2015-06-21 - The Sunday - Las Vegas

1_COVER_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 1

6/18/15 3:27 PM

0000113513-01.indd 1

6/15/15 3:31 PM

SERVED 11AM TO 5PM CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY

Carne A La Plancha

Chicken Cilantro

Tender beef grilled with onion, tomatoes and jalapeño slices

Marinated chicken breast grilled with tomatillo cream sauce

Chile Relleno Norteño

Flautas Punto Sur

Poblano pepper stuffed with asadero cheese and topped with ranchero sauce

Seasoned shredded beef rolled in a flour tortilla and topped with sour cream

Fish Tacos Puerto Nuevo Tender fried tilapia served on a flour tortilla topped with marinated cabbage

Each Entrée is served with Rice & Beans Includes Fresh Tortilla Chips with Salsa, Guacamole & Bean Dip for the Table

SouthPointCasino.com TAX AND GRATUITY NOT INCLUDED

0000115167-01.indd 1

5/27/15 3:37 PM

4 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

CONTENTS

Ten percent fewer people buy gifts for Father’s Day than for Mother’s Day, a survey

by RetailMeNot found. And they spend less — $57 for dads versus $85 for moms.

10 12 28 43

NOTEWORTHY STORIES

WILDFIRES

ON THE COVER (Photo illustration

by Liz Brown)

It’s a dangerous time of year in arid Southern Nevada, with lightning strikes and careless people easily capable of starting wildfires that can cause millions of dollars of damage to thousands of acres of land. In five minutes, we’ll make you an expert on how wildfires have affected the landscape, and what you can do to help prevent them.

CHASING THE SYNTHETIC HIGH

Traditional drugs are tough enough to police, but a new trend of dangerous substances created in labs and sold legally has added a new level of difficulty for Metro Police and other law enforcement agencies nationwide.

What are these drugs, how do they affect people and what can be done to stop them from proliferating?

GET READY TO HIT THE ROAD

It’s summer and, for many families, that means a road trip. Make this vacation season a happy one by being prepared.

MORE LIFE n Recipe: Stir-fry mushroom lettuce wrap, P30 n Pets available for adoption, P33 n Calendar of events, P40 n Puzzles, P66

CHAIN INVASION

It used to be that with all the cheap eats and comps in Las Vegas, it seemed counterintuitive to open a fast-food franchise. But these days, Southern Nevada’s tourist-driven economy is viewed as ideal for a variety of fast-food restaurants and other chains, which can make visitors feel at home.

MORE NEWS

20

CRACKDOWN ON TAGGERS

In the throes of economic crisis, North Las Vegas had bigger fish to fry than chasing down and punishing vandals.

But the community has rebounded and is letting taggers know it’s time to clean up their act.

4_TOC_20150621.indd 4

18

Frustration, desperation in cold case Detectives still are hoping for a breakthrough almost three years after a Southern Nevada woman disappeared. And her family, still hopeful she’s alive, wants answers from Metro about why she hasn’t been found.

21

Life after the Senate There are several paths Harry Reid can take after his last term in the Senate expires.

24

Kerkorian’s influence, generosity live on John Katsilometes remembers a substantial gift made, in the name of education, by the late MGM Resorts International patriarch.

SPORTS

34

The next stage The AEG-MGM Resorts arena partnership is taking shape.

OPINION

38

We see a different Las Vegas than how our city is perceived A recent ranking of family-friendly cities lists Las Vegas pretty low. Do families really have more fun in Bakersfield?

6/19/15 3:17 PM

$289/Month

Lease a 2015 Forester 2.5i Premium CVT for $289/month for 36-months + tax. $0 due at signing. APR as low as 0%.

Tax, title, license & registration, and documentation fee ($399.00) not included. For well-qualified buyers through Subaru Motors Finance. Security Deposit $0. 12,000 miles per year. Model Code: FFF-13. Model not pictured.

Before putting a FOR SALE sign or posting an ad online, try our Stress-Free Used Car Purchase Program. We’ll buy every car we appraise regardless of year or make. Save time and stop bringing strangers to your home! Call our Used Car Purchase Hotline at 702-495-2137.

Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first). See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-15 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only.

See dealer for program details and eligibility.

Subaru of Las Vegas 5385 West Sahara Avenue (702) 495-2100 SubaruOfLasVegas.com Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first.) See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-15 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility.

0000120567-01_TSD_Subaru_Ad.indd 1 0000120567-01.indd 1

10:48 AM 6/5/15 11:15

PUBLISHER Donn Jersey (donn.jersey@gmgvegas.com)

Research has shown that supplementation of IV Glutathione and Vitamin C can significantly boost your immune system to help in prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases.

Glutathione deficiency contributes to oxidative stress, which plays a key role in aging. J Nutr. 2004 Mar;134(3):489-92.

BENEFITS CAN INCLUDE Immune System Booster Anti-Aging | Detoxifier Increased Energy In addition the lighting agents of the therapy can help you brighten and even your skin tone.

SPECIAL OFFER

145

$

Includes: Initial Consultation, Composition Analysis and IV session. Follow Up Sessions: $90

EDITORIAL EDITOR Delen Goldberg (delen.goldberg@gmgvegas.com) MANAGING EDITOR Dave Mondt (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) DIGITAL EDITOR Sarah Burns (sarah.burns@gmgvegas.com) DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL John Fritz (john.fritz@gmgvegas.com) SENIOR EDITOR, SPORTS Ray Brewer (ray.brewer@gmgvegas.com) SENIOR EDITOR, A&E Don Chareunsy (don.chareunsy@gmgvegas.com) SENIOR EDITOR, BUSINESS Brian Deka (brian.deka@gmgvegas.com) EDITOR AT LARGE John Katsilometes (john.katsilometes@gmgvegas.com) STAFF WRITERS Taylor Bern, Kailyn Brown, Andrea Domanick, Jesse Granger, Case Keefer, Ana Ley, Megan Messerly, J.D. Morris, Kyle Roerink, Cy Ryan, Eli Segall, Conor Shine, Pashtana Usufzy, Jackie Valley, Leslie Ventura, Katie Visconti, Ian Whitaker COPY DESK CHIEF John Taylor COPY EDITORS Brian Sandford, Jamie Gentner SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Craig Peterson DIGITAL COORDINATOR Adelaide Chen NIGHT WEB EDITOR Wade McAferty EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Mike Smith LIBRARY SERVICES SPECIALIST Rebecca Clifford-Cruz RESEARCHER Julie Ann Formoso OFFICE COORDINATOR Nadine Guy

ART ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Liz Brown (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) DESIGNER LeeAnn Elias CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Chris Morris PHOTO COORDINATOR Mikayla Whitmore PHOTOGRAPHERS L.E. Baskow, Christopher DeVargas, Steve Marcus

702-457-3888

Call or Visit 3365 E. Flamingo Road Ste 2 | Las Vegas, NV 89121

VivacityClinics.com

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF ONLINE MEDIA Katie Horton GROUP DIRECTOR OF SALES OPERATIONS Stephanie Reviea PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Karen Parisi ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jeff Jacobs EXTERNAL CONTENT MANAGER Emma Cauthorn ACCOUNT MANAGERS Katie Harrison, Dawn Mangum, Breen Nolan, Sue Sran ADVERTISING MANAGERS Jim Braun, Brianna Eck, Frank Feder, Kelly Gajewski, Justin Gannon, Trasie Mason, Donna Roberts SALES ASSISTANT Denise Arancibia EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristen Barnson

MARKETING & EVENTS DIRECTOR OF EVENTS Kristin Wilson EVENTS COORDINATOR Jordan Newsom DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE Jackie Apoyan

PRODUCTION VICE PRESIDENT OF MANUFACTURING Maria Blondeaux PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Paul Huntsberry PRODUCTION MANAGER Blue Uyeda PRODUCTION ARTIST Marissa Maheras, Dara Ricci ART DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND MARKETING SERVICES Sean Rademacher GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Michele Hamrick, Carlos Herrera TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR Estee Wright TRAFFIC COORDINATORS Kim Smith, Meagan Hodson

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Ron Gannon ROUTE MANAGER Joel Segler

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brian Greenspun CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Robert Cauthorn GROUP PUBLISHER Travis Keys EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Gorman MANAGING EDITOR Ric Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erik Stein

THE SUNDAY 2360 Corporate Circle Third floor Henderson, NV 89074 (702) 990-2545 FOR BACK COPIES: $3.99/copy plus shipping. Call Doris Hollifield 702.990.8993 or email doris.hollifield@gmgvegas.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: Available for $40 for 6 mo (26 issues) or $75 for 1 yr (51 issues). To order, call 800-254-2610 JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA: #TheSunday Want more Las Vegas news? Follow @lasvegassun, @VEGASINC and @lasvegasweekly

6_MASTHEAD_20150621.indd 6

6/19/15 3:15 PM

Learn to code in Las Vegas.

Life’s too short for the wrong career.

T H E I R O N YA R D.C O M/ V E G A S G I V E U S A C A L L : ( 7 02) 5 6 0 - 6 7 9 7

0000124131-01.indd 1

5/28/15 2:38 PM

8

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

NEWS

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

JUNE 14 -JUNE 27

WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE

LAS VEGAS VALLEY, AND BEYOND

SPORTS

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Boxer Shawn Porter stretches before a workout at the Mayweather Boxing Club in preparation for his June 20 fight against Adrien Broner.

(L.E. BASKOW/STAFF)

JUNE 16

JUNE 16

JUNE 24

JUNE 24

JUNE 25

KEEP THE BUGS OFF

TRASH TALK

PUCK STARS

SLOT SKILLS

FROM UNLV TO NBA

Time to break out the bug spray.

Mosquitoes in eight local ZIP codes tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.

Clark County commissioners heard proposals for new rules aimed at curbing doorto-door solicitation and garbage Dumpsters in streets.

MGM Grand hosts the NHL Awards, bringing pro hockey players and officials here to celebrate the season and, maybe, answer the question: When will Las Vegas get a team?

The Gaming Control Board is set to hold a public workshop to discuss regulations for slot machines with skill-based play.

UNLV products Christian Wood and Rashad Vaughn expect to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and would receive guaranteed contracts.

8-9_WeekInReview_20150621.indd 8

5%

Share of Clark County students who completed the Smarter Balanced assessment. All students were supposed to take the online test, but the district encountered computer system problems.

6/19/15 4:25 PM

9 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

NEWS

SPORTS

BUSINESS

LIFE

GAMING

JUNE 15

VEGAS LOSES A TITAN Las Vegas bid farewell to one of its greats. Casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, who founded MGM Resorts International, died in Los Angeles at age 98. Kerkorian built the largest hotel in the world three times: first the International (now the Westgate), then the original MGM Grand (now Bally’s), then the current MGM Grand. He also played a role in the development of many other iconic Las Vegas properties. For more on Kerkorian, see page 24.

POLITICS

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

5

Years the Electric Daisy Carnival has been staged at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This year’s music festival, June 19-21, was expected to draw more than 136,000 attendees nightly.

NEWS Kerkor “Kirk” Kerkorian stands in front of the International hotel during construction in 1969.

Kerkorian is known as the “father of the megaresort.”

OFFICERS’ NAMES LIVE ON

(STAFF FILE)

COFFEE A CLICK AWAY JUNE 11

RISKY BUSINESS Analysts from Moody’s said a new law potentially breaking up the Clark County School District could negatively affect the district’s credit rating.

Questions about who will own debt from building new schools likely will be up in the air until a committee of politicians can meet to decide specifics.

Need a caffeine boost? It just got easier. Starbucks expanded its mobile order and pay platform to select Las Vegas stores, allowing iPhone users to buy beverages via an app.

JUNE 21

HEIGHT OF CUTENESS June 21 is World Giraffe Day, and the Lion Habitat Ranch in Henderson is celebrating 1-year-old Ozzie, the only giraffe in Nevada.

Ozzie is 12 feet tall — he eventually will grow to be about 20 feet — and is a budding artist.

For $100, he’ll paint you an 8x10 canvas. Money goes to the nonprofit Giraffe Conservation Foundation at the Lion Habitat Ranch.

8-9_WeekInReview_20150621.indd 9

Las Vegas renamed a park near Fort Apache and Iron Mountain roads in honor of slain Metro Police Officer Alyn Beck, who was killed last year by radicals while eating lunch at CiCi’s Pizza. A similar park honor is planned for Beck’s partner, Igor Soldo, who also was killed in the attack.

20,374

Students enrolled in private schools in Nevada. That number is expected to rise as the result of legislation signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval that will allow parents to use state money to pay for privateschool tuition.

6/19/15 4:25 PM

10 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

5-MINUTE EXPERT

TRACKING AND MANAGING WILD

BY KAILYN BROWN

The Beatty fire, caused by lightning, affected 18,600 acres but didn’t threaten Interstate 95.

STAFF WRITER

As the valley gets hotter and drier, the prime season for wildfires is quickly approaching. ¶ A lightning bolt or flicked cigarette can start a fire within seconds, potentially causing millions of dollars in damage and risking lives. ¶ In the midst of summer vacations and weekend camping trips, here is what you need to know about how wildfires start, where they happen and how to prevent them.

WHAT IS A WILDFIRE? Any fire that burns vegetation or natural fuels, such as grass, brush or forests.

Fighting the Duzak and Meadow Valley fires, caused by lightning near Mesquite, cost more than $5 million and took two weeks.

Firefighters from eight states worked to contain the blaze, which burned more than 250,000 acres in total.

HOW WILDFIRES START

In general, the most common natural cause of fires is lightning, which is a problem mostly during monsoon season. But humans are another major cause.

HAZARDS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BURN

COMMON CAUSES OF WILDFIRES

Dry grass Dead trees

Burning trash or debris

Trash

Careless smoking

Ground litter

Children playing with matches or lighters

Buildings

THE DANGERS OF WILDFIRES Erosion, which can lead to flooding Death or injury to wildlife, including endangered species Injury or death to humans and animals Damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure

FIRES IN SOUTHERN NEVADA

Campfires

ATVs. Grass, weeds or brush can come in contact with the exhaust and ignite.

Fireworks. Even legal fireworks never are allowed in campgrounds.

Target shooting.

Shooters often congregate on hillsides with grassy areas. If a bullet hits a rock, it can cause a spark, which can lead to a fire.

Interference with recreation and tourism

The average tally of wildfires in Southern Nevada varies each year, but in 2014, the number of fires caused by people spiked.

KEY FIRES CAUSED

BY PEOPLE FIRES CAUSED

BY LIGHTNING CAUSE UNKNOWN/ NOT SPECIFIED ACRES BURNED

BY FIRE

= 10 FIRES

= 100 ACRES

10-11_5MinExpert_Wildfires_20150621.indd 10

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

6/19/15 4:24 PM

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

WHAT YOU CAN — AND CAN’T — DO

WILDFIRES

al cause em t

CAUSES IRES

ash or

moking

The Carpenter 1 wildland fire was sparked by lightning. It began July 1, 2013, near Pahrump, burned more than seven weeks and destroyed about 28,000 acres of land. The area still is recovering today.

Wildfires are an essential feature of ecosystems that can regenerate plants to provide better food for wildlife and cycle nutrients through soil. But wildfires generally don’t benefit the Mojave Desert. It takes an average of 40 years to recover vegetation lost in a fire and even longer to recover animal species.

RESTRICTIONS Southern Nevada has been under fire restrictions since May 15 to limit the risk of wildfires. The restrictions prohibit:

(STEVE MARCUS/ STAFF)

■ Building a campfire or using a charcoal stove. Portable stoves that use gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.

■ Welding or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except with a permit.

■ Using an explosive without a permit.

■ Using fireworks or firing bullets with flame tracers.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

■ Operating an off-road vehicle without a spark arrestor.

For more information about wildfires or restrictions, call the local branches of the following agencies:

laying hes or

s, weeds an come with the d ignite.

U.S. Forest Service 515-5400

Even orks llowed in nds.

Only *total

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 515-5450

number of fires available for 2010 and 2011

oting. ften e on th grassy bullet hits an cause hich can re.

8

11

If you cause a fire, you will be responsible for the cost of putting it out and any damage it causes.

National Park Service 293-8990 Bureau of Land Management 515-5000 Nevada Division of Forestry 486-5123 * all numbers use area code 702

Only *total number of acres burned available for 2012

HAVE A SAFE CAMPFIRE When restrictions are lifted, keep these tips in mind: ■ Before you start a campfire, check the weather; windy days can cause wildfires. Find a level spot away from overhanging branches, dry grass, logs, pine needles and wood.

Also stay away from hillsides.

■ Never leave your campfire unattended, not even for a few minutes.

■ When you are done with the fire, drown it for 30 minutes. Fill a bucket with water and pour it on the campfire while stirring and wetting the ashes. Repeat until the fire is out completely. Don’t bury the fire with dirt; it can smolder for hours, then escape.

HOW TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF WILDFIRES ■ Avoid dry grass.

■ Watch for sparks while operating equipment.

■ Don’t burn trash or throw trash into a fire ring, used to prevent campfires from spreading.

■ Don’t leave logs hanging away from the center of a fire.

■ Don’t ignite a fire beneath overhanging limbs or brush.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

■ Dispose carefully of cigarettes.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management

10-11_5MinExpert_Wildfires_20150621.indd 11

6/19/15 4:24 PM

12 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

COVER STORY

12-16_cover story_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 12

6/19/15 3:12 PM

13 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

158

new synthetic drugs were identified in 2012.

BY ANDREA DOMANICK STAFF WRITER

hey come with names like Vanilla Sky, Cloud 9 and Ivory Wave — pale, flaky powders in packets decorated with bubbles or flowers and labeled for innocuous uses: potpourri, plant food or most commonly, bath salts. ¶ But the products’ cheerful packaging and labels that warn “not for human consumption” belie a far more disturbing reality: Tens of thousands of people, mostly teens and twentysomethings, swallow, snort, inhale and inject them to get high. ¶ When ingested, bath salts and other synthetic drugs can increase feelings of joy, social interaction and sex drive. The amphetamine-like stimulants, for many years considered a “legal high,” can mimic the effects of cocaine, ecstasy or LSD. But they also can cause users to experience nausea, vomiting, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, seizures and death.

T

And while you won’t find them at your local Bath & Body Works, the drugs still can be bought with little difficulty at a gas stations, head shops or online for about $20 a pop.

Bath salts, along with substances such as K2 (“spice”), 2C-I (“smiles”) and Molly, are part of a nebulous but expanding class of synthetic drugs whose unpredictability resulted in a rapidly growing public health threat that’s difficult to track and police.

Also called “new psychoactive substances,” synthetic drugs are chemical compounds designed to mimic or modify the effects of more established illicit drugs such as heroin, crystal meth and marijuana. Spice, for example, is a synthetic cannabinoid, a synthetic marijuana product designed to mirror the effects of THC. Bath salts are synthetic cathinones, or amphetamines that also may induce delusions. Molly, meanwhile, is sold as a substitute for the synthetic designer club drug MDMA, or ecstasy.

All drugs that aren’t derived from plants or pharmaceuticals can be considered synthetic drugs, although older, lab-made drugs such as LSD, GHB, PCP, MDMA and quaaludes have distinct histories that set them apart from this new emerging class.

Newer synthetic analogs frequently fall outside of international control, making their trade and manufacturing difficult to control.

Origins of most synthetic drugs are difficult to trace. Spice first was introduced to European markets more than a decade ago and broke into the United States in the late 2000s. Since 2009, law enforcement officials have encountered more than 240 new synthetic compounds, including 99 synthetic cannabinoids, 52 synthetic cathinones and 89 other compounds.

And that number is growing: 51 new synthetic cannabinoids were identified in 2012, compared with just two in 2009. A total of 158 new synthetic compounds were identified in 2012 alone.

12-16_cover story_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 13

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, most wholesale quantities of the drugs are bought online and shipped from distributors in China.

Unlike the drugs they mimic, synthetics are made from a shifting array of compounds that approximate the highs of older controlled substances but vary in intensity and unpredictability. Drug formulas constantly are tweaked according to ingredient availability and to stay a step ahead of law enforcement.

Several overdoses and suicides induced by bath salts or spice have been reported, though the substances’ changing chemical makeup has made it difficult to pin down an exact number. Synthetic cannabinoids accounted for 28,531 emergency department visits nationwide in 2011, up from 11,406 the year before, according to a federal government report. Synthetic cathinones accounted for 22,904 hospitalizations in 2011, two-thirds of which involved other drugs, including other synthetics.

In April, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a health alert warning after more than 160 people in two weeks were hospitalized after using synthetic cannabinoids. Nationally, several users have been arrested for sudden violence and after psychotic episodes.

Some of the drugs — spice, for instance — are far more addictive than their analogs and quickly build up a person’s tolerance so that more of the drug is needed to get an equivalent high.

For most, however, the risk comes not from daily use but from the uncertainty hidden in each hit.

That volatility, along with the drugs’ low price and relative accessibility, is part of the appeal for the drugs’ overwhelmingly young user base.

“Teens to early twenties is the majority of what we find,” said Keith Carter, director of the Nevada High Intensity Drug Traffic Area, a task force comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers

WHAT ARE THEY? Constantly changing cocktails of ingredients with unpredictable effects that mimic established illicit drugs

HOW ARE THEY INGESTED? Each drug can come in different forms, from capsules and powders to crystals and oils. They are ingested by swallowing, snorting, inhaling or injecting.

WHY ARE THEY SO DANGEROUS? To stay ahead of law enforcement and laws, manufacturers constantly change the chemical makeup of these drugs. This makes the drugs more difficult to identify and their effects more unpredictable. Synthetic drugs also are frequently made from whatever ingredients are on hand, adding to their unpredictability.

WHO IS USING THEM? Primarily teens and people in their early 20s

WHY ARE THEY BECOMING MORE PREVALENT? They are incredibly cheap and accessible compared with more established illicit drugs.

WHAT ARE THEIR POTENTIAL NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS? Nausea, vomiting, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, seizures and death

WHY ARE THEY SO DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT? Illegal drugs are identified and outlawed based on their chemical makeup. Because sythetic drugs are constantly changing, they are more difficult to identify and ban. Blanket restrictions on synthetic compounds cannot be passed because they would prevent the creation of substances that are benficial.

SYNTHETICS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

6/19/15 3:12 PM

14

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

COVER STORY

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

SYNTHETIC DRUGS NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Constantly changing cocktails of ingredients with unpredictable effects are meant to mimic more established illicit drugs

K2 S P I C E , Y U C ATA N F I R E , S K U N K , G E N I E , B L A Z E H E R B A L I N C E N S E , FA K E W E E D

WHAT IT IS: K2 is a synthetic cannabinoid, man-made chemical that’s the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Although the substance is chemically related to marijuana and sometimes is referred to as “legal marijuana,” its effects can be far more intense, dangerous and unpredictable than its herbal counterpart.

WHAT THE HIGH IS LIKE: Designed to mimic effects of THC FORMS: K2 typically is sold as a solid or oil.

It most commonly is sprayed onto a noncannabis herbal mixture to be smoked.

KNOWN EFFECTS: Severe agitation and anxiety, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, seizures, dilated pupils, suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or behaviors N O TA B L E N E W S S T O R I E S

In October 2013, a 45-year-old homeless man high on K2 fell after trying to “surf” on top of a moving subway car in New York City.

He was pronounced dead on the scene. More recently, emergency medical workers in the Austin, Texas, area reported a spike in adverse reactions to K2. In the two weeks between May 29 and June 15, 235 people who said they had taken spice fell ill and were taken to the hospital.

K2’s popularity stems in part because it is unlikely to be detected in urine drug tests

B AT H S A LT S

A L S O K N OW N AS P L A N T F O O D, P OT P O U R R I , JEWELRY CLEANER

WHAT IT IS: Bath salts is a blanket term for a family of drugs made from synthetic cathinone, an amphetaminelike stimulant naturally found in the khat plant, native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Substances commonly found in bath salts can include 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone (“Meow Meow”) and methylone, but there are many others.

WHAT THE HIGH IS LIKE: Because of the hallucinatory effects they can produce, bath salts have been compared by users to MDMA, LSD and crystal methamphetamine.

FORMS: The white, tan or brown crystalline powders can be taken orally, inhaled or injected. Bath salts also can come in tablet form.

The most severe effects are associated with snorting or needle injection.

KNOWN EFFECTS: Racing heart, high blood pressure, chest pains, paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, panic attacks, dehydration, breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, kidney failure, death N O TA B L E N E W S S T O R I E S

In 2012, it seemed as if America was under attack by zombies. A 31-year-old man was accused of eating off the face of a homeless man. A New York woman said she wanted to “kill someone and eat them,” then tried to bite the face of a police officer. All were attributed to bath salts, although toxicologists later ruled out synthetic cathinones in the case of the homeless attack.

12-16_cover story_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 14

6/19/15 3:13 PM

S

15 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

FLAKKA

A L S O K N O W N A S G R AV E L , A L P H A- P V P, A- P V P

WHAT IT IS: Stimulant. Also a compound sometimes used in bath salts, flakka is one of the newest and most volatile synthetic drugs available. Relatively little is known about its effect on humans. It is related to cathinone and may be addictive.

FORMS: Flakka is produced as a chunky white crystal, hence its “gravel” nickname, that can be smoked, injected, snorted or ingested.

Five new synthetic drug compounds are introduced every month in the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

KNOWN EFFECTS: Hallucinations, delirium, spikes in body temperature, paranoia, violent behavior, hyperthermia, kidney damage, muscle breakdown, death N O TA B L E N E W S S T O R I E S

Flakka is wreaking havoc in Florida. In recent months alone: One man ran naked through a neighborhood, tried to have sex with a tree and told police he was the mythical god Thor. Another ran nude down a busy city street in broad daylight, convinced a pack of German shepherds was pursuing him. And two othears tried separately to break into the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, claiming people were chasing them. One wound up impaled on a fence.

MEPHEDRONE

A L S O K N O W N A S M E O W M E O W, D R O N E , M - C AT, W H I T E M AG I C

WHAT IT IS: Whether taken alone or as a component of bath salts, mephedrone is an amphetamine.

WHAT THE HIGH IS LIKE: MDMA and cocaine, including euphoria and increased confidence and energy.

FORMS: Mephedrone can be taken as a tablet, capsule or white powder that can be injected, snorted, smoked or swallowed.

KNOWN EFFECTS: Insomnia, teeth grinding, muscle clenching, hallucinations, blurred vision, irregular or racing heartbeat, psychological dependency, suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or behaviors

N O TA B L E N E W S S T O R I E S

In 2013, a British 21-year-old who police said was in a mephedrone-fueled psychosis stabbed his mother 11 times in the neck, back, head and arms before saying “he needed to be punished” for what he had done and cut off a portion of his penis.

MOLLY

M E T H Y LO N E

WHAT IT IS: Though sometimes misused as a pseudonym for MDMA or Ecstasy, Molly is a blanket term for synthetic compounds that vary widely in strength and typically mimic the effects of MDMA and Ecstasy. Molly also often is mixed with other lab-created chemicals, including mephedrone. Synthetic cannabinoids also have been found in compounds sold as Molly.

FORMS: Molly most commonly appears as a capsule or powder to be ingested, but it also has been found applied to blotting papers, similar to LSD, and in injectable form.

KNOWN EFFECTS: Euphoria, insomnia, increased sociability, depersonalization, hallucinations, psychosis, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, hypertension, hyperthermia, sweating, muscle spasms, panic attacks, seizures, death

N O TA B L E N E W S S T O R I E S

Eleven people at Wesleyan University, including 10 students, were hospitalized in February in Connecticut with overdose symptoms consistent with the use of Molly. Two were in critical condition.

In 2013, 3.7 percent of Nevada high school students surveyed said they had used bath salts.

12-16_cover story_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 15

6/19/15 3:13 PM

16 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

COVER STORY

SYNTHETICS, FROM PAGE 13

12-16_cover story_synthetic drugs_20150621.indd 16

DRUG USE

From January to May, 15 people died after using synthetic cannabinoids, a threefold increase from that period in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of calls to poison centers involving the drug also skyrocketed.

SYNTHETIC CANNABINOID CALLS TO POISON CENTER (JANUARY-JUNE 7, 2015) TOTAL 3,765

14

6 0

4

10

1 4

60

13

10 17

7

605

3

34

12

0 143

17

71 4

12

11

36 36

13

65 27

17 54

84

29

18

44 31 115

10 24

121

30

14

4 1,278 85

30

45

328

WASHINGTON, D.C.: 115 PUERTO RICO: 16

119

2 In Tennessee, a 2012 law made the sale of synthetic cannabinoids a felony.

Businesses accused of selling the product can be padlocked as public nuisances.

et h

He ro in Co am s a (0 M ca (1 lts p D .5 . i he 1% ne M % A sy ta ) ) ( 2 m (4 n Pr . th 6% in % Sy es et e ) ) cr nt ic (0 ip he c .9 M tio at tic % ar hi ) n iju m n n e an ar ar n es iju co a (3 an tic (0 6. a s .9 4% (7 (7 % .9 .1% ) ) % ) )

3

51

Ba th

M

new synthetic cannabinoids were identified in 2012, compared with just two in 2009.

Cr ac k

in Clark and Washoe counties focused on combating drug trafficking and abuse. “It’s the excitement of what’s going to happen, the hallucination. The unpredictability, I do believe, is part of it.”

Sometimes, users may not realize they’re taking synthetic drugs. In February, 10 students at Wesleyan University in Connecticut were hospitalized, several in critical condition, with drug overdoses after taking what they believed was MDMA. It actually was a compound made primarily from AB-Fubinaca, an illegal substance found in synthetic marijuana.

“The guys who sell this stuff don’t have any idea what’s actually in it or what the effects will be, nor do they care,” Carter said.

Policing synthetics can play out like a twisted game of Whac-a-Mole. When one supplier is caught or a particular forumula is banned, other suppliers simply change an element or two in the banned substance to create a new “legal” compound with similar effects.

Federal law offers something of a workaround, allowing many synthetic drugs to be treated as controlled substances if they are chemically or pharmacologically similar to a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance. The Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 helped expand that by placing 26 synthetic drugs in Schedule I. Since then, dozens of other drugs have been added temporarily to the list, pending administrative action for permanent designation.

But in Nevada, regulation has been slower to catch up.

State law still assesses substances by their precise chemical makeup rather than by their effect, making it difficult to stamp out new drugs as they emerge.

“If they don’t know what the product is, there’s not a test for it,” said Dave Wuest, deputy executive secretary of the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy, which helps regulate new substances. “You can’t make something illegal that you can’t test for.”

Putting a blanket ban on synthetic compounds isn’t an option, as doing so could prevent the creation of substances that could be beneficial.

During the past three legislative sessions in Nevada, several bills have been introduced to broaden the pharmacy board’s ability to monitor synthetic substances, but all have failed.

Metro Police try to attack the problem on the ground and have helped temper the market’s growth. In 2012, for example, local officers participated in Operation Log Jam, a crackdown of synthetic drugs in 109 cities. More than 90 people were arrested and more than 19 million packets of synthetic substances were seized nationwide.

In 2014, Nevada High Intensity Drug Traffic Area task forces seized 31 pounds of spice and 22 pounds of MDMA. Officers already have surpassed those numbers this year, but Carter said it’s too soon to tell whether that’s due to increased enforcement, increased availability or other factors.

In December, the Las Vegas City Council passed an ordinance making the sale of spice and other synthetic cannabinoids at smoke shops a misdemeanor.

Overall, national law enforcement data show slight declines in availability, but use has yet to diminish significantly.

As police and lawmakers struggle to catch up with the trend, Carter hopes increasing public awareness of the true nature of these substances, whether through educational campaigns or the growing number of user-made YouTube videos showcasing the drugs’ disturbing effects, will help turn the public against synthetics.

“America has a huge thirst for drugs,” Carter said. “But when you see what these drugs do to people, it really speaks for itself.”

As of December 2014, Metro Police had 15 open investigations into the sale or manufacturing of spice.

31 76

new synthetic cathinones were identified in 2012, compared with only four in 2009.

other new synthetic compounds were identified in 2012.

USE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS IN 2012 SOURCES: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POISON CONTROL CENTERS

6/19/15 3:13 PM

Message and data rates apply. For more info visit texterhelp.com

www.SunriseHealthInfo.com

09815_AGNDA_HCA_KingQueen_FP_Ad.indd 1 0000114842-01.indd 1

2/6/15 11:06 2:09 PM 2/9/15 AM

18

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

NEWS

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

Frustration, desperation in cold case of missing mother

Abby Roberts and Phillip Johnson occupied this rental home in a neighborhood near Pecos Road and Harmon Avenue for just a month before they went missing.

(PHOTOS BY STEVE MARCUS/STAFF)

Detectives still hoping for a breakthrough almost 3 years after woman disappeared

and Wildemann squint as they search for faded clues they hope will generate answers about her disappearance.

Soot stains mar the ceiling, and a ring of scorched debris marks the pavement

BY ANA LEY floor — faint but lingering reminders of STAFF WRITER the day she went missing.

“Three years ago, these were much The veteran police investigators more prominent,” Jensen said. “Some never met Abby Roberts, but they of it has been cleaned, some of it has talk about her like she’s an old friend. been painted.”

They reflect on her big heart, her indeThose stains seem insignificant, but pendence and her passion for family. they could yield precious “Abby was so loving and leads on where Roberts is. caring,” Marty Wildemann Roberts’ family reported said as his partner, Barry Jenher missing Oct. 9, 2012, sen, nods. “She was truly a about two weeks after she and victim.” her live-in boyfriend stopped Roberts, a young mother showing up for work at the who vanished from her eastU.S. Post Office on Sunset side home nearly three years Road near McCarran Interago, is special to the detecPHILLIP JOHNSON national Airport. Neither has tives. Among hundreds of Las been heard from since.

Vegas disappearances they’ve investiPolice didn’t find any signs of foul play gated over careers spanning more than at the couple’s home or any evidence a dozen years, Roberts’ haunts Wildedirectly connecting a suspect, but Robmann and Jensen more than any other erts’ relatives suspect Phillip Johnson, as they approach retirement in a year. her boyfriend of one year and the father They know they are close to cracking of her then-2-month-old baby, played a the case; they just need the right witpart in her disappearance. ness or evidence to surface.

Family members told police JohnJensen and Wildemann don’t have son had plenty of motive. Roberts was proof, but they believe Roberts is dead. planning to leave Johnson because she They’ve spent years looking for her believed he was unfaithful, her fambody, poring over evidence and asking ily members said. Roberts and Johnson dozens of people for clues. Yet for all were moving out of their new house aftheir experience, they’re stumped. ter living there only a month.

“Barry and I are at the twilight of our “There’s no way she would have left careers,” said Wildemann, a 27-year vether child,” said Roberts’ aunt, Renee eran of the department. “We really want Roberts. to see this case closed.”

Johnson’s family told police they haven’t heard from Johnson since Oct. ABBY’S DISAPPEARANCE 3, 2012, when he drove the car he shared Standing inside the garage of Robwith Abby Roberts to Torrance, Caerts’ house at 3119 Aldon Ave., Jensen

18-19_News_ColdCase_20150621.indd 18

Metro Police Detective Barry Jensen points to smoke damage in the rental home.

Three years later, he still searches the house for clues to Abby Roberts’ disappearance.

Jensen looks at photos relating to a missing persons case on his computer at Metro headquarters. He and his partner, Marty Wildemann, are haunted by the case of Abby Roberts, who has been missing for almost three years.

6/18/15 3:43 PM

19

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

THE SUNDAY

NEWS

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

rhood ing.

Jeremiah Johnson points to a photo of his mother, Abby Roberts, on a composite image created for his second birthday. With Jeremiah are his uncle, Johnny Roberts, and his mother’s aunt, Renee Roberts. Abby Roberts and her boyfriend, Phillip Johnson, disappeared Sept. 29, 2012.

lif., to visit his mother and drop off the couple’s child and Johnson’s son from a previous relationship.

Attempts to reach Johnson’s relatives were unsuccessful.

Detectives don’t know where to find Johnson, and without more substantial evidence or a witness, they can’t move the case forward. So they’ve kept working, trying to get local and national TV programs to feature it in hopes it might yield clues that could lead to an arrest.

“I’m sure frustrated,” Jensen said. “It would be really hard for us to go into retirement without at least having questioned him or found out if he’s alive.”

JEREMIAH When Renee Roberts’ doorbell rings, Jeremiah Johnson comes bounding down the hall to answer.

He’s almost 3 years old now, and the boy’s full lips and wide-set eyes look more like his mother’s with each passing day. Other traits — his tight brown ringlets, for example — resemble his father’s.

“Every day when I look at him, I hurt for her to not be in his life,” said Renee

18-19_News_ColdCase_20150621.indd 19

Roberts, who cared for Abby Roberts when she was young and now is caring for Jeremiah in her absence. “This kid was everything to her.”

Portraits of Abby Roberts are all around her aunt’s Henderson home.

The family hopes one day to show her just how much her little boy takes after her. They yearn for Abby’s honesty and outspokenness.

“I miss our fights,” said her younger sister, Leirene Roberts, 15. “She had this bossy attitude and always wanted to be in control. I wish she was here so we could fight again. I would take that any day over this.”

The family laughs as Jeremiah angrily tries to claim his cousin’s spot on a living room couch. He doesn’t just look like his mother; he has her character, too.

“Scoot!” Jeremiah shouts at his cousin. “Scoot it off!”

A FAMILY’S RESENTMENT When her niece first disappeared, Renee Roberts focused her frustrations on the Johnson family. They haven’t offered answers about Johnson’s where-

abouts, checked on Jeremiah or answered the Roberts’ phone calls.

That resentment since has spread toward Wildemann and Jensen. Why won’t they try harder to bring Johnson in for questioning? Why don’t they have enough evidence to charge him with a crime? Have they thrown Abby’s case to the back burner?

“In the beginning, I really had a lot of faith in them,” Roberts said. “But now, it has been three years, and I don’t understand why they can’t find him.”

The detectives understand. They don’t blame the Roberts family for being upset because the investigation has stalled.

But they haven’t given up. With every call they make to media, they maintain hope that sharing the story publicly will nudge tipsters into coming forward.

“These guys, they catch a case, and they never let it go,” said David Stanton, a prosecutor with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office who has been working with Wildemann and Jensen on Abby Roberts’ disappearance.

“These are the types of guys you want on your case.”

ABOUT ABBY ROBERTS Female Born April 3, 1987 5 feet, 3 inches tall 125 pounds Pacific Islander of Samoan descent Brown hair, brown eyes Tattoos: “Semba” and “Michael” on her wrists, a tribal tattoo on her left arm, “Respect” and “Loyalty” on her torso

6/18/15 3:43 PM

20

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

NEWS

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

NLV to taggers: Clean up your act

BY CONOR SHINE STAFF WRITER

On an average day in North Las Vegas, 50 buildings, homes, street signs, walls or utility boxes are tagged with graffiti.

The widespread vandalism is another unfortunate side effect of the city’s financial deterioration during the recession, when a wave of foreclosures pushed homeowners out and allowed blight to creep in.

The city was forced to cut its budget, reducing the number of employees cleaning up graffiti from 12 to three.

“We knew that we had a problem, anyone could see it,” said Greg Blackburn, North Las Vegas’ director of community development and compliance. “It shows the city’s not able to control crime.”

But with the city beginning to claw itself out of its financial hole, it is making a concerted effort to fight back.

A new $6 annual fee approved by the North Las Vegas City Council and added to residents’ water bills aims to raise nearly half a million dollars a year to pay for four new graffiti abatement staffers and upgraded equipment.

The investment is worth it, Blackburn said, as the estimated 18,000 graffiti reports the city receives each year cause more than $2 million in property damage.

In addition to ramping up its graffiti staff, the city is using a number of new technologies, strategies and policies to try to curb vandalism.

Graffiti is shown along the Las Vegas Wash channel near Pecos Road and Lake Mead Boulevard.

(STEVE MARCUS/STAFF)

BETTER ENFORCEMENT

BETTER TOOLS

NEXT STEPS

A simple tweak to the rules has given the city added firepower by formally defining graffiti as a nuisance. Before the change, city crews couldn’t force property owners to clean up graffiti. Now, city workers can clean up graffiti on private property themselves and bill the property owners later. It’s the same process used for trash or high grass. The city also is promoting an existing program that gives $250 to people who turn in graffiti vandals, and officials are working with the courts to get more people convicted of graffiti violations sentenced to community service cleaning up the community.

One of the biggest changes has been the launch of a smartphone app, similar to one used in Henderson, that allows residents to snap a picture of any graffiti they find and send it to city officials.

Whereas a decade ago the city had a single staffer devoted to handling reports of graffiti, the app automates the process and provides crews geographically coded information that allows them to plan cleanup efforts more efficiently.

The new fee will allow the city to buy three trucks over the next two years outfitted with pressure washers and blasting equipment that uses soda ash to remove graffiti from concrete and rock. Other, simpler measures include using standardized colors of paints for buildings to make it easier to cover up graffiti and giving residents their own paint to touch up vandalism in their neighborhoods. The city also is starting to put graffiti-resistant coatings on buildings to allow graffiti to be washed off with soap and water, and is encouraging businesses to do the same.

The goal is to respond to and clean graffiti more quickly to help create a more pleasant environment in North Las Vegas, Blackburn said.

Over time, the hope is that increased enforcement will discourage taggers and prevent graffiti.

“We’ve received support from a lot of the businesses because they know graffiti runs customers away,” Blackburn said. “It’s really rewarding when you see people take pride in their community and make it a personal challenge that they’re not going to allow someone to come in and ruin their neighborhood.”

20_News_NLVGraffiti_20150621.indd 20

6/18/15 2:54 PM

21

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

Life after Senate leadership

BY AMBER PHILLIPS SPECIAL TO THE SUNDAY

S

enate Minority Leader Harry Reid says he has no plans for what he’ll do after he retires from Congress in January 2017.

“I don’t know what I’m doing to do,” Reid said. “I’m not really worried much about it.”

With 30 years of experience as a U.S. senator, eight of them as Senate majority leader, Reid has options. If he follows in the footsteps of his former colleagues, these are some of the moves he might consider.

THE RULES Former U.S. senators who want to lobby their former colleagues in Congress must endure a two-year cooling-off period before starting work. The law aims to limit lawmakers’ ability to cash in on inside knowledge.

But the Center for Responsive Politics says the law is “more spaghetti than steel.” At the start of this year’s Congress, a handful of former lawmakers and their staffs, still in the midst of the cooling-off period, served in public policy or government affairs jobs.

They just weren’t called lobbyists.

21_News_ReidNext_20150621.indd 21

NEWS

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

n PROMOTE AN ISSUE This one’s a natural fit for politicians.

Consider former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, a Democrat, who started a health advocacy group with his former rival, onetime Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Frist, a former doctor, and Daschle co-chaired ONE VOTE ’08 to bring global health and poverty issues to the forefront of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Probably the greatest example of bipartisan advocacy by Senate leaders post-Congress is the creation of the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center. The think tank was founded in 2007 by former Senate majority leaders Howard Baker, Bob Dole, George Mitchell and Daschle.

n GO OVERSEAS

n GET MIRED IN CONTROVERSY

After serving stateside, some Senate leaders hop on a plane to see what they can do abroad.

George Mitchell, who ran the Senate from 1991 to 1995, went to Ireland at the request of President Bill Clinton to negotiate peace talks. He also recently served as a special peace envoy to the Middle East.

After Howard Baker retired from the Senate in 1985, he served as a presidential foreign adviser and most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Japan.

It’s likely something they didn’t set out to do, but many former Senate leaders have gotten into trouble or been accused of wrongdoing after leaving Congress.

Frist left the Senate in 2006 mired in an insider trading investigation into his welltimed sale of stock in a family-owned hospital chain. It ended in 2007 with no charges.

Daschle tried to re-enter the public spotlight in 2009 when President Barack Obama nominated him to serve as secretary of health and human services. But revelations he failed to pay more than $100,000 in back taxes forced him to withdraw even before he got the job.

n LOBBY, LOBBY, LOBBY The vast majority of retired Senate leaders turn from lawmaker to lobbyist.

Former Republican majority leader Trent Lott announced in 2007 he would retire from the Senate in the middle of his term — months before a new ethics law took effect that required lawmakers to wait two years instead of one before lobbying Congress. A few months after he left Congress, Lott co-founded a public policy firm.

After Daschle lost re-election in 2004, he was recruited by Dole to a lobbying firm and an annual salary estimated at $4 million.

n BECOME A STAR After retiring from the Senate to run for president — something not on Reid’s radar — Bob Dole found a new platform doing commercials for companies such as Viagra, Visa and Dunkin’ Donuts. He also had stints on “Larry King Live” and “60 Minutes.”

THE SUNDAY

‘

Reid has been adamant he doesn’t want to emulate his predecessors.

I’d rather go to Singapore and have them beat me with whips than become a lobbyist,” Reid told The New York Times.

‘

I don’t need a full-time job,” he said.

Or if Reid were to change his mind ...

n STAY IN THE SENATE Democrat Robert Byrd resigned as Senate majority leader in 1989 to serve as chairman of the Senate appropriations committee, a powerful post albeit a step down from leader. Byrd died in office in 2010 after serving in the U.S. Senate longer than anyone else in history — 51 years.

6/18/15 4:07 PM

22 THE SUNDAY

CRE

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

CAR CARE TIPS FOR TEENS AND FIRST-TIME CAR OWNERS

For any driver, keeping your vehicle in good condition is the first rule of safe driving. Although committing to regular checks and knowing how to perform routine maintenance can be intimidating for many, it’s often a simpler process than you might think, and it can save you lots of money and time in the future. For people who are unable to do such checks on their own, any mechanic can help, but familiarizing yourself with the basic processes can come in handy, too.

Vehicles generally have dashboard warning lights to inform drivers of potential problems with coolant, oil and other fluids.

However, it’s important to perform regular checkups as well.

OIL AND OIL FILTER How often should oil be changed?

Depending on the make and model of the car and the type of oil used, oil changes can be recommended every 3,000, 5,000, 7,000 or 10,000 miles. Consult your owner’s manual for guidelines specific to your vehicle.

What does the oil do?

Motor oil lubricates and reduces friction in a vehicle’s engine while helping to keep it cool. It is essential to the function of a vehicle.

How often should the oil filter be replaced?

Oil filters should be replaced every oil change.

What does an oil filter do?

An oil filter allows the oil to do its job by trapping metal particles, dirt and harmful contaminants within the engine.

WHAT IF I DON’T CHANGE MY OIL? Without oil, parts in the engine can’t move efficiently and can cause friction that could lead to the engine seizing and the car failing.

Imagine hot metal parts forcefully scraping against each other without lubrication — that’s why you need to put oil in your car.

TIRES How often do tires need to be replaced?

How do I check my tread depth?

Tire life varies depending on the model of your vehicle and the type of tire. Although tires are built to withstand a certain amount of normal wear and tear, environmental conditions in Las Vegas can accelerate wear. Checking your tires’ air pressure and tread depth is critically important for a safe ride.

Take a penny and roll it into the tire’s tread grooves, with Lincoln’s head pointing into the tire. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, the tread depth is too low, and your tires need to be replaced.

22-23_NATIVE_ndps_cars_20150621.indd 22

How do I check my tire pressure?

Checking tire air pressure regularly is recommended in extreme climates. You can use a store-bought gauge, or go to a gas station. Most air pumps come with pressure gauges. To determine the ideal amount of tire pressure for your vehicle, consult the owner’s manual, check the driver’s side door or check the sidewall of the tire itself. Do not overinflate tires.

What happens if I don’t maintain proper tire pressure?

If your tire air pressure is too low, it could cause serious damage to your alignment or lead to crashes.

Tire pressure can affect cornering, braking and the stability of a vehicle.

6/18/15 2:52 PM

CREATED AND PRESENTED BY COOLANT What does coolant do?

Coolant prevents the engine from overheating and protects engine parts. The cooling system is vital to a vehicle’s function.

How often does coolant need to be added or changed?

That varies depending on the model of your vehicle and your geographic location.

How do I check my coolant?

Your vehicle must be off, and the engine must be cool. It is not safe to open the radiator of a hot car. Pop the hood and find the coolant reserve tank, but be careful not to confuse it with the windshield wiper fluid, which might look similar. The coolant reserve tank typically is clear or white plastic and is connected to the radiator with a hose. There should be indicators on the outside of the tank to determine if the fluid level is high or low. If the fluid doesn’t reach the “Full” line, open the cap and add a 50/50 mix of coolant and water. Some coolants already are mixed with water, so check the bottle to be sure of the ratio.

WHAT IF I DON’T MONITOR MY VEHICLE’S COOLANT? Your car can overheat on the road, forcing you to pull over until the engine cools. Cooling system failures are a common cause of mechanical breakdowns in Las Vegas.

ng vers s with fluids. ant to ckups

on’t

e use ur rashes. ct d the

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

BATTERY What does the battery do?

