Parking, resort fees could put damper on Las Vegas Strip boom
 
Parking, resort fees could put damper on Las Vegas Strip boom

The Southern Nevada casino industry is riding a new wave of confidence bolstered by some strong financial results But loyal casino customers are warning that resort fees and paid parking policies at Strip casinos threaten to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Many of Southern Nevada’s leading casino companies have reported stellar fourth-quarter earnings MGM recently increased its parking fees, and several properties bumped up their resort fees. MGM, Wynn, Caesars Entertainment and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas initiated parking fees, but almost every property has resort fees

Black History Month panel gives Las Vegas entrepreneurs advice
 
Black History Month panel gives Las Vegas entrepreneurs advice

Five people with experience in business and government spoke Friday to the Urban Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas Among their advice: line up potential clients before starting a business, attend networking events and seek advice from experts in the industry The chamber, founded in 1980, has hundreds of members and focuses on the welfare of black-owned businesses in Las Vegas

UNLV has to move on from Fresno State
 
UNLV has to move on from Fresno State

UNLV coach Marvin Menzies has plenty on his mind The Rebels have fallen big in past two games UNLV hopes to rediscover earlier spark Time is running out on the Rebels UNLV next plays at New Mexico on Sunday

Woman opens 3rd Las Vegas eatery after overcoming addiction
 
Woman opens 3rd Las Vegas eatery after overcoming addiction

Chef Natalie Young has overcome addiction, and opened her 3rd Las Vegas eatery. 17 years ago, Young was fired from a top restaurant in Telluride, Colorado while struggling with a cocaine addiction. Natalie Young Young got a job with a limousine service for a few weeks and saved up enough money to come to Las Vegas. She spent 2 months in rehab, and 4 years at a sober-living house. In 2015, Young received a $225,000 loan from Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh to open Eat. Young just opened Eat Summerlin in June, and also owns Eat in downtown Las Vegas and Chow.

Cinemark to ban large bags from its movie theaters
 
Cinemark to ban large bags from its movie theaters

Starting Thursday, Cinemark will ban bags or packages larger than 12x12x6 from its theaters. According to Cinemark’s website, the move is “in an effort to enhance the safety and security of our guests and employees.” The theaters will make exceptions for diaper bags and medical equipment bags. In Las Vegas, Cinemark operates theaters at The Orleans, Sam’s Town, Santa Fe Station, South Point and Suncoast as well as the Cinedome in Henderson.

Who is Matt Maddox
 
Who is Matt Maddox

Matt Maddox, now the CEO and President of Wynn Resorts Ltd, first joined the company in 2002 Since 2002, Maddox has worked as Wynn’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Treasurer as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Wynn Las Vegas, LLC as the Chief Financial Officer of Wynn Resorts (Macau), S.A., and as the Company’s Treasurer and Vice President—Investor Relations. Maddox has been with the company for all four of its openings

Dog flu spreads to Nevada, expected to hit Las Vegas soon
 
Dog flu spreads to Nevada, expected to hit Las Vegas soon

The dog flu is coming, Las Vegas veterinarians say. A new-to-the-U.S. strain of the canine influenza, H3N2, has been detected in Northern Nevada for the first time, according to DogFlu.com. There have been 52 cases confirmed this month. Vets usually only recommend the vaccine for dogs traveling to an area where the flu was present. But this year, many vets are telling pet owners it’s better to be safe than sorry. Local veterinarians say they haven’t seen either flu strain in Las Vegas yet, but warn it’s just a matter of time. Symptoms resemble kennel cough, or even the human flu: coughing, sneezing, fever and lethargy. And like the human flu, dog flu can kill. Dr. Travis McDermott, hospital director at Durango Animal Hospital

Lucky Dragon bankruptcy
 
Lucky Dragon bankruptcy

Less than a year and a half after it opened, the Lucky Dragon is in bankruptcy. Developers of the off-Strip, Chinese-themed resort filed for Chapter 11 protection on Feb. 16. The bankruptcy came less than a week before the property’s scheduled foreclosure auction. Lucky Dragon was the first resort built from the ground up in Las Vegas since the recession but has faced mounting problems.

