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Public Safety Commission discusses and recommends improvements to data transparency on sex crimes

During the Public Safety Commission meeting on Monday, members took several small but hard-fought steps to improve Austin’s response to sexual assault. The commission discussed data related to sexual assault with presentations from the Austin Police Department, the SAFE Alliance…

Public Safety • By Mina Shekarchi • Feb 6, 2025

Push to consolidate city boards and commissions draws criticism from UTC

The Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) voiced opposition to a City Council-backed proposal to consolidate several of Austin’s boards and commissions, including a plan to merge the Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC) and Pedestrian Advisory Council (PAC) into the UTC. The proposal,…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 6, 2025

January reports show who’s got the money to run again

On Jan. 15, months after votes from the November election were tallied, all City Council members and candidates filed reports showing how much they had in their campaign bank accounts as of Dec. 31. Mayor Kirk Watson is clearly the…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Feb 6, 2025

Bills covering DEI, handguns draw concern from Music Commission

A proposed state bill that would allow licensed handguns into events held on government property was met with concern by members of the Music Commission on Monday. House Bill 1715, which has been proposed for this year’s legislative session, was…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 5, 2025

Encampment cleanup efforts could cost $1.2 million for dedicated team

Austin may establish a dedicated, in-house team to conduct regular cleanups at encampments across the city’s park system. That’s the recommendation laid out in a memo from three department directors in response to a City Council resolution last year calling…

Parks • By Amy Smith • Feb 5, 2025

South Austin's newest trail is under construction. Will the Trump administration help pay for it?

An abandoned railroad line in South Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists, with the first section set to open next year. But uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants has cast doubt on…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 5, 2025

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Save Austin Now to get rehearing on enforcement of Prop B

Save Austin Now, the group that pushed for and won an election to make the city enforce a ban on camping among homeless residents, has won a victory at the 3rd Court of Appeals. Save Austin Now filed suit in…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Feb 4, 2025

Study of arts, music grant programs finds gaps among award recipients

A new study examining how Austin distributes Hotel Occupancy Tax funds for arts and culture programs found that some groups and areas of the city are missing out on the progress being made in helping some historically underserved communities. The…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 4, 2025

Neighbors turn out for Manor Road proposal

A proposal to amend a city plan surrounding Capital Metro’s Martin Luther King Jr. Station was met with anger from neighbors during a Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 28 and a successful request from developers for commissioners to postpone any…

Zoning • By Miles Wall • Feb 4, 2025

Austin is increasing security at city parks and greenbelts following string of car break-ins

After recent vehicle break-ins at parks and greenbelts, the city of Austin is looking to improve security. Each year, thousands of car breaks-in are reported in Austin. In 2024 alone, more than 8,200 cars were broken into, according to crime…

Police • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Feb 3, 2025

Council vows to make homelessness a top financial priority

City Council last week reaffirmed its commitment to tackling Austin’s homelessness crisis, pledging to use a recent data-driven report to guide housing and services investments over the next 10 years. City officials will work with Travis County, service providers and…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 3, 2025

Arts Commission questions changes to Nexus’ $500K grant process

With the city’s next round of Nexus cultural arts grants open to applicants, members of the Arts Commission recently discussed how to improve the selection process for awardees so the program better serves emerging and disadvantaged artists. At last week’s…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 3, 2025

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