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How Austin's 'lakes' got their names

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – With its dazzling views, miles of lush trails and recreational activities that allow folks to escape the summer heat, Lady Bird Lake is a true oasis nestled beneath the gleaming towers of Austin’s downtown. If you’re like me, when you first moved to Austin, you may have wondered to yourself, “But is it called 'Lady Bird Lake' or 'Town Lake?' And is it even a lake?” If you’re still confused, here is some historical context on how the “lakes” in Austin were formed and named. MORE: Things you may not know about historic Barton Springs Lake Austin Before we had any lakes in Austin, there was only the Colorado River. That changed in 1893 when a dam was built and formed Lake Austin, which at the time was referred to as Lake McDonald.“It was named after [John McDonald], the mayor who really was seen as being an impetus for getting the dam going,” said Sarah Marshall, who works with the Historic Preservation and Tourism Program for the Austin Parks and Recreation...

A bright week to end the year

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Merry Christmas from David, Jim, Kristen, Nick, Sean, and me. We hope you have a good day celebrating with family and friends.The second of two cold fronts has passed through Central Texas leaving a cold northwest to north wind. After highs that made it to the low 70s yesterday, today's daytime maximum temperatures won't get out of the 50s.Rain was plentiful on Sunday with most of our reporting stations recording more than one inch. The highest daily rain total was at a gauge in Burnet where 2.99" was measured.A record rain was measured at Austin Bergstrom International Airport where 1.66" was recorded, easily breaking the former record of 1.48" set in 1975. Camp Mabry recorded 1.28" Sunday adding to the rains Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. In all, 1.89" was measured during that four-day period.Some of the higher four-day rain totals:3.26" Burnet2.87" Round Rock2.79" Georgetown2.52" Giddings2.46" Hamilton Creek near Marble FallsToday will be partly cloudy with thos...

Texas State takes on Rice in SERVPRO First Responders Bowl, Bobcats' first-ever bowl game

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For the first time in FBS program history, the Texas State Bobcats are playing a game outside of the regular season.Texas State (7-5, 4-4 Sun Belt) will take on Rice (6-6, 4-4 American Athletic) Tuesday in the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. The opening kick is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.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/newslettersThe Bobcats are led by the nation's most productive all-purpose back, sophomore Ismail Mahdi. He averaged 167.83 all-purpose yards per game to lead FBS and was the only FBS player to amass more than 2,000 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving and kick returns). Quarterback TJ Finley had a nice season with 273.92 passing yards per game, No. 19 in FBS, and he helped guide the Bobcats offense to its most total yardage in FBS program history at 5,661.Head coach GJ Kinne turned t...

'We Can Now' fighting to end homelessness in Austin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The fight to end homelessness in Austin continues, but it's not an easy fix.It takes a coordinated effort from several groups, and it is a continuous fight to make sure once people get off the streets, they stay off the streets."We Can Now" is one of the nonprofits working to make that happen."This is the house," said Carol Parks, who recently experienced homelessness. "This is it. This is for me and my son."Parks takes pride in her new apartment, which she just moved into."Home is where the story begins, and that is home. This is home," Parks said as she pointed to a sign in her kitchen.Parks smiles every time she says the word "home," but at one point in her life, that word seemed unattainable."The economy has been rough on Austin," said Parks. "The rent was so high, and it was hard for me to maintain with kids, so that is when I fell short."When she fell short, Antony Jackson stepped in to help. He helped pay her deposit and offered help with furniture and even ga...

San Bernardino County deputy sheriff arrested for drug possession

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

A veteran with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department has resigned after authorities found him high on drugs with a gun inside a car with a former colleague, authorities said.Jonathan Campos, 32, faces two felony gun and narcotics charges. In mid-November, authorities received a tip that Campos and former San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputy Ricardo Baires, 32, were “involved in drug activity,” the department said in a news release.Narcotics detectives picked up the case and, on Dec. 17, investigators found Baires and Campos sitting inside Baires' vehicle in an empty housing development in Hesperia."Campos was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance which was suspected of being cocaine," the department said. "Although Campos was off-duty at the time of the incident, he was in possession of a firearm."Suspected cocaine and paraphernalia that "indicated sales" were located inside Baires' vehicle, and drug paraphernalia was also found at Campos' residence, aut...

