The Austin area should see mostly sunny skies today with a high near 70. The reports rain chances as high as 40 percent move in tonight.
Lead Story: The City of Austin and area transportation agencies want the public to weigh-in on a transit plan for Central Texas.
The regional plan includes urban rail, rapid transit and express lanes.
A series of open houses featuring the plan starts today鈥攚ith a public meeting in Kyle. On Wednesday, there will be an open house in Austin. Then, on Thursday, it will be in Round Rock.
Building Permits on Hold: A backlog of building permits at City Hall has Austin homebuilders upset. Kathey Comer is with the . She says, as of last week, there were 475 permits waiting for action. Those are permits to build a new home or remodel an existing one.
Comber says the problems are related to staff shortages, over-regulation, and the lack of an electronic filing system.
Parks Budget Reinforced: Texas parks have been a hard hit the last few years by budget cuts, drought, and wildfire but they may be getting some relief this legislative session.
Luke Metzger, of , says 鈥渘ow there鈥檚 an effort underway to restore that original intent and ensure that all the sales taxes on sporting goods actually go to our state parks.鈥�
A senate subcommittee last week voted to fully fund the parks budget. One provision creates a fund to bolster local parks initiatives with matching grants for parks, playgrounds, and youth programs.
