

City Cast Las Vegas
City Cast
City Cast Las Vegas is a daily podcast and newsletter created by and for locals (and locals-at-heart) that’ll challenge the easy narratives about our city … and, okay, maybe confirm a few of them, too. Las Vegas is a city of reinvention, bursting at the seams as it welcomes newcomers into its various incarnations as a service-worker union town, a military town, a college town, and, most recently, a sports town.There’s a four-mile street testifying to our entrepreneurial genius, not far from pockets of staggering inequality. Great wealth runs through our city, but how much of that actually stays in Vegas? We’re independent in spirit, but also ruled by orange traffic cones. Our 2.5 million residents anchor an ever-changing city of 42 million visitors.Join us every morning for the messy, delightful, complicated conversations that Las Vegans are having: You’ll hear us ask hard questions about where we’ll get our water when Lake Mead runs out, and how we’ll keep housing affordable. We’ll argue over our favorite Chinatown bars, and share insider tips on the best tacos in town. City Cast Las Vegas will show you how loving a city means celebrating it and also holding it accountable, while having some fun along the way—because Las Vegans know how to have a good time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 24, 2024 • 24min
Will Red Light Cameras Make Vegas Safer?
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's Road Equity Alliance Project, to talk about the privacy, safety, and equity issues these red light cameras raise — and if we really can make our deadly roads any safer.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 here.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode here: Babbel

Jun 21, 2024 • 31min
Why Bump Stocks Aren’t Banned, Real Water Pays Billions, and Nic Cage on Jury Duty
When the Supreme Court recently struck down the Trump-era ban on bump stocks, Las Vegans in particular took note — it was a bump stock that allowed the October 1 shooter to upgrade his weapon and cause so much carnage. So what happens to bump stock legislation now, and have we run out of all that bipartisan goodwill from the wake of the shooting? Today, co-host Dayvid Figler and executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson are joined by 8 News Now Morning anchor John Langeler. They talk about the bump stock ban, why a Las Vegas bottled water company was sued for $3 billion, and why Nic Cage was dismissed from jury duty (wrong answers only). Bonus content: We give you the rundown on the latest Twitter drama between Nevada Dems and Republicans over an internet meme.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 here.

Jun 20, 2024 • 20min
Is Pahrump Actually … Fun?
For many Las Vegans, the tiny town of Pahrump, about an hour outside of the city, exists as the butt of jokes, a dusty desert town with brothels, guns, and not much else. But today, Pahrump Valley Times sports editor Jimmy Romo joins co-host Sarah Lohman to tell her otherwise. He plans out a perfect day in Pahrump, which includes wineries, French pastries, a race car track, and, yes, a combo coffee-shop-and-gun store.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 here.Places mentioned in this episode:Charleston Peak WineryStonewise Mead & CiderArtesian CellarsSanders Family WineryThe Source DispensaryThe Calvada EyePahrump Nugget Hotel & CasinoThe ARCO on Basin and the 160Mom’s Diner2nd Amendment Gun ShopO Happy BreadAttic Fanatics Thrift StoreDeath Valley MarketplaceHypno ComicsBounty Hunter SaloonThe Chicken Ranch BrothelSpring Mountain Motorsports RanchMountain Springs Saloon

Jun 18, 2024 • 24min
Nevada’s Top Pundit Deconstructs the Primary
The votes are in and the dust has settled: So what can we learn from last week’s primary? Jon Ralston, CEO and editor of the Nevada Independent, sits down with co-host Dayvid Figler, to discuss what the results tell us about voter turnout, the Culinary Union’s power, and the prospects of June’s winners this November.Quick reminder: We’re off tomorrow for Juneteenth (here’s a great list of ways to honor the holiday in Las Vegas) — so we’ll be back in your feeds on Thursday.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 here.

Jun 17, 2024 • 23min
Why Do the Valley’s Top Water Users Keep Getting Away With It?
Every year, the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) releases its list of the top 100 residential water users — and every year, some of the same names show up at the top of the list: Casino moguls, professional athletes, and the wealthiest families in Las Vegas. So why does this list matter, and can it actually help us put a dent in our city’s water consumption? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman talks with Bronson Mack, Public Information Officer at LVVWD, about how these names end up on the list, and some new laws that could make enforcing water restrictions easier.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 here.

Jun 14, 2024 • 33min
How the Primary Panned Out, Solar Scams, and More Mosquitoes Than Ever
Most of the major races in the June 11th Primary Election have now been called — and that’s partly because there were fewer ballots than ever to count. Aside from the abysmal turnout, what other surprises did this election hold for us? Andrew Kiraly from TheList.Vegas lays it out for co-host Sarah Lohman and newsletter editor Rob Kachelriess. The team also talks about a new state board intended to curb solar panel scams, and why we’re seeing the highest number of mosquitoes this early in the season — and just how worried we should be about West Nile Virus.Become a member of City Cast Las Vegas today! Get all the details and sign up 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 here.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 14th episode: Casino Collectibles

Jun 13, 2024 • 24min
What Steakhouse Trends Reveal About Las Vegas
Vegas is an old Western town, so that’s why steakhouses are such fixtures here … right? Well, not exactly. Culinary historian Sarah Lohman sits down with her co-host Dayvid Figler to trace the history of American steak from its home on the range, through the moneyed elite of NYC, and over to the casinos of Las Vegas. They talk about why our infamous steak and eggs breakfasts are so dang cheap, the rise of “clubstaurants,” and how one Vegas steakhouse out-bros them all (hint: DJs and a diamond-encrusted suitcase are involved).Steakhouses mentioned:
Bob Taylor’s Ranch House
Golden Steer
Circus Circus
Main St. Provisions
El Cortez Coffee Shop
Papi Steak at the Fontainebleau
Echo & Rig
Cote at the Venetian
STK at the Cosmopolitan
Cleaver
Herbs and Rye
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 here.

Jun 12, 2024 • 25min
Why Aren’t Brothels Legal in Clark County?
Nevada is the only state with legal prostitution — but only in certain counties. So why doesn’t Clark County, home to Sin City, have legal brothels? With prostitution arrests in the news again, we’re bringing back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with UNLV sociology professor Barb Brents. They talk about why Clark County has held out against both decriminalizing prostitution and legalizing brothels, and what it would take to change those policies.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 here.

Jun 11, 2024 • 23min
The Rocky History of Pride in Las Vegas
As the nation celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the city of Las Vegas holds off on throwing its Pride parade until October. While it might be obvious that the heat is a factor, there is also the surprising history of how Las Vegas struggled to become a queer-friendly city. Historian Dennis McBride is known as being the keeper of Las Vegas’s gay history. Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with the lifelong Nevadan (born in Boulder City) to discuss the rocky history of Vegas’ acceptance of our LGBTQ+ community and his personal experiences throughout the years.You can find more information about Las Vegas’s LGBTQ+ History through UNLV’s Special Collections and Archives.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.Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jun 10, 2024 • 24min
Why Speed Dating Is on the Rise in Vegas
The general consensus about dating in Las Vegas seems to be: Yes, it sucks everywhere, but it’s even worse in our tourist-clogged town. Could speed dating, the newest trend in romance, be the answer? Co-host Sarah Lohman recently went to three speed dating events in Las Vegas to find out. She sits down with executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about app fatigue, how the speed dating events of today incorporate technology, and what to look for in your next in-person dating event.Speed dating events mentioned:Singles Night at the AhernThe Fun Singles Online Speed DatingShuffle DatingWant 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 here.