Summertime in Austin means the return of our frenemy, the heat dome, but we’re hoping this year’s is friendly enough to let in some rainfall here and there. To prepare us for the sweltering heat, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco. Join us in praying for a nice, gentle tropical storm in the gulf, and in letting your lawn brown. It’d be a lot cooler if you did. 

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Let’s face it, Austin, it’s just too hot to cook inside. Enter: Grilling season. To get you grillmaster-ready, we’re revisiting a conversation host Nikki DaVaughn had last year with Cairo-born and Texas-trained pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, of KG BBQ. The award-winning, self-proclaimed “Lambassador of Texas” shares his best tips and tricks for cooking meat like a pro, his favorite place to buy meat, and where he had the first taste of barbecue that forever changed his life. 

This episode originally aired on August 29, 2024. 

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If we were to grade Austin Independent School District’s paper right now, they’d probably get a B — could be better, but certainly could be a lot worse. After getting repeated “F’s,” three AISD middle schools are being forced to shape up, in a year that the school district’s budget has shrunk to deficit level. But now that state lawmakers have funneled $8.5 billion into public schools, increasing the basic student allotment and giving teachers raises, will AISD be able to balance its books? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin American-Statesman reporter Keri Heath to discuss it all, including other education-related bills passed by the Texas Legislature. 

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Texas lawmakers wasted no time this legislative session setting up a school voucher program, and eventually passed an $8.5 billion public school funding bill. And, lawmakers found new ways to impact the lives of LGBTQ-plus Texans. But some items are yet to be decided. Will Gov. Greg Abbott veto a bill banning virtually all consumable hemp in Texas? And will voters approve increases to homestead exemptions on property taxes and changes to the bail system? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by KUT’s Blaise Gainey to get into it all. 

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The Texas Legislature is finally out of our hair, the city of Austin is ending its use of automatic license plate readers (at least for now), and there’s some tragic news on the heels of the King of the Hill reboot announcement. 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 discuss it all. Plus, we discuss why the mayor of Taylor is refusing to sign a proclamation for this year’s Taylor Pride event, and where you can celebrate Pride Month in Austin. And hey, please do send us a voicemail or email and let us know what you think about Rainey Street! We want to hear all the opinions. 

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What kind of people can you meet by spending 24 hours in one spot in Austin? KUT’s podcast, “24 Hours in Austin,” dispatched a team of producers to find that out. From Sixth Street to coffee shops to a call center for mental health emergencies, characters abound on Austin's streets. KUT’s projects editor and podcast producer, Matt Largey, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss what happens when you slow down, start a conversation, and connect with the strangers in your city. 

This episode originally aired December 5, 2024

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Is Amy’s Ice Cream still the best ice cream shop in town? Who has the best frozen summer drinks, with or without booze? And where are we drinking our iced lattes? In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn contemplates where to find the best cold treats in town with Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw (she’s a Sandy’s stan) and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec (whose lactose intolerance prefers Dulce Neve Gelato). And a warning: This episode may give you a brain freeze. 

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Looking to get away this summer but don't want to deal with the hassle of airports and travel delays? A staycation in Austin might be just what you need, whether you’re planning a relaxing getaway for you and your boo, a fun-filled weekend with kids, or an action-packed adventure with friends. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin Monthly's Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern to dish on all of the best local spots. You can read more about Austin Monthly's summer travel guide here. 

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The City of Austin is facing a $33 million budget deficit, even as it moves forward with multi-million and billion-dollar projects like the I-35's caps and stitches and the Austin airport expansion. If you're scratching your head wondering how that math adds up, you're not alone. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Budget Officer Kerri Lang to get an inside look on how the city's budget really comes together. They dig into where the money comes from, what city bonds actually do, and how Lang's team works overtime to build the budget that will go up for a vote in August. Plus, how you can weigh in on where those dollars go. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 2nd episode:

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Summer storms slammed Austin this week, including one on Wednesday that left nearly 40,000 residents without power and one person dead. On this week’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss the severe weather and how to be summer storm ready. Later, Leslie Rangel, senior editor of investigations for The Barbed Wire joins to talk about the Texas Legislature passing both a THC ban and a film incentives bill, and what these new state laws mean for Austinites. Plus, we discuss which Austin BBQ joints made Texas Monthly's Top 50 list and our weekend plans, including attending the ATX TV Festival, and a Juneteenth exhibition at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. 

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