City Cast Las Vegas
🤝 Teachers, school district have a deal
December 21, 2023
It’s Thursday, Dec. 21 — our time to shine, last-minute shoppers! If you’re a fellow citizen of procrastination nation, I’ll see you in the trenches this weekend. Say hello, but keep your hands off that last good gift on the shelf!
What's CITY Talking About?
🤝 Teachers, CCSD Reach a Deal
Whomp, there it is: A sudden, arbitrated agreement between the Clark County School District and the teachers union that resolves months of bitter negotiations in historic fashion. Teachers will receive an 18% pay hike over the next two years, plus an array of possible bonuses. You'll recall the lowlights of the negotiating process: allegations of union-organized "sickouts," calls for Superintendent Jesus Jara to resign. [Nevada Independent]
🐕 Gimme Shelter
After years of turmoil and allegations of mismanagement and poor animal care on the part of The Animal Foundation, the city has approved a proposal to buy the Lied animal shelter and oversee its operations. The foundation will continue to manage the shelter until its contract expires in February 2025. [KTNV]
🏡 Airbnb’s AI Buzzkill
To clamp down on major ragers in short-term rental houses this New Year's weekend, Airbnb plans to use AI tech to ferret out likely big-party bookings and block them. Such bashes have become disruptive in local neighborhoods. [Review-Journal]
- Related: Short-term rental owners battle county regs. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
🍽️ Restaurants, New and Gone
Food journalist Johnathan L. Wright lists 23 noteworthy restaurant openings this year, and laments 23 closings. [Review-Journal]
- Related: Restaurant critics John Curtas and Gemini Stevens join the podcast to celebrate the valley’s best new restaurants. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
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What To Do
Thursday, Dec. 21
- 🖼️ “¡Intermediary Fluctuations of a Post-Fluxus World!” (ongoing exhibit) | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Free | Winchester Dondero Cultural Center
- 📽️ ‘Die Hard — Is It a Holiday Movie or Not?’ (screening) | 3 p.m. | Free | Windmill Library
- 🖼️ ‘Home Sweet Home’ (exhibit reception) | 6-8 p.m. | Free | Clark County Government Center
- 🎉 Annual Witchmas Party | 6-11 p.m. | $35-$40 | The Space
Friday, Dec. 22
- 📽️ “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (screening) | 3 p.m. | Free | Windmill Library
- 🎼 “Classical Holidays” | 7 p.m. | $20 | Winchester Dondero Cultural Center
- 🎸 Caravels Reunion Show | 9 p.m. | $15 | South Maryland Parkway
Saturday, Dec. 23
- 🎄 ‘Jupiter Express Holiday Train’ | 10 a.m to 10 p.m. | $5 | Summerlin
- 📚🍫 ‘Jolabokaflod’ (books & chocolate for teens) | 2-5 p.m. | Free | Clark County Library
- 🩰 ‘The Nutcracker’ by Nevada Ballet Theatre | 2 & 7:30 p.m. | $31-$190 | Smith Center
- 🎸 ‘Vegas Chaos’ (variety show) | 7 p.m. | Free | South Maryland Parkway
- 🎭 ‘A Very Vegas Christmas Carol’ | 7 p.m. | $40 | Majestic Repertory
Today on City Cast
Best New Restaurants of the Year
This was the year that the pandemic closures began to finally feel like a hazy memory, and the frisson of new restaurant openings once again got the PR newswires buzzing. To help us cut through the noise, co-host Sarah Lohman welcomes food writers and podcasters John Curtas and Gemini Stevens, who share their picks for 2023’s best new restaurants.
Catch you tomorrow!
Scott Dickensheets
A fragrant cup of eggnog to Sonja Cho Swanson for editing this edition!
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