Plus, free burgers this weekend ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Thursday, July 2 

Your Daily Guide

🌭 🍔 When it comes to July 4th, there are two types of people …

Those who love hot dogs and those who love hamburgers 👀

If you’re the former, head to New York-New York for a Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest by the Brooklyn Bridge at 4 p.m. Admission is free and snacks are $2.50. If you’re the latter, show up at the Planet 13 cannabis superstore for free burgers from 4:20 to 6:20 p.m.

Either way, see some fireworks later that night and read our Keep It Local newsletter, which arrives in your inbox later this afternoon with an Americana theme this week 🇺🇲

Display ad for Your City Could be Better: A new weekly podcast from City Cast.

What Las Vegas's Talking About

💰 Get Out of Jail Card Is a Half-Mil

A judge set bail at $500,000 for Allison Howlett, who was taken into custody at the Sunset Station parking garage with more than 20 firearms in her car, including a MP5-style machine gun in the back seat. She’s suspected of plotting a mass shooting, possibly inside the casino. [KSNV]

  • City Cast Las Vegas discusses the case and how Howlett’s former spouse led police to the suspect in today’s news roundup. The team also talks about the rising heat and why Vegas was ranked high in a new list of best U.S. cities. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
PODCAST

Casino Shooting Plot Foiled? Plus, the Battle to Beat the Heat and New Praise for Vegas

💸 Nevada One of the Worst States for Cybercrime

Cybercrime losses added up to more than $302 million for Nevadans in 2025 — a spike of seven times over the previous five years. The numbers are driven by investment fraud (often involving cryptocurrency) and hacked business accounts. Change your password. [KLAS]

🤔 Will SoCal Hot Dogs Stick Around?

We try to avoid overusing the word “iconic,” but that’s how Californians view Hot Dog on a Stick, which got its start in Santa Monica back in 1946. The Vegas company behind Siegel Suites and Pinkbox bought the brand for $8 million, and plans to open a location at the Plaza casino near Fremont Street. (Will Las Vegans bite?) The Plaza has been revamping its food options of late, replacing the underappreciated Pop Up Pizza with a Five Guys 👎 [Vital Vegas]

🏀 NBA Tournament Breaks Up with Vegas

In official confirmation of news we already knew, the NBA Cup is leaving Las Vegas after the first three years of the in-season tournament were played at the T-Mobile Arena. The 2026 edition will be held in the much smaller (but more historic) Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. [Associated Press]

A tow truck assisting a car on the side of the road.

72.2 Million Travelers. One Life-Saving Reminder.

As Nevadans hit the road this Fourth of July, AAA reminds everyone to look out for those on the shoulder. If you see a stopped vehicle, Slow Down. Move Over. Save Lives.

LEARN MORE

Your Las Vegas News Quiz

People gather around a tree with neon lights for leaves at AREA15.

What’s new? (AREA15)

😃 Hey, news junkies!

I know, I know … We skipped the City Cast Las Vegas news quiz last week, but it’s back, better than ever, and a day earlier since we’re off for the holiday tomorrow ‼️ As always, the questions are based on stories featured in the newsletter over the past week. Have you been paying attention?

Here’s the first question to get you started:

Which new attraction opens at AREA15 this weekend?

A.The Museum of Ice Cream

B.The Museum of Pizza

C. The world’s largest Wahlburgers

D. The Gallery of Macaroni Art

Take the News Quiz!

Neighborhood Shoutouts

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

📣 Amy M. has high praise for Peace, Love, and Sew in Downtown. “They offer sewing classes and workshops for all abilities,” she says. “You can bring your own sewing machine or use one of theirs. You leave with a completed project!”

📣 Stacey M. calls Carolina's Mexican Kitchen “the best Mexican food in the Northwest Valley and maybe the whole city!”

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

Become a Member!

What To Do

Thursday, July 2

Friday, July 3

More Las Vegas Events

🧨 We’re taking tomorrow off to kick off the holiday weekend early.

Have an amazing weekend — and check out the latest episode of Your City Could Be Better by City Cast, which drops tomorrow and covers the trivia events boom sweeping the nation 🤓

We’ll see you again Monday.

— Rob Kachelriess

Thanks to Layla Muhammad and Jacob Solis for this week’s newsletter edits!

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