Travis County bush

Eckhardt delivers state of the county speech

More than 100 people gathered at a Northeast Austin hotel on Wednesday night to hear Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt declare that the state of the county is strong. Eckhardt established her case for that assessment in a punchy, pithy…

Austin named a TechHire community

As Mayor Steve Adler observed Wednesday, one way to fight Austin’s economic segregation is to help those with less economic advantage make more money. And job training in the tech sector is one obvious way that Austin can help make…

No big changes to mosquito protocol, says city

Despite two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus Zika in Travis County, the city of Austin says it will not make any big changes to its mosquito-control strategy as the warm season begins – a time ripe for insect breeding.…

County association project gets measured OK from city panel

Though developers may not get the height they are after, plans to develop the Texas Association of Counties’ offices near the downtown campus of Austin Community College got the unanimous blessing from the Planning Commission Tuesday. Commissioners voted to change…

AISD looks into becoming "innovation" district

On Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees heard a proposal that could provide the district with more flexibility in its establishment of school hours, student-to-teacher ratios and teacher benefits, among other things. According to AISD Superintendent Paul…

Public Safety Commission wished for input in TNC talks

Although the issue long ago passed them up, members of the Public Safety Commission on Monday discussed the implications of City Council’s controversial vote in December imposing new regulations on ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft – also known…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Steck House compatibility will stay waived

The question of whether the city correctly interpreted city code may have divided Board of Adjustment members at their last meeting, but the panel seemed much more united on the topic of the code language, which will allow new construction…

County pulls plug on charging-station proposal, for now

A proposal involving an alternative to petrochemical-powered transportation lurched into a temporary ditch at Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt postponed the vote on whether to install an electric-vehicle charging station at a county-owned parking lot…

Music Commission embraces Adler's plan to save Austin arts

Through a series of town hall meetings citywide, the Music Commission has vowed to educate Austinites and solicit public input on Mayor Steve Adler’s plan to better support art in Austin. Each of the 10 meetings will focus on a…

Ethics complaints filed against CTRMA board members

Three top officials at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority are facing formal complaints that they failed to properly disclose pertinent business interests. The director of the nonprofit watchdog group Texans for Public Justice filed three complaints with the Texas…

Fire Department says it needs more fire stations

The Public Safety Commission unanimously recommended a resolution Monday that would require the city manager to submit an annual report to City Council identifying areas of the city most in need of fire stations. If approved by Council, staff will…

Not enough historic value in getting plastered, says commission

Despite a last-minute push to preserve its unique exterior, the fate of a Central Austin home was sealed by the Historic Landmark Commission at its last meeting. The home at 3108 Grandview St. was originally brick before being covered with…