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Most Popular Stories
- Council approves grant award to replace Barton Springs Road Bridge
- Austin Independent School district buys more time for plan to address Dobie Middle School, but prepares for seismic shifts
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- Rite of spring: Dog-killing algae makes an early appearance in Austin waterways
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Discover News By District
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City races to prepare for the next emergency
City Council’s Audit & Finance Committee received an updated report Wednesday on the city’s efforts to prepare for what Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano has described as “complex, cascading disasters,” like the city faced last February during Winter Storm Uri.…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Jan 20, 2022
EMS contract talks center on salary and staffing needs
With the city’s rejection of the Austin EMS Association’s proposed wage increase, the two sides now move to the interest-based bargaining phase of negotiations in an effort to achieve common ground on quality-of-life issues such as work-life balance and mandatory…
EMS • By Amy Smith • Jan 20, 2022
New job for Briseño as city announces promotions
City Manager Spencer Cronk has announced the appointment of Veronica Briseño as assistant city manager for the “Government That Works for All” strategic area, starting this week. Briseño has worked for the city for more than 20 years, including an…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 20, 2022
Clerk calls out voter suppression under new law
While the authors of Texas Senate Bill 1 call it “an act relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state,” Texas Democrats call it voter suppression. At a press conference…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 19, 2022
Austin voters to decide on decriminalizing small amounts of weed and banning no-knock warrants in May
Austin voters will be asked in May if they want to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and do away with no-knock warrants. The former practice is already police policy. In July 2020, the Austin Police Department said it would no longer…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 19, 2022
As Bastrop wildfire forces evacuations, Travis County issues burn ban
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a burn ban, beginning Thursday, Jan. 20, at the behest of the fire marshal. The ban comes after a few fires broke out in Travis County over the weekend, and a…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jan 19, 2022
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Austin's creeks have many colors – and types of bacteria
This winter, scientists across Austin are observing two types of bacteria in local bodies of water; one looks like orange slime, and another has a rainbow sheen. Despite their interesting appearance, the slime is no cause for alarm, according to…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Jan 19, 2022
Council expands virtual participation in city meetings
Due to the omicron variant disrupting in-person city meetings this month, City Council will allow boards and commissions to gather mostly virtually sooner than planned. Council is set to approve an ordinance today requiring that only one board or commission member…
City Hall • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 18, 2022
Two EMS chief finalists introduce themselves to the public
Any day now, City Manager Spencer Cronk will announce his choice of two finalists to lead Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Interim Chief Jasper Brown and Robert Luckritz, chief operating officer of a multi-state organization in New England that handles…
City Hall • By Amy Smith • Jan 18, 2022
City works to resolve decadelong feud over Crestview gate
The Austin Transportation Department closed a chapter of Crestview history last Thursday, passing to City Council its recommendation to permanently remove the infamous gate blocking vehicle access from Easy Wind Drive to Morrow Street. The gate, the subject of a…
Planning • By Kali Bramble • Jan 18, 2022
County holds virtual meet-and-greet for county executive candidates
Travis County is hosting a virtual meet-and-greet tomorrow from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to present the final three candidates for the new Health and Human Services county executive position. Juan Duarte is currently the executive director for the Office of…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jan 18, 2022
PARD details the search for a new home for a newish boathouse
It’s not every day that 300 people show up for a local webinar, but when a future rail system threatens to collide with a popular rowing center and cafe, community members tend to take note. The occasion in this case…
