Star City Games is offering byes at their Open Series events to winners of Open Trials for the upcoming season. Are byes able to be awarded by a TO for any Magic event, or did SCG get permission from WOTC? If so, what are the limitations and rules surrounding awarding byes?
TOs should work with their WPN representatives, if they want to explore awarded byes.
In general, they're not allowed for sanctioned events. StarCityGames.com clearly sought and received special dispensation from Wizards for their Open Series.
WPN Premium Tournaments are still allowed to have byes won at WPN Premium Qualifiers (if the information on the old Wizards website is still correct; I can't find it on the new website). I've run WPN Premium Tournaments with byes before (last one in July 2014). Only Advanced-level stores that have run a tournament with at least 75 players in the last year can organize a WPN Premium Tournament. Scheduling goes through your WPN representative.