ENTERTAINMENT
INTERIM PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com
EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com)
Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)
Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)
Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)
Staff Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com)
Contributing Writers AVA CHATLOSH, GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER
Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT
Office Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE
Las Vegas Weekly Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)
Marketing & Editorial Designer CHRISTINA TRIMIDAL
Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, THERESE BAUTISTA
Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON
Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON
Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
Associate Editor of Social Media EM JURBALA
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE
Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN
Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, MELINA TAYLOR
Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB
Events Manager HANNAH ANTER
Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ
Event Sales Coordinator YAZMINE VALMONTE
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX
Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY
Production Manager BLUE UYEDA
Multimedia Production Designer MARISSA MAHERAS
Senior Traffic Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA
Traffic Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG
Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP
CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN
Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN
Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY
Chief Financial Officer STEVE GRAY
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
P.O. Box 94018
Las Vegas, NV 89193
702-990-2550
lasvegasweekly.com facebook.com/lasvegasweekly instagram.com/lasvegasweekly x.com/lasvegasweekly
Public education has never been more threatened—or more vitally necessary.
COVER ART Photo illustration by Therese Bautista
14 SUMMER UNLOCKED
Among the dinosaurs and desert flora, your inner child will bloom at Springs Preserve.
24 NEWS
CCSD Board of Trustees candidates Irene Bustamante Adams and Rob Hutchinson talk educational challenges.
30 SPORTS Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon aims to shore up the team’s defense.
34 SCENE
Resident Evil has moved into Universal Horror Unleashed—and it’s spreading fast.
36 MUSIC
Los Emptys frontman Cristian Alexus Alfaro shares the three albums that shaped his sound.
38 FOOD & DRINK
Able Baker’s new Centennial Hills Bomb Shelter is blowing up with new tastes and sips.
Clark County School District teacher Paysha Rhone (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
SUPERGUIDE
THURSDAY JULY 30
FRIDAY JULY 31
8 p.m.,
MARC ANTHONY 9 p.m., & 8/1, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
KELLY CLARKSON
8 p.m., & 8/1, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
JEEZY
8 p.m., & 8/1, PH Live, ticketmaster.com.
HUMAN NATURE Thru 8/2, 7 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.
EL TRI 7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
THE QUITTERS With MSMRS, Go Bold, No New Nausea, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fm.
THE SPAZMATICS 9 p.m., Rio Event Stage, riolasvegas.com.
LANE SMITH
10 p.m., Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, tixr.com.
1969 LIVE: THE KING RETURNS 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.
ZEDD 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
METRO BOOMIN 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
DUKE DUMONT 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
AMTRAC 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com.
BIG GIGANTIC With Prob Cause, 10 p.m., Substance, eventim.us.
LESLIE JONES
Pearl Theater, axs.com.
Courtesy
SATURDAY AUG 1
With The Pretty Reckless, 7 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.
GRUPO FRONTERA
8 p.m., Michelob Ultra axs.com.
RED EYE GIN
With Furdle Dirt, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
IRATION
8 p.m., Sandbar at Red ticketmaster.com.
ONLY FIRE
With DJ Lexto, 9 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com.
With Body Thief, Postdrone, Post NC, 6 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm.
JOHNNY DYNAMITE
With Nothing But Silence, VII Ghost, 8 p.m., the Griffin, dice.fm.
BENISE
7 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
NEIGHBORHOOD
FOOD HALL BLOCK
1 p.m., Resort at Summerlin, theresort atsummerlin.com.
BILL BURR
8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.
MAX AMINI
8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. PHOENIX RISING FC
7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com.
BOLERO THE SHOW
7:30 p.m., Plaza Showroom, plazahotelcasino.com.
ALESSO
11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.
FISHER
11 a.m., Omnia Dayclub, taogroup.com.
DON TOLIVER 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
DIPLO
10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
DJ SNAKE
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
ELDERBROOK 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
ENHYPEN
K-Pop bands don’t just have discographies, they have lore. Originally formed in 2020 through the competition TV I-Land, Enhypen’s quite cinematic narrative beyond the music was likely defined by the episodic digital comic Dark Moon, which overflows with teen romance, vampires and other supernatural beings, and of course catchy tunes. Those themes have been amplified during the six-member group’s fourth world tour, Blood Saga, which will bring a full live band, a spooky castle backdrop, hits like “Bite Me,” “Criminal Love” and “Paranormal,” and over-the-top theatricality to T-Mobile Saturday night. 7:30 p.m., $86-$420, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. –Brock Radke
ASHANTI 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
MUSIC PARTY
SPORTS FOOD COMEDY MISC ARTS
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY AUG 2 MONDAY AUG 3
BEACH BUNNY & THE BETHS
7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
DREADNOUGHT
With Peaceful Retreat, Graveflower, Death Rock Collective, 8 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm.
CALI TUCKER
10 p.m., Easy’s Cocktail Lounge, easysvegas.com.
VICE
11 a.m., Palm Tree Beach Club, taogroup.com.
KROMI
11:30 a.m., LIV Beach, livnightclub.com.
LATIN SWIM DAY
With Aravi, Exile, i5, noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
DUSTBOWLCHAMPION
BIGXTHAPLUG 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, taogroup.com.
Nowadays, shoegaze artists are virtually unavoidable. Many rely on the framework laid before their pedalboard-laden feet, but a select few rise above the ethereal haze. DustBowlChampion is one of them. The Fresno-born project recently released its fifth album, Love Is Hell, and it’s found a spot in our repeat rotation. Filtering shoegaze through darkwave, post-punk and lo-fi sensibilities, founding member Jaron Delacruz leverages something distinctly his own while making it nearly impossible for listeners to stand still. At first listen, the project may feel familiar, but DustBowlChampion is operating in its own lane, you’ve just got to surrender to it and let it unfold. 8 p.m., $20+, Backstage Bar & Billiards, eventim.us. –Gabriela Rodriguez
*Spotlight events are sponsored
EXHIBIT: THE ART & SCIENCE OF ARACHNIDS Thru 8/23, daily 9 a.m.4 p.m., Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum, lvnhm.org.
EXHIBIT: AROUND THE TABLE Thru 8/26, Mon.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, nevada humanities.org.
PAULY SHORE
8:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com.
MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
CHASE B 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
DIVE IN MOVIES
The Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas transforms into a rooftop open-air movie experience each week with Dive In Movies. Guests can float in the pool or lounge poolside while blockbuster favorites play across the resort’s 65-foot digital marquee, set against the Las Vegas Strip skyline. Specialty cocktails, poolside bites, and upgraded seating options including daybeds and cabanas round out the experience. On Mondays, locals can enjoy additional Unlock Your Mondays perks throughout the property, including complimentary parking. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with movies beginning at 8 p.m. ticketmaster.com
Photos courtesy
AUGUST 12
BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO
AUGUST 21
SEPTEMBER 6 AEW DYNAMITE & COLLISION
AUGUST 29
AUGUST 14
AUGUST 22
AUGUST 15
AUGUST 23
SEPTEMBER 4 & 5
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY AUG 4 WEDNESDAY AUG 5
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. TACOMA RAINIERS
Thru 8/8, 7:05 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster. com.
JOHN CAPARULO
9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster. com.
SARAH COLONNA With Mark Ellis, Gary Cannon, thru 8/9, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. com.
ART BECOMING 7 p.m., the Space, the spacelv.com.
MICHAEL GRIMM
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter. com
JUSTIN CREDIBLE
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
THE ANDREWS BROTHERS Thru 9/12, days & times vary, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, super summertheatre.org.
LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. OAKLAND ROOTS FC 7:30 p.m., Cashman Field, lasvegaslightsfc.com.
THE WOGGLES With The Crotches, The Implosions, Cromm Fallon & The P200, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, dice.fm.
COMPOSERS SHOWCASE
7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA
7:30 p.m., Notoriety Live, notorietylive.com.
ODD MOB 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
LEMA 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
Follow your inner child through dinosaurs and splash pads, or your grown-up self through gardens and museums at
Springs Preserve
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Some places grow with you. Visit them as a kid and they are playgrounds. Come back as an adult, and they’re a lesson, a refuge and a reminder to slow down and look around.
On a recent visit, Springs Preserve turned out to be both. “Please watch your head as you get into the trolley,” the driver says. Naturally, I ignore the warning and bump my forehead on the roof. My mom laughs, the kid across from me joins in and before the trolley leaves the station, I’m laughing, too. That’s the funny thing about this urban oasis—it makes it surprisingly easy to remember how to be a kid.
If I hand the map to my inner five-year-old, the day begins at the Dino Safari inside the Origen Museum. Upon opening the heavy front doors, I’m greeted by the breeze of air conditioning and the towering presence of an animatronic Amargasaurus. My wandering feet naturally lead me to the exhibit with more of these tall freaks. I’m mesmerized by the size, magnitude and detail used to paint this prehistoric picture.
Next door, I witness the power of a flash flood. The real water simulation rushes 5,000 gallons of water through canyon walls and below our feet all while being surrounded by the sounds and flashes of thunderstorms. Outside, a splash pad
invites kids looking for relief from the heat. It’s big enough to find new friends and burn off energy.
Staying indoors to beat the afternoon heat, I head to the WaterWorks Museum. At first expecting a boring explainer about local water systems, I found myself engaging thanks to the hands-on science. After sliding into a white lab coat and protective goggles, I toggle with a microscope to examine water contaminants and gasp when I zoom into the rods and nodes of god knows what. Out on the main floor, I pause to take in the photo mural depicting the lowering water level of Lake Mead levels, and even a kid can recognize just how desperate that reality is becoming.
Flash flood exhibit
WaterWorks Museum
Dino Safari
The funny thing about coming back to Springs Preserve as an adult is realizing the place was never really built for just kids.
The life-size Boomtown 1905 replica hums with old-time saloon tunes drifting through hidden speakers while the cicadas provide the real soundtrack. Kids sprint between the mercantile and the railroad cottages as their parents trail behind, reading the signs and soaking in the history. I pace myself and try to imagine my life in these frontier times.
I wander back to air conditioning through desert trails. The Mojave isn’t flashy. Its beauty asks you to slow down long enough to notice the geometry of a cactus, the stubborn elegance of plants that
somehow make a life out of rock and relentless sunshine. Every few minutes, a lizard darts across the path like it has somewhere more important to be.
By the time I reach the café, the temperature has climbed into triple digits. An iced vanilla latte offers solace. Through wide windows, hummingbirds bounce between flowering shrubs while quail disappear into the brush below.
Inside the cool of the Nevada State Museum, a towering Columbian mammoth and the great Ichthyosaur fossil remind me that Las Vegas has always been a place of reinvention. Long before railroads or casinos, there were oceans, giants and landscapes that look nothing like the city outside.
SPRINGS PRESERVE
333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7700, springspreserve.org Thursday-Monday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
At Boomtown 1905
Boomtown 1905
Botanical Gardens
It’s time to make a statement. A vibrant top is perfect for showing personality. Paired with a white tennis skirt and
Those first-day-of-school jitters can feel overwhelming. But if you look good, you’re likely going to feel good, too. A new school year is an opportunity to reinvent yourself through fashion, and Goodwill is here to help with that transformation. With hundreds of unique pieces to choose from, there’s something for every style and budget. Whether searching for trendy finds, timeless basics or something completely unexpected, you’ll discover plenty of options to help refresh your wardrobe. Here are a few shopping tips to make the most of your back-to-school style.
SOPHISTICATED STUDENT
Perfect for students who love a polished, businesscasual vibe. Whether heading to class, debate team, an internship, or a teaching assistant position, this outfit looks sophisticated and professional.
Every trip to Goodwill is a chance to discover something unique. Preloved pieces at affordable prices make it easy to build a wardrobe that reflects your personal style without overspending. Each featured outfit costs $25 to $35. Every purchase gives donated items a second life, helping reduce textile waste while supporting Goodwill’s workforce development programs that provide job training and career opportunities throughout Southern Nevada.
CREATED AND PRESENTED BY
DON’T SKIP THE SUPPLIES
Goodwill carries school essentials like backpacks, notebooks, stationery and binders. Score these essentials for a fraction of the cost and check off more of your back-toschool list in one trip.
CAREFREE VIBE
Warm weather sticks around well into the school year in Las Vegas, so stay cool with a dress that is stylish and comfortable. Pair with brown boots and sunglasses for an effortlessly polished look.
PICK PIECES THAT BLEND WITH ANYTHING
A solid rotation of basics makes it easy to mix and match throughout the week. Versatile pieces not only stretch your wardrobe but also save time on busy school mornings when deciding what to wear. Neutral colors and classic styles provide the flexibility to create fresh looks with just a few key items.
CASUAL COMFY
Comfort doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style—sometimes you just want to be laid back and comfortable during classes or study sessions. Olive-green pants are a versatile staple to wear again and again, while pink headphones add a fun pop of color and help you settle into study mode.
Public education has its flaws, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on it.
ublic schooling has never been more necessary. The ever-growing gap between the working class and the wealthy necessitates some mechanism for people of little means to change their circumstances through education—a foundation for a career and long-term stability.
