The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Travis County sees big increase in electronic monitoring

Travis County has seen its incarcerated population drop dramatically in recent years, due in large part to policy changes aimed at keeping low-level drug offenders out of jail. As of April 2019, the average daily jail population stood at 2,143,…

Public Safety • By Jack Craver • Jun 4, 2019

Environmental group sues federal government over endangered Central Texas salamanders

An environmental advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming federal officials are failing to protect threatened species of salamanders in Central Texas. The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity argues the federal agency has…

Environment • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jun 4, 2019

Task force seeks balance for new special events ordinance

The city’s new Special Events Task Force has opted to take a real-world case study approach to gauging the effects of the recently enacted ordinance governing special events of all sizes around the city. The 11-member group, which also includes…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 4, 2019

Austin Transportation releases yearly report

The Austin Transportation Department released its annual report for 2018 on Friday, featuring a month-by-month breakdown of its major accomplishments from last year as well as an overview of its $52 million in operating budget spending. The report highlights five…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 3, 2019

Cap Metro to debut new ride-hailing service in Manor

On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved funding a new ride-hailing project in Manor run by Capital Metro. The service, called Pickup, aims to provide residents of Austin’s fastest-growing suburb an alternative to driving that is more reliable…

Transit • By Jack Craver • Jun 3, 2019

Start of summertime brings trash to Austin's greenbelts

Austin’s greenbelts, though beautiful, have had a fraught history of visitors contaminating the wild beauty of the Central Texas landscape with their trash. At the May 28 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Board Member Rich DePalma brought…

Parks • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 3, 2019

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Reporter's Notebook: Trees, fiber, petition

Heritage tree transplants see high success rates… Moving heritage trees within the city of Austin is no easy feat. It is, however, almost always successful. Out of the 20 transplant sites listed on the City Data Portal, all of the…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Jun 3, 2019

Austin Monitor Radio: Hill Abell

This week, Bicycle Sport Shop owner Hill Abell sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Jack Craver to talk about his work as a cycling advocate in the city and to catch up on issues currently facing the community. To catch…

Radio • By Austin Monitor • Jun 3, 2019

Austin’s Google Fiberhood smaller than promised

In 2013, with much fanfare, Google announced the arrival of Fiber in Austin, with promises of providing free Google Fiber services to 102 city buildings. But the internet giant has succeeded so far in providing that service to only 28…

Uncategorized • By Jessi Devenyns • May 31, 2019

UT meets with advocates, talks bike safety on San Jacinto

Representatives of the University of Texas are promising ongoing discussions of safety and mobility improvements to its section of San Jacinto Boulevard, where 39-year-old Tony Diaz was recently killed while riding a bicycle. Director of Sustainability Jim Walker and President…

Bicycles • By Ryan Thornton • May 31, 2019

Texas lawmakers tried to take the reins from cities this session. The results were mixed.

For the last handful of legislative sessions, the Texas Legislature has had it in for Austin and other cities. GOP lawmakers who regularly thumb their noses at “big government”-minded efforts in D.C. have filed bills targeting city laws regulating everything…

Texas State Legislature • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 31, 2019

Audit finds city has 'poor' leasing practices

An analysis of the city’s leasing practices has called for widespread changes in coordination and oversight across city departments, after pointing out a number of inefficiencies and lost revenue that could cost $75 million over the next 30 years. The…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • May 31, 2019

« Previous Page — Next Page »