1 in 4 businesses plans to increase in-office days next year: Report - Austin news - NewsLocker (2024)

(The Hill) — More companies plan to impose stricter in-office mandates next year, even if it risks losing workers.
Recently published findings from asurvey conducted by ResumeBuilder.com show that a quarter of companies with return-to-work policies plan to require employees to come into offices more frequently. Companies with plans to increase employees' in-office days are doing so mainly to improveproductivity among their workforces. Out of these companies, 86 perc

WATCH: Water main break causes water to shoot out of the ground in north Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A water main break in north Austin has caused major issues in the area.Passersby on Wells Branch Parkway are able to see a geyser shooting out of the roadway Friday afternoon.KXAN spoke with firefighters with Travis County ESD No. 2 on the scene. They said a call came in at about 4:30 p.m. about the roadway being covered in water. The source of the water was later discovered to be a main break.Water pours out of the ground near Wells Branch in north Austin after an apparent

Man who went viral for driving during Zoom court hearing in trouble again

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Detroit-area man whose May court appearance on a driving offense went viral when he appeared by video from behind the wheel was arrested Wednesday for the same violation years earlier in a different community.The man was in a court near Ann Arbor for a follow-up hearing on a charge of driving with a suspended license when Judge J. Cedric Simpson said there was a 2015 warrant for his arrest in Allen Park, a Detroit suburb.The man was taken to jail by a co

Cicadas being infected with STD that turns them into hyper-sexual 'zombies'

CHICAGO (WGN) — A sexually transmitted disease that is said to turn cicadas into "zombies" and causes their genitals to fall off has been detected in southern parts of Illinois and is spreading throughout the Midwest.
The fungal infection, called Massospora cicadina, targets only the 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas. This year’s “cicada-geddon” is brought to us by one each of Brood XIII, which is primarily in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, and Brood XIX, which extends so

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Are giant parachuting spiders spreading in the US this summer?

NEW YORK (WPIX/Nexstar) — They're giant, invasive, and able to parachute through the air in what can only be described as an arachnophobe's greatest fear. These spiders, better known as Joro spiders, have already been spotted in multiple states, but could they be coming to an area near you any time soon?Joro spiders, or Trichonephila clavata, are native to Asia. They've been in the U.S. for at least a decade, having already invaded Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Re

Did you know Creed hosts a cruise?

(NEXSTAR) — Creed, the late 1990s post-grunge/quasi-Christian rock band once considered the worst band of the nineties, is still touring — and welcoming fans with arms wide open onto the wide open seas.Recently, the band reunited for a 90s-themed cruise experience, which proved to be so popular, they're doing it again next year. The S.S. Creed (not the boat's actual name) is set to sail from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas, on April 9, 2025, and offer guests four nights of music and experie

Bird flu detected in Austin wastewater

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Public Health announced Thursday that the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute had detected traces of H5N1, or bird flu, in the city's wastewater, according to a press release.The agency said that the "risk to the public remains low," and that no human cases have been reported locally.
"The detection of influenza viruses in wastewater does not necessarily indicate undetected human cases," APH said in its release. "Influenza in wastewater can also come from other so

Leander trainer, dog win 5 medals at agility championship in France

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A Leander dog agility trainer and her 4-year-old Border Collie/Papillon mix earned five medals at the 2024 World Agility Championship in France, which occurred between April 30 and May 4.Courtney Moore and Rayn’s Everything’s Better with Butter (AKA “Butter”) brought home three gold medals for All-Around Championship, Gamblers and Snooker, one silver medal for Biathlon and one bronze medal in Jumping at the event.The duo were members of Team

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Potential largest-ever, rare fish washes ashore on Oregon beach

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A fairly newly discovered species of fish has washed ashore on the Oregon Coast — and it could be the largest specimen sampled to date.The fish measuring at 7 feet and 3 inches was found on Gearhart Beach just outside of Seaside on Monday. Seaside Aquarium said the finding caused “quite a stir” online, bringing flocks of people to the area to see the fish in person.The rare hoodwinker sunfish washed ashore near Seaside on the Oregon Coast on Monday

Austin Pickle Ranch announces closure of downtown location

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A popular pickleball court in downtown Austin announced its sudden closure on social media Friday.Austin Pickle Ranch, located at 1717 West Sixth St., announced the downtown location was closing, effective immediately.
Effective immediately, the Austin Pickle Ranch West 6th location will be permanently closing. Despite our extensive efforts and negotiations, we were unable to secure the necessary city zoning permissions to continue operations. We have worked tirelessly, explorin

Texas law sets new data security rules for businesses, expands privacy protections

Note: The video above is a KXAN file video from Jan. 5 about what to do during a data breach.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas businesses will need to be more careful with how they handle consumer data or face fines under a law that takes effect in July.The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) was passed during the 2023 regular legislative session. It allows Texas residents to ask for their data, as well as what is being done with that data. It also requires that consumers have a way to opt out

APD interim chief will retire after chief position filled

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Friday, June 7, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After nearly 27 years with the City of Austin, Austin interim Police Chief Robin Henderson said she will not apply for the full-time police chief position. Instead, she will retire once a new police chief is hired, City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a city memo.Henderson took over the role of interim chief in August 2023, following the retirement of Chief Joseph Chacon.‘Tremend

Looking for a free summer camp? Summer Playgrounds Program has you covered

AUSTIN (KXAN) - With school out of session, many families in Central Texas are searching for affordable ways for their children to beat the heat during the summer. The City of Austin is offering the Summer Playgrounds program as a solution. It is a free, drop-in program that begins June 10 - August 2, 2024 for children 5-12 years old. The program is Monday through Friday, from 9-5 p.m.LIST: Central Texas schools giving out free summer meals for kidsOrganizers say Summer Playgrounds is aimed at

State, local leaders cut ribbon on Samsung Highway in Taylor

TAYLOR, Texas (KXAN) -- Leaders at the state and local level gathered in Williamson County Friday morning to celebrate the completion of the Samsung Highway and other area road projects.
Williamson County, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Samsung Corporation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday on the Samsung Highway near County Road 404.
Gov. Abbott was there, along with Samsung Vice President and President of Taylor Project Dr. Chanhoon Park, Williamson County Judge Bill

Westwood High School debate team takes home the national championship win

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Westwood High School debate team broke records in April, becoming the first in the school's history to win the national championship.
Seniors Ishan Sharma and Ayush Tripathi took home the title after competing against a Nashville team in the Tournament of Champions (TOC) at the University of Kentucky. The TOC is a coveted high school debate tournament held each year at the University of Kentucky, lasting for four days.
Sharma and Tripathi's win marks the sixth time a Te

ATCEMS: 2 taken to hospital after crash results in person being partially ejected from vehicle

AUSTIN (KXAN) — First responders arrived at a scene in north Austin after a single-vehicle crash resulted in a person being partially ejected from a vehicle.According to Austin-Travis County EMS, the crash occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. in the 12400 block of north Interstate 35 heading south, which is near the Parmer Lane exit.In total, two patients were involved, including the one who was partially ejected from the vehicle. That patient was declared a trauma alert by medics, accordi

Flood insurance now more affordable in Austin

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Friday, June 7, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Residents can get a 25% discount on most flood insurance policies in Austin after a recent change to the city’s score in the Community Rating System.According to the city, eligible policies issued or renewed on or after October 1 can receive the discount.Williamson County now has more floodplains, study explains whyOn May 29, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

2024 STAAR results show Texas students' 'steady performance'

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News' top morning headlines from Friday, June 7, 2024.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas Education Agency released its results for the Spring 2024 STAAR test, showing mostly "steady performance" by students since the test's redesign in 2023, according to a Friday morning press release.“The 2024 STAAR End-of-Course results highlight both the progress Texas students and educators have made and the challenges that remain to help students improve outcomes, whi

Second mosquito pool in southeast Austin tests positive for West Nile

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A second mosquito pool in southeast Austin has tested positive for West Nile Virus within two weeks of the first positive test result of the year in Austin-Travis County, according to officials with Austin Public Health. The agency is urging people to take caution against mosquitoes since peak season is May through November.The positive result was in the 78744 zip code and came from the same mosquito trap as Travis County's first positive pool, which was reported May 28, accordi

Harriet Tubman sculpture to be on display in Bastrop to honor Juneteenth

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) -- As part of the City of Bastrop's Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, a nine-foot-tall sculpture of Harriet Tubman will be on display in Texas for the first time since its creation.The "Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom"sculpture by Wofford Sculpture Studio will be on display at the Kerr Community Gardens starting June 15 through August.Juneteenth celebration, remembrance day held at Austin’s first Black cemeteryThe sculpture portrays Tubman protecting a youn

Texas Democratic Convention kicks off in El Paso

EL PASO (Nexstar) — Thousands of Texas Democrats are expected to convene at the state party's convention in El Paso for a weekend of organizing ahead of a contentious election season.The convention's program reveals the messages the party intends to impress upon voters as they ramp up to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Among the planned speakers and panelists are elected representatives at the state and federal level, as well as advocates across a variety of issues on which Democrats plan to

Swim team coach urges water safety after agency finds racial disparities in child drownings

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The latest research from the Consumer Product Safety Commission found more than 6,500 near-drownings landed children younger than 15 in the hospital and the number of fatal drownings is on the rise.
“Our latest data shows nearly 400 children drowning under the age of 15,” said Nikki Flemming with the CPSC.The agency also found racial disparities in child drownings.“Unfortunately, we're still seeing too many African American children dying at disproportionate ra

Research to Reality? UT Austin students look into passenger high speed rail in Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group of graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin have spent the last year researching the viability of high speed rail in Texas.
KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes met with one of those students to learn what they discovered.In a dream scenario, there would have been high speed passenger rail between Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas built decades and decades ago. But that doesn't mean it's not a possibility in the future, and those graduate students are ho

Artificial intelligence in the gym; how potatoes and robots are getting in shape for the AI future

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Robots are getting in their reps at the University of Texas. Within the Anna Hiss Gymnasium, the team at Texas Robotics, a group of UT researchers and students, is using artificial intelligence to train and control the next wave of robots."One of the tasks is for the robot to be able to take the bowl and put it on the table and pour some cereal into the bowl," said Professor Peter Stone while watching one robot work its way through a mock apartment. Its wheels rolling over an ol

Construction on FM 812 upgrades could begin as early as 2027, TxDOT says

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Following a public hearing in January, officials with the Texas Department of Transportation said improvements to Farm to Market 812 could begin as early as 2027.TxDOT has proposed substantial upgrades along the roadway between U.S. Highway 183 in Travis County and State Highway 21 in Bastrop County, including enhancements to a sliver of Farm to Market 973 from north of McAngus Road to south of FM 812. That proposed project comes as traffic along FM 812 has fa

Austin charter school applies for dormancy period to fix building issues

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A public charter school in north Austin filed for a dormancy period with the Texas Education Agency and is telling its students they need to find another school for the upcoming academic year.
Jubilee Wells Branch, a pre-K through 12th grade public charter school, said it applied for the dormancy so it could fix issues with the building, including the A/C units, leaking roofs and walls. The news came as a shock to parents.
"We're heartbroken. Our children grew up since Kinder to

Insight: How severe weather across Texas impacts the ongoing drought

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas has faced a barrage of severe weather recently, and families across the state have been impacted by flooding, loss of power, damaging winds and more.
Despite the recent torrential rainfall and storms, drought remains an ongoing concern and requires more than isolated downpours to be resolved. Texas Water Utilities Vice President of Engineering Todd Danielson spoke to KXAN about what crews are doing during the drought and what small changes Texans can make to minimize droug

Man accused of shipping protected turtles faces 25 years prison

NEW YORK (NewsNation) — A New York man faces federal charges after he allegedly shipped protected species of turtles from the U.S. to China for the pet trade black market, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Russell Milis, 26, of New York City, was charged with two counts of smuggling goods from the U.S. and one count of violating the Lacey Act, a conservation law aimed at preventing the illegal trade of fish, wildlife and plants.1.2M rechargeable lights recalled nationwide after

Oklahoma wins record fourth straight NCAA softball title, beating Texas 8-4 for 2-game sweep

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma slugged its way to a record fourth straight NCAA softball title, getting a go-ahead, bases-clearing double from Cydney Sanders and beating Texas 8-4 on Thursday night for a two-game sweep of the Women’s College World Series championship.
The Sooners won their eighth title overall, all under coach Patty Gasso, and moved into a tie with Arizona for the second-most national championships behind UCLA's 12.
Second-seeded Oklahoma (59-7) scored eight runs in e

'I am heavily armed,' Las Vegas bank robber showed tellers notes with iPad: police

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A man accused of robbing a Las Vegas bank and attempting to rob another allegedly used an iPad to display his demand notes to tellers, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.Donald Malone, 53, faces charges of robbery, burglary and attempted robbery, documents said.Over 1.2M rechargeable lights sold nationwide recalled after death, firesOn Wednesday, May 29, Malone allegedly displayed a prewritten note on an iPad to a teller at a bank on Sunset Roa