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Sobering center may seek expanded role

The Austin-Travis County Sobering Center, currently in its fifth year of operations, has served more than 8,000 people, according to Jana Ortega, chair of the center’s board of directors. Ortega and Executive Director Laura Elmore addressed City Council at Tuesday’s…

Mobility Committee weighs feedback on new Project Connect options

Following the release of scaled-back plans for Austin’s future in light rail, representatives from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) and the city provided an updated briefing on Project Connect light rail at the City Council Mobility…

Far fewer monarch butterflies are migrating through Texas this spring

Lee esta historia en español It’s the time of year when monarch butterflies pass through Texas on their annual migration. But you might not see as many as last spring. One reason? The number of monarchs that spent the winter…

Environmental Commission recommends Zilker vision plan along with list of conditions

The city’s Environmental Commission voted last week to approve a resolution recommending the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan – albeit with a lengthy list of recommendations that include further public engagement and environmental monitoring. The resolution notes that the vision…

Arts, music commissions to renew push for short-term rental tax collections

It appears arts and music advocates will likely ask City Council to reach an agreement with short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and begin receiving millions of dollars in uncollected hotel taxes that could in part benefit the local creative…

Dell Seton Medical Center will get a $280 million expansion

Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas is set to get a major expansion to the tune of $280 million, the facility’s parent hospital system Ascension Seton announced Monday. The expansion will add 150 beds and more than…

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ZAP supports another rezoning in fast-changing Matthews Lane Neighborhood

The Zoning and Platting Commission on Tuesday recommended rezoning a property in South Austin to allow more single-family homes despite opposition from neighbors who say they have been inundated with new development without the infrastructure to support it.  The site…

City stepping up safety measures to address Rainey Street concerns

City leaders are moving ahead with lighting and other safety measures in the Rainey Street district in response to a pair of recent late-night drownings and growing speculation that nightlife patrons are unsafe in the entertainment district. The Austin Police…

West Downtown on track to receive national historic status

Austin could soon welcome a brand-new historic district into the mix, with an application for the West Downtown National Register District lined up to get the rubber stamp next month. Located west of the Capitol between Seventh and 15th streets,…

ZAP opposes commercial rezoning on Anderson Mill

The Zoning and Platting Commission Tuesday recommended denying a rezoning for a North Austin property, with commissioners agreeing with city staffers that the requested commercial zoning would not be appropriate.  The 1-acre site at 9815 and 9817 Anderson Mill Road…

There's no easy fix to Austin ISD's special education evaluation backlog. Students are left waiting.

Kathryn Whitley Chu’s daughter was 2 and a half years old when the COVID-19 pandemic began. While stuck at home, her family had gotten used to the way the young girl spoke. But when she returned to preschool 17 months later,…

Former airport CEO had conflict of interest, report shows

Jacqueline Yaft, who recently resigned her job as CEO of the Austin Aviation Department, had a conflict of interest beginning in June 2019 when she went to work for the city, according to an investigative report from the Office of…