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

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

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

The Kroger-Albertsons merger proposed in 2022 is still in the works, but the FTC has raised alarm bells about the consequences a merger of this magnitude would have on consumers. And about a month ago, the Nevada Attorney General’s office announced it was joining the FTC and seven other states in a lawsuit to block the proposal. So today, we’re revisiting a conversation co-host David Figler had in September with food justice writer Kim Foster and Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus about the impact a merger like this would have on our city, grocery workers, and consumers. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Most people know a little about the mob and their part in building the Las Vegas we know today, but what you might not realize is how integral burlesque was in cementing Vegas’ sinful status. As new burlesque shows pop up left and right in the city, co-host Sarah Lohman takes a look back on the history of the American art form with burlesque stars Dirty Martini from DITA Las Vegas and Buttercup from the Burlesque Hall of Fame. They discuss why we are seeing a revival and how Las Vegas can help fight the misconceptions of burlesque. Shows mentioned: DITA LAS VEGAS: A Jubilant Revue at the Horseshoe Lady Like: A Retro Modern Burlesque Show at Virgin Hotels The Jiggle Room at Cheapshots Lost Spirits Distillery at AREA15 (closing April 29) Viva Las Vegas (Rockabilly Weekend) at The Orleans on April 18 - 21 Sinful: A Night of Sin City’s Finest Stripteasers at The Fat Cat on May 11 Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender at The Orleans on June 6 - 9 We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

We’re only four months into 2024, but we’ve already heard some infuriating, hilarious, or, honestly, kinda out-there quotes on Vegas issues in the news. So today, Executive Producer Sonja Cho Swanson invites co-hosts David Figler and Sarah Lohman to a game of “Guess Who Said It” to reflect on all the shenanigans our city finds itself in and, of course, win some bragging rights!

O.J. Simpson died at his home in Las Vegas on Thursday at age 76; the cause was cancer. He’s arguably one of our city’s most controversial celebrities, trailed by the specter of that notorious 1995 murder trial, and then later, his 2008 conviction for armed robbery at Palace Station right here in Vegas. Co-host Dayvid Figler, who is also a lawyer, was there in 2008 as an expert commentator for Court TV — he and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson discuss the stakes of that trial (and what made it so unusual), why O.J. made Las Vegas home after serving time in Nevada, and what he means to our city of second chances, for better and worse. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

New details have emerged about the acrimonious child custody case at the heart of the Summerlin law firm shooting — but it also raises the question, how did things get this bad in the first place, and are we talking about this all wrong? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly, creator of thelist.vegas, to discuss. Next up, we break down just why the monorail is feuding with media outlets over reports of its eventual demise, and wrap up with the curious case of a strip club lawsuit: Spearmint Rhino is suing Peppermint Hippo over copyright infringement… but is there really any confusion? We wrap up with a little game: What would your knock-off Vegas business be named? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

As we emerge from winter hibernation of our comfy, cozy regular haunts, spring and summer invite us to venture further afield when trying new bars and eateries. Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Neon News editor-in-chief Gemini Stevens to talk about the hottest new bars in Las Vegas right now — and what our drink scene is still missing. Bars mentioned in the episode: Wineaux at the UnCommons Crush Pad Wine Bar Garagiste The Silver Stamp Ser Veh Zah Cin Cin Brewhouse Hola Habibi Todo Bien at the UnCommons Liquid Diet The Bel-Aire Lounge at the Durango Bar Ginza Stray Pirate Fat Cat in the Downtown Grand Tiki Di Amore Mojave Brewing Company Hugo’s Cellar at the Four Queens We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

No one expected much when the Vegas Golden Knights played their first season in 2017. Now, since the team’s success in their first season and winning the Stanley Cup in their 6th, it’s hard to find a Las Vegan who doesn’t rep VGK merch. And key to their success in the community? The spectacular entertainment at every home game. The energy they create in the arena during their pregame shows is unlike any other team in the league — and today, VGK entertainment is legendary (c’mon, they even dropped a hockey puck from SPACE). Tyler Ferraro, VGK’s Director of Entertainment Experience, tells co-host Dayvid Figler what it takes to produce a pregame show only Vegas could handle. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Ah, spring in Vegas: That golden season of hikes, picnics, and… allergies. But how did a desert town get so pollen-y, and is allergy season getting worse? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program Supervisor Asma Tahir to learn more about the rooftop gadgets that measure our pollen counts, and how we can (and can’t) fight back. Vegas residents, heads up! We’re starting a series on the mayoral race, and we want to know what your questions are. What would you like us to ask the mayoral candidates? Send us an email: lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also find us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

