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Austin
Amid push to ban books, library commissioners brush up on the basics
With efforts to take books off library shelves ramping up in some parts of Texas, Austin’s Library Commission took the timely step of reviewing the city’s policies to see how our public collections are protected. The commission and the Austin…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Mar 1, 2022
HEAL Initiative for the unhoused turns one year old
About a year has passed since Austin City Council adopted the HEAL Initiative, which is designed to connect houseless people living in encampments to housing or shelter and supportive services. The Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link, or HEAL as it is known, is…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Feb 22, 2022
Convention center's closure for expansion could trigger bond default
The city may not move forward with the next steps in the Austin Convention Center expansion until an agreement is reached with current holders to rework some terms of roughly $163 million in hotel bonds. A memo discussed at Monday’s…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 16, 2022
Animal Advisory Commission debates citywide microchip mandate
Members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission butted heads this past Monday over a proposal that would mandate the use of microchips for all pet owners in the city. Following a study by volunteer researchers at UT Austin, the commission’s microchip…
Austin • By Kali Bramble • Feb 16, 2022
Austin's legal bill to oust operator of airport's South Terminal approaches $1 million
The cost of Austin’s legal fight to reclaim and demolish the airport’s South Terminal — where people catch Allegiant and Frontier flights — just grew to $847,000. The Austin City Council today approved paying corporate law firm Winstead PC another $600,000 on top of $247,000 it…
Austin • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 4, 2022
Park renamed to honor civil rights legend Volma Overton Sr.
The 65 acres of northern waterfront at Town Lake Metro Park has a new name following a resolution honoring civil rights activist Volma Overton Sr. The park, formerly known as Lamar Beach, will now go by Volma Overton Sr. Shores.…
Austin • By Kali Bramble • Jan 31, 2022
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Library Commission pushes for fine-free books
Austin librarygoers may be in luck: The Library Commission unanimously voted Monday to do away with late fees for overdue library books. While City Council still has to approve the resolution in order for fine-free libraries to become the new norm,…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jan 26, 2022
Alligators in Del Valle aren't as rare as you might think
While some people think states like Louisiana and Florida have cornered the market on alligator territory, Texas has what Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Jonathan Warner called a “healthy” population of about half a million gators. While most live in…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jan 12, 2022
Former Mayor Bruce Todd leaves a lasting legacy
Bruce Todd, who served his community as mayor of Austin as well as Travis County commissioner, died Christmas Day at the age of 72. He suffered from Lewy body dementia for several years before his death. Todd, who was Precinct…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jan 5, 2022
Chamber prez credits Austin’s rapid recovery to diverse local economy
Even after nearly two years of Covid-19 restrictions, Austin continues to have one of the strongest regional economies in the United States. Austin Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Laura Huffman says the key to that bounce-back comes from the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 4, 2022
2021: Remembering the year that was
Though everyone reading this lived through it, it’s still somewhat unbelievable that 2021 continued the vibe of 2020. Nonetheless, we are taking a backward glance at what happened in our fair city over the past 12 months and throwing caution…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 30, 2021
Church leaders praise city, county for committing fed funds toward homelessness
Leaders from 50 religious organizations around Travis County have praised the work of city and county leaders who have dedicated more than $200 million toward ending homelessness in Central Texas. In an online forum on Tuesday, leaders of congregations from…
