City Cast Las Vegas

We call Vegas “Sin City,” and we have the strippers, cocktail waitresses, escorts, Little Darlings billboards, and The Love Store to prove it. Sex is a part of everyday life in Las Vegas. But there’s more to this conversation… and most of us aren’t comfortable talking about it. Is Sin City… Sex Positive? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, host Vogue Robinson talks with Rebecca Bosetti, assistant professor at the UNLV School of Social Work, about her new course, “Sexual Behavior & Society: The Good, the Bad, and the Controversial,” and why Las Vegas needs more sex-positive social workers. Every morning, Scott Dickensheets serves up a fantastic newsletter filled with news items, events, and other things you should know about our city. Sign up here: lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Stay up-to-the minute with us on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 with your Vegas hot take!

The Las Vegas Valley has a speeding problem: 2021 was the worst year for traffic fatalities in over a decade (2022 is on track to beat that), and speeding is the cause of a third of fatal crashes. The Review-Journal recently published an investigative piece that looked at 95,000 speeding tickets from one of our biggest municipal courts, and found that 80% of them were reduced to parking violations. That means no traffic school and — crucially — no record of repeat dangerous drivers. But is ratcheting up the consequences in a criminalized system the answer? What solutions are on the table? Host Vogue Robinson talks with Michael Scott Davidson, the investigative reporter behind this piece, about his findings and what the experts are saying. Stay even more connected to your city with news roundups, whip-smart commentary, and fun events in our morning newsletter! Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Thoughts, feelings? Did we miss the mark, or hit the bullseye? Tweet us! We’re @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

As rents rise all over the valley, some business owners in the Arts District got hit with 200-400 percent rent increases, making life more difficult for everyone — but especially cultural businesses. Priscilla Fowler has owned her eponymous fine art gallery in the area since 2016, moving three times within the Arts District, most recently this year after her rent was doubled. Downside: In her current location, away from Main Street, foot traffic has declined. Host Vogue Robinson talks to Fowler about her experience, how things have changed, and what we can do to keep the arts in the Arts District.

KSNV News 3 sports anchor Bryan Salmond calls Las Vegas the sports and entertainment capital of the world. With another successful NBA Summer League in the books and the WNBA’s success with the Aces here in the valley, could it finally be time for an NBA team in Las Vegas? Lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson and Bryan discuss what the prospects are for our basketball city and why LeBron James just might be the one to bring a team here. Want to stay updated on the latest Vegas news and events? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We also tweet! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Are you a Las Vegas baller? Let us know your thoughts by calling or texting us at 702-514-0719.

Our Roving Producer Lizzie Goldsmith is from Denver and has never been to Vegas! Host Vogue Robinson and Lead Producer Sonja Cho Swanson plan out Lizzie’s perfect Vegas itinerary including bars, views, food, outdoor activities, and(reluctantly) what to do on The Strip. The millennials also explain why Bennifer’s Vegas wedding brought on the nostalgia and some very Vegas news items. Want to be a better Las Vegan? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Got some good news for a Friday round up? Give us a call or send us a text at 702-514-0719.

When’s the last time you exited Spring Mountain Rd. and visited Las Vegas’ Chinatown? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson chats it up with Lorraine Blanco Moss. She’s the host of Nevada Public Radio’s Exit Spring Mountain, a podcast that takes its name from the east-west artery that runs through the heart of town. The show — which launches their second season on July 27th! — focuses on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the fastest growing ethnic group in Nevada. Sonja and Lorraine talk about why representation is so important, and how sharing stories by and for the AAPI community builds empathy, especially in the wake of rising anti-Asian violence. Want to dive deeper into Vegas news and happenings? Then head on over to our website and make sure you’re signed up for our morning newsletter! lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter We’re also keeping it real on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas Have a Vegas hot take to share? Leave us a voicemail or text us at 702-514-0719.