The battery powers the vehicle’s electrical system.

Your car cannot start or run without it.

How often does the battery need to be changed?

Vehicle batteries typically begin to decline after four years. A good indicator of the state of the battery is how quickly the engine turns over.

If it seems labored when you start your car, the battery may be nearing the end of its life.

How to check your battery You’ll need a digital multimeter to check the voltage. Be sure the engine is off and the battery is cool. A charged battery will read approximately 12.6 volts. Next, inspect the outside of the battery and battery cables for corrosion, a white, chalky substance that can form on top of and around the battery. A battery with a lot of corrosion is a sign of age. Lastly, check the date code on the battery. If it’s older than three years and showing other signs of age or wear, you should get it checked by a mechanic.

WHAT IF I DON’T CHANGE MY BATTERY? If your car battery dies, you won’t be able to start your car.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T MAINTAIN MY TIRES? Your vehicle’s traction on the road will be greatly compromised, especially in inclement weather. The car could slide around on the street, endangering yourself and others on the road. In addition, tires

Be sure to change your wiper blades and replenish your windshield wiper fluid routinely. You’ll know wipers have to be changed when the blades skip, streak or smear on the windshield. Fluid is low when you notice the liquid struggling to spray onto the windshield.

with bare treads are more prone to flats.

22-23_NATIVE_ndps_cars_20150621.indd 23

6/18/15 2:52 PM

24

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

NEWS

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

Andre Agassi, left, greets Kirk Kerkorian in 2011 at the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education Grand Slam for Children fundraiser, where Kerkorian donated $18 million to the foundation. (COURTESY)

Kerkorian’s generosity will influence generations

E

very so often in life, you encounter someone who truly is larger than life. Less frequent are the moments you are touched by a larger-than-life presence who is not, in fact, present.

Having never met Kirk Kerkorian, this is how I best remember him: on an October night in 2011 at Wynn Las Vegas, at the 16th annual Andre Agassi Foundation for Education Grand Slam for Children, where Kerkorian made his presence felt.

To the tune of $18 million.

Smokey Robinson, Michael Buble and Martina McBride were among the entertainers to grace the stage that night at Lafite Ballroom. But there was no more beautiful sound than Agassi announcing that donation.

“There has been a gift generously given from a great man named Kirk Kerkorian, which I get the privilege of announcing for the first time, publicly,” Agassi told the audience of about 1,000 dignitaries and supporters. “But before I tell you that gift, let me tell you that if it wasn’t for him and his kindness to my family, I wouldn’t be standing in front of

24_Kats_20150621.indd 24

in tribute to Kerkorian, you today. And I mean his also mentioned the UCLA kindness long before I hit a “Dream Fund” charity tennis ball.” founded by Kerkorian in The familial ties bonding April 2011.

Agassi and Kerkorian were “The other thing I want stronger than the strings to say about this gift is that on any tennis racquet. it’s unprecedented in our Agassi’s father, Mike, foundation’s history,” Agassi worked at the original JOHN MGM Grand when fire KATSILOMETES said. “It’s a gift that assures us our future in perpetuity erupted at the hotel in and forever. Kirk Kerkorian November 1980, killing 85 has given our foundation people, temporarily clos$18 million.” ing the hotel and putting employees out The crowd erupted, the applause of work. The Mike Agassi and Kerkorian lasting a full minute, but even at that shared a strong Armenian heritage, and moment, it was difficult to appreciate Kerkorian made sure the family was not the full scope of the gift. Kerkorian’s left financially bereft. donation had pushed the night’s total Unknown for years to even the most to $26.1 million, which ensured that the avid Agassi fans, Kerkorian supported Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy had Mike Agassi again when the family paenough operating funds to live on for the triarch underwent heart surgery in 1995. foreseeable future.

“We’re still waiting for that bill,” Agassi “Mr. Kerkorian, I respect you, I love said in 2010. you,” Agassi said, his voice quivering.

A year later, Andre Agassi told the “On behalf of this foundation, on behalf well-heeled gala audience, “His generosof every child who will walk the halls ity didn’t stop with me. It continued to of Agassi Prep, and on behalf of the millions of people in Nevada.” millions and millions of people he has Agassi, whose middle name is Kirk

helped and continues to help who he will never meet, thank you.”

Agassi left the stage, and as it turned out, it would be the last such fundraising effort for Agassi Prep. It later was announced that the Grand Slam for Children would take a year off, and it has not been staged since. There is no need.

The event, which rivaled even the Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love” gala for its grandeur, required several months of planning and, as Agassi said at the time, was “taxing to our small staff.”

An unassuming man who never finished the eighth grade made it possible for multitudes of children to further their own educations.

Watching the tennis superstar reduced to tears was one of the many testimonials to Kerkorian’s legacy. He was the sort of mythic person who could make even great champions like Andre Agassi feel humbled. Kerkorian’s was a reminder that even while building the grand resorts that make Las Vegas one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations, building a future for the children of this generation is just as important.

6/18/15 2:51 PM

0000124603-01.indd 1

6/18/15 3:16 PM

26 THE SUNDAY

CRE

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

HERNIAS ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK There are an estimated 3 million new hernia cases in the United States each year, a painful condition for those they affect. “They’re one of the most common surgical problems I see,” said Dr. Matthew Johnson, Acute Care Surgeon and Robotic Surgeon at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and Desert Surgical Associates. “I see many patients that come to my office for a hernia consultation, and it’s also very frequent in the emergency room for patients needing emergency surgery.”

The severity of hernias can vary greatly, as can the cause and type of hernia.

WHAT Hernias are caused by weaknesses in the abdominal IS A HERNIA? wall tissues. Because of this, there are many potential A hernia occurs when an reasons a patient could get a hernia, including age, organ exits through the wall of the chronic coughing, pregnancy, constipation, heavy cavity where it normally sits. “It’s basiweight lifting or sudden weight gain. Hernias cally a separation in the main layers of also can be congenital, meaning the condition the abdominal wall — the fascia,” Johnson exists from birth. Congenital hernias can said. “The fascia is what holds everything include belly button or umbilical hernias, and together and keeps our internal organs from groin or inguinal hernias, Johnson said. protruding.” The fascia is the “strength layer” of the abdominal wall. It lies between the Patients are especially susceptible to hernias peritoneum, the innermost lining next to after they’ve had abdominal surgery. Surgery the organs, and the skin. When organs or can weaken the fascial tissue surrounding internal body fat protrudes through a abdominal muscles, leading to a breach or rupture in the fascia, patients may see separation. There are several factors that can a visible lump in their abdomen or influence your likelihood of developing a hernia groin, which often are assoafter surgery: ciated with hernias.

1. Women who have C-sections or hysterectomies or men who have abdominal surgeries.

2. How the tissue was closed during surgery.

3. Smoking. Nicotine directly damages blood vessels, which negatively PROTRUSION affects healing post surgery.

OF TISSUE 4. If surgical incisions get infected, surrounding tissue won’t heal as well and scars won’t form as tightly, which can allow hernias to develop.

ABDOMINAL WAL L

WHAT CAUSES A HERNIA?

n and inca protru so tight the abd incarce lated he the bl pie “In s c

SYMPTOMS 1. Newly discovered lump in the abdominal wall or groin 2. Pain at suspected hernia site 3. Bowel obstruction coinciding with the lump 4. Groin or swelling of the scrotum

DID YOU KNOW? While hernias most often occur in the abdomen or groin, they also can present in the upper thighs.

26-27_NATIVE_hca_hernias_20150621.indd 26

HERNIA

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A HERNIA? While there are home remedies that can ease the discomfort of a hernia, all patients should have their hernias checked by a doctor. “If you develop a lump in your groin or abdomen, see a surgeon sooner rather than later” or visit your primary care physician for a surgical referral, Johnson said. “The longer you wait, the larger a hernia can get and the more difficult it is to repair. If it’s small, it’s easy to fix, but if it gets larger, the more complications you can have.”

6/18/15 2:46 PM

CREATED AND PRESENTED BY

SUNRISE HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER

HOW ARE HERNIAS REPAIRED? Hernias typically are repaired using a synthetic or biologic mesh to patch the defect in the abdominal wall. “The mesh acts as a bridge to cover the hernia or the hole in the fascia,” Johnson said.

The mesh can be inserted using different surgical techniques, but the preferred methods are laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Both are minimally invasive, meaning shorter healing time, a decreased risk of infection and less scarring. Johnson estimates 95 percent of hernia surgeries are either laparoscopic or robotic. “The minimally invasive approach is better, hands down,” Johnson said. “If one of my family members or myself developed a hernia, I would recommend minimally invasive surgery for repair.”

RISKS If left untreated, hernias can become incarcerated and require emergency surgery. An incarcerated hernia occurs when the protruding organ or fat becomes pinched so tightly that it cannot be pushed back into the abdomen or groin. Over a few hours an incarcerated hernia can turn into a strangulated hernia when it is pinched so tightly that the blood flow is cut off to that organ or piece of internal fat,” said Johnson.

“Incarcerated hernias and especially strangulated hernias are a surgical emergency and need to be repaired immediately.”

Laparoscopic surgery Surgeons make a series of small incisions, rather than a large surgical opening, to insert the mesh. With this method, there is a decreased risk of infection because the incisions are small.

Robotic surgery Incisions are similar to laparoscopic surgery, but the surgeon uses the da Vinci surgical robot to assist with performing the surgery.

The surgeon operates the robot from an adjacent console, using a screen with a high definition 3-D image from inside the patient’s body. Robotic surgery enables a wider range of motion than laparoscopic surgery, often meaning fewer and smaller incisions. “The robotic arms have a much higher degree of freedom of movement and rotation than a surgeon’s hands,” Johnson said.

“And the visualization of all the bodily structures and the hernia with the 3-D camera makes it easy to see. It’s a lot easier to fix hernias robotically and a lot quicker.”

INTESTINES

Message and data rates apply.For more info visit texterhelp.com

HOW TO PREVENT HERNIAS Diet and exercise Core building in particular strengthens abdominal muscles. “Over time, abdominal musculature atrophies, and that causes definite weakness or decreased strength in the abdominal wall,” Johnson said. “That’s why we see hernias in a lot of older individuals.”

Stop smoking Smokers scheduled for surgery should stop smoking immediately, Johnson said. Smoking can damage blood vessels and slow healing. And prior surgery is one of the most common causes of hernias.

www.SunriseHealthInfo.com

26-27_NATIVE_hca_hernias_20150621.indd 27

6/18/15 2:50 PM

28

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

LIFE

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

GET READY TO HIT THE ROAD DON’T FORGET...

Since your car now contains everything except the kitchen sink, don’t forget any of the more typical road-trip supplies: your wallet, your phone and a phone charger, a selection of music, a sweatshirt, sneakers and socks, your camera and some reading material.

BY EMILY KULKUS

SPECIAL TO THE SUNDAY

MEDICINE

It’s road-trip season — time to check the forecast, grab your trusty map or GPS, corral your family into the car and hit the highway. ¶ Being spontaneous can be fun.

But conversely, without a little preparation, it also can get really expensive. ¶ Stock your car now with these items so you’ll be ready for anything when the urge strikes.

Road trips make for great memories, but they also can include bugs, dirt, bumps and bruises. The solution?

Bug spray, hand sanitizer, pain reliever and a first-aid kit. All are available in packages small enough to not take up too much room in your vehicle, and they are priceless when you need them.

SEATING If your vehicle is large enough, leave bagged folding chairs in your trunk all summer long. It’s a great way to be prepared for any impromptu backyard gathering, picnic in the park or hometown parade. If you can’t fit chairs, throw in an old blanket or some beach towels.

CLEAN ING SUPPLIES SUN AND RAIN GEAR Your sunglasses probably are in the car already. But how about sunscreen, a hat or visor and a raincoat or an umbrella? Sunburns and waterlogged sneakers don’t make enjoyable souvenirs.

Ever have a dog or a child throw up in your backseat?

It’s an unforgettable experience.

So unforgettable, you’ll never leave home without paper towels and grocery bags again. A roll of paper towels and a handful of plastic shopping bags are crucial for any number of catastrophes.

SAFETY GEAR When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your spare tire? Do that now.

It also doesn’t hurt to have flares, a flashing light or a reflective triangle to put on the road if your car does happen to break down. And if you’re not the tire-changing kind, be sure the phone number for a roadside assistance company is in your phone.

SNACKS Keep a stash of snacks in your vehicle to tide you over on long drives and prevent you from having to make too many pit stops.

Good options include granola bars without chocolate (which will melt in hot cars), almonds, dried fruit, Goldfish crackers or pretzels.

If you have a pet, don’t forget a dish for food and water.

28_Life_RoadTrip_20150621.indd 28

6/18/15 2:41 PM

“Changing the Perception of Dentistry one child at a time�

Our 6 themed rooms will have your kids looking forward to their next dentist visit.

Call (702) 522-2272

to schedule your appointment with Dr. Brandon today!

Visit us at www.AffordableDentalKids.com to learn more

0000121424-01_TSD_BostonDental_Astro_AD_c3.indd 1 0000121424-01.indd 1

6/4/15 6/4/15 12:42 2:25 PM

30

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

LIFE

Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

STIR-FRY MUSHROOM LETTUCE WRAP

DIRECTIONS

RECIPE PROVIDED BY HAKKASAN LAS VEGAS

Vegetarian recipes can be just as substantive and flavorful as meat dishes, as proven by many of Hakkasan’s offerings, including this quick but complex mushroom wrap.

INGREDIENTS

(serves four)

1. Turn the heat to medium and add a little oil to pan; wait until the pan gets hot.

2. Add shallots and garlic, and stir-fry them until you smell their aroma.

SAUCE INGREDIENTS

3. Add the mushrooms, black bean sauce, toban sauce and water, and cook 8-10 seconds. /8 cup pine nuts

/2 cup pistachios

3

3 /8 cup king oyster mushrooms

1 1/4 tbsp minced garlic

1

/4 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms

/4 cup black bean sauce

1

1 1/4 tbsp rice wine

/4 cup toban sauce (chili bean sauce)

1

2 2/3 tbsp sugar

1

1 1/4 tbsp light soy sauce

1 1/4 tbsp black soy sauce

/8 cup water

5

2 2/5 tsp potato starch

pinch of salt

4. Add the sugar, salt, light soy sauce, black soy sauce and potato starch, and stirfry until the sauce thickens.

5. Add the pine nuts and pistachios, turn the heat to high, quick-fry them, add the rice wine and cook 5-10 seconds. Serve with lettuce.

1 1/4 tbsp shallot

Cut the mushrooms and shallots into 1/2-inch cubes

30_Life_Recipe20150621.indd 30

6/18/15 2:37 PM

031_tsd_062115.indd 1

6/18/15 2:59 PM

NIGHT SWIM &

GR ND GR ND

SUMMER Sounds

FROM THE

THE POOL DECK

SATURDAY,

JULY 4TH

$

LIT

opening band Ashley Red

8PM | DOORS 7:30PM

Tickets starting at 20 FIRST DRINK ON US! $

Check out these other Summer Sounds!

DOWNTOWNGRAND.COM | 702.719.5100 ON THIRD, ONE BLOCK NORTH OF FREMONT ST. 206 N 3RD ST, LAS VEGAS, NV 89101

rebate PROGRAM

New members GUARANTEED up to $ 1,000 REBATE!

WE’RE GRILLING AT THE POOL DECK!

12

99

EVERY FRIDAY | 5PM–8PM Every Thursday Night • 6:30PM

JULY 18 | Empire Records AUGUST 8 | Journey Unlimited SEPTEMBER 5 | Mick Adams and the Stones

For tickets and info call 702-719-5170 or visit DOWNTOWNGRAND.com

1, 1,000

$

Summer $ 18 ADULTS Luaus 14 for age 12 and under at All-You-Can-Eat and live music! $

THE POOL DECK

For tickets and info call 702-719-5170 or visit DOWNTOWNGRAND.COM

FOLLOW US ONLINE! DOWNTOWN GRAND LAS VEGAS

@DOWNTOWNGRANDLV

GATED RESORT-STYLE LIVING MINUTES FROM IT ALL

Las Vegas' Most In-Demand Condos One to Three Bedroom Condominium Residences featuring Private Attached Garages, a Community Park and Spacious Floor Plans

Sales Center Open Daily

702.719.6100

SpanishPalmsLV.com

Don’t miss your chance to own.

Priced from the $120,000s.

No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. No statement should be relied upon except as expressly set forth in the Nevada Public Offering Statement. This is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, any condominium units in those states where such offers or solicitations cannot be made. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. Pricing and locations of units are subject to change without notice. Views and locations of units within the project are not guaranteed and the buyer is responsible for inspecting the unit and its location before signing any agreement with respect thereto. Any square footage numbers are approximate. ©DK Spanish Palms LLC Unauthorized use of the images, artist renderings, plans or other depictions of the project or units is strictly prohibited.

032_tsd_062115.indd 1

6/18/15 12:07 PM

33

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

THE SUNDAY

LIFE

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

LOOKING FOR A NEW BEST FRIEND?

The Animal Foundation and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are shelters dedicated to finding homes for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles and more. Each week, we feature a selection of animals available for adoption.

Gizmo (A837864)

Bowie (A828734)

George

Ronnie

Breed: 2-year-old neutered male Age: Chihuahua Description: When comfortable, Gizmo can be friendly and playful. His adoption fee is discounted, and he’ll be sent home with a collar, leash, ID tag, free vaccines for life and discounted training.

Adoption Fee: $105

Breed: 2-year-old neutered male Age: Pit bull Description: Happy-go-lucky Bowie craves a home with an active, outgoing family. He gets along with other dogs, and may do best in a home with older children.

Adoption Fee: $105

Age: 3-year-old neutered male Breed: Mediumhair tuxedo Description: George is a social youngster who craves attention. He likes chasing toy mice and sprawling on tile floors for naps.

Adoption fee: $40

Age: 10-year-old neutered male Breed: Malti-poo Description: Ronnie is looking for a loving home. He is sensitive and is deeply hurt if he thinks you are angry with him.

Adoption fee: $40

Jasmine (A843519)

Blue (A836940)

Chloe

Gena

Breed: 2-year-old spayed female Age: Pit bull mix Description: Jasmine loves children and dogs. Her adoption fee is discounted, and she’ll be sent home with a collar, leash, ID tag, receive free vaccines for life and discounted training.

Adoption Fee: $55

Breed: 3-year-old male Age: Domestic shorthair Description: Blue is a big boy with a big heart and lots of love to share.

Celebrate “Adopt A Shelter Cat Month” by bringing him home.

Adoption Fee: $5 (through June 30)

Age: 13-year-old spayed female Breed: Dalmatian mix Description: We admire Chloe’s noble, angelic spirit. She is housetrained and good with children and large dogs.

Adoption fee: $25

Age: 3-year-old spayed female Breed: Balinese Description: Gena likes other gentle animals, both cats and dogs, as well as mature children. Looking out of windows is one of her favorite ways to relax.

Adoption fee: $40

Kuma (A824335)

Pee-Wee (A833588)

Griffin

King

Breed: 6-year-old spayed female Age: Domestic shorthair Description: Mellow, laid-back Kuma is a bit shy at first, but give her time to warm up and she’ll be purring on your lap in no time.

Adoption Fee: $5 (through June 30)

Breed: 3-year-old neutered male Age: Domestic shorthair Description: Pee-Wee is 14 pounds of friendly, fabulous feline. He loves lounging, cuddling with people and soliciting ear and chin scratches.

Adoption Fee: $5 (through June 30)

Age: 1-year-old neutered male Breed: Harlequin mix Description: Griffin is a solemn little gentleman who enjoys watching people and rabbits. Please position his habitat so he can easily view and interact with his family.

Adoption fee: $25

Age: 3-year-old neutered male Breed: Chihuahua Description: King is a 6-pound sweetheart seeking a gentle home where he will be treasured. He likes other friendly dogs.

Adoption fee: $60

ANIMAL FOUNDATION 702-384-3333 x131 | animalfoundation.com/adopt Animals are assigned a color next to their names indicating location: 655 N. Mojave Road, Las Vegas 286 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson

33_Pets_20150621.indd 33

NEVADA SPCA 4800 W. Dewey Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-873-SPCA | www.nevadaspca.org

6/18/15 2:35 PM

34 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

SPORTS

THE $375M NEXT STAGE

Cost of the privately funded project — the same amount AEG spent in 1999 for Los Angeles’ Staples Center. AEG also helped build the most expensive arena in the United States, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, which cost $1 billion.

AEG-MGM ARENA PARTNERSHIP TAKING SHAPE

BY THE SUNDAY STAFF | PHOTO BY TOM DONOGHUE

100-150

Events per year the arena is expected to host, including concerts, sporting events and awards shows.

34-35_Sports_MGMArena_20150621.indd 34

20K

Number of people the arena will be able to hold for UFC and boxing matches, as well as center-stage concerts. Capacity for basketball games will be 18,500, 17,500 for hockey and 12,000 to 18,000 for end-stage concerts.

7.1K TONS

Weight of the estimated 7,000 pieces of steel used in the arena’s structure. Some pieces are as short as two feet, others as long as 350 feet.

6/18/15 2:26 PM

‘

THIS WILL BE A DESTINATION. THINK OF ALL THE EVENTS THAT WILL BE HERE IN THE

35 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

FUTURE. WE’LL HAVE DANCE. WE’LL HAVE MUSIC. WE’LL HAVE SPORTING EVENTS. HOPEFULLY WE’LL HAVE A PROFESSIONAL TEAM FOR LAS VEGAS — ALL THINGS THAT

MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND BRING PEOPLE HERE TO PARTAKE IN THE WONDERFUL THINGS LAS VEGAS HAS TO OFFER.”

— CLARK COUNTY COMMISSIONER MARY BETH SCOW

M

ct — the for Los helped n the lays .

200K LBS.

Weight the arena roof’s rigging grid will be able to support to hang a video board, speaker system and other equipment needed for concerts and events.

34-35_Sports_MGMArena_20150621.indd 35

2.5K

Number of construction workers building the arena. The project broke ground May 1, 2014, and the arena is scheduled to open in spring 2016.

6/18/15 2:26 PM

36

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

GAMING

Send your gaming information to gamingguide@thesunday.com

CASINO PROMOTIONS PALMS $40,000 Jammin’ June Drawings Date: June 26 Time: 7 p.m.

Information: Earn drawing tickets with slot play. Earn 2x entries from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Earn 5x entries from 8 p.m. to midnight. Ten winners will be selected to win up to $3,000 in cash.

Activate at least 10 drawing tickets and receive $10 in slot play the following Saturday.

additional names will be drawn. First place wins $7,500 in free slot play. $12,500 mobile hot seat Date: Tuesdays Information: Players must accept the hot seat offer from the mobile app to qualify. From noon to 5 p.m., five people will win $50 in slot play. At 6 p.m., 10 people will win $100 in slot play. Winners will be announced over the intercom and must swipe at a kiosk to redeem their prize.

Play For Prizes – Free Play Date: June 29-July 3 Information: Points earned Monday through Friday may be combined and redeemed for up to $190 in free play per day.

Father’s Day dauber giveaway Date: June 21 Information: Free dauber giveaway during all bingo sessions.

Play For Prizes – High Tech Date: Through June 26 Information: Points earned Monday through Friday may be combined and redeemed for gift cards to Fry’s and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.

SILVERTON

Gift days Date: June 28 Time: 12:01 a.m.-6:59 p.m.

Information: Earn 100 points on slots or 500 points on video poker and receive a hair clipper set.

ALIANTE Hot Summer Fun Pull Tabs Date: June 26-27 Information: Earn 250 points to receive a card. Come in both days and earn a pull tab to come back Sunday for a bonus offer. Win up to $10,000.

Receive pull tab vouchers at kiosks, then turn them in at the Players Club to receive a pull tab.

50+ Play Day kiosk game Date: Mondays in June Information: Earn 50 points to spin the wheel to win up to $500 in slot play.

June point multipliers Date: Wednesdays Information: Earn 5x points on video poker and 10x points on reels.

Burst June multiplier Date: June 21 Information: Earn 6x points on video poker and 12x points on reels. $25,000 Hot Summer Nights drawings Date: June 27 Time: 7:15 p.m.

Information: Earn entries through June 27. The top 10 drawing entry earners will receive spots in the final drawing and $250 in slot play. Ten

36-37_Gaming_20150621.indd 36

Earn and win — buffet Date: Thursdays Time: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Information: Earn 100 points to receive a free lunch or dinner at Seasons Buffet.

