City Cast Las Vegas

In today’s roundup of the news, co-host Dayvid Figler is joined by lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson and newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets and we’re covering a lot of ground: First up, what the departure of the last Mirage dolphins means for Las Vegas and our particular brand of spectacle (and why keeping cetaceans in the Mojave miiiiight have been not such a great idea after all). Next, we get into the troubling report that Nevada is a childcare “desert,” with one of the lowest rates of access to childcare in the nation. So what’s a state to do — and could “bring your baby to work” programs like the state treasurer’s office is trying out actually work? Last, we’re trying oh-so-very-hard to NOT get our hopes up with reports that a high speed rail line is one step closer to fruition… but what exactly does that mean? Look, we’ve heard it all before, we’re kinda jaded! And to round things things out, we talk about our plans for the three-day holiday weekend — from Pokemon Go at Sunset Park to the Great Backyard Bird Count, all taking place this weekend.How are you figuring out childcare in Las Vegas? Are you holding out hope that we’ll get a SoCal to Vegas high-speed train? Let us know! Give us a ring at 702-514-0719 or leave us a comment on Twitter and Instagram (we’re @CityCastVegas on both).For more fun Vegas events and observations from the ever-brilliant Scott Dickensheets, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here — sign up now, thank us later. And have a great three-day holiday weekend, y’all! We’ll be back on Tuesday.

Nevada lawmakers in DC say they’re on board with President Biden’s new Junk Fee Prevention Act, announced last week, with one exception: The resort fees charged by “our world-class casinos and hotels,” which they say are up front and transparent. But resort fees can double or even triple the nightly cost of a hotel room here in Vegas — and if you’ve heard from any tourists lately, they’re not happy about it. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with longtime casino industry observer Scott Roeben, better known as the author behind Vital Vegas. They talk about how the internet spurred a surge in resort fees, and why Scott has some serious reservations about how their rise could affect our city — for locals and tourists alike.What do you think — are resort fees outta control, or do our hotels need them? Leave us a voicemail or a text at 702-514-0719, or comment on social media: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.For more on the latest in Las Vegas, sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter, arriving in your inbox every day at 6 a.m. Nothing like the smell of fresh-baked pixels from the one and only Scott Dickensheets!

Cheyenne Kyle is a classically-trained chef with Strip credentials, a master gardener, and an entrepreneur. But when the pandemic hit, like so many others in our hospitality-centric city, she lost two jobs in one day — helping others find food during that tough time, she says, kept her going. So joining the Obodo Collective, a Black women-led nonprofit, in starting a farm in the historic Westside was a natural next step for her. Today on City Cast Las Vegas, co-host Vogue Robinson chats with Cheyenne about the impact of a farm in a historically underfunded community with limited grocery options.The next gardening class at the Obodo Farm will take place on Sunday, February 26th.Are you gardening this spring? Tag us and @theobodocollective in your pics! We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. 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.

If you’re out here trying to be single and mingle in Las Vegas, we feel for you — it’s not easy, anywhere. But is it extra-hard in our city? After all, we’re a big little town of 2.5 million locals and 42 million visitors every year, and tourists tend to clog up the dating apps. Or is the problem that we’re actually a small town, and you see the same faces everywhere? Today, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson, producer Layla Muhammad, and contributor Michael “MJ” Lyle discuss the ups and downs of dating in Vegas, our strategies for avoiding tourists and serial killers, and the best places to take first dates when you’re looking for love in Las Vegas.Last but not least, for an extra dash of inspiration, the rest of the CCLV team chimes in with their Vegas love stories — because newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets, and co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Vogue Robinson all met their life partners IRL right here in Las Vegas!Did you meet your partner in Las Vegas? Agree or disagree that dating sucks here? Leave us a voicemail or a text message at 702-514-0719, or leave a comment on social media: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.For even more Las Vegas news, events, and fun commentary, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here. It’s the best thing in your inbox at 6 a.m., we promise.

