Local Government
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…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Sep 21, 2023
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…
Courts • By Maya Fawaz, KUT • Sep 18, 2023
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…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Sep 1, 2023
Travis County judge rules Texas ‘Death Star’ law is unconstitutional
A Texas law that would have undone local laws was ruled unconstitutional by a Travis County judge Wednesday, days ahead of when it was slated to take effect. The law, referred to as the “Death Star” bill, would limit cities’…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 31, 2023
City facing new legal challenge over Affordability Unlocked, other rules this week
The 18 plaintiffs who won a judgment against the city of Austin over its attempted rewrite of the Land Development Code in 2020 are going back to court this week. This time, they’ll attempt to overturn city regulations created in…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Aug 29, 2023
Courthouse dining elevated: Veracruz All Natural contracts with county courts facility
Veracruz All Natural, which makes some of Austin’s most acclaimed tacos, will open an outpost downtown to serve the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility. The facility opened earlier this year, with about 2,247 square feet of real estate…
Courts • By Seth Smalley • Aug 17, 2023
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Travis County commissioners approve preservation plan funding for Sweatt courthouse
The Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse on Guadalupe Street could undergo historic restoration in the coming years with state funding assistance. Earlier this week, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to allocate $100,000 toward hiring a historic preservation…
Preservation • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 11, 2023
Federal court rules Austin’s short-term rental rules unlawful
Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra on Tuesday issued a ruling that overturns Austin’s short-term rental ordinance adopted in 2016. The plaintiffs, Robert Anding and his wife, Roberta, filed suit against the city after attempting to register one of…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Aug 3, 2023
Travis County to set pay raises for elected officials in line with all county workers
Travis County is in the preliminary stages of raising pay for its elected officials by 5 percent. The news came during the Tuesday session of the Travis County Commissioners Court. Todd Osburn, the assistant director of total rewards with the…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Aug 3, 2023
Travis County still slated to spend millions in 2021 ARPA funding
Travis County has until the end of 2026 to spend $146 million of federal funding it received two years ago, according to the Planning and Budget Office. On Tuesday, Dashiell Daniels with the county’s Planning and Budget Office told the…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Jul 27, 2023
Audit finds inaccurate data on city portal
Unreliable data is a widespread problem for the city of Austin, according to an audit performed by the Office of the City Auditor. Francis Reilly, the auditor in charge, explained some of the city’s data problems to the City Council…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jul 26, 2023
County approves Travis Club development, despite community objections
The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday passed a motion approving an initial phase of the Travis Club development, a 1,047-acre property – featuring golf course lots, a marina and more than 500 housing units – that is slated for…
Development • By Seth Smalley • Jul 20, 2023
