05/15/2008 Central Texans survey damage after severe storms Homeowners in Tarrytown looked over the damage Thursday morning and began what could to be a long clean up after a massive hail storm. The storms also knocked down several trees at the State Capitol and blew out windows in the dome.

Classes at some AISD schools cancelled after power outages
Power outages caused by Wednesday night's storms forced Austin ISD officials to close several campuses on Thursday.

05/14/2008 Severe weather hits Central Texas, closes some schools Large hail and high winds pounded much of Central Texas overnight, damaging homes and cars. Power outages cancelled classes at four Austin schools and forced a late start at some others.

Testing the Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker
It's called Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker. This actual air guitar uses a special belt buckle and amplifier to let you play rock anthems from Black Sabbath, Van Halen and other bands and lets you jam to some original freestyle riffs.

Accused serial killer's sister testifies in pre-trial hearing
An accused serial killer's sister testified in a pre-trial hearing Wednesday that her brother, Paul Devoe called her and her mother in New Jersey three to four times in August of 2007 to admit that he'd shot people in Texas and was on the run.

No change in pot policy at APD -- for now
Last session, state lawmakers relaxed the rules for people caught with four ounces of pot or less, but the Austin Police Department is sticking to its old protocol, at least for now.

APD announces $1.6 million in savings
The Austin Police Department has a budget dilemma -- how to keep residents safe, while still cutting costs. Chief Art Acevedo met with the Austin City Council Wednesday.

Round Rock ISD considers millions in bonds for schools
A bond being considered will help relieve overcrowding at several other Round Rock schools. But the financial advisory committee wants the bond price to be between $225 - $300 million, which means some projects will have to be cut.

Clock ticking for woman to find dogs who attacked her The search is on for the owner of three dogs that attacked a woman and her dog outside a Northwest Austin pet store. Unless the owner comes forward, the victim may be forced into a painful and expensive rabies treatment.

Man's death at Travis Co. cell tower called accidental Residents in one Travis County neighborhood discovered a man's body suspended from a cell phone tower Wednesday morning, and sheriff's officials do not believe it was a suicide.

Hundreds of trees damaged in Salado storms Most of the damage in Salado is tree damage. Several hundred were snapped apart. While some fell on top of a few vehicles, most only clipped or missed homes all together. • Photos: Salado storm damage

Salado suffers heavy damage in morning storms Residents lost power in parts of Bell County after a powerful storm system that blew through Central Texas Wednesday morning. The storms left a path of destruction, especially in the small town of Salado. • Photos: Salado storm damage

Austin city departments expected to tighten budgets
Austin city departments Wednesday will begin presenting budget plans to the city council for next year, and officials say residents can expect to see some big cutbacks.

05/13/2008

Jessica's story
A father makes a choice to give his daughter a chance at a better life.  You’re about to meet a young girl whose story magnifies the pain of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  We follow a father as he makes a heart wrenching medical decision; a decision that could silence this young girl forever.

Battle could be brewing over budget cuts
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo will make his first budget presentation to the Council during Wednesday’s budget workshop.   Council Member Mike Martinez is looking forward to the police chief's first budget presentation and knows one of the big battles could be over money for the Austin Police Department.

Devoe's attorneys want incriminating statements suppressed from trial Testimony will resume Wednesday afternoon in a hearing for accused serial killer Paul Devoe. His attorneys are trying to convince a judge to suppress incriminating statements Devoe made to several New York police officers and members of his own family.

Man accused in killing spree appears in Travis Co. court
A Travis County district judge must decide whether statements by a man accused of killing five people in Central Texas last year can be used against him.

Red light camera revenue sits unspent
As Austin prepares for red-light camera enforcement, whether the revenue will wind up where lawmakers intended is still an open question.

AG: AISD must release more info on teacher criminal histories Following an open records request by KVUE News, the Texas Attorney General directed AISD to release more information about the criminal histories of local teachers.

Scammers target economic stimulus checks
As economic stimulus checks arrived from the IRS the Better Business Bureau delivered a warning about possible scams.

DPS honors fallen Texas officers at Austin ceremony
The Department of Public Safety honored Texas' most recent fallen officers Tuesday in Austin. The names of the 25 killed in 2007 and 2008 were read aloud at a ceremony.

Growing with Austin: Crestview Station developers hold groundbreaking Groundbreaking ceremonies were Tuesday in the Crestview Station project -- Austin's first mixed-use development that will go up adjacent to the Crestview Station commuter rail stop in North Austin.

Woman injured in Northwest Austin fire
A Northwest Austin woman barely escaped her burning home Tuesday and was listed in critical condition at Brackenridge Hospital.

Texas honors law officers killed in the line of duty
Department of Public Safety officials say 25 law officers lost their lives over the past two years in Texas, and friends and family gathered to honor them during a ceremony at the DPS Training Academy.

Cedar Park school takes precautions after threatening graffiti found
Police presence greeted Artie Henry Middle School students Tuesday morning after a threat was found on a girls' bathroom wall.

Jeep slams into East Austin home
A startling wake up call for a woman in East Austin when the driver of a Jeep slams into her home. It happened just after midnight on East 12th Street near Pleasant Valley Road.

05/12/2008

Salado hosts Bush/Hager wedding rehearsal dinner
Residents in the small town of Salado are all abuzz about their famous and unexpected visitors this past weekend.

Man refuses to hang up phone on plane It's a fact of life for fliers that you must turn off your cell phone before a plane takes off. But Joe Jones didn't on Monday, and during the flight got an emergency message about his father having a heart attack.

Background checks show some AISD teachers with criminal histories
New criminal background checks at the Austin Independent School District have uncovered hundreds of criminal histories. The district refuses to disclose which teachers have criminal arrest records saying it has to find the legal balance between teacher privacy and a parent's right to know.

Austin red light camera enforcement about to begin
Red-light camera enforcement will officially begin in Austin over the Memorial Day holiday at a number of locations around the city.

Brides, grooms going green White is no longer the only color of choice featured at weddings. In Austin, ceremonies and receptions are starting to "go green" as brides and grooms carry their sustainable lifestyles all the way down the aisle.

Eanes ISD requires all teachers to earn master's degrees
Every new teacher will have to earn a master's degree within eight years of being hired. About half of tuition and books will be paid for through the partnership program. The rest will be paid for by the student.

Tax-free weekend ahead for "green" products This Memorial Day weekend, Texas consumers will be able to save a little green by going green. State lawmakers passed a measure last session to make every Memorial Day weekend a sales tax holiday for energy efficient products.

Kyle man accused of calling in bomb threat to Hays Co. school
Rafael Zamora was arrested near Chapa Middle School Monday morning, about an hour after school resource officers say a caller told the school a bomb was set to go off.

Texas School for the Deaf employee arrested
A Texas School for the Deaf employee has been arrested and charged with having an improper relationship with a student. Shane Flournoy, a residential worker at the school, was fired after his arrest.

Man accused of indecent exposure at Williamson Co. park
A man who police say exposed himself at a Williamson County park was nabbed by undercover detectives, Williamson County sheriff's officials said Monday.

AFD: Cigarette likely caused North Austin apartment fire It happened around 2:30 Monday morning on Hearthside Drive, near Burnet Rd. and Research Boulevard. When crews arrived, there were flames shooting from the 1st and 2nd floors of the building.

05/11/2008

Deceased man recovered from dumpster
Police are trying to find out what happened to a man who was found dead in a North Austin dumpster. A friend called police this afternoon after he found the man's shoes and clothing on top of the dumpster, which is connected to a trash compactor.

Vehicle falls off I-35 bridge
A local man is in critical condition tonight after his truck veered off the highway and down a 50 foot embankment. Police say the driver was headed north on I-35 in Georgetown when he started swerving wildly.

Widow remembers husband on Mother's Day
This Mother's Day, while many are celebrating, others are remembering those no longer with us, including the family of a Travis County Sheriff's Deputy who lost his life in the line of duty.

05/10/2008

Voters approve all 3 AISD bonds totalling $344 million
Austin voters approved all three propositions to a $344 million school bond. Even though voter turnout was low Saturday, the results for the bond were overwhelming.

Leffingwell, Shade win council seats, runoff for Place 4
Three Austin City Council positions were up for grabs Saturday. Two were decided, and one will head into a runoff.

I-35 closure ends sooner than expected
After encountering some unexpected difficulties, the Texas Department of Transportation is re-opening I-35 lanes more than a day early.

Helicopter makes unplanned landing in Lake Travis
A small helicopter made what officials call an unplanned landing into Lake Travis Saturday afternoon. Its rotor touched the water, disabling the craft.

05/09/2008

Red light cameras about to hit Austin streets
KVUE News has learned that red light cameras are about to go live very soon. In an effort to reduce red light running and enhance traffic safety, the Austin City Council voted to approve installing red light cameras at selected intersections throughout the city in November 2007.  