It’s been a long hard summer for many reasons. Ways to find relief are more important than ever, but where do you go in a city that’s known to be shallow and culture-less? Host and former Clark County Poet Laureate Vogue Robinson sits down with Producer Layla Muhammad to set the record straight about the culture surrounding Vegas’ thriving poetry scene. Vogue gives you everything you need to know on how to engage with the poetry community in Las Vegas and why it’s important for the city to support. Check out Wednesday’s newsletter for a list of recurring poetry open mics, slams, and jams happening in town. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! You can also find us posting about the latest Vegas happenings on Twitter at @CityCastVegas. Do you think Vegas has culture? Drop us a line or send us a text at 702-514-0719.

How worried should Nevadans be about the BA.4 and BA.5 variants? Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixth wave is making its way across the globe. Nevada’s weekly updates show an increase in hospitalizations despite the decrease in reported cases week to week. In her conversation with host Vogue Robinson, The Nevada Independent’s Tabitha Mueller shares her reporting on the disparities in the numbers, vaccination rates, and wastewater monitoring. Visit The Nevada Independent COVID data page here. Looking for more Vegas news and events? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! You can also find us on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Have you seen something in Vegas that needs to be discussed? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Mary Blankenship is a researcher at Brookings Mountain West at UNLV who studies internet misinformation — and her most recent study suggests that sentiments on gun reform across the political aisle are converging. The study looked at millions of tweets and examined users’ emotions and reactions to mass shootings in the United States dating back to 2017 to the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. As the conversation around gun reform changes, Blankenship and her co-author, Carol Graham, hope “this analysis can provide an opening toward a solution where one did not seem to exist before.” Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

It’s Friday (can we get a FriYAY?) which means it’s time for a news roundup! Sonja, Scott and Layla sit down to talk about our relatively quiet week in the news. First up, neighbors in Centennial Hills are divided over a proposed low-income housing development up at Rome & Decatur Blvd. Sonja brings up this research from NYU, which suggests property values can sometimes go up when low-income housing comes in. We talk about the tiny homes for the unhoused that New Leaf Community built—before they were razed by the city of North Las Vegas. Here’s the city-led tiny homes project in Sacramento that Layla mentions. And last but not least, the county is asking for community input on a permanent 1 October memorial — we weigh in. Here’s an interactive site with photos and videos of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, from which Scott suggests we might take some inspiration. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Got a super hot Las Vegas take? Call or text us at 702-514-0719 to join us for a Friday news roundup.

Local wrestling champion Anthony “Da Shade” Shade says being raised in the Fight Capital of the World helped him make his way into wrestling. Not only is Vegas the best place to combine the sport with the entertainment, but the local independent scene is LGBTQ+ inclusive. Da Shade joins us to explain why Vegas is the place for big money matches, how the pro side of wrestling could be more inclusive, and more with host Vogue Robinson. You can catch Da Shade in action on Saturday, July 23 at Versus Pro and Friday, August 12 at PrideStyle's "Slowdeath". Both matches at Versus Pro Studios inside the Boulevard Mall. Check out their Twitters at @VersusProStudio and @PrideStylePro for more information. Looking for more interesting Vegas tidbits? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re on Twitter too! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Are you a local independent wrestling fan? Tell us about it at 702-514-0719!

You may have noticed a few changes around town: Slowly but surely, patches of grass in medians, under street signs, and in between buildings are being replaced with desert landscaping. That’s thanks to a bill, AB356, that was passed last year in response to our ever-worsening drought — landscaping is the Valley’s biggest water guzzler. AB356 cuts back “nonfunctional turf” on business properties, like your local McDonald’s and perhaps your very own HOA. Today, JC Davis from the Southern Nevada Water Authority breaks down what exactly AB356 mandates, what “nonfunctional turf” means, and why it’s so important right now. Got thoughts on our water use or grassy medians? Hit us up on Twitter @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail or a text at 702-514-0719. And for even more Vegas news, events, and goings-on about town, make sure to sign up for our excellent morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

The pandemic created a lot of new dog owners and a lot of new outdoors enthusiasts — resulting in more newbie dog hikers on our local trails. Today, we sit down with Kimberly Lewis and Paula Jacoby-Garrett, co-authors of “Best Hikes with Dogs: Las Vegas & Beyond.” Kimberly and Paula tell us how to be responsible hikers with dogs, from picking up their poop (yep, it’s a problem) to keeping them protected from the sun and heat (dogs can get skin cancer, too!). They also share their favorite cool and shady dog-friendly trails in the Valley. Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter and you’ll get roundups of the latest news, whip-smart commentary, and links to upcoming events around town. Do you have strong feelings about dogs on trails? Let us know! Tweet at us @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

