Sections

About Us

 
Make a Donation
Local • Independent • Essential News
 

Austin

heritage tree

Citing historical lessons, Environmental Commission opts for mitigation rather than preservation

It’s not often that a variance to remove heritage trees comes before the Environmental Commission. But when it does, the decision is no walk in the park. “Trees like this are one of the challenging cases for us,” City Arborist Keith…

Bloomberg awards let arts groups focus on growth, and affordability

More than two dozen small and mid-sized arts organizations in Austin have been awarded two-year grants totaling more than $1 million from the Bloomberg Philanthropies foundation, with the promise of comprehensive training and other tools to help in their future…

Council considers which strings to attach to corporate incentives

After postponing action earlier this month, on Thursday City Council will again consider establishing new rules regarding economic incentives for businesses. Council members plan on considering a number of amendments to the proposal aimed at ensuring that public dollars are…

person sleeping on street

City budget boosts spending for homelessness services

The new city manager and City Council agree: The city needs more money to address the homelessness situation. The proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget submitted by City Manager Spencer Cronk includes $3.1 million in new spending on homelessness-related services. That’s…

state capitol building at night

'Godfather of progressive politics in Austin' dies

Ken Wendler Jr., who has been described as the “godfather of progressive politics in Austin,” passed away on Aug. 13 at the age of 88. Wendler served as chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party from 1972 to 1980. Two…

booted car

Council boots big booting fees

City Council approved a measure Thursday to reduce the amount that drivers can be charged to have boots removed from their illegally parked cars. Council voted in favor of an ordinance that will bar booting companies from charging more than…

Subscribe to our newsletter

chains

City bundling blockchain hacks for homelessness in Bloomberg challenge

Austin’s Innovation Office will spend most of the next three weeks compiling and assessing the solutions that teams of area programmers and digital creatives came up with to use blockchain technology to solve the city’s chronic homelessness issues. A total…

Program expansion more than doubles cheap nighttime parking downtown

The city is more than doubling the amount of affordable parking spaces available for evening-hours workers in downtown Austin businesses, building on the success of a pilot program that started in 2016. The expansion of the Affordable Parking Program will…

Equity Office proposes renaming 7 Confederate streets – and even the city itself

The Equity Office is recommending the city remove or change the names of streets, parks and markers in Austin that honor the Confederate States of America and slavery. The office also suggests eschewing the name “Austin” altogether, as Stephen F.…

Talking talent, and why Austin companies can't find enough workers

On top of complimentary food, coffee and other treats, music rooms for relaxing, and other perks typical of the Silicon Valley digital life, Austin-based job search firm Indeed has had to become something of a transit provider while trying to…

Spirit of East Austin lives on

After a lengthy public engagement process, the city of Austin has released a report detailing key steps the city can take to improve services and quality of life for those living in Austin’s “eastern crescent.” During the spring of 2017,…

With plastic bag ban in the trash, Austin pushes campaign on reducing waste

Austin says it is still committed to reducing plastic waste despite a Texas Supreme Court ruling last month that forced it to end its ban on single-use plastic bags. The city says it’s continuing efforts toward its Zero Waste goal,…

Back to Top