Mixed reaction to rising gas prices in Austin Brian Lasseter, an IBM engineer is not phased by the rising gas costs. That's because the member of Austin E.V. -- electric vehicles -- just completed revamping a 2002 Saturn into a fully, efficient electric car.

Card helps protect personal information
Identity theft can strike at anytime and most consumers wouldn't even know they've been targeted. That's because thieves can easily access personal info that's encrypted into most credit cards via microchips.

Clock winds down for Austin city council candidates
There was a whole new meaning to "rush hour" on Friday, as Austin City Council candidate Randi Shade and supporters worked a downtown street corner, reminding people to vote.

Man pleads guilty in Halloween holdup
Last fall, three men armed with shotguns stormed into a Wachovia Bank in Northwest Austin. They robbed tellers and customers, forcing everyone into the bank's vault, and they took off.

Donations pour in to help Hope Alliance Shelter
Two new commercial washing machines are now up and running and the shelter's air conditioning units have been repaired until new ones can be installed.

Austin paramedic adopts foster boys Two children who have been in state foster care for years were finally adopted Friday by an Austin paramedic. Deven, 9, and Eithen, 11, are the newest additions to Christine Bancroft's family.

Voters head to polls tomorrow in municipal elections Voters in municipalities across Central Texas make their voices heard Saturday. In Austin, three city council seats and a multi-million dollar school bond package are on the ballot.

TxDOT plans weekend I-35 closures south of Austin
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to shut down I-35's northbound and southbound lanes at FM 1327 southeast of Austin beginning at 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.

05/08/2008

City initiative looking to improve Hispanic quality of life
Austin city leaders are pushing an initiative to improve Hispanic quality of life.  It will be modeled after the city led African-American Quality of Life initiative that began in 2005 and cost more than $700,000.

Video released of Benson's arrest Video released Thursday captured the moments after Cedric Benson's arrest for boating while intoxicated shows the former Longhorn great in handcuffs and still wearing his swimming trunks.

Wrongfully convicted push lawmakers for changes
Some former inmates -- convicted of crimes they didn't commit -- took part in a summit at the State Capitol Thursday, pushing for changes in the Texas criminal justice system.

Exclusive: Stray bullet strikes Hays County family's home A stray bullet struck a Hays County family's home Wednesday night, just one year after a boy was killed by a stray bullet just miles away. A bullet pierced the wall of Rolando Garcia's bathroom, shattering the shower window.

Austin to study Hispanic quality of life
Austin City Council member Mike Martinez proposed a Hispanic quality of life initiative which passed the council Thursday morning with a vote of 7 to 0. It asks the city manager to identify funding and create a structure.

Cedar Park jackpot winner makes plans for winnings
Connie Thiele, 58, put a $3 bet on a Megabucks slot machine at the Palms Casino Resort. On the very first pull, she won $21 million.

Women's shelter needs air conditioners, washing machines
A special group of moms will be facing a tough time over the Mother's Day holiday. They are the women who are staying in the Hope Alliance Emergency Shelter in Williamson County.

Judge sets bond at $1.6 million for fraud, forgery suspect
A Buda woman arrested on fraud charges now faces additional charges and will have to pay more than $1.6 million in order to bond out of jail.

Hays Co. DA: 'We got justice for these kids'
A Hays County jury on Thursday sentenced a 24-year-old father to 14 life sentences for severely abusing his young children. The sentences for Cesar Mojica are the maximum allowed by law.

Commerce secretary tours Austin stimulus check printing facility
The first mass printing of the checks is underway, and Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez toured the printing plant in Southeast Austin.

Insurance company ranks Austin 14th in teen accident study
The Austin area leads the state when it comes to deadly accidents involving teen drivers according to a study by Allstate Insurance.

Cigarette sparked Ballet Austin fire
Austin fire investigators say a discarded cigarette sparked a fire at the ballet Austin building in Central Austin. The historic building caught fire Tuesday night.

Hays Co. father sentenced to life in prison for abusing children Cesar Mojica, 24, was convicted last week on 14 counts of injury to a child, and the jury gave him life in prison for each of those counts. Prosecutors say his three young children were found malnourished and had multiple injuries.

Austin woman hits $21 million slot jackpot
Connie Thiele says she was playing a Megabucks slot machine at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas when she decided to switch to the machine next to her.

05/07/2008 Buda woman accused of forgery Hays County sheriff's deputies arrested Amber Rountree Wednesday. A local merchant suspected her of using false ID -- and called authorities.

