City Cast Austin

There's a second case of the measles in Austin — and this time, it's in a vaccinated adult. On today's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about how the city is responding to the statewide outbreak amid federal funding cuts, and what Austinites should be doing now to be protected. Plus, the lineup for ACL Festival comes out soon, so we're sharing our predictions for this year's throwback band, and sharing our recommendations for what to do this weekend. At the top of our list: Celebrate the Skylark Lounge's last weekend before the legendary blues bar closes for good.   If you enjoyed the interview with Austin Bergstrom's International Airport Public Information Office Division Manager, Kimmie Hey, learn more here! Learn more about the other sponsors of this May 2nd episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

It's that magical, very short-lived time of the year just before it gets scorchingly hot: May! Now is the time to squeeze in that last outdoor activity during Austin's final gasp of spring, and we've got a few ideas for you. Check out Waterloo Greenway! Find a watering hole before the kids are out of school! Explore one of the area's trails! Local musician Alex Marrero joins host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec in sharing our best tips to get outside this month, plus the live music we're heading out to see (don't sleep on the Continental Club Gallery), and what we're looking forward to eating in May (we're still obsessed with KG BBQ). For even more food recommendations, don't miss Hey Austin's guide to our city's best new restaurants.  For even more tips on how to make the most of May in Austin, check out Hey Austin's take on what to do this month.  Learn more about the sponsors of this May 1st episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

At the beginning of April, Austin City Council learned that they'd be facing a $33.4 million budget deficit that's only expected to get larger. Meanwhile, council members finally made a plan to accept $32 million in grant money to replace the bridge over Barton Springs, and add a cool $8 million of the city's own. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Amy Stansbury, editor-in-chief of The Austin Common, to talk about all that — plus why outreach teams are crucial to the city's homelessness response, what we're doing with a new batch of EPA money, the future for historic Palm Park, and a new AC rule that will keep all Austinites cool this summer.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 30th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Austin's very short-lived patio season is upon us, and now is the time to eat, drink, and be merry under shade trees and umbrellas beneath the not-too-scorching sun. So, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Nicolai McCrary, senior staff writer at The Infatuation, to bring you a guide to Austin's best patios. We're getting into which patios have the best food, where to go if you love beer, the best patio for a first date, our favorite spots if you're working-from-patio, and more. Plus, find out what makes Meanwhile Brewing Co.'s patio Nicolai's all-time favorite patio in town.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 29th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

A few weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to have employees get back to the offices “as soon as practicable,” host Nikki DaVaughn checks in with KUT reporter Andrew Weber to find out how things are going. And, spoiler alert: It's not great. Texas is the largest employer in Austin, and in early March, thousands of employees started swarming into their offices, straining parking and resources. At one agency, employees have to check out computer monitors to get their work done. So why the frenzied return? We have some ideas.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this April 28th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

We're full of positive news this week on the Friday News Roundup — and there's truly something for us all to celebrate. After years of rising overdose deaths, the Travis County Medical Examiner announced that accidental overdose deaths and fentanyl deaths both declined in Austin in 2024. Is the $6 million-plus we've spent on programs actually working? Plus, the Texas Legislature might actually finally legalize fentanyl testing strips. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss that, plus why Austin celebrates a depressed donkey's birthday, and the exceptional Austin high school senior who's going to save us all. Oh, and we toss in some weekend picks.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 25th episode: Zach Theatre Tecovas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The Domain tends to invoke a strong feeling in Austinites: We either love it or hate it. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to unpack our thoughts on the sprawling mixed-use mall north of town, which we grouped into a few buckets: The good, the bad, and the cringe. But hey, we want to hear your thoughts on The Domain, too!! Text us.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 24th episode: Zach Theatre Tecovas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Believe it or not, it's someone's full-time job to promote Austin as the “Live Music Capital of the World” that we proclaim to be. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Omar Lozano, the Director of Live Music Marketing for Visit Austin, to find out exactly what being the hype man for Austin's music scene entails. Plus, he shares musicians' favorite local venues, and the local musicians he's got his eyes on these days.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Why did the City of Austin almost spend millions of dollars to bring out-of-state artists' work to the airport? And what's with the awkward wrangling over the public art Austin already paid for that was set to be demolished in the Austin Convention Center? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Heidi Schmalbach, a member of the Austin Arts Commission, to tell us the story behind the headlines about Austin's Art in Public Places program, share why the city's policy on public art is being revamped, and more.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 23rd episode: Zach Theatre Tecovas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

