🔋 Clean energy vs. conservation at Ash Meadows

🗳️ Every Vote, Er, Counts?

This week a judge dismissed that GOP lawsuit that would have reinstated a presidential caucus in Nevada instead of a primary election, as mandated by a 2021 law. The GOP says it will hold a caucus to allocate its delegates anyway — rendering February’s state-run primary election pointless. This is apparently allowed. [Nevada Independent]

🏘️ Well, OK, As Long as There Are Synergistic Tenants

So here’s the plan for the gaping real-estate void left by the razing of the Texas Station and Fiesta casinos: a 73-acre residential and commercial development called Hylo Park. If approved this week, 37 acres of homes will be joined by a grocery store and "synergistic tenants that will offer essential goods and services.” [KLAS]

😡 White’s Rage

Rocker Jack White, formerly of The White Stripes, is casting epic shade at Vegas-connected celebs Mark Wahlberg and Guy Fieri, as well as others (including Mel Gibson), for hobnobbing with “fascist, racist” former president Donald Trump during a UFC event in Las Vegas this weekend. [Variety]

🔋 Showdown at Ash Meadows

As a Canadian mining company seeks to extract lithium near sensitive ecological areas in Ash Meadows, conservationists are suing to prevent it. The issue highlights the precarious balance between our need for clean energy  and our responsibility as environmental stewards. Review-Journal reporter Colton Lochhead joins the podcast to break it down. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

I Can’t Wait for the Kitten Videos

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👂 What’re the Pods?

I asked you for some podcast recs — for those downtimes between City Cast episodes:

Cassandra: “I’d like to recommend The Crazy Never Die. They discuss weird Nevada history, true crime, and some local events like the MGM fire. I particularly enjoyed the episodes about Liberace and Bugsy Siegel.”

Dorian: “Five Hundy By Midnight is the original Las Vegas podcast. This couple out of Minneapolis is funny and breaks news stories and happenings in Las Vegas before locals do.”

Celestia Ward: “There's a skeptical/weird-stuff podcast called Squaring the Strange that … gets into the weeds of why people believe (or get victimized) by wrong beliefs in particular contexts. Also a bit of love for folklore in general, cryptids, legends, and spooky tales. … Two of the co-hosts are in New Mexico, and one is out here in Vegas and brings a lot of Vegas weird to the table. Aaaaaand that would be me.”

• Back to us: We did an episode about 👻 haunted Las Vegas! [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🤔 Read It on Reddit

In response to someone asking Vegas redditors how much money it takes to live “an above average lifestyle” here, one respondent says his $132,000 a year was adequate — properly managed. “I lived a pretty low-key, frugal lifestyle. One-bedroom apartment, didn't spend any money gambling or on alcohol or at nightclubs or anything like that. Cooked most of my meals.” Median household income in Las Vegas: $63,000.

🪅 Justin Favela Book Event | Thursday | 7-8 p.m.

Big-time Las Vegas artist Favela offers a 300-page retrospective of his work, which has been seen around the country and globe.[The Writer’s Block, downtown; free]

🎶 David Perrico’s Pop Symphonic | Friday | 7:30 p.m.

Bandleader and composer Perrico, leader of the Raiders house band, assembles 68 local musicians and singers to play classic rock, R&B, and Latin. [The Smith Center; $29-$69]

🤯 ‘Everyone Loves Dick’ | Friday-Saturday | 7:30 p.m.

The latest bonkers theatrical extravaganza by Ernest Hemmings concerns the wild life and times of car salesman Dick Ripper. [Vegas Theatre Company, Arts District; $17-$35]

A Nearby Flashpoint in the Clean Energy Wars

Last week, conservation groups filed a lawsuit to stop exploratory drilling for lithium super close to Ash Meadows — home to the highest concentration of endemic species in the U.S. But mining advocates say that not only is the operation safe, it’s crucial to our clean-energy future. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Review-Journal environment reporter Colton Lochhead, whose recent feature on Ash Meadows examines this growing tension.