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Public Safety
Commission urges city to raise EMS pay
The Public Safety Commission approved a broad resolution Monday calling on the city to raise its offer to the Austin EMS union to pay salaries comparable to what other EMS agencies are paying. EMS salaries should be equivalent to what…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • May 3, 2022
New EMS chief outlines progress on collections
With a projected budget deficit by Fiscal Year 2027, any news about increasing collections from those who owe the city of Austin money, including the state of Texas, is good news for City Council. Robert Luckritz, who recently joined the…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • Apr 29, 2022
Early April is for respecting public health, county decrees
In a retroactive move that was unanimously approved last Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court proclaimed the week of April 4 Public Health Week. According to the American Public Health Association, the first week of April each year is National…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Apr 26, 2022
EMS union, city at odds over pay
Twenty-six Emergency Medical Services employees have quit their city jobs so far this year, and according to Austin-Travis County EMS Association President Selena Xie, that’s double the number of separations in 2020 and 2021. She added that, in all of…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2022
Austin faces another round of lawsuits related to police use of 'less lethal' rounds
Three more demonstrators are suing the Austin Police Department for injuries sustained from so-called less-lethal ammunition fired by police over a weekend of racial justice protests in 2020. More than a dozen protesters have sued the department for use of the ammunition, which include…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 6, 2022
Chacon pledges more diverse police force
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon told members of the Public Safety Commission Monday that his department has signed the 30 by 30 pledge, a national initiative that agrees to diversify the police force by 2030. APD is one of 40…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Apr 5, 2022
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Travis County explores impact of legal representation during intake process
Travis County and Texas A&M are teaming up to administer a pilot study that will examine the effects of providing arrestees with legal counsel at first appearance. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court received an update on the upcoming…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Apr 5, 2022
No clear path forward for medical marijuana use by public safety employees
Now that medical marijuana is legal in Texas, will Austin allow its first responders to use it? A Monday afternoon briefing at City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting showed that the hurdle, for once, does not come from the state…
Public Safety • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 31, 2022
Austin Public Health to use new Covid-19 risk charts to align with CDC
Austin Public Health is updating its Covid-19 risk guidelines to coincide with new metrics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previously, APH had been using a five-level scale to showcase Covid-19 risk, with Stage 5 being the highest…
Public Health • By Marisa Charpentier, KUT • Mar 30, 2022
Community leaders release 'red flags' report on Central Health
Leaders of the NAACP Austin and Texas League of United Latin American Citizens District VII released a scathing report Wednesday on Central Health’s financial and operational activities. The organizations called on the Travis County Commissioners Court to order a “comprehensive,…
Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Mar 24, 2022
Local health officials lift Covid-19 restrictions as infections hit record low
Lee esta historia en español. Health officials in Austin and Travis County announced Wednesday that they are lifting “all Covid-19 emergency rules and orders, effective immediately.” Masking is now optional in most city facilities, except for the airport, clinical settings…
Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Mar 24, 2022
City office working to prevent violence
Austin is seeking strategies to prevent gun violence, help at-risk young people avoid the pitfalls associated with violence, and assist victims of trauma. It’s all the job of the Office of Violence Prevention, which is a part of Austin Public…
