Whispers

Austin ISD is closed for Spring Break this week, March 17-21. For the break, all AISD offices and schools will be closed and will resume regular business hours on Monday, March 24, when students return to class. More information about AISD holidays and events can be found here.

City staff is considering artificial intelligence tools to make reductions in the number of e-scooters and other micromobility devices left in public rights of way. At the most recent meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities, staff from the Transportation and Public Works Department said the companies that own and rent scooters have […]

The Austin housing market continues to see median home and rental prices decline while inventory levels rise, according to the latest Central Texas Housing Report from Unlock MLS. The median home price in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA dropped 3.9 percent year-over-year to $430,000 in February. Closed sales in the MSA declined 6.5 percent to […]

City officials are facing legal hurdles in addressing a homeless encampment at 6706 Bluff Springs Road, located on private property near an HEB grocery store. In a message to her District 2 constituents, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes said that while the city can clear encampments from public spaces, enforcing trespassing laws on private land […]

The Development Services Department is introducing the DSD Info Series, a new initiative aimed at providing community members with knowledge on permitting, housing development and property maintenance. The sessions, available both online and in-person, will connect Austinites with city resources and services. The first session, “Permitting: Where Do I Start?”, takes place March 25 and […]

The city has launched “Get Hired in Austin,” a recruitment campaign aimed at attracting public servants looking to continue their careers in municipal government. The campaign highlights the benefits of living and working in Austin while focusing on filling positions with high vacancy rates, including roles in engineering, information technology and health care. It builds […]

City Council has officially designated the Fannie Davis Gazebo in Town Lake Metropolitan Park as a historic landmark. The 1969 structure was the first public structure built on the south shore, spearheaded and funded by the Austin chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. According to a press release from the city about […]

In light of dry weather and dangerous winds, the Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to issue a burn ban for the unincorporated areas of the county, effective now through April 8. “We’re experiencing strong wind gusts, decreasing humidity, and dry vegetation – conditions that create a critical wildfire threat,” Travis County Chief Fire Marshal […]

Jesús Aguirre was recently named as director of Austin Parks and Recreation after similar roles in Washington, D.C., and Seattle and as CEO of Waterloo Greenway, the 35-acre urban park system in downtown Austin. For a chance to meet him at a Community Listening Session, all are welcome at 6 p.m. today at the Northwest […]

Airport watchers will want to know that passenger traffic was down 5.38 percent in January when compared to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s January 2024 traffic. According to a press release from the airport, “January 2025 enplanements totaled 682,885, down 5.89%.” Air cargo was also down 12.14 percent. Here’s a graph:  

The city’s newly established Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment could transition into existing as a separate department through the upcoming budget process. At last week’s Music Commission meeting, staff discussed the prospects and next steps to consolidate cultural, artistic and entertainment-related programs and staff from multiple city departments into a unified entity aimed […]

​Workforce Solutions Capital Area is set to launch the Austin Infrastructure Academy with a career fair at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26. The event will be held at Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s north location in Austin. The academy aims to connect local talent with opportunities in Austin’s expanding infrastructure sector. In March 2024, Mayor Kirk […]