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Council reluctantly approves Fred McGhee to commission

City Council on Thursday voted to approve the appointment of local activist Fred McGhee to the Community Development Commission but also condemned McGhee for sexually charged comments he made to a city staffer as a member of the commission last…

City Hall • By Jack Craver • Aug 31, 2018

smoot house

Council OKs Smoot Terrace Park Historic District

Council gave final approval Thursday to creation of the Smoot Terrace Park Historic District just west of downtown, after neighbors decided to eliminate three properties owned by people who signed a valid petition opposing the historic district. That meant Council…

Preservation • By Jo Clifton • Aug 31, 2018

Affordable Parking Program expands

Downtown parking may have just gotten a bit easier, thanks to a public-private partnership aimed at downtown service industry workers. The city of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance announced yesterday that, after a partnership with Premier Parking, the Affordable…

Transportation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 31, 2018

Some Austin waterways unsafe for swimming

According to a new report from the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center and the Frontier Group, many of the state’s creeks, rivers and beaches are too polluted for swimming or wading – and that includes the Colorado River at…

Environment • By Jo Clifton • Aug 30, 2018

Council will try a new tactic to rid Austin of plastic bags. Asking nicely.

City Council is taking up a resolution Thursday encouraging local stores to keep honoring the city’s “bag ban.” It’s the latest response to a state Supreme Court ruling this year that found Texas cities and towns could not enforce regulations…

City Council • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Aug 30, 2018

Fence unites landmark commission

Should new fences in National Register historic districts come before the Historic Landmark Commission? The answer appears to be “probably.” At their most recent meeting, Historic Landmark commissioners considered whether to summon the owners of 906 E. 14th St., which…

Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 30, 2018

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Council considers which strings to attach to corporate incentives

After postponing action earlier this month, on Thursday City Council will again consider establishing new rules regarding economic incentives for businesses. Council members plan on considering a number of amendments to the proposal aimed at ensuring that public dollars are…

Austin • By Jack Craver • Aug 29, 2018

APD to soon use drones to map fatal car crashes

Drones are multipurpose: They can deliver pizzas and tally seals. Drones can fight wildfires and make aerial videos that garner pretty impressive watch counts on YouTube. Drones can also map fatal car crashes, which is why the Austin Police Department…

Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 29, 2018

ZAP considers West Austin historic zoning

Going against the wishes of the property’s owners and their neighbors, a majority of the Zoning and Platting Commission endorsed a bid for historic zoning in Old West Austin at its most recent meeting. Though it wasn’t enough for a…

Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 29, 2018

Austin ISD schools honoring Confederate figures will find out new names this semester

Five Austin Independent School District schools named for Confederate figures will get renamed this semester. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted in February to rename the John T. Allan facility, Zachary Taylor Fulmore Middle School, Sidney Lanier Early College…

AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Aug 29, 2018

Texas Supreme Court denies challenges to two ballot items for Austin voters this fall

The Texas Supreme Court has denied petitions from two Austin residents asking that the city rewrite a pair of November ballot measures. Attorney Bill Aleshire filed challenges earlier this month with the court over the wording of a citizen-initiated petition…

Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 28, 2018

Council to consider changes to Community Development Commission

The city of Austin may be dealing with yet another headache over who gets to sit on a city commission and who should or can be removed. The Community Development Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of projects funded…

City Hall • By Jack Craver • Aug 28, 2018

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