If you follow sports news, you probably know that the Las Vegas Raiders have had a bumpy few years: The city of Oakland is suing them for leaving, they’ve faced lawsuits and allegations of a boys club culture, their head coach resigned after his racist & homophobic emails were released, a star rookie had a horrible car crash that killed a woman… believe it or not, the list goes on. But last Thursday, the team announced their new president: Sandra Douglass Morgan, an attorney and former chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and the NFL’s first Black woman president. Could this signal a new beginning for the team? Today, host Vogue Robinson sits down with Vegas Nation host and award-winning Review-Journal videographer Heidi Fang to talk about what the Raiders have been through, how they’ve displayed resilience on and off the field, and why more Las Vegans should get behind our new football team. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on the bird app! Tweet at us @CityCastVegas Don’t forget that you can leave us a voicemail or text us at 702-514-0719

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for a news roundup! Every Friday, members of the team sit down to talk about what’s going on in Las Vegas news. Today, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with producer Layla Muhammad and newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets. At the top of the ticket is the recent spate of violence at the Fremont Street Experience, and the curfews the city is talking about enacting for those under age 21. How can we keep Fremont safe — and also keep it weird? Next up, Layla, Scott, and Sonja share their Las Vegas origin stories (only one of us was born here — can you guess who?). And we wrap things up with some feel-good news, including a friend of Layla’s, Vegas boxer Hasim Rahman Jr., who is headed to Madison Square Garden next month to face Jake Paul. We’re rooting for the home team!!! Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Want to join us for a Friday news roundup? Call or text us at 702-514-0719 with some topics!

Cheers, Las Vegas! John Oliver praised the city for being a model for water conservation in the Colorado River Basin while pointing out that our friends in Utah aren’t doing so well. City Cast Salt Lake Host Ali Vallarta sits down with our Lead Producer Sonja Cho Swanson to compare notes on their cities’ water usage. Thirsty for more Las Vegas news? Quench your thirst with our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We are also on socials! Come say hi to @CityCastVegas Drop us a line or send us a text at 702-514-0719.

Throughout the month of June, the Neon Museum hosted a series of Pride Gallery talks, tying iconic neon signs (like the Silver Slipper and the Riviera signs) to important moments in Las Vegas LGBTQIA+ history. For example: Did you know that the “Red Barn” sign advertised one of the Valley’s first openly gay bars in the 1970s? Or that the Silver Slipper was a casino with a “boylesque” female impersonators show? Today on the show, producer Layla Muhammad interviews Emily Daura, Tour Development Coordinator at the Neon Museum, about how the Pride gallery talks were developed, how they’ll carry forward beyond June, and what other new programming the museum has planned. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re on the bird app, too — follow us on Twitter @CityCastVegas, or leave us a voicemail or text at 702-514-0719.

The pandemic accelerated a lot of new technologies (like Zoom meetings and online shopping), and the gaming industry was certainly not left behind. Poker players are using A.I. to optimize their game. The newly-opened casino Resorts World is the first casino in town to offer cashless wagering at slots and table games. And can we talk about all those new, immersive slots showing up everywhere? Today, Dayvid talks with Dr. Brett Abarbanel, Director of Research at the UNLV International Gaming Institute, about the blurring lines between “gambling” and “gaming,” the consequences of high-tech gambling getting too fun, and if technology could actually be part of the solution. For more news, events, and snarky commentary, sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Do you have thoughts, feelings, questions about this episode? Want to share an idea with us? Tweet us @CityCastVegas You can also leave us a text or a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

