Travis County has issued a new burn ban for the unincorporated areas of the county. As Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Tony Callaway explained, “Even though we received some rain Monday, it wasn’t enough to make up for months of persistent dry conditions, and Travis County remains in extreme drought. With humidity levels dropping again, our wildfire […]
2022
Posted inPlanning
Staff unveils long-awaited Palm District draft plan
City staff members presented the draft version of the long-awaited Palm District Plan to the Environmental Commission last week. City Council commissioned the plan in 2019 as it sparred with Travis County over the future of the county-owned Palm School site. The resolution instructed city staff to engage with the public and learn the community’s […]
Posted inElections
Anthony Bradshaw wants ‘to see an Austin, Texas, that is successful’
On Oct. 18, KVUE and the Austin American-Statesman livestreamed a debate that included all six of the candidates running for mayor. The 90-minute affair included questions about Austin’s pressing issues – affordability, homelessness, policing and transit – as well as questions about each candidate’s personality, priorities and objectives. At one point in the debate, the […]
Posted inEnergy
Draft recommendation suggests EUC will push back on Austin Energy rate case
With the end of the year steadily approaching, schedules are packed and the city is at full throttle preparing for a ruling on Austin Energy’s controversial rate review case. Last week, the Electric Utility Commission spent its meeting deliberating a draft resolution that would ask City Council to substantially deviate from Austin Energy’s proposed revenue […]
Posted inWhispers
Remembering pandemics past and present
The theme of the 15th annual Travis County History Day couldn’t be more timely: “Pandemics: Response and Resilience.” Photos, videos and other materials from the Travis County Archives and the Austin History Center’s Covid-19 collections tell the story, accompanied by featured speakers Nicholas Chu, Travis County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5, and Michael Barnes, […]
Posted inPublic Health
Travis County secures nearly 10,000 doses of life-saving overdose drug naloxone
Travis County has secured a bulk order of the life-saving drug naloxone in an effort to prevent opioid deaths. The shipment comes after the county issued an emergency declaration triggered by a record-high number of overdoses related to fentanyl last year. At an announcement Monday, Austin Public Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes said the county had secured […]
Posted inWhispers
Feed a butterfly, plant a tree
The fifth annual Roots & Wings Festival, Austin’s annual celebration combining Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day, has taken flight (or seed, depending on your metaphor of choice). Over the next two weeks, participants can partake of more than 50 free events and activities, including festivals at area parks and libraries, tree and flower planting events, tree climbing with professional […]
Posted inPlanning
PARD pushes to use Nash Hernandez building for offices instead of senior services
The Parks and Recreation Department is pushing back against a City Council recommendation and wants to convert an idle East Austin property into office space instead of a facility for seniors and children. In a memo released last week, PARD Director Kimberly McNeeley wrote that a recent feasibility study of the Nash Hernandez building found […]
Posted inWhispers
Early voting starts today!
Today is the first day of early voting for the Nov. 8 election. Thirty-seven early voting locations will be open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. through Nov. 4. In addition, five “mega centers” will be open until 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Nov. 4. (Voting […]
Posted inTransit
City aims to get out of its own way with ‘fast-track’ permitting for Project Connect rail lines
An ordinance aimed at streamlining permitting for Project Connect has been making its way through boards and commissions in recent weeks – the latest sign of progress toward new rail and bus lines approved by voters in 2020. On Tuesday, staffers from the city’s Project Connect Office and the Austin Transit Partnership gave a presentation […]
Posted inElections
Watson, Israel weigh in on mayoral plans to help arts community
As local artists and musicians continue to be priced out of Austin, the next mayor and City Council will need to take decisive, ongoing actions and think in new ways to prevent the city’s highly touted creative culture from being wiped away. How best to handle those pressures was the topic of the day at […]
Posted inWhispers
‘Statesman’ joins ‘Chronicle’ in endorsing Israel
The Austin American-Statesman has endorsed state Rep. Celia Israel for mayor, rejecting former Mayor Kirk Watson as a man rooted in the status quo. In doing so, the Statesman joined The Austin Chronicle, which endorsed Israel on Thursday. The other candidates in the race are Jennifer Virden, Anthony Bradshaw, Phil Brual and Gary Spellman. Of those, […]