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Jury dismissed after error in trial for Austin police officer accused of murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial of an Austin police officer accused of murder in a 2020 deadly shooting started Monday with jury selection. But an error led to the dismissal of the jury. Christopher Taylor, 31, is accused of shooting and killing Michael Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police in a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. APD officer heads to murder trial in Michael Ramos shooting Ken Ervin, one of Taylor's attorneys, told KXAN the doors to the courtroom were locked while the state was conducting jury selection Monday morning, which is not allowed.Ervin said if the error was discovered after the fact, any trial decisions—including conviction—would be reversed. He said there was no point in not dismissing the jury Monday. Testimony is expected to begin Wednesday in the trial. In July 2020, officers responded to South Pleasant Valley Road after a 911 call reported someone dealing drugs in a car. The caller also said a man had a gun, according to previous APD repo...

About 98% of Texas counties have a mental health professional shortage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Almost every county in Texas has a problem with mental health care staffing, state data shows. A Texas Department of State Health Services dashboard says 248 of 254 entire counties have mental health professional shortages, plus three more counties (Lubbock, Dallas and Nueces) have partial designations. That's 97.6% of entire Texas counties with shortages.Texas Health Professional Shortage Area dashboard. Full interactive map online. (Screenshot Texas Health and Human Services) RELATED: Texas ranks as worst state for mental healthcare in new study In Central Texas, all counties except Williamson County currently have a shortage designation. The state's behavioral health worker shortage is expected to grow, according to a 2022 strategic plan from Texas' Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council. T...

Dripping Springs ISD school board to vote on increasing school resource officers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) - More school resource officers could be coming to Dripping Springs ISD campuses. Monday night, the school board is deciding on whether it will nearly double the district's number of SROs. Dripping Springs ISD $223M bond focuses on district growth According to the agenda item, DSISD currently has four SRO positions. The school board will consider adding three more. Dripping Springs ISD portable classrooms costing $1.5M for upcoming school year The district said elementary campuses and the middle school share an SRO. If approved, this would provide more law enforcement coverage across the district.Sarah Al-Shaikh will have more on this story on KXAN News at 9 and 10.

Austin police warn of increase in 'Kia Challenge' auto thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police shared a warning Monday afternoon for people who drive either Kia or Hyundai vehicles. Detectives said they're investigating a growing number of thefts targeting those cars throughout the community. Two officers from the Austin Police Department's auto theft interdiction team said this is likely part of the "Kia Challenge" making the rounds on social media. They described this scheme as thieves exploiting a "design vulnerability" in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, which makes it easier for them to steal. Police said thieves are ripping apart the steering column, exposing the wiring and then somehow using a USB to eventually start the vehicles and drive away. Officers shared the following ways for people to better protect their property: Buy a locking bar and place it on your steering wheel. Conceal a tracking device in the vehicle, like an Apple AirTag. Install working alarm system. KXAN's Nabil Remadna is following this story, so tune in later this evening for more...

Lynx rookie Diamond Miller is eager to learn from any early struggles, which is what the team loves about her

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

Statistically, Diamond Miller’s WNBA regular-season debut Friday in Minnesota’s loss to Chicago wasn’t immaculate. The rookie wing finished with nine points on 3-for-9 shooting and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.Minnesota was outscored by 10 points with the No. 2 overall pick in this spring’s draft on the floor.“It wasn’t what I wanted, obviously,” Miller told reporters Monday.But that’s simply the story the raw numbers tell. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve views things through a different scope. And she recounted the number of things Miller did do successfully in her professional debut. Reeve said Miller played with pace, played hard and made some heady decisions in transition.“I probably didn’t play her enough, to be honest with you,” Reeve told reporters. “But I thought her debut was a good one.”In fact, Reeve said that unless something like foul trouble prevents her from doing so, she will play Miller more in the Lynx’s second game of the season, which comes Tuesday against Atlanta at Tar...

Hochul calls to speed up work authorization for migrants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Governor Kathy Hochul is continuing her calls for the federal government to speed up the process for asylum seekers to work legally here in the United States. Republicans however have some concerns. "We need all levels of government to respond to this. We truly, truly do," said Governor Hochul. She has once again called on the federal government to send more money, open shelter locations on federal property, and to speed up the work authorization process for asylum seekers here in New York State"There are over 5,000 farm jobs. 5,000 farm jobs as we speak. The cows don’t wait to be milked, the plants don’t wait to be maintained and harvested in a few months— the crops. We have more than 5,000 food service jobs right now."She said in addition, there are 4,000 openings for janitors, cleaners, and housekeepers. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt is apprehensive."I’m concerned that by speeding up that work authorization, you can’t tell me that we are not losing somet...

CREATE celebrates 40th annual Youth Arts Exhibit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

CATSKILL, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- CREATE Council on the Arts has announced they will be hosting their 40th annual youth exhibition. This year's presentation "Outside The Lines" will feature artwork by pre-K through grade 12 students from public and homeschools throughout Greene, Columbia and Schoharie County. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This collection will showcase a year of study by the area youth, who learned and developed life skills including problem solving, concentration, understanding and working with different materials, aesthetic appreciation, and translating ideas into art. The annual exhibit is made possible by the participation of numerous teachers, administrators, students and their families.CREATE will celebrate the occasion with a special preview of the show on June 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at CREATE Gallery, located at 398 Main Street in Catskill, coinciding with Catskill’s First Fridays. An opening reception...

New bill could close loopholes in vehicle breathalyzer law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- As prom and graduation seasons are underway, many local police departments are adding patrols to prevent impaired and reckless driving. At the Capitol advocates and lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would expand the use of ignition interlock systems, which supporters say would prevent impaired driving. Which states have the drunkest drivers? "Innocent lives are being taken and if they’re not innocent lives being taken they are having the most horrible life altering injuries that you can never possibly get over," said Erica Linn, who's parents were killed at the hands of a drunk driver in 2016. It was the drivers first DWI offense, but lawmakers say 70% will drive drunk again. "So we have to stop the carnage in our streets which is why it is so urgent," said Linn. The bill would require first time offenders, convicted of a DWI or a DWAI to have breathalyzers installed in their vehicle. Advocates say as of right now, judges can order offenders to either g...

New tool to fight invasive species in Schroon Lake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for taking the boat out onto the water. When it comes to safety, Warren County officials want people to think not only of protecting other boaters, but also the lake itself. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! If you take off from a boat launch at Schroon Lake between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., you’re likely to encounter a lake steward, who inspects your vessel for invasive species such as watermilfoil and curly leaf pondweed. If the steward spots any hitchhiking critters, they’ll pull them off. There are also stewarded wash stations available throughout the Adirondack Region that use a hot water pressure washer to decontaminate the surfaces. Volunteer lake associations, along with the Department of Environmental Conservation and Warren County Planning and Development, want to double down on their fight against invasive species this summer. A new ...

NYSP: Whitehall man arrested for felony drug possession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:24 GMT

KINGSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Monday, New York State Police of Greenwich arrested a Whitehall man for felony drug possession in Kingsbury. Police stopped the suspect, Jesse J. Tracy, 39, on Pleasant View Drive for a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Investigations revealed that Tracy had felony-weight narcotics and another controlled substance. Tracy was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and a Public Health Law violation. Tracy was turned over to the Washington County Correctional Facility to await arraignment,