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14 SELF-CARE & LEISURE
Make the most of Vegas this Valentine’s Day with fun ideas for dates.
Studies say young adults are having less sex than previous generations. Find out why, and explore our tips for making real, fulfilling connections.
26 NEWS
Nevadans react to immigration enforcement across the country as local advocates prepare for the “worst case scenario.”
28 SPORTS
Four future bets to make with football season behind us.
30 THE STRIP Mayfair Supper Club’s new chapter blends cuisine, spectacle and late-night energy.
34 COMEDY Laugh Factory reboots with a standout lineup at Horseshoe.
36 FOOD & DRINK Main St. Provisions chef Ellie Parker notches a Hell’s Kitchen win and a James Beard nomination.
Kehlani plays Valentine’s Day at Fontainebleau’s LIV, the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket takes over the Plaza and more this week.
Photo illustration
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY FEB 12 FRIDAY FEB 13
DEF LEPPARD
8 p.m., & 2/14, 2/17, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
BARRY MANILOW
7 p.m. (& 2/13-2/14, 8 p.m.), Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
UNLV HOCKEY VS. ARIZONA STATE
11:59 p.m. (& 2/13, 8 p.m.), City National Arena, rebelhockey.com.
JAMIE KENNEDY
With K Frances Norris, Jimmie “JJ” Walker, thru 2/15, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, laughfactory.com.
CHIPPY NONSTOP
With Dreamr, Sora the Hero, 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.
SAMPLIFIRE
With Hostile, Rovi, 10 p.m., We All Scream, tixr.com.
DIANA ROSS
8 p.m., & 2/14-2/15, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
CARDI B 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
BACKSTREET BOYS Thru 2/15, 8 p.m., Sphere, ticketmaster.com.
MARC ANTHONY Thru 2/15, 8 p.m., BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
PEDRO FERNÁNDEZ 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.
BABYFACE 8 p.m., & 2/14, Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com.
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS 7:30 p.m., & 2/14, 2/18, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
CHICAGO Thru 2/15 & 2/18, 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
DREAM ASIA FESTIVAL Thru 2/15, times vary, Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, tixr.com.
LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. COLORADO MAMMOTH 7:30 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com.
MATT MCCUSKER 10 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
DON’T TELL COMEDY 8 p.m., On the Record, dont tellcomedy.com. DO IT ALL
Courtesy
MUSIC PARTY SPORTS FOOD COMEDY MISC ARTS
SATURDAY FEB 14
KEHLANI
Just as Oaklandborn artist Kehlani has produced a significant contribution to the R&B landscape in the past decade, they also have been leaving an impact through frequent performances at Fontainebleau’s LIV Nightclub over the past year. In fact, one of the first live performances of “Folded,” the inescapable current hit that just won them two Grammys on February 1 in LA, happened at LIV. So what we’re saying is, you never know what you might discover—maybe the next smash?—when you catch Kehlani’s next Vegas club show, spreading love on Valentine’s Day. 10:30 p.m., $72+, LIV Nightclub, livnightclub. com. –Brock Radke
LAS VEGAS
PHILHARMONIC: 1812 OVERTURE AND ROMEO & JULIET
7:30 p.m.. Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. GRAND CANYON
2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FESTIVAL
10 a.m., Springs Preserve, springspreserve.org.
THE GREAT RACE: THE STORY OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC
10 a.m. & 1 p.m., Troesh Studio Theater, thesmithcenter.com.
MARDI GRAS MINI CARNIVAL
7 p.m., Petite Boheme, petiteboheme-lv.com.
PINK PELVIS PARTY
7 p.m., Composers Room, universe.com.
POWER OF LOVE GALA
5:30 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, keepmemoryalive. org.
Dance-pop singer, songwriter and actress Kendra Erika has charted five tracks on Billboard’s Top 10 Dance chart, but she’s steered her ship into the vast sea of jazz in recent years, inspired by a lifelong fascination with James Bond. Last year she released the single “Goldeneye,” and now she’s planned an album release party at the Space for License to Thrill, a full-length album that showcases her musical evolution and the glamour, elegance and drama of the world of Bond. 8 p.m., $15-$50, the Space, thespacelv.com. –Brock Radke
BOXING: AJAGBA VS. MARTIN
6 p.m., Meta Apex, onlocationexp.com.
SPECTRUM
6 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
CULTURE COLLECTIVE
BEAT BATTLE
8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
SIMP CITY
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
TECHNICOLOR
10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com.
FRANK MARINO’S DIVAS, DRAG AND DRINKS 4 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.
EXHIBIT: THE NEW DEAL IN THE NEW WEST
Thru 3/23, Thu.-Mon. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nevada State Museum, lasvegasnvmuseum.org.
With The Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Larcenia Roe, more, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, dice.fm.
SAVAGE MASTER
8 p.m., the Gri n, dice.fm.
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
WEDNESDAY FEB 18
USA PICKLEBALL
TYSON
GOLDEN TICKET
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
Golden Ticket tournaments are the o cial qualifying events for the USA Pickleball National Championships, which will happen this year in San Diego starting on October 31.
Last year, Downtown Las Vegas’ iconic Plaza Hotel hosted a Golden Ticket, attracting top players from across the country to the resort with the most pickleball courts in the Valley. So, of course it’s back again for another year; pickleball and the Plaza go together like peanut butter and jelly. Thru 2/22, times vary, free, Plaza, usapickleball.org. –Brock Radke
UNLV SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA: MUSIC OF RICHARD STRAUSS
7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. COLORADO STATE
8 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
PAULY SHORE
9:30 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
ERIC FORBES
10 p.m., Ghostbar, palms.com.
PHOREYZ
10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com.
Courtesy/Dan Deitch
&
Celebrate the day of romance however you like all across Las Vegas
BY BROCK RADKE
With its incredibly glamorous restaurants, cool sky-high bars with views of the iconic Strip and uniquely romantic attractions like gondola and helicopter rides, Las Vegas is the most extra place to do Valentine’s Day. But locals who’ve seen it all and done it all—or don’t find all that extra to be the right fit—are always looking for other options.
Maybe it’s time for a more casual, pressure-free V-day, or maybe it’s a group outing instead of that traditional celebration of coupledom. Still, always, Las Vegas has answers, no matter the level of romance you’re seeking, or who you’re seeking it with.
