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Uber, Lyft reveal how deep their pockets go

Uber and Lyft have disrupted all previously held notions of what is normal for campaign finance in Austin after making jaw-dropping contributions to a political action committee fighting for friendlier regulations of the corporations’ ride-hailing services. Thirty days ahead of…

Zoning compromise advances Boys & Girls Club

Controversial plans for an after-school facility that would serve underprivileged children moved one step forward at City Council on Thursday night. With a unanimous vote on the dais, Council approved on first reading a rezoning that would allow the Boys…

Cab driver background checks go national

For once, rules batted around on the dais did not concern Uber and Lyft drivers. City Council members Thursday approved nationwide criminal background checks for would-be chauffeur permit holders – those authorized to drive taxicabs, pedicabs, limos or city charter…

Littlefield and Dabney-Horne homes to be preserved together

Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo could not bring herself to support moving the historic Dabney-Horne house away from its birthplace at 507 West 23rd St. “Looking at the site again was part of it,” she said Thursday as City Council…

Mobility Committee votes to explore transit priority

The City Council Mobility Committee on Wednesday put its imprimatur on an effort to enhance transit service on city roadways. With a vote of 3-0, Council members Ann Kitchen, Delia Garza and Sheri Gallo endorsed a proposed resolution that calls…

Panel pushes for preservation, despite house deficiencies

Despite concerns that the physical structure lacks historic integrity, the Historic Landmark Commission has voted to move forward with historic zoning for the home of one of East Austin’s most prominent African-Americans. Commissioners voted 6-4 to initiate historic zoning on…

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Movement at ZAP to replace chair

Gabriel Rojas, chair of the Zoning and Platting Commission, started Tuesday night’s ZAP meeting with an apology. Referring back to the March 15 meeting of the commission, during which action on the Austin Oaks planned unit development was postponed indefinitely…

East Austin superhighway breaks ground

Scores of people gathered on the northern banks of the Colorado River in East Austin on Wednesday morning to watch the ceremonial birth of a massive new roadway expansion effort. Through the distant white noise of fast-moving traffic zipping along…

Council to consider new policy for high water bills

If City Council approves the idea, Austin Water customers who find themselves puzzled and/or outraged by a sudden unexplained jump in their water bills will have an additional way to appeal the bill and gain some relief. A resolution sponsored…

Commission debates racial disparities in policing

The Austin Police Department “deserves at least a B+,” according to Austin Police Monitor Margo Frasier. The good news is that not only did the total number of complaints about APD decline in 2014, but the most common complaint was…

Proposed DMV fee hikes called a "double whammy" for Travis County

The Travis County Tax Office is sounding the alarm over potential changes at the state level that could cost the county and vehicle owners an extra $1 million in registration and titling fees. Tax-Assessor Collector Bruce Elfant showed up in…

One way to protect pedestrians? APD says more ticketing power

More power over more highways. That’s part of what the Austin Police Department hopes to attain in its effort to reverse last year’s record number of fatal car accidents, which resulted in 102 deaths, and limit the number of pedestrian…