Austin news

• Tropical tracker: Tropical Storm Sara brushes along coast of Honduras

  15-11-2024 16:53 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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• APD responds to deceased person call in north Austin

  16-11-2024 14:51 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said homicide detectives responded to a scene in north Austin on Saturday morning related to a deceased person.Police said the scene was located near the 1900 block of Rutland Drive.APD said a briefing would be held later to provide more information.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for more details.
  
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• How an Austin thrift store find sparked search for 1966 wedding couple

  16-11-2024 14:00 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A routine thrifting trip for one Austinite turned into a mystery spanning back decades.Katie Ornelas has been slowly building out her family's record collection, accumulating vinyl records from local thrift stores in town. A few months ago, she purchased "The Modern Jazz Quartet at Music Inn," a live album recorded in 1956.In place of the smooth sounds of jazz, she instead was greeted by prayers and the wedding vows of "Phil and Donna," a couple married on Aug. 21, 1966.A few mo
  
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• Texas high school football playoff scores for Friday, Nov. 15

  16-11-2024 05:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Georgetown running back Jett Walker scored the game-winning touchdown in double overtime to lift the Eagles to a 48-42 win over Burleson Centennial in the Class 5A Division I first round Friday at Georgetown ISD Stadium.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score in this scoreboard, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteLake Travis turned away Round Rock 41-14 in Class 6A Division I and the
  
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• Westlake shakes off rough 1st half, rolls to bi-district playoff win over Vista Ridge

  16-11-2024 05:08 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Defense and special teams kept the Westlake Chaparrals afloat in the first half against Vista Ridge on Friday, and then it all changed in the third quarter.Westlake turned an 18-10 halftime lead into 39-10 by the end of the third to run away with a 46-17 victory in the opening round of the Class 6A Division I football playoffs at Chaparral Stadium.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at
  
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• Country singer Sundance Head sustains gunshot wound, flown to Tyler hospital

  16-11-2024 04:11 via kxan.com
  
  TYLER, Texas (KETK) -- Country singer Sundance Head, The Voice season 11 champion, has been flown to a Tyler hospital after being shot on Friday, his wife said in a post.Scottish discovery reunites Texas man with class ring 56 years later
  According to Sundance's agent, the singer was the one who called 911 after the shooting. In a post to his Facebook, his wife Misty Head said that he was shot in the stomach."Bullet went in above his navel and lodged into his abdominal wall missing all vital org
  
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• Country singer Sundance Head 'in good spirts' after sustaining gunshot wound, flown to Tyler hospital

  16-11-2024 04:11 via kxan.com
  
  TYLER, Texas (KETK) -- Country singer Sundance Head, The Voice season 11 champion, has been flown to a Tyler hospital after being shot on Friday, his wife said in a post. Scottish discovery reunites Texas man with class ring 56 years laterIn a post to his Facebook, his wife Misty Head said that he was shot in the stomach."Bullet went in above his navel and lodged into his abdominal wall missing all vital organs. He will not require surgery as they are not removing the bullet," the Facebook post
  
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• Georgetown residents urged to get flood insurance as new maps show risk

  16-11-2024 03:51 via kxan.com
  
  GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- The city of Georgetown is warning some of its residents to consider getting flood insurance sooner rather than later. A new county-wide project targeting potential flooding problems shows homes previously not covered by FEMA's floodplain could now be in the future."Their house doesn't have to be in the floodplain, but if a little corner of their backyard is in the floodplain, typically a mortgage lender will require flood insurance," Wesley Wright, the city's Systems
  
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• Virginia man, humiliated on Southwest flight, wants an apology from airline

  16-11-2024 03:18 via kxan.com
  
  VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — John Kerrigan, his daughter and her friend are still getting over the embarrassment they had to endure when they landed three weeks ago at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia. They say they wanted an apology, but the response from Southwest Airlines fell short. Va. Beach man flying Southwest with daughter and friend gets profiled as human traffickerKerrigan and the girls were on an Oct. 21 Southwest flight from Denver when the flight crew jumped to the co
  
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• Firehouse Subs pledges $25K donation after social media backlash from veteran

  16-11-2024 03:09 via kxan.com
  
  POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) – The company that owns Firehouse Subs has apologized after a Georgia veteran shared her family's negative interaction with a franchise owner on social media.
  Brianna Lancaster and her mother Aimee Eisensmith, who are both veterans, visited the Pooler, Georgia, location on Veterans Day to take advantage of its special deal for vets and active duty military, according to Lancaster's Facebook post.While there, Lancaster said the owner lamented how much money the restaurant
  
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• 'Missing' actress posts video online, family vows to refund GoFundMe donations

