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Incentives for customer-owned batteries among new programs in Austin Energy’s pipeline

After ending last year with a successful vote for its Climate Protection Plan at City Council, Austin Energy is taking no breaks to celebrate, moving right ahead with plans to make good on its promises for a more sustainable and…

Energy • By Kali Bramble • Feb 25, 2025

Austin ranks fifth in nation for cities most at risk for wildfires

According to a CoreLogic Wildfire Risk Report conducted in 2024, Austin ranks fifth in the nation for cities most at risk for wildfires. The top four cities are all located in California. David Bock, senior wildfire mitigation specialist at the…

Fire • By Hunter Simmons • Feb 25, 2025

Under threat of a federal freeze, city staff says they’re staying the course on infrastructure grants

City staff made the case against panic to City Council’s Mobility Committee during an update on the state of Austin’s pending federal infrastructure grants, which some believe may be threatened by President Donald Trump’s executive orders to freeze all federal…

Transportation • By Miles Wall • Feb 24, 2025

Austin's new CapMetro Rapid lines debut with buses every 20 minutes

Capital Metro rolled out its long-awaited Rapid lines this weekend, but “rapid” for now will mean a 20- to 30-minute wait for the next bus. Originally slated for 2023 with ambitious plans for an all-electric fleet, 10-minute frequency and end-of-line park and rides,…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 24, 2025

Downtown Commission wants all-new plan to address needs of city core

The Downtown Commission has recommended the city pursue a complete rewrite of the Downtown Austin Plan rather than making updates and smaller changes to a document that commissioners say doesn’t reflect the needs of the city’s core. The combination of…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 24, 2025

SXSW, public safety leaders detail road closures and prep for festival season

The city plans to completely close or restrict more than 30 streets during the South by Southwest festival next month as part of safety planning for the event, a major economic driver for the area. The heads of all of…

Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 21, 2025

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December Parks and Recreation Department report identifies needs for senior and recreation facilities

Last week, Jesús Aguirre, the new director of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), sent a memo summarizing the findings of the department’s Recreation and Senior Center Facility Assessment and Gap Analysis Report. The report, released in December, identified priority…

Austin • By Mina Shekarchi • Feb 21, 2025

DB90 designation signals redevelopment on Hart Lane

A proposal to rezone several tracts of land on Hart Lane to allow for more intensive redevelopment under the DB90, or Density Bonus 90, zoning district was recommended by the Zoning and Platting Commission by an 8-1 vote during a…

Zoning • By Miles Wall • Feb 21, 2025

Audit and Finance seeks more input before voting on board and commission changes

The City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday deliberated scaling back about two dozen of the city’s boards, commissions and other governmental bodies but ultimately took no action pending further input from the affected groups. The discussion centered on…

City Hall • By Amy Smith • Feb 20, 2025

City opens new office to address arts, music and cultural needs

The city has announced the creation of a new office that will consolidate the operations of the Music and Entertainment Division and the Cultural Arts Division, in a decision intended to improve support for the city’s creative industries. The new…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 20, 2025

Planning Commission bucks opposition to recommend DB90 for Red River plots

The Planning Commission voted 9-0-1, with Commissioner Grayson Cox abstaining, to recommend a proposal from a landowner to rezone three addresses on Red River Street in the Hancock neighborhood that was widely panned by neighbors at a public meeting on…

Zoning • By Miles Wall • Feb 20, 2025

New Texas teacher pay bill proposes increasing certain salaries by as much as $10,000

The chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee has outlined his vision for boosting teacher salaries, with a focus on retaining experienced educators. Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) filed Senate Bill 26 on Tuesday, a couple of weeks after Gov. Greg…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Feb 20, 2025

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