City Cast Las Vegas

In the last few weeks, the Biden administration and the Bureau of Land Management came out with their long-awaited Western Solar Plan, an ambitious project to open up 31 million acres of federal land for much-needed solar energy projects, 12 million of which would be in Nevada. But nearby Nye County, home of many of those proposed sites, isn’t too happy about it. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Mason Voehl, executive director of the Amargosa Conservancy in Nye County, who just penned an op-ed advocating for a “balanced” approach to solar development — so could this be the solution we all need? Learn more about the sponsors of this September 25th episode: Global Product Sourcing UNLV Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

What if a “Made in Nevada” logo appeared at the end of your favorite TV shows and movies? If the proponents of two film tax credit bills have their way, Nevada will massively expand the funding for production companies like Sony and Warner Bros. to build and operate huge studios right here in Las Vegas — a move they say will bring jobs and much-needed economic diversification to our city. Are they right? And why did this bill fail in the last legislative session? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus about the latest on film tax credits in Nevada. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 24th episode: Global Product Sourcing UNLV Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

From our Democratic senators to our Republican Governor (and most recently, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump), a tantalizing proposal to solve our affordable housing crisis has gained support across the aisle: Opening up federal public lands to build more houses. But is this really the fix? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Vinny Spotleson, the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter Executive Committee Chair, who explains why this issue has become so bipartisan, and the major problems these politicians are overlooking. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 23rd episode: Global Product Sourcing UNLV Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

We may be entering peak weather season right now, but the news in Las Vegas stays hot! For this week’s news roundup, we break down what’s up with all these fiery lithium truck crashes that are shutting down highways, local journalist Steve Sebelius putting Trump in the hot seat during an interview about the biggest issues in Southern Nevada, and why Las Vegas coffee shops deserve more respect nationally. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 20th episode: TheList.Vegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In the last few years, it seems like every other restaurant opening in Las Vegas is a breakfast spot. With very Instagram-able themes and dishes, is our breakfast market getting over-saturated? Giselle D’souza, founder of NothingtodolvEATS, breaks down the breakfast trend in Las Vegas and shares her favorite spots, new and old, with co-host Sarah Lohman. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 19th episode: TheList.Vegas Did we miss your favorite spot? Let us know on Instagram @CityCastVegas, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In the latest installment of CCSD reality TV, recently-ousted School Board Trustee Katie Williams says she “actually did care” and that the move to remove her was “political.” But as the frequent tie-breaker vote on a 4-3 divided board … could she be right? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Patricia Haddad Bennett, who recently served as the director of government relations for the Clark County School District, about how this group of ostensibly non-partisan electeds gets so political, what a school board actually does, and why all of us — kids or no kids — should care. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 18th episode: TheList.Vegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Last week, the Las Vegas planning commission approved two new neighborhoods in the Summerlin area that will include hundreds of homes. While some might be happy to hear that the new neighborhoods aren’t near Red Rock, any expansion in Las Vegas is met with apprehension. As the infamous suburb grows, we are revisiting a conversation co-host Sarah Lohman had with historian Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs at The Mob Museum, and City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson, our in-house Summerlin resident. They break down the unusual origin of the neighborhood, its complicated reputation, and share their favorite spots around Summerlin. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 17th episode: TheList.Vegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

This November, voters will head to the polls and elect a non-Goodman mayor for the first time in 25 years. Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who is wrapping up 13 years at the helm of our city, joins co-host Dayvid Figler today to reflect on her time in office, the good and the bad: Her proudest accomplishments in addressing homelessness, economic development, and transportation; the unresolved challenges; and how a kerfuffle over Britney Spears symbolizes the ongoing tension between the city and the county. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 16th episode: TheList.Vegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegans are getting the brunt of California wildfire smoke this week as wind currents bring smoky skies into our valley — so is this our new normal? And how can we deal with it? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by thelist.Vegas creator Andrew Kiraly to discuss our worsening air quality, as well as the surprising arrest of an LVMPD officer, and what legalizing betting on elections — and more — could look like in Las Vegas. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

