February 2025
- The importance of prescribed burns ahead of wildfire season
- Lake Travis Fire Rescue addresses local wildfire risk during town hall event
January 2025
- Austinites, local officials jump into Barton Springs Pool for Polar Bear Plunge
- In 2025, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard eyes building more supportive housing and strengthening climate resilience
December 2024
November 2024
- County renews opioid overdose crisis declaration, funds more harm reduction
- Travis County commissioners weigh in on upcoming Mirasol Springs water line decision
- Travis County voters supported a tax rate increase to expand access to affordable childcare. What happens now?
- Travis County launches pilot gun violence intervention program
- Travis County commissioners weighs in on upcoming Mirasol Springs water line decision
- Residents near Hamilton Pool oppose pipeline project
October 2024
- Travis County commissioners approve funds for women’s substance abuse treatment facility
- A place to go and a place to stay': Mental health diversion center launches in Travis County
- With Prop A, Travis County aims to invest $75 million into affordable child care
September 2024
- Travis County funds program to have defense attorneys at bond hearings
- Breaking down Travis County's proposed tax hike targeting child care costs
- It was a second mortgage every month' | Travis County leaders campaigning for more affordable child care
- Travis County officials sign off on another $27 million in affordable housing
- County approves Central Health budget, but seek legal help on Dell Medical School funds
- Travis County passes Central Health budget, but emphasizes continued scrutiny of financial practices
- Travis County Commissioners Court approves nearly $2 billion budget
- Travis County’s nearly $2 billion budget has the most funding for justice reform in county history
- Travis County Sets millions aside for Justice System in next budget.
August 2024
- Travis County launches new mental health program
- Austin, Travis County leaders look to expand pretrial counsel program
- Central Health asks Travis County for time to respond to new audit report
- Commissioners approve the creation of 39 jobs
- County to fully staff lawyers at bail hearings beginning Oct. 1
- Lakeway to join Bee Cave's legal battle against new distribution center | Community Impact
- Travis County Commissioners send affordable child care to your ballot
- Travis County child care proposal moves to November ballot
- Travis Commissioners consider tax rate hike for Nov 5 ballot to expand child care
- Travis County voters to determine if affordable child care is worth property tax increase
- County commissioners approve tax rate election to raise $75M for child care
- Travis County is asking voters to help pay for affordable child care this election
- Travis County officials announce tax rate election for affordable child care initiative
- For those arrested in Travis County, opportunity for counsel at first appearance could grow
- Commissioners advance program to provide legal counsel at bail hearings
- Travis County OKs road work, traffic detours on southern county road
June 2024
- Mental Health Diversion Pilot to Begin by August
- Travis County leaders to consider moving forward with affordable childcare program
- Travis Co. Commissioners to decide on tax rate election to support childcare
May 2024
- Lakeway to join Bee Cave's legal battle against new distribution center | Community Impact
- Travis County approves comprehensive study of emergency services - Austin Monitor
- Texas overhauls psychiatric system aiming to free up jails
- Travis County to address substandard roads for 1st time since 2017.
