In February 2021, when a deep winter freeze caused burst pipes in homes and businesses all over Austin, a city staffer looking for available plumbers called Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area and one of the local experts… The post Workforce leaders talk how to grow skilled trades pipeline to 10,000+ workers annually appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

Following a 2018 performance review, Travis County hospital district Central Health analyzed the county health care system, searching for service gaps among its target safety-net population. The county queried its population’s access to eight lines of service, from primary to specialty and dental… The post Central Health board focuses on equity as it expands access to specialty care appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

As Austinites prepare for another round of scorching temperatures, stewards of their dwindling water supply are strategizing, with updates to the city’s Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan expected to hit City Council’s desk next week. The new plan, which… The post Amid worsening drought, Austin Water floats updates on conservation and drought contingency plan appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

The city may soon take steps to promote the creation of “agrihood” developments in Northeast Austin, which would combine small community farms with housing. Proponents of the movement see the still-rare projects as an answer to Austin’s housing needs and… The post City could push ‘agrihood’ combos of farmland, housing developments in East Austin appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

After years of back and forth, Travis County is taking a small step to provide lawyers for low-income people accused of crimes. A program known as “counsel at first appearance” started in a limited capacity Tuesday, with the county providing… The post Travis County tests out program to provide lawyers for low-income defendants at its downtown jail appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

No city in Texas has adopted bird-friendly building policies for new construction or retrofits, but the Travis Audubon Society hopes Austin, a designated “Bird City,” will lead the way. To advance this cause, the organization enlisted Heidi Trudell, a consultant… The post Design Commission hears how buildings can be safer for birds appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

A Travis County resident is trying to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Betsy Dupuis filed a lawsuit Friday under House Bill 17, which allows anyone in a county to try to remove that county’s top prosecutor. Her complaint is similar… The post Why is someone suing to get Travis County DA José Garza out of office – and what comes next? appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

The Downtown Commission wants the city to take a more proactive role in a proposed new measure that seeks to address friction over noise levels between new residential developments and existing music venues. Last week’s meeting included a presentation on… The post Downtown Commission suggests tweaks to ‘agent of change’ noise requirements appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

For Austin, like most other Texas cities, property taxes are its single largest source of revenue for the General Fund. The second-biggest revenue source is sales taxes, as explained by Budget Officer Kerri Lang at Tuesday’s City Council work session.… The post City budget writers outline some rate increases appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more

Plans for an electric-vehicle charging lot spanning Pleasant Valley Road were thwarted by Planning Commission members who objected to its auto-centric nature at their last meeting. The project would have created two electric-vehicle charging parking lots flanking Pleasant Valley at… The post New EV station will not charge forward in East Austin appeared first on Austin Monitor ..read more