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- Office slowdown sparks new downtown housing ambitions
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
- Downtown Historic Resource Survey eyes seven new districts eligible for designation
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Austin
Austin Animal Center’s December report looks bright
The Animal Advisory Commission convened on Jan. 11 to discuss, among other things, the accomplishments of the Austin Animal Center at the end of 2020. One recent highlight was the implementation of a new chatbot designed to field questions residents may…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Jan 14, 2021
Lodging industry slows push for hotel tax to fund housing, aid for homeless
Leaders of the city’s lodging industry have slowed their push to create a new tax on hotel stays that would indirectly free up money to fund services for the homeless. The Tourism Commission received an update at its Monday meeting…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 13, 2021
2020: Highlights (and lowlights) of an unforgettable year
It’s not likely that anyone who lived through it will soon forget the year 2020. It’s possible, however, that one might forget the details of local news stories from the year. For that, we offer this review of the year…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 30, 2020
Austin's ailing live music venues could get much-needed money under the new coronavirus relief bill
Live music venues in Austin could see some relief from the new federal coronavirus relief package. The bill, which was passed Monday night, includes $15 billion in relief specifically dedicated to independent venues, theaters and other arts organizations. The bipartisan…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 23, 2020
City lays out diversity goals in next round of arts, tourism funding
Groups that have been historically overlooked and underrepresented in the city’s cultural community will have priority in the Economic Development Department’s spending for cultural and tourism programs in the next budget year. During an online meeting held last Saturday, the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 18, 2020
Citing disrepair, Council removes public artworks from display
Art left out in the elements doesn’t last forever. That’s why City Council just delisted five worn-out pieces of public art, including the Bicentennial Fountain at Vic Mathias Shores; LAB, the series of yellow sculptures along the Lance Armstrong Bikeway; and…
Austin • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 15, 2020
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Austin opening up relief program for live music venues affected by Covid-19
Austin’s ailing live music venues have been thrown a lifeline ahead of the year’s end. The city will begin accepting applications Friday for short- and long-term grants through the Live Music Preservation Fund. The money, which the city says it…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 11, 2020
Cronk proud of city's accomplishments in 2020
By many metrics, this year has been a difficult one for the city of Austin. The pandemic has played a role in the local unemployment spike, led to a number of permanent business closures and strained the city’s medical staff.…
Austin • By Sean Saldaña • Dec 11, 2020
The 'Moment' has passed. Austin's most controversial public artwork might be coming down
Frank Wick remembers the first time he drove through the underpass on Lamar and saw the blue panels on the walls. “It felt like it was art; I wasn’t sure. It was a nice moment,” said Wick, a collection manager…
Austin • By Matt Largey • Dec 9, 2020
City Council takes steps toward relief for live music venues and 'legacy' businesses
Austin’s struggling live music venues, restaurants, bars and longtime businesses are a step closer to getting some Covid-19-related relief from the city, but some are still holding out hope for quicker relief. City Council approved Thursday the guidelines for two…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 4, 2020
City to replace five more names dedicated to Confederate history and white supremacy
In line with a resolution that called for the renaming of city assets whose names were associated with white supremacy and Confederate history, the city is moving forward with five more name changes. A Dec. 2 memo from Chief Equity…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 4, 2020
New SAVES programs face uncertain funding
The city has started nine programs in nine months to help local Austin businesses survive the pandemic. On Thursday, City Council will consider final program guidelines for three more programs providing relief for child care providers, local music venues and…
