City Cast Las Vegas

Las Vegas is staring down a record-breaking March heat wave as near triple-digit temperatures arrive months early, raising alarms about climate extremes, public safety, and what this means for tourism and daily life in the valley. The team digs into the wild headlines behind the heat dome, from nationwide weather chaos to shrinking snowpack and looming water impacts, while swapping personal gripes and surprisingly inventive ways to cope. Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess and creative producer Jacob Solis. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

NV Energy’s billing changes and a recent overbilling controversy have stirred public anger and raised new questions about how Southern Nevadans pay for power. The new peak demand charge could reshape monthly electric bills, spark lawsuits, and even influence the politics of rooftop solar and energy fairness across the valley. Dana Gentry, senior reporter at the Nevada Current, breaks down the ⁠⁠policy fight and its potential impact⁠⁠ on the governor’s race with host Sonja Cho Swanson. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠⁠.

With the news cycle feeling a little… apocalyptic lately, we’re revisiting one of our favorite end-of-the-world conversations. Vegas has survived plenty of wild nights — but how would it fare if the world actually ended? Dayvid Figler joins filmmaker Darlene Dalmaceda and movie podcaster David Rosen to revisit some of the most memorable apocalypse movies set in and around Sin City. From “Mars Attacks!” to “Blade Runner 2049” and the cult oddity “Six-String Samurai”, they dig into why Hollywood loves blowing up 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegans are concerned about police accountability, especially with the increased presence of federal troops in many cities. DC Council in Washington recently passed emergency legislation requiring local police to release body-worn camera footage of incidents involving federal forces they patrol with, and to collect the names of federal officers who make arrests. It’s a big shift in local policy, partially motivated by the fact that local cops have damaged their reputation by patrolling with feds. City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran talks with City Cast DC podcast co-host and executive editor Mike Schaffer about the political stakes involved, the effectiveness of body cameras, and how Washingtonians are dealing with the heavy federal law enforcement presence. Plus, Mike and Jacoby weigh in on public transit etiquette in their cities when it comes to people playing music out loud. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email us now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR) is launching a new AI tool designed to speed up unemployment benefits claims — is this a promising development or the beginning of our robot apocalypse? Nevada Independent opinions editor Andrew Kiraly and Elle Hope, poet and founder of Spotlight Poetry, join host Sonja Cho Swanson today to discuss this and other news: Why visitors to Vegas are wealthier than ever and robotaxi company Zoox's new partnership with Uber. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 13th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Remember when ordering off a secret menu made you feel like a true Vegas insider? In the age of influencers, QR codes, and restaurants openly advertising their “secret” items, that once hush-hush dining flex may be disappearing. Food writer John Curtas joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about how the internet killed the secret menu and why becoming a regular might be the last real insider move left in Las Vegas. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 12th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

March is Women's History Month, so we’re putting your Vegas knowledge to the test: How well do you know the women who shaped our city? We bring back a conversation between Vogue Robinson and Dr. Su Kim Chung, Head of Public Services in Special Collections and Archives at UNLV Libraries. She shares the stories of five iconic women who helped shape the city — and whose impact every Las Vegan should know. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegans used to be able to brag about being a mosquito-free city — but not so much anymore. So we're bringing back a conversation with Dayvid Figler and UNLV professor Dr. Louisa Messenger about why Las Vegas is seeing a mosquito population boom and what we can do about it. Plus, host Sonja Cho Swanson kicks off the conversation with a fresh update on Dr. Messenger's latest skeeter survey results, and her 2026 mosquito forecast. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The long running Badlands saga refuses to stay buried. Years after a costly settlement over a failed golf course redevelopment, a new fight is brewing over millions in property taxes collected during the legal battle. Now Clark County and the City of Las Vegas are squaring off over who should repay the developer, with the dispute ⁠potentially headed to the Nevada Supreme Court⁠. Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Ricardo Torres-Cortez to break down the latest over the battle over the Badlands. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 9th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Las Vegas are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers. Mentioned on the show: Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Las Vegas grapples with the ripple effects of escalating conflict in the Middle East and what it could mean for tourism, gas prices, and military families tied to nearby bases. We also look at the fight to save McKee Ranch, a quirky animal refuge facing fines and possible closure as new housing development creeps closer. And an indie film studio plans a one-day dramatic wedding chapel on the Strip, raising the eternal question of whether Vegas wedding gimmicks are genius marketing or played-out spectacle. Host Sonja Cho Swanson breaks it down with writer Scott Dickensheets and Beverly Theater founding creative director Kip Kelly. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 6th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority UNLV Performing Arts Center 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

With the glitz and glam of Las Vegas just next door, the city of Henderson can sometimes get looked over. But as the second-largest city in Nevada, it has a fascinating history and has experienced rapid growth in the last few decades. Host Sonja Swanson is joined by Paige Figanbaum, executive director of the Nevada Preservation Foundation and Andy Hafen, former mayor of Henderson to dive into Henderson's hidden history. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 5th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority UNLV Performing Arts Center 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

When the Eastside Cannery is imploded tonight, it'll be the 23rd casino implosion in Las Vegas history. But while other casino implosions have taken place with fireworks and fanfare, this one isn't open to the public and takes place in the dead of night. What's going on there? Host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with journalist Steve Crupi, the Implosion Guy, who shares insider deets on his favorite implosions, what gives them their unique "personalities," and how implosions have become an essential part of Las Vegas culture. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 4th episode: ⁠Southern Nevada Water Authority⁠ ⁠UNLV Performing Arts Center⁠ 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

With all the rain this winter, the wildflower forecast is looking really good — but how good, exactly? Does this qualify as a superbloom year (and why do we care so much)? Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs at California Botanic Garden, about what makes a superbloom, the secret lives of seeds, and what the resilience of these seemingly-fragile flowers tells us about life in the desert. Plus: Dr. Fraga shares her insider tips for the best places to see wildflowers this spring. Learn more about Dr. Fraga's wildflower tour in Death Valley this weekend (currently sold out, waitlist available). Learn more about the sponsors of this March 3rd episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority UNLV Performing Arts Center 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Get ready to spring forward into March with our guide to the best events, activities, and eats in Las Vegas this month. From 3D movie throwbacks at the Beverly Theater to women-led screenings at the Nevada Women's Film Festival, plus a massive food festival at the speedway, a bonfire sound bath with horses, and a beloved restaurant closure — we’re stacking your March calendar. Join host Sonja Cho Swanson with newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess and Nevada Current reporter Michael MJ Lyle for all the insider picks. If you love peanut butter and jelly burgers like Rob, be sure to check out our list of where to find them. 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. 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A lot of cities, including Las Vegas, are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown. It's an issue that's especially top of mind for Pittsburgh, who is hosting the NFL Draft in April. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, the city is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

A woman abandoned her dog at Harry Reid International Airport, the debate over Live Entertainment Tax heats up, and Flavor Flav invited the U.S. Women's Hockey team to party in Las Vegas after President Trump made a joke at their expense. On today's Friday New Roundup, host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus and executive producer Layla Muhammad to discuss the ethics of flying with pets and whether or not sports should be exempt from the Live Entertainment Tax. Plus: which Las Vegas spots should the olympians hit while they're 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.⁠ Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