Father’s Day Bass Pro Shops gift card giveaway Date: June 21 Information: There are three ways to win Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

Guests who earn 10,000 points will receive a $100 gift card, 20 winners will receive a $25 Bass Pro Shops gift card during random hot seat drawings and 25 winners will receive a $100 Bass Pro Shops gift card at a 7 p.m. drawing for which entries can be acquired for 250 points.

Silverton sweepstakes Date: June 27 Information: Win up to $10,000.

Grand finale drawings will be 5 p.m. with a $5,000 prize and 8 p.m. with a $10,000 prize. Free drawing entries are available to loyalty card members daily; additional entries are 300 points each. Diamond card members receive 10 free entries, platinum card members receive seven free entries and gold card members receive five free entries daily. Each Friday, Silverton Rewards Club members receive double drawing entries.

Point multipliers Date: Wednesdays Information: Earn 6x points on reels and 2x points on video poker. $10,000 Reel & Win Slot Tournaments Date: Tuesdays Time: 11 a.m.

Information: The top 30 players will qualify for cash and slot play. The first-place player will win $1,000.

SLS Scratch ’n’ Win Date: Fridays Information: Mail recipients and guests who have made a $10 advance-deposit wagering or higher in the past 90 days can receive a scratch card to win prizes.

Gift giveaways Date: Saturdays Information: Earn 250 slot points or 500 video poker points to receive a gift.

Point multipliers Date: June Information: Earn 2x points all month. Every Thursday, guests who have made a $40 advance-deposit wager or higher can win up to 1,000 slot points. Guests who make a $40 advance-deposit wager or higher between 4 and 7 p.m. and 8 and 11 p.m.

Sundays also are eligible. $130,000 Caddies and Cash Date: Sundays Time: 7 p.m.

Information: Earn 25 slot or video points or bet an average of $15 for one hour on a table game to enter.

Ten winners will be selected during each drawing and will choose one of 10 keys, each with a prize, one being a Cadillac ATS.

at a kiosk for a chance to win $1 million, free play, comp dollars, food and more. A valid email address is required.

THE D Win Derek’s Hellcat Date: Through Aug. 29 Information: Earn tickets for monthly drawings that culminate with a chance to win a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

STATION CASINOS MyGeneration Wednesdays Date: Ongoing Locations: All Station properties, Fiesta Henderson and Fiesta Rancho Information: For loyalty card holders age 50 and older. Swipe your card at a kiosk for up to 10x points on slots and 6x points on video poker; discounts on dining, movies and bowling; slot tournaments from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a top prize of $1,000.

The first entry is free; receive up to four additional entries by earning 50 additional base points for each. $1.3 Million Music Mania giveaway Date: Fridays and Saturdays through June 27 Time: 10 a.m.-midnight Information: A kiosk game and drawing. Win up to $5,000. Drawings are at 8:15 p.m. Saturdays.

BOYD GAMING Father’s Day multiplier Date: June 21 Information: Earn 15x points on penny slots, 11x points on other reels and 7x points on video poker at the Orleans, Suncoast, Gold Coast and Sam’s Town.

SUNCOAST $16,000 Table games drawing Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 7 and 9 p.m.

Information: Win $250. Earn drawing entries by playing table games. Earn 4x entries on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Point multipliers Date: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Information: Members of the 50+ Club can earn a mystery multiplier on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays, earn 12x points on reels and 6x points on video poker.

SOUTH POINT Live money Spring Fling handicapping contest Date: Select Fridays in June Information: A $150 buy-in allows players to wager on five horse races in win, place and exacta formats. The contest features a $100 bankroll and a $20 minimum bet per race. Bettors can win cash prizes or one paid seat to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge qualifier, worth $1,500.

REAL GAMING Get $20 Date: Through June 30 Information: Sign up for an account at realgaming.com, join a game and receive a $20 credit.

ORLEANS

GOLDEN GATE AND THE D

Gift days Date: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Information: Earn 300 points to receive a gift.

Email Yourself a Million Date: Through Aug. 31 Information: Swipe your loyalty card

‘B’ Loyal to the Royal drawing Date: Through June 26

6/18/15 2:24 PM

37

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Send your gaming information to gamingguide@thesunday.com

Time: 7:15 p.m.

Information: Earn entries for drawings through play. Win up to $5,000. Hit a royal flush with a max coin bet and earn additional free play and drawing entries.

Information: Earn 10 points for the first entry; earn 50 points for each additional entry in a video poker tournament at 8:15 p.m. Top prize is $1,000 in play.

Point multiplier Date: Sundays Information: Earn 15x points on penny reels.

STRATOSPHERE

PLAZA 50-plus slot tournament Date: Wednesdays Time: 10 a.m.

Information: The best combined score from two sessions wins $1,000.

DOWNTOWN GRAND Get a Grand from the Grand Date: Through Dec. 31 Information: For new loyalty card members. Earn up to $1,000 back on all reel and video reel games.

Requires a minimum loss of $50.

The rebate will be split over three redemption periods to total 100 percent of the player’s loss.

SAM’S TOWN Pie giveaway Date: June 25 Information: Earn 200 points to receive an apple pie.

Cool cash giveaway Date: Mondays Time: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Information: Twelve table games players will win each hour. Players can win more than once.

Bonus tourney Date: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays Information: As an eligible penny slot machine is played, a tournament icon meter will grow. Once the meter is full, the player can press a spin button on the tournament game three times. Cumulative scores will be added up at the end of the tournament. Top prize is $750 in play.

Camaro Point Challenge Date: Through July 15 Information: The top three loyalty card users who collect Camaro points will win cash. The top 50 winners will earn entry into a slot tournament.

$3 Million Blackjack Bonus drawing Date: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Time: 6:15 p.m.

Information: Earn entries by playing slots and table games. Five winners at each drawing; win up to $50,000.

Video Poker Showdown Date: Fridays Time: 4-8 p.m.

36-37_Gaming_20150621.indd 37

Pirate’s Treasure progressive drawings Date: Last Wednesday of the month Time: 6:15 and 8:15 p.m.

Information: Ten winners will be chosen at each drawing. The progressive jackpot increases every month it doesn’t hit.

GAMING

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

er Special or a $5 Subway voucher.

BINION’S Mother Lode swipe and win Date: Ongoing Information: Club members can win up to $2,500 daily. Earn points for chances to swipe the prize machine, with a maximum of three swipes daily.

Earn five points for a chance to win $50, 40 points for a chance to win $100 and 300 points for a chance to win $2,500.

CLUB FORTUNE ELDORADO $8,000 giveaway Date: Saturdays Time: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Information: One winner will be chosen every hour. Earn entries through slot and live keno play. Win up to $1,000 in cash and free play.

Earn a T-shirt Date: June 25 Information: Earn 300 points to receive a free T-shirt.

Gift days Date: Sundays Information: Earn 200 points to receive a free gift.

WILDFIRE MyGeneration Mondays Date: Ongoing Information: For players 50 and older.

Earn 6x points on slot machines and video poker, receive discounts on bowling and dining, and win up to $250 in free slot play.

WESTGATE Rockin’ 777 slot tournament Date: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Time: 4-8 p.m.

Information: Free for loyalty club members. The top five winners will receive $100 in free slot play.

Top of the Hill slot tournament Date: Tuesdays and Wednesdays Time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Information: Win cash prizes.

JOKERS WILD Gift days Date: Sundays Information: Earn 200 points to receive a gift.

50-plus party Date: Tuesdays Information: Loyalty card players 50 and older can earn $100 in free slot play on all video reel machine jackpots more than $1,200, a complimentary kiosk swipe for earning 50 points, a second kiosk swipe for earning 500 points, a bingo coupon for a free small electronic unit rainbow pack (minimum buy-in required), a $5 lunch buffet and a free round in a slot tournament from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summerlin and Elite players may receive an additional round. The best score will be used in the tournament, with 12 winners

JERRY’S NUGGET Up to 5x points Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 4 a.m.-11:59 p.m.

Information: Rewards members who swipe their cards at a kiosk receive 3x points, 4x points or 5x points on slot and video poker games.

VENETIAN AND PALAZZO Jumpin’ Jokers cash giveaway Date: Saturdays Information: Nine players will be chosen, one winner on the hour every hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one every hour from 6 to 10 p.m. Win up to $1,000 cash or $1,200 slot play.

Progressive poker variant Date: Ongoing Information: Caribbean stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and three-card poker players can make optional $5 side bets for a chance to win a progressive jackpot.

Free shirt giveaway Date: Tuesdays Information: Earn 300 points to receive a T-shirt.

TREASURE ISLAND

Bonus Thursdays Date: Thursdays Information: Win bonuses with select hands on video poker, slots and keno.

MAX CASINO AT THE WESTIN Happy Hour specials Date: Daily Time: 6-8 p.m.

Information: $3 craps and 25-cent roulette will be offered at select tables.

GOLDEN NUGGET RAMPART CASINO

Poker High Hands bonus Date: Through August Information: Players who get a royal flush, straight flush or four of a kind while playing seven-card stud and hold ’em will receive a bonus payout.

selected each week. The top prize is $1,000. A $15 free slot play bonus will be given to everyone who wins a round.

THE SUNDAY

New player rewards Date: Ongoing Information: Sign up for a players card and spin to win up to $1,000 in free play.

EL CORTEZ $25,000 Cash is King drawing Date: Aug. 15 Information: Earn one entry for every 5,000 points.

New player rewards Date: Ongoing Information: Sign up for a players card and earn rewards starting at 50 points. New members who earn 100 points can win $20 to $100 in slot play. Continue playing to earn a slot card keeper; a T-shirt; more slot play; a meal for two at the buffet, Gilley’s or Phil’s Italian Steakhouse; tickets to “Mystere” or a free room. All points earned during the first seven days from initial sign-up are counted.

SILVER SEVENS Nifty 50 slot tournament Date: Wednesdays Time: 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m.

Information: Earn entries with play.

First prize is $1,000.

Point multipliers Date: Thursdays and Saturdays Information: On Thursdays, earn 3x points on video poker and 7x points on reels. On Saturdays, earn 4x points on video poker and 10x points on reels.

CAESARS PALACE Sizzle, Smoke & Sub Date: Ongoing Information: Earn 1,500 points in a day and receive your choice of a free pack of cigarettes, a free Jackie Burg-

Fuel rewards Date: Ongoing Information: Link a Total Rewards card to a Shell credit card and save up to 50 cents per gallon of gas.

6/18/15 2:24 PM

38

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

EDITORIAL

Send your feedback to news@thesunday.com

We see a different Las Vegas than how city is perceived

W

hen it comes to being family-friendly, Bakersfield trumps us on fun?

People love top-10 and top-100 lists of popular places — those very subjective rankings that tell us the best places for honeymoons, for retirement, for dog parks, for schools. It’s easy to criticize them if the place where we live ranks poorly, but we endorse the rankings if they reflect on us well.

Take last week’s rankings, for instance, of “best and worst cities for families,” as judged by various members of academia, on behalf of the website WalletHub.com, which spits out lists and rankings on myriad topics.

(You probably know where this is headed, but we’re feeling feisty today, so stick with us.)

Among the 150 most populous cities in the United States, Las Vegas ranked 131, making it more worse than better for being conducive to a healthy and happy family life.

These rankings make no sense to us.

We’re fine that Overland Park, Kan.,

WALLETHUB.COM RANKINGS 1. Overland Park, Kan. 2. Plano, Texas 3. Virginia Beach, Va. 4. Lincoln, Neb. 5. Sioux Falls, S.D. 6. Madison, Wisc.

7. Fremont, Calif.

8. Chesapeake, Va. 9. Colorado Springs, Colo.

10. Grand Prairie, Texas 61. Henderson 117. North Las Vegas 131. Las Vegas

came in No. 1; it is a lovely, safe, upscale suburb of Kansas City, Mo., with many family-friendly amenities. And if the three worst cities are Detroit, Mich., Birmingham, Ala., and Jackson, Miss.,

well, so be it.

In the overall ratings, Henderson landed in the top half — No. 61, just below Vancouver, Wash., and above Spokane, Wash. North Las Vegas ranked No. 117, just below New York City and three notches ahead of Chicago.

Here’s how Las Vegas came in at No. 131 (with Augusta, Ga., and Tucson, Ariz., just above us, and Montgomery, Ala., and Oakland, Calif., just below us): We ranked 23rd for fun family activities and 70th for affordability, but 76th for socioeconomic environment (such as divorce rates and household income), 147th for education and the high cost and poor quality of child care, and dead last among the cities for health and safety (including crime, lack of health insurance and poor air quality).

But we see a different Las Vegas, one that we’re proud of despite the challenges we face. We see a city with parks and ball fields, a performing arts center with an adjoining children’s museum, Boys and Girls Clubs, incredibly talented performers at Las Vegas Academy, youthful scholars all across the valley

who excel at a global level in robotics, technology, engineering and math, and national merit finalists who go to the finest universities in the country.

Scoff all you want at our desert environment; we fielded the country’s best Little League baseball team last year (after the Chicago team was stripped of its trophy for sneaking in ineligible players). We have one of the country’s finest youth ice hockey teams, which flew to Canada to play in youth hockey’s equivalent of the Little League World Series. And, as you may have read in last week’s edition of The Sunday, we have a volleyball team of girls 12 and younger that was invited to play this month in a national championship in New Orleans.

Here’s another reason we question the ranking. In the category of fun and family activities, which included parks and playgrounds, minimal commute times to work and the percentage of families with children, coming in No. 1 was Bakersfield, Calif. Really? Have you ever heard a kid say, “Hey Mom and Dad, can we move to Bakersfield? Huh, can we?”

This is being provided for informational purposes only. Not a commitment to lend. Not all borrowers will qualify. Prices, included features, availability and delivery dates are subject to change without notice or obligation and subject to builder discretion. Square footages are approximate. Terms and conditions vary and are subject to credit approval, market changes and availability. Visit your DR Horton - Las Vegas Sales Representative for specific details.

38_editorial_20150621.indd 38

6/18/15 2:43 PM

0000124602-01.indd 1

6/16/15 12:28 PM

40

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

LIFE

Send your feedback to events@thesunday.com

CONTENT CREATED AND PRESENTED

BY SOUTHERN WINE & SPIRITS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

pagean women p.m., $ Perform Ave., th *Also: 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

MENAGE DES BAIES

Electric Daisy Carnival: The last day of Las Vegas’ annual electronic dance music festival, EDC features numerous stages, performers, rides, art displays and more. 7 p.m.-5:30 a.m., $350, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North, lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival.com.

“Remembering Sinatra”: Columnist Norm Clarke will talk with three of Sinatra’s longtime friends — Bob Anderson, Vince Falcone and Pia Zadora — as they share personal stories about the entertainer. 2 p.m., $25, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., thesmithcenter.com.

“By Myself on a Lonely Stage”: Actor, singer and impressionist David de Alba will channel Judy Garland. 2 p.m., $18-$20, Onyx Theater, 953-16B E. Sahara Ave., 702-732-7225.

INGREDIENTS 2 oz Belvedere Wild Berry vodka

Introduction to Computers: Learn the tools needed to use a computer. 2 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3459.

4 oz Rekorderlig strawberry lime cider

MONDAY, JUNE 22 Berries (strawberry, blueberry, blackberry) for garnish Lime and strawberry slices on a skewer for garnish METHOD

Build the drink over ice and berries in a highball glass. Garnish with a skewer of alternating lime and strawberry slices.

This drink is colorful, refreshing and mixed with booze — everything we like in a summer cocktail.

The vodka is crisp, while the berry notes are perfectly elevated by the strawberry and lime flavors in the hard cider.

Day camp for visually-impaired children: The Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation will host a one-week day camp. Campers can participate in adaptive activities such as sports, crafts, a pizza-making class and more. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through June 26, $50 for the week, locations vary, nvblindchildren.org/ camp.

Medicare information session: Volunteers from the Nevada State Health Insurance Assistance Program will counsel people about problems seniors encounter regarding Medicare, supplemental health insurance and long-term care options. 3 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3459.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23 Cocktail created by Francesco Lafranconi, executive director of mixology and spirits education at Southern Wine & Spirits.

40-41_Events calendar_20150621.indd 40

Wonderland Bakery class: Learn to make desserts, including chocolate lollipops, a lollipop tower, chocolate-dipped strawberries and Oreo pops during a three-day workshop series. 1-2 p.m. through June 25, $295, Wonderland Bakery,

SATU

Pool piratelive DJ paintin ments a.m.-2 for non Summe Blvd., 7

Ellie Smith, left, and Amy Smith embrace after the sisters won Miss Nevada and Miss Nevada Outstanding Teen, respectively, last year. This year’s pageants will be staged June 26 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

(STEVE MARCUS/STAFF FILE)

2010 Festival Plaza Drive, Suite 150, 702-363-3333.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 Fit4Mom stroller barre class: Moms can build strength through a blend of exercises. 9-10 a.m., prices vary, Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, lasvegas. fit4mom.com.

Summer cooking class for kids: Children can learn how to make ice cream and create their own sundaes. Parents must be present for the duration of the session.

Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended. 3 p.m., $25, Chocolate & Spice Bakery, 7293 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 8, 702-527-7772.

Bourbon pairing: Jim Beam and Double Barrel Roadhouse will pair smoked duck wings, Southern jambalaya and surf and turf with bourbon cocktails. 6:30 p.m., $65, Double Barrel Roadhouse, Monte Carlo, 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-222-7735.

“What happened to Jimmy Hoffa?”: One of the most powerful and corrupt labor leaders in U.S. history, Hoffa funneled $240 million of Teamster loans to help build Las Vegas. He disappeared July 30, 1975. A group of nationally known experts will address the question: What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? 7 p.m., $25, The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., 702-229-2734.

Las Vegas Lift-Off Film Festival: Student films, professional films and independent films will be shown during this worldwide festival that’s also taking place in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, London and Tokyo. 7 p.m., free, Brenden Theatres, Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, lift-off-festival.com.

West African drum class: Learn how to play the African drums.

Taught by “Papa” Diarra Zumana, an African xylophone player and resident at Columbia University and the Brooklyn Arts Council. 7 p.m., $20, Baobab Stage at Town Square, 6587 Las Vegas Blvd. South, baobabstage.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25 LGBTQIA Wellness Conference: The LGBTQIA Wellness Conference focuses on managing health and wellness and offers strategies for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual communities.

9 a.m., $60-$90, The Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada, 401 S. Maryland Parkway, lgbtqiawellness.org. *Also: June 26

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 Miss Nevada pageants: Emphasizing community service, education and personal achievements, the 2015 Miss Nevada and Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen

6/18/15 12:54 PM

Mon Learn h garden Preserv springs

Tenn the U.S provide teach c a.m.-2 merlin, Plaza D com. *Also: E

TuffPack th will ho founde 2013. T the Am

evada geants

stival: ms e

ce in ndon den mingo

Learn s. ana, and ty and p.m., Square,

41 THE SUNDAY

LIFE pageants will showcase young women from throughout Nevada. 7 p.m., $25, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., thesmithcenter.com. *Also: 2 p.m. June 27

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Poolapalooza: This family-friendly, pirate-themed event will feature a live DJ, an inflatable waterslide, face painting, balloon animals, refreshments and giveaways for children. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free for members, $35 for nonmembers, Life Time Athletic Summerlin, 10721 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-228-2611.

Monthly garden tips meeting: Learn how to heat-proof your garden. 1-2 p.m., $2-$3, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., springspreserve.org.

Tennis clinic: Representatives of the U.S. Tennis Association will provide tennis clinics designed to teach children 3 to 10 basic skills. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free, Downtown Summerlin, Macy’s Court, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, downtownsummerlin. com. *Also: Every Saturday Tuff-N-Uff Future Stars of MMA Pack the Mack: The annual event will honor the legacy of Tuff-N-Uff founder Barry Meyer, who died in 2013. The event will raise money for the American Foundation for

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Suicide Prevention. 6 p.m., free, Thomas & Mack Center, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, unlvtickets.com.

Contra dancing: Dance to a live acoustic band. All dances are taught and called. Newcomers and families welcome. Wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes and casual clothing.

Presented by the Southern Nevada Old Time Contra Dancers. 6:30 p.m. lesson, 7-10 p.m. dance, Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., 702-229-6383.

YOU PAY WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES PAY! Ask to see the vehicle invoice!

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Ribbon of Life: Enjoy dance and other performances during a fundraiser for Golden Rainbow, a local organization that provides housing and financial assistance to Southern Nevadans living with HIV/ AIDS. 1 p.m., $45, Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South, goldenrainbow.org.

Cartooning in the Digital Age: Veteran cartoonist Bill Barnes will teach the basics of creating a comic strip, including developing memorable characters, writing dialog, lettering, penciling, inking and coloring. Barnes will discuss the technology and business of cartooning, including how to use computers and the Internet to create and publish comic strips. 2 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3459.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 66 KEN KEN

GET EMPLOYEE PRICING TODAY!

1

L.A. TIMES CROSSWORD

ence: erence and s for

SATURDAY SERVICE SPECIALS! Saturday Service Hours 7AM - 6PM

Over 30 Service Bays

State-of-the-art Facility (Newest in town!)

PICK UP CAR

& DELIVERY

AND A

WASH

INCLUDED WITH EVERY SERVICE!

20

%

OFF

SUMMER IS COMING!

ANY OF THESE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICES

•15,000 miles

•60,000 miles

•30,000 miles

•75,000 miles

•45,000 miles

•90,000 miles

See dealer for details. Not valid after 5/30/15 Offers cannot be combined.

See dealer for details. Not valid after 5/30/15 Offers cannot be combined.

nities. d

kway,

Must present ad to receive advertised specials. Advertised specials cannot be combined. 1. Hyundai Z plan pricing on all 2015 and 2016 Hyundais. Offers expire 6/30/2015.

CELEBRITY CIPHER

mphaucants, ss

“THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS NOBODY’S SPECIAL PROPERTY. IT IS THE PROPERTY OF THE IMAGINATION.” — DEREK WALCOTT

40-41_Events calendar_20150621.indd 41

702.475.3015

www.ABCHyundai.com I-215 & S. Rainbow

6/18/15 12:55 PM

DOWNLOAD YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH. INTRODUCING THE MY SMA APP. Now you can manage your health care right from your mobile phone with our easy-to-use mobile application. It’s the latest way Southwest Medical Associates is putting care at your fingertips.

Download the My SMA App for these time-saving features: • • • • • • • •

SMALV.COM

View and locate all 21 health care centers valley-wide Locate all Urgent Care Centers and wait times Access to the Urgent Care Home Waiting Room service Access to your personal medical records View your latest orders, lab and test results View and renew prescribed medications and instructions Request, confirm and view appointments Communicate with your care team securely

702.877.5199

Save 20%

COMMERICIAL RESIDENTIAL

HOMES Any size

INDUSTRY

Hotels, Cold Storages, Apartments, Restaurants

CARS & TRUCKS

IceCOLD® will drop air temperature by over 8–13°.

Highly recommended for city buses and motor homes.

0r more on your electric bills this summer!

Restore Lost Cooling Efficiency and Protect Equipment with eco-friendly IceCOLD® added to your cooling system’s refrigerant.

Lower electric costs ● Lower energy consumption Lower equipment maintenance ● Extend equipment life Increase cooling ● Increase comfort level Reduce equipment noise ● Lower carbon emissions Exceptional ROI ● Tax deductible

WORKS WITH ANY REFRIGERATION 1 to 1,000+ ton, Ammonia, Centrifugal, Heat Pumps, Chillers

GSA Member #OMT65 Uptime Institute Green Enterprise IT Award Winner | 2012 McDonald’s Australia optimized the energy efficiency of its HVAC systems by installing IceCOLD®

042_tsd_062115.indd 1

B E CO O L

B E G RE E N

®

ECO AIR TECH LLC ● IceCOLD® Global Distributors Las Vegas: 702.754.6123 | Cell: 818.634.6034 | www.ecoairtech.com

6/18/15 12:10 PM

43 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

White Castle opened in January at the Best Western Plus Casino Royale on the Strip.

(MIKAYLA WHITMORE/STAFF FILE)

Las Vegas’ chain invasion Tourist-driven economy ideal for variety of fast-food restaurants, which make visitors feel at home

BY HOWARD RIELL | SPECIAL TO VEGAS INC

White Castle opened its doors on the Strip at the end of January, then had to shut them less than 24 hours later because staff couldn’t keep up with the frantic demand of 4,000 burgers per hour. ¶ The recent arrivals of White Castle and Shake Shack — and others such as Chick-fil-A and possibly Cracker Barrel on their heels — could be a sign CHAIN RESTAURANTS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 53

$86M

Cost of MGM Resorts International’s annual NV Energy bill, according to Chairman and CEO Jim Murren. MGM Resorts is one of three gaming companies thinking of separating from NV Energy and purchasing its own power.