We don't want to shame anyone this Earth Day, but Austinites, are you throwing things away correctly? The city has an ambitious goal to drastically reduce the amount of trash we send to landfills by 2040, and we've sadly plateaued. The good news? We now have recycling and composting options for the entire city — and drop-off and pick-up options for folks who aren't Austin Resource Recovery customers. Host Nikki DaVaughn welcomes ARR's Paul Bestgen back on City Cast Austin to check in on why numbers aren't improving and how we can all do trash better.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 22nd episode: Zach Theatre Tecovas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

If the double-murder of Keitha Morris and John White, two University of Texas sweethearts, had taken place today instead of in 1969, you'd probably know all about it. But for decades, it's been hidden — only unearthed now by Texas Monthly contributor Stephen Harrigan, at the behest of White's sister. Harrigan was at UT and even met White just before the murders occurred, but felt almost embarrassed that the city and Longhorns seemed to move on so quickly from such a traumatic incident. Harrigan joins host Nikki DaVaughn to talk about what happened to the couple, whether justice was served when the killer was caught, and why Harrigan, a prolific and award-winning author and screenwriter, loves working in Austin. And, just a note, that you might have already guessed, this interview touches on some explicit topics. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 21st episode: Zach Theatre Tecovas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

It finally happened — after years of trying, the Texas House approved a bill to give tax money to Texas parents for private school tuition. The details still have to be worked out, but the $1 billion plan is a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and is well on its way to Abbott's desk. Lawmakers also approved $7.7 billion in funds for public schools, including for teacher raises, making the voucher bill easier for some to swallow. Nikki DaVaughn hosts newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec for today's Friday News Roundup, to discuss the voucher proposal, along with how threats to cut funding for public media could affect Austin's own KUT/KUTX. Plus, the local bar that was recently named as one of the 100 best bars in the country, and our weekend plans.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 18th episode: Austin Community Foundation Zach Theatre Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Episode Description: John Waters is bringing “The Filthiest Birthday Ever” show to Austin on Saturday night, and loves filthing up Texas, even though it's a conservative state. On today's episode, host Nikki DaVaughn chats with the self-proclaimed “filth elder” as he ramps up to celebrate his 79th birthday. Tune in to hear about his favorite horror movie, how he feels about cowboy hats and cowboy boots as a fashion statement, and what you can expect from his set on at the Paramount Theatre for the Moontower Comedy Festival.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 17th episode: Austin Community Foundation Zach Theatre Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

There are thousands of people still moving to Austin every year, and if you're like us, it's easy to spot the newbies out and about. Newbies, we're here to help you do Austin better. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and former producer Elissa Rozentuller to share nine essential rules for surviving in Austin.  This episode originally aired on June 18, 2024.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 16th episode: Austin Community Foundation Zach Theatre Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The Trump Administration recently slashed an entire agency that provides funding for Texas museums, institutions and libraries — the latter, to the sum of $12.5 million a year. Guest Gretchen Pruett, the newly-retired head librarian in New Braunfels and past president of the Texas Library Association, tells host Nikki DaVaughn what's at stake with the funding cuts and how libraries are essential for a 21st century workforce.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 15th episode: Austin Community Foundation Zach Theatre Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Just as the City of Austin adopted a 5-year plan to attempt to address ongoing problems at the Austin Animal Center, the director, who'd been on administrative leave, resigned. Does that mean the shelter — which has struggled with overcrowding basically since the city declared it was a “no-kill” shelter back in 2011 — will finally turn a corner? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT's city hall reporter, who warns that the five-year plan is just a piece of paper without an implementation plan.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 14th episode: Austin Community Foundation Zach Theatre Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The Texas Legislature is still in session under the pink dome down on Congress Avenue — but they won't be for too much longer. Now is the time in the session when things get weird and hard to follow, so host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down where things stand on vouchers, the THC ban, and DOGE, on this week's Friday News Roundup. Plus, we discuss the Texas Department of Transportation's parking problems as employees return to the office, the City of Austin's $7.5 million in unpaid parking tickets, and whether that money could help shore up the city's estimated $33 million budget deficit for next year.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 11th episode: Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees were just named, and to the surprise of some, Austin's only mention was for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, for Arjav Ezekiel, at Birdies. None of the nominees for Best Chef Texas are Austin chefs. So, what does that say about our local restaurateurs? What impact do these awards have on restaurants and their financial sustainability? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by the owner and head chef of El Naranjo, Iliana de la Vega, who was named Best Chef Texas in 2022 and a semifinalist twice before that. Plus, de la Vega shares how she changed the way Austinites make tortillas, the Austin restaurant she'd bring back from the dead, and the dish that makes her customers cry (happy tears).  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 10th episode: Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

