Latest news with #FOX7Austin
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas flooding: How has recent rain affected local lake, creek levels?
The Brief Lake Travis has risen by 21 feet after recent rain this past weekend, but is still under the average for this time of year Lake Buchanan is up nearly 10 feet AUSTIN, Texas - FOX 7 Austin has taken a look into the local levels at a couple of lakes and creeks since the Fourth of July floods. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, Lake Travis has risen more than 21 feet since the morning of Friday, July 4. However, it is still nearly seven feet under the average for this time of year, which goes to show just how severe a drought we have been in. Then, Lake Buchanan is up nearly 10 feet. It is projected to go up another foot or so in the next few days. The recent rain added enough water to bring the lake up to its normal levels. Sandy Creek was up roughly three feet on the Fourth of July from where it was on July 1. But it has since dropped back down. Cow Creek near Lago Vista has increased its levels by 16 feet on Saturday, July 5, around 4 a.m. Once it reached its peak, it jumped about eight feet an hour starting at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4. Creeks are measured by flow and stage, whereas lakes are by levels. The Source Information from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt
New York Post
06-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Post
How a perfect storm of conditions fueled the deadly Texas flooding: ‘Many things came together in a terrible way'
A perfect storm of a slow-moving pocket of moist air, parched terrain and a hilly area prone to flash flooding unleashed absolute hell on Texas Hill Country — where more than 40 people have died, according to meteorologists. Everything was in 'exactly the wrong place' on July 4, Alan Gerard, a recently retired storm specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told USA Today. The trouble all started with Tropical Storm Barry. The storm made landfall on the eastern coast of Mexico Monday morning, according to FOX 7 Austin meteorologist Adaleigh Rowe. The storm continued to move northward until it encountered a high-pressure system in central Texas — and stalled. 'Since high pressure has been blocking it from moving away, this moisture, this low-pressure system has been trapped over central Texas, producing what we call 'training thunderstorms,' or storms that hit the same areas over and over and over,' Rowe said. 3 Atmospheric conditions created 'training thunderstorms' that parked over Kerr County and unleashed a torrent of rain. Robert Caraway II The 'training thunderstorm' parked itself over Kerr County right in the heart of Texas Hill Country – a region known as 'flash flood alley,' USA Today said. That unleashed a torrent of rain – a 120 billion gallons on Kerr County alone, one meteorologist said – on dry, rugged terrain that didn't stand a chance of absorbing it, according to reports. More than 12 inches of rain was dumped in Hill Country over several hours Friday — leading to the once-in-a-generation event that saw at least 43 people killed in Kerr County alone. 'A sudden surge of rain like that is going to have a harder time getting absorbed,' said Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. 'It just runs right off of it. It's like concrete.' 3 Texas Hill Country is arid and dry, making it hard to absorb heavy rainfall. Getty Images The area had already been in a drought, compounding the problem. The steep hills also makes it so the water moves extremely fast along the dry land. 'As is often the case with the worst disasters, many things came together in a terrible way,' said Robert Henson, a meteorologist and writer with Yale Climate Connections. Hatim Sharif, a hydrologist and civil engineer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, described Hill Country as a 'semi-arid area with soils that don't soak up much water, so the water sheets off quickly and the shallow creeks can rise fast,' in a post on The Conversation. Those unusually wet conditions in the sky and extreme dry, craggy conditions on the ground created the ideal circumstances for what experts call a 'flood wave' in the Guadalupe River. 3 Texas Governor Greg Abbott at a press conference addressing deadly Texas floods. DUSTIN SAFRANEK/EPA/Shutterstock A flood wave is 'a rise in streamflow to a crest and its subsequent recession caused by precipitation, snowmelt, dam failure, or reservoir releases,' according to the National Weather Service. A video posted to Facebook shows the flood wave completely engulf the Guadalupe River in Center Point, Texas, with waters rapidly rising and even sending a house crashing into a bridge. 'It's literally a situation that's unique to a flash flood area,' a forecaster for NBC News said. Even without Barry, the region being so close to the Gulf of America means it get 'very high rainfall rates' in the summer months, said Gerard. 'The Gulf is warmer than normal and disturbances moving through that flow can focus thunderstorm activity on a particular area,' he said. With Post wires
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Map Shows Countries Around World With School Phone Bans
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday banning students from using cellphones at school, marking the latest development in a trend that is growing nationally and worldwide. House Bill 1481 requires public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to implement policies prohibiting students from using a "personal communication device" during school hours. The policy also requires the school to adopt punishments for students found using these devices. Devices will be allowed if they are necessary for an educational program, if the student has a doctor's note, or if it is required to comply with health or safety regulations. Supporters of bans restricting cellphone use in school argue that the devices are distracting students. In Texas, 85 percent of teachers in the Richardson Independent School District reported that they got instructional time back under the district's cellphone ban, according to FOX 7 Austin. Critics argue that the devices are necessary for safety reasons. Students at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde used cellphones to call for help during a school shooting in 2022. Bans on cellphone usage in schools are in effect in many nations around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates. The bans often have certain exceptions, including phone use for educational purposes or to accommodate students with disabilities. Some countries, such as Latvia, only ban cellphone usage among younger students. Other countries, such as Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Bolivia, Spain, and Germany, have regional bans on the use of cellphones in schools. Alabama Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Florida Indiana Louisiana Minnesota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Virginia Washington Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton, in a statement: "Texas educators have increasingly voiced concerns about cell phones disrupting the classroom, and the data backs them up. Over 70 percent of national high school teachers say that cell phone distraction is one of the major problems that cause disruption." U.K. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, in a statement: "Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom. We are giving our hard-working teachers the tools to take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best – teach." School boards in Texas were given 90 days to adopt the new cellphone policy. Globally, several countries are reportedly considering nationwide bans on cellphones during school hours. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@ Related Articles Oldest Manager in MLB Bans Players From Using Cell PhonesT-Mobile Data Breach: How To See If You're Eligible For $25,000 PayoutApple iPhone 16e Vs. iPhone 16: Key Features, Pricing, and DifferencesApple iPhone 16e With 'Breakthrough Battery Life' Announced 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Countries Around World With School Phone Bans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday banning students from using cellphones at school, marking the latest development in a trend that is growing nationally and worldwide. House Bill 1481 requires public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to implement policies prohibiting students from using a "personal communication device" during school hours. The policy also requires the school to adopt punishments for students found using these devices. Devices will be allowed if they are necessary for an educational program, if the student has a doctor's note, or if it is required to comply with health or safety regulations. Why It Matters Supporters of bans restricting cellphone use in school argue that the devices are distracting students. In Texas, 85 percent of teachers in the Richardson Independent School District reported that they got instructional time back under the district's cellphone ban, according to FOX 7 Austin. Critics argue that the devices are necessary for safety reasons. Students at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde used cellphones to call for help during a school shooting in 2022. What To Know Bans on cellphone usage in schools are in effect in many nations around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates. The bans often have certain exceptions, including phone use for educational purposes or to accommodate students with disabilities. Some countries, such as Latvia, only ban cellphone usage among younger students. Other countries, such as Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Bolivia, Spain, and Germany, have regional bans on the use of cellphones in schools. States With School Cellphone Bans Alabama Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Florida Indiana Louisiana Minnesota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Virginia Washington What People Are Saying Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton, in a statement: "Texas educators have increasingly voiced concerns about cell phones disrupting the classroom, and the data backs them up. Over 70 percent of national high school teachers say that cell phone distraction is one of the major problems that cause disruption." U.K. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, in a statement: "Schools are places for children to learn and mobile phones are, at a minimum, an unwanted distraction in the classroom. We are giving our hard-working teachers the tools to take action to help improve behaviour and to allow them to do what they do best – teach." What Happens Next School boards in Texas were given 90 days to adopt the new cellphone policy. Globally, several countries are reportedly considering nationwide bans on cellphones during school hours. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Round Rock prepares for Juneteenth celebration 1 year after deadly shooting
The Brief It has been nearly one year since the deadly shooting at Round Rock's Juneteenth celebration RRPD have arrested seven people in connection with the shooting Round Rock's mayor said there will be lots of police presence to help with safety ROUND ROCK, Texas - It's been nearly one year since the mass shooting at Round Rock's Juneteenth celebration. One year ago, a shooting at the Juneteenth celebration between two groups over a social media post injured multiple people and killed two mothers, Lyndsey Vicknair and Ara Duke. They were caught in the crossfire. Nearly 10 people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. What they're saying On Wednesday afternoon, Old Settlers Park was still quiet as crews set up the stage for this year's Juneteenth celebration. For Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan, it does not go unnoticed that in this year's celebration, there is also a sense of heaviness. "It's something that you'll never forget, you know, serving in this seat," said Morgan. "The last thing you want is to have a loss of life when you're the mayor." This weekend, Mayor Morgan feels confident about bringing the celebration back. "I trust our PD more than anything," said Morgan. "I know what kind of work they do, just kind of with like the investigations. I know they worked tirelessly and still are working tirelessly." Police have arrested seven people in connection with the shooting. "We're not going to stop," said Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks. "This case just doesn't stop because we have those seven in custody. Anybody that was involved in this tragic incident will be held accountable, and we won't stop until we have everybody that was involved." Banks said attendees can expect to see his officers at Old Settlers. "We'll be out, our presence will be known," said Banks. "We'll be out there with the crowd and walking around the event. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, the celebration will pause for a video to remember the victims, followed by two beams of light pointing to the heavens. "We're not going to let evil stop what we're doing," said Banks. "We're a great community, we're a great city with great events and our presence will be known, and again, anybody that decides they want to come out and disrupt a great family fun event, we're going to be there." The celebration will be moved to Yonder's Point at Old Settler's Park due to construction. It begins on Friday, June 13, with a barbecue. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Lauren Rangel
