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Here’s what we know about the flood victims from the Austin area

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Here’s what we know about the flood victims from the Austin area


More than 100 people died in Central Texas after historic flooding over the July Fourth weekend.

Most of the deaths were in Kerr County, two hours west of Austin. That includes roughly two dozen campers attending an all-girls’ Christian camp along the Guadalupe River. At least two of these girls were from Austin.

The Austin area also experienced catastrophic flooding, claiming at least 14 lives. Here’s what we know about the flood victims from Austin and the surrounding towns:

Braxton Jarmon, 15, was a rising sophomore at Glenn High School in Leander and a member of the school’s marching band.

Braxton Jarmon

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Braxton Jarmon, 15, was a rising sophomore at Glenn High School in Leander, just north of Austin. The school principal confirmed his death in an email to students and families.

“The void he leaves behind is immense, and he will be deeply missed,” reads an Instagram post on the school’s marching band account.

Linnie McCown

Linnie McCown, 8, was among the 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic who died in the Kerrville floods. Her father, Michael McCown, confirmed her death to the Austin American-Statesman. According to the Statesman, he wrote on Instagram that Linnie “filled our hearts with so much joy we cannot begin to explain.”

Linnie had been a student at Casis Elementary. Hundreds of people attended a vigil at the Austin ISD campus Sunday to pray for the flood victims and their families.

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Mary Stevens

Eight-year-old Mary Stevens, a camper at Camp Mystic, attended Highland Park Elementary, according to KXAN.

The station reported that Mary’s mother confirmed her death in a social media post.

“Our world is shattered, but I have peace getting your letters and knowing you were having the time of your life at camp and had a dance party with all of your friends before the Lord decided to take you from us,” Stacy Stevens wrote.

Sherry Richardson 

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Sherry Richardson, 64, was considered the "office mom" at Hope House, a long-term residential home for children and adults with disabilities in Liberty Hill.
Sherry Richardson, 64, was considered the “office mom” at Hope House, a long-term residential home for children and adults with disabilities in Liberty Hill.

Sherry Richardson, 64, was the office manager and human resources director for Hope House, a long-term residential home for children and adults with profound intellectual disabilities in Liberty Hill.

David Gould, the executive director of Hope House, said Richardson “was the glue that kind of held everybody together.” He described her as the “office mom.”

“She was lit up with being able to work on this mission of taking care of kids and giving them the best life ever,” he said.

Gould said Richardson was living in a cabin on the property when it flooded. He said first responders were able to evacuate 12 children and two staff members on the main campus, which is farther from the creek.

He said Richardson’s death is a huge loss for the organization.

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“She was the one that set the tone as far as how we’re going to take care of each other and how we are going to be kind and how collectively we’re going to take care of this mission together by taking care of each other,” he said.

Courtesy Betty West family

Betty West, seen here in the mid-80s.

Betty West

Betty West, 84, was “hilarious and blunt,” two of her children said by phone Tuesday. Sherry McCutcheon said it often took her mom hours just to leave the grocery store because the Austin-area native had friends constantly stopping to chat.

West was living in Sandy Creek, a neighborhood in northwest Travis County that was ravaged by floodwaters early Saturday morning. She was living with her sons, Doug West and Gary Traugott, both of whom are still missing. West did not survive the floods and was found early Saturday, her daughters said.

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West had been retired from Texas Instruments for 20 years.

Malaya Hammond

Malaya Hammond was a student at One Day Academy in Marble Falls. Her school confirmed her death in an Instagram post on Monday.

This story will be updated.

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

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Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year


Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]



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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

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Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?


Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts. 

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average. 

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal. 

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“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.” 

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather. 

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them: 

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  • Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
  • Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication. 
  • Take a shower before going to bed.
  • Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
  • Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
  • Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen. 

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

  • Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
  • Vacuum and sweep regularly. 
  • Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly. 
  • Keep doors and windows closed.
  • Clean out the vents in your home.
  • Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
  • Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air. 
  • Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.



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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

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Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races


Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.



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