Austin Signal

August 18, 2026

New city 911 office, Austin fire chief retiring, Goth culture in Texas

The city’s system of 911 call-takers will be moving from the Austin Police Department into a standalone office in an effort to improve response times. The City Council approved the move as part of the city’s $6.6 billion budget — though not everyone agrees on the plan. Austin’s Fire Chief Joel G. Baker is retiring […]

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August 17, 2026

Reaction to AISD school ratings, Giant Adirondack chair, Books set in Austin

Classes start tomorrow in the Austin Independent School District, fresh off news last week that two of its middle schools registered a fifth failing state accountability rating. That has opened the door to possible state intervention, but some folks are asking that the positive gains Austin schools have made also be considered in the whatever […]

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August 14, 2026

UT curriculum changes, Cesar Chavez Street input, Restaurant inspection scores

UT Austin wants to change the assigned classes required of future undergraduates. It’s the first such change in more than two decades. The city of Austin is gathering feedback about the possibility of renaming Cesar Chavez Street after the labor leader was accused of sexual assault. How you can make your voice heard. Have you […]

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August 13, 2026

Two Austin schools receive fifth failing ratings, opening door to state takeover

Two struggling Austin middle schools have received a fifth consecutive failing accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency, opening the door to a state takeover of all the schools in the district. Houston ISD, the biggest school district in Texas, has been under state mandate for a few years. How it’s going so far. The […]

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August 12, 2026

Could Austin land an NHL franchise?

The city of Austin is nearing decision time on its upcoming fiscal budget. The first draft called for cuts to public health programs, parks and other services. The City Council has spent weeks shaping the version that’ll soon be approved. Proponents of data centers say they can be a boon to the areas they’re built […]

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August 11, 2026

Summer rains replenished Jacob’s Well — for a few weeks

UT Austin is implementing some new rules for getting around on campus ahead of the new school year, but the changes aren’t impacting every set of wheels. An update on the ongoing negotiations affecting CapMetro bus drivers and transit workers. The Austin school district is facing the looming threat of a state takeover because of […]

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August 10, 2026

How to get the best view of the Perseid meteor shower in Austin this week

Austin ISD classes start next week, and after announcing a change in how students will be shuffled to and from campuses, the district has backtracked on bus hubs for middle schoolers. The proposed development of Dog’s Head in Southeast Austin continues to move forward, despite what some feel is a lack of public input. That’s […]

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August 7, 2026

How Austin became obsessed with being weird

Gov. Greg Abbott is pitching the idea of eliminating what he calls “city monopolies” on providing electricity, a plan focused in part on Austin Energy. He claims a move like this could lower customer rates, but how has deregulation played out in other parts of the state? “Austinhenge” this weekend is a darn good chance […]

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