43-53_VICover_20150621.indd 43

$1.87

Average cost of a dozen eggs anticipated for the fourth quarter of this year, as estimated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

47M

Number of chickens and turkeys that have been killed or will be killed over a six-month period due to bird flu.

$1.1B

Amount of taxes Gov. Brian Sandoval hopes to raise over the next two years to fund K-12 initiatives by extending expiring taxes, increasing the cigarette tax and instituting a business tax based on gross revenue.

6/18/15 12:48 PM

44 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

CONTENTS PUBLISHER Donn Jersey (donn.jersey@gmgvegas.com)

EDITORIAL

NOTEWORTHY STORIES

47 48 56 Q&A WITH DANA DWIGGINS

The managing partner of Solomon Dwiggins & Freer discusses the growth of the law firm, the importance of trust and estate law in Nevada, and a nonprofit organization she is dedicated to helping fulfill its mission.

THE NOTES People on the move, P46

MEET: I GOT MARRIED IN VEGAS! JUST KIDDING

Scott Jason sat on his idea for 10 years before finding a place to open up shop.

Now, he encourages customers to use Las Vegas’ reputation to their advantage for elaborate pranks.

TALKING POINTS Don’t believe the myths about SBA loans, P49

DATA AND PUBLIC INFORMATION A listing of local bankruptcies, bid opportunities, brokered transactions, business licenses and building permits.

MORE VEGAS INC BUSINESS NEWS Calendar: Happenings and events, P55 The List: Highest-paid business executives, P60

EDITOR Delen Goldberg (delen.goldberg@gmgvegas.com) MANAGING EDITOR Dave Mondt (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) DIGITAL EDITOR Sarah Burns (sarah.burns@gmgvegas.com) BUSINESS EDITOR Brian Deka (brian.deka@gmgvegas.com) STAFF WRITERS Kailyn Brown, Andrea Domanick, Adwoa Fosu, Jesse Granger, Ana Ley, Megan Messerly, J.D. Morris, Kyle Roerink, Cy Ryan, Eli Segall, Conor Shine, Jackie Valley, Pashtana Usufzy, Katie Visconti, Ian Whitaker COPY DESK CHIEF John Taylor COPY EDITORS Jamie Gentner, Brian Sandford SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Craig Peterson DIGITAL COORDINATOR Adelaide Chen EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Mike Smith LIBRARY SERVICES SPECIALIST Rebecca Clifford-Cruz RESEARCHER Julie Ann Formoso OFFICE COORDINATOR Nadine Guy

ART ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Liz Brown (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) DESIGNER LeeAnn Elias PHOTO COORDINATOR Mikayla Whitmore PHOTOGRAPHERS L.E. Baskow, Christopher DeVargas, Steve Marcus

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF ONLINE MEDIA Katie Horton GROUP DIRECTOR OF SALES OPERATIONS Stephanie Reviea PUBLICATION COORDINATORS Karen Parisi ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jeff Jacobs EXTERNAL CONTENT MANAGER Emma Cauthorn ACCOUNT MANAGERS Katie Harrison, Dawn Mangum, Breen Nolan, Sue Sran ADVERTISING MANAGERS Jim Braun, Brianna Eck, Frank Feder, Kelly Gajewski, Justin Gannon, Trasie Mason, Donna Roberts, Michelle Walden

MARKETING & EVENTS EVENT MANAGER Kristin Wilson EVENTS COORDINATOR Jordan Newsom DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE Jackie Apoyan

PRODUCTION VICE PRESIDENT OF MANUFACTURING Maria Blondeaux ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Paul Huntsberry PRODUCTION MANAGER Blue Uyeda PRODUCTION ARTIST Marissa Maheras, Dara Ricci ART DIRECTOR Sean Rademacher GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Michele Hamrick, Carlos Herrera TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR Estee Wright TRAFFIC COORDINATORS Kim Smith, Meagan Hodson

VINTAGE VEGAS: MDA LABOR DAY TELETHON A THING OF THE PAST Over the past 60 years, the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon, a yearly broadcast of comedians and entertainers, has raised billions of dollars to fight muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases.

The telethon was staged every Labor Day weekend and hosted by Jerry Lewis, a Las Vegas resident.

Lewis was the national organization’s chairman, a voluntary position, from 1956 to 2011.

Pictured here, he and Dean Martin, left, chat during the MDA telethon Sept. 7, 1976, in Las Vegas. It was one of the few times the two appeared together after their longtime show business partnership dissolved decades earlier.

Last month, MDA officials announced they were pulling the plug on the annual broadcast and ending the event’s historic run, opting instead to look for “new, creative and organic ways to support our mission.”

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Ron Gannon ROUTE MANAGER Joel Segler

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brian Greenspun CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Robert Cauthorn GROUP PUBLISHER Travis Keys EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Gorman MANAGING EDITOR Ric Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erik Stein VOLUME 2, ISSUE 23 Vegas Inc (USPS publication no. 15540), 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 is published every Sunday except the last Sunday of the year by Greenspun Media Group. Periodicals Postage Paid at Henderson, NV and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Vegas Inc Greenspun Media Group 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor Henderson, NV 89074 702.990.2545 For inquiries, write to: Vegas Inc 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor Henderson, NV 89074 For back copies: Doris Hollifield at 702.990.8993 or e-mail at doris.hollifield@gmgvegas.com For subscriptions: Call 800.254.2610, or visit vegasinc.com. For annual subscriptions, $50.

For single copies, $3.99.

— REBECCA CLIFFORD-CRUZ STAFF FILE

44_VITOC_20150621.indd 44

6/18/15 2:21 PM

FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS KNOWING YOUR TECHNOLOGY IS COVERED.

COX BUSINESS INTERNETSM 25 AND VOICEMANAGERSM UPGRADES available for speed options up to 100 times faster than basic DSL

$

/mo*

85

20+ PROFESSIONAL FEATURES including Caller ID, Call Forwarding & Three Way Calling UNLIMITED nationwide long distance calling included

For 6 months with a 3-year agreement*

CALL 702-939-1146 | VISIT COXBUSINESS.COM

*Offer ends 8/30/15. Available to new subscribers of Cox Business VoiceManager℠ Unlimited and Cox Business Internet℠ 25 (max. 25/5 Mbps). Offer requires 3-year service term. After 6 months, bundle rate increases to $115/month for months 7-36. Standard rates apply thereafter. Unlimited plan is limited to direct-dialed domestic calling and is not available for use with non-switched circuit calling, auto-dialers, call center applications and certain switching applications. Prices exclude equipment, installation, taxes, and fees, unless indicated. DOCSIS 3.0 modem required for optimal performance. Speeds not guaranteed; actual speed may vary. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. Speed claim based on Cox Business Internet 150 Mbps service vs. basic 1.5 Mbps DSL. Phone modem provided by Cox, requires electricity, and has battery backup. Access to E911 may not be available during extended power outage or if modem is moved or inoperable. Discounts are not valid in combination with or in addition to other promotions, and cannot be applied to any other Cox account. Offer is non-transferable to a new service address. Services not available in all areas. Other restrictions may apply. ©2015 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

0000118571-01.indd 1

4/24/15 2:00 PM

46

THE NOTES

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Olivia Brown is general manager at Bellagio. She previously worked as general manager of the RitzCarlton, Boston Common.

companies and executives with virtual assistants.

Artist Michael Kalish has been commissioned to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art for the inaugural Fantasy Sports Combine scheduled for July.

BROWN

Arbor View High School students Dustin Leavitt and Ryan Howard-Miller, taught by instructor Thomas Garrett, took top honors at the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition. Coronado High School students Alexander Herrmann and Andrew Howard Scott, taught by instructor Dawnne Smith, took second place. Third place went to Southeast Career Technical Academy students Nicolas Vitolo and JC Kevin Juarez, taught by Daniel Sylvester. The top teams receive scholarships from technical schools and other prizes.

LP Insurance Services founder Joe Kulikowski is the first affiliate president of the Nevada Medical Group Management Association. Kulikowski is KULIKOWSKI the first nonmedical practice administrator elected by the board. The association is a membership group for medical practice administrators and executives.

The International School of Hospitality’s director of academic affairs, Donnell Bayot, is a public member of the Convention Industry Council’s BAYOT 2015 Governance Commission for the Certified Meeting Professional Program. Bayot will serve a two-year term.

Mariana Johnson is City National Bank’s Southern Nevada group manager in the core banking group. Johnson will oversee all City National JOHNSON branches in Southern Nevada in addition to managing the bank’s Green Valley branch.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt and the Bureau of Consumer Protection, along with attorneys general nationwide, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Communications Commission, reached settlements with Sprint Corporation and Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, to resolve allegations that the companies placed charges for third-party services on customers’ mobile telephone bills without authorization from the customers. The settlements include $158 million in payments to consumers; Nevada will receive $353,008.22.

MGM Resorts International won two Freddie Awards for its loyalty program, M life. The awards honor airline and hotel loyalty programs.

MGM Resorts won for Best Customer Service and Up-and-Coming Program of the Year.

CenturyLink released an app for Prism TV customers that allows them access to TV programs on multiple platforms. The company also made available fiber speeds of 1 gigabit per second to more than 4,000 business locations in Southern Nevada.

Soma, a lingerie, loungewear and beauty product boutique, opened at Fashion Show mall.

GLAU

LANDESS

Bob Glau opened a Synergy Sotheby’s International Realty sales office in the MacDonald Highlands Country Club Community. Jill Landess is a real estate specialist there.

Sunrise Health System, comprising Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, MountainView Hospital, Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, and Sunrise Children’s Hospital, launched an emergency room text notification service, InformER, to provide patients, family members and friends with status updates about a patient’s visit to the ER. Texted information includes the name of the patient’s nurse, nurse practitioner or doctor, when lab work was ordered and discharge information. The service is secure, and all text messages are HIPAA-compliant.

Lola’s Louisiana Kitchen opened at 1220 N. Town Center Drive, Las Vegas, its second location.

Christopher Ipsen, assistant vice president of information technology and chief information officer for Nevada’s Desert Research Institute, was named SC Magazine’s 2015 Chief Security Officer of the Year, the publication’s highest individual honor for information technology security industry professionals in the United States.

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Foreign Exchange, Galleria Arte Fino and Kona Ice opened at Town Square.

Ramon Icasiano is chief operating officer of Zirtual, which matches

Buffalo Wild Wings and Texas Land & Cattle opened at Miracle Mile Shops.

46_VINotes_20150621.indd 46

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican’s Rose de Lima hospital acquired an Indego exoskeleton, expected to be in use in early 2016. Indego is a powered lower-limb device that allows patients who cannot walk to stand up and walk again. It’s used in rehabilitation centers as a therapy tool and as a mobility assistive device for patients in their homes. (COURTESY)

Aristocrat’s social and mobile gaming subsidiary Product Madness won the “Social Slots Operator of the Year” title at this year’s eGaming Review North America Awards.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority received the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award from the Institute for Public Procurement. The award recognizes excellence in public procurement.

Walgreens opened at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.

Architectural firm Marmol Radziner completed its design for Ascaya’s first showcase home. The 7,373-squarefoot home south of Horizon Ridge Parkway off Roma Hills Drive will include four bedrooms, four baths and a powder room.

Tide Dry Cleaners opened at 10010 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas.

Litigation Services, which provides litigation support services to law firms and corporate legal departments across the country, launched a new website, litigationservices.com.

Clif Bar CrossVegas selected Forté PR as its public relations agency of record. Forté will provide strategic planning and develop community relationships on behalf of CrossVegas, the largest cyclocross event in the United States.

DB Labs, LLC, received state approval and certification to begin safety and potency testing of medical cannabis products. DB Labs is the first lab licensed to test medical cannabis in Southern Nevada.

RH (Restoration Hardware) is the Phase II anchor tenant of Tivoli Village.

The store is set to open in 2016.

Vista Cocktail Lounge opened at Caesars Palace.

Haggen Inc. converted seven local Vons and Albertsons stores to Haggen Food & Pharmacy shops. The stores are at 1031 Nevada Highway, Boulder City; 2910 Bicentennial Parkway, Henderson; 190 N. Boulder Highway, Henderson; 7530 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas; 575 College Drive, Henderson; 820 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas; and 1940 Village Center Circle, Las Vegas.

Advanced Technologies Academy was ranked the No. 1 high school in Nevada and was recognized with a Gold Medal Award by U.S. News & World Report. A-Tech also made the magazine’s top 100 Magnet School Ranking. A-Tech offers programs in architectural drafting and design, business management and administration, computer science, engineering, graphic design, legal studies, networking technology, and web design and development.

The city of Las Vegas received a $600,000 solar energy rebate from NV Energy after completing four solar projects, including solar-covered parking at Durango Hills.

Murray’s Cheese opened a shop in the Smith’s at 8180 Las Vegas Blvd.

South, Las Vegas. The company plans to open three more valley locations in the coming months.

Therapy, a restaurant, opened at 518 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas.

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power’s Copper Mountain Solar 1 facility in Boulder City received Nevada OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program Star award for exemplary safety performance. It’s the first solar plant to receive the honor.

6/18/15 2:20 PM

47

THE INTERVIEW Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Q&A WITH DANA DWIGGINS

Law firm’s managing partner wears many hats Dana Dwiggins became managing partner at Solomon Dwiggins & Freer at age 32. In addition to practicing law — focusing on probate and trust litigation, small-business litigation, trust and estate administration, guardianships, and trust and wills — she oversees all financial aspects of the firm.

How has your firm grown over the past 10 years?

Our company has tripled in size, starting with only four attorneys and growing to 12. We have been able to remain a boutique law firm but compete in the market for high-end litigation in trust and estate law, representing clients throughout the state and across the nation.

What is the importance of trust and estate law in Nevada?

With many retirees living in Las Vegas, as well as wealthy individuals and people in second marriages, proper trust and estate planning is extremely important. Each individual’s estate planning is unique and should be tailored to the person’s needs and goals, whether to minimize taxes, assist children or other family members, provide for spouses, fulfill charitable purposes or avoid future litigation.

Our firm is actively involved in legislation surrounding trust and estate and making sure the laws evolve with changes in society, such as the increased involvement of caregivers in elderly Attorney Dana Dwiggins, a partner at Solomon Dwiggins & Freer, strikes a balance between managing the people’s lives. Nevada is a friendly state for self- law firm and handling her own caseload, plus making time for family and devoting time and energy to Safe settled spendthrift trusts and other asset-protec- Nest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence. (L.E. BASKOW/STAFF) tion trusts. where it is generally very quiet and peaceful.

Describe your management style.

Although I consider myself a direct, take-charge What are some of the daily responsibilities Whom do you admire and why? person, I believe everyone at the firm is part of a of a managing partner?

I admire my mother the most because she is the team. I have an open-door policy and believe comAs the managing partner, I oversee all financial most loving, caring and giving person I have ever munication is key to maintaining morale at the aspects of the firm and expenses and administramet. She never gets tired of helping others, and her firm. I am detail-oriented and involved in all astion of the firm, including licensing, benefits, ingreatest pleasure in life is simply putting a smile on pects of the firm’s administration and decisions surance. I also oversee all employment matters, others’ faces without ever expecting anything in affecting the company; however, I value people’s handle potential conflicts and manage all aspects return. participation and input in decisions that affect the of marketing. daily operations of the firm. I encourage people to What is your biggest pet peeve? continually challenge themselves and to produce a What is the most challenging part of your One of my biggest pet peeves in the law practice is work product that meets the highest standards, aljob? people who are not passionate about the law and the lowing them to develop the skills to be a respected I find it challenging to try to balance managing a services they provide. attorney, paralegal or legal assistant. successful law practice while building my own individual practice and dedicating a significant portion What is something that people might not Where do you see yourself and your comof my time to practicing law. know about you? pany in 10 years?

Despite my reputation as being an aggressive litiOver the next 10 years, I plan to build on the What has been the most rewarding part of gator, I am actually a kind-hearted person who is firm’s achievements by continuing to litigate highly your job? very giving, and I enjoy bringing happiness to others. complex cases, which will further bolster the firm’s The success of the firm and its reputation as bereputation and shape trust and estate law across the ing Nevada’s largest trust and estate litigation firm Anything else you want to tell us? state. I plan to continue to manage the firm and ashas been the most rewarding to me. The firm’s Safe Nest, Nevada’s largest and most comprehensist in adding experienced, talented attorneys who reputation is well known and respected throughout sive nonprofit organization devoted to eradicating will contribute to the firm’s success and reputation. the legal community. domestic violence, offers services such as shelter, counseling, advocacy and prevention. It is my inWhat is your dream job, outside of your curWhat do you do after work? tention to raise awareness across the community rent field?

After work, I generally spend time with my famabout the organization and its services, in addition If I were not a lawyer, I would consider being eiily cooking dinner, watching movies or doing differto applying my professional skill set to increase dother a personal trainer because of my love for physient activities with them. I am also an active board nations to Safe Nest. cal activities and health, or work in a bookstore, member of Safe Nest.

47_VI_Q&A_20150621.indd 47

6/18/15 12:44 PM

48

THE INTERVIEW

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

BY THE NUMBERS

1,700

Number of homes planned for the Cliffs, a new residential village under construction in Summerlin. The project is on 450 acres near Patrick Lane and Hualapai Way and is expected to be finished in about five years.

34 PERCENT

Share of Las Vegas homes in the foreclosure process but not yet bank-owned that have been abandoned by their owners. The national average is 24 percent.

4,000

Amount of power, in megawatts, that NV energy has procured in purchasing agreements over the past 15 years — enough electricity to power 7,000 Super WalMart stores for a year.

1,500

Number of employees Spirit Airlines hopes to hire this year. Eighty to 85 of those jobs will be in Las Vegas.

40,000

Number of customers Playa Solar LLC may supply energy to, according to the state Public Utilities Commission. Playa received preliminary approval to build a 200-megawatt solargenerating facility 15 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

3,363

Number of houses, condominiums and townhouses sold in May, down from 3,450 a year ago, according to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.

$211,250

Median price of homes sold in May through the GLVAR’s Multiple Listing Service — up 2.3 percent from a year ago.

52,000

Number of Nevadans who receive subsidies to help them afford health insurance. The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether people in states where the federal government runs health insurance marketplaces can keep their subsidies.

48-49_VI_MeetColumn_20150621.indd 48

Scott Jason owns and operates I Got Married in Vegas! Just Kidding, which creates elaborate pranks for customers to trick friends and family. (L.E. BASKOW/STAFF)

In Vegas, any day can be April Fool’s I GOT MARRIED IN VEGAS! able, and I think that is an amazJUST KIDDING ing compliment. Being able to “I Got Married in Vegas! Just Address: 3623 Las Vegas Blvd. South, pull off a great prank means the Kidding” is a prankster experiSuite 213 images need to look as real as posence tourist attraction. We proPhone: 702-476-6515 sible and little details are covered. vide realistic images of different Email: info@igotmarriedinvegasjk.com I consider this very important. scenarios that customers supposWebsite: igotmarriedinvegasjk.com edly got into while visiting Las Hours and days of operation: 10 a.m.Vegas. They can get married, get What is the hardest part about 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday arrested, show off a baby bump or doing business in Las Vegas?

Owned/operated by: Scott Jason win a casino jackpot without actuThe hardest part is that a lot of In business since: Feb. 26 ally doing any of those. the business is seasonal and deWe create an experience. For pendent on the amount of foot instance, with the fake wedding, traffic. we have an Elvis officiant conducting a ceremony, a ring exchange, a pronouncement and even a fake marriage What is the best part about doing business here? license with all of the couple’s information. A variety of People visiting Las Vegas are in a vacation state of photos are taken during and after the ceremony against mind. If a customer is willing to spend $40 on a guitara green screen, and customers receive prints as well as shaped sugary vodka drink, they most likely will be willelectronic images that can be uploaded instantly to Faceing to spend $35 on a joke experience of a lifetime. book to fool friends and family.

Describe your business.

What obstacles has your business overcome?

What makes your business successful?

Las Vegas is the best place to have this type of business because a lot of times, tourists say their friends and family warn them not to get married or arrested while they are here. So we capitalize on that warning and create the best Vegas pranks you can think of.

Who are your customers?

Mostly, prankster couples who want to get fake married, married couples who want a unique souvenir, and people who have a sense of humor and want a one-of-akind Vegas souvenir.

What’s the most important part of your job?

Some people complain that our product is too believ-

I have had this idea for close to 10 years, and not until recently was I able to find a place that was suitable for the business. Getting our name and business out there and being recognized is a work in progress.

How can Nevada improve its business climate?

Vegas the tourist attraction is a fun, adult playground; capitalize on this. Legalize, tax and control marijuana and prostitution. Use the tax money to better Las Vegas the city. Our school system could use some help.

What have you learned from the recession?

When you have less of a cushion or fallback plan, you have more of a drive to be creative and find ways to succeed.

6/18/15 12:42 PM

49

TALKING POINTS Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

READER COMMENTS We want to hear from you. Visit vegasinc.com to post your opinion.

On Kyle Roerink’s lasvegassun.com story “Still buzzing: Why energy debates will be hot this summer in Nevada”: All of these negotiations should be conducted open door, open meeting and as transparent as humanly possible.

Everyday Nevada residents should be provided the means to participate. ... Their voices are not being heard. — StarAliMistriel On the lasvegassun.com story “Gov. Sandoval signs major tax bill, vetoes 3 other measures”: Republicans raised taxes, and the Republican governor signed off on it. It will cost them politically.

But it was the right thing to do. — NVBill

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Don’t believe the myths about SBA loans

S

GUEST COLUMN: BA 504 loans are a great way to n SBA loans take too long. There ANN SANTIAGO help small-business owners buy, is no need to panic if you need to get a build and improve commercial loan funded quickly. Loans typically can real estate. be prequalified within 24 hours. And The U.S. Small Business Administration’s because the same paperwork is used, 504 program offers below-market, fixed-interest rate once your bank approves the loan and the appraisal and financing that allows businesses to keep their working environmental reports are complete, SBA approval usually capital and use it to grow. The typical loan structure is complete within eight business days. includes a commercial lender providing up to 50 percent, n SBA 504 loans are for small projects. Unlike SBA an SBA loan for 40 percent and the business owner’s down 7(a) loans, there is no limit on the total project cost that payment as low as 10 percent. can be funded with an SBA 504 loan. Projects in excess of Every dollar not put into the ground can go toward $25 million have been financed. growth — new equipment, new hires, more marketing — n I already have an SBA loan, so I can’t get another. that drives revenue.

Each SBA borrower can have any number of loans as long as Here are five common misconceptions about SBA loans: the SBA balance does not exceed $5 million or $5.5 million for manufacturers. Due to recent regulatory changes, the n SBA loans are for “small” businesses; my business limits are lifted for projects meeting energy reduction or is too big to qualify. “Small” is bigger than you think. alternative energy requirements. Under energy efficiency Many have annual revenues between $20 million and rules, there is no limit to the number of SBA loans a $100 million. It’s net worth and net profit that matter. Most business owner can have. privately owned, for-profit businesses qualify for SBA 504 If your business is expanding and you need to purchase loans. or build new space, an SBA 504 loan may be an attractive n Applying for an SBA 504 loan is complicated option. Don’t believe the myths. Take a few minutes to see and time-consuming. SBA 504 lenders use the same for yourself, and start working to achieve your business documentation as your bank. For most loans, there are just goals today. three additional forms the SBA needs to close escrow, and Ann Santiago is a senior vice president at TMC Financing. your SBA lender will help you with those.

SMITH’S WORLD

Mike Smith is an award-winning editorial cartoonist who also draws for the Las Vegas Sun. His work also is distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate.

See archives of his work at lasvegassun.com/smithsworld.

Shame on you, Gov. Sandoval! ... What happened to fair competition in business? — tnjsrch On Eli Segall’s vegasinc.com story “ ‘Zombie’ foreclosures in the Las Vegas Valley are up 16 percent this year”: Yet it’s build, build, build even more homes, further depressing the prices of neighborhoods with foreclosed homes.

— NLVProg On the lasvegassun.com story “Why Americans are getting new credit cards”: It’s baffling why the United States is just now getting on board. — Hmm888

48-49_VI_MeetColumn_20150621.indd 49

6/18/15 12:42 PM

50 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Switch’s application to leave NV Energy denied

BY KYLE ROERINK STAFF WRITER

In a decision that could affect some of the state’s most influential businesses, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada denied an application for a Las Vegas tech company to purchase and create power without NV Energy.