  16-11-2024 03:01 via kxan.com
  
  (KTLA) — Questions about a bizarre scandal involving a "missing" actress are close to being answered, and the family of the woman best known for appearing on MAX's "Gossip Girl" reboot has conceded that the search was for naught.Chanel Banks, known for her roles in the teen drama and in "Blue Bloods" was reported missing from her Playa Vista home on Nov. 8 by her family. She turned up in Texas days later, according to police. Your old Levi jeans may be worth thousands. Check the labelIn po
  
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• Protecting seniors in storms: Texas lawmakers eye emergency preparedness after Beryl

  16-11-2024 02:01 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas lawmakers heard concerns this week about how long it took to restore power for vulnerable seniors following Hurricane Beryl.
  The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services was tasked with reviewing and making any necessary recommendations about the current emergency protocols for facilities housing older people and people with intellectual disabilities.How many Texas senior living facilities have backup power? HHSC reveals survey resultsIn a hearing on Wednesday, lawmak
  
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• Lack of funding could mean no more LBJ Fire Academy

  16-11-2024 00:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — After almost 20 years the LBJ Fire Academy might be in its last year, according to the director.With Austin Independent School District facing financial challenges money is tight and there will have to be cuts to the budget. But what does that mean for important programs?Over the years AISD, as well as many districts across Texas, have pleaded with the state for more funding, but without it, many are having to make difficult decisions.KXAN stopped by LBJ Early College High
  
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• Traffic Alert: Southbound lanes shut down at I-35 and West Parmer Lane due to crash

  16-11-2024 00:30 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- All southbound lanes are closed on Interstate 35 in north Austin after a crash involving a semi-truck Friday, the Austin Police Department said on social media Friday.Officers responded to North I-35 southbound and West Parmer Lane for the crash. APD said metal poles being carried by the truck were "scattered on the road."Police said to expect traffic delays along I-35. Drivers should seek alternate routes, if possible.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
  
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• US senators call for investigation into Elon Musk's talks with Russian leaders

  16-11-2024 00:17 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- U.S. senators are requesting an investigation into Elon Musk's ongoing conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-level Russian officials.In a letter to the Department of Defense and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Jack Reed addressed their concerns over Musk's discussions with Russian leadership, including Putin and first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenk.In late October, The Wall Street Journal reported those conve
  
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• Texas House bill could increase fines for drivers using their phones

  15-11-2024 23:47 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas State Representative Charles Cunningham, R-Humble, filed a bill Friday that would, if passed, increase fines for drivers who use their devices while driving.Currently, using a "portable wireless communication device" is a misdemeanor offense, punished by a fine of $25 to $99 for a first-time offender. Repeat offenders face fines of $100 to $200.Under Cunningham's bill, those fines would rise to $100 to $200 for a first offense and $200 to $300 after that.The bill will
  
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• Nonprofit providing resources for grieving families to host benefit concert in Austin

  15-11-2024 23:19 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, KXAN anchors Will DuPree and Avery Travis spoke with two leadership members of Evermore, a nonprofit advocacy group that helps bereaved families by providing resources and systemic changes.Use the video player above to listen to the full discussion.Joyal Mulheron and Jena Kirkpatrick, both bereaved parents, are a part of the effort.“People tend to think about loss as something very sad and full of sorrow, but the reality is that there are systems around fam
  
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• Amber Alert: Officials searching for 11-year-old girl last seen in East Texas

  15-11-2024 23:18 via kxan.com
  
  ATHENS, Texas (KETK) — The Henderson County Sheriff's Office is searching for an 11-year-old girl who "is believed to have been picked up by an unknown subject" on Thursday.Photo courtesy of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.EXCLUSIVE: Texas woman falsely accused for death of Peanut the Squirrel breaks her silenceAccording to the department, Mia James is around 5'6" tall and weighs 98 pounds.She was last seen near her home on County Road 3925 north of Athens while wearing black shorts
  
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• Central Texas Food Bank providing 30,000 meals this holiday season

  15-11-2024 22:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Central Texas Food Bank is gearing up to provide 30,000 turkeys, fresh produce and holiday sides at 23 locations throughout the 21 counties CTFB provides services to.Central Texas Food Bank helps feed over 90,000 people each week, but food insecurity is felt more around the holidays, said Sari Vatske, president and CEO of Central Texas Food Bank.“This holiday season, and every day, our goal is to ensure every Central Texan has access to
  nutritious food," said Vats
  
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• Fayette County 911 restored after construction project cut lines

  15-11-2024 22:21 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Fayette County 911 system is back up and running after a construction company accidentally cut a line Thursday evening, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office told KXAN Friday.The agency said that a company was working on a road construction project north of LaGrange and cut the line around 8 p.m.The 911 line restored around noon Friday, according to FCSO.
  
