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Council OKs $5.5M contract for website redesign, expected in late 2026

City Council has approved a six-year contract, valued at up to $5.55 million, for the redesign of the city’s website, AustinTexas.gov. The contract, awarded to TW Lrw Holdings LLC, doing business as Material Holdings LLC, has an initial three-year term…

Austin is making it easier to open overnight cold weather shelters

The city of Austin is changing how and when it will open cold weather shelters this winter to make shelter more frequent and predictable for people, city officials said. When temperatures dip to near freezing, the city opens overnight shelters…

Arts Commission joins call for bond money to replace Dougherty Arts Center

The Arts Commission wants City Council to commit to including funding for a new Dougherty Arts Center in the city’s next bond package, likely to go before voters in 2026. At its most recent meeting, the commission unanimously approved the…

Planning Commission recommends rezoning of Anderson Square

The Planning Commission voted to rezone Anderson Square in Tuesday’s meeting against staff’s recommendation.  The property is a 16-acre retail center near the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and U.S. Highway 183 – currently home to businesses such as Hobby…

Council approves updated Water Forward, Conservation and Drought Contingency plans

On Thursday, City Council approved updates to Austin’s Water Forward Plan and to the related Conservation and Drought Contingency plans. Water Forward, Austin’s 100-year integrated water resource plan, was first adopted by the city in 2018, after the record-breaking, nearly…

Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido's request for recount is denied

A request for a recount in the November general election by Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido has been denied, city officials said. Llanes Pulido had filed a request Thursday for a recount of the votes in the city’s 11…

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Council approves added protections for birds and trees in new construction

Birds and the trees that serve as their habitats gained renewed attention from City Council on Thursday with the approval of two measures calling for enhanced protections for both. For the birds, a resolution sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie…

City celebrates federal aid to boost community court

District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison held a press conference Thursday to highlight City Council’s approval of funds from the U.S. Justice Department, which she called “a monumental step forward for the Downtown Austin Community Court.” Council approved acceptance of…

I-35 caps plan reconsidered as cost estimates soar by 61%

Austin’s transformational plan to cover parts of Interstate 35 with parks and public spaces, intended to bridge the divide between east and west neighborhoods, is facing a financial reckoning as estimated costs soar and city staff warn the project could drain…

Council will consider new parks funding and management strategies

On Thursday, City Council is slated to approve a resolution from Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool that directs the city manager to explore new parks funding strategies; to consider a regional approach to parks funding, acquisition and maintenance; and to…

SOS sues utility to protect Barton Creek Habitat Preserve

The Save Our Springs Alliance has filed suit against the West Travis County Public Utility Agency and its board of directors, challenging the utility’s decision to condemn 2.685 acres of the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in Southwest Travis County. SOS…

Panelists discuss how to solve Austin's workforce housing crisis

While discussing the housing affordability crisis and its impact on Austin’s essential workers, a local EMS leader captured attention Wednesday morning with her account of how emergency services staff are pushing themselves beyond reasonable limits because of their long commutes…