in its building permit process. The city announced Wednesday it will fully rollout the software for full-time use.According to a news release, the technology will allow applicants to submit their designs for a "pre-check assessment." The city said it will use AI initially only for single-family residential properties. It said it plans to roll out to other areas in the future."This will impro
  
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• More bike, transit lanes in Austin? Council could kickstart study on proposal

  09-10-2024 18:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin could kickstart a study to analyze reallocating public right of way (ROW) to support more active and mass transit initiatives.Austin City Council will consider Thursday a resolution that, if approved, would launch a planning study on the reallocation proposal, known as CityLeap. The nonprofit Safe Streets Austin proposed the concept, which would transform some roadways to add protected bike infrastructure or dedicated transit infrastructure, according to
  
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• Tropical tracker: Hurricane Milton drops to strong Cat. 3 as landfall looms

  09-10-2024 17:10 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. This year is expected to be very active, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an 85% chance of an above-average season.This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole story.
  We've created several data-driven stories and databases on topic
  
  Read more

• Travis County ESD 2 highlights importance of smoke alarms in preventing house fires

  09-10-2024 16:48 via kxan.com
  
  Editor’s Note: The transcript of this live Q&A has been edited for brevity and clarity.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- From October 6 to October 12, the United States celebrates National Fire Prevention Week to help raise awareness on how to prevent fires. The National Fire Protection Association said this year's campaign theme was educating people about the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes.KXAN anchors Will DuPree and Jala Washington spoke to Travis County Emergency Services
  
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• ACL TV to livestream Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel concert

  09-10-2024 16:42 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Limits has established itself as the longest-running music program in television history, and it's celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The show is holding a birthday bash concert next week, and fans can watch it from the comfort of their homes. Willie Nelson & Family, Asleep at the Wheel to play free concert for ACL TV’s 50th birthdayWillie Nelson was the first person to ever perform on Austin City Limits, and the inaugural taping of the show is coming
  
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• Austin holds grand re-opening of downtown fire station

  09-10-2024 15:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- One year after firefighters were forced to relocate to temporary locations around downtown, the city is holding a grand re-opening of Fire Station 1 following renovations.
  Renovations on the 86-year-old building began in 2020. Construction issues last year forced a temporary closure of the downtown station, which made firefighters and EMS crews work at different stations. They eventually moved into a Travis County building off Guadalupe.
  The new renovations allowed space for a s
  
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• Ken Paxton's evasive relationship with the press

  09-10-2024 14:15 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (Nexstar) — 502 days ago, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton held a press conference — one of just two he has called in the last year and a half. It was a blockbuster political news event, both because it was meant to preempt his historic impeachment, and because in recent years he has made himself available to journalists almost as rarely as the Texas House has impeached statewide officials.
  He took no questions.During that long drought of public access to the state's top atto
  
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• 'You never let that go away': Longhorns seek revenge against Sooners

  09-10-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas football had a pretty incredible season in 2023. They made it to their first College Football Playoff behind a Big 12 Championship.The Longhorns lost just one game in the regular season. The only problem for many around the Texas program is who they lost to in Oklahoma."We definitely carry that along with us for a while," said Longhorns senior tight end Gunnar Helm. "And not having that gold hat with us inside the facility outside of our team meeting room was weird this yea
  
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• When was the last time Texas voted blue?

  09-10-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  (NEXSTAR) - Texas has been a red state since the U.S. began labeling states red or blue back in 2000 (more on that later). With 40 electoral votes, Texas is one of the country's most influential red states, but when was the last time the state didn't vote Republican during the presidential election?To find the answer to this, you'd have to go back a few decades all the way to the presidential election of 1976 when Texas put its electoral college votes behind Jimmy Carter for president. These are
  
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• Time to evacuate running out as Milton nears Florida

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Steady rain fell and winds began to gust in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning as a mighty Hurricane Milton churned toward a potentially catastrophic collision with the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay even after millions were ordered to evacuate. Stragglers face grim odds of surviving, officials said. LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impactsThe Tampa Bay region, home to more
  
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• Time to evacuate running out as Milton begins to lash Florida

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A mighty Hurricane Milton flung rain and gusty winds at the Tampa Bay area Wednesday on its steady and potentially catastrophic march toward the west coast of Florida, where officials sounded urgent warnings for residents to evacuate or face grim odds of survival. LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impactsThe National Hurricane Center stressed that it was not certain exactly where Milton’s center would come ashore Wedn
  
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• Time to evacuate running out as Hurricane Milton stalks Florida

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A steady rain fell in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning as a mighty Hurricane Milton churned toward a potentially catastrophic collision with the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay even after millions were ordered to evacuate. Stragglers face grim odds of surviving, officials said. LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impactsThe Tampa Bay region, home to more than 3.3 million peop
  
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• Time running out as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impacts
  The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding
  
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• LIVE NOW: FEMA updates Hurricane Milton plans

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A steady rain fell in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning as a mighty Hurricane Milton churned toward a potentially catastrophic collision with the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay even after millions were ordered to evacuate. Stragglers face grim odds of surviving, officials said. LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impactsThe Tampa Bay region, home to more than 3.3 million peop
  
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• Hurricane Milton still a dangerous Category 4 as time is running out for Florida

  09-10-2024 13:45 via kxan.com
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving. LIVE WOBBLE TRACKER: Hurricane Milton wobbles off path, could have huge impactsThe Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding
  
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• Tropical tracker: Hurricane Milton a Cat. 4 storm with Florida landfall tonight

  09-10-2024 12:30 via kxan.com
  
  Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Each year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. This year is expected to be very active, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an 85% chance of an above-average season.This story is part of the KXAN Data Hub, where numbers help tell the whole story.
  We've created several data-driven stories and databases on topic
  
  Read more

• Stretch of 90s comes to end next week

  09-10-2024 12:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Cool mornings and warm afternoons continue through the rest of the work week.Afternoon highs will return to the low to mid-90s today, running ~10° warmer than average for this time of year. Sunshine, dry skies, light winds and low humidity will otherwise make for a nice day.The dry and very warm days will pose a continued wildfire risk, but thankfully there's not likely to be much wind to spread fires too quickly.Temperatures will remain warmer than normal through ACL Weeken
  
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• Dry air with plenty of sunshine

  09-10-2024 12:25 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Temperatures out the door this morning were refreshing in the Austin area. Low temperatures dropped to 61° at Camp Mabry and 55° at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
  Afternoon high temperatures today will return to the mid 90s with abundant sunshine. Drier air will keep overnight lows tonight relatively seasonable in the low to mid 60s.
  Afternoon temperatures on Wednesday
  The remainder of the week will be a 'copy-and-paste' forecast with high temperatures conti
  
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