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A new three-day search has begun for 21-year-old Jason Landry, a Texas State student who was working to get accepted into the school's Sound and Technology program before he disappeared two months ago on the way home for winter break.
<p>Despite numerous search efforts, no trace of Landry has been found since his car was found crashed in the Luling area on Dec. 13.</p><p>This weekend's search was prompted by a request from the Caldwell County Sheriff's office. Over 100 Texas Search and Rescue members kicked off their search at 8 a.m. on Friday and will continue through Sunday. TEXSAR will use water search resources, ATVs, search-and-rescue K9 units, drones, a helicopter and the TEXSAR Mounted Search and Rescue Team to attempt to find Landry.</p><p>TEXSAR previously looked for signs of Landry in a nine-day search effort that involved over 100 trained volunteers and various crews and technologies. The organization also scanned over 32,000 acres in a three-day aerial search around his crashed car. </p><p>Landry was on his way to visit family for the holidays when he was reported missing. He was supposed to drive from San Marcos to the Houston area but his car was found that night on Salt Flat Road near Luling. It is unclear why Landry went off course onto the off-route, isolated road.</p><p>Investigators believe that Landry hit two trees and later a barbed wire fence after over-correcting on the gravel road.</p><p><br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-height="1365" data-rm-shortcode-id="a69bba63f7650148d7ec0a2e75b61196" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY5NDk5Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzg0NDkyNX0.9o51sC3wZ5RCB9LVSDnpReu3hKih7bZh8YTwIWxj_A0/img.jpg?width=980" data-width="2048" id="6a44c" type="lazy-image"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Wood was found embedded in Landry's car, leading investigators to believe he crashed into a tree.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Caldwell County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>Perplexingly, Landry's keys were still in the ignition, his car's headlights were still on and the passenger door was locked. His phone and wallet were found in his car, while a backpack with his laptop, gaming equipment and a small amount of marijuana were found 900 feet away. Alongside the backpack were toiletries, a baseball cap and a container of his dead betta fish, while some of his clothing including a shirt, shorts, underwear and a wristwatch were spread further along the road. </p><p>Investigators think that the clothes found were worn by Landry prior to the crash, although they could have also been packed beforehand. Despite the crash, there was no blood found in the car, but a small smear of blood was found on his shorts.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-height="979" data-rm-shortcode-id="530b5b4203b65537592a29ad95fe0d37" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY5NDcwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzM3MDE5N30.2VIuXmntSemylOI0IQh6ogqQ5R4DNzoxLTR-8zVzOH4/img.jpg?width=980" data-width="1011" id="3389e" type="lazy-image"/>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Landry's backpack and clothes were found around 900 feet from his crashed car.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">(Caldwell County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)</small></p><p><br/></p><p>The reason behind Landry leaving his car is unknown, but some including his father Kent Landry have thought he might have been dazed after suffering from a concussion. Others think that road rage or foul play could have been involved, but no evidence has pointed to another person's involvement.</p><p>Although Caldwell Police were able to track his phone, the connection stops a few miles before Landry made it to Salt Flat Road. There is about an hour gap between when phone connection was lost and a volunteer firefighter found his abandoned car crashed on the side of the road.</p><p>"There are 67 minutes where we just don't know what happened," Kent Landry told Dateline NBC. "Was someone chasing him? Maybe. Did he just wreck and get out to find help? We don't know. Anything is a possibility."</p><p>The requests for continued search efforts has been conducted through the <a href="https://www.caldwellcountync.org/sheriff" target="_blank">Caldwell County Sheriff's Office</a>. Anyone with tips or information regarding Landry can call 911, contact the office at 512-398-6777 or email Detective Jeff Ferry at jeff.ferry@co.caldwell.tx.us.</p>
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Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will step down next month after more than 30 years with the department and nearly three as its highest-ranking member. His departure comes amid an ongoing national debate over policing and after mass protests against police violence and racial injustice in Austin last summer.
