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New forecast modeling puts Austin homeless population near 4,600

New methods for counting and forecasting by one of Austin’s leading homelessness services organizations suggests nearly 4,600 people are experiencing homelessness in the city, far higher than previous estimates and counts using federal guidelines. The new figure was revealed at…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 20, 2023

Are Austin airport’s safety protocols keeping up with increased traffic?

Is the city doing enough to ensure Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is staying safe amid record increases in traffic and historic personnel and infrastructure constraints? The outgoing chair of the Austin Airport Advisory Commission is asking that question. During a briefing…

Transportation • By Nina Hernandez • Mar 20, 2023

Some Travis County residents can clear their arrest records at the 2023 Expunction Expo

Lee esta historia en español Travis County is set to host its fourth “expunction expo” May 20, an event where people who have been arrested but not convicted can remove the arrest from their record. Travis County District Attorney José…

Courts • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Mar 20, 2023

Rally draws attention to criticism of SXSW artist pay

Union organizers for musicians took their criticism of South by Southwest’s artist payment practices to the street on Thursday, gathering outside the Austin Convention Center to rally and draw attention to their demand for increased compensation for the hundreds of…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 17, 2023

Zoning case at Planning Commission highlights ‘broken’ Land Development Code, prompts fixes from Council

A zoning case heard by the Planning Commission on Tuesday called attention to what commissioners called the city’s “broken” Land Development Code, which they said in effect forced them to recommend industrial zoning on an East Austin property in order…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 17, 2023

Animal Advisory Commission asks for city bat biologist

The Animal Advisory Commission has approved a recommendation that the city hire a bat biologist to manage and provide expertise on the various bat populations in Austin, including the popular colony under the Congress Avenue Bridge. “Bats are an extraordinarily…

Environment • By Ava Garderet • Mar 17, 2023

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Hundreds of fish found dead in Shoal Creek after waterline break

Update: Austin’s Watershed Protection Department told KUT in an email Friday that staff have found about 300 dead fish now. “Last night’s storm pushed debris in the creek, along with the fish, toward an inlet where staff were able to…

Environment • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Mar 17, 2023

Airport Advisory commissioners question jet-fuel storage monitoring plan

Members of the city’s Airport Advisory Commission questioned the independent monitoring plan for a new fuel storage facility being built at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. During a staff update on the project at its March 8 meeting, the commission heard a…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Mar 16, 2023

What's at stake in the Texas school voucher debate

Three terms are coming up over and over again this legislative session: school choice, school vouchers and education savings accounts. They’re all related to the goal of giving families state money to send their kids to nonpublic schools. One of…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 16, 2023

3D home printer opens $1M competition as 'affordability moonshot'

Austin-based 3D-printed home manufacturer Icon is looking for designers and college students from all over the world to propose advancements in architecture that could bring the cost of homes under $99,000. The company announced its Initiative 99 contest on Wednesday…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 16, 2023

End times near (for brush drop-off), says Travis County

Following a substantial decrease in demand, Travis County has announced that March 26 will be the last day Mansfield Dam Park will serve as a drop-off location for storm debris. Winter Storm Mara created an outsize need for debris disposal…

Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Mar 16, 2023

Texas Legislature could derail Austin's transit expansion

Austin’s slowly shrinking vision for a fast-moving urban rail system by the end of the decade is about to face a new challenge, one that could upend the voter-approved transit expansion: property tax warriors in the Texas Legislature. New bills…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Mar 15, 2023

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