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City loans up to $38M could shield Hilton downtown during convention center closure
An expected agreement between Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the board that manages the city-owned downtown Hilton Austin, and bondholders who financed the hotel will clear the way for the next steps in the expansion of the Austin Convention Center. Last week,…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 15, 2023
Austin launches education and outreach initiative targeting hate crimes
The city of Austin last week launched the We All Belong Anti-Hate Initiative, an education and outreach campaign intended as a response to a string of hate crime incidents reported across the city. A group of leaders from the city,…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 25, 2023
Austin Public Library prepares for First Amendment auditors
The Austin Public Library is busy with summer reading programs, passport services and book ban resistance. Newer to the list? Trying not to go viral. Library staff recently received a briefing on First Amendment audits, in which citizen journalists and…
Austin • By Emma Freer • Jun 29, 2023
Animal Services chief addresses overcrowded shelter after alarm from Kelly
Weeks after City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly expressed alarm at finding “dogs housed in temporary crates at the truck port” behind Austin Animal Center with scorching temperatures on the way, Chief Animal Services Officer Don Bland has responded. A subsequent…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 28, 2023
Austin Justice Coalition launches economic justice campaign
This week, the Austin Justice Coalition announced the launch of the Justice Now: Economic Justice Campaign. The nonprofit said the initiative aims to address systemic economic inequalities in the Austin area. The Justice Now campaign will leverage public awareness campaigns,…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 16, 2023
To celebrate marriage equality, Travis County offers free marriage ceremonies June 26
To celebrate the eight-year anniversary of becoming the first Texas county to issue a same-sex marriage license, Travis County is offering free wedding ceremonies all day Monday, June 26. Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said she thinks it’s particularly important for…
Austin • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Jun 16, 2023
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Jobs development roundup: A split at Austin Chamber; Huston-Tillotson and Skillpoint Alliance fill gaps
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has parted ways with Opportunity Austin, the job creation and economic development arm of the organization since 2004. The now-separate groups announced the split Tuesday while naming new leaders and explaining the move will allow…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 14, 2023
'Dogs coming out of our ears': Pandemic, no-kill policy worsen overcrowding at Austin Animal Center
The Austin Animal Center doesn’t want its halls lined with crates, but they are. It doesn’t want to keep three puppies in a kennel meant for cats, but it does. And it doesn’t want to keep crates of large dogs in its loading dock…
Austin • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Jun 13, 2023
PAC seeks clarity, cost breakdowns for $1.6B convention center expansion
The political action committee co-founded by a former member of the Downtown Commission wants the mayor and City Council to answer questions about the planned expansion of the Austin Convention Center, it announced in a news release last week. Laura…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 8, 2023
Pilot program aims to narrow gaps in Austin's digital divide
A pilot opportunity from the Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission aims to support the city’s digital inclusion program by resourcing new computer labs around the community. At the commission’s May 24 meeting, Chair Nehemiah Pitts described how he initially came…
Austin • By Ava Garderet • Jun 7, 2023
'Austin American-Statesman' staff strike over low pay
Members of the Austin American-Statesman’s labor union went on strike Monday because of an ongoing contract dispute with the newspaper’s parent company, Gannett. Nicole Villalpando, who covers health care for the Statesman and serves as the union’s vice chair, said…
Austin • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Jun 6, 2023
Panelists eye affordability pains in music, EMS, hospitality sectors
Leaders from two of Austin’s most prominent economic sectors – housing and hospitality – see passage of a new Land Development Code and eliminating the tipped minimum wage for restaurant staff as two long-needed steps to address increasing affordability concerns…
