Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- Austin’s airport is getting a new concourse and 20 more gates but not until the 2030s
- New federal cash paves way for East Austin’s ‘wishbone’ bridge over Lady Bird Lake
- Democrats vs. Republicans: First election coming for Travis Central Appraisal District board
- New rules in the works for electric vehicle charging stations
- Budget deficit looms over city this year and beyond
-
Discover News By District
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Whispers
Thursday, May 27, 2021 by Tai Moses
Weekend MetroRail service returns
This Saturday, May 29, marks the return of weekend MetroRail service, which will begin about 10 a.m. and run until after midnight. For more information, including how to ride MetroRail and purchase your fare, check out Capital Metro’s MetroRail page. Austin FC game days will disrupt regular MetroRail service. Visit CapMetro.org/AustinFC for details about special event service and using Capital Metro to get to Q2 Stadium.
Thursday, May 27, 2021 by Tai Moses
Drive-thru Covid clinic announces holiday hours
If you’re thinking Memorial Day weekend could be a good time to get the kids vaccinated, you’re absolutely right – but plan accordingly, because the Central Texas Counties Vaccine Collaborative’s drive-thru vaccine clinic will be open only on Saturday for the holiday weekend. Kids between 12 and 17 are eligible to get their first free dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, with a parent’s consent, no appointment necessary. Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane. Open this Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Friday, May 28, and Sunday, May 30.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 by Tai Moses
School garden promotes well-being
Reilly Elementary School is celebrating the opening of its new garden and wildlife habitat. The social and emotional learning, or SEL garden, is “a sustainable, meditative space that will implement healthy self-esteem, curiosity and cooperation through gardening.” The garden, which was designed to promote mental and emotional well-being, features native plantings that provide food and shelter for wildlife and insects, a cistern for water conservation, edible landscaping, an intergenerational picnic area, and other sustainable features. The garden was funded with a $130,320 grant awarded to the Austin Ed Fund by the St. David’s Foundation. While Reilly students will be using the garden during school hours, community members are welcome to visit after 4 p.m. on weekdays or on weekends.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 by Tai Moses
AISD lets no child go hungry
Austin Independent School District wants to make sure no Austin kid goes hungry this summer because school is out. The school district will be providing freshly prepared, healthy meals that include protein, grains, fruits, vegetables and milk at more than 50 of its schools over the summer. The meals are free to all kids younger than 19 – they don’t need to attend an AISD school – as well as special ed students who are older than 19 or working on getting their high school diploma. According to AISD, the summer meal program is a USDA nutrition initiative administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and, “Picking up these free meals provides funding to Austin ISD, which in turn allows us to expand food access to even more families.” Families may text FOOD or COMIDA to 512-229-9110 or find a list of free summer meal sites here. All meal sites will be closed July 5-9.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 by Tai Moses
Be prepared for wet weather
The Austin Transportation Department has issued a few safety reminders in light of the forecast for spring storms, which “can cause hazardous travel conditions, whether you bike, drive, take transit or walk.” You can sign up for emergency alerts in your neighborhood at WarnCentralTexas.org. Learn some flood safety tips at Weather.gov. And monitor ATXFloods for real-time road closures in case you’re driving in a downpour. And the big one: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” – because “most flood fatalities occur in vehicles, so never drive around barricades or through flooded roads.” Six inches of water can knock you off your feet, and 12 inches of water can sweep a car off the road, says Transportation, and they know what they’re talking about.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 by Tai Moses
Congrats, class of ’21
Austin ISD high school graduation ceremonies are happening IRL this year, from Friday, May 28, to Thursday, June 3, at Toney Burger Athletic Center, House Park and Nelson Field. (Rosedale School graduates are having their own ceremony on campus on May 28.) Each graduate may bring up to eight guests from the same household to the ceremonies, which include a combination of live and pre-recorded content. Covid safety protocols like face masking, temperature checks and social distancing will be observed. The ceremonies will be livestreamed on AISD.TV, cable channel 22, or Facebook Live. View the full schedule with locations.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 by Tai Moses
You may qualify for subsidized broadband
The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program uses federal Covid-19 stimulus funds to provide a broadband service discount to low-income households for existing or new broadband service. The city of Austin is encouraging all eligible households in the region to sign up “to show that there is a need for reliable and affordable broadband for all.” The program is first-come, first-served while the funds last. Find out if your household qualifies for a monthly internet bill discount of $50 a month or a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer or tablet (you must pay a copay of more than $10 but less than $50 for the device). Find out more about the EBB program here.
