Austin American-Statesman

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  • Cruz consistent, compelling conservative

    statesman.com - Opinion
    15 May 2012 | 6:08 pm
    In the Republican primary, the competition for the U.S. Senate nomination is a race to the right and a crowded one at that.

  • Austin Pets Alive joins Humane Society and city shelter in waiving fees

    statesman.com - News
    16 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    Adoption fees for dogs and cats over 1 year old who are ready to leave the shelter will be waived through Sunday, Austin Pets Alive announced today. The rescue group joins the Austin Humane Society and the Austin Animal

  • County commissioners set 'landmark' Georgetown hotel, conference center project back on track

    statesman.com - Williamson
    15 May 2012 | 7:16 pm
    Williamson County commissioners Tuesday got the ball rolling again on a stalled plan to bring a new hotel and conference center to Georgetown.

  • Engineer in Cowboys accident paying $12,000 fine

    statesman.com - Texas
    DANNY ROBBINS
    16 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    The engineer who signed off on plans for the Dallas Cowboys practice facility that collapsed and seriously injured two team employees three years ago is paying a $12,000 fine to settle faulty design charges from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.

  • Mass Relevance raises $3.3 million

    statesman.com - Business
    16 May 2012 | 7:06 am
    Austin’s Mass Relevance Inc., a social media marketing start-up, has raised $3.3 million in a second round of venture investment to support more sales and service development. The 16-month-old company, which works with such clients as the New York
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    statesman.com - News

  • Austin Pets Alive joins Humane Society and city shelter in waiving fees

    16 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    Adoption fees for dogs and cats over 1 year old who are ready to leave the shelter will be waived through Sunday, Austin Pets Alive announced today. The rescue group joins the Austin Humane Society and the Austin Animal

  • Legislator joining UT-Pan Am staff

    16 May 2012 | 11:21 am
    The University of Texas-Pan American has hired Veronica Gonzales, a Democratic state representative from McAllen, as vice president for university advancement. Gonzales, right, will join the university’s staff July 1. “She is committed to

  • Hays County sheriff's office seeks residents' gate codes for emergencies

    16 May 2012 | 9:57 am
    The Hays County sheriff’s office is asking residents that have a coded gate granting access to their property to provide the code so that dispatchers have it on file for emergencies. Gated communities, private residences, apartment complexes and

  • Man indicted in 2011 slaying of store clerk

    16 May 2012 | 9:37 am
    A Travis County grand jury has indicted a man and charged him with capital murder in connection with the first homicide of 2011, police officials said today. Frederick Manuel, 46, right, could face life in prison or the death

  • Perry: A '10' for Romney, Powers on wrong side

    16 May 2012 | 9:11 am
    Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday he cast his ballot for the GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney, whom he once bitterly attacked as too liberal when he was running against him, and said he thinks the former Massachusetts governor will
 
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    statesman.com - Texas

  • Engineer in Cowboys accident paying $12,000 fine

    DANNY ROBBINS
    16 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    The engineer who signed off on plans for the Dallas Cowboys practice facility that collapsed and seriously injured two team employees three years ago is paying a $12,000 fine to settle faulty design charges from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.

  • Ex-Houston cop not guilty in teen suspect beating

    JUAN LOZANO
    16 May 2012 | 12:48 pm
    A former Houston police officer was found not guilty Wednesday of official oppression in the videotaped beating of a 15-year-old burglary suspect, prompting an outraged response from black community leaders who called the verdict an injustice.

  • Engineer in Cowboys accident paying $12,000 fine

    DANNY ROBBINS
    16 May 2012 | 12:41 pm
    The engineer who signed off on plans for the Dallas Cowboys practice facility that collapsed and seriously injured two team employees three years ago is paying a $12,000 fine to settle faulty design charges from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers.

  • Inactive missile drops from Fort Hood chopper

    16 May 2012 | 12:16 pm
    A 6-foot-long inactive training missile accidentally fell from a military helicopter into field near Fort Hood, implanting itself in the ground and causing the brief evacuation of nearby homes but not harming anyone, officials said.

  • McNamee: Clemens, Canseco had steroids talk

    FREDERIC J. FROMMER
    16 May 2012 | 11:56 am
    Brian McNamee conceded that the first time Roger Clemens asked for help with a "booty shot," the pitcher did not specifically use the word "steroids." Under cross-examination from Clemens' lawyer, McNamee said that he assumed Clemens was referring to steroids when asking for the shot while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998.
 
 
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    statesman.com - Sports

  • Bohls, Golden chatting today

    16 May 2012 | 2:30 am
    It’s Wednesday, which means Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden will be here at 11 a.m. for their weekly live chat. Bring your best questions. 5/16 Bohls-Golden

  • Sports Briefs: Big Ten prefers bowl games for playoff sites

    15 May 2012 | 11:00 pm
    College football Big Ten prefers bowl games for playoff sites Big Ten officials came out in favor of keeping bowl games as sites for a planned playoff, preferring to keep the Rose Bowl as the conference's postseason tradition.

  • Spurs roll past Clippers, 108-92

    Paul J. Weber
    15 May 2012 | 10:55 pm
    Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs, recharged after a weeklong layoff, wore down the busy Los Angeles Clippers to win Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, 108-92 on Tuesday night.

  • Kings keep rolling on the road, top Coyotes in Game 2

    John Marshall
    15 May 2012 | 10:47 pm
    Jeff Carter scored three goals, Jonathan Quick stopped 24 shots and the Los Angeles Kings matched an NHL record with their seventh straight road playoff victory, beating the Phoenix Coyotes 4-0 Tuesday night to take control of Western Conference finals.

  • In Spurs-Clippers series, Tony Parker, Chris Paul figure to be pivotal

    15 May 2012 | 10:46 pm
    It's a point guard's playoffs. Take a look at the final eight teams, and the favorites are the ones who have superior point guard play.
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    statesman.com - Longhorns

  • Bohls, Golden chatting today

    16 May 2012 | 2:30 am
    It’s Wednesday, which means Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden will be here at 11 a.m. for their weekly live chat. Bring your best questions. 5/16 Bohls-Golden

  • Longhorns roundup: Five UT players first-team All-Big 12 softball picks

    15 May 2012 | 8:25 pm
    A school-record five Longhorns were named first-team All-Big 12. Lexy Bennettt, Courtney Craig, Taylor Hoagland, Torie Schmidt and Nadia Taylor are on the 19-player first team.

  • UT's Dodds prefers college football playoff plan separate from bowls

    15 May 2012 | 6:49 pm
    Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds earlier this week gave his preference for a college football playoff format, as the 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame's athletic director continue to consider the sport's postseason future.

  • Ellis earns ITA sportsmanship award

    15 May 2012 | 6:16 pm
    The Intercollegiate Tennis Association selected Aeriel Ellis of the Texas the recipient of the ITA Texas Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship. The award is given to a junior or senior who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and unwavering

  • Five Longhorns first-team All-Big 12 in softball

    15 May 2012 | 5:57 pm
    A school-record five Longhorns were named first-team All-Big 12. Lexy Bennettt, Courtney Craig, Taylor Hoagland, Torie Schmidt and Nadia Taylor are on the 19-player first team. Blaire Luna is on the second team. The player of the year is
 
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    statesman.com - Gardening

  • Prepare now as heat of summer will soon be scorching our gardens

    Daphne Richards
    11 May 2012 | 5:15 pm
    Although summer has not officially arrived, summer weather has. And with changes in the weather come changes in the landscape: Growth has slowed down, spring flowers have dried up and fallen off, and plants are preparing for the onslaught of heat and drought of summer.

  • Gardening Calendar

    11 May 2012 | 5:14 pm
    "Beginning or Rebuilding Turf Grasses." 11 a.m. today. Mark Beck speaks. Bastrop Gardens, 316 Old Texas 71 (Country Road 335), Cedar Creek.

  • Gardening Calendar

    4 May 2012 | 4:59 pm
    Herff Farm at the Cibolo opening. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today. Features a farmers market, a tour of the historic farmhouse and a demonstration garden.

  • Husband's tribute garden keeps love, roses growing

    Andrea Abel
    4 May 2012 | 4:49 pm
    After 50 years of marriage, what woman wouldn't want her spouse to bring her a bountiful bouquet of colorful, fragrant roses each day?

