Zach Conine, Democratic candidate for Nevada Treasurer
Linda Cannon, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 9
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority member Bill Noonan discusses the agency’s external audit that will rein in gifts and travel costs.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Board approved a series of recommendations Tuesday to curb employee misuse of airline gift cards. An audit in April found that CEO Rossi Ralenkotter used $17,152 in airline cards for personal travel for himself and his family. The Las Vegas Review-Journal had requested employee gift and travel records months before the gift card disclosure in 2017, but the authority did not provide any records of the airline cards. It maintains there was no process in place at the time to track the use of the cards. Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly used $699 in airline cards for a trip with his daughter. Bill Noonan, a senior vice president at Boyd Gaming, who ordered the review of policies: “We’re not done. There could easily be more.” The recommendations approved Tuesday included storing the cards under lock and key and requiring written approval of any gift card requests and recording receipts.
Golden Knights players talk about what to expect from the Western Conference finals and the playoffs.
Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant goes over the playoff schedule ahead for the Knights.
The Palms has announced that May 18 is the official opening date for its new steakhouse, lounge and nightclub. Scotch 80 Prime will open in the space that formerly housed N9NE Steakhouse. The menu will feature Japanese Kobe alongside USDA prime beef selections, and the world-class Scotch collection is expected to be one of the largest retail selections in the U.S. Camden Cocktail Lounge is one of two news concepts from Clique Hospitality’s Andy Masi and nightlife partners Ryan Labbe and Jason “JRoc” Craig. Apex Social Club, from the same team as Camden, will occupy the former Ghostbar rooftop space and is described as an “open-air boutique nightclub.” The Palms is in the midst of a $620 million renovation. Restaurants from Bobby Flay, Marc Vetri, Chris Santos and Michael Symon are also in the works.
Benjamin Sparks entered a not guilty plea Tuesday Sparks, a Las Vegas political advisor, is accused of domestic battery. Lawyer Gloria Allred is representing the victim. His ex-fiancee told the RJ that Sparks sexually enslaved and beat her. He is believed to be in Texas. Allred warned Sparks: “You can run but you can’t hide.” The woman provided copies of emails, text messages and a signed contract laying out her duties as a “slave in training” to Benjamin Sparks. A police report shows that Sparks evaded police after the domestic dispute at the woman’s home on March 29. According to the emails, documents and text messages obtained, Sparks and his ex-fiancée signed a 5-page contract saying she would be his “slave and property.” Under the contract, the woman was forced to kneel and look down when she entered his presence. She was also required to be nude at all times, have sexual relations with him whenever he wanted and wear a collar in private. Sparks most recently worked on Rep. Cresent Hardy’s campaign, and has since been fired.
Attorney Gloria Allred is representing the victim in a “sex slave” case against GOP political consultant Benjamin Sparks.
Downtown Las Vegas developer Derek Stevens is planning a 777-room hotel and casino along the Fremont Street Experience, the first bottom-up resort construction project in years for the downtown area. The downtown block was leveled last year — the Las Vegas Club and Mermaids casinos and Glitter Gulch strip club were razed to make way for the new hotel-casino. The development would transform the west end of Fremont Street, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said. Plans call for the hotel-casino to sit at the block bounded by Fremont Street, Main Street and Ogden Avenue, with a pedestrian bridge over Main Street connecting it with an above-ground parking garage.
Gregory York, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 12
Steve Yeager, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 9
Janice Wesen, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 34
Janice Wesen, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 34
Michael Weiss, Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District
Howard Watts, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 15
Tiffany Watson, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 8
Kristee Watson, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 22
Paris Wade, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 41
Amy Vilela, Democratic candidate for the 4th Congressional District
Luis Vega, Republican candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 4
Jimmy Vega, candidate for Constable North Las Vegas
Bill Townsend, Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District
Tyrone Thompson, Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 17
Henry Thorns, Democratic candidate for Nevada Governor
Eli Thompson, candidate for Clark County School Board District D
Mike Thomas, candidate for Clark County School Board District F
Rob Telles, Democratic candidate for Clark County Public Administrator
Danny Tarkanian, Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District
Allison Stephens, Democratic candidate for the 4th Congressional District