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EDC FOUNDER TALKS ELECTION, FESTIVAL RETURN Electric Daisy Carnival was one of the last big Las Vegas events to postpone until 2021. The sold-out dance music festival is now set to for May 21-23 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. We caught up with Pasquale Rotella, EDC founder and CEO of producer Insomniac, to discuss the fest’s return and his company’s new partnership with HeadCount, a nonprofit promoting voter registration and participation. There’s overriding belief that big live events won’t be able to return until there’s a vaccine. Do you believe you can hold festivals in a safe way without a vaccine? We’re all hoping for a vaccine as soon as possible, but there may be other steps that can be taken, and we’re making sure to stay up to speed on all of the newest technologies. Still, we won’t have these large events until it’s safe to do so. Why is it important for Insomniac to partner with HeadCount for this voting campaign? People care about change but don’t always take the time to make their voice heard by voting. With the captive audience Insomniac has, it only makes sense we would work together. How do you think your audience feels about the election and the importance of voting? I believe people are engaged and have strong feelings about what’s going on in the world now more than ever, which is a great thing, but there’s always people that feel like their vote doesn’t really contribute and doesn’t matter. That’s something we want to educate people on, because it does matter. –Brock Radke

WEEK IN REVIEW WEEK AHEAD EV E N TS T O F O L L OW A N D N EWS YO U M I SS E D

Vegas’ Nicolas Roy (10), Paul Stastny (26) and Max Pacioretty (67) celebrate a goal as Dallas netminder Anton Khudobin looks on during the Golden Knights’ 3-0 Game 2 win over the Stars September 8 in Edmonton, Alberta. The teams, deadlocked 1-1 in the Western Conference Finals, next play September 10. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Cover story: Get to know the Las Vegas Raiders Home: Create a great office space—anywhere Binge This Week: Our latest staff suggestions Food & Drink: Tailgating + home = homegating! Vegas Inc: Businesses pivot amid the pandemic

STORIES FROM LAST WEEK LOCAL CASES OF MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME Eight local children under age 14 who tested positive for COVID-19 since March were also diagnosed with a rare inflammatory condition linked to the coronavirus, Southern Nevada Health District officials revealed on September 8. The illness—known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome—is being studied by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not all children exhibit the same symptoms, which can include fever, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and fatigue. Researchers say the illness can also cause inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal organs.

MIXED MOVIE RESULTS In a litmus test for American moviegoing in the pandemic, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet brought in an estimated $20.2 million through the holiday weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters. About 70% of U.S. movie theaters are currently open; those in the country’s top markets, LA and New York, remain closed. Tenet’s two-week overseas total stands at $126 million. The film, which cost $200 million to make and at least $100 million to market, will need to get close to $500 million to break even.

POLL WORKERS NEEDED Clark County is looking to hire about 900 additional poll workers for Election Day, and county commissioners are open to paying them more. Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said on September 8 that voters will need more support if turnout resembles that for the June primary, which was almost entirely mail-in and drew close to half a million ballots. “We got a sneak preview during the primary, and it’s just my fear that we may see something like that again for the general in November,” Weekly said.

(Las Vegas News Bureau)

IN THIS ISSUE

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NATIONAL FINALS RODEO HEADS TO TEXAS FOR 2020

The National Finals Rodeo is leaving Las Vegas for Texas in 2020. The event, which annually brings $200 million to Southern Nevada, will shift to Arlington’s Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, from December 3-12. “We are committed to delivering a spectacular event for our fans, and we are thrilled to be in Texas for it,” George Taylor, chief executive officer of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, said in a statement. The event has been held at the Thomas & Mack Center since 1987. But with Nevada’s COVID-19 crowd restrictions capped at 50 attendees—and Texas’ standards looser—association officials made the change. Seats for the Texas event will be sold in groups of four, with separation between groups. The National Finals Rodeo is scheduled to return to Las Vegas in 2021, and is contracted to be contested here through 2025.

GETTING A FLU SHOT IS ESPECIALLY VITAL DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC The flu shot only protects against influenza, not COVID-19. But that’s still valuable as flu season approaches and the coronavirus pandemic continues, according to health experts. They urge people to get vaccinated against the flu not just to protect against the potentially miserable and serious illness but to mitigate the risk of a “twindemic”—a dual public health crisis that could swamp hospitals with both flu and COVID-19 patients. In a yellow highlighted box on its flu-related web pages, punctuated by a bold exclamation point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declares: “Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on health care systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The CDC defines the flu season as October through May, with the peak typically occurring between December and February. The Southern Nevada Health District recorded 1,400 confirmed flu cases in Clark County over the 2019-20 season with 54 related deaths, while the prior season saw 975 total cases and 39 deaths. –Hillary Davis

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LANGUAGE BARRIER Distance learning presents new challenges for CCSD’s English Language Learner Division

BY SARA MACNEIL

uzanne Romero, a first-grade teacher at Tom Williams Elementary School in North Las Vegas, says many of her students have immigrants parents who aren’t familiar with the American school system. They get confused by some of the notifications that are sent home from the school, which could lead to their children falling behind. “A lot of parents just ignore anything that comes from the school district,” she says. “They rely on the teacher to be able to show them and explain everything to them.”

CCSD has students enrolled from approximately 160 different countries, speaking more than 70 different languages, including about 29,000 students whose first language is Spanish, says Ignacio Ruiz, the CCSD assistant superintendent of the English Language Learner Division. In total, about 16% of the District’s 320,000 students are English Language Learners, he says. Romero, whose parents weren’t English speakers, can relate. She says her first priority in helping students is making sure their families know she’s invested in their education. Romero says “being able to know deeply about them, their

culture [and] their history” helps her incorporate her students’ experience into her curriculum. “They can see themselves in the lessons, so they actually care about it,” she says. “A lot of curriculum and books are written not taking in mind there are students from different parts of the world.” Approximately 400 bilingual teachers are currently employed by Clark County School District. There’s are no requirements as to how many bilingual teachers need to be stationed per school. “There’s a misconception that in order to support English learners, you need to be bilingual,” Ruiz says. Rather, educators aim to provide instructional

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16% of the District’s

320,000 students are English Language Learners

Suzanne Romero teaches English Language Learners at Tom Williams Elementary in North Las Vegas. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

support for students that provides entry points to grade-level content. When students enroll, their families complete a home language survey. If students have had language experience other than English, they’re screened to determine their level of English language proficiency. If they’re defined as an English Language Learner, they receive an annual test administered each spring to measure their progress, until they meet proficiency criteria. After that, the school district monitors their progress for four years.

The goal is to integrate language instruction and content into lesson plans for all subjects. Vanessa Mari, assistant professor of Teaching English as a Second Language in the School of Education at Nevada State College, says educators should focus on the positive things a student bring into the classroom. “Instead of thinking, ‘My student will struggle because they don’t know English,’ we can start framing this as, ‘My student knows another language, and this will support their English skills,’” she says. Linking readings or videos in a student’s native language that support instruction can help leverage both languages, Mari says. Those can also be resources for parents eager to assist their child. UNLV professor Alain Bengochea, an expert in emergent bilingualism, says research shows that dual language educational programs that integrate a student’s home language result in greater achievement than English-only programs. Bengochea says that in 2019, approximately 15% of English language learners in Nevada demonstrated proficiency in math and English language arts, in contrast with non-ELL peers who demonstrated 42% and 55% proficiency in math and language arts, respectively, “thereby showing a greater need for programs that are responsive to the linguistic, cultural and academic strengths of this population.” “We need to do more to improve learning conditions for these students,” Bengochea says. During a traditional school year, a team of English language learning specialists provide “boots on the ground” at every school, Ruiz says. But with CCSD learning now being conducted remotely due to the pandemic, the district is supporting language distance learners through virtual reading centers, Google classroom forums and virtual parent workshops. Additionally, information sent from CCSD to second-language learning families is distributed in Spanish. Officials also post messages on social media in Spanish, and bilingual Superintendent Jesus Jara frequently posts videos in which he speaks in Spanish. Maria Marinch, a communications officer with CCSD, recently told the school board that the district has increased outreach in multiple languages, particularly in Spanish. It’s important to identify students who are struggling because of the language barrier, but housing and food insecurity are also important issues, says Cecia Alvarado of Mi Familia Vota, a group that unites immigrant and allied communities to promote social and economic justice

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through voting. The group canvases neighborhoods with heavy immigrant populations to access their educational needs, among other concerns. The CCSD graduation rate for English Language Learners in 2019 was 77%. “Education is the American dream for any immigrant,” Alvarado says. “It’s deep in our culture. This is our gateway to escape poverty and have a better life. I know the parents will do anything they can to make sure they [their children] have the opportunity to go back to school.”

“Education is the American dream for any immigrant. It’s deep in our culture. This is our gateway to escape poverty and have a better life.” –Cecia Alvarado

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT Those struggling with eating disorders are especially vulnerable during the pandemic

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BY LESLIE VENTURA

he pandemic has made the dayto-day lives of every American more difficult, but for those with eating disorders, the social isolation and lack of routine have been especially challenging. Rhonda Kildea, a Las Vegas-based certified eating disorder specialist, says proactive factors like family and social connections—people seeing you and saying, “I’m concerned about you”—aren’t as common right now. “If we’re isolated, none of that is happening, so food or the lack of food becomes your one and only support system,” Kildea says. Diagnosing an eating disorder requires a professional, but someone with an eating disorder is characterized as having “severe disturbances” in eating behaviors, along with food-related thoughts and emotions. A “preoccupation with food, body weight and shape can also signal an eating disorder,” the National Institute of Mental Health states. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder, which all begin with an unhealthy relationship with one’s own body image, or “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in your mind,” according to the National Eating Disorders Association. “Many of us internalize messages starting at a young age that can lead to either positive or negative body image,” the NEDA states. “Having a healthy body image is an important part of mental well-being and eating disorder prevention.” The dangers of diet culture Maintaining a healthy body image can be increasingly difficult for all genders due to societal norms, media pressure and diet culture. Eating disorder recovery advocate Talia Mann describes diet culture as “a system of beliefs that worships thinness and equates it to health and moral virtue.”

She says it labels foods as “good and bad” or clean and not clean and constantly promotes weight loss. Examples of diet culture include internet communities that actually promote anorexia and disordered eating, such as the popular social media hashtag “thinspo” (short for “thinsperation”). The thinspo movement began in the early days of the internet and moved to websites like Tumblr and various “pro-ana” (or “pro-anorexia”) blogs. Many of these websites are still around today and serve as a gateway for people, often young girls and women, encouraging one another to stay dangerously thin. Some hashtags like #weightloss have been banned from platforms like TikTok, but more covert, seemingly less extreme forms of thinspo exist throughout the world of social media. Mann, who suffered from an eating disorder for a decade, remembers how impressionable she was, especially when viewing this type of content. “Unfortunately, young children and adolescents are so susceptible to these types of images that promote extremely skeletal, malnourished bodies,” she says. “I remember looking at stuff like that and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to look like,’ and that’s extremely problematic. There’s a lot of pro-anorexic or pro-eating disorder websites where people are sharing tips on how to engage in these very harmful behaviors. Thinspo is not a word we should throw around loosely. It’s very dangerous.” A study published by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America concluded that “social media use was significantly associated with increased depression.” While social media has often triggered people dealing with body image issues and eating disorders, isolation during the pandemic could create even more problems.

“It’s impossible to get away from it entirely,” Mann says. “We’ve started seeing things like the ‘quarantine 15’ or, if you’ve gained weight, here’s how to quickly burn it off at home—that kind of stuff.” Mann says that’s especially damaging, as people are already dealing with their own trauma responses to the pandemic. “Our bodies constantly fluctuate and change,” Mann says, adding that it’s perfectly OK if you gain some weight during quarantine. A different way of eating Mann says any message that promotes thinness as an ideal, and dieting as a way to achieve that ideal, is a red flag, even if it appears harmless. She instead recommends intuitive eating, a model that has helped people with chronic dieting and eating disorders, as a way to maintain a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. “It’s really the only way to address eating issues,” Kildea agrees. “Diet culture begets itself. You go on a diet, diets don’t work long term, and you gain the weight back. It’s the only industry where people blame themselves when it doesn’t work, instead of saying, ‘Maybe diets don’t work.’ Intuitive eating is not ‘eat whatever you want.’ It’s working on eating what your body needs, eating when you’re hungry, stopping when you’re full and taking care of your emotions in a way other than eating [or not eating].” The principles of intuitive eating, according to intuitiveeating.org, encourage rejecting diet culture (along with the guilt and shame associated with the ups and downs of dieting), “honoring” one’s hunger and nurturing and respecting one’s body in place of depriving the body of food or entire food groups.

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Dealing with social media When it comes to social media, Mann encourages asking oneself, “‘How does this person make me feel?’ If they don’t make me feel great, or they make a comment about diet culture or something that doesn’t align with my values, I have no problem unfollowing. You can choose what you want to see.” Kildea stresses the importance of talking with a licensed therapist or dietician when one starts to feel that there might be a problem. “The solution is not a diet or a drastic change in what you’re eating, because that’s just really cutting the weed off at the surface,” she says. “The real solution is talking to a therapist [and figuring out] the reason why these issues are there, [why] you’re coping with emotions.” Talking through our emotions is even more important during the era of coronavirus. As we continue living in a pandemic and in relative isolation, people need to be mindful of being compassionate toward themselves. “Even if you don’t feel good about your body, you don’t have to make food choices based on how you feel about your body,” Mann says. “You should make food choices to feed yourself when you’re hungry, even if you don’t feel good about your body that day.” Her biggest advice? “Don’t stay silent,” she encourages. “Talk to somebody you can trust. You don’t have to hold it in, and you don’t have to suffer.”

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RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

FOR THE

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BY RAY BREWER

FIVE REASONS THIS TEAM’S SUCCESS MATTERS, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT SOLD ON SWITCHING ALLEGIANCES

They’re representing us. If a game is being played and one of the teams is wearing the words Las Vegas on its uniforms, that’s enough to merit your backing—regardless of the activity. Many residents have an immense sense of pride in living in Las Vegas, a world-class city and a great place to call home. Now we have a world-class franchise that also calls Southern Nevada its home.

They’ve immersed themselves in our community. The Raiders have gone above and beyond in this regard, donating money to a variety of projects—schools, athletic programs, shelters, food banks and more. That generosity starts with team owner Mark Davis. “Of all the owners I have met, and I’ve met a lot, he’s the most whatyou-see-is-what-you-get owner,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said. “For a wealthy guy who owns a major sports franchise, he’s the most down-to-earth guy you are going to meet.” Davis’ persona and acts of kindness make it easier to feel like a part of Raider Nation.

If it weren’t for the Raiders, there would be no Allegiant Stadium. The venue—once we’re beyond the pandemic, of course—will be a great revenue source for the area, home to concerts, festivals and big-time sporting events, including an eventual Super Bowl. Each event will have a significant economic impact on the Strip and jobs created through game-day staffing. The stadium should help the city emerge from the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19.

Sports can help communities heal. The first home game in Vegas Golden Knights history came nine days after the mass shooting on the Strip in 2017. The emotional pregame tribute to victims was one of those moments that showed the value of having a local professional sports team, and the Knights then went on a seven-month run to the Stanley Cup Final. The diversion of watching an evening of hockey helped take our minds off the tragedy. The pandemic isn’t going away, meaning an afternoon watching the Raiders could take our minds off of being isolated at home or battling through personal financial struggles.

The Raiders, like Las Vegas, have a renegade spirit. They have a history of clashing with the powers that be in the NFL, and let’s not forget that, for years, the NFL wanted nothing to do with Las Vegas because of its legalized sports gambling. It seems only fitting that it’s the Raiders who now call Las Vegas home. All that’s left, in the words of Al Davis, the team’s late Hall of Fame owner, is to “Just win, baby!”

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

Many Las Vegans already have a favorite NFL team. They’re transplants from Chicago who have cheered for the Bears through good times and bad, or they’re beholden to the tradition of watching the Dallas Cowboys each and every week. And that’s OK. There’s no need to flip loyalties to the Raiders, but they do deserve your support. Here’s why …

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RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

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usic blared out of a set of brandnew, state-of-the-art speakers, coaches barked clear instructions with rested offseason vocal chords, and pads clashed from collisions between offensive and defensive linemen. The decibel level at practices during the Raiders’ first Las Vegas training camp was never low, and players’ voices often rose above the noise anyway. When someone made a big play, they usually let their teammates know about it. There was one notable exception. The player whose performance may have spoken loudest might have been most the silent. Raiders rookie receiver and top draft pick Henry Ruggs III would catch multiple deep passes a day and not say a word, instead jogging back to the line of scrimmage or sideline to get ready for the next repetition. “He’s very focused,” says running back Josh Jacobs, Ruggs’ closest friend on the team. “He just puts his head down and works.” NFL teams are notorious for swinging wildly between personality types among their head coaches. If a fiery, motivational type coach didn’t work out, the next hire is often a more laid-back, cerebral type. For the Raiders, that dichotomy apparently extends to No. 1 receivers. Last offseason, in a desperate attempt to add a big-play threat to the offense, the Raiders signed Antonio Brown, possibly the NFL’s best receiver of the past decade after nine years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown came with baggage, though. He had developed a reputation as a poor teammate over the years and become known as much for his elaborate touchdown celebrations and brash demeanor as his on-field production. The Raiders hoped a change of scenery would help. It didn’t. A soap opera between player and organization played out on HBO’s Hard Knocks and Brown’s own self-produced YouTube channel, culminating in his release before he ever played a game for the Raiders. Given that experience, it’s no surprise Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden emphasized finding a character fit for their next prospective top receiver. Ruggs’ play in college at Alabama was flashy—he averaged 17.5 yards per reception over three years and scored on nearly 30 percent of his catches—but everything else was workmanlike. He didn’t mind settling into a role as one of many stars on Crimson Tide teams alongside future pros like Jacobs. Ruggs was never even more than a secondary receiving option behind current Denver Bronco Jerry Jeudy, who had 61 more career receptions than Ruggs over the same three seasons.

Stealth weapon

Henry Ruggs III, the Las Vegas Raiders’ first-ever draft pick, has quiet confidence BY CASE KEEFER

“We had to share the ball and share the love,” Ruggs says. “Everyone has the goods to make plays. With that group of guys, it only makes you better. It makes you want to take advantage of every opportunity, fuels you to be competitive.” Ruggs resolved to bring the same attitude to the Raiders after they selected him with the No. 12 overall selection in April’s NFL Draft—a surprising three picks ahead of where the Broncos took Jeudy. Coronavirus restrictions meant rookies would not have access to team facilities as in most years, but quarterback Derek Carr was organizing unofficial offseason workouts locally, and Ruggs wanted to attend as many as possible. He flew out from his home in Montgomery, Alabama, for a couple of the initial sessions, but then his plans were interrupted. While helping a friend move in late May, Ruggs punctured his leg. “Of course, at first you think of the worst, but after saw the doctors, they told me what was going on,” Ruggs says. “They gave me the breakdown and told me pretty much I’d be back to 100 percent in no time. And actually kind of being a hard head, I tried to do more than the doctors said I could do or what I should do, and that only helped speed up the process.” Even as Ruggs adopted an active recovery, he knew team workouts were out of the question. He traveled to Las Vegas once more to watch Carr throw to other Raiders and pick his new quarterback’s brain, but otherwise he concentrated his preparation in Montgomery by running routes at half-speed, lifting weights and studying the Raiders’ playbook. That studiousness might have backfired when the Raiders opened training camp in late July.

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Ruggs struggled in the first few practices, looking perhaps too mechanical while failing to establish a rhythm with Carr and dropping a few passes. Carr shouldered a large part of the blame, saying it took him time to get accustomed to Ruggs’ speed. Ruggs arrives as one of the fastest players in the NFL, having run a Draft Combine-best 4.27-second 40-yard dash. That otherworldly speed was the primary reason the Raiders made him the first receiver taken this year. But his work ethic and temperament weren’t insignificant factors, either. “It’s in his DNA to want to be great,” says Nelson Agholor, the Raiders’ most veteran receiver. “I try to tell him not to focus on putting pressure on himself, because he does have talent around him. If anything, play fast and play with no hesitation because you’ve got guys that have got your back and a coaching staff that will really have your back. They are going to put you in a position to be successful.” With encouragement from Jacobs and Agholor, Ruggs quickly settled down and arguably became the standout performer of preseason practices. He blazed past defenders on everything from jet sweeps to deep go routes. By all accounts, he was also an exemplary citizen. Ruggs took Gruden’s repeated team-wide pleas to “crush the virus” by limiting potential exposure to heart. He briefly explored the Strip and took a Maverick Helicopters tour with longtime girlfriend Kiara Washington when he moved to town in June, but otherwise the couple have hunkered down at home with their newborn daughter. “He’s a great kid, has been brought up well, great family,” Gruden says. “Credit to his mom and dad. He’s just a hard-working, no-nonsense, day-to-day, consistent grinder. We just love him. … He’s got a bright future ahead of him I think, as long as we don’t screw him up.” Two of Ruggs’ biggest splurges since signing a 4-year, $16.67 million contract went to his loved ones. Before he left Montgomery, he surprised his mother with her dream car, a new Chevrolet Traverse. Upon arriving in Las Vegas, he did the same for Washington, gifting her a custom-made, bright-yellow Ford Mustang. In a picture posted to his social media, he made sure to point out that he “ain’t braggin’ but I came from nuthin’.” In an age where the stereotype of a top receiver is a me-first, flamboyant personality, Ruggs goes out of his way to stay humble. The Raiders were drawn to his unassuming nature and quiet confidence from the beginning, and they’ve only become more convinced of its fit on their roster over time. “My commitment is to the team; I’m 100 percent a team player,” Ruggs says. “I’m out here to do a job, and that’s to help the 11 guys on the field get a win. Whatever my job is, that’s what I’m going to do.”

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RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

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IN DEFENSE OF

DEREK CARR Thoughts on the Raiders’ somewhat-embattled, likely underrated veteran quarterback

BY CASE KEEFER The first question Raiders coach Jon Gruden fielded about a player during his first training camp news conference regarded one who might not play a meaningful snap this season. The frequency of such inquiries has yet to die down more than a month later. Marcus Mariota might be the Raiders’ hottest topic as they head into their first season in Las Vegas, adding credence to the old adage that the most popular player on the roster is always the backup quarterback. Media and fans can’t help but be drawn to a quarterback controversy, even when there isn’t one. And, as anyone who’s paid the slightest bit of attention to the Raiders’ offseason knows, there isn’t one in Las Vegas.

If the Raiders’ shortened training camp put anything into focus, it’s how far ahead incumbent starter Derek Carr is of Mariota. Carr had the crisper throws, the more commanding presence and even the quicker feet. Mariota, always decked out in his trademark full long sleeves despite 100-degree temperatures, had his moments in the early-morning practices at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center in Henderson before missing the final three sessions with an undisclosed injury. The Raiders added Mariota to injured reserve ahead of their Week 1 game at Carolina, but it’s expected to be a short stay—as few as three weeks—and could explain some of his training-camp struggles. Even when Mariota was presumably healthy at the beginning of the summer, however, his best moments were always fleeting — a completed downfield bomb here, a sharp decision to improvise amid a collapsing pocket there. There were just as many gaffes, from wobbly spirals to miscommunications with receivers. And such mistakes couldn’t help but stand out next to Carr, who was consistently excellent. The 29-year-old Carr appears to have leveled up from 2019, when he quietly put together a career year. In his sixth NFL season, Carr ranked ninth in the NFL with 7.9 yards per pass attempt and 10th in quarterback rating with 4,054 yards and 21 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He was the single biggest reason the Raiders threatened to make the playoffs in their final season in Oakland instead of dropping to the bottom of the NFL standings. Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel benched the 26-year-old Mariota after a disappointing start to the season, while the team reached the AFC Championship Game behind replacement Ryan Tannehill. Quarterbacks signed to be franchise players—a group to which Carr belongs as he enters year three of a five-year, $125 million contract extension—simply don’t get replaced coming off the type of season Carr put together. And yet many continue to call for, or at least speculate on, Mariota’s eventual takeover. In fairness, the Raiders set themselves up for some of the commotion by making Mariota one of the five highest-paid backups in the NFL with a two-year, $17.6 million deal this offseason. Even if general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden weren’t looking at Mariota as a starter, they had to know others would. Despite the conflicting professional fortunes of the two quarterbacks, there’s still an argument to be made that Mariota’s a bigger star than Carr. He set collegiate records en route to winning the Heisman Trophy at Ore-

I’M TIRED OF THE HYPE MACHINE THAT SOMETIMES THE NFL CAN BE.” –Derek Carr

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gon and going second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, when many argued he should have been the top overall pick. Carr, meanwhile, produced at a high level but in relative obscurity at Fresno State before the Raiders selected him with the 36th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, a slot many characterized as a reach. He’s done nothing but prove his critics wrong ever since, winning the starting job as a rookie and leading the Raiders to their first playoff appearance in 13 years in his third season. Carr got hurt at the end of that season and was unable to play in a 2016 wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans, but getting there remains the positive for which he’s most known in the NFL. “I’m tired of the hype machine that sometimes the NFL can be,” Carr says. “I played way better last year than I did in 2016, yet all we talk about is that. Well, we won 12 games, so yay, everyone’s excited. I’m done with all that stuff. … I just don’t care anymore.” Except Carr does care; he cares deeply, and therein may lie the problem as far as outside perception is concerned. The romanticized attitude of the modern NFL quarterback is a steely faced competitor unbothered by criticism, a player who’s fiery on the field and vanilla in the media room. That’s not Carr. That’s evident every time he does something like rail against being “disrespected” or challenge ESPN talk show hosts to a mixed martial arts fight because he doesn’t like their opinions. Such outbursts, though usually minimal in nature, make Carr easy to antagonize. And despite his personal success, his overall record as the Raiders’ starter still stands at a mediocre 39-55. Quarterbacks are more responsible for a team’s wins and losses than any other position, but Carr has still played well enough to merit a better record. With the Raiders upgraded around the rest of the roster—especially in the offensive skill position—it’s on Carr to make sure he boosts the figure this season. If he doesn’t and can’t match last year’s progress, the Raiders might be tempted to move on from him next season or even as this year winds down if they fall out of contention. Surely that was part of the reason for bringing in Mariota, as an insurance policy in case Carr suffers an injury or succumbs to general ineffectiveness. The truth, however, is that Carr has been plenty effective behind center. Training camp left no reason to think he’ll be taking steps back this season. And it left no reason to think anyone on the roster other than Carr gives the Raiders the best chance to win.

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GAMEBR 5

players who could determine the Raiders’ success this season BY MIKE GRIMALA

CLELIN FERRELL, DEFENSIVE END

LAMARCUS JOYNER, CORNERBACK

Getting 4.5 sacks out of the No. 4 overall pick isn’t exactly what the Raiders were hoping for when they reached for Ferrell early in the 2019 draft. The Clemson product was never touted as a pass-rushing monster, but he’s got to apply more pressure on the quarterback this season, or the team will turn to other options—like freeagent addition Carl Nassib, who signed a 3-year, $25.2 million deal in the offseason. To his credit, Ferrell reshaped his body after his disappointing debut season and came into training camp looking like a new player. If that increased strength and quickness produces results on the field, the Raiders won’t mind having spent such a high pick on Ferrell.

Joyner was a big liability last year. It might sound harsh, but it’s the truth. The Raiders brought him in with the hope he’d shore up their slot coverage, but Joyner wasn’t up to the task. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 69.4 percent of their passes when targeting him, including four touchdowns. Joyner didn’t intercept a single ball in 14 games, resulting in opponents racking up a passer rating of 109.8 against him. That’s why Las Vegas used a fourth-round draft pick on promising slot corner Amik Robertson in May. Robertson looks like he still needs some development time, so Joyner will probably get first crack at defending slot receivers this season. That’s a critical role in today’s wide-open NFL; if Joyner doesn’t improve on his 2019 performance, opponents will pick apart the Raiders’ defense.

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EAKERS MALIEK COLLINS, DEFENSIVE TACKLE

JOHNATHAN ABRAM, SAFETY

DEREK CARR, QUARTERBACK

Las Vegas made splashier free-agent signings (linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski grabbed most of the headlines), but Collins was the defensive star of training camp. Among the newcomers, no one drew more praise from the coaching staff than Collins, a fifth-year defensive tackle who broke out as a big-time pass rusher in Dallas last season. Pro Football Focus ranked Collins eighth among defensive tackles last year in pass-rushing grade, as he recorded 48 quarterback pressures. For a Las Vegas team counting on its D-line to get to the quarterback, that kind of production would be a godsend. The Raiders think they scored big by signing Collins to a oneyear prove-it contract worth $6 million.

Is Abram an elite talent capable of making game-changing plays from the safety position? Is he an injury-prone bust destined to give the Raiders very little over the course of his rookie contract? Or is he somewhere in between? There’s no way to tell yet, as Abram didn’t even make it through the season-opening game last year before a shoulder injury shelved him for the rest of his rookie campaign. Abram still possesses all the potential that spurred Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden to draft him No. 27 overall in 2019. With so many new pieces on defense this season, Abram’s development will go a long way toward determining the strength of the secondary.

Carr is the only offensive player on this list, because the Raiders’ front office has done an impressive job of surrounding him with talent. He’s got an elite offensive line in front of him, an elite running back behind him, a trio of young, talented receivers flanking him and perhaps the league’s best pass-catching tight end serving as his security blanket. With no more excuses available, this has to be the year Carr proves he’s capable of elevating his play and leading a serious playoff push.

RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW

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BY CASE KEEFER

FIXER UPPERS Problem: Red zone inefficiency The fateful two-point conversion failure in Denver wasn’t an anomaly; the Raiders struggled to score when close to the end zone all season. They ranked 22nd in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage at 52.83 percent, a statistic both coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr have repeatedly described as unacceptable. Solution: Red zone creativity Even amid a condensed practice schedule because of the coronavirus-delayed training camp, the Raiders spent an abnormal amount of time running plays both at the goal line and inside the 20-yard line. They seemed to devote at least a segment of every practice to it, getting the ball to practically every skill player. Expect the playbook to widen near the end zone this year.

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

Problem: Big-play shortage The Raiders fielded an above-average offense overall last season, but their success was more methodical than explosive. Carr ranked last in the league in air yards per throw, according to Football Outsiders, meaning almost all of his passes were near the line of scrimmage. The Raiders ranked 21st in the league in explosive play—defined as runs that go at least 20 yards and passes that go at least 30—according to Sharp Football Stats. Solution: Amped-up aggression Carr has made it no secret that he wants to show his arm strength off more this season, and it appears Gruden and offensive coordinator Greg Olson will indulge him. Top draft pick Henry Ruggs III could be a big help in that department. It took a week or so for Carr to get his timing right with Ruggs’ blazing speed, but once he did, the two started to connect on deep throws daily.

RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW Problem: Penalties The Raiders averaged eight penalties per game last season, third-most in the NFL. Even worse, they ranked dead last in the league in penalty yardage, losing 375 yards on the year to flags. Solution: Discipline Hell hath no fury like Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli when one of his players jumps offsides or makes some other mistake. And the rest of the coaching staff is only slightly more forgiving. There’s been no coddling at Raiders’ practices. Coaching techniques skew old-school in Las Vegas, with the presumed hope that they’ll translate into a tighter game-day product.

How the Raiders are addressing their biggest issues from last season

Despite falling short of their goal by missing the playoffs for the 16th time in 17 years, the Raiders look back on last season more as a building block than an abject failure. They’ve taken solace all offseason in how they were a failed two-point conversion in their final game away from doubling their win total from four victories to eight in coach Jon Gruden’s second year at the helm. If Derek Carr’s pass in the final seconds against the Broncos had found the intended hands of Hunter Renfrow instead of getting batted down by a defensive lineman, a 16-15 loss would have turned into a 17-16 win. That would have been good for a seventh-place finish in the AFC, a standing not quite strong enough to qualify for the postseason, but one that would result in a playoff berth this year. The NFL has expanded the playoffs for the first time in 30 years this season with an extra team from each conference advancing. That’s good news for fringe contenders like the Raiders, but they’ve got work to do to get back into the position from a year ago. Here were some of their biggest problems last season and the ways they seemed to address them in practices throughout training camp.

Problem: Suspect secondary No issue loomed larger than an atrocious pass defense last season. The Raiders tied for last in the NFL in giving up 7.8 yards per pass attempt. In the modern NFL, no team that porous on the back end can possibly be a championship contender. Solution: Youth movement Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock are taking a leap of faith with the youngsters they’ve drafted in each of the last two seasons. The Raiders will field one of the youngest defensive backfields in the league with three presumed starters—cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette, and safety Johnathan Abram—under the age of 24 years old. Arnette is the key. The first-round draft pick out of Ohio State wasn’t guaranteed a starting spot but earned it throughout training camp, causing the Raiders to unexpectedly drop veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara.

Problem: Lost linebackers The Raiders might have had the worst linebacking corps in the league last year, especially in pass coverage. They were regularly caught out of position and failed to come up with the key stops in high-leverage situations. Solution: New blood The Raiders overhauled the middle of their defense during the offseason, and the two prized free-agent acquisitions—former Ram Cory Littleton and former Bear Nick Kwiatkoski—are bringing a new energy to the unit. They’re stressing communication and have shown an ability to adjust to however the offense lines up.

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Week 1: at Carolina Panthers Sunday, September 13, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Raiders minus-3 The Raiders open the season with their first of five road games this year featuring an early kickoff in the Eastern time zone, a slot in which they’ve traditionally struggled. Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints Monday, September 21, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Current line: Saints minus-4.5 The NFL didn’t give the Raiders any breaks in their first scheduled game at Allegiant Stadium; the Saints are the winningest regular-season team of the past two seasons with a combined 26-6 record. Week 3: at New England Patriots Sunday, September 27, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Patriots minus-5 The Patriots have defeated the Raiders in five straight meetings dating back to 2005. They’ll have to extend that streak behind quarterback Cam Newton, with longtime Raiders tormentor Tom Brady having left in the offseason. Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills Sunday, October 4, 1:25 p.m., CBS Current line: Pick’em The Raiders’ offense might have its toughest test of the season in the team’s second home game. The Bills have arguably the NFL’s best defense behind players like cornerback Tre’Davious White and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

A week-by-week glance at the Raiders’ 2020 schedule

WHAT LIES AHEAD BY CASE KEEFER

Week 5: at Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, October 11, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Chiefs minus-10 Arrowhead Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Raiders the past two years, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes having led the Chiefs to 31- and 32-point victories over them.

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Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos Sunday, November 15, 1:05 p.m., CBS Current line: Raiders minus-2 This rivalry series has been as close as ever the past three seasons, with five of six showdowns decided by a touchdown or less and the teams splitting the games with three wins apiece. Week 11: vs. Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, November 22, 5:20 p.m., NBC Current line: Chiefs minus-5.5 The defending Super Bowl champions make their first trip to Allegiant Stadium under the spotlight of the Raiders’ second Sunday Night Football appearance of the season. Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons Sunday, November 29, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Falcons minus-3 Las Vegas’ green secondary will need to have settled in by this point of the season; Atlanta led the NFL in pass-play percentage last season, going to the air on 67 percent of its offensive snaps. Week 13: at New York Jets Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Jets minus-2 On the surface, this could be the easiest road game of the year. The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 10 seasons and are considered a long shot to break the drought in 2020.

Week 6: Bye

Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts Sunday, December 13, 1:05 p.m., CBS Current line: Pick’em Colts offseason acquisition Philip Rivers is the all-time winningest quarterback against the Raiders, going 18-10 during a 17-year span with the Chargers that ended last season.

Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, October 25, 5:20 p.m., NBC Current line: Buccaneers minus-2 The Raiders were once considered among the favorites to land prized free-agent quarterback Tom Brady, but the six-time Super Bowl champion will instead visit Allegiant Stadium for a Sunday Night Football affair that could draw one of the largest television audiences of the season.

Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Chargers Thursday, December 17, 5:20 p.m., Fox/NFL Network/Amazon Current line: Raiders minus-2.5 After two Sunday Night Football assignments and one Monday Night Football appearance, the Raiders complete the prime-time triumvirate with the final Thursday Night Football game of the season.

Week 8: at Cleveland Browns Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Browns minus-4 The Browns were among the most disappointing teams in the NFL last season but still have an exciting young core, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and edge rusher Myles Garrett.

Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins Saturday, December 26 or Sunday, December 27, Time TBD, TV TBD Current line: Raiders minus-4 Rumors swirled that the Raiders loved former Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa going into this year’s NFL Draft before the quarterback prospect went to the Dolphins with the No. 5 overall pick.

Week 9: at Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m., CBS Current line: Chargers minus-3.5 Las Vegas’ first trip to Inglewood, California, to play at SoFi Stadium—which will count the Rams and Chargers as co-tenants—is a key AFC West showdown that could go a long way in determining the fate of its playoff hopes.

Week 17: at Denver Broncos Sunday, January 3, 1:25 p.m., CBS Current line: Broncos minus-3.5 The Raiders close the regular season at Mile High for the second straight year, looking to avenge a narrow loss last season that saw a failed two-point conversion in the final seconds drop them to defeat.

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OFFICE SPACE

Keep the space super clean and super accessible. Clutter reads as visual noise, which is a constant low-level distractor and demoralizer. For optimum focus, creativity and positivity, keep your workspace clean.

Tips for setting up a healthy, productive home work area

BY C. MOON REED

he pandemic has turned our work environments upside down. Suddenly, we’re running home schools and home offices out of our condos, apartments and houses. Need to refresh your office space but don’t have time or money to remodel? Fortunately, creating the ideal work environment is totally doable and affordable. Melanie Walker, luxury organizer and owner of NEAT Method Las Vegas, offered up some tips.

