Whispers

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is inviting Texans to participate in an online survey to help shape two comprehensive transit plans for the state’s future: the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan (SMTP) and the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP). The plans will outline a unified vision for transit and active transportation through 2050, helping to […]

TxDOT will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its I-35 Capital Express Central Project on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and those opposed to the road’s expansion through Austin’s downtown will be on hand to protest its official launch. Rethink35 has filed a lawsuit with 14 community partners against the project, saying it violates the National Environmental Policy […]

Starting in January, Austinites will have access to on-demand collection of bulk, brush and hazardous trash. Starting in 2025, collection will move from biannual schedules for brush and bulk trash to an on-demand service, and household hazardous waste, which was previously disposed of on-site, will follow suit. Residents will be notified by mail when they […]

Austin Community College District (ACC) will host the Positive Women’s Coalition’s Women’s Health, Motivation & Empowerment Conference this Saturday. The annual conference is in its 14th year, and is designed to support women looking to change their professional and personal lives for the better. The event, which is free and open to women of all […]

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation allocated $10.9 million in Project Connect anti-displacement funding last week. The money will be divided among eight organizations, which were all existing Project Connect Community Initiated Solutions partners and will work to expand tenant stabilization, homeownership and anti-displacement measures near the planned rail route with the money. “Austin has a […]

The Salvation Army’s Women’s Auxiliary will hold its Festival of Trees “Home for the Holidays” event on Friday, Nov. 10. The festival features an auction of trees decorated by the group, board members and volunteers, with all proceeds going to families in need during the holiday season. In addition, the festival showcases carols, treats and […]

Austinites should anticipate more than the usual traffic delays today, thanks to a scheduled visit by former U.S. President J. Donald Trump, who is scheduled to hold a press conference at a private jet terminal at the airport and appear on the Joe Rogan podcast. According to the city’s Public Information Office, “Street closures are expected […]

The city of Austin’s Economic Development Department has awarded over $21 million in Hotel Occupancy Tax-funded grants to 502 recipients across the city’s creative sector. This year’s grants, distributed through programs like the Austin Live Music Fund, and the Nexus, Thrive, and Elevate programs from the Cultural Arts Division, aimed to provide funding for individual […]

Austin City Council is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the five-member Municipal Civil Service Commission, with the term extending through May 2027. The commission handles appeals on disciplinary actions involving non-exempt city of Austin employees, including suspensions, demotions and dismissals. Serving on the commission requires about 20 hours per month, with hearings typically lasting […]

Citing funding challenges, the SIMS Foundation has announced a 90-day pause on its mental health and other services for musicians. During the pause, the nonprofit organization will go through a strategic planning process to restructure its service delivery model. The organization needs to raise $480,000 by November to maintain service levels during the restructuring. In […]

The Greater Austin YMCA and St. Edward’s University have teamed up to apply for a $20 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. If awarded, the grant will fund the construction of a climate resilience hub at the East Communities YMCA, located at 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., as well as community outreach and […]

The Austin office market remains soft and highly priced, with vacancy rates increasing 6.6 percentage points to 27.8 percent, which is the highest jump among major U.S. office markets, according to a recent study from Commercial Edge. Office construction in the city has slowed, with only 3.4 million square feet currently underway – equal to […]