Is Austin’s New Arts Umbrella Organization Just in Time or Too Little, Too Late?

After two decades of treating culture and creativity as an afterthought, the city of Austin finally has a real arts department

"...as “any time before now” would have been an improvement. Across the board, Austin’s arts scene is in crisis...."

April 25, 2025 Arts Feature by Richard Whittaker

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...doubled nationwide during the pandemic. Chronic absenteeism in the district was 26% this year, a touch lower than the..."

Dec. 20, 2024 News Feature

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...(solved case) rates, the department said it will begin publicizing those numbers. KUT looked at data submitted by APD..."

Sept. 13, 2024 News Feature

Can Dirty Sixth Be Cleaned Up?

City Hall, the bars and clubs, and now a big developer say, “Maybe?”

"...Based on past experience, Austinites can count on a public outcry to clean up and transform the Downtown entertainment..."

June 17, 2022 News Feature by Chad Swiatecki

Faster Than Sound: City Council Supports Music-Focused Arts Facility on East 11th Street

Harold McMillan breaks down civic steps to the envisioned Kenny Dorham Center

"...Austin City Council created an African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin, recognizing the home to historic institutions..."

Sept. 10, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

City Hall Gets Better at the Basic Business of Budgeting

Early indicators are good, but difficult fiscal conversations linger

"...and human services departments, which between them (along with public safety) encompass most of Austin's homelessness services, chose this..."

Aug. 16, 2019 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Political Action Committee Proclaims Support for Convention Center

PHAM says expansion means millions in community benefits

"...via both the 2% HOT increase and the related Tourism Public Improvement District agreement between the city and the..."

Aug. 8, 2019 News Post by Michael King

To Expand the Convention Center or Not?

Despite unanimous support from City Council, voters will decide the answer

"...surrounding southeast quarter of Downtown, now dubbed the "Palm District." In its grand – although still very tentative –..."

July 19, 2019 News Feature by Michael King

Petitions Filed to Force Vote on Convention Center

“Unconventional Austin” PAC submits signatures to city clerk

"...and when posted by the clerk’s office, should make public the major funding sources for the petition campaign...."

July 15, 2019 News Post by Michael King

Battle Lines Drawn on Convention Center Expansion

Arguments escalate on how to spend hotel occupancy tax revenue

"...and others, is gathering petition signatures to force a public vote on the expansion plan, along with other changes..."

June 14, 2019 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Battle Lines Drawn Over Convention Center Expansion

CM Jimmy Flannigan and AIBA ED Rebecca Melançon don't see eye to eye

"...the still-embryonic project, which Council advanced unanimously. (*John Riedie, Tourism Commissioner and CEO of Austin Creative Alliance, has expressed..."

June 5, 2019 News Post by Sarah Marloff

Council Moves on Convention Center Plans

The 24-page resolution brings together many of the moving parts from last summer’s “Downtown Puzzle”

"...dubbed – at least for now – the "Palm District." The 24-page omnibus resolution, carried by Council Member Kathie..."

May 31, 2019 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Council Gives Green Light to Convention Center, Scooter Riders

May 23 meeting tackles "Downtown puzzle," "micro-mobility"

"...funding for potential infrastructure projects in the Rainey Street district that would support Convention Center expansion, and which parts..."

May 24, 2019 News Post by Austin Sanders

Austin City Council Prepped to Tackle Palm District, Micro-Mobility, and More

A preview of the May 23 Council meeting

"...Center expansion, Palm School, Waller Creek, Rainey Street, a tourism-based public improvement district to fund social services, and more...."

May 22, 2019 News Post by Mike Clark-Madison

Putting Together the Downtown Puzzle

A closer look at Mayor Adler’s proposals to solve (and pay for) Downtown conundrums

"...aspects through a skeptical City Council and a dubious public, the mayor argues that the financial returns will bolster..."

Sept. 22, 2017 News Feature by Michael King

Playback: Sizing Up Music's Bite of the Hotel Tax

Two new municipal funding schemes look to finally impact Austin music

"...how is it that no one in the capital's public or private sector has ever succeeded in marketing Austin's..."

Sept. 15, 2017 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Point Austin: Hot Over HOT

City Council wrangles over Convention Center, hotel taxes, and Downtown's future

"...at City Hall that will soon demand plenty of public oxygen. The argument is over Mayor Steve Adler's "Downtown..."

Sept. 1, 2017 News Column by Michael King

Council: Downtown Puzzle or Rubik’s Cube?

Dais division brewing over hotel tax spending, tourism industry

"...taxpayers (or schools) in the six other Austin school districts, as well as how to preserve equity for seniors..."

Aug. 28, 2017 News Post by Michael King

The Mayor's Plan to Fix Everything

Adler to announce Downtown revitalization plan

"...a strategy for revitalizing the city’s most centralized Downtown districts while simultaneously purchasing housing for more than 200 members..."

July 16, 2017 News Post by Chase Hoffberger

Gone and Quartered

Stiffed on Capital Metro money, the city scrambles to fund another $51 million in transportation projects

"...decade. At long last, construction began in March on improvements: new and repaired sidewalks, street trees and landscaping, new..."

April 16, 2010 News Feature by Katherine Gregor

Developing Stories: Private Projects, Public Benefits

Could developers become Austin's new benefactors?

"...willingly, when asked – to help advance the broader public good. Developers of some high-dollar private projects in Central..."

April 6, 2007 News Column by Katherine Gregor

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...Lebanese infrastructure to eliminate "a local economic rival" for tourism and trade. For someone whose best work always challenges..."

Aug. 25, 2006 Column

Sixth Street Blues

Downtown stakeholders raise questions about policing ... the police

"...bust was not only a legal mess, but a public relations disaster for the APD, in large part because..."

March 18, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

"...• Construction on the Shoal Creek Boulevard Improvement Project has finally begun. After five years of struggle..."

Feb. 18, 2005 News Feature by Lee Nichols

Who Owns Sixth Street

Is Austin's Sixth Street Entertainment District undergoing an identity crisis? -- and who are the designated shrinks?

"...say they've arrested kids as young as 12 for public intoxication. But with some 20,000 people on Sixth Street..."

May 4, 2001 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Who You Gonna Call?

Small Texas towns look to Austin and Washington to jump-start economic development

"...Where in this tight-fisted state will money for another public assistance program be found? Panhandle Republican Warren Chisum answered..."

Feb. 23, 2001 News Feature by Kevin Fullerton

Postmarks

The dog-running controversy continues … and chalk another one up for Ventura.

"...conflicts with Smart Growth deserve the highest degree of public and media scrutiny...."

Oct. 1, 1999 Column

Safety First

Broken-Window Theory

"...stricter penalties for Class C misdemeanors, such as panhandling, public intoxication, and public camping. Currently such offenses carry a..."

April 2, 1999 News Feature by Bryan Mealer

The Price of Progress

Worldly Roots

"...Arthur Sampson, project inspector for the Public Works and Transportation Department, said construction of the new..."

Feb. 26, 1999 News Feature by Charles Nafus