The 33rd Annual Sealy Fantasy of Lights Parade took place Saturday, December 7, 2019. Spectators lined the streets to watch the parade and take part in the festivities.
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Texas A&M To Become Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free On Jan. 1
Texas A&M University will become a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus effective Jan. 1, 2020, President Michael K. Young announced today. The initiative is in compliance with recommendations and requests from The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
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Americans Have No Free Time, Yet We’re Watching More than Four Hours of TV Per Day
According to the Neilsen Company’s extensive sampling of TV, smart phone, and video game console users, American adults spend an average of four-and-a-half hours per day watching television and an additional 54 minutes using TV-connected devices such as DVD players and video game consoles.
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Major Freight Carrier Bankrupted, Leaving 3,000 Truckers Jobless, Many Stranded On Highways
Celadon, the largest U.S. truckload carrier, filed for bankruptcy Monday morning, leaving 3,000 truck drivers and 500 administrative positions without a job two weeks before Christmas.
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2019 Sealy Fantasy of Lights Parade [VIDEO]
The 33rd Annual Sealy Fantasy of Lights Parade took place Saturday, December 7, 2019. Spectators lined the streets to watch the parade and take part in the festivities.
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Six Saudis Arrested And Questioned After Pensacola Shooting – Three Were Filming Attack
Six Saudi nationals were taken into custody for questioning near the Florida naval base where an Air Force trainee – also from Saudi Arabia – opened fire Friday morning, killing three before a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed him. According to the New York Times, three of the Saudis were filming the attack. It is unknown whether they were students at the base, or whether they are connected to the gunman.
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2019 AUSTIN COUNTY SCOREBOARD PLAYOFF EDITION – Quarterfinals
It’s the quarterfinals of state football and we still have some local teams in the battle for state. Here are the scores we have.
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Prison Health Care Costs Are Higher Than Ever in Texas. Many Point to an Aging Prison Population.
Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker.
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63% Of All U.S. Jobs Created Since 1990 Have Been Low-Wage Jobs
Since 1990, the U.S. economy has produced millions of jobs, but nearly two-thirds of them have been low wage jobs. Of course this is one of the biggest factors causing the systematic erosion of the American middle class. Today, half of all U.S. workers make less than $33,000 a year, but meanwhile the cost of living has been steadily increasing.
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Close Before You Doze – See the Dramatic Difference a Closed Door Can Make During A Fire [VIDEO]
The UL Fire Safety Institute showed a group of people the difference having a door closed vs. having it open during a fire can make.
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Port Neches Chemical Plant Explosion Injures 3 [VIDEO]
Three employees were injured when an explosion at the TPC Group Plant in Port Neches rocked the area early Wednesday morning.
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Feral Hogs Kill Woman In Chambers County [VIDEO]
A Texas woman was found dead after pre-dawn attack by a group of feral hogs outside a home, the Chambers County sheriff said.
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2019 AUSTIN COUNTY SCOREBOARD PLAYOFF EDITION – Area
Area Football battles happened last night in the fight for the state title. Here are the scores we have of local and surrounding area teams.
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US-S.Korea Talks Abruptly Halted Over Trump’s $4.7BN Price Tag For Basing Troops
The Trump administration’s new $4.7 billion price tag suggested to South Korea two weeks ago to cover its share of the costs of housing American troops, which have been stationed on the peninsula as a deterrent against the north via US Indo-Pacific Command forces since 1957, has angered Seoul to the point that negotiations were abruptly cut off Tuesday.
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FBI Investigating “Criminal Enterprise” In Connection With Arrested Epstein Guards
“With a case this high profile, there has got to be either a major malfunction of the system or criminal enterprise at foot to allow this to happen. So are you looking at both, is the FBI looking at both?” the South Carolina Republican senator asked. “The FBI is involved and they are looking at criminal enterprise, yes,”
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Epstein Guards Arrested For Failing To Check On Him
Two federal correctional officers who were on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein died were arrested early Tuesday on federal charges related to their failure to check on him the night he died in his cell, according to the New York Times.
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The Cost of Government Is Rising Much Faster than Housing and Healthcare
This year, as it has for several consecutive years now, the Tax Foundation reported that “Americans will collectively spend more on taxes in 2019 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined.”
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Here’s The Real Reason Why Hong Kong Authorities Are Desperate To Regain Control Of University
Many are wondering why the Hong Kong police focused on CUHK when almost all universities in Hong Kong are involved in anti-government protests. What’s more, the police seemed to be very determined to take control of the campus. The answer may be simpler (and more ominous) than many suspect.
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Why Spam Calls Are At An All-Time High [VIDEO]
Robocalls are at an all-time high. On average, Americans received more than 2,000 robocalls every second in October, up 25% from the previous month. With 49 billion robocalls so far this year, all four major U.S. phone carriers now offer some form of blocking or screening service, such as T-Mobile’s well known “Scam Likely” label. Congress and state officials passed new robocall regulations in recent months and have seen an uptick in successful cases against the scammers. Meanwhile, hundreds of tech start-ups are developing new ways to tackle the problem.
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2019 AUSTIN COUNTY SCOREBOARD PLAYOFF EDITION – BI-DISTRICT
Bi-District Football battles happened last night in the fight for the state title. Here are the scores we have of local and surrounding area teams.
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In Shock To $3.5 Trillion Healthcare Industry, Trump Admin Will Force Hospitals To Disclose “Secret” Insurance Rates
In a move that will send shockwaves across the $3.5 trillion US healthcare industry, on Friday the Trump administration unveiled a plan that would – for the first time – force hospitals and insurers to disclose their secret negotiated rates
State News

