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Several local cities are among the fastest-growing in the country, new population estimates show

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Suburban growth continued to lead the way in population growth last year, according to new census estimates for cities across the country.Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, Texas’ population increased by 470,708, surpassing a total of 30 million. More than 30 million people now call Texas home, U.S. census estimates show Georgetown was revealed as the fastest-growing city in the nation with a population greater than 50,000, for the second year in a row. The city grew by 14.4%, adding almost 11,000 new residents.Kyle and Leander both grew at more than 10%, ranking as third- and fourth-fastest growing cities nationwide. Santa Cruz, California, ranked second, with 12.5% growth.Where did population change happen quickest?Smaller cities grew at an even faster pace. Jarrell is the fastest-growing city in Texas, up 60.9% in 2022. The city added more than 1,600 residents, bringing the total population up to 3,410.Nearby Liber...

Westlake holds off Lake Travis surge, wins 6th consecutive UIL boys golf championship

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Lake Travis surged up the leaderboard on the final day of the UIL Class 6A boys golf tournament, but it was the steady Westlake Chaparrals who claimed their sixth consecutive state title Tuesday at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown.The Chaps shot under par in both rounds of the tournament to finish with a 3-under-par 573 to win in coach Callan Nokes' final season at the helm as he takes over as the school's athletic director. Westlake shot 286 on the tournament's first day Monday, then followed it up with a 287 to win by five shots over the Cavaliers.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersWestlake sophomore Adam Villanueva fired a pair of 6-under rounds to claim the individual title at 12-under, winning by four shots over Plano West's Ethan Fang. Villanueva was tied for the lead heading into Tuesday with Houston Memorial's Charlie Wylie, but Wylie fell off ...

Family of murdered Huston-Tillotson student gets law passed for domestic violence victims

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)— Domestic violence victims may now have more protection, thanks to a new law.It's called the Natalia Cox Act. It was named after a Huston-Tillotson college student who was killed by someone she barely knew.It became a law in May 2023. It requires police and doctors to give family or dating violence victims a list of resources and legal options like filing criminal charges or getting an emergency protective order. Natalia's laugh and smile haven't brightened up the world in two years now."She was the light the spark plug of family," Natalia's father, Lester Cox said. Cox's family wishes they had more time with her, but they feel a lack domestic violence resources, led to them losing her."She met a young man...within just a couple of days of meeting him, she saw some red flags, and attempted to kind of pull away from him coming over to the house," Natalia's mother, LaKeisha Cox said. "He came over to her apartment threatened her...a week after that, he came over and bro...

Hays County former corrections officer pleads not guilty in hospital shooting

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Not guilty. That's how Isaiah Garcia, the former Hays County corrections officer who shot and killed inmate Joshua Wright, pled today. He's charged with deadly conduct for firing his gun in a hospital. KXAN reached out to Garcia's attorney but have not heard back yet. The Hays County Sheriff's Office previously said Garcia no longer works for them. Grassroots publication the Caldwell/Hays Examiner sent the waiver of arraignment to KXAN. (Photo: Caldwell/Hays Examiner)His attorney waived his arraignment so he wasn't at the court in person to enter his plea. But the Wright family was there. They said the charge is not enough. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays County corrections officer indicted in deadly shooting of inmate 'The closure is what I'm after'Beverly Wright said she hasn't been able to properly grieve the death of her son. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hays County corrections officer on leave after fatal officer-involved shooting at hospital in Kyle While await...

Inaugural Longhorn 100 awards honor fast-growing UT alumni businesses

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Longhorn entrepreneurs were honored Thursday for having some of the fastest-growing businesses among University of Texas at Austin alumni. The Longhorn 100 awards honored the fastest-growing Longhorn businesses, according to the Texas Exes alumni association. The inaugural winners were announced Thursday in Austin. Among the businesses are Austin-based Rambler Sparkling Water, Austin's El Arroyo, Austin influencer A Taste of Koko, Garrison Brothers Distillery and Austin-based Beatbox beverages.The 100 businesses awarded are Longhorn founded, owned or led; have been in continuous operation for at least five years; and have an annual revenue more than $250,000 since 2019. Texas Exes announced the awards, and current UT students presented the honors to alumni. The inaugural Longhorn 100 winners were announced Thursday. (Courtesy Matt Wright Steel)The inaugural Longhorn 100 winners were announced Thursday. (Courtesy Matt Wright Steel)The inaugural Longhorn 100 winners w...

