City Cast Austin

There’s more news about Sixth Street reopening to weekend traffic, and we’re breaking it down today on the Friday News Roundup, along with other stories that caught our eye. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to also discuss local layoffs at the Alamo Drafthouse, next week’s winter weather, and our plans for the weekend and MLK Day. Plus, for more on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on Austin, check out our recent interview with East Austin historian Harrison Eppright.Learn more about the sponsor of this January 17th episode:The Holdsworth CenterTecovasWant some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have only visited Austin once during his lifetime, but he left his imprint all over this city, from MLK Boulevard to the Dr. King statue at the UT campus and beyond. Host Nikki DaVaughn talks to East Austin historian Harrison Eppright about what the city was like in the time of MLK, and his legacy here in town. And a note: Listeners will hear the n-word in this episode, because it is relevant to the conversation. Please take care when listening. Learn more about the sponsor of this January 16th episode: The Holdsworth CenterWant some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Learn more about the sponsor of this January 16th episode: The Holdsworth CenterInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

It’s been a few months since Lisa Davis took over at the Austin Police Department, and she’s already made some big tweaks. But what else does she have planned for revamping APD’s approach to transparency and community policing? And how will she repair the tenuous relationship with Austin’s City Council and City Manager? Host Nikki DaVaughn asks her about it all, in an interview at APD headquarters. This episode originally aired on November 21. Learn more about the sponsor of this January 15th episode: The Holdsworth CenterWant some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Today, the 89th Texas Legislative session kicks off at the Capitol Building down on Congress Avenue, and y’all, it’s truly a marathon, not a sprint. So, executive director Eva Ruth Moravec sat down with City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali and KUT’s politics reporter, Blaise Gainey, to share notes on the lawmakers and issues they’re keeping tabs on, their best tips for cutting through the noise, and some wildcard predictions for session shenanigans.Learn more about the sponsor of this January 14th episode: The Holdsworth Center Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Music is an enormous part of Austin’s culture, so doesn’t it seem obvious that Austin would help support the music industry and keep the culture alive? Nicole Kelpadlo, the interim director of the Red River Cultural District, says creating the district and building support has been challenging, but nothing’s stopping them now. Plus, hear where in the district you can grab a late-night bowl of homemade pasta after you jam out to some metal, and why you need to mark your calendars for Free Week and Hot Summer Nights.Learn more about the sponsor of this January 13th episode: The Holdsworth CenterWant some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Kelsey Bradshaw, our Hey Austin newsletter editor, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about these freezing temperatures we’ve been having, and how the city plans for inclement weather. Other news on the agenda: How you can help count Austin’s unhoused population, the latest on the plan to reopen Sixth Street to vehicular traffic on weekends, and our weekend plans. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Austin’s food scene has been getting some major attention lately, but Nadia Chaudhury, former Eater Austin editor who’s now editing Eater Northeast, has been on the pulse of it for 10 years. In today’s episode, she shares her 2025 hopes and dreams for Austin restaurants and chefs, as she and host Nikki DaVaughn predict the next (and former) food trends, the celebrities that will blow up our dining scene, what Aaron Franklin is going to do next, and more. In this episode, we erroneously implied that Veracruz didn't have a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Thank you to listener Lisa H. for setting us straight! There already is one, in Mueller. We're sorry, and we love you, Veracruz! Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Basketball star, Shark Tank alumnus, comedian, entrepreneur, and so much more, Fran Harris, is fully focused on one thing right now: Bringing a Women’s National Basketball Association team to town. The time is now, she argues, and the WNBA is looking to expand. But what would the team be called? And who might be their superfan? Tune into Harris’ interview with executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to find out. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Austin’s crazy growth has slowed down, and in some cases even gone negative, with black and Hispanic Austinites, particularly with kids, moving to the suburbs. But there’s so much more to our city’s demographic changes, and who these newcomers are (spoiler alert: Not Californians!). City Demographer Lila Valencia joins host Nikki DaVaughn to dispel your assumptions about who’s been moving to town, who’s been shipping out, and who’s been having babies. Plus, Valencia shares her predictions for Austin’s future growth, in the new year and beyond. And, stay tuned for an interview with Better Way Blood Testing’s founder and COO.If you enjoyed the interview with Better Way Blood Testing's Founder, Chief Operating Officer, and Chairman, Eric Olson, learn more here. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Host Nikki DaVaughn checked in with Travis County Judge Andy Brown to find out how the county is spending the voter-approved tax increase for childcare, and when residents can access help. Plus, they discuss a decline in accidental opioid overdose deaths, the potential of a commuter train between San Antonio and Austin, why District Attorney Jose Garza needs his own security budget, and how the county is preparing for the Texas Legislature. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE