Austin, TX
El Paso family moves into the first in-hospital house in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) — A new partnership is helping provide revolutionary care for families as they wait in the hospital.
The Ronald McDonald House in Central Texas and Texas Children’s in Austin opened the first in-hospital Ronald McDonald House in the Central Texas region. The house includes nine family suites, a dining area, a lounge, complimentary laundry facilities, and a room for art and activities. Kitchen volunteers also provide meals.
The house provides a place for families to stay while their children receive care at Texas Children’s Hospital in Austin.
The first family to move into the house is from El Paso. Nathan and Yadira are currently waiting for the arrival of their daughter, Amelia. Yadira is currently nine months pregnant, and is set to give birth this week.
The family learned early in their pregnancy their daughter has omphalocele, a rare condition. It’s a birth defect of the abdominal wall, where intestines stick outside of the belly.
Her parents were referred to Texas Children’s Hospital because of the severity of Amelia’s case. After birth, Amelia will need close monitoring, specialized care, and eventually surgery.
The chief of surgery at Texas Children’s, Dr. Matias Burzoni, is in close contact with the family. He said both parents are still in good spirits.
“They have the best attitude I’ve seen in a long time. They’re extremely optimistic,” he told ABC-7 over a Zoom interview.
Following Amelia’s arrival, she will be receiving treatment at Texas Children’s, and her parents will be just steps away.
Dr. Bunzoni said this opportunity will be a game-changer for many families.
“We can chat with them any time during the day. They can come visit their baby any time during the day. And specifically when there are important decisions to be made, they are readily available,” he said.
He adds, the rooms are warm and welcoming. Meals and lodging are free to families.
“The fact that we have them just a few steps away from their kids makes a big difference. And that’s why I think the Ronald McDonald House is just so powerful because it really improves the outcomes of these babies,” he said.
Yadira and Nathan said they are grateful this place is available to them.
“It means a lot for us to be able to stay here because, you know, it takes away the final financial burden as well as the needs that our daughter will be needing,” Yadira said.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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