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Tornado Watch in effect for parts of the Hill Country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A late-evening cold front brings a risk of strong to severe thunderstorms tonight.A Tornado Watch is in effect for only Lampasas County in the Hill Country at this time, until 8 p.m. tonight.We are tracking a much colder airmass surging into Texas tonight. Along its leading edge, we expect a window of potentially strong to severe thunderstorms between now and 1 a.m. Storms are expected to move into the Austin area between 11 p.m. and midnight, then southeastern areas before 1 a.m.Line of storms moves through late tonight into early Friday morningMost of Central Texas remains in at a level 2 out of 5 (slight) severe weather risk this afternoon through Friday morning. Isolated to scattered severe storms are possible with hail and wind damage the main concerns. We do not expect a widespread, damaging severe weather event.Severe weather risk Thursday afternoon to early Friday morning (SPC)Rain totals generally add up to 1/4"-1/2", with lighter amounts in the Hill Countr...

Burnet County judge suspended without pay following indictment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

Editor's note: The video above is a story previously reported on by KXAN.BURNET, Texas (KXAN) — Burnet County Judge James Oakley was suspended without pay, effective immediately, a suspension order from State Commission on Judicial Conduct confirmed Thursday.Oakley was previously indicted last week on felony and misdemeanor charges, according to the Burnet County Sheriff's Office. Burnet County Judge James Oakley indicted on felony and misdemeanor charges Oakley was booked into the Lampasas County Sheriff's Office March 9 and was released, LCSO confirmed to KXAN.He was booked on the following charges:Abuse of Official Capacity-Count 1Abuse of Official Capacity-Count 2Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence W/Intent to ImpairOfficial Oppression“I have every confidence that my attorney will be successful in the outcome of addressing these allegations during the process,” Oakley previously said to KXAN in a statement.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Accumulating snow possible Saturday morning in the Hill Country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A late-season cold snap blows into central Texas on the heels of strong to severe thunderstorms late Thursday night.Cold winds Friday morning push temperatures down to near 40 degrees with wind chills falling below freezing in some communities. Friday morning rain comes to an end with cloudy, windy weather the rest of the day for St. Patrick's Day plans.Forecast wind chill temperatures Friday morningA secondary disturbance is expected to bring the return of light rain sprinkles late Friday night into Saturday morning.As rain falls through a cold, dry cloud sub-layer, evaporative cooling may drop temperatures quickly in parts of the Hill Country to near or just above freezing. Above ground level early Saturday morning, temperatures are expected to be below freezing.This means that light rain in the southern Hill Country Saturday morning will likely transition to a period of wet snow. High-resolution radar forecast Saturday morning with cold rain in Austin and wet snow...

Austin to unveil updated Project Connect light rail scope options next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austinites will soon get a preview of Project Connect light rail design considerations on the table at an open house March 21.The community event will run from 4-7 p.m. at the Austin Public Library's Central location at 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. It comes after Austin Transit Partnership — the entity tasked with delivering the multi-billion-dollar transit program — pressed pause on designs last summer amid projected cost increases. They had been expected to release 30% design and cost estimates then. TOP STORY: 17 more charged in Austin 'street takeover' investigation' Here's a look back at the past year's worth of light rail design discussions, in advance of next week's open house.March 2, 2022: 4 key Project Connect design proposals outlinedProject Connect leaders unveiled a four-part community engagement period for key elements along the Blue and Orange light rail lines:Riverside/Pleasant Valley StationThe DragBlue Line Bridge at Lady Bird LakeCrestview StationFor ...

How many perfect brackets remain in the NCAA Men's tournament?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you made a bracket in this year's NCAA Men's Tournament, you're not alone!More than 20 million brackets were made on ESPN, but just hours into the tournament, the vast majority were already busted. 2023 March Madness first-round schedule, how to watch, what channels games are on But how many perfect brackets remain? After Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's loss to Alabama, a little under 720,000 brackets remain perfectly intact.The first game of the tournament was brutal to brackets nationwide, with more than half busted. About 51% of brackets incorrectly predicted a Maryland win over West Virginia.Furman's upset win over Virginia then dropped the number of perfect brackets to less than 10%. More than 8 million brackets were busted in that game alone.The number of perfect brackets then dropped by half thanks to Missouri's win over Utah State. Almost 840,000 remained at that point, about 4.2% of all brackets.With 63 games in total, how long will it take for all brack...

