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All Chronicle blogs, all the time
The scene turned inside art
Getting in bed with books
Come on in the kitchen
Sizing up screens big and small
Get the wax out
Your base on balls
Elements of style
Steer here, queers
Check back here for Chronicle alerts!
Countdown to L-G-B-T
Kate X Messer
Tue Feb 9, 2:30pm
Tags: Politics
Apparently, tonight's is the first LGBT Town Hall ever, and our participation in this will determine the efforts expended by the U.S. Census folks on our behalf. Here's the deets from Equality Texas:
Austin Town Hall
Tonight! Tue., Feb. 9, 7pm
Mexican-American Cultural Center Auditorium
600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701
Austin Town Hall
Tonight! Tue., Feb. 9, 7pm
Mexican-American Cultural Center Auditorium
600 River Street, Austin, TX 78701
East Riverside
Katherine Gregor
Tue Feb 9, 1:40pm
Catching a briefing on the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan at Planning Commission tonight, or planner Tony Nelessen presenting it at council Feb. 11, at 10:30 am. But to get value-capture cash, the plan needs synching up with the Strategic Mobility Plan. More below.
What's Your Mobility Fix?
Katherine Gregor
Tue Feb 9, 1:15pm
“My Top Mobility Fixes” are being shared around town all week, at six city Mobility Forums. This morning at the Mexican-American Cultural Center, Transportation Director Robert Spillar said he’ll present the results plus an Austin Urban Rail update to council on Feb. 25. Catch a forum (and council member Laura Morrison) tonight at Bowie High School.
White vs. Shami, Round One
Richard Whittaker
Mon Feb 8, 11:38pm
There were two clear winners of Monday's Democratic gubernatorial primary: Moderator Dave Montgomery of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of the real deans of the capitol press corps) and former Houston Mayor Bill White. In fact, the only person who thought White's rival Farouk Shami won seems to be his campaign manager Vince Leibowitz.
Re-Dunking the Tea Bag
Richard Whittaker
Mon Feb 8, 2:50pm
It seems that the Republican gubernatorial primary is less about Gov. Rick Perry versus Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and more about Perry versus Debra Medina. But was this really unexpected? Let's take the way-back-when machine to April 16, 2009: That was the first time we mentioned Medina's candidacy. What did we say?
Texies and the City
Richard Whittaker
Sun Feb 7, 1:03pm
Seems like Texas Rollergirl and Women's Flat Track Derby Association president Bloody Mary's wish that Austin would be really proud of this homegrown sport really got City Council's attention. First Mayor Lee Leffingwell declared Texas Rollergirls Day, now the city has entered into a new partnership for practice space with the local league.
Mobility and You
Katherine Gregor
Sat Feb 6, 11:44am
Tags: Transportation
Which of our 1200 needed transportation projects should the city tackle and fund first? Which should be in a November bond referendum package? All this week, Feb. 8-11, Austinites can help set priorities at "fun and interactive" Mobility Forums (four evening, one morning, plus refreshments!)
![Footage from the UT budget town hall [video]](/binary/5c52/bp-grab.jpg "Footage from the UT budget town hall [video]")
Powers on the Spot
Richard Whittaker
Fri Feb 5, 8:00am
Tuesday's UT budget town hall was supposed to be about staff cuts and the upcoming tuition hike. UT President Bill Powers deserves some plaudits for putting himself out there even before the storm of public fury about the closure of the Cactus Cafe and the end of the Informal Classes program.
Texas Union Faculty: We Didn't Know
Richard Whittaker, Austin Powell
Thu Feb 4, 3:49pm
The role of the Texas Union Board in the decision to close UT Austin's Informal Class Program and the Cactus Cafe has been broadly discussed. Now board member Dr. Thomas Garza (one of UT President Bill Powers' three appointees to the body) has said that not only did faculty have no input on the decision, but it was not on the agenda for last Friday's meeting.
White's Money
Richard Whittaker
Wed Feb 3, 3:00pm
There's been a lot of coverage today of how Gov. Rick Perry out-raised Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the latest campaign finance reports for the gubernatorial primary. However, according to the 30 day before the election campaign finance reports, both of them got beaten by (no, not Debra Medina) Democratic hopeful Bill White.
Wanted: Chief Sustainability Officer
Katherine Gregor
Wed Feb 3, 12:03pm
The city is beginning a nationwide search to fill the new position of chief sustainability officer. Help shape the job description at a public meeting Friday, Feb. 5, 4-5:30 pm at city hall. As a direct-report to City Manager Marc Ott, the officer could positively transform the city's whole approach to conserving resources.
CNU 2010 Kickoff Tonight
Katherine Gregor
Wed Feb 3, 11:38am
Tonight the Congress for New Urbanism chapter hosts a lively panel discussion, advocacy forum and happy hour salon at Cuba Libre. Topic: "Keeping Up the Urban Momentum: The New Mixed-Use Market." Panelists: Michele Gary, Weitzman Group; Perry Lorenz, Constructive Ventures; Jennifer Wiebrand, Gables Residential; moderator Tom Yantis.
State of the City Address
Lee Nichols
Tue Feb 2, 4:30pm
Mayor Lee Leffingwell delivered his State of the City Address before the Real Estate Council of Austin today. Reprinted below is the full text.
Cactus Showdown at ACES
Richard Whittaker
Tue Feb 2, 1:27pm
While it was intended to be a discussion about the entire university, it now seems that UT President Bill Powers' budget town hall meeting scheduled for this afternoon will have to tackle the closure of the Cactus Cafe and the ending of the Informal Classes program.
Last Day to Register to Vote
Lee Nichols
Mon Feb 1, 10:52am
If you want to vote in the March primaries and you're not registered, today is your last day to get signed up. Press release from the Travis County Voter Registrar's office follows:
Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference
Katherine Gregor
Mon Feb 1, 10:34am
Leading national, state and local experts will present at the 16th Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference, in town Feb. 3-6. It's expanded to include more bicycling, walking and safe routes to school sessions – over 50 topics and 70 speakers in all. Event details here and below.
Cash in on Pecan Street Project
Katherine Gregor
Mon Feb 1, 10:01am
If you've got – or want to start – a renewable energy business, check out this free event: "How Energy Entrepreneurs Can Participate in the Pecan Street Project – A Discussion Hosted by Pecan Commons." It's tomorrow, Tues. Feb. 2, 8-9:30am. Technically sold out – impressive attendee list. Event details below.
UT Axing Cactus Cafe, Informal Classes
Richard Whittaker
Sun Jan 31, 11:58am
The legendary Cactus Cafe is in its 30th anniversary year. The University of Texas has been offering its Informal Classes since 1971. Now the University Union has announced that these two key components of its community outreach will be "phased out" in August.
Endorse-o-Rama 2010
Richard Whittaker
Fri Jan 29, 12:30pm
Call it political speed dating. Last night the various assembled Travis County Democratic clubs gathered for their mass combined candidate forum. It was a meet-and-greet with 36 candidates in 13 races at the Millennium Youth Complex, to schmooze and work out endorsements and, in some cases, hear candidates' names for the first time. So who won who over?
Hanger Heading Here
Wells Dunbar
Thu Jan 28, 3:01pm
To the surprise of absolutely no one, today the City Council unanimously approved an incentive program with Hanger Orthopedic Group, offering them $50,000 a year for ten years for the company to relocate their corporate headquarters here.
Segretti, Rove, O'Keefe
Richard Whittaker
Thu Jan 28, 1:58pm
As potential links between conservative think tank the Pelican Group, conservative new media maven Andrew Breitbart and the four operatives that tried to mess with a US Senator's phones become clearer, one thought emerges: A bunch of entitled Republican frat boys doing dirty tricks? How very Nixonian and, let's not forget, Rovian.
Judge Not the Totally Awesome AusChron Newscast!
Jordan Smith, Wells Dunbar
Thu Jan 28, 9:15am
As always, the Totescast has a lot on its mind this week, starting with the economic development incentives being offered to Hanger Orthopedics.
Enterprise Fund Carrying Too Many Ones?
Richard Whittaker
Wed Jan 27, 2:00pm
Ever the voice of fiscal responsibility, Gov. Rick Perry has announced that he will amend 11 project contracts issued through his job-creating Texas Enterprise Fund. But Texans for Public Justice say he's only doing it to blunt the impact of their new report criticizing the fund's efficacy and Perry's oversight.
Pot Reform Takes the Main Stage
Jordan Smith
Tue Jan 26, 8:33am
January has been a big month for medical marijuana supporters with lawmakers and activists in at least five states pushing forward with new medi-mari laws.
The Rasmussen Way
Richard Whittaker
Sun Jan 24, 10:38am
Scott Rasmussen has become of the country's leading pollsters. When his firm Rasmussen Reports releases campaign numbers, many journalists treat them like holy scripture. Newsdesk is not the biggest fan of polling, so the opportunity to question him on his methods was unmissable.
