Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Austin will not pay to test for marijuana, effectively decriminalizing small amounts of pot
As law enforcement agencies in Texas figure out how to test suspected marijuana following the legalization of hemp in the state, the Austin City Council responded Thursday with its fix: a measure that effectively decriminalizes small amounts of pot. “It’s…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 24, 2020
Activists say officers allege retaliation for speaking to investigators in racism probe of APD
Activists and a City Council member say they’ve heard claims of possible obstruction in the investigation into alleged racism and homophobia among the highest ranks of the Austin Police Department. “It seems that people are not able to wholeheartedly and…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 15, 2020
Traffic deaths went up in Austin last year. Safety advocates ask: Where's the moral outrage?
Billy Brewster loved lawnmowers. The 15-year-old, who was autistic and nonverbal, would just admire them from afar. “Billy sometimes wouldn’t even want to use the lawnmower,” his mother, Mia Brown, said. “He just wanted to stand there and look at…
Roads • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 8, 2020
White homeowners dominate input over Austin's land code rewrite. One group is trying to change that.
More than 100 people sat in Austin City Hall chambers just past 10 a.m. on Saturday, gearing up to share their thoughts about the city’s rewrite of its Land Development Code. Council Member Alison Alter, who represents part of Northwest…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 9, 2019
Austin orders sweeping probe of alleged racism, bigotry among police, including social media audit
The city of Austin will conduct a department-wide investigation of discrimination in the Austin Police Department, following accusations of racism and homophobia among the highest ranks. “There comes a time in everybody’s existence to have to do something really hard…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 6, 2019
Land code heads to City Council with request to focus development on West Austin instead of East
Austin’s new land use code, which determines what can be built in the city and where, is one step closer to being finalized – but first, one city body is asking that the plan encourage development farther west instead of…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 14, 2019
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Austin City Council will start voting on a new land code in December. Here are five terms to know.
The city of Austin has spent almost eight years and roughly $11 million rewriting its land use code, the set of rules dictating what you can build in the city and where you can build it. Much of the code…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 12, 2019
Can you protest changes to your property under the land code rewrite? City says no.
City of Austin lawyers are refuting the claims of an Austin nonprofit that has been campaigning for property owners to protest the possible rezoning of their land under the city’s land use code rewrite. “City officials plan to rezone your…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 28, 2019
Audit says Austin could better track outcomes after it refers people to mental health services
The city of Austin does a poor job of tracking the outcomes of people it refers to mental health services, despite the fact that improving access to these providers is one of City Council’s goals over the next couple of…
Public Health • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 24, 2019
Dallas-based owner of much of East 12th Street teases future plans
Eureka Holdings, the Dallas-based company that has remained mum about plans for the more than two-dozen properties it has purchased on East 12th Street, has unveiled some initial goals for the area. The plans offered by Austin-based consulting firm Lionheart,…
Development • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 23, 2019
Latest draft of Austin's land development rules permit denser housing, loosen parking restrictions
The city has proposed allowing for denser housing while loosening parking requirements in its latest revamp of rules dictating what can be built in Austin and where. The draft proposal, released to the public Friday afternoon, also allows for accessory…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 4, 2019
Updated: Austin eliminating traffic deaths by 2025 a remote possibility, city audit finds
The city of Austin is unlikely to reach its goal of zero traffic deaths or serious injuries by 2025, according to a new report from the city auditor’s office. “While a goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries is…
