This week, Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax unveiled his proposed $6.3 billion budget, which aims to shore up the city's deficit while avoiding a direct call for a tax-rate election. But will it work? Some city leaders are skeptical. On this week's Friday News Round Up, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to tell you everything you need to know. We also dive into Antone's 50th year of legendary live music, IKEA's new "small city store" in San Marcos, and how locals are raising big money for flood relief. Plus, the growing petition to pause the convention center rebuild, and why you should come to our birthday party this weekend!

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And, come celebrate our first birthday and have a drink on us on Sunday, July 20, at the Cabana Club! It’s free with RSVP. 

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From morning sets in coffee shops to cumbia yacht rock popups, Austin has a DJ for every interest. Host Nikki DaVaughn caught up with her favorite one, DJ Chorizo Funk, to get the inside scoop on the best venues and events in town, and the do’s and don’t’s every party attendee needs to know. 

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In Austin, margaritas are more than a mixture of tequila, lime juice, and orange liquor; they’re a summertime survival tool. And with literally hundreds of options in town, finding a good one is probably easier than you think. But, we at City Cast Austin undertook the rigorous task of narrowing down the city’s best — and most overrated — margaritas, and our answers might surprise you. Do you agree with host Nikki DaVaughn, newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, or executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec? Let us know what you think in a text or a voicemail. 

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If seeing the long lines around P. Terry’s Burger Stands during its donation drive, or watching story after story about people killed by the floods is making you tear up on the regular these days, please know you’re not alone. The news in Central Texas has been tragic lately, so host Nikki DaVaughn is joined in conversation by Julie Burke, with Violet Crown Therapy, to get some tips. Burke shares her advice for those feeling collective grief, for helping parents talk to kids about what happened, and for honoring the lives lost. 

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Airlines overestimated summer travel, and passenger counts are down — which is great news for you. They’re calling it the “Golden Summer of Cheap Flights," and right now, Austinites can find jaw-dropping international deals. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Katy Nastro, spokesperson for Going; and Nathan Bernier, transportation reporter for KUT, to talk about what’s new at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the airline making a significant local investment, and the best travel tips — like how you can skip the stressful cellphone waiting lot and wait in peace at the family viewing area instead. Plus, is CLEAR worth it? 

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Today, the Austin Fire Department union will hold a vote of no confidence in the fire chief, Joel Baker, after accusing him of preventing rescue crews from assisting in Kerr County during the devastating Fourth of July floods. Plus, Gov. Greg Abbott added flood safety response to the agenda for the upcoming special session later this month. On today's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to give you the latest developments following the catastrophic Central Texas Floods. We honor the Austinites who lost their lives, discuss why the floods were so deadly, and highlight the many ways Texans are showing up to help each other recover.

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In the early morning of July 4th, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning, but two hours later, the swollen Guadalupe River swept camp children out of their cabins at Camp Mystic. A wall of water then flooded the Hill Country and most of Central Texas, eventually killing more than 110 people, including dozens of children. Another 170 people are still missing, and the victims are strewn from Kerr County down to Sandy Creek. But flash floods are familiar to this area, known as “flash flood alley,” so why did the July Fourth floods catch so many off-guard? From missing warning systems to critical staffing gaps at the National Weather Service, spotty cell phone service and just plain complacency, veteran KXAN Meteorologist Jim Spencer joins host Nikki Davaughn to examine what could have gone wrong and how Texans can better prepare for the next flash flood. Late Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that several flood-related items, including funding flood warning systems, are now on the agenda for the Texas Legislature’s upcoming special session.  

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If you’re among the half of all Austinites who rent, you may question the headlines screaming that Austin’s rents have been dropping for months, or that the city is becoming more “affordable.” Truth is, rents are still too high for many Austinites, in part because wages have not kept pace with prices. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Shoshana Krieger, program director at BASTA, which stands for “Building And Strengthening Tenant Action,” to dig into the nuance of our local rental market, and share some tips that every renter in town should know. 

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The death toll continues to rise from the Fourth of July Central Texas flooding, and Camp Mystic is grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors. But the main focus of today’s City Cast Austin episode is the massive 65% annual loss reported this year in our local Central Texas honeybee colony over last year, and it turns out, there’s a mite to blame. So, scientists now are experimenting with breeding bees that are mite-resistant — more specifically, that will bite off mite’s legs and kill them before the mites can kill the bees. So, what can you do to help the bees? Start your own hive? Wear light colors? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Garett Slater, a lifelong beekeeper and the Honeybee Extension Specialist at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to find out. 

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Historic rainfall in the Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend killed at least 67 people statewide, with many others still missing, including some from the all-girls sleepaway camp, Camp Mystic. After bombarding the Hill Country, the rushing floodwater in the San Saba, Llano and Guadalupe rivers kept wreaking havoc downstream, including in Austin, where at least four were killed and others were missing. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 21 counties, and federal assistance is also on the way. Host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec hopped on the mic on Sunday to bring you the latest on what we know and how to help. 

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