Glamorous camping or "glamping" is having a moment right now, and people travel from all around the world to glamp right in our pocket of the country. This mode of vacation is perfect for those who want to be immersed in all that the desert has to offer, but don't want to rough it in the heat amidst the dust and bugs. Host Dayvid Figler is joined by Melinda Sheckells, editor of the Town Magazine, to dish on the best places to glamp around 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In a valley of transplants, we explore the mystique and mild superiority complex of being born and raised in Las Vegas. The episode examines common misconceptions, the unique hustle culture, surviving 24 hour temptation, and the side of Las Vegas only long-time locals know. Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with artist Justin Favela and Nevada Independent opinion editor Andrew Kiraly. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A crumbling building at Commercial Center meets the wrecking ball, and it sparks a bigger question about who decides what parts of our past are worth saving. Host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Dr. Paige Figanbaum and Amy Raymer of the Nevada Preservation Foundation to explore why Downtown is Las Vegas’ most historic neighborhood, from its railroad roots to its fading Fremont Street motels, and why preservation matters in a city built on reinvention. Visit the Nevada Preservation Foundation for more information on Home + History Tours. If you enjoyed today's interview with Tess Rowser, the Marketing Manager of the Water Lantern Festival, learn more 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In recent years, we've seen the Arts District get less and less artsy. But this spring, an innovative arts organization called IndigenousAF is moving in to bring art back into the Arts District. Host Sonja Cho Swanson chats with the organization's co-founder, Fawn Douglas, about what this move means to her and the future of Las Vegas. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 23rd episode: The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including Las Vegans. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin to weigh the pros and cons of data centers, and debate the economic, ethical, and ecological considerations at the heart of this debate. Plus, David and Bianca share must-know tips for making it in Madison and DC. We also mentioned this City Cast Madison episode. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Colorado River states missed a key deadline, insurers are being called out for allegedly denying mental health claims, and Gov. Joe Lombardo says he made a quiet pitch in D.C. to unstick stalled solar projects. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by education advocate Patricia Haddad Bennett and Battle Born Progress Press Secretary Jacob Solis to break down whether “naming and shaming” 16 insurance companies will actually improve access to care and if political pull is becoming the price of doing business with Washington. Plus: the penny’s slow demise and a surprising move from MGM Resorts International to round up cash change in customers’ favor. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 20th episode: ⁠The Neon Museum⁠ 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠.

Filipino Town is coming up on its one-year anniversary this spring. So today, host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with two of the movers and shakers behind the project: Ron Sumbang, on the board of directors for Filipino Town, and Ava Cariño, a PhD student at UNLV studying Filipino Foodways and research assistant at Istorya. We learn how they rallied for the creation of a Filipino Town, why it matters to Las Vegas, and get their insider tips for where to find their favorite Filipino dishes. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 19th episode: The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

In a groundbreaking move, the workers at Sheri's Ranch in Pahrump announced their decision to form a union last week — the first time in U.S. history that brothel workers have attempted to unionize. So today, host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Nevada Independent reporter Kate Reynolds about what they're up against, why A.I. is part of their fight, and why this could have nationwide implications for other contract workers, like Uber drivers and salon workers. Then, after the break, we talk with Adalind Gray, a former Sheri's Ranch courtesan who says she was fired for supporting the unionization efforts. Learn more about the effort at UnitedBrothelWorkers.org. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode: The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

We are all guilty of heading to the big box stores– the Targets, the Walmarts when we're in a pinch and need a one-stop-shop. But there's a whole host of Vegas shops you can go to instead to put your money back into the local economy. Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by CoCo Jenkins, founder of There's Nothing to Do in Vegas, and Nicki Pucci, founder of Tambourine Home to share their favorite big box chain store dupes in town. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 18th episode: The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

All eyes have been on the Twin Cities lately, including Las Vegans’. Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. In this inaugural episode of “Your City Could Be Better,” City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a D.C. vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms. We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

This week, a seven-figure attack ad launched in Nevada’s governor’s race, Clark County School District revealed sweeping budget cuts tied to declining enrollment, and new data spotlighted just how many Las Vegas residents are staying single ahead of Valentine’s Day. Join host Sonja Cho Swanson, executive producer Layla Muhammad, and Nevada Independent Opinions Editor Andrew Kiraly to break down the biggest headlines from this week. Check out our new City Cast podcast "Your City Could Be Better" on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by CEO David Plotz, this week's inaugural episode features the host of City Cast Twin Cities talking about how Minneapolis and St. Paul mobilized so quickly and broadly against the months-long ICE operation there. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegas is famous for giant splashy productions, but a tiny local theater cracked the national spotlight with a 90s horror parody that went viral and started selling out shows. Majestic Repertory Theater found breakout success by leaning into nostalgia, letting audiences film, and turning cult classics like Scream and The Craft into scrappy, immersive musical hits that are now touring beyond Nevada. Founder of Majestic Repertory Theater Troy Heard joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about building buzz on a shoestring, why Vegas is the perfect experimental lab, and what local theater can offer in a big spectacle town. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

