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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.
JOLEEN: Happy Monday, you beautiful, sun-drenched assholes. It's April 6, 2026, and you're listening to Happening in Henderson, the only podcast that actually admits this city is just a giant suburb with a serious gambling addiction and even better school zones. I'm Joleen, and I'm currently caffeinated enough to fight a coyote.
MARK: Please don't fight the local wildlife, Joleen. The city's liability insurance is high enough as it is. I'm Mark. I'm composed, I'm slightly annoyed by the 85-degree weather already, and I'm here to tell you what's actually going on while you're stuck in the Stephanie Street traffic. We've got a lot of shit to get through today, from the legal Hunger Games for a new judgeship to the reality that your three-year-old might have a better social life than you this weekend.
JOLEEN: God, I hope so. If you're new here, welcome to the network. You can find us at henderson@thehappeningnetwork.com if you want to complain about my attitude or Mark's lack of one. Like, subscribe, and comment because the algorithm demands blood and we'd prefer it not be ours. Now, let's get into these headlines before I lose my mind.
MARK: We're starting with the judicial race that's suddenly looking like a crowded elevator. Four candidates have officially entered the primary for the newly established Henderson Justice Court, Department 4. We've got Michael Allmon, an assistant city attorney, a deputy DA, and a pro tempore justice all vying for the seat. It's basically a Battle Royale for people who wear robes and love bureaucracy.
JOLEEN: It's hilarious because they created this department just to handle the massive caseload growth. Apparently, we're suing each other so much we needed a whole new building for it. I love that Michael Allmon is in there. He's been around forever. It's like the Avengers of local law, but instead of saving the world, they're arguing about whether your neighbor's fence is six inches too high. Thrilling stuff, really.
MARK: It's necessary, though. Justice delayed is justice denied, or whatever the cliché is. In other news, PDS Health Medical, which is a major player in our local tech and healthcare sector, just named Brett Bingham as their new President today. They're based right here in Henderson and they're pushing this whole 'oral health is overall health' thing. Which makes sense. If your teeth are falling out, you're probably not having a great week.
JOLEEN: I'm just glad someone is hiring. Every time I look at the news, it's either a new CEO or another construction project. Speaking of things falling apart, let's talk crime. The latest stats came out on April 1st, and despite what your paranoid Nextdoor neighbor says, homicides and burglaries are actually down significantly from 2025. Homicides hit a record low last year.
MARK: That's the good news. The bad news is that residential robberies are seeing what the police call a 'slight uptick'. Basically, stop leaving your garage door open like an invitation. Also, the police are still dealing with those dickhead kids on e-bikes. They arrested three juveniles recently for tearing up a golf course. I don't know who needs to hear this, but your 14-year-old shouldn't be doing donuts on a putting green at 2 A.M.
JOLEEN: But Mark, it's 'self-expression'. If self-expression means being a little bitch and ruining a perfectly good fairway, then mission accomplished. It's honestly impressive how much trouble a kid with a battery-powered bike can cause. But hey, crime is down overall! We're still the second safest city in the world, or whatever the latest plaque says. I'll take a few e-bike hooligans over a residential robbery any day of the week.
MARK: Moving on to schools, because if you have kids in the Clark County School District, you're probably already drinking. Tonight, there's a major 'Building Brighter Futures' forum at Coronado High School. They're talking about the multi-billion-dollar facility plan. This isn't just about painting walls. They're looking at closing some schools, converting others to K-8, and shifting magnet programs around. If you care about where your kid goes next year, you should probably show up and yell at someone.
JOLEEN: Oh, they'll yell. Henderson parents are professionals at that. The whole K-8 thing is interesting, though. It's like they've realized that middle school is a nightmare and they're trying to keep the kids in elementary school as long as possible to delay the inevitable trauma. I get it. I'd do the same if I could. On a brighter note, 32 CCSD schools just got 'Purple Star' designations for being military-friendly. Bob Miller Middle and Vanderburg Elementary made the list.
MARK: It's a great program. It helps military families transition. Since we've got a lot of service members in Henderson, it's actually meaningful. But back to the Coronado meeting--the district is trying to 'rightsize'. That's corporate speak for 'we've got empty buildings in some places and overcrowded ones in others'. It's a logistics puzzle designed by someone who clearly hates sleep.
JOLEEN: Speaking of things that make me happy, let's talk about food. I finally went to Hayworth Kitchen over on Horizon Ridge and Stephanie. You know, Chef Alex Reznik's place? He was on Top Chef. The man knows what he's doing with a piece of meat. It's a steakhouse, but it doesn't feel like those stuffy places on the Strip where you have to wear a tie to eat a potato.
MARK: I've heard the 'Cowboy Steak' is the star of the show. And they do these homemade chips that are actually dangerous. I'm pretty sure I could eat a pound of them before the main course even arrives. It's nice to have a high-end spot in that part of town that isn't a chain. Reznik says it's a 'love story through food,' which sounds a bit dramatic for a steakhouse, but the man can cook, so I'll allow it.
