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Texas developer at the center of attorney general’s impeachment pleads guilty to federal charge

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A real estate developer whose relationship with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was at the center of the Republican’s historic impeachment trial in 2023 pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of lying to a financial institution.

The plea by Nate Paul, whose company is based in Texas, was entered before a U.S. magistrate judge and still must be reviewed by a district judge, court documents show. Records did not indicate when Paul might be sentenced.

Paul claimed that federal investigators acted improperly when they raided his Austin home in 2019. He later sought help from Paxton, and the relationship and dealings between the two men played a prominent role in lawmakers impeaching Paxton, who was later acquitted in the Senate.

Paxton has long denied wrongdoing and was not mentioned in federal indictments against Paul, which accused the developer of making false statements to banks in order to obtain more than $170 million in loans.

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The Associated Press emailed a request for comment to federal prosecutors on Wednesday. Staff for Paul’s attorney, Gerry Morris, said he would have no comment.

Paul would figure heavily in 20 articles of impeachment filed against Paxton, who was accused of abusing his power and bribery in order to help the developer, who gave the Republican a $25,000 campaign donation in 2018.

The impeachment came about after eight of the attorney general’s top deputies reported him to the FBI in 2020. All were subsequently fired or quit and half the group later sued under the state’s whistleblower law.

Paul initially faced a dozen charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, but online documents noted only the plea to the single charge of lying to a financial lender.



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Austin, TX

Man charged with murder in connection with deadly East Austin shooting

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Man charged with murder in connection with deadly East Austin shooting


A man was charged with murder in connection to a deadly East Austin shooting last week, police said.

This is the Austin Police Department’s 20th homicide of the year.

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What we know:

Police said on April 10, around 8:40 p.m., officers responded to a call of a shooting at the Cabana Club at 5012 East 7th Street. 

When officers arrived, they found a victim, Richard Barr, with gunshot wounds to his body. He died from his injuries. 

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The investigation showed there had been a fight in the parking lot outside the club that escalated into the suspect, 21-year-old Ryan Lara, shooting Barr in the back. 

Barr had been moving away and across the parking lot from Lara when he was shot. Police said Lara had also shot two other people in the group. They were taken to a local hospital for their injuries. One victim remains in critical condition while the other victim was released.

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Ryan Lara, 21 (Austin Police Department)

Lara was charged with murder. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

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The Source: Information from the Austin Police Department

East AustinCrime and Public Safety



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Austin, TX

Austin weather: Intense storms in West Texas could make it to Hill Country

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Austin weather: Intense storms in West Texas could make it to Hill Country


We will be on storm watch tonight. 

Local perspective:

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More of the same today with a cloud/sun mix, warm, humid and breezy conditions. 

Highs heading for the 80s with wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph.

The backstory:

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The West Texas dryline will be the storm machine. This is where the Gulf moisture meets up with dry air coming off the mountains. 

As the two different air masses collide the air will be forced up. 

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The heating of the day and upper low will provide even stronger lift to generate numerous and more intense storms in West Texas. 

There is a chance a few of the storms will survive their journey away from the dryline and reach the Hill Country starting this evening and overnight. 

By the time they enter Central Texas, most of the storms will drop below severe limits. 

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The highest threat of severe weather remains west of the Hill Country.

What’s next:

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Could we get redevelopment with the storms late on Wednesday? 

The jury is still out because not all the models agree, so we will have to play the wait and see game. 

The next game-changers will be a stronger Western Low and a cold front with bite to it entering the picture this weekend. 

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Expecting increasing rain chances on Saturday followed by a cooler and drier breeze the rest of the weekend.

What you can do:

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Track your local forecast for the Austin area quickly with the free FOX 7 WAPP. 

The design gives you radar, hourly, and 7-day weather information just by scrolling. 

Our weather alerts will warn you early and help you stay safe.

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The Source: Information from meteorologist Zack Shields.

WeatherAustin



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Austin, TX

Texas AG to investigate Austin Police’s new policies related to ICE warrants, city says

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Texas AG to investigate Austin Police’s new policies related to ICE warrants, city says


Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed concern Monday about two items on the Austin Transit Partnership Board agenda later this week, one to negotiate an office lease in a downtown office building for up to $32 million for roughly 8 years and another to furnish the space for $15 million. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/inappropriate-mayor-pushes-back-on-47m-light-rail-office-relocation-plan/



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