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- Travis County declares local disaster ahead of April 8 total solar eclipse
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Public Safety
Watson, Brown declare local state of emergency over wildfire threat
Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown on Tuesday declared a local state of emergency in response to the threat of wildfires. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott said that wildfires in 191 Texas counties “pose an imminent threat…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Aug 16, 2023
Austin firefighters contract to be decided by binding arbitration
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks has made no secret of how angry he is with city negotiators. The union and those negotiators could not reach an agreement on a labor contract, and the matter must now be decided at…
Fire • By Jo Clifton • Aug 15, 2023
Here's what you should do if a wildfire threatens your home
Lee esta historia en español Dry grass, wind and relatively low humidity mean a fire can spread easily and be difficult to control. All it takes is a spark from a metal lawnmower blade hitting a rock, a loose chain…
Fire • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Aug 11, 2023
Austin Police Department Training Academy attrition remains high amid reforms
An Austin Police Department audit revealed high attrition rates among recent cadet classes amid ongoing reforms and persistent staffing shortages. Police leadership reported the inaugural audit’s findings – based on the 147th cadet class, which graduated in May – to…
Police • By Emma Freer • Aug 9, 2023
Fleet Mobility Services working to fix air conditioning in fire trucks
In late July, City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly wrote a memo pointing out that 20 trucks within the Austin Fire Department’s fleet “are currently lacking functioning air conditioning systems.” Not only is that a risk for firefighters, she wrote, but…
Fire • By Jo Clifton • Aug 8, 2023
Austin launches education and outreach initiative targeting hate crimes
The city of Austin last week launched the We All Belong Anti-Hate Initiative, an education and outreach campaign intended as a response to a string of hate crime incidents reported across the city. A group of leaders from the city,…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 25, 2023
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Downtown Commission hears plans to address Rainey Street safety
The Downtown Commission last week gave an unofficial thumbs-up to the city’s efforts to improve safety in the Rainey Street nightlife district, in an effort to prevent more drownings in the area. On July 19, representatives from the Parks and…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 25, 2023
Greg Casar calls for national standard to prevent heat-related illness, deaths on construction sites
Amid an oppressive summer, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar is calling on the federal government to enact stricter protections for workers to ensure they don’t suffer heat-related illness on the job. Casar, a former City Council member whose congressional district includes…
Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jul 25, 2023
Council OKs lawsuit settlements related to injuries, land
City Council agreed Thursday to settle five lawsuits, including paying $1.2 million to a protester who was injured during the protests outside the Austin Police Department in May 2020. Bomani Barton, who was shot by a police officer with three…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 21, 2023
Wait, so, what's going on with DPS patrols in Austin?
The city of Austin has ended its agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety to have state troopers supplement citywide police patrols. Mayor Kirk Watson and interim City Manager Jesús Garza decided to end the partnership Wednesday, after a…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jul 14, 2023
Austin again suspends its patrol partnership with DPS
Lee esta historia en español The city of Austin says it won’t forge ahead with its partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety to supplement police patrols. The plan was initially rolled out this spring but was met with…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jul 13, 2023
Public Safety Commission recommends guardrails for APD-DPS partnership – or ending it
The Public Safety Commission recommended that City Council establish a plan governing the recently resumed partnership between the Austin Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety – or discontinue it altogether. Commissioners voted on Monday to approve the…