The last Haggen
 
The last Haggen

Grocery chain Haggen went bankrupt in 2015, but one former store in Las Vegas is still empty and boarded up. The store, in Boca Park, seems like a choice spot for retailers. It’s near affluent communities and a busy intersection. But big-box retail is on shakier footing, and there’s no shortage of competition nearby. “I don’t know specifically what the problem is. I’m befuddled by why it’s taken so long.” — Dan Adamson, founder of brokerage firm ROI Commercial Real Estate

News of Florida shooting hits some in Las Vegas hard
 
News of Florida shooting hits some in Las Vegas hard

News reports of yet another mass tragedy, this time at a high school in Florida, may have set off a wave of renewed sorrow and stress across Las Vegas. Local psychologists say they’re ready to help Oct. 1 survivors and Las Vegans affected by the shooting on the Strip who exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress triggered by the killing of 17 students and staff in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday. Call volumes are increasing at the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center following the shooting in Florida, said Clark County Assistant Manager Kevin Schiller. “It’s definitely a trigger point, and it’s definitely causing an increase in a need for service,” Schill said. The reaction is normal, said Michelle Paul, director of The Practice, UNLV’s therapy clinic. “I would expect everybody to be triggered at some level,” Paul said. Many of those affected will feel a range of emotions, from sadness and anger, to flashbacks and difficulty sleeping and eating, Paul said.

Office sales climb as Las Vegas economy rebounds
 
Office sales climb as Las Vegas economy rebounds

Las Vegas’ office market was left for dead during the recession as job losses soared and buildings emptied. Now, investor purchases are climbing fast. There were 94 office-property sales in Southern Nevada last year, more than double 2016’s tally. Employment is growing and vacancies are shrinking, making the once-battered office business a safer investment.

Will this be Kyle Busch’s year at Daytona 500?
 
Will this be Kyle Busch’s year at Daytona 500?

Last year Kurt Busch of Las Vegas finally won the Daytona 500 This year, younger brother Kyle hopes it will be his turn Kyle Busch is winless in the Great American Race in 12 starts The 2015 Cup Series champ has only three top finishes in the Daytona 500 Busch crashed out of last year’s race

Central Las Vegas fire might be arson
 
Central Las Vegas fire might be arson

Las Vegas Police and the Clark County Fire Department are investigating a suspected arson at 4330 W. Desert Inn Road.
A fire broke out around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Metropolitan police later arrived at the scene and taped off the area. Clark County fire investigators believe the fire was intentionally set. Check back at lvrj.com for more details.

Who is Drew?
 
Who is Drew?

Developer Steve Witkoff has renamed the former Fontainebleau: The Drew Las Vegas. We can’t tell you who Drew is — yet. But here’s what we know about the project: • 4,000 rooms • Will debut the Edition brand in Las Vegas and feature the Strip’s first JW Marriott • 500,000 square feet of convention and meeting space • The 60-plus story tower, mothballed since the recession, is scheduled to open in late 2020 • Purchase price: $600 million • Former Cosmopolitan CEO John Unwin will oversee The Drew’s launch and operations

Las Vegas police say deadly shootings gang, drug related
 
Las Vegas police say deadly shootings gang, drug related

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s gang unit are working with homicide detectives after a man was shot and killed Sunday night in central Las Vegas. Two shootings occurred only a block from each other. The first shooting took place around 8:40 p.m. on Van Patten Street and might have involved narcotics, police said. The man shot was taken to the hospital, where he died in surgery. Two hours later, while investigating the first shooting, police heard gunfire and found another man wounded on the 2500 block of Sherwood Street. He is expected to survive. Police say the shootings appear to be related. The suspect or suspects remain on the loose.

New performance venue near Las Vegas Strip to reshape skyline
 
New performance venue near Las Vegas Strip to reshape skyline

The Madison Square Garden Co. is partnering with Las Vegas Sands Corp. to build a sphere-shaped arena on the Las Vegas Strip. MSG Sphere Las Vegas will be built just east of The Venetian, and will stand 360 feet tall. The 400,000-square-foot facility will be built on an open-air storage lot at Sands Avenue between Koval Lane and Manhattan Street. The scalable 18,000-seat arena is being built strictly for music and entertainment performances — not sports — although it also could host esports competitions. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2018, and a late 2020 opening is planned. Las Vegas will be the first Sphere location, but plans are in the works for a venue in London.

