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20 BEYOND BOOKS ON THE COVER
Now in its 60th year, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District connects our city through learning, cultural programs and more.
COVER ART Photo iIllustration
16 ENTERTAINING
Springtime means peak patio season in the Valley. We found four great spots to take your drinks outside.
28 NEWS Kids are in constant danger on the web. The Nevada Legislature is considering bills to protect them.
30 SPORTS T-Mobile Match Play, Vegas’ last remaining annual pro golf tournnament, brings LPGA greats to Shadow Creek.
32 THE STRIP
A mulltimillion-dollar refresh of Flamingo has found its way out to the venerable resort’s lush pool area.
34 MUSIC
Fans of the Bunkhouse, rejoice: That venue’s music booker is now working his magic at Swan Dive.
36 FOOD & DRINK
From omakase delights to rare sake, Japanese gastropub Izakaya Toro is full of delicious surprises.
10
TEDx steps to the podium, the Great Vegas Festival of Beer returns, Kraftwerk plugs in at Wynn, wrestling-themed art hits Sahara West and more this week.
Danielle Kang, left, and Jenny Shin at media day for the LPGA Tour’s T-Mobile Match Play at Shadow Creek Golf Course on March 19. (Sta )
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY APR 3
FRIDAY APR 4
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. WINNIPEG JETS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
COLLEGE BASKETBALL CROWN
4 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
LPGA T-MOBILE MATCH PLAY Thru 4/6, 10 a.m., Shadow Creek Golf Course, axs. com
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS Thru 4/6, times vary, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticket master.com
THE WIZ Thru 4/6, 7:30 p.m. (& 4/54/6, 2 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
ILLENIUM
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
“Thanks for coming to my TED Talk” has become a common refrain when someone speaks at length on any given topic. And while it’s said kind of sarcastically, we really would like to come to a TED Talk. At TEDxLasVegas, a locally organized program of events designed to spark deep discussion and connection, there will be plenty. A stellar lineup of more than 20 speakers including Nobel Prize-winning climate scientist Kristen Averyt, former Raider Alec Ingold and local artist Sonia Barcelona will share bold ideas throughout the weekend-long program. Other activities include curated tours that will take place Downtown, at the Smith Center, Area15 and the Atomic Museum. And VIP ticket holders can partake in associated dining experiences at several restaurants including Craft Creamery and chef Natalie Young’s new Echo Taste & Sound. Thru 4/5, times vary, $150-$250, Keep Memory Alive Center, tedxlasvegas.org. –Shannon Miller
With Rise Against, Underoath, 7 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
JON ANDERSON & THE BAND GEEKS
8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com
BRIAN MCKNIGHT
8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticket master.com
STORM LARGE
6 & 8:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com
COLLIE BUDDZ
With Hector Roots Lewis, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com
JEFFERSON STARSHIP
8 p.m., Chrome Showroom, ticket master.com
ANDRES
With Moondough, Post NC, Twin Cities, 8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm
CARMEN JONES
8 p.m., the Club at Cannery, ticketmaster.com
JAMES “MURR” MURRAY
8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com
MY COUSIN TIERRA
7 & 9:30 p.m., Wiseguys Arts District, wiseguyscomedy. com
MARSHMELLO
11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial. com
DAVID GUETTA
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnight club.com
SAWEETIE Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com
WAKA FLOCKA Noon, Drai’s Beachclub, draisgroup.com
NELLY
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
WIZ KHALIFA
10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com
THE CHAINSMOKERS
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
PLANET FUNK
OLD SCHOOL & FREESTYLE PARTY
9 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
(Ruvan Wijesooriya/Courtesy)
GREAT VEGAS FESTIVAL OF BEER
The Valley’s biggest beer fest started in 2011 and it’s crazy to think about how the local brew scene has evolved since the fine folks at Motley Brews jumped in to expand the journey. Every year, Great Vegas is an over-the-top experience, and the most extra way to engage is a Get Motley VIP Lounge pass ($145), which gets you into the tasting event an hour early and access to an exclusive spread of food and drinks as well as rare beer selections no one else will be able to enjoy. But all guests will get to snack on goodies from Empanada Factory, Golden Oven Pizza, Good Hood Burgers and more, plus all the brews from local favorites CraftHaus, Mojave Brewing, Big Dog’s, Nevada Brew Works, CinCin Brewhouse, Hop Nuts, Able Baker, Tenaya Creek, and plenty of other Nevada, national and regional beermakers. 3 p.m., $55-$145, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, greatvegasbeer.com. –Brock Radke
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY APR 6 MONDAY
EXHIBIT: VS: WRESTLING ART
Step into an exhibit at Sahara West Library where the worlds of muscle, myth and art collide in ways you’ve never seen. As WrestleMania returns to Las Vegas this month—decades after its appearance at Caesars Palace—this exhibit captures the spirit of the squared circle through the eyes of artists Matthew Couper, Brian Martinez, Robert Beckmann, Martin Krelo , Krystal Ramirez and others. Pro wrestling has always been more than just a battle of brawn, it’s an epic drama, full of theatrics, rivalries and larger-than-life personalities. Vs: Wrestling Art explores that collision of power and performance through a wide range of styles, blending art with athleticism in unexpected ways. Wrestling has always been visual, and this collection puts it front and center, showing the beautiful brutality of it all. Thru 5/3, Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free, Sahara West Library, thelibrarydistrict.org. –Gabriela Rodriguez
JENNA
& ZAVALA DRUMS
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
OPERA
LAS VEGAS:
VIVA VERDI
3 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
GOSPEL BRUNCH
10 a.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com
CLARK COUNTY ARTISTS GUILD: Thru 4/22, times thelibrary
WATERSCAPES vary, Whitney Library, district.org
MONDAYS DARK
8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com
MADELINE NASH
7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz. com
LAS VEGAS
VEGAS
DESERT DOGS VS. TORONTO ROCK
THE OMNITET
ENSEMBLE
2 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum,
GELO
axs.com
11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com
MATRODA
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com
8 p.m., Fat Cat Lounge, fatcatlv. com
BRANDON VESTAL
With Ralphie Malone, thru Garrett’s Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
DJ SHIFT
10:30 p.m., taogroup.com
Roberts, Michael 4/13, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Jewel Nightclub,
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY APR 8 WEDNESDAY APR 9
STEVE GILLESPIE
With Jen Murphy, thru 4/13, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegas comedy.com
RANDY’S CHEESEBURGER PICNIC 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
VICKI BARBOLAK 8 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com
FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
STANLEY AVENUE 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv. com
JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
NARUTO: THE SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com
LIONEL RICHIE 8 p.m., & 4/114/12, Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com
COMPOSERS SHOWCASE 9:30 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
DUCKS LTD & THE BUG CLUB 8 p.m., Swan Dive, swandivelv.com
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS 2 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
ACRAZE 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
Sampling of Experiences:
APRIL 24
The City that Blows Up to Build Up –The History of Implosion in Las Vegas
VEGAS
Architecture, Design and Culture
APRIL 24 – 27, 2025
Las Vegas is a worldwide destination for those seeking an experience like no other. Rooted in its storied architecture, Duck Duck Shed offers first-hand insights from the voices that built –and continue to build – the luxurious casinos, mega-resorts, and productions that have earned it the name "The Entertainment Capital of the World." Tours, panels, and engaging discussions await industry professionals and Las Vegas enthusiasts.
APRIL 25
How to Build a Volcano
APRIL 26
Curator’s Tour: Stories from Backstage: Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas
APRIL 27
Public Art in Las Vegas: A Curator’s Tour of the Aria Fine Art Collection
Sarah Hulme
John Sparer
Steve Crupi
Michele C Quinn
4 perfect patios to eat, drink and soak up the spring sunshine
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
In the Las Vegas Valley, there are fleeting moments between seasons when the weather invites you to step outside without the threat of sweat soaking your shirt. It’s a golden window open just long enough to swap your jacket for a cardigan.
So before the sun turns from friend to blazing foe, it’s time to claim a spot on one of the city’s best patios. These are four places where you can stretch out, kick back and indulge in whatever you’re in the mood for—whether it’s a quick lunch, pregame, or an evening of craft cocktails.
As locals, we tend to do what we can to avoid taking a trip to the Strip, but Happy Camper makes the journey worth it for the food alone.
Situated outside the Fashion Show mall on Las Vegas Boulevard, this patio is vintage camp-
themed with a twist. Multiple disco balls adorn the space, creating an adult playground that’ll make you feel like a kid again, but with adult money. At all hours of the day and night people come for the TikTok-worthy Chambongs, shots of Giuliana prosecco served in an angled ute meant for immediate drinkage. There’s also a
TAKING THE PARTY
(Courtesy/David
stellar selection of pizzas and “Happy-tizers” like whipped feta topped with sweet honey and pistachios, served with warm pita and crostini. The oversized fries will have all your homies eyeing the last one. 3200 Las Vegas Blvd., happycamper.pizza. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-midnight; Sun., 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
HAPPY CAMPER
Borzkowski)
RTY OUTSIDE
(Courtesy/To Have Her)
BEL-AIRE BACKYARD
VELVETEEN RABBIT
Walk past the deep-hued velvet furniture, candlelit tables and ower arrangements at Velveteen Rabbit, and you’ll nd a patio that’s more wonderland than bar scene. Pink glittering oors, a oral mural and pastel umbrellas create a world like a daydream. Over time, this cocktail and beer bar has become a popular location for its atmosphere and innovative beverages. The seasonal menu leaves you to choose your own adventure. If you don’t know where to begin, house cocktails like the Hibiscus Paloma and Repo Espresso Martini are solid starts. This is the perfect place to stop and indulge for a ladies’ night or rst date. 1218 S. Main St., velveteen rabbitlv.com. Sun.-Thu., 5 p.m.-midnight; Fri.-Sat., 5 p.m.-2 a.m.
If you’ve ever daydreamed of Palm Springs but didn’t want to make the trek, Bel-Aire Backyard brings that desert oasis straight to the southwest Valley. Admission starts at $30, a fair price to be transported to a patio paradise. Forget you’re in Vegas as you sip cocktails by the pool, lounge on daybeds and let the spring air work its magic. And it’s only getting better: Just in time for summer, Bel-Aire Backyard has announced its poolside concert series, o ering the ultimate dayclub x without having to leave the neighborhood, plus menus featuring fresh fruit plates, sushi rolls, boozy tropical sips, freshly muddled mojitos and more. You might nd yourself losing track of time—and who would blame you? Durango Casino, belairebackyardlv. com. Daily, 10 a.m. to sunset.
Catherine’s Kiss cocktail at Velveteen Rabbit (Courtesy/To Have Her)
(Courtesy/Clique Hospitality)
ENTERTAINING PATIOS
PARK ON FREMONT
What’s better than one patio? Two! Park on Fremont’s front and back are the perfect place for a midday birthday gathering, and we’re speaking from experience. Both spaces are lush with trees, plants and owers, a variety of seating arrangements, wood accents and tile-topped tables—truly a garden gnome’s dream. During these warming months, it’s the ideal place to pop in and enjoy some pub bites and sips. Sit back and chow down on toasted chili arbol chicken wings and made-to-order tru e fries while the in-house DJ moves you with a selection of fresh and retro jams. The vibe shifts after sunset with a rotating mix of vinyl DJ nights and indie-pop dance parties, along with other special events. 506 Fremont St., parkonfremont.com. Mon.Thu., 5-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
(Courtesy/Bright Light DA)
(Courtesy/Anthony Mair)
COMMUNITYCONNECTOR
The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District marks 60 years as a cultural and educational institution
BY AMBER SAMPSON
To a nine-year-old, a library card may as well have been a passport to the world.
My first card, issued at the Clark County Library, effectively changed the course of my childhood. My summers, like those contained in book volumes, were filled with adventure. I turned the pages on my adolescence at my neighborhood libraries, exploring new authors, acquiring new knowledge and delving into an infinite well of ideas.
Little of that would’ve been possible without the incredible 1990s expansion that saw the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District open eight new branches in quick succession to meet the Valley’s population boom. In author Jewel Guy’s 1991 paper, A History of the Clark County Library District: Its Founding and Growth in Southern Nevada, she recounts an open letter former chairman Clark Daniel “Danny” Lee shared with the district’s board:
“The future is remarkably clear … The growth rate of our sun-belt community indicates that the popu-
lation will be over one million by the year 2000 … We also know where the growth in our Valley is going to take place and we plan to be there with library buildings, books and staff.”
That commitment still rings true. As an adult, I’ve come to realize that I grew up with the Library District. And for the past 60 years, it has strived to grow with us.
“We’ve been recognized as the American Library Association’s Library of the Future three years in a row,” says Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Library District. “We’re actually a pretty young library as compared to the New York Cities, the Philadelphias, the LAs ... and we’re now considered, if not the leader, definitely one of the leaders when it comes to libraries, library services and what we’re doing.”
Since its founding in 1965, the Library District has made ambitious leaps to become the cultural institution it is today. From creating book vending machines to reach children in hospitals, to bringing digital library resources to RTC bus riders, to offering free Wi-Fi hotspots, the Library District has met the community where it’s at, across 25 different neighborhood branches. In spite of smartphones putting the whole of the internet in our very pockets, our libraries continue to be relevant.
The Library District’s robust programming runs the gamut from cocktail book clubs for adults to art receptions and Folklórico dance performances. Watson says by also leveraging partnerships with Hope for Prisoners and Workforce Connections, the district has become a crucial “community connector” for the educational pipeline. It’s also doubling down on the future of our youth.
“What we’ve been able to do is we’ve added more teen spaces in our libraries. In the new West Las Vegas Library that we’re building, we’re going to have a tween space. We’re really focused on not just bringing the youth in, but having them want to be engaged in the library, the reading, the STEM programming, the robotics, and of course, the gaming,” he says. “We want to show them that it’s not just a library. When I was a kid, I
LEFT Aubrey Jacobs, a youth services assistant, irons a Perler beads design during a Teen Maker Fair at the Centennial Hills Library.