JOLEEN: It's fantastic. And they actually have a real kids' menu. Not just frozen nuggets and soggy fries. They're trying to expand the pallets of the local youth, which is a noble, if impossible, goal. If your kid eats a Jadori chicken with paprikash sauce, they're officially more sophisticated than me. It's definitely a win for the Henderson dining scene, even if my bank account disagrees.
MARK: Well, you can work off the steak by watching some hockey. The Golden Knights are on a massive road trip right now. They're off tonight, but tomorrow they're in Vancouver, then Seattle on Thursday, and Colorado on Saturday. This is the final push for the playoffs. Tortorella has them playing this weird, aggressive style that's either going to win them the Cup or result in everyone getting suspended. It's great TV.
JOLEEN: I'm just here for the chaos. Meanwhile, the Silver Knights are back home later this week. They play San Jose on Friday and Saturday at Lee's Family Forum. Tickets are like 30 bucks. If you haven't been to a game there yet, you're missing out. It's loud, it's intimate, and you don't have to deal with the absolute nightmare that is parking at T-Mobile Arena. Plus, seeing the Barracuda lose is always a good time.
MARK: Agreed. Hockey in Henderson just hits different. Now, let's talk about your weekend plans, because apparently, we're all going to prom. The 'Preschool Prom' is happening this Friday, April 10th. It's exactly what it sounds like. Toddlers in formal wear. It's either the cutest thing ever or a sign of the impending apocalypse. I can't decide.
JOLEEN: It's the apocalypse, Mark. Definitely. Can you imagine the drama? 'He didn't share his juice box at the after-party!' It's at 5:30 P.M. at the Heritage Park Senior Facility, which is a hilarious place to hold a toddler prom. Then on Saturday, we've got the 'Upscale Craft Sale' and 'Henderson Shines'. If you're into overpriced candles and community clean-up, that's your day.
MARK: Don't forget the culture! Shakespeare's 'Henry V' is being performed at Water Street Plaza on Saturday night. It's free. So you can pretend to be sophisticated for a few hours before you go back to watching reality TV. It's actually a great venue for it. There's also a VGK watch party there at 5:00 P.M. for the Colorado game. It's basically a full day of community spirit whether you like it or not.
JOLEEN: I'll stick to the craft sale. I need more things to put on my shelves that I'll never use. Let's check the weather, because it's getting weird. Today and tomorrow we're looking at highs in the upper 80s. Wednesday might even hit 90. It's April! This is too much. I'm not ready to sweat through my shirt while walking to my car. But then, of course, because nature hates us, it's going to rain on Saturday.
MARK: Yeah, it's going to drop to 77 degrees on Saturday with light rain showers. So your Shakespeare play might be a little damp. It's classic desert spring behavior. We get a week of summer, then a day of Seattle, then back to being a blast furnace. Just keep an eye on the forecast if you're planning on being outdoors for those watch parties or clean-up events.
JOLEEN: It's fine. I'll just stay inside and curse the construction crews. Speaking of which, the I-215 widening project is currently making the Stephanie Street area a circle of hell. They're doing nightly ramp closures from 9 P.M. to 6 A.M. Specifically, the eastbound off-ramp to Green Valley Parkway is closed tonight. If you miss that exit, you're basically on a guided tour of the entire valley before you can turn around.
MARK: The Stephanie Street project is also kicking off. It's a 23-million-dollar mess to fix the road because it's basically been held together by spit and prayer for the last five years. And don't forget the 'temporary diverter' on Mohawk Drive that started last week. They're trying to stop people from using it as a cut-through. It's a 60-day test, so if you usually take that shortcut, you're officially screwed for the next two months.
JOLEEN: I love how the city's solution to traffic is always 'let's just close this road and see what happens.' It's bold. It's stupid. It's very Henderson. Also, they're still doing that light study on the I-215 because everyone complained the new LEDs are blinding. They're saying we might get shields in late 2026. So only another few months of being temporarily blinded every time you drive home at night. No big deal.
MARK: Technology is great until it's pointed at your retinas. Finally, let's look at the real estate market. The median home price for March just came in at around 542,000 dollars. It's actually a buyer's market right now, believe it or not. Inventory is up and homes are sitting on the market for an average of 61 days. Last year it was 40. People are actually having to negotiate. What a concept.
JOLEEN: It's about damn time. Although, if you're looking for luxury, the 2-to-3-million-dollar range in MacDonald Highlands is still moving fast. Apparently, people with that kind of money don't care about interest rates or the price of eggs. For the rest of us, it's just a waiting game to see if the market actually cools off or if we're all just going to live in our cars on Boulder Highway.
MARK: I think we'll stick to the houses for now. Boulder Highway is getting that massive transit makeover anyway, so you wouldn't even be able to park there. That's our show for today. We've covered the judges, the schools, the steaks, and the toddlers in tuxedos. What a time to be alive in Henderson.
JOLEEN: It's a beautiful disaster. Don't forget to reach out to us at henderson@thehappeningnetwork.com. Tell us your favorite place to eat or which construction cone you've named after your ex. We'll be back later this week to see if Mark has finally fought that coyote. Stay safe, you dicks.