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City Cast Las Vegas

Frankie Barnhill

Welcome to the City Cast Las Vegas news quiz. These questions are based on stories in the newsletter over the past week. Up to the challenge? Answer the following questions to see how well you’ve been paying attention — and how well you know Las Vegas.

Looking for a previous Hey Las Vegas news quiz? Find it here.

Ready for a challenge? Take our weekly quiz, based on the news and stories of this past week in Las Vegas. 

Test Your Knowledge on Las Vegas News

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

Rob Kachelriess

As the war in the Middle East enters a fourth week, an Iranian general warns that “parks, recreational areas, and tourist destinations” around the world could be 

. Specific locations weren’t mentioned, but Las Vegas is a high-profile travel market and Gov. Lombardo 

discussed the possibility of a strengthened police presence

 after the U.S. attacked Iran. [Associated Press/KVVU]

 warned California authorities before the war of an Iranian plot to 

, but the agency backtracked on what it later called unverified information. [ABC News]

 of retaliation in Las Vegas could be a cyberattack. Here’s a clue — it’s happened before. Iran 

 in 2014, wiping out hard drives while interfering with computers, loyalty rewards, data storage, and even phones at the Venetian and Palazzo. [Bloomberg]

a majority of Americans believe President Trump will order troops into a large-scale ground war in Iran, although just 7% 

 and how it resonates on a local level. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

"No Kings" rallies are planned this week in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and other parts of Southern Nevada.

Where to Find a No Kings Protest in Las Vegas

'No Kings' Protests Return to Nevada as Iran War Escalates

Once we get through the midterms this year, all eyes will be on the next presidential election in 2028 — and the Silver State could play a major role in choosing our next commander in chief. Nevada is 

 for hosting the Democratic Party’s first primary in the next presidential election season. The working plan is to have four states from different regions host primaries early, and New Mexico is Nevada’s only competition in the west. [NBC News]

 like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona. [Nevada Independent]

 we’re still politically purple. After giving its electoral votes to President Trump in 2024, Nevada is now one of 39 states with a majority 

disapproving of the president’s job performance

. Trump’s net approval among Nevadans is -17.2% (and -7.6% among Nevadans who voted in 2024). Yes, those dashes mean “negative”. [The Economist]

 could get back on Nevada’s good side by keeping nuclear waste away from Yucca Mountain — and alternatives are 

who tried to swing Nevada for Trump in 2020 are 

 by the Department of Justice demanding custody of our state’s voter rolls. [Las Vegas Sun]

Nevada aims high for political influence while President Trump faces new poll numbers in the Silver State. 

Nevada Is One of 12 Finalists for the First Primary of 2028

Nevada Takes Its Shot at a First-In-The-Nation Primary

🚨 Is the Presence of ICE Growing in Las Vegas?

 of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, says calls are coming in daily from all corners of the valley. ICE raids are more high-profile in cities like 

, but operate more quickly and quietly in Southern Nevada. [KLAS]

 says groups like LV Defensa unfairly “demonize” law enforcement. As covered in last week’s 

, Nevada’s two Democratic U.S. senators are trying to find common ground — not “defunding” ICE, but 

proposing to shift some of the agency’s funding

 to local law enforcement instead. [Nevada Current]

, citing the recent deportation of a Guatemalan who was facing charges in a deadly Las Vegas crash. She says it’s not about rights for the suspect, but 

) in other parts of the country, Henderson residents 

 to local detainments during a City Hall meeting last week. [KSNV]

, whose application was denied, has been held at the Henderson Detention Center for more than 100 days. Despite a 

, the woman claims she is only receiving minimal health care and no prenatal assistance. [Nevada Independent]

 of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after the deadly shooting of a second protester in Minneapolis over the weekend. [Associated Press]

 in response to aggressive federal activity in Minnesota. [KTNV]

Volunteers are tracking ICE in Las Vegas while our community responds to the Minneapolis shootings.

Is ICE Becoming More Active in Las Vegas? 

most downloaded City Cast Las Vegas episodes of 2025

. Now, let's review the top 10 website articles we published over the past 12 months, all of which ran in the newsletter too 👍

Zoltar: A Fortune Teller’s Journey from ‘Big’ to Boulder City

How a local family-owned business won the rights to make Zoltar fortune-telling machines, based on the one seen in the movie “Big.”

Suffrage in Nevada: When Women Won the Right to Vote

Nevada’s “anything goes” reputation was put to the test when women stood up for their rights.

​​How the Luxor's Sky Beam Really Works

The Luxor light beam isn’t as bright as it used to be. We explain why.

All of these pools will return for pool season in 2026 — and hopefully some of those deals too.

A Peek Into Las Vegas Sex Clubs and Why They Matter

We update this story every few months with the latest openings. The ever-growing listicle now adds up to a comprehensive year-in-review recap for Las Vegas eats.

The Deadline for REAL ID is Almost Here. Why It’s Important and How to Get One.

One of the biggest non-stories of the year was the 

 over getting a REAL ID before a long-extended deadline finally arrived.

Elon Musk’s Boring Company Is Tunneling Beneath Las Vegas With Little Oversight

City Cast’s collaboration with ProPublica was a magnifying glass on concerns about safety and workplace violations at the Vegas Loop. Our recent follow-up story on the project 

facing hundreds of environmental violations

Instant Review: "The Wizard of Oz" at the Sphere

I was at the opening night of the Sphere’s “Wizard of Oz” remix and shared some thoughts the following morning.

Does Donald Trump Really Own His Las Vegas Hotel?

Yeah, this guy. President Trump returned to office in 2025 and people wondered about who really runs the Vegas hotel with his name on it. The story published just one day after a Tesla explosion in the valet generated the first big headline of the year.

Is There Any Free Parking Left on the Las Vegas Strip?

Let's review the top 10 website articles we published over the past 12 months, all of which ran in the newsletter too.

The Most Read City Cast Las Vegas Stories of 2025

The Most Read Web Stories of 2025 at City Cast Las Vegas

Find the best of everything that Las Vegas has to offer.

Las Vegas’s Best

Las Vegas' Best

We’re exactly two weeks away from New Year’s Eve. (Have you 

 yet?) To be honest, 2026 is shaping up to be a relatively quiet year for Las Vegas. I’m not excited. So let’s skip ahead to 2028, a year that’s packed with big projects. Will they actually happen?

The long-promised all-electric high-speed rail between Las Vegas and 

 Rancho Cucamonga was supposed to be ready in time for the 2028 SoCal Summer Olympics. Despite the 

 more than a year ago, Brightline has spent its time on environmental studies, contracts, and 

 before laying what’s supposed to be 218 miles of track through the Mojave Desert.

, a baseball stadium for a team nobody likes is now under construction on the lot. If you believe A’s officials, work is on schedule and already 

, while the A’s continue to play at a minor league field in Sacramento (instead of building some local goodwill by doing the same thing here).

I think the local tourism industry and A’s owner John Fisher will somehow will this thing to happen, even if it gets messy.

Las Vegas has an art scene, but not a big-time, full-fledged accredited art museum. That’s changing with the Las Vegas Museum of Art, 

 at Symphony Park. Once complete, it will have two floors of exhibition space covering 90,000 square feet, plus a sculpture park.

Count on it. The philanthropy and art crowd has a lot of pull in Las Vegas — and the city is heavily invested in the success of Symphony Park, which also includes the Smith Center. Plus, nobody wants to drop the ball on the 

🗳️ Nevada: First In the Nation Primary?

Get ready 🫣 America will have another presidential election in 2028 — and the first to not have Trump on the ballot since 2012 (assuming the Constitution is still functioning as usual). The Democrats have been shuffling around the primary calendar and Nevada is a 

 to be moved to the head of the line, thanks to its diverse electorate and dropping the old, complicated caucus system.

Maybe. If it does, it will come with an asterisk. New Hampshire has a built-in state law to be the first primary, which meant its delegates didn’t count in 2024 when the DNC made South Carolina first.

March Madness is the busiest time of the year for sportsbooks — and Las Vegas will go all the way in 2028, 

 for the first time at Allegiant Stadium.

As 2026 shapes up to be a relatively quiet year for Las Vegas, let’s skip ahead to 2028, a year that’s packed with big projects.

Changes Coming to Las Vegas in 2028

Looking Ahead to … 2028? 

We still have a few weeks left in 2025 and unless something wild happens, these are the top 10 news headlines of the year in Las Vegas — in my book anyway. And no, 

The first big news story of the year happened immediately — the morning of January 1 — when a member of the U.S. Army special forces shot himself dead while 

 in front of the Trump International Hotel. Was it a political statement towards President-elect Trump or Tesla head Elon Musk? The motives are murky. Fortunately, no one else was killed, keeping the incident from becoming an even bigger story.

The motives behind the burning of Tesla vehicles at a repair shop were more apparent, taking place during Musk’s DOGE era of the Trump administration. Metro police 

 for capturing the suspect. The devices were financed by a private donation from venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, who’s also responsible for funding drones and 

injured by drivers on the way to and from school

 this year. Blame the rise of ebikes, distracted driving, overcrowded streets outside schools — or all of the above.

The Nevada legislature met for its regularly scheduled biennial session, 

, then returned at the request of Gov. Lombardo for a special session in November. We 

, anyway. Visitation was down, prompting resorts to roll out deals and free parking perks. Whether we should worry or not is up for debate, but Vegas’ growing reputation for fees and high prices isn’t going away anytime soon.

, leading to gunfire in front of the Bellagio fountains and two people dead — all captured on a livestream.

The Boring Company continued to expand its underground Vegas Loop of Tesla tunnels, earning fresh new rounds of 

 in the process. The transportation system also tested autonomous driving and received permission to operate above ground as a low-cost taxi service to and from the airport.

, shutting down services and closing offices like the DMV. The state declined to pay a ransom request and recovered relatively quickly — although long-term effects may not be known for months, if not years.

🧙 “The Wizard” Comes to the Sphere

AI-enhanced version of “The Wizard of Oz”

 — turn a profit. Franchising a second Sphere in Abu Dhabi is another money generator.

Federal actions (or inactions) hit Las Vegas at a local level, from the government shutdown (and record 

) to failure to find any common ground on health care 

 in Las Vegas (although not nearly as much as in places like Portland and Chicago), scaring Broadacres Marketplace 

 for a few weeks, and earning new cooperation agreements with local police.

Well, I got through my top 10 list without mentioning the 

 but referenced Elon Musk three times 🤷 Does the latest episode of 

agree with my headlines? Listen in for another take on the 

Unless something wild happens before the end of 2025, these are the top 10 news headlines of the year in Las Vegas.

The Biggest Las Vegas New Stories of 2025

You may have noticed: It’s November. And while we’re excited about the 

, the month also brings big decisions on health care enrollment and what a new service means for Nevada.

People who live in Nevada can browse and purchase from among 140 health care plans through eight private carriers on 

 between now and Jan. 15, 2026. You must 

 to have coverage effective Jan. 1, 2026. Otherwise, coverage starts Feb. 1, 2026.

This is separate from any insurance offered by your employer.

 offering a public option to compete with private insurance. 

 meet the criteria for a “qualified” health plan, covering all 10 essential health benefits recognized by the Affordable Care Act, including hospitalization, doctor visits, emergency care, lab work, and prescription drugs.

Sorry, it’s not free. But the Battle Born State Plans, established by lawmakers in 2021, requires premiums to reduce by 15 percent over the next four years. That’s comparable to other Nevada Health Link plans that 

The plans are a more affordable option for Nevadans who don’t have access to insurance through an employer or qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. This may include those who are self-employed, contract workers, or small business owners.

The health care industry resisted the idea from the beginning, especially brokers, who face lower fees and commissions. Some are even 

 the Battle Born plan altogether. (For the record, you don’t need a broker to sign up for a plan and you can ask questions to Insurance Navigators on Nevada Health Link who are not paid by commission.)

Gov. Lombardo isn’t a fan either, although he 

proposed and ushered in a reinsurance program

 (which is like insurance for insurance companies) that will ease the burden of high-cost claims and make the program more sustainable.

Like all plans under the Affordable Care Act umbrella, those offered by Nevada Health Link qualify for federal subsidies. Sounds great, but — some of those expire this year, prompting a 

 that’s led to the current government shutdown and confusion over exactly how much Washington will cover in 2026.

 health care is confusing and complicated. So 

 to break down what Battle Born State Plans are all about. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Health Care is complicated, expensive, and inefficient. Can Nevada's new health plan make things better?

Nevada’s New Public Option for Health Care Explained

Two federal judges ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 

 with contingency funds, although uncertainty lingers on the Trump administration’s response to the ruling and if debit cards used by beneficiaries could be reloaded by tomorrow’s expiration date on financing the program.

This comes as the federal government shutdown reaches 31 days. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps, is used by 500,000 people in our state — or one in six Nevadans.

State lawmakers have pulled together $8.6 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan and $30.2 million from contingency funds to 

 with the assistance of the National Guard, supported by an additional $200,000. [Associated Press/Nevada Independent]

, the largest resource in Southern Nevada for combating food insecurity, has four emergency drive-thru food distributions tomorrow, 

 (5101 N. Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89130) 7-9 a.m.

 – Hope for the City Distribution Center (1001 New Beginnings Dr, Henderson, NV 89011) 7-9 a.m.

, North Las Vegas (3200 E. Cheyenne Ave, North Las Vegas, NV 89030) 9 a.m. - noon

 – Thomas & Mack Center (4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154) 9 a.m. - noon

The following drive-thru food distributions are 

 (8625 S. Spencer St., Las Vegas, NV 89123) 3 - 4 p.m.

 - The Just One Project (1737 Hunkins Dr., North Las Vegas, NV 89030) 4 - 7 p.m.

Catholic Charities Hands of Hope Community Food Pantry

 (1501 Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101: Vehicles; 1504 N Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101: Pedestrians) is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and the last Saturday of the month, 8 a.m. - noon.

 (401 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89101) serves the local LGBTQ+ community with 

 has plant-based grocery pickups at 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of the month at United Movement Organized Kindness (1010 N. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101). 

 is open Sundays and Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Thursdays 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Call 702-955-5932 or 

Make a monetary donation or inquire about volunteering at the following links. You can also forward this email to someone you know who needs help — or is willing to help. If you're considering donating food directly, make sure to follow the organization's guidelines. We've got more tips in our 

These are just some of the community organizations and nonprofits feeding those in need. If you’d like to spread the word on other groups and/or events, please 

 will have more as the crisis plays out next week in our newsletter, website, and podcast episodes. (

The community mobilizes with emergency food assistance as uncertainty lingers over the status of SNAP benefits.

Judges Order Funding as SNAP Benefits Threaten to Expire

Ready to wave the flag high for Las Vegas? Well, you can show some pride in our city with an official banner. You probably didn’t even know we had one, did you?

, who won a contest authorized by the Las Vegas City Council in 1965. It’s worth noting that Bouton was an assistant to the city manager. The flag was formally adopted in 1968.

The dominant royal blue color represents the Nevada sky and the diagonal gray stripe symbolizes the mining industry associated with our Silver State nickname. The seal includes stuff that’s mostly outside city limits: the Hoover Dam, a Joshua tree, desert landscapes, and Sunrise Mountain. A jet and three skyscrapers (which don’t look like anything in Vegas) symbolize tourism.

, the City of Las Vegas flag received a score of 3.61 out of 10 ☹️ and placed 93rd. (The top three were Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Denver.) Personally, I think the Vegas flag is all sorts of meh. The grey strip looks like a stretch of highway to me, symbolizing our city’s love affair with traffic — so maybe it fits. And those skyscrapers look like something that belongs in New York or Chicago.

 on the local influence of Latter-day Saints, a replica of the 

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park

The answer is yes! But it’s kinda ugly. 

local politics

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

'No Kings' Protests Return to Nevada as Iran War Escalates

Nevada Takes Its Shot at a First-In-The-Nation Primary

Latest articles

Take This Week's Las Vegas News Trivia Quiz

'No Kings' Protests Return to Nevada as Iran War Escalates

Nevada Takes Its Shot at a First-In-The-Nation Primary

Is ICE Becoming More Active in Las Vegas?

The Most Read Web Stories of 2025 at City Cast Las Vegas

Looking Ahead to … 2028?

The Biggest Las Vegas New Stories of 2025

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Is ICE Becoming More Active in Las Vegas?

The Most Read Web Stories of 2025 at City Cast Las Vegas

Looking Ahead to … 2028?

The Biggest Las Vegas New Stories of 2025

Nevada’s New Public Option for Health Care Explained

Judges Order Funding as SNAP Benefits Threaten to Expire

Does the City of Las Vegas Have a Flag?