City Cast Las Vegas

On this week’s Friday News Roundup, we lay out all the details from a Henderson police barricade situation that resulted in the suspect deceased and the front of a home ripped away. Also, Assemblywoman Danielle Gallant gets a policy she voted for wrong and issues an apology after receiving backlash in videos posted to social media. Lastly, National park rangers are asking the public to help identi...

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...

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 fr...

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 Cou...

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 monorai...

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 Cru...

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 unli...

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 s...

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 coff...

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 Donne...

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...

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....

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 clo...

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...

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...

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 J...

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 g...

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 Sy...

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 re...

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 re...

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 Commi...

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 brou...

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 Int...

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...