The Austin Bulldog

02/01/2025

NewsMatch 2024 ending December 31st and thanks to these generous supporters we reached our $15,000 goal. Your support will help us to tackle the important investigations we have planned for 2025.

31/12/2024

I promise—this is my last pitch for support in our 2024 NewsMatch campaign.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit your tax-deductible contribution will go a long way to support our investigative reporting in 2025. We have big plans for important investigations next year. Your support will make sure we have the resources to get them done.

Your one-time donation up to $1,000 will be DOUBLED.

Or the amount you give monthly will be MATCHED TIMES 12.

Why donors support our investigative reporting

“It’s detailed and sourced.” Perry Lorenz

“Susan and I think your work is valuable and appreciated. We give each year even though we live in Round Rock.” Jim Egan

“It’s timely and you cover information important to Austin residents” Mary Kahle
Help us reach our goal. DONATE NOW!

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

31/12/2024

NewsMatch ends today

Hello again. Ken Martin here, Bulldog founder and editor.

If you were waiting until the last day to contribute to our annual NewsMatch fundraising campaign, congratulations, it’s here!

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit your tax-deductible contribution will go a long way to support our investigative reporting in 2025. We have big plans for important investigations next year. You can help make sure we’re able to get them done.

Your one-time donation up to $1,000 will be DOUBLED.

Or the amount you give monthly will be MATCHED TIMES 12.

Why donors support our investigative reporting

“You report what others don’t and are dedicated to making primary sources linked. Pity that isn’t the standard in journalism.” Xaq Webb

“I love Ken and his grit!” Brian Rodgers

“We need our local investigative journalists.” William Ross Pumfrey

Help us reach our goal. DONATE NOW!

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

30/12/2024

NewsMatch ending, our goal within reach

Hello again. Ken Martin here, Bulldog founder and editor.

I greatly appreciate the donations already made to this year’s NewsMatch campaign which ends tomorrow! Our goal is to raise $15,000. Readers have already contributed $10,000.

Your one-time donation up to $1,000 will be DOUBLED.

Or the amount you give monthly will be MATCHED TIMES 12.

Help us reach our goal. https://the-austin-bulldog.fundjournalism.org/bulldog-supporter/
What donors said when supporting our work:

“You attempt to hold government agencies and powerful people accountable while NO OTHER media outlet seems to even try!” Amber Elenz

“Thank you for providing in-depth analyses of Austin issues and candidates.” Robert Walker

“Ken does an amazing job of getting the real political story. As a longtime precinct chair, I look forward to reading his ‘take’ on what’s happening to stay informed, then to inform the voters in my precinct.” Heidi Gibbons

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

29/12/2024

NewsMatch ending, our goal within reach

Hello again. Ken Martin here, Bulldog founder and editor.

I greatly appreciate the donations already made to this year’s NewsMatch campaign which ends in two days. Our goal is to raise $15,000. Readers have already contributed $10,000.

Your one-time donation up to $1,000 will be DOUBLED. Or the amount you give monthly will be MATCHED TIMES 12. Help us reach our goal. Click to donate: https://the-austin-bulldog.fundjournalism.org/bulldog-supporter/

Why donors support our work:

“It’s great work and important work.” John Garrett, cofounder, Community Impact Newspaper Co.

“You tell it like it is!” Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez

“We need the truth told in Austin.” Attorney Lorri Michel

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

23/12/2024

Celebrate my 85th birthday with me
by supporting our important work

"I know of no human being who has a better time than an eager, energetic young reporter." — H. L. Mencken

“Or a not-so-young reporter.” — Ken Martin

I’m as excited about doing this work now as I was when I started my journalism career in 1981. I created the Bulldog at age 70 after nearly three decades working at publications in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

What does 43 years of experience mean for you? Our readers get exceptional insight and analysis in news that only the Bulldog publishes. No other local journalist has the decades of experience needed to deliver the powerful investigative reporting you’ll find in the Bulldog.

I’m passionate about publishing hard-hitting coverage of local government agencies and public officials and I’ll do so as long as readers like you support our mission to hold them accountable.

Our annual NewsMatch campaign ends December 31st. Your individual tax-deductible donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. Or sign up to donate monthly and your amount will be matched times 12. Donating is quick, easy and secure. Just hit the button below and know that you’re making our work possible.

Celebrate my 85th birthday by donating $85, or whatever fits your budget, so we can keep publishing the important stories that only the Bulldog delivers.

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

16/12/2024

Still cranking after all these years

“We’re small. We’re scrappy. We aren’t going to change the world, but we aim to make a difference in our little corner of it.”

I’m Ken Martin. I published that statement in the Bulldog’s FAQs when I launched our news website in April 2010. That’s still our mission.

This is our 15th year of publishing hard-hitting coverage on topics that matter. We dig deep to hold public officials and politicians accountable.

No paywall. We want to reach everyone. Our work is free to read, published in eight languages. Or listen to—every article starts with a link to an audio narration. You can see reader comments about our stories. You can add your own to continue the community conversation. You can Blow the Whistle and point us to things that need to be investigated.

The Bulldog is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on one annual fundraising campaign, called NewsMatch. If you appreciate our work, please take a minute—right now—and contribute to sustain this work. Because NewsMatch ends December 31st.

