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The Big Game has plenty of Vegas ties this year. Breaking down key players and popular bets, plus a look at the modern Vegas sports book experience.
14 WEEKLY Q&A
“Wine Goddess”
Kat Thomas paints a picture and pours on the personality at Ada’s.
28 NEWS
The City of Las Vegas is giving away free trees to residents most impacted by the urban heat island e ect.
32 ART
Not all is as it seems in Nancy Good’s From What to My Wondering Eyes Do Appear? exhibit at Whitney Library.
34 FILM
The 22nd annual Dam Short Film Festival returns to Boulder City with plenty of delights in store.
36 FOOD & DRINK
Project BBQ revamps its patio and menu, plus Hakkasan’s dim sum brunch serves up endless variety.
Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.
Literary heavy-hitters take over the Writer’s Block, Lightleak spins at Rouge Room and more happening this week.
Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks (AP Photo/ Lindsey Wasson)
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY FEB 5 FRIDAY FEB 6
EURYDICE
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS
7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
EXHIBIT: ‘TIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF Thru 3/26, times vary, Clark County Government Center, clarkcountynv.gov.
BACKSTREET BOYS Thru 2/7, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
CHRIS STAPLETON
8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
DEF LEPPARD
8 p.m., & 2/7, 2/10, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
JESSIE J
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
EXHORDER
With Luicidal, Phobia, Slowhole, 5 p.m., Dive Bar, dice.fm.
DAVID JOLLY
7:30 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
BORGORE
With Obsidian, JazzyQ, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com.
7 p.m., & 2/7, 2/9 (& thru 3/2, days & times vary), Super Summer Theatre Studios, apublicfit.org.
DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO
7:30 & 10:30 p.m., & 2/7, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. COACHELLA VALLEY FIREBIRDS
7 p.m. (& 2/7, 6 p.m.), Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
MONTREAL
GUITAR TRIO
7:30 p.m., Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu..
COLLECTIVE SOUL
With Edwin McCain, 8:30 p.m., & 2/7, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
VIC’S THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WEEKEND
With Patrick Hogan, 7:45 & 9:15 p.m., & 2/7, Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com.
METRO BOOMIN
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
NEON LIT FUNDRAISER
Cupid’s got a pen and Neon Lit is letting it write. This Valentine’s Day edition of UNLV’s MFA & PhD creative writing series is pulling up to the Writer’s Block for a love-coded takeover. This live reading leans into romance, lust, heartbreak and the beautifully unclassifiable, all delivered by a stacked lineup of literary heavy hitters. There’ll be a silent auction featuring bookish swag from the Unemployed Philosophers Guild and local donors, plus the unbeatable combo of free admission, wine and cheese. Readers include Andy Killebrew, Jade Boren, Chidiebere Sullivan Nwuguru, Haruna Solomon Binkam, Zaira Gomez, and special guest Tajja Isen, author of Some of My Best Friends and Tough Love 7 p.m., free, the Writer’s Block, instagram.com/ neonlit_lv. –Gabriela Rodriguez
Courtesy/Vitor Munhoz
SATURDAY FEB 7
LIGHTLEAK
Rouge Noir brings rising Laguna Beach DJ Lightleak on deck for an evening of techno and funky house cuts inspired by his trips to Europe. Lightleak’s Dance for Me EP shines with Euro rave influence, from the glittering intensity of “Manhattan” to the swirling basslines on “Hilversum.” Much of this DJ’s catalog feels retro, dancehall heavy, and in Rouge Room’s intimate 360-degree setup built for dancing, it’s perfect. Before Lightleak takes the stage, DJs Luke Shay and Wave Pilot will raise the roof—and your heart rate— with their own grooves. RSVP before 11 p.m. and you can slip into the party free of charge. 9 p.m., $20, Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com.
–Amber Sampson
WINTER WINE FEST
4 p.m., Vegas Event Center, nv.bleeding.org.
UNLV MEN’S
BASKETBALL VS. GRAND CANYON
1:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
WING BOWL
7 p.m., Plaza, plazahotelcasino.com.
ODDYSSEY NOIR
10:30 p.m., Oddyssey District at Area15, oddysseylv.com.
DANIEL TOSH 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.
GOSPEL FEST
10 a.m., Water Street Plaza Amphitheater, cityofhenderson.com.
Ada’s “Wine Goddess” Kat Thomas pours on the personality
BY GEOFF CARTER
Kat Thomas is tableside, describing the wine. To the “Wine Goddess” of Ada’s wine bar, wine is a story in progress. Gesturing lithely, she paints a vividly compelling word picture of the tiny, ocean-facing part of Portugal that produces Carcavelos, a choice fortified wine. And when she brandishes a bottle from California’s Cliff Lede Vineyards, she writes you into the narrative with humor and verve: “This one’s got a little Cab funk in it, which is my favorite, so it’s gotta be yours tonight.”
Ada’s, which recently relocated from the west side’s Tivoli Village to the Arts District and has been shortlisted for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, is very much a team operation; Kat readily praises chef du cuisine Jackson Stamper, sous chef Mick Skarda and the rest of Ada’s crew. But Ada’s feels like Kat’s habitat, and that’s where we meet to talk wine and lettuce. Yes, lettuce. Are you Vegas-born?
Almost. I’m definitely Jersey. I was born and raised in Atlantic City. I moved out here in ‘97 to meet my real mom. I fell in love with it, and I’ve been here ever since. … I can’t picture my home anywhere else in this country right now. I can picture myself outside the country, plenty of spots. But Vegas is like wet cement, where you can put your footsteps down and maybe have a little impact on the way it is in 20, 30 years from now.
How did you get your start as a sommelier?
I loved being a little hospitalian
when I was little. I loved serving my family during mealtime, prepping the salads … and I love lettuce, so that’s still a thing. Even when I was four years old, I had that joy of not only being the one to control the flow, but also just seeing how people reacted.
I went to school for psychology. Moved out here, said ‘Ew, [psychology is] horrible. Don’t want to do that.’
But I lucked out and got a job immediately opening the Bellagio, and that changed everything for me. It was really a golden time for Las Vegas hospitality, for food and dining. I met Rob Bigelow, a master sommelier, who became a mentor.
I fell in love with the excitement of everything wine and beverage, and I opened Sage at Aria. Mike Shetler was my somm there. I loved watching [Mike] do inventory, which is weird sounding to people. Rob was then the wine director at Aria, and he said, ‘You know, I’m giving you one last chance to take this somm position.’ … That began the journey in 2011, and I never stopped.
How did you come to open Ada’s with James Trees?