September is a huge month for beer festivals in Las Vegas. While the big brands control the market nationally, locally we have a thriving craft beer scene fueled by breweries and bars supporting local makers. To help us know the ins and outs of all the beer Las Vegas has to offer, Phil Garcia from Khoury’s Fine Wine & Spirits joins co-host Sarah Lohman to share his favorite local beers as a beer buyer, where to find them, and what to consider when trying craft beers in Las Vegas. Mentioned in this episode: Atomic Duck from Able Baker Hazy IPA from Beer Zombies Love Juice from Lovelady Brewing Co. North 5th Brewing Co. CraftHaus Brewery Cream Ale from HUDL Chantilly Cream Ale from Las Vegas Brewing Company Mojave Brewing Company Big Dog’s Nevada Brew Works Hop Nuts Brewing Cin-Cin Brewhouse & Seafood Bar (New!) Silver Stamp Bar Pizza Rebellion Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Last year, nine teens were arrested in connection with the horrific beating death of Rancho High School student Jonathan Lewis. And just last week, four of them were sent back from adult court to juvenile court as part of a plea agreement that reduces their maximum sentence. The outrage has been palpable: Social media users have called the accused adolescents “monsters,” and Lewis’s mother said the decision was “disgusting.” So should the teens have been tried as adults? What’s really going on here? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with UNLV Boyd School of Law professor Eve Hanan about why we have juvenile court in the first place, and why some teens (and not others) are sentenced in adult court. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If fall signifies anything in Las Vegas, it's that we can finally spend extended periods of time outdoors without the fear of heat exhaustion. There are an insane amount of trails to hike in and around our city, but not all of them will give you those fall vibes you might be looking for. With the Cathedral Rock Trail still closed in Mt. Charleston, it's even harder to find fall foliage in our desert. However, Bertha Gutierrez, program director of the Conservation Lands Foundation, is an avid outdoor enthusiast and knows exactly where to get your fall fix. She shares her favorite trails and outdoor spots to soak up the fall vibes with co-host Sarah Lohman. Don’t forget to check for Mt. Charleston trail closures and check out these helpful resources from the Conservation Lands Foundations. Mentioned in this episode: Lee Meadows Fletcher Canyon Lower Bristlecone Trail Ruby Mountains Bryce Canyon Whitney Mesa First Creek Pine Creek Canyon Valley of Fire Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge Avi Kwa Ame National Monument Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Most Las Vegans know the drive to Los Angeles all too well. Whether you are escaping the heat warnings (in September?!), visiting family and friends, or wanting to touch the ocean, the 4-hour drive is almost always easier for locals than tourists going the other way. While you think you may know what lies in the desert between the two cities, there’s a lot more than meets the eye! To encourage you to make the most of your next journey, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by Hey Las Vegas editor Rob Kachelriess to share their favorite hidden gems and secrets along the I-15. Heads up: City Cast Las Vegas members get an extended version of this episode that includes even more tips and shocking facts about the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility and Zzyzzx Road! Learn how to become a member at https://membership.citycast.fm/lasvegas Here's a Google map of the stops mentioned in this episode so you can follow along with us! Learn more about the sponsors of this September 9th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Did we miss your favorite stop? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected] to let us know! You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegans are still dealing with the collective PTSD of last year’s F1 construction misery. So with crews beginning to install F1 infrastructure this week, can we really believe them when they say it’s going to be better this year? What are they actually doing differently? Co-host Dayvid Figler is joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus and Channel 8 morning anchor John Langeler to discuss. Next up, they tackle Nevada State Board of Regents member Stephanie Goodman’s controversial tweet about Kamala Harris; and whether or not letting food delivery robots venture off-campus is a good idea. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 6th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegas is a Mecca for various cuisines, but barbecue is one of the most controversial styles that may escape our grasp. While some states and regions can be protective of their barbecue styles, over the years chefs have brought their mastery of the grill to Vegas to create a diverse landscape of different options. To determine whether or not you can find truly great barbecue around town, pitmaster and owner of Girls Can Grill Christie Vanover shares her favorite spots with co-host Sarah Lohman along with the history and what she looks for when judging BBQ competitions. Restaurants mentioned: Virgil’s Real Barbecue Mabel’s BBQ Jessie Rae’s BBQ SoulBelly BBQ John Mull’s Meats & Road Kill Grill Mister Kim’s Korean BBQ Oming’s Kitchen Hog and Tradition Learn more about the sponsors of this September 5th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Twenty years ago, developer Yohan Lowie bought the Badlands Golf Course — but not everyone was happy about his plans. This kicked off a bitter legal battle that has since embroiled the City of Las Vegas in increasingly expensive lawsuits. So what exactly is going on here, and why is the city now potentially on the hook for nearly half a billion dollars? We’re bringing back a conversation co-host Sarah Lohman had with journalists Darcy Spears and Steve Sebelius earlier this summer that untangles the messy, messy Badlands drama and explains why Badlands will be a hot topic in local elections this fall. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 4th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Just a couple weeks ago, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a non-decision with potentially huge implications for our elections — they declined to compel Washoe County to certify the results of a June primary recount. It gets a little wonky, but the big question coming out of this is: Does this give Nevada counties free rein to just… not certify any election results they don’t like? What does this all bode for November? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar for a wide-ranging conversation about election security, the voter ID laws on the ballot this fall, and how we restore faith in our electoral system. Heads up: City Cast Las Vegas members get an extended version of this episode that discusses upcoming legislation, digitalization, translation, and AI in elections. Learn how to become a member at https://membership.citycast.fm/lasvegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 3rd episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Welcome to our Friday news roundup! After a turbulent week in Las Vegas as the Robert Telles murder trial came to a dramatic close on Wednesday, we are welcoming the three-day weekend with the stories you might have missed. Governor Joe Lombardo responds after Nevada Democrats called him out for vetoing a universal free school lunch measure last year as they bring the issue up again for the next legislative session (don’t miss April Corbin Girnus’s excellent op-ed skewering them both). The Las Vegas police union is pushing back against the NFL’s request to include officers in their new facial recognition policy. And lastly, MGM was exposed for charging $15 extra to book a room with a human over the phone. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to discuss. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 30th episode: Black Mountain Institute Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

