Austin, TX
Age-friendly services require more funding, Austin Public Health says – Austin Monitor
Austin has fallen behind cities of a similar size when it comes to caring for its elders. It’s no longer in AARP’s top 10 cities to live in for older adults as of 2022. In fact, last year, it didn’t even make the top 25. That might not be top of mind, as the median age in Austin, TX is 34.5, and only about 10 percent of Austinites are over 65. But Austin’s status as Texas’ boomtown is slowing, and adults between the ages of 65 and 74 represented the fastest-growing age group between 2010 and 2020. By the time the tech bros reach middle age, it will be in their best interest to have quality senior services in place.
In June, City Council directed the city manager to look into improving those services. According to a October 14 memo from Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup to Council on its progress, that will require more funding.
“While significant progress has been made, the effective and ongoing implementation of these initiatives is dependent on identifying and securing additional resources and budget across various departments,” wrote Sturrup.
The Parks and Recreation Department already spends over $2.8 million on senior programming. In the memo this week, it cited a need for 18 full-time senior programmers and 4 new marketing staff to meet the need for new senior programming and ensure language access is adequate. That expansion would come at an annual cost of almost $2 million.
The history of Austin’s age-friendly services is relatively short. In 2016, Austin City Council adopted what they termed the “Age Friendly Action Plan” (AFAP), which was designed in partnership with AARP and more than 30 other organizations, to make Austin more supportive to its senior residents. But in 2022, a year after the first five-year update to the plan had been released, the city auditor did a survey of Austin’s older residents about how it was working and found large gaps.
One anonymous respondent who had worked with older adults for four years wrote that Austin seniors had been ”challenged by the pandemic and the increasing affordable housing crises.” The tech divide was another concern, one respondent noted with urgency: “Any older adult who is not on social media or uses email is highly in the dark about any city services.”
“Many of our seniors have moved to Williamson County due to cost of living,” said another respondent, echoing Austinites of all ages. “Housing costs are not affordable for someone who is on a fixed income.” Almost 70 percent said the city didn’t provide access to safe and affordable transportation options for older adults.
Even if the city did provide services, they were difficult to find. Almost 40 percent strongly disagreed with the statement that city services are findable for seniors “It’s virtually impossible to find and navigate this information,” said one of the respondents. “I can’t imagine that older adults are able to find the city programs and services pages at all. It is hard for me to navigate, and I know what I am looking for,” said another.
At the end of that audit report, the city auditor offered recommendations to establish a dedicated office for older adults (instead of one coordinator) and to provide better housing, senior centers, transportation, food, in-home care and fraud protection for that population. In 2022, Austin Public Health created a new department to carry out those goals, called Age-Friendly Austin (AFA), which is now in the process of recruiting older adults to participate in the update of the next plan for 2026-2030.
In response to the June City Council resolution, the city pledged to fund financial literacy services that help seniors navigate things like Social Security or Veterans Assistance, through an annual $103,686 agreement with Family Eldercare. As seniors are at higher risk for fraud, the Austin Police Office of Community Liaison is planning to launch a “Seniors Fraud Awareness Month” in March 2026. PARD has held 153 multigenerational events at community gardens and family yoga classes over the last year. CapMetro is promising to address older residents as a “vital stakeholder” in its update to its 10-year Transit Plan 2035. (It already provides discounted fares and shuttle routes that connect residential living facilities to essential locations like grocery stores.) Just this September, Council approved funding for a new Austin Geriatric Center, and programming at the Asian American Resource Center for culturally responsive aging-in-place services.
During budget hearings this summer, the parks department proposed that the temporary Gus Garcia Recreation Center Senior Wing project become a permanent expansion in order to address the need for more senior centers in Northeast Austin. The city has been considering this since 2023, as residents of District 4 noted then that it already acts as an overcrowded de facto senior center.
But most of these changes are competing for scarce funding from the city.
During the budget process this summer, Fuentes passed an amendment supporting Meals on Wheels Central Texas with $150,000 for home-delivered meals – contingent on the tax rate increase passing in the November election.
“Meals on Wheels has suffered some pretty serious federal cuts,” Council Member Vela said during budget hearings. “They have a really large and efficient operation, lots of volunteers, a great kitchen, just a really great institution – as the federal government steps away from supporting these kinds of institutions, if they’re going to survive, we’re going to, at least in the short term, have to have to step up and provide some support.” This week’s memo asks for $400,000 more in FY26-27 for Meals on Wheels, which would allow them to serve an estimated 290 more Austinites.
As the City streamlines its aging services ahead of the five-year update to the AFAP in July 2026, the Commission on Aging has now added some clarifying guidelines in the form of an amendment at its October 8 meeting. The commission recommends “clear, quantifiable” metrics to measure if the City is making progress on its goals, and to assess if that progress is equitable across all demographics of older Austinites. Those metrics will become more necessary as the cost of providing these services becomes a pressing concern for a cash-strapped Council.
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AUSTIN, Texas – We are in the middle of early voting for the runoff elections, and the battle for the Republican nomination for attorney general is heating up.
What they’re saying:
Congressman Chip Roy spent Wednesday morning with members of the Austin Police Association. He came to show support for those wearing the badge and to voice his support for legislative proposals that are focused on liberal district attorneys.
