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'Meaningful' bill protecting patient safety coming thanks to KXAN investigation, lawmaker says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for March 10, 2023. See Reporter Matt Grant's investigation tonight at 9 and 10.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A state representative says she filed a "meaningful" patient safety bill in direct response to a series of KXAN investigations into systems that allow problem doctors to keep practicing in Texas. "KXAN uncovered a problem, brought it to my attention," said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch. "We discussed. I met with policy holders. We've come together to form, I think, a piece of legislation that can make a meaningful impact into health safety and patient safety."On a cloudy day at the Texas Capitol, advocates point to Johnson's bill as a bright spot. If passed, House Bill 1998 would require the Texas Medical Board to continually search the National Practitioner Data Bank for up-to-date physician disciplinary and criminal records — ensuring both that they are made public faster and stopping doctors with licenses revo...

2023 already off to a record start at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin's airport saw explosive growth in 2022 as passenger numbers rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, and then some.A record 21,089,289 passengers were recorded flying out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport last year.We're keeping track of all the numbers in what is set to be another busy year at AUS. Follow along with our interactive charts below. Passenger growth at Austin’s airport is hitting forecasts five years ahead of schedule We have created several interactive charts to help break down the data so it's easier to navigate all the passenger numbers. Scroll down to explore all the data, or jump to a specific question using these links:What’s the busiest year on record?What’s the busiest month on record?What’s the busiest day on record?Which airline carries the most passengers?Which airlines are seeing the most growth?What new routes are coming in 2023?.anchor_me{ position:relative; }.anchor_me span { position:absolute; top:-120px;}ul.kxan_bullets { ...

Temperatures warm as spring officially begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Our recent cold snap hung on tight through the first official day of spring on Monday. It was Austin's coldest spring equinox in 40 years -- only climbing to 57 degrees under cloudy skies. BLOG: April showers: Here's the outlook for Central Texas NEW BLOG: Monday could be one of our coldest spring equinoxes in Austin A warming trend begins overnight into Tuesday as breezy south-southeasterly winds warm temperatures drastically. High temperatures return to more seasonable 70s on Tuesday with a bit of mist and drizzle early, then the 80s for the rest of the work week.First Warning: Next Threat of Severe ThunderstormsWe are tracking another western storm heading our way late this week, prompting a risk of severe thunderstorms in parts of our area.Forecast Friday morning with rain and thunderstorms possibleWe are currently expecting the bulk of the rain and thunderstorms after midnight Thursday night, through the morning commute Friday. Rainfall amounts look to ave...

Groups announced for final WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament at Austin Country Club

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Former Texas Longhorns golfer Scottie Scheffler is back to defend his WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play championship as the No. 1 seed in the tournament that begins Wednesday at Austin Country Club.Scheffler leads a star-studded group of professional golfers in the final year of the event being on the PGA Tour schedule. In two appearances at the tournament, Scheffler has advanced to the championship match both times, beating Kevin Kisner last year to win the title and finishing runner-up to Billy Horschel in 2021. He's currently No. 1 in the World Golf Rankings and is coming off a win at The Players Championship.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/newslettersNine of the top 10 players in the World Golf Rankings will appear at the tournament with No. 10 Justin Thomas as the lone top-10 player not coming to Austin. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Xande...

Austin Public Health giving $50 gift cards for COVID shots, boosters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Public Health is upping its incentive for Travis County residents to get their COVID vaccinations, the health authority announced Monday.Travis County residents can get $50 Visa gift cards in exchange for getting any COVID-19 vaccine dose, including first, second and booster shots. Visa gift cards can be used anywhere they are accepted.APH said it previously gave gift cards to people who get their first and second doses, but the COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Program is expanding to people getting booster doses. The health department said there is a decrease in COVID-19 vaccine demand and that vaccine rates are static in low-income communities and Travis County areas with limited clinic access. APH said about 38% of Austin-Travis County residents have received an additional dose after the primary series. Also, 59.6% of Black residents, 39.6% of Hispanic residents and 37.4% of White residents are unvaccinated.“With the Public Health Emergency set to end in May, the...

Austin City Council eyes changes after winter storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council has 85 items on its Thursday agenda this week, with several of them eying changes following last month's ice storm. Here's some of what we're watching: Underground utility line feasibility study After the February ice storm led to millions of damaged trees and hundreds of thousands of Austinites without power, Austin City Council could direct the city to look into burying power lines. Why don’t we just bury the power lines to stop winter outages? Austin City Council will consider the measure at its March 23 council meeting. If approved, the city will conduct a feasibility study and develop a long-term plan to prioritize the conversions “for high-priority uses and areas without new construction opportunities.”“We need to increase resilience as a city for our electrical grid,” Council Member Ryan Alter, who brought the proposal forward, said. “I don’t foresee us as a city burying all our power lines. It’s just something that’s not ...

East Metro boys basketball Player of the Year: Lakeville North’s Nolan Winter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

Lakeville North coach John Oxton had a conversation with Nolan Winter shortly after the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign. When he started his high school career, Winter was a 6-foot-2 guard who was based on the perimeter.But a couple of massive growth spurts later, he stood at 6-foot-11. And while he still possessed many of those perimeter abilities cultivated early in his hoops career, the Panthers needed the suddenly big man to use that size a little closer to the bucket.“It was like, ‘Nolan, for us, on our team, for this year, for you, and all your buddies that you’ve been playing with your whole life, we need you on the block and you have to be an inside presence,’” Oxton recalled. “And he’s bought into that from the first time that we really emphasized that last summer.”Winter quickly went to work developing an interior game. He put in countless hours with his dad, Trevor Winter – who was a 7-foot big on the Gophers’ Final Four team in 1997. Trevor exposed Nolan to film of Ha...

One deceased following a house fire in Mendon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

MENDON, Vt. (NEWS10) -- A fire that broke out at a residence in Mendon has claimed the life of one individual. Police say Helvi Abatiell Furlan, 52, was injured during the fire and passed away at the Rutland Regional Medical Center. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police say a 17-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl were at the house but survived without injury. The Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit says the fire appeared accidental. The specific cause is undetermined.

12 vehicles broken into overnight in Berkshire County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

DALTON, Mass. (WWLP) — The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in nearly a dozen car break-ins Sunday night. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Police are asking residents to check any surveillance cameras for anything suspicious between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Sunday night. The incidents were reported on Pine Street, John Street, Curtis Avenue, Central Avenue, and Carson Avenue.The department is also reminding residents to lock their car doors. If you have any information on the incidents, you are asked to contact Dalton Police at (413) 684-0300.

Lawmakers react to controversial Clean Slate Act

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:32 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- For years, advocates have been pushing for what some call a controversial bill: The Clean Slate Act. The bill would automatically seal criminal records three years after sentencing for misdemeanors and after seven years for felonies. It would not apply to sex crimes. Advocates say existing criminal records make it nearly impossible for those who were previously incarcerated to get a job or proper housing.  Albany advocates for Clean Slate Act "Once you’ve atoned for these mistakes, you should be able to move forward and make yourself and your families whole," said Senator Jamaal Bailey. Bailey said everyone deserves a second chance and passage of the bill will lead to lower recidivism rates, "You want to stop people from committing crimes, give them a job. You want to make sure you keep people off the street, give them a job." Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said while the bill has good intentions, there are simply some crimes that should not be s...