The Animal Advisory Commission last week voted to form a working group dedicated to examining the city’s protocol on euthanizing injured deer. Former commissioner and North Austin resident Craig Nazor brought the issue before the commission at its meeting on Dec. 11. He told the commission that he lives near Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park and […]
Nina Hernandez
Posted inTravis County
Howard proudly ruffling feathers her third year in office
For Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard, this year was all about employing the institutional knowledge she gained over her first two years in office. “You know, I found the bathrooms and the light switches, and I’m sort of recognizing the themes and the issues, knowing who to call and understanding where my colleagues are coming […]
Posted inElections
Political parties reach joint primary agreement to preserve countywide voting
After weeks of unusual delay, Democrats and Republicans in Travis County entered into a joint agreement on Tuesday that will preserve countywide voting and electronic ballots in the March 2024 primary election. These agreements set the rules by which the Travis County Clerk’s Office administers the primary elections. But the Travis County Republican Party’s push […]
Posted inElections
Travis County Democrats say ‘election denialism’ within Republican Party imperils the 2024 primary election
In a Wednesday press conference, the Travis County Democratic Party and Travis County elected officials called out “election denialism” within the Travis County Republican Party that they say is keeping the two party organizations from agreeing on rules for primary elections. The Austin Monitor previously reported on concerns that the two local party groups had […]
Posted inCity Council
Council to consider eliminating nonresident library card fees
City Council will consider an item this week directing the city manager to amend the fee and fine ordinance to do away with the nonresident library card fee for residents of the city’s limited-purpose and extraterritorial jurisdictions. Currently, Austin residents can get a free library card only if they live within what’s called the full-purpose […]
Posted inElections
Republican push for hand counting leads to uncertainty about Travis County’s 2024 primaries
A divide between Travis County’s local political parties on hand counting and paper ballots is leading to uncertainty about how the county will administer the 2024 primaries. In a Tuesday letter to Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Democratic Party Chair Katie Naranjo expressed the party’s concern about the Travis County Republican Party’s “questions and […]
Posted inTransportation
Doggett urges further federal action on airport safety
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett continues to ring the alarm about safety concerns at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and across the country as the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure grapples with a staffing shortage that has resulted in hundreds of near-miss incidents between aircraft on airport runways. On Thursday, Doggett released a statement regarding the publication […]
Posted inParks
Parks and Recreation Board backs calls for expanded senior center facility in North Austin
The Parks and Recreation Board on Monday recommended the city find funding to create a senior activity center to serve District 4 and areas north of Highway 183 – and consider the Gus Garcia Recreation Center as a possible location. Austin’s senior population is on the rise, and many seniors are economically and socially vulnerable. […]
Posted inParks
Bathhouse working group suggests city start process to rename Barton Springs
At its regular meeting on Nov. 27, the Parks and Recreation Board heard from the Barton Springs Bathhouse Working Group about its report, which includes a list of potential names for an updated bathhouse in addition to calling for the city to also reexamine the name of Barton Springs. The working group was established to […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro settles with city on East Austin real estate deal that paves the way for wastewater project
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is selling the city of Austin a piece of land in East Austin to pave the way for the Walnut Interceptor Odor and Corrosion Improvements capital project. At its meeting on Monday, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved the sale of a small plot of land at […]
Posted inCourts
Jury deadlocked in murder trial of Austin police officer who shot Michael Ramos
The trial of the Austin police officer accused of murder in the 2020 fatal shooting of Michael Ramos ended in a mistrial on Wednesday morning. This is the second time the case has ended in mistrial. The first time came at the end of May, after a tumultuous four days of jury selection resulted in […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro study to identify constraints and opportunities in completing remaining segments of Red Line Trail
At its State of the Parkway event on Monday, the nonprofit Red Line Parkway Initiative met with regional leaders and grassroots organizers to discuss continued work on the 32-mile trail along the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Red Line. The Red Line Parkway Initiative is involved in planning, fundraising and community engagement surrounding the trail and […]