City offers guidelines for events to reopen safely amid pandemic concerns

The city has released a new set of guidelines for event safety that looks to provide some clarity and help a critical piece of the local economy recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Friday the Austin Center…

Hindered by traffic concerns, ZAP punts on rezoning case

Members of the Zoning and Platting Commission disagreed Tuesday on the proper zoning for an apartment project at 1434 Genoa Drive in South Austin, letting the zoning case move to City Council without their input. The commission’s main sticking point…

Austin Animal Center offers free microchipping to help residents track their pets 

In an effort to educate and encourage Austin residents to get their pets microchipped, the Austin Animal Center will offer a free drive-up clinic to pet owners on April 10. The process involves implanting a microchip, a tiny electronic device…

Post-storm plumber shortage produces demand for rapid training programs

Motivated by the high demand for plumbers brought on by last month’s severe winter storms, local job training organizations have increased their push to enroll students in a variety of skilled trades programs, including electrical and heating/ventilation/air conditioning. Skilled plumbers were…

Health officials urge Austinites to get tested for Covid if they traveled over spring break

About a quarter of adults in Travis County have gotten at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and the Austin area is seeing record-low numbers of coronavirus cases. But health officials were clear at a news conference Friday morning:…

Downtown Commission hears plans for APD headquarters relocation

Alex Gale from the city’s Office of Real Estate Services and Darrell Alexander from the Building Services Department spoke to the Downtown Commission Wednesday on the relocation of the Austin Police Department headquarters. Gale explained that Council had given direction…

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No on B aims to fight with Republicans

A new political action committee called Homes Not Handcuffs has announced its presence in Austin with an email declaring that “every part of Travis County’s big tent Democratic Party” is joining together to oppose Proposition B in the No on…

Presentation on city's racist history explores why Black Austinites are leaving

A joint commission consisting of the bicycle and pedestrian advisory councils fielded a presentation Tuesday from the Equity Office on the history of racism in Austin. Topics ranged from redlining and gentrification to the schism between Austin’s stated values and…

Austin Public Health to release 4K vaccine appointments Thursday, including for group 1C

Austin Public Health reopened Covid-19 vaccine appointment signups Thursday night, after technical problems Monday left many people frustrated and still waiting for a shot. APH will be releasing about 4,000 appointments to eligible individuals, including those in the 1C group,…

Austin Transit Partnership OKs anti-displacement funding

The Austin Transit Partnership Board of Directors unanimously approved a grant agreement Wednesday to finance anti-displacement efforts using money from Project Connect’s tax revenue. The funds, totaling $300 million, will be dispersed over Project Connect’s 13-year timeline, according to ATP’s…

Shelter logged record-setting number of animal distress calls during 'snowmageddon'

The weeklong winter “snowmageddon” that stretched from February 16 to 21 also affected the city’s ability to respond to animal distress calls. Pounding sleet, icy roads and temperatures as low as 10 degrees in Austin made the roads dangerous for…

Austin Public Health to launch pilot drive-thru vaccine site

Austin Public Health is planning to launch a drive-thru vaccination site at Toney Burger Activity Center in South Austin on Saturday. Plans for the pilot program aren’t finalized, but the health department expects to administer 1,200 doses of the Moderna…