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Public Safety
Reimagining Public Safety task force asks for hold on cadet classes
A public meeting of the task force for Reimagining Public Safety reviewed a report Wednesday about the presence of racial and gender bias and the use of unnecessary force in training cadets at the Austin Police Academy. The task force…
Public Safety • By Sumaiya Malik, Reporting Texas • Jan 22, 2021
Videos used to train Austin police perpetuate 'racism, sexist gender norms and classism,' panel finds
A panel of community members has recommended the Austin Police Department remove 60 videos from its training curriculum after concluding they bolster racist and sexist ideas and do little to help officers constructively interact with the public. “The vast majority…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 21, 2021
Top doc Escott defends decision to vaccinate state legislators
Interim Austin-Travis Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott doubled down yesterday on his conviction that state legislators should receive priority vaccinations, even if it means young and healthy lawmakers receive the vaccine ahead of more at-risk people. Citing both the in-person…
Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jan 20, 2021
District attorney details civil rights cases
Travis County District Attorney José Garza released information Thursday related to every case against local police officers pending in the office’s Civil Rights Unit. The information involves cases such as the deaths of Javier Ambler in March 2019 and Michael…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Jan 15, 2021
Hundreds line up for Covid vaccines from Austin Public Health. But the wait was 'worth it.'
Frank Kucharski and his wife, Jill Jones, were near the back of the line that wove around an Austin Public Health vaccination center at least twice in Northeast Austin on Thursday. They estimated they had a three-hour wait ahead of…
Public Health • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 15, 2021
Travis County officials say infusion center for Covid-19 antibodies is struggling to keep up with demand
The demand for monoclonal antibodies to treat Covid-19 is “far outstripping supply,” officials said at a news conference Wednesday. “We are working hard to expand the capabilities at the infusion site to performing 75 infusions a day,” Dr. Jason Pickett,…
Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Jan 14, 2021
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Austin firefighters donate to protect pensions
The political action committee for Austin firefighters was busy the last month of 2020, donating more than $50,000 to Texas lawmakers. Their donations included $10,000 to Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), who was elected Tuesday to be speaker of the Texas…
Fire • By Jo Clifton • Jan 13, 2021
Alternate care site opens in Austin as area hospitals reach capacity
The Covid-19 alternate care site at the Austin Convention Center is now open as the county’s interim health authority warned overwhelming the area’s hospital system is “inevitable” at this point. “Patients will be referred here directly from hospitals; this is…
Public Health • By Jerry Quijano, KUT • Jan 13, 2021
Committee reviews EMS response times
Jasper Brown, chief of staff for Travis County Emergency Medical Services, spoke before the Public Safety Commission on Jan. 4 to report the quarterly incident response times for the county. The goal response time for all priority-one calls – a…
EMS • By Seth Smalley • Jan 11, 2021
Abbott plots DPS takeover of APD
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Twitter Monday that he had received draft language to seize Austin’s Police Department and put it under the control of the Texas Department of Public Safety “just in time for Christmas.” The Austin Police Association,…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Dec 22, 2020
'Stay home and don't travel,' public health officials advise Austinites
Lee esta historia en español. People should take the rising number of Covid-19 cases into consideration as they weigh their holiday plans this week, the interim health authority for Austin-Travis County said. “Our best advice is stay home and don’t…
Public Health • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Dec 22, 2020
Thousands of Central Texans are facing hunger because of the pandemic. The need isn't going away any time soon.
Hundreds of cars trailed out of Navarro Early College High School’s parking lot on Monday morning, as families lined up to receive boxes of food – gallons of milk, bags of potatoes, packs of meat. Like many organizations that operate…
