City Cast Las Vegas

Our community is still reeling from the North Las Vegas crash that killed 9 people in late January. Recently, Clark County has seen a rise in traffic fatalities and pedestrian deaths in the first quarter of 2022 with several high profile crashes. How can our growing city’s streets be safer? Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Kristina Swallow, joins us in the first of many conversations about how to make our roads work for everyone.Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter! Interact with us on Twitter and Instagram at @CityCastVegas Do you have thoughts about traffic in Las Vegas? Call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Las Vegas and Chicago have emerged as top candidates to host the Democratic National Convention in 2024—the Windy City has hosted the DNC before (most recently in ’96), but this would be a first for Vegas. In this special crossover episode, Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler talks with City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran to debate the merits of having the DNC in each of our cities. Chicago’s got the history and the heartland geography; Las Vegas has the convention infrastructure and out-West issues of immigration, water and climate change (and let’s be real, Vegas is where the party’s at). But the biggest question of all just might be: Do either of our cities want the DNC at all?Looking for more Vegas news? Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm!Twitter-ers take note: We’re also on the bird app! Follow us at @CityCastVegasGetting in touch is as easy as picking up your phone: You can leave us a text or a voicemail at 702-514-0719.

If you’ve somehow missed the news about K-pop sensation BTS starting their concerts this weekend, here’s your primer: They sold out four shows at Allegiant Stadium (yes, 65k-seat Allegiant Stadium)… in pre-sale. In 90 minutes. They’ll be painting the town purple (their signature color) with special events, merch, and even BTS-themed hotel rooms. So what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, host Dayvid Figler asked, and he got an earful from our producers: Sonja Cho Swanson and BTS Army member Layla Muhammad, who explain why K-pop has a global reach and just how powerful the BTS Army is.We’ve got more news, links, and events in our morning newsletter—sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fmAre you on Twitter? Follow us at @CityCastVegas!Don’t forget, you can also text or leave us a message at 702-514-0719.

Allergy season in the desert can be brutal, especially when the wind hits you with pollen that isn’t native to the environment. As a majority of residents (and some visitors) are suffering with their sinuses this spring, we wonder what makes allergy season so notoriously bad in Las Vegas. Asma Tahir and Dr. Joram Seggev from the CCSD/UNLV Pollen Monitoring Program join us to break down allergy season, and tell us what could help with symptoms, and what doesn’t (spoiler: you could be wasting money on honey).Learn more about the program and see the Valley’s pollen levels at unlv.edu/publichealth/pollenAre you curious about your city? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.Find us on Twitter and Instagram! Follow us at @citycastvegas

Desert tortoises spend 95% of their lives underground, making Mojave Max the most elusive celebrity in Las Vegas. After a long winter brumation (that’s hibernation for reptiles), Mojave Max emerged from his burrow on Saturday, March 26th at 12:21pm—and as everyone in Las Vegas knows, the arrival of Mojave Max marks the unofficial start of spring.So who is Mojave Max, and how did he become the official mascot of desert conservation? We talk with Audrie Locke, PIO at the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, about the past lives of early Mojave Maxes (including one daring jailbreak), the unmarked “Area 51” for tortoises, and why you should never pick up a desert tortoise (spoiler alert: they’ll pee on you). Happy spring, everyone! Visit mojavemax.com for more information.Don’t forget: We’ve got a daily morning newsletter full of news and curiosities!You can find us on Twitter at @CityCastVegasOr leave us a message at 702-514-0719!

Rent in Las Vegas has soared since the pandemic began—up 33% since Feb. 2020, double the national average. Nevadans are making hard decisions between rent checks and insulin, childcare, and food. So when Governor Steve Sisolak pledged $500 million to affordable housing programs during his State of the State last month, housing advocates cautiously welcomed the proposal. But where is all that money going, and can it do enough to close the gap? Nevada Currentjournalist Michael Lyle joins us to break down the funding and help us understand the challenges ahead. You can find Michael’s most recent article about rent control here.Get more Vegas news, insights, and cheeky observations when you sign up for our morning newsletter.Are you on Twitter? Us too! Follow us at @CityCastVegasPlus, we’ve got digits: You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

Announcing City Cast Las Vegas! Las Vegas is a place of colossal contradictions. It’s a city that says, “Oh, we’re in an arid desert? Perfect spot for some manmade lakes and dancing fountains!” It’s a city of shiny surfaces but also deep complexity if you know where to look. Starting March 29th, join us every weekday morning for 15 minutes to get all the Las Vegas news you need (and want) to know.Subscribe to the newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm