The city of Austin last week launched the We All Belong Anti-Hate Initiative, an education and outreach campaign intended as a response to a string of hate crime incidents reported across the city. A group of leaders from the city, Travis County and other parts of the community gathered at a Friday morning news conference […]
Travis County
Travis County is the urban county that includes, notably, Austin.
Posted inTravis County
Travis County considers own ‘Marshall Plan’
Travis County is mulling its very own “Marshall Plan” – an all-encompassing system for revamping social programs in East Travis County, modeled after the post-World War II plan to rebuild Europe’s economy and infrastructure. On Thursday, Economic Development & Strategic Investments Director Christy Moffett and Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion briefed the Commissioners Court and the public […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Emergency alerts now available in American Sign Language
For the first time, community members who are deaf, hard of hearing or blind will be able to receive accessible emergency notifications. The city of Austin and Travis County launched the Accessible Hazard Alert System, or AHAS, on Oct. 4. The new program allows users to receive emergency notifications in the form of a video with […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin Public Health offers vaccine incentives
Austin Public Health is offering $50 HEB gift cards to people who receive Covid-19 vaccinations at APH community vaccination sites and fill out a survey afterwards. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations require two separate shots to be effective. Those who come back for their second shot will receive a second HEB gift card worth […]
Posted inLocal Government
Joint council mulls ‘once in a generation’ ARPA funding for region
The Commissioners Court joined City Council Tuesday to discuss the allocation of federal funding granted by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Ralph Garboushian, a career municipal consultant, described the level of local funding from ARPA as “once in a generation.” While $424 billion of the $1.9 trillion total was directly distributed to individuals in […]
Posted inCourts
City declares broad equity goals for pretrial services
In the middle of a pandemic that has led to a sharp decrease in the Travis County Jail population, Austin City Council plans to leverage its influence to keep the jail population low by reserving use of pretrial detention for cases where it is necessary to ensure public safety. The city has a limited role […]
Posted inParks
More parks close, more parks to close
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department continued its recent pattern of issuing increasingly strict rules for city-controlled parks on Tuesday, with an announcement that all city parks and trails will close over Easter weekend in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The new closures go into effect at sunset on Thursday, April 9, […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County evictions put on hold, Austin Energy won’t shut off utilities amid COVID-19 outbreak
Eviction hearings in the Austin area will be put on pause until at least April 1, after Travis County justices of the peace issued an order Friday. “It’s not in the public’s interest to have people out in public trying to look for housing or if they become homeless have no way to social-distance themselves,” […]
Posted inTravis County
Rodeo Austin, Luck Reunion are the latest events called off in Austin over coronavirus concerns
Rodeo Austin and Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion will not be held this spring. Organizers received word from Travis County officials Thursday that the public health risk was too great. There will also be no fans at Austin sporting events for the near term amid concerns over the coronavirus. As of Thursday evening, there were no […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County, city of Austin ramp up census efforts
Travis County and the city of Austin are mounting an aggressive effort to make sure the 2020 U.S. census count is as complete and accurate as possible. The county and city are collaborating by jointly funding a temporary position “to energize and coordinate Census outreach and education efforts throughout our community,” according to a county […]
Posted inPlanning
Long road to expo center revamp could begin Thursday
Thursday’s City Council meeting is expected to see the first moves toward a long-off ballot initiative that will eventually lead to an ambitious rehabilitation of the Travis County Expo Center. The resolution, which is expected to pass on consent, will direct the city manager to present Council with options for how the 128-acre facility in […]
Posted inDevelopment
‘Opportunity’ knocks? Austin doesn’t quite know what to do with areas picked for federal tax breaks
Census tract 48453002411 has a lot to offer. There’s a brewery on the north edge of the tract. There’s a neighborhood park, and you’re not too far from McKinney Falls State Park. On a good day, you can drive from this part of Southeast Austin to downtown in 20 minutes. But census tract 48453002411 also […]