<p>Manley acknowledged that his decision to retire was a difficult one during a press conference on Friday. "I have many different emotions running through me right now," he said. "I am at peace with my decision." </p><p>City Manager Spencer Cronk announced Manley's retirement in a memo to City Council earlier in the day. "I want to thank Chief Manley for his leadership and service to the City of Austin," Cronk wrote, adding that he will immediately begin a national search for—and concurrent community engagement process regarding—the city's next police chief.</p><p>Manley has faced sustained criticism from local elected officials, criminal justice reform advocates and residents after APD officers seriously injured protestors over the summer. Four council members <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/18/austin-police-chief-brian-manley-keeping-job-despite-resignation-calls/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">asked him to resign</a>; Cronk faced pressure to demote him and the council voted unanimously to cut the police department's budget. Last August, the Austin Justice Coalition debuted a jingle, <a href="https://austonia.com/video-remove-police-chief-austin" target="_self">"No Confidence in You,"</a> as part of its campaign to get Manley to resign</p><p>The department has also come under fire in recent years for multiple officer-involved shootings, allegations of racism among its top ranks and reports of hazing at its training academy.</p><p>Manley said this criticism did not contribute to his decision to retire. "Anyone who steps into the role of police chief, you know there's going to be criticism," he explained. </p><p>But Manley also acknowledged that his department is at a crossroads and that its relationship with racial justice advocates is strained. "I know the policing profession is under scrutiny, under reimagining and redesign," he said, adding that he believes APD will emerge "a strong agency" under his successor. </p><p>Manley was appointed to police chief in 2018, after serving as interim chief for two years and leading the investigation of the Austin Serial Bombings. For his work, he was ranked 49th on Fortune's sixth annual World's Greatest Leaders list in 2019. An Austin native, he has spent his entire 30-year law enforcement career with APD.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thirty years ago today my father pinned my badge for the first time and I began my career with APD. Hard to believe it has already been 3 decades! <a href="https://t.co/VQqcthR0Zn">pic.twitter.com/VQqcthR0Zn</a><br/>— Chief Brian Manley (@Chief_Manley) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chief_Manley/status/1356327796604366848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>Manley is most proud of his work as a member of APD's child abuse unit and his efforts to improve officer health and wellness. "What we expose our men and women to, day in and day out, takes a toll," he said. </p><p>Local elected officials and advocates responded to the news, with some applauding Manley's leadership and others looking ahead to his replacement. </p><p>"As chief, Brian Manley championed efforts to expand community policing and confronted the public safety challenges of a growing city," Greater Austin Crime Commission President Corby Jastrow said in a statement.</p><p>Travis County GOP Chairperson Matt Mackowiak attributed Manley's decision to "the unconscionable war on Austin police conceived of" by local criminal justice reform advocates "and executed by" Austin Mayor Steve Adler and "comrade" Council Member Greg Casar in a tweet.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The unconscionable war on Austin police conceived of by Chris Harris and Chas Moore and executed by <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorAdler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorAdler</a> and comrade <a href="https://twitter.com/GregCasar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregCasar</a> has now cost Austin one of its finest police chiefs.<br/><br/>Wake up, Austin!<a href="https://t.co/YySoaM1ZwI">https://t.co/YySoaM1ZwI</a><br/>— Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMackowiak/status/1360270999250497541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>Casar also weighed in on Twitter, saying that he hopes the "future path of our police department" both protects public safety and civil rights "for all neighborhoods and for people of all backgrounds."</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">With today's news about the departure of Chief Manley, the community is now tasked with choosing the future path of our police department. Our goal must be protecting public safety *and* civil rights, for all neighborhoods and for people of all backgrounds. (1/2)<br/>— Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregCasar/status/1360280588817752068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><em>This story has been updated to include the latest information on Manley's departure.</em><br/></p>
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'An absolute light': Community mourns death of local pediatrician killed in murder-suicide
27 January
Fellow Austinites have dropped off flowers at the front of Children's Medical Group in Austin, where pediatrician Dr. Lindley Dodson was killed in a murder-suicide Tuesday night. (Christa McWhirter)
Flowers adorn the front of Children's Medical Group in mourning of pediatrician Dr. Katherine Lindley Dodson, who was killed as a hostage in a murder-suicide after an hours-long standoff with SWAT Police on Tuesday night.