American colleges and universities have been in the spotlight as the new Trump Administration trims the federal workforce and executes immigration policies. The 52,000 students at The University of Texas at Austin have been feeling it all, from research grant funding cuts to major changes in student loans and fear of deportation over protest participation. Isaiah Williams, a senior reporter at The Daily Texan, joins host Nikki DaVaughn in sharing what the student body would miss if international students weren't around, plus how the protest climate has changed and what's behind a recent drag show ban.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 9th episode: Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Across many school districts, teachers are asked to do more with less, and that effort doesn't typically include a pay bump. At Lockhart Independent School District, however, staff have rebuilt the leadership structure so experienced faculty are given time outside the classroom to mentor peers and run professional development, while principals can focus on long-term planning over short-term issues. Superintendent Mark Estrada joins host Nikki DaVaughn to talk about visiting schools in other countries for inspiration, and how he's managed to hold onto experienced teachers and pay them more than most other Central Texas public school districts.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 8th episode: Wild West Brew Fest ZACH Theatre Austin Community Foundation Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

There are nearly 300,000 immigrants in Austin, and these days, many are understandably filled with fear. But things are fairly normal as far as deportations right now, according to our guest, Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela, an immigration and criminal defense attorney who won his seat in a special election in 2022 and is now serving a second term. He joins host Nikki DaVaughn to dispel some immigration myths, explain his push for more “missing middle” housing, and share his favorite spots for barbacoa, coffee, and drinks in District 4.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 7th episode: ZACH Theatre Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

It's the Friday News Roundup, and we've GOT to talk about this University of Texas Women's Basketball team. They're playing in the Final Four of the NCAA Championship tonight, and there are tons of places in town to sport your favorite burnt orange gear and watch the game. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the ‘Horns, along with the very visible beginning of our oak pollen season and how to survive it, the story of a remarkable Austin woman, and our weekend picks.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this April 4th episode: Visit Port Aransas Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

It's now been 30 years since the death of the “Queen of Tejano Music,” Selena Quintanilla-Perez, but her influence on the genre is still enormous. A new documentary about Selena premiered at SXSW, and all episodes have now been released in Texas Monthly's new podcast, Viva Tejano, which captures the nostalgia and experience of Tejano music. Its host, J.B. Sauceda, tells host Nikki DaVaughn in today's episode that it's all evidence that Tejano music is making a comeback. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3rd episode: Visit Port Aransas Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Austin is no stranger to autonomous vehicles — a decade ago, this is where the first fully autonomous car ride took place, and then-Mayor Steve Adler declared Austin the “Kitty Hawk of driverless cars.” Late last year, Waymo rolled out service for Austinites on an insider waiting list, and our guest, Dan Weinstock, got approved to ride. Since then, he's racked up 60 rides in the self-driving cars, and has the stories to prove it. Recently, the company partnered with Uber, and Uber customers can now opt-in to get picked up by a robot car. Would you take one? Host Nikki DaVaughn isn't so sure.   Learn more about the sponsors of this April 2nd episode: Visit Port Aransas Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Spring is fully in the air, along with the pollen, and we are going outside. Happy April, y'all! In this episode, Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Spectrum News Anchor Nicole Clark and City Cast Austin Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec to share some great tips on how to spend your month. We're talking about which festivals you should go to (don't make us pick between Eyeore's 60th Birthday Party, the Moontower Comedy Festival, and Austin Blues Fest!), what you should eat, and other ways to have fun in Austin as the city puts her best face forward.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: Visit Port Aransas Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest For even more tips on how to make the most of April in Austin, check out Hey Austin's take on what to do this month.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Once again, Democrats are outnumbered in the Texas Senate, leaving them little to do to fight Republican priorities. It's a winner-take-all session, according to our guest, Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, and things are looking “pretty nasty, brutish, and short.” So, where does she get her encouragement? And, where does she think Democrats can effect change? Eckhardt joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss it all, plus how she's seeing Trumpism play out in Austin.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 31st episode: Visit Port Aransas Austin Community Foundation Wild West Brew Fest Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

