Austin Texas News

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Parks officials and Austin city leaders gathered at the Onion Creek Metropolitan Park Sunday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling the new Yarrabee Bend. The new part of the park features nearly 190 acres of natural parkland and recreational space for all to enjoy. On Saturday Tom Herrera joined dozens of people for the unveiling. Herrera has already utilized the park and says he looks forward to taking his…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – “It’s just a little disappointing that they already had their minds made up today,” said Deanne Breedlove, a Lake Austin homeowner. Property owners addressed City Council Thursday morning: frustrated by their elected officials. “I find it egregious that we were informed of this decision less than 2 weeks ago in the paper and it was divisive and inflammatory as if we were stealing from the poor,” said one property…

96° × News Local Texas US & World Politics Featured Videos Body exhumed due to possible link to serial killer ‘Freedom city’ policies bring misdemeanor arrests down by more than 60 percent Today’s forecast from the FOX 7 Weather team Vet issues summer walk warning after treating dog with burned off paw pads Most Recent Stories Body exhumed due to possible link to serial killer ‘Freedom city’ policies bring misdemeanor arrests down by more than…

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – After a recent drowning, safety was the main concern of officials overseeing a triathlon at Lake Pflugerville over the weekend. Prior to the start of the race all contestants were warned of the underwater dangers. One triathlon athlete says he wasn’t sure if the event was going to happen after a dive team recovered a body from Lake Pflugerville where a kayaker went missing. Pflugerville police say severe weather…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – You drink it, you swim in it, water is the key to life. “Austin has a history of protecting its water quality and making that water quality good for future generations,” said Spencer Cronk, Austin City Manager. With troubling floods that continue to plague the region, city officials are tasked with protecting the quality of our water each and every day. “Using the 2018 bond money that overwhelmingly passed…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – State plumbing regulations will stay in place for now after Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order to keep the Texas State Board of Plumbing from shutting down. Abbott cited the continuing recovery from Hurricane Harvey. The Texas State Board of Plumbing was on track to shut down by September of this year after lawmakers failed to renew it during the most recent session.  The board is responsible for…

71° × News Local Texas US & World Politics Featured Videos Austin considering citywide ban on cat declawing procedures EF2 tornado hit Copperas Cove Sunday Storm rips roof off home near Lockhart Parents speak out after shots fired at UT apartment complex Most Recent Stories Austin considering citywide ban on cat declawing procedures EF2 tornado hit Copperas Cove Sunday Storm rips roof off home near Lockhart Parents speak out after shots fired at UT apartment…

NOAA scientists are forecasting this year’s Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” – an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish – to be roughly the size of Massachusetts. (Photo credit: NOAA)  NOAA scientists are forecasting this year’s Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” – an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish – to be roughly the size of Massachusetts. (Photo credit: NOAA)  NEW ORLEANS – There’s a “dead zone”…

COPPERAS COVE, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF2 tornado hit Copperas Cove Sunday evening. The tornado damaged about 200 homes in the northwest part of town, but no injuries have been reported. It touched down around 5:30 p.m. June 9, leaving behind a trail of destruction more than a mile long.  “Our home took the brunt of this block,” said BJ Taylor, who lives on Colorado Drive.  Now, blue…

LOCKHART, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Many people in the Lockhart area are still recovering following last night’s storm. The winds were strong enough to rip the roof off of a home as well as knock over trees. “It hasn’t sunk in, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” said Veronique Matthews. She was left to pick up the pieces after Sunday’s storm tore through her home near Lockhart. The roof gone and piles…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Operations chief Chuck Jones joined the Texas A&M task force back in 1997 and he knew why it was his calling. “Being part of the task force is the opportunity to help people in their worst days, when they’re having or experiencing the worst time in their life,” Jones said. “To be able to be there and help those individuals is extremely fulfilling.” With that motivation in mind, he continues to…

LIBERTY HILL, Texas — **The video above is from damage during the same storm event in Lockhart, Texas.** The National Weather Service for Austin/San Antonio confirmed on Monday that a tornado touched down near Liberty Hill Sunday night. Storms moved through the area Sunday evening and at 6:34 p.m., it has been confirmed that a tornado touched down near Liberty Hill. The NWS confirmed the tornado based on eyewitness reports and tree damage pictures sent…

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – UPDATE: According to the Pflugerville Police Department, the search has now transitioned into a recovery as of 9:39 p.m. Authorities are searching for a female kayaker on Lake Pflugerville Sunday evening. The Pflugerville Police Department received a call June 9 at 6:46 p.m. about a potential drowning at Lake Pflugerville. According to a release from the city, a female in her 20s in a kayak was carried into deeper water as…

AUSTIN, Texas — LIVE BLOG: A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Kingsland, Llano and Buchanan Dam until 10 p.m. There’s also one in effect for Austin, Pflugerville and Wells Branch until 10:15 p.m. In San Marcos, Kyle and Buda, the warning is in effect until 10:30 p.m. Until 10:45 p.m., a Flash Flood Warning is in effect for Fredericksburg, Harper and Stonewall. In New Braunfels, San Marcos and Kyle, a severe Thunderstorm Warning…

AUSTIN, Texas — A weak cold front made it’s way into Central Texas and was the trigger mechanism we needed for severe storms to erupt over the viewing area.  Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for several counties earlier, but have all since expired. Numerous reports of pea and quarter size hail were reported around the metro. The storms have exited most of Central Texas almost as quickly as they arrived.  Below are rainfall totals from…