RIGHT Eric Marchalonis, assistant branch manager shows patrons how to use a 3D printer at Centennial Hills Library. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
could imagine that I wanted to be whatever I wanted to be, and it was because of the library that I was able to kind of springboard from that.”
These days, kids can learn how to DJ at the library. They can record their own podcasts, experiment at maker fairs and print 3D objects to their heart’s content.
“These kids can come in and they can get pretty much everything they need from us, and it’s just a safe place,” says Shana Harrington, youth services manager. “My friends call it ‘#Caring Adult’. We are that one caring adult that maybe they don’t have in their life. We’re not a teacher. We’re not somebody who’s going to discipline. We’re that person that they can really lean on.”
The Library District has worked to provide that support even when faced with disaster. When COVID struck and libraries were forced to shut down, the Library District faced a major hurdle in recapturing its audience.
“We were rendered kind of helpless,” Watson says. “We weren’t providing in-building services. So I came at a time when we were reimagining what libraries could do and what we would be able to do.”
Later in the pandemic, libraries offered curbside pickups and provided 24-hour website access for library cardholders to borrow and stream films, books and music from home.
By applying much of what he learned in his previous role as director of the Broward County Libraries Division in Florida, Watson helped usher the Library District into a technological resurgence. Today, the Library District has surpassed its pre-pandemic visitor levels.
Watson is looking forward to what the future holds. That upcoming West Las Vegas Library is currently under construction in the Historic Westside on Martin Luther King Boulevard and “it’s already changed the landscape of the community,” he says. At a little over 40,000 square feet, the new library will replace the existing branch at West Lake Mead Boulevard, doubling in size to serve the growing community with more heritage celebrations, learning programs, live performances and more.
The challenges continue. Under the threat of cuts by the current federal administration, Watson admits that funding for various programs, such as the book vending machine at Sunrise Children’s Hospital, could be at risk. Funding for rural libraries in Washoe County and Nye County could also be endangered. For the sake of these branches and programs, it’s important to stay the course and not get distracted.
“The aspirations are to continue to evolve,” he says. “I want us to focus on the community, continue to focus on the work, and continue to strive to be the best.”
TOP East Las Vegas Library
CENTER Clark County Library (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
BOTTOM Sahara West Library (Staff)
LAS VEGAS-CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
Library art galleries serve a ‘museum-deprived’ town
Cultural exposure comes to us through many mediums: music, literature, film, photography and more. These mediums are lenses to an artist’s inner world. They provoke questions, ignite curiosity and challenge us to rethink what we know by presenting us with perspectives beyond our own. Their power is transformative and unifying.
Here in Las Vegas, spaces for authentic artistic expression must often fight to exist. That’s a big part of the reason why the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District chose to reinvent the idea of the public library with vibrant spaces devoted to performance, community events, and maybe most notably, visual art.
The Library District’s embrace of devoted gallery spaces began in the early 1970s, and over time has steadily grown into a deeper, more ambitious commitment than simply putting art on walls. Its gallery program is about outreach, connecting with the community and ensuring free, unencumbered accessibility to art for all.
“We’re always trying to improve ... welcoming in more artists, welcoming in more viewers,” says Darren Johnson, gallery services manager for the Library District. “It’s about giving the art a footprint in Las Vegas and helping the community have more of a comfort with art and understand that it belongs to them as well.”
The Library District’s galleries are spread across 12 branches, from East Las Vegas to Whitney. The Sahara West Library alone boasts three galleries with a massive 6,000 square feet of total space, blurring the line between library and museum.
With 80 exhibits annually, these galleries provide a platform for local, national and international artists, creating moments to engage with the public through visually and conceptually stimulating pieces.
”What I really enjoy is learning about new artists in Las Vegas,” says Johnson. “There’s so much talent here and because we do so many shows, I’m able to show such a diverse range of artists. I feel like that makes the educational experience of seeing the art and
being with the art in these different neighborhoods even more valuable.”
The exhibits range from portrait photography to conceptual paintings, sculptures and everything in between. Art is submitted and shows are pitched for consideration by the creators themselves, which not only lends a hand to artists who are looking to get their feet wet, but also reflects the scene’s current evolution.
”It’s pretty fun to see the younger generation taking up the arts now, like Scrambled Eggs, the art collective,” says Johnson. “We’ve got a good group of older artists now who are still involved. … That communication between generations and everything that each art group builds and passes on to the next is important.”
Having witnessed the ebb and flow of the Valley’s art scene, Johnson and the Library District’s mission remains clear: to continue supporting those who have creative ambitions.
“Since we’re museum-deprived right now, not a lot of Las Vegans have experience with art,” says Johnson. “So my hope is us being out in the neighborhoods helps them see the benefits.” –Gabriela Rodriguez
The gallery at Sahara West Library (Staff)
ANALOG IN, DIGITAL OUT
n I visit the West Charleston Library several weekends a month, but I rarely borrow books. I leaf through their jazz, rock and hip-hop CDs and grab a few. I pick up the audiobooks and movies I’ve reserved through the Library District’s modest-looking but feature-packed app. (Speaking of apps, I also check out streaming movies, e-books and audiobooks using Hoopla, Kanopy and Libby, all free to use with your library card.) And lately I’ve cast sidelong glances at their video game selection, which is loaded with seventh- and eighth-generation titles I haven’t played.
For the most part, however, I’m all about the Digital Memories Preservation Labs. Located at West Charleston and five other district branches (Enterprise, Rainbow, Mesquite, Laughlin, and soon, Whitney), these labs are a boon to art and science alike. You can walk in with an armload of printed photos, film negatives, cassettes, CDs, DVDs, VHS or even 3.5-inch floppy discs, and leave with a USB flash drive full of digital files ready for editing, posting or storage in the cloud.
True to its name, the Digital Memories Preservation Lab zaps so-called “legacy media” into the digital space, like that big laser in the Tron movies. And as you’d suspect of someone who casually references Tron, I regard it as a kind of speakeasy for audio/visual geeks. I’ll spend entire afternoons in the lab—you can reserve it for up to four hours at a time—scanning old negatives and slides.
The process is both calming and revelatory. I marvel at the colors and details that the drugstore photo processing labs of the late 20th century couldn’t translate into prints, and at the mysteries unearthed from slides that haven’t seen a projector in decades. (A “slide” is a film transparency you can project onto a wall or screen; see Mad Men season 1, episode 13 for further details. I swear I’m not patronizing you: Recently, a twentysomething friend really did ask me what slides are.)
Using the Digital Memories Preservation Lab requires some advance work, detailed at thelibrary district.org/dmpl. Find a empty flash drive—you probably have a half-dozen of them by now—fill out the lab’s release form, book a time window and show up a bit early so staffers can show you the room and make sure whatever media you’re digitizing won’t harm the equipment. Then plug in your drive, consult the guidebook for the equipment you’re using that day (they also take most digital video formats and 8mm film reels, just so you know) and make your once-forgotten things feel new and vital again. –Geoff Carter
LAS VEGAS-CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
JOIN US FOR CUSTOMER APPRECIATION WEEK
APRIL 6-12
AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 60 th ANNIVERSARY!
Stop by your favorite library branch & enjoy a fun day of games, free swag, cool prizes & much more!
MONDAY, APRIL 7
Bunkerville Library
Play Minecraft, sew a craft & decorate your mug!
Moapa Valley Library
Enjoy snacks, pick up a county fair-themed take and make & enter to win our swag bag!
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
Mesquite Library
Make a greeting card, play a picture hunt (kids) & attend celebration storytimes.
Moapa Town Library
Make a craft with perler beads & decorate your own mug.
West Las Vegas Library
Enjoy treats from food trucks, spin the wheel for a prize & take a line dancing class!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
Centennial Hills Library
Play video games, make origami crafts, join our LEGO club & enter our raffle!
East Las Vegas Library
Enjoy a fun day of chalk art & kids can pick up a take and make.
Enterprise Library
Create a tote bag or candle, make a button & attend our storytimes.
Indian Springs Library
Make a Mason jar hydroponic, shrinky dink or friendship bracelet & enter our raffle!
Laughlin Library
Spin the wheel for swag, enjoy coffee & shop our book sale!
Summerlin Library
Make crafts and buttons, take a fun picture in our selfie spot & enter our raffle!
West Charleston Library
Take part in our community mural, play games & win prizes.
Whitney Library
Join our community breakfast from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & enter our giveaway for prizes.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Blue Diamond Library
Shop our book sale, enjoy crafts, a scavenger hunt, raffle & snacks!
Clark County Library
Spin the wheel to win cool prizes, make crafts & play with our tech gadgets!
Meadows Library
Enjoy coffee and donuts in the morning and crafts throughout the day.
Rainbow Library
Play our scavenger hunt, enter to win a prize & join our stamp rally.
Sahara West Library
Enter our raffle to win prizes!
Spring Valley Library
Treat yourself with light refreshments & make a custom button.
Windmill Library
Play board games, sing karaoke, make crafts & watch movies!
FRIDAY, APRIL 11
Goodsprings Library
Enter our raffle, pick up a swag bag & make a glitter meditation jar!
Mt. Charleston Library
Pick your library superlative, make a button & grab a swag bag!
Sandy Valley Library
Pick up Library District swag and join us to celebrate.
Sunrise Library
Enjoy coffee & donuts in the morning & pick up a take and make kit!
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Searchlight Library
Enter our raffle, decorate a planter & enjoy a treat!
Free and open to the public. Space & supplies may be limited and are on a firstcome, first-served basis. For more information, please scan the QR code or call your local library branch.
UMC EMPLOYS ADVANCED ROBOTICS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERIES
University Medical Center is transforming surgical care for Southern Nevada patients through its expanding robotics and clinical technology program.
The da Vinci 5 robot, the latest model from Intuitive Surgical Operations, represents cutting-edge surgical technology now in use at UMC. This system features groundbreaking “force feedback” technology that allows surgeons to precisely monitor the pressure they apply to tissues during procedures.
UMC is the first hospital in Las Vegas with such technology, said Mason Van Houweling, the hospital’s CEO.
“This technology is redesigning and advancing minimally invasive
surgery beyond previous capabilities, supporting improved outcomes, enhanced efficiencies and providing actionable insights for both surgeons and patients,” Van Houweling said.
Dr. Carmen Flores, medical director of surgical services at UMC, said the da Vinci 5 would allow surgeons to maintain awareness of whether they’re inflicting too much damage on the tissue, something that can increase risks for bleeding and lead to longer healing times. With the technology, officials said UMC can offer “the gold standard” in complex urology, gynecologic, colorectal, bariatric and thoracic surgery so long as it is minimally invasive. A procedure
that minimizes cutting through skin and tissue is considered minimally invasive.
UMC purchased the da Vinci 5 in September as part of the hospital’s effort to expand its robotics program, Van Houweling said. Conversations to build on their robotics and clinical technology began last summer, and UMC was able “to rapidly invest in this technology” through a “solid partnership” with Intuitive Surgical Operations, he said.
Since investing in the da Vinci 5, the robotic surgery program has increased UMC’s surgery capacity by 100%, Flores noted.
–Grace Da Rocha
“The U.S. Constitution clearly gives the authority to administer elections to the states, and Nevada law has checks and balances in place to ensure that our elections work for the voters. The voters of Nevada will continue to be our priority, because access to the ballot box is how our citizens hold the government accountable.”
—Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar in response to President Trump’s executive order that aims to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and to eliminate counting of ballots received after Election Day for federal races
HOT SHOT
Sixty-eight members of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Class of 2027 received their white coats on March 28 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. The ceremony marks the half-way point in the students’ medical school careers when they transition from classroom to clinic, spending their final two years shadowing physicians and interacting with patients.
(Courtesy)
Air
Last year, the Las Vegas area recorded 26 days where ground-level ozone pollution levels exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In anticipation of similar numbers this season, Clark County’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) recently issued a seasonal advisory for ground-level ozone pollution and wildfire smoke that began April 1 and will continue through September 30. DAQ meteorologist Paul Fransioli says California wildfire smoke plays a role in the Valley’s pollution levels but adds that Vegas’ “mountainous surroundings” and urban sprawl also contributes to its role as “a perfect bowl for ozone to cook.” It’s also the fourth consecutive year the county has been under a wildfire advisory. DAQ recommends monitoring these pollutant levels throughout the advisory period and avoiding outside activities when they’re too high. To check those readings, visit desaq monitoring.clarkcountynv. gov. –Tyler Schneider
DANGERS
Nevada legislators mount bipartisan efforts to protect minors from online threats
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
Last month, four Las Vegas teenagers attended a Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor meeting to support a proposed bill that would require social media platforms to verify the ages of teenage users and limit certain features for those accounts during school hours.
During public comment, the students from the East Las Vegas charter school Equipo Academy argued that social media sites like Facebook and Instagram provide ample opportunity for young people to acquire drugs and firearms, organize fights and bully their peers.
“They prioritize their own interests and profits over the well-being of their users. They allow anything to happen on their site because they want our attention and our time, no matter the cost,” student Eduardo Guillen said.
The question of how legislators can best act to keep minors safe on the internet has persisted at both the state and federal levels for years, but the more recent emergence of artificial intelligence technology has further intensified those debates. In Carson City, Nevada’s political leaders have found some common ground on a pair of legislative efforts designed to address some of these concerns.
Social media restrictions
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford sued social media companies Meta, Snapchat and TikTok in early 2024 over “the impact their algorithms were having on our youth.” The case, which Ford says is in litigation, gave rise to “ideas about other ways that we could protect children in our state,” he tells the Weekly Ford’s ruminations led him to file Senate Bill 63,
or the Nevada Youth Online Safety Act. If passed, it would require social media platforms operating in the state to establish an age verification system, obtain parental consent before minors can create an account and limit certain features like notifications during hours that are “typically reserved for sleep or school,” among other restrictions.
