Public Safety
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 by Ashley Lopez, KUT
Health & Human Services
Austin congressman wants to give local governments the ability to expand Medicaid
Democratic U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin is introducing legislation that would allow local governments in Texas to expand Medicaid to more of their low-income residents. During this year’s legislative session, Texas lawmakers again refused to expand the program statewide.…
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Public Safety
After public condemnation, county to rework correctional master plan
A highly anticipated Travis County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday was more contentious than usual and lasted later into the evening to accommodate hours of public comments criticizing a plan to allocate $80 million to fund a new women’s jail. Though…
Monday, June 14, 2021 by Andrew Weber, KUT
Police
Austin police can start ticketing people for panhandling and camping or sitting in public
The Austin Police Department will begin enforcing a city ban on camping in public that was reinstated by Austin voters last month. Proposition B, the citizen-led effort to reinstate the rules, officially went into effect May 11, but the city adopted a staggered…
Thursday, June 10, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Public Safety
Commissioners clap back at justice advocates protesting county jail plan
The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday responded to pushback from criminal justice reform advocates upset at the county’s plan to approve a $4.2 million design contract for a new women’s jail. While commissioners ultimately decided to delay the motion…
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 by Amy Smith
Police
New police chief expected to be named by late summer
More than three dozen people have applied to become Austin’s next police chief, a role that comes with a number of challenges critical to the success of the city and its process to reimagine public safety. Recruitment for the position…
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 by Jerry Quijano, KUT
Health & Human Services
Austin-Travis County health officials say Covid vaccine data shows there’s still work to be done
More than three quarters of people age 65 and older in Austin-Travis County are fully vaccinated, public health officials said Tuesday. For the entire eligible population – that’s people 12 years and older – the number is more than 54…