Three-bedroom home sells in San Jose for $3 million

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

1027 South Blaney Avenue – Google Street ViewThe property located in the 1000 block of South Blaney Avenue in San Jose was sold on Dec. 1, 2023. The $3,005,000 purchase price works out to $1,687 per square foot. The house, built in 1956, has an interior space of 1,781 square feet. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two baths. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. Additionally, the home includes a two-car garage.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:In August 2022, a 1,265-square-foot home on West Riverside Way in San Jose sold for $1,900,000, a price per square foot of $1,502. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On West Riverside Way, San Jose, in April 2023, a 1,265-square-foot home was sold for $2,652,000, a price per square foot of $2,096. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,173-square-foot home on the 1000 block of Belvedere Lane in San Jose sold in December 2022, for $2,749,000, a price per square foo...

Palestinian medical officials say death toll from Israeli airstrike in central Gaza has risen to 106

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medical officials say death toll from Israeli airstrike in central Gaza has risen to 106.Source

Denver weather: Cool and breezy before quick Tuesday snow

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – Sunshine is back early on Christmas Day before the wind picks up, clouds increase and snow moves in for Tuesday morning.Weather today: Chilly with a late breezeSunny skies are in Denver for Christmas morning, but clouds will increase through the afternoon as the wind picks up. Highs are below average in the low 30s with the wind making it feel cooler later in the day. Over 400 flights canceled, delayed at DIA on Christmas Eve Weather tonight: Cloudy with morning snowClouds linger overnight with a breezy wind out of the northwest at 10-15 mph. Lows on Monday night will dip into the upper teens with light snow arriving in the morning hours.Looking ahead: Tuesday snow and wind, then warmingDenver could see a quick dose of snow on Tuesday morning, totaling possibly up to an inch of snow. Winds will be breezy through Tuesday with partly cloudy skies and highs in the low 40s. Snow chances are better across the Eastern Plains where there is a blizzard warning from 11 p.m....

LATE DAY CHRISTMAS SHOWERS

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

Merry Christmas, South Florida!Hopefully everyone had a great Christmas Eve surrounded by loved ones. While showers kicked off our holiday, they finally fizzled by the middle to late afternoon and allowed for outdoor activities on Noche Buena. But while the second half of the day was salvaged, it left many across South Florida noticing that the weather pattern is starting to change. This morning on Christmas, South Florida woke up to mild conditions and a touch more humidity than in previous days. And while there were a few showers around our area, most of our area started off on the quiet and breezy side.Now that Christmas is upon us, let’s talk about the weather that is about to unfold for South Florida. The above mentioned change in weather pattern will begin later today. Cloudy skies and a brisk breeze will limit warming throughout the day and keep temperatures mild in the upper 70s to near 80. A complex series of storm systems and fronts will be approaching Florida for the next...

U.S. Navy sailor’s holiday reunion in Jacksonville

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:11:33 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WSVN) — In a touching Christmas reunion, U.S. Navy Sailor Alyanna Nelson is back in the States for the first time in over seven months, surprising her family with an emotional return home in Jacksonville. The heartfelt moment fulfilled a Christmas wish for a family joyfully reunited just in time for the holidays.Kim Mueller, Alyanna’s mother, expressed the overwhelming joy of having her daughter home. “I miss her so much,” she said with tears of joy in her eyes. “It is unexplainable as a parent that you don’t see your child. I am just so happy that you are home and in my arms.”Alyanna Nelson, stationed in Virginia Beach, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 2022. Despite her challenging role, she remains deeply connected to her family, particularly her mother, who describes Alyanna as her “first born” and “everything.”Returning home on Saturday morning, Alyanna shared her excitement. “It was ve...