AUSTIN (KXAN) — Masks are still required in Austin-Travis County.On Friday, Travis County District Court Judge Lora Livingston ruled in favor of Austin-Travis County in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton sued the city after Gov. Greg Abbott rolled back COVID-19 safety orders, including a state-level mask mandate, March 10.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a statement that the county remains committed to following science and health experts’ advice.“Today’s court ruling allowing the Health Authority’s rules to remain in place and keep the mask requirements...…AUSTIN (KXAN) — Masks are still required in Austin-Travis County.On Friday, Travis County District Court Judge Lora Livingston ruled in favor of Austin-Travis County in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton sued the city after Gov. Greg Abbott rolled back COVID-19 safety orders, including a state-level mask mandate, March 10.Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a statement that the county remains committed to following science and health experts’ advice.“Today’s court ruling allowing the Health Authority’s rules to remain in place and keep the mask requirements...WW…

DALLAS-FORT WORTH (KXAN) — Thirty-one North Texas children are now safe following the month-long “Operation Missing in the Metroplex,” the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.Federal agencies partnered with Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie police departments to find the missing minors, some of whom had ties to sex trafficking.The U.S Marshals and Homeland Security Investigations led the operation.“To observe law enforcement partnerships and community concerns culminate into such a successful recovery outcome is rewarding,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Quintella...…DALLAS-FORT WORTH (KXAN) — Thirty-one North Texas children are now safe following the month-long “Operation Missing in the Metroplex,” the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.Federal agencies partnered with Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Grand Prairie police departments to find the missing minors, some of whom had ties to sex trafficking.The U.S Marshals and Homeland Security Investigations led the operation.“To observe law enforcement partnerships and community concerns culminate into such a successful recovery outcome is rewarding,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Quintella...WW…

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas attorney general’s office added its support to the fight brewing in Williamson County over the Austin City Council’s purchase of a hotel to eventually house people experiencing homelessness.Aaron Reitz, the deputy attorney general for legal strategy, joined local leaders and business owners during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He shared that Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to “see what legal avenues there may be” to challenge Austin’s decision.“At the last minute, without consulting anybody, without conducting an economic analysis, a safety and...…AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas attorney general’s office added its support to the fight brewing in Williamson County over the Austin City Council’s purchase of a hotel to eventually house people experiencing homelessness.Aaron Reitz, the deputy attorney general for legal strategy, joined local leaders and business owners during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He shared that Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to “see what legal avenues there may be” to challenge Austin’s decision.“At the last minute, without consulting anybody, without conducting an economic analysis, a safety and...WW…

MASON, Texas (KXAN) — The 111-year-old Mason County Courthouse caught fire Thursday night, soon became engulfed in flames, and appears to be a near total loss.“We are strong enough and we will rebuild,” Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden told KXAN early Friday morning while watching the courthouse burn.The fire started around 10 p.m. Thursday. By 1:30 a.m., Bearden said the only thing that was left was the historic courthouse’s outer rock wall structure. The building was being prepared for renovations at the time of the fire. All county records and documents had been moved to a safe location...…MASON, Texas (KXAN) — The 111-year-old Mason County Courthouse caught fire Thursday night, soon became engulfed in flames, and appears to be a near total loss.“We are strong enough and we will rebuild,” Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden told KXAN early Friday morning while watching the courthouse burn.The fire started around 10 p.m. Thursday. By 1:30 a.m., Bearden said the only thing that was left was the historic courthouse’s outer rock wall structure. The building was being prepared for renovations at the time of the fire. All county records and documents had been moved to a safe location...WW…

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats delivered  to the Senate for the start of his historic trial, but Republican senators were easing off their criticism of the former president and shunning calls to convict him over .It’s an early sign of Trump’s enduring sway over the party.The nine House prosecutors carried the sole impeachment charge of “incitement of insurrection” across the Capitol on Monday night in a solemn and ceremonial march to the Senate along the same halls the rioters ransacked just weeks ago. In a scene reminiscent of just a year ago — Trump is the first president twice...…WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats delivered  to the Senate for the start of his historic trial, but Republican senators were easing off their criticism of the former president and shunning calls to convict him over .It’s an early sign of Trump’s enduring sway over the party.The nine House prosecutors carried the sole impeachment charge of “incitement of insurrection” across the Capitol on Monday night in a solemn and ceremonial march to the Senate along the same halls the rioters ransacked just weeks ago. In a scene reminiscent of just a year ago — Trump is the first president twice...WW…

