ASTONISHING. UNPREDICTABLE. MIND-BENDING. Omega Mart is an immersive interactive experience from groundbreaking art collective, Meow Wolf. Featuring jaw-dropping work from international and local artists, Omega Mart sends participants of all ages on a journey through surreal worlds and immersive storytelling. Discover secret portals or simply soak up the innovative art as you venture beyond an extraordinary supermarket into parts unknown.
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EDITORIAL
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SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring Deadmau5, Los Bukis, Shamir, Too Short, Banks and more.
18 30 32 34 36 COVER STORY
Going back to school, and focusing on mental health, NSC’s growth in a time of contraction and Downtown’s unique new campus.
ON THE COVER
NOISE
P-Funk and Fishbone play the Amp, with an assist from one of the most interesting acts on the bill, Fantastic Negrito.
BACK TO SCHOOL Photo Illustration/ Shutterstock
NIGHTS
Talking with Deorro about his renewed passion for dance music and his latest album, Orro.
COMEDY
From CraftHaus Brewery to the House of Blues, Zane Lamprey is spreading laughs across the Vegas Valley.
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FOOD & DRINK Nellie’s Southern Kitchen from the family that brought you … the Jonas Brothers? Plus, the northwest’s new beer mecca.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo is making waves for more than his merch-friendly name.
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SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 11 AUG.
MUSIC
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S U P E R G U I D E
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
MISC
ALONG THE COLORADO Nevada Humanities has a gift for seeing around corners. While the nonprofit arts organization plans out its gallery shows years in advance, they arrive at the precise moment they’re needed. For example: Margaret, Are You Grieving, a mixed media group show about confronting loss, opened at the start of the COVID shutdowns in February 2020. But there’s something almost unnerving about the timeliness with which Along the Colorado—another mixed media group show, first proposed by curator Sapira Cheuk two years ago—settles into Nevada Humanities’ Downtown gallery for a two-month run: Though Lake Mead’s water level has been steadily declining for years, it has only recently appeared at the top of the headlines. “Now, you can click on any of the news outlets and see the sunken boats sticking out of the water,” says Nevada Humanities’ program manager Bobbie Ann Howell. “We can’t see the future, but we like to talk about those issues that will affect [Southern Nevadans] … to connect to the community through topics that might be engaging to them, and to do that in a way that could be art or poetry or journalism or photography.” In that vein, Along the Colorado employs paintings, video and other forms of media to consider that fattening “bathtub ring,” and the effect those dwindling waters will have on the seven states that depend on the Colorado River for survival—not just in terms of their relationship to the river, but in their relationships with their western neighbors. Show contributors include Jess Benjamin, Patrick Kikut, Cody Perry, Sean D. Russell, Cliff Segerblom, Jen Urso and others—including Cheuk herself, whose method incorporates Chinese Sumi painting techniques. The show is viewable by appointment Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., with September 2 set aside for nonappointment viewing from 1 to 9 p.m. Hopefully, the waters won’t drop too much more before then. Through September 28, free, Nevada Humanities, nevadahumanities.org. –Geoff Carter A video still from Alexander Heilner’s piece in Along the Colorado (Courtesy)
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. CHICAGO SKY 7 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. CHRISTIAN SMITH 10 p.m., Commonwealth, seetickets.us.
DEADMAU5 With Zen Freeman, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. (Photo Courtesy/Zouk) WORSHIP THURSDAY SNEAKER FORMAL 10:30 p.m., Tao Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
THE HEROINE With Big Like Texas, 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite.com. BRIAN GIBSON: AUTOMATISCHE NARR Thru 8/14, the Cube, thecubelv.com. MEGALODON With Gawm, High Zombie, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.
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FRIDAY 12 AUG.
DIPLO 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. ZANE LAMPREY 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com. KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 8/13, Resorts World Theatre, ticket master.com.
RED LOTUS SAKE TASTING & DINNER 4:30 p.m., Tropicana, ticketmaster.com.
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JOHN LEGEND 8 p.m., & 8/13, 8/17, Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.
RICK ROSS 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.
BILLY CURRINGTON 8 p.m., Red Rock Sandbar, ticket master.com.
KILL THE NOISE 8 p.m., Hard Rock Live, seetickets.us.
JIM JEFFERIES 10 p.m., & 8/13, Mirage Theatre, mirage.mgmresorts. com.
CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY Noon, Élia Beach Club, eliabeachlv.com.
LINDSAY GLAZER 7:30 p.m., & 8/13, Wiseguys, vegas. wiseguyscomedy.com. THIRD EYE BLIND With Taking Back Sunday, Hockey Dad, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com. ILLENIUM 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.
LIONEL RICHIE 8 p.m., & 8/13, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. LOUIS THE CHILD With DJ Ruckus, 10 p.m. Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. STRIPLY SONDHEIM 8 p.m., Fri. & Sat. thru 8/27, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com.
CALAMITY AND JOY With In Theaters Friday, Midnight Clover, The Scorched, 8 p.m., Taverna Costera, eventbrite.com. THE PSYATICS 10 p.m., Huntridge Tavern, huntridgetavern.com. SILK SONIC 9 p.m., & 8/13, 8/16, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com. (Photo Courtesy/ Atlantic Records)
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LOS BUKIS Latin music supergroup Los Bukis was founded in 1976 by cousins Marco Antonio Solís and Joel Solís and recorded 16 chart-topping albums before the band dissolved after 20 years when Marco embarked on a successful solo career. The remaining members continued to perform as Los Mismos (“the same ones”). In 2021, Los Bukis reunited, rereleased its hit “Tú Cárcel,” and announced a four-date tour that was quickly expanded to nine shows. Una Historia Cantada was so successful, the group expanded the tour with 2022 stadium shows across Mexico and the U.S., including this stop in Las Vegas. With a lineup that includes the original Solís cousins, along with Jose Javier Solís, Roberto Guadarrama, Eusebio Cortez and Pedro Sanchez, these shows continue to be billed as the final opportunities U.S. audiences will have to see Los Bukis live. 8 p.m., $20-$680+, Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
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SUPERGUIDE
LAS VEGAS PREMIERE FILM FESTIVAL Thru 8/14, times vary, Galaxy Theatres at Boulevard Mall, eventbrite.com.
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SUPERGUIDE MUSIC
ROB ZOMBIE & MUDVAYNE With Static-X, Powerman 5000, 6 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. (Photo Courtesy/ Travis Shinn)
PARTY
SPORTS
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY COMEDY
SATURDAY 13 AUG.
KASKADE 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com. A-TRAK & FRIENDS 8 p.m., Area15 A-Lot, area15.com. GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC With Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Fishbone, Fantastic Negrito, 5 p.m., the Amp at Craig Ranch Park, etix.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
Rob Zombie
MISC
GIGGLES & GROOVES Ft. Bobby V., J. Holiday, Sunshine Anderson 9 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com. NE-YO 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com. LIL JON 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com. THEORY OF A DEADMAN With Saliva, Fremont Street Experience, 8 p.m., vegas experience.com.
TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgroup.com.
ECHOES OF CULTURE 7 p.m., Winchester Dondero Cultural Center, clarkcountynv.gov.
JOURNEY THROUGH JAPAN 10:30 a.m., Atomic Testing Museum, nationalatomictestingmuseum.org.
LAS CAFETERAS 8 p.m., Water Street Plaza Amphitheater, cityofhenderson.com.
DJ SNAKE 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. MARSHMELLO 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
CLAUDE VONSTROKE 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com. SUBURBAN RESISTANCE With The Dead Dolls, Not for Sale, Lean 13, 8 p.m., the Dive Bar, facebook.com/divebarlv.
CELESTE BARBER 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com. BANKS Ever since her arrival with the 2013 single “Before I Ever Met You,” Banks has been captivating crowds with her eviscerating lyrics, husky voice and writhing basslines. The alt-R&B singer has a talent for effectively delivering emotional tales of heartbreak and the outcast experience. Her fourth studio album, released in April, also embraces that. Serpentina is a 13-track journey about pain and revival, with a lead single, “The Devil,” that speaks to being stronger than the demons that haunt you. The Californian took the stage at Life Is Beautiful in 2019, but this will be her first headlining performance in Las Vegas. With Lauren Jauregui, 7 p.m., $30-$35,
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SUNDAY 14 AUG.
LAS VEGAS ACES VS. SEATTLE STORM Noon, Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com. MAJOR LAZER 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
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LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (PRESEASON) 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com. LUDACRIS 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com. ABOVE & BEYOND 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events. taogroup.com.
