They left us in 2017 and might be gone, but will never be forgotten. Here’s a look back at some of the people with ties to Las Vegas who we lost in 2017.
Las Vegas’ top 10 business stories of 2017 10. SpeedVegas crash brings lawsuits and an OSHA fine 9. Construction on Resorts World Las Vegas gets busy 8. McCarran International Airport on pace to shatter record of 47 million passengers 7. More Strip hotels join the pay-for-parking bandwagon 6. Wynn Resorts snaps up 38 acres on the site of the Alon project 5. Fontainebleau finally sold, new owner calls work in progress Project Blue 4. Caesars Entertainment emerges from 2-year odyssey through bankruptcy court 3. Faraday Future abandons planned site of manufacturing plant at Apex 2. Raiders formally announce move to Las Vegas, conduct groundbreaking Nov. 13 1. Oct. 1 shooting leaves 58 dead, causes short-term uneasiness in tourism industry while long-term effects remain uncertain
Three men armed with knives attacked a Las Vegas couple. The home invasion robbery happened just after midnight in a southwest Las Vegas neighborhood. The robbers stole a 2017 Tesla Model S, and the homeowner was hit by the car as the robbers escaped.
A horse skull found in Gypsum Cave in mountains east of Las Vegas in 1930, was so well preserved, it was thought to be a modern horse or burro. It sat tucked away on a museum shelf overlooked until recently. It turned out to be 13,000 years old and scientifically significant: the most complete skull ever found of a “New World stilt-legged horse.” Eric Scott, an ice age horse expert at California State University, San Bernardino.
What has 12 bands, more than 80,000 firework devices and some 330,000 guests from all over the world? “America’s Party” 2018. Las Vegas’ recurring New Year’s Eve bash is back and better than ever, officials say. Specifics for the event, which occurs on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas, were unveiled Thursday at Fashion Show mall. For the 11th year in a row Fireworks By Grucci is orchestrating the launching of fireworks across seven hotel-casino rooftops stretching from the Stratosphere to the MGM Grand. Beginning at midnight, pyrotechnics will light up the Las Vegas skyline for eight minutes. The explosions will be choreographed to songs by artists including Eric Clapton, Judas Priest and Bruce Springsteen.
An attraction when it opened in 1998 near the Nevada-California state line, Primm’s outlet mall has fallen on hard times.
Singer Pia Zadora might have a swanky room named for her at Piero’s Italian Cuisine, but the place she really holds dear is her home in The Ridges of Summerlin. Her son, Jordan Kaufer, appears as Santa Claus in his mother’s show at Piero’s Italian Cuisine in downtown Las Vegas. Zadora lives with her third husband, Michael Jeffries; her 20-year-old son from her second marriage, Jordan Kaufer, and two dogs, Snowflake and Merle Singer Pia Zadora says she loves “everything Christmas,” and her home in The Ridges is decked out for the holidays. The star of stage and screen welcomed Real Estate Millions into her 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home to talk about her Las Vegas history. Pia Zadora works in her music studio at her Summerlin home. She performs at the iconic Piero’s Italian Cuisine in downtown Las Vegas. A portrait of Pia Zadora by Andy Warhol is displayed over the living room bar. Memorabilia includes a framed photo of one of Pia Zadora’s first modeling jobs, an ad for Dubonnet wine, her 1985 Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Performance and the 1982 Golden Globe Award for Best Female New Star of the Year.
The first lien was filed Tuesday on Strip gunman Stephen Paddock’s house in Mesquite. The lien, $213.73, is for unpaid water service.
Las Vegas Lights FC made an interesting hire in coach José Luis Sanchez Solá, aka Chelís. Here are five fun facts about the coach. 1. Chelís is a childhood nickname, after a classmate played with his name “Jose Louis.” 2. He is the first person to coach in the first and second divisions of U.S. and Mexican soccer. 3. He claims to have never sat down during a match. 4. His Twitter account has 170,000 followers. 5. He says he had offers to coach in Central America and Saudi Arabia, but chose to come to Las Vegas.