What Vegas show could possibly be more appropriate for the day than the long-running Marriage Can Be Murder dinner show? The interactive theater experience at the Rio debuts a new story, “With This Ring, I Thee Dread” on February 12, and through the holiday weekend, take advantage of a free upgrade including a box of chocolates, a glass of Champagne and a long-stemmed rose. Tickets start at $110 including a four-course dinner. (marriagecanbemurder.com)
For the 12th year, Ethel M Chocolates is hosting the Lights of Love display at its Cactus Garden, ready and waiting through February 16. Lit with over half a million red, purple and pink sparkling lights, this might be your ideal desert Instagram moment, no matter who you’re celebrating with, or without. Admission is $3 with half of all proceeds bene ting Three Square and HELP of Southern Nevada. (ethelm.com)
Downtown Container Park on East Fremont Street has a versatile all-day celebration planned for February 14, starting with a Valentine’s Day Sip & Paint hosted by Canvas & Cocktails where guests can enjoy a guided painting session paired with drinks on the Oak & Ivy patio. Shop Mama Sage will host a hands-on felt crafting session before the park pumps up the afternoon with all-you-can-drink mi-
mosas and micheladas accompanied by live music from Strings & Beats. Later, at 10 p.m., the Galentine’s celebration includes a high-energy pole jam on the lawn from Sunny’s Pole Fitness, guaranteed to turn into a dance party. (downtowncontainer park.com)
Just up the street on the day before Valentine’s, the cozy Vegas Vickie’s bar at Circa hosts its Gossip, Glam & Galentine’s party with special activations starting at 6 p.m. February 13 including glamorous photo ops and signature cocktails. Gather your girl
gang. (circalasvegas.com)
Also Downtown, the Mob Museum will be doing the same thing it does every year, because Valentine’s Day is also free admission day for Nevada residents (and buy one, get one admission for visitors). If you want to get into organized crime for a day, the museum also hosts a meet-andgreet with reformed Chicago mobster Frank Calabrese Jr. and a classic car show in collaboration with the Las Vegas Valley Model A Ford Club and the Maloof Car Collection. (themob museum.org)
There’s no reason not to celebrate all month long, which you can do beneath twinkling lights, rose-themed walls and other over-the-top Valentine’s Day decor at both locations of The Cantina (8349 W. Sunset Road, 6050 Sky Pointe Dr. #110). This seasonal takeover continues through the end of the month, and you don’t have to be a loving couple to share the special Tacos Para El Corazon heart-shaped street taco platter ($30) with your choice of six street tacos. Specialty cocktails like the Love Bug and Devil’s Potion (both $12) round out the fun. (thecantina247.com)
One more tasty deal: Jinya Ramen Bar’s Ladle of Love special o ers two bowls of some of our favorite ramen in Las Vegas for $26, available every Tuesday in February. It’ll warm more than just your heart. (jinyaramenbar. com)
Shutterstock; Marriage Can Be Murder courtesy photo
Shake off winter in Nevada’s wild, wide-open spaces. Follow dirt roads to hidden hot springs, historic ghost towns, and other offbeat and unexpected adventures. Go by UFO, 4WD, or ATV, because there’s always more to explore and see. Spring is for wandering—so get a little out there.
BY AMBER SAMPSON
The party scene in Gene Stupnitsky’s 2023 coming-of-age sex comedy No Hard Feelings sums it up perfectly. Jennifer Lawrence plays 32-year-old Maddie, hired to seduce Percy, a college-bound dweeb. She crashes a house party in search of Percy, bursting into bedrooms only to nd his Gen Z peers caught in the throes of … passionately doomscrolling on their phones. Exasperated by the sight, Maddie blurts: “Doesn’t anyone f**k anymore?”
Turns out, they kind of don’t. Today’s generation of young adults is ditching sex like never before. Fewer hook-ups are
Why young adults are having less sex than previous generations
happening. The so-called “sex recession” has hit and no one’s coming to x it.
In 2024, the dating app Feeld and a fellow from the Kinsey Institute released The State of Dating Report, a study that surveyed more than 3,000 Feeld members between the ages of 18-75 from 71 countries. The ndings were striking: Nearly half of Gen Z respondents surveyed were single compared to one- fth of older generations. Thirty-seven percent of Gen Zers reported not having any sex in the last month—matching the sexual frequency of surveyed Boomers—and they were twice as likely to say they longed for mo-
nogamy than older generations. Feeld’s reputation as a kink and hookup app makes these discoveries even more surprising.
SEX? IN THIS ECONOMY?
Sex sells, but it also doesn’t come cheap. Young adults are nding that nancial pressures are hindering hookups.
And this trend isn’t just playing out in the dating apps. Amanda Morgan, a professor-in-residence who teaches Education for Sexuality at UNLV’s School of Public Health, has witnessed the shift rsthand among her students.
“A lot of my students are from Vegas, and so they’ve grown up with all the billboards and all the stripper mobiles and all of that,” Morgan says. “There is this push back where they’re almost rebelling against a very open sexual culture by deciding that they
“We’re now at the point where it’s, ‘good luck buying a house.’ Rent is now $2,000 for maybe a two-bedroom, crappy apartment,” Morgan says. “So we have a lot of younger folks who are living with their family longer, or having to live with roommates. As a result of that, it’s hard to nd alone time.”
Meeting people over drinks also costs money. But there’s an upside to Gen Z’s tight wallets and lack of interest in alcohol: Less drinking means fewer dangerous hookups under the in uence.
“I think it’s great that we are moving away from this alcohol-driven socialization and coming into places where people are wanting to relate in sober ways,” Morgan says. “I see more people who are enjoying board games. People who are enjoying going to these
daytime raves, or hiking or going to yoga and meeting people that way.”
don’t want to have sex until they get married, or that they don’t want to have sex until they feel respected or safe.”
Morgan says she feels a lot of empathy for her students, because the lack of sex isn’t the problem—it’s a symptom of something larger. Here’s a look at what Gen Z is up against when it comes to sex, intimacy and establishing real connections.
POSTCOVID ANXIETY
A 2023 report by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that young adults (ages 18-25) had twice the rate of anxiety and depression of teens. Morgan attributes much of that to COVID isolation. In recent years, she’s witnessed a breakdown in communication as social anxiety runs rampant among her students. Social skills have completely “atrophied,” she says, along with any chance of physical intimacy.
“Good sex requires good communication, and I think that our lack of communication skills with each other is making it so people are having less, or never have had good sex,” Morgan says.
Those wrestling with anxiety and depression face an uphill battle because mental illness, and even prescribed medication for it, can tank libido. And the consequences of that extend beyond the bedroom. Researchers have talked at length about the “epidemic of loneliness,” an outbreak of isolation that’s literally “more dangerous for you than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day,” Morgan says.
“But the research that’s coming out is nding that it’s not just older folks, it’s the younger folks that are lonely as hell,” she continues. “They’re seeking connection, but they’re doing it through online forums and video games, where they can put on a headset and they can connect with someone on the other side of the world.”
MELTDOWN
Gen Z was the rst generation to be fully raised on smartphones. And while access to information is faster than ever, it has created problems. Easy access to pornography means young people are learning about sex from sources that don’t re ect reality.
“We don’t have a lot of good systems set up to provide comprehensive sex education and spaces where students can actually ask questions about their own health and their own bodies, so they’re learning from porn, and they’re learning from TikTok,” Morgan says.
Social media adds to that pressure by playing on insecurities and distorting self-worth.
“There’s the pressure to be a sexual being, because sexy is hot in that Instagram life,” Morgan says. “People are comparing themselves to other people, even though those people are not actually showing their true selves. When we have a culture that has not encouraged people to learn how to love themselves and learn how to validate their own wants and needs and feelings, this is where we end up.”
So where does Gen Z go from here? The rst step is to accept that some people just don’t want to have sex. Some people abstain for religious reasons, others due to cultural shifts. “But some of them are just like, ‘I don’t have time for this,’” Morgan says. For those interested in dating, she suggests putting yourself in situations where you can meet people and grow your social capital. Yoga, salsa dancing, trivia nights ... the options are endless, and there’s bound to be something that ts a busy schedule.
She also recommends making a list of what you want in a partner, so if you come across them, you’ll know if they’re a good match.
“I think that people need to do some of their own work on the inside to ask themselves what kind of partners they want. What kind of person is going to make you put your phone down and pay attention to them?”
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TO APP OR NOT TO APP
Digital dating has its ups and downs. Should you swipe left or right?
BY SHANNON MILLER
Unlike older millennials who dabbled in compatibility-based dating sites like Match or OkCupid, I started dating on apps in college. Tinder, “the hookup app,” was popular then. That was more than 10 years ago. After I graduated, there was Bumble. Then Hinge came along. And Gen Z these days might be using some app I’m not cool enough to know about yet.
The digital dating universe is vast. You can have bad experiences—like, really bad. You can endanger your safety or health if you’re not careful. But if you play your cards right, you can also potentially find your best friend or the love(s) of your life. I’ve experienced or seen it go both ways.
So how do you end up on the side with the good results? There’s no silver bullet, because everyone’s dating styles and goals are di erent. But one place to start is to weigh the pros and cons.
PROS
YOU MUST LOOK WITHIN. Profile formats vary depending on the app. But generally, creating one requires you to know about yourself, your identity and your preferences. And while there are many people who don’t need an app to know these things, there are also many who benefit from being prompted to think intentionally about them.
OPEN UP YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE. There are a lot of people on the apps who just moved to Las Vegas, or they’re going through a life change (breakup, divorce, mid-life crisis, etc.) and just need to go outside their norms and introduce more spontaneity in their lives. That can be nice, if that’s the energy you’re going for.
lives.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. It’s not all hookups. Now, most apps allow users to display their intentions—whether they’re looking for a friend, a friend with benefits, life partner, unicorn. It’s good to have that information up front so you don’t waste time on someone whose goals don’t align with yours.
CONS
IT’S A TIME SUCK. You can spend hours swiping, which could be better spent meeting people in the real world through activities or volunteering. Many an hour have I spent sitting and swiping, when I could’ve been talking to some cutie at a bar or the gym.
CATFISHING AND FRAUD. Sometimes people aren’t who they say they are in their profile, which can be a minor annoyance or something more nefarious. And face verification doesn’t screen for lies. Compared to dating IRL, by using an app, you’re increasing your chances of being scammed.
LOSING FAITH IN HUMANITY. There are a lot of terrible profiles that range from boring to o ensive. You might have to swipe through 100 profiles to find one that’s worth pursuing, and that can be demoralizing and make you feel like it’s impossible to find what you’re looking for.
V E R D I C T
sense of identity, mental
depends. Consider rst your health and whether you are resilient to rejection and disappointment. If those things are not in line, you’re going to have a bad time. If they are in line, then things will fall into place.
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from using dating apps is patience. Like with most things that are worthwhile, it’s a long game. If you’re on there to nd a date for that wedding you’re going to next week, it’s more likely they’re going to be random and not a good t. If you spread your swiping out over time, you might nd a good catch that’s right for you. Most importantly, be smart and safe. Meet in public places. Tell a friend where you’re going and check in with them after. Watch your drink. Use protection. Don’t share your phone number or where you live until you’re sure they’re safe. Don’t end up in a true crime documentary. Oh yeah—and try to have fun!
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Tips for shooting your shot IRL
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
There was a time when meeting someone required nothing more than instinct, timing and the nerve to read a room without the comfort of pre-selected approval to approach. And while that kind of vulnerability might sound horrifying now, it was honest in a way we seem to have forgotten. Sure, online dating nudges people into your path. But the real world is over owing with opportunity if you’re paying attention. Bars, cafes, pickleball courts, grocery stores, even the sidewalks you’ve walked a hundred times without noticing who else was there can
feel chosen. But be warm and welcoming before being irty—people often like to feel comfortable before they feel desired.
If you’re funny, use it. Laughter is a social lubricant, especially in uncomfortable or embarrassing situations. And while irting comes naturally to some, it’s also a skill that can be learned with practice.
be sites for the seeds of romance to be planted. How do you approach? It starts with eye contact—a glance across the room, a held look, maybe even a double take if you’re lucky. If you o er a smile and they turn away completely, take the loss with grace and move on, because it’s entirely possible you caught them at the wrong moment. Get their name and remember it. There’s nothing worse than having to walk back an entire conversation because you forgot their name. Genuine interest goes a long way. People want to be courted and want to
Pay attention to body language. Crossed arms are a sign they might need more time to warm up to you. But if they stay crossed the entire night, it might be a sign it’s not a good match. Leaning in close, smiling and laugh-
ing are an invitation to mirror that energy. Ask open-ended questions after establishing a rapport. To avoid stalling the ow of conversation, avoid yes or no questions and instead leave room for storytelling. Something like, “What brought you here tonight?” if you’re both out at a bar, or “How do you know the host?” if you’re meeting at a mutual’s party, invites momentum instead of dead ends. And rather than asking someone what they do for work, maybe ask them what’s keeping them busy these days. It’ll feel less like a job interview and
more like a personality exchange.
Just remember, you don’t have to ll every silence. Leaving space can prompt a little verbal spillover from the other side, which is where real connection often starts. Before you give in to the apps and your thumb memorizes the choreography of swipe, match, ghost, uninstall and reinstall, consider the old-fashioned meet-cute and do something di erent: look up. Literally. If you’re searching for the love of your life while bur-
ied in a glowing screen, you’re bound to miss them.
IN THE NEWS
Nevada delegation pushes for creation of tourism working group with Canada, Mexico
U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced legislation today that would direct the U.S. Trade Representative to create a transnational working group with Canada and Mexico to improve trade and tourism between the countries, according to a news release.
The effort comes after a steep decline in Canadian tourism to Las Vegas. WestJet and Air Canada, the country’s two largest airlines, had 27.8% and 21.9% fewer passengers go through Harry Reid International Airport last year compared to 2024, according to airport data.
Volaris, Mexico’s largest airline, saw a smaller 3.2% decline in passengers to Las Vegas, according to Harry Reid International Airport.
Titus pinned the blame for the decline on President Donald Trump, saying he’s alienated the countries “through his words and policies.”
“We need to rebuild our relationships with two of our largest tourism partners,” Titus wrote in the press release. “Our tourism economy declined in 2025, costing us jobs and revenue. Half of our international visitors come from Canada and Mexico. We need to win them back.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., introduced the same bill into the Senate last Thursday with Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
“Tariffs, trade, and international cooperation play a large role in either promoting or deterring international travel,”
Cortez Masto wrote in a press release. “As partners in this historic trade agreement, it’s critical that we do what we can to invite Canada and Mexico to support the American travel industry.”
Titus’ office in the release stated the agreement would be established under the United
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade agreement signed under Trump’s first administration.
The bill provided by Cortez Masto’s office would have the U.S. Trade Representative “prioritize” the group’s creation at the USMCA’s next joint review, which starts on July 1.
American members of the working group would include officials from the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Transportation, Interior, State and Homeland Security, according to Titus’ press release. It would also solicit input from “trade and tourism companies.”
Tourism to Las Vegas fell 7.5% last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
At the same time, the authority’s collections from room tax and gaming fees fell 10% from 2024.
–Kyle Chouinard
“To put it plainly, the states oversee elections, not the federal government. We will always step in to protect that right.”
This week the Smith Center for the Performing Arts announced the shows of its 2026-27 Broadway Las Vegas Series, packed with Tony Award-winners, beloved favorites and current hits. It begins September 15 with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and continues in October with The Phantom of the Opera, Elf The Musical in November, The Outsiders in January, Buena Vista Social Club in March, Boop! The Musical in May and Maybe Happy Ending in June. And in October, the acclaimed dark comedy play Oh, Mary! comes as a special bonus presentation. For more information, visit thesmithcenter. com/broadway –Staff
TOURISM
ON THE MOVE Upbeat Health’s mobile wound-care team includes (from left) Ronald Montoya, family nurse practitioner, Jennifer Dao, director of operations, Krista Volturo, medical technician, and Patrick Vides, nurse practitioner. The Summerlin clinic’s program has grown nearly tenfold since the pandemic. Visit lasvegassun. com for the full story on how the small-employer business and many others statewide have turned crisis into opportunity.
(Steve Marcus/staff)
–Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford in his final State of Justice address to staff. In April 2025, Ford joined a coalition of Democratic attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order seeking to overhaul U.S. elections. In June, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the executive order. Trump continues to suggest that the federal government should “nationalize” or “take over” elections, despite the Constitution dictating elections administration belongs with the states.
‘WORST CASE SCENARIO’
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
The killing of U.S. citizen and Veteran A airs nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis hit close to home for Las Vegas nurse and union leader Linda Ward-Smith.
As president of the American Federation of Government Workers’ Local 1224 chapter in Las Vegas, she decided to rally her membership to host a vigil for Pretti—a fellow AFGE member—outside the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse on February 1. About 100 were in attendance.
“Nurses just have that compassionate spirit. We’re the ones who are always on the front lines trying to save others, and I believe that’s what [Pretti] was doing,” a
teary-eyed Ward-Smith said. “He saw somebody hurt and wanted to help, and nobody should ever be killed for that.”
Based on video of the January 24 incident, Pretti was carrying a permitted rearm but kept it holstered as he used his cell phone to lm federal immigration o cers apparently shoving a woman to the ground. He was promptly restrained and disarmed by a group of federal agents before two of them shot and killed him.
Weeks earlier, agents tasked with carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement blitz in Minnesota also fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Good. In both cases, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem initially framed Good
and Pretti as “domestic terrorists.” But viral phone videos of both incidents and countless independent analyses contradicted that narrative. Nationwide protests broke out over Good’s and Pretti’s deaths, demanding “ICE out” of cities.
“We need to say, ‘no way, not today, no more.’ We need to stand up, stand strong and be bold,” Ward-Smith said. “The most important thing is we need to come together. We need to come out and vote against things that we are not okay with, because what is going on is not okay. We need to be loud and proud and ght for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
In response to public outcry—including from Republicans—and plummeting approval ratings, the Trump
Immigration enforcement in Minneapolis sparks growing fear in Las Vegas
Linda WardSmith, president of AFGE Local 1224, at a vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse Downtown on February 1.
(Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
administration removed U.S. Border Patrol “commander-at-large” Gregory Bovino from his role as the head of the Minneapolis campaign and temporarily replaced him with Trump “border czar” Tom Homan. And in early February, Noem announced that every Homeland Security o cer in Minnesota would immediately be equipped with body-worn cameras. Homan also con rmed the recall of 700 of the 3,000 federal agents deployed there since early December.
Despite those gestures, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and public school ocials have raised alarm that the focus of enforcement has now shifted to schools. Federal agents have continued to maim and arrest protesters across the country. And Trump’s Justice Department is investigating Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly impeding federal immigration enforcement through their public statements.
NEVADA REACTION
In a January 28 statement that doesn’t mention Good or Pretti, Nevada Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo wrote that he was “distressed” by the events in Minnesota, adding that “protecting citizens to assemble safely and peaceably is—and must remain—a top priority.” He then praised Trump’s call for a “thorough and unbiased review of all the evidence.”
“My position on illegal immigration has been clear and consistent. I support the President’s e orts to secure the border, and I believe that we should remove violent or repeat criminals from our streets and neighborhoods as swiftly and as safely as we can,” Lombardo concluded.
According to the latest January 25 report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, only 26% of the 70,766 individuals detained by ICE nationwide have been convicted of crimes.
