City Cast Austin

On Wednesday, Texas lawmakers wrapped up a drawn-out special session and finally headed home. Republican lawmakers claimed big wins with a new district map, stricter anti-abortion measures, and a transgender bathroom bill. But the session ultimately fizzled after lawmakers failed to agree on regulating THC, the issue that sparked the special session in the first place. On today's Friday News Roundup host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the wins and losses from the Capitol. Plus, we get into the good and the bad restaurant news of the week and then unpack Austin Monthly's 2025 Best of Austin list, where many friends of the pod made the cut! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 5th episode: Water Lantern Festival Downtown Austin Alliance 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 

Every day, you drive on streets, bridges, and past buildings named after Austinites who did something amazing — and chances are, you have no idea who they are. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Adam Powell, the executive director of the Austin History Center Association, who shares the stories behind some of Austin’s namesakes, like the newspaper man who helped bring The University of Texas to Austin, the World War II vet-turned magician who made incredible clothing, the man who successfully challenged the so-called Hollywood blacklist, and the alderman who died in the fight to rename 19th Street after Martin Luther King, Jr. The Austin History Center has been undergoing renovations, and reopens this weekend with an event on Sunday, Sept. 7.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 4th episode: Water Lantern Festival Downtown Austin Alliance 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-area students are back in school, but things are looking a little different this year in classrooms. While the new Texas law requiring schools to display the 10 Commandments is on hold at Austin Independent School District, the law banning cellphones during the school day is in full effect. Three AISD campuses are going through changes to stave off closures for poor performance, and a slew of others are facing closures to help the district fight off a $19.7 million budget deficit. There’s still another year before Texas students will be eligible for school vouchers, but even now, new and innovative private schools — like the AI-driven Alpha School — are coming to town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Community Impact’s education reporter Chloe Young and Sharon Jayson, a local independent reporter who recently wrote about the district’s new equity assessment for the Austin Free Press, to discuss it all.  Learn more about the sponsors of this September 3rd episode: Water Lantern Festival Downtown Austin Alliance 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 

We made it through the worst of summer weather y’all, congratulations! The kids are back in school, the tourists are starting to come back, and maybe you’re feeling romantic. It’s time to date this city that we all call home — and we’ve got some excellent recommendations on what to do if you’re looking for some me time, some ideas for a great date night, a few things you can do as a family (spoiler alert: Everyone’s going to Bat Fest!). And, if you’re looking for ways to make that budget stretch but still have fun, don’t miss our recent episode on what to eat, drink and do for under $50.  For even more tips on how to make the most of September 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.  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

College is back in session, Cheer Up Charlies was saved from the chopping block, and we’ve made it past 100-degree days. Buckle up for a busy Friday News Roundup, where host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local drag performer and activist Brigitte Bandit, and University of Texas at Austin junior Genesis Britz, get into it all. Britz tells us what life is really like this semester at UT and how it feels now that UT police have expanded their footprint; while DaVaughn and Bandit share their experiences as past performers at Cheer Ups and what the bar means to them. Finally, with colder temperatures on the way, we share some recommendations for what to do this weekend. And, for more on the conservative-ization of UT, check out our recent interview with Austin Chronicle’s Brant Bingamon.  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 weekend, Texas Longhorns play Ohio State University, kicking off The University of Texas at Austin’s football season — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. For the first time ever, UT is ranked No. 1, we’ve got a Manning as our quarterback, and the schedule is jam-packed with rivals. Plus, the tailgating scene and pre-game festivities around Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium have never been better. Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by superfan Megan Grigsby, who hosts the podcast, Fire the Cannon, and Austin American-Statesman reporter Danny Davis, to talk about all things UT Football. And, if you’re hungry for more burnt orange-themed City Cast Austin coverage, check out our Hey Austin guide to the 2025 Longhorn Football season, and this episode from last year on how to tailgate like a pro.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 28th episode: Wise 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 

When one bar door closes, another one opens. But is the new ever as good as the old? East Side favorite Nickel City recently landed a spot on North America's Best Bars list, proving that the Austin bar scene can hold its own on the national stage. Yet, we still lose our favorite spots regularly. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by beer, food, and drink writer Ruvani de Silva to talk about the shifting bar scene and the must-try new spots in Austin.   This episode originally aired on May 8.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 27th episode: Wise 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

That gasp you heard last Thursday evening? It was Austinites’ surprise at the news that longtime U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett is retiring if Texas’ new congressional district map is upheld in court. The new map combines Doggett’s district with parts of that of relative newbie Rep. Greg Casar. And while there is already a legal challenge to the redistricting law, Casar has now announced he will be running for the District 37 seat. It looks like local Democrats are supportive of Doggett’s retirement, but to find out more, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Forrest Wilder, senior writer for Texas Monthly; and Monique Alcala, a former executive director of the Texas Democratic Party based in Austin.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode: Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Wise 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 

It was the Texas Department of Transportation’s construction of the Congress Avenue bridge in the 1980s that first attracted Mexican Freetail bats to Austin, in droves that caused Austinites to push for their extermination. And now, TxDOT is caring for the bats once again, building alternative spots for their roosts as it tears apart bridges over Interstate 35. So to find out how they’re faring in this new living situation, along with what happened to Austin’s bats during the summer rainstorms, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Austin Bat Refuge co-founders, Dianne Odegard and Lee McKenzie. Plus, now is peak bat-watching season, so we’ve got a few tips on how and where to see them best.  Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode: Wise 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 

It's not just you, traffic has indeed gotten worse since AISD went back to school this week. But the congestion on the roadways isn't the only thing changing this school year. Starting September 1, two new Texas laws will go into effect – one that bans cell phones during school hours and one (currently temporarily blocked by a federal judge) that requires schools to display the Ten Commandments. On this week's Friday News Roundup, the City Cast Austin team breaks down these new school rules. Plus, now that the redistricting map is moving forward, Rep. Lloyd Doggett says he won't be seeking reelection if the map is upheld by the courts. The team discusses what shifts are expected for Austin's districts and also, why taxpayers might foot the flood recovery bill.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Plus, we’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast Austin swag. Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE