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Stories by Andrew Weber, KUT

Burying Austin's power lines would cost $50 billion (and is pretty much impossible)

Two years ago, after Austin’s lush urban tree canopy froze and downed power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands without power, the city resolved to look into a simple solution: burying the power lines. Now, a new city-commissioned study shows that…

Energy • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 26, 2025

Following Trump's lead, Abbott orders state workers to return to offices

Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has quietly directed heads of state agencies to phase out hybrid-work schedules and require all employees to return to the office five days a week “as soon as practicable” under state law, according to multiple accounts…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 6, 2025

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…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 27, 2025

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…

Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 13, 2025

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…

Public Safety • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jan 27, 2025

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…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 25, 2024

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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…

Elections • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 22, 2024

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…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 21, 2024

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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.…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Sep 25, 2024

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…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Sep 10, 2024

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,…

Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Sep 4, 2024

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…

Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 14, 2024

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