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Firefighter wins battle with city

Austin firefighters won their battle to get the city to drop its lawsuit against one of their own, Lt. Carrie Stewart, who filed a claim for workers’ compensation after she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2015. After…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Sep 20, 2018

Council to put off hearing on tax credit property

At the request of Council Member Delia Garza, on Thursday City Council will likely postpone a scheduled hearing and consideration of whether to give the city’s blessing to 4 percent affordable housing tax credits to a proposed apartment complex for…

Development • By Jo Clifton • Sep 20, 2018

City estimate: Preserving Montopolis Negro School would cost $5.7M

The city of Austin is beginning the process of using eminent domain to seize the 1-acre plot at 500 Montopolis Ave., home of an 83-year-old building that was once the Montopolis Negro School. The structure is a rare vestige of…

Preservation • By Jack Craver • Sep 19, 2018

zebra mussels

Zebra mussels found in Austin Water intake pipes

Divers have found large amounts of invasive zebra mussels at intake pipes that feed Austin’s water supply, opening up a costly new challenge for the city’s water utility. Austin Water had seen evidence of the small, rectangular mussels in water…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Sep 19, 2018

Commissioners Court considers its options, postpones Central Health budget vote

Public protest and confusion surrounding the Sept. 12 Central Health Board of Managers vote to dissolve Sendero Health Plans has the Travis County Commissioners Court questioning how to move forward. Central Health President and CEO Mike Geeslin presented its Fiscal…

Budget • By Ryan Thornton • Sep 19, 2018

EUC recommends code amendment to expand electric vehicle use

Soon Austin may have as many electric charging stations as gas stations. Currently, city code does not allow for the resale of city energy by third-party entities. However, the code was written before there was any inkling that electric vehicles…

Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 19, 2018

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Austin renters and people of color are most likely to be displaced because of gentrification

A new study from the University of Texas points to widespread gentrification in Austin, stretching from northern neighborhoods to the eastern edge of South Austin. Researchers say the groups most impacted by displacement are low-income African-American and Hispanic renters. Jake…

Austin • By Syeda Hasan • Sep 18, 2018

Many, but not all, development fees to climb

Last year, Rodney Gonzales, director of Austin’s Development Services Department, asked Council to fund an additional 50 employees to increase his department’s efficiency in dealing with a multitude of permits, reviews and inspections. Council killed the plan by postponing it.…

Development • By Jo Clifton • Sep 18, 2018

Cuts to arts groups brings call for changes to funding mechanism

Local arts groups facing dramatic cuts in their funding levels from the city could get some relief this budget year, and possibly an earlier heads-up in future budget years if their funding allocations appear headed for a decrease. The city’s…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 18, 2018

After 20 years the city protects 25 percent of the Barton Springs recharge zone

Since 1998, the city of Austin has been working diligently to preserve and care for the crown jewel of our city: Barton Springs. Doing so involves a lot more than draining and cleaning the pool every so often. According to…

Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 18, 2018

Arts space assistance doubles in new budget, but is it enough?

The city has revived the Arts Space Assistance Program that was created in 2017 and received overwhelming demand from local arts groups facing a loss of space, but was discontinued in the current budget due to lack of funding. The…

Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 17, 2018

Cap Metro: Key to high-capacity transit is dedicated right of way

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is still a few months away from announcing what modes of transportation it plans to propose for Project Connect, the long-term plan to bring high-capacity public transit to the Austin metropolitan area. Potential solutions include…

Transit • By Jack Craver • Sep 17, 2018

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