Stories by Andrew Weber, KUT
Another demonstrator sues APD after she says she was shot in the head with 'less-lethal' ammunition
Another demonstrator has filed a federal lawsuit against the Austin Police Department and an unidentified police officer over the use of so-called less-lethal rounds. Arianna Chavez filed a complaint in federal court last week, alleging the officer used excessive force…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 2, 2020
For child care providers in Austin, city relief couldn't come soon enough
Patsy Harnage doesn’t get a lot of holidays. For the last decade, she’s grown accustomed to working herself to the bone. Operating a child care center is hard work, built on razor-thin margins. That’s part of the job; it’s an…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Dec 1, 2020
Austin music venues won't get Covid relief money until next year. They say they're running out of time.
Jeannette Gregor was shaking, her voice quivering. “I am not a public speaker. This is actually kind of a nightmare for me – especially after about five months of isolation and no social contact,” she said back in September. “So…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 23, 2020
Newly sworn in, Travis County Judge Andy Brown says he'll shift focus from jails to mental health
Andy Brown is now Travis County’s top official. Brown was sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court by interim County Judge Sam Biscoe, who served in the same capacity for over 15 years before retiring. He…
Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 18, 2020
Black coalition says Austin should pay out millions in restitution for long-ignored systemic racism
Black residents are calling on Austin to address decades of racism, inequity and displacement, demanding the city move to potentially provide as much as half a billion dollars in restitution for the Black community. Roughly 50 Black Austinites of all…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 17, 2020
Another protester files suit over APD's use of 'less-lethal' rounds. That's the second this week.
The Austin Police Department is facing yet another lawsuit over its use of less-lethal rounds during protests this summer. A complaint filed on behalf of Steven Arawn accuses an unidentified officer of excessive force for using a so-called beanbag round…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 12, 2020
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City faces another lawsuit over police using ‘less lethal’ round during protests
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday argues an Austin police officer used excessive force when he shot a protester with a “less lethal” round in May, irreparably damaging the man’s eyesight. The suit is the latest against the city over the…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 11, 2020
Officials say Austin will see a second Covid-19 surge, unless people recommit to social distancing
Health officials are pleading with Austinites to avoid gatherings and get tested for Covid-19 as cases and hospitalizations approach the same levels seen in June, right before the first surge. Over the past month, the Austin area doubled its moving…
Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 10, 2020
Austin's seeing its highest Covid cases since August. Most of those cases are among younger people.
Active Covid-19 cases in Austin have hit their highest levels since August, a rise Austin Public Health officials have largely pinned on 20- to 39-year-olds. In an announcement Thursday morning, health officials said more than half of positive tests in…
Public Health • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Nov 6, 2020
Austin protester sues officer for shooting him in the face with 'less-lethal' round
An Austinite who was shot by a police officer with a so-called less-lethal shotgun round during a protest this summer is suing the officer and the Austin Police Department in federal court. A federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday on…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 21, 2020
Mike Ramos' mother asks Austin police chief whether he'll fire officer who killed her son
The mother of Mike Ramos, a Black and Latino man who was shot and killed by an Austin police officer in April, is calling on the department to act on investigations into the officer. At a press conference Wednesday, Brenda…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 16, 2020
'We deserve to be saved': Austin music venues rally for city-backed relief fund
Austin’s music community rallied at City Hall Wednesday to support a measure to bolster the ecosystem around live music in the face of the pandemic. The rally included everyone in that ecosystem, from the folks who help keep the scene…
