The Parks and Recreation Department is looking toward an expected 2026 bond package to obtain the funding needed to complete the new Dougherty Arts Center, which is slated to be built in two phases in the coming years at a total cost of $50 million to $60 million. A memo published last month by interim […]
Austin
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This fall might’ve been Austin’s warmest. The city says it’s ready now for record cold.
Austin and Travis County leaders said they are prepared for potentially record winter weather despite the warm fall. At a news conference Wednesday, Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown said the city and county have several mechanisms in place to ensure residents have power and water, and that the roads are safe. […]
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Local housing, child care costs remain high as analysts expect strong economy overall
With analysts expecting the U.S. economy to remain strong in the year ahead, local leaders returned to common concerns – housing costs, child care and wages – as the biggest issues facing the Austin economy headed into 2025. The Austin Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Outlook gave attendees some clear indicators of what’s ahead globally […]
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City-owned Austin Studios found to have generated $2.6B in economic impact
After a quarter century of operation, the city-owned Austin Studios facility on the site of the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport has generated more than $2.6 billion in economic impact, according to a recent study. Last week, Austin Film Society (AFS) released its 2024 Creative Workforce Report, which focused on the economic impact of the […]
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Austin is making it easier to open overnight cold weather shelters
The city of Austin is changing how and when it will open cold weather shelters this winter to make shelter more frequent and predictable for people, city officials said. When temperatures dip to near freezing, the city opens overnight shelters for people who are experiencing homelessness, but previously, there were several other criteria the weather […]
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Arts Commission joins call for bond money to replace Dougherty Arts Center
The Arts Commission wants City Council to commit to including funding for a new Dougherty Arts Center in the city’s next bond package, likely to go before voters in 2026. At its most recent meeting, the commission unanimously approved the recommendation proposed by the Friends of the Dougherty Arts Center advocacy group that has been […]
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City’s new travel policy aligns with best practices used in other cities
The city’s travel reimbursement process for employees appears to be working well since the policy was updated early this year, according to an audit of the new policy presented Tuesday to City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. While the audit is an inside-baseball look at how employees are reimbursed for authorized work-related travel expenses, the […]
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SXSW economic impact sees small dip based on lower spending for ticketing
South by Southwest’s impact on the local economy decreased slightly this year from 2023, according to a new study from business analysts Greyhill Advisors. The study found that the festival generated $377.3 million for local businesses and residents, compared to the $380.9 million figure notched in 2023 when by many measurements the event saw a […]
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Youth homelessness has increased rapidly in Austin, according to nonprofit data
The number of young people experiencing homelessness in Travis County, which includes most of Austin, has risen substantially in the past four years, according to numbers from a nonprofit that tracks the issue. Since 2020, the number of people under 25 years old without permanent housing and not under the care of a parent or […]
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Council OKs contract for new academy to train ‘workforce of the future’
City Council on Thursday approved a $5 million contract with Workforce Solutions Capital Area to start and manage the Austin Infrastructure Academy for 12 months. In addition to job training, the contract with Workforce Solutions includes the provision of child care services and job placement assistance for mobility and infrastructure related positions. Council approved the […]
Posted inPolice
TCSO officers stationed at Central Library
To alleviate pressure on library staff to respond to incidents at the Central Library, 10 officers from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office have been onboarded and cleared for stationing at the West César Chávez Street branch downtown. Officers serve in four-hour shifts throughout library operating hours. The Library Commission heard an update from Austin Public […]
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Downtown panelists look at options for equitable development as area grows
As downtown Austin continues to be transformed by a number of major infrastructure projects as well as real estate development, area stakeholders want to put in safeguards to prevent the city’s core from becoming inaccessible to artists, cultural groups and others at risk of being pushed out by high prices. Achieving more equity in the […]