French solar power company eyes Austin for US headquarters

The leading French solar power producer is looking for a North American headquarters and Austin seems to be on its list of possible destinations. Though representatives of the company, Solairedirect, have visited Council offices in recent weeks, it remains unclear…

Leffingwell appoints committee to explore Innovation District

Mayor Lee Leffingwell, using descriptions such as “a catalyst for long-term prosperity” and “creating the Austin of the future,” set high expectations for an Innovation District being planned just west of the future Dell Medical School Campus at the University…

PUC staff urges dismissal of latest rate challenge

A document filed Tuesday by staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission hints strongly that the commission will reject an appeal by Homeowners United for Rate Fairness of Austin City Council members’ action to assess legal costs from the Austin…

City, county to expand home buyouts for flooded areas

The City of Austin and Travis County are both preparing to expand their ongoing programs to buy and demolish the homes of residents who live in flood-prone areas. And with last week’s severe flooding in the Onion Creek 25-year flood…

Israel and VanDeWalle headed for District 50 runoff election

The House District 50 race is headed to a runoff.   Of four candidates, Republican Dr. Mike VanDeWalle and Democrat Celia Israel ended the race comfortably in first and second place, though neither secured a majority of the vote. Israel…

Austin voters approve Affordable Housing bonds by wide margin

City of Austin voters handily approved $65 million in affordable housing bonds Tuesday. The vote recharges an Affordable Housing program left without a clear funding path after $70-million-plus ballot question failed at the polls in 2012.   At the end…

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Commissioners vote to move heritage tree for road expansion

After assurances that the state would pay for most of the cost, Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday to remove and transplant a 30-inch Heritage Oak tree standing in the way of an expansion of Frate Barker Road in South Austin.…

News flash: Bond passage appears likely after early voting

Early returns in a City of Austin ballot question that asked residents to approve $65 million in Affordable Housing bonds looked likely to pass early Tuesday evening. Early voting returns – accounting for nearly six percent of the population —…

Judges Hill neighbors dispute calculation of support for district

After five years of work, Old Judges Hill may very well be Austin’s next Local Historic District, but not everyone in the neighborhood thinks that’s a good idea.   Proponents and opponents of the change spoke their piece at the…

Arizona wins new Apple manufacturing plant

Apple announced Monday that it plans to open a manufacturing operation in a Phoenix suburb that will eventually create up to 2,000 jobs making sapphire glass for a number of the company’s products. The deal was announced Monday by Arizona…

Local leaders file disaster declarations in hope of federal assistance

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Hays County Judge Bert Cobb have each filed local disaster declarations in the wake of massive flooding that struck Central Texas last week. The move could preface action by Texas…

City studies changes to allow aggregates in commercial projects

Changes to commercial landscaping requirements that previously prohibited the use of aggregate materials in commercial projects are on the way.   Though the process is still in the early stages, the city is taking a serious look at how it…