Public Safety
Thursday, November 19, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Public Safety
City overlooks police overtime dollars
When City Council cut $21.5 million from the Austin Police Department budget in August, it also provided $3.174 million that could be used for overtime as the department adjusted to its budgetary constraints. The dollars were intended to buy time…
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 by Aiden Snasdell
Health & Human Services
Austin’s HIV Planning Council takes on an epidemic amid a pandemic
This year has presented unique challenges to the HIV Planning Council, leading to new ways of delivering medication, virtual doctor visits and a newfound emphasis on mental health services. The HIV Planning Council is a group of volunteers appointed by…
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Police
Report finds racial bias in 2019 traffic stops
The Office of Police Oversight, the Equity Office and the Office of Innovation released a joint report Monday determining that racial bias continues to influence outcomes in police traffic stops. The report, which analyzed local traffic stop data from 2019,…
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Health & Human Services
Officials say Austin will see a second Covid-19 surge, unless people recommit to social distancing
Health officials are pleading with Austinites to avoid gatherings and get tested for Covid-19 as cases and hospitalizations approach the same levels seen in June, right before the first surge. Over the past month, the Austin area doubled its moving…
Friday, November 6, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Health & Human Services
Austin’s seeing its highest Covid cases since August. Most of those cases are among younger people.
Active Covid-19 cases in Austin have hit their highest levels since August, a rise Austin Public Health officials have largely pinned on 20- to 39-year-olds. In an announcement Thursday morning, health officials said more than half of positive tests in…
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Health & Human Services
City tracks $450M cost of Covid
About eight months in, the Covid-19 pandemic has cost the city $449.9 million. The total, according to an Oct. 30 memo from Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo, represents the initial $271.6 spending framework approved by City Council in May…