Nevada is one of just a handful of states with a “citizen legislature” — our lawmakers convene every other year, get paid a nominal fee, and have day jobs. A recent lawsuit claims that at least some of those legislators violate our state constitution: Government employees aren’t supposed to be legislators. But, as host Dayvid Figler points out, lawmakers with any sort of day job inevitably have conflicts of interest. And because they’re biennial part-timers, guess who ends up wielding a lot of influence? Lobbyists! Dayvid has some big feels about all of this, so lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson chats him up about why the framers of the state constitution created a citizen legislature … and why it might not be such a good idea anymore. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

As Pride Month comes to a close and midterm elections loom over us, Nevada Current reporter Michael Lyle shares his findings on how anti-LGBTQ bills and rhetoric from politicians, both locally and nationally, are affecting the queer community. With over 300 proposed bills nationwide to limit the rights of LGBTQ community members this year and local candidates adopting hateful language, the current atmosphere is creating a what Michael calls “chilling effect." It's not all doom and gloom, though: Listen through to the end to hear what has brought Michael joy and pride this Pride month. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Food writer Kim Foster loves a good donut — but you won’t ever find her at Pinkbox Doughnuts, a booming chain here in the Valley. That’s because Pinkbox is owned by the Siegel Group, a Vegas-based corporation that manages dozens of weekly stay apartments across several states. The Siegel Group is currently being investigated by a House panel regarding its eviction practices during the pandemic. And, as Kim explains, far from being the solution to our housing crisis, weeklies can drive people into even more instability. Want some more Vegas news, events, and insider hot takes? Then be sure to sign up for our morning newsletter! Got a piping hot take on Pinkbox Doughnuts or weeklies? Leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or tweet at us @CityCastVegas!

The Nevada primary election ended last Tuesday and the road to the general election has begun. Some races turned out as expected, while others were a little surprising. Assistant editor and political reporter from the Nevada Independent Michelle Rindels joins Dayvid to discuss how some of these results could give us insights into November’s election, and what it says about the broader political climate in Nevada. Be sure to also check out today’s episode of IndyMatters for more takeaways from the NV primary! Looking to stay up-to-date this election cycle? Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter for major election news and some much more. You can also keep up with us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas or call/text us at 702-514-0719!

Juneteenth, the day Union soldiers took over in Galveston, TX and delivered the news of the Emancipation Proclamation to the last enslaved people on June 19, 1865, is being honored as a federal holiday for the second year since President Biden signed it into law in 2021. Since many people did not learn about the Juneteenth in school, our hosts Vogue and Dayvid offer some historical context and where Nevada stood at the time. Vogue then talks to Dre Whitfield of Juneteenth365 about their work, celebrations in Las Vegas, how the community can continue offering support to Black businesses 365 days a year. You can find more about the work Juneteenth365 does year-round and events this weekend on Instagram at @officialJuneteenth365. Need more news from a trusty neighbor? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Your neighbors are also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Las Vegas is the fastest-warming city in the U.S. — and that's only made worse by the urban heat island effect, caused by dense concentrations of heat-trapping concrete, asphalt, glass, and steel. (Read more about Southern Nevada's extreme heat vulnerability on this site from RTC: Southern Nevada Strong.) The effect isn't evenly distributed: Our neighbors in the center and Eastside of the city see even higher temperatures from older infrastructure and more blacktop. This April, the City of Las Vegas announced a plan to plant 60,000 trees by 2025 to combat the city's extreme heat. In today's episode, the state’s only female Master Arborist and founder of the non-profit Nevada Plants, Lisa Ortega, joins us to discuss why trees are the answer to our heat problems, how this disproportionally affects communities of color, and why we might just be able to dub her the Lorax of Las Vegas.

Three Square’s Restaurant Week is here! For its 15th year, about 200 restaurants have joined Southern Nevada’s only food bank to work towards their goal of a hunger-free community. In Nevada, 1 in 8 residents, and 1 in 6 children, struggle with food insecurity. The pandemic exacerbated this issue, putting the state among the most food-insecure in the nation. Kate Hibbard Gaines, Director of Development at Three Square, joins us to talk about Restaurant Week (June 6 - 17), how they support food-insecure residents, and what’s on the menu that she is looking forward to. You can visit www.restaurantweeklv.org for more information about participating restaurants and www.threesquare.org for how to support their fight against food insecurity in Southern Nevada. And be sure to share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #LVRW! Hungry for more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Follow us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas What are you looking forward to trying during Restaurant Week? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