One of our city’s most high-profile murder cases has finally come to a close: Almost two years to the day after journalist Jeff German was found stabbed to death outside his home, former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles has been found guilty of his murder. So how exactly did this case come to its conclusion, and what can we learn from its twists and turns? Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler, a longtime criminal defense attorney, to break it all down. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 29th episode: Black Mountain Institute Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Las Vegas community. While some cities gear up for a cozy fall complete with scarves and sweaters, in Vegas, we like to call it our second spring. It’s finally time to start getting outside! From food festival hacks to sustainable shopping, in this episode you’ll hear all the tips and tricks you’ll need to make the most out of your September in Las Vegas. Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by writer Brent Holmes to parse through the month’s highlights as the temps slowly come down. If you agree with Brent that it’s “al fresco time,” don’t miss our previous episode about our favorite patio dining spots around town. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 28th episode: Black Mountain Institute Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads atcitycast.fm/advertise.

Have you ever felt lonely living in Las Vegas? In a recent study of moving and living trends, we were ranked as the 2nd loneliest city in the United States. And just last year, the U.S. Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic, with 1 in 3 Americans feeling lonely every week. No one is immune to feeling lonely — as it becomes a bigger problem across the country, we tackle just one way to combat that isolation: making friends! That can sound like a daunting task, especially for adults. So today on City Cast Las Vegas, the founder of Black Girl Mixer and “friend concierge” Kailah Orr tells co-host Sarah Lohman the secret to making friends in Las Vegas and its surprising health benefits. Have you ever reserved a parking spot for First Friday? Let us know! Learn more about the sponsors of this August 27th episode: Black Mountain Institute Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

As the national debate over free school meals for all students heats up, Nevada Democrats are also putting pressure on Governor Joe Lombardo. The governor vetoed a universal school lunch measure last year, but assembly members have recently submitted a bill draft request to get it back on the agenda in time for next year’s legislative session. Governor Lombardo shot back saying despite his veto, there is still a path for free food for students in need. To break down the issue at its core, we are revisiting a conversation with food justice advocate Kim Foster. She tells co-host Dayvid Figler about the impact free school meals have on Las Vegas families and the pitfalls of our current system for providing food in schools. Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode: Black Mountain Institute Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Completing their infinity stone glove of the Strip, Culinary 226 has announced a tentative union contract with the Venetian and the Palazzo, the last two major casino holdouts on the Strip. So what now? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by Nevada Current journalist Michael MJ Lyle to discuss. Next up, the team talks about slumlords and a new County proposal that could hold them more accountable, and wraps up with the not-so-surprising “study” that Las Vegas has the 19th-best sunsets in the world. (And correction: it’s actually a well-known fact that our sunsets are first-best.) Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Dozens of Las Vegas buffets became casualties of the pandemic, but those that remain have found ways to adapt and thrive — even in this era of the rise of food halls. Eater Las Vegas editor Janna Karel spent a week recently eating at every buffet on the Strip, and she joins City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler to talk about the best, worst, and weirdest buffets she tried, and the future of the city’s buffet scene. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