Remove unneeded furniture. Filing cabinets, shelving units and a reading chair? If you don’t already own them, you probably don’t need them. “You don’t need that much furniture in your home office,” Walker says. “It creates clutter. Edit out your furniture, so you have just the pieces you need.” She does recommend purchasing a powerful shredder, however, to make decluttering a breeze.

Splurge on an office chair. Walker says people tend to focus on office desks, but chairs are more important. Like a quality mattress, a good office chair can help your posture and the overall feel of your body, so Walker advises buying the best chair you can afford. “If you’re not comfortable, you’re never going to feel inspired or creative,” Walker says.

Set up bright lighting. Natural light’s great for being awake and focused. If that’s not available, make sure you have a good desk lamp.

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SETTING UP A

Create comfort and inspiration. Look for little ways to make your space—whether it’s a full room or just an area in your kitchen or bedroom—feel comfortable and inspiring. Hang a picture or an inspirational quote. Look at the placement of your desk— can you rotate it so it faces a window rather than a blank wall? Make the area your own.

Edit those office supplies. Are you one of those people holding on to dried-out pens from every old casino? Time to throw them away. “Buy yourself the one set of pens you like and get rid of 50 that don’t work,” Walker says.

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CHILD’S STUDY SPACE

Limit the tchotchkes. Though you do want to personalize your space, Walker says you should keep accessories to a minimum. Too many office toys create distraction. Walker even suggests ditching the family photos in your home office, since your family is probably sitting right behind you.

Ditch the excess paperwork. “Why do you need a filing cabinet?” Walker asks. “What are you actually filing?” We live in the future, so there’s rarely a need to collect old bank statements, receipts and other boring ephemera. Opt for paperless delivery. Or scan the important documents and destroy the originals.

Pretty much all the tips for an adult office also apply to children’s home-school spaces (besides shredding your kid’s old art), but Walker has a few specific tips for young scholars. ■ Help them feel calm and in control. The pandemic is as crazy a time for children as it is for adults, so help them create a space where they’ll feel focused and happy. A clean, organized and dedicated study space can help them achieve that. ■ Create a place for paper. Walker says you don’t need a ton of office accessories, but students need a designated space for their homework, books and such. If your living space is small and a child is working on a kitchen counter, give them a cabinet or drawer in the kitchen for school supplies. ■ Use a physical timer. Walker says that a large timer where kids can see how long they have left to focus can be a game changer for the most elusive of organizational goals: time management. ■ Create the soundtrack. Make a playlist that your children find motivating and enjoyable for intense study sessions. It can work equally well for grown-ups.

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BINGE THIS WEEK

A.P. Bio This former NBC comedy— now on Peacock with new episodes—is ostensibly about the redemption of a glib, selfish teacher played by Glenn Howerton, but it’s his costars—Patton Oswalt, Paula Pell, Eddie Leavy and Allisyn Ashley Arm—maintaining a perfect 4.0. Peacock.

TV FILM

A HIDDEN LIFE

TED LASSO

Despite its subject matter—the reign of Adolf Hitler and its effect on the bucolic Austrian mountain town of Radegund—you’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful film streaming right now. Directed by Terrence Malick, it’s the true story of Franz Jägerstätter, a farmer conscripted into the army and forced to swear allegiance to the führer. Morally against the war, Jägerstätter refuses, leading to his imprisonment and the ostracization of his family in the small town. Clocking in at three hours, the film’s a quiet meditation on what it means to stand on principle and accept the consequences. HBO. –Genevie Durano

It shouldn’t work: a fish-out-of-water comedy about an American college football coach (Jason Sudeikis) recruited to coach an English Premier League soccer team, based on a series of NBC Sports commercials, screening on Apple’s afterthought of a streaming service. Yet this goodnatured, unassuming comedy is one of the best shows of this long, frustrating year. Instead of playing Lasso as an oblivious Yank, Sudeikis finds a balance of optimism, smarts and old-fashioned decency in the character. He lifts up the team, and the viewer, too. AppleTV+. –Geoff Carter

COBRA KAI Why is this two-year-old YouTube show suddenly blowing up on Netflix? Is it the constant callbacks to 1984’s Karate Kid, in the form of flashback footage, waves of returning characters (played by their original actors) and cleverly reused dialogue? Or is it the many ’80s references, from obscure hair metal shirts (and accompanying soundtrack) to clips from Iron Eagle? Yes and yes, but Cobra Kai succeeds as more than ironic fan fiction because it has what made the OG film endure: heart. The characters—not just leads Johnny Lawrence (played by William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) but also some of their teenage karate students—are full, flawed humans, working stuff out in ways we wouldn’t have guessed when we tuned in to laugh and reminisce. Netflix. –Spencer Patterson

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Cobr a

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OUR PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

The Most Unwanted Song In 1997, three avant-garde artists surveyed 500 people to learn what kinds of music they hated most. Then they made a song using all those elements: bagpipes, opera, a children’s choir singing about Walmart and more. youtu.be/-gPuH1yeZ08

CONCERT

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS LIVESTREAM The Harrah’s Las Vegas headliners—Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bill Medley and his singing partner since 2016, Bucky Heard—opened an exciting new series of livestream concerts produced at the Space this week and also became the first big-name act on the Strip to take the show online during the pandemic. But this pay-per-view event, returning Wednesdays throughout the month, is something new built for the times, a nostalgic trip through the epic musical journey of The Righteous Brothers from their 1964 breakthrough, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” through the Phil Spector and Verve Records eras and beyond. Expect storytelling and special guests along the way. September 16, 23 & 30, 6 p.m., $30. TheSpaceLV.com or Events.BroadwayWorld.com. –Brock Radke

MUSIC

YELLE: L’ÈRE DU VERSEAU They’ve played Coachella three times, and you’ve still probably never heard of them. French electro-pop duo Julie Budet and Jean-François “GrandMarnier” Perrier have been making incandescent, dopamine-boosting music since 2005, when MySpace featured breakout single “Je Veux te Voir.” Despite singing solely in French, Yellehas built a worldwide fanbase with its futuristic melodies and bright rhythms. If you’ve been feeling down lately, new album L’Ère du Verseau—the pair’s first in six years—is ready to lift your mood. –Leslie Ventura

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CAMPING OUT

(Clockwise from top left) Wolf, Jam Poet, Beverly Chillz, CC Elise, Reese Darko and A.D Poet (Connie Anne Santos/Courtesy)

Singer Beverly Chillz gathers Vegas musicians in a time of uncertainty BY LESLIE VENTURA

f you’re a musician in Las Vegas, chances are times have been tough lately. The statewide closure of music venues due to the pandemic has made the live shows all but nonexistent, leaving the future of the concert industry hazy at best. Local singer Beverly Chillz noted that those conditions were affecting his friends—other Vegas-based artists and musicians without jobs or a platform from which to perform. Other cities have grants available, but, “We don’t really have that,” Chillz says. “I wanted to focus on my community, my homies,” he continues. “I’m struggling as well, and I can only imagine people with kids who are artists, who are not making anything or receiving any relief but are still putting out beautiful content and trying to make the best of their situation through their art.” Out of Chillz’s thought process, a seed was planted. What if he could get artists together for a weeklong summer camp, where performance artists not learn not only about mindfulness and leadership, but how better to take care of themselves and their communi-

ty? What if he turned the pandemic’s downtime into a teaching moment—or, as he puts it, “elevate their souls and their craft?” From that idea Camp Chillz was born—an interactive, five-day experience for artists, made by artists. “The turnaround has been crazy,” Chillz says, adding that the entire project was done on a “zero dollar” budget. “Our videographer has 40 hours to go through and flip it, so we’re definitely in the learning process, tech-wise.” The first iteration of Camp Chillz hosted six campers and a variety of workshops, with professional camp leaders ranging from local herbalists to Cirque du Soleil performers. Camp Chillz wrapped up on September 4, and video from the week’s workshops can be accessed online with a donation at campchillz.org. In the video, campers attend classes like Yoga for Leaders and learn how to make tea blends that are known to be healthy for vocal cords. “As an artist, I need to take care of my body,” Chillz says. “Alcohol dries out your voice, [but] these things

from the earth, you can use to help heal.” “There’s a lot of work that goes into being an artist,” Chillz continues, reflecting on the ways the pandemic has thrown everyone a bit off course. “The business of art is almost a business of one’s self. Do we slip and fall behind, or do we pick each other up and find a way to create? We’re not going back to gigs as normal, and I think this is a rare opportunity for us to reinvent the wheel.” Community work is an important part of Camp Chillz, too. While lunch was catered by two Blackowned local restaurants, Simply Pure and the Vintage Vegan Diner, campers also volunteered at Vegas Community Roots Garden to help landscape and pull weeds. The next camp is tentatively scheduled for sometime this fall and is only open to artists, but Chillz says he’s playing with the idea of a daylong bootcamp open to all, artist or not. “I’m excited to grow from here,” Chillz says. “I think there’s so much more room for growth and cool fun things that we can offer in the future.”

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“Sift,” 30” x 25” 35”, Photography, 2017

ART IS EVERYWHERE With its virtual “residencies,” Rogers Art Loft offers a new kind of cultural connection BY C. MOON REED

t could have been another victim of the global pandemic. Since debuting in 2019, the Rogers Art Loft residency has invited artists from around the world to make art in Downtown Las Vegas. For up to eight weeks, selected artists get to live in the Lucy complex at 6th Street and Bonneville Avenue and produce exhibitions and talks at Downtown’s Rogers Studio Gallery. The stated mission is for “inclusivity, originality and empowerment of artists.” The unstated side benefit is for community, culture and a creative cross-pollination. It’s a chance for artists to experience the best of Las Vegas and for locals to experience the best artists. All these community connections are just the types of things we’ve been warned against for our safety. But rather than canceling the residency, the Rogers Art Loft has gone virtual. “I think it’s really important that we all continue to support artists to make work during the pandemic,” says Rogers Art Loft program director and artist Ryan Reid.