The nationwide formula shortage hit Las Vegas hard: According to the Nevada Independent, we were the number one metro area with a formula deficiency in May. And while production was brought back online this weekend, supplies are expected to remain tight until at least June 20th. Nearly four-fifths of Nevada’s babies rely on formula — why the high demand? UNLV Public Health Professor Gabriela Buccini, who studies maternal health and infant nutrition, chats with lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson about what’s missing in the formula shortage conversation today. We hear about formula marketing strategies, America‘s woefully inadequate maternity leave, and why bodybuilders have created a black market for human breast milk. Do you have opinions on breastfeeding, the formula shortage, or how babies get fed? Leave us a voicemail or send us a text! We’re at 702-514-0719. Or tweet at us! Follow us @CityCastVegas And for even more Vegas news, events, and observations, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter

It’s true, the news is out: We have a brand new host joining the team. Please join us in welcoming Vogue Robinson to City Cast Las Vegas! Many of you already know Vogue from her work as a poet, author, mentor, and teaching artist in Las Vegas — but if you don’t, we’re so excited for you to get to know and love her as much as we do. On today’s show, our producers queued up some very-Vegas questions for Dayvid and Vogue to draw from a (metaphorical) hat: Where to find the best ice cream in town, parking strategies when it’s 120F outside, and what Vegas stereotypes are actually (yes!) true. Be sure to head over to Twitter to follow Vogue @Vogue_316 and join us in welcoming her to the team (we’re at @CityCastVegas). If you have questions or a welcome message for Vogue, you can send us a text or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. And last but not least, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Nevada's Secretary of State election isn’t one that typically makes too many headlines—after all, how many of us know what exactly that job entails? But, as the Review-Journal Politics and Government Editor Steve Sebelius reminds us, when it comes to elections integrity, the Secretary of State matters a whole lot: They preside over the state Electoral College, and ensure that the will of the people is carried out during elections. Today, Dayvid and Steve talk about outgoing Secretary Barbara Cegavske’s strikingly nonpartisan tenure, where the candidates lie on the Big Lie spectrum, and why Steve thinks the Secretary of State race is Nevada’s single most important race of 2022—and how democracy itself might be at stake.

Today, we have a special guest episode with Graham MacLennon, host of the podcast Cheftimony. Graham is a lawyer-turned-chef-turned-lawyer once again who brings his inquisitive eye to the food world—and quite often, the Las Vegas food world. Graham is one of those special Las Vegas regulars who not only takes frequent trips here, but has also taken the time to immerse himself in life off the Strip and learn how locals see the food scene here. In this guest episode, Graham shares two excerpts: One from an interview with Josh Crain, Executive Chef of Bouchon Bistro at The Venetian, and another with Laura Tucker, food enthusiast, craft beer lover, and Nevada Senior Deputy Attorney General. You can learn more about Cheftimony and hear more of their excellent episodes at www.cheftimony.com. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter @cheftimony and Instagram @cheftimony.

Last week, ProPublica co-published a stunning investigative piece with The Nevada Independent detailing how a politically-connected COVID testing company called Northshore scored contracts across the state — but, as later investigations revealed, Northshore’s PCR tests were wildly inaccurate (in one instance, they had a 96% false negative rate), sending sick people back out into the community. Today, Dayvid talks with Anjeanette Damon, the journalist who wrote the piece, about what this investigation tells us about Nevada’s pandemic response, our faith in public health officials, and the potential political fallout from the revelations. Get even more Vegas news (and events and more!) in our newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Are you on Twitter? We are too! Follow us @CityCastVegas And we love your texts and voicemails — send those our way at 702-514-0719.

Last Thursday, Dapper Companies announced two winners for The Great Las Vegas Coffee Shop Giveaway, Dinette Luncheonette and Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner. The latter of the two will receive a fully built out restaurant with goods and services estimated to be over $950,000 at the historic Huntridge Shopping Center. Winnie & Ethel’s will be a part of the Dapper Companies’ plan to reopen the shopping center and neighboring Huntridge Theater, which have been fixtures in Downtown Las Vegas for over half a century. Like many historic sites that fall into disrepair, the significance can get lost with time, so on today’s episode, our host and Downtown Las Vegas resident Dayvid Figler explains to our producer Layla Muhammad why the Huntridge neighborhood is considered historic. Then, we talk to the owners of Winnie & Ethel’s Downtown Diner, Mallory Gott and Aaron Lee, about their new spot and what they hope to add to the community. Longing for that back-fence neighbor? Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Keep up with us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas. Is there something coming to Vegas that excites you? Leave us a voicemail or text us 702-514-0719.

Despite being legal in our state for medical and recreational use since 2016, the Nevada Board of Pharmacy has marijuana classified as a Schedule I substance, the strictest classification for drugs with "no currently accepted medical use," up there with methamphetamine and heroin. So last month, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLUNV) filed a lawsuit against the state to have marijuana removed from the list of Schedule I drugs. ACLUNV Executive Director Athar Haseebullah explains how Nevadans are still being impacted by the possession of marijuana because of this “loophole” that disproportionately affects communities of color and what they hope to achieve starting with their first major hearing on Monday.

Last month, the rising violence in Clark County School District came to a head in a horrific attack on a teacher, sending shockwaves through the community. In response, the Clark County Education Association, the Valley’s largest teacher’s union, presented a statement pointing a finger at restorative justice, which they called an “unfunded law” that “handcuffs”educators from taking action against violent students. So what exactly is this restorative justice policy in CCSD, and what are the challenges it’s facing? Why do advocates think it’s needed, and how can it improve? Lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with CCSD Police Captain Ken Young, who’s been with the District for 30 years, to talk about school safety and the culture shift required within the police force to get kids off the track to juvie and on track to graduation. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 with your perspective on restorative justice or any other LV topic!

The world premiere of “Clown Bar 2,” a film-noir-meets-circus-clowns immersive theater project, opens TONIGHT at Majestic Repertory Theatre—and we’ve got the inside scoop. Dayvid sits down with Artistic Director Troy Heard to talk about what makes immersive theatre unique, the give-and-take symbiosis between entertainment on the Strip and local productions, and where the Las Vegas arts scene is headed. Plus, we’ve got a bonus segment for you at the end of the episode: Producer Layla Muhammad brings us sounds and scenes from Clown Bar 2’s dress rehearsal. (Per Layla, it’s “freakin’ hilarious,” so you’re not gonna want to miss this one.) Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter for even more news and events from around the city. And did you know we’re also on Twitter? Give us a follow us at @CityCastVegas Don’t forget that you can text or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719!

So far this year, over 460 babies have entered Clark County foster care system—at this rate, we’ll have 40% more babies in the system than last year. To help us understand this surge, we talk with Kim Foster, a local writer and foster advocate who has both fostered and adopted children in Clark County. We talk about the issues in our foster care system, why helping biological families is so important, and why you, too, might want to consider becoming a foster parent. If you’re interested in fostering, Clark County holds both in-person and virtual info sessions. Find out more at countmein.vegas For more Vegas news, sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Do the blue bird thing and tweet at us: @CityCastVegas And don’t forget, you can also text or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

A leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court suggests that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that guaranteed the right to abortion, will be overturned by a majority vote. With the draft likely to become official in the next few months, Western states like Utah, Idaho and Arizona face looming abortion bans that might have their cities turning to Nevada, where abortion rights are far more protected—they've been codified in state law since 1990. City Cast hosts from Salt Lake City and Boise, Ali Vallarta and Frankie Barnhill, join Dayvid to discuss what this means across state lines, and for the upcoming elections. Looking for that Vegas connection? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Say hi to us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas! Got questions about your city? Let us help you find an answer! Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) History Month (or AAPI Heritage Month, depending on who you ask). Here in Clark County, AAPI is our fastest-growing ethnic group, with an expanding footprint in a growing city. Lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Mark Padoongpatt, Director of Asian and American Studies at UNLV, to talk about the things he loves about AAPI History Month, his hesitations about it, and what he hopes everyone in Las Vegas takes away from the spotlight on AAPI in May. If you love the podcast, you’ll love our morning newsletter—packed with even more Vegas news, events, and snarky commentary. Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm Keep up with us on Twitter (and tweet at us too—we don’t bite!) @CityCastVegas And don’t forget, you can always text us or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

