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Most Popular Stories
- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
- APD won’t enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care
- After shutting off mental health care for Austin musicians, SIMS Foundation restarts services
- Council approves call for better coordination, planning among downtown projects
- Austin ISD announces hiring freeze as budget deficit grows to $110 million
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Popular Whispers
- Council Member Mike Siegel will speak out against cuts to federal services
- City manager hosts community meetings on next year’s budget
- DAA offers a look at future of Sixth Street entertainment district
- RRCD names Klepadlo as executive director
- Zero Waste Advisory Commission adds own ‘no’ rec on merge with RMC
Public Safety
Interim city manager updates Office of Police Oversight procedures
Austin’s Office of Police Oversight has been in limbo in recent years. Its authority to investigate allegations of police misconduct was dismantled in 2021. Its director, Farah Muscadin, resigned in 2022. The city’s police labor contract expired – without a…
Police • By Emma Freer • Jul 6, 2023
West Nile virus was found in mosquitoes in Austin. Here's what to know.
For the first time this year, a pool of mosquitoes in Austin has tested positive for West Nile virus, according to Austin Public Health. The positive pool was located in the 78721 ZIP code of East Austin. West Nile is…
Public Health • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Jun 30, 2023
Incarcerated Travis County residents at drastically higher risk of accidental overdose death
People who have been incarcerated in Travis County die of accidental overdoses at drastically higher rates than the overall population, according to new data. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court held a news conference in conjunction with the Travis…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 28, 2023
ECHO says permanent supportive housing is the only way out of Austin's homelessness crisis
Austin’s Ending Community Homelessness Coalition joined City Council’s Public Health Committee this month to break down the nonprofit’s latest point-in-time count, which in late January found 2,374 Austinites experiencing some degree of homelessness. While that figure is down from 2020,…
Public Health • By Kali Bramble • Jun 26, 2023
Community groups demand permanent end to APD-DPS partnership
Community groups are denouncing the city’s decision to resume its controversial policing partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Groups including the Austin Justice Coalition, Grassroots Leadership and the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance are calling for a permanent end…
Police • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 26, 2023
Austin officials urge precautions to prevent new mpox surge
Austin Public Health is warning residents to be vigilant about preventing the spread of mpox, concerned about the potential for a resurgence of the virus. After months without any new cases detected, the health department confirmed a single new case…
Public Health • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Jun 26, 2023
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Downtown Commission greenlights new Sixth Street barriers
The Downtown Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to recommend City Council adopt a $509,000 contract to install 65 new barriers bordering the Sixth Street Historic District as part of a broader effort to improve safety. Similar to safety interventions undertaken…
Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Jun 23, 2023
State troopers are going to patrol Austin streets again starting next month
State troopers will resume patrols on Austin streets July 2, the city said Thursday. The Austin Police Department partnered with the Department of Public Safety in late March to help out with patrols, but the deal ended after complaints from Austinites…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jun 23, 2023
What Austin and Travis County learned about rental assistance during the pandemic
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Austin and Travis County had no overarching infrastructure in place for distributing rental assistance or otherwise supporting low-income families at risk of eviction. Then, millions of people across industries lost their sources of…
Housing • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 22, 2023
Should Austin limit public contact with wild animals at for-profit zoos, aquariums?
The Animal Advisory Commission continues to grapple with language on a proposed ordinance that would limit public contact with wild animals at for-profit zoos and aquariums. At its June 12 meeting, the commission voted to convene a second working group…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 21, 2023
Austin Police Department developing five-year strategic plan
The Austin Police Department is hosting community input sessions this month as part of its process of developing a new strategic plan. That plan is intended to serve as the department’s road map for the future and provide direction and…
Police • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 15, 2023
Fire chief says more firefighters and bigger budget needed
In a memo dated June 12, Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker gave Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council his proposed road map for reducing overtime expenditures in the department, and it involves a bigger budget and more firefighters. Baker was…