  • Butterflies, caterpillars are swarming this year

    Diana C. Kirby
    27 Apr 2012 | 4:58 pm
    You can't avoid them these days; they seem to be everywhere. Masses of caterpillars are covering plants and trees, and a flurry of butterflies greets you everywhere you go.
 
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    statesman.com - Travel

  • Couple of one-day fare sales today

    15 May 2012 | 6:36 am
    Well, perhaps today’s JetBlue one-day fare sale on Southwest and JetBlue is making people squeal with joy in other cities. It just doesn’t work for Austihn. JetBlue trumpets flights “starting at $39,” except that out of Austin,

  • Feds approve Southwest nonstops Austin-D.C.

    14 May 2012 | 10:28 am
    We’ve told you Southwest was planning to offer nonstops between Austin and Washington-Reagan. Now, the federal Department of Transportation has approved. No word yet from Southwest on when they’ll start, what times of day and the cost, but

  • Join the Mob in Las Vegas

    12 May 2012 | 10:54 am
    LAS VEGAS It's a Mob scene around here. With the newly opened Mob Museum downtown, the recently revamped Mob Attraction on the Strip and an opportunity for the tourist to shred a target with a machine gun, Vegas has clearly decided to jettison ill-conceived notions about being kid-friendly and simply embrace its roots.

  • Vegas' big table games now include knives and forks

    12 May 2012 | 10:52 am
    LAS VEGAS Install yourself on a love seat amid the crystal draperies at Chandelier, the three-level bar at Cosmopolitan Resort and Spa, and it's easy to see why gambling is losing its foothold as the big earner in this city.

  • 4 free things for visitors to do in Gdansk, Poland

    12 May 2012 | 10:51 am
    GDANSK, Poland - Gdansk 
offers a chance for visitors to take in scenes of sea, ships and spires set in a magnificently reconstructed Old Town while contemplating European history, including the famous shipyard strike led by Lech Walesa.
 
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    austin360.com - Music

  • Van Halen to play the Erwin Center Sept. 13

    16 May 2012 | 10:42 am
    The recently reformed Van Halen, which includes lead singer David Lee Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, and Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen, will play the Erwin Center Sept. 13, according to the band’s website. The site gives May

  • Country sound just one aspect of Crooks' alluring voice

    16 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    The Mohawk, which tends to host indie rocks shows, has plenty of people bouncing around (and in to one another) on any given night.

  • Utopia Fest announces lineup for fourth annual festival

    Matthew Odam
    15 May 2012 | 3:53 pm
    Utopia Fest, which began in 2009 as a relatively small affair in the Texas Hill Country, has increased its star power a bit with this year's lineup, released today on the fest's official site. The initial roster of

  • Remembering Tony Johnson of the Offenders

    15 May 2012 | 2:29 pm
    Tony Johnson, 1957-2012 In the early 1980s, Austin was swarming with punk bands, but the most intense of the lot was unquestionably the Offenders, who were such a swirling menace of hardcore brothers that all four assumed the surname

  • Music links: Flesh Lights to tour with the Hives

    15 May 2012 | 12:07 pm
    Austin band Flesh Lights are touring with the Hives in June. They play Friday at Red 7 with The Stitches/Channel Three, Lower Class Brat and the Bad Lovers. Willie Nelson’s new album, “Heroes,” is out today. Willie also
 
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    Anders Meanders

  • Couple of one-day fare sales today

    15 May 2012 | 9:36 am
    Well, perhaps today’s JetBlue one-day fare sale is making people squeal with joy in other cities. It just doesn’t work for Austihn. JetBlue trumpets flights “starting at $39,” except that out of Austin, the sale is only good to Boston and actually starts at $149. The total for the Austin-Boston fare sale RT is $304. That’s not a bad fare, but it hardly qualifies as a sale. Still, check it out if you wish at jetblue.com. The rules are plenty: Must fly May 22 to June 21, can’t fly on Friday or Sunday, must book today, can’t do it on any site but…

  • Feds approve Southwest nonstops Austin-D.C.

    14 May 2012 | 1:28 pm
    We’ve told you Southwest was planning to offer nonstops between Austin and Washington-Reagan. Now, the federal Department of Transportation has approved. No word yet from Southwest on when they’ll start, what times of day and the cost, but when these flights do start, they’ll be a welcome alternative to Southwest’s current nonstops to Baltimore-Washington, which require some driving if D.C. is your destination.

  • Fly nonstop to Philly in September

    7 May 2012 | 12:38 pm
    US Airways is adding daily nonstops (one each way) between Austin and Philadelphia on Sept. 5. The flight to Philly will be at 7:45 a.m., arriving at 12:08 p.m. On the flip side, you leave Philly at 5:50 p.m. and arrive Austin at 8:39 p.m. The RT cost starts at $535.

  • While Spirit Airlines twists in the wind, I'm happily on a road trip

    4 May 2012 | 4:57 pm
    Let’s deal with Spirit first, because I just got an e-mail from Spirit Airlines chief executive Ben Baldanza (as did all other media people). Spirit first hit a PR wall by refusing to refund the airfare of a dying Vietnam vet whose doctor said he was too sick to fly. This happens often to sick people, but, seriously, Spirit could have sucked this one up. Baldanza finally did. His e-mail says he’s going to personally refund the guy’s money, and the airline will make a $5,000 contribution to the guy’s pet charity. Then, Spirit follows up that fine play by announcing that…

  • What's left of airline food

    29 Apr 2012 | 10:09 am
    Trolling the Internet this morning for airline news, I ran across this nicely written piece on philly.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s site. The writer had an a flight of more than five hours from Philly to Los Angeles and had trouble even purchasing anything to eat on the flight. Yes, those hours in the major-airline air can leave you famished if you forget to bring anything on board to eat. (I tend to travel with a big bottle of water and at least a salted snack or piece of fruit for a three-hour flight and a full-fledged sandwich for a longer one.) I’d like to thank the…
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    Austin Golf: Backspin

  • Hilltopper men share eighth after one round at NCAAs

    15 May 2012 | 11:10 pm
    The St. Edward’s men’s golf team finished the first round of the NCAA Division II national championship Tuesday in a tie for eighth at 3-over-par 291, but Central Oklahoma sprinted to a 9-under start, leaving the Hilltoppers a dozen shots out of first. Freshman Luke Kwon paced St. Edward’s with an even-par 72 (T-23 individually) at The Cardinal Club in greater Louisville, Ky. St. Edward’s is the sole team from Texas in the championship. Unrelated digression: The U.S. Open local qualifier Tuesday at Grey Rock Golf Club was a washout. The field — which includes…

  • Canada-based retailer to acquire Golfsmith

    14 May 2012 | 8:34 am
    Austin-based Golfsmith is being purchased by Golf Town, a golf retailer with 54 stores in Canada and six in greater Boston, the companies announced Monday morning. The boards of directors for the companies have approved the merger, which, according to a news release, creates the largest golf retailer in the world. From the release: Golf Town, Canada’s largest specialty golf retailer, and Golfsmith International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:GOLF), announced today that they have signed a definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which Golf Town will acquire Golfsmith, a leading specialty golf…

  • Texas women charge into NCAAs

    12 May 2012 | 8:17 pm
    The Texas women tied with Texas A&M for second place Saturday in the NCAA East Regional, earning a berth in the NCAA championship tournament later this month in Franklin, Tenn. The Longhorns raced to a 6-under-par 282 in the third and final round at the Penn State Golf Course, posting the lowest team score of the 24-team regional and moving on to the national championship — for the fourth time in the last five years — with a conviction last seen in the fall, when the team won twice. Texas (296-300-282) finished at 14-over-par 878. The Longhorns started Saturday in sixth place,…

  • Texas women hold sixth at NCAA regional

    11 May 2012 | 11:12 pm
    The Texas women lost some standing Friday but remain inside the cut at the NCAA East Regional at the Penn State Golf Course in State College, Pa., where the Longhorns finished the second day in sixth place at 20 over par — 14 shots behind leader South Carolina and three ahead of Washington, which finished 36 holes in eighth place. The eight lowest-scoring teams in the 24-school regional will advance Saturday after the final round to the NCAA championships at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn. Senior Nicole Vandermade (72-75) led Texas after two rounds with a share of 13th…

  • Longhorn women open NCAA regional with share of fourth

    10 May 2012 | 11:25 pm
    The Texas women positioned themselves nicely in the first round of the 24-team East Regional at Penn State, finishing at plus 8 — in a secure tie for fourth with Texas A&M and Washington after 18 holes, and eight shots within South Carolina’s lead. Senior Nicole Vandermade gave Texas its finest round, an even-par 72 on the Penn State Golf Course for a T-6 on the individual board. Katerina Ruzickova of Texas A&M posted the early lead, by a shot, a 5-under 67. The field returns Friday for the second of three rounds.
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    Bevo Beat

  • Bohls, Golden chatting today

    16 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    It’s Wednesday, which means Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden will be here at 11 a.m. for their weekly live chat. Bring your best questions. 5/16 Bohls-Golden chat

  • Ellis earns ITA sportsmanship award

    15 May 2012 | 9:16 pm
    The Intercollegiate Tennis Association selected Aeriel Ellis of the Texas the recipient of the ITA Texas Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship. The award is given to a junior or senior who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and unwavering dedication to her team. Texas freshman Soren Hess-Olesen was named the ITA Texas Region Player to Watch. He is ranked 73rd in the ITA singles rankings.

  • Five Longhorns first-team All-Big 12 in softball

    15 May 2012 | 8:57 pm
    A school-record five Longhorns were named first-team All-Big 12. Lexy Bennettt, Courtney Craig, Taylor Hoagland, Torie Schmidt and Nadia Taylor are on the 19-player first team. Blaire Luna is on the second team. The player of the year is Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts, and Patty Gasso of Oklahoma is the coach of the year. Chelsea Thomas of Missouri is the pitcher of the year, Corrin Genovese of Missouri is the defensive player of the year, Lauren Chamberlain of Oklahoma is the freshman of the year and Patty Gasso of Oklahoma is the coach of the year.

  • Masterson 1st Horn to win Big 12 pole vault

    12 May 2012 | 10:30 pm
    Natasha Masterson became the first Texas athlete to win the Big 12 outdoor pole vault championship in Manhattan, Kan. Masterson won with a height of 13 feet, 6 1/2 inches. A’Lexus Brannon was fifth in the long jump (19-4 1/4). Allison Peter broke former Longhorn Marshevet Hooker’s stadium record in the 200 meters with a time of 22.77 seconds to lead qualifying. Danielle Dowie led qualifying in the 400 hurdles with a time of 56.48.

  • Men win three Big 12 track titles

    12 May 2012 | 10:28 pm
    Marquise Goodwin, Isaac Murphy and Jacob Thormaehlen won individual championships and the Texas men’s track team took a 22-point lead over Kansas State going into the final day of the Big 12 track and field championships Saturday. Goodwin won the long jump for the third consecutive year with a conference championship and stadium record of 26 feet, 10 1/2 inches on his first attempt. It was the best jump in the nation this year by two inches. Mark Jackson (24-9) was fifth. Goodwin also qualified for the final of the 100 meters. Murphy won the decathlon with 7,642 points. Thormaehlen won…
 
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    Bohl Games

  • Dodds favors playoff plan separate from bowls

    15 May 2012 | 6:42 pm
    During a visit with DeLoss Dodds on Monday, the Texas athletic director gave his preference for a college football playoff format as the 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick continue to consider the post-season future of the sport. Sounded good to me. In Dodds’ version, four teams would be selected by a blue-ribbon committee of “seven or nine” objective panelists who are very familiar with college football and follow the game passionately. “They’d be people who have football backgrounds and who are not biased,” Dodds…

  • Dodds pours water on FSU realignment talk

    14 May 2012 | 5:29 pm
    Sat down with Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds this afternoon to discuss a variety of subjects, including rumors of more conference realignment, and he suggested there is nothing of any substance to the current talk of Florida State leaving the ACC and joining the Big 12. “They’re a long ways away,” Dodds told me. In distance or prospects of joining the Big 12, I asked. “Both,” he said. “There’s no traction” on this story, Dodds said. “There’ve been no conversations between Florida State and the Big 12.” Of course, any…

  • Bowlsby on his way to Texas

    3 May 2012 | 4:41 pm
    Just got off the phone with Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby, who said he hasn’t yet left California for Dallas to be introduced as the new Big 12 commissioner. “No, I’m not (in Dallas yet),” Bowlsby said. “I’m leaving a little later today.” The press conference will be held late Friday morning, he said, but the highly regarded, 60-year-old athletic director was reluctant to discuss any specifics about his reasons for accepting the job or his new contract. “Why don’t we wait until tomorrow?” Bowlsby said. Asked why he wanted to…

  • Texas extends Garrido's contract

    13 Apr 2012 | 8:22 pm
    Texas has extended Augie Garrido’s conract two more years through the 2015 season, athletic director DeLoss Dodds confirmed to the Austin American-Statesman on Friday night. Garrido’s contract was scheduled to run out after next season, but Texas has reworked it so that he has three years left, ending on Aug. 31, 2015. The contract is awaiting Garrido’s signature but has not yet been presented to him. Under the terms of the deal, Garrido’s salary would be bumped $50,000 annually. Garrido, in his 16th season at Texas, is making $935,000 this season. He coached his…

  • A day with Rotarians

    12 Apr 2012 | 4:05 pm
    Had a great time speaking to the Rotary Club in Round Rock today. Was a big success. Not a single tomato was thrown at me. Even managed to answer why I didn’t vote for Colt McCoy for the Heisman without getting shot. I pointed out I didn’t vote for Vince Young either. But I did vote for Ricky Williams and for Colt in his junior year. Only one Aggie in the crowd. Only one in the crowd of 30 or 40 was remotely interested in Formula 1. I don’t think any subscribe to the Longhorn Network, but I could be wrong. We discussed the merits and demerits of social media. Not one person…
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    Homeroom

  • Austin school district honored by urban schools' group

    9 May 2012 | 10:08 am
    The Austin school district was given a top performing district award by the Council of the Great City School for its management of business operations services in 2011, district announced this week. The council, which is comprised of 67 large-city school districts, based its recognition on whether districts demonstrated efficient and effective use of resources in the areas of student transportation, nutrition, safety and security and maintenance and operations, the district said. “We are honored by the recognition from a national organization that represents the needs of urban public…

  • Local teacher to be recognized on national television

    28 Apr 2012 | 7:27 pm
    An East Austin elementary school physical education teacher who works to teach students character and leadership skills both on and off the court, is among the 12 finalists for the “Live! With Kelly” Top Teacher search on ABC. Dave Edwards teaches at Volma Overton Elementary and is also the founder of a non-profit boys’ basketball program for at-risk East Austin fourth and fifth graders. In a letter nominating Edwards for the award, one of the program’s chaperones described how Edwards and his wife take students to and from school and basketball tournaments, saying…

  • Pflugerville ISD administrator named superintendent of Burnet school district

    28 Mar 2012 | 4:38 pm
    The Burnet school district has named Keith McBurnett, a Pflugerville school district administrator, superintendent. McBurnett, who takes the new post April 9, is the Pflugerville school district deputy superintendent and oversees curriculum and instruction, human resources, technology and maintenance and facilities. He has also served Pflugerville as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. McBurnett has been an educator for 18 years, first as a special education teacher, then principal in Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district. He also was a principal and administrator in…

  • SXSWedu: Pearson CEO Marjorie Scardino lauds risk taking

    7 Mar 2012 | 6:06 pm
    Clad in cowboy boots, the chief executive of a major education and media company, declared war this afternoon on the “tyranny of the average.” Marjorie Scardino, Pearson’s CEO and a Texarkana native, gave a keynote address to a crowd of educators, entrepreneurs and policymakers gathered at South by Southwest Edu, SXSW’s education conference. She spoke to a crowded ballroom at the Austin Convention Center downtown. “Lots of people have wrestled with these questions. They’ve done it in different contexts and different ways,” she said. “We call the…

  • SXSW Edu: 'Reading Rainbow' host Burton talks about new app, show business

    6 Mar 2012 | 6:55 pm
    The beloved television show “Reading Rainbow” aired its final episode in 2009, to the dismay of children, parents and teachers across the country. But now, there’s a new chapter for the book-centric show. LeVar Burton, the former host of the show, said this evening that “Reading Rainbow” will be relaunching as a mobile app, to fit the needs of a new generation of children. Burton, who also made a name for himself on the TV shows “Roots” and “Star Trek,” addressed South by Southwest Edu, the education portion of the SXSW conference, at the…
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    Golden's Nuggets

  • Suggs injury opens door for Kindle

    14 May 2012 | 3:30 pm
    The news of Baltimore All-Pro linebacker Terrell Suggs suffering a partial tear to his Achilles tendon in a pickup basketball game sent shock waves through Ravens nation, but as the old saying goes, “when one door closes, another opens.” Suggs’ injury could be a blessing in disguise for one Sergio Kindle, who hasn’t lived up to the great potential he showed us at Texas. Kindle will be counted upon, along with rookie Courtney Upshaw, to pick up the enormous pass-rushing void left by Suggs, who posted 25 sacks in his last two seasons. Kindle’s pro career…

  • Derrick Johnson voted No. 78 among NFL's top 100 players

    10 May 2012 | 6:00 pm
    Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson is finally realizing that immense potential that followed him to the league after a spectacular college career at Texas. After five so-so years in the league, Johnson has turned in two of his best seasons, including a breakthrough campaign in 2012 that landed him the No. 78 spot on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2012 list. When I spoke with Johnson at a celebrity basketball game in Austin two years ago, he had lost his starting position and was in the not-so-comfortable position of being in head coach Todd Haley’s doghouse. DJ…

  • I'm chatting with Bohls at 11 a.m. Wednesday

    9 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    The NBA playoffs are in full swing and Statesman columnists Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls are ready to talk about the teams that will be playing for all the marbles in a month so. Let’s also discuss Texas football and baseball, Bountygate in the NFL, Junior Seau, Roger Clemens, and whatever else pops up. Join the chat at 11 a.m. Bohls-Golden chat

  • Bohls-Golden chat at 11 a.m.

    2 May 2012 | 5:00 am
    Want to talk about how the Cowboys and Texans made out in the NFL draft? Are you surprised it took four rounds for a Longhorn to be selected? Are the Mavericks dead in the water against OKC? How about those Spurs? For these topics and others, join Statesman columnists Kirk Bohls and Cedric Golden for their weekly online chat at 11 a.m. today. Bohls-Golden chat

  • Vince Young working out for Bills

    1 May 2012 | 3:24 pm
    While quarterbacks like Derek Anderson, Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton, and Caleb Hanie have signed free agent contracts this offseason, former No. 3 overall pick Vince Young is still without a team. Now comes word that VY will be working out for the Buffalo Bills. At this stage of his career, Young will take whatever offer comes his way. Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid told him that he still viewed Young as a starter in this league, which I took as a nice way of saying, ‘I’m holding you back, Vince. It’s me, not you.’ After what equates to a Dear John moment in Philly,…
 
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    Mama Drama

  • New children's museum

    14 May 2012 | 2:14 pm
    If you missed Sunday’s story from Jeanne Claire van Ryzin on the renderings of the new Austin Children’s Museum building being built in the Mueller development, read it here. The museum should break ground this summer with a planned opening of late summer 2013. I love children’s museums. As a family, we’ve seen a lot as we traveled. Last year, I took my Girl Scout troop to the Houston one as our end of the year party. This year, we slept overnight in the Austin Children’s Museum. As much as my family and my scouts love the Austin one, we’ve all recognize…

  • What would you like for Mother's Day?

    12 May 2012 | 12:21 pm
    Today in our Raising Austin column, I wrote about the things I’d really like — peace in my house, self-sufficient kids etc. Read the story here. I should have put I’d really like a nap. What would you like to get for Mother’s Day?

  • Ask an Expert: Eczema

    9 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    My daughter is 19 months old and has eczema. It is becoming more of an issue the older she gets. We are worried about food allergies and are starting to keep a journal of foods, snacks and drinks she has daily. We are also including the weather in the journal as environmental issues seem to be a factor. She does not scratch the areas and they seem far more troublesome to us than they appear to be for her. Her pediatrician has kept an eye on it and has prescribed a steroid cream but it does not seem to help. We have tried Aveeno Eczema lotion, Aquafor, detergents with no dyes or perfumes. No…

  • "Pattern Nation: Waves" at Long Center this weekend

    8 May 2012 | 1:32 pm
    Teach children about color and wave patterns this weekend with Pollyanna Theatre’s “Pattern Nation: Waves” play. The play follows the fun adventure of four friends as they explore the many types of waves found around them in nature. The show opens with Cyan Circle waiting for his cousin, Amber Oval to arrive for their regular play date. However, fun soon erupts when Amber brings along her friends Jade Triangle and Pinky Rombus. Soon the four find themselves on amazing imaginative adventures at the beach, beside a very still lake hosted by a mermaid, and in the world of…

  • Need a break? Mom's Nite Out at the mall Thursday

    8 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    Barton Creek Square, The Arboretum and Lakeline Mall are all participating in this Simon Property Group Inc. free event 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Expect to be pampered and get giveaways from brands including Diet Coke, Dove Body Wash, Little Black Dress Vodka, StriVectin and Visit Florida. At Barton Creek Square, the event will be in the Macy’s court and offer free food, beauty demonstrations and swag bags. At Lakeline Mall, head to the Dillard’s court for fashion tips and makeovers. At the Arboretum, the fun includes beer and wine tastings, life music and makeovers. More…
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    Salsa Verde

  • LCRA selling some water downstream, but not to rice farmers

    16 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    The Lower Colorado River Authority will be selling excess water flowing through the river downstream of Austin, this coming after a decision earlier this year to cut the sale of water to most rice farmers. The LCRA’s decision to cap water used by rice farmers to about 20,000 acre-feet in 2012 (compared to more than 400,000 acre-feet in 2011) remains in place, with only some farmers in the Garwood Irrigation district getting water this year. But on Wednesday morning, LCRA board members unanimously approved a plan where excess water flowing through the river can be sold to many…

  • LCRA approves $1.2 billion annual business plan

    18 Apr 2012 | 1:51 pm
    The Lower Colorado River Authority’s board of directors passed its business plan for the upcoming fiscal year, outlining the effects of the departure of more than 240 staffers in the past 10 months and setting aside $8.7 million for the development of new water supplies. The plan anticipates $1.221 billion in total revenue in fiscal year 2013 and was unanimously approved by the board in today’s monthly meeting after a few minutes of comments from board members and general manager Becky Motal, who were all positive about the plan. The staff reduction, which came primarily from…

  • LCRA outlines spike in water use in 2011

    16 Apr 2012 | 8:00 am
    In 2011, who used more water from the Highland Lakes, a chain of reservoirs that serves more than 1 million Texans: The sun? Or all the cities getting their water from the Lower Colorado River Authority? Thanks to a year of record heat, in 2011, more water was lost from the Highland Lakes due to evaporation - 192,404 acre-feet - than all the municipalities used - 184,889 acre-feet. Also in 2011, farmers depending on the Colorado River and its reservoirs for water used 433,251 acre-feet of water, 238 percent as much as in 2010, from the lakes. They needed so much water from the reservoirs…

  • Lawnmower trade-in program Saturday

    1 Apr 2012 | 10:52 am
    A local air quality advocate is teaming up again with the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems on Saturday to offer discounts on electric lawnmowers if you trade in an old gas-powered one. The program runs Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Home Depot on 1200 Barbara Jordan Blvd. near 51st Street and Interstate 35. Organizers will offer a limited number of trade-ins, but you can reserve a lawnmower by calling project manager Scott Johnson, the air-quality advocate, at 389-2250. The plug-in electric lawnmower comes with a 25 percent discount, taking the normal cost of $219…

