Photo by Merrick Brown on flickr City charter revision committee wants your input on single-member districts. Executive director of CAMPO resigns effective January 15. Man attacks cop with screwdriver after the policeman catches him breaking into cars at the Highland Mall parking lot. A Hutto man is the first to be treated under Jessica's Law, legislation which deals harshly with child predators. Two adolescent boys (aged 11 and 14) have been charged with attempting to......

It's official! A California boy playing with matches started a 38,000 acre fire. Victoria's Secret in hot water over releasing scantily-clad dolls. Sex is a no-no in the cabins inside the new jumbo airliner, The Airbus A380. The State of Texas and Travis County are both suing the developer who polluted Hamilton Pool. Remember that military contractor that killed innocent people in Iraq, your government is reportedly granting them immunity. The House passes legislation......

Seattlest watches as a S.L.U.T. is born and Seattle Flickr users go nuts over a local art installation. A restaurant critic demands a Diner's Bill of Rights over a gnat next to her drink, and, in lieu of a Portlandist, Seattlest debates with itself over the identity of the Northwest's crown jewel. Seattlest also joins the guys from Fantagraphics for an ill-fated gun party in the woods. Bostonist got a crash course in what not......

Last week, Senate Bill 1317 passed the Senate in a highly partisan vote thanks in large part to lobbying efforts by Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. The bill itself, if made law, would limit the scope of a city's jurisdiction by making it illegal for any city to regulate air pollution (or, presumably, anything else) beyond its borders. However, despite what many Senators who voted for this bill will tell you, this bill isn't about municipal......

“Currently, students' voluntary religious expression is being treated as second-class speech, and sometimes worse, in public schools. School children are being censored and reprimanded at school, leaving them in fear of punishment for their religious beliefs. Due to hostility toward religious expression, children are being forced to defend their First Amendment rights in courtrooms all across Texas, and throughout the nation. “School districts' practices and policies continue to violate the free speech rights of students,......

On Wednesday, Sen. Kirk Watson (Austin) – former Mayor of Austin – helped the Texas Senate pass Senate Bill 1688, which seeks to increase the powers given to the City of Austin with regard to development along the State Highway 130 toll road, east of Austin. Here’s part of the official Bill Analysis for this piece of legislation: “This bill addresses a new challenge facing the City of Austin – the creation of a......

For those of you with the good sense to stay away from political news of late, you may want to actually pay attention to this one. As you are no doubt aware, somewhat-interested citizen, the Texas Legislature convenes every two years. During this six-month gallivant through the time-honored traditions of glad-handing, grand-standing, good-timing, soap-boxing and general ballyhoo, various bills are brought up for debate and possible passage. Thousands of bills are filed every session, but......

House Democrats have unveiled legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year. We are pretty sure this will be as powerful as their non-binding resolution against the war in Iraq. Republican Sen. John Carona of Dallas and Democratic Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston want to legalize casino gambling in Texas. Austin City Council is expected to give the green light to the $2.5 million project for......

TxDOT has decided to eliminate funding for trail, beautification and tourist projects, including federal funds distributed by the department. These projects only constituted approximately 2% of the TxDOT budget, but they have now been removed completely, despite the fact that they are mandated by the Transportation Enhancement Program, established by Congress in 1991. TxDOT will spend its entire budget on highway repair and expansion (including ad campaigns). Local projects that will not be receiving......

Ever wonder where all of that campaign money comes form each year? Who’s really running this state/country/etc? Well, to find out who’s got some of those most pull among politicians, you have to look no further than Texas’ own Bob Perry. The Houston homebuilder gave more money to candidates in the last election cycle than any other individual, according to a report issued by Texans for Public Justice. The non-profit group, which believes campaign......

When you see Damien Brockmann strolling down Congress Avenue, tip your hat, or at least offer a salute nestled somewhere between the Queen's wave and Truman Capote's famed fingers-to-forehead wrist-flick. Why? Because Citizen Damien has been tirelessly laboring to rescue America from its fekockteh political scene. Lucky for us, he's intent on saving Austin first, and doing it by offering up a new website called BillHop.com. A wiki/blog/safe haven for political junkees, the site tracks......

He's a comedian, a novelist, an ordained minister, a dad, a husband, and a walker through Spain (ask him about that walking trip sometime). What's isn't Owen Egerton? If you ask that question, one of your answers won't be a member of hot local boy band Cedar Fever. And, as if he isn't busy enough already, he's one of the main dudes behind The Right to Marry, an awesome organization whose goal "...is to promote......

On October 10, Ms. Magazine will release its fall issue with a cover story sure to spark a lot of debate. The magazine’s cover story, entitled “We Had Abortions,” will list the names of 1,016 women who have signed a petition stating that they have had abortions and support Pro-Choice legislation. In addition to the print version of the issue, Ms. Magazine is also taking names for their online petition, the numbers of which are......

Over the past 40 years, the voice of Willie Nelson has come to represent everything Texan and Western. And now he is using that significant voice to speak out against the abuse of another symbol of the American West, wild horses. The Abbott, Texas native has joined in the fight to help protect wild horses from being slaughtered and used as Happy Meals overseas. On September 7th, Congress will convene to argue over HR......

