The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Updated: Austin issues shelter-in-place order to stop coronavirus spread

The City of Austin has issued an order for residents to stay at home except to do essential activities to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday and lasts until at…

City Council to vote on anti-eviction ordinance Thursday

City Council will vote Thursday on establishing a 60-day grace period for renters in an emergency ordinance released Monday. The ordinance, which is sponsored by Council members Greg Casar, Kathie Tovo, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Mayor Steve Adler…

Continued restaurant closures could mean 21,000 lost jobs by summer

A prolonged shutdown of area restaurants into the late spring and summer months is projected to result in 21,000 lost jobs throughout Travis County, with $738 million in total lost wages. Those figures come from an analysis of restaurant industry…

Austin Pets Alive! shutters due to COVID-19, still seeking fosters

Over the weekend, Austin Pets Alive! made the decision to close its lobby and bar its clinic from any public visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the city-run Austin Animal Center shuttered its doors last week, Austin Pets Alive!…

COVID-19 produces immediate need for workers at Cap Metro

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority system ridership has fallen every day since March 10 as the effects of the coronavirus spread throughout Austin, but the transit agency is increasing its workforce in order to remain reliable and safe for those in…

'We need to act fast,' Travis County Judge Eckhardt says ahead of shelter-in-place order

Stay-at-home orders are expected to be issued in the city of Austin, Travis County and Williamson County Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said. The orders would require all nonessential businesses to have employees…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Council widens scope of how to lessen COVID-19's economic impact

A City Council resolution intended to assist small businesses and employees impacted by the cancellation of South by Southwest has been expanded in recent days to include aid for child care services and health care providers for senior citizens, with…

Council enters new territory with online participants

Under normal circumstances, Council chambers would be packed with city staff, observers and people wishing to comment on various agenda items. Today, under national, state and local emergency declarations, COVID-19 has made these times anything but normal. According to a…

Austin begins the week under new city restrictions

This week, Austin enters a new phase of public health preparedness, under a new order from the city that expands restrictions put in place last week as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The new order, which…

City looks for funds, including hotel tax, to cushion COVID-19 economic impact

City staff and members of City Council have fine-tuned their plans for assisting small businesses and employees facing financial difficulties from the cancellation of South by Southwest and other fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan posted a…

May 2 elections called off, not so for May 26

After Gov. Greg Abbott’s proclamation Wednesday allowing political subdivisions to postpone elections planned for May 2, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir announced Thursday that Travis County would not be conducting any elections on that date. Most if not all of…

Updated: Coronavirus shutters Austin Animal Center, but shelter still desperately needs fosters

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily life in Travis County with the closure of the Austin Animal Center. AAC announced on its Facebook page Monday that it would close to the public, effective immediately, and not reopen until March…