Reid works alongside artist and residency manager Lance L. Smith to make sure the “virtual format works well.” The Rogers Studio Gallery is now a simulated space that viewers can explore online. “We’re able to virtually hang artwork on the walls and people can ‘walk through’ it online and see the work that the artist has made throughout their residency,” Reid says. The team is also planning a retrospective of the first cohort of Rogers resident artists to be presented in December. The new format started earlier

this summer with British artist and scholar Gemma Marmalade. In June, she staged a “telephonic performance” called “VODA,” in which she invited the public to call a phone number and seek advice. It lasted 12 hours and consisted of 63 calls and 27 conversations. It was complete with “hold music” composed for the piece by Antonio Zee. And unlike IRL art shows, this virtual one lives forever online. Explore Marmalade’s virtual studio at rogersartloft.com/ voda/gemmamarmalade. Latinx interdisciplinary artist

Daniel Melo Morales is the September artist-in-resident of the Rogers Art Loft. While he’ll be spending his residency at his home in San Francisco, Morales had been looking forward to “in-person meetings and programming.” He says he normally comes away from residencies having made new friends and connections with other artists and potential collaborators. While that may be more difficult from a different state, Morales hopes to do the same this time. “Once the virus arrived, I started to think through, ‘How do I get

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“nette,” 58” x 43”, Photography, 2018

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“Regeneración,” 30” x 20”, Photography, 2017

Once the virus arrived, I started to think through, ‘How do I get around this? How do I actually make a connection with people?’” –Daniel Melo Morales

(All photos courtesy Daniel Melo Morales)

around this? How do I actually make residency now includes an Instagram a connection with people?’” says Motakeover (September 11-18). “I’m rales, an artist who specializes going to use the opportunity in the medium of sound. to share insights into my To create a physical conpractice, share artists and nection with Las Vegas thinkers and musicians ROGERS ART LOFT audiences, Morales plans and things that I think rogersartloft.com to “experiment pedaare interesting,” Morales instagram.com/ gogically” by sending says of his planned rogersartloft readings and surprises takeover. via snail mail. (Register His residency also for free at rogersartloft.com.) includes a virtual studio visit He’s tweaking his plans to (September 10 at 2 p.m.) and a foster as much of a connection with culminating performance (Septemviewers as possible. For example, the ber 25 at 7 p.m.).

Art into the future The Rogers Art Loft recently announced its artists-in-residence for 2021. Depending on COVID-19 safety issues, the residencies will either be in person or virtual. Future artists include: ■ Performance artist and Reading Rainbow alum Zhiwan Cheung ■ Musicians Christopher Salvito and Nicoletta Favari of Passepartout Duo ■ Off-Broadway playwright, director and librettist Anton Dudley ■ Saxophonist and composer Jean Fineberg ■ Sculptor, artist and writer Susannah Bielak ■ Multidisciplinary and performance artist Mitsu Salmon ■ Creator, writer and performer Mariana Newhard

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SONG FROM THE SIREN

What inspires actor, Cirque performer and avant-garde vocalist Dina Emerson? BY GEOFF CARTER

f you’ve seen Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère or O sometime in the past 20 years, odds are good you heard Dina Emerson’s gorgeous, haunting mezzo-soprano voice soaring over the acrobatics. But her siren song reaches further than that. The endlessly versatile performer—who came to Las Vegas from Santa Barbara, by way of New York City—has done lots of Downtown work, too. She’s performed several shows with Majestic Repertory, including its recent genre-busting (and safely distanced) Majestic Drive-Thru Theatre series, and gave some of her magic to Vegas Theatre Company’s Men on Boats. At one key moment in that gender-flipped dark comedy, Emerson simply hummed an improvised tune—a character beat pulled directly from the script—and transported those raucous proceedings into the realm of the ethereal.

Currently homebound and, like too many of us, between paying gigs, Emerson talked to the Weekly about her “sandwich” of Cirque engagements, experimenting with her talents and why she’s sticking with Vegas.

have an easy time technically. … Very few people are born being able to do something technically amazing without practicing. But then, when you really get somewhere, it seems like you didn’t have to practice. It’s like this fantastic illusion.

How did you become a singer? Were you born with it? I would say no, I was not born with this voice. I was a theater person, an actor, and I had one of those crazy transformative experiences when I was a teenager, when I heard my high school choir do a concert in the old mission. We had a genius choir director who could get a sound out of these crazy teenagers that you just couldn’t even believe. And my whole life just went, whaaaat? I have to sing. And I worked really, really hard for many years trying to develop the ability to sing, and I didn’t

Who have been some of the biggest influences on your creativity? There are two avant-garde vocalists who completely made me who I am: Meredith Monk, who I worked with in New York, and Diamanda Galás. I don’t know if your readers will know those two, but I would say look them up. They’re the two pillars of my whole journey as a vocalist. Who fires you up locally? I really love what Troy [Heard] is doing at Majestic, what he’s doing with immersive theater. I’m super into that now. I love

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Dina Emerson in the Lab’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Concert Fantastic at Super Summer Theatre (Richard Brusky/Courtesy)

(Levi Walker/Courtesy)

to write a 30-minute show that’s like a 30-minute audio trip. You would put it on your phone or device, with your own earphones; then you would go to wherever the location is, which would be outside, and you could see the live elements [of the show] from far away. It’s kind of like a movie soundtrack, except that you’re going to see something live, but safely. I’m writing that now for the fall, when it’s cooler and we can go outside again (laughs). Do you have a treasured memory of your time with Cirque? In 2000, I got the job to replace the singer at O for six months. I had never been to Las Vegas. When I got here, it was 95 degrees and I didn’t know what the heck was going on. And the first thing that they do is give you a ticket to sit in a really good seat in the theater and watch the show. If you’ve ever seen O, you know that the beginning is spectacularly mind-blowing. I was sitting there watching that happen, and I thought, what have I gotten myself into? I had done a lot of work, but this was so extravagantly magical. I felt this overwhelming sense of wonder and happiness.

What kind of Las Vegas do you hope to see when this crisis has passed? What should we be doing now to make a solid post-COVID future? Well, I don’t know if any help is going to come from our state government, but the local venues that have live performance need help so badly—any kind of support, to get them through to whenever we can gather again. And I don’t know where it would come from, but what I would really like is to see more creative music happening here. That’s the one thing I feel is really missing, because there’s great bands, classical music and EDM or whatever, but what we don’t seem to have is artsy, weird music; people really just experimenting. … Perhaps when Meow Wolf gets going—that kind of hybrid stuff is what they’re known for. But you still believe in Vegas; that hasn’t changed. Yes. When I first came to town 20 years ago, it was supposed to be for six months, and then it ended up being two years, and then 20 years. I never, ever thought that this would be where I would put roots, but I’m completely in love with Las Vegas now. I want to be a part of anything that makes this a great place to be.

Dina Emerson

how he’s trying to pivot during this time and just figure out something that we can do that’s not Zoom (laughs). And I’m really excited by RADAR, what Brent [Holmes] and those guys have been doing. When RADAR was still happening live, I’d go all the time; it was so great. They could just do anything in real time. I’ve actually done some soundtracks for Brent recently; I’m getting into sound design now. Is that how you’ve you kept yourself occupied during the pandemic? Yeah. I’ve always been a bit obsessed with how sound can tell a story—which is typical sound designer-speak—but I never actually learned how to use the equipment or the software very well. So now, I’ve been getting tutoring from somebody in Logic, and I’m learning how to actually put my ideas into an audio landscape. I have a plan

Emerson in Vegas Theatre Company’s Men on Boats (Richard Brusky/Courtesy)

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GAME ON!

Let these local chefs help you ‘homegate’ this NFL season BY GENEVIE DURANO

ust because we can’t watch our new hometown NFL team, the Raiders, at the brand-new Allegiant Stadium in person this season doesn’t mean we can’t take part in the time-honored sports tradition of tailgating—or, in these social distancing times, homegating. Las Vegas Weekly asked local chefs to share their favorite recipes, so you, too, can cook up a winning feast for game day.

Vegas Raiders Dog Ingredients ■ 1/4 hot dog, wrapped in bacon ■ 1 cup mac and cheese ■ 1 jalapeño Method: Dice jalapeño, and mix with mustard of your choice. Wrap hot dog in bacon and put on grill or griddle. Cook completely. Place in bun with jalapeño and mustard on both sides. Top with mac and cheese. Shove it in your face!

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

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Cory Harwell

(Eugene Dela Cruz, OneSevenAgency/Courtesy)

Chef & owner, Carson Kitchen

“One of the best things about the Raiders moving to Las Vegas is we get a fresh start with a new football team. As Las Vegas Raiders fans, we’re able to create our own traditions as we go along,” Harwell says. “For a great tailgate, food, fun, booze and music are all mandatory. Enjoy delicious food, play some games, throw the football around, make cocktails or pop open your favorite beers and jam out to music. For me, tailgating is about celebrating your team, your city and each other.”

White Sangria Courtesy chef John Alers, The Front Yard

John Alers

Executive chef, The Front Yard at Ellis Island

For tailgating, Alers says he’ll usually serve up a whole roasted pig or break out the smoker and do a smoked brisket or pulled pork. “Also, someone needs to bring the Jamonade, the Jameson cocktail we created for tailgating,” he says. “Good friends, good food and some fans that like to push boundaries of having a good time with a little trash talking” are the other elements that make for a great game day.

