Video Tag: wibbitz

Paul Laxalt, a legendary Nevadan, has died at 96. The son of Basque sheepherders who rose to lead Nevada as governor and as a U.S. senator, Laxalt left an indelible mark on the state. He was a close friend of President Ronald Reagan, and a leader who shaped a new era of gaming in Nevada. “Decent, genuine, honest, humble and kind” were descriptions used by those around him, said his grandson, state Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Laxalt also shaped Republican politics on the national level. He died in Virginia, with family at his side.

Monday marked the first day of non-contact football practice in Southern Nevada. Faith Lutheran enters the season with high hopes for a region title. They reloaded an already strong secondary with two California transfers, and return two starters. “Officially getting back out here with the boys in helmets today gives the picture of real football,” coach Vernon Fox said. The Crusaders kick off their season Aug. 24 at home against Valor Christian (Colorado).

The World Buddhism Association Headquarters bought 12 acres of land near the Strip for $17.5 million and plans to build a temple. Its lawyer says the California group doesn’t have the money right now to develop a project. The temple would be next to the SLS hotel and mark an unexpected addition to Las Vegas’ rowdy tourist corridor. Dale Wright, religious studies professor, Occidental College

Here are the top five girls basketball players to watch in Southern Nevada next season. No. 5: Desi-Rae Young, Desert Oasis No. 4: Georgia Ohiaeri, Bishop Gorman No. 3: Daejah Phillips, Centennial No. 2: Melanie Isbell, Centennial No. 1: Eboni Walker, Centennial

Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Richard Brian Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Rachel Aston Photo by K. M. Cannon Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Richard Brian Photo by Erik Verduzco Photo by K. M. Cannon Photo by K. M. Cannon

UNLV coach Tony Sanchez all for redshirt rule The rule increases chances of QB Kenyon Oblad (No. 7) playing this season QB Armani Rogers could have gained some valuable experience under the rule UNLV is hopeful offensive lineman Justice Oluwaseun will back within a month Defensive tackle Kolo Uasike missed Sunday’s practice, but should return soon

After being delayed for more than 24 hours in airports, the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces decided not to play their game against the Washington Mystics on Friday. The team can now relate to Viktor Navorski, Tom Hanks’ character in the Steven Spielberg movie “The Terminal.” But some fans were less sympathetic to the Aces, saying they should have played the game after finally arriving in Washington. WNBA teams fly commercial to games to save money on charter flights. It was the first time in WNBA history a game had been canceled.

The valley’s market is dominated by single-family houses But condos and townhomes accounting for more builder sales, according to Home Builders Research. Gary Mayo, group president of Toll Brothers, said the increase is driven by increased land costs

Brendan Gaughan’s debut as a NASCAR on NBC pit road reporter was a big hit. The semi-retired Las Vegas racer was glib and informative, predicting key events in the NASCAR Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway before they happened. Gaughan, who continues to race in selected NASCAR Cup Series races, said he will reprise his pit road duties at the Aug. 11 Xfinity race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In other news, NASCAR superstars Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. will sign autographs at the Sept. 13 K&N Series West race at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway kicking off LVMS’ second NASCAR Weekend. “Gone Racin’,” a weekly show about auto racing featuring Brendan Gaughan and Las Vegas Motor Speedway public relations director Jeff Motley, has debuted on the VSiN sports gambling network based at South Point.

Suspensions are holding the Lights FC back yet again. Midfielder Carlos Alvarez has been suspended three games for “violent conduct.” Defender Marcelo Alatorre will miss one game for a red card. The Lights will get technical director Jose Luis Sanchez Sola back Saturday though. Sola has missed 12 of the team’s first 20 games due to a pair of suspensions.

The Pinball Hall of Fame plans to move to a newly built facility on the south Strip. The Las Vegas arcade has been based out of a building near UNLV since 2009. Its operators are looking to build a 27,000-square-foot facility. The arcade currently has 250 pinball machines, but an additional 800 are in storage.

Some carry-on bags at McCarran airport will soon be scanned with the same type of technology used by hospitals for medical images. CT imaging is already used to screen checked baggage. The scanners will be deployed to McCarran and 14 other U.S. airports in the next few months, allowing the TSA to see items more clearly. Each machine costs at least $350,000. Over time, the TSA said it expects processing to be faster. The technology may someday allow travelers to keep liquids and laptops in their bags.

