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Parties seek election judges, workers for March

Even though March 2022 seems far away, Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for the March 1 primary elections. Part of that is appointing election judges and other polling place workers. Travis County Democratic Party Chair Katie Naranjo has been…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jun 23, 2021

Watershed report shines a light on racism in tank farm history

If awards were given out for annual reports, the Austin Watershed Protection Department’s recently released 2020 “State of Our Environment” would be a strong contender for its in-house production of a video documenting the East Austin community’s successful battle against…

Environment • By Amy Smith • Jun 22, 2021

Austin congressman wants to give local governments the ability to expand Medicaid

Democratic U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin is introducing legislation that would allow local governments in Texas to expand Medicaid to more of their low-income residents. During this year’s legislative session, Texas lawmakers again refused to expand the program statewide.…

Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Jun 22, 2021

Travis County bush

Gómez, Woody prepare for rematch at ballot box

Margaret Gómez, who has served as Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 4 since 1995 and who was the first Mexican American woman in a county commissioner position, declared Monday that she is not done yet. Susanna Woody announced last week…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jun 22, 2021

Downtown Commission eyes housing, other details on HealthSouth redevelopment

Members of the Downtown Commission expressed some concern last week that the ongoing negotiations over the redevelopment of the former HealthSouth property downtown could result in a project that doesn’t meet the expectations of City Council or the community as…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 22, 2021

Code amendment would make car booting less of a headache

Getting booted for not obeying parking signage on private property is a huge hassle, involving a fine and a wait of sometimes an hour or more for someone to come and remove the boot. But if City Council passes a…

Transportation • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 21, 2021

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Council OKs new direction on convention center reconstruction

The city will move ahead with another attempt to remake the Austin Convention Center, following the decision in April to abandon a planned westward expansion and reconstruction that would have been completed in two phases. Earlier this month City Council…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 21, 2021

Herrington leaving his environmental post for new job in Virginia

After 25 years with the city of Austin, Environmental Officer Chris Herrington is retiring and taking a new leadership position in Fairfax, Va. Herrington, who’ll be moving east with his fiancée, Kimberly Horndeski, will serve as director of public works…

City Hall • By Amy Smith • Jun 21, 2021

Austin Animal Center continues to struggle with capacity

Earlier this week at the Animal Advisory Commission’s monthly meeting, commissioners discussed the reopening process of the Austin Animal Center as the risk of coronavirus continues to decline locally. In recent months, the shelter has been running out of kennel space for…

Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Jun 18, 2021

Travis and Bexar counties proceed with plans to electrify vehicle fleets

Travis and Bexar counties are making moves to electrify their vehicle fleets as part of a partnership with the South Central Texas Electric Transportation Compact. In hopes of serving as a model for other counties in the region, the two…

Transportation • By Seth Smalley • Jun 18, 2021

Council gives final OK on tank farm site rezoning

City Council voted 10-0 last week to grant planned unit development zoning on the former site of the East Austin tank farm at 1011 and 1017 Springdale Road. Council Member Pio Renteria made the motion to approve rezoning for the…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Jun 18, 2021

TreeFolks’ carbon credit program taking root

When Tamara Stutz heard about a free tree-planting program at her neighbor’s house, she was sold. Coordinators from TreeFolks, an Austin-based nonprofit, had reached out to property owners in her neighborhood outside Manor offering to plant trees in an effort…

Environment • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Jun 18, 2021

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