Local Government

Texas is at the center of a nationwide war between state and local authorities. It’s an escalating dispute over who has what power — and when.

City staff identified 45 tracts of land that could fit the bill. Some are on parkland. One is a cemetery. The staff emphasized the list is preliminary.

After voters approved the reinstatement of Austin's public camping ban, City Council asked the city manager to look into city-sanctioned camping sites. A memo released Friday doesn't say where those sites are, but it includes a preliminary cost estimate.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza's new policy instructs his prosecutors to ask judges to require high-risk offenders to surrender any weapons as a condition of their bond.

City of Austin officials reiterated today that their plan to reinstate bans on behavior related to homelessness aims to use ticketing and arrests only if necessary.

It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday at Native, a new bar and hostel in East Austin. Half a dozen people occupy the blue velvet booths and alternative dance music…