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — A virtual music festival headlined by The Chicks to raise money for the removal and relocation of Confederate statues from the Bastrop County courthouse lawn is set for Monday.The “Move Forward Virtual Music Fest” will feature several artists in addition to the Grammy award-winning trio , and it begins at 6:30 p.m. The festival organized by the is aimed to raise the remanding money needed to “carefully remove and relocate” the statutes, and to promote “an environment of racial equality and to ensure that the history of the two monuments is preserved.”Organizers say...…BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — A virtual music festival headlined by The Chicks to raise money for the removal and relocation of Confederate statues from the Bastrop County courthouse lawn is set for Monday.The “Move Forward Virtual Music Fest” will feature several artists in addition to the Grammy award-winning trio , and it begins at 6:30 p.m. The festival organized by the is aimed to raise the remanding money needed to “carefully remove and relocate” the statutes, and to promote “an environment of racial equality and to ensure that the history of the two monuments is preserved.”Organizers say...WW…

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If your driver’s license or state ID card is expired, the Texas Department of Public Safety wants you to make an appointment to get them renewed as soon as you can.The temporary waiver on expiration dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic granted by Gov. Greg Abbott ends April 14, so anyone with an expired driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, commercial learner’s permit, state ID card or election ID certificate won’t be protected after that date.Both Austin , as well as Pflugerville and Georgetown offices, have expanded hours to help take care of the backlog caused by...…AUSTIN (KXAN) — If your driver’s license or state ID card is expired, the Texas Department of Public Safety wants you to make an appointment to get them renewed as soon as you can.The temporary waiver on expiration dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic granted by Gov. Greg Abbott ends April 14, so anyone with an expired driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, commercial learner’s permit, state ID card or election ID certificate won’t be protected after that date.Both Austin , as well as Pflugerville and Georgetown offices, have expanded hours to help take care of the backlog caused by...WW…

WASHINGTON (KXAN) — President Donald Trump may attend an opposing rally during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, .Alayna Treene of Axios says the President is considering going to Florida, using Marine One and Air Force One, for a political rally at an airport hangar.NBC News reported Dec. 1 that President Trump and could instead choose to announce a 2024 run for president, pitting him in a rematch against President Biden.In the Axios report, White House officials said no definitive plans have been made.“Anonymous sources who claim to know what the President is or is not considering...…WASHINGTON (KXAN) — President Donald Trump may attend an opposing rally during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, .Alayna Treene of Axios says the President is considering going to Florida, using Marine One and Air Force One, for a political rally at an airport hangar.NBC News reported Dec. 1 that President Trump and could instead choose to announce a 2024 run for president, pitting him in a rematch against President Biden.In the Axios report, White House officials said no definitive plans have been made.“Anonymous sources who claim to know what the President is or is not considering...WW…

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Supreme Court declined a case by the Republican Party of Texas to reverse a proclamation by Gov. Greg Abbott that extended the early voting period.Gov. Abbott issued the proclamation in July to extend the early voting period six days from Oct. 13-30 due to COVID-19. Early voting was originally scheduled to begin Oct. 19.“The election is already underway. To disrupt the long-planned election procedures as relators would have the Court do would threaten voter confusion,” Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht said in his opinion.In a decision announced...…AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Supreme Court declined a case by the Republican Party of Texas to reverse a proclamation by Gov. Greg Abbott that extended the early voting period.Gov. Abbott issued the proclamation in July to extend the early voting period six days from Oct. 13-30 due to COVID-19. Early voting was originally scheduled to begin Oct. 19.“The election is already underway. To disrupt the long-planned election procedures as relators would have the Court do would threaten voter confusion,” Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht said in his opinion.In a decision announced...WW…

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department on Monday released new police videos of the Mike Ramos shooting.The long-awaited, just over 16-minute long video with commentary from the department shows the police perspectives of the deadly shooting that killed Ramos in April. Release of the Critical Incident Briefing video was delayed in June because the Office of Police Oversight was not .The produced video features body camera and dash camera video, as well as 9-1-1 call transcripts and summaries of the timeline and who was involved. APD also released supplemental video without...…AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department on Monday released new police videos of the Mike Ramos shooting.The long-awaited, just over 16-minute long video with commentary from the department shows the police perspectives of the deadly shooting that killed Ramos in April. Release of the Critical Incident Briefing video was delayed in June because the Office of Police Oversight was not .The produced video features body camera and dash camera video, as well as 9-1-1 call transcripts and summaries of the timeline and who was involved. APD also released supplemental video without...WW…