The three-member commission denied the application on a 2-1 vote.

Commission Chairwoman Alaina Burtenshaw and Commissioner David Noble voted down the application, citing concerns about potential rate increases for remaining NV Energy customers if Switch were to leave.

Switch, a massive data center with customers such as eBay and Sony, is one of the utility’s biggest customers.

Commissioner Rebecca Wagner was the dissenting vote.

She suggested the commission conduct a new investigation into how much Switch should pay to leave NV Energy.

She also suggested the PUC was disregarding the law that allows companies to create and purchase power Switch, the world’s largest data center, is one of NV Energy’s biggest without the utility if they consume more than 1 megawatt of power, pay customers — whether Switch likes it or not, the Public Utilities Commission recently ruled. (COURTESY) an exit fee and receive PUC approval.

Wagner said the order to deny the ments, meetings including lunch or exit was “almost a circumvention of “I don’t have enough information to dinner meetings, between you and the statute.” make an informed decision that staff’s Nevada Energy or Nevada Energy’s Despite the order, Switch does $27 million is reasonable,” Noble said. agents, lobbyists or representatives.” have a path to leaving the utility. The “The key is looking at the remaining PUC ordered that Switch and the customers and making sure there are utility take part in an “investigatory no harms or benefits. I don’t think ‘CHANGING THE workshop” to address the commisthere is enough information to do RULES MIDSTREAM’ sion’s remaining questions about how that.”

Wagner supported Switch’s deparSwitch’s exit could affect the utility’s Wagner dismissed the notion, sayture as long as the company paid a $27 remaining customers. ing the commission “is changing the million exit fee. That figure was the Several days after the commission’s rules midstream. ... I can’t support product of the PUC’s regulatory opdecision, Switch signaled it would file that.” erations staff. a lawsuit against the PUC. The staff, which is independent of The company sent a “document the commission, determined Switch’s IT STARTED WITH ENRON destruction hold” to the PUC, the Buexit would not harm NV Energy’s reA new investigation will address reau of Consumer Protection, NV Enmaining customers if the tech comhow exit fees should be calculated and ergy and one of the power company’s pany paid the fee. a potential tariff on companies that lobbyists from R&R Partners, Pete All parties in the case calculated leave NV Energy. It may even suggest Ernaut. exit fees to determine an amount that changes to the 2001 law that allows The notice of the document hold, would allow rates to remain static for companies to leave the utility, which released by one of the parties in the other NV Energy customers. Switch was an effort to provide large-scale case and written by Switch’s legal proposed $18 million, while NV Enpower consumers with more options counsel, says Switch intends to “take ergy proposed nearly $60 million. for buying and creating power. additional actions” against the PUC They based their figures on threeLawmakers passed the law during and that “destruction of discoverable year forecasts — a formula the PUC the California energy crisis spurred by information is evidence of culpability has historically used for exit cases and Enron, the defunct energy company and misconduct. when the utility asks the commission that manipulated power markets in “This obligation extends to a duty to increase its rates.

Western states to improperly control to preserve all emails, instant comBut Burtenshaw and Noble questhe price and availability of electricity. munications, SMS or text messages, tioned the accuracy of the three-year The investigation likely will involve phone call records, invoices, payforecast. some of the state’s premier casino

50_VI_IBLV_20150621.indd 50

companies — Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International, which also have applied to leave NV Energy.

“I would hope that would be the direction the commission would go — to sit down and look at a global settlement for all this stuff,” said Randolph Townsend, a gaming commissioner and former state legislator who wrote the law that allows companies to exit the utility.

PROTECTING PROFITS Together, the departures could mean a 10 percent reduction in the power company’s demand and the loss of some of its most profitable customers.

NV Energy has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure in the past 15 years, building generating capacity and procuring purchase agreements for more than 4,000 megawatts of power — the equivalent used by 7,000 Super Wal-Mart stores.

The argument against large-customer exits hinges on utility expenditures for building new power infrastructure.

Switch and the casinos argue that it’s unnecessary to build new power plants when demand is not growing and large-scale consumers are pushing to leave.

NV Energy, which uses ratepayer money to expand its generation capacity and can earn a 9.8 percent return on investments, plans to spend at least $2 billion on new infrastructure in the next two years, according to a report from Berkshire Hathaway, NV Energy’s parent company based in Omaha, Neb. Matthew Maddox, president of Wynn Resorts, addressed the commission’s concerns about ratepayers by comparing earnings on the Strip to those of NV Energy.

The utility earned $713 million in net operating income last year, a 27 percent increase from 2013.

“Just to frame these numbers, Nevada Energy made more net income than the Las Vegas Strip last year,” he said. “You can’t have a 27 percent increase in operating profit with no break on ratepayers and then try to claim ratepayers will be harmed when your net operating income is more than the Las Vegas Strip.”

That money, Maddox said, doesn’t stay in Nevada. “It goes to Omaha,” he said.

6/18/15 12:40 PM

51

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Tax reform good for casinos, bad for EDC Streamlining of state’s live entertainment tax means festivals have new expense

BY J.D. MORRIS STAFF WRITER

Upcoming changes to a Nevada tax on entertainment have casino representatives breathing a sigh of relief, but the organizers of two annual festivals that contribute millions of dollars to the state economy aren’t happy.

Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill that aims to simplify the state’s live entertainment tax, which many big casinos and resorts have to pay. The bill replaces the current tiered system with a uniform levy on tickets and clarifies a complex set of qualifications and exemptions.

Organizers of Burning Man and the Fans pack the Circuit Grounds stage as Calvin Harris performs during the final Electric Daisy Carnival don’t like the night of the 2014 Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. EDC will bill because it means the tax will be be subject to the revised live entertainment tax next year. Organizers called the tax imposed on them for the first time. “simply not a viable long-term strategy for any successful business.” (STEVE MARCUS) Yet supporters say it will eliminate a year 2014, while the taxation departcidental to something else,” Valenlot of confusion for the casino indusment collected nearly $15 million. tine said. “We very much supported try about when the tax is applied.

The bill removes exemptions for the bill. We think it’s going to make it “The taxing authorities have had outdoor events and nonprofits, so easier for both the regulators and the a difficult time trying to draw clear Burning Man and EDC will be includindustry to interpret.” lines of what is live entertainment ed in the second group of taxpayers.

For example, the old law exempted and what isn’t,” said state Sen. Mark The only way for a nonprofit such as entertainment in a restaurant, as Lipparelli, R-Las Vegas, one of the Burning Man to avoid taxation under long as there was no charge and it was law’s sponsors. “That was partly just the bill would be to sell fewer than incidental to other activities or part a result of the way entertainment 7,500 tickets; Burning Man draws of the ambiance. That left room for has evolved in Nevada. It probably, more than 60,000 people. interpretation — and disagreement at the time (the tax) was established, Naturally, the groups behind those — about what, exactly, qualified as seemed more clear. But as entertaindesert festivals are not enthusiasincidental or ambient. The new law ment options evolved in Nevada, it tic about what is for them a new exremoves that exemption and renders became much more difficult.” pense, though neither will have to it irrelevant with the clearer requireCurrently, whether the tax is appay it until next year. Burning Man ment that the tax kicks in when esplied and how high the rate is depends released a statement calling the tax tablishments charge for admission. on the size of a venue and a series of reform “misguided” and emphasizQuestions about when to apply other considerations. Under the new ing that its participants contribute the tax arose regularly, according law, the tax rate for everyone will be upward of $40 million to the Nevada to Gaming Control Board member 9 percent of the admission charge. economy annually.

Terry Johnson, who estimated the Nevada Resort Association PresiBurning Man also doesn’t agree bill could resolve around 80 percent dent Virginia Valentine said her that it constitutes entertainment. of such disputes. The control board group, which lobbies on behalf of the Its statement said Black Rock City, is responsible for collecting the tax casino industry, had pushed for rethe temporary desert gathering crefrom all gaming establishments — form of the tax for the past two legated by Burning Man patrons, is “a think big resorts on the Strip — while islative sessions. Like Lipparelli, Valcommunity of individuals who create the state Department of Taxation colentine said the current law created their own experience.” lects it from everyone else. far too much ambiguity.

“There is no entertainment providAccording to Johnson, the control “It wasn’t clear when something ed,” Burning Man’s statement said. board collected nearly $140 million was entertainment and when it was EDC organizer Insomniac, meanin live entertainment taxes in fiscal happening in the background or in-

while, issued a thinly veiled threat to take its business elsewhere because of the tax, claiming the changes could cause the electronic dance music event to operate at a loss.

“That’s simply not a viable longterm strategy for any successful business,” the Insomniac statement said.

“One thing is certain, we never shy away from a challenge, and we hope we can find a way to produce Electric Daisy Carnival moving forward, while still maintaining the quality experience that our fans expect from us.”

EDC has generated more than $1 billion in economic output for Clark County over the past five years, according to Insomniac.

Lipparelli is sensitive to the concerns of the festivals but said he thinks they’re both socially conscious businesses that understand Nevada is an ideal place for their events.

Fixing the tax also was about fairness for Lipparelli, a former chairman of the Gaming Control Board.

“There’s a real imbalance to charging someone an admission tax when they’re inside a building and not charging someone a tax when they’re outside a building for the exact same activity,” he said.

The major festivals aren’t the only new taxpayers under the bill. Disc jockey performances, which could be easily excluded before, will be subject to the tax, as will escorts.

But exemptions persist. NASCAR, for instance, can avoid the tax if it conducts two or more races at a Nevada racetrack in the same calendar year. The bill also doesn’t consider go-go dancing to be live entertainment.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, supported the changes to the tax, but she thinks lawmakers should go further.

“I would like to see the rate lower than 9 percent, and to do that, you have to have the tax apply as broadly as possible,” Vilardo said. “While we’ve broadened the tax, we haven’t broadened it to the point that we could drop the rate even more.”

The bill’s provisions will apply beginning Oct. 1.

“There’s a real imbalance to charging someone an admission tax when they’re inside a building and not charging someone a tax when they’re outside a building for the exact same activity.”

— State Sen. Mark Lipparelli, R-Las Vegas

51-52_VI_IBLV_20150621.indd 51

6/18/15 2:19 PM

52 THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Mansion for rent — for the price of a car each month

BY ELI SEGALL STAFF WRITER

Built on a hillside, the Henderson mansion has marble flooring, a movie theater, an elevator and a wine cellar, along with replica sections of the Sistine Chapel’s paintings on the walls.

If it were for sale, the three-story estate would cost millions. But the owners aren’t hunting for buyers.

They are, however, trying to rent it out — for $18,000 a month.

The recently listed house at 1703 Tangiers Drive in MacDonald Highlands appears to be the most expensive rental on the market in Southern Nevada. There are plenty of luxury homes for sale here at eye-popping prices, but how many people are willing to pay the cost of a car each month just to rent a place?

More than you may think.

“Oddly enough, it happens,” Re/Max Advantage agent Diane Hawley said.

The pool of potential renters is small and certainly not typical. It includes corporate big shots in town for a months-long assignment or other pooh-bahs new to the valley who need a place to stay while their custom home is being built.

Their landlords, meanwhile, hop between homes in different cities, if not different countries.

There are at least six homes in the valley whose owners want $10,000 or more per month in rent, listings show.

Five are stand-alone mansions and one is in Sky Las Vegas, a 45-story luxury condo tower on the north Strip.

The seven-bedroom, 12,205-squarefoot home on Tangiers has been on the rental market for a few weeks, listing broker Cheryl Davis said. She got an

offer from someone who was willing to pay $25,000 a month if the house were furnished, but the owners may balk at that, as it may cost $100,000 to fill it with furniture.

“It’s a pretty big house,” said Davis, of brokerage firm Engel & Völkers.

So is 1581 Villa Rica Drive, in the Seven Hills area of Henderson. The 7,177-square-foot home, available for move-in no sooner than August at $12,500 per month, is currently being rented for that price by a couple who needed the house for two months.

They’re building one from scratch nearby.

They paid all the rent and a $12,500 security deposit upfront — $37,500 total.

The furnished, six-bedroom mansion has a billiards room, sits on a golf course, and has laundry rooms upstairs

and down.

“The laundry room downstairs is as big as some condos I’ve seen,” said Hawley, the listing agent.

Davis rents out homes for at least $5,000 a month three to five times a year. Despite the big prices, Las Vegas megamansion rental rates are a steal compared with those in, say, Southern California, San Francisco or New York, she said.

There are 59 homes in Beverly Hills, Calif., listed on Zillow for at least $10,000 a month in rent, including a 15,000-square-foot house for $120,000 per month.

If the home on Tangiers were in California, Davis said, it would cost “$60,000 a month, I guarantee you.”

“That’s how crazy it is over there,” she said of the Golden State. “So $18,000 a month is chump change.”

Roseman University buys more land for medical school

Prospect of school district breakup muddies construction financing

BY JACKIE VALLEY

BY IAN WHITAKER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Roseman University has picked up 3.5 acres of land in Summerlin, expanding its campus for a future medical school.

The university bought the land at South Hualapai Way and Discovery Drive for $3.1 million from the Howard Hughes Corp., the developer of Summerlin, officials announced.

The land purchase completes the first phase of Roseman’s master plan for the Summerlin campus, which includes an additional 9.25 acres of adjacent undeveloped land and two buildings: the Ralph & Betty Engelstad Cancer Research Building and the former Nevada Cancer Institute building.

In April, Roseman announced it had purchased the former Nevada Cancer Institute building for $23 million from the University of California, San Diego.

The Summerlin campus will house the university’s allopathic medical school, which is making its way through the accreditation process. The goal is to enroll a first class of 60 medical students in fall 2017 — the same timeline proposed for a UNLV medical school.

The second phase of Roseman’s master plan might include building additional facilities for medical education, research and student services as the College of Medicine grows, officials said.

“Bringing a medical school to Summerlin is a point of pride for all who live and work in the community,” Kevin Orrock, president of Summerlin for Howard Hughes Corp., said in a statement.

“Roseman College of Medicine is well positioned to be a big part of the ongoing evolution and uplift of our entire city, attracting and retaining talent and expanding access to quality medical care,” Orrock said.

Roseman, founded in 1999, also has campuses in Henderson and South Jordan, Utah, for its colleges of dental medicine, pharmacy and nursing, and an MBA program.

Financing for new schools is on shaky ground after Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill into law to break up the Clark County School District.

The district has started site preparation work for 14 new schools it plans to build in the next two years. But Sandoval’s signature on the controversial bill has sparked uncertainty about who will decide where future bond money is spent if the district is split into five precincts.

“The reality is at the end of the day, we don’t know what plan they are going to come up with,” district Chief Financial Officer Jim McIntosh said.

There’s still a chance that plans to break up the district could be killed by a legislative commission next session.

But the district is concerned about the impact even the threat of breakup will have on its bond rating and its position in the bond market.

If investors think buying bonds from the school district is risky, it could end up paying more of its anticipated $4 billion in bond revenue toward interest, McIntosh said.

After the bill was passed, the district got a call from an analyst at Moody’s Investors Service, a credit rating agency, wanting to talk about a potential breakup of the district, Mc-

51-52_VI_IBLV_20150621.indd 52

Intosh said.

Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky noted: “Uncertainty in a bond market is never a good thing.”

The process, however, is nowhere close to being settled.

The committee that will be in charge of figuring out details — including how newly created precincts will share revenue and money for new construction with the Clark County School District — likely won’t be appointed until about September.

After that, the district will have to wait for a feasibility study, a series of public meetings and a final vote before a legislative commission in 2017.

The concerns are nothing new to Republican Assemblyman David Gardner, sponsor of the legislation. He has repeatedly said the issues would be worked out by the committee.

For now, the district has been moving forward with about $500 million in bond sales already approved by the board of trustees, while disclosing to investors of the potential for change in the future.

Bond sales won’t take place until late this year. The same goes for construction work on new schools, which takes about nine months to finish.

“We were all ready to move forward,” Skorkowsky said. “It has given us pause as to how we will progress.”

6/18/15 2:19 PM

53

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

CHAIN RESTAURANTS, FROM PAGE 43

‘Over 43 million mouths to feed, if we add the locals’ that restaurant chains from other U.S. regions are more willing to gamble on Las Vegas.

“In general, I can tell you that Las Vegas is a great place to do business and that the tax structure is favorable,” said Jace Radke, a spokesman for the city of Las Vegas. “Many national chains have long called Las Vegas home, and there are always more looking to locate to our city because of the growth of the community and the world-famous Las Vegas brand.”

Until recently, there were valid reasons for chains to stay away.

“In its heyday years, it was probably too expensive,” said Ryan Mathews, founder and CEO of Detroitbased Black Monk Consulting. “Also, it’s a bit counterintuitive: Gamblers had access to essentially free or heavily discounted food every time they turned around, and conventioneers had planned meals at events. As for the pure tourists, most folks don’t leave home to discover things that remind them of home.

And during the building boom, labor was at a premium. So on paper, it wasn’t an idea that made much sense.”

Another reason was logistics.

“Distribution for chain restaurants is very important,” said Katherine Jacobi, president and CEO of the Nevada Restaurant Association. “It costs a lot of money to rail or truck things across country, and a lot of them are based back East. You can’t fly food or goods anywhere; it’s just too expensive, so it didn’t make any sense for them.”

In years past, too, Nevada’s highways were less able to handle the necessary truck traffic, Jacobi said, and only one rail line comes to Las Vegas. Also different is the city’s vibe.

“Vegas was primarily a gambling town,” said Jeffrey Bank, CEO of Alicart Restaurant Group, which brought Carmine’s to the Forum Shops at Caesars in July 2013. “Now, it is a vacation town.”

WHY NOW? Restaurant chains are coming now because of all the factors that make Las Vegas Las Vegas.

“Chains are like water — they follow the path of least resistance and seek their own level,” Mathews said. “Many urban and suburban markets are simply hyper-saturated with food chains, so growth will follow concentrations of populations deemed underserved.”

Indeed, Mathews calls Las Vegas “perfect” for chains such as Shake Shack and White Castle.

“The population is fixed and transient, made up of service workers seeking fast, convenient, inexpensive meals; heavy gamers who may be down on their luck; tourists looking for a familiar touch of home, especially for the kids; and conventioneers who need to eat but may not be interested in fighting the food lines in the casinos,” Mathews said. “It’s amazing it took them this long to see the potential.”

“Vegas delivers traffic,” said John Andrews-Anagnostaras, president of Las Vegas- and Shanghai-based food service consultancy Landmark Design Inc. and managing principal of International Fabrication Specialists, which builds advanced-technology food

43-53_VICover_20150621.indd 53

their locals. I say, when are they bringing Roy Rogers’ chicken here?”

Until recently, many chain executives were afraid to come to Las Vegas, “thinking that when people come here they just want to dine at their hotel,” said Joy Rosen, a veteran Las Vegas restaurateur and caterer who now works as a public relations representative. “But they want to try new things. I think the tone of Vegas now is changing, bringing a lot more families, and that’s what these chains cater to.”

Beyond that, Rosen said, “There is no state tax, so chains have to realize they’re going to get one of the biggest tax breaks of any state. To me, that’s the key — and that the amount of people who come through this city is more than probably any other.”

Shake Shack opened in January at New York-New York.

(MIKAYLA WHITMORE/STAFF FILE)

trucks and trailers. “In 2014, there were 41,126,512 visitors here. This is in a city of just over 2.1 million inhabitants. Not many other cities in the nation can match these statistics. Over 43 million mouths to feed, if we add the locals. That is a lot of traffic.”

Beyond that, setting up a business in Las Vegas “is probably the easiest in the nation,” said AndrewsAnagnostaras, “and there is no personal tax. Also, Las Vegas has a labor force accustomed to hospitality, and one that is easy to train. Housing costs are still low, and there is housing available.”

But what Andrews-Anagnostaras calls the key factor is “the Great Recession is just about over, and (chains) are looking at areas with high people concentrations, which makes Las Vegas an obvious target.”

“Las Vegas is a very strong market, and while gaming revenues may be down, dining is up,” Bank said.

“The Shake Shacks and White Castles of the world are feeding the masses, who are looking for cheap food fast, and there are millions passing through Vegas each year.”

“The real answer to ‘Why would chains start coming here?’ is: Why not?” said Steve Nachwalter, principal of the global Nachwalter Consulting Group in Las Vegas. “I think the real allure of familiar chains branching out is the diversity of the people here.

I’m from the East Coast, so I think White Castle is a great idea. I’m sure there are people from the South who can’t believe there is no Waffle House here. My wife, who happens to be Egyptian, still can’t believe we have a glass pyramid with the brightest light that shines into space but no Egyptian restaurant.”

Nachwalter said tourists and locals alike “will agree that only good can come from a familiar chain serving comfort foods. It’s nice to have a meal that reminds us of where we came from, the times we shared with friends, and the good memories of spending time with people we like. Vegas is the perfect place to welcome its visitors and reminisce with

ASSURING SUCCESS So what should the city do to make sure the new arrivals are successful?

“They have already done it,” Andrews-Anagnostaras said. “There are plenty of world-class architectural and engineering firms, at reasonable costs. Getting plans through the planning folks, including the Southern Nevada Health District, is easy, with plenty of experienced contractors to build anything.”

“Keep the room rates low, as that is the White Castle/Shake Shack customer base,” Bank said.

Not everyone is optimistic. Barry Minkin, a futurist and global management consultant, believes restaurant chains — and other businesses in Las Vegas — are about to take it on the chin because of economic factors.

“Las Vegas will suffer a downturn due to a poor economy, more competition from other gambling venues and a severe water crisis that will limit building,” Minkin said.

Most national chains will not be able to thrive here, he said.

“The best locations within a mile of mid-Strip are already taken,” Minkin said. “There will be opportunities in the many mall foods courts, however. Fast food will continue to take a larger share of the eatout budget as both in-state and visiting retirees and lower-income people try to stretch their shrinking discretionary dollars.”

Short of economic paralysis, however, the picture looks good.

“You can’t guarantee success in a free market,” Mathews said. “That said, there are the usual tricks municipalities play to spur development: tax abatements; recruiting businesses to come to Vegas; fasttracking building applications; simplifying the regulatory and inspection processes; developing ‘turnkey’ solutions to dealing with local, county and state government; and designating urban renewal zones.”

Nachwalter is confident the chains will thrive.

“If you are successful in your market, then you should be in any market,” Nachwalter said. “Delicious is delicious. Fun is fun. If you give a kid a Lego in any part of the world, whether he speaks English or not, he will know how to use it. Some things don’t have to be taught or voted on. If you have a great product, the world will figure it out.”

6/18/15 12:49 PM

A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL PR ACTICE SERVING CLIENTS SINCE 1977.

Business Law | Real Estate | Civil Litigation Nevada’s Law Firm

Alverson Taylor Mortensen & Sanders (702) 384-7000 alversontaylor.com 7401 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89117

0000120388-01.indd 1

3/24/15 12:47 PM

55

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Calendar of events MONDAY, JUNE 22 VYP Toastmasters meeting Time: 6:30-8 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Information: Email info@vegasyp.com Just starting your professional career? The Vegas Young Professionals will teach you speaking, presentation and leadership skills.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23 Office Depot breakfast Time: Registration begins 7:30 a.m.

Cost: Free Location: Office Max, 8720 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Information: Visit web.lvchamber.com/events Network with local professionals and learn about the perks of becoming a Metro Chamber member. This event is in honor of Office Depot’s merger with OfficeMax.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 “Office - What’s the Deal?”

Time: Registration begins 11:15 a.m. Cost: $60 Location: Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas Information: snccim.org A panel discussion with experts from the commercial and investment real estate industries.

“Managing Litigation for Nonlitigators” Time: 11:45 a.m-1:15 p.m. Cost: Free for Association of Corporate Counsel members, $20 for nonmembers Location: Cili at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Information: Email ACCnevada@gmail.com Learn litigation management techniques, break down an employment discrimination lawsuit and gain insight on how to manage the costs of litigation.

Munch and Mingle for nonprofits Time: 11:45 a.m-1:15 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road Information: Call 702-507-3459 Meet new people or reconnect with friends and colleagues from the local nonprofit community at this networking lunch. Coffee and water will be supplied; bring your own lunch and information about your organization.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25 CBER’s 2015 Midyear Economic Update Time: 8-10:30 a.m. Cost: $100 Location: Venetian, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas

55_VI_calendar20150621.indd 55

Information: Visit cber.unlv.edu/outlook.html Members of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research will present the center’s economic outlook for the United States and Southern Nevada. Robert Lang, director of Brookings Mountain West, will discuss opportunities and obstacles for Southern Nevada’s long-term growth.

Henderson Chamber of Commerce networking mixer Time: 5-8 p.m. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers, additional $10 for walk-ins Location: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 6515 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Information: Email disraelson@hendersonchamber.com Swap business cards and share contacts, referrals and ideas with local business professionals.

Business After Hours at Carmine’s Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: Free for members and guests Location: Carmine’s NYC inside Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Information: Email jfisher@lvchamber.com Enjoy Italian food in a private dining area while expanding your business network.

Nevada Restaurant Association and Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2015 bowling tournament Time: 12-4 p.m. Cost: $39 Location: Orleans Bowling Center, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas Information: Visit nvrestaurants.com Enjoy a fun day of bowling and a chance to win cash prizes. All proceeds will fund hospitality scholarships.

The Social Register’s business networking mixer Time: 6-8 p.m. Cost: Free for members and guests, $20 for nonmembers Location: Emerald at Queensridge, 891 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas Information: Email srlv@socialregister.com Get to know local doctors, attorneys and smallbusiness owners, and expand your business network.

Business 101: Debunking the Myth of Franchising Time: 6 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road Information: Call 702-507-3459 Sarah Brown discusses the franchise business model to those who want to explore small business ownership as a full-time career change.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26 2015 Celebration of Civil Liberties Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $125 Location: Panevino Ristorante, 246 Via Antonio Ave., Las Vegas Information: Visit aclunv.

Shelley Berkley (STAFF FILE) org/event/2015 Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley will be honored with the 2015 Emilie Wanderer Civil Libertarian Award.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Clark County Medical Society Presidential Installation Dinner Time: Reception begins 6 p.m. Cost: $90 Location: Worldview at World Market Center, 495 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite #2203, Las Vegas Information: Visit clarkcountymedical.org The Clark County Medical Society will honor incoming president Dr. Andrew Eisen and recognize several professionals in the medical field.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30 The Social Register’s business workshop Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: Free for members and guests, $20 for nonmembers Location: Spanish Trails Country Club, 5050 Spanish Trail Lane, Las Vegas Information: Email srlv@socialregister.com Matthew Hutchings, of Dolomite Technology, will discuss ways to keep your business’s information technology safe and secure.

TMA webinar: “Utilizing and Preparing Valuation Experts in Bankruptcy Litigation” Time: 4-5:30 p.m. Cost: $29 for Turnaround Management Association members, $119 for nonmembers Location: Visit turnaround.org Information: Email emenet@turnaround.org Richard Costello, of Principal Finances and Capital Markets, will moderate a discussion about bankruptcy litigation.

Cocktails and Conversations Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $100 Location: Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas Information: Email mrodolico@lvchamber.com Mix and mingle with Nevada’s elected leaders as they share their thoughts on issues affecting the state and its business community. Contributions will support BizPAC, the chamber’s political action committee.

6/18/15 2:16 PM

56

THE DATA

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Records and Transactions BID OPPORTUNITIES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24 2:15 p.m.

Desert Breeze Recreation Center exterior and interior painting Clark County, 603613 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@ ClarkCountyNV.gov

La Bar and Michael Shaffner of Avison Young Buyer: Michael Kaplan Buyer agent: Jay Mitterlehner of American Realty Properties

3 p.m.

Current production model 3/4-ton pickups Clark County, 603726 Sandra Mendoza at sda@ClarkCountyNV.gov

$400,000 for 2.94 acre, land North Jones Boulevard and La Madre Way, Las Vegas Seller: Hood River Management Services LLC Seller agent: Did not disclose Buyer: Mosaic Five LLC and The Khusrow Family Trust Buyer agent: Vince Schettler of Colliers International

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

LEASES

2:15 p.m.

Flamingo diversion Rainbow branch and Rainbow Boulevard, Sunset Road to Russell Road Clark County, 603657 Tom Boldt at tboldt@ClarkCountyNV.gov 2:15 p.m.

Gomer Road, Fort Apache Road to Buffalo Drive signing and striping modifications Clark County, 603713 Tom Boldt at tboldt@ClarkCountyNV.gov

BROKERED TRANSACTIONS SALES $24,250,000 for 115,000 square feet, retail 4955 S. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas 89148 Seller: Birkeland Family LLC Seller agent: Did not disclose Buyer: Crossroads Plaza LV LLC Buyer agent: Al Twainy of Colliers International $3,000,000 for 27,285 square feet, retail 5752 S. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas 89148 Seller: SNR Holdings Seller agent: Jacqueline Young and Liz Clare of Avison Young Buyer: RPM Investments Buyer agent: Did not disclose $800,000 for 7,824 square feet, industrial 4045 E. Post Road, Las Vegas 89120 Seller: Post Pacific LLC Seller agent: Amy Ogden and Danielle Steffen of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Buyer: RRFT Combines Asset LLC Town Center Series Buyer agent: Did not disclose $560,000 for 7,695 square feet, multifamily 1114 E. Clark Ave., Las Vegas 89101 Seller: Lu and Dale Siewert Seller agent: James Slack, Michael

56-58_VIData_20150621.indd 56

$809,000 for 12,647 square feet, office for 84 months 2625 S. Rainbow Blvd., Building A, Suite 100 and Building B, Suite 100, Las Vegas 89146 Landlord: Rainbow 2625 LLC Landlord agent: Barton Hyde of Avison Young Tenant: Professional Institute of Technology and Accounting Tenant agent: Did not disclose $669,674 for 6,538 square feet, retail for 78 months 6181 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 101, Las Vegas 89118 Landlord: Mayflower Properties LP Landlord agent: Robert S. Hatrak II of Virtus Commercial Tenant: Blaine R. Hansen Tenant agent: Mike Abel of Lee & Associates $333,408 for 2,750 square feet, retail for 60 months 9340 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 100-101, Las Vegas 89117 Landlord: 9940 West Sahara Holdings LLC Landlord agent: Dan Hubbard and Todd Manning of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Tenant: THS LV LLC Tenant agent: Did not disclose $263,820 for 19,958 square feet, industrial 5440 S. Procyon St., Las Vegas 89118 Landlord: Procyon East LLC Landlord agent: Jennifer Levine of Voit Real Estate Services Tenant: General Supply & Services dba Gexpro Tenant agent: Kris Knapstein of DTZ $198,362 for 1,469 square feet, retail for 60 months 6584 N. Decatur Blvd., Suite 120, Las Vegas 89131 Landlord: Eagle Crossroads Center 2 LLC Landlord agent: Preston Abell and Jeff Mitchell of Virtus Commercial Tenant: Sweets Nation LLC Tenant agent: Cait Messina of Coldwell Banker

$197,499 for 372 square feet, retail for 60 months 725 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 270, Las Vegas 89101 Landlord: Harrison Properties LTD Landlord agent: Dan Hubbard and Todd Manning of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Tenant: So-Cal Speed Shop Hot Rod Apparel Inc. Tenant agent: Did not disclose $159,274 for 288 square feet, retail for 60 months 725 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 260, Las Vegas 89101 Landlord: Harrison Properties LTD Landlord agent: Dan Hubbard and Todd Manning of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Tenant: MLT Trading Tenant agent: Did not disclose $103,623 for 1,985 square feet, office for 36 months 8020 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 235, Las Vegas 89117 Landlord: CCP I & II Sahara LLC Landlord agent: Nicholas Barber and Jeremy Foley of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Tenant: CQES and LTC Continuum Tenant agent: Did not disclose $90,259 for 1,200 square feet, retail for 63 months 235 N. Eastern Ave., Suite 130, Las Vegas 89101 Landlord: Partch-Lebovitz Family Trust Landlord agent: Matt Feustel of Virtus Commercial Tenant: Daisy and Sonia Aguilar Tenant agent: Matt Feustel of Virtus Commercial $85,219 for 2,520 square feet, office for 24 months 7391 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 140, Las Vegas 89117 Landlord: Hospitalists of Nevada Landlord agent: Nicholas Barber and Jeremy Foley of Cushman & Wakefield Commerce Tenant: Hospitals of Nevada Tenant agent: Did not disclose $60,000 for 1,300 square feet, office for 36 months 2298 Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 204, Henderson 89052 Landlord: Cedarwood Holdings Landlord agent: Kris Watier and Brian Seibold of Avison Young Tenant: Fleetlogix Inc. Tenant agent: Did not disclose $54,000 for 1,034 square feet, office for 69 months 6787 W. Tropicana Ave., Suite 105, Las Vegas 89118 Landlord: 6787 Tropicana LLC Landlord agent: Barton Hyde of Avison Young Tenant: Apex Properties and Management Tenant agent: Did not disclose

Re BUSINESS LICENSES Nevada Malco Services Business type: General contractor Address: 5985 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Malco Services Nevada Inc. Nevada School Of Professional Studies Business type: School Address: 6820 W. Cheyenne Ave., Las Vegas Owner: M Staff Solutions LLC Nevada State Title LLC Business type: Title insurance company Address: 777 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 140, Las Vegas Owner: Jeff L. Sommers Nicholas (Nick) Maio Business type: Real estate sales Address: 1925 Village Center Circle, Suite 150 , Las Vegas Owner: Maio Enterprises LLC Nina’s Hair and Nails and Barber Shop Business type: General retail sales Address: 9330 Sun City Blvd., Suite 101 and 102, Las Vegas Owner: Nina A. Fernandez Nu-Way Security Business type: Private investigators Address: 7251 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Nu-Way Security And Investigative Services Inc. Orenda Therapeutic Services PLLC Business type: Professional services Address: 1334 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas Owner: Felisa Huene Os Construction Services Inc. Business type: General contractor Address: 6465 W. Sahara Ave, Suite 101, Las Vegas Owner: William Sharp Osvaldys Cleaning Services Business type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose, Las Vegas Owner: Neyra Peinado Page Industrial Supply Inc. Business type: Building, plant nursery and hardware supplies Address: 2901 Highland Drive, Suite 4G, Las Vegas Owner: Kent Osborne Parading Irises Fine Art Gallery Business type: Sales/services Address: 2645 Cheer Pheasant Ave., North Las Vegas Owner: Debra Seney Parti Pak Productions Business type: Alcohol beverage

caterer Address: 2800 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 2C and Suite 3C, Las Vegas Owner: Parti Pak Productions Inc. Patty’s Closet Business type: Retail Address: 4780 W. Ann Road, Suite 2, North Las Vegas Owner: Just 4 Love LLC Perfume Outlet Business type: Retail Address: 875 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite K-3b, Las Vegas Owner: BH Retailing Inc. Ping Du Business type: Reflexology practitioner Address: 6340 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 130, Las Vegas Owner: Ping Du Pizza Hut Business type: Food services Address: 10420 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 110, Las Vegas Owner: Las Vegas Pizza LLC Premium Car Sales Business type: Automotive sales Address: 1501 N. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Premium Auto Sales LLC Pro Customs Of Henderson Business type: Body shop Address: 680 Middlegate Road, Henderson Owner: Pro Customs Of Henderson LLC Professional Document Products Business type: General services Address: 3371 W. Oquendo Road, Las Vegas Owner: Professional Document Products LLC Pulse Link Corp.

Business type: Public utility telephone Address: 5041 N. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Aaron Hunsaker Purrfect Auto Service #14 Business type: Service station Address: 2005 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Maxum Moe Investments Inc. R. Directional Drilling & Underground Technology Business type: General contractor Address: 4590 Copper Sage St., Las Vegas Owner: Jose Ruiz-Luna Ragtime Cleaning Service LLC Business type: Residential property maintenance Address: 9935 Shadow Grove Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Christine Hohman

6/18/15 3:29 PM

Rancho Business Address Suite Q, Owner: R

Randy M Business Address Circle, S Owner: R

Red Moo Business tenance Address Vegas Owner: R

Reiki Fo Business Address Suite 101 Owner: M

Richard Business Address Suite 105 Owner: R

Roof Env Business Address Henders Owner: R

RSVP Business consultin Address Vegas Owner: R

San Plum Business nursery Address Suite 100 Owner: V Inc.

Scope C Business ments Address Suite B, Owner: A

Shawn H Business Address Road, Su Owner: S

Sigma A Business Address Suite 130 Owner: A

Silver St Business Address Las Veg Owner: S Sin City

57

THE DATA

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Records and Transactions Rancho Circle Laundromat Business type: Tobacco dealer Address: 2401 W. Bonanza Road, Suite Q, Las Vegas Owner: RCL Services Randy Milmeister Business type: Real estate sales Address: 1925 Village Center Circle, Suite 150 , Las Vegas Owner: Randy H. Milmeister LLC Red Moon Business type: Repair and maintenance Address: Did not disclose, Las Vegas Owner: Roberto Wences Reiki For Stress Relief Business type: Instruction services Address: 2400 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 101, Las Vegas Owner: Michele Ficano Richard V. Querney Business type: Real estate sales Address: 2310 Paseo Del Prado, Suite 105, Las Vegas Owner: Richard V. Querney Roof Envy Inc. Business type: General contractor Address: 405 Woodridge Drive, Henderson Owner: Roof Envy Inc. RSVP Business type: Management or consulting service Address: Did not disclose, Las Vegas Owner: RSVP Elite LLC San Plumbing Supply Business type: Building, plant nursery and hardware supplies Address: 3700 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas Owner: Van Marcke Trade Supply Inc. Scope Contracting Business type: Tenant improvements Address: 3170 E. Sunset Road, Suite B, Las Vegas Owner: A&R Group LLC Shawn Hong Business type: Real estate sales Address: 5550 Painted Mirage Road, Suite 140, Las Vegas Owner: Shawn Hong Sigma Auto Business type: Automotive sales Address: 2410 N. Decatur Blvd., Suite 130, Las Vegas Owner: Apex Hills LLC Silver State Gaming Business type: Restricted gaming Address: 3103 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Silver State Gaming Inc. Sin City Modz

56-58_VIData_20150621.indd 57

Business type: Sales/services Address: 2205 Keller Court, North Las Vegas Owner: Christopher Beers Sir Smoke A Lot Hookah Lounge Business type: Sales/services Address: 3960 W. Craig Road, North Las Vegas Owner: Brenda Mejia SolarCity Corp.

Business type: Nonfarm product vendor Address: 302 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Seth Weissman Solstice Sunglass Boutique Outlet Business type: General retail sales Address: 785 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 2109, Las Vegas Owner: Solstice Marketing Concepts LLC Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids Business type: Community services Address: 11700 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 170-378, Las Vegas Owner: Carrie Stanton Space City Assembly Business type: Sales/services Address: 6520 Butterfly Sky St., North Las Vegas Owner: Vincent Mendez Specialists Real Estate Business type: Real estate sales Address: 9350 Sun City Blvd., Suite 100 and Suite 150, Las Vegas Owner: Justine Lynn Ries Star Custom Signs Business type: General retail sales Address: 875 S. Grand Central Parkway, Kiosk 2427, Las Vegas Owner: Laura Pamplona Stephanie Dibbs Business type: Real estate sales Address: 7448 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 106, Las Vegas Owner: Stephanie Dibbs Street Dogs Venezuelan Style LLC Business type: Non-farm product vendor Address: 1600 N. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Luis Fernandez Systems Performance Partners Business type: Computer consulting services Address: 1036 Aspen Daisy Ave., Henderson Owner: Randal Hartwig and Theresa Hartwig T’s Kitchen Business type: Nonfarm product vendor Address: 1600 N. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Tmira Elimlich

Taylor Atwell Business type: Real estate sales Address: 1215 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 210, Las Vegas Owner: Taylor Atwell Terramind LLC Business type: Instruction services Address: 2400 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 101, Las Vegas Owner: Anita Babinszki-Saldana Tetra Tech Inc. Business type: Contractor Address: 1489 W. Warm Springs Road, Suite 110, Henderson Owner: Tetra Tech Inc. Thai Kitchen Express Business type: Food services Address: 332 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Thai Kitchen LLC The Downtowner Business type: Residence hotel Address: 218 N. Eighth St., 120 N. Eighth St. and 116 N. Eighth St., Las Vegas Owner: DT Lodging LLC The Wet Seal Business type: Clothing Address: 1300 W. Sunset Road, Suite 1241, Henderson Owner: The Wet Seal Total Vegas Events Business type: General services Address: 9490 W. Diablo Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Lisa C. Chapman Trinity Land Surveying Inc. Business type: Surveying firm Address: 3650 N. 5th St., Suite 140, North Las Vegas Owner: Trinity Land Surveying Inc. Underground Skateboard Shop Stratosphere Business type: Sporting goods Address: 2000 Las Vegas Blvd.

South, Suite D06, Las Vegas Owner: Silver Nevada Royce West LLC Up In Smoke 2 Electronic Cigarettes & E-Juice Business type: Vapes and electronic cigarettes Address: 875 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite K111, Las Vegas Owner: Vapor Rage LLC Vazquez Insurance And Multiservices Business type: Business support service Address: 1839 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Cortes Vazquez LLC Vegas Valley Demolition LLC Business type: General contractor Address: 8565 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 150, Las Vegas Owner: Vegas Valley Demolition LLC

Vegas Valley Sports Management Business type: Food services Address: 240 W. Fairway Road, Las Vegas Owner: Vegas Valley Sports Management LLC Vernessa Johnson Business type: Real estate sales Address: 9525 Hillwood Drive, Suite 120, Las Vegas Owner: Vernessa Johnson Wasted Americana Business type: General retail sales Address: 5710 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Georgina Garcia Anaya Water FX LLC Business type: Contractor Address: 740 N. Valle Verde Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Did not disclose Wireless Express Business type: General retail sales Address: 4252 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Mr. Fy LLC World Of Watches Business type: General retail sales Address: 875 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suites 35 and 79, Las Vegas Owner: BH Retailing Inc. Yoga For Everybody Business type: Instruction services Address: 2400 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 101, Las Vegas Owner: Emmerson LLC Z Mart Business type: Tobacco dealer Address: 1451 W. Owens Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Platinum Management Group 2 LLC Zimmerman Law Firm Pc Business type: Professional services Address: 7670 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 140, Las Vegas Owner: Brian F. Zimmerman Zzyzx Construction LLC Business type: Residental improvement Address: 2470 Chandler Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Zzyzx Construction LLC

BUILDING PERMITS $5,461,664, hospital institution 10625 Jeffreys St., Henderson Seven Hills Hospital B $1,977,031, medical office 10615 Jeffreys St., Henderson Seven Hills Hospital B $986,750, commercial - remodel 519 N. Stephanie St., Henderson

Ulta Beauty $750,000, tenant improvement 4131 E. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas Developers Choice Inc. $432,793, disaster 5921 Smoke Ranch Blvd., Las Vegas Kalb Industries of Nevada Ltd. $321,930, mounted photovoltaic system 8304 Fawn Meadow Ave., Las Vegas SolarCity Corporation $254,404, residential - production 2774 Sacred Court, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $254,404, residential - production 2782 Sacred Court, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $250,190, residential - custom 1794 Anelli Court, Henderson Tyler Christopher & Marta Revoca $226,487, single-family 328 Calgrove St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $221,910, residential - production 2816 Josephine Drive, Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada $221,910, residential - production 2864 Josephine Drive, Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada $217,086, residential - production 2540 Pont Marie Drive, Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada $211,982, single-family 323 Calgrove St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $211,982, single-family 338 Calgrove St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $211,007, single-family 331 Calgrove St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $200,340, residential - production 1164 Apollo Gardens St., Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $196,197, single-family 339 Calgrove St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $194,962, residential - production 1168 Apollo Gardens St., Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $192,465, commercial - remodel 1410 Jet Stream Drive, Suite 170, Henderson Pacific Dental Services

6/18/15 3:29 PM

58

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

Records and Transactions $191,302, residential - custom 1141 Dufort Hills Court, Henderson DR Horton Inc. $186,256, residential - production 2778 Sacred Court, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $178,992, residential - production 2175 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $178,992, residential - production 2182 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $178,900, office - tenant improvement 3185 W. St. Rose Parkway, Suite 311, Henderson Titanium Building Group LLC $173,871, single-family 7261 Orchard Harvest Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $173,871, single-family 7301 Orchard Harvest Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $173,447, residential - production 1092 Day Marks Lane, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $171,562, residential - production 2170 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $171,070, single-family 9095 Mastodon Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $171,070, single-family 9102 Mastodon Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $169,954, residential - production 2183 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $169,954, residential - production 2178 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $164,464, residential - production 2859 Shining Sun Way, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $160,949, single-family 9101 Mastodon Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $160,949, single-family 9096 Mastodon Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $160,638, residential - production 2561 Prairie Pine St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $160,472, residential - production 2855 Shining Sun Way, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $160,472, residential - production 2863 Shining Sun Way, Henderson

56-58_VIData_20150621.indd 58

Greystone Nevada LLC $160,266, single-family 245 Besame Court, Las Vegas Toll South LV LCC $157,810, residential - production 717 Gulf Pearl Drive, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $155,537, residential - production 2174 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $154,317, residential - production 2179 Maderno St., Henderson Pardee Homes Of Nevada $150,016, commercial - remodel 140 S. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 122, Henderson Kamus & Keller $150,000, single-family 8905 Tavistock Court, Las Vegas Crisci Builders $150,000, wall/fence 9711 Eagle Canyon Ave., Las Vegas Integrity Masonry Inc. $146,497, single-family 7410 Old Compton St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $143,775, residential - new 4364 Shady River Ave., North Las Vegas KB Home Nevada Inc. $143,006, residential - production 694 Bollons Island St., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc.

$136,699, single-family 12210 Tempestad Ave., Las Vegas Toll South LV LCC $135,531, single-family 7417 Old Compton St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $135,531, single-family 7414 Old Compton St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $135,177, single-family 6945 Lakota Summit Court, Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $135,000, commercial - addition 4975 N. Pecos Road, North Las Vegas Southwest Material Handling $134,434, single-family 7935 Torreys Peak St., Las Vegas Ryland Homes $133,118, single-family 444 Trevinca St., Las Vegas Ryland Homes $132,764, residential - new 3509 Starlight Ranch Ave., North Las Vegas J.F. Shea Co. Inc. $130,584, residential - production 3163 Fortunati Walk, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $128,699, residential 279 Inflection St., Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada

$142,395, residential - production 715 Gulf Pearl Drive, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc.

$126,054, single-family 10439 Prairie Mountain Ave., Las Vegas Ryland Homes

$142,395, residential - production 724 Gulf Pearl Drive, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc.

$125,193, single-family 440 Trevinca St., Las Vegas Ryland Homes

$140,498, single-family 6942 Lakota Summit Court, Las Vegas DR Horton Inc.

$125,000, commercial - remodel 871 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 200, Henderson Denali Builders

$140,327, single-family 7221 Orchard Harvest Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc.

$123,813, single-family 7853 Saber Tooth St., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc.

$139,839, single-family 9090 Mastodon Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc.

$120,465, single-family 6952 Lakota Summit Court, Las Vegas DR Horton Inc.

$137,294, residential - production 920 Lynne Harbor Ave., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $137,294, residential - production 3128 Dalmazia Ave., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $136,906, residential - production 928 Harbor Ave., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc.

$115,100, commercial - alteration 1815 E. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas Alan Jeskey Builders Inc. $114,670, residential - production 2847 Shining Sun Way, Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $114,670, residential - production 2851 Shining Sun Way, Henderson

Greystone Nevada LLC $114,171, residential 275 Inflection St., Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada $113,227, single-family 7859 Saber Tooth St., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $108,959, single-family 7935 Blue Lake Peak St., Las Vegas Adaven Homes LLC $107,887, single-family 7856 Saber Tooth St., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $107,510, single-family 10617 Kennedy Peak Lane, Las Vegas Ryland Homes $106,774, single-family 7939 Blue Lake Peak St., Las Vegas Adaven Homes LLC $104,986, commercial 777 S. Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas Whiting Turner Contracting $104,272, single-family 7919 Mineral Peak St., Las Vegas Adaven Homes LLC $103,549, single-family 7871 Saber Tooth St., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $103,549, single-family 9321 Bright Blue Sky Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $103,549, single-family 9325 Bright Blue Sky Ave., Las Vegas DR Horton Inc. $103,442, single-family 9028 Good Humored Court, Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $103,192, residential 271 Inflection St., Henderson Richmond American Homes Of Nevada $102,527, residential - production 713 Gulf Pearl Drive, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $100,742, residential - new 3505 Starlight Ranch Ave., North Las Vegas J.F. Shea Co. Inc. $100,475, residential - production 3159 Fortunati Walk, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $100,475, residential - production 3161 Fortunati Walk, Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc.

