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Most Popular Stories
- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
- Two Years after the Austin Police Oversight Act passed, Community Police Review Commission finally meets
- New Data Center Planned for Lockhart in 2028
- City eyes expanded district plan for downtown and beyond
- External review finds data inconsistencies in APD reporting on use of force
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Economic Development Department to update progress on CARES Act relief funding programs
As of June 29, five of the eight grant programs approved by City Council to provide economic relief to Austin’s economic sectors through the CARES Act had not yet passed the development stages in their funding allocation plans. The Economic…
City Council • By Savana Dunning • Jul 14, 2020
Manager proposes tax hike, 2 percent employee raise
Presenting a budget with a 2 percent employee pay raise and no layoffs and a 3.5 percent property tax increase, City Manager Spencer Cronk told Council Monday that his budget proposal meets the twin crises of the pandemic that has…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 13, 2020
Commissioners Court considers allocating relief dollars to Baylor Scott & White
Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit hospital system in the state of Texas, and like many other businesses, it has been footing the bill for unanticipated Covid-19 related expenses since March. Jay Fox, the president of Baylor…
Public Health • By Jessi Devenyns • Jul 13, 2020
Music Commission looks at Black cultural district, music fund based on equity
Turning its attention to equity issues facing the city’s music and creative communities, the Music Commission plans to meet every two weeks for the foreseeable future to address those concerns. The commission voted unanimously at last week’s meeting to create a…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 13, 2020
Dog owners take note: Toxic algae early warning system is in the works
The heat of summer is here and that means toxic blue-green algae may return to Austin lakes and creeks. Last year, at least five dogs died after swimming in parts of Lady Bird Lake containing the algae. This year, the…
Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 13, 2020
City prepares ordinances to tap brakes on reopening and slow virus spread
City Council approved two ordinances Thursday intended to bring local businesses into compliance with regulations near to Phase 1 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening plan. “We can’t take the foot off the gas – we are not clear of this…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jul 10, 2020
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City evaluates rental assistance program, prepares for round two
Back in May, the city’s Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants program disbursed $1.2 million in emergency rental assistance to 1,680 families across the city. This week, the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department, in conjunction with the Housing Authority of…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 10, 2020
Is money going to decide Travis County races?
With early voting ending today for Tuesday’s Travis County runoff elections, the Democratic candidates for district attorney and county attorney were busy making phone calls trying to coax pandemic-weary voters to the polls. They were also filing campaign finance reports…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 10, 2020
Police department inaugural gun violence report shows slight increase in violent offenses
In its inaugural quarterly gun violence report, the Austin Police Department has recorded a slight increase in major violent offenses involving guns compared to the same time last year. In the summer of 2019, APD released its initial gun crime…
Public Safety • By Savana Dunning • Jul 10, 2020
Council seeks to add teeth to virus regulations
Mayor Steve Adler is proposing two ordinances: one would authorize the city health authority – in this case Dr. Mark Escott – to adopt rules protecting people from Covid 19 and create a class C misdemeanor with a fine of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 9, 2020
'This is an issue of health': Teachers union demands Austin ISD offer only online classes in August
The union for Austin Independent School District employees is asking the district and the state not to send employees back to school buildings in August. Union members say it is unsafe for employees and children to be in classes together.…
Education • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Jul 9, 2020
Goodnight Ranch working on PUD amendment, adds extra parkland
Goodnight Ranch, a planned unit development off Slaughter Lane in Southeast Austin, was originally approved in 2006. Fourteen years later, the neighborhood’s developers are looking to amend the PUD in order to create a municipal management district, add additional permitted land…
