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Travis County
Travis County plans for 75% of eligible county employees to telework permanently
Currently, 2,300 employees of Travis County telecommute to their jobs. Most of these newly minted teleworkers started working from home following the Stay Home-Work Safe orders issued by the city and county on March 24. Now the county is exploring…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • May 18, 2020
Travis County approves nursing home emergency staffing
People who live or work in nursing homes and senior living centers are some of the hardest hit by Covid-19. Austin Public Health has said both staff and residents are particularly vulnerable to the virus with 17 percent of the…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • May 15, 2020
Travis County directs $10M toward small business grant program
Despite the federal government authorizing $659 billion in small business aid, many small enterprises in Travis County are still in need of funds in order to survive the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. To help those business owners, the Travis County…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 30, 2020
County Commissioners Court looks toward economic recovery solutions
The financial figures representing the economic repercussions of self-isolation and shuttered businesses are beginning to surface in Travis County. Diana Ramirez, the director of Travis County’s Economic Development & Strategic Investments, told the Commissioners Court on April 7 that although…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Apr 8, 2020
Rodeo Austin, Luck Reunion are the latest events called off in Austin over coronavirus concerns
Rodeo Austin and Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion will not be held this spring. Organizers received word from Travis County officials Thursday that the public health risk was too great. There will also be no fans at Austin sporting events for…
Travis County • By Jimmy Maas • Mar 13, 2020
Travis County Commissioners Court extends emergency disaster declaration
Following the local disaster declaration last Friday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously extended the county’s disaster declaration in light of ongoing concerns about public health risks associated with COVID-19. This state of emergency will continue indefinitely or until the…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 11, 2020
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Travis County seeks a 'Marshall Plan' for east side
Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion and Joe Straub, president of Rodeo Austin, started a conversation with members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee Wednesday. “Let me just say for the record, I did not come to pick a…
Travis County • By Jo Clifton • Feb 28, 2020
Eckhardt talks revenue caps, Palm School negotiation in State of the County address
At several turns during her State of the County address Thursday, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt reminded listeners that in many respects, the county operates as an extension of Texas’ state government. The pluses and minuses of that framework, she…
Travis County • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 21, 2020
Activists push to protect Palm School, eyeing property's role in proposed cultural district
With Travis County moving ahead with action that could lead to development of the historic Palm School site downtown, local activists are hoping the city can find a way to preserve the property and make it a major part of…
Travis County • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 20, 2020
County leaders champion no-cash bail
Amidst an aggressive push from activists to reduce arrests and incarceration, Travis County leaders highlighted two important initiatives Tuesday as evidence that the county is a leader in progressive criminal justice policy. First, the Travis County Commissioners Court quickly approved…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Feb 12, 2020
Babies, immigrants fueling Travis County growth
Contrary to public perception, Travis County’s population would be booming even without newcomers from California. That was one of the main takeaways from a presentation to the Travis County Commissioners Court on the most recent population data from the American…
Travis County • By Jack Craver • Feb 7, 2020
Travis County hires law professor as its first-ever public defender
Travis County has hired University of Virginia law professor Adeola Ogunkeyede as the first person to lead its public defender office. Until last year, the county was the largest jurisdiction in the United States without an office to handle cases…