<p>The suspect, physician Dr. Bharat Narumanchi, reportedly held five employees hostage for several hours before shooting Dodson and later himself. All other employees managed to escape or were released.</p>
<p><br/></p><p>Family, friends and community members have taken to social media to memorialize Dr. Dodson, who has been described as an "absolute light" who "brought blessings and joy to every life she touched."</p><p>Karen Vladeck, whose two sons were attended by Dr. Dodson, took to Twitter to share memories of Dodson. According to Vladeck, Dodson "made you feel that your child's illness was the only one that mattered in that moment" and made parents and children alike feel "important and heard."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1507fbe2244c76b5046116653cb8e2e7" id="6fda9"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1354460064275456003"><div style="margin:1em 0">Our entire community is beyond words gutted by the senseless loss of our wonderful pediatrician and friend, Dr. Lin… https://t.co/EAskhVmsEa</div> — KSV (@KSV)<a href="https://twitter.com/KSVesq/statuses/1354460064275456003">1611763418.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Among the hundreds of comments, many described Dodson as "kind, caring and funny". Memories shared included her habit of saying, "Hey friend!" as she entered a room, calling the parents of patients after hours to ease concerns, and knowing every patient on a personal level.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ffa15d42583ffe9c21a81c3cb84233a2" id="a1576"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1354482274922864641"><div style="margin:1em 0">@KSVesq I keep thinking about how she said “hey friend!” when she came into the room. All her patients were her fri… https://t.co/K1rh0Z6hZL</div> — katie smith (@katie smith)<a href="https://twitter.com/kmcleansmith/statuses/1354482274922864641">1611768714.0</a></blockquote></div><p>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/loving-support-for-childrens-medical-group" target="_blank">GoFundMe has been set up</a> in support of Children's Medical Group staff and families. Austin physicians are also reportedly planning a candlelight vigil in her memory, and some have already held a prayer circle in front of the practice.</p><p>A long-time local physician, Dodson joined Children's Medical Group in 2017. She was named one of the top pediatricians in Texas by Texas Super Doctors in both 2019 and 2020. </p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTU0Mjc2MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2ODQ4MjQ3Mn0.6blsXq1GVgl6DTgsXVDLHpFVzSORbcGpPhsbC8XQ-3k/img.jpg?width=980" id="597da" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b1e796a21b6fa6964d348ab121615811" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="5760" data-height="3840" />
(Christa McWhirter)
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(Stuart Seger/CC)
Welcome to town!
<p><em>This week, you'll see stories useful for someone new to Austin in anticipation of Austonia's "How to Austin" event. To attend, sign up <a href="https://austonia.com/howtoaustin" target="_blank">here</a>. </em></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-height="1240" data-rm-shortcode-id="bb274d8f32024996b88ab4a4c5cac1a4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTUzMTg0OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMjY1ODQxN30.1jigIQEPwbRuVRxJpbLa2gsIKkp14qm0TLxr-F2FVdA/img.png?width=980" data-width="1747" id="b4e0b" type="lazy-image"/>
</p><p>Although the pandemic rages on and many of Austin's most iconic attractions—live-music venues, honky tonks and long lines outside of barbecue joints—remain closed, people continue to flock to the city.<br/></p><p>Based on 2018-19 population estimates outlined in an October report by the Austin Chamber, the metro is now growing by <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-growth/1-austin-really-is-a-hotel-california" target="_self">168 net new residents each day</a>, mostly thanks to people who relocate here. And there are already indicators that suggest Austin's growth has continued amid COVID-19. </p><p>Being new to town is something of a common experience among Austinites, with natives sometimes referred to as "unicorns" due to their rarity. Still, recent arrivals may find the city foreign in unexpected ways. Here are eight things to know while settling in.</p>
1. Where are people moving from?
<p>More than half of new Austin residents come from other parts of Texas, according to the Chamber report. Californians, who are sometimes blamed for Austin's growing pains, made up 8% of migration to the Austin metro between 2014 and 2018, followed by New Yorkers (3.3%), Floridians (3.1%) and Illinoisans (2.3%).</p><p>In more recent news, the Wall Street Journal dubbed Austin <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-remote-work-make-austin-a-magnet-for-new-jobs-11607423401#_=_" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a magnet for new corporate jobs</a> last month, thanks to its lower costs (and taxes) compared to San Francisco and New York City. <a href="https://austonia.com/wsj-austin-jobs?q=magnet" target="_self">Between April and October 2020</a>, for every one person who left Austin for the Bay Area, almost three people moved in the opposite direction, and for every one person who left Austin for New York City, more than two New Yorkers came to Austin.</p><p>LinkedIn also reported that Austin gained <a href="https://austonia.com/newcomers-moving" target="_self">the most newcomers</a> of any city in the country in 2020, based on an analysis of its 174 million U.S. users.</p>2. Is it really a blueberry in a bowl of tomato soup?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwNzIxNi9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1OTc3ODk3N30.xNqLWrumZXeeyS_i4KoMfYJWc24Csc8gMZVflzAav_E/img.png?width=980" id="36484" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="08d4b6360ef8ea54d5cc1bcefc86cdcd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Texas State Capitol" />(Charlie L. Harper III)
<p><em>(Charlie L. Harper III)</em></p><p>Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry once likened Austin to a blueberry in a bowl of tomato soup because of its liberal politics in a red state.</p><p>Texas hasn't voted Democrat in a presidential election since 1976. In that time, Travis County—which includes most of the city of Austin—went blue in all but one race, in 2000, when then Texas Gov. George Bush was first elected. </p><p>Today, Austin is governed by an 11-person council, with 10 members who are self-described Democrats, and the county is governed by an all-Democrat Commissioners Court. Its elected officials have voted to support paid sick leave, police budget cuts, affordable housing investments and immigrant protections, often facing pushback from state officials and lawmakers.</p><p>But Austin is no longer the only blueberry in this unappetizing metaphor. Bexar, Dallas and Harris counties—home to Texas' three largest cities—also vote <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/06/texas-trump-biden-counties-rural-suburban-city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reliably Democratic</a>, as do as an increasing number of suburban counties.</p>3. Where does Austin stand in terms of affordability?
