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Austin reopens applications for people who need help paying rent

Lee esta historia en español  Low-income renters struggling to afford their monthly rent can now apply to get help from the city. Austin has about $3.6 million to dole out, after City Council members approved a new budget earlier this year.…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 4, 2024

Austin Watershed Protection Department proposes code updates to further protect the Colorado River

The Austin Watershed Protection Department held a public meeting on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center to discuss proposed code updates regarding the Colorado River. In 2022, City Council passed a resolution directing the city manager…

Land Development Code • By Hunter Simmons • Nov 4, 2024

SXSW economic impact sees small dip based on lower spending for ticketing

South by Southwest’s impact on the local economy decreased slightly this year from 2023, according to a new study from business analysts Greyhill Advisors. The study found that the festival generated $377.3 million for local businesses and residents, compared to…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 1, 2024

Thousands of Austin's bats will be displaced by I-35 expansion

The expansion of Interstate 35 through Austin is set to displace more than 100 homes and businesses. But an even larger community is being forced to relocate: thousands of bats that roost in the highway’s bridges. While the Texas Department of…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 1, 2024

Incumbents have fundraising edge in districts 2 and 4

Looking at fundraising in the final two City Council races not considered in previous reporting in the Austin Monitor, we see two reasonably popular incumbents with every reason to be optimistic about Tuesday’s election. Regardless of policies, an incumbent almost…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Nov 1, 2024

Doggett urges Texans to get health coverage before Jan. 15 and to watch out for flex cards

Two things remain true every November: the unfortunate fact that Texas is the most uninsured state in the nation – almost 20 percent – and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s long-running campaign to change that. On Wednesday, at Foundation Communities’ Prosper…

Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Nov 1, 2024

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Council to consider $5.5M contract for redo of city's website

The city’s primary website is slated for a comprehensive revamp from a California-based vendor, due in part to staff’s assessment that the work needed to properly improve the site exceeds their resources and abilities. An item on next week’s City…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 31, 2024

New reports show PACs at work in Austin Council races

As everyone is keenly aware, there’s an important election coming up next week. Not just the federal contest, but also City Council races. The candidates have now turned in their final campaign finance reports before the Nov. 5 election. These…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 31, 2024

Austin and Travis County fund diversion program for indigent youth facing low-level DWIs

Travis County continued its commitment to diverting people charged with low-level offenses from the criminal justice system at its meeting Tuesday, extending its DWI court diversion programs to September 2025. Those programs, which include treatment and pre-trial diversion for minor…

Public Safety • By Lina Fisher • Oct 31, 2024

Parks and Recreation Board recommends audit of contracts governing city sports fields

The Austin Parks and Recreation Board unanimously voted to recommend that City Council conduct a comprehensive audit of all contracts related to dozens of city-owned baseball and soccer fields.  The Austin Parks and Recreation Department frequently contracts with outside organizations…

Parks • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Oct 31, 2024

Report finds slashed site plan review times, with further improvements on tap

An analysis of the city’s ongoing work to improve its widely criticized permitting process for building within the city shows substantial improvements in turnaround times for the main types of reviews, with further gains expected as the city moves forward…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024

Report shows more ways for city to help residents become homeowners

Although the city of Austin offers help for low-income residents who wish to become homeowners, that assistance is limited to buyers who earn at or below 80 percent of the local Median Family Income, or MFI, which is currently $97,800…

Housing • By Jo Clifton • Oct 30, 2024

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