The National Finals Rodeo continued its annual 10-day run in Las Vegas on Friday for the ninth performance Here’s a look at the ninth go-round Bareback riding: 1. Jake Brown, 87.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Molly Brown, $26,231 Steer wrestling: 1. Scott Guenthner, 3.3 seconds, $26,231 Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.3 seconds, $26,231 each Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 87 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Kitty Whistle, $26,231 Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 6.8 seconds, $26,231 Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.43 seconds, $26,231 Bull riding: 1. (tie) Trey Benton III on Rafter H Rodeo’s Nose Bender, 88 points, $42,308 each Bull riding: 1. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Reveloution, 88 points, $42,308 All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $319,337
The National Finals Rodeo continued its annual 10-day run in Las Vegas on Thursday with the eighth performance Here’s a look at the eighth go-round Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 88 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Pretty Woman; $26,231 Steer wrestling: 1. Chason Floyd, 3.7 seconds, $26,231 Team roping: 1. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long, 4.1 seconds, $23,481 Team roping: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.1 seconds, $23,481 Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 92 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Show Me Again, $26,231 Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Caleb Smidt, 7.6 seconds, $23,481 Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Cory Solomon, 7.6 seconds, $23,481 Barrel racing: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 13.54 seconds, $26,231 Bull riding: 1. Jordan Hansen, 86 points on Corey & Lange Rodeo’s Tequila, $28,981 All around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $319,337
Pot cafes, stoned yoga and painting while puffing could be just around the corner in Las Vegas. Las Vegas officials are considering an ordinance that would allow the city to license marijuana consumption lounges. The ordinance would allow for a variety of consumption-friendly businesses, such as restaurants, yoga studios, coffee shops and even a smoking while painting class. The lounges would not be allowed to have or serve any alcohol or to store marijuana on-site. Assistant City Attorney Bryan Scott said lounges could be approved in March.
The National Finals Rodeo continued its annual 10-day run in Las Vegas on Tuesday with the sixth performance. Here’s a look at the sixth go-round. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Clayton Biglow on Frontier Rodeo’s Night Fist, 88 points, $23,481 Bareback riding: 1. (tie) J.R. Vezain on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet Belle, 88 points, $23,481 Steer wrestling: 1. Baylor Roche, 3.6 seconds, $26,231 Team roping: 1. (tie) Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 3.7 seconds, $23,481 Team roping: 1. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 3.7 seconds, $23,481 Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 89 points on The Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s 2 Cookies, $26,231 Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, 6.9 seconds, $26,231 Barrel racing: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 13.49 seconds, $26,231 Bull riding: 1. Trey Benton III, 92.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Bomb Pop, $27,077 All-around world standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $313,837
UberEats and McDonald’s are teaming up for a deal that’s as real as the meat in Chicken McNuggets. Anyone placing a McDonald’s order through UberEats can get a free order of 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and two dipping sauces from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday. However, you’ll still have to pay UberEats’ $4.99 booking fee to have those McNuggets delivered to your doorstep. McDonald’s has sold 677,202 Chicken McNuggets through UberEats since the app launched in Las Vegas in September 2016, company officials said.
The National Finals Rodeo continued its ten-day annual run in Las Vegas on Monday. Here’s a look at the National Finals Rodeo fifth go-round results Bareback riding: 1. Mason Clements, 88.5 points on Korkow Rodeos’ Onion Ring, $26,231 Steer wrestling: 1. Tanner Milan, 3.8 seconds, $26,231 Team roping: 1. (tie) Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 3.9 seconds, $23,481 Team roping: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 3.9 seconds, $23,481 Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 89 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman, $26,231 Tie-down roping: 1. Marty Yates, 7.0 seconds, $26,231 Barrel racing: 1. (tie) Lisa Lockhart, 13.59 seconds, $23,481 Barrel racing: 1. (tie) Ivy Conrado, 13.59 seconds, $23,481 Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, 89 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Record Rack’s Shootin’ Stars, $27,077 All-around standings: 1. Trevor Brazile, $313,837
Celebrity chef Mario Batali has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least four women. Three of the women worked for Batali. ABC has asked Batali to “step away” from his cooking show, “The Chew,” while the allegations are under review. Batali, 57, told The Associated Press that the complaints “match up” with his past behavior.
