Austin Texas News

LLANO, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – It’s been four months since October’s historic flooding along the Llano River. For many, cleanup efforts are still ongoing in Llano County and rebuilding is underway. Saturday, the Llano Chamber of Commerce hosted a benefit concert to help flood survivors like Bill and Laura Villella. Back in October flood waters poured into their home trapping the couple inside. “We were stuck in the house for three and half hours before we got rescued with…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – In about two weeks, Austin’s Watershed Protection Department will begin clearing out homeless camps that are considered a threat to those living there or others.  The six-month pilot program includes first responders, environmental groups and social service providers to help connect people in the camps to resources that can help them.  On any given night in Austin, there are more than 2,000 people experiencing homelessness.  “It’s an issue that’s…

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Senate Bill 762: It’s called the “Texas Small Business Protection Act” “Businesses come here for minimal regulations, for freedom.  And if we start putting burdensome regulations on them, there goes our economy,” said Senator Donna Campbell (R) New Braunfels. Senator Campbell filed the bill Tuesday morning.  If passed the legislation would prohibit cities like Austin and San Antonio from putting their mandated sick leave policies in place. Austin’s earned sick…

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump laced his State of the Union speech with puffed-up numbers and partial truths Tuesday as he hailed an “economic miracle,” warned of human traffickers flooding across the border and appeared to place Afghanistan in the Middle East instead of where it is, Asia. Trump used information selectively in claiming a drop in drug prices not seen in half a century and promised the nation it would see bountiful benefits…

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – A fire…underground. Cell phone video from early Sunday morning shows smoke coming from manholes and storm drains at Riverside and Willow Creek Drive. Firefighters found mattresses and other debris burning. The cause: undetermined according to AFD. The storm drain tunnel there at Willow Creek  is a homeless camp.  On Tuesday morning there were still some people living under there.   Last week, days before the fire, Austin City Council Member…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of partying on a beach in Puerto Rico – with lobbyists, no less – while he sat in the White House over the weekend ready to work out a deal to end the federal shutdown. It’s not true. Pelosi didn’t go to Puerto Rico or any beach. Like Trump, she spent the weekend in snow-bound Washington. In recent days, Trump and allies twisted a…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn said in a visit to Austin Friday that the president is trying his best to find a solution to the government shutdown and secure the border at the same time. The two visited with President Trump during his stop in Texas on Thursday. “The Democrats’ position is and remains, hell no, they won’t compromise, they won’t talk. They will insist the government is shut down…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – A popular eatery on Lake Travis is back in business today after the October flood damaged the restaurant and kept it closed for months. Cynthia Oliver and her friends were the first customers welcomed back to Sundancer Grill Thursday morning. The restaurant has been closed since mid-October when flooding in the Highland Lakes took a toll on Lake Travis. “Oh my gosh I was depressed for a while! Because I…

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – The regular session of the Texas legislature got underway Tuesday shortly after noon.  With lawmakers now back in town Governor Greg Abbott issued a welcome and a warning.  He told both House and Senate members the hard work before them will not be limited just to education reform and property tax cuts. “We must address the challenges of the shootings that take place in our schools, to make sure our…

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Barton Springs Pool is set to reopen Wednesday, Jan. 9., at noon after flooding shut down the area. According to a press release from Austin Parks and Recreation the pool will reopen at noon and will remain open Thursday “instead of closing for the normal cleaning day.”  Park officials also announced Tuesday that Deep Eddy will resume normal operating hours beginning Thursday, Jan. 10.  

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Legislature opens with Republicans having smaller majorities in both chambers as a result of electoral defeats, which suggests that hot-button social issues could take a back seat to such matters as fixing the state’s flawed school finance system, cutting property taxes and paying for Hurricane Harvey recovery. That might mean fewer culture clashes over immigration and a “bathroom bill” targeting transgender people, but making progress on lowering taxes and…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – This isn’t your average pet adoption story. “The 6 dogs we got from Mexico was sold from a pound down there, sold to a non-disclosed laboratory university we were fortunate enough to have a group of people down there. They go to these places and ask if they have any dogs ready to be relinquished.” Martin Palmer is a volunteer at Rescue + Freedom Project saves animals all around…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Dashcam video from a Manor police officer shows a high speed response late Wednesday night to a swift water rescue on Gregg Lane. Manor Police Chief Ryan Phipps said the rescue call pulled his officer from another emergency; a wreck being cleared on Hwy 290. For the Chief, a low water crisis like this one is entirely avoidable.  “The time it’s taken to go out and put out barricades…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – All of the rain Wednesday caused problems across Central Texas. Dozens of roads were closed due to flooding, rocks fell from a cliff on 2222 reducing traffic to one lane, and a flood gate at Tom Miller Dam is partially open. Around 200 crossing were closed according to ATX floods. In the pouring rain, traffic westbound was rescued to one lane on 2222 near Paradox Cove as rocks fell…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – With steady rain falling, barricades at low-water crossings quickly went up. Most of the closings were at usual locations like this neighborhood in Cedar Park. The roads are near the intersection of Highway 183 and New Hope Road. No homes were flooded but several yards had standing water in them, swamping play areas. Residents like Debbie Reed were not worried. They were keeping a watchful eye on the nearby creek. Conditions…