A man and a woman were killed early Tuesday morning after their car was struck by another vehicle on Interstate 11, south of Las Vegas. The crash was reported at 2:18 a.m. after a BMW crashed into the back of a sedan that was stopped on the side of the highway. NHP troopers believe the driver of the BMW was impaired. A child, under the age of 5, was in a car seat in the back seat. Both were taken to UMC and in stable condition. A female passenger from the sedan that was struck by the BMW was taken to St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Sienna campus, where she is in stable condition, This is the second fatal crash on the new stretch of highway, which opened less than a month ago.
A large number of Nevada residents have been struggling to curb their credit card debt, according to a recent study. A report from Experian ranked Nevada as the state with the highest year-over-year growth in credit card debt in the U.S. with 9.3 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018. Nevada’s booming population is most likely the biggest contributing factor for this growth, said John Luis Alcantara, a wealth management advisor at The Alcantara Financial Group in Las Vegas. Clark County reported that its population grew to nearly 2.25 million in August 2017, a 10 percent increase from the 2.04 million residents in 2010. Alcantara said some of those new residents may be bringing in credit card debt from other states. John Luis Alcantara
Have a look at some of the most unforgettable photos from Review-Journal photojournalists this past week.
On May 4, at the LVL UP Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the city’s newest wrestling company made its debut at the annual comics, video game and anime fan festival. Versus was founded by hitmaker Kane Churko, who’s worked with such hard rock heavy hitters as Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach and many more.
Versus joins a robust, growing local wrestling community, as the city has become a bull market for brutes in Spandex. With an average of one show a month thus far, Versus enters the Vegas wrestling fray with elbows flying, poised to become the next serious local player.
The Lights FC have one of five female head athletic trainers in the USL. Kori Jeffries has done invaluable work for the team this season. She’s also worked hard to pick up Spanish to communicate with players. Kori Jeffries
UNLV football coach Tony Sanchez has high hopes entering this season. Basketball coach Marvin Menzies hopes to build on nine-win improvement. Athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois oversees a critical year for UNLV sports. The Rebels were overshadowed by the Golden Knights’ success. And UNLV will have the Raiders to compete with in 2020, but will share the stadium.
The Lights FC repeated a starting 11 Saturday for the first time all season. The Lights used 22 different lineups in their first 22 games. But for games 23 and 24 they elected to use the same starters. The team liked the results despite losing twice. Midfielder Eric Avila
Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who was found Tuesday morning inside a vehicle in the central valley.
Police received calls about gunshots before 1 a.m. on the 2200 block of Sunrise Avenue. When they arrived they found a man in a pickup, dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The truck was running. Police said the pickup was in reverse gear and had rolled out of a parking space and into a block wall. Witnesses saw a person running from the area after the shots were heard, but as of 4:30 a.m. police didn’t have a clear description of the shooter.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance video from the area.
A wedding, a car show and an outdoor dinner party angered neighbors. Another event drew the eye of federal investigators. Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah closed its gilded gates for renovations in April. Last month, property owner and operator CSD LLC abandoned plans to reopen the 52-acre ranch and mansion to the public. Clark County records reveal the decision followed months of government scrutiny into illicit events held on the property. CSD LLC, headed by Texas businessman Lacy Harber, purchased the property for $19.5 million in 2010 to turn it into a museum highlighting Newton’s career. Neighbors say they hope the party has come to an end.
Photo by Richard Brian Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Marcus Villagran Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Erik Verduzco Photo by Rachel Aston Photo by Bizuayehu Tesfaye Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Rachel Aston
Zach Miles, associate vice president for economic development for UNLV, said there’s venture money in Southern Nevada, “but trying to find the right groups to tap into for that money is different.” According to a 2017 report from the Kauffman Foundation, Las Vegas ranked number 34 out of 40 metropolitan areas for growth entrepreneurship, a metric of how much startups grow. With a lack of growing startups in Las Vegas, investment money is being sent outside of state borders. The southwest region of the U.S. received $386 million in funding in the second quarter, with about $25.2 million in Nevada. The San Francisco area alone received about $5.6 billion. (source: CB Insights)
A bicyclist was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a Thursday morning hit-and-run crash near the school formerly known as Agassi Prep. Police said the bicyclist was hit by a white SUV, which fled the scene. The injured man suffered multiple injuries including major head trauma. As of 9 a.m., Lake Mead remained closed between Martin Luther King and Revere Street while police investigate.
Dave Dave, a respected Las Vegas artist who was badly scarred as a boy when his father tried to burn him to death in Southern California, died at Sunrise Hospital on July 15. He was 42. When he was 6, Dave’s father tried to kill him by setting him on fire. He was given a sleeping pill and his bed at a Buena Park, California, motel was doused with kerosene. “I remembered being in a lot of pain,” Dave told the Review-Journal in 2016. “When stuff happens to you at that young of an age, you tend to block it out, but I remember the pain was excruciating.” Dave, who was born David Rothenberg, became close friends with Michael Jackson, who met him after the attack, which burned more than 90 percent of his body. “I wanted to meet him, and he wanted to meet me, and that just turned into a lifelong relationship that never ended,” Dave said. “It was amazing being friends with Michael Jackson. He was an amazing person.” Dave attended ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, and collaborated with various artists around Las Vegas, eventually selling his art to private collectors. Despite his challenges, he continued to live, thrive and create. Dave Dave
Las Vegas police were called to Tahiti Village Resort early Wednesday after calls that someone had been shot. Police found a woman’s body between a parking garage and boiler room on the resort’s property. A guest first reported hearing gunfire. There are no witnesses, but police will examine surveillance videos and look for clues. The woman was not identified, but a purse was found near the body. She did not appear to be a guest at the resort.