Elote Dip Ingredients ■ 2 cups frozen corn kernels ■ 6 oz cream cheese ■ 1 tbsp Tajin ■ 1 tsp granulated garlic

■ 1/4 tsp cumin ■ 2 oz sour cream ■ 1 tbsp Cholula Hot Sauce ■ 2 tbsp queso fresco

Method: Place all ingredients in large metal mixing bowl and mix with spatula. Serve cold or heat on stove in pan to 150 degrees. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

(Front Yard photos courtesy Ellis Island)

Ingredients ■ 3 limes (thinly sliced into rounds) ■ 3 lemons (thinly sliced into rounds) ■ 3 oranges (thinly sliced into rounds) ■ 1/4 cup Orange Vodka ■ 1 750 ml bottle dry, crisp white wine (Pinot Grigio or Moscato) Method: Mix all items, put in refrigerator and strain fruit for 24 hours. Serve over fresh Ice and garnish with fresh cherry, orange, lemon and lime.

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Quinton Carter Founder, Big Jerk Caribbean

Carter has actually never been tailgating, but that’s understandable. The former Denver Bronco had other things to do on game day. “My experience has been watching people setting up days before and spend time with friends, the sounds and the smells and the carnival vibe. I think it’s so important to create that energy,” he says. And as for what makes a great tailgate party, now that he owns a popular Caribbean jerk joint? “I would say great food—I think that’s the point! I think you also need some good fan gear and a love for the sport, and good unity— fans from both teams should be getting together to share a plate.”

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Curry Rice for a Crowd Ingredients ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1 oz vegetable oil 2 tbsp curry powder 1 medium diced carrot 1 tbsp minced ginger 2 tbsp minced garlic 1 minced habanero pepper

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

2 minced shallots 2 tbsp salt 2 tbsp pepper 4 cups rice 4 thyme stems 8 cups coconut milk

Method: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Once simmering, add curry powder, carrots, ginger, garlic, habanero, shallots, salt, pepper and rice. Toast rice with the vegetables, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. Once you can smell the toasted rice, add coconut milk and thyme and stir on low heat until pot comes to a boil. Stir again and cover, cook on low until rice is tender, approximately 90 minutes. Remove thyme stems before serving.

Bruce Kalman

Chef & owner, SoulBelly

“I love cooking chicken legs, burgers, brats and ribs, along with some seasonal vegetable sides. My wife makes this killer sweet corn casserole that people salivate over,” Kalman says. To round out a memorable tailgate party, add great beverages and some fun activities for friends. “I love outdoor activities like cornhole and horseshoes, and of course some killer tunes.” (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

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(Distill/Courtesy)

Jeff McCarthy Chef, Distill

“I have several great memories of tailgating outside of Sam Boyd Stadium during all the home games. The rivalries made for some friendly competition and great expectations for an intense football game. I cannot wait to tailgate again with my family and friends,” McCarthy says. For him, a great tailgate includes a spacious outdoor area with a lot of room for cornhole and drinking games, along with space for cooking, grilling and even smoking meats. “Another key element is the people—friends, family and fans getting together to show their team pride while digging into some great food and having an amazing time.”

Smoked Brisket Ingredients ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

6 lbs beef brisket 1 tbsp yellow mustard 1/4 cup dark brown sugar 3/4 cup paprika 2 tbsp chipotle chili powder

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1/4 cup black pepper 2 tbsp garlic powder 1/4 cup salt 2 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp cayenne pepper

Method: Trim fat cap on brisket to about 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch. Coat brisket lightly with yellow mustard. Mix sugar and spices together to form rub, then apply it to both sides of meat. Place brisket in preheated 194-to-205-degree smoker until meat reaches internal temperature of 185 to 195 degrees, about 1 1/2 hours per pound. Once internal temperature is reached, remove brisket from smoker and allow it to rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

Chicken with Chipotle Cider Glaze Ingredients ■ 4 tbsp 90/10 olive/canola blend ■ 4 tbsp chipotle in adobo (pureed) ■ 1 cup fresno chile (stems and seeds removed, sliced) ■ 1/3 cup red onions (julienned) ■ 3 sprigs thyme (tied together) ■ 1 tbsp kosher salt ■ 2/3 cup granulated sugar ■ 1 quart apple cider vinegar ■ 3 cups honey Method: In a medium sauce pot, combine first six ingredients. Cook over medium heat, about 10 minutes. Add sugar until completely dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add vinegar and honey, and reduce to a thin glaze consistency, about 15 minutes. Remove thyme bundle and transfer to blender; blend on high until smooth. Let cool.

For the chicken ■ 12 chicken drumsticks ■ 1 tbsp olive oil ■ 2 tbsp kosher salt ■ 1 tbsp ground black pepper Method: Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients, and coat chicken evenly. Transfer to baking sheet, and roast until chicken reaches internal temperature of 150F, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and coat chicken well with glaze. Cook on grill to crisp skin and get some char; continue to brush with glaze. When chicken reaches internal temperature of 165F, remove from grill and dip in glaze for final coating.

(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

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Pandemic has forced many businesses to pivot, if they’re able to remain open

BY BRYAN HORWATH nder normal circumstances, employees for A&G Studio would be doing business with some of the most recognized gaming and advertising companies in Las Vegas. The small creative firm—which does video shoots, radio voice-overs, social media content and animation—has had to change the way it does business to stay relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The big productions, those $40,000 or $60,000 video shoots, have gone away,” said Gustavo Simon-Lopez, owner of A&G. “People are advertising less. Companies have had to lay people off. I’ve had big clients that have laid off 50% of their staff.” Some of A&G’s largest clients—Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming, which owns M Resort and the Tropicana—have been hit hard by the pandemic, like many Southern Nevada businesses have, large and small. In mid-March, Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered all casinos in the state to close to help slow the spread of COVID-19, a mandate that lasted until early June. Some properties, like the Tropicana, remain closed with no scheduled reopening. Normally a region that attracts more than 40 million visitors annually, Southern Nevada has been in the economic doldrums for months, and the situation isn’t likely to improve soon. That has impacted small business that provide services for conventions, weddings and more. Alex Barnett, co-owner of a Las Vegas high-end catering business called Cut and Taste, said he’s also had to adjust his business model to survive. A majority of its business is corporate catering. “We would do anywhere from 100 people to 20,000 people, but nobody’s traveling here now, so we’ve completely changed what we do,” Barnett said. Cut and Taste now rents out its building on East

Pama Lane for smaller get-togethers and parties, usually anywhere from 15 to 40 people, Barnett said. Cut and Taste is also selling premade meals that customers simply have to heat up. “Some companies come in and use our kitchen, and that helps to offset our mortgage,” Barnett said. “We’ve figured out a system right now that’s going to get us by, but we also see that business is starting to pick up a little,” Barnett said. Rex Miller, CEO of longtime Las Vegas events and weddings firm Destinations by Design, said he doesn’t expect the company’s pre-pandemic business model to be viable without a proven vaccine for

COVID-19 in play. “We serve Fortune 500 businesses on down. They’re not going to come to Las Vegas and bring a large amount of people until they feel satisfied that they’re not going to be exposed to liability issues,” Miller said. “At the same time, our feeling is that people are starving for human contact. They’ve had enough of Zoom calls. When we do get [a vaccine], it’s going to be a huge party.” As with so many other small businesses in Las Vegas, the trick is to outlast the pandemic, either by using existing resources or switching things up. For Destinations by Design, survival has meant cutting back on personnel. Miller said he knows that many small businesses around town have had to pivot in order to stay afloat, though he said it’s not that easy for a company that specializes in putting on large events. “There’s some things you can do, but you’re limited,” Miller said. “I think the Strip hotels are in the same boat. They’re not internet-based companies; they have hard assets. Especially in the event arena, you can’t duplicate the experience of a live event.” A Las Vegas resident since 2005, Simon-Lopez said he and his family have grown to love the area. He said he understands the pain and loss some small-business owners have felt this year. “I know a guy who had to close a dance studio,” he said. “Another friend had a small bar. They didn’t make it. Some of these businesses had only two or three months of capital. It’s sad to see, because it’s a great town, but maybe it’s a chance to reinvent what Las Vegas looks like.”

A&G Studio owner Gustavo Simon-Lopez (Steve Marcus/Staff)

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VegasInc Notes Dowling Aaron, a full-service law firm with four offices throughout California, will merge with Fennemore Craig, which has six offices in Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada, creating a firm with 350 lawyers and allied legal professionals to be called Fennemore Craig Dowling Aaron, effective Oct. 1. Key practice areas include agribusiness, water law, business and finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, construction, health care, business litigation, tax, trusts and estate planning, corporate, bankruptcy, natural resources and environmental, ERISA and benefits, intellectual property, labor relations and employment law, and emerging business. Two Nevada attorneys, Tisha Black and James Wadhams, partnered to form a new statewide law firm called Black Black & Wadhams Attorneys at Law, which has experience in establishing, protecting and defending businesses in Nevada. From complex business transac- Wadhams tions, acquisitions and mergers to “bet the company” business litigation, the firm has experience in business law and provides

services and solutions for its clients that span legislative and regulatory advocacy. Trosper Public Relations was awarded two Gold Hermes Creative Awards. The firm was recognized in the marketing materials category for the Henderson Professional Fire Fighters’ Safe Pools Rule! 2020 summer safety campaign collateral, as well as Gardner Companies’ UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park’s 2020 marketing brochure. Additionally, Trosper received a 2020 Videographer Award - Award of Distinction for its production capturing the grand opening event for the research and technology park. NuSpine Chiropractic hired Tirzah Garner as clinic coordinator for the Green Valley location. Garner brings nearly 10 years of experience Garner in sales and customer service and specializes in membership sales and marketing. In addition, she has 18 years of experience in group fitness and training. Six workforce development professionals from Workforce Connections, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and the Vegas Chamber were certified by the national organization ACT as job profilers, including Jake McClelland, LVGEA; Celia Rouse, Stavan Corbett, Robbie DeBuff and

