PARD begins to reimagine public safety

Last summer, in the wake of protests against the police killings of Mike Ramos and George Floyd, Austin City Council announced its Reimagining Public Safety initiative. A timeline was released with the goal of reforming “public safety over the years, including conducting…

Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Mar 4, 2021

Council makes Planning Commission appointments this week

City Council is making clear to those concerned – including Attorney General Ken Paxton – that it will absolutely abide by a city charter provision that requires two-thirds of all planning commissioners to be lay members. Paxton has sued previous…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Mar 4, 2021

'It is now time to open Texas 100 percent,' Gov. Greg Abbott says

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he’s lifting statewide executive orders that limit occupancy for businesses and require Texans to wear masks in public spaces. “Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100 percent,” Abbott said.…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 3, 2021

Council changes camping ban ballot language

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that City Council must change the language it used to describe Save Austin Now’s ballot proposition reinstating the ban on homeless camping and the prohibition on panhandling after dark. Council, which was meeting in…

Bonds & Propositions • By Jo Clifton • Mar 3, 2021

APD details cadet academy reforms

The Austin Police Department presented reforms to its cadet academy at Tuesday’s City Council work session, moving Council closer to a vote on restarting the academy after halting it last summer. The changes respond to a preliminary report by consulting…

Police • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 3, 2021

Travis County continues to address damage from Winter Storm Uri

The Commissioners Court fielded ongoing conversation Tuesday regarding the lasting impacts of Winter Storm Uri, with a particular focus on damage from burst pipes. “We continue to do winter weather operations at the operation center. We have shifted into what…

Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Mar 3, 2021

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Austin utilities work to help those hit by storm

The wake of winter storm Uri brought recriminations, finger-pointing and at least one major utility bankruptcy, not to mention the sky-high prices charged to many Texas utility customers. Meanwhile, at Austin Energy, officials have been spending their time trying to…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Mar 2, 2021

Central Texas counties vaccinate 3,000 people in test run for mega site at Circuit of the Americas

Lee esta historia en español. More than 3,000 people were vaccinated against Covid-19 this past weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Officials from Travis, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties are working to open a drive-thru mass vaccination site there that…

Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Mar 2, 2021

Parks board endorses push for more benches in city parks

On Feb. 23, Janee Briesemeister, who chairs the Commission on Seniors, sought the Parks and Recreation Board’s endorsement for a recommendation passed by the senior commission back in January. The recommendation advocates for “the placement of benches on trails and other…

Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Mar 2, 2021

Planning Commission recommends making Chalmers Avenue block car-free

The Planning Commission said at its Feb. 9 meeting that the city should allow Chalmers Avenue between East Third and East Fourth streets to become a car-free zone, with pedestrian and bike paths and green space replacing the asphalt. The…

Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Mar 2, 2021

These volunteers didn't wait around to get homeless Austinites into hotels during the historic freeze

Last Wednesday, Patricia Clark was in a hotel room in North Austin watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” She was bored. Just days earlier, she was outside in the 9-degree weather. The 48-year-old has been homeless on and off for…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 1, 2021

PARD director estimates $1 million in weather-related damages

At last week’s Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley presented the most recent director’s report for the department, highlighting PARD’s response to the historic winter storms and the power outages in the region. According to McNeeley,…

Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Mar 1, 2021

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