Suburban Voters Head to the Polls

Nearby city councils, school board seats, and bonds on the ballot

"...Select Austin-area municipal utility districts (MUDs) will also participate in the election. MUDs..."

April 25, 2025 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...climate-related investments to reduce carbon emission, conserve land and water, and build community resilience...."

Feb. 28, 2025 News Feature

City Council Gets Its Head in the Game

With only one first-term Trump-era vet and several rookies, Council squares up

"...progress on a range of issues – housing, homelessness, water preservation – amid Republican rule. Even when Austin’s leaders..."

Jan. 31, 2025 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Opinion: A Generation Plan for the Next Generation

Council Member Ryan Alter on why now is not the time to include new gas-fired power generation in the Austin Energy plan

"...expensive, more dangerous, and more difficult. From threatening our water supply to increased insurance, food, and energy costs, we..."

Dec. 13, 2024 Column by Ryan Alter

Council Updates Austin’s 100-Year Water Forward Plan

Amid increasing drought, conservation goals require customers’ help

"...first update in four years to the city’s 100-year water resource plan, Water Forward. Though with some 2024 conservation..."

Dec. 6, 2024 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...have implemented a temporary fix that cuts down on water loss, but they’re working on a permanent solution...."

Sept. 6, 2024 News Feature

City-Contracted Toxic Algae Mitigation Tactic Has Seen “Mixed” Results

Algae production best slowed by limiting runoff

"...Point Venture on Lake Travis, but after testing the water, LCRA didn’t detect any toxins. They did, however, find..."

July 26, 2024 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Proposed City Budget Raises Taxes and Utility Bills, but Doesn’t Spend Enough on Priorities, Advocates Say

Advocates want more spending on homelessness, parks, climate

"...a year. It also increases city fees for electricity, water, trash pickup, and other services by $170 a year..."

July 19, 2024 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

The Common Law

Smart water meter installation

"...me notice that they will be installing a smart water meter on my property. Can they install it without..."

July 5, 2024 Column by Luke Ellis

Why Austin Can’t Seem to Quit Its Despised Coal Plant

Locals continue to get coal for Christmas

"...that Fayette's operations interfere with LCRA's and Austin's shared water problems. Eventually closing Fayette would free up a massive..."

Dec. 1, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Steiner Ranch Water Cut Off for Repeat Violations of Drought Restrictions

Residents blame faulty meters, utility says they’re accurate

"...homeowners in Steiner Ranch in Northwest Austin had their water cut off this week for overwatering in violation of..."

Sept. 15, 2023 News Post by Lina Fisher

Can Federal Funds Clear Up Local Water Problems?

Water quality is worst in marginalized communities

"...the pipe connections came apart in his hands. "The water quality has always been terrible," he says. "It ruins..."

Sept. 15, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...Austin entered Stage 2 drought restrictions, which include lawn watering only once a week. The penalty for noncompliance –..."

Aug. 18, 2023 News Feature

How Much of the Colorado Should We Leave Up to Elon Musk’s Discretion?

Tesla uses a massive amount of water while the Boring Co. attempts to dump its wastewater into the river

"...the deal with Tesla aren't sure exactly how much water the factory is using or will use, despite repeated..."

Aug. 11, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...the city is issuing an estimated 150 citations for water restriction violations per day, Community Impact reported...."

Aug. 4, 2023 News Feature

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...encompasses Corpus Christi. Beach pollution tends to come from stormwater and agricultural production runoff, outdated sewage systems, and sprawling..."

July 14, 2023 News Feature

Houston Sues the State Over “Death Star" Law

Lawsuit cities state overreach, vague language, and undue burden on cities

"...like Austin's 2010 rest break ordinance, which mandates a water break every four hours for construction workers. Already this..."

July 14, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Legislature Ensures More Gas Production in Texas, Less Renewables

Assessing this session's environmental impact

"...what cost to renewables and the consumer? The Public Utility Commission's Performance Credit Mechanism idea, which would incentivize generators..."

June 2, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Could New EPA Haze Rule Push Fayette Power Plant Out of Favor?

Stricter pollution controls mean higher costs to keep it running

"...Big Bend. Plus, Fayette uses 5 billion gallons of water from the Colorado River a year, competing with agriculture..."

May 13, 2023 News Post by Lina Fisher

Austin Transit Partnership Needs Your Input as Project Connect Enters Its Trade-Offs Era

Turn this train around

"...include a bullet point stating they would require "significant utility relocations." Beaudet said that mainly references Austin Water and..."

April 7, 2023 News Feature by Benton Graham

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...applying for a permit to dump 142,500 gallons of wastewater per day into the Colorado River, Elon Musk's Boring..."

March 31, 2023 News Feature

Council Says: Okay, Maybe We’ll Bury the Power Lines After All

The first step will be studying feasibility

"...roughly 5,000 miles of overhead lines hung throughout the utility's distribution system. Plus, burying lines in flood-prone Austin would..."

March 24, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Inside

High-concept art heist flick is an arthouse dud

"...he wanders around the penthouse, which is without tap water and temperature regulation thanks to the thief breaking the..."

March 17, 2023 Movie Review by Alejandra Martinez

Inside the Last Days of City Manager Spencer Cronk

After dramatic days of extreme weather and backstabbing, Council lets Cronk go

"...Failures at Austin Water and Austin Energy have also become an increasingly dire..."

Feb. 17, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

As Austin Recovers From Winter Storm Mara, City Manager's Job Is (Again) on the Line

Walking on thin ice

"...Storm Mara – what the chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas called "an ice hurricane" that made..."

Feb. 10, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Challenging Repair Work Amid "Horrendous" Conditions as Thousands Remain Without Power

Austin Energy lines sustain massive damage in ice storm

"...aftermath of the severe ice storm, the publicly owned utility still cannot say when power will be fully restored..."

Feb. 2, 2023 News Post by Austin Sanders

A Light Meeting as the New Council Gets Itself Sorted

First work session focused on committee memberships

"...Fuentes expressed concern over Pool chairing both of Council's utility oversight committees (Austin Energy and Austin Water) and suggested..."

Jan. 27, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin Water Audit Zeroes In on Problems at Treatment Plant

Weak morale, understaffing contributed to four system failures in five years

"...After the city-deemed "ultimately preventable" boil water notice in early February of last year that led..."

Jan. 20, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...Hello Water: Austin Water has a new director, with 29 years..."

Dec. 30, 2022 News Feature

Austin at Large: What’s Public, What’s Private

Power and parks: My conflicting views of privatizing public services and spaces

"...should let Austin Energy operate more like a private utility, but I have qualms about the city Parks and..."

Dec. 2, 2022 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

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