SUPERGUIDE
TOO SHORT The rap game wouldn’t be the same without this West Coast OG. Too Short’s hip-hop legacy dates back to the ’80s, when the Oakland hustler used to sell his tapes out of the trunk of his car. Certified gangster anthems and raunchy lyrics dominated those early works, but it was Too Short’s fifth album, Life Is … Too Short, that netted him major commercial success. Rolling Stone named the double-platinum record one of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. Too Short went on to release more than a dozen studio albums, with many memorable singles earning play on the radio and in video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (“The Ghetto”). Make no mistake, this rapper’s got a filthy flow, but he knows how to get a party poppin’ and quick. Noon, $20-$30, Daylight Beach Club, daylightvegas.com. –Amber Sampson
PEACHES 7:30 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com. (Photo Courtesy/ Hadley Hudson)
MONDAY 15 AUG.
MARLON DASOUL 10 a.m., Azilo Ultra Pool, azilolasvegas. com.
MIKE MERRYFIELD Thru 8/21, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegas comedy.com.
DJ SHIFT 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
JACKIE FABULOUS With Mark Cohen, Jackie Fabulous, John Joseph, Ty Barnett, Michael Yo, thru 8/18, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.
ANGELO TSAROUCHAS With Kristeen Von Hagen, Spencer James, thru 8/21, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster. com.
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY 16 AUG.
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NICKY ROMERO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
FRANKIE MORENO 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmith center.com.
TOADFACE With Soundzzz, Sloanwolf, 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussy dtlv.com.
SHAMIR For the uninitiated, here’s a brief history of Shamir: A multi-instrumental, genre-fluid, non-binary singer-songwriter originally from North Las Vegas, the 27-year-old artist born Shamir Bailey broke through at the age of 20 with 2015’s smart, savvy indie dance-pop LP Ratchet. Unhappy with the direction his career was taking, Shamir began fresh as a lo-fi indie talent, entirely rebuilding his sound around his buzzy guitar and his raw, quavering countertenor vocals. Several acclaimed albums later, the now Philadelphia-based Shamir is returning to the Vegas Valley to perform songs from his latest LP, February’s quasi-industrial Heterosexuality. (Shamir has written rock songs, disco songs, country songs; industrial electro is a scarcely surprising turn for someone who’s seemingly exploring every corner of his artistic imagination.) Confused? That’s OK, because when you see Shamir perform live, this twisting, turning narrative locks down. Shamir is just Shamir—his own genre, his own inimitable talent. 9 p.m., $20-$35, the Space, thespacelv.com. –Geoff Carter (Photo Courtesy/Marcus Maddox)
SUPERGUIDE
SPORTS
SILK SONIC AFTERPARTY With Soxxi, Shalvoy, midnight, On the Record, ontherecordlv. com.
S U P E R G U I D E
FOOD + DRINK
WEDNESDAY 17 AUG.
COMEDY
BRAD GARRETT With Michael Somerville, Andy Hendrickson, 8 p.m., thru 8/21, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrettcomedy. com.
DILLON FRANCIS 11 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com. LORENA PERIL 8 p.m., Italian American Club, iacvegas.com.
96 BITTER BEINGS With Howling Giant, Prawn Queen, 8 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite.com.
KIDS AT HEART PARTY With Point.Blank, Autokorekt, Eazley, 10 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.
MISC
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
PABLO CEBALLOS 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
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talk about the significance of her nonprofit’s fourth birthday and its impact thus far.
Monica Garcia reflects on four years of Las Vegas’ Love Yourself Foundation BY SHANNON MILLER
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Why mix arts with mental health? I really believe that art and expression have such a high capacity to help a person in their journey of healing. One thing that we try to achieve at our events, and also in our social media presence, is to do our best, even for the difficult topics, to make it inviting to talk about—just having that safe space, making it feel like it’s safe to share and that [they’re] not alone. Adding the art and music component can add a certain level of lightheartedness to [sad topics]. We can come together in music and experience that feeling together and know that it might be hard right now, but we can get through it. And we have each other. What do you hope people take away from these events and digital content? No matter what, to know that it’s OK to ask for help ... You’re not alone, and things can actually get better … A big
thing that I always like to say, too, is that everyone has a gift, a very special gift that’s unique to them … It’s important for people to believe in themselves, to believe in whatever makes them shine, and to not be afraid to pursue their passions and find their purpose in life.
We can come together in music and experience that feeling together and know that it might be hard right now, but we can get through it.
The first few years after starting a nonprofit can be shaky, when it comes to establishing leadership structure, new operations and funding. Where would you say LYF is in that journey? For nonprofits, it takes about four or five years to be able to have paid staff. … Right now, everything is 100% volunteer, including myself. We would really want to start having paid staff, so we can start building out the programming, start doing more outreach and just grow it more. We’ve got the team, we’ve got the infrastructure, now we need the funds. What’s the secret to building a good team? Our organizational structure follows the holacracy model—more of a team-minded structure. Zappos made this well-known. I like Tony Hsieh’s philosophy when it comes to organizing and creating community within your organizational structure. And I really looked up to that ideology, because I think that’s how people work efficiently—when they feel like the people that they work with care about one another.
(Left) Monica Garcia (Courtesy/Enrique Malfavon); (above) Love Yourself Foundation members (Courtesy/Photo4ThePeople)
WEEKLY Q&A
hether it’s the community’s well being or mental health, positive change has to start with the individual. That was the seed for the Love Yourself Foundation (LYF), which celebrated its fourth anniversary in July. The Las Vegas nonprofit, which gained 501(c)3 designation in 2021, provides a digital platform and runs events designed to open up conversations about mental health and self-care. “It’s time to focus more on the person, and start there. And then from that point, allow it to just ripple and connect the dots,” Founder and Executive Director Monica Garcia says. “If we’re feeling better, then that can help us be more active in our community and more conscious of our relationship with the Earth.” Since its creation in 2018, LYF has coordinated open-mic nights, which provide and accessible and welcoming platform for creatives to express themselves and be vulnerable about their experiences and emotions. Garcia says the conversation doesn’t always have to be heavy. The Good Lyf, another events series, launched in March, blending nightlife with mental-health discourse and advocacy. The nonprofit also hosts monthly Love Your Self Expression nights Downtown, which include group meditations and feature open-mic performers. Programming is aimed at the 18-30 age group but is “open to everyone,” Garcia says. The Weekly caught up with Garcia to
Tell us more about the goals for LYF’s ongoing events. At the Love Your Self Expression event, we always start with a meditation with a sound component or “sound bath,” typically done with singing bowls or other instruments that can help a person’s meditation be a little bit deeper. And then we have our open-mic,[where] we always feature a couple of up-and-coming artists from the community. It’s been incredible to see the evolution of a lot of our frequent open-mic performers. We’ve produced the Good Lyf twice. It highlights DJ artists from our community and showcases funk music. Folks who frequent more nightlife … don’t always know where to go when it comes to self-care or finding mental health resources. We always take a little break from our events, because we’re doing events nine, 10 months out of the year. July was our wrap-up for the season, and then we’ll be coming back in the fall with our events.
Q+A
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Critical care How much is being done to assist local K-12 students with mental health?
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BY SHANNON MILLER
As Ella King starts her junior year of high school, she’s hoping for more stability than the past two years have offered. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit Nevada and triggered statewide shutdowns of businesses and public buildings, King finished the spring of eighth grade in lockdown. She then spent much of her first year as a Coronado High student learning in an all-virtual setting. After months of “school behind a screen,” she eventually transitioned to hybrid learning, with some days behind the screen and some in the classroom. Last year, she returned to campus for her sophomore year. “The biggest challenge [was] coming back as a sophomore, because the expectations for sophomores are definitely higher,” she says. “There’s a higher class load. I [was] in harder classes and things like that.” With academics to worry about, she says, she also didn’t have much guidance transitioning to in-person high school. “It still felt like I was a freshman,” King says. “I remember being lost for the first few days … [and it] was a very similar experience for a lot of my peers.” King serves as co-chair on the Hope Means Nevada Teen Committee. Born from the pandemic and its associated mental-health challenges, the nonprofit aims to reduce youth suicides through peer support and by raising awareness via events and digital content. Richard Egan, suicide prevention training and outreach facilitator for the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention, has been monitoring state and national statistics for nearly a decade. He says Nevada has risen in the U.S. state rankings for rates of suicides in the 17-and-younger and 18-24 age groups. Based on data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he says the state went from nearly 25th to inside the nation’s top 20 for most suicides among the 17-and-younger age group, and is 12th in the nation among the 18-24 age group. “[Suicides in] 18 to 24-year-olds substantially increased from 2019 to
2020,” Egan tells the Weekly. “Many took their lives just before or after graduation … Fifty-three took their lives in 2019, compared to 62 in 2020.” During the 2020-2021 school year, at least 18 Clark County School District (CCSD) students died by suicide, according to the Las Vegas Sun, more than double the number from the previous academic year. For the 20212022 school year, the district is aware of seven student suicides, according to CCSD. Since 2020, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 10-24, and the second-leading cause of death for those ages 10-14, according to the CDC.