Bagans, proprietor of Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum at 600 E. Charleston Road, has in his clutches a painting of Manson with Manson’s ashes in the eyes. This is a common medium for the painting’s artist, Ryan Almighty, who uses human blood (in this instance, his own) and human remains to create his artwork. Bagans, host of Travel Channel’s paranormal investigation series “Ghost Adventurers,” received the painting at his Las Vegas attraction on Saturday morning. He is having it framed, and plans to display the work beginning Wednesday, in a museum room dedicated to convicted killers.

Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Marcus Villagran Photo by Benjamin Hager Photo by Erik Verduzco Photo by Chase Stevens Photo by Marcus Villagran Photo by Richard Brian Photo by Richard Brian Photo by Rachel Aston

Wynn Las Vegas is the only casino where dealers share 15 percent of their tips with who they say are supervisors The policy was implemented in 2006 because Wynn’s high-end customers tend to tip more than at other resorts. As a result, dealers were taking home more than their bosses. In 2006 the positions of pit boss and floor supervisor were eliminated and replaced by the position of casino service team leader, whose goal is to improve customer interaction, the company said. Congressional legislation passed in March says that tips cannot be shared with supervisors and managers A judge will decide whether a casino service team leader is a supervisor

Here are the top five defensive players to watch in in Southern Nevada next season. No. 5: DT Jordan Butler, Desert Pines No. 4: LB Kyle Beaudry, Liberty No. 3: DE Darnell Washington, Desert Pines No. 2: CB Kyu Kelly, Bishop Gorman No. 1: DE Treven Ma’ae, Bishop Gorman

Juan Herrera-Perla pulled double duty in his early days with the Lights FC. The defender took classes online so he could graduate in April. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in business management. Defender Miguel Garduno believes those brains show up on the field. Miguel Garduno

A 9-year-old startup famous for selling socks online and wholesale opens this week on the Las Vegas Strip. Stance will open its eighth U.S. location Friday at the Fashion Show shopping center, a location determined in part by the company’s online retail data. “Nowadays, you have to be a data-driven product,” said Paul Zaengle, Stance’s executive vice president of retail.

Mountain West football media days take place Tuesday and Wednesday in Las Vegas. Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson will address league issues. The future of the Las Vegas Bowl will be among the topics. Boise State will look to make a New Year’s Six game this season. The heat is on New Mexico coach Bob Davie after a shaky offseason. Air Force could be this year’s surprise Mountain West team.

The Lights FC wants to make Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt the newest member of the team. Owner Brett Lashbrook said Friday the team has talked to Bolt’s agent. Bolt retired from track last year and is trying to become a soccer player. He has interest from teams in Australia, Turkey and Hungary. The Lights don’t have the resources to win a bidding war, but they’re shooting their shot. Brett Lashbrook

Raul Mendiola has morphed into one of the Lights FC’s most dangerous players. The attacker was cut by the LA Galaxy last fall, but scooped up by the Lights. He has five goals in his first seven games with Las Vegas. He also scored the first hat trick in team history, and he’s hoping for more. Raul Mendiola

The U.S. e-cigarette market will hit $5.5 billion this year, a 25 percent growth rate from last year, according to a Wells Fargo report A crowded industry has meant increased competition and interest from the industry e-cigarettes aim to replace Companies like Imperial Brands, which once had almost 50 percent US market share, have responded to increased e-cigarette competition with products that have different strengths of nicotine and more flavors. As the industry has grown, margins have tightened. The standard bottle size for liquid nicotine has grown from 15 milliliters to 120 milliliters, while decreased production costs have driven e-cigarette prices down. A 2017 U.S. surgeon general report found the average price of a single disposable e-cigarette went from $17 in 2010 to under $9 in 2014.

Ex-Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has served as the LVCVA’s chief tourism ambassador since 2011. But LVCVA boss Rossi Ralenkotter has not brought Goodman’s contract extensions to the agency’s board for approval since 2013. Ralenkotter privately signed multiple extensions without board approval, including one in 2015 giving Goodman a $12,000 raise. The agency said Ralenkotter has authority to sign Goodman’s contract extensions without board consent. Goodman’s annual salary has increased to $72,000. LVCVA is taxpayer-funded. Goodman’s latest contract expires in August 2019.