*The views expressed in Bun in the Oven are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -The Editors As my belly grows and grows, I've learned that there's not one, not two, but about a jillion incredibly sensitive, pregnancy-related subjects that most mamas will hold forth on, ad infinitum. Lifelong friendships and familial relations have been severed in grudge-matches about these powderkeg issues. It's like nothing I've ever encountered.......

We are saddened by the report that goober candidate Carole Cougar Keeton Strayhorn has decided to relinquish her fight to get her nickname on the Nov. ballot. Mrs. Cougar will always be a "grandma" in our eyes and probably in the eyes of her grandchildren. In other goober news: Democratic candidate Chris Bell is calling UberGoober Rick Perry out on his lack of efforts to fund our state parks. Texas ranks near the bottom......

Post by Spencer Sharp The Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving Texas prosecutors and attorneys in government representation, claims that, under Texas law, doctors who perform an illegal abortion can be convicted of capital murder and given the death penalty. This is a concern held by many across the state. And, looking at the legal language itself, technically, their concern is valid. The explanation: In 2003, the Texas......

It's getting pretty damn difficult to be a smoker these days. First the city kicks us out of our beloved bars to enjoy our filthy habit, now the state is grabbing into our back pocket without even the courtesy of a reach around. Self--righteous jerk-offs. As Bill Hicks once said, "I'd quit smokin if I didn't think I'd become one of them." The legislature finally passed bills to finance the state's schools. The legislation......

Austin is getting a new public Art Installation. Today at 11am, Mayor Will Wynn and Gibson Guitars will be part of a ceremony kicking-off the project in front of City Hall. Austin GuitarTown is going to feature guitars scattered around the city, placed in front of landmarks and significant businesses, that are painted by local musicians and artisans. NASA is planning to bomb the moon in order to study dust particles that come from......

Starting tonight, and running this week only, sexy, socially-conscious performance artist Annie Sprinkle and her partner, experimental artist / professor (is that a great combo or what?) Elizabeth Stephens, are staging the US premiere of their current work, Exposed: Experiments in Love, Sex, Death, Art, at the Vortex. We're bringing it to your attention yet again because this show will sell out fast, and it's a unique opportunity to see a new work by......

The ETA, a separatist group in Spain, has declared a ceasefire after several decades of often violent campaigning for a separate state. Their intention is to focus on their own democratic process in the Basque Country. Russia has promised a "significant supply" of energy to China's evergrowing population by building a pipeline directly from Siberia to the populous country. Bobby Brown's original boy band- New Edition-yeah you heard me- is going to reunite-what, are......

The Supreme Court shot down that pesky sodomy law, but the Lone Star State still enforces a prohibition on sex toys. Granted, you can get “educational models” and “personal massagers” at countless shops in Texas, but if you keep six or more joysticks around, you could be slapped with a stiff penalty for intent to distribute. Struck by the complete lunacy of the legislation on the sale of sex toys, filmmakers Laura Barton and......

Texas - A lobbyist hired by the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations once worked closely with DeLay cohort Jack Abramoff. The lobbyist, Todd Boulanger, was a member of what was known as "Team Abramoff" (lawyers are so creative) while they were working at a law firm together. We won't bore you with all the details, but essentially Todd worked with Abramoff as registered lobbyist for Indian tribes who were coerced into "donating" money in......

In the overwhelming shadow cast over everything by Katrina and her devastation, there are other political elements at work in and around Austin. While we here at Austinist are fully dedicated to helping spread the word on relief efforts and what we in Austin can do to help ease the pain and burden of those from our neighboring state, we are doing our best to keep on top of other local and pressing events.......

Everyone has a pretty good idea that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is a real piece of crap who has used dirty politics to get where he is and has allowed private business to bribe him. This is not news. However, now, for the first time, ">a private company has publicly confirmed that it paid DeLay's political action committe in exchange for a meeting and possible legislative help. Westar Energy of Topeka, Kansas has......

In an incredibly dissapointing vote of 101 to 29, Texas House lawmakers have passed a constitutional ammendment to ban gay marriage. HJR 6, the Defence of Marriage Act, basically states the following: Sec. 32. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage. So,......

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05100/485270.stm">The Los Angeles Times (the best place to get news about Austin) reports that a war is a'brewin' just a few miles North of our beautiful city. And it's all over a few little bugs. Fred Purcell, dentist turned land developer, has been prevented from developing his property by the discovery of several species of cave bug that may not exist anywhere else in the world. The bugs are protected by the Endangered Species......

The State Legislature passed a bill yesterday that names the Chuck Wagon the official vehicle of the state of Texas. Legislators point to the fact that the Chuck Wagon was one of the first vehicles in the state and that it represents the "pioneer spirit of the west." Speaking of pioneer spirit, Senator Jeff Wentowrth (R-San Antonio) has also put forth legislation that would keep the University of Texas football team from playing in......