- Castletop land was slated for nearly 900 homes. It's becoming a Travis Co. park instead
- Here's a look at Castletop property, which was acquired by Travis County for $40 million
- Travis County Commissioners discuss ongoing I-35 project concerns
- is Travis County reaches historic $90M deal for 1,500-acre wilderness park (statesman.com)
- Travis County will turn family's ranch into 1,500 acres of public parkland
- New Travis County civil courthouse recognized as Project of the Year
- $124K contract approved to evaluate plumbing issues at Travis County Jail
- 1500 acres of a Texas Ranch Land will soon be a public park
- Adding acres: Travis County purchases land to increase park access, expand trail system
- Austin Advocates urge more support for harm reduction amid high overdose, fentanyl deaths
April 2024
- Housing is homeless prevention' | Travis County grants $7.2M towards building affordable housing for abuse victims
- $7.27M approved for affordable housing dedicated to homeless survivors of domestic, sexual violence
- Travis County approves $7.2M housing contract
- Travis County approves $7.27M for East Austin affordable housing complex
- Travis County moving forward with mental health diversion program
- County Rushes to Get Mental Health Diversion Center and Lawyers at Bail Hearings
- Travis County Diversion Center moves forward
- In Travis County, A Fight Over Bail Hearings Has Big Stakes For Criminal Defendants
- County Rushes to Get Mental Health Diversion Center and Lawyers at Bail Hearings
March 2024
- Property tax exemptions approved for qualifying Travis County child care centers
- Travis County approves 100% property tax exemption for eligible child care providers
February 2024
- Travis County gets feedback about proposed mental health diversion program
- Travis County, Austin split on $2M homeless services review
- Developers, residents weigh environmental concerns for projects
December 2023
- With Mental Health Diversion Center Forthcoming, Sheriff Still Wants More Humane Jail Facilities
- County emphasizes winter safety awareness
- Travis County Diversion Center Design to Begin in 2024
- Travis County sends letter in opposition of Hays County’s SH 45 gap study
- Howard proudly ruffling feathers her third year in office - Austin Monitor
November 2023
- Campaign Context: A closer look at Travis County’s bond proposal
- At the county, mentoring and advocacy service comes back to life
- Widespread Opposition to Concert Venue West of Austin Might Not Be Enough to Kill It
- $500 million for Travis County roads and parks on ballot
- What's on the Nov. 7 ballot in Travis County? Breaking down Props A and B
- County contract to help more residents avoid eviction
- Travis County’s $509M bond aims to improve roads and parks, acquire parkland to protect
- Travis County, nonprofit partner on $6M tenant stabilization program
- New trauma recovery center opens in Austin to aid survivors of violent crime
- First Trauma Recovery Center in the state opens its doors in Austin
- Harvest Trauma Recovery Center brings free community violence support services to Austin
- Better Builder Program provides oversight for construction sites in Travis County
October 2023
September 2023
June 2023
- Travis County Moves to Stop Jailing Austinites With Mental Illness
- Massive sports complex opens in southwest Travis County
- Travis County unveils diversion center pilot program | Community Impact
- ‘Jail is not the answer’: Leaders to discuss mental health diversion program details
- 'For the Love of Parks' brings Travis County families together
- Travis County leaders hope to bring world class mental health diversion effort to county
- Travis County, City of Austin leaders unveil plans for new mental health pilot program
- Travis County leaders working to expand jail diversion program
- Proponen nuevo centro de ayuda para la salud mental en Austin
May 2023
- Travis County considers own ‘Marshall Plan’
- Travis County commissioners, Doggett celebrate “unprecedented” investment in social safety net
- Neighbors concerned about illegal activity on unpaved roads near highway 620
- Travis County takes first steps on jail alternative
March 2023
- $1 million in federal funding for mental health training to benefit Travis County residents
- Texas State receives $1 million in federal funds to improve mental health in Travis County through data
January 2023
- Austin count of homeless people returns this weekend. Here's what we know
- County funds $1.2 million probate court
- Travis County approves $35 million contract for 640 supportive housing units
- Travis County OKs $35 million contract to build housing units for homeless population
- Travis County invests $35 million in new housing for those experiencing homelessness
- Travis County approves $35 million for Mobile Loaves & Fishes housing units, infrastructure
- Travis County approves contract to build more housing units at Community First! Village
- Travis County leaders revisit future of historic Palm School
November 2022
- Travis, Williamson County leaders join national housing affordability task force
- Leaders in Travis County to provide update over 'public health crisis' of drug overdoses
- Travis County looking for legislative changes after startling overdose data released.
October 2022
- Travis County takes next steps in gun violence prevention through ‘Safer Travis County’ resolution
- Travis County seeks to expand internet access with St. David’s Foundation grant
- Commissioners order Central Health performance audit, again
- New Travis County Tax Office Opens in Four Points
September 2022
- New northwestern Travis County Tax Office to offer services on RM 620
- ‘The Olympics of astronomy’: Travis County gears up for 2024 solar eclipse
July 2022
- Commissioners opt for tougher Central Health Audit
- Commissioners order Central Health Performance Audit
- Birds, traffic, water: Battle over proposed Spicewood development lands in commissioners court again
From the Austin American Statesman
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court postponed a vote to declare a public health crisis, citing their desire to find out more from local experts on how to tackle the issue.
