Obama’s Vegas visit good news for Reid’s re-election hopes

President Barack Obama is in Southern Nevada today to rally support for his decision to bypass a gridlocked Congress and overhaul the nation’s immigration system.

His appearance at Del Sol High School promises to be attended by some of the Democratic elected officials who worked so hard to avoid him in recent months. They’ll be the ones having trouble making eye contact.

The president’s nationally televised immigration announcement Thursday night is good news for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants who figure to benefit from temporary relief in their status. It might be even better news for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has announced he’ll be in attendance.

Nevada Democrats crashed and burned during the recent election, and Reid will need Latino voters to be absolutely electrified if he’s to rebuff a serious challenger in 2016.

Obama made himself scarce in Nevada this year but kicked off his immigration reform efforts in January 2013 in Las Vegas, where he has been greeted warmly. Back then, the announced plan was to work with Congress and carve out a pathway to citizenship for up to 11 million undocumented workers and their families.

The president and Congress cooperating: what a crazy concept.

GIANCANA SWAG: In life, Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana was worth a bundle. We’re about to see what the late gangster’s antiques and ephemera will fetch at auction.

Antoinette Giancana, the mobster’s daughter, is teaming up with Munari Auctions of Las Vegas to place her infamous father’s personal items and furniture up for bid to the public.

You probably won’t find out whether the mob killed President John F. Kennedy, but mob aficionados are sure to have a field day. Auction house owner Geno Munari says that in addition to the boss’s furniture, a rare photo of Giancana with Frank Sinatra will go to the highest bidder along with transcripts, arrest reports, other family photos, monogrammed silverware and even the murdered mobster’s coroner’s report.

Antoinette Giancana previously displayed her father’s effects at the Tropicana’s troubled Las Vegas Mob Experience attraction, which drew almost as much litigation as fans.

The auction is set for Saturday at Gambler’s General Store at 800 South Main Street with a live Internet feed on E-bay.

UBER CONTROVERSY: Has ride-sharing phenom Uber Technologies, currently battling for a piece of the lucrative Las Vegas transportation market, learned anything about how to interact with the press after recent comments from one of its executives about investigating reporters who are critical of the company?

Uber scheduled a media gathering with its CEO, Travis Kalanick, Wednesday at the SLS on the Strip. The press meet-and-greet was “off the record.”

APPLE FOR TEACHER: There’s still time to cast your vote to help C.T. Sewell Elementary in Henderson prevail in its quest to win a $100,000 technology grant from Farmers Insurance Group. A majority of Sewell’s 850 students live below the poverty line, and Principal Holli Ratliff is spearheading the plan to help bring the latest computer-assisted learning to the school. You can vote once a day through the end of the month at thankamillionteachers.com.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Layoffs are common following most Strip property openings. Bringing in new leadership is sometimes done as a casino transitions from construction to operations. But to some observers, the announced closure of the buffet at SLS is bound to generate the biggest stir about its understanding of its customers and its place in the market. Company officials promise the buffet will reopen in 2015. … Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson’s recent comments about the state of Israel’s democracy — “Israel isn’t going to be a democratic state — so what?” — continues to create a stir in the Israeli press. … Management troubles at Red Rock Vista Post Office is about to get louder.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.