City Cast Las Vegas

In April of this year, on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Brightline West broke ground on what could be the nation’s first true high speed rail to general praise and glowy optimism. But was that premature? Not only is it unclear where half of the $12 billion in projected costs is coming from, but City Cast recently spoke with Nevada-based high speed rail experts who say they have a lot of outstanding...

After news broke that an elderly couple made off with over $600k at the Primm Valley Casino (before being apprehended at their Las Vegas home), the internet basically had two reactions: 1. Awe that someone in their 70s could jump over a casino counter and (almost) get away with this. 2. Depression, because one possible motive cited was the couple’s mounting medical bills. Today, co-hosts Sarah Loh...

As valley residents retreat into air conditioned spaces behind closed doors, one door remains mysterious to most of us here in Las Vegas: Famed local sex club, the Green Door. So what really happens at sex clubs like the Green Door, the Red Rooster, and Whispers? We’re bringing back a conversation that co-host Sarah Lohman had with kink educator and podcast co-host Gemini Stevens, who answers all...

What are the place names, turns of phrase, and particularly Vegas ways of saying things that mark you as a real local? How do you pronounce “Zzyzx Road” and how has hospitality-speak infiltrated our everyday lingo? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with lifelong Las Vegans and local artists Brent Holmes and Justin Favela to run through the “right” way to say things in our desert town. For a de...

Earlier this month, Clark County Commission Chairman Tick Segerblom commented on Twitter that the county should change its name to “Las Vegas County,” doubling down on this in a later interview with the Review-Journal. So is Commish Tick right? How does the rocky history of contention between the county and the city of Las Vegas play into Segerblom’s proposal, and who was this Clark fella, anyhow?...

Just half an hour from downtown Las Vegas, on the way to Hoover Dam, Boulder City feels like a world apart: It’s a charming, tiny town with a walkable historic district, antique shops galore, and Southern Nevada’s only A&W restaurant. (The town’s second traffic light, installed in 1998, was the source of great debate.) But there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Today, co-host Dayvid...

After an eventful week in Las Vegas, we are back for our weekly news roundup. A proposed temple for the Church of Latter-day Saints was approved by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday despite loud opposition from neighbors in the northwest area. Also, Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen throw their support behind a bipartisan bill aimed at getting rid of taxes on tipped wages. Lastly, an iconic Si...

The Asian food scene in Las Vegas gives any other American city a run for its money — but when it comes to the vast world of Asian desserts, where to begin? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with tea sommelier Yukino Aoshima and City Cast executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about their favorite spots in town to get mochi, red bean shaved ice, tofu pudding, sweet sesame soup, and more....

Despite palm trees showing up in iconic logos (farewell, Mirage) and lining Las Vegas Boulevard, those spindly trees aren’t native to the Mojave Desert. In recent years, you might’ve heard grumbles that they’re water-guzzlers providing no real shade. You might’ve even seen the video of a palm tree bursting into flames during our most recent heat wave. But master arborist Lisa Ortega, founder of Ne...

With another quarter of the year down, it’s time to revisit the most outrageous things public figures have said in and about Nevada in the news — we’re bringing back another round of “They Said What?” and it’s even wilder than before. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson quizzes co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (reigning “They Said What?” champ) on quotes that include: “I swear, I just talk...

The quickie Vegas wedding is basically a cultural trope at this point — and you can opt for almost any theme under the sun (we’re looking at you, Taco Bell wedding chapel). But how did Las Vegas become the marriage capital of the world? Why is it connected to syphilis blood tests and the “divorce trade war,” and which Vegas parks got their starts as divorce ranches? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with...

Kamala Harris was back in Las Vegas this week for a visit that many had anticipated would be an audition of sorts — would she sound, well, presidential? Today, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by TheList. Vegas creator Andrew Kiraly to talk about the womp-womp careful neutrality of the event, but also how Harris might fare with Vegas voters. Next up, Dayvid explains why the Mirag...

