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Democratic State Sen. Kirk Watson is learning it sometimes takes two, or even three, legislative sessions before his ideas take root. This time two years ago, at the beginning of the 82nd session, Watson was touting his “Honesty Agenda,”…
Federal prosecutors and at least one district judge have complained about the Austin Police Department’s inability to process evidence in a timely manner, perhaps a result of having too few employees. In remarks to members of the city’s Public…
For the second year in a row, the downstream rice-farming wholesale water customers of the Lower Colorado River Authority seem set to go without Colorado River water for crop irrigation. LCRA directors voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the combined…
Austin Police Department officials Monday continued to express their concerns about what they suggested is an increase in police contact with the homeless population of downtown Austin. As part of their presentation, officers affiliated with the department’s mental health…
The Historic Landmark Commission faced a tough choice: approve the relocation of five structures in the Rainey Street historic district or risk having them demolished. Commissioners opted to approve the relocation. “This represents a compromise,” Commissioner Mary Jo…
For Laura Morrison, the inaugural Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix fits into a broader picture about what kind of Austin the community wants. “You can hear all the benefits of F1 that people suggest. But also, I think it…
Kathie Tovo sat down with In Fact Daily at the end of the year to recall some of the achievements of 2012, including Austin City Council’s single most labor-intensive action of the year, adoption of a rate hike for Austin…
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A two-year-old boycott of Arizona led by the City of Austin and other governmental entities nationwide may have contributed to a more than 30 percent decline in out-of-state bookings for conventions and other meetings since 2010, Arizona…
Council Member Bill Spelman had a rough year. It started with an electoral challenge from six primary opponents. It ended with a charter amendment that guarantees that he – along with five other sitting Council Members – will not be…
From Austin City Council Member Chris Riley’s perspective, the most important issues of 2012 were decided on a single day. On Nov. 6, Austinites went to the polls and said yes to a slate of ballot and bond questions…
Austin City Manager Marc Ott can point to a host of items that illustrate Austin’s success in 2012. There’s the citizen satisfaction survey, a document, he notes, that continues to illustrate Austinites’ increasing faith in their city. There’s the economy,…
This past year was a mixed bag for Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, who took time to reflect back on a year full of changes for Austin. Cole said she was excited about progress for the Waller Creek conservancy,…
