Austin declared new drought restrictions in August. Water use stayed the same.

Lee esta historia en español On Aug. 15, Austin was 39 days into its longest triple-digit heat wave ever recorded. The extreme heat had created a “climate feedback loop,” locking in the worst drought the city has seen in 113…

Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Dec 12, 2023

Planning Commission to allow time donation once again

In a return to prepandemic form, speakers at the Planning Commission will once again be able to donate and amass time in order to allow presentations of up to 10 minutes. As of today, in-person speakers can receive donated time…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 12, 2023

Austin hasn't allowed more police oversight, despite voter approval. Now it's getting sued.

A lawsuit in a Travis County court aims to force Austin’s hand in rolling out a voter-backed plan to increase police oversight. Austin voters approved Proposition A in May by a four-to-one margin. The measure, known as the Austin Police Oversight Act, roundly…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 11, 2023

Labor, affordability remain concerns in strong Austin real estate sector

Austin’s diverse and growing economy has kept the Central Texas region one of the most attractive real estate markets in the country in recent years, but local developers see some recurring issues – affordability, land use policy and the local…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 11, 2023

Travis County bush

Program supporting underutilized businesses shows progress

Travis County’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program made remarkable progress in the last few years despite a few setbacks and political challenges, county officials say.   The annual report for the program, which promotes equal procurement opportunities for minority- and women-owned…

Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 11, 2023

Austin to allow more homes on one plot of land in the pursuit of cheaper housing

In an attempt to encourage the construction of middle-class housing, Austin voted Thursday to amend land use rules to let property owners build more homes in neighborhoods restricted to one family living in one house on one plot of land. City Council…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 8, 2023

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Audit shows changes needed at Development Services Department

Nearly a decade after a damning evaluation of the city’s planning and development processes resulted in more than 460 recommended changes, a recent audit of two smaller components of the Development Services Department found some steps left incomplete from a…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 8, 2023

County emphasizes winter safety awareness

As Travis County officials detailed plans and preparations for the next big winter storm, some said that the public might not be taking the threat seriously enough.  On Tuesday, leaders from the Office of Emergency Management, Transportation and Natural Resources,…

Public Safety • By Ken Chambers • Dec 8, 2023

Republican push for hand counting leads to uncertainty about Travis County's 2024 primaries

A divide between Travis County’s local political parties on hand counting and paper ballots is leading to uncertainty about how the county will administer the 2024 primaries. In a Tuesday letter to Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Democratic Party…

Elections • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 7, 2023

Amendments, memos point to finer steps for implementing HOME initiative

With City Council slated to decide the fate of the HOME initiative today, a last bit of analysis from city staff appears to back the intent and approach of the push to add more housing stock throughout the city. In…

Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 7, 2023

Preservation of East Austin Folk Victorian home advances to City Council

A Historic Landmark Commission-led bid for historic zoning in East Austin won the endorsement of the Planning Commission at its most recent meeting, despite opposition by the owner. Commissioners voted 10-1 in favor of preserving the original footprint of the…

Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 7, 2023

Total eclipse could bring massive crowds in 2024

Parts of Travis County could double or even triple in population in April 2024 as visitors come here to see the total eclipse of the sun, county officials said Tuesday. Travis County sits on the eastern edge of the 115-mile-wide…

Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 7, 2023

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