🤥 Poker-playing cancer liar fesses up

🤥 Lyin’ King

Colon cancer is a terrible disease — unless you don’t actually have it. Meet Californian Rob Mercer, who claimed he had cancer in a GoFundMe campaign, then used the proceeds to enter the World Series of Poker in Vegas. “What I did was wrong,” he admits. But there’s only so repentant a guy can be. From the story: “He said he has no plans to repay the money since he believes he has undiagnosed breast cancer.” [Review-Journal]

💵 It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas

Those of us still stung by summer’s surprisingly high power bills at least have something to look forward to: higher gas bills. Southwest Gas is seeking its largest increase ever, which, if approved, would raise local household bills by about $6. [Nevada Current]

🎒 Student Behaviors

As CCSD’s impasse with teachers grinds on, students are taking up the union’s cause. At high schools like Basic and Clark, kids have staged walkouts in support. “If we want our students to do well,” said one Clark junior, “teachers have to do well, too.” Less well-behaved, however, were students at Las Vegas High this week: School police needed pepper spray to bust up a large group of fighting kids. [KTNV, KLAS]

🤜 🎨 🤛 Art Battle | Tonight | 7:30-11:30 p.m.

A three-round showdown as artists go easel-to-easel in a competitive paint-off. [Square Bar, New Orleans Square; $12-$15]

💥 ‘Dog Explosion’ | Today-Saturday | Various times

A rural family struggles with life changes in this comedy-drama by Las Vegas-based playwright Sean Clark. [Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, McLeod and Desert Inn; $15]

🍝 San Gennaro Feast | Today-Sunday | Various times

An Italian food and culture festival — music, arts, rides, games, vendors, and more. [The M Resort, Henderson; $17.99]

🪰 ‘Lord of the Flies’ | Today-Sunday | Various times

This enduring story of power and survival is presented by the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre with no age limit for attendees. [Charleston Heights Arts Center; $10]

🪴 Fall Plant Sale | Saturday | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Springs Preserve offers an array of desert plants for your landscape upgrade. [Springs Preserve, U.S. 95 and Jones; free admission]

🔨 ‘Follow Your Passion’ Trade Fair | Saturday | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pondering a career in one of the trades? Union reps and other experts will show you the opportunities. [West Las Vegas Library; free]

🎸💩Life Is Shit Festival | Saturday | 4-11:30 p.m.

A grassroots clapback at Life is Beautiful, this blast of dissident noise features bands like Elevated Undergrounds, The Bitters, Same Sex Mary, and more. [Dive Bar, University District; no cover]

• Pairs nicely with: Our podcast conversation with the festival’s organizer last year. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🎸 Dashboard Confessional | Saturday | 8 p.m.

Not all the big-name rock acts are fenced into this weekend’s $$ downtown festival. [Fremont Street Experience; free]

📚 Outcast Poetry | Sunday | 6-8:30 p.m.

Avantpop Bookstore hosts an evening of local poetry in the whimsical and charming Office of Collecting and Design. Says here, “Stylish attire encouraged.” [New Orleans Square; $28.52]

• Context: How is Las Vegas as a poetry town? [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Act Your Rage

Friday news roundup: This week, a sharknado of Twitter/X users unleashed hella fury on a Review-Journal reporter for nonexistent problems with her story about those teens who ran down a bicyclist. Also nonexistent are the trees that once grew in front of Bellagio, sacrificed to F1 — about which people are more legitimately angry. Also, Sphere will have robots! Host Dayvid Figler talks all this up with Nevada Independent reporter Tabitha Mueller and man about town Brent Holmes.