Sections

About Us

 
Make a Donation
Local • Independent • Essential News
 

Stories by Andrew Weber, KUT

Austin opened up police misconduct files. Now, state lawmakers want to lock them back up.

A bill that’s making its way through the Texas Legislature could target Austin’s management of its police department. Now, Senate Bill 781, authored by Republican state Sen. Phil King, could undo years of litigation, a citywide referendum and countless hours of public…

After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services

The SIMS Foundation, which has provided low-cost and free mental health care to Austin musicians for decades, is connecting clients to services again after a three-month pause. SIMS Foundation CEO Derrick Lesnau said the organization reached its fundraising goal of a…

Advocates urge immigrants in Austin to plan – but not panic – over new Trump orders

Advocates say President Donald Trump’s immediate actions on immigration have created a climate of fear among immigrant communities in Austin. On his first day in office, Trump signed more than 200 executive orders, many related to immigration, and issued a policy allowing…

Austin City Council passes new police contract

Austin City Council approved a five-year, $218 million contract with the city’s police union Thursday. The deal passed on a 10-1 vote. The approval came after hours of impassioned testimony from scores of Austinites. Supporters argued the contract is necessary…

Where do Austin's mayoral candidates stand on public safety issues?

Austin has seen meteoric growth over the past decade and a half, and its police department has found itself rethinking its priorities to address public safety amid the influx of newcomers. So, we asked the five candidates for Austin mayor…

Austin's previously secret 'G-files' on police misconduct are now public. Here's what that means.

More than a year after Austin voters OK’d a measure to make them public, the so-called “G-files” of police officers accused of misconduct are now available to the public. Disclosure of these disciplinary files was a sticking point in discussions…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Austin's police union, city agree to a $218 million, five-year labor contract

Austin’s police union and the city agreed in principle Monday to a five-year labor contract. The $218 million deal, which comes after years of occasionally contentious negotiations, would give police officers a 28 percent raise over the next five years.…

Why doesn't the Austin Police Department publish yearly reports on the crimes it solves?

People have opinions on policing, but there’s one unifying constant in discussions around the practice: Crimes are bad, and they should be solved. To measure that efficacy, departments across the country use clearance rates, an imperfect metric but one that…

State court rules Austin must release files on police complaints. Here's what that means.

Austin police must release records of officer complaints previously kept in house to the police oversight office, a state district judge has ruled. The personnel files – known colloquially as “g-files” – were a cornerstone of the Austin Police Oversight Act,…

Animal advocates re-up calls for the closure of the Austin Aquarium

Animal rights advocates are calling for the Austin Aquarium to shut down. The new push comes after a high-level resignation at the aquarium’s parent company – and years of controversy surrounding the strip mall-based aquarium. In late 2013, the Austin Aquarium…

Lisa Davis confirmed as the next head of the Austin Police Department

Lisa Davis is the new head of the Austin Police Department. City Council approved the nomination of the nearly 32-year law enforcement veteran, who comes to Austin from Cincinnati, to take the helm at APD. Davis’ approval comes after a…

Lisa Davis named sole finalist for Austin police chief

Lisa Davis, an assistant chief with Cincinnati’s police force, has been chosen to take over the Austin Police Department, City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced Friday morning. “I have elected to move Chief Davis forward for confirmation by the City Council…

Back to Top