This election year, voters are set to decide 31% of district court judges. But why are some judges appointed in Nevada while others have to run for election? Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by Alex Falconi, founding director of Our Nevada Judges, and Dayvid Figler, practicing attorney and former municipal court judge, about this year's judicial races and how voters can get informed. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Nevada lawmakers recently held a hearing on the Boring Company's so-called Tesla Tunnels, but representatives from The Boring Co. and Governor Lombardo's office were nowhere to be found. Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus and Dayvid Figler, an attorney and former City Cast host who co-authored an investigation on the Vegas Loop with Propublica to discuss the hearing and what could come from it. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

As a place that still gets referred to as the Wild West, Las Vegas needs to reckon with its myth of the cowboy. After all, there is a long legacy of Black cowboys who helped shape the history of the American Southwest. So, we're bringing back former co-host Sarah Lohman's conversation with artist and writer Brent Holmes about the erased history of Black cowboys 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A suspected biolab was discovered in an Eastside home, prompting a federal investigation that is still underway. What exactly was found in the home, and who are the major players here? Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by filmmaker Shahab Zargari and newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess to talk about the latest developments. Plus, they also get into the judicial decision to ban prediction markets from Super Bowl speculation in Nevada, and why an ultra-marathon runner will be running the length of the Colorado River this summer. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegas is buzzing ahead of the largest In-N-Out and Five Guys openings on the Strip, so we dig into where locals are actually finding the city’s best burgers right now. Food influencers break down what makes a real smash burger, where pub-style classics still shine, and which low-key spots and fancy kitchens are worth the drive. Jeremy “Bullet Head” Johnson and Giselle D’souza of NothingToDoLVEats join host Sonja Cho Swanson to shout out neighborhood burger gems. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

After a brutal season, the Raiders finally have something fans can feel cautiously optimistic about. With a top coaching prospect headed to the Super Bowl this weekend and big decisions looming, we ask if this could be the moment things start to turn around. Las Vegas Review-Journal sports anchor Heidi Fang joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to break down what went wrong, what a new coach and No. 1 draft pick could change, and whether the Raiders will ever make Las Vegas proud. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

The federal funding whiplash has left Nevada’s nonprofit sector bracing for impact, with cut programs, lost staff, and unanswered questions about what comes next. We zoom out on why uncertainty can be just as damaging as outright cuts, and how shaky federal dollars ripple through healthcare, housing, and food access across Southern Nevada. Miles Dickson, founder of Nevada GrantLab, joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to break down the overall state of nonprofits in Las Vegas and what locals can do to help. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

It's officially February, which means we are full of love for our city and all it has to offer! Between the Death Valley superbloom, a new Elvis doc, and the James Beard semi-finalists announcement, there's plenty of reasons to be out and about this month. Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by newsletter editor Rob Kachelreiss and Nevada Current reporter Michael MJ Lyle to share the events they can't miss and businesses they're crushing on during this month of love. 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. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Nevada Prep Charter School was already planning a closure after reports emerged about hundreds of disciplinary issues — but now it's facing calls for the Attorney General's office to investigate possible financial misdoings. What's going on here, and what does this incident say about the state of charter schools in our state? Host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Channel 8 morning anchor John Langeler and City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Layla Muhammad to discuss. Plus, they also get into the uncertain fate of the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, and the Galleria Mall's rebrand — could this be the salvation of our aging shopping malls? 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Across the country, concerns about immigration enforcement are mounting. Host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada, to break down the practical realities of encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement here in Las Vegas — what the law actually allows and what every resident should know. With community fears rising and ongoing debates about cooperation with federal agencies, this episode cuts through the headlines to help listeners understand their rights. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Las Vegas just notched a record-breaking 14 James Beard Award semifinalist nominations, and the city’s food scene is feeling the heat — in a good way. Host Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Eric Gladstone, founder of restaurant PR group Feast of Friends, to unpack what this moment means for chefs, restaurants, and Vegas’ national reputation. From surprise nominees to long-overdue recognition, they dig into why this year feels different. Finalists for the James Beard Awards will be announced on March 31st. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

