Strong winds, rain, and hail ripped shingles off roofs, knocked down a gazebo, and littered debris near homes off Baghdad Road and Brashear Lane. (Video courtesy: Monica Acevedo) https://www.kxan.com/news/local/williamson-county/early-morning-storm-tears-through-cedar-park-neighborhood-multiple-homes-damaged/

Overdoses continue in Hays CISD, but new program could help

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hays/overdoses-continue-in-hays-cisd-but-new-program-could-help/

Officials in Central Texas on Thursday celebrated the completion of a major transportation project that improved the corridor connection Austin and Bastrop. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/traffic/traffic-projects/officials-celebrate-completion-of-sh-71-colorado-river-bridge-project/

Austin City Council approved Thursday submitting a federal grant application for construction funding assistance with its Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch program. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/traffic/traffic-projects/i-35-expansion-project/austin-vying-for-federal-grant-for-i-35-cap-and-stitch-program/

A Georgetown man and former Round Rock pastor was sentenced to serve 70 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release on an “enhanced charge of possession of child pornography.” Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/former-round-rock-pastor-sentenced-on-child-pornography-charge/

Austin’s public library system will premiere season two of its podcast series “APL Volumes” Sept. 27. The second season will focus on all of the non-literature items available for use through APL: from tools and board games available to rent, to craft supplies and seeds residents can come use. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/new-podcast-dives-into-all-of-the-austin-public-librarys-non-book-offerings/

Austin City Council has more than 100 items on its Sept. 21, 2023 meeting. Here’s some of what KXAN is watching. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-city-council-future-of-healthsouth-building-police-oversight-implementation/

The Oscar-winning actor appeared earlier this week on an episode of the “SmartLess” podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett to promote his new picture book called “Just Because.” Their discussion, though, turned to politics after McConaughey talked about his Greenlights Grant Initiative, which is a national program he launched connecting school districts to available federal school safety funding. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/matthew-mcconaughey-again-floats-possibility-of-running-for-political-office/

BRUSHY CREEK, Texas (KXAN) — The Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District announced earlier this month that it would stop adding fluoride to its drinking water. The substance is often added to communal water supplies to prevent tooth decay.

In an effort to preserve spaces that contribute to Austin’s creative, forward-thinking and entrepreneurial spirit, the Creative Space Assistance Program is set to give amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to 65 local organizations. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/music-venues-creative-spaces-to-receive-1-5m-from-austin/

Jacobe Ferguson, a man facing arson charges in a deadly 2018 fire in San Marcos, was allowed to be released from jail on bond, according to the Hays County District Attorney’s Office. Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/man-charged-in-iconic-village-apartment-fire-allowed-to-be-released-on-bond/

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas along with Huston-Tillotson University started a program called "Boldly B.L.U.E." The goal of the program is to empower mothers in Texas.

The presider of the impeachment trial against Attorney General Ken Paxton is speaking out freely now that the gag order is over, defending the Texas Senate's process as "unbiased" while slamming the House's initial decision to impeach in late May in a one-on-one interview with Nexstar.