On Thursday, the federal government came out with its annual Colorado River water cuts: To maintain levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Arizona will lose 18% of its allocation, California will lose 7%, Nevada will lose 7%, and Mexico will lose 5%. We’re on a water diet, y’all! But how will this affect Las Vegas? Why are the headlines so confusing, and how worried should we actually be? Co-host Dayvid Figler gets the real deal from environmental reporter Daniel Rothberg. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If any town deserves the moniker of “City Who Never Sleeps,” it’s clearly Las Vegas — city of entertainers, graveyard shift workers, and all the industries that cater to them. But are we losing our 24/7 edge? Co-host Dayvid Figler brings back a conversation with longtime local Brent Holmes about the 24-hour venues we’ve lost, the ones we still have, and why nightlife is the best life. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

When presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed “no taxes on tips” in Las Vegas this June, the mighty Culinary Union responded with deep skepticism. But now that a bipartisan bill has been introduced to Congress and Kamala Harris has endorsed the measure, they’ve come out in favor. So is this all just politicking? What about economists’ concerns about the impact of “no taxes on tips,” and why aren’t we talking about the problem with tipping culture to begin with? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Culinary 226 Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge to get his insider take on why they support the policy and where they hope it goes. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Summer may be winding down in some places as the school year begins, but we’re still going strong here in Las Vegas. For this Friday’s weekly news roundup, the summer heat is taking its toll on locals as heat-related deaths spike this year, a former player is suing our champion Las Vegas Aces for discrimination, and residents complain the Sphere’s new sound feature is way too loud. Co-host Dayvid Figler is joined by food and justice advocate Kim Foster and City Cast executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to add context and discuss this week’s headlines. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Caviar — it’s the latest culinary status symbol, the padding on your dinner bill, the glittering cherry on top of your Vegas vacation Instagram posts. But with caviar showing up on donuts, hot dogs, and even ice cream … has caviar in Vegas gone too far? Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with food critics John Curtas of the Eat, Talk, Repeat podcast and Gemini Stevens of the Food and Loathing podcast to talk about the latest crimes against caviar in our city of excess, and which restaurants are actually doing it right. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Just because the news cycle has moved on doesn’t mean our communities have, too — so what’s the latest on some of the biggest stories of the last year? Today, we’re trying something new and catching you up on the latest developments in three big stories we’ve previously covered on the show: The status of short-term rentals in Clark County and their Supreme Court limbo; the newest real-world impacts of the City of Las Vegas’ Badlands lawsuit payouts; and the school board’s latest decision on the fate of tiny Lundy Elementary School on Mt. Charleston, one year after Hurricane Hilary battered the mountain. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson and co-host Dayvid Figler sit down to discuss. You can find Darcy Spears’ story on the latest Badlands payouts here. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Even though professional sport teams are fairly new to Las Vegas, mascots are not. Whether they are at schools or attached to local businesses, mascots have been bringing joy (and fear) to locals for decades. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by former mascot and Nevada Current journalist April Corbin Girnus to discuss the best mascots in Las Vegas and the purpose that they serve. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

No one would describe Vegas as a green place, but you might notice the city looking even more desert-y than usual thanks to AB356. This bill from the 2021 legislative session tackles our low levels in Lake Mead by prohibiting the use of Colorado River water on “nonfunctional turf” in public spaces by 2027. So what public grass will disappear and how will this affect our water shortage as Vegas gets hotter and more crowded? Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with co-host Dayvid Figler and JC Davis from the Southern Nevada Water Authority to talk about what exactly “nonfunctional turf” is and why JC thinks AB356 is critical for the future of Las Vegas. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Ahead of the new school year starting this Monday, Clark County School District police and other officials held a press conference highlighting new safety measures they have planned, including cell phone pouches, social workers, and new scanners that can detect even non-metal weapons. Is it all just a bit … too much? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by TheList.Vegas creator Andrew Kiraly to discuss. Next, they get into Resorts World’s baffling implication that mandatory “non-intrusive” visual inspections of guest hotel rooms will somehow keep us safe from all the hackers in town for two hacker conferences, and lastly (oh joy), even more construction on the I-15. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Tiki bars are classic Americana — the mai tais, plastic leis, and faux-tropical decor are embedded into our culinary history. But why and how? Co-host Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, a culinary historian, take a deep dive into Las Vegas history to talk about how tiki came to Vegas, the right (and wrong) ways to do it, and where to treat yourself to an excellent rum punch today. Is it possible that Vegas, with our penchant for transportive flair, is actually doing tiki better than anywhere else in America? Read the L.A. Times article about tiki and appropriation that Sarah cites here. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

