Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Austin ranks in the top five cities in the U.S. for potential wildfire damage
A new report from a California-based market research firm finds that Austin ranks fifth in a list of cities facing the highest reconstruction costs due to potential wildfire damage. Researchers with CoreLogic found that 53,984 Austin residents live within an…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Sep 13, 2019
While it's held up in court, Austin's paid sick leave law comes closer to being undone by the state
Texas lawmakers advanced a bill on Thursday that would prevent cities from requiring private employers to give their workers certain benefits, such as paid sick leave. “This bill creates a statewide policy for consistent regulation by giving clarity to our…
Texas State Legislature • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 1, 2019
City of Austin orders outside review of police handling of sexual assault cases
The city has ordered an independent review of the Austin Police Department’s handling of sexual assault cases, asking investigators to track incidents from when they’re first reported to police to when they’re closed or handed off to the district attorney’s…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 1, 2019
Austin Police Department orders outside audit after state finds it misclassified cleared rape cases
The Austin Police Department has ordered a third-party audit of rape investigations after state auditors found it misclassified certain rape cases. “This review will look from the beginning to the end,” Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said. “From the moment…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 17, 2019
As shutdown drags on, low-income housing providers in Austin worry funding for rent could run out
Prak Property Management Inc. has been digging into savings to keep some of its low-income properties in Austin running. “It’s like a savings account that every month we are required to put a certain amount of dollars into for things…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 15, 2019
The city-state fight continues in the 2019 legislative session: Here are bills to look out for
When the Texas Legislature reconvened on Jan. 8, lawmakers already had on their desks bills aimed at undoing city of Austin rules. The city-state conflict is nothing new. Last time they met in 2017, state lawmakers passed bills overturning Austin…
Texas State Legislature • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 11, 2019
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Advocates say APD should focus less on how rape cases are coded and more on solving them
When Austin Police Chief Brian Manley announced last week that state auditors had found problems with the way police classify rape cases, some people were not shocked by the news. “It wasn’t a huge surprise to us,” said Kristen Lenau,…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 9, 2019
People living on the streets can now clean up Austin's parks for an hourly wage
People experiencing homelessness can now work for the city of Austin. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with Austin Public Health, The Other Ones Foundation and City Council Member Ellen Troxclair, highlighted the pilot program Monday in South Austin.…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 27, 2018
Austin urbanists see support for denser housing in defeat of Prop J and Laura Morrison
Most mornings, Dave Sullivan bikes from his house in Clarksville to the University of Texas. He then hops on an express bus to his job as a researcher at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. During the election season, his daily…
Bonds & Propositions • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 9, 2018
Adler cruises to second term as Austin mayor
In a landslide victory, Steve Adler won his re-election as mayor of Austin on Tuesday and will serve another four years in office. With voters coming out in record numbers in Travis County, Adler earned 61 percent of the vote,…
Elections • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 7, 2018
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plans expansion as air traffic soars
Take all the people who live in New York City. Multiply that by two, and you’ll get the number of passengers who are expected to travel through Austin’s airport this year: 16 million. That’s a lot. By 2040, Austin-Bergstrom International…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Oct 31, 2018
PAC takes heat after using racist symbol Pepe the Frog in anti-Adler ad
One of Austin’s more prolific political action committees has apologized after releasing a video ad featuring Pepe the Frog, a cartoon frog used by anti-Semitic and alt-right groups. IndyAustin has collected thousands of dollars for several political goals, including opposing…
