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Early data suggest opening Sixth Street to traffic has improved public safety

Early data from the Austin Police Department suggests that a new public safety initiative aimed at reducing crime and violence on East Sixth Street is yielding positive results. The changes, which took effect in December, reintroduced vehicular traffic on weekend…

Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 6, 2025

Following Trump's lead, Abbott orders state workers to return to offices

Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has quietly directed heads of state agencies to phase out hybrid-work schedules and require all employees to return to the office five days a week “as soon as practicable” under state law, according to multiple accounts…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 6, 2025

Council is likely to briefly stop rate hikes for natural gas

Texas Gas Service Company and CenterPoint Energy Resources, which serve gas customers in Austin and surrounding areas as well as other parts of the state, have filed notices of their plan to raise rates for the service regions that include…

Resources • By Jo Clifton • Mar 6, 2025

TipSheet: Austin City Council, 3.6.25

The Austin City Council will meet today to vote on an abbreviated agenda – just 48 items – but we managed to find a few things to dive into nonetheless. As usual, the entire agenda and backup is also available…

TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 6, 2025

Public Safety Commission 'concerned and excited' about progress from Office of Police Oversight

On Monday, the Public Safety Commission heard an update on the Office of Police Oversight’s implementation of the Police Oversight Act, as well as its vacancies and hiring processes. The OPO operates separately from the Austin Police Department, and its…

Police • By Mina Shekarchi • Mar 5, 2025

Rally Austin eyes affordability programs for creatives in 2026 bond package

Rally Austin, the nonprofit tasked with helping to preserve and expand Austin’s cultural spaces, is eyeing three programs in the city’s upcoming 2026 bond election, including expanding the city’s cultural trust. During a recent meeting of the Austin Music Commission,…

Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 5, 2025

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HUD cuts could endanger portion of more than $15M in federal housing funds

The city could see significant disruptions to its affordable housing and homelessness programs as a result of proposed federal budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a memo released last week. The memo, issued by…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 4, 2025

Austin Energy seeks to dampen fears of cooling department employees

Despite assurances that Austin Energy is not currently contemplating a sale of its District Energy and Cooling Department, called the DEC, some employees remain concerned that the utility might decide to sell the cooling system, which provides chilled water cooling…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Mar 4, 2025

Parks and Rec Board to explore "rainbow bridge" pet memorial

The Parks and Recreation Board voted Tuesday to form a working group tasked with exploring the creation of a “rainbow bridge” pet memorial at a city park. The proposed interactive feature would allow park visitors to honor their pets, particularly…

Parks • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 4, 2025

Planning Commission endorses, amends updated erosion protections

The Planning Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 25 to recommend, with amendments, an ordinance proposed by the Watershed Protection Department to add new erosion protections to a section of the Colorado River below Longhorn Dam. The Austin Monitor has previously…

Environment • By Miles Wall • Mar 4, 2025

Travis County outlines the next year of opioid overdose prevention strategy

Even as the Trump administration attempts to gut every kind of federal grant bolstering local services, from transportation to public health and beyond, Travis County is still managing to continue its long-term investments in opioid recovery services and harm reduction.…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Mar 3, 2025

Amid ongoing measles concerns, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate is below target for its youngest students

As a measles outbreak in West Texas continues to raise concerns throughout the state, Austin ISD’s vaccination rate for incoming kindergarteners remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Public health experts say around 95 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated…

Public Health • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Mar 3, 2025

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