Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
'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…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 10, 2020
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…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 26, 2020
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…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 19, 2020
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…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 16, 2020
The city's rewrite of its land use code heads to court (again)
Lawyers representing a group of Austin homeowners will argue in court this week that landowners have the right to formally protest the rezoning of their property under a citywide land code rewrite. If the court sides with them, it could…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 9, 2020
District Attorney race heads to runoff election
José Garza celebrated his early lead against incumbent Margaret Moore at a campaign watch party at Mi Madre’s Restaurant in East Austin. With his early voting numbers showing a slight lead over Moore, he said he anticipated the race going…
Elections • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 4, 2020
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Austin landlords repeatedly cited for health and safety violations could get right to rent revoked
José Pérez and his family were afraid of their stove. It caught on fire when they tried to cook, so the family bought prepared food. They had other problems in their apartment, too: The air conditioning went out for a…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 13, 2020
Take a look at what could be built under Austin's proposed new land code
On Wednesday, the city of Austin revealed some models of what could be built under the proposed new Land Development Code, the rules that dictate what can be built in the city and where. It’s important to note that in…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 6, 2020
Austin releases reworked land code ahead of second of three votes to finalize
The Austin City Council released the second draft of its Land Development Code Friday, the latest step in the city’s more than half-decade-long attempt to update the rules determining what can be built in the city and where. “The code…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 3, 2020
Black and Hispanic drivers are increasingly more likely to be stopped by Austin police
While the black population in Austin hovers around 8 percent, black people made up roughly 15 percent of drivers pulled over by police and 25 percent of people subsequently arrested in 2018 – a disparity that has worsened since 2015.…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 31, 2020
Austin will not pay to test for marijuana, effectively decriminalizing small amounts of pot
As law enforcement agencies in Texas figure out how to test suspected marijuana following the legalization of hemp in the state, the Austin City Council responded Thursday with its fix: a measure that effectively decriminalizes small amounts of pot. “It’s…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 24, 2020
Activists say officers allege retaliation for speaking to investigators in racism probe of APD
Activists and a City Council member say they’ve heard claims of possible obstruction in the investigation into alleged racism and homophobia among the highest ranks of the Austin Police Department. “It seems that people are not able to wholeheartedly and…