For a city that stays up late, we sure don’t have too many coffee shops open past 4 p.m. But it wasn’t always this way: Lifelong Las Vegan and co-host Dayvid Figler remembers the 90s as a golden era of late-night coffee shops that hosted poetry readings and musical performances. So where did they go? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Dayvid and writer Kim Foster to talk about why late-night coffee shops are so important, and what’s filling this “third space” gap in Las Vegas today. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Las Vegans are sharing an outpouring of support for Enzo, the police dog who was stabbed in a recent encounter downtown. Happily, he is on the road to recovery and heading home. But what really went down in that encounter, and how should we be thinking about the use of K-9 units with mentally unstable people? Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with comedian-magician Matt Donnelly from the podcast Matt and Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social to discuss. Next, they tackle the new street vendor regulations, which advocates say are too strict and onerous for the vendors. And lastly, a new report lists the top states where departing Nevadans move. So of the top three, we play a PG version of FMK: Who would you wine, dine, or ditch? Interested in adopting Smokey, the 29-pound cat we mention at the end of the episode? Email foster@animalfoundation.com with his name and ID # (A1311271) to arrange a time for a meet & greet with his foster family. If you haven’t yet joined the City Cast Las Vegas membership program, now would be a great time: We’ve got a special ticket giveaway just for members — but we’re picking names at midnight on Friday! We’ve got two pairs of tickets for the Home & History tour coming up at the end of the month: Two (2) tickets to the Art Vegas bus tour (4/26 Friday 8:30 a.m.) Two (2) tickets to the Vintage Vegas Variety Hour + Cocktail Gala (4/27 Saturday 7 p.m.) We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

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

The shrimp cocktail might just be the most iconic dish in Las Vegas. But why? Where did it come from, why’s it called a “cocktail,” and can you still find a good 99-center anywhere in town? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (a culinary historian) break down the history of the shrimp cocktail, its surprising Cajun and Jewish origins, and the story behind that special red sauce. If you haven’t yet joined the City Cast Las Vegas membership program, now would be a great time: We’ve got a special ticket giveaway just for members — but we’re picking names at midnight on Friday! We’ve got two pairs of tickets for the Home & History tour coming up at the end of the month: Two (2) tickets to the Art Vegas bus tour (4/26 Friday 8:30 a.m.) Two (2) tickets to the Vintage Vegas Variety Hour + Cocktail Gala (4/27 Saturday 7 p.m.) So make sure to become a member by Friday, and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Head over lasvegas.citycast.fm to join. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

As our population grows in Vegas and major events become a regular occurrence, sweeps of the storm tunnels under Las Vegas seem to be in the news more than ever. Not to mention the rain we’ve already experienced this year that can put people living down there in danger. It makes for titillating urban folklore — a subterranean quasi-community shuffling through the darkness beneath the bright city. But what’s the reality? We are revisiting a conversation with Nevada Current reporter Michael Lyle, co-host Dayvid Figler, and lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson on what it’s really like in the storm tunnels of Las Vegas. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Today, almost exactly 67 years after opening, the Tropicana Casino and Hotel closes its doors for good. Old-timers with deep connections to the property have shared their special memories from the Trop’s heyday… but most Las Vegans of today will admit it’s been years since they stepped foot inside the Trop. So when did the Tropicana start to lose its relevance and why? Should we care about its closure — and when does a casino become worthy of preservation? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman discuss. If you haven’t yet joined the City Cast Las Vegas membership program, now would be a great time: We’ve got a special ticket giveaway just for members — but we’re picking names at midnight on Friday! We’ve got two pairs of tickets for the Home & History tour coming up at the end of the month: Two (2) tickets to the Art Vegas bus tour (4/26 Friday 8:30 a.m.) Two (2) tickets to the Vintage Vegas Variety Hour + Cocktail Gala (4/27 Saturday 7 p.m.) So make sure to become a member by Friday, and you’ll be automatically entered to win. Head over lasvegas.citycast.fm to join. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Whether you know the difference between the Sunrise and Frenchman Mountains or not, they’re home to some extraordinary views and natural wonders — including rare plants, Indigenous sites, and a world-class geological feature called the Great Unconformity. But you might be surprised to hear that this land isn’t federally protected. You’ll often see broken glass bottles and graffiti here. City Cast co-host Sarah Lohman took a trip out to see the site, and meet with community leaders who are advocating for an East Las Vegas National Monument: UNLV geologist Dr. Steve Rowland; Bertha Gutierrez, program director at the Conservation Lands Foundation; and Taylor Patterson, executive director of the Native Voters Alliance. They discuss why the area needs protection, and what an accessible outdoor space would mean for East Las Vegas. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Starting in August, CCSD middle and high schools will enact a new policy: During classes, students will be required to place their phones into signal-blocking pouches. Unsurprisingly, the move is deeply controversial. So what’s the upside (and the possible fallout)? Co-host Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to discuss. Next up, the team looks at new polling numbers that have just come out on Nevada ballot measures and how that could affect the election. And last but certainly not least, we take a moment to admire an enormous, 29-pound cat up for adoption at the Animal Foundation. (Spoiler: He is a very good, very chonky boi.) We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

