BG Reads | News You Need to Know (May 30, 2023)
[AUSTIN METRO]
City set to prioritize Colony Park planned unit development application (Austin Monitor)
The Colony Park Sustainable Community planned unit development application process is underway. On Tuesday, City Council’s Housing and Planning Committee unanimously recommended the full Council initiate a streamlined application and rezoning process.
“Colony Park represents one of our greatest opportunities to leverage public land to develop affordable housing and improve the lives of both current and future Austinites,” said Natasha Harper-Madison, Council member and committee chair. “This community initiative is the culmination of decades of advocacy by East Austin residents and collaboration between city departments.”… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
'There is no cure': Austin urges people to keep dogs away from possibly toxic blue-green algae (KUT)
Blue-green algae is back in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, according to Austin's Watershed Protection Department. The department says test results will be posted next month revealing whether the algae is toxic.
In the meantime, the city recommends avoiding algae on waterways whenever possible.
Ingesting toxic blue-green algae can present a host of grave health concerns for dogs, including liver and respiratory failure as well as neurological issues, says Dr. Nipuni Ratnayaka, an associate veterinarian at Austin Pets Alive!… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Austin City Council to prioritize backlogged Land Development Code adjustments (KXAN)
It’s something the University of Texas researchers say is a top solution for making our city — and major cities around Texas — more affordable: Incentivizing development by adjusting land development codes.
Austin City Council has passed several amendments to its code to do that over the past year. Many of those adjustments you’ve seen right here on KXAN, including making it easier to open and operate a daycare in childcare deserts and eliminating parking minimums city-wide.
But just because the council signs off on an amendment doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. City of Austin leadership said they were working through staffing shortages which makes it more challenging to get the amendments finalized… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Gov. Greg Abbott calls immediate special session to address property taxes and border issues (Texas Tribune)
Gov. Greg Abbott called an immediate special session Monday night, just hours after lawmakers completed the year’s regular legislative session without passing numerous key bills state leaders had identified as priorities.
Abbott said in a statement the special session officially began at 9 p.m. Monday and will be focused on property tax relief and border security. “Many critical items remain that must be passed,” Abbott said, which he asserts will require multiple special sessions… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Texas House names Ken Paxton impeachment managers; Senate trial will start by Aug. 28 (texas tribune)
The Texas Senate agreed Monday to start its trial of impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton no later than Aug. 28, shortly after the House named 12 members to prosecute the case.
The flurry of activity came on the last day of the regular legislative session and two days after it voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton, alleging a yearslong pattern of misconduct and wrongdoing. Paxton has blasted the impeachment as a “politically motivated sham” and expressed hope the Senate will swiftly clear his name.
On Monday evening, the Senate unanimously adopted a resolution that laid out an initial timeline for the next steps. The Senate appointed a seven-member committee that will prepare recommendations on the rules of procedure for the trial and then present them to the full Senate on June 20. And then Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick can pick a date “not later than” Aug. 28 on which the chamber will convene as a court of impeachment… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
Crucial days ahead as debt ceiling deal goes for vote and Biden calls lawmakers for support (AssociATED Press)
President Joe Biden says he “feels good” about the debt ceiling and budget deal negotiated with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the White House and congressional leaders work to ensure its passage this week in time to lift the nation’s borrowing limit and prevent a disastrous U.S. default.
Biden spent part of the Memorial Day holiday working the phones, calling lawmakers in both parties, as the president does his part to deliver the votes. A number of hard right conservatives are criticizing the deal as falling short of the deep spending cuts they wanted, while liberals decry policy changes such as new work requirements for older Americans in the food aid program.
A key test will come Tuesday afternoon when the House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package and vote on sending it to the full House for a vote expected Wednesday… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Elizabeth Holmes starts her 11-year prison sentence today. (NPR)
Disgraced Silicon Valley superstar Elizabeth Holmes is set to surrender on Tuesday to begin serving a 11-year prison term for defrauding investors with her once high-flying blood-testing company Theranos.
Holmes, a 39-year-old mother of two, is expected to report to the prison camp in Bryan, Texas, an all-female facility about 100 miles outside of Houston, where some family members of Holmes reside… (LINK TO FULL STORY)