City Cast Austin

The Texas Education Agency is looking into nearly 280 complaints about teachers and school staff who allegedly posted negative comments about Charlie Kirk after his assassination. Though this investigation is state-wide, the fallout is being felt in school districts in Georgetown and Hutto. This comes as the Texas Legislature forms new committees to examine free speech on college campuses. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Austin Vida editor and publisher Nancy Flores to unpack how Kirk's murder is reverberating through Central Texas. Plus, they dig into the recent detention of a beloved local dog park handler by ICE, and why this year's Hispanic Heritage Month feels noticeably different.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

Chances are, you’ve had a Rainey Street era — but exactly which one depends on when you got here. From its origins as a 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 — this street has truly had multiple lives. So what’s next for Rainey Street, home of Texas’ new tallest tower and a stubborn, debunked rumor about a serial killer? And can it ever be cool again? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and Nikki’s friend, local musician Doug Leveton, to discuss.  This episode originally aired on June 17.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

This week, Austin is participating in Welcoming Week — an annual campaign that showcases “the movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants.” Well, we at City Cast Austin thought we’d participate, too, by highlighting the city’s best international grocery stores. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Daphne Quay, a Peruvian realtor who’s a big fan of our local shops; and Gabriela Torre, who have all the tips and tricks to shopping internationally, right here at home.   Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 17th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

With Austin’s constant growth and identity crisis, we are constantly wondering if this city is still cool. Enter City Cast Houston, whose host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Laura Isensee join City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn and producer Elissa Castles in debating which city is the best. It’s the City Cast Texas Showdown, and we’re sizing up these two Texas giants as it comes to affordability, music, food, and the outdoors. Can Houston even compare?  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 16th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway 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.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The City of Austin’s new $1.1 million logo is not a huge hit, especially among the thousands of people who’ve signed a petition to “stop” it — but city officials are hoping that will soon change. Starting Oct. 1, the logo will be all over the city’s social media accounts and website, and other changes will be coming too, like shortening city departments and moving away from using acronyms. The wavy A, in colors inspired by our “greenbelts, lakes, skyline sunsets, and bluebonnets,” replaces a seal that a San Francisco man designed for a contest, winning $50, in 1916, as well as hundreds of department-specific logos. But is it worth it? And will Austinites come around? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Jessica King, Austin’s chief communications director; and Yasmin Wagner, the city’s web and creative services manager, to get into it all.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 15th episode: Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Tribune Festival New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis is not pleased after a warning for residents to “shelter in place” was lifted prematurely early Wednesday, while police were still looking for a gunman who shot a police officer and a civilian in Zilker Park. Davis said she is looking into what went wrong, as the lifted order prompted Austin Independent School District to start school on time, and parents were carting their kids to school while the suspect remained at-large. On today's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to unpack the events of the shooting and discuss APD's response. Plus, the team gets into the recent influx of immigration agents in Austin, and shares their picks for what Lady Gaga should do while she's here for her March 2026 performances at the Moody Center.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 12th episode: Downtown Austin Alliance Wise Huel - Use code AUSTIN for 15% off for new customers Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Austin is known for its tacos, but you probably don’t know the stories behind the people who make our corn-or-flour-wrapped deliciousness, or what makes Austin’s tacos stand out among the sea of tacos statewide. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by taco journalist Mando Rayo, whose latest season of “Tacos of Texas” is out now. Plus, Mando shares some of his favorite tacos in town, and encourages Austinites to venture out of the city center for the best tacos around, and to head particularly to Austin’s Taco Mile (map here!). Don’t miss Mando’s story on the origin of the San Antonio/Austin taco wars — not that they’re a thing, y’all. Seriously.   Learn more about the sponsors of this September 11th episode: Downtown Austin Alliance Wise Huel - Use code AUSTIN for 15% off for new customers Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Austin claims to be an environmentally-friendly city — and based on our local tree canopy, that’s mostly warranted. But zooming in, it’s clear that trees are more dense on the west side than in East Austin. Tree-huggers are paying attention, though, and regularly work to make things better — including by holding the annual Tree of the Year awards (nominations are still open, by the way). Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by TreeFolks’ Executive Director Andrew W. Smiley to talk about Austin’s latest Tree Canopy Report, how our canopy compares to those in other cities across the country, and why it matters.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 10th episode: Downtown Austin Alliance Wise Huel - Use code AUSTIN for 15% off for new customers Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  This episode originally aired on May 12. 

Elissa Castles, a producer with firsthand travel experience, joins the discussion on the fierce competition between Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Elissa shares insights on Delta's growing international routes and new flight attendant base, while highlighting its elevated service. The debate intensifies as they weigh Southwest's affordability and accessibility for locals against Delta's premium offerings. Who will emerge as Austin's favored airline? Tune in for the showdown!

Last week, the City of Austin unveiled a new $1.1 million logo and rebrand, just as it prepares to ask Austin voters to raise taxes. Austin is facing a budget deficit, and in order to maintain services, the city is asking voters to increase property taxes in November. But one man, former mayoral candidate Jeffery Bowen, says the ballot language is misleading, and is suing the city over it. So, just what will Austin voters be agreeing to if they vote for the tax rate increase? And why does Bowen’s lawyer, Bill Aleshire, keep suing the city? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Luz Moreno-Lozano, who covers city hall for KUT, to discuss it all.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 8th episode: Downtown Austin Alliance Wise Huel - Use code AUSTIN for 15% off for new customers Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE