What road closures are planned for Austin's 4th of July celebration? - Austin news - NewsLocker (2024)

Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Monday, July 1, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Happy Independence Day!Thousands of Austinites will flock downtown Thursday to celebrate the Fourth of July with an Austin Symphony Orchestra performance and fireworks show at Auditorium Shores and the Long Center, located at 900 W. Riverside Drive. The free festivities begin at 4 p.m. while the fireworks display is set to kick off at 9:30 p.m.Whether you're traveling

How to look up crime statistics in Austin, new dashboards in APD data portal

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- New crime statistics are now available in interactive dashboard form on the Austin Police Department's data portal.
At Monday's Public Safety Commission Meeting, a member of APD's data team walked commissioners through the various dashboards.APD has a new data dashboard – is it reliable?"We have five dashboards of the 16 currently, always in the process of creating new ones," they said.KXAN has previously covered the initial dashboard, which detailed the highest-level cri

Texas baseball adds highly touted Arizona State pitcher in transfer portal

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle made a move in the transfer portal to improve the pitching staff and grabbed one of the top emerging hurlers Monday.Arizona State's Thomas Burns, the first freshman to start a season opener for the Sun Devils since 2006, said in a post on X that he's headed to Austin. Burns began the season as the ace of Willie Bloomquist's staff but sat out a portion of the season with shoulder tendonitis and a bicep injury eventually ended his se

APD investigating homicide Monday in south Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide Monday night in south Austin.In a post on X at 8:37 p.m., APD said a public information officer will hold a briefing at 9:30 p.m. about the investigation in the 6700 block of Windrift Way. That's just north of West William Cannon Drive roughly three blocks west of South First Street.This is a developing situation and we will provide additional information as we learn it. Check back for more details.

Advertisem*nt

1 dead in south Austin homicide Monday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department is investigating a homicide Monday night in south Austin where one person died.
The investigation occurred in the 6700 block of Windrift Way, just north of West William Cannon Drive roughly three blocks west of South First Street.Sgt. Lee Knouse with APD's Public Information Office said the initial "shoot/stab hotshot call" came in at 5:39 p.m. The caller said someone with "penetrating trauma" needed medical assistance.
Police, fire and EMS pers

Austin could be called to shelter hurricane evacuees this season. Where would they go?

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We're heading into a hurricane season and Marty McKellips — regional executive for the American Red Cross' Central and South Texas regions — said she's more nervous than any in her last 20 years with the organization.
As storms start to form, some impacting Texas already this season, the city of Austin will not be able to use a space it had previously set aside to shelter Texans evacuating.The Marshalling Yard once had the ability to shelter evacuees, but the city ha

Why LCRA won't use Lake Buchanan to fill Lake Travis

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- While the drought has improved dramatically over the last few months, our lakes have seen split results. Lake Buchanan has risen considerably, whereas Lake Travis, home to a lot of water recreation, hasn't risen by nearly as much.KXAN's Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with the Lower Colorado River Authority's Vice President of Water John Hofmann about their water management practices.KXAN Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin: So how unusual is it for Lake Buchanan to be so much

Texas men's hoops use last scholarship on Kansas State transfer forward

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas head men's basketball coach Rodney Terry added another frontcourt piece from the transfer portal June 28, signing former Kansas State forward Arthur Kaluma.Kaluma averaged 14.4 points and seven rebounds per game for the Wildcats last season and always seemed to have a big impact whenever he took the floor against the Longhorns. In two games against Texas last season, Kaluma scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help the Wildcats take down Texas 78-74 in the firs

Advertisem*nt

Fire breaks out at old Buc-ee's location in Luling

LULING, Texas (KXAN) — A fire that broke out Monday morning in Luling at an old Buc-ee's travel center has now been extinguished, authorities said.
According to the Caldwell County Office of Emergency Management, the structure fire occurred in the area of Interstate 10 and Highway 183.
The Southeast Caldwell County VFD said it was called to help with the fire and confirmed it was at the old Buc-ee's location.
Just last month, a new Buc-ee's travel center opened in Luling in the same area,

Anderson falls to DeSoto in state 7-on-7 title game, looks to make some noise in 5A this fall

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Watch out for the Anderson Trojans on the gridiron this fall.With the move down a class to 5A coming up, the Trojans' playmakers were on full display at the Texas 7-on-7 championships as they stormed to the Division I championship game. They ran into the DeSoto buzzsaw and lost 38-20 in the finals, but the Trojans certainly raised some eyebrows around the tournament.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sp

Police respond to reported shooting at Kyle convenience store

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) — Kyle Police are responding to reports of a shooting at a convenience store Monday afternoon.The City said police are looking for a suspect after the reported shooting at 7-Eleven at 20925 Interstate 35.
Police are asking people to avoid the area as this is an active investigation.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Mandatory Texas vehicle safety inspections end in six months

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Check your windshields, Texans -- drivers in most counties can forgo the annual trip to the shop when mandatory state vehicle safety inspections end next year.The state legislature ended the requirement last year with a new law going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Ensuring safe vehicles will now be a personal responsibility."Vehicle inspections are costly, time-consuming, and provide little benefit," State Sen. Mayes Middleton said in support of the bill during a committee

MAP: Where have earthquakes been recorded in Texas?

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 topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available.AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you think of earthquakes in the U.S., Texas is probably not the first state that comes to mind.But data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows more than 3,500 earthquakes h

Why some ice creams are sold by the 'squround' and some aren’t

(NEXSTAR) – Ice cream is frequently sold by the pint, the cone, the sandwich or — somewhat less often — the taco. But if you’re looking to satiate a really big craving for the frosty stuff, you might be reaching for a squround.A squround (sometimes spelled “sqround” or “scround”) is the name for the rectangular-yet-rounded container often used by ice cream manufacturers to package larger volumes of ice cream, typically between 48 and 56 ounces. Fir

Which burger chain has the most expensive prices?

(NEXSTAR) - Inflation is causing prices to rise on just about everything in the U.S. right now. Homes, cars, gas – it's all becoming more expensive. But what about the quickest, easiest meal to grab in America: a burger, fries, and a soda?Unfortunately for the casual fast food fan, prices have risen by a tremendous amount over the last two years.MoneyGeek, a personal finance site, took a deep dive into rising meal prices in their latest report. They looked at how much prices changed betwee

6.4M cars have defective airbags a decade after initial recall

(NewsNation) — More than 6 million cars on United States roads have a dangerous, potentially deadly piece of equipment inside.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalled Takata airbags nationwide in 2014 because of the risk they pose for bodily harm and potential death. Ten years later, around 6.4 million cars still have them, according to research from Carfax.
Takata airbag dangersTakata airbag inflators have an increased risk of exploding in a crash and hurling d

What is the largest lottery prize ever won in Texas?

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 topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Even if you don't win the jackpot, there's still a lot of money up for grabs in the lottery.In fact, almost 2,000 Texans have become overnight millionaires by purchasing a tick

Texas House ethics panel to meet for first time since Paxton impeachment

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The ethics committee for the Texas House of Representatives will meet publicly for the first time since its seismic votes last year that led to the impeachment of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
A notice went up Monday that the Texas Committee on General Investigating will hold a hearing on July 17 at 11 a.m. The agenda includes no information about what the committee's five members will discuss, only generalizing that they'll "consider committee business" and possi

Target store may be coming to new Liberty Hill development

Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Monday, July 1, 2024.WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — One fast-growing Williamson County city may get its own Target in the coming years.The project will be located at 351 North U.S. Highway 183 in Liberty Hill, according to a June 21 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations. This is near the corner of State Highway 29 and Highway 183.The filing with TDLR is preliminary, meaning pro

APD staffing shortage continues with over 330 sworn officer vacancies

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department has about 330 vacant sworn officer positions, according to the department.
This is slightly down since APD's second quarter report, which had 342 sworn officer vacancies.PREVIOUS REPORTING: APD hosts recruiting event, hopes to fill hundreds of vacanciesDuring a Public Safety Commission meeting Monday, APD Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt said staffing troubles continue in the department. APD has 463 vacancies among sworn, civilian and emergency co

$4M to fund new shade structures at Austin parks, pools

Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Monday, July 1, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A combined $4 million will go toward enhanced shade structures at Austin parks and pools, the city's Parks and Recreation Department confirmed Monday.The City allocated $2 million toward improvements for this fiscal year, with a matching $2 million provided by the Austin Parks Foundation. The funding will go toward new shade projects being developed alongside existing

MAP: 33 lakes across Texas are now infested with zebra mussels

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 topics including weather and climate, politics, education, sports and growth in Texas. Each story in the KXAN Data Hub is updated as new data becomes available.AUSTIN (KXAN) — More than 30 lakes across Texas are infested with zebra mussels, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.The invasive species was first detected in Lake Texoma, no

Memo: Austin Animal Center shuts down intake, says shelter at 'crisis point'

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Animal Center is closing animal intake to the public, citing that its capacity is at a "crisis point," according to a city memo from AAC Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland.The memo, released Monday, states the AAC will stop accepting owner-surrendered and healthy, stray animals on Tuesday, July 2. AAC will continue to take on animals through animal protection officers that are a "clear public safety risk or are experiencing life-threatening illness or injury

Austin Animal Center shuts down intake, says shelter at 'crisis point'

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Animal Center is closing animal intake to the public, citing that its capacity is at a "crisis point," according to a city memo from AAC Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland.The memo, released Monday, states the AAC will stop accepting owner-surrendered and healthy, stray animals on Tuesday, July 2. AAC will continue to take on animals through animal protection officers that are a "clear public safety risk or are experiencing life-threatening illness or injury

How a $1.3M federal grant is ramping up safety at 2 Austin intersections

Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Monday, July 1, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — A $1.3 million federal grant will help aid Austin transportation officials in improving traffic safety at two intersections.Austin's Vision Zero program received the $1.3 million federal funding via the Texas Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The money will go toward installing traffic signals at two intersections across town: H

LIST: What are the current water restrictions in your city?

Editor's Note: The video above shows the latest from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Water restrictions vary from city to city, and each community has its own hierarchy of restrictions based upon drought contingency plans. That means Stage 2 restrictions in Austin may not be the same as those in Dripping Springs.To help keep track, KXAN has created a map and database so you can easily find the restrictions in your city. We will keep these updated as cities change drough

How an Austin grant program addresses food equity, climate solutions

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin's Food and Climate Equity Grants program provides direct funding for community-led solutions that allow for transformative change in the areas of food, climate and resilience.The grants program is designed to fund projects that help people who are impacted by systemic and structural inequities while eliminating issues with health outcomes. Most importantly, the projects are largely designed to benefit the quality of life for all.The City of Austin's Offic

Austin man dies while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin man died while hiking in the Grand Canyon National Park, the National Park Service said Monday.
According to park officials, a report of an unconscious hiker was received around 7 p.m. Saturday on the River Trail. The hiker became unconscious and bystanders gave him CPR while paramedics responded from Phantom Ranch, but efforts were unsuccessful.
The hiker was identified as 69-year-old Scott Sims from Austin, the park service said.
The park service said Sims was t

Photos: UT hosts all-day celebration to commemorate joining the SEC

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thousands of people joined an all-day celebration at the University of Texas at Austin to celebrate the Longhorns' official entrance into the Southeastern Conference.What Texas Longhorns coaches said about officially moving to the SECThe celebration entailed live music, fireworks, games and activities on campus Sunday to commemorate the Longhorns’ first day in the SEC. Pitbull, AKA "Mr. Worldwide," also joined the festivities.
Those attending the event were able to visit m

Study ranks UT Austin one of Texas' 'best value' colleges

Editor’s Note: The above video shows KXAN News’ top morning headlines from Monday, July 1, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hook 'em: UT Longhorns have plenty to celebrate after a new study named the University of Texas at Austin the second "best value" college in Texas.Financial technology company SmartAsset released its 2023 state-by-state study analyzing the best colleges in each state based on the following metrics: starting salary, tuition, living expenses, student retention rate and