“We have more deaths on the street than ever before from overdose,” Commissioner Ann Howard said. “Our first responders are dealing with this, and we heard almost weeping officers a couple of weeks ago about their clients they’re concerned about on the street, and finding them dead. This is a real-life, right now problem ... so we have work to do.”
Travis County has become one of the top five counties in the state for opioid-related emergency calls, according to Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority. A majority, she added, is occurring largely because of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate with effects similar to heroin but much more powerful. It can be found as a pill, powder, patch, solid, or liquid, and it can be lethal even in tiny doses, authorities have said.
May 2022
- Travis County declares public health crisis as drug overdoses skyrocket in Austin | kvue.com
- Travis County declares Public Health Crisis amid rise in drug deaths | KEYE (cbsaustin.com)
- Travis County officials declare drug deaths a public health crisis | Community Impact
- Procedural change sparks disagreement at Commissioners Court - Austin Monitor
April 2022
- Travis County Commissioners question Central Health leadership amid community concerns | Community Impact
- Travis County to make improvements to substandard county roads
- Travis County hosts open house on Thomas Springs Road Project
March 2022
February 2022
- Travis County, CAPCOG reach nearly 1.5M people using Warn Central Texas
- Pharmaceutical opioid companies pay out – but will it be enough? - Austin Monitor
- Travis County endorses settlements against major opioid companies | Community Impact
- Travis County endorses lower speed limits for two Lake Travis ISD schools
December 2021
- Ann Howard reflects on first year in office
- Travis county continues efforts for mental health diversion center
- Howard: Travis County development is not our Violet Crown
November 2021
- Reimers Ranch Park designated as an International Dark Sky Park
- Travis County sets new commissioner district boundaries for next decade
September 2021
- Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard talks homeless funding | FOX 7 Austin
- County pledges more than $100 million to eradicate homelessness in three years
- Travis County allocates $110 million to house the homeless
- Travis County Earmarks $110 Million In Federal Funds To Combat Homelessness
- Travis County commits $110 million in federal funding to combat homelessness
- Travis County Commissioners unanimously passed a plan to invest $110M in supportive housing
- 'We're blown away' | Travis County Commissioners Court votes to allocate $110M to rehousing the homeless
- Travis County Commissioners Court approves $110 million for rehousing homeless
- Travis County OKs plan to spend $110 million to house homeless
- Travis County Commissioners Court to discuss allocating $110 million to rehousing the homeless
- Travis County Commissioners Court to discuss investing $110 million in supportive housing
- Travis County may spend $110 million in federal relief funds to house homeless
August 2021
- Travis County educates residents on wildfire risks
- Austin American-Statesman: Travis County, Austin to host wildfire preparedness town hall on Aug. 25
June 2021
- Travis County settles lawsuits with sex assault survivors. Will Austin do the same?
- This week's Austin Chronicle article covering women's jail
May 2021
- Commissioner Howard in the Austin American Statesman: County's fiscal responsibility pays off
- Wildfire risk is higher because of the winter freeze
April 2021
- Travis County establishes Civilian Conservation Corps to tackle climate, environmental projects | Community Impact Newspaper
- Commissioners approve Road and Bridge Division’s 2021 work plan
March 2021
February 2021
- Winter storm aftermath: Did the historic freeze lead to an increase in coronavirus cases in Texas?
- Western Travis County cities banded together during the storm
- Austin-Travis County Distributes Thousands Of Cases Of Water From FEMA
- Powerless: Life around Austin without electricity, heat, water amid historic winter storm
January 2021
- Austin-Travis County extend eviction moratorium orders until April 1, work to distribute millions more in rent relief (KXAN)
- Austin-Travis County extends eviction moratorium, gains more rental assistance funding (CBS Austin)
- Local leaders extend eviction moratorium, rent assistance services (FOX 7 Austin)
Wildfire Preparedness Information