There’s a lot that’s edible in the parks, walking paths, and backyards of urban Las Vegas, if you just know where to look. Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (a culinary historian) sit down to talk about the edible greens, flowers, and fruits coming into season this spring — all of which you can find growing right here in our city. Resources mentioned: Indian Uses of Desert Plants by James W. Cornett Southwest Foraging by John Slattery Portico by Leah Koenig Nevada Grown: A Year in Local Food The Meth Lunches by Kim Foster Seek app We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Renewable energy is a pillar in the fight against climate change — Nevada’s tackling that with giant solar farms out in the desert. But solar farms here aren’t without controversy. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Nevada Current reporter Jeniffer Solis, who wrote about the fight brewing over the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project 40 miles outside of Vegas. This project could provide our growing city with urgently-needed clean energy, but conservationists warn it could also kill hundreds of endangered desert tortoises. And, as Jeniffer explains, solar projects come with a host of other issues for the rural communities where they’re placed. So who pays the price for our city’s growing energy demands? Want to leave a comment for BLM? You have until April 11! Find instructions here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Arguably the best month in Las Vegas is approaching, and we’ve got the guide to what you can’t miss this April. Contributor and artist Brent Holmes joins co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler to recommend where to eat, what to do, and how to get out of your comfort zone this month. Mentioned this episode: Red Rock Canyon Lone Mountain Park and Trail “Jones Ranch Egypt” Brent Holmes curated by Sydney Galindo at ASAP Gallery (end of April) Listen to our episode with Brent on Black cowboys here! Ride the Cyclone at Majestic Repertory Theatre (starts April 18) Titus Andronicus at 1600 Wigwam Pkwy (March 28 - April 6) Esther’s Kitchen’s new location on Main Street Early Birds on Blue Diamond Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, NV Raow Raow Free Earth Day Celebration at Lorenzi Park (April 20) University Forum Lecture with Kim Foster at UNLV (April 18) Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson - Astronomy Bizarre at The Smith Center (2 shows on April 14) Nevada Preservation Foundation Home + History Bus Tour (April 25 - 28) We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us (or recommend somewhere for Sarah to find a passion fruit vine!) at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Sooo… Circus Circus doesn’t have the best reputation. It’s one of the oldest still-standing casinos in town and occupies the quieter, dustier north end of the Strip. It frequently tops lists of the “worst casinos in Las Vegas,” and the murder-clown vibes (and rumors of hauntings) don’t help, either. But co-host Dayvid Figler is on a mission to convince you otherwise. He and co-host Sarah Lohman recently took a field trip to Circus Circus, and they sit down to talk about the casino’s unique place in Vegas history, its hidden charms, and why maybe, just maybe, we should all give Circus Circus another chance. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Things heated up in the Fontainebleau v. Wynn non-compete feud this week: Not only did the Fontainebleau come back with a countersuit to the Wynn’s claims of executive “poaching,” they also dropped some fiery text messages between the Wynn and Fontainebleau CEOs. So today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman, along with contributor Vogue Robinson, break down the drama (along with a dramatic reading of said texts). Next up, the team takes on Lombardo’s shots at Biden over affordable housing, and lastly, we talk about why Henderson’s only DMV is shutting down — and which services we’d love to see go (and stay) online. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