The bill was initially scheduled for a hearing at the aforementioned March 19 committee meeting, but Ford had it pulled from the agenda so he could continue working on it. He says he wants to ensure that the final version addresses a “two-pronged goal” of “cutting down on predation” and addressing mental health concerns associated with youth social media use. A 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General cites a study finding that “adolescents who spent more than three hours per day on social media faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.”
One aspect that Ford is still deliberating involves the method through which social media companies will verify user ages. Alex Ambrose, a policy analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, says requiring a photo ID or utilizing AI-assisted facial recognition programs for this purpose may be problematic.
“Many people do not have a government-issued ID. And that’s not to mention the privacy concerns that could come with giving up that information to a private entity. So, there’s sort of a sliding scale of concerns with age verification tools and there hasn’t really been a solution that seems to be the most effective quite yet,” Ambrose says.
Utah lawmakers may have found a compromise when they passed a first-of-its-kind bill on March 26 putting the onus of age-verification on the Google and Apple app stores. The decision could
be a roadmap for Nevada and other states with similar proposals, like Indiana and Nebraska. Ford is closely following those proceedings.
“We’ve looked at outcomes of litigation that has been waged against some of these actions to ensure that we could formulate a bill that would withstand constitutional muster. Whatever we pass out of this legislature will withstand judicial scrutiny. I’m confident of that,” he says.
AI-generated child pornography
Nevada legislators are also looking to crack down on the emerging threat of AI-generated child pornography. Last year, John Shehan of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) told members of the U.S. House of Representatives that the issue represents a “new juncture in the evolution of child sexual exploitation.”
Senate Bill 263 and Assembly Bill 35 both look to criminalize that type of content as if it were legitimate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The former is spearheaded by Democratic state Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro, while Ford proposed the latter. If passed, the bills would criminalize the creation or possession of AI-generated child pornography that’s “virtually indistinguishable” from real CSAM, which is already illegal. In some cases, perpetrators utilize existing child pornography to create AI composite images based on one or several real-life victims, but others are completely computer-generated.
Cannizzaro’s definition includes any content that “an ordinary person” would “conclude is of an actual minor.” Under her bill, first time offenders would face up to 15 years in state prison, while additional convictions could net them a life sentence.
She drew bipartisan support from Republican state Sen. Ira Hansen during a March 19 Senate Committee on Judiciary hearing. But critics like Paloma Guerrero of the Clark County Public Defender’s Office say it may not withstand constitutional and free speech challenges.
“We’re not up here saying ‘don’t do this’. All we’re saying is that the bill needs clearer, better language, because it can all be left up to discretion,” Guerrero told the committee.
Cannizzaro and Ford disagreed. Ford called the bills “thoroughly researched” and “ready to withstand any constitutional scrutiny that might arise out of the passage of the legislation.”
With regard to constitutional concerns, Ambrose says those “may not be as valid.”
“At the core, we’re still talking about illegal content,” she says.
Hansen expects many of his Republican peers to join him in support.
“I guarantee you everyone from the governor on down wants to have this addressed,” he told the committee. “This is a very good bill—maybe not perfect—but we need to move this idea forward.”
SPORTS
MATCH-PLAY MAGIC
BY CASE KEEFER
March Madness is coming to an end, but that’s no reason to fret.
There’s a bracket left to be filled out for those still jonesing for action. It’s just going to be played on pristine local links instead of hardwood floors across the country.
Golf—yes, golf—is the next sport in line to capitalize on fans’ fascination with single-elimination, headto-head tournaments. The LPGA’s T-Mobile Match Play event commenced for the fifth consecutive year on April 2 at Shadow Creek Golf Course.
An ultra-exclusive field of 64 of the top women’s golfers in the world compete in a set of round-robin matches through April 4, when the top 16 emerge to form a bracket for the weekend. The ultimate victor will have to beat two opponents apiece April 4-5 in full 18-hole matches to earn the prestigious title.
It’s the lone remaining professional golf tournament left locally after Shriners Hospital for Children declined to renew its contract as sponsor for the annual fall PGA Tour event. For the first time since 1982, Las Vegas is not currently listed on the PGA Tour’s upcoming schedule.
T-Mobile
Match Play promises to deliver as the last annual professional golf tournament left in Las Vegas
That should be reason enough to embrace the T-Mobile Match Play tournament, but here are four more reasons to keep an eye on the bracket as it plays out over the weekend.
The format
Not only has Las Vegas vanished from the PGA Tour schedule, but so has any version of match play.
The WGC Match Play event was one of the most anticipated non-major tournaments for 25 years before the tour scrapped it in 2024. That’s in part due to men’s professional golf being in a state of flux as Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund continues to pluck away players from the PGA Tour for its rival LIV Golf.
groups in traditional stroke play tournaments. There’s an increased level of intensity when a pair of players alternate shots and have to immediately answer a momentum-shifter like a titanic drive or long putt.
Match play has captivated golf fans for decades, and this is the only place where they can now get their fill.
Major tune-up
The majority of viewers only care to tune in for the major tournaments spread across the golf calendar. There are five annual “majors” in women’s golf, and the first is right around the corner with the Chevron Championship beginning on April 24 in The Woodlands, Texas.
That makes T-Mobile Match Play a key event for the top contenders to hone their games and get into the best form possible ahead of the $7.9 million purse Chevron Championship.
Majors are much more riveting to watch with some idea of the storylines and which players are rising and falling. T-Mobile Match Play will go a long way in determining that context.
T-MOBILE MATCH PLAY
Thru April 6, times vary, $44+. Shadow Creek Golf Course, axs. com. Televised on Golf Channel & Peacock, lpga.com
It’s now contractually impossible to get the top 64 men’s players together for a single event outside of the four annual major tournaments.
That makes this tournament the sole time per year the best golfers in the world literally go one-on-one.
The best female players are still competing against each on a week-to-week basis, but it’s a different feel when they’re all spread amongst different playing
The defending-champion World No. 1 For proof of the correlation between the Chevron Championship and T-Mobile Match Play, look no further than last year, when Nelly Korda won both.
It was part of a historic stretch where the 26-year-old superstar from Bradenton, Florida won five straight tournaments she entered. Debates raged on who was the most dominant golfer in the world with Scottie Scheffler simultaneous to Korda putting together the best PGA Tour season since Tiger Woods was in his prime with seven victories.
Korda tailed off as the 2024 season went on with only two more wins to also reach seven trophies. But she’s created a gap between herself and everyone else in the Women’s World Golf Rankings that still stands.
She’s got a pair of second-place finishes and seventh-place in her three tournaments this year heading into T-Mobile Match Play.
Local rooting interest
For a while, it looked like local resident Danielle Kang was poised to become Korda’s biggest rival. The 32-yearold won back-to-back tournaments when the LPGA resumed following a pandemic pause in 2020—shortly before Korda claimed her first major, the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship—and reached the No. 2 ranking in the world.
Her career hasn’t gone smoothly in the years since then, but she still got into the T-Mobile Match Play by landing one of two sponsor exemptions. She’s vowed to come back stronger this season with mixed results, making the cut in two of four events.
Another LPGA mainstay who calls Las Vegas home, Jenny Shin, looks to be in better form with cuts made in two of three tournaments in 2025. Shin got an automatic invite to T-Mobile Match Play as a result of her No. 41 ranking in the world.
A local has yet to win T-Mobile Match Play, but with the high number of professionals who call Las Vegas home, it’s bound to happen at some point.
Golfer Danielle Kang at media day for the LPGA Tour’s T-Mobile Match Play, presented by MGM Rewards, at Shadow Creek Golf Course on March 19. (Staff)
YEAR OF THE FLAMINGO
The iconic center Strip property gets a GO Pool complex update and other exciting additions
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Talk about a summer glowup: The 79-year-old Flamingo Las Vegas continues a multi-phase transformation with the debut of the new $20 million GO Pool complex just in time for peak pool season on the Strip.
The historic resort received a $90 million room refresh in 2017, kicking off this recent wave of renovation. In the last few months, restaurants Gordon Ramsay Burger, Lisa Vanderpump’s Pinky’s and Havana 1957 moved in, joining the pool makeover in raising the profile of Caesars Entertainment’s oldest Las Vegas property.
“It was kind of the last of the properties to get any capital in, and somewhat by design,” says Dan Walsh, senior vice president and general manager of Flamingo. “We’ve always been working on a master plan, trying to figure out how do you position this property? What does it need? Where do you start? Where do you end?”
Walsh says the Caesars team realized the Flamingo’s expansive Strip frontage was “severely underutilized,” cor-
rected by celebrity eateries from Vanderpump and Ramsay taking over two sleepy corners of the casino floor.
The addition of Miami-based Cuban restaurant chain Havana 1957 speaks to the Flamingo’s rich history and tropical inspirations.
“Opening three restaurants at the same time is kind of crazy, but once we started … we said let’s continue to look at the rest of the property,” Walsh says.
“Probably one of the most compelling assets that we had for the longest time was that pool.
“We have this very unique habitat out there with four acres of tropical paradise. I’ve walked people out there and they’re blown away. They never knew this even existed—the waterfalls, the palm trees, the flamingos. That pool ... was built probably almost 30 years ago.”
The new GO Pool has been completely redesigned. To make the most of the oasis-like space, the main pool was reduced while adding a wet deck, 33 cabanas and new night lighting. Around 90 palm trees and other
tree varieties were relocated to create a new perimeter around the outdoor complex, producing a private oasis with three new pools.
That brings the total number of pools to five, including a fabulous grotto. Other additions, like a portable 30-seat swim-up bar and a DJ booth located on top of a 50-footwide rain-curtain waterfall, will also amplify the scene, producing what Walsh calls “the show-stopping moment.”
And locals receive complimentary admission to GO Pool, set to open later this spring. Adults-only night swims are also in the works. It feels like the dawn of a new era for the Flamingo. “We want to make it nice and new and modern and beautiful, but we also want to make sure we’re respecting the traditions of the property and providing something that carries that brand history with it,” Walsh says. “In talking with other leaders in our company ... they all say they’re more excited about the Flamingo than any property that we have right now. We keep saying it’s the year of the Flamingo.”
Below left: Havana 1957
Below right: Sin & Tonic at Pinky’s (All photos courtesy)
Go Pool rendering (Courtesy)
THE CLUB IS OPEN
With the return of a Bunkhouse regular, Swan Dive is going big on indie shows
BY GEOFF CARTER
Tim Kam is excited for what comes next.
“The music venue aspect is kind of new to me, so I’m learning constantly,” says Kam, co-owner of Arts District music venue Swan Dive and Fremont Street dance club Oddfellows. “Mike Henry has been around for a while. He’s going to bring a lot of cool indie stuff to Swan Dive.”
If you’re one of those fortunate souls who frequented Fremont East’s Bunkhouse Saloon through the 2010s, your head may have exploded a little bit just now. Henry was responsible for many of Bunkhouse’s most memorable bookings, including Built to Spill, Deerhunter, Guided by Voices, Bob Mould, Panda Bear, Rakim and Japanese Breakfast. He helped to make that 300-capacity club—and its spacious, open-air “backyard”—the place to be on Fremont Street several nights a week.
Now that Henry is the main talent buyer for the 450-capacity Swan Dive—with continued, additional bookings by We The Beat co-founder Kirk Reed, who’s also brought a number of great shows to the venue over the past year—it’s hard not to get that Bunkhouse feeling again. We’re back, baby
“Since we lost Bunkhouse, I can honestly say there hasn’t been a single day that I haven’t
thought about DTLV, the amazing music scene here and all the friends I made,” Henry says. “I’ve been hoping for a chance to jump back in, and I dig Swan Dive. Couldn’t be more psyched.”
A modest, soft-spoken veteran of Austin’s celebrated music scene, Henry is quick to praise the rest of “Team Swan Dive”—general manager Chauncy James (another Austin transplant that Henry calls “a bar whisperer, operational wizard and force of nature”) and Kam (“Tim books and produces lots of incredible dance parties … it’s super fun to be in the same family as Oddfellows.”).
But there’s another partner that Henry is depending on: the locals that frequented Bunkhouse. Even if we didn’t always go inside for the music—sometimes it was enough to just enjoy a beer in the yard, talking to friends who had bought tickets when they came outside for air—it was always a good scene. Swan Dive, with its giant second-story balcony overlooking Main Street, could bring back that vibe.
“We’re planning to upgrade [Swan Dive’s] patio,” Kam says. “We’re making it more of an area where people can hang out. … We’re figuring out how to keep an audience hanging out, both before and after a show.”
“Bunkhouse and Swan Dive are kindred spirits—amazing places created and run by groups
of people who live for live music,” Henry says. Henry even suggests that Neon Reverb, the homegrown Vegas music festival that brought the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Ty Segall and The Drums to Bunkhouse, may be resurrected with Swan Dive as its epicenter: “It’s destined to ride again. It’s too good of an idea.”
At press time, Henry didn’t have any shows ready to announce—booking a calendar takes a minute—but he’s pumped for the gigs other promoters have booked for the venue, including We The Beat’s Tennis show on May 16 and Pulsar Presents’ Frankie and the Witch Fingers concert on July 31. He’s as excited as we are to get back to Bunkhouse-like business.
“Nothing will ever replace Bunkhouse. But it’s time for something new,” Henry says. “I can’t wait to see where Swan Dive can go. We got shows to see, people.”
LEFT
Co-owner Tim Kam at Swan Dive
MIDDLE Swan Dive on Main Street (Steve Marcus/Staff) BELOW
Good RZN performs at Swan Dive (The Progeny Photo/Courtesy)
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS
Thomas L. Friedman
Foreign Affairs Columnist, The New York Times Bestselling Author
The Big Trends Shaping U.S./China Relations Today: Economics, Technology & Geopolitics
Monday, April 14, 2025 7:30 p.m. Ar temus W. Ham Concert Hall
Tickets are strictly limited to 2 per person and are ONLY available at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office, Tuesday–Saturday 12 p.m.–6 p.m. For information, call (702) 895-ARTS; however, tickets cannot be reserved by phone.
UNLV Faculty, Staff and Students may obtain tickets beginning at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26. A valid UNLV Rebelcard is required.
The General Public may obtain tickets beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 29.
This month, we’re supporting
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In celebration of our 50th anniversary, our customers “care to care” by proudly supporting vital programs and services provided by Goodwill and other local nonprofits. Giving
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UNLV’s annual series featuring nationally and internationally known guest lecturers
FOOD + DRINK
Japanese gastropub Izakaya Tora aims to please
RARE CREATIVITY
BY SHANNON MILLER
It’s common knowledge that the best way to anger a chef is to order something off menu. But for chef and owner SJ Yun of Izakaya Tora, that’s his favorite.
“I love accommodating, first of all, but it’s kind of weird to call it accommodation because the guests kind of feel like the chef is now bending over backwards,” Yun says. “I don’t want to give that feeling to my guests.”
Yun’s Japanese gastropub, which specializes in bar snacks, grilled meats, sashimi, sushi rolls and more, also offers omakase service. Translating to “I leave it up to you,” omakase allows the chef to take the reins on the dining experience. And it’s a style that Izakaya Tora has mastered.
During a late February visit to
the restaurant on Paradise Road just south of the Las Vegas Convention Center, Yun sent out off-menu items like charred snow peas and eggplant with a savory ginger sauce, fried soft shell crab with a spicy, creamy sauce, and for dessert, grilled cantaloupe with matcha whipped cream.
IZAKAYA TORA
“With omakase, I like to think of it as a balanced meal. And how you start to how you finish is crucial, [as is] every single detail in between [like] how you course things out in terms of pacing,” Yun says.
The innovation didn’t stop there. Grilled Iberico pork, chicken oysters and Wagyu skewers were elevated with a tofu ricotta, which had the consistency of a light, creamy hummus and the flavor of miso. Yellowtail and salmon sashimi were served with pickled jalapeño and radish. And miso-grilled cherry tomatoes cleansed the palate in between courses.
Adhering to an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, Izakaya Tora just released a spring menu. Nikkei ceviche ($17) is made with leche de tigre marinade, avocado, pickled aji peppers and cara cara orange slices. And the Flyin’ Hawaiian carpaccio ($22) of Norwegian salmon and bluefin tuna is topped with a Hawaiian-style poke marinade, scallion and crispy garlic.
As the chef takes you through a perfectly-planned meal, friendly
staff can recommend pairings from a vast collection of sake. One in particular, the Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu ($26), apparently is carried by only two restaurants in town—the other being Other Mama. It’s an unpasteurized, undiluted rice wine with a fruity, honey-like flavor.
“Especially within the sake aficionados, it’s kind of like a unicorn. … It’s only released once a year during the spring, and every state gets an allocation by the brewery. Nevada only gets 50 cases,” Yun says.
Whether you’re making your own menu or letting the chef take the reins, thoughtful dishes, rare sake and stellar service await at this offStrip destination.
Flyin’ Hawaiian carpaccio.
Nikkei ceviche paired with Eikun Daidai Junmai Ginjo.
(All Photographs by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Robata grilled skewers.
You go to Florida and try to launch there, wait an hour, the weather changes radically. We have a great environment to operate in when it comes to weather, (when) it comes to no income tax.”
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER
VEGAS INC STAFF
Commercial real estate developer
Rob Lauer envisions a new era of space exploration unfolding—with Las Vegas positioned to become a key player. As CEO of the Las Vegas Spaceport and United Spaceports Corporation, Lauer is spearheading plans for a cutting-edge spaceport in Southern Nevada that would combine an executive airport with pioneering aerospace technologies, positioning the region at the frontier of the next great space race.
The project, which would be built on more than 200 acres of Clark County land between Las Vegas and Pahrump, would include a control tower and runways.
Vegas Inc sat down with Lauer for an exclusive look at United Spaceports’ vision, the groundbreaking progress on the Las Vegas facility, and his insights into the transformative future of commercial space exploration.
Could you give us an introduction of yourself and the company?
I came to Vegas after I was injured in the Army, and (have) been here since then, and been in commercial real estate ever since, and saw this land that was on sale. No one wanted it for years and years, and I was interested in the space program,
Q+A: ROB LAUER
Space race is on, and Nevada may be ideally situated for corporations to capitalize on national security and transportation needs
and obviously watching the news and learning about spaceports, and decided to pursue our own facility. We’re in a position now, two years later, where we have county approval. And so right now we’re in the final stages before we can start breaking ground.
What national security implications do you see for the Las Vegas Spaceport?
We see tremendous opportunities in launching satellites and people and cargo into space as we go forward. We’ve been in talks with the Space Force folks and commanders there, and we both agree that there’s a significant need—national security need—for an inland spaceport to provide redundancy in case of a crisis that we were to have some kind of conflicts with China or someone else and those facilities got knocked down and our satellites got knocked out of space.
We need a way to launch stuff quickly and recover, and having an interior spaceport in Nevada, in Las Vegas, where we’re located 31 miles from the Strip, but surrounded by Nellis Air Force Base and Creech Air Force Base and Area 51 and all these military assets to help protect it, is an ideal location to provide those services.
What are some of the other initiatives you have planned for the Las Vegas Spaceport?
Our first step is the airport. Being in Las Vegas, we want to take advantage of all the private jets, all the holidays, national events that happen here, where we don’t have the capacity for the private jets. And we think we can do very, very well in a place where we know when Harry Reid gets full and people can—instead of going to St. George or Utah or Arizona—they can fly to us. In conjunction with that, we’re launching our own air taxi service. We’re right now looking for 12 locations in the Valley to build landing sites for these air taxis. We’re going to start with little helicopters, and then as those air taxis become a reality, we can integrate them in and incorporate them in.
Tell us about the impact the Las Vegas Spaceport will have on Southern Nevada’s economy.
United Spaceports Corporation, our primary focus is going to be acquiring existing companies—public [and] private companies. So, my plan with that is to basically move them to the Spaceport and move them here. Operate under one roof, on one location, integrated vertically, but also physically integrated on a facility where they all work together. My plan is to bring companies to Las Vegas, where they’re going to be based here, work together and that’s going to bring real jobs here.
Why is Las Vegas in a position to
be the home for United Spaceports Corporation?
Nevada, and Southern Nevada particularly, has a long, distinguished history of being at the forefront of aviation and technology developments. And we have 300-plus days of sunshine. You go to Florida and try to launch there, wait an hour, the weather changes radically. We have a great environment to operate in when it comes to weather, (when) it comes to no income tax. Our cost of living is a lot less than California and Florida. We have a tremendous competitive energy. Our schools need work to produce the engineers and computer-science folks, and hopefully that can be worked on. So we can produce folks with those degrees that can be hired.
Can you talk a little about the Las Vegas Spaceport going public?
We’re going public in about six or seven months on the NASDAQ. There’s not a lot of places you can invest right now in space. There’s a handful of companies, but most of them are, frankly, kind of risky startups that have one technology that they’re hoping (for) data contracts with the government. SpaceX is not public, so there’s not a lot of places where you can invest your money and take advantage of the space sector. When you buy stock with us, you’re buying physical, hard assets. You’re buying technology companies that already are out there.
JOB LISTING
Las Vegas Sands Corp is seeking a Sr Analyst - SOX and Control Initiatives in Las Vegas, NV, to assist the Sr Manager –SOX & Control Initiatives in facilitating, planning, & managing the finance group’s internal control program across LVSC properties, focus on compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). Min Bachelor’s in Accounting, Auditing, Business Admin, or Info Tech, or foreign equiv, plus 4 yrs of exp w/job offered or rel analyst role. For complete reqs, apply online https://www.sands.com/company/careers/us/ - Req ID: R25_0096
JOB LISTING
Software Engineer
Conduct software development for AI project; perform bug fixes. Mail resume to job site: Richtech Robotics Inc, 4175 Cameron St., Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103, No calls
JOB LISTING
Mechanical Engineer
Evaluate robotic mechanical systems; conduct stress analysis. Mail resume to job site: Richtech Robotics Inc, 4175 Cameron St., Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89103, No calls
VEGAS INC NOTES
Highlighting the best in business
Foresight Housing Partners and its nonprofit partner HopeLink of Southern Nevada broke ground on PuraVida Senior Living, a supportive housing community next to Lake Mead West Apartments in North Las Vegas. The project is designed for seniors who are on fixed and extremely low income. The new community will include 74 single-story units across 14 buildings on 3.89 acres.
SR Construction was recognized at NAIOP’s 28th Southern Nevada Spotlight Awards with prestigious awards for excellence in health care construction. The awards were for Healthcare Building (West Henderson Hospital) and Healthcare Tenant Improvement (MorningStar). It was also honored at the 35th Excellence in Construction Awards Gala by Associated Builders and Contractors, receiving an ABC Excellence in Construction Award in the category General Contractor-Health Care-$100 to $250
million for West Henderson Hospital, as well as the National Excellence in Construction Pyramid Award. In addition, NAIOP’s Southern Nevada chapter was named the 2024 large-chapter winner of the organization’s Chapter Merit Awards.
Benchmark Litigation named Bailey Kennedy LLP its Nevada Firm of the Year in the 2025 Benchmark Litigation US Awards. The annual awards honor the country’s top litigation firms and attorneys based on their work over the past year.
Intermountain Health has selected longtime healthcare leader Lawrence Barnard as the new president of the upcoming first stand-alone children’s hospital in Nevada. Barnard previously served as associate vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health in Nevada. In his new role, he will guide the hospital through construction and oversee oper-
ations after its opening. The hospital is expected to break ground in 2025.
Zumpano Patricios promoted Amanda Brookhyser to managing partner of its Las Vegas o ce, Zumpano Patricios & Helsten. Brookhyser, who previously served as partner-in-charge of that o ce, has more than 15 years of experience as a trial attorney, litigator and adviser.
The Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix Pit Building has been awarded LEED Silver certification. FEA Consulting Engineers, which provided the mechanical, engineering, plumbing, low voltage, lighting services and environmental services for the project, facilitated the award. Granted by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification signifies that a building’s design incorporates environmentally friendly practices.
Cox Business, a leading provider of advanced cloud, managed IT and ber-based network solutions, is the commercial division of Cox Communications, one of the largest, non-gaming employers in Nevada. The company is constantly evolving its product portfolio to drive greater outcomes for customers, including a new partnership with RingCentral, a leading global provider of AI-powered trusted communications.
productivity, deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive long-term growth.
RingCentral’s AI- rst, cloudbased contact center solution is one of several advanced tools Cox Business o ers its Southern Nevada customers including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, nancial institutions, and federal, state and local government organizations.
BY STEVE WESTERMAN, Vice President of Cox Business
Technology needs across workplaces, including telephony, have changed dramatically over the past ve years along with workplace trends following the pandemic, and our partnership with RingCentral provides a cutting-edge solution for business customers who need advanced communications solutions with the ability for each to streamline operations, enhance employee
In addition to ber-powered internet connections, voice and video services, Cox Business o ers specialized solutions, leading customer care and IT support through separate divisions that support the unique connected environments and hospitality experiences in Southern Nevada:
• RapidScale, which is available nationwide regardless of internet provider, o ers comprehensive managed IT and cloud services, including public cloud migration and management.
• Hospitality Network enables smart technology and integration services for hotels, convention centers, stadiums and arenas, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and Allegiant Stadium.
• Blueprint RF serves hotels, multi-dwelling units and more with customized Wi-Fi networks and solutions, designed to enhance the guest and resident experience.
• Cox Private Networks specializes in solving speci c connectivity challenges beyond traditional networks. Cox has been a part of the Southern Nevada community since 1998 and we’re proud to o er innovative, forward-focused solutions for businesses at every level. More importantly, Cox is a committed community partner with a strong record of charitable giving, volunteerism, support of local nonpro ts, sustainability initiatives and digital equity.
SPONSORED BY COX BUSINESS
Biological Technician: Req’d: B.S. in Microbiology, Natural Sciences, or rltd. $38,646/yr.
Resume to: US Pharmatech NV, Inc., 7210 W Post Rd., Bldg. 1, Las Vegas, NV 89113
JOB LISTING
Quest Diagnostics Inc. in Las Vegas, NV seeks Medical Laboratory Scientist II, Hematology (multiple) to perform test procedures of moderate/high complexity. REQS: Bach. deg. or for. equiv. in Med Tech, Med Lab Sci, Chem, Bio, or related field. 3 yrs exp. in: Hematology testing; hematology testing platforms & associated workflow; testing body fluids, urine & peripheral blood; high complexity testing in clinical lab setting w. specific knowledge to differentiate normal vs. abnormal cells. Have or be eligible for NV State Clinical Laboratory Technologist License & NV General Supervisors License. Must be able to work All Shifts (Day, Evening, or Night, and rotating weekend when needed). CV to lianne.b.maglalang@questdiagnostics.com Ref. code: LVH
BACKSTORY
UNLV REBELS GIVE PIE AT PIDA PLAZA | MARCH 27, 2025
Students never thought they’d see the Associate Vice President for Alumni Engagement brought to such a humble state, but they did at UNLV’s Rebels Give fundraiser. Leaders from various colleges and programs volunteered to be “pied” in the face with plates of shaving cream ($5 each) to help the university’s fundraising efforts for scholarships, research, athletics, arts, mental health services and other essential resources the university has provided. Since 2018, Rebels Give has raised more than $2.9 million for UNLV scholarships and programs. More information is available at rebelsgive.unlv.edu –Shannon Miller