Jurors deliberate punishment for Hays County father who abused kids
A Hays County jury Wednesday went home for the day without deciding on a sentence in a high-profile child abuse case. Jurors are deciding a punishment for Cesar Mojica, 24 -- a man they convicted last week of 14 counts of injury to a child.

Austin police crack down on jaywalkers Officers are writing tickets to everyone they see who doesn't use a crosswalk or follow the pedestrian control devices. This crackdown is happening all over Austin -- not just downtown.

Bitter city council battle could depress turnout
Going negative in politics happens at every level, but in Austin's race for City Council Place 3, the bitter back-and-forth may just keep voters at home.

Automaker offers new incentive to boost sales
Chrysler Corporation just announced it's limiting what customers pay at the pump for the next three years with the purchase of certain new models.

Police search for man missing from downtown Austin
Police say Johnny Lee Piper, 59, was reported missing Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. He moved to the Austin area two weeks ago, and police say he suffers from dementia and can become disoriented.

Police search home of UT student accused of making terroristic threats
More details have been released about the arrest of a University of Texas student accused of making threats to blow up the campus and re-create a Virginia Tech.

Elgin school educates kids with autism, family members
A school for autistic children in Elgin is growing so fast, it’s ready to expand. The school is unique in that the teacher student ratio is one on one or one on two.

Perry celebrates state UIL champions
Hundreds of high school athletes visited the State Capitol Wednesday morning as guests of Governor Rick Perry. They were celebrating "State Champion Day."

Central Texas soldier laid to rest
Hundreds gathered in Kingsland Wednesday morning to say farewell to Sergeant Mark Stone of Buchanan Dam. The 22-year-old was killed on April 28 in Baghdad.

Austin fire chief resigns
Austin Fire Chief J.J. Adame Wednesday resigned from his post. The resignation took effect immediately and comes less than 24 hours after an emergency meeting at Austin City Hall with high-ranking city officials and Adame.

Smoke damages Ballet Austin building
Firefighters say flames were kept to one room at the building near 30th and Guadalupe, but the blaze did cause quite a bit of smoke damage.

Man jumps from bridge onto highway
Police say they were arresting a man for narcotics possession Tuesday night when he slipped out of his handcuffs and took off running. He made it to the bridge at MLK and I-35 where he attempted to jump and grabbed the railing.

05/06/2008

U.T. P.D. going high-tech
The U.T. Police department is welcoming what they say is a much needed renovation officers hope will prevent a tragedy like the one at Virginia Tech in April of 2007.

Supreme Court decision fueling push for voter I.D. law in Texas
It sounds simple and a lot of states are doing it:  requiring a government-issued I.D. in order to vote.  A landmark Supreme Court decision just upheld voter I.D. laws in Indiana.  And now, it’s fueling a new push for the measure here in Texas.

San Marcos sixth-grader suspended after gun found
San Marcos officials say an assistant principal at Hernandez Intermediate School found a 38-caliber handgun in the sixth grade student’s backpack.

Latest poll shows U.S. Senate race surprisingly close
A poll by Rasmussen Reports released Monday shows the race between incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn and challenger, Democrat Rick Noriega, a lot closer than expected.

Pflugerville student accused of selling pot brownies
According to court documents, a 15-year-old student went to the nurse's office Monday complaining about a fast heart rate. Before she was taken to the hospital, she told the nurse that she ate a brownie she bought from another student.

Passengers upset after ABIA delay It may have been a case of an airline passenger bill of rights working in reverse -- when a one hour flight became a four hour ordeal at Austin Bergstrom International Airport Tuesday.

Health officials urge asthma sufferers to seek help
State health officials are concerned by the increasing number of people with asthma -- one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in Texas and a growing health concern. Experts are urging the millions of Americans and Texans suffering - to seek help.

Man injured in East Travis Co. shooting
One man was rushed to Brackenridge Hospital in critical condition. Another person escaped in a white SUV. Investigators later found the SUV, but the suspect was gone.

Police: Men who fired on officer involved in tire thefts
Pflugerville police Tuesday released composite sketches of three men wanted for firing on an officer investigating a stolen SUV. Detectives believe the three men were involved in stealing tires and after-market wheels.

Hays Co. approves sheriff's department resolution Hays County commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution to acknowledge recruitment problems at the Hays County Sheriff's Office, which says it doesn't have enough deputies to patrol the streets.

Preliminary findings released in Bartlett helicopter crash
Investigators say conditions were clear, and it appears the helicopter's tail skid and rotor hit an embankment and the helicopter rolled on its side.

05/05/2008

Former Austin Police commander trying to get his job back
A former Austin Police commander addressed the Citizens Review Panel Monday evening about changing A.P.D. disciplinary policies after he was fired in March.