Lights FC forward Omar Salgado has a unique side hustle. The 24-year-old wants to go to law school in the near future. The El Paso native recently took the LSAT and is a semester away from getting his master’s. Omar Salgado
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Rossi Ralenkotter… has been under fire for using taxpayer-funded gift cards for personal trips. The Las Vegas Review-Journal found during some of those trips… Ralenkotter didn’t take vacation time as authority policy requires. Board Member John Lee called for an audit of the missing time. But Ralenkotter said he isn’t planning to cash out any time he accrued.
Former WWE Star Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart Passes Away The former pro wrestler had died at the age of 63 after suffering a
medical emergency. Neidhart, the founding member of the Hart Foundation faction, became a pro wrestler in 1979. In addition to wrestling, Neidhart also played in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. The Florida native leaves behind three children, including current WWE star Natalya Neidhart.
A man was found fatally shot in the doorway of a squatter apartment after an argument ended in gunfire on Sunday night. Officers responded about 10:30 p.m. to the Silver Pines apartments and discovered the man in a breezeway in one of the buildings. The wounded man died at the scene, despite the efforts of another person, who tried to administer medical aid. Witnesses saw a man and a woman flee the scene, but were unable to give police a clear description.
Photo by K.M. Cannon Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Marcus Villagran Photo by Erik Verduzco Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Marcus Villagran Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Bizuayehu Tesfaye Photo by Richard Brian
The Lights FC has a stabilizing presence in Daigo Kobayashi. The 35-year-old midfielder completes 79.5 percent of his passes, the most on the team. He’s also scored four goals this season, tied for fourth most on the Lights. Daigo Kobayashi
Meet Kelsey Martinez The first female assistant coach for the Raiders. The 26-year-old joined in March and is nearly 2 weeks into her first training camp. Previously, Martinez worked for 4 years at Tom Shaw Performance at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando. Martinez grew up in Pueblo, Colorado and earned a degree in exercise science from Colorado State University. Kelsey Martinez
The NCAA announced several changes to how college basketball operates. Condoleezza Rice oversaw committee trying to improve the sport. NCAA president Mark Emmert supported the commission’s suggestions. UNLV coach Marvin Menzies was on committee that helped craft changes. Ex-Rebel Brandon McCoy could have returned to UNLV under new system.
Las Vegas’ housing market is still hot but seems to be tapping the brakes. Price growth has cooled and sales have slowed, with some brokers saying it appears homes are on the market longer. The median sales price of previously owned single-family homes in July was $290,000, up 11.5% from a year earlier, compared to an 18% jump in May. Meanwhile, the median asking price of new listings in July was $315,000, up 14.6% from a year earlier, the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors reported.
Here are the top five boys basketball players to watch in Southern Nevada next season. No. 5: Bishop Gorman’s Isaiah Cottrell No. 4: Bishop Gorman’s Noah Taitz No. 3: Liberty’s Julian Strawther No. 2: Coronado’s Jaden Hardy No. 1: Clark’s Jalen Hill
The Lights FC had some reinforcements Saturday. Three players who hadn’t played in a while returned to the field. Midfielder Matt Thomas (lower-body) was injured June 13. Defender Miguel Garduno (knee) had been missing since May 23. And forward Juan Carlos Garcia (knee) last saw the field May 5. All contributed to the team’s 1-0 win over Rio Grande Valley FC. Juan Carlos Garcia
A pair of 26-foot-tall showgirls now greet northbound visitors to downtown Las Vegas. The showgirl figures are modeled after two showgirls who accompany former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to events. The city’s new gateway sign, on a small strip of land in front of the Denny’s on Las Vegas Boulevard, just north of the Stratosphere, will officially be lit at dusk Tuesday. City officials are working with the Stratosphere to provide parking for visitors.
An early Wednesday morning crash has left one person in critical condition. A sedan and semitrailer collided around 4 a.m. at the corner of Spencer Street and Serene Avenue. Police do not believe impairment is a factor in the crash. Spencer has been blocked off north of Serene while police continue their investigation.
Las Vegas police are searching for the person who stabbed 2 people late Tuesday night. Police responded to the parking lot of a Terrible’s gas station and Popeye’s Chicken where 2 men were found with stab wounds. The men were taken to a hospital. They are expected to survive their wounds. Police said it is uncertain what precipitated the stabbing.
Strip gunman Stephen Paddock’s house in Mesquite went on the market recently for $449,000 That’s about 15 percent above the appraised value His house in Reno also went on the market for $399,000, around 9 percent above the appraisal Some observers have speculated that someone might buy his Mesquite house as a novelty or out of a morbid fascination No matter the reasoning, if someone pays the asking price, the property would command a premium Sales proceeds are slated to go to victims of the Oct. 1 massacre
An early Tuesday morning chase ended with a car crash in an east Las Vegas neighborhood. Police were pursuing the vehicle, which they say was involved in robberies in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, when the driver crashed at Owens and Statz Street. A man was taken into custody. A woman was ejected from a vehicle and taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The intersection at Mojave Road and Owens Avenue was shut down while police officers searched for the suspect and investigated. The intersection will remain closed for most of the morning.