City Cast Austin

More than 1.3 million people live in Travis County, and contribute either as a renter or a property owner to Travis County’s massive budget. But how much do we know about what county commissioners are up to, like testing out a pilot program that could fill an enormous gap in mental health treatment and addressing opioid overdoses? And, why are Travis County voters going to be asked to pay more in taxes to cover their neighbors’ childcare? In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Travis County Judge Andy Brown to ask him these questions and more, including what he’ll be wearing as Grand Marshal of the Austin Pride Parade. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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

For the second time in history, a woman has been named as permanent chief of the Austin Police Department. And incoming Chief Lisa Davis will have her hands full, as she addresses staffing and recruitment issues, a department of officers working without a permanent contract, and more. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today with Austin American-Statesman and KVUE Reporter Tony Plohetski, to discuss Davis’ appointment. Stay tuned for the debut of a special segment, A Mile in Their Boots, featuring a bonus interview with DJ Chorizo Funk, who’s been spinning tunes for Austin audiences for 15 years. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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

It’s taken years to unravel the unbelievable crime web woven by Erik Maund, heir to a massive Austin auto dealership, which resulted in the deaths of an escort and her estranged boyfriend in Nashville. After Maund and his co-conspirators were found guilty in federal court, reporter Katy Vine got to work with producer Anna Worrell on their now-released podcast series, “The Problem With Erik.” In today’s City Cast Austin episode, Vine joins host Nikki DaVaughn on the ins and outs of Maund’s complex case. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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 

As Austinites wrap up their summer travel and students get ready to head back to school, nasty viruses are increasingly present to welcome folks home. Specifically, a new Omicron strain of COVID, and the measles, a few potential cases of which are already in town. To find out how we can stay healthy, host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin Public Health’s medical director and health authority. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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 

It’s the Friday News Roundup! For today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down the week’s news. On our agenda: discussing the recent soaking Austin got from the rain gods, a new development that could help East Austinites fight gentrification, and our favorite local Olympian, Gabby Thomas. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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 

The dog days are officially upon us, and the start of school is still a few weeks away. But with budgets blown to cover summertime fun, how can an Austinite possibly survive here in August without going into (more) debt? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Elissa Rozentuller and Eva Ruth Moravec to share some local knowledge on how to save money on back-to-school, how you can join the underconsumption trend, and what you can do for free during these hot summer days and nights.For even more tips on how to make the most of August in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month. City Cast Austin’s guide to August is made possible by our awesome exclusive launch sponsor, Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town. 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 

Today, City Cast Austin wades into the rumor mill to address the falsity that there is a serial killer responsible for bodies found in the past couple of years in Lady Bird Lake. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by guest Zo Qadri, an Austin city council member whose district includes Rainey Street, about how the Rainey Street Ripper rumor got started, what’s actually causing people to die in Lady Bird Lake, and how Qadri is addressing some major safety concerns in Downtown Austin. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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

Summertime in Austin usually means hot, dry days that leave our greenbelts and beautiful green spaces at high risk of wildfires. But this year, with all the rain we’ve had? Not so much. Even so, things could dry up in a flash. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Deputy Chief Carrie Stewart of the Austin Fire Department to talk about how you should best prepare for a fire, and what the city is doing to mitigate risks. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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

For today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Livestrong Foundation President and CEO Suzanne Stone to mark the 20th birthday of the cancer-fighting organization’s iconic yellow wristbands. And what will the next 20 years of treating cancer in Austin hold? The yellow band still costs $1 but changes are afoot, with survivability up, rising rates among young people, a new cancer hospital coming soon, and a renewed focus on fertility. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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

Today on City Cast Austin, Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin Newsletter Editor Kelsey Bradshaw and Eva Ruth Moravec for the Friday News Roundup. We’re talking about President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to town, a $47.9 million grant coming Austin’s way from the Environmental Protection Agency, and where to find the majestic purple martins. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. 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