🦎🎤 Meet Vegas’ lounge lizard king

⚖️ Circumstantial?

A judge has given Duane “Keffe D” Davis — accused of orchestrating the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas — two extra weeks to work out a deal with defense attorney Ross Goodman before entering his plea. While not officially representing Davis, Goodman says he sees gaps in the prosecution: no gun, no car, no witnesses who are still alive. [Las Vegas Sun]

• Context: What we know about the Tupac murder arrest. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🩺 Strangulation Tests

Strangulation by a domestic abuser is a strong indicator of future violent escalation — but only a few states fund strangulation exams for domestic violence victims. Nevada is one. However, obstacles to full-scale testing remain, including not enough examination sites. [Nevada Current]

💸 Kids Are Expensive in Nevada!

Another list Nevada unfortunately finds itself at the top of: most expensive childcare, with an average of $493 a week. That’s well above the $325 national average. [Help Advisor]

• Also: Nevada’s not that great for children’s mental health, either. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🩰 ‘First Light’ | Today-Saturday | Various times

Season-opening concert by UNLV’s dance department, featuring choreography by faculty and artists in residence. [UNLV; $20]

🧷 Punk Rock Flea Market Weekend | Today-Sunday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vendors, food, music, and who knows what all — it’s a punk rock flea market! [Punk Rock Museum, downtown; free admission]

😮 ‘Abandon’ | Today-Sunday | 7 & 9 p.m.

This play delves into the scandalous life and times of the Marquis de Sade — not surprisingly, it is for the 17-and-over crowd. [Vegas Theatre Company, Arts District; $50-$80]

📚 Las Vegas Book Festival | Saturday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This year’s headliners include Terry McMillan, Ana Reyes, Rebecca Yarros, and Malcolm Nance. Plus dozens of local, regional, and national authors discussing. Disclosure: I’m on the committee that set up the festival and will appear on two panels, the first at 10:30 a.m., the next at 11:45 a.m. [Historic Fifth Street School, downtown; free]

🥳 Commercial Center 60th Anniversary | Saturday | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The valley’s OG strip mall and current cultural hot spot celebrates six decades with live music, art demonstrations, kiddie rides, food, and more. [Sahara and Maryland; no cover]

🇯🇵 Aki Matsuri Japanese Festival | Saturday | 11 a.m to 9 p.m.

Explore Japanese culture through live entertainment, food, vendors, and cultural demonstrations. [Henderson; free]

🎸 Dantès and More | Saturday | 5-11:30 p.m.

Rock the night away with a bill topped by the local indie band, and also including Paper Dad, sundogs, and more. All ages. [Henderson; $12-$15]

🎻 Masquerade Ball | Saturday | 5:30 p.m.

Concert of waltzes and dances by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra — complete with dance floor. [Lake Las Vegas; free]

🎹 Contemporary Jazz Ensemble | Sunday | 2 p.m.

UNLV’s critically lauded student band comes out swingin’. [Clark County Library, University District; free]

Bonus Saturday Events!

🎺 Jazz Picnic, Winchester Dondero Cultural Center

🥬 Vegas VegFest, Clark County Amphitheater

🖼️ Mark Brandvik (visual art), New Orleans Square

👻 Haunted Flea Market, Henderson

🎸 Guitarist Lee Ritenour, Smith Center

GOP Ballot Divide, Roadwork, and a Telles Update

On today’s Friday news roundup, the podcast team examines the Nevada GOP’s primary vs caucus conundrum — will anyone emerge from that scrum smelling like a winner? And speaking of no winners: Can anything be done about the downtown roadwork that’s injuring small businesses? (Support Dig It Coffee, people!) Plus, an update on the case of Robert Telles, accused murderer of journalist Jeff German. Host Dayvid Figler is joined by lead producer Sonja Cho Swanson and Nevada Current deputy editor April Corbin Girnus.