Luz Moreno-Lozano
City Hall ReporterWhat I cover
The City of Austin is home to nearly 1 million people. The city is represented by 10 council member districts and a mayor. My work is focused on highlighting the decisions the 11-member City Council makes and how that affects the people of Austin. That can include decisions about housing, child care, homelessness and public safety. I am interested in covering affordability in Austin more closely and how the decisions being made by the Austin City Council are impacting working people and people of color.
My background
Before joining KUT, I spent five years covering communities for the Austin American-Statesman. I focused on Austin’s wealthy suburbs to the west before moving to covering growth and equity issues in East Austin and Hays County. I was also a National Press Foundation Widening the Pipeline fellow from 2022-2023, during which I learned from field experts on a variety of topics from data journalism to career guidance.
I have spent most of my career covering communities and local politics. I began in 2013 working as a general assignment reporter for a small paper just outside San Antonio. I covered everything from city and county politics to high school sports and community events.
I was born and raised in San Antonio (where the good tacos are). I graduated from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) with a degree in communication and a minor in Journalism.
Journalistic ethics
Like my colleagues, I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity. While on assignment, I identify myself as a reporter for KUT and do my best to get as many voices as I can so we get a full picture of what’s happening. I always ask permission when recording interviews over the phone and make sure to ask for full name and pronunciation.
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El Consejo de la Ciudad votó a favor de designar el terreno como zona verde, lo que permite a la ciudad utilizar los fondos para parques para ampliar el acceso a los senderos y construir parques infantiles. El objetivo de Austin es garantizar que todos sus habitantes puedan acceder a un parque en un radio de 5 a 10 minutos a pie. -
The City Council voted to designate the land as parkland, which allows the city to use park funds for things like expanding trail access and building playgrounds. Austin has a goal of making sure there's a park within a 5-to-10-minute walk of all residents.
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Watson has raised nearly $1 million. That’s almost nine times the second highest-earning candidate, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday. -
Each election cycle, thousands of people who mail in their applications miss the deadline due to late postmarks. Travis County wanted to minimize that with in-person registration drives at several post offices. The Postal Service had agreed, but then changed its mind. -
Paxton argues the city's use of taxpayer dollars to fund travel costs for such a procedure violates the Texas Constitution. -
The city was allowing residents two minutes to speak total — no matter how many agenda items they wished to comment on. Now, people will get at least two minutes per item. -
The shelter was set to close in March, but will now operate until a new location is found, city officials said. The city is not yet sure how it will pay for it. -
The Marshalling Yard was supposed to close in August, but a contract to operate the shelter was extended. Finding a place to relocate people has proved challenging, so the contract could get extended again. -
Microchips are used to trace a lost pet back to its owner. They're one tool to help keep animals out of shelters. The Austin City Council could approve the rule next week. -
The county said it is not going to let the attorney general stop it from helping people register to vote. Residents who have received registration forms in the mail can still fill them out.
