Austin
GOVERNMENT
Study ranks three Texas lakes among 'dirtiest' in U.S.
A new study ranks three Texas lakes in the top 10 dirtiest lakes in the U.S. The study was released by Lake.com, a vacation rental platform that used data from the National Water Quality Monitoring Council, which is part of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Texas lakes were in West Texas, North Texas and near Austin.
Hundreds of Central Texas pool owners sue over 'concrete cancer' defect
Just five months after completing his pool, Patel noticed spider-like cracks oozing with white gel spreading along the outside wall. (Kameryn Griesser/Community Impact) Leander resident Sachin Patel always dreamed of affording a backyard pool for his children, but shortly after building one in 2019, his dream began to crumble. In...
'Something people are going to miss' | Neighbors upset South Austin mural is being painted over
AUSTIN, Texas — When creating a mural for the now-closed restaurant Masa y Más, Austin muralist Niz wanted the art to reflect the community. "At that point, I was like, there's not one mural of a grandma or a Mexican family values and culture that I can think of, and so that was the initial inspiration," Niz said. "Eventually, it sort of morphed into the chef wanting it to be his mom because a lot of the food at Masa y Más was inspired by his mom's cooking and by Mexican street food."
Ex-aide to former Austin Mayor Steve Adler sentenced for federal conspiracy charges
AUSTIN, Texas — An ex-aide to former Austin Mayor Steve Adler has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $21,375 in restitution for taking payments from a nonprofit that won a federal contract he promoted. Frank Rodriguez, 73, of Dripping Springs, left his job as...
For public transit. Against Project Connect.
Austin Needs Public Transit, Just Not Project Connect. Austin, the 11th-largest city in the US, needs better public transportation. In 1985, voters approved the creation of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) and a 1% sales tax increase to fund it. While this generated $40 million in 1986, it will bring in almost $400 million in 2024.
Texas Cities Can Keep Fining Homeless People, Amid Rising Crisis
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that cities can enforce their own bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places, meaning that Texas cities like Austin can keep their homeless bans in place. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that outdoor sleeping bans don’t violate the Eighth Amendment...
Celebrate Independence Day in Central Texas: A Guide to Free Festivities
Independence Day is a time for celebration, and Central Texas offers a plethora of free events to mark the occasion. From parades to fireworks and live music, there’s something for everyone. Here’s your guide to the best free Independence Day events happening across Bastrop, Blanco, Buda, Burnet, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
TSTA Announces Passing of Executive Director Richard Kouri
The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) on Monday announced the passing of Richard Kouri, the association’s executive director. Kouri, 69, died on June 28 in Austin, following a lengthy illness. “Richard was one of a kind and worked tirelessly his entire career for our public school students and educators,...
See the harrowing tales of Old Zilker Park from families who lived in the middle of it
One of the most memorable columns from "Austin Untold Stories," an American-Statesman series about city parks and a predecessor to the current "Austin Answered," was a report about three families who raised their children in the Zilker Caretaker's Cottage, a sweet house located just downstream from Barton Springs Pool. Once hidden behind...
Groups call on city of Austin to adopt programs for unhoused community
Advocates are asking the city of Austin to do more to help the unhoused in the wake of a Supreme Court decision which allows cities to criminally punish those who are homeless, even if they don’t have access to shelter. Members from Austin Mutual Aid and VOCAL Texas shared...
Rainey Street District safety improvements along trail almost complete
AUSTIN, Texas - Safety upgrades near the Rainey Street Trailhead for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail are on track to be completed by the end of the summer. On Monday, July 1, crews were installing new, permanent light fixtures along the trail. The lighting is part of roughly $800,000 worth of safety improvements currently underway.
New World Record Made At Sips & Sounds In Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas has been known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," for quite a long time, and that title was appropriately manifested over two days at Circuit of the Americas for the 2024 Coca Cola Sips & Sounds Summer Festival that featured two full days of live country, blues, and soul with a whole lot of refreshing Coke products that always hit the spot in our lovely Central Texas heat.
Austin Animal Center stops intake as shelter continues to deal with capacity issues
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Animal Center (AAC) has temporarily closed intake as the shelter continues to experience critical capacity issues, the city of Austin said in a release on Monday. AAC said the decision is effective Tuesday, July 2, as more animals have been coming into the shelter...
TEA announces Generation 29 charter school decisions
Jul. 2—AUSTIN — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced Tuesday the State Board of Education (SBOE) vote following Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath's recommendation to grant Generation 29 charters. Pending contract approval and the reconciliation of any final contingencies, the following four Generation 29 charter school applicants are slated to begin serving Texas public school ...
Strange holidays for every day in July
AUSTIN (KXAN) — July in the U.S. is best known for Independence Day (and the fireworks that come with it), but that’s not the only thing worth celebrating. These other holidays are sure to make you question their existence. July 1. National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day &...
Austin-Travis County EMS PA stops by local lemonade stand
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-Travis County EMS Physical Assistant J. Koch found a good way to beat the heat on Saturday. He was reportedly in the Montopolis area when he spotted a small stand by the side of the road. An orange sign advertising “LEMONADE” was too tempting to pass up.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.