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Public Safety
After OK by Austin, ESD vote goes to Travis County
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow voters in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction within Emergency Services District 2 to vote on whether to create Travis County Emergency Services District 17. If approved by voters, the vote would authorize creation of…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Feb 8, 2021
Waiting for a vaccine appointment from Austin Public Health? Here's what we know so far.
Austin Public Health’s vaccine registration process has caused a bit of confusion. People have told KUT they’re experiencing technical difficulties with the signup portal or they’re frustrated because they’ve signed up but haven’t been able to snag an appointment yet.…
Public Health • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Feb 4, 2021
City, county partner up to launch Covid vaccine call center
Travis County is teaming up with the city of Austin to support a bilingual Covid-19 call center aimed at helping registered residents make appointments to get vaccinated. Stephanie Hayden-Howard, the director of Austin Public Health, told Tuesday’s special joint session…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Feb 3, 2021
Racial inequity at APD front and center at Public Safety Commission
Public Safety commissioners took a closer look at racial issues in the Austin Police Department, diving into a recent report on the subject at their Monday meeting. A survey of over 1,000 APD officers and staff about their attitudes toward…
Police • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 2, 2021
Central Health moves forward with Eastern Travis County developments
The Central Health Board of Managers approved the expansion of its Eastern Travis County health and wellness centers at a virtual meeting Wednesday night. Central Health Vice Presidents Stephanie McDonald and Mike Knodel presented a slideshow on the proposed expansions.…
Public Health • By Ramon Rodriguez • Feb 1, 2021
Reimagining Public Safety task force asks for hold on cadet classes
A public meeting of the task force for Reimagining Public Safety reviewed a report Wednesday about the presence of racial and gender bias and the use of unnecessary force in training cadets at the Austin Police Academy. The task force…
Public Safety • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Jan 22, 2021
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Videos used to train Austin police perpetuate 'racism, sexist gender norms and classism,' panel finds
A panel of community members has recommended the Austin Police Department remove 60 videos from its training curriculum after concluding they bolster racist and sexist ideas and do little to help officers constructively interact with the public. “The vast majority…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 21, 2021
Top doc Escott defends decision to vaccinate state legislators
Interim Austin-Travis Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott doubled down yesterday on his conviction that state legislators should receive priority vaccinations, even if it means young and healthy lawmakers receive the vaccine ahead of more at-risk people. Citing both the in-person…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jan 20, 2021
District attorney details civil rights cases
Travis County District Attorney José Garza released information Thursday related to every case against local police officers pending in the office’s Civil Rights Unit. The information involves cases such as the deaths of Javier Ambler in March 2019 and Michael…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Jan 15, 2021
Hundreds line up for Covid vaccines from Austin Public Health. But the wait was 'worth it.'
Frank Kucharski and his wife, Jill Jones, were near the back of the line that wove around an Austin Public Health vaccination center at least twice in Northeast Austin on Thursday. They estimated they had a three-hour wait ahead of…
Public Health • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 15, 2021
Travis County officials say infusion center for Covid-19 antibodies is struggling to keep up with demand
The demand for monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid-19 is “far outstripping supply,” officials said at a news conference Wednesday. “We are working hard to expand the capabilities at the infusion site to performing 75 infusions a day,” Dr. Jason Pickett,…
Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Jan 14, 2021
Austin firefighters donate to protect pensions
The political action committee for Austin firefighters was busy the last month of 2020, donating more than $50,000 to Texas lawmakers. Their donations included $10,000 to Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), who was elected Tuesday to be speaker of the Texas…