In the midst of celebrating the holidays with your friends and family, law enforcement officials in the Austin area are asking you to do one simple thing–plan ahead to have a safe and sober drive home if you plan on drinking. Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/a-mothers-plea-this-holiday-season-after-her-son-was-killed-by-a-drunk-driver/

Austin (KXAN) — Yellow leaves and bare branches are sure signs that winter is on its way. For Texans, the month of December means peak Cedar Fever season as well.

Emergency Abortion Order – A judge issues an emergency order to allows one Texas woman to get an abortion. But the state fights back, immediately pushing to block the order at the Texas Supreme Court. Ryan Chandler looks at the larger ramifications of the legal fight, and how it could affect an ongoing case before the state’s highest court.

Texas GOP criticized over executive committee vote

Border Policy Impasse – A battle over border policy puts emergency aid to Ukraine and Israel on hold. Texas Senator John Cornyn voted with other Republicans to block the aid, demanding the administration make big changes on border policy in exchange for their support. Monica Madden speaks one-on-one with the Senator about his decision, and why he says it’s important to push for changes to asylum rules.

Success Story – Irma Carrillo Ramirez rose from picking cotton to presiding in the courtroom. The judge made history this week by becoming the first Latina to be confirmed to serve on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. In her own words, we hear how her story represents a unique version of the American Dream.

Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/doorbell-footage-captures-accused-shooter-leaving-home-morning-of-shooting-spree/ A doorbell camera caught the moments a man now accused of killing six people left his home to embark on a shooting spree through Austin and San Antonio.

Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-neighborhood-light-show-organizers-worry-it-could-be-events-last-year/ A neighborhood tradition of holiday lights returns Friday night for the season, but organizers said they worry it could be the event’s last year.

Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-city-manager-sits-down-to-talk-leadership-changes-new-work-from-home-policy/ After significant pushback from City of Austin employees earlier this year, Interim City Manager Jesús Garza recently announced a new work-from-home policy that he believes is a compromise.

Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/apd-skeletal-remains-found-in-greenbelt-trail-considered-homicide/ Dr. Danny Wescott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, said the anthropology department assisted the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office with collecting the skeletal remains found on the greenbelt trail.

Read more https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-supreme-court-temporarily-halts-ruling-allowing-pregnant-woman-to-have-emergency-abortion/ On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court said it needs more time to weigh in on a lower court ruling which would have allowed a Dallas woman to get an emergency abortion, the Center for Reproductive Rights said in a news release.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (KXAN) — A doorbell camera caught the moments a man now accused of killing six people left his home to embark on a shooting spree through Austin and San Antonio.

Parents of students at two north Austin schools told KXAN they are terrified from seeing a man with a long rife walk the path in front of their children’s schools for several days, sometimes twice a day, in December. While reporting on this strory, KXAN learned that the man, Isaiah Smith, 28, was arrested Friday on indecency with a child charges.