🤖 Robot security at Strip attraction

💰 A New Sports Dynasty?

Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is “interested” in rounding up investors to bid on a Vegas NBA team and is willing to finance some T-Mobile Arena upgrades to sweeten the deal, including a new wing with locker rooms and offices. Adding about 1,200 seats to fit in more fans is also possible. [KLAS]

• NBA commissioner Adam Silver says it’s too early to know if the T-Mobile Arena is a good fit for an NBA team. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]
• The NBA voted to move forward in accepting bids for a Las Vegas expansion team this week. City Cast Las Vegas has more on the vote and what it means for Las Vegans — whether a basketball fan or not — in the latest Friday news roundup. The episode also addresses the primary race among Democrats to challenge Gov. Lombardo, what’s keeping TSA lines (relatively) short at the Vegas airport, and the return of the Super Bowl. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

😕 Plaque Stolen From Ronald McDonald House

For reasons my mind can’t compute, a person used a shovel of some sort to rip out and steal a memorial plaque from the O’Bannon House, which is part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities mission to help families with children facing difficult medical care. Police shared surveillance images and are looking for tips. [KSNV]

🤖 Fake Dog Protects Fake Humans

A robotic security dog is now patrolling the halls of wax figures inside Madame Tussauds on the Strip. Yes, it barks, but gathering evidence with a built-in facial recognition camera is the main objective here. Fun fact: the dog is paid by the hour — thirty bucks — and controlled by a third-party system in Pennsylvania. [KVVU]

• Puma is debuting an “AI concierge” on the Strip that can automatically detect the language spoken by a customer and hold a conversation. (A conversation about shoes, I guess). [Retail Dive]

🍔 Vegas Out of Love with White Castle

Remember the “before times” when Las Vegas didn’t have a White Castle — and the fast food chain would draw long lines for pop-up events at food festivals? Well, curiosity and hype only go so far in the “meh” sector of the burger world. White Castle is closing its Casino Royale and Henderson locations, leaving just three in the valley, including one at the Fremont Street Experience. [Vital Vegas]

😃 Hey!

The City Cast Las Vegas news quiz is back to test how well you pay attention to me. As always, the questions are based on stories featured in the newsletter over the past week.

Here’s the first question to get you started:

What’s part of a new “all-inclusive” vacation package at either the Luxor or Excalibur?

A. Tickets to “Postcard From Earth” at the Sphere

B. Unlimited rideshare credits during the length of stay

C. Two-hour open bar at Rí Rá Irish Pub

D. A ride on the Big Apple roller coaster at New York-New York

Once again, City Cast Las Vegas Neighbors get to shout out their favorite local people, places, and things.

• 📣 Jen S. says “Suzuya Patisserie in the Southwest has the most unique Japanese desserts & drinks. Locally owned and operated too!”
• 📣 Chiara A. had a great time seeing the Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” presentation (which returns April 14) inside the Dale Etheridge Planetarium at the CSN North Las Vegas campus. “It’s truly incredible,” she says, noting there’s also “a lot of other interesting programming” and the “staff is super cool and engaged.”

Become a City Cast Neighbor to share your own shoutout in this newsletter.