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Water parks, adult sports programs, mall food courts can reopen this month
Water parks, recreational sports programs for adults, driver education programs and food-court dining areas in malls can reopen this month with certain occupancy restrictions and health protocols, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday. Water parks can open at 25 percent occupancy…
Austin • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • May 27, 2020
Hotel taxes forecast to fall by $36M, leading to expected deficit in city arts funding
With the city projecting a $36 million decrease in Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue because of lower hotel bookings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, arts funding for the current budget year is expected to see a $1.5 million shortfall. The Arts…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 26, 2020
Austin History Center chronicles the pandemic
The Austin History Center is a treasure trove of posters, books, photographs, and records from across the city’s history. And while the center is currently shuttered due to Covid-19, it is still doing the work of collecting records of the…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • May 26, 2020
Austin sees 10-year high in the number of people experiencing homelessness
The number of people experiencing homelessness in Austin hit a 10-year high in 2020, according to a new report. Data from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition’s point-in-time count show that 2,506 people were homeless on the night of the annual…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 20, 2020
City to rebury remains of those exhumed during Oakwood Cemetery chapel project
The final two-volume report on the Oakwood Cemetery chapel restoration project was released to the public Thursday, marking the beginning of the next step in the project’s long, complicated history: the reburial of the remains of 36 people whose graves…
Austin • By Ryan Thornton • May 19, 2020
Austin construction workers to receive thousands of donated masks
Thousands of masks are on their way to construction workers in the Austin area. The 100,000 masks were donated Monday by the Austin Emergency Supply Foundation, a new nonprofit composed of business leaders with specific medical supply and logistics expertise.…
Austin • By Jimmy Maas • May 19, 2020
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Tech leaders look at access, diversity demands caused by Covid-19
With the Covid-19 pandemic reshaping much of the world economy, leaders in the Austin technology industry are looking at how startups and established companies should change the way they hire and interact with communities, especially around the issue of diversity…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 18, 2020
Texas attorney general warns some Austin-Travis County Covid-19 orders are 'unlawful'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Austin Mayor Steve Adler and outgoing Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt on Tuesday saying some of the requirements in their local public health orders are unlawful and “likely to confuse residents.”…
Austin • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • May 13, 2020
Task force releases initial recommendations on reopening Central Texas
Last week, the Austin Chamber of Commerce sent Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt the initial recommendations of the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force. The task force, which is made up of 125 members representing…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • May 11, 2020
City taking steps toward $1,000 grants for musicians impacted by Covid-19
The city is preparing to give grants of up to $1,000 to musicians who have lost income and are facing severe economic hardships due to the shutdown of music-related businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Wednesday’s meeting…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 7, 2020
City and county consider long-term telecommuting strategy
When the city and county issued Stay Home-Work Safe orders on March 24, Austin became a community of teleworkers virtually overnight. Although there was minimal preparation for the change in work environment, the effort has been sufficiently successful to prompt…
Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • May 6, 2020
Gov. Abbott says Texas salons and barbershops can reopen Friday
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons may reopen starting Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced. Gyms, nonessential manufacturers and businesses that work out of office buildings will be allowed to reopen May 18, with certain restrictions. “Our ability to…