Como Park Zoo and Minnesota Zoo unveil live summer concert series

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

St. Paul’s Como Park Zoo and Conservatory and the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley have announced their summer concert series, which are packed with bands from the region in any number of genres.Como Park Zoo concertsComo Park Zoo launches its annual free Groovin’ in the Garden series June 7 with the Innocent Reggae Band. Like the rest of the shows, music runs from 6 to 8 p.m., and if it rains, the action moves inside the Visitor Center Porch next to the Water Gardens. (The Zoo itself closes at 6.)Concertgoers are encouraged to pack a picnic and spread a blanket on the lawn. In addition to the music, there will be kid-friendly activities and hot dogs, ice cream, beer and wine available for purchase.The rest of the zoo’s lineup includes: 13 Arrows (June 14), Ty Pow and the Holy North (June 21), Red Eye Ruby (June 28), Flowtus (July 5), Mubbla Buggs (July 12), Eleganza (July 19) and the Flamin’ Oh’s (July 26).Minnesota Zoo concertsFor almost three decades, t...

Jace Frederick: Playoffs provide further proof Timberwolves made right call on D’Angelo Russell

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

For the second time in two seasons, D’Angelo Russell spent the critical stages of his own team’s elimination game on the bench.One year after Russell was benched in favor of Jordan McLaughlin to close the Timberwolves’ Game 6 loss in the first round of the NBA playoffs against Memphis, Russell again watched from the pine as the Lakers were eliminated in four games by Denver the Western Conference Finals on Monday night.Los Angeles struggled mightily with Russell throughout the series, getting outscored by 53 points with the guard on the court over the series’ first three games.Denver continually brought up Russell’s name in public comments, noting it had played Russell off the floor in Game 1. Reserve guard Bruce Brown called out Russell’s lack of defense, adding it was the team’s mission to attack Russell on that end of the floor at every opportunity.Russell was unable to compensate for his defensive ineptitude on the offensive end, where he also struggled. That left Lakers coach D...

St. Paul Sears site on Rice Street sells for $7 million

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

The south entrance to the former Sears store on Rice St. in St. Paul on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Shuttered since early 2019, the site near the state Capitol has been sold to new owners. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)The long-vacant Sears property on St. Paul’s Rice Street has been sold to the Pacifica Group/Windfall Group, an Illinois-based real estate partnership with a Twin Cities tie, for $7 million.Eddie Ni, chief executive officer of the Windfall Group, is working with Marshall Nguyen, a partner and broker on the transaction and vice president with the Edina-based Caspian Group.“I know Marshall fairly well,” said Andrew Heieie, a broker with Colliers International’s Twin Cities office, which listed the 17-acre property for sale last November. Heieie worked with Andrew Jacobs from Colliers’ New York office to market the listing.“He’s told me there’s really no concrete plans. However, it’s likely to be transformed through an adapt...

Former Missouri prison guard admits assaulting inmate, possessing child porn

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A Farmington, Missouri, man who worked at a state prison in Bonne Terre appeared in federal court on Tuesday and admitted to attacking an inmate and to possessing child pornography.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Carl Hart, 37, worked as a sergeant at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center at the time of the assault, which took place on Oct. 28, 2021.Hart told the court he and an inmate got into an argument while the two were in his office. Hart ordered the inmate to leave. When the victim didn't immediately return to his cell, two other guards at the facility pepper-sprayed him.The inmate went to the showers to wash the spray off his face and body. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House Hart admitted to following the inmate and striking him once in the shower and again after the inmate had left the shower, and was already handcuffed on the ground.Prosecutors said ...

Former scout leader sentenced in Arapahoe County to 36 years in prison for possessing child porn

Published Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:01:00 GMT

A habitual sex offender and former Boy Scout leader was sentenced Monday in Arapahoe County District Court to 36 years in prison for possession of child pornography.Floyd David Slusher, 70, was convicted Dec. 9 by a jury of sexual exploitation of a child video possession, and sexual exploitation of a child possession with intent to distribute, both felonies, according to the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Pair arrested in Wheat Ridge store suspected in serial thefts worth about $200,000 Crime and Public Safety | Boulder King Soopers defendant undergoes neuropsychological exams, involuntary treatment Crime and Public Safety | Family of Christian Glass to receive $19 million in settlement over son’s 2021 police shooting death Crime and Public Safety | Frontier passenger arrested after striking flight attendant Sunday morning with intercom phone Crime and Public S...