The City of Las Vegas has been involved in heated litigation over the Badlands Golf Course for years — and it’s not going well. After their most recent loss in the Nevada Supreme Court this April, the city is on the hook for over $230 million . And now it’s become a topic of contention in this year’s mayoral race. So how did we get here? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with Channel 13’s Steve Sebelius and Darcy Spears about the twists and turns in this mind-boggling battle, and what it could mean for...
Jun 03, 2024•26 min
Politicians on all sides of the aisle have pushed the acquisition of federal lands on the outskirts of Las Vegas as a solution for our housing crisis. But is outward expansion the answer? On today’s news roundup, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by Nevada Current journalist Michael “MJ” Lyle, who recently interviewed housing experts about the problems with building out into the desert . Next up, the team looks at the growing fight over the possible shut-down of CCSD’s tiniest s...
May 31, 2024•34 min
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. Looking for ways to survive a desert summer or which ice cream shops deliver to your house? Lucky for you, we’ve got it covered with our guide to June in Las Vegas. From how to celebrate Juneteenth to a Restaurant Week explainer, tune in for activity recommendations and tips that you’ll only hear from locals. If you are planning on escaping the ...
May 30, 2024•27 min
The pool of candidates is packed for the 2024 primary election coming up in June and with ballots already hitting mailboxes, now's the time to dive in. The Las Vegas Weekly’s Shannon Miller tells co-host Dayvid Figler which races are shaping up to be the most contentious, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how their joint endorsements with the Las Vegas Sun were decided, and why primary elections — which just a handful of votes can sometimes decide — matter so much. You can find more coverage ...
May 29, 2024•19 min
For our final episode of Mayoral Mondays , we’re bringing you a very special interview with someone who is quite possibly the most famous (unelected) mayor of Las Vegas: Actress Lauren Weedman plays Vegas Mayor Pezzimenti in HBO’s Emmy award winning show “Hacks.” She and co-host Dayvid Figler sit down to talk about how she gets into character, the surprising Disney connection in her shellacked hairdo, and how actors and politicians have a lot more in common than you might think. PLUS! City Cast ...
May 28, 2024•21 min
Hey there! We are excited to share the trailer for a new special limited series from our friends and colleagues at City Cast Denver. If you’re a fan of what we do at City Cast, you’ll want to check it out: You’ve probably heard a story about Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Like, how she got kicked out of a production of “Beetlejuice” for vaping and groping her date. Or, that time she heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address. Throughout it all, she keeps winning elections and a...
May 25, 2024•2 min
If you were in Las Vegas last year, odds are you were inconvenienced by the Formula 1 Grand Prix in some way. Now, local business owners are leading the charge to try and hold F1 and the county accountable for financial losses caused by the event and construction: The owner of Ellis Island is the first to file an actual lawsuit , but more businesses are expected to follow. Also, a controversial campaign ad triggers an ethics complaint for the district attorney, and an art exhibit focuses on the ...
May 24, 2024•32 min
As Gordon Ramsey and Lisa Vanderpump prepare to open their seventh (!) and third Las Vegas restaurants this summer, respectively, we wonder if this celebrity chef/owned restaurant trend has gone too far. We are revisiting a conversation co-host Sarah Lohman had with food writers Gemini Stevens and John Curtas. They share their spicy takes on celebrity chefs, why they all end up on the Strip, and which spots are actually worth visiting. Hear more from Gemini on the Food & Loathing podcast and...
May 23, 2024•22 min
On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced an unprecedented new sponsorship program: $100k to each of the Las Vegas Aces players, from superstars to rookies. On the heels of that announcement, however, the WNBA confirmed that it would be investigating this sponsorship deal for possible violation of league rules. But why? Today, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson talks with professor Nancy Lough, co-director of the UNLV Sports Innovation Institute , about the complicat...
May 22, 2024•22 min
We love to gripe about getting “scammed” by a bad show that costs way too much, but what’s the difference between a bad deal and an honest-to-goodness scam? And how are people actually getting scammed in Las Vegas? Today, our co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Celestia Ward, a card-carrying skeptic and co-host of Squaring the Strange , a podcast about critical thinking and evidence-based analysis. They talk about the biggest scams in Las Vegas, how you can avoid them, and why Las Vegans in part...
May 21, 2024•22 min
As the election heats up, our special series on the Las Vegas mayoral race draws to a close — and decision time is on the horizon. Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about all 12 mayoral candidate questionnaires we received, our nine candidate interviews, and who had the best — and the worst — takes of them all. Plus, we share some insider tea from behind the scenes. Don’t forget, early voting starts on May 25th! You can find more i...
May 20, 2024•27 min
For our final candidate interview in our series on the Las Vegas mayoral race , co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Donna Miller . Donna is a veteran nurse, former regional director for the AMR/MedicWest ambulance companies, and medical entrepreneur. She talks about why her vision for public safety encompasses emergency medical care, the economic potential of the medical district, and how her life experience has influenced her ideas for addressing homelessness in Las Vegas. We’re on social media...
May 19, 2024•32 min
Our special series on the Las Vegas mayoral race continues with small business owner Eric Medlin . He sits down with co-host Sarah Lohman to explain how helping unhoused people get mailboxes at his store prompted him to run for mayor. They talk about housing, education, and his unique approach to his campaign. Find more of our coverage on the Las Vegas mayoral race 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 ...
May 18, 2024•24 min
This past weekend, the Culinary Union went on strike for the first time in over 20 years. But even if it was just a two-day “mini strike,” will this flex get them a new contract from Virgin? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by producer Layla Muhammad to discuss this and Culinary’s other power move, de-endorsing political candidates . Then, we find out why our state senators are trying to take Yucca Mountain out of the nuclear waste storage conversation, and lastly, we discuss t...
May 17, 2024•32 min
While international names like Wolfgang Puck put Vegas fine dining on the map, the last decade has seen a quieter grassroots revolution: A growing wave of chefs leaving the Strip and transforming our home-grown restaurant scene. Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Jolene Mannina, a hospitality industry veteran and founder of the pop-up incubator Secret Burger. Jolene tells us about the hottest new chefs who’ve made their mark on Las Vegas and where to try their food. Chefs mentioned in th...
May 16, 2024•24 min
As graduation ceremonies occur across the country, you might notice more decorated attire in Nevada. This is the first spring graduation since Nevada passed a law allowing students to decorate their grad caps and robes with religious or cultural regalia. Despite the law, earlier this month at Eldorado High School, a student was told she couldn’t wear a stole honoring her family’s heritage. Ultimately, the student was allowed to wear her stole, but this shows how the practice can be controversial...
May 15, 2024•22 min
The entertainment and dining options in Las Vegas look very different than they did a few years ago (see: the Sphere). But as our options grow along with our city, have locals been priced out of the fun? A recent survey found that a single person would need to make upwards of $94,000 to live comfortably in Las Vegas, including spending money for “wants like entertainment and hobbies.” In reality, the median income in Las Vegas falls behind the national number at $66,356. Co-host Sarah Lohman sit...
May 14, 2024•24 min
Early voting for the upcoming primary election is right around the corner — it starts on May 25th — and while only about a third of the valley can vote for the mayor of Las Vegas ( here’s why ), it matters for all of us. In our latest episode of Mayoral Mondays , co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with mayoral candidate Victoria Seaman . Victoria is a UNLV alum and former businesswoman who was elected to the Las Vegas City Council in 2019, where she has represented Ward 2 since. We chat about her s...
May 13, 2024•32 min
Our special series on Las Vegas’s mayoral race continues with co-host Dayvid Figler interviewing candidate Lynn Baird , a longtime Las Vegan who worked for decades at Nevada’s Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation. Lynn explains his platform based on promoting more moral principles and family values, his plans for affordable housing, and enforcing laws in Las Vegas. Find more of our coverage on the Las Vegas mayoral race here . We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on In...
May 12, 2024•25 min
For our special series on the race for Las Vegas mayor, candidate Kara Jenkins sits down with executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson. Kara, or KJ, currently serves as the Nevada Equal Rights Commission administrator and has been a public servant for 10 years under Governors Brian Sandoval, Steve Sisolak, and Joe Lombardo. They talk about encouraging young voters, what the role should entail, and how she hopes to be a mayor for everyone. Find more of our coverage on the Las Vegas mayoral race here ...