$100,419, residential - production 395 Ambitious St., Henderson Ryland Homes $100,419, residential - production 265 Persistence Court, Henderson Ryland Homes $100,335, single-family 7938 Blue Lake Peak St., Las Vegas Adaven Homes LLC $100,335, single-family 7934 Blue Lake Peak St., Las Vegas Adaven Homes LLC $100,000, commercial 4131 E. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas Developers Choice Inc. $100,000, tenant improvement 4131 E. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas Developers Choice Inc. $95,587, single-family 9121 Blue Crystal Court, Las Vegas TNP Construction Company

CONVENTIONS Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - Annual Conference & Exposition 2015 Location: Las Vegas Convention Center Dates: June 28-30 Expected attendance: 18,000 Institute of Transportation Engineers - Technical Conferences & Exhibits 2015 Location: Planet Hollywood Dates: July 8-14 Expected attendance: 500 Freedom Fest 2015 Location: Planet Hollywood Dates: July 8-12 Expected attendance: 700 USA/BMX Las Vegas Grand Nationals - 2015 Location: Equestrian Events Center at the South Point Dates: July 10-12 Expected attendance: 900 UFC Fan Expo 2015 Location: Sands Expo & Convention Center Dates: July 10-11 Expected attendance: 12,000 Cosmoprof North America 2015 Location: Mandalay Bay Dates: July 12-14 Expected attendance: 23,000 To receive a complete copy of Data Plus every week in Excel, please visit vegasinc.com/subscribe.

6/18/15 3:29 PM

Experience Extraordinary Visit Any Of Our 33 Las Vegas Locations

In Remembrance of

Monty Montierth

BOW CHICA

With sadness in our hearts we say goodbye to a wonderful individual, colleague, and friend.

Monty passed away peacefully at his home. He will be remembered for his many contributions, but mostly his insatiable curiosity, love for the arts, great sense of humor and unforgettable personality.

low-cost spay and neuter clinic now open procedures starting at just $65

animalfoundation.com 702-384-3333 x137

— New customers only —

L I C E N S E D F O R F U L L B A R & L I Q U O R C AT E R I N G | 7 0 2 . 8 7 6 . 1 1 0 6 | T O P D O G C AT E R I N G. C O M

TAILORED MENUS

059_tsd_062115.indd 1

FULL SERVICE CATERING

CORPORATE EVENTS

6/19/15 3:40 PM

60

YOUR BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS NEWS

THE SUNDAY

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

JUNE 21- JUNE 27

The List 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

CATEGORY: HIGHEST-PAID EXECUTIVES (RANKED BY TOTAL COMPENSATION BASED ON MOST RECENT AVAILABLE SEC FILING*) Total compensation

Salary

Bonus

Stock awards

Option awards

Non-equity incentive

All other compensation

Robert G. Goldstein President, COO Las Vegas Sands Corp.

$48,652,290

$1,500,000

—

—

$45,045,000

$1,450,500

$656,790

Gary Loveman President, CEO Caesars Entertainment Corp.

$32,650,741

$1,900,000

—

$20,799,680

$6,025,403

$2,437,500

$1,488,158

Steve Wynn Chairman, CEO Wynn Resorts Ltd.

$25,322,854

$4,000,000

—

$10,000,000

—

$10,000,000

$1,322,854

Sheldon Adelson Chairman, CEO, treasurer Las Vegas Sands Corp.

$11,991,724

$1,000,000

—

$1,825,000

$1,825,000

$3,712,026

$3,629,698

Ram V. Chary President, CEO Global Cash Access Holdings Inc.

$11,654,669

$632,692

—

$1,424,000

$9,438,033

—

$159,944

James J. Murren Chairman, CEO MGM Resorts International

$10,183,159

$2,000,000

—

$3,499,993

—

$4,081,536

$601,630

Anthony M. Sanfilippo CEO Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.

$7,845,234

$1,200,000

—

$4,475,908

$1,424,426

$741,000

$3,900

Keith E. Smith President, CEO Boyd Gaming Corp.

$5,926,590

$1,250,000

—

$2,488,674

$545,802

$1,593,750

$48,364

Robert H. Baldwin Chief design and construction officer, director MGM Resorts International

$5,536,516

$1,650,000

—

$1,100,018

—

$2,736,585

$49,913

Linda Chen President of Wynn International Marketing Wynn Resorts Ltd.

$5,386,249

$1,500,000

—

$1,500,000

—

$1,500,000

$886,249

Stephen Cootey Senior vice president, CFO, treasurer Wynn Resorts Ltd.

$5,296,853

$587,307

$625,000

$3,958,800

—

—

$125,746

Rajesh C. Shrotriya Chairman, CEO Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc.

$4,828,563

$900,000

$900,000

$723,000

$2,011,423

—

$294,140

Matt Maddox President Wynn Resorts Ltd.

$4,814,400

$1,500,000

—

$1,500,000

—

$1,500,000

$314,400

William J. Hornbuckle IV President MGM Resorts International

$4,623,680

$1,250,000

—

$1,400,005

—

$1,913,220

$60,455

Thomas Jenkin Global president of destination markets Caesars Entertainment Corp.

$4,373,820

$1,200,000

—

$1,712,480

$903,742

$525,000

$32,598

Kim Sinatra Executive vice president, general counsel, secretary Wynn Resorts Ltd.

$4,325,954

$840,769

—

$2,474,875

—

$850,000

$160,310

Carlos A. Ruisanchez President, CFO Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.

$4,280,205

$800,000

—

$2,595,877

$367,428

$513,000

$3,900

Name

*Total compensation = Salary + bonus + value realized on exercise of stock options + value realized on sale of restricted stock + non-equity incentive plan compensation+ All other compensation Source: The companies’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and VEGAS INC research. It is not the intent of this list to endorse the participants or to imply that the listing of a company indicates its quality. Although every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of VEGAS INC charts, omissions sometimes occur and some businesses do not respond. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to Julie Ann Formoso, research associate, VEGAS INC, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third floor, Henderson, NV 89074.

60_VI_List_20150621.indd 60

6/19/15 3:06 PM

ONE STUDENT. ONE TEACHER. NO LIMITS.

Premier Accredited 1:1 Private School Looking to Open in Las Vegas Join us for an introductory meeting where you can meet key staff and learn more.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30 Henderson Meeting 5:00 - 7:00PM

Greenspun Media Group 2360 Corporate Circle, Henderson, NV

Summerlin Meeting 7:00 - 9:00PM

6787 West Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV (Tropicana and Rainbow)

1:1 Instruction • Flexible Scheduling • Grades 6-12 • Technology Enriched Classrooms Founded in 1985, Halstrom Academy has 15 Campuses located throughout San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.

Full-Time | Part-Time | Courses for Credit | College Prep | AP | Tutoring WASC Accredited | UC/CSU Certified | NCAA Approved | Open Enrollment

LVSUNADLV0615

0000124774-01.indd 1

Halstrom Academy

Learn More and RSVP Today

HalstromEvent.com 6/19/15 2:58 PM

KUDOS FOR QUALITY. 2015 Hyundai

GENESIS

275

LEASE FOR

$

PER MONTH

36 MONTH CLOSED END LEASE ON APPROVED CREDIT.

$6970 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING ($3375 CASH OUT OF POCKET OR TRADE EQUITY AND $595 ACQUISITION FEE. AMOUNT DUE IS AFTER $3000 HMF LEASE CASH.) $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED.TAX, TITLE, AND LICENSE FEES EXTRA. MUST FINANCE THROUGH HMF. TERMINATION FEE $400 AT LEASE END. PURCHASE OPTION AT LEASE END $23,089.65.

10K MILES PER YEAR WITH $.15 PER MILE THEREAFTER

2014 Hyundai Genesis. “Highest Ranked Midsize Premium Car in Initial Quality, Two Years in a Row.”

2015 Hyundai

EQUUS

498

LEASE FOR

$

PER MONTH

36 MONTH CLOSED END LEASE ON APPROVED CREDIT.

$12,244 DUE AT LEASE SIGNING ($5899 CASH OUT OF POCKET OR TRADE EQUITY AND $595 ACQUISITION FEE. AMOUNT DUE IS AFTER $5750 HMF LEASE CASH.) $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED.TAX, TITLE, AND LICENSE FEES EXTRA. MUST FINANCE THROUGH HMF. TERMINATION FEE $400 AT LEASE END. PURCHASE OPTION AT LEASE END $33,723. 10K MILES PER YEAR WITH $.15 PER MILE THEREAFTER

• • • • • • •

ENJOY DESIRABLE PREMIUM FEATURES WITHOUT EXTRA CHARGES

BLIND SPOT

LANE DEPARTURE

HEATED STEERING

DETECTION WARNING WHEEL PLANET HYUNDAI (702) 605-6864

PLANETHYUNDAISAHARA.COM

SMART CRUISE

19-INCH ALLOY

CONTROL WHEELS 7150 W. SAHARA JUST WEST OF RAINBOW

95

215 15

215

ALL OFFERS EXPIRE 6/30/15.

0000124127-01.indd 1

6/5/15 11:10 AM

Get 15% off Parts and Service at Subaru of Las Vegas Plus tax. Coupon valid through 6/30/15. Must present coupon at time of service. Doesn’t apply to prior service.

One coupon per guest, per visit. Not valid with any other offer. See dealer for full details.

Buy One Get One FREE Buffet or 50% OFF One Buffet at S7 Buffet

Must be at least 21 with valid photo ID and A-Play Card. Membership into the A-Play Club is free. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Complimentary buffet value up to $12.99, additional fees apply on specialty, brunch and holiday buffets. Tax and Gratuity not included. One coupon per person, per table, per week. Dine in only. No cash value. Void if copied. Management reserves all rights. Expires 7/4/15. Settle to: 535.

5385 W. SAHARA AVE. LAS VEGAS, NV. 89146

4100 PARADISE ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89169

1 (888) 862-1880 www.SubaruOfLasVegas.com

(702) 733-7000 www.SilverSevensCasino.com

Buy 1 Get 1 Free Draft Beer

*Must be at least 21 with valid photo ID. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

No cash value. Management reserves all rights.

Not valid on holidays or during special events. Expires 6/30/2015.

FREE Bloody Mary or Mimosa and $5 OFF adult ticket to Gospel Brunch at House of Blues. *Subject to availability. Must present coupon when booking Gospel Brunch ticket; to get a drink ticket for free Bloody Mary or Mimosa.

Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offers. Offer is non-transferable and has no cash value.

Not valid on holidays. Management reserves all rights. Expires 6/30/15.

LOCATED CENTER STRIP AT THE LINQ UNDER THE WHEEL

HOUSE OF BLUES INSIDE MANDALAY BAY RESORT 3950 LAS VEGAS BLVD. S, LAS VEGAS, NV 89119

(702) 862-BOWL www.BrooklynBowl.com

(702) 632-7600 www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas

FREE Drink On Us at House of Blues Crossroads Bar

Get 10% OFF Any Purchase Over $30

Buy one drink and get the second FREE. *Good for one domestic beer, well drink or house wine, valid at the bar only. Must present this coupon when ordering drink.

Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offers. Offifer is non-transferable and has no cash value. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Management reserves all rights. Expires 6/30/15.

Bring this coupon and get 10% off your purchase of $30 or more in the HOB Company Store *Offer not valid on sundry items, CD’s, Santana Musical Instruments or Artwork. May not be used in conjunction with any other offers. Expires 6/30/15.

063-065_tsd_062115.indd 63

HOUSE OF BLUES INSIDE MANDALAY BAY RESORT 3950 LAS VEGAS BLVD. S, LAS VEGAS, NV 89119

HOUSE OF BLUES INSIDE MANDALAY BAY RESORT 3950 LAS VEGAS BLVD. S. LAS VEGAS, NV 89119

(702) 632-7600 www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas

(702) 632-7600 www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas

6/18/15 5:32 PM

Buy One Get One FREE Drink at Sean Patrick’s

FREE Appetizer at Sean Patrick’s Buy one appetizer and get the second FREE

Wine, well or domestic beer *Expires 6/30/15. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Management reserves all rights.

May not be combined with any other offer. See bar host for details.

VALID AT 3290 W. ANN ROAD and 6788 NORTH 5TH STREET. Settle to 1581.

*Expires 6/30/15. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Maximum value at $9.99 on free appetizer.

Management reserves all rights. See bar host for details.

VALID AT 3290 W. ANN ROAD and 6788 NORTH 5TH STREET ONLY. Settle to 1580.

3290 W. ANN ROAD NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89031

6788 NORTH 5TH STREET NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89084

3290 W. ANN ROAD NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89031

6788 NORTH 5TH STREET NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89084

(702) 395-0492 www.pteglv.com

(702) 633-0901 www.pteglv.com

(702) 395-0492 www.pteglv.com

(702) 633-0901 www.pteglv.com

Buy One Get One FREE Drink at Sean Patrick’s Wine, well or domestic beer *Expires 6/30/15. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Management reserves all rights.

May not be combined with any other offer. See bar host for details.

VALID AT 11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. and 8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD ONLY. Settle to 1581.

FREE Appetizer at Sean Patrick’s Buy one appetizer and get the second FREE *Expires 6/30/15. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Maximum value at $9.99 on free appetizer.

Management reserves all rights. See bar host for details.

VALID AT 11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY and 8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD. Settle to 1580.

11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. LAS VEGAS, NV 89141

8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD LAS VEGAS, NV 89147

11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. LAS VEGAS, NV 89141

8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD LAS VEGAS, NV 89147

(702) 837-0213 www.pteglv.com

(702) 227-9793 www.pteglv.com

(702) 837-0213 www.pteglv.com

(702) 227-9793 www.pteglv.com

$5 OFF Any Purchase of $30 or More

$40 All You Can Drive Tuesdays from 6p - 10p

*Valid at both LV locations only. Must have Local I.D. # of races may vary.

Subject to availability and may be cancelled without notice. Restrictions may apply

Present this coupon at time of purchase. Management reserves all rights.Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer.

4175 SOUTH ARVILLE, LAS VEEGAS, NV 89103 7350 PRAIRIE FALCON RD., LAS VEGAS, NV 89128 169 E. TROPICANA, LAS VEGAS, NV 89109

6030 W. WINDMILL LN., LAS VEGAS, NV 89139

8544 BLUE DIAMOND, LAS VEGAS, NV 89178

(702) 262-9100

(702) 222-3030

(702) 629-2992

063-065_tsd_062115.indd 64

(702) 227-RACE www.PolePositionRaceway.com

6/18/15 5:32 PM

$

1 OFF per Carton* Las Vegas Smoke Shop 1225 N. MAIN STREET, LV, NV 89101 (702) 366-1101 Snow Mountain Smoke Shop 11525 NU-WAV KAIV BLVD, LV, NV 89124 (702) 645-2957 www.LVPaiuteSmokeShop.com

(Cigarettes Only)

*Must be 18 years of age or older. NO LIMIT on any brand of carton purchased. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit one discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 7/31/2015 SERVING LAS VEGAS SINCE 1978 THE ONLY TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP IN LV

$1 OFF PER CARTON* (Cigarettes Only)

20% OFF

*Must be 18 years of age or older. NO LIMIT on any brand of carton purchased. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit one discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 7/31/2015

$5 FREE Slot Play

Entire Guest Check

*One coupon, per table, per visit. Not valid with any other coupons or promotional offers. Coupon has no cash value. No change returned.

Taxes and gratuity not included. Valid at participating Denny’s restaurants. Selection and prices may vary. Only original coupon accepted.

Photocopied and Internet printed or purchased coupons are not valid. No substitutions. © 2014 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. Offer ends 7.4.15.

for New Members

725 S RACETRACK RD. HENDERSON, NV 89015 (702) 566-5555 www.clubfortunecasino.com

Must become a Player Rewards Card member to redeem.

Existing Player Rewards Card Members do not qualify.

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other free slot play offer.

Management reserves all rights. Limit of one (1) New Member free slot play offer per person and Player Rewards card.

Group #5353. Valid 6/21/15 - 6/27/15.

$.99 for a Muffin

Start of Summer Specials VALID SATURDAY 7AM–6PM

Use PLU#2601 if barcode fails to scan.

20% OFF

99¢ Small Iced Coffee

Any of the Following Factory Recommended Services 15,000 miles | 30,000 miles | 45,000 miles 60,000 miles | 75,000 miles | 90,000 miles

(16 ounce)

*Valid for Hyundai owners through 6/30/15. See dealer for complete details. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Must present at time of service.

6825 REDWOOD ST., LAS VEGAS, NV 89118 | I-215 & S. RAINBOW

(702) 475-3015 www.ABCHyundai.com

*(Plus appl. tax). Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Coupon and barcode must be presented at time of purchase. Shop must retain coupon.

No substitutions allowed. No cash refunds. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited or restricted by law. Consumer must pay applicable tax.

May not be combined with any other coupon, discount, promotion combo or value meal. Coupon may not be reproduced, copied, purchased, traded or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Cash redemption value: 1/20 of 1 cent. © 2014 DD IP Holder LLC. All rights reserved. Expires: 7/11/2015

Use PLU#2605 if barcode fails to scan.

*(Plus appl. tax). Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Coupon and barcode must be presented at time of purchase. Shop must retain coupon.

No substitutions allowed. No cash refunds. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited or restricted by law. Consumer must pay applicable tax.

May not be combined with any other coupon, discount, promotion combo or value meal. Coupon may not be reproduced, copied, purchased, traded or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Cash redemption value: 1/20 of 1 cent. © 2015 DD IP Holder LLC. All rights reserved. Expires: 7/11/2015

$

31 Off Your Next Removal 3850 LAS VEGAS BLVD. SO., LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 (702) 597-7991 www.dickslastresort.com

(800) 468-5865 www.1800gotjunk.com

*Not valid with any other offer. Limit one coupon per customer.

Expires 6/30/15.

START OF SUMMER SPECIALS

A/C Cooling System and Battery Check included

ONE FREE Order of Fried Pickles

when you bring in this coupon.

See dealer for complete details. *Expires 6/30/15.

with purchase of regular priced entrée.

6825 REDWOOD ST., LAS VEGAS, NV 89118 | I-215 & S. RAINBOW

(702) 475-3015 www.ABCHyundai.com

063-065_tsd_062115.indd 65

3850 LAS VEGAS BLVD. SO., LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 (702) 597-7991 www.dickslastresort.com

*Dine in only. Must present coupon to redeem offer. Not valid with any other offer. Excludes holidays and special events. Management reserves all rights. Not including tax or gratuity. One voucher per guest per visit.

6/18/15 5:32 PM

66

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

THE SUNDAY JUNE 21- JUNE 27

LIFE

Send your thoughts to news@thesunday.com

L.A. TIMES CROSSWORD

“HONORING OUR VETERANS”

BY C.C. BURNIKEL

 TOP DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEK (AS OF JUNE 18) TOP TV SEASONS

1 2 3 4 5

6/21/15

XWORDEDITOR@AOL.COM

ACROSS 1 Queens swingers 5 Like New York’s Waldorf Astoria 9 Ball queen 14 Sought-after guests 19 “The African Queen” co-screenwriter 20 Bring in 21 “The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven,” in “Paradise Lost” 22 Jazzy Jones 23 High-end bar?

25 IRS Schedule C, line 7 27 Religion of most Malaysians 28 Shower sponge 30 Telecom unit 31 Tot perch 32 Like some kisses 34 Annual theater award 36 Bullet point 38 Start of an assembly 39 Search feature that shows results as you type 44 “I knew it!”

45 Frustrating waiting time, facetiously 47 Loads 48 21-Across, in Le Havre 49 Marker 50 “Massaging” Dr. Scholl’s product 53 Goes (for) 55 Polish prose 56 Clark Kent’s father, in 1950s TV 57 Arthur of “Maude” 58 Takes by force 60 Sleekly designed 61 By and large 64 Talk pioneer 65 Time __ 67 Broad appeal 71 Eastern temple 74 Like-minded group 75 Bungler 78 Tiger’s ex 79 Riles (up) 82 Rescue pro 83 Heavy wind 85 Historian seen in “I, Claudius” 86 League, e.g.

87 Popular Aegean vacation spots 90 Vacation time in Versailles 91 Pusher’s nemesis 93 Regrets

66_Puzzles_20150621.indd 66

PAID SPORTS APPS

“Suits” Season 5, $29.99

Wheres The Cup $0.99

“Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals” $2.99

SkyDroid - Golf GPS $1.99 Coach’s Eye $4.99

“Rizzoli & Isles” Season 6, $34.99

DashCommand $9.99

“Game of Thrones” Season 1, $24.99

Golfshot Classic $29.99

“Tyrant” Season 2, $29.99

©2015 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

95 __ es Salaam 96 Edge 97 Teacher of the Year awardee, say 100 Prepare to surf 102 Doesn’t keep 103 Quick kiss 104 Roger, for one 106 Maestro Klemperer 108 Milky stone 111 Mr. Wrong?

113 Let’s Move! campaign launcher Michelle 116 Exodus prohibition 119 “That could work!”

121 Gives a thumbs-up 122 Colorful swimmer 123 Shore acquisitions 124 Wildlife refuge 125 Put forth, as effort 126 Hook’s look 127 Go ape 128 Ancient strings DOWN 1 Wise guys?

2 They may clash on a team 3 Lies 4 Calm 5 Wildlife refuge 6 Duffer’s dream 7 Sing jazz standards, perhaps 8 Aware of 9 Cause of fear 10 Mess up 11 Big name in little trains 12 Not as costly 13 Further 14 “King Kong” heroine 15 Picture holder 16 “Brave New World” band 17 Diner’s “I’ll have that also” 18 Friend’s address 24 “Nothing planned for that day” 26 Sweet finish 29 Pays, as the bill 33 Asian nation surrounded by five countries 35 Uninformed 37 Mao __-tung 38 Grain-free cat food brand 39 Earth goddess 40 Gobbles up 41 Technical sch.

42 Bete __ 43 One-on-one helper

__ restriction Blue-blooded Really hurting Look like a wolf Impudent Wildlife markers Knocks ’em dead at the jazz club 59 Volvo home: Abbr.

62 Light color?

63 Some, in Havana 64 Damson source 66 Obstinate beast 68 Berry promoted as a superfood 69 Salinger character who said, “I prefer stories about squalor” 70 Wrote customer reviews on, say 71 Pequod co-owner 72 Kennedy associate 73 Approximately 76 Retire 77 Big name in fashion 80 Territory 81 Env. stuffer 82 Celtic language 84 Debatable “gift” 87 Spokescritter with a British accent 88 Longtime TV journalist Marvin 89 1950 sci-fi classic 91 Petty peeve 92 Williams of “Happy Days” 94 Ambiguous 98 Mulligan 99 Doing some binge-watching, maybe 101 Legislation signed 6/22/1944 by FDR ... and, initially, what the nine longest across answers in this puzzle comprise 104 Played again 105 Sports center 106 Look like a wolf 107 Cheerios shelfmate 109 Commodities trading areas 110 “You said it!”

112 Pepper et al.: Abbr.

114 ’70s Israeli prime minister 115 It passes between Swiss banks 117 Body shop no.

118 Ph.D. hopeful’s hurdle 120 Once-sacred snake 44 46 51 52 54 55 58

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2015 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved.

Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

without repeating.

Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging)

The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the

target numbers in the top-left corners.

Freebies: Fill in singlebox cages with the number in the top-left corner

For answers to this week’s puzzles, go to Page 41

6/19/15 2:37 PM

THE NEW LAS VEGAS HAS ARRIVED And it’s taking shape at The Ogden

Everything you desire begins at The Ogden. An exciting array of dining options, a community grocery market, a casually hip nightlife, independent boutiques,

One to Three Bedroom Condominium Residences from the low $200,000s

coffee houses and more. It’s the new Las Vegas, a growing neighborhood of inspiring individuals and businesses. And it’s all taking shape at The Ogden’s doorstep, at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and everywhere you want to be.

150 N. Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas Nevada 89101

Call 702.478.4700 to schedule a private presentation today.

Sales Center open daily.

ogdenlv.com

No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. No statement should be relied upon except as expressly set forth in the Nevada Public Offering Statement. This is neither an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, any condominium units in those states where such offers or solicitations cannot be made. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. Pricing and locations of units are subject to change without notice. Views and locations of units within the project are not guaranteed and the buyer is responsible forinspecting the unit and its location before signing any agreement with respect thereto. Any square footage numbers are approximate. © DK Ogden LLC Unauthorized use of the images, artist renderings, plans or other depictions of the project or units is strictly prohibited.

0000123812-01.indd 1

6/10/15 11:37 AM

0000123691-01.indd 1

6/15/15 3:41 PM