STRATEGIES Asked whether her peers had the skills and tools they needed to seek help, King says no. “First, they don’t know who they can really talk to. And then I’ve noticed, some of them have maybe a hard time expressing what they’re feeling, and being able to communicate their feelings in a healthy way.” She adds that staff and resources aren’t effective if students aren’t connected to them. She says increased training for teachers and administrators to recognize students’ mental-health issues should be prioritized as a strategy to prevent suicide. “Students spend six hours of their day with their teachers, five days a week, a substantial amount of time,” King says. “If teachers can learn to recognize mental health signs or signs of depression or anxiety and things like that, they can try to reach out to the students. And maybe [can] point them in the direction of a counselor or someone that they can talk to in a safe space. “Not every student has a parent or a trusted adult that they know, that they can talk to and feel safe.” To that end, the district has moved to implement online training for students to learn “peer-to-peer” suicide prevention strategies. At a July 14 CCSD Board meeting, trustees approved use of a $174,800 School-Based Suicide Pre-
vention Programming Grant from the Nevada Department of Education—for the purchase of online licenses for all middle and high schools to access the Signs of Suicide program. The program teaches students how to identify signs of depression and suicide in themselves and peers, and how to respond: “Acknowledge, Care, Tell (ACT).” Student training will take place in health classes. Licensed staff will also have the opportunity to participate in a two-hour professional session about the Signs of Suicide program, according to CCSD board meeting documents. CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara tells the Weekly that working with higher education institutions to develop career pipelines for future mental health support staff is another “important” strategy to make up for a dearth in school psychologists, social workers and school counselors. At present, CCSD employs some 185 psychologists, 700 counselors and 195 social workers—nearly 1,100 employees to support approximately 305,000 students, a district spokesperson said. The state board of education recommends one school psychologist per 500 students, one school counselor per 250 students and one social worker per 250 students. To meet that recommendation, the district would need to hire approximately 425 school psychologists, 520 school counselors and 1,025 social workers, based on student enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year. In May, the district approved $175,000 funding for Nevada State College to support one licensed fulltime employee, who will assist in developing school psychology, social work and school counseling pipeline programs such as dual credit, funded internships, clinical supervision and respecialization.
STAFFING TROUBLES Alongside the trainings and staff pipeline programs, the state and CCSD have acknowledged the urgency of addressing the district’s long-standing (Continued on Page 20)
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Education tells the Weekly that CCSD received more than half ($4,123,770) of that funding. The district is also expected to benefit from recent federal funding—of nearly $1 million to hire 48 social workers, the Las Vegas Sun reported in March—in addition to pandemic recovery funds. The 2022-2023 school year is the first in which Clark and Washoe school districts will have to develop plans for improving student-to-SISP ratios. The plans must be submitted to the department of education by October. “CCSD has allocated over $20 million in American Rescue Plan and/or ESSER [Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief] funding to support student mental health,” CCSD tells the Weekly. “Some of those programs include in-person and virtual mental and behavioral health therapy and substance abuse counseling services, resources to help parents find mental health resources and technology that allows schools to provide student referrals for services.” The district points to mental health care virtual services like CareSolace, which assists families in finding providers, and telehealth provider Hazel Health. “During the 2021-22 school year, CCSD had 5,232 confirmed appointments through CareSolace in addition to 8,827 warm handoffs that connect families with care companions who help families navigate the insurance system to find the appropriate mental health care provider,” the district tells the Weekly. “Additionally, through the Panorama Education system, students completed more than 220,000 surveys. Utilizing that
information, multidisciplinary leadership teams conducted more than 185,000 in-person wellness checks and provided nearly 80,000 referrals.”
STRESS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA In addition to training teachers and staff to recognize signs of poor mental health, King says advocates should look at social media, one of the “biggest stressors” for students in middle and high school. “With school, there comes academic stress and seeing other people. … With social media … what people are seeing is curated, created specifically … for other people to see,” she says. “Oftentimes, it’s very misleading as to people’s real lives, their real experiences.” Egan, who facilitates educational trainings with the state Office of Suicide Prevention, concurs. He says since 2015, his department has been aware of a connection between social media use and teen mental health. The office is at work on a class about “internet influence on suicides over the past decade, and what have we learned,” which should be available to adults in September or October. “Social media use increase and in-person contact decrease is one reason for the suicide rate in youth and young adults,” Egan says. “The No. 1 resiliency factor for suicide is connectedness.” King says the teen committee meets once a month to check in with one another. “We hear from mental health professionals, plan activities,” she says. “And anyone is welcome to join.” Hope Means Nevada has 200 members in the Teen Committee, working in their schools and communities to help save lives.
Hillary Davis contributed to this story.
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shortage of school counselors and social workers. King says the only counselors she has encountered in school have been academic guidance counselors. In 2020, the Nevada Board of Education adopted nonbinding recommendations for ratios of students to Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP), which includes school counselors, school psychologists and social workers. In 2021, the state legislature passed a law requiring Clark and Washoe county school districts to develop and submit plans to improve that ratio. Both counties’ ratios have fallen below the recommended targets in recent years. According to the state superintendent’s report, CCSD met 50% to 60% of the recommended number of school counselors in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The Washoe County School District—which has a student population of about 65,000, less than one-quarter of CCSD’s student body—met 70% to 75% of the recommendation in the same time frame. The gap between the recommended figure and the number of actual employees was also smaller for Washoe County regarding school psychologists. CCSD met 25% to 29% of the recommendation for psychologists, whereas Washoe County met 35% to 38% of the recommendation. CCSD dropped from meeting 21% of the recommended number of social workers in 2019 to 16% in 2020; Washoe County’s staffing remained at 21% of the recommendation both years. The strong legal recommendation for the state’s two largest school districts to improve student to SISP ratios was handed down with $7.5 million in state funding to hire 100 school-based mental health professionals throughout Nevada. The state Department of
THINK TWICE THINK TWICE
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BY GEOFF CARTER
So much is going on in Downtown Las Vegas, from culture and nightlife amenities to local governance and municipal services, that it’s sometimes easy to overlook the area’s schools. But this month, Clark County School District reaffirmed its commitment to education in the city core with the opening of a sprawling, modern campus at Maryland Parkway and Oakey Boulevard, one that houses two specialty schools: Central Technical Training Academy and Global Community High School. The campus, located on land formerly occupied by Catholic prep school Bishop Gorman and housed in a handsome, L-shaped group of buildings augmented by a standalone gymnasium/cafeteria and a soccer-sized field for intramural athletics, can scarcely open a minute too soon. Global Community, a multilingual school for non-English-speaking immigrants, is upsizing from an east side location it has long since outgrown. And Central Technical, a career and technical education high school, aims to fortify Southern Nevada’s advanced manufacturing and construction technology sectors, which are areas of real local need. “Our biggest goal is to help students recognize that there are multiple avenues in those career pathways,” says Lilianna Bonderov, principal for Central Technical. “Not every single person needs to go to a four-year college; there are trade school opportunities. CSN is one of our partners, and they have a lot of applied science associates’ degrees that they could pursue. “We’re inviting a lot of professionals from the two industries to talk to students specifically about their pathways,” Bonderov continues. “Pathways are not linear. There are people who think they want to do one thing, and then something else strikes their interest. … We’re
Two very different high schools take up residence on a shared Downtown campus picking professionals who can speak to that, that you can work and learn at the same time. I think students get the idea that you either work or you go to college, and there is a whole span of training that happens in-between those two areas.” Central Technical is opening with a class of 11th graders—they’ll add grade 12 next year—and aims to give its students the opportunity to develop both applied and entrepreneurial skills, and ultimately earn an industry-recognized credential in their chosen profession. They’ll receive as much handson education as Central Technical can give, by way of manageable class sizes that allow for more frequent one-on-one interactions, and through a unique, every-other-day attendance structure. “We’re doing that so that they have the flexibility to go out and pursue internships and work-based learning opportunities on those days that they’re not physically here on campus,” Bonderov says. “But they will always have access to their teachers.”
Having ready access to instructors, and forming a bond of trust with them, is key to Global Community’s mission, too. “We have to build relationships first, because our students do come with a lot of trauma,” says Elena Fabunan, principal for Global Community. “They’ve been in detention centers or they’ve experienced trauma trying to get over here, because a lot of our students are undocumented.” Those dire circumstances might also have prevented them from getting much prior schooling, Fabunan says. “A lot of our students come to school with interrupted education. They may have gone to elementary school but missed a lot of their middle school, so a lot of them are coming in at maybe a third-grade level.” Consequently, Global Community tailors instruction to the individual student—in order to learn math in English, the student must first learn English—and prioritizes results over speed, sometimes keeping students until age 20. “Our pacing is a little bit slower than the rest of the district, just
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because they have to take a little bit longer to learn the curriculum,” Fabunan says. “We don’t want our students to fail.” The new campus represents a huge leap forward for Global Community’s students on multiple levels. The computer lab, science lab, art classroom and library all improve upon previous facilities. Formerly, the school shared physical education facilities; no longer. “We didn’t have a soccer field before; I would say [our student body is] 90% from Latin America, so soccer is huge,” Fabunan says. And in a first since Global Community was founded in 2005, the school will be served by CCSD transportation. “[Our students] have been having to take public transportation,” Fabunan says. “For a newcomer to the country, not speaking English, not knowing the city, that can be a little bit traumatic.” The campus itself is a calming place. Central Technical’s classrooms, labs and shop are airy and suffused in natural light. Students from the two schools will pass each other on neatly landscaped paths on their way to their various classes, a prospect that pleases Principal Fabunan. “Intermingling with English-speaking students will help them with their English,” she says. And the campus’ utility extends far beyond the high school level; another group of new buildings, located across Maryland Parkway, brings refugee services, mental wellness services, additional classroom space and even an on-site health clinic. In short, this shared campus is a civic asset—the kind of thing a city should be inclined to promote alongside its business and culture. It’s the kind of thing that makes cities better places to live. “It’s not just the graduation curriculum,” Bonderov says. “It’s a whole package of services that we’re offering students and their families.”
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(Photo Illustration/Shutterstock)
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Oh, the Places They’ll Go! College-bound local teens gear up for campus life By Genevie Durano
Cars loaded to the ceiling with bedding, books and kitchen supplies. Parents lugging crates and boxes to dorm rooms as their teens awkwardly meet new roommates and begin decorating the walls. The excitement in the air is palpable as college campuses come to life for the start of a new academic year. The scene plays out every August all over the country, a rite of passage for thousands of students who opt to leave home, some for the first time, to pursue college degrees. It’s a bittersweet time for parents and their kids, and a welcome one after the pandemic disrupted so much of life over the past couple of years. Many factors go into a student’s decision to move away from home. Many chose their schools based on what they plan to study, like Olivia Silvestri, who graduated from Palo Verde High and plans to major in environmental studies at the University of Southern California. “I chose USC for its academic offerings and opportunities,” she says. “Although I didn’t choose it solely for its close proximity to home, being only a four-hour drive away is a major plus.” Dora Chatterjee, who graduated from the Coral Academy of Science, is headed to the California Institute of Technology. “I plan to dual major in computer science and business, economics, management,” she says. “Cal Tech aligns with my future goals of research, and it’s also the nearest, most prestigious institution to my home.” For other students, a school farther from home can offer opportunities for greater independence and a vastly different lifestyle. Vinati T., who graduated from Clark High School, plans to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology. “I’m looking forward to exploring the new city I will be living in,” he says. “Chicago has
a lot to offer, and I am really excited to go out and get a feel of the environment around me.” With most living away from their parents for the first time, these college-bound students say they will miss the constant support and company, along with familiar comforts of home, including home-cooked meals. But they’re also excited for on-campus amenities. “I’m looking forward to how accessible things are inside my campus. I didn’t realize how many things are included, like their mental health wellness center, the recreation center and more,” says Georgianna Esmeria, a graduate of Coral Academy of Science who will be studying nursing at Cal State Fullerton. “It’s a lot bigger environment compared to my high school, but I know I’ll be able to adapt to it.” As for dorm essentials, Silvestri’s list includes a fan, shower caddy, mini vacuum, storage bins and lots of USC merch. Esmeria mentions a kettle for hot water and her plushies, “to keep me company while I’m away from my family.” And the Windy City-bound Vinati is already anticipating the weather, packing winter coats along with keepsakes given to her by close friends over the years. Despite their excitement of impending college life, these students haven’t forgotten the world remains in a pandemic. Disinfectant wipes and masks are on tobuy lists, with their health and safety and of those around them top of mind. “I feel confident I will have a safe college experience, given the improving condition of the pandemic,” Silvestri says. “Going away to school rather than doing it virtually has always been extremely important to me, and I will definitely take precautions to ensure I can continue my education in person.”
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LEADING WITH PURPOSE
President DeRionne Pollard helps grow and improve Nevada State College
Dr. DeRionne Pollard (Courtesy/Nevada State College)
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(Courtesy/Nevada State College)
B AC K TO S C H O O L BY AMBER SAMPSON
Dr. DeRionne Pollard never intended to go into education. An apt reader and writer, the Chicagoan had purposeful dreams of becoming an attorney. But during her time at Iowa State University, education became “a safe space that I never left,” she explains. “[College] was a place where I got to be surrounded by big ideas and people who were so much smarter than me, so I stayed in it,” Pollard says. “Then I started teaching, and I found that I was pretty good at that.” More than good, actually. A first-generation college graduate who once relied on food stamps, Pollard earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, earned a Ph.D in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education, and rose through the administrative ranks, spending 25 years working in community colleges around Illinois, Maryland and California. “I’ve always chosen to work at institutions that have this mission that serve little kids like me,” she says. “I’m a little brown girl from the south side of Chicago, and I know every day that education changed my life.” Now, as the first Black female president of Nevada State College, she sounds determined to make that vision a reality for students around the Valley. “The student population that Nevada State serves, these were me,” she says. “The majority of our students are first-generation, the majority of our students are Black and brown. Many of our students have very complex lives, whether they’re parenting or working multiple jobs.” These are the people Pollard calls the “new majority,” and they’re everywhere. Today’s collegiate makeup is vast, diversified and growing at an exciting rate. Since 2019, Nevada State College’s en-
rollment increased by 29%, and NSC is the only Nevada State Higher Education (NSHE) institution to grow its student headcount during the pandemic, Pollard says. She adds that NSC, which now serves more than 7,000 students, had its largest graduating class last semester. “We’re an institution that’s just turning 20 years old,” she says. “[And] as a result, we’ve gone through periods where people are like, ‘Do we actually even need this institution? How are we going to fund this institution?’ Here we are 20 years later. And I tell people, we’re no longer an experiment.” Pollard says she sees four crucial factors contributing to NSC’s growth: having a strong teaching institution (“I’ve sat in some classes and observed our faculty. They’re there for the right reasons. You don’t get [teaching assistants] when you come here. You don’t have a whole bunch of folks just choosing to teach because they couldn’t do it someplace else. Our folks teach.”); providing support services where they’re needed most; being intentional about how culture gets cultivated (“We don’t want to get comfortable saying, ‘This worked out well. Let’s just stay that way.’ We’re young and hungry. You know, kind of like Hamilton. We’re in the midst of really building something.”); and staying connected to the community through active listening. It’s a formula for success that’s clearly resonating. But there’s still more to be done. Pollard acknowledges there’s a deeper responsibility to NSC’s mission. “Our success is essential to economic development here,” she says, so the school offers majors that are relevant to the needs of the Las Vegas community, including nursing, education, business administration and criminal justice. And though NSC is enjoying its recent success, Pollard says she’s prepared to see some “natural contraction” in
Here we are 20 years later … and we’re no longer an experiment.
enrollment at some point. “Higher education will not look the same when we are truly post-pandemic, because, let’s be honest, we’re grappling with the intersection of four pandemics at one time that nobody really is talking about,” she says, referring not only to COVID-19 but also racism, opioids and mental health. Pollard says NSC will remain focused on the students it has, rather than chasing additional growth. “But here’s the thing, they keep coming,” she says. NSC’s original campus master plan projected that a full campus build-out could accommodate up to 30,000 students over the next decade or so. With the way things are going, “I suspect that will probably occur more quickly,” Pollard says. The campus, located in southern Henderson, has approximately 500 acres of land on which to develop, and ideas for “a greater presence up north” are being tossed around, Pollard says. Amid all that planning, the NSC president says she keeps three meditative musings in mind—“Absorb chaos, project calm, build confidence”—along with wise words from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. “They’d ask him, ‘Why were you so great?’ He’d say, ‘Everyone else skates to where the puck is. I skate to where I think the puck is going to be.’ That’s what I’m trying to do with Nevada State. There’s these images and models about what higher-ed is going to be and what college universities look like. That’s great. But I want to move to what we’re going to become.”
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HOUSING
County law aims to make homes more affordable ABOUT 4,000 UNITS EXPECTED TO BE BUILT Clark County Commissioners have proposed an ordinance to administer the Community Housing Fund. The $160 million fund was created to “accelerate the development of permanent affordable housing for low- to moderate-income households.” The county announced the fund in May, shortly after the National Income Housing Coalition named Las Vegas’ the No. 1 “most severe” affordable housing shortage among those in the 50 largest U.S. cities. Nevada also tops the list of states with the worst shortage of affordable housing for extremely low-income renters (earning 0% to 30% of area median income). The ordinance up for approval will allow the county’s Department of Administrative Services to issue grants, loans or donations from the fund to developers and operators. Applicants can apply for up to $140 million for development or rehabilitation. “The county hopes this first release of funds will contribute to the construction of approximately 4,000 new housing units for extremely low-income to moderate-income households,” a county statement read. As proposed, the ordinance requires new construction projects to remain affordable housing (meaning it is subsidized and matches the definition of affordable housing under state law) for at least 20 years, and for any rehabilitation projects to remain affordable housing for at least five years. Clark County Commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for the ordinance on August 16. –Shannon Miller
IN THE
NEWS
WATCH THIS The Raiders play host to Minnesota for a preseason game August 14 at 1:25 p.m.
(Courtesy/Flite Golf and Entertainment)
ENTERTAINMENT
$70 million driving range planned Flite Golf and Entertainment broke ground August 9 on a driving range and entertainment complex near the Strat. Atomic Range will include 103 driving range bays, 10 putting bays and six bars, among other amenities, in a four-story structure. The 12,000-square-foot Astrocade will feature big-screen TVs and provide a sports bartype atmosphere, the company said. The $70 million facility, being developed with Century Golf
Partners, is scheduled to be completed by late 2023 and will employ some 500 people. The venue will be just north of the Strat on the west side of Main Street, south of Oakey Boulevard, according to a rendering on Flite Golf’s website. “It’s not easy finding the right piece of property or the right partner in Vegas,” said John Vollbrecht, CEO of the Dallas-based Flite Golf. “We think with everything that’s happening on that end of the Strip and Downtown, it’s an
ideal location for us.” Atomic Range will become the third golf venue in the U.S. for Flite Golf, which also has Back 9 Golf and Entertainment in Indianapolis, as well as the soon-to-open Luxe Golf Bays near Milwaukee. Atomic Range hopes to offer something for everyone from “family to friends, a bachelor party, a corporate outing, whatever it may be,” Vollbrecht said. “There’s a lot going on inside of our building beyond just the golf.” –Danny Webster
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LOSS OF A LEGEND
Olivia Newton-John, who battled breast cancer for years and performed 180 shows over two and a half years at the Flamingo, died August 8 at age 73 in her home in California. BY THE NUMBERS
$465K For the second consecutive month, the median price for an existing home in Las Vegas dropped, according to a report by the Las Vegas Realtors trade group. The median price for July was $465,000, a 3% decrease from June. It had reached a record $482,000 in May.
8.3.2022
RETURN OF A POPULAR HAUNT JUST OFF THE STRIP Cast members of Midnight Skye perform during the August 3 reopening of Ghostbar, the 55th-floor nightclub at the Palms. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
BUSINESS
Commercial Center supper club to close this month
NEWS
The Vegas Room and the Nevada Room, the old-school supper club-style entertainment venues that launched in the same Commercial Center building in 2020 and 2021 and became something of a safe harbor for local and touring musicians and entertainers during the pandemic, will close their doors August 20. Owners Tom Michel and David Robinson had finished a renovation on the smaller, piano bar-style Vegas Room earlier this year and just recently launched an onstage interview series at the Nevada Room featuring Laugh Factory headlining comedian Rich Little, but the programming at the off-Strip space apparently could not compete with the relaunch of casino showrooms of all sizes during the past year. Singer Kelly Clinton will finish up her weekly “Sit-In” variety shows August 11 and 18 at the Nevada Room, where comedian Tony Arias is scheduled to host a closing night celebration August 20. For other events and information, visit vegasnevadarooms.com. –Brock Radke
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REBEL ROOTS Fantastic Negrito mines his personal history to create an ambitious new album BY AMBER SAMPSON
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antastic Negrito doesn’t mince words, and perhaps it’s that unbridled honesty that makes the Bay Area bluesman so refreshing. “I don’t ever make or create music to think about who’s going to like it. I could not really care less,” he tells the Weekly. “I cared when I was younger. Now I just create, and whoever’s ready to hear the message, then that’s when they’re ready. You can’t really think about when people will catch up.” The Grammy-award winning singer, born Xavier Dphrepaulezz, has kept that sentiment alive throughout his career—at first under the mononym Xavier, then briefly as the blue-haired frontman of Blood Sugar X, a punky blues outfit resonant of the band Fishbone. In recent years, the 54-year-old has reinvented himself again as Fantastic Negrito, building off the bedrock of blues, folk, R&B, soul and funk to tell new stories. On his fifth Fantastic Negrito release, June’s White Jesus Black Problems, he unearths the story of his seventh-generation great-grandparents and their forbidden, interracial romance during the 18th century. It’s a tale that still rattles him, he says, especially because Dphrepaulezz only discovered it after receiving an email from a distant relative about his ancestral ties. As a musician, Fantastic Negrito sets the pace for innovation.
He’ll share a bill with several other influential musicians at an August 13 One Nation Under a Groove tour stop at the Amp at Craig Ranch—legendary conductors of funk George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, jazzfunk veterans Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and aforementioned ska-punk-metal band Fishbone. The concept of White Jesus Black Problems is incredibly visceral. How has it been translating that level of storytelling to a live setting? This was not
the album I intended to make. It was pre-pandemic, and I thought my fourth album should be a collaborative effort with myself and some of the artists that I admired as a teenager. The first person I sat down with was Sting, and we recorded something really cool in West Oakland. I was going to see him the next day, and then the pandemic happened. Then I had to retreat for a year and figure out what I was going to do, like everybody else. I did a television show called Black Lightning in Atlanta during the pandemic, and that’s how I discovered this story by mistake. I was just answering an inbox email, and the day I entered that inbox in Atlanta, my life changed. As far as translation, it’s been good because being the eighth of 14 kids, I’m a pretty good storyteller. It’s extremely unique, the story, but there’s a common bond. It’s a lot about perseverance; it’s a lot about using the
challenges as our inspiration, using the obstacles as fuel and overcoming difficult situations. I think that’s universal throughout the world. Whether I’ve been in Athens, Spain or the U.K., it just translates. Walk us through your initial phase of discovery. The thing that was
astonishing is that when I got to my third generation of grandparents on my mother’s maternal side, I discovered that they were free. And that’s what made me dig. I was like, Wow, you’re free? In the middle of slavery in Virginia? I discovered that not only were they free, but there were about 50,000 African-Americans that were free in the 1700s in Virginia. … When I got to the seventh generation, that’s when my mind got blown. I memorized: “Elizabeth Gallimore, presented in the Amelia County Court, Virginia, for unlawfully cohabitating with a negro slave, belonging to Henry Jones, and having several mulatto children.” I think I had to read that about 20 times to really understand. …
ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE TOUR Ft. George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Fishbone, Fantastic Negrito, Blu Eye Extinction. August 13, 4:30 p.m., $55$125. The Amp at Craig Ranch Park, jabment. com.
She chose to love and start a family with an enslaved man. I thought, Wow. Grandpa must have been quite a man. Making a choice like that? A white woman in the 1750s? Sh*t, you must’ve been out of your mind. But it did help me explain a lot about myself, and why I make the choices I make. I came from some very revolutionary people, a very punk-rock aesthetic. We can, we must, we will do what we believe in. Not what you tell us. Your music video for “Highest Bidder” features face-painted Africans, colonial men, doctors engaged in a frenzied dance for the American dollar. What drove you to paint that kind of picture? I had to start off with
that’s the story we needed to focus on, that this thing is very much driven economically. We’re obsessed with race in this country, and we’re obsessed with class [and] with sex. But I think the thing is, it’s really the money. These people did all of this stuff because they wanted money. … I shot this with one camera. I had no idea what I was doing when I made this. It was extremely organic, and I just let it happen. It felt like a speeding train. It took me where it was gonna take me, and it wasn’t really my story. I met Quincy Jones once, and we were talking about the process. He was saying, like, stay
out of the way. I think that’s what happened on this particular project. I was letting it take me wherever it wanted to go, because every song represented a chapter in the story of my grandparents. And [the album] title just came to me in Atlanta. Like, boom, White Jesus Black Problems. Read more of this interview at lasvegasweekly.com.
The Library District is Your FREE
that, because
Start the school year off right! Teachers from the Clark County School District are available for FREE homework help and tutoring at participating library branches during the 2022-2023 school year. This drop-in service is available to help students complete their homework or provide some extra instruction in a variety of subjects. Tutoring begins September 6 and is available Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. No appointment needed. For more information, please visit LVCCLD.org/HomeworkHelp
(Courtesy/Travis Shinn)
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TURNING TO GOLD
Deorro reaffirms his love for music with Latin dance album Orro BY AMBER SAMPSON
DEORRO August 12, 11 a.m., $20$30. Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.
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here are plenty of places to boogie around town, but if you want a suggestion, save a dance for Deorro. The LA-based DJ, producer and songwriter born Erick Orrosquieta boasts one of the most prolific minds in EDM today. His dalliances between bouncy basslines and Latin-infused house have sent him to the top of the charts and across musical markets. With several platinum releases, prefaced by his original viral hit “Five Hours,” Deorro, a first-generation Mexican-American DJ, is as dexterous behind the decks as he is with his pen. It’s hard to imagine ever wanting to abandon that level of promise. Recently, he says, he almost did. “When I got into EDM, it was a whole new world. It was big for me,” the 30-year-old explains. “It was weird going to Europe being the only Mexican there, but it was cool. The industry welcomed me with open arms.” Yet as time passed, that passion started to fade. “It became routine, it became more business and unfortunately, I started to disconnect with myself,” he says. “It was really hard to remember after many years who I was, and there came a time where I was like, ‘Wow, I don’t want to do music; I don’t like it right now.’” He even had another career—a taco truck owner—lined up. But before he hit the road with his new endeavor, Deorro went home. “I was with my family at this party, and I started to remember all those times when I went to DJ with my dad when I was little,” he says. At 8 years old, he would accompany his father to parties of all kinds—quinceañeras, weddings and, in some cases, funerals.
“It was mostly Latinos [there], but it was all kinds of Latinos,” he says. “I got to learn about different kinds of music, where my dad would play merengue the entire night or just norteño music or mariachi.” Those memories allowed Deorro to reconnect with his roots and awakened a side of him he says had gone dormant. “It was like I’d discovered gold.” In July, Deorro released Orro (Spanish for “gold”), a love letter to Latin dance. The album features a top-heavy list of collaborators, many of which the DJ grew up listening to. “Every time I hear [Mexican cumbia group] Los Ángeles Azules, it takes me back to being in the back seat of a car,” he says, remembering when his family used to cruise Downtown LA, searching for the best alley shops. Orro is a jubilant affair, teeming with banda styles and trilling trumpets. It’s a melting pot of Mexico’s regional flavors and the cerebral soundscapes that make Deorro’s music so compelling. It’s impossible not to grab a dance partner for “Yo Las Pongo,” a track with a festive nature that will transport you to a backyard party—or perhaps the much-larger outdoor set he’ll perform at Tao Beach Dayclub on August 12. And “Si Tú No Estás Aquí” reveals just how smoothly Deorro can make a funky bilingual bop sing. “I’m seeing a lot of Zumba videos, a lot of people working out making choreography to some of the songs, a lot of Tweets saying, ‘Tell me why I just heard my mom playing the Deorro album,’” he says. “That’s, to me, what it was all about, getting people to recognize a sound that they grew up with, and knowing what to do when that happens.”
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
8 .1 1 . 2 2
A FEW DRINKS, W A FEW JOKES
C U L T U R E
BY BROCK RADKE
This time in town, Zane Lamprey brings his comedy to the Strip
COMEDY
Zane Lamprey (Courtesy/ Bobby Quillard)
very soon. This trip will involve hen my wife and I “new stories, new jokes, a polfirst started dating, ished new hour,” he says. we bonded over the And his stand-up continues to goofy cable series evolve beyond what onscreen fans Three Sheets. She like my wife and I have come to loved to travel, I liked expect, namely tales from the road drinking at interestand wild bar stories. “I don’t want ing bars and host and comedian to be just this nostalgia train,” he Zane Lamprey was doing both in says. “I’m not just telling stories different destinations around the that you have to know the shows to world. We were jealous, and we understand. I get most excited for weren’t the only ones. the people that get dragged to the “No exaggeration, I’ve met probshow with their friends, that didn’t ably 50 people in that same situaknow what to expect, and leave tion who ended up getting married thinking it was amazing and they and naming their kid Zane,” had so much fun.” Lamprey says. “It’s not necessarily So you’re going to get stories naming them after me. I think it’s about Lamprey and his wife and just in their head, Hey, that’s a cool life in LA, plus plenty of his own name. But almost every night when opinions and observations. And he’s I’m on tour, I hear that story.” going to get to spend a little more The ever-enthusiastic entertime in one of his favorite cities. tainer and entre“I mean, listen, preneur moved on you’ve really got three to other TV projects cities in the U.S. that ZANE (including Drinking I would say are real LAMPREY Made Easy for Mark drinking cities: New August 12, 7:30 p.m., Cuban’s former HDNet Orleans, Key West and $26-$41. enterprise), while Vegas. Very different House simultaneously buildexperiences,” he says. of Blues, ing a comedy career, “But let’s be honest. 702-632-7600, concerts.live touring the country There’s nowhere in nation.com. doing stand-up at bars the country, nowhere and breweries. His in the world that can latest tour reaches one hold a candle to what of its biggest gigs on Vegas offers. I’ve been August 12, when Lamprey steps to 72 countries and hundreds of outside his boozy comfort zone cities. It’s like, how do you describe for a show at the House of Blues at the color red? It’s Vegas. That’s it. Mandalay Bay. Anyone who’s been there gets it.” “For me, it’s a favorite venue,” And when Lamprey’s in town, he says. “For my first stand-up tour he has lots of local friends in the 10 or 11 years ago, I did a bunch hospitality industry to show him of House of Blues spots. When all the new, cool places to visit. you’re set up to have an amazing The hard part is remembering rock show, comedy always works which amazing bars, restaurants out amazing there, because of the and hidden gems he hit on the last lighting, the tech, the audio, the whirlwind trip. ambiance. It’s definitely going to When forced to drop the names be a highlight.” of some of his Vegas tour guides, The last time he was in Las Lamprey mentions longtime pals Vegas—and as you can imagine, Tobin Ellis and Tony Abou-Ganim, a prominent personality working two esteemed icons of the local bar in the travel and bar space spends scene. “The last time I was there a lot of time in Las Vegas—Lamwith my wife, Tobin took us to five prey played two sold-out shows at different places, and it definitely CraftHaus Brewery in Hendergot foggier and foggier as the night son. But that was last year’s tour, went on,” he says. which he capped by shooting a TV As most Vegas regulars would special that will be distributed agree, those are the best nights.
TM
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
8 .1 1 . 2 2
JUST LIKE
GRANDMA C U L T U R E
DID IT
The Jonas family’s Nellie’s Southern Kitchen keeps it homey BY BROCK RADKE
You’ll never go hungry at Nellie’s. (Courtesy/Sabin Orr)
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ou wouldn’t expect a Southern diner founded in the owner’s hometown of Belmont, North Carolina, to find its way to the Las Vegas Strip for a second location. But the family behind Nellie’s Southern Kitchen happened to have some special connections. Kevin Jonas Sr.—father of Kevin, Joe and Nick, aka the Jonas Brothers—says the family’s relationship with MGM Resorts grew through years of award shows, tours and special appearances by the pop group in Las Vegas. That laid the groundwork for Nellie’s arrival this summer just across from MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“It didn’t start as a concept we expected to expand,” Kevin Sr. explains. “We named it after my grandmother, who worked in cotton mills in this small town, and we did it to honor this wonderful woman who played a big part in raising me. No matter where I went, when I came home she made me the most amazing Southern cuisine after working a long day in the mill.” One would expect such a humble restaurant to glam up for its Strip debut, and Kevin Sr. says, “The temptation is real to try to change who you are for Vegas.” But the strength of the Nellie’s experience lies in those time-tested recipes and the power of com-
fort-food nostalgia, so the family and the casino chose to stay on the original path. The results are quite delicious and soulfully satisfying. Fried chicken is a menu centerpiece, a half-bird dinner served with mac and cheese and collard greens ($32); with a crispy waffle, maple syrup and cinnamon-honey butter ($33); or as a Nashville-style spicy sandwich ($20). It looks, feels and tastes like the homemade stuff, and that approach permeates the menu—and really stands out on the Strip. Creamy collard and artichoke dip ($16) and a basket of biscuits ($9) with butter and jam are standout starters, and there are salads,
8 .1 1 . 2 2 NELLIE’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN MGM Grand, 702-6400156, nellies southern kitchen.com. Daily, 11 a.m.10 p.m.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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BREWERY BENEFITS Las Vegas Brewing Company’s sausage board with Chantilly cream ale (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
Experience and experiments flavor Las Vegas Brewing Company BY JIM BEGLEY
brings back memories of one of the sweetest, most innocent and genuine people I’ve ever known.” The restaurant space, formerly occupied by Mexican joint Hecho en Vegas, is open and spacious and offers live music most nights. You’ll certainly catch the JoBros there when they’re in town, but when they’re not, you’ll still see other families eating together and maybe kids dancing near the stage. It’s already an uncommon Strip spot, and that’s the goal. “We know there are some limitations for entertainment choices where young and old can all go, and we hope that might be appealing for families,” Kevin Sr. says.
fruited sour brewed with Sour Punch straws and Jolly Ranchers, is certainly atypical. And Otto isn’t the only one branching out. Executive Chef Hollin Rothmann has toiled outside the limelight in a number of acclaimed Strip kitchens, and she has unveiled a delightful mix of elevated pub food at LVBC. Start with the Junk Chips ($15), a delicious mess of Sloppy Joe-strewn house-made potato chips layered with spicy pickled jalapeños, cheddar cheese and green onion cream. Those chips also accompany the sandwiches, alongside an addictive caramelized onion and sherry aioli. The chipotle lime grilled tofu sandwich ($13) might be vegan, but it won’t leave you longing for meat. Another outstanding option is the southwestern watermelon salad ($11), swimming in an Anaheim chile vinaigrette and dotted with toasted pepitas, cotija and red onion. And do leave room for pretzel bread pudding ($9) lacquered with an outrageously tasty salted caramel sauce. Otto and Rothmann make a wonderful pair out of the gate, and we’re looking forward to seeing what else develops at Las Vegas Brewing Company as they continue scheming together.
LAS VEGAS BREWING COMPANY 3101 N. Tenaya Way, 702-333-4858, lvbrewco.com. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.
FOOD & DRINK
sandwiches, steaks and lighter entrees like a Cajun blackened chicken bowl ($23) and molasses-glazed salmon ($36) for variety. But the stick-to-your-ribs stuff is what you’re here for, like more fried chicken smothered in gravy with mashed potatoes ($30), meatloaf ($28), fried catfish ($25) and shrimp and grits ($36) in a spicy cream sauce topped with pico de gallo. Kevin Sr.’s favorite is chicken and dumplings ($29), a dish so homey, you rarely see it on restaurant menus, at least in Las Vegas. That’s what Grandma Nellie made for him the most. “I’ve tried it in so many other places, and it’s just not the same,” he says. “It warms my heart and
n Breweries have proliferated around the Valley in recent years, elevating the local beer scene to new heights. And though COVID temporarily stunted that growth, as things normalize, we’re seeing newcomers arrive on the scene. Las Vegas Brewing Company marks the return of indomitable brewer Dave Otto—from a brief self-imposed hiatus to Tonopah—to the city and his old stomping grounds, the former PT’s Brewing Company site in the northwest Valley. The building’s brewing roots extend even further: It once housed Tenaya Creek Brewery until its move Downtown. Otto clearly hasn’t missed a beat in his time away, offering up a new rotation of nearly 20 of his own drafts. The lineup reflects his traditionalist roots: a superb flagship in Penny O’Reilly’s red ale; an easy-drinking, vanilla-accented Chantilly cream ale; and the 1677 Stout, a dry Irish stout reminiscent of his award-winning version from PT’s. The master also has some new tricks up his sleeve. His White Wedding white stout suavely delivers hints of coffee and cocoa nibs. Those unfamiliar with the style might be surprised by its lightness. His whimsical Blue 42, a tart,
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L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
8 .1 1 . 2 2
SO DIVINE Divine Deablo plays against the Kansas City Chiefs in November 2021. (AP Photo)
8 .1 1 . 2 2
Raiders’ second-year linebacker Divine Deablo appears poised for a breakout season BY CASE KEEFER
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He also excelled once the ball was in play. McDaniels mentioned in his postgame news conference that he was happy with how well the team tackled in its first action of the year, and that started with Deablo. He had three tackles during his brief game action, shedding blocks and filling rushing lanes with ease to keep the Jaguars from scoring—and barely allowing them to get past midfield. The successful showing felt in some ways like a full-circle moment to Deablo, who considers his preseason debut last year to be the low point of his career. After missing most of training camp as a rookie taken in the third round out of Virginia Tech in 2021, he got healthy enough to play in the preseason finale against San Francisco. But he wasn’t ready for the physicality of professional football and repeatedly got manhandled in a 34-10 loss. He now recognizes it as his “welcome to the NFL” moment. “I think that was the worst game I ever played in my life,” Deablo said. “I got thrown around everywhere and just hated that feeling. I said, ‘never again,’ to myself, so that’s why it stuck with me.” He was probably judging those struggles too harshly, considering the Raiders’ regime at the time selected Deablo as a project and expected some growing pains. He arrived at Virginia Tech in 2016 as a 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver, before getting moved to safety for his sophomore season. Deablo put on 16 pounds throughout his college career, helping to convince the Raiders he could fit as a modern, hybrid linebacker who can excel equally against the run and in pass coverage. The former just took longer, and Deablo didn’t feel strong enough during his brief preseason appearance a year ago. He didn’t get another chance until three months into the regular season after adjusting to the new position and dealing with nagging injuries, but
VIKINGS AT RAIDERS When: August 14, 1:25 p.m. Where: Allegiant Stadium TV & Radio: Fox 5 & 92.3-FM/ 920-AM Tickets: $35-$520, 800-724-3377, ticketmaster. com Betting line: Raiders -3.5, over/under 34
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showed major progress while starting the Raiders’ final five games. Deablo averaged nine total tackles per game, but perhaps more importantly, profiled well by more advanced measures. Pro Football Focus graded him as an above-average rookie despite the new position, and Football Outsiders tabbed him as a potential 2022 breakout candidate. Still, with a new coach coming in, all that promise might have been compromised. New coaching staffs often decide holdover young players don’t fit with their systems and choose either to trade them or minimize their playing time. McDaniels has refrained from detailing his plans for some players in similar situations, but his staff hasn’t been tight-lipped about Deablo. The first question posed to Pierce during his lone media availability this summer was about the linebacking corps in general—and Deablo’s was the first name out of his mouth. “There’s a lot of physical traits there I can’t coach,” Pierce said of Deablo. “The mental aspect is where we’re working, and he’s doing a great job of that. What you see is a guy that’s real eager and happy, loves being in the building and loves football.” When the Raiders drafted Deablo, some joked that they did it because, if he panned out, they’d sell jerseys and merchandise due to his name. They might want to start printing now, because Deablo looks well on his way to establishing himself as a franchise cornerstone in his second season. “I’ve definitely come a long way, but I’ve got a long way to go to be to where I want to be,” Deablo said. “I want to be elite one day.”
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Deablo explained the origin of his name in a 2020 interview with the ACC Network during his senior season at Virginia Tech. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native said his last name dates back generations, to when his ancestors were Native Americans as part of the Deablo tribe. His father was bullied as a child, because “deablo” translates from Spanish to English as “devil,” so he wanted to “balance it out” and give his son a heavenly first name.
SPORTS
ANTON, OHIO—Divine Deablo is among the most mild-mannered and level-headed players on the Raiders’ roster, so he didn’t protest when linebackers coach Antonio Pierce took him out of the team’s preseason opener in the middle of the second quarter on August 4. That doesn’t mean the 23-year-old linebacker wasn’t a bit frustrated—he would have preferred to play longer than to prioritize rest and health, as the coaching staff did. “I was like, ‘Dang, just when it feels like I’m getting started,’” Deablo said in the locker room after Las Vegas’ 27-11 victory over the Jaguars. “It happens, but I get another opportunity against the Vikings [on Sunday] and I’m excited about that.” New Raiders coach Josh McDaniels follows a similar philosophy to most of his peers in the NFL by sitting out almost all his veteran starters in the preseason. That leaves young, developing players as the prime attractions for the exhibition schedule, which continues for the Raiders August 14 at 1:25 p.m. against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Deablo was one of the defensive standouts in the preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. With Pro Bowl middle linebacker Denzel Perryman on the sidelines, the responsibility of calling plays, making sure everyone was lined up properly and communicating pre-snap reads was left to Deablo. The way he yelled out alignments and directed traffic belied his soft-spoken nature. “Last year, I was listening more than anything,” he said. “This year, they wanted me to be that captain/leader, and I just wanted to communicate and make sure everybody was in the right place at the right time.”
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VEGAS INC BUSINESS
8 .1 1 . 2 2
BANKING
LOCAL BANKERS: CONSUMERS HAVE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO MITIGATE THE PAIN OF HIGH INFLATION
A
BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
report this month from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed a trend that seems to speak to where Americans stand amid challenging economic times. The report revealed that household debt jumped by 2%—or about $312 billion—during the second quarter of 2022, the period from April 1 through June 30. That quarterly increase underscores how consumers have struggled with 40-year-high inflation and rising gas and food prices. While dollars aren’t going as far as they did last year, some Las Vegas financial experts say consumers can make changes to ease the sticker-shock pain. Brian Formisano, Wells Fargo’s regional banking director for the Las Vegas market, said credit cards, when used correctly, can be game-changers. The trick is to refrain from carrying a balance, from which credit card companies and banks make money with interest rates near or above 20%. “I think rewards programs, especially credit card rewards programs, are important,” Formisano said. “It’s a great way to offset the rising costs people are seeing. What it comes down to is having good discipline and processes that can help.” The “processes” of which Formisano speaks could be anything from recurring payments to bill alerts. “Mobile alerts, text alerts, push
notification alerts, we have all of those at Wells Fargo, and I know a lot of the other banks offer those, too,” Formisano said. “Put spend and budget alerts in place, so you know where you stand at any given time.” Jennifer Ronquillo, a senior vice president for Bank of America in Las Vegas, said it’s important for consumers to look for ways they can earn when they spend. That could be in the form of a card that offers a certain percentage of cash back for purchases—often between 1% and 3%—or a card that offers a certain percentage off purchases from a specific retailer. Two of the most popular cash-back
credit cards include Chase’s Freedom Unlimited card and the Discover It card. Those offer 5% off on certain categories—such as grocery stores or gas stations—that change every few months. Many banks, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America, offer retailer discounts for their debit and credit card holders. “We always encourage clients to utilize solutions that will give money back,” Ronquillo said. “One of those avenues is cash back. You need to buy groceries no matter what, but you benefit from buying groceries on your cash-back credit card versus paying with your debit card.” According to a national study con-
Brian Formisano, Wells Fargo regional banking director for the Las Vegas market, poses by a display of vintage office and banking machines in a Wells Fargo bank branch on August 4. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
ducted by Wells Fargo in June, nearly half of all rewards credit card holders said they have started to lean on those rewards to help offset rising everyday expenses. More than 70% of adults, according to Wells Fargo, have a credit card that offers rewards for purchases. More than half of those surveyed said their credit card use has increased since the onset of the pandemic. Krista Phillips, head of branded cards and marketing for Wells Fargo’s credit card division, said the study reinforces the “significance of rising inflation and supply chain issues, and how American consumers have been affected in so many ways.” Formisano added that it often helps to have a relationship with a banker or a financial expert. These days, more people tend to do their banking almost exclusively online. There’s nothing wrong with that, he said, but he still tells people it’s good practice to develop relationships. “A banker’s job is to help people become successful financially,” Formisano said. “Your banker is equipped with the right tools to be able to help people look at the expenses and look for areas where changes or improvements can be made.” Some consumer expenses have retreated a bit lately. According to the AAA motorist club, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas in Nevada was $5.05, down from $5.90 in early July but still significantly more than the national average of $4.16, as of August 3. On August 3, 2021, the average price of a gallon of gas in Nevada was $4.02, according to AAA. Since many goods are shipped via truck, the higher gas prices have led to higher prices for many items. “[Interest] rates have been rising, there’s the high price of housing, gas costs, food prices,” Formisano said. “We want to be there to help [people] who might be making tough decisions these days.”
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46
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
8 .1 1 . 2 2 FINANCE
GUEST COLUMN
F
BUDGETING IS A CRITICAL SKILL FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN THAT WILL BENEFIT THEM FOR A LIFETIME
BY SANDI MILTON
inancial literacy is so important to teach all young adults and college students. Budgeting, specifically, is a lesson that will serve them well for a lifetime, providing a framework to understand where money comes and goes, no matter their income bracket. The first lesson of budgeting is to keep it simple and let them customize it to their needs. I find a monthly budget to be the easiest approach—you can see how spending averages over four weeks, and it works well because most jobs pay twice a month, while most bills occur monthly. Start with income. If they work, students should review their paychecks and determine a minimum average monthly income. In addition, even if parents or scholarships are paying for tuition or housing, students should keep track of those dollars too. They need to understand exactly how much it costs to live independently. Next, start listing the set expenses: tuition, rent, insurance and utilities, including internet and car payment. Then list the flexible-spend necessities: gas, food and savings (I’ll come back to that). For these expenses, look back at purchase history and use a generous average. Finally, list all the “wants,” as we like to call them in financial literacy terms. Things such as movies, dining out, beauty services, streaming services,
online gaming memberships and gym memberships. As adults, the first finance lesson we learn is that we have to spend less on wants. From there, it’s simple math to create the budget. I personally love an Excel spreadsheet and use it for my own household. For the younger generation,
it’s probably Google worksheets. Add the incomes at the top, then subtract the expenses. Most likely the result will be negative. Here’s where the learning comes in. Start adjusting those flexible necessities and wants until the sum total is zero or greater. If there’s a positive, then add to savings.
Students work on their budgeting tablet computers during Capital One Junior Achievement Finance Park in 2014 at the Las Vegas Library. The program teaches financial responsibility through role play. (Steve Marcus/File)
Let’s talk more about savings. This is critical. Most young adults don’t start to think about savings until later, and as a result, they miss prime opportunities. It’s a habit that should start with your first job, whether that’s doing household chores or working outside the home. Many employers will help you start a 401(k) or split your paycheck into different accounts. Encourage students to look for those options. The easiest way to save is to not see the money at all. You can set up automatic transfers at your bank—perhaps you move $20 per week to a savings account or $50 every payday. There are many ways to do it, but the most important tip is to just do it, no exceptions. Do you want to avoid student loans next semester? Is there a new phone coming out? A new game releasing? If you set a savings goal, you can look forward to spending a little more than your normal budget on something you really want but cannot normally afford. Even more likely, something will come up—a flat tire, a broken appliance or other common life inconveniences that aren’t in your normal budget. Having and building a savings account will allow you to better accommodate those issues when they arise. And, it can help you avoid large debts down the road. Budgeting is a foundational financial literacy skill. It’s perfect for both visual and analytical learners—and it gives students a way to understand value and the flow of money. It’s a lesson that keeps on building and will help in the workplace and at home. For worksheets and financial literacy resources, visit Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada’s website, JASNV.org. Sandi Milton is senior vice president of marketing communications for Nevada State Bank and the current board chair for Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada.
Most young adults don’t start to think about savings until later, and as a result, they miss prime opportunities. It’s a habit that should start with your first job, whether that’s doing household chores or working outside the home. Many employers will help you start a 401(k) or split your paycheck into different accounts. Encourage students to look for those options.
ai1657586709404_2022_CTW-30455_ROY_Print_Las Vegas_Las Vegas Weekly_ENG_4.5x11_07-21-22_F.pdf
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SVN The Equity Group announced the promotion of Lindsay Garner to managing director. She will continue to oversee the property management department and assist Garner with the company’s business development efforts and operations. Goodwill of Southern Nevada announced the promotion of Morgan Waldron to director of marketing and communications. She will oversee all grand opening Waldron marketing, manage all media buying, public relations, store signage and communications supporting Goodwill’s retail operations and workforce development services. De Castroverde Law Group announced that two of its attorneys were named 2022 Mountain States
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