Your individual tax-deductible donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000. If you sign up to donate monthly, your amount will be matched times 12. Donating is quick, easy and secure.
https://the-austin-bulldog.fundjournalism.org/bulldog-supporter/

15/12/2024

Mike Siegel wins District 7 runff election

After a month of runoff campaigning that sometimes got contentious, the election came down to a winning margin of 206 votes. On a drizzly night in Central Texas, Mike Siegel edged out his opponent, Gary Bledsoe, to take the Austin District 7 City Council seat. Inauguration Day is January 6th.

After a month of runoff campaigning that sometimes got contentious, the election came down to a winning margin of 206 votes. On a drizzly night in Central Texas, Mike Siegel edged out his opponent, Gary Bledsoe, to take the Austin District 7 City Council seat. Inauguration Day is January 6th. The ca...

15/12/2024

Final unofficial results for the District 7 runoff election between Gary Bledsoe and Mike Siegel, from the Travis County Elections Division website.

15/12/2024

With votes from 11 voting centers still not counted at 10pm, Gary Bledsoe leads Mike Siegel by 52 vote: 3776 to 3724.

13/12/2024

Criminal charges possible in ethics complaints

After the City’s Ethics Review Commission held preliminary hearings Wednesday night, commissioners voted unanimously to find probable cause that both Ashika Ganguly and Krista Laine violated City Code by failing to timely file a Statement of Financial Information (SFI).
https://theaustinbulldog.org/criminal-charges-possible-in-ethics-complaints/

11/12/2024

Adam Haynes has filed a sworn ethics complaint against District 7 runoff candidate Mike Siegel. And another sworn ethics complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission against AURA for Austin, which has been hosting events, organizing block walking, and other activities in support of Siegel’s campaign.

Adam Haynes on December 10th filed a 19-page sworn complaint against District 7 runoff candidate Mike Siegel with the Austin City Clerk for consideration by the Ethics Review Commission. He also filed a 30-page sworn complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission about AURA for Austin, concerning its po...

09/12/2024

For a seasoned political reporter, dirty politics seems like fun because it provides so much fodder for juicy stories. And there’s plenty of juice in today’s story about the attacks being suffered by Mike Siegel.

Dirty politics trying to tip the scales in the final throes of the District 7 runoff between Gary Bledsoe and Mike Siegel

District 7 has 71,240 registered voters eligible to cast ballots in the December 14th runoff, Tiffany Seward, communications division director in the Travis County Tax Office, told the Bulldog December 5th. District 7 voters cast 34,353 ballots in the November 5th general election for six candidates...

08/12/2024

Two attorney’s battling for District 7

Either Gary Bledsoe or Mike Siegel will take office in January and join fellow attorneys Mayor Kirk Watson, District 4 Council Member Jose “Chito” Vela, and District 5 Council Member Ryan Alter. Which one depends on the outcome of the December 14th election.

Either Gary Bledsoe or Mike Siegel will take office in January and join fellow attorneys Mayor Kirk Watson, District 4 Council Member Jose “Chito” Vela, and District 5 Council Member Ryan Alter. Which one depends on the outcome of the December 14th election. District 7 voters aren’t going to d...

07/12/2024

Bledsoe stumping for runoff support
Runoff candidates are down to the wire for the December 14th runoff election which will decide who represents District 7 on the City Council in 2025.

Editor’s note: In assigning coverage of this event the Bulldog offered the same opportunity to Bledsoe’s opponent, Mike Siegel, and his campaign manager. We have received no response. It may not rain much in Austin, but on Wednesday night, December 4th, a group of about 50 supporters squeezed...

03/12/2024

Without you, stories go untold

Hey Bulldog readers, I know your inbox is probably like mine, crammed with appeals for donations on . I really hate to add to your burden but I still have to ask for your consideration. Because the Bulldog depends solely on donations from readers like you.

Around here we call today . It’s a day to champion our reporting that holds government agencies and officials accountable.

Your tax-deductible donation will provide funding so we can keep doing the deep-dive investigations that only the Bulldog delivers.

Individual donations up to $1,000 will be DOUBLED.

Or sign up to make monthly sustaining contributions and the amount you give will be MATCHED TIMES 12.

There is no better time to support our important work.

MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCOUNTABLE! DONATE NOW!

The Austin Bulldog is supported by people like you. Support The Austin Bulldog today.

27/11/2024

District 7 candidate Gary Bledsoe got $62,000-plus from the Austin Fair Campaign Fund for his runoff against opponent Mike Siegel.

District 7 runoff candidate Gary Bledsoe has something extra to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The City of Austin answered the Bulldog’s request for how much money was in the Austin Fair Campaign Fund and when will it be disbursed to the Bledsoe campaign. Media Relations Specialist Senior Eri...

18/11/2024

Once again only the bare minimum six members were available to participate. Once again the commission’s bylaws—which require at least six votes to pass a motion—combined with the low attendance prevented resolving the business at hand.
https://theaustinbulldog.org/mayor-watsons-ethics-complaint-hearing-stalled/
Support independent journalism at The Austin Bulldog. https://the-austin-bulldog.fundjournalism.org/bulldog-supporter/

It was a case of déjà vu all over again. Once again the City’s Ethics Review Commission meeting didn’t start until a half-hour after its scheduled 6pm starting time. Why? Because it was waiting for at least six members to establish a quorum. As the Bulldog reported, the same thing happened J...