Save Austin Now sues city over ballot language

Three Austin voters who signed a petition to put a public camping ban on the May 1 ballot have filed suit against the city to force a change in the ballot language. Linda Durnin, Eric Krohn and Michael Lovins allege…

Courts • By Jo Clifton • Feb 22, 2021

Austin Public Health resumes Covid testing and vaccinations after winter storm put them on pause

Austin Public Health is resuming Covid-19 vaccinations and testing after the winter storm put operations on hold for more than a week. But the agency, whose staff was also impacted by the weather that left thousands without power and water…

Public Health • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Feb 22, 2021

City says water outages could last for days

Many Austinites remain completely without water Friday as tens of thousands of cold-related leaks riddle water mains and pipes, leaving the city in a water crisis that is set to last days. “We never imagined the day where hospitals wouldn’t…

Water • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 19, 2021

City's power, water committees begin looking at post-storm improvements

City Council members closely tied to Austin’s energy and water utilities have started mapping out their priorities for determining what led to this week’s massive infrastructure failures and what can be done in the future to prevent hundreds of thousands…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 19, 2021

Frigid temps put strain on wildlife and pets alike

As an energy crisis triggered by unusually frigid weather persists throughout the state, even our wild neighbors have struggled to adjust, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reports. Mortality events have been observed in several bird species, including various species of…

Environment • By Seth Smalley • Feb 19, 2021

With energy, water recovery slow, Austin leaders look for answers

With the city’s energy and water utility systems vastly over capacity, local leaders are pushing for immediate solutions to improve residents’ safety and looking at how the state can prevent a similar statewide failure in the future. As of Wednesday…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 18, 2021

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Austin Water issues citywide boil-water notice, urges residents to conserve water

Austin Water has issued a citywide boil-water notice as a result of “extreme weather conditions.” In a statement Wednesday night, the utility said there had been power loss at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant, its largest water-treatment facility, and drops…

Water • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Feb 18, 2021

Animal Advisory Commission fields outcry over Gracywoods guinea fowl

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where bloodthirsty predators abound, the guinea fowl’s large numbers, fast legs, and plucky dispositions help protect them from looming peril. But over 8,000 miles away, in the charming North Austin neighborhood of Gracywoods, the birds face a…

Austin • By Seth Smalley • Feb 18, 2021

Planning Commission recommends rezoning for East Austin townhome project

The Planning Commission last week backed a request to rezone a vacant East Austin tract at 4908 Lott Ave. to allow 62 townhomes – including five income-restricted units. Michael Whellan, who was representing the applicant, said that because the current…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 18, 2021

Power could get cut to circuits that include hospitals as a 'last resort,' Austin Energy warns

Austin Energy could decide to shut off electricity to circuits that include critical infrastructure – such as fire stations, hospitals and 911 operations – to prevent the state’s power grid from collapsing, the municipal utility warned Tuesday. “Only as an…

Energy • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 17, 2021

PARD gives update on cemetery improvement plans

Last September, around 15 gravestones were vandalized with blue paint at Evergreen Cemetery in East Austin, the city’s first municipal graveyard for Black residents when it was founded in 1926. Commenting on the event, Mayor Steve Adler tweeted that the…

Parks • By Sean Saldaña • Feb 17, 2021

South First multifamily project gets Planning Commission support

A 260-unit apartment proposal at 6311 S. First St. moved one step closer to construction after the Planning Commission recommended rezoning the vacant site at its Feb. 9 meeting. The new zoning allows the developer to add more units, including…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 17, 2021

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