Friday, December 20, 2024 – Treacherous

Another pedestrian was killed Thursday after being struck by a car.

There have been four car collisions involving pedestrians in the last five days. Half of those collisions were fatal.

A fatal pedestrian collision was reported on December 15th at Riverside Drive and Tinnin Ford Drive. The City of Austin had the crosswalk signals improved in this area in 2021.
Another pedestrian was killed on December 16th at East Ben White and Highway 183, a high-collision area, according to data from the City of Austin.
A person walking was critically injured in a crash on December 19th on North Creek Drive and East Rundberg Lane. This is also the area where another pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run in September 2021. Vision Zero said the City of Austin has plans to update and add new pedestrian crossings in this area next year.

The City of Austin received over $10 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve safety for pedestrians in ‘high injury areas.’ (CBS Austin)

According to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, an elderly man was found dead from stabbing wounds Tuesday morning in the Stony Point area.

KVUE-TV

The Austin Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating an 81-year-old man who went missing Thursday night.

**Jamie Tamariz / Austin Police Department**

APD said Jaime Tamariz was last seen at around 7 p.m. in the 900 block of E 2nd Street.

Hispanic man
5’6
140 lbs.
Brown eyes
Salt & Pepper hair
Last seen wearing a dark grey sweatshirt, dark grey sweatpants and sandals

Tamariz suffers from dementia and only speaks Spanish, and APD said there is concern for his safety and welfare. (KVUE-TV)

The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office said it transitioned more than 100 of the city’s unhoused residents to housing in time for the holidays.

KVUE-TV

City officials will activate its overnight cold weather shelters Friday, due to temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-30s going into Saturday. (KXAN-TV)

According to Austin Police, two different reports within the last month said three people were throwing rocks from an overpass bridge onto the highway.

CBS Austin

TxDOT officials say they plan to get rid of all traffic signals on Loop 360, which was recently listed as one of the 100 most congested roads in Texas, prompting TxDOT to work on making major changes to improve safety and mobility.

KVUE-TV

Burnet County Judge James Oakley has resigned after years marred by legal troubles and sexual harassment claims against him. (The Highlander)

“In recent years, the extreme lack of civility in public discourse has caused me to reevaluate how I want to spend my day-to-day life.”

“I have been humbled and honored to have been elected by the public to serve the public as Burnet County Judge for the last 10 years.” — Burnet County Judge James Oakley

Austin police are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating two shoplifting suspects.

Kyle police have arrested and charged a man with stalking a 13-year-old girl.

Video footage showed Daniel Duran, 29, following the girl through the aisles of a convenience store, waiting for her outside and then chasing her as she left and ran home.

A woman was arrested Wednesday related to the death of her baby.

KXAN-TV

Austin firefighters responded to an apartment fire Thursday that spread to a next door unit.

A rollover accident Thursday evening sent multiple people to the hospital.

The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to renew an agreement with Third Future Schools, a Colorado-based charter company that the district hired two years ago to help improve Mendez Middle School. (KVUE-TV)

Costco may be looking at Liberty Hill for its seventh-area Austin location. (Austin Business Journal)

The number of round-the-clock, 24-hour restaurants in Austin has dropped 38% from February 2020 to December 2024. (KUT 90.5)

Austin-area Big Lots stores have begun their ‘going-out-of-business’ sales amid a bankruptcy deal. (KVUE-TV)

Jon Hamm and Henry Winkler are slated to be in Austin in March for the 2025 ATX TV Festival. (CultureMap Austin)

The City of Austin’s Street and Bridge Operations Division conducted field training on a variety of topics Thursday to prepare for their winter weather response. (CBS Austin)

5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS

The update extended forecast for Christmas Day calls for a mix of sun and clouds with highs near 70 degrees. (AccuWeather)

It looks like January in Central Texas will be a bit milder than normal and drier as well.

Austin (Camp Mabry) has yet to experience the first freeze since last winter. (KXAN-TV)

What to know about the winter solstice.

KHOU-TV

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the identity of a teacher killed in a crash at a Montessori school in Northwest Bexar County.

KSAT-TV

A man from San Benito, Texas, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his key role in helping Mexico’s Gulf Cartel traffic cocaine into the United States. (Lonestar Live)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is launching a “tough medicine” messaging campaign warning migrants against the dangers of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

CBS News

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Texas added nearly 563,000 residents within the last year and is now home to 31 million people. (Texas Tribune)

A Texas judge refused to dismiss charges against former Uvalde Police Chief Pete Arredondo.

CBS Texas

The White Settlement Police Department, the FBI, and local authorities have launched an investigation after various unmanned aircraft were spotted near a major naval base Tuesday. (Lonestar Live)

A Texas House Committee was left without its key witness on Friday after Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion late Thursday barring death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifying at the Capitol.

CBS Texas

While sales of fireworks open up today, most Texas cities do not allow them to be used or sold but they can still be used or sold in unincorporated areas of counties.