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Local Government
In wake of ice storm, county adds debris drop-off sites
The recent ice storm caused over $29 million in damages, felling trees, snapping power lines and sparking a declaration of disaster from county officials. On Tuesday, the county announced another debris drop-off point at Mansfield Dam, in addition to the…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Feb 15, 2023
County partners with local nonprofit to build 200 shelter units
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a whopping $3 million agreement with the Other Ones Foundation, a nonprofit that provides housing aid and case management for unhoused individuals. This is the second of 11 housing projects that the…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Feb 9, 2023
Library Commission working group to track bills restricting access to library materials
Since the Texas Legislature reconvened for its 88th session in January, the city’s Library Commission has been tracking a number of bills concerning restriction of library materials. At last Monday’s regular meeting, commissioners expressed their concern about some of the…
Texas State Legislature • By Ava Garderet • Feb 1, 2023
County votes to introduce bill to add $1.2 million probate court
The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to approve a preliminary step in the creation of a new probate court, which would take the total number up to two, in line with other large counties in Texas. When the item was…
Courts • By Seth Smalley • Jan 27, 2023
Central Health, Ascension Texas sue over care for low-income residents
After years of failed negotiations over health care services to low-income residents and payments for those services, Central Health, the Travis County health care district, filed suit Tuesday against Ascension Texas, a nationwide chain of hospitals and health care facilities.…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Jan 25, 2023
Bill to curb compatibility filed at the state Legislature
A bill filed last week at the Texas Legislature would significantly curtail compatibility, a rule in Austin that restricts the height of buildings near single-family homes. Senate Bill 491, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), would in effect allow…
Texas State Legislature • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 23, 2023
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Travis County might create a probate court, but where is the money?
Travis County is one of the few large counties in the state with only a single probate court, but it may be adding a new one. The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution last week to post a…
Courts • By Seth Smalley • Jan 20, 2023
Can ERCOT even be sued? Texas Supreme Court will decide.
The Supreme Court of Texas will hear oral arguments Monday in a case that could decide the future of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. At issue: whether the group that runs the Texas energy grid is, in fact, a…
Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jan 9, 2023
Travillion: Charting the path to job opportunity for county residents
After nearly three years of Covid-19 pandemic response, plus unprecedented challenges like Winter Storm Uri and rapidly rising housing costs across the Austin metro, Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion said his high point of 2022 was workforce development. Travillion,…
Travis County • By Emma Freer • Jan 5, 2023
Two years in, Ann Howard is playing for the county's team
Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard compares the first two years in her four-year term representing Precinct 3 to speed dating. “When you have something like Winter Storm Uri and a pandemic, you cram a lot of meet-and-greets into the early…
Travis County • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 5, 2023
Margaret Gómez has learned to take the long view
For Margaret Gómez, Travis County’s longest-serving county commissioner, listening to community members’ concerns is the first and most important step toward guiding initiatives for the 1.3 million-plus residents of Travis County. In a recent interview with the Austin Monitor, Gómez – who earlier…
Travis County • By Andrea Guzman • Jan 5, 2023
Andy Brown intends to double down on overdose prevention efforts in 2023
Coming off a landslide reelection victory in the November election, Travis County Judge Andy Brown is proud of how the Commissioners Court responded to challenges in 2022, from staffing shortages and new state laws threatening civil rights to housing affordability…
