School district layoffs spark protest

Formally dressed students playing trumpets, violins and guitars brought mariachi music to the air-conditioned lobby of the Greer Education Center during a break in the Clark County School Board meeting Thursday.

Environmentalists challenge BLM’s public lands plan

RENO — An environmental group says it plans to sue two federal agencies, claiming a public lands management plan adopted last year for more than 17,000 square miles in Nevada amounts to “ecological disaster” for nearly a dozen protected species.

Man held in slaying of waiter

A 28-year-old valley man with a violent past was arrested Thursday in the slaying of a waiter whose badly beaten body was found Monday morning near the Caesars Palace loading docks.

Ex-Nye County official arrested in land scheme

Former Nye County commissioner Henry Neth was arrested Thursday at his Pahrump home on embezzlement and securities fraud charges in connection with a land sale scheme.

Open meeting held on tax plan

CARSON CITY — After months of discussion of everything but, the Legislature finally started talking taxes Thursday.

Lobbyist spending rate higher

CARSON CITY — Three-quarters of the way through the 2009 Nevada Legislature, lobbyists have spent $124,858 on food and drinks at dinners, receptions and other events held to promote their clients’ interests.

Henderson police official put on leave

The head of criminalistics for the Henderson Police Department has been put on paid administrative leave pending the investigation of a personnel issue, according to the city.

Coalition seeks transparency

The Nevada Freedom of Information Coalition announced Thursday that it is asking all members of the Legislature to sign a “transparency pledge” demonstrating their commitment to open government.

No Doubt

There was a time when he and his bandmates used to scrounge around on the floors of their cars after practice, hoping to find enough change to score some 33-cent burritos from Del Taco for dinner.

‘Shear Madness’

Back in 1980, a comic mystery called “Shear Madness” was so far ahead of the interactive curve that its local producer now hesitates to even use the i-word.

Dixie’s Dam Bar offering keg service with beer-tender

Dixie’s Dam Bar at Hooters Hotel, 115 E. Tropicana Ave., has introduced keg service — sort of like bottle service, but with beer. Four beers (Budweiser, Widmer Hefeweizen, AmberBock and Michelob Ultra) are available in quarter-kegs for $200 each. The kegs fit into each of seven custom tables and provide about 60 12-ounce beers — and the service includes a beer-tender. …

Rolling with the Changes

Self-awareness: Every famous person needs it. The lack of it has destroyed Madonna’s appeal to the craven sarcasts of Generation Y. The overabundance of it helped kill Generation X’s prime icon Kurt Cobain, literally not figuratively, by heaping expectations onto his suicidal soul.

Silverton offers scratch card game; Hard Rock drawing for prizes

All this month, the Silverton is giving away scratch cards to players earning 500 Discovery Club points ($500 coin-in) on slots or $1,000 coin-in on video poker. There is no limit to the number of cards you can earn, and every card has a prize, including points, free play, food and mystery gifts. Each scratch card also has a letter, and players able to collect the cards to spell out “That’s Livin’ Lodge” will win $10,000. The casino is also is having a 7 p.m. drawing on Saturdays with 10 must-be-present winners and a top prize of $10,000.

Green Day to play Mandalay Bay

Punky rockers Green Day play the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Aug. 21, with Franz Ferdinand.

A Blast of Beethoven

Quite a character, our Luddie B. Maestro got a tad mad once and hurled a plate of food at a waiter’s head. Apparently, Mr. Beethoven was underwhelmed by the level of service. (It might have been at a T.G.I. Friday’s, though the historical record is unclear.)

MOVIES

OPENING THIS WEEK

Emperor’s Garden

If you’re not Asian and are trying to figure out if an Asian restaurant is authentic, here are two surefire clues:

‘Angels & Demons’

Consider “Angels & Demons” director Ron Howard’s mea culpa for “The Da Vinci Code.”

Jeff Foxworthy

Redneck comedy secret No. 1: Jeff Foxworthy has written fart jokes for Larry the Cable Guy.

Municipal elections endorsements

You probably didn’t know it, but there’s an election coming up. In fact, early voting for local municipal races starts this week. Voters in North Las Vegas and Henderson will select a new mayor, among other representatives, and those who live in northwest Las Vegas will elect a new member to the City Council.

Secret school budget plan

Citing “executive privilege” — a phrase made popular by attorneys for Richard Nixon — the Nevada attorney general’s office late last week ruled Clark County School District officials did not violate the state’s open meeting law when they refused to share information about proposed budget cuts prior to a Dec. 11 School Board meeting.

Ensuring Nevadans their presidential vote will count

Wouldn’t you assume that the candidate who receives the most votes wins the election? Well, that is the case except when it comes to the highest office in the land — the presidency of the United States of America.

MGM Mirage completes stock sale

MGM Mirage placed 143 million shares of common stock on the market Thursday, almost double what the company had previously announced it was selling as part of an effort to raise $2.5 billion to resolve its debt and leveraging issues.

Economy still looking down

Consumer spending is down, unemployment claims are up, car dealerships are closing, construction has come to a near halt and major casino projects are scrambling for financing.

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