Tag Archives: Texas Legislature
Reporter's Notebook: What blind spots?
Colossus of roads… “There’s no question that I am probably the largest road proponent in the Milky Way.” Thus Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty began a stemwinder about his transportation prescription for Central Texas at a luncheon hosted by the…
Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Jan 29, 2018
Council greenlights new pedestrian mall on Congress Avenue
City Council paved the way Thursday for a major state project that will transform three blocks of downtown from roadway into a grass-covered pedestrian mall. Council voted to give the Texas Facilities Commission the OK to seize control of city…
Development • By Jack Craver • Dec 15, 2017
Council drills down on Capitol plan
An ongoing effort by the state of Texas to move much of its workforce downtown has City Council members wondering what, if anything, the city can get out of the project. The state is planning on getting started with implementation…
Development • By Jack Craver • Dec 6, 2017
Casar reports on SB 4 hearing in New Orleans
City Council Member Greg Casar attended Tuesday’s hearing on Senate Bill 4 at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The city of Austin, along with Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, the small border city of El Cenizo,…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Nov 8, 2017
Travis County sheriff responds to community outcry after 'sanctuary' policy reversal
At a town hall meeting on Monday organized by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez faced a crowd of immigrant rights advocates, service providers and undocumented community members, many of whom expressed disbelief at her Sept.…
Public Safety • By Joseph Caterine • Oct 11, 2017
After court ruling, Travis County will comply with all ICE detention requests
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office will honor all federal immigration detainer requests following a federal court ruling that held parts of Texas’ “sanctuary cities” law can go into effect. A three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…
Courts • By Stephanie Federico • Sep 26, 2017
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Despite Austin’s crime lab meltdown, Texas is working to clear its DNA backlog
When Wendy Davis decided to find out how many untested rape kits there were in the state of Texas, she readily admits she had no idea what she was getting into. Davis, a former state senator, was first told that…
Police • By Cate Malek • Sep 20, 2017
Federal judge blocks Texas' ban on 'sanctuary cities'
A federal court in San Antonio has blocked Senate Bill 4, Texas’ so-called “sanctuary cities” law. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia said, “The best interests of the public will be served by preserving the status quo and enjoining, prior to…
Courts • By Stephanie Federico • Aug 31, 2017
How one immigrants' rights group is preparing for 'sanctuary cities' law
Candelario Vazquez, 34, stood in front of a 20-person audience. None of the adults and children, some of them squirming in their hard plastic chairs, asked to be in his audience. “Good morning, friends,” said Vazquez, who works for the…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 23, 2017
Council opts to sue the state over housing discrimination beef
After months of the Texas Legislature seemingly taking shot after shot at the city of Austin, City Council is swinging back. On Thursday, Council gave the go-ahead to Interim City Manager Elaine Hart to sue the state over a 2015…
Courts • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 18, 2017
Dueling tree ordinance bills advance
The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would allow developers to get credit for planting trees to substitute for mitigation fees that cities might otherwise require from them when they remove trees from their property. House Bill…
Texas State Legislature • By Jo Clifton • Jul 28, 2017
At Capital Metro's Traffic Jam, Adler brings the noise
Mayor Steve Adler’s plan for the next big transportation funding package is a new way forward indeed. On Wednesday night, at a large public engagement event meant to highlight the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s ongoing Project Connect process, Adler suggested…
