Stories by Sangita Menon, KUT
Travis County will turn family's ranch into 1,500 acres of public parkland
Travis County commissioners plan to add about 1,500 acres to the county’s wilderness parklands, protecting the pristine land from development and setting it up as a future destination for hikers and bicyclists. The $90 million deal to purchase a privately…
Parks • By Sangita Menon, KUT • May 21, 2024
Here's what you should do if a wildfire threatens your home
Lee esta historia en español Dry grass, wind and relatively low humidity mean a fire can spread easily and be difficult to control. All it takes is a spark from a metal lawnmower blade hitting a rock, a loose chain…
Fire • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Aug 11, 2023
Austin Energy will give you credits in exchange for a little control over your thermostat
Austin Energy is offering residential customers financial incentives for letting the department tweak the temperature on their smart thermostats on high energy use days – like over the next week, when daily highs are expected to cross 100 degrees. Customers…
Energy • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jun 15, 2023
APD has improved response to sexual assault cases but there's more work to do, report finds
While the Austin Police Department has improved its handling of sexual assault cases in some areas – like sending sexual assault kits for DNA analysis faster and correctly classifying more cases – there’s still room for improvement, a new report finds. Researchers…
Police • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Nov 15, 2022
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Austin Community College has a $770 million bond on the ballot this election. Here's what's in it.
Austin Community College could see an expansion of its workforce development programs and two new campuses if voters pass a $770 million bond proposition in the November election. If voters approve ACC District Prop A, each of the 11 existing ACC…
Bonds & Propositions • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Oct 20, 2022
A limited supply of monkeypox vaccines and tests is heading to Travis County after case confirmed
Austin Public Health is requesting testing supplies and vaccines from the federal government to help address the potential spread of monkeypox in the area. The rare disease is caused by the monkeypox virus. Symptoms include fever, aches, chills and a…
Public Health • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jul 5, 2022
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Austin-Travis County raises Covid risk level to stage 3 as hospitalizations increase
Lea esta nota en español Austin-Travis County returned to stage 3 of the Covid-19 risk-based guidelines Thursday. The change was made after the detection of four cases of the more infectious Delta variant and recent increases in new Covid-19 cases…
Public Health • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jul 16, 2021
What will happen to all the plexiglass barriers Austin businesses set up during the pandemic?
From grocery stores to banks, clear plastic barriers have become an everyday sight over the last year. Large acrylic sheets, or plexiglass, have been set up in front of cash registers and reception desks to reduce the risk of transmitting…
Austin • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jul 13, 2021
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Reservations required for a dip in Barton Springs Pool
Folks looking to cool off with a dip in Barton Springs Pool will need a reservation starting May 21. The change is meant to limit the number of people for safety reasons because there are fewer lifeguards. The reservation system, which…
Parks • By Sangita Menon, KUT • May 10, 2021
Austin Public Health leaders ask community to consider virtual Easter celebrations
Austin Public Health leaders are asking the community to consider celebrating Easter week differently than normal to avoid a third surge of Covid-19 cases. During a news conference Wednesday, interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott encouraged people to take part…
Public Health • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Apr 1, 2021
Austin Public Health to launch pilot drive-thru vaccine site
Austin Public Health is planning to launch a drive-thru vaccination site at Toney Burger Activity Center in South Austin on Saturday. Plans for the pilot program aren’t finalized, but the health department expects to administer 1,200 doses of the Moderna…
Public Health • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Mar 18, 2021
Black leaders in Austin want to build a racial justice movement that sustains itself for years to come
Black leaders in Central Texas are forming a new coalition called the Black Leaders Collective to address systemic racism. The group has about 40 members, including activists, educators, artists and policymakers who say they want to create meaningful and transformative…
