🎰 A casino built out of spite?

🎰 M Resort Faces Competition

The “M” in M Resort stands for Anthony Marnell, who’s no longer involved, but wants to build a new resort across the street. Call it competition. Call it spite. But it has the potential to not only block the M Resort’s Strip views, but also effectively create a new Henderson casino district — especially since the opening of the M Resort’s second tower was moved up to December. [Casino.org]

• In the above paragraph, we linked to a story by the talented Corey Levitan, who joins City Cast Las Vegas to quiz our cohosts on entertainment myths in Las Vegas. No topic is off limits: magicians, residencies, and even rumors about a transgender headliner. Listen in and play along. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🚄 Costs Mount for High-Speed Rail

How’s work going on the high-speed rail project between Vegas and Southern California? Well, the price of labor and material costs are going up, prompting the company behind it, Brightline West, to seek cash via borrowing and an equity sale. A financing plan is expected next month. Brightline now pegs the completion date at December 2028, missing its initial promised deadline of being ready by the Summer Olympics in L.A. [Bloomberg]

✈️ Spirit Hits the Brakes on Vegas Routes

What do Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boise, Chattanooga, Columbia, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, and San Jose all have in common? Well, the ones in bold have City Cast newsletters and podcasts of their own. But all of ‘em will no longer have service to and from Las Vegas on Spirit airlines. [KLAS]

⚖️ Charges Dropped Against Trump Protestors

Remember the Downtown demonstrations against President Trump in June, when more than 100 people were arrested? Most are now off the hook. The city attorney has declined to prosecute 90 of those protestors, renewing questions about police going too far in enforcement. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

We love our readers — especially those with fierce opinions.

💀 Let’s start with feedback on our City Cast Las Vegas episode asking a simple question: Is Vegas dead?

36 million visitors a year is hardly dead.

— Bob D./@ricosua12577422

So much fear mongering online. Us workers know it has been busy as ever.

— @Chaser_______

💰 Readers also weighed in on CCSD’s claim that pay raises are responsible for dramatically reducing teacher vacancies.

They are keeping teachers because they got rid of positions and increased class size. Nothing to do with pay at all. I've been teaching for 20 years.

— Craig B.

I was a substitute teacher. They wanted us to take continuing classes. Why? A substitute is for one day. Why should I take classes when I need a job to pay my bills? I was doing this as a side hustle. The pay is the same as a security guard, who doesn’t have to take classes and can just stand there.

— Joanne Z.

🎰 We also got a good response to our story about other cities beating Vegas at its own game — with additional suggestions.

I personally like Gulfport, Mississippi. The Island View/Beach View Casino is next to the ocean with white sandy beaches! They offer free slot tournaments, hot seats giving $250 in slot play every 20 minutes, and kiosk games during any three nights I stay there! They have live bands on weekends, six restaurants, a frozen daiquiri bar, and free shuttle to and from the airport.

— Debbie S.

We visited New Orleans and stayed in the French Quarter. The hotels are reasonable, the food is amazing, and people party on the streets almost every night, reminding me of Fremont Street. Meals and alcohol are much less expensive than Vegas. There's so much to do and see along the river. There's even a Caesars casino in the center of town.

— Bill P.

Have some thoughts to share? Let us know 📬

This colorful collection of hand-blown glass hides in plain sight on the Strip.

Where is it?

A. Caesars Palace

B. Circus Circus

C. Bellagio

D. Sahara

Click here to play along and find out where the photo was taken.