Judge Amy Clark Meachum has rejected a request by plaintiffs suing Central Health to take an immediate appeal to the 3rd Court of Appeals over the agency’s transfer of $35 million per year to the University of Texas Dell Medical School. The plaintiffs – Rebecca Birch, Richard Franklin III and Esther Govea – say voters […]
Local Government
Posted inCourts
Attorney general files appeal before rail trial begins
The Texas attorney general’s office filed an appeal to the 3rd Court of Appeals on Monday morning after Judge Eric Shepperd told a packed Travis County courtroom that he would not rule on a challenge to the jurisdiction before hearing evidence in the case brought by the city of Austin and the Austin Transit Partnership. […]
Posted inCourts
Travis County judge dismisses Paxton’s lawsuit over Austin ordinance decriminalizing pot
A Travis County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Austin over its 2022 voter-approved ordinance decriminalizing marijuana possession. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the suit in January, alleging Austin was violating state law and promoting “the use of illicit drugs that harm our communities.” He filed similar suits against San Marcos, Killeen, Denton […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County partners with Texas Water Development Board on flood planning
Excessive rain isn’t typically something Austinites are concerned about in this drought-stricken era, but our region is unfortunately prone to catastrophic floods, too. Luckily, the first-ever statewide flood plan is set to be taken up by the Legislature – and Travis County is at work on its own Master Flood Plan with help from a […]
Posted inRoads
TxDOT argues in court that I-35 never caused racial discrimination – contradicting TxDOT
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is arguing in federal court that Interstate 35 didn’t unfairly disadvantage Black or Latino Austinites, contradicting the state agency’s own historical assessments of the highway that opened in 1962. “Defendant specifically denies the allegations that the construction of I-35 caused discrimination against Black or Latino communities or that I-35 […]
Posted inCourts
SOS sues city to stop Statesman PUD
The Save Our Springs Alliance has sued the city in an attempt to stop construction of the Statesman Planned Unit Development that Council approved in December 2022. Specifically, the environmental organization seeks to stop any “permit approvals, city fee waivers, and ‘other development subsidies’ contained in the final ordinance.” The Statesman property, previously the home […]
Posted inCourts
Lawsuit over bonds that would pay for Project Connect is taking a longer route
Although lawyers for the city of Austin and the Austin Transit Partnership were looking for a way to validate bonds needed to build Project Connect, the city’s proposed rail system, they have run into opposition from the Texas attorney general’s office as well as individual citizens opposing ATP’s plans. In addition to pushback from Attorney […]
Posted inCourts
Judge considering lawsuit against Central Health
After hearing about two hours of arguments on Thursday, Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum told attorneys for Travis County’s health care district and the three taxpayers who are suing Central Health, over its use of $35 million per year in taxpayer money that she would take their arguments under advisement. She directed both […]
Posted inCourts
After city lost case on development rules, it’s been ordered to pay attorneys’ fees
Travis County District Judge Jessica Mangrum has ruled that the city of Austin must pay $175,000 in attorneys’ fees in a case on the city’s failure to abide by a previous order requiring notice to property owners when the city is changing development rules. Mangrum’s assistant sent notice on Tuesday to the city’s attorneys and to […]
Posted inTravis County
Last week’s State of the County speech points to a brighter future after historic challenges
Travis County Judge Andy Brown’s past three years of service have been a lesson in navigating disaster. In his State of the County speech last week, he recalled his term being host to a time when the Austin-Travis County area was hit with “a once-in-a-century pandemic, two historic winter storms, destructive wildfires and an increasingly […]
Posted inTransit
Legal showdown threatens to end Austin’s light-rail plans
Austin’s voter-backed transit expansion faced a critical legal test Wednesday inside a courtroom on Guadalupe Street. Seated in front of a marble wall and flanked by Texas and U.S. flags, Travis County Judge Eric Shepperd presided as attorneys in dark suits clashed over the intricacies of state law and public finance. At issue is whether […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County tests out program to provide lawyers for low-income defendants at its downtown jail
After years of back and forth, Travis County is taking a small step to provide lawyers for low-income people accused of crimes. A program known as “counsel at first appearance” started in a limited capacity Tuesday, with the county providing lawyers at the downtown court this week to defendants who can’t afford legal representation. The […]