Jury to deliberate sentence for woman who pleaded guilty to crash that killed officer - Austin news - NewsLocker (2024)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial continues Thursday for a woman who was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter after a 2022 crash caused the death of an officer in north Austin.
According to prosecutors and defense attorneys, Lindsay Smith pleaded guilty earlier this week and "took responsibility" for the crash. Jurors are now hearing testimony and will deliberate and decide the sentence Smith will serve.PREVIOUS: APD: Woman drank before hitting, killing off-duty police officer near

Austin FC needed a break, but they're back into a quick schedule with Colorado up next

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC needed a break after suffering its worst loss of the season. Thankfully, the schedule obliged and now they've reset only to have another 3-match week ahead.Verde and Black had a weekend off to collect their thoughts after a 5-1 defeat in Salt Lake on June 1, but there's no rest for the weary with a trip to Denver to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.VERDE LIGHTS: It's back for another season! Tune in at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturdays on CW Austin throughout the s

LIST: Juneteenth events in Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Those planning to celebrate Juneteenth have a number of options in communities throughout Central Texas this weekend.What is the history of Juneteenth?Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the day in 1865 that people in Galveston learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation freeing those who were enslaved on Jan. 1, 1863.Celebrations commemorating the day began the fol

Group files petition to reverse decision that allows council members to access health insurance

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) – A group of citizens have filed a petition hoping to reverse a decision the Kyle City Council made on April 2, saying the move violated the city’s charter.Kyle City Council members earn $1,000 monthly for their service and an additional $500 stipend for expenses. For the last five years, city council members could access the City’s health insurance but premiums were deducted from their monthly salary.In a 4-3 vote on April 2, the city council vot

Advertisem*nt

Austin housing market report shows decline in homes sold in May

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The May 2024 report from the Austin Board of Realtors showed the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown Metropolitan Statistical Area housing market had a 12.8% decline in homes sold with 4.9 months of available inventory. The report stated this was a level that hasn't been seen in 13 years.
The May report also said active listings saw an uptick of 37.7% year-over-year. Due to this increase in available options, buyers now have the ability to be more selective when purchasing a home, acco

City of Austin could revive homeless prevention services lost during pandemic

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Nonprofit groups that work to end and prevent homelessness are asking the City of Austin to reinvest in some homelessness prevention measures -- like rental and utilities help -- as the homeless strategy office balances its budget.
The City of Austin will be forced to make tough cuts as federal pandemic funding dries up, KXAN has previously reported.
As a result, some groups have asked the city focus its limited resources on permanent supportive housing, other groups are asking

Zilker Park Boat Rentals launches petition to preserve business

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For more than half a century, Zilker Park Boat Rentals has been a mainstay for outdoor recreation on Barton Creek. Now, the business is rallying community support amid contract uncertainties with the City of Austin.Laura Massengale serves as co-owner of Zilker Park Boat Rentals, a business started in 1969 by her father, Howard Barnett. A writer at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine at the time, Massengale recounted how her dad wanted to create a space where people could

Garden dedicated to KXAN station mascot, Kaxan

AUSTIN (KXAN) — KXAN honored one of its own, celebrating the life of station mascot and therapy dog Kaxan.KXAN dedicated a garden in memory of Kaxan Thursday at the station's Austin building. Kaxan died in March 2023.Kaxan was found in an alleyway behind the KXAN studios more than a decade ago. He was taken to the Austin Animal Center by KXAN senior forecaster Jim Spencer, and his former owners were notified. They decided to surrender Kaxan back to the shelter, and Spencer decided to make

Advertisem*nt

Report: Texas ranks second to last for maternal health care access

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new report by ValuePenguin found more than 30% of women giving birth don't have access to adequate postnatal care.KXAN's Erica Brennes sat down with Divya Singh from Lending Tree to discuss the numbers.Brennes:Joining me today is Divya Singh with Lending Tree, we're going to be discussing a recent report that found that Texas is the second to last worst state when it comes to prenatal and maternal care in the country. Personally, as a mom in Texas, this is a tough thing

Police searching for suspect in series of east Austin burglaries

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying a suspect detectives believe is connected to a series of burglaries that happened in east Austin earlier this month.
APD said the burglaries happened on June 7 around 5 p.m. in the 1600 block of Chatham Avenue.
Police said during one of the burglaries, the suspect broke into a home in the area holding a knife. Preliminary investigation revealed he may live near the Windsor Park area.
The suspect is describe

Williamson County animal shelter introduces new program, hosts free adoption weekend

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter on Thursday unveiled a pilot adoption program aimed at speeding up the rehoming process for pets in need of a new family.
The program's launch will coincide with the shelter's upcoming free adoption weekend, commencing with its inaugural PAWjama Party on Friday evening.Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter PAWjama Party (Photo courtesy: WCRAS)WCRAS said in a press release the shelter's primary focus remains on reuniting lots pets wit

Texas pastor sentenced to 35 years after stealing three churches

(NewsNation) — A Texas pastor has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury convicted him of stealing three churches valued at more than $800,000.Whitney Foster, 56, the pastor at the True Foundation nondenominational church in Dallas, was sentenced after he was convicted of theft of property involving three local churches, Dallas County prosecutors announced.Foster was the pastor of a small congregation that did not have a physical place to meet. Foster was accused of stealing rea

Austin comes up short in bid for EV HQ project, loses to North Carolina city

AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) -- A California-based electric vehicle charging company backed by several of the world's biggest car manufacturers almost picked the city of Austin for a $10.1 million corporate headquarters and research projectbefore opting for a North Carolina cityinstead, according to interviews and documents obtained by the Austin Business Journal.Ionna LLC — a joint venture created by BMW, General Motors Co., Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellanti

Austin's Marbridge Foundation provides 'a whole new way of life' for residents

As a part of Nexstar's Founder’s Day of Caring 2024, KXAN is volunteering with the Marbridge Foundation this week. Here's an in-depth look at the organization's mission.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — On over 200 acres just south of Austin sits a residential facility — a haven — to support adults with cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
Marbridge Foundation recently celebrated 71 years of cultivating communities designed to give "a whole new way of life" to their residents. Right n

Man arrested, accused of selling suspected fentanyl pills to woman who later died

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A man was arrested and charged after police said he sold suspected fentanyl pills to a woman who was later found dead in her northeast Austin apartment in December 2023, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.Curtis James Habbit, 66, was charged with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance causing death or significant bodily injury.KXAN reached out to Habbit's attorney for a statement and said there was no comment on the case at this time.Curtis James

Supreme Court unanimously preserves access to abortion medication in case that began in Texas

Editor's Note: The video above shows coverage of the arguments in this caseWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.The nine justices ruled that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval

Energy expert weighs in on concerns about ERCOT power grid this summer

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As another hot Texas summer ramps up, the state’s power grid operators are raising concerns about grid reliability and the prospect of rolling blackouts.Earlier this week, a Texas House committee heard testimony from energy leaders about growth forecasts, the summer outlook and market design initiatives.University of Texas at Austin Professor Emeritus Ross Baldick works in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and researches electric power. He joined

Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
The justices ruled that abortion opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication, mifepristone, and the FDA's subsequent actions to ease acces

El Niño has officially ended, here's what's next

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As expected, Thursday the Climate Prediction Center announced the climate pattern known as El Niño has come to an end as sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific continued to cool closer to normal.
An ENSO Neutral Phase is hereEl Niño is the warm phase of the climate pattern known as ENSO or El Niño-Southern Oscillation. As temperatures in a specific area of the eastern Pacific cool closer to normal, then the effects of El Niño fade.

Tips on water conservation during summer drought months

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Even after recent rains added a little moisture to the ground and put some water back in Lakes Buchanan and Travis, water conservation should still be practiced as we head into the hottest times of the summer.There is a way to drought-proof your lawns and plants. One way is to use mulch; a thick layer of mulch will help your soil retain moisture during the brutal Texas summer.Indoor water conversation should also be practiced as well -- too much water is wasted by leaks. Ac

Round Rock ISD police want to respond faster. County partners worry about their plans

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- Mayra Mathis stands in the dark dispatch center inside Round Rock High School, pointing to a map of the district’s 56 schools.Before discussing changes the district is making to get its police officers to campuses quicker, she explains how she and other dispatchers learn of 911 calls at their schools.An internal investigation into Round Rock ISD police describes a ‘toxic’ environmentRound Rock ISD campuses span four jurisdictions, including the City

Office of Police Oversight providing update, data at Thursday night meeting

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) will provide the public with updates and present new data at a Thursday night meeting.
OPO's third quarterly Police Oversight Implementation Workgroup meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday over Zoom. It's open to the public, and those interested in participating can register online.
OPO will share complaints data and other updates during this virtual session as directed by Resolution 99, according to a release.
The meeting will be in both E

Hot first, but Gulf system could bring rain next week

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The story through Sunday (Father's Day) will just be about the heat and humidity. Temperatures will reach the upper 90s daily and we can't rule out a few low triple digits in spots.
Humidity only comes down slightly before coming back up next week ahead of some tropical moisture heading in our general direction.Next week: Gulf inspired rain?All eyes remain on the southern Gulf of Mexico as the National Hurricane Center monitors a conducive environment for tropical development in

Waco woman celebrates 107 years of life

Waco, TX (FOX 44) -- One family is having a special get together in Waco to celebrate their matriarch, June Vera, turning 107 years old.Vera's family traveled across the country to St. Anthony's Care Center to celebrate her 107th trip around the sun.Gifts, birthday cake, flowers, and hand-written letters filled her room with family singing happy birthday."This has been so wonderful," said Vera.Vera was born in Welch, Oklahoma, and grew up and raised her family in South Texas.She worked as a teac

YouTuber with over 3M followers killed in crash on Colorado interstate

DENVER (KDVR) — Authorities announced on Tuesday that 40-year-old Benny Potter, a popular YouTube personality and Colorado resident, was the victim of a single-vehicle crash.The crash happened on Saturday, June 8, at about 9:19 a.m. on Interstate 25 near Fort Collins, according to Colorado State Patrol (CSP),
Potter was in his silver Toyota 4Runner when it veered off the right shoulder of the interstate, police said. Potter continued to cross over the frontage road, which runs parallel to

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, an Austin Westlake graduate, loses fight against ruling that keeps her from elite events

(AP) — Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas failed in her challenge against rules that stop her from competing in elite women’s races because judges ruled she did not have standing to bring the case.The Court of Arbitration for Sport panel of three judges dismissed Thomas’ request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body, in a ruling released Wednesday.World Aquatics banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. It al

Changes coming? Alamo Drafthouse acquired by Sony

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a city known for keeping it weird, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and it's many locations around the area have long been an Austin Landmark.On Wednesday, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced it would acquire Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.What does that mean for the movie theater moving forward?We asked movie goers if they were worried this move could mean big changes for the popular movie theaters."I hope that they don't, I feel like Austin already has enough of that, so I would

Texas men's hoops opens first SEC-ACC Challenge against 2024 Final Four team NC State

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas men's basketball team will take on a 2024 Final Four team in its first appearance in the SEC-ACC Challenge.The Longhorns will head to Raleigh, North Carolina on Dec. 4 to take on the N.C. State Wolfpack, a team that made an improbable run to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed in last year's March Madness tournament.
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 kxan.com/newslettersIt's

Flores, Belyeu named to baseball writers' All-America team

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two Texas Longhorns baseball players can call themselves All-Americans this season.ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 22: Texas outfielder Max Belyeu (44) holds up the Hook 'Em Horns sign after hitting a home run during the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship game between Texas and Cincinnati on May 22, 2024, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sophom*ore shortstop Jalin Flores and sophom*ore outfielder Max Belyeu were name

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KXAN) — Texas A&M is holding a series of events celebrating what would have been former President George H.W. Bush’s 100th birthday on June 12.
The George & Barbara Bush Foundation’s 41@100 centennial celebration from June 11-13 will include events for Bush administration alumni, commemorative parachute jumps by President Bush’s grandchildren and performances from country music stars Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. During the three-