KEYE Top Stories

$13 Million To Replace "New" Computers

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 11:12 PM CDT

In the past three years the Texas Department of Transportation has spent nearly $10 million on new computers. Now it’s spending nearly $13 million to replace them. According to internal documents KEYE obtained the agency admits some of the ones to be replaced are practically new. ...

Year Old Crosswalk Not In Use

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 10:55 PM CDT

A crosswalk in north Austin has several pedestrians and passersby concerned about the signals not working.

A viewer, Danny Harvey, brought this to KEYE-TV's attention. He told us he's tried talking to the city, but could not get an answer to why the year old signs are not in use. ...

Lake Pflugerville Evacuated After Suspicious Object Found

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 04:32 PM CDT

A plastic barrel prompted a lake-wide evacuation on Monday.

The 55-gallon drum was found floating along the north shore of the Pflugerville Lake.

Police ordered everyone out of the water as a precaution.

"The PH level in the water is neutral and determined no hazardous material inside the container," said Public Information Officer Terri Waggoner. ...

Cheer Gyms Launch Anti-Bullying Campaign

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 04:15 PM CDT

To everyone who knew him, Drake Mallory seemed to be on top of the world, but his love for cheerleading is what pushed him over the edge.

The 12-year-old from Kyle committed suicide after other students bullied him for being a male cheerleader.

Russell Miller was his cheer coach at Elite Cheer Company and said Mallory found comfort in cheerleading, and the tragic death hit home for all of the coaches in the area. ...

Lawmaker Ready To Battle Governor Over Public Integrity Unit

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 06:38 PM CDT

New developments tonight in the battle over the fate of the state's Public Integrity Unit. Governor Rick Perry cut off money to the Public Integrity Unit because Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg didn't resign from office after being convicted of drunk driving. ...

Lawsuit Filed Over WilCo Commissioners Hiring Practices

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 05:10 PM CDT

A veteran law enforcement officer is suing the Williamson County Commissioners for questions regarding his political views during an interview.

"This just needs to be brought to the public's attention, and this needs to stop." says Robert Lloyd.

He's a 26-year veteran of law enforcement. ...

Shark Bites Teen At Southeast Texas Beach

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 05:05 PM CDT

A teenager is recovering from shark bites on his hand and leg as he stood in waist-deep water at a Southeast Texas beach.

The 15-year-old was with a group of kids at Surfside Beach around 2:45 p.m. Monday when a shark bit him on the left leg.

Gregg Bisso, assistant police chief with Surfside Beach, says when the teenager hit the shark with his left hand, it bit him there as well. ...

Police Release ROT Rally Weekend Accident Stats, DWI Arrests

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 05:25 AM CDT

This morning, another Republic of Texas Rally is in the books, as the annual motorcycle rally, which draws tens of thousands of bikers to Austin, wrapped up Sunday.

Police dealt with at least 21 motorcycle accidents, down from 29 during ROT Rally in 2012. ...

Police Identify 2 Killed In Round Rock Shooting

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 12:28 PM CDT

Police have identified the woman that was killed Sunday afternoon in Round Rock by her ex-boyfriend and the officers that killed him in the ensuing confrontation. ...

OneWest Bank To Lay Off 725 Austin Workers

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 02:14 PM CDT

Executives with OneWest Bank have announced that more than 700 workers in Austin will lose their jobs as the company is acquired as part of a $2.53 billion deal.

The majority of the 725 employees work at a call center.

OneWest Bank is being acquired by Atlanta-based Ocwen Financial Corp. ...

Man Shot In Round Rock Road Rage Incident

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 12:02 PM CDT

A man was shot in the leg Sunday night in Round Rock after a road rage incident.

It happened at around 7:55 p.m. near the intersection of Mays Street and Palm Valley Boulevard just east of I-35.

Police say a confrontation got out of hand after two cars pulled into a parking lot. ...

Court Says Pre-Miranda Silence Can Be Used

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 01:34 PM CDT

The Supreme Court says prosecutors can use a person's silence against them if it comes before he's told of his right to remain silent.

The 5-4 ruling comes in the case of Genovevo Salinas, who was convicted of a 1992 murder. During police questioning, and before he was arrested or read his Miranda rights, Salinas answered some questions but did not answer when asked if a shotgun he had access to would match up with the murder weapon. ...

Father Credits Large Foster Family For Stroke Recovery

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 03:17 PM CDT

Doctors described John Toner's recovery from a stroke as nothing short of miraculous.

Just a few months ago, the 67-year-old foster father suffered a severe bilateral stroke, affecting both sides of his brain.

Most people who endure this type of serious stroke don't regain much function, even after many months of therapy. ...

Federal Agents Search Land Linked To Hoffa Case

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 02:41 PM CDT

The FBI says it is searching a field in suburban Detroit based on information involving the disappearance of former Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa.

Robert Foley, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit division, says the agency and its partners on Monday executed a search warrant in Oakland Township, about 25 miles north of Detroit. ...

Lehmberg Story Complicated By Politics

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 02:05 PM CDT

by Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune

The governor of Texas holds the keys to the account that pays for Austin prosecutions of criminal matters involving state officials, and he kept his promise to take that money away because the local district attorney did not quit. ...

Discounted Registration for Komen Austin Race for the Cure

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 11:41 AM CDT

Every year here in Central Texas, Komen Austin helps more than 3,000 women pay for breast cancer screenings and treatment. Their largest fundraiser, Race for the Cure, is now open for registration with a discounted sign-up fee.

"Every year it's just very heartwarming," said survivor, Stacy Mefford. ...

Affirmative Action Ruling Contest: Race Vs. Class

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 11:26 AM CDT

In post-Great Recession America, which is the bigger barrier to opportunity -- race or class?

A decade ago, the U.S. Supreme Court kept the focus on race as a barrier, upholding the right of colleges to make limited use of racial preferences to ensure a diverse student body. ...

Texas House Members Back For Redistricting

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 08:09 AM CDT

(AP) -- The Texas House of Representatives is back in Austin to work on redistricting after holding hearings across the state.

The House is scheduled to convene Monday morning and the Redistricting Committee will likely vote on maps that afternoon. ...

One Person Shot In North Austin

Mon, Jun 17 2013, 08:02 AM CDT

One person shot in North Austin after a robbery of a person.

The Austin Police Department was called out the 1100 block of West Rundberg Lane near Lamar Blvd around 3 a.m. Monday morning.

Police say one person was shot after being robbed by a woman. ...

Two People Dead In Round Rock Shooting

Sun, Jun 16 2013, 10:31 PM CDT

A shooting in Round Rock left two people dead on Sunday afternoon.

Round Rock Police received a domestic disturbance call from the 1900 block of Nicole Circle in Round Rock.

Police said an estranged ex-boyfriend showed up to the 23-year-old woman’s house and shot and killed her in the driveway. ...