Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett has organized a concert in support of the Travis County Democratic Party’s campaign to get out the vote. Turn Up the Vote will feature local performers Shawn Colvin, Kelly Willis, Ray Benson, Marcia Ball, Darden Smith, Rosie Flores, The Derailers, Ian Moore, and The Bluebonnets. Advance tickets are $30/$40 at the door. […]
2022
Posted inCity Hall
Audit criticizes city’s services for older adults
The team from the Austin city auditor’s office scrutinizing services for aging adults found numerous problems with how the city communicates about its programs and lacks a plan for measuring the performance of those programs. Auditor-in-charge Kelsey Thompson reported on the findings to the Council Audit & Finance Committee Wednesday. According to a survey of […]
Posted inEnvironment
As Congress Avenue bats prepare to migrate, officials consider ways to better care for the colony
Austin’s bats are in need of additional protections and the city is preparing to take some small steps to aid the colony. During an Animal Advisory Commission meeting last week, members voted unanimously on recommendations to help the Congress Avenue bats continue to live and fly freely. The suggestions include direct efforts to protect their habitat […]
Posted inWhispers
Red River Rising issues first awards
The Moody Center has announced the initial gifts from its Red River Rising initiative, which is intended to positively impact the musicians, businesses and residents connected to the city’s Red River Cultural District, located near the new 15,000-seat arena. The center is awarding three $10,000 grants to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, Mobile Loaves […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin Community College has a $770 million bond on the ballot this election. Here’s what’s in it.
Austin Community College could see an expansion of its workforce development programs and two new campuses if voters pass a $770 million bond proposition in the November election. If voters approve ACC District Prop A, each of the 11 existing ACC campuses will get millions of dollars in program and facilities expansions. Two new campuses will also […]
Posted inDevelopment
Austin’s growing pains impacting housing, jobs east of 130
The push of economic development flowing from Austin has officially hit the SH-130 corridor, and is bringing the same pressure on infrastructure, housing and workforce development that have become regular talking points in Austin political circles for years. At a recent Urban Land Institute Austin luncheon hosted by Huston-Tillotson University, leaders from Taylor and Caldwell […]
Posted inWhispers
Boom goes Austin
Austin’s economic growth ranks second in the U.S., according to analysis of the country’s major metro areas by the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business. The study looked at cities’ yearly change in gross domestic product as well as population and total size of their economies. Austin’s 4.3 percent growth rate trailed only […]
Posted inWhispers
Auditor to scrutinize Animal Services
The Office of the City Auditor is starting work on an audit of the city’s Animal Services Office as directed by Council in a resolution this summer. As part of the audit, community members are invited to talk about their experiences with the shelter at one of three public meetings, starting next Monday from 6:30-8 p.m. […]
Posted inElections
Watch our District 5 forum
On Wednesday, five of the six candidates running for City Council in District 5 participated in a forum hosted by KUT and the Austin Monitor. You can watch the forum, which was hosted by Austin Monitor reporter Nina Hernandez, below. Joining Hernandez were candidates Ryan Alter, Bill Welch, Ken Craig, Stephanie Bazan and Aaron Velazquez […]
Posted inWhispers
When Forklift meets Watershed
The first performance in a multiyear collaboration between Forklift Danceworks and the Watershed Protection Department will feature 25 Watershed employees, 15 vehicles – including a forklift – and a live musical score by Austin composer Graham Reynolds. The performance, titled The Way of Water: Waller Creek, “will explore the way water moves through Downtown Austin, and what […]
Posted inElections
District 3 Council candidates chat with the ‘Monitor’: Part II
Read Part I of the series here. Esala Wueschner came to Austin four years ago after googling the best places to live for young, single people. He says he’s energized to run because he’s always felt drawn to service roles. “I used to be in leadership positions, even at the age of sixth grade when […]
Posted inZoning
Council OKs zoning change to house survivors of domestic abuse
Council approved a zoning change Thursday in the University Hills/Windsor Park neighborhood that will allow not only multifamily units for domestic violence survivors but also office space for the engineering firm Civilitude. According to the developer, the SAFE Alliance will provide 60 residential units and support services for those families. The alliance will own the […]