Public Safety
Friday, January 24, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin will not pay to test for marijuana, effectively decriminalizing small amounts of pot
As law enforcement agencies in Texas figure out how to test suspected marijuana following the legalization of hemp in the state, the Austin City Council responded Thursday with its fix: a measure that effectively decriminalizes small amounts of pot.“It’s the…
Friday, January 17, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Health & Human Services
For the first time since 1999, someone in Travis County has rubella
Public health officials on Thursday morning confirmed the first case of rubella in Travis County since 1999. The confirmation comes roughly a month after the first diagnosis of measles, which was last seen in the Austin area in 1999, too.Austin…
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Activists say officers allege retaliation for speaking to investigators in racism probe of APD
Activists and a City Council member say they’ve heard claims of possible obstruction in the investigation into alleged racism and homophobia among the highest ranks of the Austin Police Department.“It seems that people are not able to wholeheartedly and openly…
Friday, January 10, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Public Safety
Citing violence associated with homeless, Abbott asks DPS to patrol state-owned buildings in Austin
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed state troopers to increase patrols within two blocks of state buildings in Central Austin in the wake of two stabbings involving homeless Austinites since Friday.In a letter Thursday, Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public…
Friday, January 10, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
APD survey shows police officers are proud but frustrated
As the Public Safety Commission came back to a new year on Jan. 6, members began with a lengthy discussion about the state of the Austin police force.After receiving a presentation from the department highlighting the personal, professional and emotional…
Thursday, December 12, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Health & Human Services
Audit: Social services contract rules need update
The city auditor’s team studying the city’s social services contracting process found that even though Austin spends millions of dollars on social services contracts, the city “does not have an explicit definition of ‘social services’ and lacks a formal social…
