Watson touts progress while pushing for affordability, eyeing city's long-term needs
Two years into his return stint as Austin’s mayor, Kirk Watson thinks the positive moves on housing and affordability made by the 11 members of City Council will be for naught if he can’t keep moving them forward. While he’s…
Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 17, 2024
Incumbent Mackenzie Kelly faces Krista Laine in D6 race
Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and her lone challenger, Krista Laine, will go head to head in the Nov. 5 election. Kelly touts her credentials as a promoter of all things public safety, while Laine says she will do better for…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 17, 2024
Commission brands glue traps ‘ineffective and gruesome,’ votes to recommend a ban
The Austin Animal Advisory Commission unanimously voted Monday to recommend that the city of Austin ban the purchase and use of glue traps in all city-owned and city-managed facilities. The commission’s recommendation was rooted in concerns about the inhumane and…
Environment • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Oct 16, 2024
Project Connect trial to resume after Paxton appeal rejected
Editor’s note: The original version of this story contained an error conflating two of AG Ken Paxton’s opinions. The story has now been corrected. A little over a year ago, a group of prominent Austin citizens filed suit against the…
Transit • By Lina Fisher • Oct 16, 2024
City considers acquiring new combined HQ for police, fire and EMS
Next week, City Council will consider approving a $107.8 million allocation to acquire an office campus along South MoPac Expressway that would serve as a consolidated headquarters for the city’s public safety agencies, which are located in outdated and cramped…
Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 16, 2024
Landmark commission stalls demo of midcentury Baptist church
As East Austin’s Rehoboth Primitive Baptist Church moves on to roomier digs up north, its congregation is preparing to say goodbye to its home of six decades in more ways than one. What was once holy ground at 5303 Samuel…
Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Oct 16, 2024
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Austin Opera's new HQ welcomes smaller arts orgs to the stage
Austin Opera leaders aim to turn the organization’s new headquarters and performance space into a bustling hub for arts groups increasingly pressured for space in Austin. Last week the group, which holds its major performances at the Long Center for…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 15, 2024
Part II: District 7 candidates share views on climate action, housing, public safety
This is Part II of a two-part series profiling the candidates running for Austin City Council’s District 7 seat. Read Part I here. Adam Powell Adam Powell, a former union organizer and state employee, believes that most of the impactful…
Elections • By Mina Shekarchi • Oct 15, 2024
Where do Austin's mayoral candidates stand on transportation issues?
When Austinites cast their ballots this election, transportation will be front and center – not just because it’s a major challenge for the region, but also because voters will have just navigated their way to a polling station. Austin’s mayor plays…
Elections • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Oct 15, 2024
Council OKs contract for new academy to train ‘workforce of the future’
City Council on Thursday approved a $5 million contract with Workforce Solutions Capital Area to start and manage the Austin Infrastructure Academy for 12 months. In addition to job training, the contract with Workforce Solutions includes the provision of child…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Oct 14, 2024
Council nearly doubles payment to build water system for disannexed project
City Council has agreed to more than double its contribution toward a water infrastructure project that will service a project that recently disannexed from the western city limits. The unanimous approval of an amendment to the cost participation agreement between…
Water • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 14, 2024
Part I: District 7 Council candidates talk public safety, climate resilience, land use
This is Part I of a two-part series profiling the candidates running for Austin City Council’s District 7 seat. Read Part II here. Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool, who has represented North Central Austin since the creation of the district-based…