While Las Vegas is known as the gambling capital of the country, newer online vices are popping up that could be competition for our city's biggest offer – casinos. Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket allow users to "trade real-world events" by predicting anything from the outcome of a sporting event to the weather in New York City. It sounds a lot like gambling, but is it? Rick Velotta, assistant business editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to discuss the legalities of prediction markets and the threat they pose to gaming companies. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

While Nevada has a long history of old family names in politics (think the Goodmans, the Reids), the list of candidates that have filed to run in 2026 in Southern Nevada contains a shockingly low number of legacy names. How much power do these famous families still hold? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler talk with UNLV history professor Michael Green to talk about the political dynasties of Las Vegas and if a legacy last name still matters as much as it used 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Amid rallying cries on the left of "defund ICE," the Senators from Nevada, Catherine Cortez-Masto and Jacky Rosen, have proposed a middleground solution: Diverting close to half of the $175 billion in Big Beautiful Bill funds earmarked for the agency towards local law enforcement. Will it work? And does it matter? Today, host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus and writer Scott Dickensheets about the proposal, along with the valleywide impacts of later school start times for CCSD high schoolers, and why a proposed second Sphere in the DC suburbs has us feeling jealous. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Because we have new restaurants popping up all the time in Las Vegas, that unfortunately means that we lose a lot of great spots too. So many of our favorite eateries closed in 2025, so City Cast Las Vegas contributor and man about town Brent Holmes joined host Dayvid Figler to discuss substitutes for the places they were sad to see go. Plus, they chat about what last year's closures say about the future of the Las Vegas food 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. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Earlier this month, the CDC dropped several vaccines from its list of recommended childhood vaccinations. What does that mean for us here in Southern Nevada, and should we be concerned? Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with medical epidemiologist Dr. Rosanne Sugay from the Southern Nevada Health District about how Nevada's vaccination rates stack up against neighboring states, and the challenges that providers face when talking about vaccines here in our purple state. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Huntridge Park has been fenced off since 2020, stranded in the middle of Maryland Parkway and stuck in decades of controversy. Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Friends of Huntridge Park co-founders Freddy Godinez and Randy Mendre about the park’s turbulent history, from its postwar heyday to repeated closures tied to safety, access, and homelessness. They lay out why some neighbors would rather keep it closed — and why that might be a mistake. Plus, a bold vision for how this forgotten green space could become a cultural hub for downtown Las Vegas again, with help from UNLV landscape architecture students. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Back with another Friday News Roundup, host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by Battle Born Progress press secretary Jacob Solis and Nevada Independent opinions editor Andrew Kiraly to unpack the week's biggest and buzziest headlines. This week, they discuss the lawsuit against the Southern Nevada Water Authority over its ornamental grass ban and the new master-planned community coming to the northwest. Plus, Philly's wing-eating competition, The Wing Bowl, is coming to the Plaza Hotel this year. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 16th episode: Nevada Health Link The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A recent Wall Street Journal article spelled doom and gloom for the pizza industry, citing the closure of multiple chains and the rising cost to buy a slice. Are Las Vegans following suit? Longtime pizza industry veteran John Arena of Metro Pizza and Robby Cunningham, owner of the newly-opened Guerilla Pizza, tell us what Vegas customers want, why margins are especially precarious in pizza, and why Robby, despite what these forecasts say, is optimistic about jumping into the Vegas pizza business. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 15th episode: Nevada Health Link The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

After all the ups and downs of the last year, Las Vegas needs something to look forward to. And that's the year 2028, newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess tells host Sonja Cho Swanson. Our city has some enormous ambitions shaping up that year, from the political to the architectural, and it could transform Las Vegas as we know it. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 14th episode: Nevada Health Link The Neon Museum 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, AI was the acronym on everyone's lips. From AI agents to smart toilets, it seems like there's no corner untapped by artificial intelligence. Host Sonja Cho Swanson is joined by tech commentator and podcaster Ed Zitron and newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess to discuss what they saw at CES this year. Plus, they debate whether AI will change Las Vegas tourism as we know it. 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 becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.