Whispers

Nick Barbaro, co-founder of The Austin Chronicle, and publisher for the past 43 years, has retired and named longtime staffer Cassidy Frazier as the new publisher. Barbaro will continue as president of the Austin Chronicle Corporation, “and will resume his role of canine chauffeur whenever the new Chronicle dog is identified,” according to the publication’s […]

Waterloo Greenway has appointed Colette Pierce Burnette as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1. Burnette, a former board member and longtime Austin community leader, returns to the city after serving as president and CEO of Newfields, a cultural institution in Indianapolis. The Waterloo Greenway Board of Directors selected Burnette following a nationwide search. […]

St. David’s Foundation is set to unveil a new funding opportunity aimed at enhancing economic stability within the Central Texas health care sector, with up to $10 million in grants available. The Pathways to Economic Stability for Healthcare Workforce initiative, scheduled for release on March 26, seeks to create collaborative pathways for historically marginalized communities […]

Policymakers, industry leaders and infrastructure experts will gather in Austin next month for Infraday Texas, an annual conference focused on the state’s most pressing infrastructure challenges and opportunities. Scheduled for April 2, the conference will take place at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave., 78705. The event will cover topics such as […]

Travis County residents can weigh in on local health care services during a Community Conversation with Commissioner Margaret Gómez on April 3. The event, hosted by Central Health, will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Del Valle ISD Administration Building (5301 Ross Road, Del Valle, TX 78617). The discussion will begin with […]

Austin Public Library has named local poet and theater artist Zell Miller III as the city’s first-ever poet laureate. Miller, a celebrated writer and performer, will serve a two-year term from April 2025 to April 2027, leading poetry and literacy initiatives across the city. The Austin Poet Laureate Program was established by City Council in […]

Bills pending in both the Texas House and Senate would make it more difficult for neighbors to successfully fight against zoning changes. Community Not Commodity has notified its members that the House Land and Resource Management Committee will hear testimony related to House Bill 24 by Rep. Angelia Orr, R-Hill County, beginning at 8 a.m. […]

The city’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is offering an Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up event from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the Windsor Park Branch Library to help prepare residents for wildfire risks and other emergences. Attendees will learn about wildfire prevention, flood preparedness, severe weather safety and other response strategies. Representatives from […]

At its most recent meeting on March 6, City Council voted unanimously to designate the Perry House at 610 Baylor St. as historic. There was no discussion, but backup material indicates the home was built by Elton and Lucy Ann Perry in 1903. They also built the house next door at 608 Baylor St. The […]

Nominations are now open for Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center annual Awards of Excellence. The awards, established in 2009, recognize “leadership and meaningful contributions in the Latino/a/e/x cultural arts,” according to a press release from the city. “Individuals or groups from any artistic discipline whose work has made a significant impact to the […]

As part of a pilot project, the city of Austin has completed a new, sustainable sidewalk project on West 25th Street between Seton Avenue and Nueces Street. The project used Flexi-Pave, a material that is less impactful to trees than concrete because it requires less disruption to roots and is permeable, allowing water to flow […]

The Mayor’s Health and Well-Being Council (MHWC) is working with Austin Public Health to find schools and faith-based communities that are promoting health and well-being in the community. Applications are now open for the 2025 Exemplary School Certification, which “seeks to recognize school campuses that demonstrate a commitment to implementing best practices aimed at improving […]