Yet, public schools have never been more endangered. The lack of faith in institutions (government, health care, public safety, education), especially post-COVID, has tapped into a Republican-led effort that has been in play for decades.
The logic goes: If public schools aren’t working, then it’s due to a lack of competition; allow public money to be used to help students go to private, charter or home schools, and we’ll all end up better off.
It sounds reasonable. But several studies by the nonpartisan research group Brookings suggest otherwise. Veiled under the moniker of “school choice” or “parental choice,” the logic in practice has been shown to advantage wealthier families rather than low-income in Arizona, and to not really make a difference for rural communities who lack access to private schools. There’s also legitimate
concern about divestment from public schools.
When President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, it created a federal tax-credit scholarship program for households making up to 300% of area median income. The unprecedented program allows individuals or corporations to receive tax credits up to $1,700 for donations to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations, which then distribute funds to families to be used for expenses such as tuition, supplies, room and board, uniforms, transportation, equipment or internet. Students of both public and private schools are eligible for scholarships, which may be used at pub-
lic, private or religious institutions.
Along with 29 other governors, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo opted in to the program, which will go into effect in 2027.
With that in the backdrop, the nation’s fifth largest school district is slated to start classes on August 10. And the Clark County School District is up against many common challenges that districts across the country are facing—funding shortfalls, old infrastructure that needs to be updated, enrollment loss and staff reductions. The headwinds may seem insurmountable. And the looming narrative of the “failing public school system” hangs heavy over the heads of families as children return to school.
But if you take a closer look at what’s happening in public schools, there’s another narrative to be told—
one where teachers and administrators are wholly investing in children’s education; where students are excelling and preparing to take their newly learned knowledge and skills into their adult life; and where families are finding the help they need for their child to succeed.
We wanted to know why people are choosing to put their trust in public schools at this time. So we spoke with future teachers who are in training or ready to start next school year, outstanding students who are already preparing for their careers, and administrators working to make public school the best option for families living in Southern Nevada.
One common theme arose. It takes dedication for students and teachers to show up and meet the many demands of the day. It takes dedication for parents to lean in and be engaged in their child’s academics and extracurriculars. And it takes dedication for administrators to prevent students and families from falling through the cracks.
Investing in public education is not about returning to old systems that don’t work. It’s about figuring out how to make them work, and not quitting when things get hard.
–Shannon Miller
Why new and soon-to-be teachers are choosing to work in
public schools
BY SHANNON MILLER AND TYLER SCHNEIDER
CAREER PATHWAY:
I worked for lawyers for about 30 years and then decided to change my career path. … And I always loved working with kids, so I decided I would go work for the school district. … I work for [CCSD’s] College and Career Readiness [department] right now. … I’m slated to graduate [from the Nevada Forward] program August 14. … I will be licensed to teach K-8.
WHY TEACHING:
I have seven children [and] six grandkids, and I’ve taught countless kids through my church and the community. I’m a lifelong learner. I love learning, reading and finding out new things. I’m always excited about that. So it just comes naturally. What can I do to make other people’s lives better as I walk through life?
DREAM CLASSROOM:
The optimal place would be a classroom where I had 20 to 25 students. It’s a place that encourages creativity, original thinking and the love of discovery and curiosity in kids. I like to find different ways to encourage that in them, and not just be in front and lecture.
WHY PUBLIC EDUCATION:
The average person doesn’t have all the advantages or financial means to be able to go to a charter or private school. I think our education system is broken somewhat, and we need to fix it. But if we don’t get in and fix it and we all just throw up our hands and leave, what are the rest of them going to be left with? I always come at it with the thought that … if a kid can come into my class and feel like they are in a place where they feel accepted and seen, and they can get excited about learning, it can change something for them.
Photo by Christopher DeVargas
Photo by Wade Vandervort
CAREER PATHWAY:
I taught as a long-term sub at Boston Public at Charlestown High School, which gave me an idea that this was something I’d love to do more of. At some point, I ended up getting a mental health counseling degree, and I was on my way to becoming a therapist. I did internships at the Perkins School for the Blind in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and another at Fitchburg High School. My career went in the journalism and communications direction for many years. Now, I’m starting at Cynthia Cunningham Elementary as a special education teacher.
WHY TEACHING:
I’ve always worked with kids—they’re the best people in the world. I’ve been a volunteer soccer coach with the City of Las Vegas for the last few years, and that really was the key for me. My husband is a [CCSD] teacher, and he connected me with friends who teach special education, where there’s a huge need. Lucky me, that’s what I’m trained to do.
DREAM CLASSROOM:
The most important thing is that kids feel safe, connected and cared for at school. If you can create that environment, we can build on everything else. Every child deserves an individual education plan because they all need different things from the system. That’s one of the reasons I’m excited to be in special education, because that individual approach is where the fun and creativity is.
WHY PUBLIC EDUCATION:
My husband and I both went to public schools and graduated from large public universities, and I’ve always kept my children in public schools. I feel strongly that the people who care the most about the system have to stay, dig in and do our part—if we don’t, we leave everyone else behind. We can’t control the budget, but we can make an enormous difference on a personal level.
CAREER PATHWAY:
I’m a Clark County School District bus driver. I’ve been driving for over 20 years. I’m 45 years old. I see a lot that goes on with the kids, you know, being a driver. I decided that, maybe I should make a change, be the difference. Instead of talking about it, be about it. I expect to complete the Nevada Forward program by August 14.
WHY TEACHING:
I had one experience with a young lady. She wouldn’t talk, she was very reserved, off by herself, wouldn’t deal with anyone. She was struggling in math. I had helped another student, I went over to help her. She began to cry. I began helping her. And I realized that every student learns differently. I explained it to her in a way she understood. She began to work though the math and start being more responsive, communicating and talking. … She began to smile more and interact with others.
DREAM CLASSROOM:
I plan to get a lot of parent involvement. I don’t care if they say I’m getting on their nerves or I bother them too much. You need to show your kid that you’re just as invested in their education as the teacher is. When parents are involved and express their concerns, the kids tend to do better.
WHY PUBLIC EDUCATION:
Public education is everything you make it. If you’re not helping your kid learn, all you’re doing by sending them to private school is putting them in a different environment. … Everybody needs to step up as a whole, as a community, and not just talk about it. Be about it. Instead of talking about what they need to, could and should do, let me get out there and be the change I’m talking about.
The key to preserving and building upon a legacy often lies in a fresh start—restoring what worked, altering what didn’t and modernizing for the future. It was in that spirit that CCSD educators, families, elected officials and designers gathered amid the rubble of Matt Kelly Elementary’s original 1960 building on July 13 to break ground on a complete rebuild of the Westside school.
One month after demolition, and two after the final bell rang, Superintendent Jhone Ebert promised “red carpets, all the bling” when the replacement facility opens ahead of the 2027-2028 school year. Students will attend a “swing campus,” Ruth Fyfe Elementary, in the interim.
The new $76 million, two-story structure will serve 440 students from 21 classrooms and will include a community resource center, amphitheater, garden and
learning kitchen.
Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II, an alumnus, joked that he was once the school’s 1995 tetherball champion before touting the next chapter as part of a $1 billion investment in the Historic Westside.
“This is a community that’s rich in history and opportunity, and our story is still being written,” McCurdy said.
It’s one of three new elementary school projects in 2026, alongside Indian Springs and Skye Canyon schools, following the opening of seven new campuses last year.
It comes on the heels of ongoing momentum. According to the Matt Kelly Elementary School Improvement Plan, recorded behavior incidents dropped from 141 to 69 between the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years. And while roughly one in seven current students are projected to meet proficiency standards in math and reading, the fact that 77% of fourth and fifth graders surveyed said they’re getting a good education there indicates a brighter tomorrow.
“It is a declaration that every single child who walks through our neighborhood deserves an environment designed for their boundless success. It tells them without words that they matter,” said Principal Jerrell Hall. –Tyler Schneider
Students and staff shovel dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony. (Photo by Wade Vandervort)
Rendering courtesy of KME Architects
Most people don’t know what they want to do for work until their 20s or 30s. South Career and Technical Academy student Max Doubin is an exception.
“I loved computers my entire life, so I knew I wanted to study cybersecurity,” Doubin says.
The sophomore says many of his classmates have the same confidence in the career paths they want to pursue and are “dedicated” to their specific track—whether that be engineering, biomedical, sports medicine or business. And they’re getting hands-on experience preparing them for those fields.
“We don’t have exams. We have projects [where teachers] provide really good feedback for us,” Doubin says. “In most of our programs, we don’t have textbooks at all. So that’s something different than almost every school in the district.”
CCSD’s Career and Technical Academies (CTAs) and magnet programs focus on preparing students for the workforce. For example, in South CTA’s cybersecurity track, students have the opportunity to earn Computing Technology Industry Association certifications needed to work in the industry.
Students also compete with other schools to sharpen their skills. In 2025, Doubin led South CTA’s cybersecurity team to seventh place at the National Cyber League.
“Each of us specializes in a certain aspect, and we collaborate if there are tough problems to solve. We all learn from each other,” he says.
According to the district, about 54,000 students are enrolled in Career and Technical Education courses. South CTA opened in 2025 as the ninth CTA in Southern Nevada.
–Shannon Miller
WHO:
Delilah Krasch, director of CCSD’s early childhood department and a former pre-K teacher wants families to know about the services her department offers.
WHAT:
In addition to enrolling more than 14,000 students in general education and special education pre-K programs across 600 classrooms, the early childhood department also provides a service called Child Find. “We bring students in whose families have concerns about developmental delays, and we provide a comprehensive evaluation to see if they need additional services. We do a health screening, audiology, speech, hearing and vision. It’s a full evaluation,” Krasch says. “The earlier we can intervene and get students in and receiving services, the better.”
WHY:
Children have “prolific” brain development before age 5, Krasch says. The benefits of identifying developmental delays and providing supports prior to children becoming school age are countless, she adds. Studies have shown that students who attend pre-K with the appropriate supports have a higher likelihood of graduating high school and obtaining higher ed. They’ve also shown that those students have better health outcomes in the long-run.
HOW:
To register, visit ssd.ccsd.net/child-find-department Child Find is available for preschool-age students who are not already enrolled in school and schoolage students who are homeschooled or enrolled in private schools and reside in Clark County. –Staff
Photo courtesy of Max Doubin
Courtesy
CCSD Trustee candidates
share their visions for a brighter future
BY TYLER SCHNEIDER
Of the three contested Clark County School District Board of Trustees seats in the 2026 election cycle, District F—representing communities like Spring Valley, Mountain’s Edge, Southern Highlands and Sandy Valley—was the lone race with more than two candidates. The June 9 primary narrowed that down to the two following candidates, who are now set to face off in the November 3 general election. The Weekly reached out to both to learn more about their respective visions for the district.
IRENE BUSTAMANTE ADAMS
The incumbent vice president of the Board captured 49.57% of the primary vote in her quest for a second term. She was first elected to the board in 2022, following an eight-year run serving as a Democrat in the Nevada State Assembly from 2010 to 2018. This year, she was also named president of the Nevada Association of School Boards. A UNLV graduate, she’s currently the deputy director and chief strategy officer at the Workforce Connections development board and spent 18 years in various roles with MGM Resorts International.
ROB HUTCHINSON
The current CCSD director of facilities, Hutchinson is a first-time board candidate who advanced out of the primary with a 32.63% share. He began his now 28-year CCSD career as a temporary custodian, and in 2024 was named the district’s Administrator of the Year. A father of three CCSD students and the husband of a district educator, Hutchinson is set to retire from the district this fall regardless of the election outcome—resolving the potential conflict of interest between his current position and a seat on the board that oversees it.
What motivated you to run for office, and what key issues would you address?
IBA: As a first-generation college graduate and lifelong public servant, I believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed. I am running to continue improving student outcomes through stronger literacy and math achievement, responsible fiscal stewardship, and transparent governance that builds public trust in our schools.
RH: I’m not a career politician, I’m a career educator and facilities expert. I’m running because our students deserve a Board that prioritizes their success over administrative convenience. I will refocus our budget on the classroom and build honest, sustainable pathways for every student.
CCSD has dealt with staff reductions, hiring freezes and vacancies in both classroom and support roles. If elected, what’s one step you’d take to balance staffing levels?
IBA: I would strengthen employee retention by expanding leadership development, mentoring and career advancement opportunities while using workforce data to strategically address staffing shortages where students are most impacted.
The district expects to lose 5,000 students this year and enrollment has been declining since 2017. How would you address enrollment loss and help the district retain more of its existing students?
IBA: I support policy that expands high-quality academic and career pathways that reflect student and workforce interests. Families stay when schools provide excellent instruction, safe learning environments and meaningful opportunities that prepare students for college, careers and life.
RH: I experienced the 2008 RIF (Reduction in Force) firsthand, so I understand the toll of low morale. I will champion professional retention strategies, informed by my recent research. We must stabilize our workforce by valuing staff, reducing administrative bloat and investing in our people.