The National Finals Rodeo continued its annual 10-day run in Las Vegas on Sunday. Here’s a look at the leaders after the fourth go-round. Bareback riding: 1. Ty Breuer, 90.5 points on Brookman Rodeo’s Risky Business, $26,231 Steer wrestling: 1. J.D. Struxness, 3.6 seconds, $26,231 Team roping: 1. (tie) Luke Brown/Jake Long, 4.1 seconds, $23,481 each Team roping: 1. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz, 4.1 seconds, $23,481 each Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Wright, 89 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Pony Man, $26,231 Tie-down roping: 1. Cooper Martin, 7.6 seconds, $26,231 Barrel racing: 1. Amberleigh Moore, 13.56 seconds, $26,231 Bull riding: 1. Trey Benton III, 87.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Mo Money, $33,564
The newly relocated Las Vegas WNBA franchise will begin play in the 2018 season. New owners MGM Resorts will integrate a professional franchise into Las Vegas’ busy sports landscape that’s shared with the 51s, Lights FC, Golden Knights and Raiders. Here are some of the expectations and challenges the team will have. 1. Ticket prices: The key to any sports franchise is selling season tickets and group outings. For Las Vegas’ team, that starts with locals. “(You don’t) just open the doors and tell everybody you’ve got a game and stand there waiting to sell tickets,” 51s president Don Logan said. “You’ve got to get out, you’ve got to get out into the community and you’ve got to do everything we do. There’s no easy way.” Last year, San Antonio charged $12 to $165 for single-game tickets for 17 home games. 2. Creating an identity: Coach Bill Laimbeer inherits a team from San Antonio that hasn’t made the playoffs or had a winning season since 2012. Las Vegas’ team is also a franchise that lost its first 14 games last season before finishing a league-worst 8-26. 3. Patience will be required: Will they have to fill all 12,000 seats at Mandalay Bay for the season to be deemed successful? “They have to be realistic,” Connecticut Sun CEO Mitchell Etess said. “If they could get 5,000 bodies into every single game, that would be pretty good for the first year.”
Months after a mass shooting took the lives of 58 people, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay still grapples with the effects. Several restaurants and amenities in the hotel are taking longer breaks this holiday season. The spa, which shut for five days last year, will be closed for a month. One restaurant will be closed for lunch for six weeks. A restaurateur says revenue in the six weeks after the shooting was down 30 to 50%. The hotel closed several floors this holiday season, including the 32nd, where the shooter stayed. Hundreds of workers’ hours were cut. Many full-time employees were put on a reserve list. The hotel boosted security, including more undercover officers. Meanwhile, Mandalay Bay’s average room price for December is up 5%.
Formula One racing may be coming to Las Vegas. According to documents obtained by the Review-Journal, Formula One Licensings has filed trademark applications for merchandise and other items related to a proposed Las Vegas Grand Prix A city tourism official said the possibility of Formula One returning to Las Vegas is only speculation at this point, but a Formula One spokesman confirmed Las Vegas is on its radar as a future race site. *quote* The timetable for adding a U.S. race or races to the schedule is not known, nor has a location for a proposed Las Vegas race been identified.
The National Finals Rodeo returns to Las Vegas, and with it the city welcomes an influx of rodeo fans and contestants from around the world.
Lyft has announced the second annual Lyftie Awards. Las Vegas’ most visited restaurant was In-N-Out… …for the second year in a row. The city’s most visited bar was Topgolf. The Fremont Street Experience was named “most visited event space.” Fashion Show Mall was named the “Only in Vegas” spot. Reef Dispensary was designated as Lyft’s “trending designation” for being the location with the biggest increase in passenger drop-offs.
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has returned to Las Vegas. The 10-day sporting event, which kicks off Thursday at the Thomas & Mack Center, is expected to bring more than 170,000 people to the city, generating a frenzy among hotels to lasso in the lucrative crowd. Casinos are aiming to corral guests by offering rodeo packages that include meals and tickets, hosting top country singers and sporting events. Many of the visitors for rodeo week come from California, Texas, Montana, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Colorado. More than two dozen country singers will perform over the next two weeks, including George Strait at T-Mobile Arena, Cody Johnson at the South Point and Dwight Yoakam at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The Love Store, a retailer whose products include vibrators and lingerie, will open a new location this week next to the downtown healing garden dedicated to the Las Vegas shooting. The store, located near the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Third Street, will staff 30 employees, Wheeler said. This is the fifth Love Store, with three around the valley and one in Victorville, California. Officials approved the architectural plans for the store in July, according to city records. Love Store received a certificate of occupancy on Oct. 11. Some who work in the arts district disagree with having a store that sells sex-related items next to a memorial for shooting victims. Las Vegas Valley artist Nancy Good, who’s held exhibits in the arts district, said the combination will turn into a punchline.
Buoyed by his sold-out premiere on the Strip last summer, Mel Brooks returns to Vegas in the spring. The 91-year-old Brooks says, “I love Las Vegas, I really do. … There’s nothing like the Vegas vibe.” The show will cover such films as “Blazing Saddles,” “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein.” Matt Goss is back on the Strip, at 1 Oak nightclub at The Mirage. He was joined by his twin brother, Luke, in his debut at the club on Saturday.
Spirit Airlines will launch nonstop flights from Las Vegas to two Florida airports beginning April 12. Spirit will offer daily flights between McCarran airport and Tampa, along with Orlando, as well as 9 other new routes across the U.S. Over the past two years, Spirit has grown to become the fifth busiest airline at McCarran International Airport. Mark Kopczak, Spirit Airlines vice president
After the mass shooting in Las Vegas, 87 children are coping with the loss of a parent. Of the 58 people killed at the Route 91 Harvest festival, 33 were parents. The youngest child to lose a parent was just six weeks old when his mom, Rocio Guillen-Rocha, was killed. Losing a parent in such a public and traumatic way can send a child into a tailspin, UNLV clinical psychologist Michelle Paul says.
At age 17, Cristina Hernandez found herself homeless in Las Vegas. At age 33, she has hit the sweet spot in Washington, landing a coveted White House fellowship.
Hernandez received her B.A. from UNLV in 2010 and had begun work as a contractor who trained military personnel at Nellis Air Force Base. Her fellowship project put Hernandez in the Office of Personnel Management, where she is working to advance an executive order signed by President Donald Trump to “create a lean, accountable, more efficient government that works for the American people.”
Marcus Maddox, 30, is accused of fatally stabbing his 12-year-old daughter and leaving his 15-year-old son for dead. Authorities say he then drove across the valley and attempted to kill his wife and himself. An officer climbed through a window and found Tishia Maddox face down on a bed at Siegel Suites on East Craig Road. She had a severe wound to her forehead. When police arrived, they found Marcus Maddox with a gunshot wound to his head. Officials found the couple’s children in a Budget Suites room more than 17 hours later. Marcus and Tishia Maddox and their son remain in critical condition at University Medical Center.
With six weeks remaining in 2017, Clark County has already logged its deadliest year on record for pedestrians. So far, 62 walkers were fatally struck as of Thursday, eclipsing the previous all-time high of 60 killed in 2015. Between 2013 and 2016, 24 people were fatally struck by vehicles along Boulder Highway, Southern Nevada’s deadliest stretch of roadway. Andrew Bennett, traffic safety office spokesman