I was with Hakkasan Group prior to COVID. It was an amazing position; I was traveling around the country teaching and buying wine. But then COVID hit, and I was like, ‘Well, then, I’m gonna go teach yoga online.’ That was super challenging. I give a lot of props to everybody that goes out there and hustles for clients.
I was at Garagiste one day with my partner doing what we did best, which is drinking lots of wine. James was there, and we started talking. A bottle or two of
wine later, we’re still talking, and he’s asking about, ‘if there was an Ada’s wine bar,’ you know, my thoughts on this and that. So, of course, I gave ‘em. I’d never really sat down and talked with James at length, even though I had been to [Esther’s Kitchen] at least twice a week. We’re walking out, and he’s like, ‘All right, so when are you gonna start?’ I told him, ‘Okay, I’ll work for you, but I don’t want to be in charge of anything. I want to work like three, maybe four days a week, max. I don’t want to be in charge.’ And he’s like, ‘Mm-hmm.’ Six years later…
You once described a wine to me by promising, “This one’s gonna slap you around the mouth a bit.” Perfection.
That’s why I don’t fit on the Strip, though! I think it brings a little more comfortability and fun to the game. It’s all about reading the human or the vibe. If I know that I’m there for that moment to have a little edgier fun, or if it needs to be more classic service, then I can provide that. But if there’s an opportunity, and there usually is at Ada’s, for me or my somm team—Jen [Szychowski] or Gabor [Foth]—to expand the personality, then I encourage them to do it, because that’s what makes Ada’s so uniquely itself. We are who we are.
Okay, curveball question: Recommend a lettuce.
Oh, I love you. [She rolls up her sleeve to show off a lettuce tattoo.] This is my favorite lettuce of all time, iceberg.
What’s your favorite way to serve it in a salad?
I love it finely chopped, ribboned, with just olive oil, citrus, a little pepper and such. And of course, the wedge. If you don’t like a wedge, you can suck it.
by
Photo
Christopher DeVargas
THE UNDISPUTED BIG GAME DESTINATION
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FAMILIAR FACES
BY CASE KEEFER
The 2025-2026 NFL season represented a sea change in the sport with a whole new set of unexpected teams rising to the top of standings and transcending the establishing guard of the last half-decade.
The past ve months have been so unpredictable that it feels ill- tting to conclude the year with a familiar Super Bowl 60 matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 8 at 3:30 p.m. in Santa Clara, California.
It’s a rematch of 2015’s Super Bowl 48, which the Patriots famously won 28-24 with a goalline interception in the nal seconds in Glendale, Arizona, between two franchises that have made playing for championships commonplace.
The Patriots extend their record with an 12th Super Bowl appearance while looking to separate themselves from a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers with a record seventh victory.
The Seahawks were once known as one of the NFL’s worst franchises, but they’ve now been to the Big Game four times in the last 20 years. Only the Patriots (6) and the Kansas City Chiefs (5) have played for the Lombardi Trophy more often in that span.
Both franchises’ Super Bowl traditions precede this year’s group of players, though. The uniforms might be identical, but the makeups of the teams have been completely overhauled since the last time the Patriots (Super Bowl 53 in 2019) and the Seahawks (Super Bowl 47 in 2014) won it all.
Both the Seahawks and the Patriots red the coaches responsible for those titles—Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick, respective-
SAM DARNOLD
DRAKE MAYE
ly—at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Seattle has turned the reins over to defensive genius Mike Macdonald as its coach ever since. New England bottomed out in 2024-2025 with former linebacker Jerod Mayo in the role before turning to his former Patriot position-mate Mike Vrabel this season.
Vrabel helped rebuild the Patriots through free agency to construct a defense in his own hard-nosed image, while shrewdly bringing in the right pieces next to budding superstar second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Macdonald’s Seattle defense and special teams have been even better and the organization also nailed virtually all of its moves this o season.
That part of the Seahawks’ success is particularly painful for Las Vegas Raiders’ fans. It felt unlikely there would ever be a Super Bowl pairing worse for Silver and Black faithful than the archrival Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers squaring o in Super Bowl 58 at Allegiant Stadium two years ago, but this season’s matchup feels close.
There’s an overwhelming amount of Raiders and Las Vegas ties on both sides.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold looked like a natural t for Las Vegas last o season. Darnold was a free agent coming o a career year while the Raiders had a need for a quarterback and the salary-cap space to sign the best available player.
Despite rumors linking the two sides, Las Vegas passed on Darnold with multiple reports indicating new team minority owner Tom Brady wasn’t sold on the nomadic former rst-round pick. Instead, the Raiders traded for Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith and signed him to a twoyear, $75 million extension.
Las Vegas bottomed out to a league-worst 3-14 season, while Darnold thrived as one of the best quarterbacks in the league on a cheaper contract by annual salary; he’s on a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
But the hurt Raider Nation may experience because of the Seahawks succeeding pales in comparison to the pain caused by the other sideline.
Early reports indicated the Raiders’ interest in Vrabel for their coaching job last year, but he didn’t even take an interview with his former teammate Brady and instead zeroed in on the opportunity with the Patriots.
One of his rst acts of congress was hiring o ensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who hadn’t coached since aming out with the Raiders in less than a season and a half in 2023.
McDaniels immediately revitalized his career in New England, where he first rose to prominence coaching Brady, after a drama-fueled stint in Las Vegas.
He also likely had a lot to do with New England targeting so many former Raiders he once helped bring to Las Vegas to assist in their rapid turnaround.
A pair of former Raiders captains under McDaniels, linebacker Robert Spillane and wide receiver/special teams ace Mack Hollins, headlined the Patriots’ free-agency class. They also signed edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, who resurrected his career with the Raiders last season, and swing tackle Thayer Munford, whom McDaniels helped draft in Las Vegas before this year’s coaching sta led by Carroll cut him.
Spillane has captained the Patriots’ defense this year, while the other three players have also made major contributions—es-
pecially down the stretch and through the playo s.
In perhaps a more positive Las Vegas connection, Patriots workhorse running back Rhamondre Stevenson is a local native who starred at Centennial High School before his professional career.
No matter which team wins, one notable Las Vegas football product will earn a Super Bowl ring. Former UNLV star receiver Ricky White is on the Seahawks’ practice squad as a rookie after the team chose him in the seventh round of last year’s NFL Draft.
But seeing the rst UNLV player to win a Super Bowl since Keenan McCardell on the 20022003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers might not be much of a consolation to local football fans.
Not when the Raiders largely filled their team this year with Seahawks’ castoffs, led by Carroll and Smith. Seattle meanwhile took a more forward-thinking approach and reaped the rewards as the favorite to win a Super Bowl ahead of schedule.
Super Bowl LX features a retread matchup chock full of Las Vegas ties
This is among the most improbable Super Bowl matchups of all-time, considering preseason betting odds on Patriots vs. Seahawks emerging to face o in the nal game were as high as 200-to-1. Neither the Seahawks nor the Patriots were favored in sports books to as much as make the playo s coming into the season.
Both teams’ ascensions are a testament to how fast circumstances can change in the NFL.
Maybe the Raiders can nd solace in their rises. Maybe it can be their turn next with Seattle o ensive coordinator Klint Kubiak considered Las Vegas’ likeliest next coach after ring Carroll last month.
The Chiefs’ run of three straight Super Bowl appearances, and ve in the last six years, and the way Brady’s Patriots seemed to get there so frequently before them obscured how the league is designed for turnover every year.
Parity lives in the NFL, and this year’s Super Bowl personi es that idea even if the logos look the same.
JOSH MCDANIELS
MIKE VRABEL
‘BIGGER, BETTER, DRAMATIC’
When I received the assignment to write about the state of Las Vegas sports books, I’d never wagered on sports, aside from taking part in a few low-stakes fantasy football leagues. So, I sparked preliminary research by placing a simple $50 bet on my hometown Chicago Bears to defeat the Los Angeles Rams at home in the NFL playo s.
Las Vegas sports books stay relevant in the expanding betting marketplace
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
As you’re probably aware, despite an otherworldly late throw from Caleb Williams to force overtime, my rst real bet ultimately resulted in a loss.
Though I’m new to this world, I do have one thing in common with recently retired Las Vegas bookmaking legend Jimmy Vaccaro. He, too, remembers a time when the Monsters of the Midway lost him some money, recalling when rookie William “The Refrigerator” Perry, a 335-pound defensive tackle, was inserted on o ense and scored a miraculously unlikely goal-line touchdown in Super Bowl XX in 1986.
That moment—largely credited for birthing the modern
proposition bet, a wager placed on a more specific outcome than a simple point spread or final score—was one of many pivotal shifts in sports book history that Vaccaro witnessed throughout his 50-year career.
But the most impactful change came when the U.S. Supreme Court ended Nevada’s monopoly over the sports book market in a 2018 ruling that allowed other states to legalize sports betting.
Thirty-seven states have since joined the fold, with most relying almost exclusively on the rapid rise of the mobile sports betting app market.
Nevada was the only legal sports betting hub in the country for 70 years, and now accounts for just 4% of the national total.
When Vaccaro retired from his role as oddsmaker at South Point last year, the Sports Gambling Hall of Famer left a eld that was entirely di erent from the one he entered in 1975.
“The di erence now is that it’s just so much more marketing—bet $20 if you win, and you
get $500, things like that,” he says. “You never saw that at the beginning, but it’s just the way the world is now.”
Downtown Las Vegas casino magnate Derek Stevens launched Circa Sports in 2019 as the new betting landscape was still unfolding. But despite concerns that Vegas would ounder amid all the new competition, he’s found that it’s only made the pie bigger.
“The proliferation of sports betting throughout the country has been positive for Vegas. It’s not that it’s taken anything away, it’s just gotten more people interested in it and enhanced the volume of sports betting here,” he says.
The numbers back his claims. According to data from UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research, bettors wagered an average of more than $8 billion annually on sports in Nevada from 2021 to 2024—nearly $7 billion more than in 1986 and almost doubling the numbers from a decade ago. The state pulled in over $528 million in sports gaming revenue through
Circa Sportsbook (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
November 2025, or a 13% yearover-year increase.
Mobile betting now comprises more than two-thirds of Nevada’s total sports gambling revenue, but the state has also maintained the traditional sports book experience better than any of the new markets.
Through it all, Stevens’ team successfully navigated these changes by creating their own mobile wagering app system without sacrificing the physical sports book model. And they did it in the most Vegas way possible, by enhancing the spectacle and experience.
Circa’s flagship Downtown sports book features a 78 million-pixel, three-story screen and 350 theater-style seats—a far cry from Stardust’s six screens that revolutionized the industry after Vaccaro started working there in 1976.
“What you’re going to see going forward is that the physical sports book is going
to have to be something bigger, better and more dramatic to be useful,” Stevens says. “Anyone that’s a decent size is using their phone, and the people at the brick and mortar locations are usually coming to hang out in larger groups. More of them want to have wagers on multiple games, which means you really need to have a substantial, flexible screen.”
With that said, he believes “small retail sports books” are on their way out.
“You’re not going to see hundreds of them throughout the state anymore. I think those days are over,” Stevens says. “The remaining brick and mortar sports books—because of the cost of operating them—will be fewer, but they will be of higher quality.”
John Murray, vice president of race and sports at Westgate, agrees.
“Sports betting used to be this thing that would be hiding in the shadows, but that’s
definitely not the case anymore. Most people can now do it in their home state, so it’s not so foreign to them when they come here,” Murray says. “Now, it’s becoming less and less about putting pencil and paper when you’re setting the lines, and much more about who’s got the best technology and the most aggressive marketing and giveaway plans to acquire the customers.”
The day-to-day customers Murray formed relationships with when he got his start in 2007 may come in less frequently, but big events like the Super Bowl and March Madness have taken a heightened importance.
The NFL still dominates the scene, representing 66% of Nevada’s total non-mobile sports betting wins in November. But the rapid growth of other sports like hockey—which he credits locally to the Golden Knights’ success—and the rise of complex parlays has added new variables to the mix.
“I hate to say this, but there was a time when getting the hockey games on wasn’t really a big priority, but more of an afterthought. The pecking order was so much more college and pro basketball,” Murray says. “We feature hockey a lot more now, but I haven’t seen a change with the Raiders, to be honest. The NFL is already so overwhelmingly popular that it’s almost like it doesn’t even matter where these teams play.”
While marquee events draw more tourists, he estimates that around 80% of Westgate’s customers are still locals. Rewarding them for their loyalty is still a big part of the business.
“Regardless of what your technology advantages are, you’ve got to remember that the customers have a lot of options. They really value you taking the time to talk to them, hear them out or say hello,” Murray says. “They have a lot of places they can choose to go to, and you need to be going out of your way to not just find new business, but also maintain your old business.”
In addition to Circa and Westgate, other prominent modern physical sports books include Station Casinos—which operates 19 locations geared toward locals but notably opened its first Strip entry of STN Sports at Treasure Island last April— and South Point, which remains the only Valley sports book that stays open 24/7.
Vaccaro was instrumental in developing the South Point’s book until he retired last year. Even in this new era, he says the foundational element of giving the customer what they want is still paramount.
“If the public didn’t buy in, there would be no sports books here,” he says. “And as long as the public keeps buying it, it’ll only keep getting bigger and bigger. I feel pretty good about that.”
BETS IN FIVE OF THE MOST POPULAR MARKETS HEADING INTO SUPER BOWL LX
SUPER PICKS
POINT SPREAD:
SEAHAWKS -4.5
Seattle was historically dominant all season, finishing with the NFL’s best point di erential of the last two years (+193) and slotting as the seventh-best team since 1978 (as far back as reliable play-by-play data has been compiled) by the DVOA ratings.
It’s just kind of flown under the radar because of their relative lack of star power and prior success. That’s made the Seahawks a good bet all season, and should once again to cap the year.
The only area the Patriots were historic in was schedule strength. They had the third-easiest schedule since 1978 by DVOA, and the good luck continued in the playo s with wins against the injury-ravaged Broncos, Texans and Chargers.
That doesn’t mean they can’t pull the upset. New England has a second-year quarterback who looks poised to be among the best passers in the league for the next decade, Drake Maye, and a defense that’s continually improved.
BY CASE KEEFER
Every single piece of information that can be found in the Super Bowl box score is available to be wagered on in Nevada sports books. ¶ Thousands of betting options are spread across the state’s casinos and mobile apps, but it’s no secret as to the most popular ones. The traditional point spread and total still loom large, as do more newer-aged index props like touchdown scorers and the Most Valuable Player award winner. ¶ Let’s handicap five of the most prominent avenues and land on a recommended bet with value to give rooting interest in the Big Game, and beyond.
TOTAL: UNDER 46 POINTS
Both teams have above-average offenses but play at a below-average pace. They also both rank in the NFL’s top five in rush-play percentage. Put those factors together, and this number shouldn’t be above the usual NFL average total of over/under 45 points. Both teams have been profitable to the over this season, but Super Bowls historically play—or at least start—slower o ensively, potentially because of nerves, more risk-averse game plans or the two-week layo before the game.
FIRST TOUCHDOWN: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS TIGHT END HUNTER HENRY AT 15-TO-1
The Seahawks rank below average defensively against only one position by DVOA: tight end.
That makes the veteran Henry a player to target positively in the betting market, and his biggest ability might be scoring touchdowns. Henry led the Patriots with seven receiving touchdowns this season and, more importantly, was the focal point of the passing game in the red zone.
ANYTIME
TOUCHDOWN: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TIGHT END ELIJAH ARROYO AT 11-TO-1
The only reason the rookie second-round pick out of Miami sits this high is because he’s missed the last six games with injury.
SUPER BOWL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXSON SMITHNJIGBA AT 6-TO-1
Journeyman Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold is the rightful favorite here—ranging anywhere from +110 (i.e. risking $100 to win $110) to +135—but media members still have a tough time accepting how well he’s played in his eighth professional season.
Media members, importantly, vote on this award. They’re more likely to give credit to Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s leading receiver this year if he has a game like the betting market seems to expect him to put together.
SUPER BOWL 61 WINNER: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT 16-TO-1, DETROIT LIONS AT 16-TO-1
It’s never too early to start building a portfolio for next season, and these two teams appear to be mid-priced value plays.
The Chargers made the playo s this year despite being severely weakened by injuries all season, including to some of their best players like tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Their attack should improve drastically next season with former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel coming in as arguably the most coveted o ensive coordinator in the league.
Smith-Njigba’s over/under receiving yardage total is 94.5 with his over/under receptions at 7.5. If the third-year player out of Ohio State has eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, voters will be rushing to give him the award.
The Lions also interviewed McDaniel for the same position but instead settled on Drew Petzing. He’s more of an unknown but has an embarrassment of riches to work with in Detroit like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
But it’s at more of a disadvantage on paper than this number indicates. Seattle should be approaching a 6-point favorite.
Teams playing for the championship have transcended the trend in recent years—three straight Super Bowls have flown over—largely by getting into a rhythm and attacking more later in the game. But that might not ever
the style Seattle and New England prefer
Henry received 21 targets inside the 20-yard line, nine more than any of his teammates. He’s had a relatively quiet postseason run with only one touchdown, but that might just be elevating his odds to a point where they’re available to buy low.
But he’s set to be healthy for the Super Bowl, and the Seahawks have used multiple tight-end sets and rotated players at the spot opposite of AJ Barner all season. Arroyo is no lock to score or even contribute, but Seattle was high on him before his knee injury, and the likelihood of him getting opportunities is stronger than the betting market implies.
It should be similar to Super Bowl 57 in 2022 when Smith-Njigba’s current Seattle teammate, Cooper Kupp, won Super Bowl MVP on the Rams after grabbing eight catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Detroit was the best team to ever miss the playo s per DVOA and should have better luck next season.
but that might just be elevating his odds to a point where they’re available to buy low. fense that’s continually disadvantage on paper
flown over—largely by getting into a rhythm and attacking more later in the game. But that might not ever happen here, given the style Seattle and New England prefer to play.
Put a little bit on him to score the first touchdown (at 110to-1) but the price on a touchdown at any point is attractive enough on its own.
enough on its own.
If the Patriots win, Maye has much more of the equity on his team. Those who like the Patriots should consider betting Maye to win the MVP at +250 instead of the team’s moneyline to win outright at +190.
Four sports books in town have opened these odds, but it might be smartest to wait until after Super Bowl 60’s conclusion when they’re available everywhere to ensure getting the best price.
the Patriots should consider betting Maye to win the MVP at
But we’re rolling with the Seahawks.
But here’s to an early call of the Chargers and Lions facing o for the Lombardi Trophy on Valentine’s Day 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
State lawmakers are questioning whether Elon Musk’s Boring Company owes taxes to Nevada now that its Tesla-filled Vegas Loop tunnels have expanded to include above-ground transportation, raising a revenue dispute.
State Sen. Dina Neal, D-Las Vegas, raised the issue last week at a Joint Interim Standing Committee on Revenue, highlighting how the company’s operational changes may have created a tax loophole.
The Vegas Loop tunnels are classified as a monorail system owned by the Boring Company and operated through a franchise agreement with Clark County and Las Vegas. But last year, state regulators approved the company— through its subsidiary Paradise Transportation—for limited above-ground travel on public roads to reach stops like Harry Reid International Airport, with rides to the airport commencing last month.
In allowing above-ground operation, regulators required part of each trip to include the underground tunnels.
The hybrid approach has created confusion about the company’s tax obligations.
By providing above-ground transportation, the Vegas Loop may now be operating more like rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft, which are classified as transportation network companies.