  • TCEQ extends comment period on proposal that gives some polluters a free pass

    12 Mar 2012 | 5:55 pm
    State regulators have extended the public comment period on a proposed rule that will give a free pass to many potential sources of pollution that are considered to have a failing history of compliance. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which originally planned on closing comments Monday, extended the comment period to March 23, after receiving several requests from members of the public, commission spokeswoman Andrea Morrow said Monday. The agency’s three commissioners are scheduled to vote on it in their June 27 meeting. If approved, it would go into effect July 19.
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    The Blotter

  • Killeen police seek missing child

    16 May 2012 | 1:22 pm
    UPDATE: The Killeen Police Department announced today that the missing 8-year-old has been found safe. According to the announcement: Killeen Police were called to 305 Elms Rd. at 7:53am advising the 8 year old missing child, Markell Foster had been located. Upon the officers arrival they learned that Markell had run away from home and hid under a mobile home in the same trailer park and fell asleep. This morning while he was coming out from underneath the mobile home he was seen by a park resident who escorted him back to his residence. Markell was unharmed and has been reunited with his…

  • Hays County sheriff's office seeks residents' gate codes for emergencies

    16 May 2012 | 12:57 pm
    The Hays County sheriff’s office is asking residents that have a coded gate granting access to their property to provide the code so that dispatchers have it on file for emergencies. Gated communities, private residences, apartment complexes and commercial properties are among the properties the sheriff’s office is seeking codes from to update its databases in the Emergency Communications Division. Residents should email their gate code to vips@co.hays.tx.us with GATE CODE in the subject line or call 512-393-7373, according to the sheriff’s office. The agency is also…

  • Man indicted in 2011 slaying of store clerk

    16 May 2012 | 12:37 pm
    A Travis County grand jury has indicted a man and charged him with capital murder in the 2011 slaying of a store clerk, police officials said today. Frederick Manuel, 46, right, could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of killing Azizali Momin, 41, left, last year. Police officials said that on Jan. 20, 2011, officers responded to a shooting at the All Star Grocery at 4600 Teri Road in Southeast Austin. A man entered the business with a weapon and demanded money from Momin, then shot him and left the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, officials said. Momin was…

  • Woman hospitalized after being struck by police car

    16 May 2012 | 11:51 am
    A woman was hospitalized after being struck by a police car in downtown Austin on Tuesday evening, police officials said. Police spokeswoman Veneza Aguinaga said that about 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, a police car was taking a suspect to the Travis County Jail when it stopped at a red light at Seventh Street and San Jacinto Boulevard. After stopping, the officer turned right but did not see a female pedestrian and struck her, Aguinaga said. The woman was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge with injuries that were not life-threatening, Aguinaga said. The suspect in the car complained of…

  • Two children ejected in crash at Ben White and South Congress

    16 May 2012 | 11:01 am
    10:32 a.m. update: Austin police say a car traveling north on Congress Avenue ran a red light, hitting a minivan on the westbound frontage road of Ben White Boulevard. Police say the three children in the minivan were not properly restrained. Two of the children were sent to Dell Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the minivan and the car also went to a hospital with minor injuries. Earlier: Two children were ejected from a car during a crash that occurred at the intersection of Ben White Boulevard and South Congress Avenue, police officials said.
 
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    The Goods

  • Skin care products for the younger set by Willa

    10 May 2012 | 12:25 pm
    Girls concerned about getting a head start on skin care have a new product line made especially for them. Willa was created by Christy Prunier and her daughter Willa with a goal of helping to prevent sun damage at an early age. Prunier worked with chemists for three years, and she and her daughter sat in on focus groups with young girls to see what kinds of products would interest them or motivate them to take care of their skin daily. The skin care line, specifically formulated for girls, features 17 all-natural products, including face wash, moisturizer, acne treatment, SPF face treatment,…

  • Celebrate Derby in fine fashion at Four Seasons

    3 May 2012 | 11:25 am
    The Kentucky Derby has always been about much more than horse racing — it’s a fashion event in itself. The Four Seasons Hotel Austin is opening its lobby lounge for a Kentucky Derby watching party. Women are encouraged to arrive in their best dresses and fancy hats, while the men suit up in seersucker. The day’s best-dressed man (seersucker suit) and woman (best hat) receive a sterling silver engraved mint julep cup with one free refill at the Four Seasons’ bar each week for a year. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Four Seasons Hotel Austin, Lobby Lounge, 98 San Jacinto Blvd. $10…

  • Tim Gunn to host Lucky You Runway Contest Saturday

    19 Apr 2012 | 1:57 pm
    Tim Gunn has been encouraging young designers to make it work since “Project Runway” premiered in 2004. Now, the fashion guru wants to see if you have what it takes to work the runway as a model. Gunn makes a stop in Central Texas this week — he loves Austin, just don’t take him to the Congress Avenue Bridge to see the bats; he’s not a fan. He’ll be here to host the Lucky You Runway Contest featuring the spring 2012 Lucky Brand Jeans collection on Saturday. The runway show features real Austin models chosen at a casting call today, followed by…

  • More looks from UT fashion students

    12 Apr 2012 | 6:24 am
    We featured a handful of University of Texas textiles and apparel students and their designs in today’s Life & Style section in advance of the annual UT fashion show April 19 at the Frank Erwin Center. We wanted to make sure the rest of the talented design students had a chance to show off their hard work and talk about themselves in their own words. More photos of the designs can be found here. Designer: Marisa Chapman Age: 23 Hometown: Austin Model pictured: Jazmin Mills Tell us a little bit about your background? What made you want to be a designer? My mom taught me how to hand…

  • Through the wildflowers we go to Round Top fair

    5 Apr 2012 | 4:51 pm
    Diehard antique and treasure hunting enthusiasts need not be reminded of the biannual gathering of antique hunters in Round Top/Warrenton for the Original Round Top Antiques Fair. It’s the perfect time for a spring road trip through the country: the wildflowers are blooming and antiques and collectables are on display from more than 300 vendors at the Big Red Barn Events Center, the Continental Tent and the Carmine Dance Hall. Today through Saturday . Visit www.roundtoptexasantiques.com for additional information, directions and participating vendors.
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    Statesman Business Blog

  • Mass Relevance raises $3.3 million

    16 May 2012 | 10:06 am
    Austin’s Mass Relevance Inc., a social media marketing start-up, has raised $3.3 million in a second round of venture investment to support more sales and service development. The 16-month-old company, which works with such clients as the New York Giants football team and the ABC television network, has raised $5.5 million since it was founded. Austin Ventures led the latest round, while Battery Ventures of Waltham, Mass., as a new investor. Other investors were: Floodgate Fund, Allegro Venture Partners and Metamorphic Ventures. The company works both with media companies and big brands…

  • Austin-based Stratus Properties reports Q1 income of $1.7 million

    15 May 2012 | 2:10 pm
    The sale of a pair of Central Texas office buildings, as well as increases in business at the W Austin Hotel and the ACL Live music venue helped Stratus Properties swing to a profit in the first quarter of 2012. The Austin-based developer reported income of $1.7 million — 22 cents per share — attributable to common stock, according to the company’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A year ago, it had a first-quarter loss of $900,000. Stratus sold the two buildings at 7500 Rialto Blvd. in Southwest Austin to Lincoln Properties and Greenfield Partners in…

  • Austin-based Golfsmith agrees to $97 million buyout

    14 May 2012 | 10:21 am
    Austin-based Golfsmith International Holdings Inc. said today that it has agreed to a $97 million sale to Canadian golf retailer Golf Town, a deal that will create the world’s largest specialty golf retailer. Golf Town, which has 54 stores in Canada and seven in the Boston area, agreed to pay $6.10 a share for Golfsmith, the companies said in a news release. The companies expect to close the deal in the third quarter, and current Golfsmith CEO Martin Hanaka will become CEO of the combined company, which will become private. “We are extremely excited about this combination.

  • Austin's NetSpend partners with Family Dollar Stores to sell prepaid cards

    10 May 2012 | 5:57 pm
    In a significant deal for Austin-based NetSpend Corp., the company has signed an agreement to sell its Visa prepaid debit cards at more than 7,000 Family Dollar stores around the country. The agreement marks the company’s largest retail distribution deal to date. It follows another key partnership, announced in January, to sell NetSpend prepaid cards at 5,000 7-Eleven convenience stores nationwide. Founded in 1999, NetSpend sells prepaid debit cards and other financial services, targeting consumers who do not have traditional bank accounts but want an option besides cash or money…

  • Austin-area gas prices fall 6 cents this week

    10 May 2012 | 2:51 pm
    For the third consecutive week, Austin-area gasoline prices have dropped, dipping 6 cents this week to an average of $3.62 per gallon, AAA Texas said today. The average price per gallon in and around Austin has fallen 15 cents in the past two weeks. It is still 57 cents per gallon higher than it was five months ago, according to AAA Texas data. Austin’s record high for an average price per gallon is $3.98, set in July 2008. The average price per gallon this week in Austin is 19 cents lower than the same week last year, when it was $3.81, AAA Texas said. For the state as a whole, the…
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    Varsity News

  • Central Texas softball teams set for regional semifinals

    15 May 2012 | 6:43 pm
    With three weeks left in the 2012 softball season, five Central Texas teams are still scrambling for a spot in the annual state tournament. Five softball teams from the Central Texas area have reached the regional semifinal round of the University Interscholastic League playoffs. If victorious this weekend, a team will play for a state tournament berth in next week’s regional championship round. Here is the regional semifinal schedule for the area’s remaining teams: CLASS 5A Temple v. The Woodlands: Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Brenham HS CLASS 4A New Braunfels Canyon v. Corpus Christi…

  • Baylor gets a verbal commitment from Hutto's Thrift

    15 May 2012 | 5:26 pm
    Tanner Thrift has decided that he wants to be a Bear. The junior from Hutto gave a verbal commitment to Baylor’s football team on Monday. A defensive end, Thrift has been flying under the recruiting radar as he is not rated by Rivals.com and was only recently ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. District 16-4A football fans, however, have probably noticed the six-foot-five-inch, 225-pound Thrift. A two-year starter for Steve Hale’s Hippos, Thrift was the district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2010 and he tackled 53 opponents and first team all-district…

  • Canyon Lake's Monzingo to be Comal ISD athletic director

    15 May 2012 | 12:34 pm
    For the second time this off-season, a Central Texas football coach has become an athletic director. Comal ISD announced on Tuesday that Canyon Lake football coach Matt Monzingo had been hired to be the school district’s next athletic director. The hire comes nearly a month after Chris Ross left Cedar Park to become Leander ISD’s newest athletic director. Monzingo will replace Jim Rodrigue, who passed away after a short illness in April. Monzingo will now oversee an athletic department that includes three high schools: Smithson Valley, New Braunfels Canyon and Canyon Lake.

  • District foes to play for regional semifinal invitations

    14 May 2012 | 6:31 pm
    Bragging rights and a trip to the regional semifinal round of the University Interscholastic League playoffs will be on the line this week when the McNeil and Round Rock baseball programs meet up on the Concordia University campus. McNeil and Round Rock will play a best-of-three regional quarterfinal series this week at Concordia. The two teams will play on Thursday at 7 p.m. and again on Friday at 7 p.m. If necessary, a third game will be played at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Round Rock, the District 16-5A champion, won two of its three games this season against McNeil, which finished third in the…

  • 'Survivor: One World' won by Westwood volleyball player

    14 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    Nearly 13 years after she won a state championship, Kim Spradlin has won an even bigger prize. On Sunday night, Spradlin was named the winner of “Survivor: One World,” a reality TV show on CBS. The victory on the long-running TV show netted Spradlin, who owns a bridal shop in San Antonio, a $1 million prize and she also received $100,000 from a fan vote. Spradlin is a 2001 graduate of Westwood High and she played for a volleyball team that won a Class 5A championship in 1999. Mike Spradlin, Kim’s father, coached Westwood’s football team from 1999-2002 and he is now the…
 
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    Weather Watch

  • After the rain: Sunny and warm day ahead

    16 May 2012 | 7:25 am
    Central Texas has sunshine and warm temperatures ahead today following a wet start for the month of May. The high today is slated to be 84, followed by a low tonight of 62, the National Weather Service said. There’s no rain in the forecast for the remainder of the week. Yesterday, Austin filled up its rain gauges again, as Austin-Bergstrom International Airport posted more than a half inch of rain and Camp Mabry nearly 1 inch of rain. So far this month, Mabry has posted nearly 5.5 inches of rain, while Bergstrom has seen nearly 5.3 inches.

  • Up to a quarter-inch of rain possible, forecasters say

    15 May 2012 | 12:30 pm
    Update 11:30 a.m.: Central Texas will see light to moderate showers today as a upper-level pressure system continues to make its way east. An urban and small stream flood advisory for Travis and surrounding counties was issued ahead of the storms, National Weather Service meteorologist Cory VanPelt said. The advisory is in effect until 2 p.m., the service said. “Runoff from this excessive rainfall will cause minor flooding … especially along small streams and near low water crossings,” the advisory said. Areas that could be affected include the Anderson Mill,…

  • Overnight rains move through Austin

    15 May 2012 | 12:54 am
    An upper-level disturbance making its way over Central Texas from the northern plains is dousing Austin overnight in light showers and thunderstorms. Scattered rainfall is expected into the morning and should taper off near noon, with temperatures climbing into the 70s, National Weather Service forecasters said. The rain is part of an overall pattern of disturbances sweeping into the region this month, forecaster Chris Morris said. About a quarter of an inch of rain had fallen at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport as of midnight, while a little less than quarter was recorded at Camp…

  • More rain in the forecast today; week should end warm and dry

    14 May 2012 | 7:27 am
    Central Texas has a warm day ahead, with a shot at rain to start off the week. The region will see a high of 84, the National Weather Service said. The low tonight will be 63. There’s a 20 percent chance of rain this afternoon, the service said. Chances increase to 40 percent tonight, the service said. The outlook for the rest of the week looks to bring drier conditions with plenty of sun and more highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. On Sunday, Camp Mabry recorded a high of 84, while Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw a high of 85.

  • Storms could bring rain to Austin area this afternoon, officials say

    11 May 2012 | 4:10 pm
    Update 3:10 p.m.: Storms developing in Williamson County could bring one quarter to one half an inch of rain to the Austin area this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. The thunderstorms are likely to hit Austin between 3 and 7 p.m., said Joe Baskin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. No rain is forecast for the Austin area after 7 p.m., he said. The storms are caused by an area of low pressure in western Oklahoma, said Baskin. There is no rain in the forecast this weekend, which is expected to be mostly sunny and warm, with highs in the 80s, according to the…
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    Austin Arts: Seeing Things

  • WEST: First West Austin Studio Tour launches May 19-20

    16 May 2012 | 1:09 pm
    Organized by the same folks at Big Medium who’ve made the East Austin Studio Tour one of the most popular arts events in town, the West Austin Studio Tour kicks off Friday with a party at the People’s Gallery at Austin City Hall. Like EAST, the free, self-guided West Austin tour champions the eclectic abundance of Austin’s artistic talent, offering visitors the chance to take a peek in artists’ working studios to learn about their techniques, tools and inspiration. If EAST is in a fairly circumscribed area, WEST sprawls out to include a vast swath of Austin west of…

  • Workshop: Measuring the impact of live theatre

    16 May 2012 | 12:33 pm
    It’s a constant dilemma for arts groups: How to measure the impact they have on an audience, on a community. After all, impact is something arts funding agencies are forever trying to measure. This week, courtesy of Austin Creative Alliance, San Francisco-based arts expert Clayton Lord in town to discuss the new book “Counting New Beans: Intrinsic Impact and the Value of Art.” Theatre Bay Area created the book and Lord is a contributor and project manager that is traveling to cities across the country to report the results of the foundational two-year, nationwide research…

  • Museums recognize Art Museum Day with free admission

    15 May 2012 | 2:06 pm
    May 18 is Art Museum Day. Did you know that? It’s a happening invented by the American Association of Museum Directors to coincide with International Museum Day. Both the Blanton Museum of Art and AMOA-Arthouse are offering free admission. But each institution is doing it a little differently, so take notes. The Blanton is dovetailing its participation May 17 along with its already-scheduled Third Thursday — the day each month the museum stays open until 9 p.m., offers special programs and offers free admission. AMOA-Arthouse will offer free admission at both its locations May 18…

