Austin

What makes a top performing city?

The tech and hospitality industries drive sustainable economic performance, but broadband access, affordability and resilience also play key roles, according to the Milken Institute.

  • By Molly Bolan

Austin will now allow more homes to be built on single-family lots

City officials hope that allowing up to three units per lot will increase supply and slow the explosive increase in housing costs. The measure was approved by Austin City Council in a 9-2 vote late Thursday night.

  • By Joshua Fechter, The Texas Tribune

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Threatened to Sue Austin Over Mask Mandate. The City Isn't Backing Down.

Austin and Travis County officials said they would continue to require masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott ended his statewide mandate.

  • By Reese Oxner, The Texas Tribune

'I Need to Find Water, and I Need to Find it Now': A Local Official Takes Disaster Relief Into Her Own Hands

Paige Ellis, a city council member in Austin, Texas tracked down 10 pallets of bottled water and distributed it across her district after winter storms left thousands in the state without power or water.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

SolarWinds Hack Also Hit States and Local Governments, Reports Say

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Experts worry local news could spread anti-vax conspiracies … Minnesota officials want to keep up fence around state capitol .... Massachusetts town sets out empty chairs as Covid memorial.

  • By Laura Maggi

Austin Embraces $7 Billion Transit Investment Plan

City voters approved a tax hike that will fund a new rail system, bus routes, and shuttles, in addition to investments in bike lanes, sidewalks, and urban trails.

  • By Emma Coleman

In One State, a Threat to Freeze Property Taxes in Cities That ‘Defund’ Police

The proposal from Texas’ governor and other Republicans in the state comes in response to cuts and other changes that Austin made to its police budget.

  • By Bill Lucia

School Districts Deploy WiFi-Equipped Buses to Expand Broadband Access for Students

School districts across the country are sending buses with WiFi to neighborhoods with limited broadband access to help students connect for full-time distance learning.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

After a Man Died, Texas' Governor Blamed Austin's Homeless Policies. The Mayor Called It Demonizing.

Since Austin rolled back three ordinances that prohibited people who are homeless from camping or congregating, Gov. Greg Abbott and city leaders have been at odds about the issue.

  • By Juan Pablo Garnham, The Texas Tribune

As Texas Cracks Down On Abortion, Austin Votes To Help Women Defray Costs

The Austin City Council is setting aside $150,000 in city funds to help local women seeking an abortion pay for related costs, such as transportation or child care.

  • By Ashley Lopez and Kaiser Health News

The Toxic Algae That's Taking Over The Country's Waters

Blue-green algae blooms have been reported in dozens of states and municipalities, shutting beaches and putting people and animals at risk.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

One City’s Journey to Filing Complaints About Police Online

Austin, Texas, debuted an anonymous online feedback form that eases the process for residents to describe interactions they have with police officers

  • By Emma Coleman
Featured eBooks
The State of Trust in Government
Cybersecurity in State and Local Government
Building Data Literacy in the State and Local Workforce

Head Injuries Common in Scooter Crashes, Study Finds. Helmets Not So Much.

The research out of Austin, Texas examines the cases of 190 people hurt riding electric scooters.

  • By Bill Lucia

These Cities Rank Among the Country's Best Places to Live

Austin tops the U.S. News & World Report rankings for the third year in a row.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Mental Health Trails Metal Detectors in School Safety Dollars

Gunmen killed 56 people in U.S. school shootings in 2018. While most states have prioritized investment in physical infrastructure, like surveillance cameras, some are starting to look at mental health treatment availability as well.

  • By Christine Vestal

Sending Queso to the Moon

Austin Mayor Steve Adler provides a queso recipe to future civilizations, including it a package that began a voyage to the moon earlier this week.

  • By Laura Maggi

Metros Should Focus on Attracting and Upskilling Workers in ‘Opportunity Industries’

There’s a difference between a good job, a promising job and other jobs, particularly for people without bachelor’s degrees, according to a recent Brookings report.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Apple to Build a New Campus and Add Thousands of Jobs

Along with a new Austin campus, the company says it will add jobs at sites around the country.

  • By Ephrat Livni, Quartz

Austin's Paid Sick-Leave Law Scrapped by Court

A three-judge panel found the city ordinance essentially regulated workers’ wages, which Texas law mandates can only be done by the state.

  • By Laura Maggi

Somewhat Good News Amid Austin’s Drinking Water Crisis

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Indiana’s balanced-budget proposal … newly discovered quake faults in Oregon … and “demographic time bomb” in a Colorado ski town.

  • By Michael Grass

Austin Just Became the U.S. Army’s Silicon Valley

The service is making a big bet that getting closer to tech startups will help deter future adversaries.

  • By Patrick Tucker