New water quality rules aim to promote green infrastructure

In a presentation to the Environmental Commission last Wednesday, staffers from the Watershed Protection Department presented a bundle of code updates aimed at improving water quality and making drainage infrastructure more environmentally friendly. “We couldn’t be more excited about the…

Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 10, 2022

Austin-Travis County officials issue emergency order in response to monkeypox outbreak

Local leaders issued an emergency order Tuesday in response to the monkeypox outbreak in Austin-Travis County. Since the first case in Travis County was reported on June 23, the number of monkeypox infections has risen to 68, including nine women…

Public Health • By Seema Mathur, KUT • Aug 9, 2022

Proposal to audit animal shelter fuels debate about choice of auditor

Austin’s Animal Services Office, which runs the Austin Animal Center, will soon be audited, per a recent resolution approved by City Council. The Office of the City Auditor will report on the department’s effectiveness and bring in an expert on…

Austin • By Willow Higgins • Aug 9, 2022

Law Department predicts challenges ahead for equity-based preservation programs

The Historic Landmark Commission was in an unusually gloomy mood last Wednesday, as the meeting kicked off with an ominous briefing from the city’s legal department. At the request of Commissioner Blake Tollett, Assistant City Attorney Neal Falgoust dropped by…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Aug 9, 2022

Kitchen seeking more funding to house the homeless

It’s budget time, and although City Manager Spencer Cronk’s team has put together its proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, each City Council member will be presenting their ideas for making the city a better place in the form…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Aug 9, 2022

Decision to hike pay to $22/hour will cause future budget deficits

The upcoming wage increases for city staff will cause budget deficits in coming years and force leaders to identify new revenue sources, according to analysis by the Human Resources Department. A memo released last week presents a number of scenarios…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 9, 2022

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Mayoral candidates outline plans to make housing more affordable

Since the pandemic began, most Austinites have felt the effects of increased rent, higher property taxes, or home prices growing increasingly out of reach. With rising costs forcing people out of their neighborhoods (or out of the city entirely), candidates…

Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 8, 2022

City pushes to open police personnel files to the public

The city of Austin proposed making portions of police officers’ personnel files public, including disciplinary histories, and raising salaries 6 percent over four years during its Thursday negotiation session.  As the current contract’s Sept. 30 expiration date nears, the two…

Police • By Emma Freer • Aug 8, 2022

Austin officials expect more doses of the monkeypox vaccine after U.S. declares a health emergency

Austin health officials say they expect more monkeypox vaccine doses to head to Central Texas after the Biden administration’s declaration of a public health emergency Thursday. Medical Director Desmar Walkes said Austin Public Health anticipates the extra doses next month.…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 8, 2022

Music Commission wants to study pros and cons of expanded convention center

Before deciding its position on the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the Music Commission will form a working group to study details of the project that’s expected to cost up to $1.4 billion. Commissioners voted 7-1 at Monday’s…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 5, 2022

Mobility committee hears the case for remotely piloted delivery robots

The colorful little robots roaming the streets of Austin, delivering burritos and fried chicken, are likely not going anywhere soon. If anything, this might only be the beginning of the era of robotic delivery. At least that was the sentiment…

Transportation • By Samuel Stark • Aug 5, 2022

Texas has an official death count from the 2021 blackout. The true toll may never be known.

In Minal and Rajeeta Shah’s backyard, there once stood a cedar tree. The tall, broad canopy provided shade for the sisters’ garden below, a garden with sunflowers and tulsi and lemongrass. It’s a garden their mother, Manjula, pruned and nurtured…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 5, 2022

« Previous Page — Next Page »