Stories by Willow Higgins
County Attorney Garza's first priority is public safety
Delia Garza’s life as Travis County Attorney is a lot different than when she sat on Austin’s City Council. But the one thing that has stayed consistent, she said, is that no two days look alike. Since Garza took on…
Travis County • By Willow Higgins • Jan 5, 2022
Vanessa Fuentes: Putting health and equity first
City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes stepped into a rather busy first term in office – this year, an unprecedented winter storm took Travis County by surprise and the pandemic continued to surge despite hopes for Covid-19’s retreat. But Fuentes, who…
City Council • By Willow Higgins • Dec 21, 2021
Austin continues to explore bus access on the future Lady Bird Bridge
Austin’s Urban Transportation Commission, which advises city departments on transportation-related matters, met last week and continued discussions around the possibility of expanding the modes of transportation accessible on the future Lady Bird Bridge. The topic was also discussed at an…
Transit • By Willow Higgins • Dec 15, 2021
City partners up to monitor particulate matter in the air
Austin has begun working to better monitor the quality of its air. The Clean Air Force of Central Texas is working in partnership with the city of Austin’s Office of Sustainability and the Austin Independent School District to install PurpleAir…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Dec 13, 2021
Development Services has a full plate managing environmental concerns
The Development Services Department briefed the Environmental Commission last week on some of the work it has been doing to improve environmental protections on construction sites. The DSD is in charge of regulating tree protection measures as well as inspecting…
Development • By Willow Higgins • Dec 8, 2021
How sound permits regulate the Austin music scene
In the Live Music Capital of the World, sound and noise policy is critical both to those who enjoy the entertainment industry and those who live within earshot. On Wednesday, the city’s Environmental Commission was briefed on the different types…
Music & Entertainment • By Willow Higgins • Dec 3, 2021
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Austin Energy's REACH program falls behind its carbon emissions goals
Austin Energy announced last week that it is significantly behind its goals for reducing carbon emissions this year, citing operational and market factors. While the utility hopes to make up some of the gap between now and the end of the…
Energy • By Willow Higgins • Nov 19, 2021
Resilience hub initiative continues to evolve
Winter Storm Uri, the extreme weather event that left an unknown number of Austin residents dead last February, inspired the initiative to create resilience hubs across the city that would act as a public resource in times of crisis. The initial…
Public Health • By Willow Higgins • Nov 16, 2021
Montopolis school for Black students reopened its doors as neighborhood fights for preservation
Montopolis Negro School, a segregation-era grade school for Black children, reopened its doors on Saturday, welcoming Montopolis residents new and old, including some former students, back to an alma mater that hasn’t operated as a school in 60 years. The…
Preservation • By Willow Higgins • Nov 11, 2021
Multifamily project with ‘sensitive environmental features’ earns water service extension
At last Wednesday’s meeting of the Environmental Commission, the Watershed Protection Department requested a water service extension for a 280-unit, multifamily project on a parcel nearly 70 acres in size, at 8921 U.S. Highway 290 West. The property was originally…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Nov 9, 2021
Ethics commission wants to make it easier to file complaints
At its monthly meeting Wednesday night, the Ethics Review Commission discussed a number of moving pieces it has in the works, including an easier-to-navigate complaint form for reporting suspected ethics violations, and a media piece explaining the commission’s function to the…
City Hall • By Willow Higgins • Nov 3, 2021
Council puts Trail Foundation in charge of hike-and-bike trail
On Thursday, Austin City Council gave the Trail Foundation authority over the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Specifically, Council authorized the Trail Foundation to “negotiate and execute” both the operations and the maintenance of…
