Stories by Audrey McGlinchy
Friday, September 7, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Austin to appeal state court’s hold on paid sick leave ordinance
The city of Austin is appealing a state court’s decision to put on hold the city’s paid sick leave ordinance, which was set to go into effect Oct. 1.A state appeals court ruled last month that the law couldn’t be…
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
APD to soon use drones to map fatal car crashes
Drones are multipurpose: They can deliver pizzas and tally seals. Drones can fight wildfires and make aerial videos that garner pretty impressive watch counts on YouTube.Drones can also map fatal car crashes, which is why the Austin Police Department recently…
Tuesday, August 28, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Texas Supreme Court denies challenges to two ballot items for Austin voters this fall
The Texas Supreme Court has denied petitions from two Austin residents asking that the city rewrite a pair of November ballot measures.Attorney Bill Aleshire filed challenges earlier this month with the court over the wording of a citizen-initiated petition that…
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Elections
The Austin city clerk is no longer challenging Lewis Conway Jr.’s City Council bid
The Austin city clerk has reversed her decision to challenge Lewis Conway Jr.’s candidacy for Austin City Council.Conway, a candidate for District 1, has a felony record, and City Clerk Jannette Goodall requested clarification on his eligibility to run for…
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Elections
Austin city clerk challenges convicted felon’s eligibility to run for City Council
Lewis Conway Jr., a candidate for Austin City Council who has a felony record, may not be able to run after all.Austin City Clerk Jannette Goodall sent Conway an email Friday challenging his eligibility and asking for documents showing that…
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Hall
English sues Austin over wording of ballot question for city audit
Ed English is suing the city over the wording of a November ballot measure about a citywide audit.Activists collected more than 30,000 signatures asking the city to hire a third party to conduct an efficiency audit of all its departments.…
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Development
‘Opportunity’ knocks? Austin doesn’t quite know what to do with areas picked for federal tax breaks
Census tract 48453002411 has a lot to offer. There’s a brewery on the north edge of the tract. There’s a neighborhood park, and you’re not too far from McKinney Falls State Park. On a good day, you can drive from…
Thursday, August 2, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Land Development Code
‘Something has gone horribly wrong’: Adler calls for a reset on CodeNEXT process
Mayor Steve Adler wants the city to scrap CodeNEXT and start over.In a post to the City Council Message Board Wednesday, Adler asked that the city manager come up with a new process for updating the city’s 34-year-old Land Development…
Friday, July 20, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Roads
Another downtown Austin street goes two-way. Studies tell us that’s good.
For 68 years, drivers on Colorado Street in downtown Austin could go only one way: south.But as of today, that one-directional road officially goes two ways for cars. It’s the hip thing to do.“This is absolutely a trend,” said Billy…
Thursday, July 12, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Texas usually fights Austin at the Capitol. Lately, the fight is in the courtroom.
The city of Austin has endured several legal jabs from the state in the past couple of months.Recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped into a dispute over the makeup of the city’s Planning Commission. A week ago, the city…
Friday, June 29, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Hall
Austin may be getting a new department to oversee labor rights laws
City Council members voted Thursday to ask the city manager to look into creating a new department to oversee its labor rights laws – including rules that guarantee rest breaks for construction workers and mandate paid sick leave for private…
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Lawsuit accuses Austin, Travis County of gender bias in handling of sexual assaults
Three women have sued the city of Austin and Travis County, alleging their sexual assault cases were inadequately handled because of their gender. The class-action lawsuit claims that sexual assault survivors “have been denied equal access to justice and equal…
Friday, June 15, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Council confirms Manley as new police chief
City Council unanimously confirmed Brian Manley as the Austin Police Department’s new chief Thursday. Manley has served in an interim role since former Police Chief Art Acevedo left to head up Houston’s police department in 2016.Manley thanked those at City…
Friday, May 25, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Land Development Code
Council votes not to put CodeNEXT petition on ballot
City Council members have voted against putting a CodeNEXT petition to a public vote, instead allowing a threatened lawsuit to proceed and a judge to determine whether the city is required to do so.“Putting this on the ballot is not…
Friday, May 18, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Transportation
When roads are built to prioritize cars, pedestrians are often faulted for getting hit
Part 3 of a three-part seriesA driver hit and killed Judy Romano’s son, Barry Friedman, while he was walking in Austin two years ago.According to the police report, Friedman tried to cross East Parmer Lane just before 6 a.m. on…
Thursday, May 17, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Transportation
Housing Austin’s homeless will reduce road deaths, but that will require a big investment
Part 2 of a three-part seriesMike Villegas learned his oldest child had died on Christmas Eve 2016.Villegas said he was doing work around the house with his 12-year-old son. When he went out to the front yard, he noticed a…
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Transportation
Two years after Vision Zero, when will Austin streets be safer for pedestrians?
Before he was killed, 14-year-old Alexei Bauereis had quit the backyard stunts like jumping from trees onto roofs and downhill skateboarding that defined his childhood. He was saving his legs for ballet.“Dance was so important to him,” said Eric Bauereis,…
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Manley lays out vision for Austin Police in interview with public for permanent chief job
A week ago, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley was tapped by City Manager Spencer Cronk as the sole finalist to be the city’s new permanent police chief, and now Cronk and the city are engaged in a public input process…
Friday, April 27, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Transportation
Council votes to clarify the road ahead for Austin’s $482M corridor plan
Austin voters now have a clearer road map for a slate of bond-funded projects intended to relieve congestion and improve city infrastructure on a massive scale.With little more than a guarantee from City Council, voters overwhelmingly approved a $720 million…
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Business groups sue to block city’s paid sick leave law
An Austin-based conservative think tank has sued the city over its paid sick leave ordinance. The ordinance, which goes into effect Oct. 1, requires all private businesses to provide anywhere from six to eight paid sick days per year for…