The Texas Legislature is still in town, and while one lawmaker tried to get the state to take control over the city's government, there was unanimous opposition. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to dig into the “District of Austin” proposal on this week's Friday News Roundup. Plus, we discuss an iconic Austin festival's move out of town, a new affordable housing concept underway at an East Austin historic church, and our weekend picks. Finally, we remember Texans Carlton Carl and former Austin mayor Carole Keeton, both of whom died this week.   Learn more about the sponsors of this March 28th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

For one Austinite, this city was crucial to the fight for Women's Rights in the 1960s. So decades after her activism helped desegregate dorms at The University of Texas at Austin and secure women's reproductive rights, it's been difficult for her to watch abortion access disappear. So what gives author Alice Embree hope, and how is she working on making things better for women and other Texans years later? Embree joins host Nikki DaVaughn to share her experiences and advice for today's campus activists in this special episode for Women's History Month.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this March 27th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Travis County District Attorney José Garza is in hot water after his office was found to have missed a 90-day deadline to indict suspects on felony charges in several cases. Reporter Tony Plohetski first brought the issues to light when he reported on two suspected murderers who were released on low bonds from jail — but as Plohetski tells host Nikki DaVaughn, the problems didn't stop there. Elsewhere in Texas, prosecutors told Plohetski Garza's issues were “the stuff of nightmares.” We dig into the concerns of mismanagement at the office, whether they indicate that Garza is, indeed, “soft on crime,” and what could come next.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 26th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

How well do you know Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez? As the top cop in charge of the county jail, Hernandez has improved the sheriff's office's response to mental health issues and is getting a national lifetime achievement award in May honoring her career in law enforcement. Hernandez invited host Nikki DaVaughn to her office for an interview about the sheriff's office's biggest challenges, plus, sidebar for a bit on the sheriff's unexpected hobby.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

As the days on the Texas Legislative calendar tick away, lawmakers' pace of work is speeding up — and they're still keeping at least one eye on Austin. While the bill to turn Austin into the “District of Austin” probably won't go far, one that would ban all consumable hemp products in the state has already passed the Texas Senate. Other legislation targets Project Connect, short-term rentals, and strangely enough, “furries,” or dressing up like animals, in Texas schools. Host Nikki DaVaughn checks in with KUT's Blaise Gainey for a legislative update.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 24th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

