Texas led a group of 17 states Wednesday in suing the Obama administration over its recent executive actions on immigration. Texas Attorney General and Governor-elect Greg Abbott said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to act on immigration policy. Abbott filed the lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of […]
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 inDevelopment, Resources, Transportation, Travis County
County OKs Land Water and Transportation Plan
Despite the fact that Texas counties have very little real control over how unincorporated land is developed, Travis County is giving it its best effort, as Commissioners approved a comprehensive Land Water and Transportation Plan on Tuesday. The plan, the result of 10 years of work and planning by the county’s Transportation and Natural Resources […]
Posted inWhispers
Panel named for Central Health picks
It looks like Travis County Judge-elect Sarah Eckhardt will be coming out of her brief retirement a few weeks early in order to help the current County Commission narrow the slate of candidates for the Central Health board of managers. Eckhardt quit her job as Pct. 2 Commissioner in the spring in order to run […]
Posted inWhispers
Turnout light for early voting
Turnout on the first day of early voting in the mayoral and Council runoff elections was light, with less than 1 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. Some 5,184 votes were cast Monday; 3,570 ballots were cast in person, while 1,614 ballots were mailed. The voting location with the largest number of first-day votes […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government, Resources
Aquifer district finishes Habitat Conservation Plan
After a decade of research, public input and development, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is sending its completed draft Habitat Conservation Plan, approved last month, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval. The aquifer district board’s recent approval of the plan brings a complex process begun in 2004 to an end. […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 12-2
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 hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 3. RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROGRAM YEAR 2013 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION REPORT […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Health
Commissioners delay Central Health appointments
Travis County Commissioners, after finding out there were almost 40 applicants to choose among, decided Tuesday to bring the two new members of the court into the process to help fill two vacancies on the Central Health board of managers. Based on the initial schedule proposed by staff, the current commissioners would only have about two […]
Posted inWhispers
AE solar contract gets national attention
Austin Energy’s deal earlier this year to buy power from a solar farm for 20 years got the attention of The New York Times on Monday. In an article, the paper reported that the cost of generating energy with solar and wind power has fallen to the point that it is almost on par with the […]
Posted inPremium Types
Tip Sheet: Travis County Commissioners 11-25
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 hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 4. APPROVE MODIFICATION NO. 12 TO CONTRACT NO. 4400000375, (HTE CONTRACT NO. IL070171RE), AUSTIN […]
Posted inCity Hall, Local Politics, Texas State Legislature, Travis County
Austin, Travis get ready for 84th Texas Legislature
With the specter of dealing with a Texas Legislature that has become even more conservative — if that is possible — with the Nov. 4 election, the City of Austin and Travis County reviewed and approved their respective legislative agendas last week. The primary objectives for both the city and the county for the upcoming […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Public Safety, Texas State Legislature, Travis County
Obama immigration plan may end city-county tiff
It may have taken an executive order, but President Barack Obama seems to have headed off a dispute between the City of Austin and Travis County. The long-standing controversy involving Sheriff Greg Hamilton’s participation in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Secure Communities program may soon be over. Under Secure Communities, Travis County Jail officials cooperated […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Courts, Development, Local Politics, Travis County
Commissioners get $294 million courthouse budget
Travis County Commissioners heard a report Tuesday that the budget to construct the proposed new Civil and Family Courthouse comes in at $294 million. After asking their consultants some pointed questions about how they arrived at that amount, they passed the whole thing along to the new Commissioners Court, which will take office in January. […]