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The pandemic floodgates have opened, and gambling is hot hot HOT once again. Southern Nevada is raking in months upon months of record-breaking gambling revenue. Reid International Airport saw its busiest month ever in June. And gambling influencers are apparently a thing now — the Plaza debuted an influencer-themed slot machine last month, making a play for the screen-addicted millennial generation. But with the highs come the lows, and host Dayvid Figler knows a thing or two about the low-lows that come with problem gambling: He helped create a diversion court to keep those suffering from gambling addiction out of prison and get them into treatment. So how do you figure out if you, or your friend, or your Uncle Benny, has a gambling problem? And what can families, casinos, and our government do about it? For more resources on problem gambling, visit the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, or call their confidential 24-hour hotline at 1-800-522-4700. You can also start the conversation with yourself: Take the 20-question problem gambling questionnaire here. Do you have thoughts, questions, or ideas for us? Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 702-514-0719. You can go find us on the ol’ bird app too — tweet at us: @CityCastVegas And last but never least, get more Vegas news, events, mutterings and musings in our daily morning newsletter. Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, hosts Vogue Robinson and Dayvid Figler, along with lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson, indulge in the cleansing fires of RAAAAGE: Cuz there’s so much rage-inducing news this week! First up, we talk about the new 50-foot showgirl signs planned for the entrance to the Arts District (spoiler: Dayvid compares them to “clip art”). Then it’s on to the Clark County Commission’s recent unanimous vote to expand an “order out” ordinance on the Strip: Now anyone with convicted of any crime can be ordered out of the area, and could face a misdemeanor arrest for violating the rule. Oh, and don’t forget RAGE item three: The results of a recent House committee investigation were released last week, and Siegel Suites (the subject of our episode on Pinkbox Doughnuts) were found to use egregiously underhanded tactics to evict tenants before, during, and after the moratorium on evictions — even those whose rental relief applications were underway. Don’t worry, we end on a sweet note: Bacon milkshakes, puppies, and art gallery openings. Come along for the emotional rollercoaster! What’s got your goat in this week of news? Do you actually love the showgirls and are we off the mark? Let us know! Leave us a voicemail or send us a text at 702-514-0719. Or send us a tweet @CityCastVegas. For even more Vegas news, events, and less rage + more snark (we promise), make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As rising rents push artists out of the Arts District, could the newly-revitalized New Orleans square be the answer? New Orleans Square is a two-story complex in the historic Commercial Center — once a hub for business, dining, and nightlife in the 60s and 70s. It has since gained a reputation (whether fair or not) as a dangerous hotspot for illicit activities. But business owners are working to rebrand the Commercial Center: Ron and Judy McMenemy bought New Orlean Square in the 2000s and curated it to create a center of arts and culture. Since their passing in the last few years, their children took over the building and have recently listed it for sale.  Host Vogue Robinson visits gallerist Nancy Good at Core Contemporary Art Gallery inside New Orleans Square. They talk about how Nancy is continuing Ron’s work to make New Orleans Square a desirable place for artists, and why Las Vegas shouldn’t be afraid of the area. Have you been to New Orleans Square? Let us know what you think of the area by leaving us a voicemail or a text at 702-514-0719. Or tweet at us! Follow us on Twitter @CityCastVegas. For even more Vegas news, get our brilliant morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Hsieh has long been painted as a tortured visionary — most recently in the posthumous biography by two Wall Street Journal reporters dramatically titled “Happy at Any Cost: The Revolutionary Vision and Fatal Quest of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.” But longtime Las Vegas locals have observed the last decade of transformations along Fremont East (funded by Tony’s company Downtown Project) with mixed emotions. Lifelong resident and writer Nicholas Russell recently penned an essay in the Baffler about the problem with mythologizing Tony Hsieh — he and host Dayvid Figler bust some Downtown Project myths, examine Tony’s legacy downtown, and break down just why it was so easy for Tony Hsieh to set up shop in Las Vegas. How do you feel about downtown Las Vegas? Leave us a message or shoot us a text at 702-514-0719. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas Want more Vegas news? Get our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before the pandemic, Nevada had the second-largest nursing deficit in the country, and the pandemic has only worsened nurse burnout and retention. According to a 2022 report, nurses are leaving their jobs at “a dramatically higher rate” — Nevada needs to hire 4,000 nurses just to meet the national average. Nursing schools are responding: In 2019, the UNLV School of Nursing launched a summer Nurse Camp to help high school students “develop realistic expectations about nursing school and working as a registered nurse” through hands-on activities, simulations, and lectures. Producer Layla Muhammad takes us through the camp as she talks to UNLV alumni and organizer Jennifer Pfannes about the camp, their goals, and how they hope the program can mitigate Nevada’s nursing shortage. Plus, hear from two high school students about their experiences at Nurse Camp. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re also on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas  Are you a local nurse working during this shortage? Share your story with us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nevada’s ballot initiative process can be confusing. The deadline for gathering signatures for measures proposing to amend the state Constitution passed in June, with another deadline approaching in the fall for measures to amend the law. After the signatures are verified by election officials, they make it on to our ballots. Some measure get caught up in court while others breeze through the process. Producer Layla Muhammad talks with Host Dayvid Figler about what we’ll see on our ballots this November, where the process goes right, and where it goes terribly wrong. We’ve got the wittiest newsletter in Vegas. Make sure to sign up for all the musings at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We also tweet! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Do you have questions about what’s going to be on the ballot this November? Give us a call at 702-514-0719.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Producer Layla Muhammad hosts newsletter editor Scott Dickensheets and host Dayvid Figler in a spirited conversation for this week’s Friday news roundup! The team discusses why residents may or may not care about the demolition of three casinos that cater to locals, and Dayvid’s idea on how the city could repurpose these properties. Also, the hits and (many) misses in The Vice Guide to Travel Las Vegas and what we would do with the billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot money ... even though we have to drive to the state line to buy lottery tickets. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re also on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas  You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We call Vegas “Sin City,” and we have the strippers, cocktail waitresses, escorts, Little Darlings billboards, and The Love Store to prove it. Sex is a part of everyday life in Las Vegas. But there’s more to this conversation… and most of us aren’t comfortable talking about it. Is Sin City… Sex Positive? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, host Vogue Robinson talks with Rebecca Bosetti, assistant professor at the UNLV School of Social Work, about her new course, “Sexual Behavior & Society: The Good, the Bad, and the Controversial,” and why Las Vegas needs more sex-positive social workers. Every morning, Scott Dickensheets serves up a fantastic newsletter filled with news items, events, and other things you should know about our city. Sign up here: lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  Stay up-to-the minute with us on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas  You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719 with your Vegas hot take! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Las Vegas Valley has a speeding problem: 2021 was the worst year for traffic fatalities in over a decade (2022 is on track to beat that), and speeding is the cause of a third of fatal crashes. The Review-Journal recently published an investigative piece that looked at 95,000 speeding tickets from one of our biggest municipal courts, and found that 80% of them were reduced to parking violations. That means no traffic school and — crucially — no record of repeat dangerous drivers. But is ratcheting up the consequences in a criminalized system the answer? What solutions are on the table? Host Vogue Robinson talks with Michael Scott Davidson, the investigative reporter behind this piece, about his findings and what the experts are saying. Stay even more connected to your city with news roundups, whip-smart commentary, and fun events in our morning newsletter! Sign up at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter Thoughts, feelings? Did we miss the mark, or hit the bullseye? Tweet us! We’re @CityCastVegas  You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As rents rise all over the valley, some business owners in the Arts District got hit with 200-400 percent rent increases, making life more difficult for everyone — but especially cultural businesses. Priscilla Fowler has owned her eponymous fine art gallery in the area since 2016, moving three times within the Arts District, most recently this year after her rent was doubled. Downside: In her current location, away from Main Street, foot traffic has declined. Host Vogue Robinson talks to Fowler about her experience, how things have changed, and what we can do to keep the arts in the Arts District. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KSNV News 3 sports anchor Bryan Salmond calls Las Vegas the sports and entertainment capital of the world. With another successful NBA Summer League in the books and the WNBA’s success with the Aces here in the valley, could it finally be time for an NBA team in Las Vegas? Lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson and Bryan discuss what the prospects are for our basketball city and why LeBron James just might be the one to bring a team here. Want to stay updated on the latest Vegas news and events? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We also tweet! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Are you a Las Vegas baller? Let us know your thoughts by calling or texting us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Roving Producer Lizzie Goldsmith is from Denver and has never been to Vegas! Host Vogue Robinson and Lead Producer Sonja Cho Swanson plan out Lizzie’s perfect Vegas itinerary including bars, views, food, outdoor activities, and(reluctantly) what to do on The Strip. The millennials also explain why Bennifer’s Vegas wedding brought on the nostalgia and some very Vegas news items. Want to be a better Las Vegan? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Got some good news for a Friday round up? Give us a call or send us a text at 702-514-0719.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When’s the last time you exited Spring Mountain Rd. and visited Las Vegas’ Chinatown? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson chats it up with Lorraine Blanco Moss. She’s the host of Nevada Public Radio’s Exit Spring Mountain, a podcast that takes its name from the east-west artery that runs through the heart of town. The show — which launches their second season on July 27th! — focuses on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the fastest growing ethnic group in Nevada. Sonja and Lorraine talk about why representation is so important, and how sharing stories by and for the AAPI community builds empathy, especially in the wake of rising anti-Asian violence. Want to dive deeper into Vegas news and happenings? Then head on over to our website and make sure you’re signed up for our morning newsletter! lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter We’re also keeping it real on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas  Have a Vegas hot take to share? Leave us a voicemail or text us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a long hard summer for many reasons. Ways to find relief are more important than ever, but where do you go in a city that’s known to be shallow and culture-less? Host and former Clark County Poet Laureate Vogue Robinson sits down with Producer Layla Muhammad to set the record straight about the culture surrounding Vegas’ thriving poetry scene. Vogue gives you everything you need to know on how to engage with the poetry community in Las Vegas and why it’s important for the city to support. Check out Wednesday’s newsletter for a list of recurring poetry open mics, slams, and jams happening in town. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  You can also find us posting about the latest Vegas happenings on Twitter at @CityCastVegas.  Do you think Vegas has culture? Drop us a line or send us a text at 702-514-0719.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How worried should Nevadans be about the BA.4 and BA.5 variants? Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the sixth wave is making its way across the globe. Nevada’s weekly updates show an increase in hospitalizations despite the decrease in reported cases week to week. In her conversation with host Vogue Robinson, The Nevada Independent’s Tabitha Mueller shares her reporting on the disparities in the numbers, vaccination rates, and wastewater monitoring. Visit The Nevada Independent COVID data page here. Looking for more Vegas news and events? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  You can also find us on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Have you seen something in Vegas that needs to be discussed? Call or text us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Blankenship is a researcher at Brookings Mountain West at UNLV who studies internet misinformation — and her most recent study suggests that sentiments on gun reform across the political aisle are converging. The study looked at millions of tweets and examined users’ emotions and reactions to mass shootings in the United States dating back to 2017 to the 1 October shooting in Las Vegas. As the conversation around gun reform changes, Blankenship and her co-author, Carol Graham, hope “this analysis can provide an opening toward a solution where one did not seem to exist before.” Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Friday (can we get a FriYAY?) which means it’s time for a news roundup! Sonja, Scott and Layla sit down to talk about our relatively quiet week in the news. First up, neighbors in Centennial Hills are divided over a proposed low-income housing development up at Rome & Decatur Blvd. Sonja brings up this research from NYU, which suggests property values can sometimes go up when low-income housing comes in. We talk about the tiny homes for the unhoused that New Leaf Community built—before they were razed by the city of North Las Vegas. Here’s the city-led tiny homes project in Sacramento that Layla mentions. And last but not least, the county is asking for community input on a permanent 1 October memorial — we weigh in. Here’s an interactive site with photos and videos of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, from which Scott suggests we might take some inspiration. Want more Vegas news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Got a super hot Las Vegas take? Call or text us at 702-514-0719 to join us for a Friday news roundup.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local wrestling champion Anthony “Da Shade” Shade says being raised in the Fight Capital of the World helped him make his way into wrestling. Not only is Vegas the best place to combine the sport with the entertainment, but the local independent scene is LGBTQ+ inclusive. Da Shade joins us to explain why Vegas is the place for big money matches, how the pro side of wrestling could be more inclusive, and more with host Vogue Robinson. You can catch Da Shade in action on Saturday, July 23 at Versus Pro and Friday, August 12 at PrideStyle's "Slowdeath". Both matches at Versus Pro Studios inside the Boulevard Mall. Check out their Twitters at @VersusProStudio and @PrideStylePro for more information. Looking for more interesting Vegas tidbits? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!  We’re on Twitter too! Follow us at @CityCastVegas  Are you a local independent wrestling fan? Tell us about it at 702-514-0719!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have noticed a few changes around town: Slowly but surely, patches of grass in medians, under street signs, and in between buildings are being replaced with desert landscaping. That’s thanks to a bill, AB356, that was passed last year in response to our ever-worsening drought — landscaping is the Valley’s biggest water guzzler. AB356 cuts back “nonfunctional turf” on business properties, like your local McDonald’s and perhaps your very own HOA. Today, JC Davis from the Southern Nevada Water Authority breaks down what exactly AB356 mandates, what “nonfunctional turf” means, and why it’s so important right now. Got thoughts on our water use or grassy medians? Hit us up on Twitter @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail or a text at 702-514-0719. And for even more Vegas news, events, and goings-on about town, make sure to sign up for our excellent morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pandemic created a lot of new dog owners and a lot of new outdoors enthusiasts — resulting in more newbie dog hikers on our local trails. Today, we sit down with Kimberly Lewis and Paula Jacoby-Garrett, co-authors of “Best Hikes with Dogs: Las Vegas & Beyond.” Kimberly and Paula tell us how to be responsible hikers with dogs, from picking up their poop (yep, it’s a problem) to keeping them protected from the sun and heat (dogs can get skin cancer, too!). They also share their favorite cool and shady dog-friendly trails in the Valley. Sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter and you’ll get roundups of the latest news, whip-smart commentary, and links to upcoming events around town. Do you have strong feelings about dogs on trails? Let us know! Tweet at us @CityCastVegas or leave us a voicemail at 702-514-0719. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices