City Cast Las Vegas

It’s time for our Friday roundup of the news — and good lord, is there news to discuss this week. Co-hosts Vogue Robinson and Dayvid Figler join producer Layla Muhammad to get into it. First up, a story from the Washington Post that continues the work of slain RJ investigative reporter Jeff German: It’s the sweeping tale of a massive Ponzi scheme that targeted the Mormon community… for FIVE years. So how were they so successful for so long? Next, we get into the weeds of a lawsuit that the Community Schools Initiative, a PAC that advocates for breaking up CCSD, has leveled against the company they hired to gather petition signatures. They say the company collected so many invalid signatures(including some papers that were burnt and smelled like “bong water”) that the petition was nixed. And last (but not least!), it looks like Formula 1 racing will be signing a 10-year contract with Clark County — so how do we feel about that?Have you encountered a Ponzi scheme in Las Vegas? Do you have feelings about F1 coming to town? Leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or find us on social media @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram!And if you’re not yet signed up for our amazing daily newsletter, you’re missing out — get on board for more Vegas news, events and more by signing up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Nevada’s biennial legislative session starts next Monday so as our lawmakers prepare to spend the next 120 days in Carson City, Nevada Independent reporter Tabitha Mueller tells us what we can expect from our representatives. Governor Joe Lombardo already called out some previously passed laws that need revision, but what other proposals will get attention this session? Co-host Vogue Robinson also wonders what life is like for our legislators who often have other careers.Find your representatives and let them know what’s important in your neighborhood here.Curious about a certain topic? You can sign up for updates on proposals here. And make sure to follow the Indy's legislature coverage here.We will be keeping an eye on things during the legislative session too. Make sure to sign up for our daily morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! We’re also on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. 

You know we’re not done complaining about the internet — we’ve definitely got some quality issues here in Southern Nevada, especially for the price. Yesterday, we talked about how two companies, Cox and CenturyLink, got their stranglehold on the Las Vegas broadband market, and why treating the internet like a publicly-owned utility might be the answer — even though municipal internet is actually illegal in Nevada.Today, we get another take: Dayvid sits down with Brian Mitchell, Director of the NV Office of Science, Innovation & Technology. Brian oversees High Speed Nevada, a new initiative that just got $55 million in federal funding. Brian talks about his solutions for better broadband in Nevada, but also says that municipal networks might not be the panacea they’re touted as.Join the broadband conversation: OSIT wants your input! You can complete this form to join the process as a community partner. You can also take a speed test here to help OSIT see how fast internet speeds are in different parts of the state. And you can also submit a challenge to the FCC’s map of speeds at your address here.How do you feel about your internet service in Las Vegas? Leave us a voicemail (702-514-0719) or a comment on social media: We’re @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Love what you hear? Get even more Vegas news, events and commentary when you sign up for our brilliant morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Look, it’s no secret that the internet options in Las Vegas aren’t great. We pay more than the rest of the country for slower speeds, and it’s worse if you’re in lower-income and less white parts of town. But why?? How did we get here? Today, Dayvid talks with Sean Gonsalves, senior reporter, editor and researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who explains how Cox and CenturyLink established control here (hint: there’s a state law involved) and why treating the internet like a locally-owned utility could make all the difference.Don’t miss out on tomorrow’s episode, too: We’re talking with a Nevada state official about the big federal money headed our way for broadband investment — and why he doesn’t necessarily think that locally-owned municipal broadband is the answer.What’s your internet like in Southern Nevada? Got any good stories, gripes, or ideas? Leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. Or leave us a comment on social media @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Hey, did you know that Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada? Yep, the sister “suburb” of Las Vegas, so often overlooked, has more people than Reno — and as proud Henderson resident (and CCLV producer) Layla Muhammad tells Dayvid, it’s actually not so very sleepy anymore. With the recent influx of sports facilities like the Raiders headquarters and the ongoing renovation of all those restaurants, breweries and bars on Water Street, Hendo is HAPPENING. Layla clues us into her favorite hikes, the best shopping, and great places to eat out in H-Town (and maybe, just maybe, we can all stop calling it Hender-tucky).

