Safety An Issue For Festival

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Officials in Austin say they're at a "critical point" to make the South by Southwest festival safer after a car crash earlier this year killed three people. 

The Austin American-Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/1lEE9fw ) that a new report on South by Southwest released Thursday faults festival organizers and planners of "secret shows" and unofficial events for not notifying the city in advance.

The city may begin issuing temporary event permits that would require attention to safety and traffic control. The city is also proposing adding patrol officers and a shuttle in downtown during the festival.

Last year's festival was marred by a car crash when a driver rammed a crowd waiting outside a club in downtown Austin, killing 4 people.