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Most Popular Stories
- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
- Downtown report: Office vacancies up, infrastructure growth continues
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- City to postpone UNO vote to consult with UT
- Council looks to change the ‘unhappy experience’ of DB90
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Council poised to revisit density bonus programs
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo is moving forward with a proposal to take a closer look at the city’s density bonus programs and at whether it’s a good idea to eliminate the fee-in-lieu option that allows developers to pay into…
The Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 20, 2015
Commissioners set courthouse bond election
Travis County’s largest bond proposition in recent memory has officially graduated from the Commissioners Court to the much more challenging court of public opinion. In a historic moment that capped off years of planning, the commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 19, 2015
Committee forwards short-term rental changes to Council
Testimony stretched for more than four hours. Members of the City Council Planning and Neighborhoods Committee dug into the first public hearing Monday on more than a dozen recommendations made by Council Member Sheri Gallo about how the city should…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 19, 2015
Two groups disclaim anti-fluoride email
David Foster, state director of the environmental nonprofit group Clean Water Action, was surprised and somewhat concerned Tuesday when he received two emails from friends asking whether his organization was suddenly opposed to fluoridated drinking water. The Public Utilities Committee…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 19, 2015
AISD seat open to applicants
Austin Independent School District board members achieved another small step in the ever-evolving process to replace longtime Board Member Robert Schneider. At Monday’s workshop meeting, trustees decided to open Southwest Austin’s District 7 seat to all qualified applicants instead of appointing the area’s…
AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Aug 19, 2015
Video: City Hall public information requests rely on the honor system
Monitor publisher Mike Kanin talks with KXAN’s Sally Hernandez about Sunny Sone’s coverage of how the City of Austin Processes public information requests.
Monitor News & Media • By Michael Kanin • Aug 18, 2015
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Public information requests rely on the honor system at City Hall
The city of Austin handles public information requests on the honor system – without oversight to ensure those who are inquiring receive all the information they request. An investigation into how the honor system works found that public information requests to…
City Hall • By Sunny Sone • Aug 18, 2015
Stone cottage demolition leaves confusion behind
Over the weekend, James Retherford was arrested for criminal trespass while trying to stop the demolition of a stone cottage in Bouldin Creek. He was unsuccessful, and the house at 901 Dawson Road is no longer one of the nine…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 18, 2015
Council argument about pay raises begins
As Austin’s unemployment rate goes down, the city’s employee turnover rate goes up, Acting Assistant City Manager Mark Washington told City Council at Monday’s budget work session. Currently, Austin’s unemployment rate is about 3.3 percent, and the projected turnover rate…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 18, 2015
How to change a street name in Austin? It's tricky.
The statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis will stay put on the University of Texas at Austin campus, for now. While a request for a temporary restraining order is holding up the statue relocation, the original decision to move it…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 18, 2015
Council denies landmark designation for Lightsey-Russell House
The yellow-clad neighbors who came out to urge preservation of the Lightsey-Russell House struck a chord with City Council, but not one strong enough to save the 83-year-old home at 1805 Lightsey Road from demolition. With a seemingly heavy heart,…
Preservation • By Jack Craver • Aug 17, 2015
PUC hears arguments in water, wastewater case
The Public Utility Commission of Texas heard oral arguments Friday from attorneys representing the city of Austin as well as those representing a group of wholesale Austin Water utility customers who have challenged post-2012 water and wastewater rate increases. Rather…
