Travis County elections officials estimate only about 25% of registered voters will cast a ballot this fall, keeping with the trend of lower voter turnout on off-year elections. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t important issues to weigh in on. This guide is here to help inform you about what is on your ballot and […]
Katy McAfee, KUT News
Posted inAISD
Austin ISD to release school closures list on Friday
A long-awaited list of which Austin Independent School District campuses will close for the 2026-2027 school year will be released to parents at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. In an Instagram video, Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura said the late-in-the-week announcement is “very very intentional.” “I know 5:30 p.m. on Friday isn’t the best time to receive […]
Posted inAISD
Austin ISD to host meetings on closures as 12 more schools are flagged for failing grades
A dozen schools in the Austin Independent School District will need to close or make significant changes after receiving three consecutive failing grades from the state. The Texas Education Agency ratings were released last month. Austin ISD saw some improvements from last year, but roughly one third of the district’s 116 campuses still had unacceptable ratings. In […]
Posted inEducation
More than 2,000 Austin-area kids will get free or low-cost after-school care this year
Twenty-seven schools in the Austin area are getting free or low-cost after-school care programs this year thanks to funding from a tax rate increase Travis County voters approved in 2024. The programs will open at schools with the most economically disadvantaged students in the Austin, Manor and Del Valle school districts. More than 2,000 pre-K and elementary […]
Posted inTravis County
Nearly 200 homes in Travis County were damaged by July flooding
Nearly 200 homes in the Big Sandy Creek neighborhood in northwestern Travis County were damaged by flooding on July 5, according to a report released Monday by county officials. Of the homes affected, 71 were mobile homes and 127 were single-family houses. Travis County is offering short term housing, temporary property tax relief and waiving […]
Posted inBudget
Travis County proposes raising property taxes to pay for flood repairs
The Travis County Commissioners Court is expected to raise property taxes to pay for damage caused by the flooding on July 5. Commissioners have until Oct. 1 to decide on the 9.12% tax hike. If approved, the average Travis County homeowner can expect to pay $200 more than what they paid the previous year, according […]
Posted inPolice
After court ruling, APD says it won’t cite people for small amounts of marijuana — for now
When an appeals court struck down Austin’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance late last month, confusion and disappointment flooded social media. “So am I a criminal now?” Reddit user Environmental_Ad3964 commented. “So.. I’m kinda confused about what this accomplishes,” another user wrote. Good question, u/DrDrago-4. In the immediate future, the appeals court ruling will not change much about how […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin’s Sobering Center expands to increase rehab services
Travis County opened the Sobering Center in 2018 with a goal to reduce the congestion of the county’s jail and hospitals with folks who were publicly intoxicated. Instead, they would be sent to a quiet building downtown on Sabine Street. They could eat a snack, drink some water, sleep it off and leave the next […]
Posted inFire
Austin ranks 5th in major cities vulnerable to wildfires
Those who were in Austin in 2011 remember the tragic wildfires that hit Bastrop, Steiner Ranch and Spicewood that summer. The fires collectively burned through thousands of acres of land and destroyed over a thousand homes. “You can still drive down 21 in Bastrop and see where the trees were,” Travis County Fire Marshal Gary […]
Posted inCourts
Ken Paxton sues Travis County for approving security funds for DA José Garza behind closed doors
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed another lawsuit against the Travis County Commissioners Court on Monday – this time over a $115,000 payment the court made to District Attorney José Garza’s office behind closed doors. The payment was approved during a closed session in March to provide home security to Garza after his address was posted […]