IN BRIEF

Ex-analyst named to Las Vegas Sands board

Las Vegas Sands Corp. appointed former Wall Street gaming analyst Jason Ader director on Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s board of directors.

"Jason is a gaming industry expert," Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson said in a statement.

Ader was the go-to guy among gaming researchers in the late 1990s and early 2000s when he was the senior managing director at Bear Stearns. He began a hedge fund in 2003.

Ader has reportedly spent time in Las Vegas recently, exploring potential casino buying opportunities.

Ader is the founder and chief executive of Hayground Cove Asset Management, an investment management firm, and Hayground Cove Capital Partners, a merchant bank.

Reno woman hits $33 million jackpot

A 38-year-old Reno woman who had planned to stay home on Easter is $33 million richer after hitting the second largest Megabucks jackpot in history at a Sparks casino.

Rachael Renee Romanick hit the jackpot Sunday night at Terrible's Rail City, according to International Game Technology, the maker of the progressive slot machines.

Romanick had only been playing for about 10 minutes when she hit the jackpot. Initially, she had no idea what she had won and had to ask others around her if the jackpot was real.

Romanick's big win marks the first Megabucks jackpot to be hit at Terrible's Rail City Casino, which is owned by Herbst Gaming.

Senator to hold session on card check measure

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., will hold an informational meeting Friday to discuss the Employee Free Choice Act.

Federal lawmakers reintroduced the bill in March. The law would eliminate federal mandates calling for secret-ballot votes in union-organizing drives and binding arbitration if two sides don't reach agreement on a contract within three months.

The event is open to the public. It's scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Brady Industries, 7055 Lindell Road.

Allegiant Travel says profits will top outlook

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co. pleasantly surprised investors Wednesday with a pre-earnings announcement it would beat expectations.

The company, which owns Allegiant Air, announced it would post first-quarter earnings of $1.34 to $1.38 per share, well above the $1.20 expected by polled analysts.

The company also announced it would move its earnings conference call from April 23 to Monday to avoid having it conflict with other airline calls.

Allegiant shares fell 70 cents, or 1.32 percent, to close at $52.46 Wednesday on the Nasdaq National Market.

New Web site will point way to deals

Las Vegas tourism boosters are going local.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is scheduled today to launch a Web site aimed at alerting locals to deals at the region's destination resorts.

The site represents the authority's first major foray into advertising to locals. Typically the authority targets ads aimed at attracting tourists or business travelers to Las Vegas.

The authority is launching the site with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

The Web site is at www.stayandplayhere.com.

Former exec indicted for failing to file return

Russell Pike, the former chief executive officer of a local sports energy drink company, was indicted for failing to file an individual income tax return in 2006 and failing to pay taxes on $6.9 in income for the same year, U.S. Attorney Greg Brower announced Wednesday.

Pike was arrested Tuesday and was being held pending arraignment. The defendant founded Xyience, which made and distributed energy drink Xenergy, once a sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A bankruptcy judge approved the sale of Xyience to Manchester Consolidated Corp. for $15 million in April 2008, wiping out the equity held by stockholders and leaving unsecured creditors with no recoveries. Pike previously served prison time for money laundering.

NEW YORK

Treasurys end mixed after economic reports

Treasurys ended mixed Wednesday after more data suggested the economy may be nearing a recovery.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 0.19 points to 99.84. Its yield fell to 2.76 percent from 2.78 percent late Tuesday.

The 30-year bond fell 0.06 points to 97.06, and its yield was unchanged at 3.66 percent.