Travis County directs $10M toward small business grant program

Despite the federal government authorizing $659 billion in small business aid, many small enterprises in Travis County are still in need of funds in order to survive the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. To help those business owners, the Travis County…

Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 30, 2020

CTRMA cuts expenses to deal with drop in toll system transactions

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is slashing expenses across the board and deferring several initiatives and projects in order to keep spending on track with a 60 percent decrease in systemwide toll transactions resulting from local stay-at-home orders. Executive…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 30, 2020

Covid-19 is magnifying food insecurity – and the digital divide – in these Travis County ZIP codes

Children in 11 Central Texas ZIP codes are at high risk of food insecurity because of Covid-19, a new study finds. And the situation is further compounded by a lack of access to high-speed internet as they try to continue…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 30, 2020

Historic Landmark Commission denies request to remove historic zoning

For over a year now, the owners of the historic Majors-Butler-Thomas House at 1119 E. 11th St. have been asking the city to remove historic zoning from the property. Despite repeated attempts, their requests have been met with denial. The…

Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 30, 2020

Council hears good news, bad news on coronavirus

Two researchers from the University of Texas Covid-19 Modeling Consortium told Council Tuesday that the orders from Mayor Steve Adler and County Judge Sarah Eckhardt to stay home and avoid spreading the virus have delayed and possibly even prevented a…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Apr 29, 2020

Downtown survey shows small window for many businesses to reopen and recover

A large majority of business storefronts in downtown Austin are at risk of closure in the next two to three months without significant increases in commercial activity, according to a new study on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 29, 2020

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Govalle neighborhood looks for compromise in affordable housing project

The city of Austin owns 5 acres of land on three adjacent properties at 1127-1131 Tillery St. Two of those acres are home to a grove of pecan trees that some in the neighborhood worry are in danger of being…

Housing • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 29, 2020

Community calls for 'slow streets' to take pressure off city parks and trails

Streets are closing to car traffic in cities from Salt Lake and Kansas City to Boston and Berlin to give people on foot and bicycle more room to get outdoors while keeping their distance from others during the Covid-19 health…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 29, 2020

Abbott says his order overrides local disaster rules

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday the first phase of reopening the state for business in response to an apparent lessening of Covid-19 cases that have sent the nation into an economic tailspin. Abbott claimed he had the authority to allow…

Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Apr 28, 2020

Following racism investigation and a fatal shooting, advocates ask Austin to fire police chief

The Austin Justice Coalition, Grassroots Leadership and other advocacy groups are asking city leaders to fire Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Chief of Staff Troy Gay and Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano. The call to fire the city’s highest-ranking police…

Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 28, 2020

I-35 expansion divides public opinion during economic downturn

The Texas Transportation Commission will vote Thursday to advance the state’s multibillion-dollar Capital Express Interstate 35 project despite the economic turmoil of Covid-19 and public concerns over the project’s financial viability. “Given the current economic situation and the collapse in…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Apr 28, 2020

Library Commission punts fine-free initiative amid Covid-19 uncertainty

The Library Commission pledged to keep working on its Fine-Free Libraries program Monday, with the understanding that it may take a year or more to win City Council’s approval due to the budgetary uncertainty caused by Covid-19. “I think there…

City Council • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 28, 2020

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