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Austin
Travis County plans to reopen facilities but with masking requirements
After nearly three months of quiet hallways and locked doors, Travis County facilities will begin reopening at the end of June. To ensure the continued safety of employees returning to the workplace as well as residents accessing county services, the…
Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • Jun 17, 2020
Tourism leaders see multiyear hit to tourism business and hotel tax from Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic is expected to cause a drop in local tourism and events business for at least five years, with a decline of at least 25 percent in hotel business this year and an ongoing drag on the city’s…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 15, 2020
The pandemic is making it harder for college students in Austin to get counted in the 2020 census
College students in Austin are at risk of being severely undercounted in the 2020 U.S. Census, which could put federal funding and political power for young people at risk for the next decade. The census – a national headcount that…
Austin • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Jun 10, 2020
HAAM seeks city help to offset expected $1M shortfall
The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is forecasting a $1 million shortfall by the end of 2020, which could mean cutting health care services for around 1,000 local musicians next year. Leaders of the nonprofit, which currently provides health care…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 8, 2020
Austin Animal Center reopens on-site adoptions
Starting this month, the Austin Animal Center will again offer on-site adoptions as part of the city’s phased effort to reintegrate city employees back into their physical workplaces. City Manager Spencer Cronk released a memo May 29 on the reintegration…
Austin • By Savana Dunning • Jun 5, 2020
Amid criticism, Music Commission looks to revise eligibility for $1.5M grant program
Members of the Music Commission will begin pushing for the city to relax the application process for those applying for a $1.5 million grant program created to assist musicians facing hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On Wednesday the commission…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 4, 2020
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'Smart cities' advocates see Covid-19 policies as opportunity for change in Austin
As city leaders work to make progress with a number of programs quickly created to alleviate the effects of the pandemic, members of local urbanism and “smart cities” groups say the wave of public policy moves could help to advance…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 2, 2020
City begins reopening library, pool facilities
City libraries and pools are reopening for the summer beginning this week. Beginning today, Austin Public Library begins its phased reopening of library branches across the city. In phase two, which started today, book drops at branches are open. Books…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 1, 2020
Austin leaders encourage peer pressure to get folks to wear face masks and avoid crowding spaces
Austin and Travis County officials are urging people to wear face coverings and to avoid large gatherings as the city and the state reopen for business. If that refrain sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard the song and it bears…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 29, 2020
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…
