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Most Popular Stories
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
- Council reaffirms its commitment to making Austin a more age-friendly city
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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
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
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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
Construction imminent for Longhorn Dam bridge
The Austin Transportation Department has decided on Longhorn Dam’s new bike and pedestrian bridge, which is designed to increase safety on Pleasant Valley Road and connect trails and parks in the area. The bridge’s design is “wishbone style” and will…
Transportation • By Harrison Young • Mar 1, 2021
Council critiques Uri response – and looks ahead to future disasters
On Thursday, City Council launched a wide-ranging review of the city’s response to the devastation wrought by winter storm Uri, beginning the long, complex work of preparing for the next storm – even as the current crisis persists for many.…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 26, 2021
City says fix the leak now, get the permit later
In an effort to assist residents dealing with the aftereffects of prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain, City Council approved an ordinance Thursday waiving residential permitting and development fees for repairing or rebuilding structures and removing downed trees.…