Carol Polke, Workforce Connections; and George Hempe, Vegas Chamber. This specialized and data-driven training will allow these professionals to help local employers hire the right person the first time. The new job profilers are part of Nevada’s Work Ready Community initiative aimed at connecting employers to a ready workforce. Acoustic Design Systems hired Anjali Winther and Jeff Sutherland as the company’s first commercial business development Winther manager and residential business development manager, respectively. Winther will work to grow the company’s Sutherland commercial division, which serves commercial property organizations, multifamily and HOA associations, builders and more. Sutherland will establish and maintain relationships with production and custom homebuilders, generate new business and foster existing business relationships. Sunrise Health System, part of the HCA Healthcare Far West Division, including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, announced all four locations were recipients of various Healthgrades 2020 Five Star and Excellence Awards for women’s care. All 13 of the awards fall into two main categories—obstetrics and gynecology, and labor and

delivery. Both categories recognize Sunrise for exceptional clinical outcomes while caring for women during labor and immediately after delivery of their newborn, as well as women undergoing gynecologic procedures. Healthgrades is an online health care information resource connecting almost 1 million patients daily with physicians and hospitals. Madison Blau BenShimon was honored by Realtor Magazine and the National Association of Realtors as one of their Blau BenShimon 30 Under 30 in the nation. Blau BenShimon works as a member of the Ivan Sher Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Nevada Properties, based primarily in the firm’s Summerlin office. She has closed more than $56 million in real estate transactions during her career, including more than $19 million during 2019. Prime Trust, an open-banking financial solutions provider, announced the addition of more than 30 new employees and executives, including Tom Pageler as president and chief operating officer. Pageler will be responsible for all operations and guide the company. The company’s C-team now includes the following executives: George Georgiades, general counsel; Kevin Lehtiniitty, chief product officer; Stephen Cheng, chief compliance officer; Amanda Ortega, chief of regulatory affairs; Rodrigo Vicuna, chief financial officer; Tiago Requeijo, certified data analyst; Alec Gorge, chief technology officer; Melissa Laci, head of product for Banq; Tom Brandle, chief

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information security officer; and Kati Vue, vice president operations. Sun Commercial Real Estate welcomed Samuel Rudd to the company and promoted Alexandria Malone. Rudd will Rudd serve as the vice president of operations and brings over 20 years of operations management experience in commercial real estate lending and Malone portfolio management, small business portfolio management, risk analysis, asset recovery and contract review. Malone has been promoted to an associate. She joined Sun Commercial in 2019 as a transaction coordinator on the investment services group and brings with her experience in marketing, client management and business development. Nevada State College was recognized as one the safest four-year colleges in America, according to Niche. com’s 2020 Safest College Campuses in America. The college ranked 19th out of 1,362 colleges and universities. The ranking is based on key statistics and student reviews by using data from the U.S. Department of Education. The survey considered several factors, including campus crime rate, local crime grade, alcohol-related arrests, drug-related arrests and more. The school recently implemented the State Safe mobile safety app, which allows students access to multiple University Police services.

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“GIFTS OF THE YEAR” BY FRANK LONGO

HOROSCOPES

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 10 BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your willpower is even more potent than usual, and your willingness to change is growing stronger. Very soon now, I expect you’ll reach the threshold that enables you to act crisply and forcefully, and you’ll just naturally instigate transformation. Adjust, adapt, improvise, improve! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the coming weeks, you’re likely to be in the flow: that is, be completely absorbed in what you’re doing. You could get into a flow playing video games or doing sudoku puzzles, but I’d prefer it if you’ll devote those times to working on a labor of love or a highly worthy quest. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Re-imagine your life story so it has more positive spins. Re-envision the plot threads so that redemption and rebirth are major features. Engage in a playful reworking of your memories so that the epic myth of your destiny serves your future happiness and success. CANCER (June 21-July 22): All of us are susceptible to lying to ourselves, and to the cowardice that such self-sabotage generates. But in the coming weeks, you Cancerians will have an expansive capacity to dissolve and rise above self-deception—and will therefore be able to call on a great deal of courage. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do you want sudden bursts of joy for no apparent reasons? What about a message from the future about how to acquire more stability and security? Everything I just named will be possible in the coming weeks—especially if you formulate a desire to receive them. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. Give yourself all those permissions in the coming weeks—as well as others that enhance your freedom. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Since I expect you to be at the peak of your soulful intelligence in the coming weeks, I am quite sure that life will be exquisitely mysterious to you. It’s true that some of its enigmatic qualities may be murky and frustrating, but I suspect that many of them will be magical and delightful.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 First scale syllables 7 Gripping tool 11 Arid expanse in Mongolia 15 Move like a grasshopper 19 “Not Afraid” rapper 20 Affirmation of self-ability 21 De-wrinkle 22 Giant fair 23 Stocks and shares [1st] 25 Stand-up comedian Richard 26 Super serves 27 Low digit 28 Play starter 29 American robin’s close relative [5th] 31 Figure on a kid’s toy battleground [10th] 35 Revolutionary War mercenaries 36 Wed. follows it 37 Yellow-disked flower 39 ’Zine 40 Canon camera line 43 Rapping noise 47 She sang “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” [15th] 51 Online selling 52 Driver’s license, SSN, etc. 55 Determined to accomplish 56 Living space 57 1988-91 war drama series [20th] 60 Earth’s heater 61 Bluegrass fiddler Alison 62 Longtime ISP option 63 Laundry receptacle 65 &&&&

66 “Hey, over here ...” 68 Tree of eastern North America [25th] 72 Lid fastener 76 Infamous Idi 78 Very small minority 80 Mineral spring 81 Taxi driver 84 Angry 87 Small, pungent pickling vegetable [30th] 89 Player’s top effort, informally 90 Literary leaf 92 Part of IPA 93 Slow a car down 94 Dorothy’s magical shoes [40th] 97 Filleted 99 Cough up 100 Low digit 101 Rapscallion 104 PC key abbr. 105 Daughter of JFK 109 Half-million-selling album [50th] 114 Mae West play [60th] 116 “Dies —” (hymn) 117 Dog coater 118 “Eso Beso” singer Paul 119 Revered sort 120 Occasion associated with the starts of 10 answers in this puzzle 124 Salt Lake City NCAA team 125 Soothe 126 Profit 127 Actor Steven 128 Work honcho 129 Deli breads 130 Possesses 131 Attractive

DOWN 1 Bus station 2 Neighbor of a Yemeni 3 Get mature 4 Ending for propyl 5 Sea, to Henri 6 “— big boy now” 7 Glutinous 8 Cold drink, informally 9 Like biting writing 10 U.S. Navy off. 11 Toy for a boy, traditionally 12 Longtime cookies 13 Bail provider 14 Part of IPO 15 Find out 16 “How rude!” 17 Gorillas, e.g. 18 Opulent 24 Tearful 29 “As a matter of fact, I do!” 30 Hollow-eyed 32 Sully 33 Ban 34 Grazing area 38 Near-grads: Abbr. 41 Part of 122-Down 42 Beholds 43 Quick review 44 Eldest Musketeer 45 Kite features 46 Has a link (with) 48 Actor Erwin 49 Whole lot 50 Disconcert 53 Author Roald 54 1976-81 skit series 58 Sink bowl 59 Color shade 61 Get down to propose 64 “It’s freezing!” Filmmaker Hitch65 cock

67 Singer Wynette 69 See 70-Down 70 With 69-Down, tourist’s printed guide 71 Ring, as bells 73 Nepali, e.g. 74 Said words 75 Sectioned, as a window 77 Conductor 79 Teeter 81 Be a kvetch 82 Juan’s water 83 Sweetums 84 Swabby’s tool 85 High mount 86 Semi fuel 88 College org. for sailors-to-be 90 Occasion for unrestricted amusement 91 Tolkien terror 95 More silly 96 Eastern Michigan city 98 Corn serving 102 “Top o’ the — to ya!” 103 Prairies, e.g. 106 Accrue 107 “Victory is yours” 108 Brother on “Frasier” 110 Actor Patel of Lion 111 No longer a minor 112 Countryish 113 In a deadpan manner 114 Smear on, as paint 115 Crazy about 120 Past 121 PC key abbr. 122 Speed Wagon maker 123 Golfer Snead

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I sold my soul to the devil,” actor Aubrey Plaza once bragged. But that won’t work for you. Diabolical influences that may seem tempting will not serve your interests—and may even sabotage them. Besides, more benevolent forces will be available to you, and at a better price. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many of you Sagittarians specialize in generous breakthroughs and invigorating leaps of truth. If this phenomenon shows up in the coming weeks—and I suspect it might—please take strenuous measures to ensure that you register the fullness of your own accomplishments. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel wrote, “When you die and go to heaven, our maker is not going to ask, ‘why didn’t you discover the cure for such and such? Why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ‘why didn’t you become you?’” I hope that serves as a stimulating challenge for you, Capricorn. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The coming months will be prime time for you to build your intimate and unique relationship with God rather than with institutions that have formulaic notions about who and what God is. Similarly, You’ll thrive by drawing energy from actual sources and firsthand experiences rather than from systems and ideologies that supposedly represent those sources and experiences. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “The function of dreams is to restore our psychological balance by producing dream material that re-establishes the total psychic equilibrium.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you especially need this kind of action right now. Meditate on what aspects of your life might have become too extreme or one-sided. Where could you apply compensatory energy to establish better equipoise?

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