The murder trial of Christopher Taylor, the Austin police officer who fatally shot Mike Ramos in 2020, has been reset for October. Travis County District Judge Dayna Blazey announced at a Wednesday hearing that the new date for the trial is Oct. 16. The court’s first attempt at a trial ended in mistrial after four […]
Nina Hernandez
Posted inEnvironment
Joint Sustainability Committee endorses working relationship between commissions
The city’s Joint Sustainability Committee unanimously passed a recommendation last month that the Airport Advisory Commission and Environmental Commission form a working relationship. “The Joint Sustainability Committee recommends the Airport Advisory Commission, and Environmental Commission, and the Department of Aviation establish a collaborative relationship, which will allow the Environmental Commission to provide recommendations, advice and […]
Posted inPublic Health
Traffic fatalities surpass pre-pandemic levels in continued ‘public health crisis’
The number of people seriously injured or killed on Austin roadways over the past two years is higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to an update released late last month by the city’s Vision Zero program. The report says that 1,287 people were seriously injured or killed on Austin roadways during 2021 and 2022, compared to […]
Posted inCourts
Christopher Taylor murder trial to be rescheduled after mistrial
The trial of the Austin police officer accused of murder in the 2020 shooting of Mike Ramos ended in a mistrial on Friday. Travis County Judge Dana Blazey is working with prosecutors and the defense team to determine the date for a new trial, which is expected to be announced this week. Blazey declared a […]
Posted inDevelopment
City set to prioritize Colony Park planned unit development application
The Colony Park Sustainable Community planned unit development application process is underway. On Tuesday, City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee unanimously recommended the full Council initiate a streamlined application and rezoning process. “Colony Park represents one of our greatest opportunities to leverage public land to develop affordable housing and improve the lives of both current […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Housing and Planning Committee grapples with how to prioritize code amendments
Members of City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee grappled during a Tuesday briefing with how to best approach moving forward on a set of amendments to the city’s Land Development Code. The discussion occurred at the committee’s May 23 special called meeting, during which it received a briefing from staff on a plan for prioritizing […]
Posted inCourts
In surprise move, Blazey releases part of Christopher Taylor’s secret personnel file to the defense team
The district court judge overseeing the trial of the Austin police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Mike Ramos has ruled that parts of the officer’s secret personnel file will be handed over to the defense. Last week, Travis County District Court Judge Dayna Blazey denied the city of Austin’s motion to […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council approves code amendments to allow for future Butler Trail improvements
City Council passed a resolution last week to initiate a set of Land Development Code amendments that will allow for safety and mobility improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. The item passed on the consent agenda at Council’s regular meeting May 18. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, the […]
Posted inTransportation
Updated: Airport Advisory Commission does not approve working relationship with Environmental Commission
Though it won the votes of the majority of Airport Advisory Commissioners in attendance, due to vacancies the group did not approve a resolution establishing a working relationship with the city’s Environmental Commission with regard to the environmental impacts of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport expansion projects. At the commission’s May 10 meeting, Chair Wendy Price Todd […]
Posted inCourts
Judge will see secret personnel file of Austin police officer charged with murder in Mike Ramos shooting death
Days before the start of the murder trial of the Austin police officer who fatally shot Mike Ramos, a Travis County District Court judge has denied a city of Austin request to keep part of the officer’s personnel file private. At a Monday morning hearing, Travis County District Court Judge Dayna Blazey denied the city’s […]
Posted inParks
Why are parking garages a part of the Zilker Vision Plan?
City Council’s Mobility Committee learned more about the mobility aspects, in particular the proposed parking garages, of the Zilker Vision Plan at its meeting Thursday. The city released the draft of the vision plan in September. The document, which runs more than 200 pages, encompasses ecological restoration and uplift, park programming, education and outreach, and […]
Posted inTransportation
Austin airport implementing Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
The Austin airport is working to improve the experience of passengers with disabilities that aren’t visible. The Airport Advisory Commission heard an update this week about the newly established Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The airport announced the program in April, after news of a potential lawsuit by an ABIA passenger who […]