People trying to sign up for their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine Monday night faced hourslong delays and were even booted from the queue to get an appointment through Austin Public Health’s site. The glitches were so bad, the health authority had to pull the plug on scheduling. It said it’s working on a […]
Andrew Weber, KUT
Posted inAustin
Texas is lifting its mask mandate and Covid restrictions on businesses. Here’s what that means.
Lee esta historia en español. Texas is reopening 100 percent, ending the statewide mask mandate and lifting Covid-related restrictions on businesses. Here’s a rundown of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order and what it means for local officials, schools and businesses. What does the order do? It pretty much does what you think it does – lifts […]
Posted inCity Council
City Council apologizes for Austin’s systemic racism, vows to invest in a Black embassy
Austin City Council has formally apologized for its role in perpetuating racist policies that contributed to historical equity, health and wealth gaps that persist for Black Austinites. A resolution, which passed unanimously Thursday, directs the city to quantify the impact of systemic racism in real dollars and invest in an effort to build a Black […]
Posted inPublic Health
‘It is now time to open Texas 100 percent,’ Gov. Greg Abbott says
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he’s lifting statewide executive orders that limit occupancy for businesses and require Texans to wear masks in public spaces. “Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type are allowed to open 100 percent,” Abbott said. The governor said businesses can limit capacity or “implement additional safety protocols” if they wish […]
Posted inAustin
These volunteers didn’t wait around to get homeless Austinites into hotels during the historic freeze
Last Wednesday, Patricia Clark was in a hotel room in North Austin watching “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” She was bored. Just days earlier, she was outside in the 9-degree weather. The 48-year-old has been homeless on and off for more than half her life, living through cold snaps without heat or water or food […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin buys one hotel to convert into housing for homeless – and puts off purchasing another.
After hours of debate, the Austin City Council OK’d one purchase of a hotel to ultimately house Austinites experiencing homelessness, while delaying the purchase of another until next week. The two hotels – one in North Austin’s District 7 and another in the more northwesterly District 6 – would collectively cost the city $16.2 million […]
Posted inAustin
Austin’s ailing live music venues could get much-needed money under the new coronavirus relief bill
Live music venues in Austin could see some relief from the new federal coronavirus relief package. The bill, which was passed Monday night, includes $15 billion in relief specifically dedicated to independent venues, theaters and other arts organizations. The bipartisan agreement folded in that relief from the Save Our Stages Act, a separate relief bill […]
Posted inHousing
The city is closing shelters it set up for homeless Austinites during Covid. Residents want to know when.
Last Wednesday, Helen Davis was in St. Louis, tired, sore and 825 miles from home without bus fare or a place to stay. As cars whizzed by, she wracked her brain, trying to think of an excuse – something to tell the bus driver so he’d let her on for free. She’d tried to pay […]
Posted inPublic Health
As active Covid cases rise, officials warn of possible curfew, beg Austinites to have socially distanced holidays
Roughly nine months into the pandemic, Austin is seeing its highest number of active Covid-19 infections ahead of the holidays, and health officials are begging residents to limit contact to battle back the virus’ spread. Austin Public Health attributes the rise in cases largely to gatherings over Thanksgiving. Forecasts suggest that if left unchecked, the […]
Posted inAustin
Austin opening up relief program for live music venues affected by Covid-19
Austin’s ailing live music venues have been thrown a lifeline ahead of the year’s end. The city will begin accepting applications Friday for short- and long-term grants through the Live Music Preservation Fund. The money, which the city says it hopes to dole out by the end of the year, will be distributed by the […]
Posted inAustin
City Council takes steps toward relief for live music venues and ‘legacy’ businesses
Austin’s struggling live music venues, restaurants, bars and longtime businesses are a step closer to getting some Covid-19-related relief from the city, but some are still holding out hope for quicker relief. City Council approved Thursday the guidelines for two grant programs that total $10 million set aside for ailing businesses under the Save Austin’s […]
Posted inPolice
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 when he shot her in the back of the head with a “dangerous projectile” during […]