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- Council approves grant award to replace Barton Springs Road Bridge
- Rite of spring: Dog-killing algae makes an early appearance in Austin waterways
- Firefighters, city reach agreement on retirement fund
- Homelessness strategy plan calls for $101M in spending from city, partner groups
- TipSheet: Austin City Council 4.24.25
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Why now is the time to remove our paywall (and how you can help)
The Austin Monitor officially launched as a nonprofit in 2013, but our reporting roots go all the way back to the mid-’90s. We have been producing ongoing and in-depth public service journalism that covers important issues in the community for…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Nov 30, 2021
Safer Sixth Street push includes call to rezone portions of entertainment district
City staffers expect to deliver recommendations early next month for a pilot program intended to make the Sixth Street entertainment district safer by gradually changing the mix of business and cultural activities there. A recent news report revealed some details…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 30, 2021
Landmark commission experiments with new postponement tool
The Historic Landmark Commission is taking a fresh approach to resisting demolition, opting to indefinitely postpone several cases at its Nov. 15 meeting. After consulting with the city’s legal department, staffers recommended using the new tool in cases where applicants…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Nov 30, 2021
Project Connect agreement sees third and final approval
On Nov. 17, the Austin Transit Partnership board approved the Joint Powers Agreement, which was created to delineate the roles of each of the agencies involved in administering the multibillion-dollar transit project, Project Connect. ATP was the last of the…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Nov 30, 2021
What would remote work mean for Travis County?
In September, Travis County announced its goal to transition 75 percent of its employees to work from home permanently, tasking Deloitte Consulting to smooth the process. On Nov. 18, commissioners convened a special session to examine the findings of Deloitte’s 14-week…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Nov 29, 2021
Low enrollment might force Austin ISD to make budget cuts
After seeing a continued dip in enrollment, Austin ISD is asking for feedback on its budget for next school year, which will likely include cuts. School districts get money from the state based on how many students are enrolled; when…
AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Nov 29, 2021
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Student commission prepares to tackle affordable housing crisis
On Nov. 5, the College Student Commission voted to create a working group to study the city’s affordable housing crisis, specifically as it affects students. “I think that anyone who’s living here in Austin knows, we do have an affordable…
Housing • By Jackie Ibarra • Nov 29, 2021
Austin economy seeing 'growth surge' coming out of pandemic
Driven by strong job growth, in-migration and the ongoing supply of federal stimulus funds, the Austin area is experiencing a “growth surge” that economists expect to continue for the foreseeable future. That was the main message at a recent economic…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 24, 2021
New water-saving requirements take effect Dec. 1
Starting Dec. 1, eligible new developments in Austin will need to include water-conservation measures. The new requirements are in response to City Council actions and subsequent code amendments adopted in recent months. Once the new terms take effect, developments submitting…
Water • By Amy Smith • Nov 24, 2021
Taylor chosen as home for new Samsung chip facility
A site in Taylor has been chosen for Samsung’s new $17 billion chip-making factory. “The implications of this facility extend far beyond the boundaries of Texas. It’s going to impact the entire world,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a press…
Williamson County • By Allyson Ortegon, KUT • Nov 24, 2021
Austin continues to make progress on bold 2016 sidewalk initiative
Halfway through a 10-year plan to upgrade the city’s network of sidewalks, officials say the initiative has gone better than expected but still needs considerable work to extend walkability to the majority of residents. “It feels like a tale of…
Planning • By Andrew Logan • Nov 24, 2021
New collaborative hopes to address equity gaps in Austin's response to homelessness
Austin has consistently struggled to get people living outdoors into homes. Part of that failure lies in the city’s unprecedented real estate boom and affordability crisis over the last 10 years. Another reason is that people of color, who are overrepresented among…