Council candidate's calls questioned
Law enforcement groups waded into the bitter back-and-forth for Austin City Council Place 3, after they were the subject of a robocall from the Jennifer Kim campaign.

Central Texas communities mourn fallen soldiers
The body of Army Specialist Jeffery Nichols will arrive at the Horseshoe Bay Airport on Wednesday. From there, he will be taken by a military escort, similar to the one that took place Sunday.

Teen charged in deadly crash to wear monitoring device
The teenager who's facing multiple charges following a deadly car wreck last month is being released from the Juvenile Detention Center.

Residents on edge after possible mountain lion sighting A Sunday morning stroll for a man took a scary turn when he came face to face with what he says was a mountain lion. Wildlife experts urge residents to keep their eyes open.

Man arrested with gun, ammo at South Austin Wal-Mart
A man was arrested with a 9mm handgun and ammunition at a South Austin Wal-Mart Thursday afternoon, according to court documents, and has been charged with making a terroristic threat.

City of Austin, Villa Muse break off talks
Backers of the Villa Muse entertainment facility Monday announced negotiations to build near the City of Austin are officially over.

Details released of Benson's Lake Travis arrest
According to the affidavit, the arresting officer said former UT football player Cedric Benson had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, his eyes were bloodshot and his attitude was combative.

Driver hit, killed by SUV fleeing East Austin accident
Austin police are looking for a tan Chevrolet Tahoe with paper license plates after a fender bender turned into a fatal hit-and-run in east Austin over the weekend.

Mom accused of assaulting AISD staff member, officer
An Austin ISD middle school parent was arrested last week on charges of assaulting a school staff member. The incident happened Friday before noon at Martin Middle School in East Austin.

Services pending for fallen Central Texas soldier
Army Specialist Jeffrey Nichols, 21, of Granite Shoals died Thursday when his vehicle hit an explosive device. He leaves behind a wife and a 1 1/2-year-old son.

Reports show abuse at Texas mental hospitals
More than 70 employees at Texas' 10 state mental hospitals have been fired and dozens others disciplined since 2005 over allegations of brutal beatings and other physical abuse, according to a newspaper report.

Limo driver shot in carjacking Police say a limo driver called 9-1-1 overnight to report a carjacking. Officers say the car thieves dumped the driver along Interstate 35. He had been shot in the chest and in the stomach.

05/04/2008

TSU on alert after attempted sexual assault
Texas State University police are searching for a suspect in an attempted sexual assault. The incident happened Friday night around 9:45 in TSU's Bobcat Stadium parking lot.

"Big cat" sighted in Williamson County
A big cat was sighted in the southern part of Williamson County. Officials say it’s possibly a mountain lion.

05/03/2008

Food industry feels economic crunch
A struggling national economy hit some Austin workers especially hard. Empty tables, empty chairs, and just a handful of diners are becoming the norm for many restaurants across town. Consumers aren't dining like they used to.

05/02/2008

Two-year-old dies in apparent road rage accident
A possible case of road rage led to the death of a 2 year old child this afternoon near Kyle. This is all that's left of a car that was crushed by an 18 wheeler.  Pieces of twisted metal and personal belongings lie on the roadway.

Elgin family may sue DPS after Christmas crash kills loved one An Elgin family speaks out for the first time about a D.P.S. crash which took the life of the head of their family last December. Walter Chabert, 62, of Elgin was riding his motorcycle home after a day of hanging Christmas lights with his grandchildren when he was killed December 8, 2007.

Troopers admit wrong driver faulted in fatal crash
State troopers are admitted they said the wrong driver was at fault in a fatal crash last month-- and are now they are trying to set the record straight.

Debate over federal gas tax holiday mirrors Texas fight Presidential candidates continue their policy battle over a proposed federal gas tax holiday for the summer. But the debate isn't new. Texas lawmakers took on the issue during the waning weeks of the 2007 legislative session.

Teens indicted on capital murder charges
Three teenagers have been indicted on capital murder charges in the killing a man during a North Austin robbery. It happened in December in the parking lot of the Austin Commons Apartment Complex on Rutland Drive -- where the victim lived.

Child, 2, crushed in 18-wheeler crash in Kyle
A 2-year-old child died Friday afternoon after a car was crushed by an 18-wheeler in what could be a case of road rage. Now police are looking for a motorcycle that left the scene.

UT Remembers honors students, faculty, staff lost last year
The University of Texas honored 165 people with close ties to the school that died last year. The sound of the UT