Black arts collective wants progress on city's African American cultural district

An East Austin arts nonprofit is looking to organize musicians, artists and other creatives for job opportunities and to put pressure on the city to move forward with building out plans for the African American Culture and Heritage District that…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 19, 2024

Austin still looking for more 911 call takers

Austin’s 911 call takers are regularly asked to take on a high call volume, but the Austin Police Department does not have a regular process for expediting call taking when the volume reaches higher-than-normal levels, according to a special report…

Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Mar 19, 2024

Austin’s giant troll is finally finished. Here’s where you can find her.

Pease Park’s newest art installation is tucked away in the woods, but she’s hard to miss. Malin is an 18-foot-tall troll made of local and repurposed wood. And in her hands is an offering: a basin full of water to…

Parks • By Chelsey Zhu, KUT • Mar 18, 2024

Visit Austin offers look at strategy to support hotels during convention center closure

Staff from Visit Austin plan to aggressively market the city to new and recurring visitors in the coming years as part of a three-part strategy to support the local hotel and convention industry during the four-year closure of the Austin…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 18, 2024

City, police union resume bargaining over long-term police labor contract

After more than a yearlong hiatus, the city and the Austin Police Association (APA) resumed long-term police labor contract negotiations on Wednesday. But it remains to be seen whether the two bargaining teams will be able to reach an agreement…

Police • By Emma Freer • Mar 15, 2024

Planning Commission gets its first look at Equity-Based Preservation Plan

With the draft Equity-Based Preservation Plan now available for public review, city boards and commissions are getting briefed on the document that includes over 100 recommendations for preserving the highs and lows of Austin’s history. The Planning Commission, which will…

Preservation • By Amy Smith • Mar 15, 2024

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Imagine Austin series looks at prospects for equitable development amid rapid growth

Austin’s combination of intense population and income growth and state laws that limit inclusionary zoning might make it difficult to institute equitable housing policies, but a national land use leader advises there are still ways for the city to adapt…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 15, 2024

APD settles another use-of-force case from 2020

The city of Austin has settled another case involving use of force against a citizen during the August 2020 protests against police violence. According to a news release from the Kaplan law firm, city officials agreed to and have paid…

Police • By Jo Clifton • Mar 15, 2024

Preservation victory appears short-lived for Travis Heights home

A 114-year-old home in Travis Heights that narrowly escaped demolition last year might be on the chopping block after all, with neighbors taking to the podium at last week’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting warning of a possible demolition by neglect.…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Mar 14, 2024

SXSW is accused of cozying up to ‘war profiteers.’ Musicians are boycotting.

Austin percussionist Thor Harris has been playing South by Southwest since the ramshackle days, when the festival was a platform for up-and-coming musicians hoping to be discovered by music industry insiders. This year, it’s different. “I’ve played hundreds of other…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 14, 2024

Central Health to spend millions on opioid abatement

Central Health, Travis County’s hospital district serving low-income residents, is due to receive over $3 million from the state’s opioid abatement trust fund this spring. An allocation of nearly $10 million more – largely “front-loaded” – will be disbursed over…

Public Health • By Nick Erichson • Mar 14, 2024

City seeks feedback from disability community on five-year federal housing plan

The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities heard a briefing last week from the Housing Department, which is seeking input from Austin residents with disabilities to identify the greatest community needs that could be addressed using federal funds from the…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 14, 2024

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