City Cast Austin

Rainey Street has had a multitude of lives — from working-class Chicano neighborhood frequently overlooked and underserved; to Craftsman-style homes transformed into bars and restaurants bustling with bodies, especially for Sunday brunch; to unforgettable SXSW experiences; and now the high rise-lined wind tunnel where the sun never shines with one extremely worthwhile and Austin-ey cocktail bar. S...

Every session of the Texas Legislature, Republicans file bills that affect Texans’ access to reproductive health, in particular, limiting abortions. In a state that has outlawed most abortions already (even though most Texans support at least some access to abortion), lawmakers found some room for improvement at the local level and banned city and county programs like Austin’s fund for abortion tr...

Governor Greg Abott has ⁠called in⁠ the Texas National Guard after ⁠13 were arrested⁠ at Monday's anti-ICE protest in Austin and a clown-themed ⁠"No Kings"⁠ protest gets planned for Saturday. 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 unpack it all. Plus, we talk about the latest ⁠staffing...

Summertime in Austin means the return of our frenemy, the heat dome, but we’re hoping this year’s is friendly enough to let in some rainfall here and there. To prepare us for the sweltering heat, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco. Join us in praying for a nice, gentle tropical storm in the gulf, and in letting your lawn brown. It’d be a lot cooler if you did. ...

Let’s face it, Austin, it’s just too hot to cook inside. Enter: Grilling season. To get you grillmaster-ready, we’re revisiting a conversation host Nikki DaVaughn had last year with Cairo-born and Texas-trained pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, of KG BBQ. The award-winning, self-proclaimed “Lambassador of Texas” shares his best tips and tricks for cooking meat like a pro, his favorite place to buy meat...

If we were to grade Austin Independent School District’s paper right now, they’d probably get a B — could be better, but certainly could be a lot worse. After getting repeated “F’s,” three AISD middle schools are being forced to shape up, in a year that the school district’s budget has shrunk to deficit level. But now that state lawmakers have funneled $8.5 billion into public schools, increasing...

Texas lawmakers wasted no time this legislative session setting up a school voucher program, and eventually passed an $8.5 billion public school funding bill. And, lawmakers found new ways to impact the lives of LGBTQ-plus Texans. But some items are yet to be decided. Will Gov. Greg Abbott veto a bill banning virtually all consumable hemp in Texas? And will voters approve increases to homestead ex...

The Texas Legislature is finally out of our hair, the city of Austin is ending its use of automatic license plate readers (at least for now), and there’s some tragic news on the heels of the King of the Hill reboot announcement. 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 discuss it all. Pl...

What kind of people can you meet by spending 24 hours in one spot in Austin? KUT’s podcast, “24 Hours in Austin,” dispatched a team of producers to find that out. From Sixth Street to coffee shops to a call center for mental health emergencies, characters abound on Austin's streets. KUT’s projects editor and podcast producer, Matt Largey, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss what happens when you...

Is Amy’s Ice Cream still the best ice cream shop in town? Who has the best frozen summer drinks, with or without booze? And where are we drinking our iced lattes? In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn contemplates where to find the best cold treats in town with Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw (she’s a Sandy’s stan) and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec (whose lactose intolerance p...

Looking to get away this summer but don't want to deal with the hassle of airports and travel delays? A staycation in Austin might be just what you need, whether you’re planning a relaxing getaway for you and your boo, a fun-filled weekend with kids, or an action-packed adventure with friends. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin Monthly's Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern to dish on all of the...

The City of Austin is facing a $33 million budget deficit, even as it moves forward with multi-million and billion-dollar projects like the I-35's caps and stitches and the Austin airport expansion. If you're scratching your head wondering how that math adds up, you're not alone. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Budget Officer Kerri Lang to get an inside look on how the city's budget really c...

Summer storms slammed Austin this week, including one on Wednesday that left nearly 40,000 residents without power and one person dead. On this week’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss the severe weather and how to be summer storm ready. Later, Leslie Rangel, senior editor of investigations for The Barbed Wire joins to talk about the...

The city is full of tourists, the kids are everywhere, and we’re praying for rain: Happy June, Austin! The entire world is celebrating Pride month, and while Austin’s festivities mostly take place in August (read this if you’re wondering why), host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and local sex therapist Adam Maurer to share tips on commemorating Stonewall right here...

Last week, Austin City Council voted to designate $104 million to help fund the I-35 "caps and stitches" project. They also agreed to add solar panels to publicly-owed buildings in an effort to stay on track with the city's climate goals. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Amy Standbury, editor-in-chief of The Austin Common, to break down these latest council actions – plus why some housing advocate...

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is taking shape in the heart of downtown Austin right now: The redevelopment of Sixth Street. Unlike other redevelopment projects in town, a single entity — Stream Realty — owns most of the street, and is spending an undisclosed amount of money on making it look old again. Host Nikki DaVaughn, a Sixth Street aficionado herself, is joined by Sky Currie of Clayton Ko...

If you're planning on traveling in or out of the Austin airport this Memorial Day Weekend, you might want to be prepared for a possible delay. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the recent air traffic staffing shortages affecting Austin Bergstrom International Airport. We also...

The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series returns tonight for its 51st year of bringing iconic cinema to the heart of Austin. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local journalist Eric Webb to unpack the criteria for what makes a movie "classic", this year's must-see picks, and how to soak up all the beauty this 110-year old building has to offer. Turns out, the silver screen isn't the only thing worth...

You might not be one of them — but the hundreds of Austinites who volunteer their time on boards, commissions, advisory groups, and more in town are imperative for Austin’s success. After living in Austin for several years, Dewi Smith decided she needed to get more involved, and since then, she’s created the perfect imbalance of work, life, service, and fun. Smith joins host Nikki DaVaughn to shar...

The Austin Gamblers are the reigning champions of the 2024 Professional Bull Riding Team Series, and their top cowboy just won the world championship. In other words — they’re really good, and their next season is about to kick off. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Michael “Gman” Gaffney, the Gamblers’ coach and a Professional Bull Riders champion himself, to get us up to speed.   Learn more about...

Aaron Franklin is a barbecue icon, a household name among meat aficionados, and a guru to restaurateurs. At Franklin Barbecue and his second local spot, Uptown Sports Club, Franklin is constantly collaborating with and boosting other local chefs — and for this weekend’s Hot Luck, a food and music festival, he cast his net nation-wide. Aaron Franklin joins host Nikki DaVaughn to share how he person...

Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison wants East Austin, where she was raised and now serves, to keep changing. That can put her on the other side of historic preservation at times, but she has her reasons why, and her vision for what East Austin could be. She joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss gentrification, food insecurity, and how she found her peace while balancing city council...

Unless you live in a very dark and cool cave, you already know we just survived our first heat wave of 2025. A little early in the season, no? On this week’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the heat wave that broke records and made national news. Plus, we discuss how a new court ruling cou...

Austin has long had a reputation for being bicycle-friendly — maybe it’s the Lance Armstrong factor, or the extensive hike-and-bike trail system, or the veloway, or the multi-million dollar bike infrastructure projects. But what’s it really like to commute daily on Austin’s streets, solely on two wheels? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Abi Robins, who ditched their truck a year ago and has pedale...

Local arts organizations are hurting, especially after the recent announcement of federal funding cuts coming at the end of the month. But it's not just artists who are facing financial uncertainty. Who can afford to buy art right now? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local artist and the director of the Affordable Art Fair Cori Teague to talk about the how, the why, and the where of buying art in...