City Cast Las Vegas

We’re a city where visitors outnumber locals many times over. Tourism is the lifeblood of our economy, but it’s also a source of tension when the party comes to local neighborhoods. So short-term rentals (or STRs) like Airbnbs or VRBOs are a hot-button issue here— where they should be allowed, how they affect communities, and who gets to operate how many. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Jackie Flores and Louis Koorndyk, both STR operators and co-founders of the Greater Las Vegas STR Association. They explain why they’re challenging the County ordinance, and what they’re fighting for. It’s a spirited conversation — and a timely one: The County Commission will be discussing changes to the ordinance in their meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4th. It’s on the agenda at 10 a.m.What are your thoughts on STRs in Las Vegas? Call or text us at 702-514-0719, or tag us on on Twitter and Instagram (we’re @CityCastVegas).Want more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter here.

Monday was the last day for members of the Senate and Assembly to introduce bills for the 2023 session and some of those proposals are already seeing pushback. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Vogue Robinson are joined by lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson to break down both sides of a proposal to ban hate symbols and another to out cheaters in online poker. Plus, the team shares their highlights from the first year of City Cast Las Vegas — along with two surprise special guests!Check out our birthday post on Instagram for a year of memories (we’re @CityCastVegas on both Twitter and Instagram). And if you’ve got any thoughts on our discussion topics today, let us know! You can call or text us at 702-514-0719.Want even more Las Vegas news, events, and fun commentary? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here — it lands fresh in your inbox at 6 a.m.

Ever since Ikea popped up on the south curve of the 215, the surrounding empty dirt lots have been filling up with businesses, housing, and soon-to-be a new Station Casino. But the most exciting development in the Rainbow and 215 area is a food hub that neighbors are dubbing Chinatown 2.0. Food blogger Phil Tzeng (AKA LasVegasFill) joins co-host Vogue Robinson to talk about the best new spots, how the concentration of Asian food started, and if Vegas is big enough for two thriving Chinatowns.What other Vegas food topics do you want to hear about? You can let us know in a text or voicemail at 702-514-0719. And we’re on social media! Follow us and let us know if Vegas is big enough for two Chinatowns: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Find more Vegas favorite food spots and a whole lot more by signing up for our morning newsletter here. 

When you’ve got friends or family coming to town that you really, really like, you take them to the good Vegas spots. You know what we’re talking about — whatever the opposite of M&M’s World is. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Coco Jenkins, creator of the popular Instagram account @NothingToDoLV. There is, of course, a TON to do in LV, and Coco’s got the best tips for where to take a family of six, the college friend who only visits Vegas ironically, and the auntie and uncle looking for a low-key good time.Follow us on social media for more Vegas tips, secrets, and explainers @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Have some Vegas recs of your own you’d like to share? Send us a text or voicemail at 702-514-0719.Don’t forget to sign up for the our morning newsletter here for your daily dose of local news, facts, and fun. 

Last week, we asked our listeners and newsletter readers to tell us about the biggest tourist scams you’re all seeing in Las Vegas. And overwhelmingly, the number one response was the “fake cannabis” stores on Fremont Street. Yep — despite the green crosses and marijuana leaves all over their signs, none of their products will actually get you high. So how are they getting away with this… and why should locals care if tourists get a little swindled on Fremont Street?Today on City Cast Las Vegas, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson talks with Scot Rutledge, a government and regulatory affairs specialist at Argentum Partners — he managed the 2016 campaign to legalize adult-use recreational cannabis. Scot visited one of these “fake cannabis” stores over the weekend and explains how they’re getting away with selling the pre-rolls, gummies, and bud that don’t contain enough THC to get even the most enthusiastic tourist high.Have you seen the fake cannabis stores in Las Vegas? Post a pic and tag us on social media: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. And if you’ve thoughts on today’s episode, let us know: call or text us at 702-514-0719.Want some more Las Vegas news, events, and commentary? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

