Retired librarian Carolyn Foote was craving an easy, three-hour flight home to Austin on Sunday after a weekend library conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Instead, she found herself stuck in a cramped terminal at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, surrounded by crowds of tired high school students fresh from college tours. Seating was scarce, lines for bathrooms […]
2024
Posted inWhispers
Commission on Immigrant Affairs not going away
Wednesday’s meeting of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee was the final one for the chair, Council Member Alison Alter, and her vice chair, Council Member Leslie Pool. Alter started the meeting by announcing that they would not be considering dissolving the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. If a commission fails to meet for six […]
Posted inElections
Ethics complaints filed against Siegel, AURA
An ethics complaint has been filed against Mike Siegel, who is running to take the District 7 City Council seat in the Dec. 14 runoff. Adam Haynes also filed an ethics complaint against a major urbanist group that has been campaigning for Siegel. The complaints were first reported Wednesday in The Austin Bulldog. Haynes supports […]
Posted inWhispers
Elisabet Ney Museum to close temporarily
In order to undergo renovations, the Elisabet Ney Museum will close Dec. 30, with an anticipated reopening in the summer of 2026. According to a press release from the city, the project “includes restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows, upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, replacement of the […]
Posted inCity Council
Reflections and celebrations with outgoing City Council members
The city honored outgoing City Council members Mackenzie Kelly, Leslie Pool and Alison Alter with a special event in advance of their final Council meeting this Thursday. City staff, former Council members, local elected officials, plus family and friends gathered in Council chambers on Tuesday after the work session to celebrate and share remarks. Kelly, […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 12.12.24
Today’s City Council meeting is the last of the year, which always makes for a packed agenda. This Thursday is no different, so there’s a lot we have our eye on. It’s also the last meeting for Council members Alison Alter, Leslie Pool and Mackenzie Kelly, who said goodbye in a ceremony on Tuesday. The […]
Posted inWhispers
Which way, sis?
Timed to celebrate a new sisterhood with Limerick, Ireland, City Hall has welcomed a new wayfinding landmark that marks its proximity to its many sibling cities around the world. The sign, which was erected in front of City Hall, was fabricated and installed by the Transportation and Public Works Department in recognition of the Economic […]
Posted inHousing
After a decline last year, Travis County homeowners should expect a return to rising property taxes
Lee esta historia en español As Austin-area homeowners receive their latest property tax bills this winter, they should expect to see an increase. According to an analysis by the Travis County Tax Office, the average property tax bill this year for homeowners who live in their homes is $1,123 higher than last year, or about […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County’s burn ban has expired
As of today, the burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Travis County have been lifted, the county’s Chief Fire Marshal Gary Howell announced Tuesday. Outdoor burning is now allowed, and residents should contact their local fire department before beginning and follow the state regulations summarized here. You can call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 512-854-4621 […]
Posted inPreservation
Landmark commission strikes compromise on former summer camp
In a departure from its typical focus, the Historic Landmark Commission voted to preserve a local landmark without focusing on its architecture at all. Instead, commissioners voted unanimously to preserve a portion of a former summer camp in Northwest Hills, based on its community value, landscape features and archaeology. The property, which is located at […]
Posted inPlanning
Movability white paper offers parking, commuting options to address Mueller congestion
A new white paper from a local transportation management nonprofit calls for widespread changes in parking and transit policies throughout the Mueller development to address ongoing congestion and safety concerns in the mixed-use neighborhood. The paper from Movability, which was completed in partnership with the city, calls for expanding active transportation options – including more […]
Posted inEnergy
Kirk Watson, Ryan Alter propose competing amendments to Austin Energy plan
Gearing up for a vote Thursday on Austin Energy’s Resource Generation Plan, Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Member Ryan Alter have each proposed amendments to a plan that has gone through a variety of iterations and gained the endorsement of the Electric Utility Commission and the Resource Management Commission. Both groups suggested changes that do […]