Tag Archives: Texas Legislature
Thursday, July 12, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Courts
Texas usually fights Austin at the Capitol. Lately, the fight is in the courtroom.
The city of Austin has endured several legal jabs from the state in the past couple of months.Recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped into a dispute over the makeup of the city’s Planning Commission. A week ago, the city…
Monday, July 2, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Deece Eckstein
This week, Travis County Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Deece Eckstein joins Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard and editor Elizabeth Pagano. Listen in below to hear predictions about the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature and a review of some of the…
Thursday, April 5, 2018 by Jack Craver
Budget
Council braces for another tight budget cycle amid threats from Legislature
City Council will have to raise property taxes by 5 percent in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget just to continue funding existing programs, according to a financial forecast prepared by the city budget office.In a presentation to Council members on…
Wednesday, March 14, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Courts
Court upholds majority of ‘sanctuary cities’ law
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Senate Bill 4 can remain in effect for the time being. Tuesday’s decision will allow the so-called “sanctuary cities” law to take effect while the case against it plays out.However,…
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 by Ashley Lopez
Elections
Sheryl Cole and ‘Chito’ Vela head to runoff in Texas House race, pushing Dawnna Dukes out
Democrats Sheryl Cole and Jose “Chito” Vela will move on to a runoff election for Texas House District 46 after pushing out embattled incumbent Dawnna Dukes in the primary on Tuesday.The district includes parts of East Austin, Manor and Pflugerville.Cole,…
Monday, January 29, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: What blind spots?
Colossus of roads… “There’s no question that I am probably the largest road proponent in the Milky Way.” Thus Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty began a stemwinder about his transportation prescription for Central Texas at a luncheon hosted by the…
Friday, December 15, 2017 by Jack Craver
Development
Council greenlights new pedestrian mall on Congress Avenue
City Council paved the way Thursday for a major state project that will transform three blocks of downtown from roadway into a grass-covered pedestrian mall.Council voted to give the Texas Facilities Commission the OK to seize control of city right…
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 by Jo Clifton
Courts
Casar reports on SB 4 hearing in New Orleans
City Council Member Greg Casar attended Tuesday’s hearing on Senate Bill 4 at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The city of Austin, along with Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, the small border city of El Cenizo,…
Wednesday, October 11, 2017 by Joseph Caterine
Public Safety
Travis County sheriff responds to community outcry after ‘sanctuary’ policy reversal
At a town hall meeting on Monday organized by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez faced a crowd of immigrant rights advocates, service providers and undocumented community members, many of whom expressed disbelief at her Sept.…
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 by Stephanie Federico
Courts
After court ruling, Travis County will comply with all ICE detention requests
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office will honor all federal immigration detainer requests following a federal court ruling that held parts of Texas’ “sanctuary cities” law can go into effect.A three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled…
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…
Thursday, August 31, 2017 by Stephanie Federico
Courts
Federal judge blocks Texas’ ban on ‘sanctuary cities’
A federal court in San Antonio has blocked Senate Bill 4, Texas’ so-called “sanctuary cities” law.U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia said, “The best interests of the public will be served by preserving the status quo and enjoining, prior to September…
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 by Audrey McGlinchy
Public Safety
How one immigrants’ rights group is preparing for ‘sanctuary cities’ law
Candelario Vazquez, 34, stood in front of a 20-person audience. None of the adults and children, some of them squirming in their hard plastic chairs, asked to be in his audience.“Good morning, friends,” said Vazquez, who works for the immigrants’…
Friday, August 18, 2017 by Caleb Pritchard
Courts
Council opts to sue the state over housing discrimination beef
After months of the Texas Legislature seemingly taking shot after shot at the city of Austin, City Council is swinging back.On Thursday, Council gave the go-ahead to Interim City Manager Elaine Hart to sue the state over a 2015 law…
Friday, July 28, 2017 by Jo Clifton
Texas State Legislature
Dueling tree ordinance bills advance
The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would allow developers to get credit for planting trees to substitute for mitigation fees that cities might otherwise require from them when they remove trees from their property.House Bill 7…
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 by Audrey McGlinchy
Budget
Texas lawmakers may alter property tax collection. But how does it even work?
During a recent committee hearing on a property tax bill, a state lawmaker made an unusual comment: He praised Travis County.“Travis County has the best record on reducing tax rate,” said state Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), the author of Senate…
