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With no end in sight to electric vehicle boom, Austin Energy embraces the transportation sector

As new battery-powered car models from General Motors and Ford roll into the market, Austin Energy is racing to ensure the city’s infrastructure is ready for them. The utility’s electric vehicle and emerging technologies team stopped by last week’s work…

Neighbors hope for midnight closing, no loud music at new bar on Guadalupe

City Council gave first reading approval last week for a zoning change for property at 3100 Guadalupe St. that would allow the owners to operate a cocktail lounge on the site after getting a conditional use permit to do so.…

Planning Commission proposes changes to compatibility

The Planning Commission Tuesday launched a proposal that would let single-family homeowners decide to allow taller buildings near them. The change to city code would let individual owners waive compatibility, a rule that limits the height of buildings near single-family homes…

Police chief says Austin has seen a big drop in violent crime since state troopers started helping out

Austin’s police chief says the department has seen a 25 percent drop in violent crime since a partnership with Department of Public Safety troopers began late last month. At a news conference Friday, APD Chief Joseph Chacon said the partnership…

Business leaders eye contract, job opportunities from $25B in transportation projects

With $25 billion in road, rail and airport infrastructure projects on tap for Austin over the next decade-plus, business leaders are starting to shape how the regional economy and its workforce can get the most benefit from the far-reaching changes…

Planning Commission moves to create new zoning category to allow more housing

The Planning Commission took a step on Tuesday to create a new zoning category that commissioners say would allow more housing to be built across the city. “We’re not building enough housing, and whatever we can do to change that…

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City Council approves additional cameras, park rangers in Rainey Street district

The city will direct more public safety resources toward the Rainey Street neighborhood to prevent additional drowning deaths suffered by patrons of the bars and restaurants frequenting the popular nightlife district. City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday that directs…

May 2023 Austin election ballot propositions: Voter resource

Austin voters will soon decide the fates of two warring police oversight propositions on the May 6 ballot.  The election arrives after more than a year of police labor contract negotiations with the Austin Police Association, which City Council scuttled,…

City may help Travis County with mental illness and substance use disorder pilot

The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a resolution last month to create a diversion center for people with substance abuse disorders and other mental health issues, who would otherwise end up in the county jail. On Thursday, City Council approved…

TxDOT could put a four-lane road where Austin is building a trail

The Texas Department of Transportation is studying whether to build a four-lane highway along the same stretch of land where Austin is planning to break ground next year on a 12-foot-wide concrete trail. Both projects fall within part of an…

Austin airport passenger wrongful arrest lawsuit on hold

Attorneys representing an Austin-Bergstrom International Airport passenger, who contends that failure on the part of airline staff and Austin police officers to accommodate her hearing impairment resulted in a wrongful arrest and injury at the Travis County Jail, are in…

City Council to consider reducing parking spots for bars

At today’s meeting, City Council will consider directing staff to amend the city’s land use regulations to reduce the parking requirements for bars and cocktail lounges. According to the resolution, Texas has seen an increase in arrests for driving while…