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Most Popular Stories
- Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
- As Acacia Cliffs rezoning is approved, Critics say Council has sold out on its affordability commitments
- Austin ISD eliminating jobs at its central office to reduce budget deficit
- City eyes fund to preserve affordable housing, capitalize on overbuilt apartment market
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
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EMS Association president says medics are 'exhausted' and 'hopeless' as Covid cases surge
Emergency medical services in Austin are facing a huge crunch as Covid-19 cases surge. Selena Xie, the president of the Austin EMS Association, said EMS workers are significantly understaffed at a time when their call volume is skyrocketing. “Medics are just…
EMS • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Aug 17, 2021
Austin moves forward with new vaccine incentives for city employees
A plan to pay vaccinated city employees a $100 stipend has been scrapped in favor of a new incentive program for those who work for the city. The incentives, Mayor Steve Adler explained, are designed to promote vaccinations and to…
City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 17, 2021
Council funds guaranteed income pilot program
Joining the ranks of a handful of other cities interested in adopting some form of ongoing assistance for low-income residents, Austin has committed more than $1 million to study the creation of a guaranteed income program for the city’s most vulnerable…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 16, 2021
Design Commission wants to remove downtown FAR caps, cut Council out of density bonus program
Following a City Council discussion earlier this year about updating the Downtown Density Bonus Program, the Design Commission last week recommended several changes for Council to mull, including removing Council’s discretion over allowing extra-dense towers and removing floor area ratio…
Development • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 16, 2021
Austin narrows police chief search to three finalists
The city of Austin has narrowed its search for a new police chief down to three candidates: Joseph Chacon, Austin’s interim police chief; Avery Moore, an assistant chief with the Dallas Police Department; and Emada Tingirides, a deputy chief with…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 16, 2021
Austin passes $4.5 billion budget, increases police budget per state law
Austin city leaders approved a new budget that boosts spending on policing and puts dollars toward public transit planning and housing. All told, City Council members OK’d a $4.5 billion budget Thursday evening, representing a 7 percent increase over the…
Budget • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 13, 2021
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New street impact fee will make development more predictable, ATD says
The Austin Transportation Department updated members of the City Council Mobility Committee last week on the city’s new street impact fee, which developers will pay to offset impacts from increased car trips to and from new buildings. Council adopted the…
Development • By Jonathan Lee • Aug 13, 2021
EDD provides a breakdown of federal funds under its purview
While the Covid-19 pandemic has posed a host of unprecedented challenges for the city, it’s also led to an influx of federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. A recent breakdown of these dollars shows how the portion of…
Austin • By Amy Smith • Aug 13, 2021
County to turn off lights in summer and fall to protect songbirds
The Travis County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Tuesday that will mandate county buildings to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. during key migration periods for migrating songbirds. The Lights Off initiative will be in effect annually…
Environment • By Seth Smalley • Aug 13, 2021
Austin and Travis County officials mandate mask-wearing in city and county property, public schools
Austin and Travis County officials are mandating people over the age of 2 wear a mask on public property, including in buildings owned by the city and county and in public schools. “Today’s order to require masks in certain places…
Public Health • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 12, 2021
City Council denounces Prop A, approves ballot language revealing its cost
An upcoming proposition that would mandate police staffing could cost the city almost $600 million over the next five years. City Council is trying to drive that reality home with newly adopted ballot language. If approved by voters on Nov.…
Bonds & Propositions • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 12, 2021
APD Animal Cruelty Unit down to one detective
The Animal Advisory Commission may be philosophically divided on some issues, but commissioners were united Monday in calling for the restoration of recent staffing cuts made to the Austin Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Unit. Responding to queries from the Austin…