It's been a week, but we're still talking about the horrific crash on Interstate 35 that killed five and injured several others, and we've got an idea for getting tractor-trailers like the one that crashed off the highway-that-will-be-a-construction-zone for the next 10 years. Plus, you may have seen the news that South by Southwest is condensing its various festivals into one shorter, seven-day spree next year, cutting the music-only weekend. But did you see the rivaling hot takes in Texas Monthly and Rolling Stone? We talk about those big stories and our weekend picks on this week's Friday News Roundup, recorded at Trick Hat Workway, with host Nikki DaVaughn, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 21st episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Is it just us, or were the crowds at South by Southwest smaller this year? We spent days galavanting around town, and have some opinions. So, we're bringing you our thoughts on the unexpected, the overrated, the beloved, and our big picture hot-takes from SXSW 2025, with host Nikki DaVaughn, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec. And in case you missed any of our festival coverage, catch up on episodes with local takes on SXSW music, the film and television festival, and what it brings to the city's tourism economy. Plus, read up on the plans for the new Austin Convention Center here.  Learn more about the  sponsors of this March 20th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Some might say that our city's slogan, “Keep Austin Weird,” is outdated. But for those who coordinate OUTsider Fest, weird — otherwise known as out of the mainstream — is the target participant. The festival's artistic director, Laura Gutiérrez, joins host Nikki DaVaughn in talking about the role the festival plays in Austin's LGBTQ-plus community, as well as the importance of her work as an associate professor and an associate dean at The University of Texas at Austin.   Learn more about the sponsor of this March 19th episode: Tecovas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the Austin metro area is now the 25th most populated in the country. But that metro area stretches from Round Rock to San Marcos. So what's happening within Austin's city limits? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Demographer Lila Valencia to dig into our local population changes and what they mean.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 19th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Before Austin City Council took off on Spring Break, it took several actions to address quality of life issues, like boosting the city's inventory of “missing middle” housing, addressing how we maintain our public art, recommitting to transparency in meet-and-confer processes, and more. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by The Austin Common's Amy Stansbury to get into council's latest actions — plus unpack what Mayor Kirk Watson means when he warns of “budget asteroids” in Austin's future.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 18th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

With the end of SXSW comes the end of an era: The Austin Convention Center, as we know it, will never look the same. It's set to be demolished soon, and a new center won't reopen until 2029. With an average of 23 million domestic tourists visiting Austin every year — many drawn to our conventions and festivals — what will festivals look like these next few years? Can Austin hold onto its status as a tourist destination? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Visit Austin's Director of Communications, Wesley Lucas, to get into it all.  If you enjoyed the interview with Rodeo Austin's Joel Anderson, learn more here! Learn more about the other sponsors of this March 17th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Austin City Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison, entrepreneur and hoops champion Fran Harris, and more Austinities have had a lot to say this SXSW, and we've been keeping our eyes on all of it. Plus, did you know the city is trying to hire laid-off federal workers in town? Host Nikki Davaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec, and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to round up this week's news — and share some recommendations for the weekend, the final one for SXSW.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 14th episode: Rodeo Austin Flyaustin Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

According to South by Southwest, only about 18 percent of the performers in the music festival are from Austin. So, we wanted to know: How do local musicians feel about the behemoth SXSW? Nikki DaVaughn, a musician herself, hosts local musicians J. Summar of Tender Wolf and John Branch to get into it all.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 13th episode: Rodeo Austin Flyaustin Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

On March 19, Austin's first women's sports bar will open, just in time for the first round of NCAA's Tournament, in which the Lady Longhorns are ranked No. 1. The 1972's cofounder Debra Hallum joins Nikki DaVaughn in explaining why we need gender-based sports bars, why they're opening even despite plans for a light rail to plow through their building, and just how many local women's sports there are in town.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 12th episode: Rodeo Austin Flyaustin Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Austin drivers have lots of reasons to despise our local toll road authority, TxTag, and the investigative team at KXAN knows all about it. Recently, reporters revealed that even after the dysfunctional authority admitted how bad it was and transferred authority to another agency, the problems continued. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by reporter Matt Grant, who found that more than half of TxTag's accounts were not transferred to the new authority. Grant also shares the potential changes that state lawmakers could make while in session, plus, hear how host Nikki DaVaughn would charge for driving on toll roads if she ran a tolling authority.   Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode: Rodeo Austin Flyaustin Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

An estimated one in seven of Austin's short-term rentals is illegally operating, and City Council members are trying to change that. But those efforts have been underway for years, and have been largely unsuccessful, resulting in unfriendly legal rulings and bills filed at the Texas Capitol. Recently, council changed three regulations aimed to wrangle short-term rentals, but postponed enforcing two of the three changes until after the Texas Legislature leaves town. Sara Willa Ernst joins host Nikki DaVaughn in breaking down the changes, explaining how we got here, and digging into the actual problems.  Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode: Rodeo Austin Flyaustin Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE