Keeping and eye on local government
Council Member Natasha Harper Madison is very concerned about the future direction of voters in District 1, the Council District which she currently represents. Here’s what she said at a Council meeting on July 30: “As the lone Black Council Member on the Council, living in a country with the type of federal administration we […]
Here’s a mind-bender question for hard core Democrats, especially, let’s say, Democrats who watch a lot of MS NOW, formerly MSNBC. Would you believe a poll from Fox News if it showed your Senate candidate ahead with a chance to be the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988? Well that’s exactly […]
(This article was originally posted at the end of the adjacent article about the Senate race. But, per reader request we are posting it as a seperate article.) Let’s take a quick look at the goings on at City Hall. I realize we are only capturing a small portion of the activities, but a recent […]
Let’s look in on the US Senate race here in Texas. That’s the one pitting Democrat State Representative James Talarico against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton defeated incumbent John Cornyn in the May Republican primary runoff while Talarico defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett — without a runoff — in the March Democratic primary. A frequent […]
Sometimes I have difficulty wrestling stories to the ground. Often it is just because I take some time off from writing to enjoy retirement. Other times there are external factors. For instance back in early September 2025 I was working on a story built around crime at iconic Austin locations; places that reflect the spirit, […]
Hey everybody. We’re back from a longer than expected break; and just in time to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. However, I’m having difficulty finding anyone who wants to celebrate. That seems particularly true here in Austin. I know a lot of people will show up to watch the fireworks, probably including me. As far […]
“Miracles appear in the strangest of places. . .” Willie Nelson, Yesterday’s Wine There was an apparent miracle at City Hall on March 12. A City Council majority voted down two zoning cases. This isn’t something that happens every Thursday, or really anytime nowadays, at Austin City Hall. According to information from the City of […]
Here at the Austin Independent we just don’t have the capacity to provide comprehensive zoning coverage, although I wish we did. I wish someone, anyone in town, did. I periodically, however, cover individual zoning cases which I think stand alone in their importance and/or reflect broader policies and dynamics going on in our community. Our […]
It’s that time of year when the hopes of Texas Democrats flower, like the bluebonnets that come a few weeks later. But, like the bluebonnets, those Democratic hopes tend to get ground into the dirt by the fall. There’s something different this year though. Texas Republicans are actually saying that this could be the year […]
I have been waiting in vain for some of James Talarico’s fellow Democrats, specifically prominent ones, to stand up and say publicly that Talarico does not deserve the level of drubbing and outrage he is receiving for this mess called “Mediocre” Gate that he’s gotten himself into. I haven’t seen or heard any high ranking […]