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Honor Flight duties raise concerns

City employees working in the Veterans Services Office have spent a considerable amount of city time working for Honor Flight Austin, the nonprofit organization that provides trips to Washington, D.C., for World War II veterans, even though the city does…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 27, 2019

Council lines up next steps to revise land use code

Austin City Council members came together Tuesday morning for a preliminary discussion about City Manager Spencer Cronk’s five big questions about the city’s land development code that he released in a memo earlier this month. In the wake of the…

Land Development Code • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 27, 2019

Ramshackle 117-year-old house slated for historic zoning against owner's wishes

Despite what city staff called the “heartbreaking” condition of a historically contributing structure and an owner’s opposition to historic zoning, the Historic Landmark Commission determined Monday that a 117-year-old home was worth saving. In an effort to preserve one of…

Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 27, 2019

Homelessness in Austin increased 5 percent this year

Homelessness increased 5 percent in Austin over last year, according to the results of Ending Community Homelessness Coalition’s annual census. The survey, which was conducted overnight on Jan. 26 by about 500 volunteers, found 2,255 people experiencing homelessness on Austin…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 26, 2019

Tense meeting over arrest at library

The Library Commission heard impassioned testimony Monday night over the arrest last month of a 13-year-old girl at the Austin Public Library’s Carver branch. Activists showed up to the meeting at the Terrazas branch on Cesar Chavez Street to urge…

Austin • By Jack Craver • Mar 26, 2019

Transit fund celebrates 5 million discounted rides

Getting around is still the second-greatest cost for Austin residents, but the Transit Empowerment Fund – a collaborative effort between the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin Community Foundation and One Voice Central Texas – has eased that financial burden for…

Transit • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 26, 2019

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City names interim homelessness coordinator, with national search coming

The city of Austin has made an interim hire to start addressing the many needs of people experiencing homelessness and strategies to get them into stable housing. Last week assistant city managers Rodney Gonzales and Christopher Shorter announced that Veronica…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 26, 2019

UT will use geofencing to limit e-scooter speed to 8 mph on campus this week

Riders using rented scooters on the 40 Acres will no longer be able to go faster than 8 mph, according to UT Austin. The university said Bird, Jump, Lyft and Lime’s e-scooters will have speed restrictions on the lion’s share…

Transportation • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 26, 2019

Contractors cry foul over changes to Austin Energy's weatherization program

Why is Austin Energy spending so much less on its weatherization program than in the past? The answer depends on whom you ask. In the 2017 fiscal year, the utility spent $1.6 million on a long-standing program that offers free…

Energy • By Jack Craver • Mar 25, 2019

The Netherlands offers critique and solution to Austin street design

Cutting traffic fatalities and getting people out of single-occupancy vehicles may seem like impossible tasks here in Austin, but it’s actually rather simple, says Billy Fields, associate professor of political science at Texas State University. The solution, according to Fields,…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Mar 25, 2019

Board of Adjustment does not approve variance to 'preserve neighborhood character'

The desire to build a house is not a sufficient reason to receive a variance, in the eyes of the Board of Adjustment. After having his case postponed at the February meeting of the Board of Adjustment, Joshua Inscoe, who…

Planning • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 25, 2019

Reporter's Notebook: Something we agree on

The link between governmental and residential Texas houses… Occasionally a contentious zoning case stirs up old memories that have been tucked away, but not forgotten. In the wake of the Historic Landmark commissioners’ reaction to the presented plans for 1602…

Reporters' Notebook • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 25, 2019

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