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The scene turned inside art
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Check back here for Chronicle alerts!
The Totally Awesome AusChron Newscast is Playing With Fire
Wells Dunbar
Fri Nov 20, 2:40pm
The Newscast talks up new turmoil with the Forensic Science Commission, known for being roadblocked in their Todd Cameron Willingham investigation, and delves into the Hustle's breakdown of Mayor Lee Leffingwell's campaign promises. All this plus a (pretty bad) Alex Jones impersonation. Jordan Smith and Wells Dunbar are your totally awesome hosts.
Perry Clears Way for Executioner
Jordan Smith
Fri Nov 20, 7:21am
Gov. Rick Perry rejected the commutation recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in the case of Robert Thompson, clearing the way for Thompson's execution last night.
Doing 25 to Life
Jordan Smith
Thu Nov 19, 9:30am
Tags: Courts
It's the 25th anniversary of the federal Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, do you know where your U.S. Sentencing Commission is? If you guessed Austin, you're right.
BPP Recommends Life
Jordan Smith
Thu Nov 19, 8:03am
In a rare life-sparing decision, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted Nov. 18 to recommend to Gov. Rick Perry that the death sentence for condemned inmate Robert Thompson be commuted to life in prison. Now its up to Perry to decide whether to take that advice or to send Thompson to the gurney.
Car2Go Arrives
Katherine Gregor
Tue Nov 17, 2:52pm
Tags: Transportation
When an international car company – Daimler AG – selects Austin for the North American launch of its progressive new subsidiary – Car2Go – you have to figure we’re doing something right. This morning the city and car-share company launched Car2Go's pilot phase: 200 tiny Smart ForTwo cars (33/41 MPG) for the city’s 13,000 employees.
Do You Know Where Your Kids Are?
Jordan Smith
Tue Nov 17, 10:25am
Tags: Drug War
Not to sound too loud an alarm or anything, but the Texas Dept. of Public Safety is warning parents to keep an eye on their kids – lest they be recruited by Mexican cartels to run drugs or commit other felonious deeds for the transnational gangs.
Political and Business Leaders Oppose Lake Travis Wastewater Discharge
Lee Nichols
Fri Nov 13, 3:25pm
Tags: Environment
With Lake Austin and Tom Miller Dam as a backdrop, a group of local elected officials and business leaders announced this morning that they stand opposed to a petition by the cities of Leander and Granite Shoals to lift the ban on discharging treated wastewater into the Highland Lakes.
The Totally Awesome AusChron Newscast is So Smart It Scares Itself!
Wells Dunbar
Fri Nov 13, 3:19pm
The Newscast is surveying the fallout from the Nathaniel Sanders II shooting this week, along with changes afoot with Austin Energy, as told by assistant news editor Nora Ankrum. All this, plus the latest shenanigans from your city legal department. As always, Jordan Smith and Wells Dunbar are your totally awesome hosts.
Cap Metro Seeks More Feedback on Service Plan 2020
Lee Nichols
Fri Nov 13, 8:40am
Tags: Transportation
Similar to the Envision Central Texas plan for regional growth, Capital Metro will be seeking feedback next week over how to plan its own growth over the next 10 years. See press release after the jump:
Legeland Update
Richard Whittaker
Thu Nov 12, 3:37pm
Just because the session is out, that doesn't mean there's nothing happening under the dome. Like Tom Waits said, there's always some killing you got to do around the farm.
No Trail of Lights
Richard Whittaker
Thu Nov 12, 2:37pm
With the budget crunch casting a shadow over the city's biggest holiday season celebration, the decision was simple: a) Have a Trail of Lights (complete with massive electricity bill) at Zilker Park and charge up to $5 a head; b) no Trail of Lights, make whatever is organized free. The city has picked option B and is calling it the Zilker Tree Holiday Festival.
Progressing in the Economy
Richard Whittaker
Wed Nov 11, 4:00pm
Whenever there's a statistic about Texas leading the nation in some category or other, freemarketeers and the anti-regulation crew are quick to take the credit (well, except in child morbidity and other such minor blights on society). So why is it the more liberal towns that are heading up those scores?
MetroRail at Dusk
Richard Whittaker
Wed Nov 11, 2:00pm
On Sept. 3, 1830, Sir William Huskisson became the first person run over by a passenger train. As Capital Metro announces that it will be shifting to evening testing for its MetroRail trains, the transit agency is asking people to make sure they don't become the next historic statistic.
First Texas FLDS Member Sent to Jail
Jordan Smith
Wed Nov 11, 12:53pm
Raymond Jessop, the first of 12 members of the polygamous Mormon breakaway sect the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be tried in Texas on sexual assault and bigamy charges related to the practice of taking multiple wives – and often underage wives – has been given 10 years in prison by a jury in the West Texas town of Eldorado.
Hampton For Judge
Jordan Smith
Tue Nov 10, 5:52pm
Entering the political fray for the first time as a candidate, Austin criminal defense attorney Keith Hampton on Nov. 4 filed paperwork to run as a Democratic candidate for the Court of Criminal Appeals seat currently held by Judge Michael Keasler.
Fox Versus Grouch
Richard Whittaker
Tue Nov 10, 3:32pm
Pity poor Fox News. Not only are those poor, defenseless wretches being bullied by those nasty White House socialists, but now Sesame Street is ganging up on them.
Scott's Softer Tone
Richard Whittaker
Mon Nov 9, 5:44pm
Commission of Education Robert Scott and Austin ISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen have scarcely had the best working relationship. So there has been some scratching of heads about the (relatively) nice words he had say at last week's Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce lunchtime meeting about education.
Kimley-Horn Wins Job
Katherine Gregor
Fri Nov 6, 5:22pm
Tags: Transportation
City council followed the staff recommendation and selected the Kimley-Horn team for Austin's new Strategic Mobility Plan. For insight into team member Scott Polikov's perspective, read what he's been saying this week at CNU's Transportation Summit in Portland.
Obama Picks Environmentalist for EPA Region 6
Katherine Gregor
Fri Nov 6, 2:20pm
Tags: Environment
Sierra Club organizers Ian Davis and Eva Hernandez were celebrating this morning that President Barack Obama has selected Dr. Alfredo "Al" Armendariz as Regional Administrator for EPA Region 6, which includes Texas. “It’s great news!” said Davis. “Industry doesn’t like him. They’re having an ‘oh shit’ moment right now!”
Hopson Hops the Fence
Richard Whittaker
Fri Nov 6, 11:54am
Surprise news this morning: Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, is switching sides next election and run as a Republican. Even for a conservative Democrat, it's going to be interesting to see whether he'll be conservative enough for the new GOP orthodoxy.
Det. Dunn Suspended
Richard Whittaker
Thu Nov 5, 3:22pm
What's that old saying about the cover-up being punished worse than the action? The City of Austin has confirmed that APD Internal Affairs Det. Chris Dunn has been placed on indefinite suspension over emails he sent during the investigation into the May 11 fatal shooting of Nathaniel Smith II and serious wounding of Sir Smith by Officer Leonardo Quintana.
Sanders Shooting Decision
Richard Whittaker, Jordan Smith
Wed Nov 4, 5:23pm
New developments in the May 11 police shooting that resulted in the death of Nathaniel Sanders II and the severe injury of Sir Smith: This from Chronicle reporter Jordan Smith downtown:
(APD Chief Art) Acevedo gives (Officer Leonardo) Quintana 15 days suspension for not turning on camera. Exonerated on all other policy issues, including use of force.
Cap Metro to Raise Fares in January
Lee Nichols
Wed Nov 4, 4:05pm
Tags: Transportation
The Capital Metro Board of Directors voted to raise fares beginning January 18. The fare hike had already been approved to begin in August 2010, but decided to move the change up to January so as to keep federal stimulus money directed to rail improvements rather than daily operations.
Who's Gonna Listen to All These Totally Awesome AusChron Newscasts?
Wells Dunbar
Wed Nov 4, 3:33pm
The Newscast mulls the breaking APD decision regarding officer Leonardo Quintana, who shot and killed Nathaniel Sanders. Plus, we rap about the pro-condo campaign undertaken by Will Wynn, and the new contract with the city’s fire department. Keep listening for our killer condo remix, or cop it as a separate download below!
The Eight Percenters
Richard Whittaker
Wed Nov 4, 1:46pm
So what did we learn from last night's constitutional amendment election? That, no matter how much conservatives try to convince the world that the number one burning issue on everyone's mind is eminent domain, it won't get them to the polls.
