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Cops can keep license plate information for 7 days under new agreement

City Council voted 9-1 on Thursday to move forward with funding for an automated license plate reader contract, specifically authorizing the Austin Police Department to hold on to data for just seven days. The police department had argued in favor…

Despite its name, the Live Music Fund is not just for live music

The 650-plus applications for grants from the city’s inaugural Live Music Fund are in the early stages of evaluation and scoring, with the awards of $5,000 and $10,000 slated for initial distribution beginning in September. The Music Commission received a…

Council takes a step toward ending compatibility standards

City Council members on Thursday took their first major step toward making key changes to rules limiting the height of buildings near single-family homes on a citywide basis. Austin’s compatibility rules, which are among the strictest in the country, have…

Taylor murder trial reset for October

The murder trial of Christopher Taylor, the Austin police officer who fatally shot Mike Ramos in 2020, has been reset for October. Travis County District Judge Dayna Blazey announced at a Wednesday hearing that the new date for the trial…

PAC seeks clarity, cost breakdowns for $1.6B convention center expansion

The political action committee co-founded by a former member of the Downtown Commission wants the mayor and City Council to answer questions about the planned expansion of the Austin Convention Center, it announced in a news release last week. Laura…

Transit and city leaders agree on final plan for Austin's light rail system

Austin leaders on Tuesday gave an official thumbs-up to the city’s massive rail line project just two weeks after the plan was revealed to the public. The final vote taken by City Council, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of…

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County-supported development brings more multifamily housing to market

The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday authorized final approval on a multifamily housing revenue bond for the Kensington apartments. The property spans 148 units located at 3300 Manor Road. All of the units are intended for those making at…

Ethics commission dismisses complaints over Zilker Park votes

The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan continues to generate controversy. This week, accusations about the motivations of two of the plan’s supporters came before the Ethics Review Commission. In April, Austinite Teri Adams filed two complaints with the Ethics Review…

Pilot program aims to narrow gaps in Austin's digital divide

A pilot opportunity from the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission aims to support the city’s digital inclusion program by resourcing new computer labs around the community.  At the commission’s May 24 meeting, Chair Nehemiah Pitts described how he initially came…

Joint Sustainability Committee endorses working relationship between commissions

The city’s Joint Sustainability Committee unanimously passed a recommendation last month that the Airport Advisory Commission and Environmental Commission form a working relationship. “The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the Airport Advisory Commission, and Environmental Commission, and the Department of Aviation…

As drought worsens, Austin Water ramps up conservation protocols

Despite an unusually rainy spring, Austinites should hold off celebrating any end to the statewide dry spell. Austin Water staff joined City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee last week to discuss the ongoing crisis, confirming that the city is still…

License plate reader questions coming back to Council again

While considering a new contract for license plate readers for the Austin Police Department last week, City Council could not reach agreement on how long the department should retain the information generated. Council will consider the policy as part of…