Today we’re bringing you a guest episode from the Nevada Independent’s podcast IndyMatters, which features original interviews and Q&As with the Indy’s reporters on some of their top stories of the week. Joey Lovato hosts and produces the show every Tuesday. It’s one of our go-to podcasts, and we think you’ll love it, too! Make sure to subscribe to IndyMatters wherever you get podcasts. In this guest episode, City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler talks with Joey about what makes IndyMatters special, before moving into the IndyMatters guest segment: An interview Joey held with Sheryln Hayes-Zorn from the Nevada Historical Society, about our many and varied state symbols. Did you know that Nevada’s official fossil is the ichthyosaur, and that we have TWO state trees? Why do we have a state tartan… and why have state symbols at all? Find out in today’s episode. For more Vegas news, sign for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm You can also find us on Twitter @CityCastVegas, and text or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. We love hearing your voices!

Fawn Douglas is an artist, activist, and community leader doing work to educate Las Vegas on Native American culture and center joy with the Nuwu Art Gallery and Community Center. The gallery has been opened to the public for the first time to show Douglas’s MFA thesis exhibition, SOOV, until May 6. She sits down with City Cast Las Vegas producer Layla Muhammad to share a look into the creation of the arts complex and her work within the Las Vegas community. Support Fawn and learn more at nuwuart.com and IAFInc.org Interested in the people who make Las Vegas thrive? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter! We are also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Do you know someone who Las Vegans should know more about? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Short-term rentals like Airbnbs are legal (and hotly contested) in some parts of the valley, but they’re still illegal in unincorporated Clark County, where about half our population lives. That’s about to change: Assembly Bill 363, passed by the state last year, will force Clark County to create the legal infrastructure to regulate these SRTs by July 1st, 2022. You might already know that City Cast LV’s host, Dayvid Figler, is an attorney and neighborhood activist who’s written extensively on the topic—so today, he sits on the other side of the table as lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson interviews him about what we’re getting wrong (and right) about the Airbnb debates. Ready to join the conversation? First, you can email the County about STRs at: [email protected] Next, shoot us a text or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719: What do you think should happen with short-term rentals in your neighborhood? Plus, we’re on Twitter, so you can tweet at us and follow us at @CityCastVegas And last but not least, for more Vegas news, sign up for our morning newsletter.

Last summer, the federal government declared the first-ever shortage in the Colorado River Basin, where Las Vegas gets about 90% of its water. The trend continues this year as Lake Mead and Lake Powell sit at their lowest levels—just looking at those bathtub rings is enough to give any desert-dweller anxiety. Today, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson sits down with Nevada Independent environment reporter Daniel Rothberg, who explains how it all comes down to “a math problem gone wrong”—less water in and more water out. So why does Las Vegas get the blame when we’re actually doing a pretty good job as a city at water conservation? How are we still reliant on major water guzzlers like agriculture in California and Arizona (thanks for all the lettuce)? And why does Daniel still have hope when asked if an apocalyptic Mad Max future awaits us? Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter! We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

The decision on whether or not the Oakland Athletics will find their new home in Las Vegas is expected soon. That means yet another new sporting venue on the Strip could be on the pitch. We talk with UNLV assistant professor of economics Dr. William Robinson to weigh the pros and the cons of the MLB team’s possible move and if our city should even want it. Listen until the end of the episode for the secret code to enter at lasvegas.citycast.fm to win 2 full festival tickets to Wave In: A BMI Festival! Giveaway ends Friday, April 22, 2022. Looking for more ways to stay connected to Vegas? Sign up for our morning newsletter! Find us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas Got something to say about Las Vegas or the Oakland A's possible arrival? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Our community is still reeling from the North Las Vegas crash that killed 9 people in late January. Recently, Clark County has seen a rise in traffic fatalities and pedestrian deaths in the first quarter of 2022 with several high profile crashes. How can our growing city’s streets be safer? Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Kristina Swallow, joins us in the first of many conversations about how to make our roads work for everyone. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter! Interact with us on Twitter and Instagram at @CityCastVegas Do you have thoughts about traffic in Las Vegas? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Las Vegas and Chicago have emerged as top candidates to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024—the Windy City has hosted the DNC before (most recently in ’96), but this would be a first for Vegas. In this special crossover episode, Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler talks with City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran to debate the merits of having the DNC in each of our cities. Chicago’s got the history and the heartland geography; Las Vegas has the convention infrastructure and out-West issues of immigration, water and climate change (and let’s be real, Vegas is where the party’s at). But the biggest question of all just might be: Do either of our cities want the DNC at all? Looking for more Vegas news? Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm! Twitter-ers take note: We’re also on the bird app! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Getting in touch is as easy as picking up your phone: You can leave us a text or a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

