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Top Morning Stories August 3, 2011

Extreme temperatures continue in Central Texas. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory until Sunday night.
Photo courtesy of The National Weather Service
Extreme temperatures continue in Central Texas. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory until Sunday night.

Local Heat Advisory Extended

The National Weather Service has extended a heat advisoryfor Central Texas until Sunday night. Afternoon and early evening temperatures will reach or exceed 105 degrees each day.

Electricity Demand Soaring

The heat is causing record breaking electricity demand in Austin and statewide. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is urging people to conserve energy during the peak hours of three to seven p.m. for the rest of the week.

City Implementing Heat Emergency Plan

The City of Austin has activated phase one of its heat emergency plan in response to the relentless triple digit heat. Phase one includes monitoring people who have an increased risk of heat related illness.  That includes people over 65, babies, the homeless and those with certain medical conditions.

Heat a Factor in Dallas-Area Death

The Dallas Morning Newsis reporting heat exposure played a role in the death of an assistant football coach at a private school in the Dallas-area.

Prestonwood assistant football coach Wade McLain died from a combination of heat exposure and a heart condition, the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday afternoon. The medical examiner officially lists the cause of death as "hyperthermia associated with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease." That particular kind of heart disease is essentially one with a cholesterol-like plaque in a person's arteries.  

Prosecution Wrapping Up in Warren Jeffs Trial

Polygamist religious leader Warren Jeffs could begin his defense today. The 55-year-old  is charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old.  TheSan Angelo Standard-Times reports the West Texas jury heard audio recordings of Jeffs talking about sex. Prosecutors said he was talking to underage girls in the recordings.

Jeffs spoke of shaving to get ready in the recording, and he said they were meant to be a "heavenly comfort" to him when he was "down and out." "You were dressed when you heard the word of God, now you're undressed and I hope you felt the peace," Jeffs' voice said near the end of the recording.

183 Closure

A section of US 183 in East Austin will be closed Thursday, so road crews can re-stripe the road to add a third lane in both directions. The lane expansion will run between Springdale Road and MLK Boulevard. TXDOT says the changes will reduce travel times and delay. It’s also a temporary solution until the department finalizes and funds a plan to expand the highway.

 

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