Most observers of Travis County Commission meetings over the past several months would probably agree that much of the Citizens Communications segment has become a parade of sometimes outrageous commentary that has little or nothing to do with the court’s business, and occasionally strays over into being racist or profane. In fact, it had gotten so […]
Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson is a multimedia journalist, editor and writer who has worked in digital, print and broadcast media for three decades. He is a nationally recognized editor and reporter who has covered government, politics and the environment. A journalism graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, he was recently awarded a Foundation for Investigative Journalism grant and has three Associated Press Managing Editors awards for excellence in reporting.
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Partisan politics arise at new Commissioners Court
Travis County Commissioners met for the first time Tuesday with new County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and Pct. 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea on the court. The spirit of cooperation and goodwill present when the new court convened lasted about an hour before partisan politics emerged. During a discussion of commissioner appointments to various boards and commissions, Shea tried […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Renteria is ready to work on issues in District 3
District 3 City Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria came out of a crowded field of about a dozen candidates and won a runoff over his sister, Susana Almanza, to represent the central-east district with a majority of Hispanic constituents. Following his victory, Renteria says he plans to hit the ground running at City Hall, looking […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 1-6
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in its first meeting of 2015. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 1. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDER […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Houston plans to be strong advocate for District 1
District 1 Council Member-elect Ora Houston says that while her new office will be downtown at City Hall, she does not plan to become a stranger back in her Northeast Austin district. “One of the things I have found is that while we’re in a district system, the city has not shifted much toward a […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 12-30
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday in its final session of the year. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 2. RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE ABOLITION […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 12-23
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 14. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING RATIFICATION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TRAVIS […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Roads, Transportation, Travis County
County seeks federal guidance on SH45 SW project
Travis County is asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for “guidance” on how to avoid environmental damage to the sensitive Flint Ridge Cave during the construction and operation of the proposed State Highway 45 Southwest toll road. County officials are requesting that representatives from Fish and Wildlife meet in January with the parties responsible […]
Posted inWhispers
Scruggs concedes to Troxclair
In what was by far the closest race in Tuesday’s City Council runoff elections, District 8 candidate Ed Scruggs finally conceded the contest to Ellen Troxclair late Wednesday. Scruggs, a Democrat, lost by just 57 votes out of more than 12,000 cast. On his Facebook page he wrote, “Out of respect for the process, the […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Safety, Travis County
Prosecutors ask for extra staff to meet regulations
Told by the County Attorney David Escamilla and District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg that Travis County’s judicial system is in a crisis, County Commissioners Tuesday approved advertising for additional paralegals to help prosecutors comply with the Michael Morton Act. The Michael Morton Act, passed during the last legislative session, mandates that prosecutors share all evidence in […]
Posted inWhispers
Runoff elections set today
Today is Runoff Election Day for candidates in the Austin mayor and City Council races, for three Austin Independent School District board seats and for a seat on the Austin Community College board. In Austin city elections, all voters will cast ballots in the mayoral runoff between Mike Martinez and Steve Adler. Voters will also […]
Posted inWhispers
New customs facility opens at ABIA
Passengers arriving on international flights will have a new experience at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. On Monday, a new state-of-the-art customs facility opened at ABIA with the usual ribbon cuttings and speeches. The facility doubles the airport’s capacity to process international arrivals from 200 passengers an hour to 400 an hour, with a maximum capacity […]