Travis County is one step closer to claiming ownership of a historic federal courthouse in downtown Austin. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rejected homeless advocacy group Front Steps’ bid to take control of the U.S. Courthouse at the corner of W. 8th and Lavaca streets. That move vaulted the county […]
Travis County
Posted inRadio
Austin Monitor Radio: Austin/Travis County Central Health
Travis County Central Health president and CEO Patricia Young Brown joins Austin Monitor reporter Caleb Pritchard to chat about her organization, the University of Texas Dell Medical School and the organizations’ role in the community. Post is embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/298485223″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inTravis County
Courthouse committee winnows options for eventual house of justice
Travis County’s search for a new site for a civil courthouse could soon narrow in on the final two candidates: a private property versus the county’s current administrative headquarters at 700 Lavaca St. On Wednesday night, the Civil and Family Courts Community Advisory Committee voted to endorse an undisclosed private property for the Commissioners Court […]
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Austin Monitor Radio: Travis County Sheriff-elect Sally Hernandez
Incoming Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to chat about her goals for the office, including those that cover its immigration policy. Show is embedded below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/296161971″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inTravis County
Commissioners Court tackles sanctuary communities, sexual assault in jail, and Trump
Uncertainty over federal immigration policy following the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump nearly derailed plans to fight back against sexual assault in Travis County jails. At its regular voting session on Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 to accept a reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Justice for holding inmates with illegal immigration […]
Posted inPublic Health, Travis County
County changes oversight rules for Central Health
The Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to beef up the financial policies it uses to maintain oversight of Central Health. Tuesday’s decision capped off another extended discussion about the hospital district and the transparency concerns raised in recent months by a small but enthusiastic group of activists. The same crew was on hand Tuesday […]
Posted inTravis County
County staff gear up for inaugural transportation plan
For the first time ever, Travis County is putting together a long-range transportation plan. The county’s Transportation and Natural Resources division is hosting an online survey on its website as part of the first round of public engagement for the process. There will be two public meetings later this month. TNR’s Scheleen Walker told the […]
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Austin Monitor Radio Extra: Travis County Precinct 3 commissioners race
In a special podcast-only edition of Austin Monitor Radio, Monitor reporter Caleb Pritchard chats with incumbent Precinct 3 Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty and his challenger David Holmes about their respective election campaigns. Podcast are embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/290323101″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/290323764″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inTravis County
County criminal courts ask for more judges
The Travis County Criminal Courts system is in need of expanding, according to top officials. Presiding Judge Brenda Kennedy and several of her colleagues officially made the request before County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and the Commissioners Court on Tuesday. All told, Kennedy asked for three new district courts to supplement her current stable of nine. […]
Posted inTravis County
County and Central Health eye reforms
The Travis County Commissioners Court could soon expand its oversight of Central Health in what would be the first significant revisions to the governing financial policy since 2008. According to a draft the court approved on Tuesday, the hospital district’s nonprofit spinoffs would have to conduct annual audits and provide the results to county officials. […]
Posted inTravis County
County could seek to cram new courts in crowded courthouse
The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday agonized over a proposal to add two more district courts to the already stuffed Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse. Led by local administrative Judge Lora Livingston, a delegation from the county’s civil and family courts mounted its case based on evidence that the county’s current stable of 15 district […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County’s courthouse plan B hinges on homeless support group’s failure
A nonprofit that supports homeless residents in Austin could dash Travis County’s short-term plans to accommodate its bulging civil courts needs. Members of the citizens advisory committee that is guiding the search for new court capacity learned on Wednesday night that Front Steps had submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]