Nevada’s federal delegation also weighed in on the matter through recent votes on a budget bill required to avert a partial government shutdown. In the House,
Democratic Reps. Steven Horsford, Susie Lee and Dina Titus held party lines in opposing the bill, citing a need to curtail DHS funding, while Republican Rep. Mark Amodei voted in favor.
In a January 27 statement, Amodei acknowledged that “a pivot to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s] core mission in Minnesota is needed.” But he also defended his vote by likening calls to defund DHS as “reckless,” adding that he believes “agitators and politicians” who interfered with immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota share an “equal responsibility” for the incidents.
After a handful of House Republicans and Democrats crossed the aisle, legislators ultimately voted 217-214 to approve a budget bill on February 3, which included a continuing resolution to temporarily extend existing DHS funding allocations through February 13 to give them more time to negotiate future funding and terms.
Along with 119 other House Democrats, Horsford has signed onto a resolution for Noem’s impeachment.
“[Noem] is derelict in her duty, and it’s time for us to have change and accountability at the top,” Horsford told the Weekly at the February 1 vigil in Las Vegas.
He added that he’s heard from constituents “who are worried and fearful about their families being targeted, pro led and torn apart” by DHS and ICE.
LAS VEGAS PREPARES
Since 2025, federal immigration agents appear to have been less active in Southern Nevada than in major cities like Minneapolis, Chicago and LA. But with more than 20% of Clark County’s population being foreign-born, residents have a growing concern that the city could become the Trump administration’s next target.
Immigrant advocates have zeroed in on cooperative agreements with local law enforcement and
detention centers in Pahrump and Henderson. In October, the ACLU of Nevada led a lawsuit contesting Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s 287(g) agreement with ICE. The arrangement allows LVMPD to execute immigration warrants on people held at the Clark County Detention Center and hold them for an additional 48 hours past their release date to transfer them into ICE custody.
In recent Henderson City Council meetings, dozens of residents have used their public comment time to call for the city to terminate a longstanding agreement to hold ICE detainees at the Henderson Detention Center, where it now holds an average of 93 per day until ICE can take them into federal custody, according to TRAC.
Local nonpro ts like the Nevada Immigrant Coalition, Make The Road Nevada and grassroots collectives like LV Defensa have doubled down on e orts to prepare Nevadans for the possibility of increased immigration enforcement here in 2026.
“We haven’t hit a huge stress test yet, and I pray we never have to,” says Leo Murrieta, director at Make The Road Nevada. “But we’re still seeing people being kidnapped o the streets or dropping their kids o and never being able to pick them up, and we’ve also had a number of our mem-
bers self-deport because they’re scared.”
Murrieta’s team has addressed these fears by organizing “know your rights” sessions and family preparedness clinics to help clients create contingency plans addressing what would happen to their children, pets or nancial obligations if they were detained. Both groups have seen increased interest from people who want to volunteer for the cause. Those who are interested can contact the organizations through social media.
“We are at a point where everyone must prepare for the worst case scenario,” Murrieta says. “As immigrants, we know that our worst fears could manifest at any time, even tonight. And to the folks who aren’t immigrants but care about freedom and dignity, we need your help now more than ever. Now is the time to step up and do your part.”
Valley residents can utilize a handful of local resources to report or track ICE sightings in their neighborhoods. The Nevada Immigrant Coalition tracks and confirms those reports through a network that can be contacted by texting ‘JOIN’ or ‘UNETE’ to 638-232. LV Defensa also maintains a rapid-response and ICE report hotline at 702-850-1161.
U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., speaks at a vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Downtown Las Vegas on February 1. (Photo by Christopher DeVargas)
OLYMPIC HOCKEY
USA to win gold medal at +210 (i.e. risking $100 to win $210)
STAY IN THE GAME
Four futures bets to make with football season behind us
BY CASE KEEFER
The Florida Panthers winning backto-back Stanley Cup Finals the last two years and Rory McIlroy prevailing in the 2025 Masters are a couple examples of winners shared in our annual rundown of futures bets to make after the Super Bowl.
The biggest sports betting event of the year may have concluded, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other options to jump into.
(Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook)
Canada will have the best team competing over the next two weeks in Milan, Italy, as usual, but the gap between it and the archrival U.S. team isn’t as large as the betting market implies. It took an overtime 3-2 victory, after a 3-1 loss earlier in the competition, for Canada to beat USA for the 4 Nations Face-O crown last year. The teams are nearly identical this time around and should be set up for another razor-tight showdown in the nals.
Canada’s price being twice as small, at around pick’em, makes no sense.
Noah Hanifin and Jack Eichel will represent the Vegas Golden Knights on the U.S. Olympic Hockey team in
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Duke to win NCAA Championship at 8-to-1
(Wynn Las Vegas)
The Blue Devils haven’t been the best team in college basketball this season—that distinction belongs to either the Arizona Wildcats or Michigan Wolverines—but they are the most talented.
Freshman phenom Cameron Boozer has been the best player in the sport without a close second. As one of the youngest teams in the nation, Duke keeps getting better and should be peaking in time for March Madness. It took an epic collapse in the national semi nal against Houston to prevent Duke from winning its sixth-ever title last year, but coach John Scheyer presumably learned from the heartbreak. A meltdown like that won’t happen again.
NBA
Boston Celtics to win Eastern Conference at +475
(Circa Sports)
It feels like a foregone conclusion that the Oklahoma City Thunder will win its second straight NBA Championship, or at least get to the Finals out of the Western Conference.
The more interesting question is which team they will face for the title. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons are the top three favorites, but the Celtics have a better point di erential than all of them through 50 games.
Boston’s ceiling might also be the highest of the bunch with rumblings that its best player, Jayson Tatum, could be back ahead of schedule from a torn Achilles and play in the postseason.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Georgia at 28-to-1 and Florida at 40-to-1 to win College World Series (Circa and Caesars/ William Hill)
Similar to the Thunder in the NBA, the Los Angeles Dodgers cast too large of a shadow over the rest of Major League Baseball to con dently take shots against them winning another World Series.
College baseball is where a longshot on the diamond could actually pay o . The SEC has dominated the sport for the past half-decade, and there’s no end in sight to that trend this season.
Here are four suggestions of bets across other major sports to kickstart handicapping something new, or just to provide some rooting interest.
college o Italy. (AP Photo/ photo illustration)
Georgia and Florida are considered mid-tier contenders in the best league but could easily jump into elite status once the season begins. The latter has established itself as a perennial power while the former might nally have an adequate pitching sta built through the transfer portal to go with what’s established as one of college baseball’s most powerful o enses.
HANIFIN
JACK EICHEL
Includes
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BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
At the reimagined Mayfair Supper Club inside the Bellagio, the spectacle announces itself quickly.
A host glides and honks his way through the main dining room on a Vespa, threading through cloth-covered tables before joining fellow dancers on stage. Soon after, a ballerina balances atop a row of rotating Champagne bottles with studied calm. And an aerialist, suspended by her ponytail, hovers above as the famed Bellagio fountains surge and retreat on cue in the background.
It’s an unmistakably inventive version of “dinner-tainment,” one that’s sophisticated, hard to replicate and so very Mayfair.
Since 2019, the Mayfair has occupied a rare space on the Strip, blending fine dining with live performance. Its latest iteration, produced by Outside the Box Amusements in collaboration with MGM Resorts International, reframes the concept into something more fluid. It’s part supper club, part immersive theater, part late-night social space.
“We were given free rein to collaborate with MGM and the food and beverage team to dream up an entirely new vision for the space,” says Andrew Katz, executive producer at Outside the Box. “The bones of the room and the structure are iconic.”
The guiding principle, Katz explains, was to ensure the entertainment enhanced rather than overwhelmed.
“We wanted to land on something that felt complementary to the dining experience, rather than competitive to
it,” he says.
Finding that sweet spot often eludes many large-scale dinner productions, but the Mayfair pulls it off seamlessly.
The night unfolds gradually, with doors opening around 5:30 p.m. and an earlier aperitivo hour taking place in the lounge. Early programming is deliberately understated, with live piano, vocalists and dancers moving gently through the room as daylight fades over the picturesque backdrop.
“We wanted to curate something that was more sophisticated and demure for the earlier portion of the evening,” Katz says.
As the night progresses, the tempo shifts. Acts appear every 15 to 20 minutes, increasing in frequency and intensity. The musical identity, a hybrid of Italian disco influences and contemporary production, drives the escalation.
The scope is quite substantial. In total, the show includes 45 to 50 acts, performed by a growing cast of more than 15 artists and athletes.
“We were able to utilize a lot of the insane talent pool that exists locally in Las Vegas, first and foremost, but also bring in some stars from around the world,” Katz says.
And the expansive room isn’t merely a backdrop. The venue’s Italian Lake Como-inspired architecture and its proximity to the Bellagio’s fountains integrate seamlessly into the show, with select performances timed to coincide with the water displays outside. Creative inspiration also drew from Italian film.
“We were inspired a bit by cinema and [Federico] Fellini in particular,” Katz says. “Then we gave ourselves creative license to create these visual and interactive vignettes.”
Delicious food also remains central to the evening. The updated menu balances refinement with familiarity, with dishes like Dover sole Véronique, hot and sour crispy lobster, decadent truffle pasta, fresh sushi rolls and veggie-forward starters.
Desserts lean playful, like the chocolate pistachio-forward Dubai Disco Ball and the Mayfair’s Rose, a light-dark chocolate mousse plucked from a bouquet of flowers and served tableside. By the final stretch of the evening, the room subtly transforms. Performers mingle with guests, the music swells, and tables give way to movement. What starts as a carefully staged dinner ultimately becomes more participatory and entices guests to linger long after that final bite.
Mayfair Supper Club ’s new chapter blends cuisine, spectacle and late-night energy
Photos courtesy MGM Resorts International
FULLY CHARGED
Electric Fantasy brings aerial acts and devious fun to Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club
BY SHANNON MILLER
It’s 11 p.m. on a Saturday night at Hustler Club, and topless dancers are warming up the room. A DJ pumps jams into the space while clubgoers smoke hookah and bachelorette parties file in. In come the Diamond Dolls like a flash mob, donning glowing hair and neon outfits—and they’re here to deliver a shock to the system.
Two hoist themselves to a hoop suspended about seven feet above the ground and perform balancing and hanging maneuvers that leave me breathless. After 10 minutes, another dancer confidently clips her topknot into a carabiner hanging from the ceiling, and spins on her toes like she’s doing a triple axel, or ten.
These performers seem to have come from a different planet—one where it’s a requirement to do the splits on command. And soon my suspicions are confirmed when they put on alien masks and move in sync to
the Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic.” By the end of the night, they’re covered in body paint.
This is Electric Fantasy, a fun and freaky scene that you might not expect at a strip club.
“We like to say we’re changing how people see strip clubs. ... I don’t think there’s any other strip club doing what we’re doing. ... This is so much more, and I think that’s why people end up staying longer than a regular gentleman’s club,” says Kelly Fenn, creative director of the Diamond Dolls, the cast of Electric Fantasy
The production initially launched at New York City’s Hustler Club and then at the Las Vegas location in September 2025. The Las Vegas team—Fenn and choreographers Dale Molloy and Adrian Bennett—say they had a whole host of Strip-caliber talent to choose from in the casting call.
“We have a really good couple, Holland [Lohse] and Sienna [Martinez].
ELECTRIC FANTASY
Friday & Saturday, 11 p.m., free entry. Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, vegashustlerclub. com
They’ve done years with Cirque du Soleil and they’re at Mayfair [Supper Club] now. They’re incredible contortion acrobats. Melissa James also does aerial silks, as well,” Fenn says. “One of the performers does LED twirling, almost like fire twirling. One of our other girls who’s a Cirque du Soleil performer does canes, which is like hand-balancing on sticks.”
The variety of acts is endless and always sexy, with some topless segments and choreographed dance numbers sprinkled throughout the show. Roller skating tricks and a bathtub act are expected soon. Themes rotate each week, so it’s never the same show twice.
“One minute, it’s going to be a girl hanging from her hair. The next minute, there’s someone sparking an angle grinder onto a guitar. For the audience, it’s not so much ‘We’re going to sit down and watch a show.’ It’s more of an immersive experience,” Molloy says.
Aneliese Biwer, a member of the Diamond Dolls, performs in Electric Fantasy at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club. (Wade Vandervort/staff)
FULL CIRCLE
BY AMBER SAMPSON
The Laugh Factory continuing its legacy of laughter at Horseshoe Las Vegas couldn’t be more nostalgic for Harry Basil. The veteran comic and comedy club general manager goes way back with the property—nearly 40 years to be exact.
“I have a lot of history with that property. I used to open for Rodney Danger eld at Bally’s [now Horseshoe],” says Basil, who managed the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana for over 12 years, prior to the closing of the Trop in April 2024. “I’m talking the late ’80s, when Frank Sinatra would be there the week before us, and Dean Martin the week afterwards. I actually have a postcard with my name on it, under Rodney’s, and then all of those guys coming the following weeks—the entire Rat Pack.”
complete with new booths, curtains and camera equipment for comics to tape their sets. Cobra Kai’s Bret Ernst kicked o the club’s soft opening, but Laugh Factory’s o cial starting lineup features Jamie Kennedy and Concrete, who will headline a mini-residency at the club February 12-15.
Now, Basil is bringing that level of legend back to Horseshoe, where its 230-seat Imagine Showroom has been rebranded into the Laugh Factory Las Vegas Theater,
“People know Jamie Kennedy from the Scream movies, Ghost Whisperer and the Jamie Kennedy Experiment. He’s like a household name, and Jimmie ‘JJ’ Walker from Good Times, is the special guest host,” Basil says. “But then at 6:30 p.m. we have Concrete, who is a viral Instagram star. He’s almost sold out on Friday and Saturday already without us even putting up a billboard yet. Some of those TikTok people, they get famous for sketches or ranting and just doing their daily little bits. But he has developed into a really great stand-up. He’s a great actor.”
When it comes to future bookings, Basil isn’t wasting any time lling out the calendar. After Concrete takes the stage, Trixx
will headline February 16-22, followed by John Caponera February 23-25 and Craig Shoemaker February 26-March 1. In April, the Laugh Factory will also host This Fool star Frankie Quiñones, a stand-up comedian best known for his CholoFit sketch and the character “Creeper.”
And with comics from other Vegas clubs now reaching out to Basil, don’t be surprised to see more familiar faces in rotation. Demand is higher than ever, and the talent has only gotten better with time. As Basil puts it, “Comedy’s king in Vegas. Always has been.”
Ellie Parker cooks, in every positive sense of the word.
Ellie Parker of Main St. Provisions talks about her Hell’s Kitchen win and James Beard nomination
The executive chef of popular Arts District “modern American comfort food” restaurant Main St. Provisions has had the flame on high most of her life, first as a student of the culinary programs at CCSD magnet school Northwest Career and Technical Academy and UNLV’s College of Hospitality, and then cooking at La Cave, One Steakhouse, Martha Stewart’s The Bedford and other Vegas hot spots.
By the time she came to Provisions as a line cook, on the advice of her mentor chef Patrick Munster, she had so much momentum that she achieved her dream of becoming an executive chef by age 26 a full year early. But she remains humble, and more importantly, hungry for fresh challenges.
She appeared as a contestant on the 24th season of Hell’s Kitchen, worked her way through a tough field, and won. And the night before that winning episode aired, she was named a semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category of the 2026 James Beard Awards.
Even with these accolades piling on top of an already impressive resume, Parker isn’t about to simmer down. This summer, she’s off to Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut to become head chef of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen restaurant. Until then, she’ll keep cooking at Main St. Provisions and visiting NCTA to inspire the next bright flame. She granted the Weekly a quick chat before Provisions opened for dinner.
Was the Hell’s Kitchen win in your head as you were back working in the kitchen?
No, never. We filmed [the season] so long ago that after the first month, I just forgot about it. You know, life goes on. Within six months after filming the show, I was promoted up to executive chef. So, I took on this huge role, learning all of that, failing, succeeding, working, personal life, obviously. So no, it’s been off my mind for so long.
But you had to keep your win secret until the season aired?
Yes! Very hard, knowing, because obviously I lived it and I knew the truth. Very few other people did. Obviously, the people who flew up [to attend the taping]: my dad, my boyfriend, my best friend were there. But everyone else, no, I couldn’t talk about it. So, it’s like it wasn’t real. When they
emailed us in August, saying, “Hey, we’re gonna announce your participation in the show,” then I started freaking out. Like, did it actually happen? Was it a fever dream? Did I actually win? Or am I gonna be really embarrassed at the end of this? [Laughs.]
The universe sure piled the validation on you that week. Did you have any inkling you were going to be shortlisted for a Beard Award?
I had no idea. I woke up Wednesday morning, about 8:30, and looked at my phone. Normally, I only have a few notifications, but I had about 50.
I call Kim [Owens, owner of Main St. Provisions] up right away. We both have sleepy voice … “Kim, I’m nominated for a Beard.” She starts crying. I’m crying, because … I mean, Hell’s Kitchen is one thing, but Kim’s known that my entire career
I’ve just wanted a James Beard nomination. Just a nod. Every idol of mine has been nominated for that, and it’s such a high accolade. It’s just huge. I did Hell’s Kitchen; that’s all done. And now I have something bigger and better to strive for, to keep me going.
Kim embodies what I love about Vegas’ hospitality community. She’s a booster. Las Vegas, at its best, is a nurturing community. I love my city. I know I’m not done here. Every job I’ve had has been here in Vegas. I’ve worked on the Strip. I’ve worked offStrip, you know, at momand-pop shops. All my opportunity has been here, and a lot of big, very wellknown chefs stuck their necks out for me and really risked their reputations by bringing me on board as such a young, green cook. And it’s something every day that I try to work for, to
let them know I thank you so much for what they did, and to [acknowledge] the love and support the city’s now giving me. And I’ve told Kim this, too.
I want to be a household name here in Vegas, because this is my community. I want to give back however I can. My high school, Northwest Career and Technical Academy, where I went to culinary school—they’ve asked me to come back, and every single time I’m so honored. If I can be an inspiration to any of those kids, I just want to tell them that they can do it.
What lessons are you taking from your time at Main St. Provisions? From Kim?
Her hospitality and service. I’ve never, ever worked at a restaurant that prioritizes not only the customers, but the staff as well, front and back. She literally is like a mom to us, you know, and she takes care of us when we’re sick. It’s not, “suck it up, buttercup; you have a job to do.”
It’s, “take care of yourself.” When customers ask for something special, it’s, “Hey, chef, can we make it happen?” And I go, “You know what? I can. Let’s do it.” Let’s make these people feel special, you know?
You can lead with compassion and love but still be a strong boss. Make your role known, but do it with grace. I grew up with some old school chef types that were sticklers, and so my first in-chef position, I was kind of that way as well. And I don’t think a lot of my cooks liked me when I was like that, you know, just kind of rude
and abrupt and just to the point. She taught me you don’t have to be that way.
Gordon Ramsay has that salty reputation, but I gather that he’s got a cuddly side we don’t see.
He does. He makes his point known. He will tell you if you’re right or you’re wrong, but I like to say he’s just a big old teddy bear. He was so sweet and so caring. He doesn’t want to bring people down.
You’re here for a little while yet. What should we order while you’re here?
Best thing on the menu by far, our Tomahawk pork chop. And I know Miss Kim would kill me if I didn’t say it, but the Cajun barbecue shrimp—that’s one of my favorites too, and that’s not coming off the menu anytime soon.
Congratulations! This is such a win for Vegas. I wanted to bring one home for our awesome city, our awesome state. It’s an honor to be a representative of Nevada … and it’s Ne-VAD-uh, not Ne-VAHduh. I’ll tell Chef Ramsay. [Laughs.]
Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly. com.
Ellie Parker with Gordon Ramsay on the set of Hell’s Kitchen. (Photos courtesy 2026 FOX Media LLC)
ORGAN DONATION
GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE THROUGH ORGAN DONATION
BY ELIZABETH SHALLER GUEST COLUMN
Valentine’s Day offers a chance to show the people we love how much they matter to us. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on a different kind of gift—one that doesn’t come in a box of chocolates, but in the form of a second chance at life. In recognition of National Donor Day, alongside American Heart Month, we reflect on love in its most selfless form: organ, eye and tissue donation. National Donor Day is observed each year on February 14, and there’s good reason for it. One selfless decision can save up to eight lives through organ donation, heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation and restore sight to up to two people through cornea donation. The decision to become a donor reminds us that love extends far beyond romantic gestures.
At Nevada Donor Network, we see this love in action daily. We work with donors and their families who, in the face of devastating loss, choose to say yes to organ, eye and tissue donation. It’s an opportunity to celebrate recipients given a second chance at life and to remember
those still waiting, or who have died waiting for a transplant. National Donor Day is also a day of action—one that encourages individuals to register as organ donors and have meaningful conversations with their families.
American Heart Month also carries significance in this conversation. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, and the burden is not shared equally.
Black Americans consistently experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared with other racial and ethnic groups, reflecting longstanding disparities in health risk factors, access to preventive care and social determinants of health.
transplants can be successful regardless of race or ethnicity, longer-term outcomes may improve when donors and recipients share closer genetic backgrounds, making it critical for everyone to consider registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Together, American Heart Month and National Donor Day serve as a reminder of the more than 700 Nevadans and more than 100,000 Americans currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, underscoring the urgent need to improve equity in heart health, organ donation and access to lifesaving treatments.
Behind every statistic is a person waiting, a family hoping and an opportunity for love to become lifesaving. As a not-for-profit organ procurement organization, our mission is to serve more than three million Nevadans and thousands of transplant recipients nationwide by facilitating statewide organ, eye and tissue donation. We support donor families, educate hospital staff and community partners, and equip health care professionals to deliver high-quality transplantation services.
These disparities exist in the transplant system as well. Today, 61% of the national organ transplant waiting list is made up of individuals from multicultural communities. While
This February, as we celebrate love in all its forms, we encourage our community to say yes to organ, eye and tissue donation—a choice rooted in generosity and compassion that rises above background, belief and circumstance.
To register, visit registerme. org, use the iPhone’s Apple Health app, or check “yes” to the organ donation question at a local Nevada DMV office.
Elizabeth Shaller is the COO of Nevada Donor Network.
Courtesy
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Closing the heart health gap in Black communities
BY TRACEY JOHNSON-GLOVER, DNP, MSN ED, RN
Despite decades of progress, cardiovascular disease continues to disproportionately affect Black Americans, driven by long-standing structural and systemic inequities that shape health outcomes today.
According to the American Heart Association, Black adults experience some of the highest rates of hypertension in the world and are nearly twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as white adults. Further, nearly 60% of Black adults ages 20 and older live with at least one form of cardiovascular disease compared with about 49% of U.S. adults overall, and Black adults account for more than half of heart failure-related hospitalizations among adults under age 50.
Researchers have spent years examining why these disparities persist. A recent study published in Biofeedback found that lifelong experiences of perceived racism can affect heart rate variability, which reflects the heart’s ability to respond to stress and environmental changes. Additionally, researchers at the MedStar Health Research Institute linked racism, chronic stress and high blood pressure in African Americans, reinforcing the connection between chronic stress
and cardiovascular risk.
The good news is there are targeted, practical interventions that can help decrease these disparities. In a study by the Journal of the American Heart Association, eliminating copayments for cardiovascular medications helps reduce major vascular events, removing a financial barrier that often limits consistent treatment. The same study showed that motivational interviewing sessions held in churches led to meaningful reductions in blood pressure among Black patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Greater inclusion of Black people in clinical trials is also critical, for understanding how disease pathology, diet, lifestyle and medications affect different populations may lead to better, more equitable care.
Closing the heart health gap will require sustained efforts to remove structural barriers, expand culturally responsive interventions, and increase equitable representation in research and care. Advancing cardiovascular health equity is both a public health priority and a moral imperative to improve outcomes and strengthen communities.
Dr. Tracey Johnson-Glover is an associate professor at Touro University Nevada School of Nursing.
As one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities, many have already discovered Cadence is a unique and special place. With its combination of value, lifestyle and community; it’s the perfect place to address your future. If you haven’t visited…come and see.
Follow a walkway. Explore Central Park. Marvel at the views. Tour model homes. Meet potential neighbors. Because once you’re here, we’re confident you’ll want to address your future too.
BACKSTORY
Photo by Wade Vandervort
COLORADO RIVER RUNNER | HOOVER DAM | FEBRUARY 3, 2026 From the subalpine of the Rockies to the floor of the Grand Canyon to the stark lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert, Mina Guli is looking for real, workable solutions for the stressed Colorado River. Guli is an ultramarathoner and global water advocate who plans to run the length of the river and then some this summer to bring attention to water scarcity and its human impacts. That’s a circuitous journey of 1,800 miles—from the river’s headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to its mouth into the Gulf of California in northern Mexico—to immerse herself in the Colorado’s story. Water is the basis for community stability, Guli said when announcing her run February 3 at Hoover Dam. Water is necessary for jobs, food systems, power generation and public health. In Southern Nevada alone, the Colorado provides about 90% of the region’s water. Lake Mead’s white bathtub ring of mineral-stained rock shows how deep the reservoir would be if full. It is silent but makes a clear statement. “This ring is not abstract,” Guli said. “This is a line in the landscape that says the system that we have had limits, and we’ve exceeded them.” –Hillary Davis