If you’ve somehow missed the news about K-pop sensation BTS starting their concerts this weekend, here’s your primer: They sold out four shows at Allegiant Stadium (yes, 65k-seat Allegiant Stadium)… in pre-sale. In 90 minutes. They’ll be painting the town purple (their signature color) with special events, merch, and even BTS-themed hotel rooms. So what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, host Dayvid Figler asked, and he got an earful from our producers: Sonja Cho Swanson and BTS Army member Layla Muhammad, who explain why K-pop has a global reach and just how powerful the BTS Army is. We’ve got more news, links, and events in our morning newsletter—sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm Are you on Twitter? Follow us at @CityCastVegas! Don’t forget, you can also text or leave us a message at 702-514-0719.

Allergy season in the desert can be brutal, especially when the wind hits you with pollen that isn’t native to the environment. As a majority of residents (and some visitors) are suffering with their sinuses this spring, we wonder what makes allergy season so notoriously bad in Las Vegas. Asma Tahir and Dr. Joram Seggev from the CCSD/UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program join us to break down allergy season, and tell us what could help with symptoms, and what doesn’t (spoiler: you could be wasting money on honey). Learn more about the program and see the Valley’s pollen levels at unlv.edu/publichealth/pollen Are you curious about your city? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Find us on Twitter and Instagram! Follow us at @citycastvegas

Desert tortoises spend 95% of their lives underground, making Mojave Max the most elusive celebrity in Las Vegas. After a long winter brumation (that’s hibernation for reptiles), Mojave Max emerged from his burrow on Saturday, March 26th at 12:21pm—and as everyone in Las Vegas knows, the arrival of Mojave Max marks the unofficial start of spring. So who is Mojave Max, and how did he become the official mascot of desert conservation? We talk with Audrie Locke, PIO at the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, about the past lives of early Mojave Maxes (including one daring jailbreak), the unmarked “Area 51” for tortoises, and why you should never pick up a desert tortoise (spoiler alert: they’ll pee on you). Happy spring, everyone! Visit mojavemax.com for more information. Don’t forget: We’ve got a daily morning newsletter full of news and curiosities! You can find us on Twitter at @CityCastVegas Or leave us a message at 702-514-0719!

Rent in Las Vegas has soared since the pandemic began—up 33% since Feb. 2020, double the national average. Nevadans are making hard decisions between rent checks and insulin, childcare, and food. So when Governor Steve Sisolak pledged $500 million to affordable housing programs during his State of the State last month, housing advocates cautiously welcomed the proposal. But where is all that money going, and can it do enough to close the gap? Nevada Currentjournalist Michael Lyle joins us to break down the funding and help us understand the challenges ahead. You can find Michael’s most recent article about rent control here. Get more Vegas news, insights, and cheeky observations when you sign up for our morning newsletter. Are you on Twitter? Us too! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Plus, we’ve got digits: You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Announcing City Cast Las Vegas! Las Vegas is a place of colossal contradictions. It’s a city that says, “Oh, we’re in an arid desert? Perfect spot for some manmade lakes and dancing fountains!” It’s a city of shiny surfaces but also deep complexity if you know where to look. Starting March 29th, join us every weekday morning for 15 minutes to get all the Las Vegas news you need (and want) to know. Subscribe to the newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm