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At citizens’ request, City Council reannexes land

Some property owners object to the rules and fees governing use of their land in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and seek to escape from those rules. But their neighbors may not agree. City Council took action during their final meeting…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 10, 2025

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City and county to invest in historically underserved Northeast Austin area

At its Tuesday meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard an update on what Commissioner Jeff Travillion called a “Marshall Plan” for the rapidly developing Northeast Austin area, referring to the 1948 plan for the U.S. to help in Western…

Planning • By Lina Fisher • Jan 9, 2025

Golden-cheeked warbler may be downlisted to ‘threatened’ status

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has taken the initial step to downlist the Hill Country’s golden-cheeked warbler from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. According to a news release from USFWS, there will be a lengthy process…

Environment • By Jo Clifton • Jan 9, 2025

Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here's where the rules have changed.

Mandatory vehicle safety inspections have been eliminated for many Texas drivers. But in 17 counties – including Travis and Williamson – an emissions test is still required to renew your vehicle registration every year. The changes, which took effect Jan. 1,…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 9, 2025

Planning memo details performance, possible changes for density bonus programs

A new analysis of the city’s density bonus programs finds mixed results in their ability to deliver community benefits such as affordable housing in new real estate projects. A memo released last week by Planning Department Director Lauren Middleton-Pratt details…

Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 9, 2025

Density proponents encouraged by HOME six-month progress report

The city of Austin’s Development Services Department has released its six-month report on the early outcomes of the Home Options for Mobility and Equity (HOME) Phase 1 initiative. A memo released last month by José G. Roig, director of DSD,…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 8, 2025

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Lost Creek neighborhood sues city over tax efforts

The Lost Creek Neighborhood Association and two property owners in the area that disannexed from the city of Austin last September have sued the city after residents discovered that the city is still expecting them to pay property taxes. According…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jan 8, 2025

What does homelessness in Austin look like in 2025? A new census will shed some light.

Lee esta historia en español On a single night in late January, volunteers from around the city will conduct a census of Austin’s most vulnerable residents, counting as many people experiencing homelessness as possible. This biennial point-in-time count is overseen…

Austin • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Jan 8, 2025

Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea urges local climate resilience initiatives to combat coming federal turn

Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea has been a mainstay of the Austin environmental movement for decades. Though she’s seen many gains in that area since her political career began, the relentless changing climate of our region has kept up the…

Travis County • By Lina Fisher • Jan 7, 2025

In 2025, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard eyes building more supportive housing and strengthening climate resilience

Coming from her background in affordable housing at the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard has always prioritized the same throughout her tenure at the county. 2024 saw two big wins on that front, she says: “There’s…

Travis County • By Lina Fisher • Jan 7, 2025

Commissioner Travillion finds integration of public services as key to success

In 2024, Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion approached his work with a clear conviction: The challenges facing East Austinites are deeply interconnected. To truly serve his constituents, he recognized that solving these issues required a multidimensional approach – what he…

Travis County • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Jan 7, 2025

Watson touts moves toward stability, predictability for city services in 2024

Mayor Kirk Watson returns to the word “stability” frequently when discussing the moves and decisions inside City Hall in 2024 and what residents want headed into 2025. For Watson, stability and predictability come in the form of things like the…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 6, 2025

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