Marijuana scientist leaves U.S. after green card denial
 
Marijuana scientist leaves U.S. after green card denial

Shimon Abta, a medical marijuana agronomist from Israel, left the U.S. last month to avoid deportation. Abta, 33, was denied a green card and deemed a drug trafficker for his work in the cannabis industry. Now, him and his wife, Esther Abta, a U.S. citizen, are seeking to reopen his case. Abta’s attorney, Ed Prudhomme, said it’s his first marijuana-related immigration case in half a century. The orthodox Jewish couple hoped to start a home in Las Vegas. They recently became homeowners. “I have to say that this is part of God’s plan,” Esther Abta, 36, said.

‘Floor-to-ceiling’ renovations planned for Fremont Street Experience
 
‘Floor-to-ceiling’ renovations planned for Fremont Street Experience

The city of Las Vegas will request up to $9.5 million from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to fund capital improvements at the Fremont Street Experience. Fremont Street Experience President and CEO Patrick Hughes told the council “floor-to-ceiling” renovations are planned at the downtown attraction. The LED display dates back 14 years. Hughes said the renovations will take place over 14 months. Fremont Street Experience President and CEO Patrick Hughes

Lights FC unveil home jerseys
 
Lights FC unveil home jerseys

The Lights FC are going to be bright in their inaugural season Las Vegas’ United Soccer League club unveiled its home jerseys Wednesday at sponsor Zappos’ Downtown campus The jersey features a black background with the Lights logo below the neck and Zappos’ logo across the chest, but there’s also neon blue, yellow and pink throughout “It’s very different from other teams,” Lights midfielder Julian Portugal said. “Even pro teams in Spain, England, they have generic jerseys. This is different. I like it.” The neon accents were designed by Zappos art director Fernando Cabestany “It’s flashy, and I think that’s what we want to represent,” Lights defender Zak Drake said. “Las Vegas is a flashy city, so the jersey represents it really well.”

Ancient Japanese sport of Sumo wrestling returns to Las Vegas
 
Ancient Japanese sport of Sumo wrestling returns to Las Vegas

Sumo wrestling is coming to Las Vegas! The last time sumo hit the Strip was Grand Sumo Las Vegas in 2005 More than 25,000 sumo wrestling enthusiasts and curious onlookers attended Now, the Ultimate Sumo League will come to Park Theater this April Tickets start at $59.50 to see sumo wrestlers from all over the world

1 dead after car plunges into lake
 
1 dead after car plunges into lake

One person died when a vehicle he was riding in plunged into a lake in west Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews responded to a report at 12:53 a.m. Thursday of a car submerged in a lake in Desert Shores.
A Technical Rescue Team was on the scene around 1:30 a.m. pulling the vehicle out of the water. Rescue crews donned wet suits to help pull the man out of the vehicle.
Las Vegas police confirmed at 2:31 a.m. that one person had died. Officers and investigators don’t believe at this time there was anyone else in the vehicle.

UNLV prepares to meet instate rival UNR
 
UNLV prepares to meet instate rival UNR

UNLV hopes to avoid another disappointment Here are some things to watch for: Jordan Johnson needs to shoot more for the Rebels UNR’s Caleb Martin averages 19.8 points Jordan Caroline is part of a strong UNR front line Kris Clyburn has adjusted well in move to UNLV’s bench UNLV plays UNR Wednesday at 8 p.m.

UNLV prepares to play Boise State
 
UNLV prepares to play Boise State

UNLV faces a tall task in Boise State The Broncos’ Chandler Hutchison is the top MW player Shakur Juiston comes off two strong games for UNLV Boise State has beaten the Rebels the past three times A win for UNLV would be a huge boost

Las Vegas Super Bowl LII viewing parties
 
Las Vegas Super Bowl LII viewing parties

Las Vegas may not be hosting the Super Bowl this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the excitement There are many options with viewing parties all over the valley 49 parties will be hosted on the Strip 35 other parties will be hosted off the Strip in Las Vegas 7 others will take place in Henderson And 3 more will happen in North Las Vegas For more information on each viewing party, go to reviewjournal.com/sbparties