This week, Vogue, Dayvid and Sonja look at a wild week of news: First up, journalist Jeff German’s murder investigation is back in the news, because his former employer, the Review-Journal, is locked in a battle with the LVMPD over German’s cellphone. So: Is a deceased journalist’s cellphone still protected under Nevada’s shield laws? And what happens now? Next, we cover the wild tale of Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner’s bankruptcy, and the murdered owner of an exotic reptile breeding business that Lehner invested in. And if that wasn’t enough news to make your head spin, it looks like some contaminated cannabis has been making its way around the state… since 2021. But how contaminated is it, exactly? And what should we be worried about?For a list of the affected cannabis products and dispensaries where they were sold, you can download the product list spreadsheet here.Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter for daily news updates at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Did you learn something new today? Let us know on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. 

Governor Joe Lombardo gave his first State of the State address on Monday, using the hour to detail a legislative agenda that included election reform, tax cuts, and education funding. Lombardo also took a few jabs at the Democratic legislature on healthcare and criminal justice. With the start of legislative session just around the corner, how will the Dems and our Republican governor get along? April Corbin Girnus, Deputy Editor at The Nevada Current, joins host Vogue Robinson to explain the major takeaways and what the reaction from Dems says about the next four years in Nevada.Curious about Nevada politics? Send us your questions at at 702-514-0719.We’re also on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter for all the major news from the upcoming legislative session.

To no one’s surprise, Baz Luhrmann’s blockbuster hit “Elvis” got several Oscar nods yesterday, including nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor. So should you add “Elvis” to your lineup of pre-Academy Awards movie nights? The City Cast Las Vegas team watched the film together last fall — and we’ve got mixed feelings. Today, Vogue, Dayvid and Layla discuss how Las Vegas is represented in the film, Elvis’s complicated legacy for Black musicians, and whether or not Elvis should continue to be our city’s unofficial mascot.Do you think Elvis is still the King of Las Vegas? Let us know on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitterand Instagram.You can also leave your best Austin Butler-as-Elvis impression in our voicemail at 702-514-0719. Want more Vegas news, hot takes, and witty commentary? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

Last week, the Artisan Hotel near the Strip made national news when its owners announced their plans to re-invent the venue as a “cannabis-friendly” resort. Why? Well, while weed might be legal in Nevada, Vegas isn’t exactly tourist-friendly when it comes to consumption — there’s a ban on public use, and so far, that includes hotels. With other state-level regulations in place, how likely is the Artisan to succeed?Today, Dayvid talks with Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, whose district the Artisan is located in. Tick is well-known as an advocate for not only legalizing cannabis consumption, but also promoting Las Vegas as a cannabis destination — and he’s probably the only elected official currently serving in the U.S. with a strain of cannabis named after him. Tick talks about his high hopes for the Artisan, and why cannabis tourism projects have faced an uphill battle.Should Las Vegas allow cannabis-friendly resorts? What would you like to see in one? Let us know by leaving us a voicemail at 702-514-0719, or commenting on social media: @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.Want more Vegas news, fresh in your inbox at 6 a.m.? Yes, you do — trust us on this one. Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!

One of the best badges of being a local is knowing your way around town — like really, really knowing your way around those stupid-crowded intersections (we’re looking at you, Trop & LV Boulevard), crazy parking lots (thanks, Chinatown), and I-15 insanity when the SoCal tourists head home. So today on City Cast Las Vegas, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson, producer Layla Muhammad, and co-host Dayvid Figler are sharing some of our very best insider knowledge: The best shortcuts to get you around town like a real local.A shout out to listener Poly Schmitt who suggested this episode topic — thank you, Poly! If you’ve got other episode ideas for us, call or text us at 702-514-0719. You can also hit us up on social media: Follow us @CityCastVegas on Twitter and Instagram.For more insider tips, hot takes, and fresh commentary, make sure to sign up for our amazing morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!