City Cast Austin

A recent report by home security company Vivint concluded that Austin had more ghost sightings last year than almost any other city. And honestly, we’re not surprised. From the moontowers to the Texas State Cemetery and so much more, Austin is full of haunting tales. Newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw hosts today’s conversation with Jeanine Plumer of Austin Ghost Tours for a virtual tour of Austin’s most haunted haunts. Plus, you’ll never guess what natural element Jeanine says bumps Austin to the top of that ghost list. 

This episode originally aired on October 31, 2024 

https://austin.citycast.fm/podcasts/why-water-is-crucial-for-austins-ghosts 

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A sandwich is a simple thing, really — two pieces of bread with something inside — and yet the options are seemingly endless. Especially in Austin. To help you, dear listener, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Cast Austin producer Elissa Castles and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to determine what is the best sandwich in the city. We’re talking about the most surprising sandwiches in town, the best sandwich-adjacent options (and what even counts as a sandwich anymore), and the overall best sando in the city. Warning: Do not listen to this on an empty stomach. And if you’re hungry for more, check out Kelsey’s coverage of Austin’s hot dog offerings, and her ode to her favorite sandwich in town. 

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Since its inception in 2002, an Austin-based band has kicked off the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and this year was no different. And even as the festival has grown, it still invites a number of local bands to the festival’s stages, like local band The Animeros this year, who just got exposed to thousands of new fans. How can local bands make it onto the ACL Fest schedule? And what’s in it after all these years for Asleep at the Wheel to keep holding down the festival’s first spot? Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec talks to Ray Benson and The Animeros after their sets at Zilker Park to find out. For more of City Cast Austin’s coverage of ACL Festival 2025, listen to our guide with Andy Langer, and read our best tips here.  

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For years, Austin City Council has tried to regulate short-term rentals, and it looks like finally, there is a solution. Plus, a contract for homelessness services is up in the air, there’s a not-in-my-backyard fight over where to put a new navigation center, and the city is rushing to keep some 28,000 naturally-occurring affordable housing units from being sold by 2030. Austin City Council has been busy lately — and City Cast Austin contributor Amy Stansbury, editor-in-chief of the Austin Common, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to get into it all. And, are you registered to vote? Today’s the deadline to do so if you want to participate in the Nov. 4 tax rate election, known as Proposition Q. 

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ACL weekend one kicks off today, but did you know only about a quarter of attendees are actually Austinites? In other words, this city is overflowing with tourists right now. If you're like host Nikki DaVaughn and want to dodge the crowds but still enjoy the weekend, we've got some great recommendations for you. On this week's Friday News Roundup, Nikki is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Esther's Follies writer and actor Shaun Branigan to discuss what else to get into this weekend. Plus, we break down the latest property tax hikes — including what you need to know about Prop Q, a measure on the November ballot — and the other stories we're obsessing over this week. In case you missed it, APD finally solved the Yogurt Shop Murders!

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It’s that time of year — Austin City Limits Festival has already taken over Zilker Park, and the Imperial March will soon usher in some 450,000 festivalgoers over the next two weekends. And with one in four attendees hailing from Austin last year, we had to ask — is this festival truly for Austinites? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Andy Langer, The University of Texas at Austin’s senior director of live music and entertainment, who’s covered the local music scene for Texas Monthly, Esquire Magazine, on KGSR/101X and as the host of “Austin City Limits Radio” for decades. ACL Fest has come a long way since 2002, and Langer knows all about its evolution. Plus, don’t miss his recommendations for the festival’s best local bands, big names, and more. 

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Do you feel that slight cool-down in the air? October is here, and it’s time to get out and revel in everything that takes over Austin this exhausting month. Host Nikki DaVaughn is here to shepherd you through her absolute favorite month in town — and she’s joined by Allyson Garro, owner of Coco Coquette, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec. We’ve got all the best picks for tricks and treats for your eyes (check that voter registration card and get ready to early vote!), our favorite October activities, and some fabulous local costume ideas you’ve gotta try (sexy Austin logo costume, anyone?). 

For even more tips on how to make the most of October in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month. 

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After nearly 34 years, the Austin Police Department has solved a quadruple homicide that forever changed the character of Austin — and the suspect wasn’t on anyone’s list. In a bombshell press conference yesterday, lead detective Daniel Jackson revealed how advances in forensic technology and cross-state collaboration finally cracked one of Austin's most haunting cold cases. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down how investigators connected the dots, the lasting impact this case has had on the community, and what closure looks like after decades of unanswered questions. 

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After a shooter targeted a North Texas ICE facility last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that the incident would “NOT slow our arrest, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.” Already, Texas leads the country in the number of immigration detentions, according to reporting by Axios, though it’s unclear where exactly in the state those are taking place. Here in Austin, where immigrants represent about 15% of the population, life under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies looks very different than it did last year. Law enforcement presence has ramped up in certain parts of town, and soon, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office will have to participate in immigration enforcement, too, a change from the past. And appointments in San Antonio that used to be low-risk are now terrifying experiences, as arrests at check-ins have been more common. To break it all down, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Latino communities reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. 

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Were you also disappointed by that so-called "cold front" that moved in earlier this week? If you were dreaming of brisk autumn air, cozy sweaters and the start of soup season, you weren't alone. Sadly, Austin might be holding on to its drier, hotter weather for a little while longer. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to lament the lingering heat and take a look at what to expect from Austin's fall forecast. Plus, why City Council staffers were playing Bingo during public comment, and the Sixth Street redesign breakdown you didn't know you needed. 

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