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Welcome to Happening in Henderson, the weekly show where hosts Mark and Joleen serve up Henderson’s news with equal parts insight, cynicism, and sharp-edged humor. From local headlines and community events to crime updates, school district drama, weather forecasts, sports highlights, and brutally honest restaurant reviews, nothing is off limits.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or new to the 890xx life, this is the place to stay informed… without falling asleep.
MARK: Welcome to another glorious Monday in our little slice of suburban purgatory, it's June 22nd, 2026, and you're listening to 'Happening in Henderson'. I'm Mark, your guide through the strip malls and the heat stroke, and joining me is Joleen, who I'm fairly certain hasn't blinked since the temperature hit triple digits last night.
JOLEEN: Listen, if I blink, I might actually miss the three seconds of shade that move across my patio each day. It's a survival tactic, Mark. But hey, it's a beautiful day to be alive in the safest city in Nevada, as long as you don't mind your car being a literal kiln by noon. We've got a lot of shit to get through today, from kids voting on ice cream like their lives depend on it to the Golden Knights playing musical chairs with their coaches again. If you're new here, buckle up, and for the love of god, like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments if you think Rainbow Sherbet is a valid life choice or a sign of a failing society.
MARK: We'll get to the dessert politics in a second, but if you want to reach out and tell us how much you hate our takes, hit us up at henderson at the happening network dot com. We love the hate mail, honestly. It's the only thing that keeps my cold, cynical heart beating. But first, let's talk about the actual adults in the room. The Henderson City Council just certified the results for the 2026 primary election. It's official. We're heading to the general election, and for the Municipal Court judge race in Department 1, it's going to be Alicia Albritton against Gary Thompson. Neither of them got the majority, so they've gotta keep campaigning through the summer heat. Poor bastards.
JOLEEN: I can't imagine anything worse than knocking on doors in a Henderson July. You'd basically be a puddle of sweat and desperation by the third house. But the real news from the election certification wasn't the judges. It was the 'Kids Vote' results. This is where the local kids got to vote for their favorite ice cream flavor. It was a bloodbath, Mark. Rainbow Sherbet got 189 votes and Cookie Dough got 181. They're both moving on to the general election. I've gotta say, I'm disgusted. Rainbow Sherbet? Who are these children? Who raised them to think frozen fruit juice and disappointment is better than literal balls of unbaked cookies?
MARK: It's the youth of today, Joleen. They're clearly being radicalized by Big Citrus. But honestly, it's the most high-stakes election we've seen in years. I'm just glad we're focusing on the issues that matter. Speaking of things that matter, the Vegas Golden Knights have decided that having a head coach is apparently a short-term gig. Ryan Craig is the new man behind the bench. He's replacing John Tortorella, who was only around for, what, eight games? He led them to the Stanley Cup Final, lost to Carolina, and now he's out. It's like the Knights treat coaches like disposable vapes.
JOLEEN: Tortorella probably realized he couldn't survive another summer here without his skin melting off and decided to bounce. But Ryan Craig's a local favorite. He spent the last three seasons coaching the Henderson Silver Knights right here. He's been in the organization for nine years. He's a 'day-one misfit'. Everyone's acting like he's the chosen one, but he's got zero NHL head coaching experience. It's a bold move, or a desperate one, depending on if you've had your coffee yet. McCrimmon basically said he's known Craig since he was fifteen. It's the ultimate 'I know a guy' hire.
MARK: It's pure Vegas. Why look for the best candidate when you can just promote the guy who knows where the bodies are buried in the Silver Knights' locker room? I'm sure he'll be fine until he loses three games in a row and we start the 'Fire Craig' hashtags. Moving on to the less fun stuff, we've got some crime to report. There was a nasty crash this morning near Sunset and Pecos. Two drivers were hospitalized. It happened right in the middle of the morning rush, so I'm sure everyone's commute was a complete shitshow.
JOLEEN: That intersection is cursed, Mark. I don't care what the city planners say. And speaking of people who should know better, a Las Vegas Metro officer was arrested this past Saturday. Domestic violence and assault charges. It's always great when the people meant to protect us are the ones making the headlines for the wrong reasons. The department shared the news, and he's been booked into the Clark County Detention Center. Just another day in paradise, right? We've also had a police pursuit end with a PIT maneuver on Nellis Boulevard yesterday. Three people in custody. It's like a live-action 'Grand Theft Auto' out there lately.
MARK: It's the heat, Joleen. It makes people's brains leak out of their ears. Everyone's on edge. But hey, let's talk about the schools. Clark County School District is doing its annual 'let's scare the teachers' routine. There's this opinion piece by a teacher named Ira Jason Kahn that's been making the rounds. He was named 'Teacher of the Month' and then, two months later, he was 'surplused'. That's district-speak for 'you're probably fired because we can't manage a budget'. They marked 62 employees for reductions in force, but then they walked most of it back. Only six people actually lost their jobs.
JOLEEN: Only six? That's still six people who are probably wondering how they're gonna pay for their overpriced AC this month. The district's like that toxic ex who tells you they're leaving just to see if you'll cry, then stays anyway. Kahn ended up getting a job teaching drama at Jo Mackey Academy, so good for him, I guess. But it's just such a mess. On the bright side, the district claims that student safety perceptions are up to 83 percent. They attribute it to the single point of entry at middle and high schools. Basically, they've turned the schools into low-security prisons, and the kids feel 'connected'. Whatever helps them sleep at night, I suppose.
MARK: If I were a student, I wouldn't feel safe unless they had a cooling system that actually worked. But let's shift gears to something that won't make us depressed. Let's talk food. We went over to Water Street to check out MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill and Pub. Now, I know it's a chain, but in the desert of fine dining that is downtown Henderson, it's like a mirage that actually serves beer. I saw a review from last week calling it 'Slice on the Ice' because they've got all the hockey games on. It's the kind of place where you can eat your weight in carbs while watching the Silver Knights' legacy get dismantled.
JOLEEN: I went there for their 'Rod and Reel' lunch combo. It's about fourteen bucks, and you get half a sandwich and some 'lodgepoles'. Which is just a fancy name for cheesy bread sticks, but I'm a sucker for marketing. Honestly, the turkey and avocado sandwich was decent, but let's be real, you're going there for the air conditioning and the fact that they don't judge you for ordering a second pint at 1 PM on a Tuesday. It's a solid 'I don't want to cook and my house is too hot' option. Plus, it's right in the middle of all the construction, so you can watch the road crews suffer while you sit in the breeze.
MARK: The construction on Boulder Highway is the gift that keeps on giving. Or the curse that keeps on taking. They just hit a 'major safety milestone' by turning on 400 new streetlights along that seven-and-a-half-mile stretch. It's part of the 'Reimagine Boulder Highway' project that's supposed to wrap up in 2027. So, only another year of lane closures and orange cones. They're telling everyone to use the Waze app, which is basically the city's way of saying, 'We've fucked up the traffic so bad you need a satellite to find your way to the grocery store'.
JOLEEN: I saw that Rolly Street was closed for a while too. It's just a constant rotation of closures. They're building these 'center-running transit lanes' for buses. Because nothing says 'revitalization' like a bus lane that nobody's gonna use because it's too hot to walk to the bus stop. But hey, at least we have 400 more lights to see the potholes. It's progress, Mark. Expensive, slow, soul-crushing progress. And it's not just the roads that are a nightmare. Let's look at the real estate market. The median price in Henderson is sitting at about 543,490 dollars right now. That's up from last year, but homes are sitting on the market for about 60 days. That's a 20-day jump from 2025.
MARK: It's 'The Great Housing Reset'. That's the buzzword the realtors are using to make 'nobody can afford anything' sound like a positive economic shift. Inventory is up about eight percent, but interest rates are still hovering around six-and-a-half percent. So, unless you're a tech bro from Seattle with a suitcase full of cash, you're probably staying in your rental and praying the landlord doesn't hike the price again. It's a seller's market, technically, but only if your house is perfect. If you've got dated carpet or a leaky pool, good luck. You'll be sitting on that listing until the next ice age.