<p>Austin housing costs have risen dramatically since the late 1990s as an increasing number of affluent residents moved into urban core neighborhoods, displacing low-income residents, according to <a href="https://centralaustincdc.org/diversity/cityofaustinplan_1928.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a 2018 report</a> by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin. </p><p>This trend has been most pronounced in the city's Eastern Crescent, where historically low housing costs drew in affluent residents. One reason these neighborhoods were relatively affordable is because of segregation codified by <a href="https://centralaustincdc.org/diversity/cityofaustinplan_1928.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the city's 1928 master plan</a>, which limited public services for Black residents to a "negro district" east of I-35. </p><p>Austin City Council has made significant investments in recent years in an attempt to address the affordability crisis, including approving a $250 million affordable housing bond, which voters approved in 2018, and earmarking $300 million in anti-displacement funding as part of Project Connect, a $7.1 billion transit plan <a href="https://austonia.com/project-connect-next-steps" target="_self">now in the works</a>. </p><p>But housing—and especially affordable housing—remains limited in Austin. Council has spent nearly a decade on <a href="https://austonia.com/zoning-austin-politics" target="_self">a land use code rewrite</a>, which urbanists say could help address the dearth of so-called missing-middle type housing.</p>4. What is CodeNEXT and why do I keep seeing signs about it?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzk4MTkzMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzQ1MDgwMX0.wo8BZTgfx3Sbxn_krJmy5nJQHeQVAY2segZ4kmm0Mco/img.jpg?width=980" id="1bf06" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4936c8de4ecf6a26e0842fe8e9fbbe32" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Emma Freer)
<p><em>(Emma Freer)</em></p><p>CodeNEXT refers to an attempt by the city of Austin to rewrite its land use code, which determines how land can be used throughout the city, including what can be built, where it can be built and how much of it can be built. The code was last rewritten in the mid-1980s.</p><p>The CodeNEXT process began in 2012 and aimed to streamline local zoning rules and allow for denser and more affordable housing in accordance with population growth. But in 2018 Austin Mayor Steve Adler scrapped the effort, which he wrote had become "divisive and poisoned," and asked the city manager to create a new process. </p><p>The second attempt at a rewrite began in 2019 but is currently on hold due to a lawsuit. </p><p>But signs declaring "CodeNEXT wrecks Austin" and "CodeNEXT is BACK" remain posted in many yards around town. Multiple community groups organized in opposition to the rewrite, which members claim is exclusive, panders to developers and will destroy neighborhoods. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that single-family zoning stands in the way of a more equitable, sustainable Austin, at best, and is <a href="https://www.kut.org/austin/2019-12-09/white-homeowners-dominate-input-over-austins-land-code-rewrite-one-group-is-trying-to-change-that" target="_blank">racist and classist</a>, at worst.</p>5. What are some of the other major policy issues I should know about?
<p>In addition to housing, which ties in the related issues of affordability, gentrification and zoning, the city of Austin is also focused on:</p><ul><li>The pandemic, including an equitable vaccine rollout and preventing evictions </li><li>Police reform, including revamping its <a href="https://austonia.com/racial-inequities-apd" target="_self">training academy</a> amid reports of racism and hazing </li><li>Homelessness</li><li>Public transit and traffic congestion</li></ul>6. How bad is the traffic situation here?