Despite 'disappointing' tip time, No. 4 Texas is ready for No. 13 East Carolina in NCAA 1st round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team tips off its March Madness run Saturday, they'll be starting typically when they're done playing late games.The fourth-seeded Longhorns take on No. 13 seed East Carolina in the opening round at Moody Center, and due to the broadcast schedule set by ESPN, the game won't begin until 9 p.m. That's two hours later than a typical late game, and Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer isn't a fan of that.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/newsletters"I'm disappointed," he said with a chuckle after he was asked about the late tip. "I don't know how that helps grow our game. We have a lot of fans with young families and a lot of older fans — we'll have to have naps for kids and naps for the older folks to make the tip."Schafer continued with the point that both the Longhorns and Pirates will be walking out of Moody past midnight, an...

N.D. Supreme Court keeps state’s abortion ban in place while lawsuit proceeds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a state abortion ban will remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds.The ban was designed to take effect once the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But a district judge had put it on hold this summer while the Red River Women’s Clinic (RRWC) pursued a lawsuit arguing the state constitution protected a right to an abortion.“While the regulation of abortion is within the authority of the legislature under the North Dakota Constitution, RRWC has demonstrated likely success on the merits that there is a fundamental right to an abortion in the limited instances of life-saving and health-preserving circumstances, and the statute is not narrowly tailored to satisfy strict scrutiny,” Chief Justice Jon J. Jensen wrote in the ruling.The law — one of many abortion-restricting measures passed by Republican-dominated state legislatures in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on...

Two men charged in killing of Hugo man outside Fridley Cub Foods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

Two men were charged Thursday in connection with last week’s killing of a Hugo man outside a Cub Foods in Fridley.Johnson Kenny Sirleaf, 32, of Plymouth, faces one count of second-degree intentional murder in the killing of 27-year-old Devon Michael Adams, who was shot in the chest in the store’s parking lot at Interstate 694 and University Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. March 9.Johnson Kenny Sirleaf, left, and Blanyon Toe Davies (Courtesy of the Anoka County sheriff’s office)Anoka County prosecutors have also charged Blanyon Toe Davies, 29, of Brooklyn Park, with aiding an offender.According to the charges, Adams’ girlfriend told police at the shooting scene that he had been staying at an Extended Stay next to the Cub Foods the past several weeks. She said she last saw him around 10 a.m. in his truck at the hotel.A witness reported hearing arguing and a “pop,” then seeing a man fall to the ground and a red SUV fleeing the area. The witness said there was one p...

Seeking Alzheimer’s clues from few who escape genetic fate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Doug Whitney inherited the same gene mutation that gave Alzheimer’s disease to his mother, brother and generations of other relatives by the unusually young age of 50.Yet he’s a healthy 73, his mind still sharp. Somehow, the Washington man escaped his genetic fate.So did a woman in Colombia who dodged her own family’s similar Alzheimer’s destiny for nearly three decades.To scientists, these rare “escapees” didn’t just get lucky. They offer an unprecedented opportunity to learn how the body may naturally resist Alzheimer’s.“It’s unique individuals oftentimes that really provide us with breakthroughs,” said Dr. Eric McDade of Washington University in St. Louis, where Whitney’s DNA is being scoured for answers.The hope: If researchers could uncover and mimic whatever protects these escapees, they might develop better treatments — even preventive therapies — not only for families plagued by inherited Alzheimer’s but for everyone.“We are just learning about this approach...

COVID-19 pill Paxlovid moves closer to full FDA approval

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:25:55 GMT

WASHINGTON — Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill Paxlovid won another vote of confidence from U.S. health advisers Thursday, clearing the way for its full regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration.The medication has been used by millions of Americans since the FDA granted it emergency use authorization in late 2021. The agency has the final say on giving Pfizer’s drug full approval and is expected to decide by May.A panel of outside experts voted 16-1 that Paxlovid remains a safe and effective treatment for high-risk adults with COVID-19 who are more likely to face hospitalization and death due to the virus.“We still have many groups that stand to benefit from Paxlovid, including unvaccinated persons, under-vaccinated persons, the elderly and the immuno-compromised,” said Dr. Richard Murphy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.The FDA said using Paxlovid in high-risk patients could prevent 1,500 COVID-19 deaths and 13,000 hospitalizations per week.The panel’s positive ...