  • Review: Ballet Austin's 'Romeo and Juliett

    14 May 2012 | 10:46 am
    A score as luscious as Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” deserves dance as beautiful; Ballet Austin’s three-act ballet of the classic love story at the Long Center Friday was both whimsical and moving, and performed poignantly to the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Artistic director Stephen Mills’ choreography is appropriately sweet in the moment Romeo (Frank Shott) and Juliet (Aara Krumpe) fall in love at the masquerade, effectively ebullient in the star-crossed lovers’ giddiness, and evokes tragedy in the tomb scene. “Romeo and Juliet” demands…

  • More gallery movement: Co-Lab opens downtown project space

    11 May 2012 | 4:01 pm
    More indie galleries are on the move. Since 2008, Co-Lab has presented a breathtakingly busy roster of short-term site-specific projects at its rangy East Austin warehouse. Now, new rebranded as Co-Lab Projects, the nonprofit organization led by Sean Gaulager, has partnered with downtown architecture firm Nelsen Partners to provide an additional exhibition site called N Space. N Space will utilize parts of the Nelsen Partners nifty building at Ninth Street and Congress Avenue, to present works by Co-Lab Projects artists and affiliates. The new endeavor will complement work Co-Lab will…
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    Austin Movie Blog

  • Nichols' 'Mud' to close Cannes competition

    16 May 2012 | 11:11 am
    Austin director Jeff Nichols, who's making his debut this year in the competition at the Cannes Film Festival, is facing an unusual situation. His Mississippi River drama "Mud" will be the last to screen in competition in advance of the Palme d'Or ceremony on May 27. Outsiders might wonder why this is notable, but it is. The major industry dailies from the United States -- The Hollywood Reporter and Variety -- leave Cannes before the final Saturday, which this year falls on May 26. So Nichols' movie will get far less publicity than movies that screen earlier in the festival. Equally…

  • Anderson's 'Moonrise Kingdom' kicks off Cannes

    16 May 2012 | 10:02 am
    Wes Anderson kicked off the traditionally dark and serious Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday with a quirky, memorable comedy, “Moonrise Kingdom,” that should please his die-hard fans and newcomers alike. Like last year’s “Midnight in Paris,” “Moonrise Kingdom” takes us into a seemingly fantastical world, except this time the action is dominated by two 12-year-olds who have fallen in love and decide to run away together on a tiny, unpaved, stuck-in-time island off the coast of Rhode Island. Their fervent belief in the promise of love stands in sharp…

  • Paramount Theatre announces Summer Classics Series for 2012

    15 May 2012 | 2:06 pm
    One of the great cinematic traditions in Austin returns on May 24, as the Paramount Theatre kicks off its Summer Classics Series with a 50th anniversary screening of "To Kill a Mockingbird," followed by the Rock Hudson and Dorris Day film, "Pillow Talk." The series, now in its 37th year, runs through September 9 and includes familiar names such as Alfred Hitchcock ("North by Northwest") and Marlon Brando ("A Streetcar Named Desire") but also introduces more art house fare, such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "World on a Wire" and Robert Wiene's "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Click here to view…

  • 'The Road Warrior' Rolling Roadshow with live demolition derby hysteria

    14 May 2012 | 3:41 pm
    GIVEAWAY ALERT: The giveaway is over. Thanks for playing! "What to Expect When You're Expecting," "Men in Black III" and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" should bow their heads with shame. There was a time when summer movies were not just a bunch of recycled garbage. No summer was that more evident than in the summer of 1982. "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "E.T.," "The Thing," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." These were movies that were great then and are great now. The movie lovers at the Alamo Drafthouse this summer are paying homage to that classic summer, by programming four months of summer…

  • First looks at Matthew McConaughey in Jeff Nichols' 'Mud' and Lee Daniels' 'The Paperboy'

    10 May 2012 | 1:19 pm
    Jeff Nichols. Billy Friedkin. Lee Daniels. It appears Matthew McConaughey has put his movie-star career on (permanent?) hold to focus on more interesting work from some serious directors. The UT grad stars in "Take Shelter" director Nichols' latest, "Mud," which makes its world premiere at Cannes on May 26, as well as Cannes entry, "The Paperboy," from "Precious" director Lee Daniels McConaughey plays a fugitive who befriends a teenage boy who helps the titular character evade the law and try and make it back to his true love (Reese Witherspoon). Daniels' "Paperboy" is a crime procedural…
 
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    Austin Music Source

  • Van Halen to play the Erwin Center Sept. 13

    16 May 2012 | 1:42 pm
    Van Halen, which currently includes lead singer David Lee Roth, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, and Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen, will play the Erwin Center Sept. 13, according to the band’s website. The site gives May 18 as an on-sale date, but there is no confirmation yet from the Erwin Center. Van Halen released a new album, “A Different Kind of Truth,” in February.

  • Utopia Fest announces lineup for fourth annual festival

    15 May 2012 | 6:53 pm
    Utopia Fest, which began in 2009 as a relatively small affair in the Texas Hill Country, has increased its star power a bit with this year's lineup, released today on the fest's official site. The initial roster of a dozen acts has groups with sounds ranging from rock to funk, country and afrobeat. The fest takes places September 28-30 in Utopia, Texas. Philadelphia rockers Dr. Dog, no stranger to Austin, will headline. They will be joined by sexagenarian soul sensation, Charles Bradley, who rocketed to stardom in recent years. A doc about Bradley played at SXSW earlier this year (read our…

  • Remembering Tony Johnson of the Offenders

    15 May 2012 | 5:29 pm
    Tony Johnson, 1957-2012 In the early 1980s, Austin was swarming with punk bands, but the most intense of the lot was unquestionably the Offenders, who were such a swirling menace of hardcore brothers that all four assumed the surname of Offender. Guitarist Tony Offender (nee’ Johnson) led the sonic assault with a new hybrid style that bridged heavy metal and punk. Johnson died Saturday after a 20-month battle with lung cancer. He was 54. “Tony was a little older than us, so we followed his lead,” said Offenders drummer Pat Doyle. The three original members met as Army brats…

  • Music links: Flesh Lights to tour with the Hives

    15 May 2012 | 3:07 pm
    Austin band Flesh Lights are touring with the Hives in June. They play Friday at Red 7 with The Stitches/Channel Three, Lower Class Brat and the Bad Lovers. Willie Nelson’s new album, “Heroes,” is out today. Willie also appears on the 99-track compilation “Occupy This Album,” benefiting the Occupy Wall Street movement. Below, watch a video of Willie and Lukas Nelson performing a cover of Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe,” which appears on “Heroes”:

  • David DiDonato breaks world record for world's longest guitar solo, ices hand

    15 May 2012 | 1:35 pm
    (Pictured: Didonato at noon on Monday. Laura Skelding/American-Statesman) Photos: Guitarist David Didonato Popping in on Austin guitarist David DiDonato yesterday afternoon at Red 7 was to witness a man in the middle of some heavy concentration. Frankly, the 38-year old guitarist, guitar teacher and father of two looked terrible. In fact, he looked exactly like a man who had been doing almost the same thing over and over again for nearly a day. At around 1:30 in the afternoon, DiDonato, attempting to break the world record of 24 hours and 18 minutes for longest guitar solo, had been playing…
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    Digital Savant

  • Long-awaited threequels for 'Diablo' and 'Max Payne' finally arrive

    15 May 2012 | 10:43 am
    New video games this week: “Diablo III.” — The 12-year wait is over for fans of Blizzard’s classic “Diablo” hack-and-loot dungeon crawl series. The long-in-gestation new game offers the same easy to learn gameplay mixed with new classes, gorgeous backgrounds and, of course, some of the best cinematic cutscenes the industry has to offer. Skills and abilities have been completely revamped, as has the health/mana system and there’s also one-to-one combat option. The game arrives in a package compatible with both PCs and Macs. Rated M for Mature. $60-$100…

  • UT student hit by bus inspires new video game

    14 May 2012 | 3:01 pm
    A screenshot from “Nick vs. Bus,” a web game inspired by a student who was hit by a bus (and suffered only minor injuries) at the University of Texas. A May 4 Capital Metro bus accident that left University of Texas student Nick Engmann with minor injuries and online viral video stardom is now a video game. “Nick vs. Bus,” developed by UT computer science student Austin Hallock, takes a “Frogger” approach to what happened. It was posted to Clay.io, a hub for web and mobile games that Hallock co-founded with partner and fellow student Joe Vennix. We spoke to…

  • Column: Accessibility in tech still a work in progress

    14 May 2012 | 11:04 am
    In this week’s Digital Savant column in the American-Statesman, we talk about the ongoing issue of accessibility in technology, from websites to smart phones and beyond. While “accessibility” has traditionally meant making sure websites and other tech can be accessed by and are usable for disabled individuals, the definition is broadening as more people who use technology age and more challenges are presented by newer, off-the-desktop technologies like tablets and motion-controlled devices. To sort through the information, we spoke with Kel Smith, founder of Anikto and…

  • CHI 2012: brain-expanding bits of brilliance

    11 May 2012 | 4:12 pm
    Ph.D student Gabe Cohn of the University of Washington in Seattle is working with Microsoft Research on Humantenna, a way to use the human body as a sensor by measuring our movement against the electrical currents around us. When your mind gets blown multiple times in a very short period of time, it begins to feel as is your brain is quickly rewiring itself to accept that the reality is that anything is possible and that the continual, pleasurable surprise of discovery is the new norm. Perhaps some of the researchers attending this year’s CHI 2012 conference were a little more jaded,…

  • The Linkdown for Thursday, May 10

    10 May 2012 | 2:30 pm
    The Linkdown has been getting blown away by tech presentations at the CHI 2012 conference this week like the Panavi, an augmented-reality frying pan, shown above. The event is wrapping up on Thursday and we’ll have a blog post about some of the highlights here soon. Here’s what else is on the Internet today you should know about: Events: Registration is open for Knowbility’s 10th-annual accessibility institute, John Slatin AccessU. The event takes place Tuesday-Wednesday. Next BASHH at The Ranch is Thursday night (May 10). On Friday: IGDA’s Microtalks and Rock Band.
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    Out & About

  • Three Tuesday Parties

    16 May 2012 | 10:20 am
    “Be Somebody to Somebody.” Sounds like a carefully crafted slogan. And it is for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Yet sometimes slogans sink in. And this rapidly growing group, which inspires young people to become productive, responsible and caring citizens, appears ferociously efficient and effective at it. Lisa Rose and Angie Spross In just a few years, the longtime group has definitely regrouped, going from three clubs to 17. On a budget of less than $4 million a year, it helps steer the lives of 1,200 Central Texas kids. No wonder more than 800 backers showed up for…

  • Two Monday Parties

    15 May 2012 | 6:21 pm
    The Emanicipet Luncheon on Monday reflected the light touch of lead chairwoman Mary Herr Tally. Clean lines. Fresh style. Brisk but heartfelt program. Beth Rinke and Wendy Topfer And since Tally has helped so many other nonprofits, many of the city’s top charitable players were present at the calming Four Seasons Hotel. One of her shrewdest moves was to give the group’s director, Amy Mills, as much time as she needed for an explanatory speech. A terrific saleswoman, Mills told about Emancipet’s efforts to spay, nueter and heal 15,000 cats and dogs a year, more than 150,000…

  • Untold Austin Stories: Walsh Boat Landing

    14 May 2012 | 3:30 pm
    You never know who will be relaxing in the heavy shade of live oaks and bald cypresses at Walsh Boat Landing. An elderly gentleman reading a newspaper. A young couple taking their dog for a swim. Fishing parties, water skiers or picnickers using the four-acre City of Austin park as a boat launch. Originally part of the 1915 Walsh Place subdivision, the oldest residential district in Tarrytown, the landing was acquired by the city in 1957. Though it looks out on multi-million-dollar homes across Lake Austin, it retains a marvelous small-town feel, like a roadside park, or one of those quiet…

  • Imaginarium for Austin Children's Museum at Mueller

    13 May 2012 | 1:46 pm
    The Austin Children’s Museum may be the only medium-to-large nonprofit in town that does not need a young leadership club or council. Its board is a young leadership club. And its reach among those in their 20s, 30s and 40s keeps growing. In fact, more than 650 showed up for the museum’s casual Imaginarium gala at Browning Hangar, not far from where its new complex will rise in the Mueller Development. Blake and Toria English As announced this morning in the Statesman, the museum has raised $11.5 million in its $20 million campaign to reinvent itself as “Doma,” a blend…

  • James Armstrong's Epic Birthday Party

    12 May 2012 | 12:04 pm
    It started with a card. It ended with a dance. And, in between, an epic birthday party like none other. Benefactor James Armstrong turned 80 this week. Yet his partner, Larry Connelly, started planning the salute to his eight decades five years ago. And you could tell Thursday at the Driskill Hotel. Start with the David Kurio flower arrangements. Truckloads of orchids, roses, peonies, tulips in variations on fuchsia, peach, melon and chartreuse. These volcanoes of floral glory competed with chandeliers towering over crimson tablecloths in the grand upper lobby of the Driskill. Move on to…
 
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    TV and Radio Blog

  • Austin-filmed 'Texas Music Scene' features homegrown acts

    16 May 2012 | 12:12 pm
    Texas bands are “flipping out” over the exposure they’re getting on a music-focused TV show produced right here in the Austin area. Producer Tom Hoitsma and host Ray Benson On the air since 2010, “Texas Music Scene” is back for another season with fresh episodes featuring “a new set, new graphics … new everything,” producer Tom Hoitsma said. Tapings happen at the Texas Music Theater in San Marcos. The program is No. 1 or No. 2 in its time slot in several cities, according to Nielsen ratings, including Austin, where it airs at 5 p.m. Saturdays…

  • 'Bobby Bones Show's producer sets new world record for fist pumping

    15 May 2012 | 4:17 pm
    “My arm hurts, but it was awesome!” Ray, ‘Bobby Bones Show’ producer That’s what Ray, producer of “The Bobby Bones Show,” had to say this afternoon after setting a new world record for fist pumping. Yes, fist pumping. Starting at 7 p.m. Monday and continuing until 12:15 p.m. today, Ray fist pumped for 17 hours and 15 minutes straight, breaking the previous record — 17 hours — set last week by an Ohio man. The show taped every single second and plans to submit the video to the folks at the “Guinness Book of World Records.”…

  • Lineup's out for KGSR's Blues on the Green

    14 May 2012 | 10:32 am
    Charlie Mars kicks off 93.3 KGSR-FM’s Blues on the Green concert series this year. Charlie Mars His May 30 performance is the first of six free summertime shows the station will present at Austin’s Zilker Park. In its 22nd season, Blues on the Green routinely draws thousands of music lovers from across Central Texas. One show last year reportedly attracted a record 12,000 people. The concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Blankets, lawn chairs and leashed pets are all A-OK, according to the station. Chow down on your own food or buy some grub from a selection of on-site vendors. KGSR, of…

  • This week's TV picks

    14 May 2012 | 9:05 am
    Monday: “How I Met Your Mother” 7 p.m., CBS: It’s birth to the future in the Season 7 closer as Lily goes into labor and the show fast-forwards to Barney’s wedding. “Bones” 7 p.m., Fox: Co-star David Boreanaz helms Season 7’s conclusion. “America’s Got Talent” 7 p.m., NBC: Tune in to see if new judge Howard Stern collapses society and ruins our youth. “Two and a Half Men” 8 p.m., CBS: Season 9 — Ashton Kutcher’s best season on the show — wraps up tonight. “The Bachelorette” 8:30 p.m., ABC:…

  • KVET alums say farewell to former studios

    11 May 2012 | 8:13 pm
    Get ready to say goodbye to another piece of Austin history. Former KASE/KVET studios at 705 N. Lamar Blvd. The former KASE/KVET studios at 705 N. Lamar Blvd. will soon be razed to make way for a sleek new structure featuring ground-floor retail space topped by a four-level parking garage. The project is one of several that Austin-based Schlosser Development has in the works near the North Lamar Boulevard and West Sixth Street intersection, in what’s now being called the city’s Market District. Though it has been many, many years since 1300 KVET-AM, 98.1 KVET-FM and 100.7 KASE-FM…
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