Stories by Audrey McGlinchy
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin police release video footage showing fatal shooting of Mike Ramos
Lee esta historia en español. Video footage released Monday of the shooting of Mike Ramos shows the 42-year-old pleading with Austin police officers to put their guns down, telling them he doesn’t have a weapon and that they are scaring…
Friday, July 24, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Budget
Hundreds of Austinites demand city reduce police funding, call proposed budget ‘insulting’
Austinites waited with their phones on hold, some for over an hour, to tell City Council members Thursday that proposed cuts to the police department’s budget were too small. Residents seeking more profound changes called the cuts a “pittance,” “insulting”…
Friday, July 17, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin delays releasing video of protester injuries, saying it would affect investigation
The Austin Police Department says it will delay the release of body camera footage from officers who caused serious injuries to demonstrators during the first weekend of protests against police killings and systemic racism in Austin.“In consultation with the Travis…
Monday, June 29, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin police identify officers under investigation for injuring protesters during demonstrations
The Austin Police Department has named five officers it says may be responsible for seriously injuring people demonstrating during the first weekend of protests against systemic racism and police violence.The following officers have been put on paid administrative leave, as…
Thursday, June 25, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Health & Human Services
Area hospitals could reach capacity in mere weeks because of Covid-19, Austin officials warn
Austin-area medical professionals and health authorities warned that local hospitals could be overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients in the next several weeks as the number of cases in Central Texas has surged.“If we do not make significant change right now then…
Friday, June 19, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will keep his job, city says, despite calls for his removal
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will stay in his position, a city spokesperson confirmed in an email Thursday.“I have had very pointed conversations with Chief Manley over the last several weeks,” City Manager Spencer Cronk said in the email. “He…
Friday, June 12, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
Austin City Council votes to divest funds from APD, ban some potentially deadly police practices
Austin City Council members voted unanimously Thursday on four items related to the Austin Police Department’s policy and budget, including transferring some money from police to social services and banning police use of some potentially deadly weapons and practices.The decision…
Monday, June 8, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
Austin Council members say they’ve lost faith in the police chief: Next week they vote on changes
A fractured skull. A severe chest wound. A broken jaw from where a lead-pellet bag lodged inside a person’s mouth. The injuries to protesters over the weekend could have been fatal, the Austin-Travis County EMS chief told City Council members…
Friday, June 5, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
Austinites get chance to express pain, anger over police violence at emergency City Council hearing
More than 300 people have signed up to talk about what transpired during weekend protests against systemic racism and police killings, at an emergency Austin City Council session Thursday.Council members will reconvene the following morning to hear from Austin Police…
Thursday, June 4, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austinites recount police violence during weekend protests, demand cuts to APD budget
The Austin City Council heard from hundreds of people during an emergency meeting Thursday that addressed police violence at weekend protests against the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Austin.Council has been holding its meetings remotely,…
Wednesday, June 3, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Public Safety
Texas governor warns of out-of-state agitators, but protesters arrested in Austin were from here
Gov. Greg Abbott warned during a press conference Tuesday that people are coming to Texas from outside of the state to protest violently.“Some of the violence that we’re seeing is not being done by people who reside in Dallas or…
Monday, June 1, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Housing
Residents of North Austin mobile home park now own the land they live on
A parade of cars, horns honking, rolled slowly through a mobile home park in North Austin Saturday evening. The drivers, the majority of whom live in the neighborhood, had written words and phrases in Spanish on their windows: “Felicidades, “Sí…
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin police confirm what activists believed: Man killed in officer shooting was unarmed
Austin police did not find a gun in or near the car of Michael Ramos, the Austin man who died after being shot at by police last month, Chief Brian Manley said Monday.“We did not locate a firearm inside the…
Friday, May 1, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Austin
City ‘continues to work through’ governor’s order to slowly reopen Texas
Texas’ statewide stay-at-home order expires Friday, but the city of Austin has yet to clarify how this might affect local residents, how it will enforce the governor’s new order and what, if any, additional requirements the city will enact.“The city…
Tuesday, April 28, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Following racism investigation and a fatal shooting, advocates ask Austin to fire police chief
The Austin Justice Coalition, Grassroots Leadership and other advocacy groups are asking city leaders to fire Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Chief of Staff Troy Gay and Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano.The call to fire the city’s highest-ranking police officer…
Monday, April 20, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Investigator largely unable to corroborate claims of bigotry against high-ranking Austin police
An outside investigator hired by the city of Austin to look into allegations of racism and homophobia against two assistant police chiefs has largely been unable to corroborate the accusations.“At this investigation’s conclusion, we can say we have a gathered…
Friday, April 10, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
‘A big deal’: Austin approves $15 million relief fund that includes cash assistance for residents
Austin City Council members have approved a $15 million relief fund to aid residents affected financially by the Covid-19 pandemic.“I think this is a big deal and I’m really proud of this council,” Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza said before…
Thursday, March 26, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Housing
Rent deferred. Full amount due. What landlords are telling tenants during the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s a hell of a time to try to open a restaurant.That’s what Steven Kresena was thinking last week as he watched Austin Mayor Steve Adler order all restaurants and bars closed to diners in an attempt to stall the…
Thursday, March 19, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Judge throws out City Council votes on new Austin land code, putting rewrite in jeopardy
In a ruling that could derail Austin’s rewrite of its Land Development Code, a Travis County district judge voided two votes City Council has taken so far on the changes.The city has spent nearly eight years and more than $10…
Monday, March 16, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Austin
Travis County evictions put on hold, Austin Energy won’t shut off utilities amid COVID-19 outbreak
Eviction hearings in the Austin area will be put on pause until at least April 1, after Travis County justices of the peace issued an order Friday.“It’s not in the public’s interest to have people out in public trying to…
