Melanie Torre
CBS Austin
Austin, TX, United States
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Past articles by Melanie:
How to help pets through anticipated freezing weather
Four-legged friends also need help preparing for the freeze. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is looking for fosters that will give animals a warm place to stay.Since putting out their plea for help on Thursday the shelter has seen 40 adoption → Read More
Central Texas animal shelters desperate for holiday fosters
Central Texas animal shelters are desperate for foster homes ahead of the holidays. The Lockhart Animal Shelter says their status is Code Red, with about 20 too many dogs at the shelter. They say animals may have to be euthanized as early as this weekend.L → Read More
The one thing you're doing that keeps spam calls coming
Annoying unwanted phone calls are a problem everyone deals with whether they have a landline or a cell phone, but there's one thing you might be doing that's keeping those calls coming.Regina Wietecha is hassled with spam calls just like the rest of us.Som → Read More
Faith leaders unite to support LGBTQ Texans
Wednesday, faith leaders gathered at the Texas State Capitol to show their love and support for the LGBTQ community.Texas Believes, a grassroots group of clergy, says their mission is to make sure LGBTQ Texans are able to live their daily lives with the sa → Read More
Dog attacks woman, kills Chihuahua in Southeast Austin
An Austin dog attack victim is living in fear knowing the dog that seriously wounded her and killed her Chihuahua could return. Following the attack, she says she kept her young children indoors for days until she could get animal control to act.The bandag → Read More
Law enforcement group calls SB 4 'an attack against officers'
On Thursday afternoon, SB 4, also known as the sanctuary cities bill, received final approval from the Texas House of Representatives and is one step closer to becoming law.The bill did not make it out of the House without picking up a series of amendments → Read More
Facebook hiring for law enforcement response team in Austin
A murder broadcast live on social media this week is shining light on the important partnerships needed between social networking sites and law enforcement.Facebook's Austin office is looking for people to join their Law Enforcement Response Team. The posi → Read More
Nancy Pelosi visits Austin, talks healthcare
U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi visited Austin Thursday to talk about healthcare. The visit included a tour of the Dell Seton Medical Center's teaching hospital and a round table discussion with Congressman Lloyd Doggett, medical professionals, m → Read More
Mayor on CodeNEXT map reveal: 'Everybody chill out'
Affordability and traffic solutions could be on the horizon after Austin gets its first look at the city's CodeNEXT draft maps Tuesday.The city's building code hasn't changed in 30 years, but the city itself has changed significantly. The CodeNEXT draft ma → Read More
Incentives to bring major pharmaceutical company, 600 jobs to Austin
A multi-billion dollar company received approval from Austin city council for an economic development grant from the City of Austin on Thursday. Merck, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, could build a new innovation hub downtown -- p → Read More
Council approves $600K to move 15 families in NE Austin
Thursday morning, Austin city council approved $600,000 to move 15 families out of a northeast Austin apartment complex.The city says the buildings at 1205 and 1127 East 52nd Street are in such bad shape that no one should live there.Barry Porter, 62, says → Read More
Tough Texas 'sanctuary cities' bill moves closer to approval
Senate Bill 4, referred to as the Sanctuary City bill, is moving forward. Wednesday, the State Affairs Committee voted 7-5 to pass the bill on to the full House -- but not without making some changes.The biggest change, which could impact Travis County, me → Read More
Austin Energy crews prepared for stormy night
Austin Energy crews are on standby to make repairs if spring storms cause power problems. The big thing they want people to focus on as we enter storm season is safety.It's not the rain Austin Energy is most worried about, but instead the problems that com → Read More
Multiple aggravated robberies reported at E. Austin apartments
Austin police are investigating multiple aggravated robberies at an east Austin apartment complex. The latest incident was reported on March, 20 but many residents are somewhat in the dark about what's been going on.Ashley Shute moved into the Mueller Flat → Read More
Travis Co. courts see 'chilling effect' following ICE activity
U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement says they are not targeting Central Texas, but the Travis County Judge believes otherwise. Judge Sarah Eckhardt also explains, recent ICE arrests could result in delayed justice for crime victims.“It's so difficult → Read More
Hiring handymen: Who are you inviting in your home?
The Travis County Sheriff's Office is still looking for the suspect in a double murder near Lake Travis. They say Randall Burrows shot two people outside a home on Whitebead Trail on Wednesday night.According to signage on the truck parked outside Burrows' → Read More
Bill would let Austin use more visitor tax money for art, music
The thousands of visitors crowding Austin for South by Southwest will spend over $300 million dollars during their stay. Now state and city leaders want to see that tax money pack more of a punch.Whether SXSW draws you out with the crowds or you stay home → Read More
Hundreds turn out to remember Lockhart couple killed in Biloxi
Funeral services were held on Tuesday for Ken and Peggy Hoffman of Lockhart. The couple was killed when a train hit their tour bus in Biloxi, Mississippi on March 6.People packed inside First United Methodist Church in Lockhart to remember the Hoffmans-- → Read More
Biloxi bus crash: Central Texas rallies around survivors, remembers victims
Officials have identified the four Central Texans killed when a freight train slammed into their tour bus in Biloxi, Mississippi on Tuesday.According to Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove, Peggy Hoffman, 73, and Kenneth Hoffman, 82, of Lockhart died on → Read More
Texas court hears case to limit gay marriage legalization
Wednesday, The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a same-sex spousal benefits case that could have nationwide implications.The all-Republican court initially refused to hear a lawsuit out of Houston challenging same-sex spousal benefits for munici → Read More