BY THE NUMBERS
CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Rocelyn Symonds performs in front of the Bellagio on January 31 during filming for a music video expected to premiere at an April celebration commemorating the designation of Filipino Town on Maryland Parkway between Flamingo and Desert Inn roads.
(Steve Marcus/ Staff)
“There is a question for revenue on whether or not there is a tax owed to the state because of that new behavior,” Neal said. “Is there an absence of law that gives the power for this above-ground behavior that we might need to reexamine, because we’re stepping into—I feel like—some revenue overlap.”
Rideshare companies and taxis are subject to a 3% excise tax in Nevada. However, Nevada Transportation Authority Chairman Vaughn Hartung said Vegas Loop vehicles could not be classified as transportation network companies or taxis due to technical requirements. Transportation network companies must connect users through a digital service or network, while taxis must use meters. Instead, Vegas Loop vehicles are classified the same as limousines.
In November, the Livery Operators Association of Las Vegas—which represents limousine workers—filed a petition for judicial review asking a district court to examine the transportation authority’s decision to grant the Vegas Loop above-ground transportation abilities.
Yoneet Wilburn, administrative attorney for the transportation authority, told lawmakers some of their questions as they relate to the Vegas Loop could not be answered before the court hearing, which is expected in the next few weeks. –Grace Da Rocha
POLITICS
“This fear is harming our community—and this bill does nothing to address it. I cannot support continued funding to the Department of Homeland Security without meaningful guardrails in place.”
– U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., after House Republicans passed a budget bill February 3 to end a partial government shutdown and provide short-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The number of beds at the new Las Vegas Recovery Hospital recently opened at the Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Rosa de Lima campus. It’s Southern Nevada’s first acute-care hospital focused on medical and addiction treatment.
GIMME SHELTER
Las Vegas provides free trees to homeowners in high-heat ZIP codes
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Las Vegas residents didn’t need a thermometer to know something felt o this winter. The National Weather Service later con rmed what many already sensed: Las Vegas recorded its warmest December on record in 2025, as well as its warmest January on record last month.
Those milestones are only some of the latest signs of how quickly the region is warming. A 2025 report from the independent research group Climate Central ranked Las Vegas as the second fastest-warming city in the United States, trailing only Reno.
As temperatures continue to climb faster than most places in the country, local o cials are looking to trees to cool things down.
The City of Las Vegas is o ering free, drought-tolerant shade trees to residents in select ZIP codes as part of its urban forestry program, a long-term e ort to combat rising temperatures and improve quality of life. The initiative supports the city’s master plan goal of planting 60,000 trees across the Valley by the year 2050, with a focus on neighborhoods most a ected by extreme heat.
“I wish all these trees had been planted 10 years ago,” says Brad Daseler, the city’s urban forester. “But this is what we can do. We’re getting started.”
The free tree program is funded by $5 million in federal grants and targets six ZIP codes—89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107 and 89110—identi ed as having some of the highest temperatures in the Valley.
Residents who qualify can apply online to receive a tree, professional installation, irrigation system and one-year maintenance check, all at no cost to the homeowner.
The ZIP codes were not chosen at random, Daseler says. City planners relied on census data, temperature records and a canopy study conducted using aerial imagery to determine where tree cover is sparse, and where the urban heat island e ect is highest.
“It’s the con uence of these factors that show there are the areas in most need of shade and tree canopy and greenspace,” Daseler says.
In these areas, space is dominated by asphalt, concrete and buildings that absorb heat and cause temperatures to soar above those of the surrounding areas. This is known as the urban heat
island e ect. Heat is absorbed during the day and released slowly at night, leaving no time for relief and serious public health consequences. For example, people may forgo paying for doctor’s appointments or prescriptions so that they can pay for their air conditioning.
Trees help by cooling the air, reducing surface temperatures and improving air quality. Their bene ts extend beyond aesthetics and contribute to physical and mental well-being while making neighborhoods more livable, Daseler says.
His department manages 40,000 existing trees across city parks, medians and facilities—all in a desert environment where every tree requires special care to survive.
“This is di erent than places that get rainfall,” Daseler says. “Every tree that we plant, we have to provide all the infrastructure for it to succeed. I can’t just plant a tree anywhere.”
To that end, the city has invested in growing many of its own trees at municipal nurseries, allowing sta to control the quality and species selection while reducing costs. And diversifying that selection is a priority.
“We want to have trees from di erent families and di erent genes,” he says. “That helps build a healthy and resilient urban forests.”
Relying too heavily on a single species, he explains, leaves the city vulnerable to pests, disease or future climate conditions that could wipe out entire blocks of trees at once.
The program’s approved species include desert willows (native to Southern Nevada), palo verde, red push pistache and eucalyptus. All were selected for their durability, shade potential and relatively low water consumption.
“We recognize that water is a valuable resource, and we need to be good stewards of it,” Daseler says. “But green space is tied in with public health and the well-being of people in the city. ... So we’re balancing the water issue on one end, but also the need for green and shade.”
So far, the city has averaged about 1,000 tree plantings through the program, a pace that Daseler describes as steady but demanding. From application approval to installation, the process can take several weeks to a month.
Applications are available online at: cityof lasvegas.formstack.com/forms/usda_forest_ service_application_form
Brad Daseler from the City of Las Vegas urban forestry program shows o the west yard nursery. (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
Resorts World Las Vegas is a one-stop sports destination
+Las Vegas has fully stepped into its role as a global sports destination, by hosting headline events and reimagining the fan experience. At Resorts World Las Vegas, that philosophy extends from February’s biggest football weekend to March basketball, with a range of viewing options.
FOR MARCH BASKETBALL VIEWING ...
Resorts World venues are setting the stage for fans to take in college basketball’s biggest tournament.
March to the Championship— The Ultimate Viewing Experience, hosted inside the stateof-the-art Resorts World Theatre, is designed for fans who want to experience every buzzer-beater in a larger-than-life setting.
The event is March 1922 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will turn game days into fully immersive spectacles, with the pulse of surround sound and large screens amplifying every fast break, three-pointer and last-second shot. New York City-based artist Brianna O’Brien, known for her bold, expressive style, will be hand-painting custom basketballs in the VIP area, o ering guests an exclusive takeaway that blends sport, creativity and culture.
DawgHouse Saloon will be among the ultimate viewing destinations between March 15 and April 6. Fans can cheer on their team and enjoy inventive cocktails and Southern pub fare.
The extravagant Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge will host the Battle of the Brackets, March 17-22. Big-screen TVs make every seat the best in the house.
At Eight Cigar Lounge, fans can watch each game with one of more than 150 premium cigars or a classic cocktail in hand during the tournament’s opening weekend, March 17-22.
FOR FEBRUARY’S BIG GAME WEEKEND EXPERIENCES
Although the Big Game is scheduled for Feb. 8 in California, that doesn’t mean neighboring Nevada can’t have its own fun. With vibrant viewing parties, immersive game-day atmospheres, refined lounges and exclusive VIP experiences, this year’s lineup of Big Game events o ers something for every type of fan.
Zouk Nightclub will transform its iconic nightlife space to a premier sports lounge with a viewing party: The Big Game, Turned All the Way Up. A massive LED main screen, 10 ceiling-mounted screens, bu et o erings, table packages and an electric atmosphere will rival the action on the field. Live entertainment will be provided by DJ Flight.
At Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge, championship moments meet Champagne celebrations. The upscale venue o ers a glamorous setting, featuring rare Champagne, handcrafted cocktails and elegant wines.
DawgHouse Saloon, the Nashville sports bar, o ers big screens and bold flavors for fans who want live music, draft beers, creative cocktails and Southern-inspired food, as well as grilled cheeses from the venue’s dining truck, Mouse House.
Eight Cigar Lounge is the intimate, refined alternative to crowded sports bars, pairing multiple screens with a wide selection of cigars and smoked cocktails.
RedTail is the spot for true sports fanatics seeking a high-energy viewing experience, with more than 30 screens, private viewing rooms and a diverse array of food and drink.
Allē Lounge on 66 is the rooftop destination for sports fans seeking sophistication. The lounge, aptly named for its location 66 floors up, boasts panoramic views of the Strip in a luxurious setting. Guests can expect curated bites, signature cocktails and live cigar rolling.
Carversteak is the destination for fans who want their fill of football and great food. At the restaurant, guests can experience the same dining they love, but with game-day favorites, drinks and viewing from every angle.
At Famous Foods Street Eats, Resorts World’s unique take on the classic food hall, guests can watch the Big Game among globally inspired and crowd-pleasing concepts like Burger Barn, Geylang Claypot Rice and Michos Tacos.
Nancy Good with “My Supernova Brain II,” left, and “My Supernova Brain I.” (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
Artist Nancy Good plays with perspective in From What to My Wondering Eyes Do Appear? at Whitney Library
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Some artists love to leave Easter eggs in their works, tiny imperceivable messages deliberately hidden beyond what the naked eye can see. For artist Nancy Good, whose form of synesthesia allows her to sense vibrations and convert them into her art, the entire world is one big Easter egg. In her new exhibition, From What to My Wondering Eyes Do Appear? at Whitney Library, Good invites us to experience the beauty of our interconnectedness through a vibrant new lens.
“It’s always about, for me, the sharing of the admission that I will never know it all. I will never see it all. And I need to remember to always look at something from a new perspective, in a new light. We often forget that,” Good says. “We hold fast to our opinions of what we know or what we think we know, without ever going beyond that. So, I remember how I used to learn as a young person, and I still learn today, is through play.”
Good’s sense of play drove her to create something well beyond what the eye can see. On the surface, her pieces appear as colorful, two-dimensional biological forms distilled into their most primal, cellular state. But when I don a pair of color-refracting glasses, objects become closer than they appear. Unseen colors leap out into the foreground, electric and prominent. New shapes and forms, once buried beneath the layers, now emerge as I sweep a UV ashlight over the canvas, the trick of the light mingling with UV pigments to mimic the “ampli ed depth” Good experiences on a daily basis. You want to reach out and touch what’s seemingly, to the average person, not there.
“I realized sometimes we approach art often like we approach everything very fast, [like] streaming,” Good says. “Whereas this technique and this approach allows people to take some time, and they want to take some time because we’re discovering things. We’re trying to gure out ‘Wait a minute. How is that happening?’”
Once you get past the novelty, Good hopes the real Easter egg, the real message, becomes clear. We must look beyond ourselves and beyond the rst layers to nd connection and commonality. Because if not? The consequences could be dire.
“The rst consequence is our lives are less full, and we then create and sustain barriers that keep others from knowing us, which then, if we can’t know someone or know ourselves, how do we love ourselves or let someone else love us?” she says.
Good’s currently working on another large-scale piece called “Big Love” in a residency studio with the First Friday Foundation. Creating with the support of the foundation has been freeing for Good, who was forced to close her Core Contemporary gallery in 2024. She’s also able to still mentor other artists along the way. On February 10, she’ll host an artist talk and reception at Whitney Library, where she looks forward to seeing joy on visitors’ faces as they react and embrace the playfulness of her art.
“It’s a good feeling to bring someone joy. I mean it just is,” she says. “I try to make sure that is part of the mission of a gallery or the studio. I’m experiencing joy, so why can’t I share it?”
FRESH TAKE
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Don’t let the bleak headlines fool you: The modern moviegoing experience is still quite magical—and it’s upon us right now. On February 11-16, the 22nd annual Dam Short Film Festival will return to Boulder City with more than 150 lms ranging from animation to horror, romance, sci- and documentary.
Ken Cioe, the festival’s director of operations, has seen the cultural makeup of the Boulder City festival shift before his eyes. Since the pandemic, more Las Vegans—ranging from ages 35 to 49— have made Dam Short an annual tradition.
“Prior to the pandemic, it used to be 50 to 60% of our audience was Boulder City,” Cioe says. “Now that’s slipped, and about 55 to 60% of our audience is from Vegas and Henderson.”
The festival is steadily attracting a younger fanbase, whereas it primarily drew the 60-and-older crowd before, Cioe says. That tracks with broader trends as millennials and Gen Z speci cally become more engaged with cinema.
The
Dam Short Film Festival skews younger and more international in its 22nd year
And it isn’t just local demographics that are shifting. This year, Dam Short’s international program is one of the strongest it’s been. “We probably have more international lmmakers saying they’re going to travel in than we’ve ever had before,” Cioe says, though he’s conscious of how the United States’ immigration policies have a ected that. “There’s a lot of history here, and that’s a big part of the allure of the Dam Short Film Festival is Boulder City and the community—how welcoming and inviting they are to the lmmakers.”
Dam Short remains one of the top destinations for lmmakers because there isn’t much else like it. “We don’t have an agenda. It’s not a bunch of executives,” Cioe says. “It’s just people who really like interesting stories and the lmmakers really appreciate that.”
Festivalgoers shouldn’t miss Dam Short’s Friday the 13th horror night, its Love and Romance block on Valentine’s Day (featuring dessert by Grandma Daisy’s), its risqué Underground category and its tribute to festival founder Lee Lanier.
Local reels
Five Vegas films to check out at Dam Short Film Festival 2026
Ideal Distance
Director Danny Chandia and producer Rachel Johnson bring Sam Lemos’ melodic tunes to life in this vibrant music video full of trippy space visuals and bright cityscapes.
PCH
Vegas musician B. Rose falls in love with a mysterious alien in this touching music video about building a connection that spans galaxies.
The Transition Room
Aaron Penney’s comedic short follows a widower trying to return to his loved one only to encounter two very polite and odd strangers.
Hangnado! Improv comedy fans will love this short from Todd Grinnell and Michael Landier, who pay tribute to Saturday Night Live commercial parodies.
War
Ismahawk co-founder Danny Shepherd directs this intense short about an underground ghter seeking to prove herself, while mending old wounds with her estranged sister. –Amber Sampson
Photo illustration
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All that dim sum
Elevated bites abound at Hakkasan ’s luxurious endless brunch
BY SHANNON MILLER
At the heart of the dim sum experience is abundance and variety.
At Hakkasan’s endless dim sum brunch ($58 per person), the kitchen doors seem to never stop swinging with waitstaff going in and out, fetching a vast array of savory bites and wok-fired delicacies. The restaurant recently added Saturdays for its loyal brunchtime crowd, and you should count yourself among them.
Dumplings are the main character of any dim sum offering, and the Hakka Basket offers two servings of three kinds—shumai (a mixture of shrimp and Berkshire pork), langoustine har gow and edamame jade with carrot and mushroom. Ramp up the meal with
scrumptious appetizers like crispy shrimp with wasabi mayo and candied pecans. Duck salad balances fatty richness with pomelo, pine nuts, pomegranate and shallots. Glazed Duroc pork belly bao with hot honey soy and pickled daikon is comfort in a bun. And jasmine tea smoked ribs fall off the bone with each succulent bite.
If you didn’t fill up on dumplings or apps, get an order of the hand-pulled noodles stir-fried with shimeji mushroom, egg and bean sprout. Also from the wok, tender black pepper beef filet comes with asparagus, bell pepper and a choice of ginger scallion sauce, black truffle or black bean sauce.
Hong Kong fried chicken flavored with ginger, Sichuan peppercorn and scallion satisfies with a juicy crunch. And be sure
to get a green in there, like wokfried green beans with lily bulb and dried chili.
You’ll want to save room for dessert. The apple pavlova with coconut meringue, green apple compote and lemongrass foam is a slightly sweet and beautifully floral bite. And the Spikey Lemon, a yuzu curd palate cleanser, is a cold treat that’s fun to crack open.
The restaurant itself is elegant with ornate wood carvings dividing up the room, creating little pockets of privacy meant for catching up after a long week. Some large tables are equipped with the classic Lazy Susan rotating tray at the center, perfect for sharing family meals. And for $35 per person, you can add on bottomless Mimosas, Bloody Marys or signature cocktails to your meal. You made it to the weekend. Why not celebrate?
Hakkasan’s endless dim sum brunch offers infinite variety.
(Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
PROJECT BBQ
AT CIRCA ADDS NEW BITES AND A COZIER ‘BACKYARD’
Fremont Street’s backyard barbecue food truck has upgraded its backyard.
Project BBQ, which began as a food truck in March 2017 and set up near the corner of Fremont and Main when construction began on the Circa Resort in 2019, has been serving up brisket sandwiches, smoked pork ribs and more just outside Circa’s doors since the casino opened. Just before the close of 2025, a major upgrade to its patio setting added more seats, a retractable canopy protecting diners from the elements, and misters and heaters to keep things comfortable year-round.
“We’ve had to shut down for about 17 days every year due to rain, so that canopy really came in handy over the holidays,” says co-owner Rob Baker. “And because I kind of lost the whole element of cooking and being part of the guest experience, we added an outdoor barbecue so me and the chefs can stand out there and talk to people and listen to their stories about how they do it [barbecue], and show them how we do it, right in front of them.”
Those changes have only strengthened the backyard cookout vibes, a rare experience along the Fremont Street Experience and across Downtown. And Baker and his team added some new dishes to match the more modern environment, including a brisket grilled cheese sandwich, the BBQ Chicken Philly ($19), a grilled Italian sausage on a hoagie roll with peppers and onions ($15) and elote in a cup ($12). Project BBQ also has partnered with Omaha Steaks to create unique offerings including those sandwiches as well as filet mignon steak kabobs ($25) and hot honey smoked sausage kabobs ($22), plus the Game Time Special group meal anchored by a Tomahawk steak.
–Brock Radke
Photos courtesy
NEW UNR PROGRAM OPENS PATH TO FINANCIAL PLANNING CAREERS
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
Anew program at UNR is making it easier for residents to become certi ed nancial planners in a rapidly growing eld.
The online Personal Financial Planning program is approved by the Certi ed Financial Planner Board of Standards and prepares students to sit for the CFP Certi cation Exam. Graduates can pursue careers advising clients on investment management, taxes, insurance, retirement planning and more.
“This is really lling the community need,” said DJ Lee, an instructor for the program. “Because if you look at other cities, they have established academic programs just like this. They also have a well-established wealth-management industry, so they can source professionals locally.”
The wealth-management eld is highly compensated and lled opportunities in banks, family o ces, wealth-management rms and more, said Serhat Yildiz, associate professor of nance at UNR and director of its new program, which launched this semester.
The wealth-management industry is growing fast, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the employment of personal nancial advisers to grow 10% by 2034—faster than the average for all occupations.
“So the people who start a career in this eld will start in a growing industry,” Yildiz said.
To earn an o cial CFP designation, students must complete education and ethics requirements, sit for an exam and gain experience in the eld. The UNR program takes care of part of the education piece, Yildiz said, by o ering the six courses required by the CFP Board. Once students completes those, they can take the exam.
They must also have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to get their certi cation, but that could be in any eld. A student who plans to graduate with a degree could also start the CFP courses without it.
Based on a student’s background, they could complete the program—which costs $5,400—in a year, Yildiz said.
This is an opportunity for aspiring advisers to get their CFP designation and remain in Nevada “and then just make it better,” Lee said.
Unlike UNR’s many other nance programs available to full-time students, Personal Financial Planning is meant to cater to the needs of Nevadans overall, said Qun Wu, professor of nance and chair of the department of nance in UNR’s College of Business.
“If I want to manage my own money, or I’m planning about my own retirement in (the) next ve, 10 years, or I’m planning about my (taxes) or estate, I could certainly pay to get some nancial adviser,” he said. “But at the same time, it could be helpful for me to learn more about, for example, retirement planning, investment planning or estate planning or tax planning.”
Nevada residents can pick which classes they want to take within the program to satisfy their own personal needs, he said.
Being online makes the program exible for
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
nontraditional students who have full-time jobs or otherwise don’t have the time to attend a class on campus or in real time online, Wu said.
“Our program provides all the slides, videos and the class notes online,” he said. “So basically, you can take all the class work—you don’t have to do it real-time. You can do it with your little chunk of time, here or there.”
Most of the program’s instructors are UNR faculty members, Yildiz said, meaning they are experienced teachers with related degrees and experience in the industry.
That includes people like Lee, who is director of nancial planning at American Wealth Management in Reno.
The industry has evolved from being “sales-y” to a provision of services by a professional, Lee said. A professional who wants to di erentiate themselves from the former to the latter usually gets a CFP designation, he said, which really strengthens their education and reputation.
Clients may interview many di erent nancial advisers, Lee continued, and one with a CFP stands out.
“Having the CFP, personally, (gives) you a lot of education, of course, but you do have that kind of con dence in yourself,” Lee said. “So you can better represent the rms, and then better help the client ... achieve their goals.”
Zachary Clayton is a personal injury lawyer with more than two decades of experience representing accident victims in Las Vegas.
What’s the first thing someone should do immediately after a car accident in Las Vegas?
Call 911, even if the accident seems minor. In Las Vegas, nearly every crash requires a police report, and without one, insurance companies will question whether the accident even happened. After that, document everything—vehicle damage, the other driver’s information, tra c signals, weather conditions. I’ve had cases where a tra c light’s position in a photo proved liability.
What’s the biggest mistake you
see people make in those first few hours?
Giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Seemingly innocent statements could be used against you later. You have zero obligation to talk to the other driver’s insurance company in Nevada.
When should someone hire a personal injury attorney?
Before talking to any insurance company if there are injuries involved. People think hiring an attorney is this big dramatic step they take after months of ghting with insurance companies, but by then they’ve often said things that hurt their case or accepted a low settlement. Most rms, including us, o er free consultations. We’ll tell you honestly whether you need representation or if you can handle it yourself.
What do insurance companies do that would shock most people?
Surveillance and social media monitoring. On signi cant claims, it’s common for investigators to follow people or comb through their social media. A short clip of someone having a good day gets presented as if it re ects their everyday condition. Even innocent posts can be taken out of context.
What do you wish every driver knew after an accident?
Document everything immediately, talk to no one except police and your own insurance company, and get medical attention even if you feel ne. Adrenaline masks pain. If you wait days or weeks to see a doctor, insurance companies argue your injuries aren’t related to the accident.
VEGAS INC NOTES
The 18b Arts District, the nonprofit organization named for the area’s original 18 blocks and supporting local artists and businesses throughout downtown Las Vegas’ Arts District, announced Josh Kellman as its new board president for a three-year term. Kellman is founder and CEO of Voicebox, a Las Vegas-based growth strategy consultancy that has led growth strategies for Fortune 500 clients including Apple, Microsoft, Toyota and General Mills.
Sphere Entertainment Co., the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies announced their intent to develop a new Sphere venue, the second in the U.S. and first to utilize a smaller-scale design model, at National Harbor in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance announced that Elizabeth Lopez,
MBA, CEcD, will join the organization as vice president of business development and outbound strategy. She will lead LVGEA’s regional business attraction and expansion initiatives, strengthen community and industry partnerships, and advance strategies that drive Southern Nevada’s economic competitiveness and long-term growth.
UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law professor Nancy Rapaport was honored with the Commercial and Consumer Law Scholarship Award from the Association of American Law Schools Section on Commercial and Consumer Law. The award recognizes her decades of contributions to legal scholarship in the field, with a particular focus on ethical practices within bankruptcy and commercial law.
Gretsch Golf Academy is now open in Las Vegas, providing golfers of all skill
levels with year-round access to training, golf instruction and simulator play. The facility features 13 simulator bays, a dedicated short-game area for putting, chipping and real-sand bunker practice, as well as private instruction and custom club fitting experiences.
Delta Air Lines announced plans to open its first Delta Sky Club at Harry Reid International Airport by 2029. Delta—also named the official airline of Sphere—detailed the next phase of its investment as part of an announcement for several new and upgraded clubs nationwide over the coming years.
Huntington & Ellis, an independent real estate brokerage, achieved its largest charitable giving total in company history, donating $95,138 to local nonprofits across Southern Nevada in 2025 as part of a year that saw the firm close 2,496 transactions.
CELEBRATE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
WHITNEY LIBRARY’S SECOND ANNUAL BLACK AUTHOR EXPO
This dynamic event will feature local and national authors of color.
Saturday, February 7: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Whitney Library
AGE GROUP: TEENS & ADULTS
ART AS RESISTANCE - SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND EVENTS IN BLACK HISTORY & RESIN ART
Learn about the power of visual art throughout history and create your own resin art.
Saturday, February 7
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Centennial Hills Library
AGE GROUP: TEENS
BACH TO BEYONCÉ
AT THE LIBRARY DISTRICT
STELLA’S STELLAR HAIR
Little ones are invited to join this special storytime!
Tuesday, February 10: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library - NEW LOCATION
AGE GROUP: TWEENS & KIDS
EXPLORING THE ORIGINS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH - LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL
Professor Tyler D. Parry will discuss the inception of this heritage month in this dynamic lecture.
Wednesday, February 18
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Whitney Library
EXPLORING THE ORIGINS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH- LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL
Professor Tyler D. Parry will discuss the inception of this heritage month in this dynamic lecture.
Wednesday, February 18
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
AGE GROUP: TEENS & ADULTS
STORY QUILTS
Grades K-5 can learn about the artist and author Faith Ringgold, who was famous for her narrative quilts.
Whitney Library
AGE GROUP: TEENS& ADULTS
FROM HISTORY TO HIP HOP - A MUSICAL JOURNEY WITH JONATHAN BLANCHARD AND HIS BAND!
Wednesday, February 25: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Spring Valley Library
AGE GROUP: TWEENS & KIDS
Vegas City Opera takes you on a vocal journey through the Beyoncé songbook inspired by classical music.
Saturday, February 7: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. West Charleston Library
Saturday, February 14: 3 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Whitney Library
Saturday, February 21: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Windmill Library
Saturday, February 28: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Summerlin Library
AGE GROUP: ADULTS
TEENS CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Learn about NASA’s “Hidden Figures” Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Christine Darden, and their groundbreaking work.
Tuesday, February 10: 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
West Las Vegas Library - NEW LOCATION
AGE GROUP: TEENS
Enjoy an interactive musical history performance that makes the past come alive!
