The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Local Government
Total eclipse could bring massive crowds in 2024
Parts of Travis County could double or even triple in population in April 2024 as visitors come here to see the total eclipse of the sun, county officials said Tuesday. Travis County sits on the eastern edge of the 115-mile-wide…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Dec 7, 2023
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…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Nov 28, 2023
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…
Courts • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 16, 2023
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…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Nov 14, 2023
At the county, mentoring and advocacy service comes back to life
After a rocky start, two local nonprofits reunited this year to create a program that supports Black and Latina girls. Nonprofit groups Measure and Hearts2Heal first met with the Travis County Commissioners Court in July 2021. They proposed using American…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Nov 14, 2023
County public defender office takes shape
The long process of unifying Travis County’s three separate public defender offices took another step forward last week. The Commissioners Court reviewed draft bylaws for the oversight board the first time Nov. 2 and agreed to another voting session to…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Nov 9, 2023
Subscribe to our newsletter
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…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Nov 8, 2023
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…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 30, 2023
Commissioners voice support for Tesla factory, community investment plan
The Travis County Commissioners Court defended tax breaks for Tesla’s factory in East Austin and approved the company’s plan to donate $750,000 as part of the tax incentive deal. This is more than double the amount – $298,000 – the…
Travis County • By Ken Chambers • Oct 30, 2023
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…
Courts • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Oct 13, 2023
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…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 11, 2023
Travis County shows starkest child welfare inequities among large Texas counties
Black children in Travis County disproportionately are the subject of reports of abuse and neglect, investigated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and removed from their homes, compared to white children. This is according to an…
