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Local Government
Hill Country landowners say Kinder Morgan is lowballing them. Special courts are agreeing.
Kay Pence owns a ranch in the Hill Country town of Fredericksburg. About a year ago, she got a call from the pipeline company Kinder Morgan. The caller told her the company planned to run a section of its 430-mile…
Local Government • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Nov 26, 2019
County hopes to block new waste facility in Northeast Austin
County leaders are unanimous in their hope that the Austin Community Landfill closes as soon as possible. They are united in their opposition to the landfill operator, Waste Management, adding a transfer station to the existing facility. It’s not clear…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Nov 22, 2019
Eckhardt offers the city Palm School in exchange for expo center, hotel tax
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says that she and her colleagues on the Commissioners Court are willing to give away the Palm School to the city of Austin. But they want a couple of big things in return. In a…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Nov 20, 2019
Exit Eckstein: Travis County's retiring lobbyist reflects on his battles at the Legislature
After 11 years, Deece Eckstein is calling it quits as Travis County’s top lobbyist. He recently told members of the Commissioners Court that he will retire from his position as the intergovernmental relations officer at the end of the year.…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Nov 18, 2019
Travis County leaders defend bail practices
For years, Travis County leaders have touted the county’s progressive bail policies, which allow a large percentage of the accused to get out of jail without posting a cash bond. Each person who is booked into jail on a charge…
Public Safety • By Jack Craver • Nov 1, 2019
Austin joins legal fight against Permian Highway Pipeline
The city of Austin is signaling it intends to sue Kinder Morgan, the company behind the proposed Permian Highway Pipeline – a 430-mile natural gas line that has provoked major opposition in the Texas Hill Country. In filing its notice…
Courts • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Oct 17, 2019
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Commissioners debate future of Palm School property
Four months after voting to put in place restrictions on the Palm School property that would prevent the main building from being redeveloped, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court continue to display differences of opinion about the property’s future.…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Oct 9, 2019
Abbott vows to 'unleash' state resources if Austin doesn't change its homelessness rules by Nov. 1
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’s prepared to “unleash the full authority of every state agency” if Austin doesn’t address issues surrounding homelessness by Nov. 1. In a letter to Mayor Steve Adler, Abbott said Austin’s revision of its homelessness…
Texas State Legislature • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 3, 2019
Commissioners approve landfill changes over TDS objections
On Tuesday the Travis County Commissioners Court opted to readopt changes to a county ordinance regulating landfills despite pushback from an influential local waste management company. Representatives of Texas Disposal Systems told commissioners that ordinance changes the commissioners approved last…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Oct 3, 2019
Manchaca Road can now be called Menchaca Road after judge tosses case
Manchaca Road is no more. A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block the city of Austin from changing the name of the South Austin road to honor a Texas revolutionary. The nearly yearlong battle stemmed from the…
Courts • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Sep 30, 2019
Commissioners must find replacement to head family violence court
It’s probably not a position most voters spend time thinking about, but members of the Travis County Commissioners Court stressed the importance of County Court #4 as they discussed appointing somebody to fill the vacancy created by departing incumbent Judge…
Courts • By Jack Craver • Sep 4, 2019
New Texas pipeline protest law is about more than pipelines
A law went into effect in Texas this week that increases penalties for demonstrators who interfere with oil and gas pipelines and other pieces of “critical infrastructure.” Oil and gas states have adopted such laws to crack down on demonstrations…