“This is not the same as federalism. Like some people talk about it and say, well, you know, you don’t like the federal government reaching into Texas. Yeah, true. Do I want Austin micromanaging the rest of the state? I do not. But do I think the state has the legal ability? And frankly, I think it’s a moral duty. To make sure that the entire state of Texas is safe for its people? Yes, I do,” said Roy.
Congressman Roy is in a runoff for the GOP Attorney General nomination with state senator Mayes Middleton. The Galveston Republican has also been busy making campaign stops and rallying his supporters.
“You got to go earn this. You got go fight for it. And I am never retreating from Washington DC because I’m never going to Washington DC. I have always known the fight is here. And the most important thing in this race and as attorney general, the number one thing is defeating the left,” said Middleton.
Both candidates are considered staunch conservatives, but neither was included in President Trump’s Tuesday endorsement of current AG Ken Paxton.
President Trump Wednesday morning defended his endorsement of Ken Paxton for the Texas GOP Senate nomination. He made the pick despite recent polls that show Paxton is trailing Democratic nominee James Talarico.
The Paxton endorsement is an example of how the GOP Senate runoff between Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn continues to suck the political air out of all the other runoff races.
FOX 7 asked Roy and Middleton if they were disappointed.
“Well, like I would be honored to have the president’s endorsement, his endorsement in this race here. And look, I’m the pro-Trump candidate,” said Middleton.
Roy also took the presidential pass in stride when asked if he was disappointed no official endorsement had been made in his race.
“We’ve had a lot of great conversations about this race. The president is an engaged guy across the country, but he’s been focusing predominantly on federal races,” said Roy.
Texas runoff elections are almost a month away
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: We are almost a month away from the start of early voting for the May runoff elections. That vote will finalize several big primary races and will kick off the push to the November general election.
Middleton’s campaign has accused Roy of not being a true Trump supporter, citing what the Congressman did and didn’t after Trump’s first-term House Impeachment vote. Roy responded by saying the President knows he is a great ally.
“I’ve delivered on the Big, Beautiful Bill. I’m leading his favorite piece of legislation in his words, the Save America Act. I’m the author of that,” said Roy.
“And we’re delivering a message that’s resonating that you ought to have a real lawyer as your attorney general. Somebody who’s been in court, prosecuted bad guys. Been, the first assistant attorney general run complex litigation not effectively manage your family royalties, never having been in court,” said Roy.
Middleton’s message is also how he is a different kind of conservative than Roy.
“And look, every vote’s going to count. We know turnout is lower in a runoff than it is in the March 3 primary. But the same things that I’m doing. They got me in first place on March 3. I’m going now. And I will make sure that I protect and defend our great state. And I say this as well, a lazy campaigner turns into a lazy elected official.”
The other side:
Texas Democrats are also having a contentious runoff for their AG nomination.
Joe Jaworski, the former mayor of Galveston, and state Senator Nathan Johnson, who is from the DFW Metroplex, have taken a few political and personal shots at each other.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski
As three teens face charges in a string of weekend shootings and robberies, mental health is becoming part of the broader conversation in Austin. One suspect’s mother told KXAN her 15-year-old son had struggled with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts — not as an excuse, she said, but as context for how mental health can affect a young person’s decisions. READ MORE: https://www.kxan.com/news/simplehealth/travis-county-launches-childrens-mental-health-plan-as-teen-crime-case-raises-concerns/
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms and flooding are possible in Central Texas Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. Here’s the latest forecast from the First Warning Weather team.
Here are the main headlines:
- A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties until 11 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
- The Storm Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 5 (slight) severe weather risk for all of Central Texas. Large hail and strong winds are the main concerns.
- The Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 4 flood threat for all of Central Texas.
- RESOURCES: Latest forecast | Radar | Rain totals | Download the KXAN Weather app | Sign up for severe weather alerts | 2026 weather data
Live updates
8:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m. Winds gusts up to 70 mph and quarter-size hail are possible with this storm.
8:49 p.m.: Wind gusts are strengthening in Williamson County. The National Weather Service now says wind gusts of 70 mph are possible, which could cause “considerable tree damage.” A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video heading towards Marble Falls.
8:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service said the severe thunderstorm in central Williamson County is now capable to producing ping pong ball-sized hail. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:20 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:18 p.m.: Texas Game Wardens have been activated and are prepared to provide support in areas affected by the potential severe weather.
8:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:10 p.m.: KXAN’s Jordan Belt is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from Burnet.
7:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just north of Burnet.
7:45 p.m.: A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
7:43 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Burnet County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:40 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Williamson County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:28 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet county and Llano County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:16 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Northeastern Burnet County until 8:15 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:06 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Southeastern Lampasas County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:56 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and half dollar-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:55 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just south of Lampasas.
6:45 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in these photos from Marble Falls.
6:33 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Burnet County, northern Llano County and northwestern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
6:27 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northeastern Williamson County until 7:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:12 p.m.: The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended to include Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
6:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Mason County until 7:15 p.m. Golf ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
5:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet and central Llano counties until 6:45 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
3:56 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties. It will be in effect until 11 p.m.
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