With this latest heat wave, it’s hard to imagine a chocolate factory would ever choose Las Vegas as a home base. Yet, in 1981, Ethel M Chocolates did just that. They’ve been crafting premium sweets and testing new flavors at their Henderson factory for over four decades. For an inside look at how they work with the desert climate, we are bringing back a conversation co-host Sarah Lohman had with c...

On Sunday, Las Vegas temperatures hit 120°F, breaking the all-time high-temperature record by 3 degrees. This comes in the middle of a historic heat wave across the entire West. But Las Vegas locals know how to deal with extreme heat — so is this pizza oven weather any different? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with producers Sonja Cho Swanson and Layla Muhammad, both longtime locals, to talk about...

The Mirage Hotel and Casino closes its doors for good on July 17th — so what’s happening to all of the animals that helped create this tropical fantasy paradise? Where did the dolphins and Siegfried and Roy’s tigers end up? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman talks with University of Guelph history professor Susan Nance, who studies the history of animal entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip. She tells us...

As the weeks go by and the A’s move to Las Vegas looks more and more like a done deal, we’re starting to ask ourselves: Just who exactly have we invited into our community? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with sports writer Dan Moore, who’s written extensively about the saga of the A’s relocation. Are any of A’s owner John Fisher’s claims fair? What was his track record in Oakland — and can Las Ve...

Look, when it’s pushing 115F, it’s only natural to keep our social activities confined to the nighttime hours — and lucky for us, Las Vegas has an incredible nightlife scene. So we’re bringing back an episode co-host Sarah Lohman and Neon News editor-in-chief Gemini Stevens recorded this spring about the hottest new bars in Las Vegas: It’s your guide for where to drink up and cool down this summer...

City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman's story stacks up against the rest. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 3rd episode here: Babbel Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more i...

The Sphere said hello for the first time last year with a dazzling Fourth of July fireworks display that cemented its place on the Las Vegas skyline. Since then, the headlines haven’t stopped, from an anti-abortion advocate climbing up the side to think pieces about its impact on the future of Las Vegas entertainment. Standing out on Las Vegas Blvd is a hard task, but the Sphere draws attention wi...

After approval from the planning commission, the highly contested proposal for an LDS temple near Lone Mountain heads to the Las Vegas city council for a vote. Residents in the area warn that the 70,000-square-foot temple does not fit in their small neighborhood because of its height, light pollution, and potential for increased traffic. As these neighbors fight an uphill battle with developers an...

Welcome to Friday, Las Vegas! The news this week is almost as hot as the asphalt. First, at least four county officials are the subject of an ethics probe for accepting free tickets to last year’s inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix — but is that fair? Also, the charges against six prominent Nevada Republicans for submitting fake elector documents in favor of Donald Trump in the 2020 presiden...

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.  Whether you are braving out the summer heat or already have plans to leave town, our monthly guide has all the tips you need to make the most out of your July in Las Vegas. From heat-resistant snacks for road trips to free community workshops, tun...

Before the Golden Knights, Raiders, or Aces were even a gleam in our city’s eye, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was our original hometown sport — homegrown local Dana White took it from an unregulated “human cockfight” to a multi-billion dollar industry that was even recently considered for inclusion in the Olympics. So today, co-host Dayvid Figler brings on a UFC legend to give us the insider...

Last week, Caesars Entertainment shareholders voted down a proposal to study the effects of a possible smoking ban inside their properties. This comes after Bally’s and Boyd Gaming also rejected the same proposal from the American NonSmokers’ Rights Foundation. These casino operators all have properties in states where indoor smoking is banned, so why are they still holding on to indoor smoking in...

With Clark County’s traffic fatalities on the rise (up 65% so far this year), Sheriff Kevin McMahill and traffic experts are putting forth a new solution: Red light cameras. These cameras are currently illegal in Nevada, largely on the grounds of protecting privacy and fighting “big brother.” Have we reached a tipping point? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Erin Breen, director of UNLV'...