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

On Tuesday, March 19, the Clark Commission received a long-awaited debriefing on the economic impact of the F1 race. Well, it’s a real mixed bag with the list of challenges being pretty dense (one commissioner says we all “suffered”) and a host of fixes unlikely to be all in place by the time the race rolls around again in November, 2024. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler speaks with Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom, who is not only concerned about the amount of county worker hours redirected to F1 and the loss to the County government of almost half a million dollars, but also the accuracy of the $1.5 billion dollars in economic impact assessed by private consultant Applied Analysis (spoiler: Tick says that number is “not even close”). So what comes next for F1, and will Commish Tick support F1 and their demands in the years to come? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The largest electronic dance music festival in North America, Electronic Daisy Carnival (EDC), returns to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for its 13th year in May. As the city gears up to host the 500,000+ attendees, we look at what makes the massive festival thrive in Las Vegas and the local rave community that keeps it alive. Mary Michaud, who has been raving in Vegas since 2008, explains what brought EDC here, the ups and downs of the Vegas rave scene, and gives us insider tips for how to join the party with co-host Sarah Lohman. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Where is the secret nap room at the airport? Why is there a Terminal 1 and a Terminal 3… but no Terminal 2? Which local coffee shop just opened an outpost in T3? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess, who recently wrote a guide to the Las Vegas airport for Thrillist, to get his insider tips on the best places to eat, drink, and (yes!) sleep at Harry Reid International. Places mentioned: Zerolevel Fitness Center Liquor Library Airport Slots Metro Pizza Moe’s Southwest Grill Sprinkles Cupcakes Espresso Urbano Las Vegas Chophouse and Brewery Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza Wolfgang Puck Express Lego vending machine The Raider Image The B Lounge (Budweiser) We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

When a Yellow-billed loon, a rare Arctic bird, shut down the Bellagio Fountains water show, the eyes of the world turned to the city from CNN to Fox News to John Oliver. The Nevada Department of Wildlife was able to capture and release the lost bird in an undisclosed location but not without criticism. So how could the rescue of this rare bird have gone better and what does Las Vegas need to be a more bird-friendly city? Co-host Sarah Lohman asks Alex Harper from the Red Rock Audobon Society why the yellow-billed loon gained so much attention and gets an inside look at rare bird sightings in Nevada. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

To no one’s surprise, Elon Musk’s Boring Company is in the news again as Steve Hill, CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, throws his support behind the Vegas Loop’s expansion amid safety concerns. Also, a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents is facing calls to resign after doubling down on comments aimed at trans athletes and the American Film Market moving to Vegas revives hopes for a Hollywood 2.0. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by thelist.vegas publisher Andrew Kiraly to round up this week’s news. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

On March 19th, the International Pizza Expo, the largest pizza industry conference in the world, is coming to Las Vegas. So we thought there is no better time to ask the question: Does Las Vegas have a pizza style? And we got the best of the best to give us an answer. Pizza expert Scott Weiner, founder of Scott’s Pizza Tours and Slice Out Hunger, who sits down with host Sarah Lohman to spill some industry tea, give us the breakdown on what a pizza style should look like and lets us in on the future of pizza boxes.  We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

For the last several years, Channel 13 has been investigating allegations of horrific animal abuse at SeaQuest, a petting zoo and aquarium at the Boulevard Mall. Through interviews and records requests, they’ve uncovered a pattern of stories involving animals mangled and cooked (yes) to death by their enclosures, creatures so starved they eat gravel or bite guests, and baby birds stomped on by unchaperoned toddlers. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Channel 13’s chief investigator Darcy Spears about their latest round of reporting and asks: If this is true, how is SeaQuest still operating? And is there a place in our community for a venue like SeaQuest to exist, even if they get their act together? We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Growing a garden in Las Vegas is already hard enough, but did you know that you might be making it harder on yourself and the environment? Planting invasive species that require more water and provide less habitat for animals is a growing problem as we stretch into the desert. So to kick off spring on the right foot, native plant nursery owner Nestor Robles shares his tips on how to start your own native garden and what it means to decolonize your landscape with co-host Sarah Lohman. You can find Nestor on Instagram @xochipilli_natives for more information. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Smoke and Mirrors, Nevada’s first state-approved marijuana lounge, is now open for business after years of the state working to figure out how regulations and licensing would look. The lounge is attached to Thrive Dispensary in the shadow of Resorts World which is closer to the Strip than other lounges will be allowed to get. So does the lounge give Amsterdam vibes or is it still figuring itself out? Co-host Dayvid Figler and newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess recap their visit and share some insider tips with co-host Sarah Lohman. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The A’s have finally released their latest stadium renderings — and y’all might have noticed, the design looks kind of familiar (Sydney Opera House, anyone)? Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with contributor and Nevada Current reporter Michael MJ Lyle to break down the new design. Next up, MJ explains the county’s new ethics rules and what it might mean for events like F1 and the Super Bowl. And last but not least, the team gets some deep-dive bird knowledge while discussing the extremely rare loon that landed at the Bellagio this week and shut down the fountains for a whole day. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

