Crystal Chavez, KUT News

AISD Charter IDEA Facing Opposition

Emotions ran high at last night’s Austin Independent School District Board meeting. Some teachers and parents passionately told the board they don’t want the district to partner with a charter school.

AISD is considering collaborating with IDEA Public Schools to run in-district charter programs at some struggling East Austin campuses. The board is scheduled to vote on the plan December 12th. KUT's Nathan Bernier was at last night's meeting; you can read or listen to his report here.

Georgetown Puts Dog Adoptions on Hold

The City of Georgetown Animal Shelter has temporarily suspended the adoption of dogs. The city says a significant number of dogs at the shelter have flu-like symptoms and are being quarantined.

Expect ABIA to be Busy Starting Today

You may want to get to Austin's airport two hours early if you're flying anywhere for Thanksgiving. Austin Bergstrom International Airport officials expect passenger traffic to increase starting today. People may notice some changes at ABIA. The airport now has some body scanners running at security checkpoints.

Also, people picking up passengers can wait in a new free cell phone area until friends and relatives call for pick-up. The airport no longer has free 30-minute parking in its garage.

Occupiers Arrested After Chaining Themselves to Tree

Texas Executes Man who Murdered Child

The State of Texas executed a man last night for killing a child in June 1999. Guadalupe Esparza was put to death for raping and strangling seven year-old Alyssa Maria Vasquez after kidnapping her in San Antonio. Esparza was the 13th Texas inmate put to death this year. No more executions are scheduled until January.

Arraignment Today in Killeen Bomb Plot

AISD East Austin Facilities Meeting Tonight

The Austin Independent School District is holding a community meeting tonight to continue discussion on its button Facilities Master Plan. Tonight's meeting will focus on college readiness for schools in East Austin. AISD is considering in-district charter programs for some East Austin campuses.

The meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Martin Middle School. KUT News recently interviewed the CEO of IDEA Public Schools, which is in talks with district officials to run the in-district charter programs. You can listen to that interview here.

Resolution Passed to Name Post Office After Fallen Soldier

Texas Wildfire Season Turns A Year Old

Today marks one year since the first of the many wildfires broke out across Texas. The Texas Forest Service says fires have burned nearly 4 million acres statewide since November 2010. That includes the 34,000 acre Bastrop County Complex fire that started Labor Day weekend. Despite the rain overnight, fire bosses are bracing for another active fire season this winter.

State Assistance to Rebuild Fences Destroyed by Wildfires Extended

Report: UT Professors Provide Good Return on Investment

In the midst of an ongoing debate about how efficiently Texas colleges and universities manage taxpayer money, UT Austin has released a report saying its instructors generate nearly twice as much revenue through research funding and educational dollars as they cost the state in salary and benefits.

The report, authored by College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean Marc Musick, analyzes data released earlier this year by the UT System. A UT press release highlights some of the report's key findings:

• All instructors generated about $658 million in teaching and research-related revenue in 2009-10. They were paid about $318 million in salary and benefits from state funds.
• On average, tenured and tenure track faculty members earn $129,000 in salary and benefits from state funds, and each generates $280,000 in educational and research funding.
• Among the one-fifth of instructors who teach the most semester credit hours, 56.8 percent are tenured and tenure track faculty members. Of those who teach the fewest semester credit hours, 77.2 percent are graduate students or non-tenured faculty.

While the report points out some successes, it also says UT can do better. It lists recommendations to push productivity higher, such as providing incentives to reward faculty who apply for grants and reconsidering the teaching mix to make sure there is a good balance of large and small classes.

Bluesman Doyle Bramhall Sr. Passes Away

Singer, songwriter and blues drummer Doyle Bramhall Senior passed away over the weekend at his home in Alpine. Bramhall was a key figure in helping establish Austin’s blues scene in the 70's. He wrote and co-wrote several songs for Stevie Ray Vaughan and released three of his own albums.

Veterans Day Closures, Parade

City of Austin offices are closed today in observance of Veterans Day. That includes City Hall, public libraries, and all recreation, cultural and senior centers. Garbage, recycling and yard trimmings will be picked up as usual.

The City of Austin and Travis County Veterans Day Parade will start at 9 a.m. at the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge and will make its way up to the Capitol. 

Two Texas Soldiers Killed Overseas

Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System Today

This afternoon at one the Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test.

You're more than likely familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System and the tests that break into programming on TV and the radio. Today's test will be a nationwide check of the entire system.

Tell friends and family there's no need to be alarmed or to call 911 when they hear it today.

2011 Elections Wrap

Texans approved seven state constitutional amendments in Tuesday’s election. One allows the state to issue bonds to fund low-interest student loans and the governor was given more power to issue pardons. Three state propositions were rejected including one that would have given tax breaks to landowners for water conservation.

Election Day is Here!

What's on the Ballot?

Today Texans will decide the fate of ten amendments to the state constitution. You can find KUT's reports on all of the state propositions here. Travis County voters are also voting on two bond propositions for transportation and park projects.

Horns Move up in College Football Rankings

Texas has moved up in college football rankings after stomping Texas Tech Saturday. The Horns started the weekend unranked, and ended at 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. Texas is ranked 16th in the latest BCS Standings.

Computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices announced major changes in its product management, to keep up with the way people are using technology. The Sunnyvale, California-headquartered company is cutting 1,400 jobs nationwide, including 320 jobs in Austin.

Sentencing Set in High Profile Investment Scheme Case

The Associated Press reports sentencing is set for today for the former CEO of an Austin-based investment firm that used former NFL stars to defraud hundreds of investors. People lost more than $50 million in investments they thought were legitimate.

Kurt Branham Barton, founder of Triton Financial, was convicted on 39 counts, including wire fraud and money laundering. The AP reports the charges could carry up to life in prison:

Prosecutors said Barton wanted to hang out with NFL players and used money that investors thought was for real estate deals and short-term business loans to pay for a luxury box at University of Texas football games, a $150,000 car and family trips on private jets. None of the athletes, including some who lost millions, was accused of wrongdoing.

 

AMD Cutting Global Workforce by About 10 Percent

Texas public school districts have an estimated 32,000 fewer employees than they may have had if the state hadn’t cut more than $5 billion in public education spending during the legislative session. That includes almost 12,000 fewer teachers.

The numbers are from this report released by an Austin-based school finance consulting firm. Moak, Casey & Associates recently surveyed school districts across the state. 60 participated.

Time is Running Out to Cast an Early Ballot

Tomorrow is the last day of early voting for the November 8th elections. Texans are voting on ten state constitutional amendments. KUT has been reporting on each of these propositions; you can check those stories out here.

The first of four new body scanners has arrived at Austin’s airport, courtesy of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials say the scanner is not yet operational. They did not have specifics of when it would be, but a news release said they would be up and running "over the coming days."

Body scanners are controversial. Some state lawmakers have called them a violation of privacy. But the TSA says Austin is getting new so-called Advanced Imaging Technology machines. They do not use X-rays, and they come equipped with new software which officials say is less invasive.