Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Sanctuary cities debate revolves around ICE detainers. But what are they?
Members of the Texas House of Representatives today will consider Senate Bill 4, popularly coined the “sanctuary cities” bill. The practices of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office have been heralded as a reason to pass this bill – one that…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 26, 2017
Activists weigh in on police contract as city begins negotiations
As the city of Austin moves forward with the renegotiation of its public safety contracts, local activists are asking for several changes to the city’s contract with the local police union. The contract, which is negotiated every couple of years,…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 24, 2017
Sleep researchers cheer on Council members as they consider ways to avoid late nights
Early on June 24, 2016, City Council Member Delia Garza checked her watch. “We’re making a decision about $720 million at 1:35 in the morning after lengthy discussions,” Garza told her colleagues. “After in my opinion, no real agreement on…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 20, 2017
CodeNEXT, as explained to a 6-year-old
Two people – one grown, the other growing – sit in a University of Texas office. The younger one, a girl of just 6 years old, wears a gray T-shirt, pink leggings and cowboy boots, which dangle from the edge of…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 18, 2017
Travis County DA announces not all police shootings will go before grand jury
The Travis County District Attorney’s Office will no longer bring all police shooting cases before a grand jury. Flanked by representatives of the local NAACP, police union and the Austin Police Department, District Attorney Margaret Moore announced the changes –…
Travis County • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 13, 2017
135,000 new housing units over the next decade: feasible or overly ambitious?
Socar Chatmon-Thomas points at an apartment building under construction along the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, near East Riverside Drive. “So this whole thing used to just be nothing,” said Chatmon-Thomas, who has worked in Austin real estate since…
Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 4, 2017
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Construction of new Central Library overdue, again
City Council members learned last week that the completion of the new downtown public library has been hit with delays, again. “I do think that it is getting very close, but I don’t have a specific date that I can…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 28, 2017
What’s the future of Austin’s East 12th Street? Ask these guys from Dallas.
Property ownership can be a stealth business, with land changing hands before anyone’s had time to notice. For the past four years, one North Texas company has quietly begun buying up property on E. 12th Street. Ironically, the company takes…
Development • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 23, 2017
Forty years after its fiery demise, a movie theater continues to be missed by East Austin
Ada Harden, 81, stands on a vacant lot at the corner of E. 12th and Salina Streets. While gravel and shorn grass crunch beneath her feet, she sees instead a maroon seat made of velvet and a wide screen where…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 22, 2017
Travis County tops list of jurisdictions declining immigration detainers
A new report suggests Travis County refused more federal requests to detain undocumented immigrants than any other law enforcement agency. The report from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is the first of what are promised to be weekly…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 21, 2017
After Uber and Lyft exit, local ride-hailing options stumble during first SXSW
Mel Roe was eating dinner Saturday night at Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant in downtown Austin when she nearly threw her phone at the wall. Roe says the app of one of Austin’s six fledgling ride-hailing companies, Fasten, would not let her…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 14, 2017
Affordability plan before Council emphasizes housing needs
City Council members are hoping to make good on promises to create a more affordable Austin. Or, at the very least, ratify a plan to. Council members will vote on an “affordability action plan” at their regular meeting Thursday. The…
