Public Safety
Thursday, September 21, 2017 by Jo Clifton
Health & Human Services
Austin health insurance group’s federal funds cut
In Washington, D.C., supporters of repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, are putting pressure on a few Republican senators who may or may not go along with that legislation. The Senate has until Sept. 30 to pass the…
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 by Cate Malek
Police
Despite Austin’s crime lab meltdown, Texas is working to clear its DNA backlog
When Wendy Davis decided to find out how many untested rape kits there were in the state of Texas, she readily admits she had no idea what she was getting into.Davis, a former state senator, was first told that there…
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 by Cate Malek
Police
Austin’s crime lab failure points to national crisis
The latest audit of the Austin Police Department’s crime lab would read as a comedy of errors, if the stakes weren’t so high.Some concerns in the report released last fall are simpler to fix – equipment failures or cross-contaminating evidence.…
Monday, September 18, 2017 by Austin Monitor
Police
The implosion of Austin’s crime lab: A timeline
Click on the circles or rectangles to display information about events. By Cate Malek and Luis PedrazaIt has blindsided Austin’s criminal justice community.What started a year ago as a few concerns over an audit has spiraled into the permanent closure…
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 by Caleb Pritchard
Public Safety
Public Safety Commission recommends lights-out for late-night curfew
The Public Safety Commission unanimously supported a recommendation on Tuesday night to end the late-night curfew currently enforced against Austin’s youngsters.The proposal, brought forward by Commissioner Daniela Nuñez, drew support from Austin’s interim police chief, Brian Manley, who explained that…
Thursday, August 24, 2017 by Jo Clifton
Fire
Fire Department overtime soars to $21 million
Overtime pay for firefighters at the Austin Fire Department will reach about $21 million by the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30 – a 206 percent increase since Fiscal Year 2013-14 – according to a report put out…
