City Cast Las Vegas

City Cast Las Vegas

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City Cast Las Vegas episodes

  • The Best Places to Hike in Las Vegas

    The temps are dropping in the valley, so that means it's time to get back outside. Today on City Cast Las Vegas, we're getting you geared up for hiking season. Local outdoor enthusiast and real estate agent Austin Williams, one half of the team behind "The Other Las Vegas" on Instagram, helps us dive into the best beginner, intermediate and advanced hikes in and around the Las Vegas area.

    Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, October 5th episode.

    The Escape Room Las Vegas

    Touching Hearts

    Elect Alex Quagge

    Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

    Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

    Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.


    38 min
  • ‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Las Vegas

    When Las Vegas looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for climate resilience.

    Mentioned on the show:

    • Water Square and its creative facilitators: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/25/grain-collective-basketball-courts-flood-prevention/ 
    • Rotterdam’s own “water square”: https://landezine.com/water-square-benthemplein-by-de-urbanisten/ 
    • Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

      We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

      Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

      24 min
    • Controversy Rocks the Governor's Race, Illegal Rat Dumping, and Good News Friday


      There's some new drama in the governor's race after allegations surfaced that Attorney General Aaron Ford sought to pardon a pregnant woman's killer, but there's more to the story than that. We unpack what actually happened and how it could impact Ford’s chances in the race for governor. In some off-the-wall news, somebody illegally dumped rats near a Boulder City park this week, which got us wondering: does Las Vegas have a dumping problem? Good News Friday returns with reasons to visit Lee Canyon, a nod to Las Vegas' literary moment, and the Arts District standing up for its artists. And in our members-only bonus segment, we explain why Henderson might actually be cool now. Host Jesse Merrick breaks it all down with criminal defense attorney Dayvid Figler and Executive Producer Layla Muhammad.


      Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, October 2nd episode:

      Opportunity Village

      SNWA Watering Restrictions


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      31 min
    • Henderson Says No to ICE, What the School Board Actually Does, and What to Do this Weekend

      Henderson's police chief just rejected ICE's request to expand its presence in Southern Nevada, but will that squash ICE's attempts at gaining a larger footprint in the valley? A listener fired up about the CCSD school board inspired us to break down what the board actually does, what decisions it has made this year, and what's at stake with three seats up for reelection. Plus, in our Weekend Lookahead, we share where to catch a great ballet show, a spot in the Arts District perfect for meeting new people, and our love for First Friday. Host Jesse Merrick breaks it all down with Nevada Current Deputy Editor April Corbin Girnus and NPR Mountain West News Bureau regional reporter Yvette Fernandez.

      Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, October 1st episode:

      Opportunity Village

      SNWA Watering Restrictions

      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      Photo credit: Public Domain


      37 min
    • Your Guide to October 2026 in Las Vegas

      Spooky season is here! So where are the best places around town to get in on the Halloween Spirit and enjoy all that fall has to offer in Vegas? From haunted houses, to horror movie marathons, and a Filipino food festival, we’ve got you covered. Host Jesse Merrick, Nevada Current Reporter Michael “MJ” Lyle, and "Keep It Local" writer Melinda Sheckells dish on all the things you need to do, buy, eat and see in Las Vegas this October.


      Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, September 30th episode:

      Opportunity Village

      SNWA Watering Restrictions


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      32 min
    • Emergency School Funding, the Battle for an NBA Arena, and Vegas' Vibiest Coffee Shop

      CCSD was staring down $51 million in budget cuts, but Gov. Joe Lombardo just approved emergency funding to give school districts temporary relief. What's the long-term fix for CCSD, though? We also dive into the pros and cons of Las Vegas' potential NBA team calling T-Mobile Arena home compared to some other proposed sites on the north end of the Strip. Then we dish on our latest Las Vegas obsessions, including one of the vibiest coffee shops in the valley, the best movie theaters to catch a flick, and some plant shops to check out around the valley. Host Jesse Merrick breaks it all down with artist Vogue Robinson and Creative Producer Jacob Solis.

      Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, September 29th episode:

      Opportunity Village

      SNWA Watering Restrictions


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      40 min
    • Your Guide to the Nevada Governor's Race

      The Nevada governor's race is heating up with less than two months to go, and there's a lot to unpack. We sat down with Nevada Independent Capital Bureau Chief Tabitha Mueller and criminal defense attorney Dayvid Figler to lay out everything you need to know heading into Election Day. We dive into how Lombardo is running on his economic record, Ford's strategy of tying the governor to Trump at every turn, what recent polls actually tell us about how close this race really is, and whether these two will ever actually debate each other.


      Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, September 28th episode:

      Opportunity Village

      SNWA Watering Restrictions


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      35 min
    • ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Las Vegas

      What’s a seemingly small project in Las Vegas that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today.

      Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

      We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

      Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

      21 min
    • Would You Live at Wayne Newton's Estate? Plus, How to Celebrate 9 to 5 Day

      Wayne Newton's nearly 40-acre former Las Vegas compound could soon become a luxury home community, but is this the best use of Mr. Las Vegas' former home? Nevada has more jobs than ever but still ranks eighth in the nation for unemployment. So we dig into whether or not wages are keeping up with the growth of our city and what it will actually take to make a meaningful change in our unemployment rates. Good News Friday returns with a nod to Dolly Parton and 9 to 5 Day. And in our members-only bonus segment, we break down what $5.4 million in lost funding means for our nearby National Parks. Host Jesse Merrick breaks it all down with Spotlight Poetry founder Elle Hope and creative producer Rob Kachelriess.


      Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, September 25th episode:

      Neon Museum

      Opportunity Village


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      34 min
    • Will Caesars Change Under New Ownership? Plus, the Media Coverage of Carrot Top

      Caesars Entertainment shareholders just approved Tilman Fertitta's $17.6 billion takeover bid, so what does it actually mean for the Strip, and how much of a difference will a casino owner who isn't tied to private equity make in how Caesars operates? Carrot Top was hospitalized following a reported suicide attempt amid a series of sexual misconduct allegations, but the reporting on the story seemed to be lacking in several key areas. Plus, we look ahead to the weekend and share what events we've got circled on our calendars. Host Jesse Merrick breaks it all down with Nevada Current reporter Michael "MJ" Lyle and Vital Vegas founder Scott Roeben.


      Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, September 24th episode:

      Neon Museum

      Opportunity Village


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm.

      Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

      40 min

    About City Cast Las Vegas

    From the publisher's feed

    City Cast Las Vegas is an an award-winning 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. 

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