Vegas TMI Podcast

Hear from two key staff members from the UNLV School of Nursing about the nursing shortage, what is being done to fix the nursing shortage, the education required for nursing and much more. Learn more about the Las Vegas Medical District: lasvegasmedicaldistrict.com

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is a shortage of rental homes affordable and available in Nevada for households whose incomes are at or below the poverty guideline; there are only 20 affordable and available rentals for every 100 extremely low-income renter household in Nevada. The data shows that there is a deficit of more than 100,000 affordable and available rental units in Southern Nevada. The Nevada Housing Coalition was created to develop strategies and goals to address the state’s affordable housing shortfall through community action and policy changes. We are joined by the Coalition’s Executive Director Christine Hess and board member Patrick Petrie from our very own city of Las Vegas Office of Community Services team.

On Aug. 16, 2021 the federal government, prompted by the low water levels in Lake Mead, issued a water shortage declaration on the Colorado River. In January 2022, Southern Nevada’s water allocation was reduced by 7 billion gallons, enough water to serve 45,000 homes This #WorldWaterDay we spoke with the Southern Nevada Water Authority about the community's allocation & conservation efforts. Learn more: https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/News/Blog/Detail/lake-mead-water-shortage

People sometimes wonder if there is a homeless problem in Las Vegas. Like most communities there is but in this conversation on Twitter Spaces we hear from the city's Community Services Director and The Salvation Army on the many programs and services available to help the homeless like a homeless recuperative center, the new improved Homeless Courtyard, feeding and clothing the homeless, the MORE Outreach program , the Salvation Army and more. Learn more at lasvegasnevada.gov/homeless

The pandemic has continued to challenge how our children are being educated. However, community partnerships have emerged as a bright spot and helped transform these challenges into manageable circumstances for many students. We’re discussing how our community partners are all working to support students.

There are estimated to be more than 24.9 million people, adults and children, subjected to human trafficking around the world, including the United States. Sadly, Nevada ranks ninth in the nation for human trafficking. Many organizations in the community are working daily to support individuals who have been impacted by this issue, often on a 24/7 basis to meet the myriad needs of clients.

As we approach the end of 2021,we mark a tragic milestone - the deadliest year on our roadways in a decade. There has been a 24% increase in fatal accidents this year. We are joined by two experts in the traffic safety field to talk about the state of roadway safety and what more can be done to prevent this tragic loss of lives. Guests: Joey Paskey, Deputy Director/Transportation Manage, city of Las Vegas Public Works department Andrew Bennett, the public information officer for the Office of Traffic Safety and Zero Fatalities initiative for the state of Nevada.

Today, the Fremont Street Experience drives 24 million visitors annually to downtown Las Vegas and covers five city blocks with direct access to eight downtown hotel-casinos. However, when the space opened in December 1995, no one was quite sure how everything would turn out. We’re joined by experts to talk about how the Fremont Street Experience changed the tourism experience in Las Vegas when it opened and, 26 years later, has only continued to do so. Guests: Andrew Simon, Chief Executive...

By 2050, it is projected that Las Vegas’ population will grow by 300,000 people! As you can imagine, this is expected to put a strain on our already limited resources. For example, water, which is already dealing with a shortage from the due to climate change affecting the Colorado River. But anticipating these factors, we decided to be proactive, and this has put us ahead of the curve in ensuring our city and our residents continue to flourish. Thanks to the U.S. Green Building Council’s...

When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine -- experts say it is safe, effective, and free, but it's also a hot-button issue because some folks aren't on board. And when you mention the vaccine and kids, well, that creates even more of a mixed bag of reactions and emotions. Experts join us to talk about everything you need to know about the FDA and CDC-approved Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5-11. JoAnn Rupiper -- Chief Administrative Nurse at the Southern Nevada Health District Rebecca Dirks Garcia...

On Aug. 16, 2021 the federal government, prompted by the low water levels in Lake Mead, issued a water shortage declaration on the Colorado River. The shortage will reduce the amount of water Southern Nevada will be allowed to withdraw from Lake Mead beginning in January 2022. The good news is that thanks to the strong water conservation efforts Southern Nevada has achieved over the last 25 years, the shortage declaration will have little impact initially. Our area already uses less water...

Welcome to our short-form series - What The? We answer over 96,000 questions every year on social media. That’s a lot. This short-form series will tackle some of our most frequently asked questions or interesting topics that don’t need a full podcast. Episode 13 deals with the little-known history of Las Vegas divorce ranches. Today Las Vegas is one of the marriage capitals of the world, but during the Great Depression Vegas tourism got a boost from divorces. Some divorce ranches still exist...

Welcome to our short-form series - What The? We answer over 96,000 questions every year on social media. That’s a lot. This short-form series will tackle some of our most frequently asked questions or interesting topics that don’t need a full podcast. Episode 12 deals with the Covid-19 Coronavirus affecting everyone right now. Nonessential businesses are closed, but what businesses are nonessential? How can I find help? How can I help others and still maintain social distancing? Listen and...

Welcome to episode 26 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In this episode, we talk about the new homeless ordinance approved by the city council on Nov. 6. City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman sits down with the Director of Community Services Kathi Thomas Gibson and Veterans Community Advisory Board member Nina Ridgeway. They discuss and clear up misconceptions about the new ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor to camp or sleep in the public...

Welcome to episode 25 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In this episode, we talk about the new parks being built and renovated and recreation programs coming soon. City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman sits down with new Director of Parks and Recreation Greg A. Weitzel. Weitzel holds more than 20 years’ experience in the urban parks and recreation administration field. Most recently he served as the Department Director of two of the largest parks and...

Welcome to episode 24 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In this episode, we talk about the current state and future of transportation in southern Nevada. How will the city and transportation-related agencies deal with the explosive growth of the Las Vegas valley and prepare for a technology enhanced future? City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman sits down with Mike Janssen, the city’s Director of Public Works; Kristina Swallow, Director of the Nevada...

Welcome to episode 23 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In this episode, we talk about the growing and ever-changing landscape of professional sports in Las Vegas. The city is fast becoming a professional sports destination due to the influx of new teams and new stadiums. City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman sits down with Las Vegas Lights FC Owner Brett Lashbrook and Tom Warden, senior vice president of community and government relations of the Howard...

Welcome to episode 22 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In 2017, just months after recreational marijuana was legalized in Nevada, we chatted with guests from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Yes on Question 2 campaign to discuss what would happen next. A lot has changed in two years. In this episode, we talk about what has happened and new things on the horizon like marijuana consumption lounges. City of Las Vegas Communications Director David Riggleman...

Welcome to our new series - What The? We answer over 96,000 questions every year on social media. That’s a lot. This short-form series will tackle some of our most frequently asked questions. In Episode 11, we wonder what is a trigono? Why are we naming a new park after it? We also talk about film permits. When do you need a film permit? How much do they cost? Listen and find out. Learn more about Trigono Hills:...

Welcome to episode 21 of VegasTMI- the official city of Las Vegas podcast. In this episode we talk about the new Master Plan being developed for the city. Cities in Nevada are required to develop a master plan to guide future decisions about their physical development. Master plans identify current issues and needs in the community, and set forth goals, policies and actions to address issues. They also contain specific functional areas that address many different and complex aspects of urban...