<p>Austin is the 18th most congested city in the country, according to the latest traffic scorecard from <a href="https://inrix.com/scorecard-city/?city=Austin%2C%20TX&index=77" target="_blank">analytics company INRIX</a> in 2019, with the average driver spending 69 hours in congestion a year at a cost of $1,021. </p><p>Rapid population growth has led to longer commutes and more traffic. But local and state officials say that Project Connect and a forthcoming expansion of I-35 will help address the gridlock.</p><p>Austinites overwhelmingly approved a property tax rate increase last November that will help pay for <a href="https://austonia.com/project-connect-next-steps" target="_blank">Project Connect</a>, a 15-year, $7.1 billion plan to overhaul public transit and bring light rail to town. </p><p>The Texas Department of Transportation similarly touts its $7.5 billion I-35 expansion project, which proposes to widen the highway up to 20 lanes between Hwy. 290 and Ben White Boulevard, as a salve for congestion. Critics, however, dispute this claim, arguing that similar expansion projects in other cities have led to <a href="https://austonia.com/transit-in-austin/4-the-i-35-expansion-projects-offers-more-than-congestion-relief" target="_blank">induced demand</a>. </p>7. There were some major Black Lives Matter protests in Austin last summer. Did anything change?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM3NzExNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMDQzNTM4OX0.Mpbm0dmtxuJrIbl7QUZjAbOnuIVr10ZhsTUP2wJF0Lo/img.jpg?width=980" id="9a089" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0d2100b55619275ce6b9fc9e8092e439" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="huston tillotson protest" />(Emma Freer)
<p><em>(Emma Freer) </em></p><p>After mass protests against police violence and racial injustice last spring and summer, Austin City Council voted unanimously in August to cut the Austin Police Department budget by around 5%, becoming the first city to do so amid activists' calls to "defund the police." The main impact of this decision was the cancellation of three planned cadet classes at the department's training academy, which has <a href="https://austonia.com/racial-inequities-apd" target="_self">raised concerns</a> in recent years due to its "paramilitary" culture.</p><p>Council members also approved moving 32.5% of the department's budget into transitional funds that will allow several of APD's traditional duties to continue while officials work out which to move from under police oversight. </p><p>Criminal justice reform activists <a href="https://austonia.com/video-remove-police-chief-austin" target="_self">also called for</a> the resignation of APD Chief Brian Manley, who remains in his position. </p>8. Why do I keep hearing about homelessness?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwNjU0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0ODI4MjM5N30.3K4RQ_OvX41EkinAWptBCqBOrQte3fn5GgdU6EIsKcE/img.jpg?width=980" id="adefa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3bb749a0789de85ac084bd54f493a9e8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Jordan Vonderhaar)
<p><em>(Jordan Vonderhaar) </em></p><p>As the city becomes increasingly unaffordable, homelessness grows more acute. It has also proven to be a political lightning rod, dividing city residents and incurring criticism from state Republican lawmakers.</p><p>The point-in-time count, an annual census conducted by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition each January, found <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-homeless-camps-data" target="_self">a 45% increase</a> in the city's unsheltered population between 2019 and 2020, which the organization attributed to increased volunteerism and better counting methods.</p><p>But many disputed this explanation, blaming it on the City Council's controversial 2019 decision to overturn a ban on public camping.</p>9. Is it just me or are there a lot of elections here?
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUxMjcxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDAzNDE2OH0.sGG9sH3j7lmlyXuZEKSdwoV-Jn9-uOqn0qpIPMgnXQ4/img.jpg?width=980" id="4375d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cf0ccefd43b021c6a9df1708235e853d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(Bob Daemmrich)
<p><em>(Bob Daemmrich)</em></p><p>It can sometimes feel like there is an election every other month in Texas. Last year, there were five: a March primary to determine who would run in the November general election, May local elections, a July primary runoff for those March races, the November general election and a December runoff. </p><p>One reason for this is the runoff elections, which tend to have lower turnout. Texas, like <a href="https://www.vox.com/21551855/georgia-ossoff-perdue-loeffler-warnock-runoff-election-2020-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">some other former Confederate states</a>, still holds primary and general runoff elections for those races in which no one candidate earns at least 50% of the vote. </p><p>The next election is on May 1. City officials are in the process of reviewing two citizen-led petitions. If validated, they will be placed on the upcoming ballot, where Austin voters will determine their fate. One, submitted by the political action committee Austinites for Progressive Reform, aims to <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-strong-mayor" target="_self">increase voter turnout</a> through a series of charter amendments. The other seeks to <a href="https://austonia.com/save-austin-now-camping" target="_self">reinstate the camping ban</a>. </p><p>More information on how to register to vote as a Travis County resident can be found <a href="https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/voters/registration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>From Your Site Articles
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