JOLEEN: Which won't be anytime soon, considering the weather. Let's get into the forecast, because it's basically an invitation to stay inside and contemplate your life choices. Today, we're looking at a high of 106. That's the 'cool' day, by the way. Tomorrow, Tuesday, it's hitting 110. One. Hundred. And. Ten. That is 'why does anyone live here' territory. We've got gusts up to 22 miles per hour, so it'll be like standing in front of a giant hair dryer set to 'incinerate'.
MARK: But wait, there's a twist. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, we've actually got a 40 percent chance of rain showers and thunderstorms. It's that classic desert monsoon tease where it rains just enough to turn the dust on your car into a layer of mud, but not enough to actually cool anything down. Wednesday's high is 107. Thursday is 108. It's not until Sunday that we see a 'cold front' bring us down to 97. I'm already planning my celebration for when it finally drops below triple digits. I might actually wear a long-sleeved shirt for five minutes.
JOLEEN: Good luck with that. You'll probably just pass out from the humidity. But hey, if you're brave enough to go outside, there are things happening. This Wednesday, June 24th, we've got Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience at Water Street Plaza at 7 PM. If you like accordion music and heat-induced hallucinations, that's your spot. And for the parents out there, Friday is 'Rec the Night' at Valley View Rec Center. It's six to nine PM, ten bucks for kids eight to seventeen. They get pizza, drinks, and a place to hang out that isn't their bedroom. It's a drop-off event, which means you can finally go have a drink in peace while your kids are supervised by someone else.
MARK: It's the best ten dollars you'll ever spend. Just to have three hours without hearing 'I'm bored'. Also, Thursday is the 'World's Largest Swim Lesson' at the local pools. It's a global thing to promote water safety. Henderson's participating at 10 AM. It's free, but you've gotta register. If you haven't taught your kid how to not drown yet, this is your chance. Don't be that parent. And for the weekend, if you're looking to escape the suburbs, there's a 'Salute to Broadway' fan convention at Lake Las Vegas on Saturday and Sunday. Lea Salonga and a bunch of other Broadway legends are gonna be there. It's like a nerd convention but with more jazz hands.
JOLEEN: I'm more interested in the Plaza fireworks in downtown Vegas on Friday night. They do them every Friday at 9:10 PM. It's a bit of a drive, but hey, free explosions. And Rosalia is playing at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. That's gonna be a massive show. But honestly, I'll probably just be at the Henderson Farmers Market on Thursday morning, trying to buy some heirloom tomatoes before they turn into sundried tomatoes right on the vine. It's a struggle out here, Mark. The sun is an asshole.
MARK: The sun is definitely a dickhead this week. But we've gotta wrap this up before my laptop melts. Before we go, we've gotta give a shoutout to the Las Vegas Aces. They absolutely crushed the Golden State Valkyries yesterday, 92 to 73. Jackie Young had 21 points and A'ja Wilson had 19. A'ja's also been named the next Wheaties Box champion. It's about time. She's basically the only thing in this valley that's consistently winning right now. The Valkyries didn't stand a chance. It was a 21 to 2 run at one point. Pure dominance.
JOLEEN: I love to see it. The Aces are the only reason to stay a sports fan in this town when the Knights are firing coaches left and right. And hey, don't forget 'Battle 4 Vegas' is coming up this Saturday, June 27th, at the Las Vegas Ballpark. It's the annual charity softball game with Knights and Raiders stars. It's always a good time, and it raises a ton of money for local nonprofits. Just make sure you bring enough water to fill a small swimming pool if you're going to sit in those stands.
MARK: Or just stay home and listen to us. It's safer. That's all we've got for this week, folks. We'll be back next Monday to see if the city has burned down or if Ryan Craig has already been replaced by a sentient hockey puck. Remember to like, subscribe, and leave a comment. Tell us your worst construction horror story or your favorite ice cream flavor. We really want to know if the Cookie Dough camp can overtake the Sherbet heathens. You can also email us at henderson at the happening network dot com. Stay cool, Henderson. Or at least try not to catch on fire.
JOLEEN: Peace out, dickheads. See you next week. Don't forget to hydrate, and for the love of everything holy, stay out of the sun on Tuesday. 110 degrees is not a joke. It's a threat. Bye!