Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Texas usually fights Austin at the Capitol. Lately, the fight is in the courtroom.
The city of Austin has endured several legal jabs from the state in the past couple of months. Recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped into a dispute over the makeup of the city’s Planning Commission. A week ago, the…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jul 12, 2018
Austin may be getting a new department to oversee labor rights laws
City Council members voted Thursday to ask the city manager to look into creating a new department to oversee its labor rights laws – including rules that guarantee rest breaks for construction workers and mandate paid sick leave for private…
City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 29, 2018
Lawsuit accuses Austin, Travis County of gender bias in handling of sexual assaults
Three women have sued the city of Austin and Travis County, alleging their sexual assault cases were inadequately handled because of their gender. The class-action lawsuit claims that sexual assault survivors “have been denied equal access to justice and equal…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 20, 2018
Council confirms Manley as new police chief
City Council unanimously confirmed Brian Manley as the Austin Police Department’s new chief Thursday. Manley has served in an interim role since former Police Chief Art Acevedo left to head up Houston’s police department in 2016. Manley thanked those at…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 15, 2018
Council votes not to put CodeNEXT petition on ballot
City Council members have voted against putting a CodeNEXT petition to a public vote, instead allowing a threatened lawsuit to proceed and a judge to determine whether the city is required to do so. “Putting this on the ballot is…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 25, 2018
When roads are built to prioritize cars, pedestrians are often faulted for getting hit
Part 3 of a three-part series A driver hit and killed Judy Romano’s son, Barry Friedman, while he was walking in Austin two years ago. According to the police report, Friedman tried to cross East Parmer Lane just before 6…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 18, 2018
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Housing Austin's homeless will reduce road deaths, but that will require a big investment
Part 2 of a three-part series Mike Villegas learned his oldest child had died on Christmas Eve 2016. Villegas said he was doing work around the house with his 12-year-old son. When he went out to the front yard, he…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 17, 2018
Two years after Vision Zero, when will Austin streets be safer for pedestrians?
Before he was killed, 14-year-old Alexei Bauereis had quit the backyard stunts like jumping from trees onto roofs and downhill skateboarding that defined his childhood. He was saving his legs for ballet. “Dance was so important to him,” said Eric…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 16, 2018
Manley lays out vision for Austin Police in interview with public for permanent chief job
A week ago, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley was tapped by City Manager Spencer Cronk as the sole finalist to be the city’s new permanent police chief, and now Cronk and the city are engaged in a public input process…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 9, 2018
Council votes to clarify the road ahead for Austin's $482M corridor plan
Austin voters now have a clearer road map for a slate of bond-funded projects intended to relieve congestion and improve city infrastructure on a massive scale. With little more than a guarantee from City Council, voters overwhelmingly approved a $720…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 27, 2018
Business groups sue to block city's paid sick leave law
An Austin-based conservative think tank has sued the city over its paid sick leave ordinance. The ordinance, which goes into effect Oct. 1, requires all private businesses to provide anywhere from six to eight paid sick days per year for…
Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 25, 2018
Without final rules in place, Austin closes two fair chance hiring complaints
When Lewis Conway Jr. was released from prison in 2000 after serving time for manslaughter, the state required him to wear an electronic monitoring device. But nothing fit his ankles. “So they put the electronic monitor on my wrist,” said…
