Austin Texas News

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…

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – The city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced Sunday that Barton Springs Pool will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 1 at 5a.m. after shutting down earlier this week because of heavy rains and flooding. Deep Eddy and Barton Springs pools will resume normal operating hours beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2.   Park officials want to remind visitors to use caution when swimming, no lifeguards will be on duty, so swim at your own risk. 

AUSTIN,Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – The Lower Colorado River Authority will lower lakes LBJ and Marble Falls for the first 8-weeks of 2019. During that time, property owners along the Colorado and Llano Rivers can begin repairing and rebuilding from the heavy rain and flooding earlier this year. Sunday through Feb. 23, lake LBJ will be dropped 4 feet and lake Marble Falls will be lowered 7 feet. Residents will have time to remove debris…

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Julie Roush Butler says God was with her Thursday morning as she waited for rescue in cold rushing water in northwest Austin. “I don’t know what to say other than I don’t usually ever cross those water crossings but it seemed so not very wide,” Butler said. Palmer Buck, Division Chief with the Austin Fire Department says they got a call around 1 Thursday morning from Butler saying her…

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Water levels are about to drop over at Marble Falls and Lake LBJ. Following the devastating flooding in October, the LCRA is going to make it easy for victims to make repairs to damaged property along the shoreline. December 30th, Sunday, the LCRA will begin dropping the lake levels at lake Marble Falls and Lake LBJ about 1 foot a day, this will give residents a chance to…

GEORGETOWN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – Most of Central Texas was under a tornado watch Wednesday. With the potential for hail, damaging straight line winds and possible isolated tornadoes, people here are not taking any changes. There’s a storm brewing over Central Texas. “It’s not uncommon a big storm anytime of the year here in central Texas,” said Joe Sponsel who lives in Georgetown. With the rain falling and winds begin if to howl many…