The City Budget Deficit Is Finally Here

Rising costs, declining revenues to blame

"...After years of city budget staff warning of impending budget deficits,..."

April 18, 2025 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Texas DOGE Committee Looks to Form $88M State Cybersecurity Agency

Cyber Command would dramatically expand spending on cybersecurity

"...agency would cost roughly $88 million in the first year, and total to $413 million during its first five..."

March 28, 2025 News Feature by Maggie Quinlan

City Council Gets Its Head in the Game

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

"...the importance of pragmatic progress. Especially in the constrained fiscal environment the city is entering with limited tax revenue,..."

Jan. 31, 2025 News Feature by Austin Sanders

The 10 Biggest Austin News Stories of 2024

A year of upheaval and settling dust

"...In many ways, 2024 was a year of upheaval and realignment for city government in Austin...."

Dec. 13, 2024 News Feature by the News Team

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...a Joe Biden-Kamala Harris bus on I-35 in October 2020, a federal jury rejected voter intimidation allegations against all..."

Sept. 27, 2024 News Feature

How to Start Supporting Nonprofits in Austin Like It’s No Big Deal

No profit, no problem

"...to prohibit that – especially in a presidential election year. “By working at the polls, you can ensure that..."

Aug. 23, 2024 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Why Venues Are Struggling to Stay Open in the Live Music Capital of the World

As Hot Summer Nights descends, Austin’s live music epicenter campaigns for city support

"...certification by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2020...."

July 12, 2024 Music Feature by Carys Anderson

Six Great Breweries Off the Beaten Path

In tumultuous times for Austin beer, these undersung gems are worth seeking out

"...don’t make it to that point. In the last fiscal cycle alone, the market has taken from us true..."

March 1, 2024 Food Feature by Eric Puga

Travis County Needs to Double Its Emissions Reductions by 2030

No strategy too small for tackling climate change

"...In June 2020, Travis County created its first Climate Action Plan, right..."

Oct. 13, 2023 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Here's How Austin's Last-Minute City Budget Battles Played Out

How advocates' calls for action were and weren't answered

"...the day City Council was set to approve a budget for fiscal year 2023-24, much of the $5.5 billion..."

Aug. 25, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Council Approves Operator for First Trauma Recovery Center in Texas

Safety > punishment

"...that has been sought by community advocates for two years...."

July 28, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin’s Exclusionary Housing Policies Are Getting Revolutionary Rewrites

After decades of resistance doors open for less-wealthy Austinites

"...changes to Austin's Land Development Code that, just three years ago, were thought to be unachievable...."

July 28, 2023 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Greg Casar Enters the National Spotlight, and Brings His Grassroots Coalition With Him

New year, new rep

"...(all 11 seats open, more than 80 candidates) two years later; Adler and Casar became foundational members when they..."

Dec. 30, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Austin Energy's Proposed Rate Change Draws Controversy

Critics say the base rate increase will hurt low-income customers

"...in 2017, when it decreased by 6.7%. Notably, in 2020, AE customers' average monthly bill was the second-lowest in..."

Sept. 2, 2022 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Council Preview: Automatic License Plate Readers to Return?

Advocates call on CMs to just say no to controversial program

"...would allow APD to spend $114,775 from the current fiscal year’s budget (ending Sept. 30) to reinstate the program,..."

Aug. 30, 2022 News Post by Austin Sanders

Homelessness and Mobility Top District 5 and 8 Issues

A southwest state of mind

"...aide to then-state Sen. Kirk Watson from 2015 to 2020, calls for streamlining site planning and reducing fees to..."

Aug. 26, 2022 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Council Puts Finishing Touches on New Budget

Every last dollar

"...City Council is deep in the weeds of budget deliberations as we go to press Wed­nes­day, Aug. 17,..."

Aug. 19, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

City Extends Contract With Kroll to Continue Austin Police Review

Phase C to examine APD complaint and grievance procedures

"...request to accelerate or increase cadet classes" in the fiscal year 2023 budget, up for approval beginning Aug. 17...."

Aug. 12, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

City Council Gets Some Breathing Room on the Budget

Austin bounced back from COVID with what City Manager Spencer Cronk called “spectacular economic growth.” How spectacular?

"...their CEO, City Manager Spencer Cronk, presented his proposed fiscal year 2023 budget, a $5 billion spending plan for..."

July 22, 2022 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

City Ends Contract With Operator of Austin's Downtown Homeless Shelter

Front Steps has run the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless since 2004

"...of Austin had hit 97% of its goal for fiscal year 2022 by July, which is 10 months into..."

July 22, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Investigation Finds Hostile Work Environment in Civil Rights Office

Things fall apart

"...the city's nascent Office of Civil Rights, created in 2020 to gather together functions previously in several different departments,..."

July 22, 2022 News Feature by Maggie Quinlan

Pushing for Real Police Oversight in Contract and on the Ballot

What exactly is a G File?

"...such claims to be made anonymously. However, during this year's negotiations for a new police contract, the city's Labor..."

July 15, 2022 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

On Austin Climate Equity, More Plan Than Action

Staffing crunch slows down sustainability efforts

"...news: "Communitywide emissions decreased by 25% [from 2010 to 2020] and the per capita emissions decreased 39%. I like..."

June 24, 2022 News Feature by Lina Fisher

Travis County Declares an Opioid Crisis

The declaration comes with funding for harm reduction

"...After years of organizing by Texas Harm Reduction Alli­ance, including an..."

June 3, 2022 News Feature by Lina Fisher

The Mystery of the Mysterines

Why did I fly 1,500 miles to see Liverpool’s sixth best act?

"...Remember early 2020 through last spring? Flashback to those days: deserted streets,..."

May 25, 2022 Music Post by Raoul Hernandez

Council Recap: Nothing Goes Farther Than Cash

City to launch guaranteed-income pilot program

"...payments of $1,000 to 85 households for an entire year. Once people are accepted into the guaranteed income pilot,..."

May 6, 2022 News Post by Austin Sanders

“We Need Texas in This Fight”

Elizabeth Warren stumps for Casar, a growing progressive coalition in D.C., and affordable housing

"...local polls and in the Texas Legislature; and Council’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget, which reduced Austin Police Department funding..."

Feb. 25, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Greg Casar and Eddie Rodriguez Fight for the Progressive Mantle in TX-35

The two candidates race to the left

"...the two seats Texas gained in reapportionment following the 2020 census, was drawn as a solidly Democratic vote sink..."

Feb. 4, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

New Study’s Staffing Model Calls for 108 New Officers

More cops, 2022 version

"...911 calls to meet community expectations, the city should budget for 882 patrol positions, which is 108 more than..."

Jan. 21, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Seven Candidates Vie for the Future of District 4

Special election decides who will complete Greg Casar's term at City Hall

"...Casar, who's now running for Congress. Over these seven years, Casar has won four elections for the seat (counting..."

Jan. 7, 2022 News Feature by Austin Sanders

1   2   3   4   5     NEXT ›    5 »