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Public Safety
Bill penalizing Texas cities that cut funding for police heads to governor's desk
Texas lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill that would financially punish large cities that cut their police budgets, including prohibiting them from raising new property tax revenue. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has said…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 1, 2021
Taking cues from audit, Austin continues to shore up its wildfire prevention strategy
Thanks to climate change, Austinites can expect to see more storms, floods and fires in their future. This week, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee heard what steps the Fire Department has taken to address the threat of wildfires following…
Fire • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 28, 2021
Group behind Austin's camping ban revival says it has new plan to put police staffing on the ballot
Save Austin Now, the local political action committee behind the campaign to reinstate rules against camping in public, has started circulating a petition to put a new proposition on the ballot – a mandate that would require certain levels of staffing…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 27, 2021
Covid-19 rates in Austin fall below 5% across all races for the first time, health officials say
The Covid-19 positivity rate in Austin and Travis County continues to fall as more people in the area are inoculated against the virus. Dr. Jason Pickett, deputy medical director for the city, said positivity rates for people of all races…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • May 26, 2021
Austin, Travis County move down to stage 2 risk level of coronavirus restrictions
Lea esta nota en español The chief medical director for the city of Austin said Tuesday the area is now at stage 2 of Austin Public Health’s risk-based guidelines. The change is effective immediately. Dr. Mark Escott said the decision…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • May 19, 2021
City waives permit fees for food charities
Effective immediately, City Council has voted to waive permit fees, fines and other charges for charitable feeding organizations like food banks and soup kitchens that distribute food to vulnerable populations and increase access to healthy foods in the community. The…
Public Health • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • May 18, 2021
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Vaccination in the county continues to soar, as FDA approves Pfizer for kids
The Travis County Commissioners Court and Austin City Council convened Tuesday to receive updates from interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott on the Covid-19 vaccination progress in the region. Thirty-eight percent of individuals in Travis County were fully vaccinated as…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • May 12, 2021
City leaders, Austin police say arrests will be a 'last resort' as enforcement of homelessness ordinances resumes
It’s illegal – once again – for people experiencing homelessness to set up encampments throughout most of the city. Sitting or lying down in some stretches of Austin and panhandling at night are also against the law after voters this month…
Public Safety • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 12, 2021
Breaking down the Reimagining Public Safety task force’s recommendations
Last month, the city’s newly formed joint city-community Reimagining Public Safety task force released its 2021 mid-year recommendations report. At over 70 pages long, the report’s proposals range from popular police reform policy changes to ideas that would fundamentally reshape the way the…
Public Safety • By Sean Saldaña • May 10, 2021
Austin will start training new police again this June, after a yearlong hiatus
City Council members voted Thursday to restart cadet classes after a pause to allow the police department to make changes to how it trains new officers. The next cadet class is set to start by June 7. It will be…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 7, 2021
With tenants still enduring mold damage caused by Uri, Council pushes for more landlord regulation
Though it has been several months since Winter Storm Uri damaged infrastructure and homes across the city, some apartment residents are still dealing with severe mold damage that landlords have failed to fix. Worse, when some tenants asked the city…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • May 6, 2021
Removing barriers to vaccine a top priority as supply exceeds demand through Austin Public Health
Austin Public Health is hosting a walk-up Covid-19 vaccine clinic at the Delco Activity Center this Thursday and Friday from noon-7:30 p.m. or until all its vaccines are administered. Vaccines will be available to all residents age 18 and older.…
