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Most Popular Stories
- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
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Texas State Legislature
Animal Advisory Commission wary of animal legislation
Members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission requested more time Wednesday night to consider whether to recommend a bill some say would threaten city shelters’ “no-kill” status. The committee considered two bills filed by state representatives concerning veterinarian practice in city…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 13, 2015
House bill could restrict local voter initiatives
A voter-led initiative that banned hydraulic fracturing — also known as “fracking” — in Denton last fall appears to have inspired a Texas House bill that could quash similar measures in the future. House State Affairs Committee members heard arguments…
Texas State Legislature • By Tyler Whitson • Mar 12, 2015
Explainer: Zim's bill on housing scoring heads to State Lege Council
The Explainer offers a closer look at stories we have been following. This week, Don Zimmerman’s ongoing effort to change the way federal housing subsidies are awarded. City Council Member Don Zimmerman has displayed a certain … distaste for subsidized…
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Mar 2, 2015
Texas mayors take aim at Legislature's tax caps
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and the mayors of nine other large Texas cities came together Monday to declare their intention to fight any proposal to diminish local government control, especially cities’ authority to set tax rates. The idea of a…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Feb 17, 2015
New agriculture commissioner calls water top issue
Recently elected Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Wednesday that he plans for the agency to play a more active role as it relates to water. “We’re going to have a water department, and we’re going to be…
Environment • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 26, 2015
City orders study on bag ban that state may toss
Amid concerns that state leadership will take steps to limit city ordinances such as Austin’s plastic bag ban, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission has instructed city staff to study the ban in time to send the results to the state…
City Hall • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 16, 2015
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GOP wants to restore Secure Communities program
A recent agreement between the City of Austin and Travis County over booking services at the county jail could be in jeopardy if congressional Republicans succeed in reversing President Obama’s executive orders on immigration policy. House Republicans voted out a…
Local Politics • By Mark Richardson • Jan 16, 2015
Local state reps talk turkey at RECA luncheon
On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) gave members of the Real Estate Council of Austin a preview of the upcoming legislative session. Despite the partisan gap, the two representatives found some common ground during the…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 15, 2015
Austin, Travis get ready for 84th Texas Legislature
With the specter of dealing with a Texas Legislature that has become even more conservative — if that is possible — with the Nov. 4 election, the City of Austin and Travis County reviewed and approved their respective legislative agendas…
City Hall • By Mark Richardson • Nov 24, 2014
Obama immigration plan may end city-county tiff
It may have taken an executive order, but President Barack Obama seems to have headed off a dispute between the City of Austin and Travis County. The long-standing controversy involving Sheriff Greg Hamilton’s participation in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s…
