Katy McElroy

A 120-acre portion of the Water Quality Protection Lands will experience a prescribed burn on Thursday, March 18. Smoke may be visible southwest of FM 1826, east of Brodie Lane, east of FM 1626, and north of FM 967. Frequent, low-intensity understory fires help reduce brush and promote natural grasslands, and prescribed burns are used […]

On Dec. 15, Travis County and the city of Austin extended the Stay Home, Mask and Otherwise Be Safe Order through Feb. 16, 2021. This measure is intended to prevent further spread of Covid-19. Additionally, the Austin-Travis County health authority has extended the Health Authority Rules through Apr. 15, 2021, and included additional updates. The […]

Bad news, cold-water enthusiasts: The city has decided that since Austin is currently operating under stage 4 Covid-19 risk-based guidelines, the 2021 Polar Bear Plunge is canceled. Barton Springs Pool will remain closed on Jan 1, 2021. However, in an attempt to keep the spirit of the plunge alive, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department […]

Wondering what the city plans to do with the 2016 mobility bond funds in 2021? The draft 2021 Mobility Annual Plan and online interactive map are now available for review and comment. Every year, the city releases a MAP to outline projects that will be funded through the bond. This year’s MAP includes projects involving […]

This winter break, Austin Independent School District is partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank to make sure Austin families have access to healthy food. Prior to the break, today the district is setting up curbside meal sites to serve free seven-day meal packs. There will also be two mass distribution events where families may […]

As Covid-19 cases rise, so do concerns about about community spread, hospital admissions and ICU capacity. While Austin is still at Stage 4 on the Covid-19 risk-based guidelines chart, health officials have stated their concern that the continued rising of these indicators could trigger a move into Stage 5, especially as folks navigate the holiday […]

The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking input from the community as it develops a long-term guide for the restoration of Zilker Park. If you have a vision for the future of Austin’s beloved park, you are invited to share your thoughts through PARD’s survey, which is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin. More translations […]

The city has been working on a project to enhance safety and mobility for everyone who uses Stassney Lane, and it is now ready to start construction in spring 2021. The project design was created with input from the community and is made possible by funding from the 2016 mobility bond, Safe Routes to School […]

At its last meeting, City Council endorsed Compassion 2020, an initiative spearheaded by Citizen Discourse and United Way campaigning for a just, compassionate and anti-racist society. The resolution, authored by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and co-sponsored by Mayor Steve Adler and Council members Jimmy Flannigan, Pio Renteria and Ann Kitchen, also directs the city manager […]

With everything else that’s going on, it’s easy to forget that it’s also peak flu season right now – if you haven’t gotten your yearly jab yet it’s definitely time. No insurance? No worries, Central Health-affiliated CommUnityCare is holding a no-cost drive-thru flu shot clinic this weekend for uninsured residents of Travis County. Head over […]

City Manager Spencer Cronk has released his end-of-year review. While he admits that he, like many of us, is “looking forward to the end of 2020,” he made a valiant effort to find the silver lining. “While 2020 may have tested us in many ways, as an organization and a community, we rose to the […]

Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin announced on Tuesday the third and final round of grant funding for local nonprofits from their community-led philanthropic fund. All Together ATX provides flexible resources to nonprofit organizations working with communities experiencing economic and health-related hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This round, 111 organizations will […]