Austin officially became a no-kill city last year when it logged a 90% save rate of its animals. This week, that record may end, as adoptions fail to keep up with intake and the already-overcrowded Austin Animal Center on Levander Loop fills up. Read More | Comment »

It’s been 23 years since Carlos De Luna was executed by lethal injection for the 1983 attempted robbery and murder of Wanda Lopez at a Corpus Christi gas station; this week, a book-length law review article was released that meticulously deconstructs the case – and makes it almost undeniable that Texas has executed an innocent man. Read More | Comment »

Incumbent Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole's contest against a novice opponent figured as a walkover, and incumbent Place 5 Council Member Bill Spelman's multi-front race was not supposed to be – but both crowned the evening at the historic 11th Street restaurant with decisive victories. Read More | Comment »

When she finally threw in the towel, Brigid Shea joked that her concession speech won't be legally binding in the event Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s numbers begin to "magically" fall below 50 percent. Then she launched into a pull-yourself-up pep talk to a cheering crowd, urging them to continue pressing for change at City Hall.Read More | Comment »

We just got word from Mayor Lee Leffingwell's campaign: Challenger Brigid Shea has conceded, sealing a clean sweep for the incumbents in this low turn-out but highly volatile council election. Read More | Comment »

Early voting numbers are in for the council elections, and so far all the incumbents are avoiding run-offs. Want to see how close it is? Read More | Comment »

It seemed like it would never come, but election day for the May 12 Joint General and Special Election is finally here! Read More | Comment »

In her hunt to displace Council Member Mike Martinez, challenger Laura Pressley has been besieged by claims that she is simply a stealth Republican. Probably doesn't help her case when her campaign sends out a letter to voters entitled Republicans for Laura Pressley. Read More | Comment »

A majority of Texas lawyers say they support Democratic Austin criminal defense attorney Keith Hampton in his bid to oust Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller at the polls this November. Read More | Comment »

Tomorrow, the Austin Police Department, Central Texas Harley Davidson, and the Central Texas 100 Club are teaming up to host a free benefit concert for the family of fallen Officer Jaime De Luna-Padron, who was killed on Good Friday in the line of duty. Read More | Comment »

The Green Party of Texas (txgreens.org) this week released its slate of 56 statewide candidates in advance of its June 9-10 convention in San Antonio. Read More | Comment »

The long-awaited takeover of the National Guard Armory by Austin Studios finally happens this October, and the Austin Film Society already has very specific plans for the space – plans they believe will attract big productions and nurture local talent. Read More | Comment »

Somebody believes that the arts belong in Austin’s schools and is backing that conviction to the tune of $1 million. The anonymous gift, announced at a press conference on May 14 at Lamar Middle School, will establish a new resource for AISD teachers to enhance their coursework with creative learning projects and boost student access to the arts. Read More | Comment »

Early voting closes in the City of Austin elections today. Turnout is still depressingly low, with Travis County reporting only 3.6% of registered voters making it to the polls so far. Read More | Comment »

So much for a mild May. For the second time in three nights, storm conditions have knocked out power in areas of Austin. Read More | Comment »

We've always had a lot of time for Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, but when he calls Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, "a snake oil salesman" and "a narcissist," well, our ears prick up. Especially when the cause is palace intrigue over the race to become Lieutenant Governor. Read More | Comment »

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this afternoon lifted the stay imposed by Judge Jerry Smith, which would ban Planned Parenthood from participation in the Women's Health Program. Thus, the injunction granted Monday is now back in effect and blocks, for now, the state's plan to ditch PP from the program. Read More | Comment »

After four days of early voting, turnout in the May 12 council elections has staggered into single digits – just. Read More | Comment »

University of Texas regents today voted in favor of a plan to bring a medical school to Austin. Read More | Comment »

Community health centers will have to expand significantly in order to compensate for the exclusion of Planned Parenthood clinics from the Women's Health Program, according to a new report released by the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy at George Washington University. Read More | Comment »