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• Oncor's resiliency plan approved by PUCT, making way for $3B to help withstand, recover from severe weather

  15-11-2024 21:31 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Thursday approved Oncor's resiliency plan, greenlighting an approximately $3 billion investment into "accelerated grid upgrades and enhancements" for the electric company, according to a release from Oncor.
  This was the first resiliency plan submitted by an electric utility to be approved by the PUCT. It comes after a bill filed during the last Texas Legislative session that allows electric utilities in Texas to file a resiliency
  
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• Aggies plant flag on future of lunar travel at Space Institute groundbreaking

  15-11-2024 21:09 via kxan.com
  
  Houston, TX (NEXSTAR) -- Astronauts, state representatives and engineers gathered in celebration on a wide-open field at Johnson Space Center on Friday. Former astronaut Nancy Currie-Gregg strode amid tall grass and planted a Texas A&M University flag on what will soon be the Texas A&M Space Institute."We're going to have a replica of the moon's lunar surface and a replica of the Mars surface that's going to allow not only NASA but dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of private sector co
  
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• How Austin Energy's new geothermal project could revolutionize Texas' energy production

  15-11-2024 20:33 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Energy, in partnership with Austin company Exceed Geo Energy, is installing a "first-of-its-kind" geothermal pilot project that will come online in 2025. If successful, it could be expanded to a much larger scale.In an interview with KXAN, Exceed Geo Energy CEO Timothy Tarver said that the setup is an always-on, reliable and scalable energy solution."It generates power 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of the wind or weather conditions," Tarve
  
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• Texas high court says execution in 'shaken baby syndrome' case can't be halted by lawmaker subpoena

  15-11-2024 20:18 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a legislative subpoena cannot stop an execution after Republican and Democratic lawmakers who say Robert Roberson is innocent used the novel maneuver to pause his execution at the last minute.The ruling clears the way for Roberson's execution to move forward, weeks after a bipartisan group of state House lawmakers bought him more time by subpoenaing Roberson as he waited to be taken to the nation's busiest death chamber.Robe
  
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• How a weak La Niña may impact Austin's winter climate

  15-11-2024 19:26 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Slow-developing La Niña conditions are forecasted to develop in the late fall and winter months. The 2024 U.S Winter Outlook, issued by the Climate Prediction Center, states Texas will be warm and dry, due to the emerging La Niña influence on winter patterns.La Niña favors northern tracks of storms, which tend to keep colder airmasses north of Texas resulting in warmer and drier conditions.
  Colder and wetter pattern in Northern U.S. with limited cold ai
  
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• Postal Service to release Betty White stamp

  15-11-2024 18:41 via kxan.com
  
  (The Hill) - Betty White may soon be headed to your mailbox — the late legendary actor is poised to be honored with her own U.S. Postal Service (USPS) stamp.(USPS)
  An image of the "Golden Girls" star is among several new stamps that will be making their debut next year, the USPS announced Friday.In a statement revealing the release of the forever stamp, the Postal Service called White an "icon of American television" who "shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades" and "gaine
  
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• Texas Supreme Court rules against lawmakers who stopped execution with last-minute subpoena

  15-11-2024 17:02 via kxan.com
  
  The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a legislative subpoena cannot be used to stop an execution after Republican and Democratic lawmakers used the novel maneuver last month to pause Robert Roberson's lethal injection at the last minute.Roberson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Oct. 17 when lawmakers, in a last-ditch effort, issued a subpoena to have him testify at the Texas Capitol days after his planned execution.
  This spurred a legal conundrum between the state's criminal an
  
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• LIVE: APD to give update on investigation after deadly east Austin shooting

  15-11-2024 16:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is expected to provide updates into an east Austin homicide investigation.On Nov. 7, police found a 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds near the 6400 block of the East U.S. 290 service road.APD previously identified the man as Shelby Wayne Cody. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.Police haven't previously provided information about a suspect believed to be connected with the deadly shooting. MAP: Where have Au
  
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• APD to give update on investigation after deadly east Austin shooting

  15-11-2024 16:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is expected to provide updates into an east Austin homicide investigation.On Nov. 7, police found a 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds near the 6400 block of the East U.S. 290 service road.APD previously identified the man as Shelby Wayne Cody. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.Police haven't previously provided information about a suspect believed to be connected with the deadly shooting. MAP: Where have Au
  
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• APD: Suspect arrested in following investigation of deadly east Austin shooting

  15-11-2024 16:59 via kxan.com
  
  AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said an arrest had been made following an east Austin homicide investigation.On Nov. 7, police found a 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds near the 6400 block of the East U.S. 290 Service Road. APD previously identified the man as Shelby Wayne Cody. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.According to police, 30-year-old Lavonta Harrison was arrested in connection with the shooting.Anyone with any information is as
  
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