Egg prices are outta control — they doubled over the course of 2022. So that’s got a lot of Las Vegans asking themselves… should we get backyard chickens? Award-winning food writer and backyard chicken wrangler Kim Foster joins co-host Vogue Robinson today to talk about why you should (and shouldn’t) raise chickens, and everything it takes to do it right in the extreme weather conditions of Las Vegas. Fair warning in case you’ve got kids in the car: There’s a lengthy discussion about chicken butts in this episode. Actually, they’re gonna love that. Queue up this episode!If you’re now on the chicken train, check out the Las Vegas Backyard Pet Chickens group that Kim mentioned here.Do you keep chickens? Change your mind about chickens thanks to this episode? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 702-514-0719. Or leave a comment for us on social media: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Have you signed up for our amazing morning newsletter yet? If so, you know that it’s the best place to your daily dose of news, events, and commentary about town. If not, get on board, already! Sign up here.

It’s Friday (whoop whoop) and we’ve made it to the end of the week, which means you get to treat yourself to this week’s roundup of the news. Today, co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Vogue Robinson welcome Thelist.Vegas publisher and culture maven Andrew Kiraly onto the show. They talk about the recent allegations against the Aces and the WNBA’s investigation into whether or not the team used under-the-table payments to circumvent the league’s salary caps. But the question also arises… why are the WNBA salary caps so low? Next, with Jim Belushi in town this weekend to hawk his cannabis brand, we discuss the rise of celebrity-owned cannabis companies, and which celebrities we’d want to buy weed from. Third, a senator from Hawaii is proposing a bill to ban gambling ads from Nevada (and Nevada only) — why? And will banning those ads actually address problem gambling? Last but not least, we get into the Black History Month eventsyou should be checking out (one of which features our very own Vogue Robinson!).Which celebrity cannabis brand would you want to see? Do you have thoughts on the WNBA salary cap? Call or text us at 702-514-0719, or leave us a comment on social media — we’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.If you love this daily dose of fresh Vegas news, events and commentary, then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter for EVEN MORE! You won’t regret it, we promise. :) 

Valentine’s Day can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you’re heading out with your significant other(s), yourself, or a group of pals, food writer and multidisciplinary artist Brent Holmes has got you covered with all the best restaurant options. Make a reservation or keep it low-key — let Brent and co-host Vogue Robinson plan out your Valentine’s Day.Mentioned in this episode:Hamburger HutSparrow + WolfTriple 7Sweets RakuBig WongPalms Casino Resort / Vetri CucinaThe Steak House at Circus CircusPRIMEMatcha Cafe MaikoChina MamaFukuburgerSteaks and BeerStarboard TackChampagne’sVegas Test KitchenEsther’s KitchenMain St ProvisionsSorry Not Sorry CreameryDo you think Las Vegas is a romantic city? Send us a love letter or voicemail at 702-514-0719.We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.

In this follow up to yesterday’s episode about the policing of street vendors in Las Vegas, co-host Dayvid Figler hears from officials at the Southern Nevada Health District about their part in regulating vendors for food safety. They explain how they interact with unlicensed vendors, the resources they do (and don’t) provide for licensing, and address their claims that some street vendors could be victims of human trafficking. We also learn that there might be some common ground when it comes to one big issue: The high cost of permitting for low income communities.Do you have a favorite street vendor? Thoughts on how they should be more (or less) regulated? Let us know in a voicemail at 702-514-0719.We’re on social media, too! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Curious about more issues in your community? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.

The Southern Nevada Health District and law enforcement have joined forces to crack down on unlicensed street vendors in Las Vegas, as the rise of sporting events has created a bigger market for vendors in front of venues like Allegiant and T-Mobile. Vendors can also be found in neighborhoods with a high immigrant population. The nonprofit Make the Road Nevada wants to help these unlicensed street vendors become legal, but the pathway is a hard one to navigate. Jose Rivera from Make the Road Nevada joins co-host Dayvid Figler to explain how enforcement over education builds mistrust and keeps these unlicensed street vendors at a disadvantage; also, he says, he’s seen no evidence to support SNHD’s claim that street vendors are being trafficked.This is our first of two episodes about street vendors. We'll be speaking with SNHD about this issue tomorrow, so stay tuned!Join the conversation on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Have you seen more street vendors in Vegas recently?Want some more Las Vegas news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter.

While Community Schools Initiative’s proposal to break up the Clark County School District failed to get enough signatures, a similar attempt may still be in the works for this legislative session, which starts today. As the fifth largest school district in the nation, CCSD faces issues that are hard to address with 300,000 students. The Nevada Independent reporter Rocío Hernandez explains the pros and cons of breaking up CCSD to co-host Vogue Robinson.What do you think about having a smaller school district? Let us know on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!