The Austin Times

A Multicultural News Source

California opens civil rights probe into Los Angeles sheriff’s office

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California District Attorney Xavier Becerra announced Friday he's opening a civil rights investigation into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in response to allegations of excessive force and other examples of unconstitutional policing. He accused the LASD of a having an absence of "sustained and comprehensive oversight." "There are serious concerns and reports that accountability and adherence to legitimate policing practices have lapsed at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's … [Read more...]

Report: Existing home sales hit 14-year high in 2020

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Existing home sales in 2020 increased 5.6% from 2019, the largest increase since the Great Recession, and the median home sales price went up nearly 13%, the National Association of Realtors reported Friday. Helped by record-low interest rates, home sales rose in December and for 2020 as a whole. Volume of existing home sales reached 5.64 million in 2020 while the median price of $309,800 was 12.9% above 2019. Inventory fell to a record low, with a 1.9-month supply, down from 2.3 months in … [Read more...]

Hulu moves up ‘Taste the Nation’ premieres in observance of Juneteenth

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Hulu has moved up the premiere dates for Love, Victor and Taste the Nation to June 17 and June 18, respectively, in observance of Juneteenth. Both shows were set to hit the streaming service on June 19, the same day as Juneteenth. "This June 19 - Juneteenth - will mark 155 years since slavery was abolished in the United States. This date represents an important turning point for our nation and for human rights, and we believe that now, more than ever, it deserves to have its own day in the … [Read more...]

Trump announces delivery of stimulus funding for Native Americans

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President Donald Trump said the federal government on Tuesday began distributing funds allocated to Native American tribes as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill signed in March. He made the announcement during his most extensive trip since the COVID-19 crisis began in mid-March -- to Arizona. "This is the largest investment in Indian country in our history. You deserve it, you've been through a lot," Trump said during a roundtable. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and … [Read more...]

USDA announces another $470 million in purchases for food banks

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a plan to purchase more food from struggling farmers and distribute it to food banks -- some $470 million this time. The purchases, announced this week, will come in addition to the $3 billion the USDA pledged to buy farm products as part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program that was announced April 17. While across the country farmers welcomed the news, they were quick to warn that even when combined with the other aid programs, this … [Read more...]

Freak fall weather could reduce U.S. potato supplies

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Potatoes could be in short supply during the coming year after several fall weather events hindered harvests in key areas. Temperatures dropped well below freezing for several days in Idaho, the nation's No. 1 potato-producing state, while much of the crop still was in the ground. Meanwhile, North Dakota, which ranks fourth in potato production, has had so much rain this fall that growers fear they will be unable to complete their harvest. "For some areas, the losses could be substantial," … [Read more...]

Cyber Monday tops $7.9B for biggest online shopping day in U.S. history

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Consumers spent nearly $8 billion on Cyber Monday this year, making it the largest shopping day in U.S. history. Consumers were projected to spend $7.9 billion by the end of Cyber Monday, up 19.7 percent from last year, Adobe reported. A large part of the online buying frenzy came from Amazon, which said Cyber Monday was the biggest shopping day in the e-commerce company's history. Consumers worldwide purchased 18 million toys and more than 13 million fashion items on Black Friday and … [Read more...]

Austin Water Lifts Boil-Water Notice

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Austin Water officials have lifted a boil-water notice for all its customers that’s been in place since Monday. They say the water is now safe to drink straight from the tap. It was the first time a citywide boil-water notice had been issued in the history of the city’s water utility. Emergency water restrictions remain in place at least through tomorrow. Those restrictions mean Austin residents cannot: Use water for irrigation or testing of irrigation equipment Wash vehicles, … [Read more...]

Dallas police fire officer charged with fatally shooting man in his apartment

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Amber Guyger, the police officer charged with manslaughter in the shooting of a man inside his Dallas apartment, has been fired from the department, according to a statement Dallas Police Chief Ulysha Renee Hall. Guyger was fired during a hearing Monday, Hall said. Jean's mother, Allison, learned of Guyger's termination during a Sunday evening conference call with Hall, family attorney S. Lee Merritt said Monday. "She also offered an explanation of why it took so long, explaining that she … [Read more...]

Florence: Death toll rises, N.C. roads closed as more rain falls

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Hurricane Florence has come and gone, but it will take time for the coastal Carolinas to recover from severe flooding and damage that has killed 18. Florence arrived early Friday as a Category 1 storm. Authorities said Monday the death toll climbed to 18. Most died in North Carolina from falling trees and other debris, and two in South Carolina died of carbon monoxide poisoning. The storm had weakened to a tropical depression, but still inundating the region with rain on Monday. The … [Read more...]

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