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

Yesterday, the feds signaled their approval for a long-awaited agreement between the Colorado River states — collectively, the lower basin states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) will reduce our water use by 3 million acre-feet by 2026. The hope is that we’ll be able to replenish our crucial reservoirs, including Lake Mead, the source of 90% of our city’s water. But damming rivers to create reservoirs isn’t without problems. So… was creating Lake Mead in the first place a mistake? Today, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with UNLV hydrologist Dr. David Kreamer, who explains the history of Lake Mead’s creation and why reservoirs can be so essential for cities — but also controversial. And before you forget: This is the last week to become a Founding Member in our brand-new membership program! Don’t worry, the podcast and newsletter will still be free for everyone, but this is a way for you to keep supporting the work we do. Founding members are enshrined on our website (and in our hearts) for all eternity, so sign up now. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

When the news broke last week that Elon Musk’s Boring Company faced over $100k in fines from Nevada OSHA for some pretty serious safety violations at their Las Vegas Tesla Tunnels (including a “toxic sludge” that burned workers’ skin and dangerously heavy equipment collapsing near tunnel entrances), Las Vegans were surprised. For most of us, this was the first we’d heard of last summer’s investigation. But in the meantime, while the Boring Co. contests the citations, city and county officials stayed mum and construction has continued. So what exactly was happening in those tunnels, and how does it reflect the culture of safety at the Boring Co? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Fortune journalist Jessica Mathews, who interviewed over 10 former Boring Co. employees while researching her deep dive into safety at the Tesla Tunnels. Love our podcast? Support our work, and join our membership program! If you join by March 8, you’ll be enshrined on our website as a Founding Member for all time. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

A female desert tortoise can lay up to 14 eggs a year — and can breed for over 80 years. So if our randy reptilian friends are this fertile, why are they still endangered? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with wildlife biologist Beth Wolff to talk about the dangers that tortoises face in the Vegas Valley, why baby tortoises resemble “chicken nuggets,” and what to do if you encounter one (spoiler alert: it may or may not involve tortoise pee). Have you joined our membership program yet? This is your last week to join as a founding member. Founding members are permanently enshrined on our founding members wall — the deadline is Friday! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Spring has sprung in Las Vegas and so has our guide to March in the city! From must see shows to ways to get outside before the heat sets in, we’ve got you covered. Publisher of thelist.vegas Andrew Kiraly joins co-host Sarah Lohman to help you make the most of your March. This is the last week to become a founding member of City Cast Las Vegas. Join the club! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. Events mentioned: Dita Las Vegas DJ Night Weapons at Velveteen Rabbit, The Garden, and Corduroy Sunday House Music Brunches at 18bin (every Sunday) Rooted Lounge Sound Bath at Ferguson’s Downtown (during New and Full Moon) Brew’s Best Beer Festival at The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin (March 16) Ice Age State Fossils Park Tacos and Tamales Festival at Desert Breeze Park (March 23-24) Art and nature events at Wetlands Park Spring Plant Sale at Springs Preserve (March 23) Who Knows? at Vegas Theater Company (March 5, 12, & 19) David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra at The Smith Center (March 22) March Madness at Chickie’s and Pete’s at The Sahara Hotel Zone of Interest and Live Jazz at Segue at The Beverly Theater

Elon Musk’s Boring Company has taken over Las Vegas news this week. Construction workers for the Vegas Loop (unofficially the Tesla Tunnels) filed complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) over safety concerns that include working in toxic sludge with harmful accelerants and a lack of proper safety equipment. OSHA’s investigation was contested by the company, which claims there is insufficient evidence. In another part of the Valley, Henderson police issued 600+ traffic citations in just two weeks in an effort to make the streets safer. Also, the beloved Peppermill wins a prestigious food award from James Beard. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to explain the big impacts on our city. Want to support our show and become a founding City Cast Las Vegas member?! Sign up here for ad free listing and more perks! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Las Vegas is known for a lot of things, but bagels are not one of them. But maybe they should be! It’s hard to compete against cities on the East Coast but Vegas bagels should not be overlooked. Today, we taste test four popular eateries in search of our city’s best bagels. Hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by City Cast Las Vegas executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to share their winners and the history behind Las Vegas’s favorite bagel spots. Want to support local media and become a founding City Cast Las Vegas member? For the price of a bagel with lox, you can help us keep bringing you daily podcast episodes and newsletters! Sign up today. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 and let us know what food battle we should do next! Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