Texas A&M To Become Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free On Jan. 1
Texas A&M University will become a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus effective Jan. 1, 2020, President Michael K. Young announced today. The initiative is in compliance with recommendations and requests from The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.
National News

Six Saudis Arrested And Questioned After Pensacola Shooting – Three Were Filming Attack
Six Saudi nationals were taken into custody for questioning near the Florida naval base where an Air Force trainee – also from Saudi Arabia – opened fire Friday morning, killing three before a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed him. According to the New York Times, three of the Saudis were filming the attack. It is unknown whether they were students at the base, or whether they are connected to the gunman.
International News

Here’s The Real Reason Why Hong Kong Authorities Are Desperate To Regain Control Of University
Many are wondering why the Hong Kong police focused on CUHK when almost all universities in Hong Kong are involved in anti-government protests. What’s more, the police seemed to be very determined to take control of the campus. The answer may be simpler (and more ominous) than many suspect.
Business & Economy

Major Freight Carrier Bankrupted, Leaving 3,000 Truckers Jobless, Many Stranded On Highways
Celadon, the largest U.S. truckload carrier, filed for bankruptcy Monday morning, leaving 3,000 truck drivers and 500 administrative positions without a job two weeks before Christmas.
Politics

Here’s Why 97% Of Congress Get Re-Elected Each Year
How is 97 percent of Congress able to get re-elected each year even though only 17 percent of the American people believe our representatives are doing a good job?
Sports

2019 AUSTIN COUNTY SCOREBOARD PLAYOFF EDITION – Quarterfinals
It’s the quarterfinals of state football and we still have some local teams in the battle for state. Here are the scores we have.
Science & Technology
![Why Spam Calls Are At An All-Time High [VIDEO]](https://cdn.austincountynewsonline.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load/images/1x1.trans.gif)
Why Spam Calls Are At An All-Time High [VIDEO]
Robocalls are at an all-time high. On average, Americans received more than 2,000 robocalls every second in October, up 25% from the previous month. With 49 billion robocalls so far this year, all four major U.S. phone carriers now offer some form of blocking or screening service, such as T-Mobile’s well known “Scam Likely” label. Congress and state officials passed new robocall regulations in recent months and have seen an uptick in successful cases against the scammers. Meanwhile, hundreds of tech start-ups are developing new ways to tackle the problem.
Health & Medicine

In Shock To $3.5 Trillion Healthcare Industry, Trump Admin Will Force Hospitals To Disclose “Secret” Insurance Rates
In a move that will send shockwaves across the $3.5 trillion US healthcare industry, on Friday the Trump administration unveiled a plan that would – for the first time – force hospitals and insurers to disclose their secret negotiated rates
Lifestyles

Americans Have No Free Time, Yet We’re Watching More than Four Hours of TV Per Day
According to the Neilsen Company’s extensive sampling of TV, smart phone, and video game console users, American adults spend an average of four-and-a-half hours per day watching television and an additional 54 minutes using TV-connected devices such as DVD players and video game consoles.
Down Home Dining

Down Home Dining: Episode 2 – The Backdrop Events
In the second episode of our new series, Down Home Dining, we were in Sealy, TX at The Backdrop Events to sample some Cajun cuisine! The Backdrop Event’s owner, Monique Watkins is not only a great cook but, she can host some out of this world events for you at her location!
Agriculture News & Information

EEA – Winter Gardening Program
The Extension Education Association of Austin County (a direct part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service) held their Winter Gardening Program about the best plants to plant during the winter season.
Austin County Schools: Sealy, Bellville, Brazos, Faith Academy & Providence

2019 AUSTIN COUNTY SCOREBOARD PLAYOFF EDITION – Quarterfinals
It’s the quarterfinals of state football and we still have some local teams in the battle for state. Here are the scores we have.
Austin County Commissioners Court

Austin County Commissioners Court – December 9, 2019
The Austin County, Texas Commissioners Court met on Monday December 9, 2019 at 9am to discuss county business. The following video is of that meeting.
Sealy City Council

Sealy City Council – December 3, 2019
The Sealy, Texas City Council met on Tuesday December 3, 2019 to discuss city business. The following video is of that meeting.
Austin County Area Chambers of Commerce

Wallis Chamber Annual Banquet “Big Barn Bash” Great Success
The Wallis Chamber of Commerce celebrated their annual banquet Saturday August 4, 2018 with a “Big Barn Bash”.
Historic Austin County

Texas Historical Commission Now accepting 2019 Preservation Scholars Applications
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is now accepting applications for the Preservation Scholars Program for summer 2019. The program is an eight-week, paid, summer internship opportunity available to undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning about the field of historic preservation and gaining hands-on experience.
Legal & Public Notices

Legal Notice For Application To Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
APPLICATION HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION BY U BAR WINES, LLC FOR A WINERY PERMIT TO BE LOCATED AT 5701 HIGHWAY 159 WEST, BELLVILLE, AUSTIN COUNTY, TEXAS 77418. THE SOLE MEMBER AND MANAGER OF THE LLC IS EDWIN J. UECKERT.