Monday, May 24, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Delta Kappa Gamma wins downtown zoning
City Council gave final approval Thursday to Downtown Mixed Use zoning for the Delta Kappa Gamma property at 416 W. 12th St. Council Member Kathie Tovo was recused, but all the remaining members of Council approved the zoning on consent. Stratus Properties plans to build a 375-foot residential tower on the site. At one point there was a valid petition opposing the zoning change, but attorney Michael Whellan was able to persuade several neighbors to withdraw their names from the petition, making it invalid. Council may have been persuaded to vote for the increased density because part of the site was already zoned DMU with no height limit. But perhaps the strongest argument for the new zoning was that it would make the entire site eligible for the Downtown Density Bonus program. As a result, Stratus will pay $500,000 to the city for permanent supportive housing and Whellan promised the developer would pay an additional $200,000 to help with the city’s most pressing problem, homelessness. Although a local media report erroneously listed Council Member Leslie Pool as voting against the zoning change on first reading, that was not the case. In fact, as she pointed out to the Austin Monitor, “I actually saved it by making the motion for first reading.”
Monday, May 24, 2021 by Tai Moses
The budget is about you (and you and you)
It’s the merry, merry month of May – and that means it’s time to rev up for city budget meetings for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The city of Austin prides itself on a transparent budget development process, and as it plans for the next budget, it really, really wants to hear from Austinites, “to help the city prioritize services that impact how you live, work, play, shop and more.” You can watch a cheerful 2-minute video that explains more about the actually pretty interesting budget process and also take a short survey while you’re at it.
Friday, May 21, 2021 by Jo Clifton
EMS Chief Ernie Rodriguez retiring
After 15 years of service to the city, Emergency Medical Services Chief Ernie Rodriguez is retiring at the end of May. Rodriguez was on hand at Thursday’s virtual City Council meeting to hear Council Member Alison Alter, on behalf of Mayor Steve Adler, proclaim May 16-22 as Emergency Medical Services Week. Rodriguez has served as EMS chief for the past 13 years and was deputy chief for the two years prior to that. Alter praised Rodriguez and the EMS for their lifesaving services during the Covid-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri. City Manager Spencer Cronk thanked Rodriguez for his dedication to the city of Austin and Travis County and for “revolutionizing the EMS profession over the time that you’ve been here. You’ve been a remarkable leader who’s really leaned into the innovation and the commitment to serving our residents.” Mayor Steve Adler said, “There’s been a remarkable change in the EMS during your tenure and I want to express my personal appreciation as well.” According to a memo from Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano, Rodriguez improved working conditions and work schedules for his employees, created innovative response programs to address unique challenges, including the motorcycle medic program and the paramedic and mental health crisis teams. Rodriguez was twice named administrator of the year by the Texas Department of State Health Services and EMS manager of the year by the National EMS Management Association. Assistant EMS Chief Jasper Brown has been appointed as interim chief.
Friday, May 21, 2021 by Tai Moses
Be a lifeguard – please?
Summer is drawing nearer and the parks department’s Aquatics Division still doesn’t have enough lifeguards to staff Austin’s many swimming pools and aquatic programs. The division has 150 lifeguards, which is “only 20 percent of its needed 750 lifeguard force,” according to a news release. The city froze its hiring of lifeguards last year due to the pandemic and only resumed hiring in March 2021. Though training has restarted, it isn’t possible to train in high enough numbers due to the ongoing need for social distancing. The upshot is, “The Aquatics Division does not have enough lifeguards to open all of the pools that would normally open at the beginning of June.” So, pools will “operate with modified hours and capacity” until enough lifeguards “can be trained, certified and hired.” Apply to be a lifeguard here.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 by Tai Moses
Vaccine clinic seeks volunteers
The Central Texas Counties Vaccine Collaborative drive-thru clinic is looking for volunteers to help administer the Covid vaccine. The clinic, located at the Travis County Expo Center at 7311 Decker Lane, operates Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Medical experience or fluency in a foreign language is desirable but not essential. Volunteers also help with checking people in, answering questions and observation. Find more information about volunteering here.