The sad state of DNA testing in sexual assault cases

It might take a while for Austin to clear its backlog of more than 600 batches of DNA evidence related to sexual assaults. Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Brian Manley told members of the Public Safety Commission on Tuesday…

Police • By Jack Craver • Nov 8, 2016

Construction set to start on SH 45 SW

A drawn-out, polarizing political battle that has kept anxious observers on the edges of their seats could be effectively settled for good on Tuesday. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority announced on Monday that crews could begin construction on the…

Roads • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 8, 2016

Task force to update Austin Energy's environmental plans

Austin Energy is gearing up for another update to the “Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2025,” the document first approved by City Council in 2007 that outlines how the city-owned utility intends to change in the…

Energy • By Jack Craver • Nov 8, 2016

Council votes to spay/neuter stray animals on first impoundment

A proposal that requires that stray dogs and cats be spayed or neutered so they can’t reproduce moved forward this week, despite questions over whether the measure actually addresses the problems it’s meant to solve. City Council voted 8-1 to…

City Council • By Cate Malek • Nov 7, 2016

TxDOT considers expanding Loop 360

Faced with increasing congestion, the Texas Department of Transportation is narrowing its options for the potential transformation of Loop 360. The agency published on Friday a 50-page study of the highway. It envisions nine separate scenarios that range from doing…

Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 7, 2016

Environmental variances for church approved, despite lack of tree survey

The Environmental Commission approved a list of variance requests for the Iglesia Camino del Rey Church during its Nov. 4 meeting, despite the fact that there was no tree survey for review. The new church with parking will cover 10,000…

Environment • By Joseph Caterine • Nov 7, 2016

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Reporter's Notebook: Apocalypse later

Must be Tuesday… There are a lot of details that will be needed to be sorted on Tuesday. (Most pressing, probably: Is it the end of the world or not? And: Where’s my bug-out bag?) Thankfully, one of the details…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Nov 7, 2016

Austin Monitor Radio: Austin/Travis County Sobriety Center

Attorney and former Travis County Democratic Party Chair Andy Brown talks with Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin about the Austin/Travis County Sobriety Center. Audio is embedded below:

Public Health • By Michael Kanin • Nov 7, 2016

Dripping Springs still seeking effluent permit

The city of Austin is continuing efforts to convince Dripping Springs not to go through with its plan to release treated effluent into Onion Creek, the tributary that provides the greatest amount of direct recharge to Barton Springs, according to…

Water • By Jo Clifton • Nov 4, 2016

Council debates building demolition in Old West Austin

City Council delayed a decision on a contentious historic preservation case Thursday after a property owner promised that he would not seek a permit to tear down the structure in the next week. Zach Armstrong, who is seeking to demolish…

Preservation • By Jack Craver • Nov 4, 2016

County staff gear up for inaugural transportation plan

For the first time ever, Travis County is putting together a long-range transportation plan. The county’s Transportation and Natural Resources division is hosting an online survey on its website as part of the first round of public engagement for the…

Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 4, 2016

Austin adopts plan to be more 'Age-Friendly'

Austin has a reputation as a relatively young city, but within the next 25 years, one in five residents is expected to be 65 or older. To prepare for that change, City Council has approved a new plan to make…

Austin • By Syeda Hasan • Nov 4, 2016

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