Public Safety

City, county moving ahead with long-range local food plan

The city will implement the joint Austin/Travis County Food Plan under a new interlocal agreement approved by City Council last week, formally launching a 42-month process to build a more sustainable and equitable local food system. Under the agreement, Travis…

Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • May 13, 2025

After court ruling, APD says it won't cite people for small amounts of marijuana — for now

When an appeals court struck down Austin’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance late last month, confusion and disappointment flooded social media. “So am I a criminal now?” Reddit user Environmental_Ad3964 commented. “So.. I’m kinda confused about what this accomplishes,” another user wrote. Good question,…

Police • By Katy McAfee, KUT News • May 13, 2025

Austin Public Health urges Council to prioritize frontline jobs amid federal funding cuts

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) continued slashing of federal funding for critical services is coinciding with and compounding an already dire budget crunch for Austin, which will force Council to make tough decisions on where to tighten the…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • May 9, 2025

Public Safety Commission discusses firefighter cancer prevention, quarterly Fire Department update, and bylaws

On Monday, the Public Safety Commission (PSC) heard a quarterly report from the Austin Fire Department and discussed initiatives related to firefighter cancer prevention. The commission also conducted business related to their internal Austin Police Department (APD) Training Academy Working…

Public Safety • By Mina Shekarchi • May 8, 2025

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City reports fewer crimes, stable crowds in Sixth Street pilot

Data from the city’s efforts to revitalize the Sixth Street Entertainment District show reductions in violent crime and public safety incidents, according to a new memo summarizing the results of a pilot program launched late last year. A recent memo…

Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • May 5, 2025

City and county officials kick off Wildfire Awareness Month

As Austin/Travis County heads into another scorching hot wildfire season, city and county leaders are sharing updates on community-wide preparedness efforts and emphasizing how individual Austinites can do their part. Local officials held a press conference on Tuesday to kick…

Fire • By Mina Shekarchi • May 1, 2025

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Police oversight report shows progress in 2023 data

The Office of Police Oversight received more than 1,500 public contacts in 2023, forwarding 578 complaints to the Austin Police Department and recommending 215 for investigation, according to the agency’s newly released annual report. Of those, APD investigated 138 cases…

Police • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 28, 2025

Second measles case reported locally, Austin Public Health says

A Travis County adult is isolating after testing positive for measles, Austin Public Health officials announced Friday. It is the second confirmed local case of the virus this year. APH representatives said the sick individual may have been exposed to the virus…

Public Health • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Apr 28, 2025

Firefighters, city reach agreement on retirement fund

Negotiators for the city and Austin firefighters have finally reached agreement on how to deal with the Austin Firefighter Retirement Fund so that it complies with state law and can promise retirement benefits to current and future retirees. This has…

Fire • By Jo Clifton • Apr 22, 2025

UT Austin professors fear Trump administration's funding cuts will derail life-saving research

Andrea Gore, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at UT Austin, knew from a young age that she wanted to be a scientist. She said she always loved watching birds and bugs. “Even as a kid, I would watch the…

Public Health • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Apr 21, 2025

Council Audit and Finance Committee hears updates on APD recruiting and hiring practices

On Wednesday, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee heard a briefing on the Austin Police Department’s recruiting and hiring efforts. City leaders have been raising concerns about APD response times and staffing of sworn and non-sworn public safety employees for…

Police • By Mina Shekarchi • Apr 18, 2025

716,000 meals canceled for Austin-area food bank as federal funding is cut

The Central Texas Food Bank is feeling the effects of the Trump administration’s funding cuts after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed more than a billion dollars in funding for programs that support food banks and help schools buy goods from local…

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