What’s one new safety initiative you’d push for in your first year and why? How would you plan to fund it?
IBA: Every major decision has reinforced the importance of communication and public engagement. I would invest even more time explaining complex decisions earlier, listening to stakeholders, and building understanding before significant Board actions.
(Question for RH) What’s one Board decision from recent years you’d have voted against, and why?
RH: While I respect the hard work required of the board, I would have voted differently on the specific decisions to restrict public comment, and would have opposed the silent removal of land acknowledgments. Transparency and inclusivity aren’t inconveniences, it’s the foundation of a healthy district that reflects the people it serves. Students, all students, should be the driving factor in every decision the board makes.
RH: Students and parents leave when they don’t see a future for themselves or their kids in our schools. We need to expand career technical education so every student has a clear, valuable path, whether they choose college or a trade. We must make our schools the first choice for families by ensuring they are safe, high performing hubs of excellence.
IBA: I would continue to advocate for expanding multidisciplinary threat assessment and behavioral intervention teams across schools. Funding should come through a combination of existing safety allocations, state grants, and federal resources while ensuring investments remain sustainable.
RH: As someone who has managed facilities for years, I know that layered security—from perimeter control to modern access systems—is the only way to protect our students and staff. I’d reallocate waste to fund these updates, ensuring our schools are secure and professional environments where students and staff can thrive.
Students and families say there is a need for more mental health support in schools. There is a shortage in licensed school psychologists, counselors and social workers. What’s your approach to this issue?
IBA: We must strengthen recruitment partnerships with Nevada colleges and universities, expand internship pipelines, and pursue grant funding to grow the workforce. At the same time, schools should continue partnering with community providers to increase student access to services.
(Question for IBA) Are there any Board decisions during your first term you’d approach differently today?
RH: The district recently issued reductions in force notices to our very own social workers and counselors. We can’t claim to prioritize our students’ well-being while cutting the very professionals who provide it. Mental health is foundational to academic success—not an extra. I support integrating licensed counselors directly into our school ecosystems so that help is accessible, proactive and stigma-free.
IN THE NEWS
EDUCATION
Clark County renews $5.5M for Westside pre-K program
The latest grant round of funding approved by the Clark County Commission will give Rainbow Dreams about $5.5 million for its prekindergarten programs through 2029.
The county has been financially assisting Rainbow Dreams since 2020. Commissioners voted unanimously July 21 for a third extension of its grant for Rainbow Dreams Early Learning Academy, a charter school in the Historic Westside.
The money, which comes from county-set, state-authorized sales tax
revenues, will go toward a minimum of 160 children who need extra time for kindergarten readiness. The school will provide quarterly budget and enrollment reports to the county.
The sales tax that will assist Rainbow Dreams raises funds for educational and social services, such as early childhood and adult education, truancy reduction, homelessness programs, affordable housing development and workforce development.
Rainbow Dreams, on Lake Mead Boulevard across from the Doolittle Com-
munity Center, serves children ages 3-5. It also includes kindergarten. The school opened in 2007 as a K-8 campus but shifted in 2020 to exclusively serve kindergarten and prekindergarten students. It’s the only school of its kind in the state, as school leaders aim to meet the continuing demand for age-appropriate rigorous learning, not day care.
Enrollment is ongoing for the coming school year. Children must have turned 3 before March 1 to be evaluated for prekindergarten. School begins August 10. –Hillary Davis
BACK IN BUSINESS
After former operator Affinity Interactive told state officials on May 5 that it was permanently closing the Primm Valley Resort & Casino, Terrible’s stepped in. The Nevada-based gaming and convenience store company assumed management of the resort, along with the long-shuttered Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s, on July 5. Seventeen days later, Primm Valley reopened, retaining about 300 employees and keeping the smalltown stop on the California state line running.
(Steve Marcus/Staff)
tourism bill gets trade rep’s backing
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., won a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to support her bill creating a Canada-Mexico working group aimed at boosting trade and tourism, her office said in a news release. Greer made the commitment after Cortez Masto pressed him July 22 on the decline in Las Vegas visitation during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. “After running a trade surplus in travel in 2024, we actually experienced a $14 billion trade deficit in 2025. … We have seen that across the country,” Cortez Masto said. The USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act wouldn’t establish the working group outright—that requires sign-off from Canada and Mexico. The proposal would establish the working group as part of the joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the pact between the three countries. U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., is sponsoring a companion bill in the House. The push comes as Canadian tourism to Las Vegas dropped 17.4% from 2024 to 2025, a loss of 252,400 visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. –Ava Chatlosh
BY THE NUMBERS
Stoney’s
at Sunset Station sets opening date
Saddle up, Henderson! Beloved local honky tonk Stoney’s will celebrate the grand opening of its third location at Sunset Station on August 15. The renowned country bar, known for its live music and line-dancing, spans 19,000 square feet— enough to boot-scoot and bull-ride to your heart’s content. The venue will also feature VIP platforms on the dance floor, mezzanine levels for large groups, a patio and themed ladies’ night. Country fans who’ve been itching to two-step the night away in Henderson have certainly found a new home.
–Amber Sampson
The number of people age 18 and younger struck by cars in the 2025-2026 school year, according to countywide data compiled by Clark County School District Police. That’s up 350% compared to the previous school year. More than half of victims were riding electric scooters or e-bikes.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
WADE VANDERVORT & CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS
Aces emphasize playing better defense down the stretch of the WNBA season
BY CASE KEEFER
The Las Vegas Aces lost the right to a relaxing, carefree All-Star break, at least if they heeded their coach’s words.
In their final game of the unofficial first half of the WNBA season, the Aces blew a nine-point lead with eight minutes to play to lose 100-99 at the Washington Mystics on July 22. Coach Becky Hammon fumed over the collapse, brushing off suggestions that controversial officiating played a role by saying the defeat was “on us.”
“We’re not where we want to be, obviously,” Hammon said in her postgame news conference. “Until we start playing defense, we’re not a serious team. We’re just not.”
Hammon challenged her players to embrace “the value of the defensive end” before they return to the floor for a pair of home games this week. The coach has lamented her team’s defensive effort dating all the way back to training camp, but it may really be sinking in now.
“I think we can all take a beat,” reserve forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus said. “We have a nice little break, so take this All-Star break to lock in, watch some film and see how we can be better as a team on defense.”
Hammon is a master at motivating her
players and getting the best out of her teams, so it’s foolish to question her message, but the Aces appear to be in a better spot than she depicts. They were 18-8 at the All-Star break for the third-best record in the league.
