City Council and the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) are firing back against a lawsuit aiming to terminate the vision for a 10-mile light-rail network – the single most ambitious public transit project in the city’s history. In legal filings in Travis County civil court, Council and ATP don’t cede any ground. They deny all claims in the lawsuit […]
Courts
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Court signs order overturning three zoning ordinances
On Monday, Travis County District Court Judge Jessica Mangrum released her official ruling in Acuña v. City of Austin, finding that City Council violated prior court orders and state law when it approved three major zoning ordinances in 2022. The court also found that one ordinance challenged by plaintiffs is still valid because of a […]
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City, plaintiffs at odds over court order on development rules
After the city of Austin lost a lawsuit that claimed City Council had violated the law in approving three ordinances designed to make it easier to develop housing, Judge Jessica Mangrum told the two sides to draw up an order reflecting her decisions, including any fines the city would be required to pay as a […]
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Jury deadlocked in murder trial of Austin police officer who shot Michael Ramos
The trial of the Austin police officer accused of murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of Michael Ramos ended in a mistrial on Wednesday morning. This is the second time the case has ended in mistrial. The first time came at the end of May, after a tumultuous four days of jury selection resulted in […]
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City loses second suit over development rules
A group of citizens who sued the city over four ordinances designed to make it easier to develop new housing projects have apparently prevailed on three of the four laws. That means the city will have to go back to the drawing board on Vertical Mixed-Use 2 zoning and ordinances on compatibility on corridors and […]
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Aggrieved citizens sue over funding Project Connect
A group of prominent citizens has filed suit against all members of City Council and members of the Austin Transit Partnership Board of Directors, claiming that ATP may not legally spend city property taxes or issue debt needed to build Project Connect because what is being built is drastically different from what was promised to […]
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The biggest moments from Austin police officer Christopher Taylor’s murder trial so far
The second week of the murder trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor, who fatally shot Mike Ramos in 2020, starts today. Ramos’ shooting, along with George Floyd’s murder, sparked weeks of protests for racial justice that year. Police responded to a 911 call about drug activity at a Southeast Austin apartment complex in April […]
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Austin-area school districts want a Travis County judge to block changes to how Texas grades them
A Travis County judge is considering whether to block the Texas Education Agency from making changes to the A-F accountability rating system, which evaluates school performance. Seven school districts, including Del Valle ISD, sued Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath in August. Since then, more than 90 districts have joined the lawsuit as either plaintiffs or intervenors. Central […]
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A new Texas law could get prosecutors fired for not pursuing charges. Here’s how it works.
A new state law could lead to the firing of elected prosecutors who refuse to take on certain crimes like low-level pot offenses. Supporters of the law say these “rogue” prosecutors should be thrown out of office. Opponents say the law makes it difficult to effectively do the jobs prosecutors were elected to do. There […]
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Bee Cave residents sue city over proposed roadway
Citizens for the Preservation of the Brown Property, a nonprofit organization operating in Bee Cave, is gearing up for a court battle over the city’s action designating a 4-acre area near Little Barton Creek as a future roadway. The area is part of the 44-acre Brown Property, which the city purchased in 2017. Residents say […]
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Hays County district clerk sues district attorney for ‘neglect of his duties’
The Hays County district clerk is suing District Attorney Kelly Higgins and asking that he be removed from office. Avrey Anderson claims Higgins demonstrated “intentional, corrupt failure and neglect of his duties” by refusing to prosecute cases of simple drug possession and low-level marijuana offenses, and where doctors have illegally treated transgender patients or performed abortions. “Allowing him […]
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Judge declares city campaign contribution blackout period unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Wednesday declared an Austin regulation on campaign fundraising unconstitutional. The regulation prohibits candidates for City Council seats from seeking or accepting campaign contributions more than a year before an election. Pitman issued his ruling on a case brought by former candidate Jennifer Virden and one of her supporters, William […]