Armed ride-hailing app service soon coming to Austin "BlackWolf is a ride-hailing service app in the mold of Uber that has differentiated itself by offering the option to ensure your driver comes equipped with a firearm. … Now the service is coming to Austin, Dallas and Houston, with rides projected to start by the end of the year or in early 2025.” (Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American-Statesman)
Former PARD Director McNeeley resigns from top post at The Trail Conservancy "In a surprising turn of events, Kimberly McNeeley has resigned from her position as CEO of The Trail Conservancy after less than six months on the job. McNeeley had previously served as director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department until her resignation in May.” (Amy Smith, Austin Monitor)
After a decline last year, Travis County homeowners should expect a return to rising property taxes "According to an analysis by the Travis County Tax Office, the average property tax bill this year for homeowners who live in their homes is $1,123 higher than last year, or about a 11% increase. This is the largest projected jump in the average tax bill since at least 2014.” (Audrey McGlinchy, KUT 90.5)
Increase in Cost of I-35 “Caps” Means Less Money for Other City Projects "Transportation officials and local elected leaders have pitched building ‘caps' over I-35 to create public spaces as a way of improving a highway expansion project that will have negative climate effects while even Texas Department of Transportation engineers acknowledge the expansion will not alleviate traffic congestion much, but now officials are clear – the caps themselves will threaten funding for other city services and infrastructure projects in the future.” (Austin Sanders, Austin Chronicle)
ERCOT meteorologist predicts higher chance of extreme cold this winter "The lead meteorologist for the state’s power grid operator, ERCOT, is predicting both a warmer winter and a higher chance of extreme cold. During a Tuesday board meeting, Chris Coleman said current climate patterns are very similar to those in 2021 when a winter storm knocked out power for millions of Texans for several days.” (Brianna Caleri, CultureMap Austin)
