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Austin

How Austin Public Library adjusted to the pandemic

Early on a Tuesday morning, Austin’s Central Library would normally be a bustling place. But today, patrons like East Austin resident Todd Fitzgerald arrive one at a time, wait for the phone call to announce that their books are ready,…

Questions arise about how BBB administers grants

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Steve Adler asked Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, the acting director of the Economic Development Department, to explain what went into the selection of the Better Business Bureau to administer nearly $26 million in federal emergency…

Audit calls Austin's 'bad landlord' program ineffective, says it doesn't ensure safe housing

A city program intended to make sure landlords maintain safe apartments is failing to do its job, a new audit finds. The report released Wednesday by the Office of the City Auditor looks at the Repeat Offender Program within the…

Audit cites lax city oversight of Mexic-Arte Museum

The city has not done the work needed to develop and oversee its agreements with the Mexic-Arte Museum, according to a report from the Office of the City Auditor. Auditors reported finding a number of contract monitoring weaknesses, raising questions about…

Council members consider funding to save local service economy

Without significant intervention, economists are predicting a “K-shaped” Covid-19 recovery trajectory, a scenario where “high-skill” professionals thrive while the service sector continues in a rapid decline. City Council hopes to prevent the further demise of our local music and arts…

Economic Development Department outlines plans for $12M creative space bond, creation of Austin EDC

The Economic Development Department outlined its plan for a $12 million creative space bond and a city-owned economic development corporation that could help it along at a joint meeting of the arts and music commissions Friday. The city launched a request…

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Music Commission asks city to recognize African American Cultural Heritage District, add multiuse arts theater

The Music Commission unanimously voted in support of a proposal to direct the city to formally recognize and develop amenities within the state-designated African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin. The commission approved of the main bullet points of…

Tiered-rate parking payment system to free up parking spots, decrease use of parking tickets

Over the next month and a half, the Austin Transportation Department will be updating on-street parking meters to a more flexible “pay-by-plate” system that will make it easier for drivers to add extra time to a parking session. The new…

Buses will take Hurricane Laura evacuees back home Friday, Austin says

Some Hurricane Laura evacuees who came to the Austin area can return home, Central Texas officials said just after 4 p.m. Thursday. Many evacuees in the area came from Galveston, which is no longer under a mandatory evacuation order. Evacuation…

Study weighs market impact of convention center expansion, predicts rebound from Covid-19

A new market analysis finds that the proposed expansion of the Austin Convention Center would bring more than 1,700 jobs to the city and add $306 million in annual economic impact from the local events and tourism industry. The market viability study…

City seeks diversity in applicants tasked with redrawing Council district map

Just over six weeks ahead of the application deadline, the Office of the City Auditor is seeking candidates from Latino and other minority groups interested in helping to create the city’s next City Council district map. Applications for the Independent…

Animal Advisory Commission has questions about potential new shelter model

At its meeting Friday, the Animal Advisory Commission considered whether the city should join Human Animal Support Services, an international coalition led by no-kill organization American Pets Alive! The program would use case management to keep most animals out of…

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