May 11, 2024•30 min
After the music festival Lovers and Friends was precipitously canceled due to high winds, rumors began spreading among disappointed fans on social media: Was windy weather really to blame? Could there have been a credible threat of violence behind all this? On today’s Friday news roundup, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler sit down with contributor Andrew Kiraly, creator of the thelist.Vegas, to dispel these rumors and talk about how festivals can do better by their fans. Next up, the team ...
May 10, 2024•36 min
You’ve heard of wine sommeliers — but have you heard of a tea sommelier? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Yukino Aoshima, an actual tea sommelier in Las Vegas who consults with restaurants and teaches classes. Yukino explains how tea programs work at high-end Vegas restaurants, the best way to order tea, boba, and matcha at cafes, and where to buy tea and brew the best cup ever at home. Tea places mentioned in this episode: Block 16 Urban Food Hall at the Cosmopolitan Bang Bar at the C...
May 09, 2024•23 min
Blake Shelton’s new country music venue Ole Red has brought the current country trend to Las Vegas. In a city that has always loved the genre, you can find local artists performing originals and the classics all over town. Longtime local musician Paige Overton shares her insider’s perspective on the local country music scene, how the community rallied after tragedy, and where to go whether you are an oldies fan or casual listener (and even how to join them on the dance floor). Venues mentioned i...
May 08, 2024•20 min
Flag football has grown a lot as a sport since it reached Clark County high schools in 2012. Recently approved to debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the sport has gained attention among girls and people concerned about brain injuries such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. In partnership with the Raiders, UNLV’s School of Public Health developed the RUSH program to address mental health for middle school girls by increasing their awareness of the rapidly-growing sport of flag f...
May 07, 2024•21 min
The Goodmans forever changed the role of the mayor of Las Vegas. So who should be next to fill their shoes? In this latest episode of Mayoral Mondays , our special series on the 2024 Las Vegas mayoral race, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with candidate Cedric Crear . Cedric has had a long career in marketing and advertising here in the Valley, served on the Board of Regents, and was elected to the Las Vegas City Council in 2018. We chat about his track record as a councilman, his fixes for home...
May 06, 2024•28 min
For our special series on the Las Vegas mayoral race, executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson interviews mayoral candidate Kola Akingbade , a proud Nigerian-born American with a background in engineering, the ministry, and real estate. They talk about his history of running for office in Nigeria, how he plans to “offset the offseason” in Las Vegas with economic development, and how legalizing prostitution could help tackle homelessness. Find more of our coverage on the Las Vegas mayoral race here ....
May 05, 2024•21 min
Our special series on the Las Vegas mayoral race continues: Today, co-host Dayvid Figler interviews mayoral candidate Tera Anderson , a second-generation Las Vegan. They talk about how her experience as a businesswoman working in land and economic development influences how she’d tackle affordable housing, the Badlands brouhaha, and growth in our urban center. Find more of our coverage on the Las Vegas mayoral race here . We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram . You can als...
May 04, 2024•20 min
The June primary election is fast approaching, and one primary race stands out: In State Senate District 3, located here in Las Vegas, the Culinary Union has posted their own challenger as a show of dissatisfaction with the incumbent’s stance against one of their bills. It’s shaping up to be a referendum on Culinary’s power — what else is at stake here? Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by Nevada Current editor April Corbin Girnus to discuss. Plus, the team discusses the recent ...
May 03, 2024•34 min
What makes a great taco? Does Vegas have a taco style? And crucially, is a hot dog a taco? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with artists and taco enthusiasts Justin Favela and Brent Holmes to answer these and more hard-hitting questions. Plus, we hear about their favorite tacos around Las Vegas, from cheesy, drippy quesabirria to crunchy, crisp fish tacos. 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? Th...
May 02, 2024•24 min
As the old Nevada lore goes, Senator Harry Reid rose up in battle and killed the Yucca Mountain beast in faraway DC, leaving it good and dead. Right? Well, not exactly. The contested nuclear waste site, just 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, has recently come up again in a Congressional hearing, putting the Nevada delegation and state nuclear commision officials on red alert . Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Nevada Independent reporter Gabby Birenbaum about what danger these new rumblings...
May 01, 2024•20 min
