Michael Kanin

Perhaps the most important of endorsing organizations—especially when they work together—Austin’s three public safety unions announced their support for the three incumbent candidates for City Council on Thursday. Their endorsements are of particular importance to Council Member Randi Shade, the only one of the three running for re-election facing significant challengers.   Shade and Place […]

The Hays County Commissioners Court has implemented an indefinite hiring freeze on pending county positions, also putting a halt to promotions and interdepartmental transfers. Employment offers made by March 8 will not be affected.   Court members did, however, leave room for Hays department heads to bring any vacancies back for their approval. That will […]

Potential cuts in state funding for capital area 911 systems continue to cause concern for local officials. The latest comes in the form of a letter from the city of Lakeway’s chief of police, Todd Radford, to Travis Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber.   The issue also made its second appearance before the Travis County […]

The Travis County Commissioners Court has rejoined a long and bitter debate over the creation of a Homestead Preservation District in the eastern portion of its jurisdiction. If enacted, the zone would use the tax increment financing mechanism and a land bank, among other tools, to effect what some see as a preservation of affordable […]

Austin is not the only city looking at dramatic changes to its public education system.   Indeed, the most controversial portion of the Austin Independent School District’s Facilities Master Plan – a call for the shuttering of up to nine schools – would be familiar to a host of communities across the United States. In […]

The short-term solution to the traffic nightmare known as the “Y” at Oak Hill apparently comes with something called a Continuous Flow Intersection.   On Thursday, TxDOT brought out a host of city, county, and state officials to announce a series of changes that will – they hope – reduce delays on US 290 from […]

The Austin City Council has finally adopted a handful of changes its No Sit/No Lie ordinance with an eye to making it easier to enforce. The amendments reconfigure the law’s exemptions for Austin’s disabled, redefine the area where it will be enforced, and establish a legal standard that those charged with a violation must reach […]

After three weeks of back-and-forth, the Austin City Council decided on a format for its regular work sessions yesterday. Beginning next week, the events will take place on Tuesday mornings of the weeks that Council has a meeting. They will start at 9am in the Boards and Commissions Room at City Hall.   Council members […]

Online publication The Austin Bulldog has filed suit against the members of the Austin City Council and the city of Austin. In his petition, editor Ken Martin asks the court to grant him access to a host of private emails, instant messages, and text messages that he believes should be considered part of the public […]

The Capitol Area Council of Governments has informed the Travis County Commissioners Court that state cuts could cause the shuttering of as many as twelve 911 call centers in the region. Four of these – units at Lago Vista, Westlake Hills, Lakeway, and Pflugerville – are in Travis County.   Council of Governments officials believe […]

The Travis County Commissioners’ Court is taking steps to move forward with its reorganization of the county’s upper management. Last week, they voted to add three top-tier pay grades, new titles for the now-former Executive Managers, and moved toward resolution of questions about the empty County Executive of Administrative Operations position.   However, the court […]

Travis County officials will apply for roughly $28 million in pass-through financing funds from the Texas Department of Transportation. As part of the deal, the county would pay for all of the soft costs associated with the projects, but could be eligible for reimbursement on the entire amount that it spends on construction fees.   […]