Julia N. Fairmont - News of Austin

Julia N. Fairmont is a Senior Correspondent for newsofaustin.com, covering urban development, housing policy, and Austin’s growth challenges. Known for investigative reporting on displacement, zoning, and transit, she translates complex city decisions into stories that show how policy shapes daily life for residents.

Art Deco skyscraper gleams above downtown Miami with American flags and Trump banners and city map pin marking transfer site.

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Miami College’s Transfer of Downtown Parcel to Trump Library Fund

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

In a decisive ruling that could shape Miami’s skyline, a Miami judge cleared the path for a future Trump library by dismissing a lawsuit that...

Detainee stands by Everglades water with Alligator Alcatraz sign reflected in water and Spanish moss

Government News Legal News Local News

Judge Denies Injunction to Shut Down Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

A federal judge on Thursday denied a request to close the Everglades detention center nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” saying the detainee who sought...

Stack of money bags and envelopes overflowing with red X marks against a Minnesota map with federal funding logos.

Business News Local News Political News

Minnesota Fraud Scandal: Half of $18 B in Federal Funds Stolen, 82 Somali Americans Charged

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

A federal prosecutor announced Thursday that more than half of the roughly $18 billion in federal money that has supported 14 Minnesota‑run programs...

Stylized Austin map displaying 52 red pins of homicides across neighborhoods with police lights glowing over dusk cityscape.

Crime News Local News

Austin Homicide Count Drops to 52 in 2025, Down from 72 in 2024

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

Austin’s homicide count has reached 52 for the year, a drop from 72 in 2024, according to the KXAN Data Hub. The city’s police department has been...

Person refusing to help while a speech bubble says I can’t help with that and a desk is in the background.

Health News Political News

HHS Unveils Funding Cuts to Block Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a set of rules that would cut federal funding for hospitals that provide...

Eileen Higgins speaks at her Miami Dade College inauguration with a warm chandelier glow and the city skyline behind

Local News Political News

Miami Elects First Female Mayor, Democrat Eileen Higgins, Ending 30 Years of Republican Rule

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

In a historic moment for the city of Miami, Democrat Eileen Higgins was sworn in as the first female mayor on Thursday. The ceremony took place at...

Handcuffed figures standing back-to-back with a white envelope marked Property of SMPD on ground and a police cruiser

Crime News Local News

San Marcos Police Arrest Meth Distributor and Associate After Three-Month Joint Investigation

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

Arrests and Seizures San Marcos Police announced the arrest of a 48‑year‑old meth distributor and her associate following a months‑long, joint...

Professionals meeting on a rooftop terrace of a TikTok‑branded skyscraper with laptops and maps under dusk light.

Business News Political News Tech News

TikTok Secures U.S. Joint Venture with Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX to Safeguard Platform

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

TikTok’s future in the United States has just been secured, as the company signed agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form a new U.S....

Rep. Jasmine Crockett stands triumphantly holding a tablet with technology and Texas Senate backdrop and scattered notes

Election News Political News

Texas Democrats Bet on Jasmine Crockett to Upset Senate Seat

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

Texas Democrats are putting their hopes on Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a sophomore congresswoman, to flip the state's Senate seat—an ambition that could...

Man sits in backyard gazing at robotic arm on his wrist with hopeful expression

Health News Local News Tech News

Austin ALS Patient Uses Neuralink Chip to Regain Control and Play Video Games

Julia N. Fairmont December 22, 2025

In a quiet suburb of Austin, a man with ALS just might have found a way to defy the disease. A Sudden Diagnosis In 2022, Jake Schneider noticed a...