It’s safe to say that the Fontainebleau’s opening was… rocky, at best. In the two months after opening on December 13th, 2023, the property saw four executives abruptly leave, Nachogate went viral, and locals were infuriated over the on-again-off-again tier matching program. Journalist Arash Markazi lives on the north end of the Strip (he literally has a view of the Fontainebleau from his window), and recently called it a “bad bet.” But, as he tells co-host Sarah Lohman, there may be some hope yet for both the luxury property and the North Strip. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Celebrity commentator and OG influencer Perez Hilton moved to Las Vegas a year ago and has quickly tapped into our red-hot social media scene — observing the best (and worst) of Vegas influencers from his Vegas-based account, @lasvegasperez. So today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Perez Hilton to get the inside track on how influencers impact our city, which of them have beef with each other (and why it involves footplay), and how much money an influencer can make. Love our podcast? Join our brand-new membership program! As a founding member, in addition to all the other great perks, you’ll also be enshrined on our website for all to see. Learn more at lasvegas.citycast.fm. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

We know what capital-capital is (that’s money), but what is social capital? And more importantly, why does Nevada have so little? In multiple rankings of the state, one from a congressional study, Nevada ranks next to dead last in this important metric. Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with commentator Kim Foster, whose latest book, “The Meth Lunches,” dives into what it looks like when a community is rich (and conversely, poor) in social capital, and how it goes far beyond simple neighborliness. Love what you’re hearing? Join our brand-new membership program as a founding member: You’ll be enshrined on our website for all to see. Learn more about all the perks at membership.citycast.fm. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

The news this week about a “missing murderer” conjured images of a guy with a knife creeping through backyards. But the truth is a lot more paperwork-related than the headlines might have you believe. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman sit down with producer Layla Muhammad to discuss. They also get into the protests over our rising gas bills, which have even Summerlin residents up in arms, and the swanky new Las Vegas Airbnb experience hosted by Christina Aguilera that you can apply for here (yes, Sarah applied, and yes, we’ll keep you posted!). Lastly, if you love this podcast, show us some love and help us win “Best Podcast” in the Las Vegas Weekly’s annual Best of Vegas Awards. It takes just 10 seconds of your time, and would mean the world to us. (Also, if we win, Dayvid has promised to share his most embarrassing high school photo, so there’s THAT, too!) We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

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

With nearly a quarter of our jobs in leisure and hospitality, tipping is baked into Vegas culture. But as we’re being asked to tip in more places at higher percentages, customers are experiencing more “tipping fatigue.” Today we look back at a conversation with Las Vegas writer and former hospitality worker Brittany Bronson. She tells co-host Dayvid Figler how tipping can help and hurt workers fighting for fair pay — and shares her essential rules for tipping in Vegas. Vote for us in Las Vegas Weekly's 2024 Best of Vegas! Click here and write in "City Cast Las Vegas" in the Best Vegas Podcast category. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

“Across the Tracks: A Las Vegas Westside Story” is a new documentary that celebrates the history of Las Vegas’ predominantly Black neighborhood, the Historic Westside. Through interviews with original residents and historians, the documentary paints a picture of the origins of Las Vegas, starting with the railroad and the community brought up around it. In today’s episode, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with filmmaker Emmett Gates and writer Soni Brown about why this documentary still resonates today, and how we can keep the history in the Historic Westside. Across the Tracks: A Las Vegas Westside Story will be released March 6th. Follow them here for updates. See Usher detail his visit to the Historic Westside here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

After recent news that a coyote might have bitten a football player in town for the Super Bowl, and, last week, that a two-year-old girl had to get a rabies shot after a coyote attacked her at Lake Las Vegas, the tensions over coyotes and humans coexisting in our desert town have surfaced again. So we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had last year with UNLV wildlife ecologist Dr. David Choate. They talk about why we’re seeing more coyotes, and what to do if you encounter one. Do you love what you’re hearing? Do us a solid and vote for City Cast Las Vegas in the Best Podcast category over at the Las Vegas Weekly. It literally takes 10 seconds (or less, if you are a very fast typer) — and you will fill our hearts with joy. Thank you! We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.