The Minnesota Lynx (22-6) lapped the competition as the best team in the regular season so far, but the Aces swept three games with the second-place Golden State Valkyries (19-8).
Last season, the Aces infamously bottomed out to 14-14 with a franchise-record 53-point loss at home to the Lynx on August 2. That Vegas team, of course, went on to win its third WNBA Championship in four years.
“Last year, we lost a lot of games that I felt like we could have won,” Hammon said. “This year, I feel like we’ve been winning some games that have covered some warts. It’s my job to keep it real with them and understand that sometimes it’s harder to learn these lessons through winning, but the lessons are still there to be learned.”
All of those lessons right now are on defense. The Aces remain second in the league— behind the Indiana Fever—with a 113.2 offensive rating. But they’re eighth, ahead of only teams with losing records, with a 107.4 defensive rating.
Superstar Most Valuable Player frontrunner A’ja Wilson is the only player on the team
who grades out as an above average defender by advanced metrics. She’s averaging a career-high 2.4 blocks per game and is regularly cleaning up sloppy perimeter defense as a rim protector, but she needs more help.
“There are times especially in basketball when you have to put your head down and do the dirty work, especially on the defensive end,” Hammon said. “That’s where you really build your character, not when it’s easy and fun. You build it when it’s tough and it doesn’t feel good and it’s uncomfortable.”
Many similar problems plagued last year’s slide, but clearly the Aces solved the puzzle, and there’s no doubt they’re capable of doing that again.
Reserve guard Dana Evans proved part of the solution in 2025 by coming in for high-intensity defensive spurts, and she’s just returned to the floor this season for her first three games after suffering a leg injury. Forward NaLyssa Smith, who starts alongside Wilson, caught fire as a defender for a large part of the playoff run.
Las Vegas’ defense needs work, but it might finally be committed to the repair.
“Pressure is a privilege,” forward Brianna Turner said. “We have a lot of opportunities coming up so we have to look ahead and fix what we can moving forward.”
Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) defends against Indiana’s Caitlin Clark at Michelob Ultra Arena on July 12.
(Photo by Steve Marcus)
The Mob Museum ’s beer tour gives a
taste of
the beverage’s intersection with organized crime
Ale & A Tough Little Town
Walking past what feels like the exterior of Vegas’ original dive, the Arizona Club, we sip on Big Dog’s Red Hydrant brown ale and gander at artifacts and black and white photos. The Tough Little Town exhibit focuses on the city’s earliest days—the establishment of the railroad, the infamous Block 16 red light district and the building of Hoover Dam. The history pairs well with facts about the beer, which was popular during the first 200 years of American colonization. “Most beers produced were ales—heavy English or Irish-style brown ales and red ales. And they couldn’t travel far. They didn’t last long,” White says.
IPA & St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Wall
Moving into the 1920s and ’30s, we progress from ale to Able Baker Brewing’s Atomic Duck IPA. Invented by British brewers in the 18th century, India Pale Ale contained more hops (a natural preservative) and could make the journey all the way to India, then an English colony.
After hearing the grim and heavy history of the 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, we could certainly use a drink. Born from a double-crossing in a joint brewery operation between Chicago’s North Side and South Side gangs, seven men were lined up against a brick wall and gunned down in a garage. Standing next to 300 bricks of that re-constructed wall, the only thing colder than the chill running down our spines is the beer in our hands.
BY SHANNON MILLER
The gang wars in Chicago during Prohibition are known as the “beer wars” for a reason. There were a number of competing bootlegging rackets. Their conflict would culminate in one of the most grisly crimes of the time.
“Beer is, if not wholly, certainly heavily to blame for the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929,” says Claire White, senior director of education for the Mob Museum.
It’s just one intersection of beer and mob history in the museum’s summertime experience, The Untapped Story. The limited-time tour pairs rotating local craft brew tastings with historical narratives—vividly brought to life through multiple exhibits and knowledgeable guides.
Here are some of our favorite pairings.
Kölsch & Open City
Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, and in the following decades, Las Vegas became known as “open city” because no one syndicate controlled the town. The Open City exhibit immerses us in the luxurious lighting and plush seating guests might have enjoyed at Bugsy Siegel’s Flamingo hotel and casi no, and interactive slot machines spitting out oral history.
White says beer “took a backseat” in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s in favor of spirits and cocktails, but that doesn’t stop our tour from enjoying a crisp kölsch—a type of ale fermented longer and at a colder temperature—brewed in-house at the museum’s distillery. As we sip that refreshing summer beverage and play trivia in the Underground, we’re happily toasting to this insightful tour.
THE UNTAPPED STORY: A BEER TASTING EXPERIENCE
Thru August 31, Monday-Thursday, 7 p.m., $69. Mob Museum, themob museum.org.
Photos courtesy/Chris Wessling
Universal Horror Unleashed’s Resident Evil takeover is a gamer’s dream—and your worst nightmare
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Universal Horror Unleashed has an outbreak on its hands. Can you contain it? A new Resident Evil takeover—running through August 30 and included in the price of a Horror Unleashed pass—drops visitors straight into Raccoon City, where the t-Virus runs rampant and the infected roam hungry. Fear, much like the contagion itself, doesn’t fade—it spreads. Here’s why you should check it out before evacuating forever.
The games’ best mechanics and characters have room to shine.
The experience draws heavily from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The Raccoon City Police Department (RPD) has locked down the city and patrols the perimeter on shifts. And much like the game’s most popular protagonists Leon Kennedy and Jill Valentine, we’re uncovering the terror as we go.
Expect to find infected in outbreak zones all over Universal Horror Unleashed as you scour the police station for keys and alleyways for herbs. Solving RE’s puzzles has always been a foundational part of the games, and they enter the limelight here alongside the characters. Jill can be spotted blasting Nemesis with a face-full of lead. The mysterious Ada Wong serves intrigue around every corner. And The Licker, a mutated abomination from RE2, loves scaring up our appetites at the Umbrella Corp Cafe.
Umbrella Corp Cafe is genius. After dodging zombies all night, what better way to unwind than Umbrella Corp Cafe? Resident Evil’s main villains have set up camp in this horror-themed diner, where lab techs study undead specimens. The food and drink menu is a lore-filled delight. Jell-O shots come in bright syringes. Cocktails glow inside beakers. Sandwiches like the Undead Hash come served in a plant pot to restore us to 100% health. And there’s even the infamous Jill Sandwich—hold the Jill.
It’s a great gateway into the franchise.
Resident Evil shares an undying appeal with Universal’s classic monsters. In February, the video game series released Resident Evil Requiem, its ninth main installment, to critical acclaim. And horror fans have been patiently awaiting the new RE film reboot by director Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) that releases in September. There’s never been a better time to be a fan. And there’s never been a better experience to make you into one.
There’s even a side quest. Before you escape Raccoon City, the experience has a side quest that’ll keep you roaming for hours on end. Umbrellas bearing the biotech company’s mark have been hidden all around Universal Horror Unleashed. Find them all and you can win a mystery prize. It won’t be easy, but the risk is worth the reward.
RESIDENT EVIL TAKEOVER
Thru August 30, Thursday-Sunday, 4-10:30 p.m., $30-$100. Area15, universalhorrorunleashed.com.
KEY
Local musician and promoter
Cristian Alexus Alfaro narrows down three albums that help cultivate his creative instincts
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
From hosting house shows in his Eastside backyard to filling local venues with noise, sweat and possibility, Cristian Alexus Alfaro has spent years building spaces where live music thrives. The frontman of local Chicano indie-surf outfit Los Emptys and the founder of booking collective La Palma approaches every gig with the same intention: Give people a place to play, connect and lose themselves in the sound. That mission has shaped his life, but which records lit the fuse? Which albums still echo through his songwriting and every bill he puts together? Alfaro shared with the Weekly three records that helped define him.
Animals
This Town Needs Guns (TTNG)
“I started playing guitar when I was 15 years old, and I always got really into these unique styles of guitar. Whenever I saw someone play the guitar upside down, left-handed, or just finger-tapping, I was so intrigued. It’s unlike anything you really hear, kind of orchestral chaos but still organized. I feel like a lot of technical artists tend to lose the essence of the songs ... Animals influenced me to open up my creativity.”
Chinese Fountain
The Growlers
“This next album right here is definitely post-high school, fresh from graduating and opening my eyes up to the world and joining the workforce. This was my first foray into the Chicano surf-punk SoCal scene, and their style obviously has a lot of influence on what Lost Emptys does and what we strive for. We assign a lot of our music to memories and people we spend them with, and it’s just one of those albums.”
Everything Is Wonderful & Everyone’s Happy Mickey Darling
“I’m really for earworm-type melodies and catchy, super sweet guitar riffs. This album particularly inspires me to be more honest with my lyricism. I used to be afraid to be vulnerable, but listening to things like this makes you want to really talk your sh-- and not be afraid to express yourself.”
by
Photo
Wade Vandervort
SCHNEIDER
The first thing you’ll notice walking into Able Baker’s new Bomb Shelter satellite restaurant and taproom isn’t the colorful, handwritten beer list, or custom orange and navy leather booths. It’s the ceiling. Overhead in the foyer, a ring of riveted, bunker-style paneling frames a painted dome of open sky, flanked by vintage warplanes and ducks flying in a V formation.
“It took almost a year to gut the building and get it open, but it was a wild opening,” co-owner Randy Rohde says of the meticulous transformation of the former Montana Meat Company space. “It’s been busy ever since.”
The Centennial Hills location represents a natural evolution of the original Arts District brewery’s delectable pints and nuclear-era theme, while also filling its own family-friendly niche.
Dotted by artifacts on loan from the National Atomic Testing Museum, Cold War photo prints and even Able Baker’s first DIY brew system, the property hosts multiple patios complete with games like ping pong and cornhole. You can dine with the kids on one side, or sip through 26 taps and select cocktails at the bar on the other. Either way, the most explosive addition is the food.
Managed by Arts District Kitchen, its expanded culinary offerings are helmed by executive chef Zebadiah Nuzzo-Todd, who cut his teeth learning under chef Giovanni Mauro at Monzú Ital ian Oven & Bar and later as a baker at Mother Wolf. In col laboration with assistant executive chef Carlos Ruiz and Rebellion Piz-
za, he crafted a sourdough pizza recipe that he calls his baby.”
“We have a strong focus on creating as much as we can within these walls, and we’re extremely proud of the product,” Nuzzo-Todd says.
His personal favorite pizza, the Sweet & Spicy ($22), wields a measured-but-zesty blend of ‘nduja, soppressata, gorgonzola and honey, while the basil cream-and-ricotta Lemon Basil ($24) and truffle-laced Tartufo ($24) add more artisanal flair.
With the pies in the oven, I sampled some Loco Wings ($13-$23) and Cheddar Bombs ($12) alongside entrees like the slow-roasted pork and hoisin sambal-glazed Atomic Street Tacos ($21) and a savory Hot Pastrami ($20) stacked with mozzarella, dijonnaise, dill pickles, pickled red onions and Fresno chilies.
After washing it all down with a flight of limited-edition samplings including a summer citrus variation of El Pato Loco, I chose the perfect closer in an ube gelato and cream cheese frosting-topped brioche cinnamon roll ($14). Thoroughly satisfied, I snatched up my complimentary green horned rubber duck and trekked south with a belly full of critical mass.
WSKY’s poke nachos
One of the Valley’s favorite tavern chains treats bar basics like wings and nachos particularly well, but this special dish ($17) of sweet soy marinated ahi tuna and crisp raw and pickled veg aboard wonton chips stands out, the perfect pairing with a pilsner or wheat beer. (wskybarandgrill.com)
The Front Yard’s grilled sausage board This feast of an appetizer is available for parties of two ($18) or four ($36), but you’re going to want as big a board as possible, loaded with spicy Calabrese, rich andouille and unctuous kielbasa plus cheese, pickled things, fresh fruit, incredible focaccia and more. (ellisislandcasino.com)
Brioche cinnamon roll
Big Dog’s poutine Las Vegas’ original brewery and home of all things midwestern is the best place to devour fried cheese curds, but why not go big by stacking them on fries with mushroom gravy? ($18) (bigdogsbrews.com)
PT’s Gilroy pizza
So good it’s available at different brands of PT’s Taverns, the Gilroy ($20) is the ultimate beer pizza with pepperoni, sausage, salami, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, tomato and red onion, scattered on that addictive garlic ranch sauce. (ptstaverns.com)
Las Vegas Brewing Company’s drunk chips
Not all Downtown breweries serve their own food. While we are forever fans of this spot’s smashburgers, sometimes you just want a messy pile of fresh-fried potatoes slathered in beer cheese and pickled onions. ($10) (lvbrewco.com) –Brock Radke
Photos by Wade Vandervort
: Vincent van Gogh spent 15 months in Arles, France, producing over 200 paintings—including his Sunflowers series—in the most prolific period of his life. Expect your own surge of productivity in the coming months. It may not be as manically generative, but your creativity will be relaxed and deeply healing. Start planning now for how you want to channel
: Clear out fixed ideas about where you are “supposed” to be and begin a fresh inquiry into your real home. Ask yourself: What is the first place you think of as a sanctuary? Which environments bring out your truest qualities? Do you have personal power spots? Which unfamiliar locations fascinate you? Could a future dwelling offer a more peak-level experience of home than where tradition now soothes you?
