Headlines

The newly elected 10 Council members and Mayor Steve Adler get sworn in during an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at the expanded City Hall dais. (Photo by Jana Birchum)

Before a packed house, and with a bit of hoopla, the new mayor, Steve Adler, and 10 City Council members were sworn in Tuesday night, ending a yearlong 10-1 campaign. First official meeting is Jan. 29, with plenty of prep before then.

Short Straws? Actually, it was black or white marbles that determined four-year terms or two (to establish staggered elections) for new CM's. Two years: Greg Casar, Delia Garza, Sheri Gallo, Leslie Pool, Don Zimmerman. Four years: Ora Houston, Ann Kitchen, Sabino "Pio" Renteria, Kathie Tovo, Ellen Troxclair – and Tovo was elected Mayor Pro Tem by her new colleagues.

Casar confirmed: After a Tuesday-long recount at the Travis Co. Elections Divi­sion, the Council District 4 election results were confirmed, and Council Member-elect Greg Casar was sworn in with his colleagues that evening. Defeated candidate Laura Pressley said her concerns were not satisfied and she is considering her options. See "Recount Confirms D4 Results," Jan 9.

Lawyers for former APD Detective Charles Kleinert filed a motion last week requesting that his manslaughter trial be removed to federal court, because he was assigned to the Central Texas Vio­lent Crimes Task Force and therefore acting as a federal officer at the time he shot Larry Jackson Jr. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel will consider the motion this Friday, Jan. 9.

A federal judge has blocked City Council's source of income protection ordinance, meant to prevent landlords from discriminating against renters who hold Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other government-subsidized programs. When hearing a suit filed against the city by the Austin Apartment Assoc­iation, U.S. Judge Sam Sparks halted the rule, set to go into effect Jan. 12, until a Jan. 26 court date. See "Hunting for Housing" Jan. 9.

AISD's new board of trustees convened for the first time on Jan. 6 and selected At-Large Place 8 trustee Gina Hinojosa as its new president. However, there was dissension in the ranks, with two nay votes. See "New Trustees for AISD," Jan. 9.

Texas' draconian HB 2 returned to court Wednesday, where a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments from both sides. They're expected to rule within the next two weeks on a requirement that is expected to close all but seven abortion clinics in the state. If they uphold the final part of HB 2, as they have with other sections of the ominibus bill, plaintiffs vow to take the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Governor-Elect Greg Abbott made an unusual visit to Austin High on Jan. 5 as the school opened new wheelchair accessibility features. Student Archer Hadley, who has cerebral palsy, raised over $80,000 to pay for the renovations.

Admiral William McRaven formally assumed his new position as UT System Chancel­lor on Jan. 5, replacing controversial former chief Francisco Cigarroa. To honor the day, he took to Twitter as @billmcraven.

No definitive results in the Jan. 6 legislative special elections, with all three going to run-offs. It's two Republicans (John Cyrier and Brent Goleman) in House District 17, a Democrat (Diego Bernal) versus a Repub­lican (Nunzio Previtera) in HD 123, and two Dems (Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer and José Menéndez) in Senate District 26. A fourth special, in HD 13, is scheduled for Jan. 13.