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Lawsuit challenging Austin's move to rename Manchaca Road heads to trial

A lawsuit challenging the city of Austin’s decision to rename Manchaca Road will go to trial. The suit, brought by the group Leave Manchaca Alone, alleges the city didn’t properly inform residents and businesses ahead of a City Council vote…

Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 14, 2018

Red-tape mishap causes frustrations at the BoA

For six years, a dock has been jutting out into Lake Austin without technically having the proper permitting to do so in its current form. Since October, Kathleen Huff of 3117 Westlake Drive has been appearing monthly before the Board…

Land Development Code • By Jessi Devenyns • Dec 14, 2018

Tourism Commission pushes for broader use of hotel tax dollars

Austin’s Tourism Commission wants to see the city push for more latitude in how to spend local hotel occupancy tax dollars, with an eye toward next year’s session of the state Legislature. At Monday’s meeting, the commission approved a recommendation…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 14, 2018

Council ponders ways to make meetings shorter, less confusing

As part of its ongoing efforts to make government more efficient and productive, City Council is discussing potential changes to how meetings are run. The conversation was kicked off by the city’s CFO Elaine Hart, who highlighted a number of…

City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 13, 2018

Travis County bush

County delays decision on criminal district attorney’s office

The Travis County Commissioners Court is considering a merger of the County and District Attorney’s offices into a criminal district attorney office that may considerably lower the number of jail bookings for misdemeanor offenses. County Attorney David Escamilla and District…

Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Dec 13, 2018

City's federal housing funds in jeopardy

The city of Austin could lose a significant amount of federal funding if President Trump follows through on his threat to shut down the federal government on Dec. 21. Various national publications reported Trump making the threat if Congress refuses…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 13, 2018

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Austin ISD budget document suggests consolidating 12 schools to cut costs

Facing a shortfall and declining enrollment, the Austin Independent School District is considering consolidating schools, among other options, to cut its deficit by as much as $55 million over the next few years. A budget document sent to the Austin…

AISD • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 13, 2018

Natasha Harper-Madison easily prevails in District 1

After finishing in a virtual tie in the general election, Natasha Harper-Madison easily defeated Mariana Salazar to become the next Council member for District 1 in East and Northeast Austin. Harper-Madison carried the low-turnout runoff election 72 percent to 28…

Elections • By Jack Craver • Dec 12, 2018

Renteria bests sister Almanza again

Council Member Pio Renteria held on to his seat the same way he won it four years ago: by beating his sister. The incumbent representative of District 3, which covers much of Central East and Southeast Austin, easily won re-election…

Elections • By Jack Craver • Dec 12, 2018

Ellis handily wins District 8 election

Paige Ellis won the runoff for Southwest Austin’s District 8 City Council seat Tuesday night, defeating Frank Ward with 56 percent of the vote in a race that drew considerably fewer voters than the Nov. 6 election. Ellis received 6,115…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Dec 12, 2018

Austin Water report shows big impact of boil order was conservation

Austin Water delivered an “after action” report to City Council yesterday on the weeklong boil-water order enacted during severe flooding in October. The presentation shed more light on what happened to bring about the emergency and what the city might…

Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Dec 12, 2018

A new neighborhood group hopes to speak for student renters in West Campus

While many University of Texas students were busy studying for final exams, senior Allie Runas was thinking about cracks in the sidewalk. After years of stepping over cracks in West Campus, she decided to do something and founded the West…

Planning • By Syeda Hasan • Dec 11, 2018

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