: The brain doesn’t literally multitask; it rapidly shifts attention between tasks. For many, each shift drains mental energy, but some brains switch faster at lower costs. The zodiac’s top task-switcher is you. In the coming weeks, you will be even more adept at wielding this strength. You will know when not to overdo it, mastering seamless, effective and meaningful
Many stars orbit each other for eons as binary pairs, their mutual gravity shaping each other’s destiny. Make this your metaphor for the coming months. De-emphasize the notion that strength requires complete autonomy. Flexible, spirited interdependence will generate far better results than lonely self-sufficiency. Invest in the alliances and relationships that
Vividly imagining an action activates many of the same neural networks used in real practice. This mental rehearsal improves performance in sports, but it works for emotional and social skills, too. We can build resilience and regulate moods by practicing in our imaginations. Your fantasy life currently holds robust practical power. Rehearse being who you want to be
Compose a vigorous daily prayer asking life for something you fear you don’t deserve or shouldn’t want. Name the blessing, healing or freedom that feels “too much” or “impossible,” and state how it might allow you to love more and live more honestly. Start with: “Dear Great Mystery, I’m nervous about asking for this, but I will ask anyway,” and speak
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1848, Libra carpenter James Marshall discovered gold flakes in California’s American River, igniting the Gold Rush. While Marshall never became rich from the find, others did. Expect a different outcome when you locate treasure in the coming weeks. You will actually share in the spoils.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Lyrebirds imitate almost any sound—from chainsaws to camera shutters—weaving them into complex acoustic tapestries. During the coming weeks, give yourself permission to act like a lyrebird. Sample freely from everything you’ve absorbed, weave your influences into new configurations and express repurposed ideas. Originality is about arrangement, not just source material.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Astronauts in orbit experience the “overview effect”—a cognitive shift viewing Earth from above that highlights the planet’s fragility and unity while making borders and conflicts seem absurd. You are ripe for a similar blessing. You will soon see your current dramas from expansive vantage points, allowing you to clarify priorities and let petty concerns fade.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are the product of 14 direct ancestors spanning three generations whose choices sculpted your gifts and cravings. The coming weeks are ideal for getting closer to this lineage. Delving into your family’s stories may offer vital clues for refreshing your view on long-standing dilemmas. Let your sense of where you come from evolve, along with the future you want to create.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fear or timidity is holding you back from a place you need to go—whether physical, creative, conversational or spiritual. Visualize it. Who would you be if you appeared there in full glory? What interesting future might never bloom if you don’t? Formulate a plan by writing: “If I decide to go there anyway, acknowledging my fear, what first step will I take and what help will I seek?”
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Athletes talk about “winning ugly” when securing a victory without playing their best. Expect to claim a similar less-than-pretty success soon. You might also embody the term “ugly ripe”—the name for lumpy, nonstandard heirloom tomatoes that taste far superior to uniform supermarket bins. In the coming weeks, your life will feature that same nonstandard, succulent flavor.
JOB LISTING
Software Engineer 3 wanted by Nevada Power Company, d/b/a NV Energy in Las Vegas, NV. 40 hrs./wk. Duties include: Architect, design, code, test, document, implement & maintain more complex app. programs & interfaces. Act as senior contributor or tech. lead on projects. Provide leadership for complex projects related to development of new systems, architecture, apps. or tech. capabilities. Perform project planning, sys. analysis, software design & coding, testing, documentation, implementation & research activities for software eng’g projects. Provide tech. support; problem determination & investigation; implementation of upgrades for developed apps. Enhance existing systems; participate in client walkthroughs & tech. design reviews. Assist in sys. development planning & monitoring. Participate in design reviews & peer code walkthroughs. Provide client & app. support. Research to develop or modify app. programs. Work w/ vendors to review quality, adaptability, & compatibility of their products. SME & consult on IT strategy & business reqs. Collaborate w/ IT teams to identify tech. deficiencies & improvement opportunities. Guide software eng. I/II in completion of projects. MIN. REQ.: Bach. degree, or equiv., in Mgmt Info. Sys., Comp. Sci., or related field. 5 yrs exp in job offered. SPECIAL SKILLS: 5 yrs exp. w/ Banner App.; ProC & C; AIX/UNIX; Oracle Forms; Oracle Advanced PLSQL; Oracle Performance Tuning; Oracle Reports; Shell Scripting; Production Support; SDLC; Utility Billing/ Summary Merge; SAP Crystal Report; & Sleep Wake Processes. 3 yrs exp. w/ PVCS; Meter Inventory; Payment Apps.; & XML. 1 yr exp. w/ Banner Data Purge. Wage range: $122,253 to $153,000. Up to a 15% Short-Term Incentive Plan target opportunity, at the discretion of the company.
Email resumes to: Michon Loyd at Michon.loyd@nvenergy.com.
seeks Software Engineers III - P3 in Las Vegas, NV to work on continuous integration & deployment strategies and develop high quality software. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com REF# 48266
JOB LISTING
MANAGER OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
positions offered by Skillz Platform Inc. (Las Vegas, NV). Assess current company dashboards, identify data trends, troubleshoot performance issues, develop departmental reporting strategy, & work cross functionally with various department heads. Position reports to Las Vegas, NV office. Telecommuting permitted in accordance with company policy, but must live within commuting distance of stated office.
Apply with resume to peopleops@skillz.com. Reference Job ID: 9988151.
A’S BALLPARK CONTRUCTION ON THE STRIP, JULY 24, 2026
One day, a castle, a pyramid, a church and the ghost of Hooters Casino had a chat. “What’s missing?” they wondered. Nothing came immediately to mind. Major League Baseball caught wind of this conversation, and decided that a baseball stadium disguised as an opera house would do the trick. Not for a baseball opera; no, those aren’t the kinds of hits we need here. So they called the architect that built the LEGO house in Denmark and asked them to design a baseball we could all climb into. Photographer Steve Marcus wanted to help, so he connected the Big Apple Coaster to the new stadium structure. “Full circle!” he exclaimed. And that, my friends, is how the MLB came to be in Las Vegas. The first home run clearly belongs to the photographer, because perspective is key. –Corlene Byrd
Photo by Steve Marcus
