Stories by Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT
City Council approves nearly $7 million to keep Marshalling Yard shelter open
The city of Austin has identified the financing it will use to keep the Marshalling Yard emergency shelter open indefinitely. In September, City Council agreed to keep the shelter in Southeast Austin open until a more permanent location could be…
City Council • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Dec 13, 2024
This fall might've been Austin's warmest. The city says it's ready now for record cold.
Austin and Travis County leaders said they are prepared for potentially record winter weather despite the warm fall. At a news conference Wednesday, Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown said the city and county have several mechanisms…
Austin • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Dec 5, 2024
Austin opens new affordable housing development in Southeast Austin
Lee esta historia en español Just days before Thanksgiving, some older residents have another thing to be thankful for: a safe, affordable place to live. Tucked away in a corner of Southeast Austin sits the city’s newest affordable housing project,…
Housing • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Dec 2, 2024
Austin is making it easier to open overnight cold weather shelters
The city of Austin is changing how and when it will open cold weather shelters this winter to make shelter more frequent and predictable for people, city officials said. When temperatures dip to near freezing, the city opens overnight shelters…
Austin • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 26, 2024
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Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido's request for recount is denied
A request for a recount in the November general election by Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido has been denied, city officials said. Llanes Pulido had filed a request Thursday for a recount of the votes in the city’s 11…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 22, 2024
Kirk Watson avoids runoff, secures new term as Austin mayor
Kirk Watson has officially won a new term as Austin’s next mayor. Watson led his four challengers on Nov. 5, but did not have enough votes to claim victory outright. He had to win a majority of the vote, or…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 15, 2024
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The race for Austin mayor is too close to call. Provisional ballots may tip the scales.
When the Travis County Clerk released the final tally of votes for Austin mayor early Wednesday, none of the candidates had enough to claim victory. Incumbent Kirk Watson was ahead with just over 50 percent of the vote. He needed (and…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 12, 2024
Watson is ahead in election for Austin mayor, but it's unclear if he'll avoid a runoff
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is ahead in the city’s mayoral race with just over 50% of the vote, according to unofficial voting totals. It appears the incumbent might be able to eke out an outright win over his four opponents…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 6, 2024
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Nearly 52% of registered voters in Travis County cast an early ballot
Central Texas voters turned out for early voting at a rate just shy of the turnout seen in the 2020 election – the last time a presidential race was on the ballot. That is a little skewed since the early voting…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Nov 5, 2024
City-owned land will be repurposed to add 5 new parks in Austin
Five new parks are joining Austin’s parks system, adding much needed green spaces to areas considered to be “park deficient.” Austin’s Watershed Protection Department has over the years acquired land for things like protecting the environment and managing floodwater. These…
Parks • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Oct 11, 2024
Austin post offices drop out of plan to host voter registration drive today
Local post offices across Travis County have reversed a plan that would have allowed residents to register to vote on-site today. Oct. 7 is the last day for Texans to register for the Nov. 5 election. With the help of…
Elections • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Oct 7, 2024
City Council adopts new rules around allowing residents to speak at meetings
City Council made several changes to its meeting rules that the city hopes will improve public engagement and transparency. The changes adopted Thursday follow a Travis County judge’s ruling in May that found the city had violated the Texas Open…