No place in Las Vegas has changed more in the past few years than the Arts District downtown. Over the course of the pandemic, as businesses all over town closed their doors, a few brave locals launched their own small businesses in the Arts District — and they’ve thrived. Our hosts Vogue Robinson and lifelong downtowner Dayvid Figler take you on their tour through the newest places on and around Main St. You’ll hear about Dayvid’s favorite coffee joints, Vogue’s newest favorite gift shop, and also their discussion on how the neighborhood has changed for the better and maybe even the worse.Learn something new about our city? Give us a follow on social media for even more Vegas content! We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas goings-on-about-town, do yourself a huge favor and sign up for our newsletter here — it arrives fresh in your inbox every morning at 6 a.m. You can thank us later.

Some long awaited news finally came down the federal pipeline to Nevada: Avi Kwa Ame, the sacred land to Indigenous communities, has officially been declared a national monument. On Tuesday, Biden protected over 500,000 acres of land in Clark County. Co-host Vogue Robinson and producers Sonja Cho Swanson and Layla Muhammad recap the efforts from multiple groups and discuss Governor Lombardo’s critical remarks. Also, Elon Musk’s Boring Company submits plans for an expanded Vegas Loop (hey, if it goes bust, we can always turn it into a giant Slip ‘N Slide). And last but not least, the team dreams up a very Vegas airport.How would you make the airport feel more Vegas? Let us know in a voicemail at 702-514-0719. You can also join the conversation on social media by following us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Stay current and stay engaged with all things Vegas by signing up for our brilliant morning newsletter here — it’s the best thing in your inbox at 6 a.m.

The days of the dirt-cheap buffet and the 99 cent shrimp cocktail are long gone — and with inflation on the rise, cheap eats are harder to find than ever in Las Vegas. But being on a tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t (or shouldn’t) enjoy a meal out, says contributor Brent Holmes. Today on the podcast, Brent tells co-host Dayvid Figler all about their philosophy on cheap eats, and where to find the best ones in town, from falafel to food markets.A list of the restaurants that Brent and Dayvid discuss: Hot food counters at Marketon, Mariana’s, and Rani’s World Foods Pho Bosa Kitchen Fat Boy Restaurant Daikon Vegan Sushi Gyro Time Ellis Island Village Pub & Cafe Habanero Grill Esmeralda’s Cafe We’ve got them all mapped out for you here.Love what you’re hearing? Keep us with us on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Want to share your own favorite cheap eats in Vegas? Call or text us at 702-514-0719, or tag us on the social accounts above.For even more Las Vegas news, events, and whip-smart commentary, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

70 years ago, iconic Black musicians like Sammy Davis Jr. and Harry Belafonte might have graced the stage at Vegas casinos — but wouldn’t be allowed to stay on-site, or walk through the front door (though many pushed back). Despite Las Vegas’s reputation for some freedom from societal norms, segregation was one line in the sand casino operators wouldn’t cross. Why was that? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, co-host Vogue Robinson chats with historian Claytee White, director of UNLV’s Oral History Research Center. She points us back to March 26, 1960, the day the Strip finally agreed to desegregate — and why that agreement was never written down on paper.Did you learn something new from this episode? Have a question for Claytee White? Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 702-514-0719. You can also find us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.For even more Vegas news, history, and goings-on about town, make sure to sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter here.

In Nevada and 11 other states, an obscure statute allows the trash company to put a lien on your home if you don’t pay your bills. They say it’s because unlike water and gas utilities, they can’t cut off service — they have to keep picking up your trash. But over the course of 2022, Republic Services has doubled their lawsuits, and they’re not saying why. Today, co-host Vogue Robinson chats with Michael “MJ” Lyle, who just wrote a story about a Henderson woman who could lose her home because of 20-year-old unpaid trash bills, and the solutions he sees as an alternative. (Spoiler alert: One of them involves Rihanna.)What’s been your experience with Republic Services? Let us know on socials — we’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram — or by leaving us a voicemail at 702-514-0719.Stay in the loop on all things Vegas, from news to events and more: Sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter! Get it right here.