For the last several years, gaming industry watchers have observed a troubling trend: gambling odds are shifting subtly but surely in the casinos’ favor. It’s small changes, like introducing triple zero roulette (which gives the casino 2% better odds), and big ones, like cutting down on comps and free play. But are the casino analytics machines taking a short-term win with long-term losses? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with casino whisperer Scott Roeben, AKA Vital Vegas, to discuss. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The tiny riverside community of Laughlin is Nevada’s southernmost town (though it’s technically an unincorporated township), and it’s one of our youngest towns, too — so what exactly is there to do here? A lot, it turns out. Hey Las Vegas newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess recently wrote a guide to Laughlin for Thrillist and shares his favorite gems with co-host Dayvid Figler, from casino deals and water sports to a Guy Fieri (yes!) outpost. Is it possible that Laughlin knows how to Vegas … better than Vegas? Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegas media outlets are abuzz with the news that our city’s marketing arm, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) paid influencers over $2 million in the last couple of years to market the city — and the Authority’s refusal to release all of their payment records. But influencer marketing is par for the course these days, so what makes this initiative so controversial? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer talk with local influencer Phil Tzeng about the ins and outs of influencer marketing, how much they get paid, and what kinds of ethical standards influencers should be held to. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The Nevada Independent recently broke the news that Las Vegas Sands quietly funded a new ballot initiative to require Nevadans to show ID when voting. So why does that matter? Co-host Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to discuss. Next, the team looks at a recent spate of Department of Labor investigations in Las Vegas restaurants, including Blaze Pizza’s child labor violations, and Juan’s Flaming Fajita and Cantina wage theft fines. And lastly, when JD Vance came to Henderson this week, he mispronounced “Nevada” several times — and no one batted an eye. Why? And what political gaffes would be the worst possible ones to make in Las Vegas, for any hypothetical politician? Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In 2017, Elena Medo, the “mother of the breast milk industry,” moved to Boulder City and set up Medolac, her third breast milk company — a bank that paid women for breast milk donations, and processed sterilized, shelf-stable breast milk for premature babies in hospitals. But paying women for breast milk (rather than receiving it as a donation) is controversial. And after facing lawsuits from a competitor in this fiercely contested industry, Medolac is now shuttered. Medo’s bank is being auctioned off this week. Did Nevada just lose a life-saving resource for hospitalized babies? Or is the for-profit model fundamentally flawed? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with Elena Medo to learn more about why she started Medolac and what’s next for the industry. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Project 2025 is a whopping 920-page policy plan created by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, with the intention of giving a ready-to-go guidebook to a second Trump administration, if elected. While Trump has denounced the plan, Democrats have turned it into a rallying cry. But what could it mean for Nevadans? Nevada Current reporter Dana Gentry has been going through the plan page by page and recently launched a series of articles about how the proposed plan would affect us — from immigration to LGBTQ rights and more. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Las Vegas community. The summer heat takes on a whole new dimension with the arrival of monsoon season this month (learn from our city’s weirdest mascot, Drainger Danger, and “turn around, don’t drown”). But we’ve got loads of other tips for how to make the most of August in this episode, curated by local experts: Our co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, plus Melinda Sheckells, editor of The Town: Summerlin magazine. And if you love our picks for bars in this episode, don’t miss our recent episode about the hottest new bars in Vegas. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In April of this year, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Brightline West broke ground on what could be the nation’s first true high speed rail to general praise and glowy optimism. But was that premature? Not only is it unclear where half of the $12 billion in projected costs is coming from, but City Cast recently spoke with Nevada-based high speed rail experts who say they have a lot of outstanding safety questions — especially given Brightline’s safety record in Florida. Today, Sarah Lohman sits down with her City Cast co-host Dayvid Figler, who’s been reporting this story and talking to the experts. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

After news broke that an elderly couple made off with over $600k at the Primm Valley Casino (before being apprehended at their Las Vegas home), the internet basically had two reactions: 1. Awe that someone in their 70s could jump over a casino counter and (almost) get away with this. 2. Depression, because one possible motive cited was the couple’s mounting medical bills. Today, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by Nevada Current reporter Michael MJ Lyle to discuss this news, plus: The Neon Museum’s big move to the Arts District and what this could mean for the Cultural Corridor they’re leaving behind, and the memes and misinformation about Joe Biden’s very last presidential campaign stop, right here in Las Vegas. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 26th episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

As valley residents retreat into air conditioned spaces behind closed doors, one door remains mysterious to most of us here in Las Vegas: Famed local sex club, the Green Door. So what really happens at sex clubs like the Green Door, the Red Rooster, and Whispers? We’re bringing back a conversation that co-host Sarah Lohman had with kink educator and podcast co-host Gemini Stevens, who answers all of our questions about the written and unwritten rules of Vegas sex clubs. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 25th episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

What are the place names, turns of phrase, and particularly Vegas ways of saying things that mark you as a real local? How do you pronounce “Zzyzx Road” and how has hospitality-speak infiltrated our everyday lingo? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with lifelong Las Vegans and local artists Brent Holmes and Justin Favela to run through the “right” way to say things in our desert town. For a deep dive into the origins of why we pronounce “Nevada” the way we do, queue up this episode with UNR linguist Valerie Friedland. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 24th episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Earlier this month, Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom commented on Twitter that the county should change its name to “Las Vegas County,” doubling down on this in a later interview with the Review-Journal. So is Commish Tick right? How does the rocky history of contention between the county and the city of Las Vegas play into Segerblom’s proposal, and who was this Clark fella, anyhow? Today, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with UNLV professor of history Michael Green to discuss. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 23rd episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Just half an hour from downtown Las Vegas, on the way to Hoover Dam, Boulder City feels like a world apart: It’s a charming, tiny town with a walkable historic district, antique shops galore, and Southern Nevada’s only A&W restaurant. (The town’s second traffic light, installed in 1998, was the source of great debate.) But there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Jill Lagan, a third-generation Boulder City resident and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what makes life here unique, and how visitors can make the most of their trip to Boulder City. Plus: You’ll hear about a thriller of a bike trail named after a murderous doctor, a new age cult, and BC’s most famous Bighorn sheep. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode here: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

After an eventful week in Las Vegas, we are back for our weekly news roundup. A proposed temple for the Church of Latter-day Saints was approved by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday despite loud opposition from neighbors in the northwest area. Also, Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen throw their support behind a bipartisan bill aimed at getting rid of taxes on tipped wages. Lastly, an iconic Siegfried and Roy statue from the Mirage finds a new home! Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by journalist Jacob Solis to break down the headlines. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The Asian food scene in Las Vegas gives any other American city a run for its money — but when it comes to the vast world of Asian desserts, where to begin? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with tea sommelier Yukino Aoshima and City Cast executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about their favorite spots in town to get mochi, red bean shaved ice, tofu pudding, sweet sesame soup, and more. Treats mentioned in the episode: Milk tea custard bun at 85 Degrees Milk tea ice cream at Scoop LV Yukimi Daifuku mochi ice cream is sometimes available at Asian groceries like Nakata Market, Japan Creek, or International Marketplace Injeolmi at Koreana Rice Cake House (inside Greenland Supermarket) Bingsu at Sul & Beans Kakigori at the Fall Festival on Oct. 12th, 2024 Fruit sando and strawberry shortcake at Pullman Bread Red bean buns and almond cookies at Crown Bakery Japanese soufflé cheesecake and strawberry shortcake at Suzuya Patisserie Ube swirled babka and pandan tres leches at Milkfish Bakeshop (pop-up) “Fish” waffles at SomiSomi Khanom Krok at Lamoon Tofu pudding and dessert soups at Sweet Honey Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Despite palm trees showing up in iconic logos (farewell, Mirage) and lining Las Vegas Boulevard, those spindly trees aren’t native to the Mojave Desert. In recent years, you might’ve heard grumbles that they’re water-guzzlers providing no real shade. You might’ve even seen the video of a palm tree bursting into flames during our most recent heat wave. But master arborist Lisa Ortega, founder of Nevada Plants, thinks that we might want to give palms another shot. Today, we bring back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with Lisa about when and how palm trees actually make sense in Las Vegas. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.