2023-05-25-Las-Vegas-Weekly

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, TERESA MOSS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

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Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

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CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

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HAND-SELECTED GENETICS

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Daylight Beach Club

Your daily events planner, starring Leslie Jones, Kali Uchis, Jack Harlow, Bruno Mars, Michael Carbonaro and more.

34 18 38 4422

SPORTS

The Golden Knights are creeping closer to the Stanley Cup Final, and the team’s maligned front office deserves its share of the credit.

COVER STORY

The champion Las Vegas Aces have begun their title defense, and they’ve added one of the sport’s all-time greats to a loaded roster.

LAS VEGAS ACES

ON THE COVER

LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 7 I 5.25.23

NOISE

Preparing you for L7 and the rest of Punk Rock Bowling’s latest power-packed lineup.

52

NIGHTS

Daylight Beach Club celebrates a decade of fun times and innovations at Mandalay Bay.

FOOD & DRINK

IN THIS ISSUE

SPORTS

(Courtesy/Tony Acuna)

SUPERGUIDE

THURSDAY PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

MUSIC

DEAD BOYS

PARTY

With Dwarves, Zeke, Madd Vibe & the Missin’ Links, Lean 13, 8:30 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

SAVE FERRIS

SPORTS

DISMAYLAND: TALES FROM THE PARK 8 p.m., thru 5/28, Majestic Repertory Theatre, majestic repertory.com.

GARTH BROOKS 8 p.m., & 5/27, 5/28, the Colosseum, ticketmaster. com.

With The Kaleidoscope Kid, Scotty Dub, Guilty by Association, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

SOFI TUKKER 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup. com.

FIST OF FURY 9:30 p.m., the Beverly Theater, thebeverly theater.com.

When the magical, merry prankster you’ve seen on TV’s The Carbonaro E ect first subbed in for Penn & Teller last summer, it was a dream come true for the 47-year-old performer from New York City. “In a lot of ways I’m a spawn of their work, and it still influences me so much,” Carbonaro says. “Penn & Teller always took an edgier approach, let you peek behind the curtain with that wry sense of humor.” The feeling you get at a P&T show is what Carbonaro aims for, and now that he’s returning to their room at the Rio for another Vegas run, he’s ready to incorporate di erent tricks and pranks to delight and amaze his audience—and tweak the show after learning a lot last time around. “Every night at this show in the Penn & Teller Theater, I’m going to make two people from the audience disappear onstage,” he says, “so if you’re looking to get rid of someone, keep that in mind.” Thursday-Sunday, 8 p.m., $59-$79, Penn & Teller Theater at Rio, ticketmaster.com. –Brock Radke

CROSSING I’S DOTTING T’S With Alphamega, Three Rounds, Switterbeet, War Peggy, 8 p.m., the Gri n, eventbrite.com.

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK

NEVADA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: THE TEMPEST Thru 5/27, 7:30 p.m., Water Street Amphitheater, nevadashakespeare festival.com.

JON LOVITZ Thru 5/27, 7 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

COMEDY

UNLV COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS BFA THESIS EXHIBITION Thru 6/2, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m., Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery, unlv.edu.

DREAMERS OF DREAMS: D.B, CHALA ESCOBAR & JESUS OROZCO Thru 6/3, hours vary, Left of Center Art Gallery, leftof centerart.org.

AUDIEN With Zen Freeman, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zouk grouplv.com.

KENNY JAMES’ WORLD OF MUSIC, DANCE & MORE

Thru 8/15, hours vary, Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.

BARRY MANILOW Thru 5/27, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster. com.

KANINE With Loots, Dre4K, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

MISC

MICHAEL CARBONARO

Michael Carbonaro (Courtesy/Bryce Craig)

PUNK ROCK BOWLING

Thru 5/29, times vary, Downtown Las Vegas, punkrockbowling.com.

HANNAH BERNER

8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

THE AVENGERS

With The Stitches, The Venomous Pinks, Some Kind of Nightmare, Unit F, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

I LOVE THE 90S With Vanilla Ice, DJ Jazzy Je , Treach, Color Me Badd, 7 p.m., Soak Pool at Palms, palms.com.

DJ SNAKE

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

CAAMP

7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

QUINN XCII

8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

WIZ KHALIFA 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

LESLIE JONES

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND

8:30 p.m., & 5/27, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

YOUTH BRIGADE

With Swingin’ Utters, The Side Eyes, Loud Grave, Bad Thoughts, 8 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

NELLY

With Sourmilk, 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

REVEREND HORTON HEAT

With The Delta Bombers, Julian James & The Lovebombs, The Luxuries, more, 8 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, seetickets.us.

LION’S LAW

With Wisdom in Chains, Militarie Gun, Anti-Vision, H.A.L.T., 8 p.m., Place on 7th, seetickets.us.

DILLON FRANCIS

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

THE REAL MCKENZIES

With The Goddamn Gallows, Flatfoot 56, Doll Riot, Battle Flask, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, seetickets.us.

AGENT ORANGE

With JFA, The Take, After the Fall, Pure Sport, 8 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, seetickets.us.

ILLENIUM 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

THE HARDYVILLE STRANGLERS

With The Mormons, The Pawns, Lost Puppy Forever, Those Poor Bastards, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledownsaloon.com.

COI LERAY 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

SANTANA

Thru 5/28, 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com.

They ought to put the network commentator jacket on her. One that’s tufted for the winter games, light and sporty for the summer games, with the smart-looking patch. Make it o cial, because every Olympic Games that passes us by that doesn’t include color commentary by Saturday Night Live vet Leslie Jones is not an Olympic Games worth watching. She humanizes the event: empathizing with the competitors and never failing to speak her mind— hilariously so—when something makes no damn sense. By the way, those are also the qualities that make her a terrific stand-up, too—a profession for which she’s already perfectly suited. By the way, NBC, if you’re listening: Book Leslie’s summer 2024 flight to the Paris games now. Don’t make me drag you in the socials. 8 p.m., $49+, Theater at Virgin, axs.com. –Geo Carter

Leslie Jones (Courtesy/ABC, Peggy Sirota)

SUPERGUIDE

MEEK MILL

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

KYGO

ROY ELLIS & THE AGGROLITES

MATCHBOX TWENTY

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. LOS ANGELES SPARKS

6 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

ANTI-HEROS With The Generators, Antagonizers Atl, Hunting Lions, 9:30 p.m., the Usual Place, seetickets.us.

THE BRIEFS With Wine Lips, Spiritual Cramp, Rat F*ck, 9:30 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

KASKADE Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

DIPLO 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

STRAIGHT JOKES

NO CHASER

COMEDY TOUR

Ft. Cedric the Entertainer, DL Hughley, Mike Epps, more, 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.

SURPRISE HEADLINER

With Alice Bag, Slaughterhouse, 9:30 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

STRUNG OUT

With The Copyrights, Western Addiction, Washed, 9:30 p.m., Place on 7th, seetickets.us.

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

IGNITE

With Pulley, End It, The Hate, 9:30 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, seetickets.us.

SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO

7 & 10 p.m., & 5/28, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

With Bedouin Soundclash, The Skints, Bad Operation, Amalgamated, Robert Stokes, 8 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, seetickets.us.

NEON DREAM With Gareth Emery, Tritonal, Jerro, more, the A-Lot at Area15, area15.com.

JAZZ IN THE PARK: KIM WATERS 6 p.m., Clark County Amphitheater, seetickets.us.

ALESSO

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.

THE CHAINSMOKERS

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

KATY PERRY

8 p.m., & 5/28, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

JACK HARLOW 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

STEVE AOKI 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com.

THE YOUNG DUBLINERS

With Darby O’Gill & the Little People, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

SMILE EMPTY SOUL

With The Nocturnal A air, The Stone Eye, Jekserah, Shatter the Moon, 7 p.m., SoulBelly BBQ, eventbrite.com.

BLXST

11 a.m., Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com.

BONECRUSHER

With Riotgun, The Latchkey Kidz, Southpaw, Functional Lunatics, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledownsaloon. com.

Jack Harlow

(Courtesy/Zouk Nightclub)

JA RULE & ASHANTI

8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS ACES VS. MINNESOTA

LYNX

6 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

L7

With Svetlanas, Grade 2, Informal Society, 9:30 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

FISHBONE

With H.R., Son Rompe Pera, Los Ataskados, Secos, Eclipse, 9:30 p.m., Citrus Grand Pool Deck, seetickets.com.

AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING

4 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

DAVID GUETTA

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

MARSHMELLO & TYGA 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

THE DICKIES

With Ultra Bomb, Dog Party, Winkler, 9:30 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.com.

BOOZE & GLORY

With The Rumjacks, The Bar Stool Preachers, The Provos, 9:30 p.m., Place on 7th, seetickets.com.

TY DOLLA $IGN Noon, Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com.

KALI UCHIS

Readers be warned: Kali Uchis is almost too hot to handle. The Colombian-American pop star is one of the hottest crossover acts in music right now, with her 2018 debut album, Isolation, drawing guest vocals from Tyler, the Creator, Bootsy Collins and Steve Lacy, and her first Spanish-speaking album, 2020’s Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), earning a Grammy nomination for Best Música Urbana Album. She colors her sound with broad strokes of jazz, R&B and a luscious amount of soul, as heard on her latest album, March’s Red Moon in Venus, an aural treat of balmy love ballads, cosmic character and lush instrumentation that shows how far she has come musically. Cashmere Cat, Summer Walker and Omar Apollo also make appearances on the record, taking the sonic diversity to new heights while always keeping it Uchis. 8 p.m., $65+, the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

–Amber Sampson

ABOVE & BEYOND 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY

With Redshift, Shock Therapy, Not for Sale, 9:30 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown, seetickets.us.

MANIC HISPANIC

With Left Alone, The Vulturas, Diskount Vodka, 9:30 p.m., the Usual Place, seetickets.us.

JEFF DUNHAM

8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticketmaster.com.

NOBODYS

With The Sleights, Jerk!, Goners UK, noon, Sand Dollar Downtown, sanddollarlv.com/ downtown.

D.R.I.

With Intent, Societies Infection, Substance Death, 9 p.m., the Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.

TIËSTO

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

MONSTER WOLF

With Order of Nine Angels, Minority, Mass Terror, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledownsaloon. com.

SMASH MOUTH

With Toadies, Marcy Playground, 6 p.m., Fremont Street Experience, vegasexperience.com.

FAT JOE 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

Kali Uchis (Courtesy/Amber Asaly)

PUNK ROCK KARAOKE

With T.S.O.L., Spider, Infirmities, 9:30 p.m., Fremont Country Club, seetickets.us.

THE BELTONES With The Chisel, The Drowns, Speed of Light, 9:30 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.

BRAD GARRETT With Tom McTigue, Omid Singh, thru 6/1, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrettcomedy.com.

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS 7 p.m., thru 6/3 (& 6/4, noon), Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

CAIRO KNIFE FIGHT With Ikana, Full Fledged, Post NC, 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.

SHOCKONE 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.

BRUNO MARS 9 p.m., & 5/275/28, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

DJ RUCKUS 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.

PARADE OF BAD GUYS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.

JACKIE FABULOUS 8:30 p.m., thru 6/3, Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

BIG BOSS VETTE Noon, Daylight Beach Club, tixr.com.

DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

Big Boss Vette (Courtesy/Shots by Mel)

(AP Photo)

BUILDING BRILLIANCE

BY CASE KEEFER

Bruce Cassidy recused himself from conversations involving Adin Hill when the Golden Knights began zoning in on the 27-year-old goaltender as a trade target before the season. Vegas’ first-year coach says he “knew very little about” the then-San Jose Sharks’ backup, whom Cassidy never encountered during his stint coaching the Boston Bruins, so he felt it would be better if the front office handled the pursuit entirely.

“I just remember an analytics sort-of [report on] strengths and weaknesses, and they thought in the system we were going to play, he would be good,” Cassidy recalled before a recent playoff game. “I don’t want to get into all the numbers, but he’d just be a good fit—big guy, controls rebounds, makes saves he’s supposed to, etc. We’d see if we could improve his game.”

Cassidy’s system has helped the 6-foot-6, 205-pound goalie shed the “raw prospect” tag he had carried since the Arizona Coyotes selected him in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Hill has ascended to a level where he

doesn’t look at all out of place as the backstop on a team in the Stanley Cup Playoff semifinals.

Hill is actually a big reason the Golden Knights are close to reaching their second-ever Stanley Cup Final, having outplayed more acclaimed Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger during a 2-0 start to the Western Conference Final.

Bringing in Hill should be regarded as another masterful move by a Golden Knights’ hockey operations department that has orchestrated many of them over the past year and a half. Such praise has been rare for George McPhee, president of hockey operations, and Kelly McCrimmon, general manager, after the pair seemed to fall out of favor with the majority of the fanbase last season, when the Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the only time in their history.

McPhee and McCrimmon might have made some mistakes in the past, particularly as it pertains to handling relationships with players and managing the salary cap. But they always explained that every decision was made to give the

Golden Knights

the best

chance to win a championship.

Many questioned, and even mocked, their ability to do so, but no one should any longer. Whether the Golden Knights ultimately parade the Stanley Cup down the Strip this year or not, McPhee and McCrimmon have proven they can use their aggressive approach to build a championship-caliber roster.

Vegas’ personnel can’t be described at any lower tier than that after posting the Western Conference’s best record in the regular season—the top mark in franchise

history—and looking even better so far in the playoffs.

And the real genius of the front office might have come in the way it has made on-the-fly moves this season that appeared marginal at first but have made a major difference in the playoffs. Fan bases are often critical of their teams’ trades, but there’s been an extra level of vitriol reserved for McPhee and McCrimmon lately whenever they’ve made a decision.

Some called a trade-deadline deal with the St. Louis Blues for Ivan Barbashev short-sighted

Editor’s Note: This column was written after the Golden Knights’ Game 2 victory over Dallas in the Western Conference Final. This issue went to press before Game 3 in Dallas.

It’s time to start praising the Golden Knights’ maligned front office

and graded it as a loss after the Golden Knights shipped out one of their top prospects, former firstround pick Zach Dean. Detractors accused the Golden Knights of paying for a pending free agent scorer in Barbashev who wasn’t really scoring anymore.

But much like Hill’s ascent under Cassidy, Barbashev has thrived in his new environs. He has raised his shooting percentage drastically in Las Vegas—19% combined between the regular season and postseason, as opposed to 11% this year in St. Louis—and scored a pair of big goals to help Vegas to a 1-0 series lead against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.

“It was a really good deal by McCrimmon at the deadline to add that element,” Cassidy said. “You need those guys in the playoffs.”

The player Vegas acquired a few days after Barbashev arrived, Teddy Blueger, has also already paid off the price the Golden Knights gave to Pittsburgh for him—a third-round pick and a prospect—with a big moment of his own. Blueger scored a go-ahead goal late in the Golden Knights’ eventual 4-3 overtime win against the Stars in Game 1.

At press time, he had only been active for four games after starting the postseason as a healthy scratch but has since centered the fourth line and given the unit the bite Cassidy craves for his depth to provide.

No discussion on recent Vegas personnel moves is complete without referencing the biggest trade in franchise history. Controversy really raged early last season, when Vegas landed superstar Jack Eichel for a king’s ransom—fan favorite

Alex Tuch, top prospect Peyton Krebs and a trio of draft picks.

Those who disliked the deal might have felt momentarily validated by the Golden Knights’ disappointing finish last season, but a year later, Eichel is showing exactly why McPhee and McCrimmon went after him with such determination.

The hope was that the 26-yearold former No. 2 overall pick could fix the offensive woes that had held the Golden Knights back in previous playoff runs. In Game 2 against Dallas, Vegas was in an all-too-familiar offensive slog until about a quarter through the third period, when Eichel took over.

Down 2-1, the Golden Knights got an equalizing goal with under three minutes to play, when Eichel fired a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Jonathan Marchessault on a play that appropriately started when Barbashev forced a turnover.

No single moment this postseason has been prettier—or a better illustration of Vegas’ roster-building philosophy paying off.

Of course, given the unprecedented amount of success the Golden Knights have had since entering the league for the 2017-2018 season, McPhee and McCrimmon shouldn’t need to prove their credentials to anyone. Reaching four conference finals in six years is an incredible feat. The coach has changed, as have many of the players, but the men at the top of the front office have remained constant the same throughout.

It might be uncomfortable, but they deserve a big share of the credit for the Golden

current heights.

Knights

Vegas center Jack Eichel (9) and forward Chandler Stephenson celebrate as right wing Mark Stone (61) scores against Dallas during the first period of Game 2, May 21 at T-Mobile Arena. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

Las Vegas Aces tip off their title defense after an eventful offseason

BY CASE KEEFER

It’s been a wild past year for the Las Vegas Aces, rife with the highest of highs, and to be fair, at least a couple of recent lows.

The local WNBA franchise went into last season amid much hype after team owner Mark Davis made Becky Hammon the league’s first $1 million-per-year coach. She went on to transform the team into an unstoppable offensive force that eventually won the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship.

The Aces shut down a portion of the Strip for a parade from Caesars Palace to a stage near the Bellagio. But seemingly as fast as the Champagne dried and cigars burned out, controversy struck as the team began preparing for this season.

It all started in January, when the Aces made a trade with the Los Angeles Sparks to ship out starting forward Dearica Hamby, who then alleged mistreatment by her former team. Hamby said the Aces offered her impermissible benefits to sign an extension last year and that they “bullied, manipulated and discriminated against” her after she got pregnant.

That led to a WNBA investigation, and an eventual ruling that the team violated rules on both counts. The Aces were stripped of their 2025 first-round pick (they had already traded away their 2024 selection) and saddled with a two-game suspension without pay for Hammon in relation to “comments made by Hammon to Hamby in connection with Hamby’s recent pregnancy,” according to a statement sent by league commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Hammon has maintained her innocence, even suggesting text messages could have been doctored to obscure the truth.

The situation has brought something of a dark cloud over the Aces as they begin their title defense, though it’s expected to fade as the season gets into full swing. Winning typically solves everything in sports, and Las Vegas is expected to top last year’s all-time franchise-best 26-10 regular season record. The Aces have too much talent for expectations to be any lower.

Six players in the WNBA received first- or second-place MVP votes last year, and the Aces now have four of them on their roster: A’ja Wilson (last season’s winner), Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and superstar free-agent signee Candace Parker.

Davis also built the Aces a training facility that mirrors—if not tops—many NBA teams’ version, next to the Raiders’ headquarters in west Henderson. And the franchise brought on former NFL great Tom Brady as a minority owner.

Saturday, May 27, Las Vegas’ home opener against the Sparks, will be a night of celebration as the Aces receive their championship rings and hang a title banner inside Michelob Ultra Arena. And there’s no reason to doubt that they’ll have a chance to do it all again a year from now.

Aces forward A’ja Wilson, center, celebrates with teammates during a victory rally on the Strip on September 20, 2022. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

CHASING THE ACES

Three teams primed to challenge for the 2023 crown

New York Liberty

After back-to-back first-round exits, New York looks ready to make its first run to the WNBA Finals since 2002. Sabrina Ionescu is arguably the best young player in the league, and she’ll have help from three newcomers: Breanna Stewart, whom some would argue remains the top player in the WNBA after leading the league in scoring last year; Jonquel Jones, a dominant post presence; and Courtney Vandersloot, one of the league’s best passers.

Phoenix Mercury

Last season was di cult on the Mercury, who barely scraped into the playo s as the No. 8 seed and were swiftly eliminated by the Aces. They also spent 2022 worried about teammate Brittney Griner while she was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months. But the seven-time AllStar is back on the court, and she’ll team once again with Diana Taurasi, a three-time WNBA champion. The Mercury have never missed the playo s with Taurasi and Griner together, but they’ve only secured one title (2014) during that time.

Washington Mystics

The Mystics will need 33-year-old Elena Delle Donne to reclaim the spot she once held among the best players on the planet. The two-time MVP has been dealing with back issues the past few seasons but says she’s now fully healthy for the first time in years. If so, Delle Donne, veteran point guard Kristi Toliver and lethal scorer Ariel Atkins could make the Mystics, who won the title in 2019, true contenders once again. –Danny Webster

ADDING AN ICON

WNBA legend Candace Parker joins the defending champs for a title run

BY MIKE GRIMALA

If you’re the Las Vegas Aces, how can you possibly top the WNBA championship you won in 2022, the rst major-league professional sports championship in the city’s history?

Easy. You add the brightest women’s basketball star on the planet.

Enter Candace Parker, who has as strong a claim to that title as any active player. Her 16-year pro career has seen her earn seven All-Star berths, two MVP awards and a pair of WNBA championship rings. Before all that, she burst into public consciousness by winning two NCAA championships—and two Wooden Award nods as the top player in the nation—while at the University of Tennessee.

As a 6-foot-4 frontcourt force, Parker should team nicely with the Aces’ reigning MVP, A’ja

Wilson, to give Las Vegas perhaps the best pivot duo in league history.

It also means that four of the team’s five expected starters will be former No. 1 overall draft picks—Parker (2008), Kelsey Plum (2017), Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019). The exception? Point guard Chelsea Gray, who took home the WNBA Finals’ MVP trophy the last time the Aces were on the floor together.

Put it all together, and there are real superteam vibes, though Parker isn’t ready to go there—yet. “I don’t think you can even say that until the season is underway,” Parker said in a news conference going into the season.

Still, there’s no denying Parker’s megawatt star power. Wilson and Plum have become

breakthrough big names during their stints with the Aces—getting work on national television ad campaigns and building massive social-media followings—but they have a ways to go to match their new teammate’s overall impact.

In addition to her raw stats and individual accomplishments, Parker has transcended women’s basketball in a way few ever have. In her o time, Parker moonlights as an NBA analyst for TNT, commentating on the action from the studio with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. She also calls NBA games courtside. And last November, ESPN announced it’s producing a documentary about her life.

That is Mount Rushmore-caliber stu . Parker is as close to a household name as the WNBA has ever had, and her presence will make Aces games must-see experiences this summer.

So, how did a legend like Parker end up in Vegas? The 37-year-old had a decision to make this o season. She was a free agent, and with all of her o -court interests, she had to gure out whether she wanted to come back to the WNBA for one more season.

The Aces put on the full-court press to convince her to join their title defense. One big factor was Wilson, who has a long history with Parker. Back when Wilson was touring colleges as a recruit, she met Parker during a visit to Tennessee. Wilson eventually ended up at South Carolina, but she and Parker

Candace Parker (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

had formed a lasting bond.

As a team captain at last summer’s All-Star game, Wilson wasted no time making Parker her rst selection in the player draft. That was an exhibition. Now the two superstars get to team up for real.

“I’m excited to play with her and not have to gure out how we’re going to guard her,” Parker said. “I’m excited to learn from her and grow with her, but I’m also excited to get her the ball.”

Parker signed a one-year deal with Las Vegas but has backed o her retirement talk a bit since. For now, she’s locked in on making the most of her third WBNA stop after 12 years with the Los Angeles Sparks followed by a two-year stint with the Chicago Sky. In 2022, she averaged 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during a physically demanding but productive season.

A few weeks ago, the Aces opened a 64,000-square-foot practice facility in Henderson, and Parker is already making full use of the new digs. “As a 37-year-old player, as a vet, taking care of my body is rst and foremost,” she said. “So to be able to have access to not just a locker, but a facility where you can go and rehab and have the latest machines … I mean, I took a nap the other day in the hyperbaric chamber.”

She knows she needs to rest while she can, because she and the Aces will be in the spotlight all year. With Parker rounding out a stacked squad, the new season should be quite the show.

COMPLEMENTS

MEET TWO OTHER KEY NEW ACES

CAYLA GEORGE

This Australian native returns to the WNBA after five years in her home country with the WNBL’s Melbourne Boomers. George, 34, helped the Boomers win that league’s 2022 title and was being named the league’s 2023 MVP in March.

George played parts of three seasons in America—two with the Phoenix Mercury (2015, 2017) and another with the Dallas Wings (2018)—before returning home. She was a sparsely used reserve in those seasons, but has since broken out. Last season, she averaged 18.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting a league-best 42% from the 3-point line.

The Aces didn’t have much depth in the frontcourt last season behind Wilson, who played all but four minutes in the 2022 semifinal series against the Seattle Storm. George could be a huge help if she can prove capable of relieving Wilson for spurts.

ALYSHA CLARK

A two-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm, Clark, 35, might have been the best under-the-radar acquisition this o season. Known as a lockdown defender, she earned First Team All Defense honors from the league in 2020 and was a member of the second team in 2019.

But the 10-year veteran guard/forward can also shoot, ranking second all-time in the WNBA record book in two-point field goal percentage (57.9%). Clark averages only 5.3 field goal attempts per game, but she makes the most of them. She has also posted a career 38.4% rate from 3-point range.

Put it all together, and Clark has shown an ability to be a versatile player. At 5-foot-11, she’s tall enough to challenge interior players but also a nuisance when defending some of the league’s elite scoring guards.

–

Danny Webster

BECKY BALL

Chatting with Becky Hammon , as demand for the Aces’ second-year coach continues to build

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Becky Hammon’s name seems to be everywhere in the basketball world lately.

The 46-year-old was long considered a rising star in the coaching ranks, but after leading Las Vegas to the WNBA championship in her first season with the team, that description is no longer accurate. She’s just a star now—and a Hall of Famer.

Hammon, a six-time All Star during her WNBA playing days with the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars, will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame this August in Springfield, Massachusetts. Appropriately, the six-person 2023 Hall of Fame class also includes San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich—under whom Hammon coached as a Spurs assistant from 2014-2022— along with two of that coaching duo’s former players, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol.

Hammon remains highly regarded in the NBA, and the league appears to want her back. She was a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching job in 2021, and this year, the Toronto Raptors secured permission to interview her for their vacant head coaching position.

Hammon declined to comment on open positions at the outset of Aces’ training camp this year but made it clear she’s not sitting around hoping to get back in the NBA. Her focus for now, she said, is on trying to lead the defending WNBA champions to another title.

“There’s no doubt I love this team,” Hammon said. “My girls know I love them, and I’m proud

and happy to be their coach.”

The Weekly spoke with Hammon inside the Aces’ locker room at their new Henderson practice facility.

How happy are you with the way this facility turned out? This is how it should look and feel for every team, because these are professional athletes. We’re happy to be leading the way.

The Seattle Storm has since started breaking ground on a practice facility. Does it feel like this is becoming the norm in the WNBA? I hope it continues. These little steps and facilities mean a lot to players. Who wouldn’t want to come here every day? It’s a huge draw for the players. Candace Parker told me she’s never had her own locker before. I was like, “What?”

When I played in New York, they had just built their facility in White Plains. It was a shared facility, but it was equal—whatever the Knicks had on their side, the Liberty had on their side. As you can see, this facility is ours and ours alone, and that makes it a little unique. We’re super proud of it.

How have you been getting ready for the 2023 season? We’ve been getting ready for months. We’re excited. We have some pieces to build off of. I think we’ve improved. I think we’ve got more depth. Now it’s just putting the pieces together, getting chemistry with each other. Things can look good on paper, but you still have to go out there and execute on the floor.

How much thought have you given to how you want to deploy A’ja and Candace together? I’m super excited to see the chemistry between them and see how they play and work off each other. Chelsea [Gray] and Candace already have a little chemistry and relationship with each other [from playing together in LA from 2016-2020]. The other combination I’m really interested to see is KP [Kelsey Plum]and Candace, because of the amount of attention they’ll draw—Candace’s playmaking ability, her passing ability, her size to see over the defense, and Kelsey’s a different animal with how she gets her shot off.

Sounds like Spurs basketball. Exactly, and it’s going to demand a lot of attention. All of a sudden now, I feel like our cutting’s going to be better. When I was with the Spurs, we had a lot of great cutting teams … just really great passers, but how you get great cutting is by having great passers. People get rewarded. When people quit running in transition, people quit cutting to the basket when they never get the ball. Well, you’re going to get the ball.

I really want to dominate the game in different ways this year that we didn’t last year. I think we have that capability.

Becky Hammon (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

BRADY BUYS STAKE IN RAIDERS

Tom Brady, whose Hall of Fame career launched with a controversial play that lifted his New England Patriots to a playoff win against the Raiders in 2002, will become a minority owner of the team, pending NFL approval. At least 24 owners will need to approve of the deal.

STATES REACH DEAL ON PLAN TO CONSERVE COLORADO RIVER WATER

The three Lower Basin states sharing water from the dwindling supply in the Colorado River have agreed to conservation measures to save 3 million acre-feet of system water through the end of 2026, the Department of Interior announced May 22. The efforts will begin quickly. The three states—Nevada, Arizona and California— agreed that 1.5 million acre-feet would be conserved by the end of 2024, according to a letter sent from the states to Camille Touton, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

An acre-foot of water is roughly enough to serve two to three U.S. households annually.

Water districts, farm operators, cities and Native American tribes in the three states agreed to take less water in order to qualify for federal grants offered under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Those payments will total about $1.2 billion. Officials did not say how much funding individual users in the states would get.

Officials from the seven Colorado River Basin states—Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and Texas— agreed to the submission of a proposal from the three Lower Basin states, the Department of Interior said.

The next step is for the department to fully analyze the effects of the proposal under the National Environmental Policy Act, it said.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said 55% of the water reductions would come from Arizona, 30% from California and 6% from Nevada.

The three states are entitled to 7.5 million acre-feet of water altogether from the river. But for the past two years, Arizona and Nevada to a lesser degree have not received their full allocations thanks to agreed-upon water cuts to keep more water in the system. California has been spared so far from those cuts thanks to its senior water rights.

–Rhiannon Saegart

NEWS

NEVADA FILM DREAM PAUSED

Actor Jeremy Renner’s hopes to expand a measure for the film industry to Northern Nevada were dashed May 22 when the bill’s sponsor said it’s too late to entertain it in the current legislative session. State Sen. Roberta Lange said an amendment could provide for a study to look at what economic impacts an expansion would bring.

ALOHA Between 2011 and 2021, the population of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in Clark County grew by about 40%, for a total of nearly 22,000 people. That was the greatest number of newcomers in that demographic in any county outside Hawaii, according to population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

NBA SUMMER LEAGUE FAN EVENT

The NBA unveiled plans May 18 for a three-day event called NBA Con, which will run July 7-9 in Las Vegas and coincide with the opening days of the league’s summer session there. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and interact with current and past players.

ABORTION AID BILL GOES TO GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

A bill that would offer protections from legal snares to out-of-state women seeking an abortion in Nevada is heading to Gov. Joe Lombardo’s desk, testing a campaign promise that he would help shield out-of-state abortion seekers from prosecution.

Senate Bill 131 passed easily through the Assembly on May 22, 27-14 along party lines, with all but one Democrat voting to pass the measure and all 14 Republicans opposing.

Assemblywoman Cecelia Gonzalez, D-Las Vegas, a co-sponsor of the bill, was marked excused.

The bill, introduced in February by Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, aims to codify an executive order issued by then-Gov. Steve Sisolak in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Department last June, when the high court voted to overturn its previous decision in the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade.

If signed into law, SB 131 would prevent any health care licensing board from sanctioning a doctor who assisted in providing reproductive health care

services and would shield them from discipline under another state’s law. For women seeking an abortion, the bill would shield them from legal action where the procedure has been banned.

Lombardo’s office said the governor hadn’t yet determined if he would sign the bill into law.

Lombardo, a first-term Republican, changed his stance on his predecessor’s executive order throughout the campaign trail. The former Clark County Sheriff, who billed himself as a prolife candidate and earned endorsements from several anti-abortion groups said, initially, if reelected, he would overturn the executive order.

But when pressed about it in a debate with Sisolak in October, Lombardo changed his tune and committed to keeping the order in place.

The measure passed 15-6 in the state Senate on April 19 with two Republicans— Heidi Seevers Gansert and Carrie Buck—joining with Democrats. Should Lombardo veto the bill, the Legislature could override him if one of those two remained united with the Democrats.

–Casey Harrison

COMMUNITY

FREE MEALS FOR KIDS THIS SUMMER

More than 276,000 students throughout the state are eligible for free and reduced lunch during the school year, and through the Summer Food Service Program, children 18 and younger will continue to be fed this summer, even when school is not in session.

“This program ensures that hundreds of thousands of children across the state will have access to free and nutritious food during the summer,” said Nevada Department of Agriculture Director J.J. Goicoechea.

Children may receive up to two meals, one meal and a snack, or two snacks every day, no questions asked. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sites throughout the state offer meals daily for kids for free with no enrollment.

Parents, children and teens can find a meal site near them by visiting nvsummermeals. com, texting “Summer Meals” to 914-342-7744 or calling 1-866-348-6479. –Staff

A three-day total of more than 500,000 fans of electronic dance music packed Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Electric Daisy Carnival 2023. For our coverage of the festival, visit lasvegasweekly.com (Courtesy/Insomniac Events)

PROTECTION SOUGHT FOR RARE NEVADA TOAD

A conservation group plans to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect a rare toad’s sole habitat from oil and gas operations in Nye County. The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to protect the Railroad Valley toad under the Endangered Species Act in April 2022. Krista Kemppinen, senior scientist over the Southwest and Great Basin for the conservation group, said the agency had until last month to make a decision but did not. “We were forced to launch a lawsuit against them to basically force them to make a decision,” Kemppinen said. Of all toads endemic to the Great Basin Desert, the Railroad Valley toad is among the smallest. –Rhiannon Saegart

D’ARCY DROLLINGER OF SAN FRANCISCO IS THE FIRST ‘DRAG LAUREATE’ IN U.S. HISTORY.

HOLIDAY HEADACHES

BY SHANNON MILLER

Has fear of getting stuck in tra c ever prevented you from going somewhere? For some Southern Californians considering a visit to Las Vegas, the thought of getting stuck in an hours-long backup surely has.

In December 2021, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and then-Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak jointly announced a project to add a third lane to a ve-mile stretch of southbound Interstate 15 between the state line and Barstow, California, to help alleviate congestion on weekends and holidays.

The governors projected that the widening project would be completed by the end of summer 2022.

As summer 2023 approaches, however, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) tells the Weekly that, thus far, just

one mile has been completed on the freeway’s southbound side.

“Caltrans has opened a one-mile transition lane that allows motorists to merge smoothly from three to two lanes along southbound I-15 at the California-Nevada border,” reads a statement from spokesperson Carolina Rojas. “Plans to improve tra c conditions in the area include the opening of a third, southbound part-time lane for ve miles from the state line to the California Department of Food and Agricultural station.”

The statement continued, “The timing of opening the lane is still being determined as Caltrans works with our federal partners and the Southern California Association of Governments on the necessary regulatory approvals.”

Rojas said the current one-mile transition lane has saved drivers

traveling from Las Vegas to Southern California an average of 30-40 minutes on non-holiday weekends, “with little to no queuing around the border.”

It remains to be seen how much it helps with holiday travel. Infamously, on January 1, 2023, some drivers encountered backups as long as 18 miles near the state line, leading to frustratingly long delays.

The Weekly reached out to Gov. Joe Lombardo to ask whether his o ce has been coordinating with California o cials on the widening project, and if he had any updates. His spokesperson did not return requests for comment.

Additionally, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has been monitoring the situation and analyzing possible solutions, including widening I-15 in town between Sloan Road and Warm

Springs Road.

“We are undertaking signi cant roadway expansion projects and implementing new technologies to enhance tra c management and control,” reads a statement from NDOT spokesman Justin Hopkins, in part.

‘The first true high-speed rail’ While there is no speci c timeline or concrete plan for the I-15 widening project, NDOT and privately owned passenger railroad company Brightline have been working on an alternative: laying high-speed rail lines along I-15 between Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Las Vegas. In April, the partners submitted an application for a $3.75 billion grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the project known as Brightline West.

“Brightline [West] will be the rst true high-speed rail system in America and will serve as the blueprint for how we connect corridors that are too short to y and too far to drive,” Hopkins said in a statement.

The estimated $12 billion project comprises two parts—a 170-mile line from Las Vegas to Victorville, California, and a 49-mile line from Victorville to California cities Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga. From there, passengers would be able to connect to greater LA and other SoCal destinations via the regional Metrolink rail system.

The Federal Railroad Administration is processing environmental reviews and permit applications for the I-15 right of way. Processing for the Vegas to Victorville permit is expected to be completed in July, and the permitting process for Hesperia and Rancho Cucamonga connections

is also underway.

In 2021, Brightline announced it had secured a 110-acre parcel on Las Vegas Boulevard south of Warm Springs Road that would serve as the Las Vegas terminal and “future home of Brightline West.”

“Plans are currently being developed for the terminal station, which will encompass 65,000 square feet of building area and include many innovative amenities for travelers, including ample parking and connections to various ground transportation systems—both existing and planned,” reads a press release from the company.

Ben Porritt, Brightline’s senior vice president of corporate a airs, tells the Weekly that the company’s Florida line has been well-received since it began service in 2018, with travelers using the system for various reasons, including work commutes and leisure.

“I think all of us are looking for an alternative way to hit city to city,” Porritt said. “And I think Brightline’s going to o er a comfortable experience that people have fallen in love with in Florida and will nd equally unique in Las Vegas.”

Brightline, which Porritt calls the “ rst private company to enter the high-speed rail space in America in more than a century,” operates in Florida between Miami and West Palm Beach and has an Orlando connection expected to come online this summer. Porritt says the line sees a “high level” of commuters.

“Once we expand it to Orlando, we’ll see a fairly even split between leisure and business travelers,” Porritt predicts, adding that there are similarities between the Florida and Brightline West markets.

“If you look at Florida, it’s a tourism state … same thing with Las Vegas.

You have a number of people coming into the city for its vibrant life, conferences, its tourism,” he says. “From our ridership studies, there’s about 50 million trips per year between Southern California and Las Vegas. And 85% of those are done by car.”

But unlike Brightline Florida’s rail system, which runs on a “freight system” at about 125 miles per hour, Brightline West will go even faster.

“There’s actually a federal designation for high-speed rail as anything that goes over 186 miles per hour, which Brightline West will do,” Porritt says.

That could potentially cut the current four-hour travel time by car in half.

According to NDOT estimates, Brightline West would generate more than $10 billion in economic bene ts, along with approximately 35,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent positions.

After NDOT and Brightline submitted their application for the $3.75 billion federal grant, Nevada’s two U.S. Senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, helped draft a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of the application, citing emissions impacts.

“The system will also align with the administration’s climate goals by diverting millions of automobile users from I-15 onto a faster, more e cient, zero-emission transportation option,” the letter reads. “Each year, Brightline West operations will remove an estimated three million vehicles and over 700 million vehicle miles traveled from the highway, as well as 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.”

“Moreover, the project will reduce congestion on the I-15, leading to a faster and more enjoyable travel experience for both drivers and riders alike,” the letter continues.

Based on current projections for permitting completion and nancing—more than 70% would be privately funded, according to Porritt—Brightline is “positioned to break ground in the second half of 2023,” with construction expected to be completed in 2027 and the rail system’s launch projected for 2028, Porritt says.

Renderings of a Brightline train and (right) station (Courtesy)

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L7 With Svetlanas, Grade 2, Informal Society. May 28, 9:30 p.m., $25, Fremont Country Club; May 29, 6:25 p.m., $90 single-day pass, Punk Rock Bowling outdoor stage; seetickets.us.

(Courtesy)

SHOCK & AWE

Expect the unexpected from L7 at Punk Rock Bowling

BY SHANNON MILLER

Critics agree that it’s hard to sum up L7 in a brief descriptor or single genre label, but a piece on display at the Punk Rock Museum does a pretty good job.

The poster, built around the album cover art from the 2021 best of compilation Wargasm: The Slash Years 19921997, shows a woman in power stance, wearing little more than what appears to be a metal wrestling belt. She’s clutching the ends of a strap wrapped around the head of some disembodied man or cropped-haired submissive, drawing them face rst into her crotch.

Some might nd the image laugh-inducing, liberating or both, while others might nd it upsetting. And if there is a way to sum up the band and its legacy, it’s that shock factor.

Punk Rock Bowling festgoers can expect the foursome to bring that ippant, tampon- inging energy to the outdoor stage on May 29—and to a more intimate show inside Fremont Country Club one night earlier.

PUNK ROCK BOWLING

May 26-29, times & prices vary, Downtown Las Vegas, punkrockbowling.com.

Gardner founded L7 in 1985 and were later joined by bassist Jennifer Finch and drummer Dee Plakas, mixing styles from the punk scene in their native LA with heavy metal in the Motörhead vein. L7’s 1990 single “Shove”and subsequent album Smell the Magic, released on the Seattle-based Sub Pop label known for signing bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden, solidi ed the band’s place in the grunge movement of the ’90s. L7 toured with Nirvana in 1990 and teamed with Nevermind producer Butch Vig on 1992 album Bricks Are Heavy, which included their bestknown song, “Pretend We’re Dead.” “We never sold 500,000 copies. We never got a gold record,” Sparks says of Bricks Are Heavy, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. “[But] God bless our fans. They’re very loyal. They know we’re still sort of underdogs. … They know that we’re not Soundgarden or Pearl Jam or Nirvana, and [that] we didn’t get as big as those guys, for whatever reasons.”

Eight more acts to catch at Punk Rock Bowling 2023

Militarie Gun (Friday, 10:15 p.m., Place on 7th) Ian Shelton has played incendiary local sets as the drummer/vocalist of powerviolence band Regional Justice Center, but this more melodic project allows him to show his chops solely as a frontman.

Wisdom in Chains (Friday, 11 p.m., Place on 7th) “Pennsylvania, I f*ckin love you” are the only words you need to remember to take part in a massive sing-along during “The Land of Kings,” the foremost anthem in a catalog full of them.

Fear (Saturday, 5:05 p.m., Main Stage) It won’t feel like the fest is fully underway until this classic LA punk outfit cranks out the gloriously cheeky “I Love Livin’ in the City” in observance of the song’s 45th birthday.

End It! (Saturday, 11 p.m., Sand Dollar Downtown; Sunday, 3:25 p.m., Sunday, Monster Stage) Last year’s Unpleasant Living EP runs a total of eight minutes, and the Baltimore hardcore band makes it count, with heavy-hitting lyrics and ri s that should batter even harder live.

Ignite (Saturday night, 12:55 a.m., Sand Dollar Downtown) Can new vocalist Eli Santana do justice to the soaring melodies Zoli Teglas belted out with the Orange County band for years?

L7

be playing Punk Rock Bowling again

“We’ve been jamming, rehearsing hard, and we’re ready for these shows,” L7 singer, guitarist and co-founder Donita Sparks tells the Weekly . “And we’re really excited to be playing Punk Rock Bowling again and coming to Vegas.”

in late 2014 after a 13-year hiatus, the band has been touring the globe and

Ever since L7 announced its reunion in late 2014 after a 13-year hiatus, the band has been touring the globe and releasing archived and remastered recordings along with new material. The quartet released its rst post reunion full-length Scatter the Rats in 2019, after the screaming singles “Dispatch From Mar-a-Lago” and “I Came Back to Bitch” in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Sparks and guitarist and singer Suzi

’90s. L7 and teamed with Nevermind producer Finch to give guided tours of the Punk

By demand, the Bricks Are Heavy anniversary tour has hit 18 cities in the U.S. and Canada and is scheduled for Australia and New Zealand later this year. Those overseas shows will come after the release of a new track—“And it’s going to be an interesting way [that] we release it,” Sparks teases. “Then we’ll probably put out an EP, I’m hoping before the end of the year.”

L7 has already shown Vegas some love since it return, playing Punk Rock Bowling in 2018 and sending bassist Jennifer Finch to give guided tours of the Punk Rock Museum, which opened here in April. The museum recently announced additional guided tour dates with Finch for June.

The Damned (Sunday, 7:45 p.m., Main Stage) The first-wave London punks, headlining their third Punk Rock Bowling, always bring a welcome change to the proceedings, leaning more into theatricality than pure aggression.

The Chisel (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Monster Stage) No current punk band’s rising faster than this blistering London collective, and time’s running out to catch The Chisel on a small stage.

Dropkick Murphys (Monday, 9:15 p.m., Main Stage) The Celtic punk stars set a high bar with 2015’s PRB-closing set, when they played debut album Do or Die in full and brought out guest stars. Can they top it? –Case Keefer

Nio Garcia plays Neon Vibra at Daylight Beach Club. (Courtesy/ Toby Acuna)

DAWN OF A NEW DAY

Daylight Beach Club celebrates a decade on the Strip

BY AMBER SAMPSON

After 10 years in the sun, Daylight Beach Club has aged beautifully.

On any given weekend, poolgoers can soak in the sounds of world-renowned DJs like TroyBoi and Tchami or groove to a rap set by Ty Dolla $ign in a vibrant party utopia. It’s a true summertime scene, bolstered by 4,400 roomy square feet of pool space, tableside daybeds for lounging and two extra private pools for cabana splurges.

It has weathered a few storms to get to where it is today. When Daylight opened in 2013, originally under the management of Hakkasan Group (which acquired Light Group) and Cirque du Soleil, it had an uphill climb ahead.

“The landscape at the time was definitely a little bit different than it is now,” says John Pettei, managing partner of Clique Hospitality, ex-Light Group exec and co-founder of Play Management, which took over Daylight operations in 2015. “It was very competitive, with several big nightlife companies with pool clubs competing for business.”

The only way to stand out on the Strip was to offer something unattainable anywhere else. Luckily, Daylight had the musical chops to bring the concert to the shore.

“EDM reigned supreme, and open-format music or hip-hop or Latin was pretty much out of the picture. Daylight, when we launched in 2013, had a really eclectic, highly curated lineup of DJs,” Pettei recalls. “Many of the DJs were up and coming, and some of them you can still see on the Las Vegas Strip playing at other venues 10 years later.”

For instance, Daylight snagged top-billing artist Zedd at the height of his “Clarity” fame, well before he launched Strip residencies. And Daylight’s stage, elevated several feet off the dancefloor and overlooking the pool, offered clear sightlines and a high-end AV system that put entertainment—and a mixture of musical styles—on a pedestal.

Daylight also helped usher in night swims, which Pettei says were blowing up in Ibiza at the time. Nighttime pool parties like Eclipse brought megastars like Ice Cube and Pusha T.

“We were also the first ones to bring deep house to a large-scale pool club with our Sundown event we launched in 2015,” Pettei adds. That momentum lives on now in the reggaeton swim party Neon Vibra.

When Pettei and his Play co-founder, Colin Comer, took over operations for Daylight and Light Nightclub in 2015, they did so knowing the obstacles ahead.

“For years, we were part of the Light Group, which was one of the big behemoth nightlife companies with a huge reach of thousands of employees and a ton of assets,” Pettei says “[Then], we were this small group in a land of these massive nightlife companies trying to compete.”

But those odds only seemed to inspire the duo to do business better.

“We were gritty and scrappy,” Pettei laughs. “And it felt different there. It was not as corporate, not as much red tape. We were pushing the boundaries … taking some risks. And I think that defined Play Management and its legacy for a lot of people.”

So would Daylight have folded if Play hadn’t stepped in? Pettei can’t say for certain, but “I think there’s the chance that it would have fizzled out.” Other nightlife groups with more venues wouldn’t have been as “laser-focused” on Daylight as Play was, he explains.

After a decade of ups and downs, Daylight feels like a dayclub forged by fire. Pettei has seen many clubs come and go, so to have this pillar of the Strip daylife scene still standing speaks volumes.

“People know what to expect at Daylight and they like it for that reason. We’ve got a formula that works,” he says. “So for as far as what the future holds, I see continued success doing what we love, with a lot of the same familiar faces that are there right now.”

JULY 6-9 2023

REALITY CHECK TOUR

JULY 7 & JULY 8, 2023 | RESORTS WORLD THEATRE

We’re hosting one weekend with all laughs, all fun, all Kevin Hart. Hartbeat Weekend is making a star-studded appearance at Resorts World Las Vegas this July. Witness fantastic weekend events, including comedy shows headlined by the talented Hollywood star Kevin Hart. Hart is most recognized for his standup comedy specials and comedy albums. He has starred in movies like Think Like a Man (2012), Ride Along (2014), Jumanji (2019), Fatherhood (2021), and Hart’s most recent film on Netflix, Me Time, starring alongside Mark Wahlberg. This time, the biggest touring comedian of all time is back on stage and giving the world a reality check! Catch the comedic rockstar bringing all-new material, big laughs, and big energy with his Reality Check tour’s final dates at Resorts World Theatre on July 7 and July 8, 2023.

BIRTHDAY BASH FEATURING LUDACRIS

JULY 6, 2023 | ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

Kick off Hartbeat weekend festivities with some pre-show fun. Before the formal show laughs begin, celebrate Kevin Hart’s birthday on July 6 with a live performance by Ludacris at Zouk Nightclub. Zouk provides an unrivaled, immersive entertainment experience, serving as the perfect backdrop to amplify the energy of Hartbeat weekend.

KICKING OFF JULY 6TH, HARTBEAT TAKES OVER RESORTS WORLD FOR 4 FULL DAYS OF UNFORGETTABLE MUSIC, COMEDY AND FUN, AND A GOOD TIME!

JACK HARLOW

JULY 8, 2023 | ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

Hartbeat weekend at Resorts World Las Vegas comes stacked with exciting talent and celebrity appearances, and we’re adding Jack Harlow to the list. The Louisville native turned international rap star, songwriter, producer, and actor, returns to headline at Zouk for Hartbeat weekend! Harlow’s stardom skyrocketed over the last few years with notable hits and social media fanfare. His first breakthrough came with the release of his 2020 single, “What’s Poppin.” In 2021, he released “Industry Baby” with Lil Nas X, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first charttopper. Harlow’s second album, “Come Home the Kids Miss You,” was released in 2022, and its single, “First Class,” became his second number-one on the Hot 100. Which viral hit will you be partying hardest to when Jack Harlow takes the stage? Reserve tickets now for Jack Harlow’s return to Zouk Nightclub on July 8 for the epic Hartbeat Weekend.

J. COLE

JULY 7, 2023 | ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

Alongside Kevin Hart’s outrageous comedic shows, you will want to reserve your chance to see rap superstar J. Cole take the stage at Zouk Nightclub. J. Cole was the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, releasing his official debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. Born Sinner followed in 2013 with guest appearances from Miguel, TLC and Kendrick Lamar. J Cole’s musical releases and festival appearances, namely his own Dreamville Music Festival in Raleigh, NC, continue to be some of the most highly anticipated experiences in the hip-hop music genre to date. Find yourself lost in the trance of an ultimate Las Vegas nightlife experience when J. Cole takes the crowd through magnetic performances that will keep the dancefloor packed. See everything come together as Hartbeat Weekend presents J. Cole on Friday, July 7 – LIVE from Zouk Nightclub.

ROCK THE BELLS POOL PARTY

JULY 7 & JULY 9, 2023 | AYU DAYCLUB

Next, join us at Ayu Dayclub for Rock The Bells. The global platform dedicated to elevating hip-hop culture from its roots to the modern day will take over Ayu Dayclub on July 7 and 9 of Hartbeat Weekend. Known for creating meaningful experiences where everyone can celebrate hip-hop together, they’ll bring special performances and surprise appearances.

Sunday, Monday & Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 7 & 9:30 p.m.; $30. Area15, area15.com.

SCENE

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

BY AMBER SAMPSON

You don’t need to be high to enjoy Ben Zabin’s weed-themed magic show, Smokus Pocus, but if you do arrive baked, rest assured you won’t be alone.

“There’s definitely a lot of people there that are high … [but] I’ve worked really hard to make the show just as much fun for somebody who’s never smoked weed,” says Zabin, a magician of 20 years who began performing publicly at age 10. “That’s really important to me, doing the best magic show I can, not just the best weed magic show I can.”

The “dank and debaucherous” show, which runs nine times a week at Area15, features optical bong illusions, flashy sleight of hand card tricks that work most of the time—“What did you expect from a stoner magician?” Zabin laughs—and enough tongue-in-cheek toking jokes to keep the sober-minded giggling like the gummy just kicked in.

“It was always an idea on the back burner,” Zabin says of Smokus Pocus, which launched in 2021 and has toured around the country. “To me, magic and weed have always seemed to go

so great together. It was always fun doing tricks with friends while we were high.”

The marijuana magician (and ex-weed dealer, as he frankly reveals to audiences) previously performed on cruise ships and Naval bases overseas, but when the pandemic dried up business, he leapt at the chance to produce Smokus Pocus “Vegas is going to be a really good home for this type of show,” Zabin says. “People want to be entertained, they want to see something amazing and there’s a lot of people getting excited about weed. It’s becoming more and more mainstream.”

Transitioning from cruise line culture to a roomful of stoned spectators has definitely been an adjustment, Zabin says, “but I’ve never had as much fun doing magic as I am now.”

It shows. If you aren’t already under the influence of something when you enter, you’ll leave under Zabin’s charismatic sway. The magician’s rapid-fire wit injects life and laughs into the show, and he’s wholly capable of adapting to his unpredictable audience.

“It’s been an interesting process, because

everybody that’s high is at different levels of highness. You have some people that are full-on tripping and other people that are paranoid because they took too many edibles,” Zabin says. “It’s all about getting everybody to the point where they’re comfortable and they can relax.”

Smoking isn’t permitted during Smokus Pocus, but guests are offered “Hello, I’m Stoned” name tags upon entry, so you can easily spot your baked brethren. And as you might expect, crowd participation tends to be fairly chill. Sometimes folks “ooh,” sometimes they “ahh” and sometimes Zabin does something so radical—like hammering a vape pen up his nose— that the collective response is just a baffled whisper of “what the f*ck?”

The party even continues after the show, when Smokus Pocus offers a Dank and Stormy cocktail at Oddwood, complete with a magic aftershow at that bar.

Zabin says he’s hopeful the show can make Las Vegas its permanent home—a longtime goal for his lifelong passion. “It’s the only real job I’ve had,” he says. “It’s always just been magic.”

Ben Zabin

(Courtesy)

SMOKUS POCUS

Cannabis-themed magic show Smokus Pocus provides a dope addition to Area15

LIGHTEN UP

The new sun-drenched Laguna Pool House brings the energy

Laguna Pool House’s Duroc pork chop Milanese

(Courtesy)

BY BROCK RADKE

In a city absolutely full of them, Laguna Pool House truly is a unique dining destination.

Recently opened in the restaurant space originally home to the second incarnation of Simon Kitchen & Bar, Laguna is part of the portfolio at the Palms, but it’s outside the main resort, at Palms Place. It’s also hiding on the sixth floor with its own pool and lounge, and open all day offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour bites and sips, along with a special poolside menu.

If that sounds like a mighty task for the new Palms team to handle, it is, which is why Luke Palladino was brought on as executive chef. He has done it all, from working with Emeril Lagasse at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans to creating Las Vegas concepts with Clique Hospitality and cooking at Wynn.

“It’s an iconic space, and Kerry [Simon] really carved the way and proved people will come to a place off the Strip if it’s a beautiful space with a wonderful energy about it,” Palladino says. “There’s no other place in the Palms with so much natural light, and that in itself makes it unique.”

To capitalize on that energy and refresh the space—the main dining room has 30-foot ceilings—the art and decor were redone, and the lounge and seating throughout the restaurant were updated. To create new experiences appealing to lots of different clientele, the resort and Palladino’s Meta-Hospitality team are rolling out exciting programming like a rock ’n’ roll karaoke sushi event on Friday nights, a soul-funk Sunday brunch with an hour-long open bar for ladies and a summer pool party launching next month.

If it sounds too clubby for you, don’t fret. “We’re not about girls with bottles or dancing and flashing

FOOD & DRINK

lightsticks,” Palladino says. “It’s done everywhere, and it’s great, but it’s not our crowd’s jam. We want something different, and something that will resonate with locals.”

The food is also designed with locals in mind as much as Vegas visitors looking for an off-Strip oasis. If you’re having a pool day, you might indulge in a massive sushi boat or “taco shop” platter perfect for party groups, or for a low-key lunch, stick with the traditional chicken tenders and fries ($18), a vegetarian Mediterranean pizza ($20) or the kaleand-quinoa Buddha Bowl ($20).

Inside, get your lunch on with a burger ($22) made with a custom blend of short rib, brisket and chuck, or check out the fire-grilled salmon ($24) with English pea and Meyer lemon risotto. At dinner, start with the Gaia’s Garden salad ($15) of Persian cucumbers, Campari tomatoes, whipped feta and kalamata olives, staying light so you have room for grilled branzino ($32) with curry-spiced couscous, smoked Wagyu short ribs ($54) or Duroc pork chop Milanese ($29). There’s a lot of choices, for not a lot of dough.

“We didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves. It’s a global menu, and it’s a great value,” Palladino says. “We’re using high-quality product and not charging Strip prices. We’re doing amazing 12-inch New Yorkstyle pizzas, great sandwiches, an awesome burger.”

And the extra ingredient is fun, exemplified by desserts such as Fruity Pebbles cheesecake ($10) and a cast-iron skillet-baked chocolate chip cookie sundae ($11). “We worked on that cookie dough recipe for months,” says the chef. “It’s a half-pound cookie and then it has ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce, and this perfect crunchy-edge texture with big bits of milk and dark chocolate.”

ZERO EXCUSES

Ramen Zero has an odd name. But what seems strange initially actually has a twofold meaning.

First, the Japanese word for circle, maru, is chef and owner Yoshiyuki Maruyama’s nickname—and also the shape of a zero. More importantly, it also represents Maru-san’s journey from zero after having to close his Bay Area ramen shop because of the COVID pandemic, only to reopen one here in Vegas. And out of a cleanly decorated space in a Fort Apache strip mall, he’s serving some of the Valley’s best ramen.

sesame-driven nuttiness and an overall spicy meatiness from the mound of ground pork. Elevate the former with a soft-boiled ajitama egg and spicy chili paste; the latter is so complex and tangy, it needs no gilding.

Though not as endearing as its meat-based counterparts when tasted side-by-side, the vegan miso z ($14) is still better than most local bowls.

RAMEN ZERO

4555 S. Fort Apache Road #110, 702462-2150, ramenzero.

com. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4-8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

The options are limited, and the menu succinct. There’s a trio of chicken-based broth variants, a vegan option and a seasonal offering, which is currently yuzu shio. Noodle bowls vary depending upon their bases and toppings, ranging from a clean, classic Tokyo shoyu ($13) adorned with pork chasu and kamaboko (fish cake) to the robust tan tan zero ($14), delivering

Vegan ramen isn’t particularly prominent here, even with ramen shops popping up all over the Valley.

But man cannot live on ramen alone. Don’t overlook the concise-but-considerate appetizer selection.

Chef’s karaage ($6-$9) is a solid rendition of the traditional Japanese fried chicken dish, while the aji-fry ($7) is flaky fried mackerel at its finest. A little edgier are the kaki-fry ($7), panko-crusted deep-fried oysters which burst with salinity. And save room for a hoji tea pudding ($6), a creamy treat with a caramel-ish topping hinting of salt.

Like the Raiders and potentially the A’s, California’s loss can be Southern Nevada’s gain.

–Jim Begley

You’d be silly not to try this local ramen shop

LAGUNA POOL HOUSE & KITCHEN Palms, 702-944-3292, palms.com.

(Christopher DeVargas)

COMEDY HEADLINERS TAKE THE STAGE

JIM JEFFERIES

JUNE 2 & 3

KATHY GRIFFIN

JUNE 17

WAYNE BRADY

JUNE 10

KATHLEEN MADIGAN

JUNE 24

FOR TICKETS VISIT MIRAGE.COM OR TICKETMASTER.COM

Cannabis has quickly become one of the most sought-after skin care and body care ingredients on the market. From face oil to body lotion, bath bombs to eye cream, the potency of cannabinoids is changing personal care products. The team at Deep Roots Harvest, in partnership with Escape Artists, produces therapy-grade cannabis topicals and has shared everything you need to know about these botanical-rich options.

Cannabis topicals are external applications that are applied to the skin—bath oils, lotions, balms, salves, ointments, creams, patches—and infused with cannabis. Depending on how they’re formulated and applied, cannabis topicals can contain other cannabinoids and plant-based ingredients that may help facilitate outcomes, such as soothing skin irritation, promoting relaxation and providing localized pain relief.

Most cannabis topicals are shelfstable and can be treated like any other body product you use.

As explained by the Deep Roots Harvest and the Escape Artists team, it’s important to understand how cannabis functions within the body. The endocannabinoid system includes chemical receptors in the brain, central nervous system and throughout the body’s organs that help regulate various systems. This can influence everything from mood, immune system function, inflammation, appetite and more. When cannabis-infused products are absorbed through the skin and by receptors, they may provide localized relief for inflammation and muscle soreness.

Because cannabis topicals address a localized area, they are not likely to produce a psychoactive effect—fewer cannabinoids are able to reach the bloodstream and travel to the brain. This means that people can enjoy the therapeutic effects of cannabis without experiencing intoxication.

Each individual processes cannabis differently, but Escape Artists topicals are formulated with penetration enhancers for higher bioavailability and absorption of cannabis compounds. This includes water-based options that absorb more quickly and effectively into the skin than oil-based products.

ADVERTORIAL PRESENTED BY DEEP ROOTS HARVEST

As with any cannabis product, the dosage dictates how pronounced the e ect will be. The Deep Roots Harvest and Escape Artists team recommends approaching topical dosage as you would any other type of cannabis: low and slow. Use a smaller amount of a cannabis topical than you would when applying noninfused lotions or balms. See how you feel and then increase the dosage as needed. For beginners, look for high CBD-ratio products. Escape Artists o ers an 800mg CBD:40mg THC option, which is 20:1 CBD/THC ratio and recommended for individuals who are new to topical use. For high-potency, targeted relief, look for higher-dose THC and CBD products like the 800mg:800mg 1:1 product.

CBD and hemp-based topicals are available in every state. Topicals that contain THC are under state regulation and available to anyone in Nevada 21 and older. Many athletes and active individuals use cannabis topicals for recovery, as the active ingredient may benefit tense and sore muscles, tendons and ligaments. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of cannabis also make it ideal for several skin conditions, including acne, dryness, itchiness and more.

SEIZE THE SUN

STEP INTO PARADISE

Immerse yourself at Vegas’ Mykonos beach oasis, where toes belong in the sand and heads stay among the clouds. A new summer has begun in the Vegas pool scene – and it’s your time to shine.

AT VIRGIN HOTELS LAS VEGAS

Celebrating the best in local high school sports

BY RAY BREWER,

The Sun Standout Awards returned for their sixth edition on May 22 at the South Point Showroom, recognizing the best and brightest in Southern Nevada high school athletics.

Now nearly a decade into the near-annual awards show—the show was scrapped in 2020 amid the pandemic and took a hiatus in 2021 when high school sports weren’t played—the list of past winners looks more distinguished than ever. It includes a pair of NBA players (Lakers guard Troy Brown, a Centennial High product, and Mavericks/Coronado High guard Jaden Hardy), a first-round Major League Baseball Draft pick (Phillies/Bishop Gorman High outfielder Justin Crawford) and a three-time college All American (Virginia/Green Valley High swimmer Abby Richter).

Here are this year’s standouts joining that exclusive group, along with their stories and achievements.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Madeleine Hebert | Coronado swimming

Madeleine Hebert was never athletic as a young child. She got involved in sports through dancing, and it was fun to start. But then she caught swimming competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on television and realized what she wanted to do.

Turns out it was the right decision. Hebert won the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle 5A championships last year as a junior and was also key in helping Coronado win the 200 and 400 freestyles. She broke her own state record with a time of 1 minute, 47.63 seconds in winning another state championship in the 200 freestyle this year, in addition to coming in first in the 100 freestyle and as a part of two relay teams.

“I would say the biggest thing for me is I’m pretty versatile,” Hebert said. “I go from 50 to 500, and I hold records at Coronado for every single one of them. I think the biggest thing is I’m very focused on staying not categorized in one place.”

Hebert has spent most of her swim time at Team Rebel Aquatics, a club team that practices at UNLV. The intensity of club swimming, Hebert said, has allowed her to put the sport into full focus heading into college. She’ll be attending North Carolina State, currently the No. 4 program in the nation.

“I love the experience I get in high school, and that’s what makes it special,” Hebert said. “I definitely go to a couple dual meets, be the best captain I can be at these dual meets, but when it comes to regionals and state, that’s usually my time to shine.”

Hebert said she doesn’t try to model herself after other swimmers, but growing up, gold medalists Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky always stood out. She even got to swim against Ledecky in the 400 freestyle, coming in 20th among 80 total participants.

“I’ve never been focused on place,” she said. “I’ve always been focused on improving my time.”

Hebert will compete in the 200 and 500 freestyles when she starts at NC State.

Juliana Alejandro Centennial wrestling

Went a school record 47-0, against boys and girls, to finish No. 9 nationally at 101 pounds.

Ali’a Matavao Liberty basketball, volleyball and track Named state’s Gatorade Player of the Year for a second straight season after averaging 18 in basketball, in addition to winning two events at the state track meet.

points and 12 rebounds

Coronado volleyball

Won the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year award after leading the Cougars to a state title.

MIKE GRIMALA, CASE KEEFER AND DANNY WEBSTER

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Dedan “D.J.” Thomas Jr. | Liberty basketball

toric state championship last year, expectations were set sky high for Dedan Thomas Jr.’s junior season this year. He delivered.

age by nearly 10 points per game, using his quickness, handle and electric finishing ability to pour

and tallied 1.2 steals per contest, helping him earn Gatorade State Player of the Year honors.

Some of the highlights? Thomas went for 24 points in an overtime win over Coronado, 26 in a victory over Bishop Gorman and 27 in a win over Foothill.

Thomas said the Gatorade award was a crowning achievement for his prep career. “Winning that was one of my goals coming into high school,” he said.

Thomas’ on-court impact went well beyond his numbers, as he once again guided the Patriots to a deep run in the state tournament. He averaged 25.7 points in the playo s, leading Liberty back to the state final, where the squad fell short against Durango despite Thomas’ 21 points.

Thomas said he’s proud of the way he and his teammates defended their title all the way to the end. “Everyone came after us,” he said. “We got everyone’s best game.”

Following the conclusion of the season, Thomas committed to UNLV, where his father played from 1991 to 1994.

Bishop

football and bowling

Bishop team that ranked in the

Threw for 3,575 yards and 54 touchdowns as the quarterback of a state championship football team that ranked in the top five nationally and rolled a perfect score of 300 in bowling.

Palo

Led the Mustangs to the state championship with astronomical averages of 10.4 assists and 5.5 digs

volleyball with assists and 5.5 digs per set.

Won two gold medals at the state meet as a junior, and is expected to add more championships at this year’s state championship as a senior.

Honored with 5A Player of the Year honors through stalwart defense, helping to make the Panthers perhaps the hardest team to score upon in town.

Quentin Gomez

Verde soccer

Jordan Evans

Palo Verde swimming

Shadow Ridge

Micah Alejado

Gorman

Noah Barrus

(Madeleine Hebert and Dedan “D.J.” Thomas Jr. by Wade Vandervort; headshots by Christopher DeVargas)

GAME OF THE YEAR

Silverado boys basketball beats Valley at the buzzer in the playo s

The Silverado boys basketball team built a 17-point advantage in its opening-round playo game, only to watch Valley storm back in the final minutes to take a 70-69 lead with four seconds to play.

Skyhawks head coach Cyril Franklin Sr. called timeout and, surprisingly, set up a play the team had only ever run once in practice.

His trust in his players was rewarded. The inbound pass went to junior Jake Wohl, who dribbled up court, snaked around a pick and pulled up from the top of the key. The execution was perfect, and the shot even more so.

Wohl’s 3-pointer dropped in as time expired, giving Silverado the most thrilling win of the year.

Teammates immediately swarmed Wohl while fans stormed the floor. “The court went crazy,” Wohl said.

Silverado then won its next two playo games in the final seconds, continuing a miracle run that took the Skyhawks all the way to the state championship game. “The kids believed they had a chance,” Franklin said.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

SLAM Nevada wrestling

There’s dominance, and then there’s what SLAM Nevada did on the wrestling mat this year.

At the Nevada Class 5A tournament, five SLAM wrestlers were crowned state champions, with Josiah Maestas (113 pounds), Drake Hoolman (120 pounds), Brenden Agcaolli (126 pounds), Manuel Saldate (132 pounds) and Gabriel Delgado (157 pounds) all emerging victorious.

The final tally saw SLAM claim the team title—its second straight—by more than 30 points.

According to coach Zach Hocker, the team was driven by its work ethic. “They love the sport,” Hocker said, “so they do the work because they want to be better.”

For the season, the Bulls recorded 379 pins, which set a new Nevada state record. Delgado pointed to the chemistry among his teammates as the reason for SLAM’s success.

“When we work as hard as we do every day in the room, we build a bond with each other,” Delgado said. “And that bond goes to tournaments and we get stronger as we help each other and support each other.”

FINALISTS

Centennial girls basketball

Took home an eighth straight state championship while going undefeated against local competition.

Faith Lutheran girls soccer

Prevented opponents from scoring a single goal at the state tournament including in a 1-0 state championship victory over Coronado to avenge losses in last year’s title game and this year’s regional championship.

Palo Verde boys tennis

Won the state championship with ease while going undefeated with a set of reserves many said could have made up the second-best team in the state behind their starters.

RISING STAR MALE

Christian Thatcher | Arbor View football and wrestling

sophomore linebacker, picked up scholarship o ers from Oklahoma, Colorado and West Virginia all on the same day earlier this May. The next day, USC followed suit. Oregon did so about a week later.

“I kind of expect [the o ers] now at this point,” Thatcher said. “Of course it’s awesome, but I’ve worked hard for this and it’s all paying o , so I just thank God pening.”

and feel very blessed this is hap-

Catch one glimpse of Thatcher on the field and it’s easy to see why he has drawn so much attention. He looks like one of the best tacklers in state history, and his exact goal is to someday stand alone as the single most prolific.

He wants to end his career at Arbor View as Nevada’s all-time leading high school tacker. The current record stands at 427, set by Damonte Ranch’s Richie Garcia

from 2014-217. seasons. “I’m on pace,” he said. “Two more years, we should beat it.”

Thatcher is at 232 tackles through two

As if his football exploits weren’t wrestling this year after participating in the sport when he was younger. Using it primarily as a way to stay in shape and physical outside of football, he ended up finishing as the state runner-up in his weight class.

enough, Thatcher jumped back into

In an age where many prep athletes— especially those at Thatcher’s level in football—specialize in one sport, Thatcher is a throwback. His football future won’t stop him from potentially adding another sport next year. “I might go back to playing basketball with my younger brother,” he said.

FINALISTS

Helped lead his team to a regional title and a national top-30 ranking as one of the key players.

Won the state championship in cross country in the fall and took home gold medals in three more events at the state track meet this spring.

RISING FEMALE STAR

Brynn Kort | Coronado golf

As a freshman a year ago, Kort lost out on the individual state title by a single stroke to perhaps the best female prep golfer in state history, then-teammate Yana Wilson.

Won the Class 4A Player of the Year award as a sophomore after leading the Rattlers to a second straight state championship with averages of 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals per game.

FINALISTS

A finalist in this category for the second straight year after compiling a 106-1 record through two wrestling seasons and finishing fourth at nationals.

her to cap o her sophomore season. She set a state record by going 12-under par than the previous mark set by Green Valley’s Alexandra Kaui in 2010—and winning

the tournament by 10 strokes.

Kort made sure no one was close to her to cap o her sophomore season. She set a state record by going 12-under par in the championship—four strokes better than the previous mark set by Green Valley’s Alexandra Kaui in 2010—and winning the tournament by 10 strokes.

“I didn’t know the score until the end [of the first round]. I only knew I was playing well,” Kort said of her second-day scorecard of 8-under par— three strokes better than anyone else in the tournament chasing her. “I had a feeling a few of my teammates were coming after me. That’s how we are.”

Sure enough, fellow Cougars Joanne Lee, Ali Mulhall and Lilly DeNunzio finished second, third and fifth, respectively. DeNunzio, a senior who has committed to play at BYU next year, actually topped Kort by one stroke in the regional championship, which only motivated the latter to come back stronger in the final event of the season.

Bringing out the best in each other is routine for Coronado girls golf, which won Team of the Year at the Sun Standout Awards last year. Wilson wound up committing to one of the top girls golf programs in the country, the University of Oregon, and Kort is following in her footsteps as a coveted recruit who could pick to play at virtually any college she chooses.

Ranked sixth nationally in the 114-pound weight class as a sophomore after going 38-0, with 31 pins, to win the state championship.

Earned first-team all-state honors as a sophomore after finishing the season second in the state with 463 kills.

Led her team to a state championship as a freshman, averaging 20 points per game and winning 4A State Player of the Year honors.

Dominated on both sides of the ball with 2,133 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns to go with a state-leading 22 interceptions on a state championship-winning team.

Melvin Whitehead Liberty wrestling and football

CJ Shaw

Mojave basketball

Logan Scott Faith Lutheran cross country and track

Braxton Rowley Coronado volleyball

Jaylani Palmer Shadow Ridge flag football

Keonni Lewis Democracy Prep basketball

Angelina Guerrero Durango volleyball

Emma Albanese SLAM Nevada wrestling

(SLAM, Christian Thatcher and Brynn Kort by Wade Vandervort; headshots by Christopher DeVargas)

COACH OF THE YEAR

LaShondra Rayford

Las Vegas High girls basketball

Maintaining poise in the toughest moments is a concept almost all coaches preach, but few ever get a chance to demonstrate it as flawlessly as Rayford did earlier this year.

Her Las Vegas High team trailed rival Desert Pines by 14 points in the fourth quarter of the 4A state championship game, but she stayed calm, called a timeout and started putting the pieces in place to mount an all-time comeback.

“I was just confident we would get it done,” Rayford said. “I felt like it was right for us. I felt like it was our time.”

Rayford’s feeling proved correct when Wildcats star junior Layla Faught hit two free throws in the final seconds to secure a 51-49 victory. The state championship was the Las Vegas girls basketball program’s first since 1978.

Las Vegas High couldn’t have done it without Rayford’s composure and confidence.

“It was less about me and more about the players,” Rayford said. “They are such amazing kids. They all love each other. This is probably the first time in my career, along with last year, where I’ve had a team, a program, where there are no issues. Not a single one. Not an argument. Not a fight. Not a disagreement. They made it a team.”

KeJuan Clark

Mojave basketball

Won a second straight 4A state championship with the Rattlers while further establishing his reputation as one of the best young coaches in town.

Andrew Flynn

Shadow Ridge cross country

country

Guided three runners into the top 20 of the state meet to win the team 5A championship.

Tyler Marchant

Palo Verde tennis

(LaShondra Rayford by Wade Vandervort; headshots by Christopher DeVargas)

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Community service initiatives began drawing in Leslie Maldonado Carrasco when she was in middle school. She joined clubs and the National Honor Society out of a desire to help those around here. “I really loved that,” she said.

PREP SPORTS EXCELLENCE

| Leslie Maldonado Carrasco, Chaparral volleyball and softball

and grasses.

Maldonado Carrasco will

Maldonado Carrasco will attend UNLV next year on a fullride scholarship, with a focus on hospitality. She would like to become an event manager. “We need to change, and I would like to be the change,” she said.

Other projects she has undertaken include making get-well cards for elderly residents going through physical therapy, and volunteering at the Opportunity Village Magical Forest.

The senior said making a difference has been top of mind for her ever since. Her favorand planting new trees, shrubs

ite community project is the annual Green-Up event at the Las Vegas Wash, which sees volunteers carting out trash

In between her volunteering schedule, Maldonado Carrasco excelled as a two-sport athlete. Volleyball and softball have always been her two favorite sports, and she stuck with them throughout high school.

sports, and she stuck with them ter field in softball. She was also

She played outside hitter in volleyball, while patrolling center field in softball. She was also a gymnast growing up.

FINALISTS

“It’s definitely made me a team player and getting to know di erent people,” she said. “You can’t get along with everybody, but it shows me how to be more social, more interactive, more

talkative.”

Joyce Calimag

Cristo Rey St. Viator basketball and track

Volunteered with Catholic Charities, Three Square Food Bank and Shade Tree while working at the Clark County Commission the past two years.

Adrian Rodriguez

Canyon Springs football, wrestling and volleyball

Organized part of a Martin Luther King Jr. parade while serving as a member in the ROTC with plans to enlist in the National Guard.

assign di erent slots to different things,” Dunaway said. “I’m not the best at it, but I do the best I can.”

She plans to attend Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she’ll continue to play softball.

Liberty softball team as a first

at the end of the year, going 14-1 in league

HANK GREENSPUN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Ed Cheltenham Spring Mountain Youth Camp

During more than three decades at the Spring Mountain Youth Camp, Cheltenham won 13 state championships in track and field and another two titles in basketball.

But his most notable contributions came as a probation o cer at the facility. The Mount Charleston-based Spring Mountain Youth Camp is an alternative to prison for teenage boys requiring rehabilitation after committing delinquent acts.

Collectively, the Eagles went 53-21 in

A Clark Country juvenile court judge sends troubled youth to the camp, where probation o cers like Cheltenham work 24-hour shifts, giving them a chance to develop a bond with the residents. Over the years, many of Cheltenham’s athletes were being coached for the first time in their lives by, if not having their first positive male influence.

tive male influence.

“He is one of the best men I have ever met in my life,” said Mike Whelihan, who worked nearly two decades with Cheltenham at Spring Mountain. “He is probably the best probation o cer I have met in my life, just a solid human being. I wish I could clone him.”

my life, just a solid human being. I wish I

Cheltenham spent a total of 35 years

Cheltenham spent a total of 35 years working at the camp full-time before his retirement in 2015. He later returned in a part-time capacity to continue coaching.

One-hundred boys live at the camp at a time, all of whom have committed serious crimes such as car theft, home invasion or gang-related activities. They stay at the camp for six months.

gang-related activities. They stay at the

Cheltenham said sports are a vital part of rehabilitation, because they bring a sense of normalcy, discipline, and teamwork—and a glimpse at life o the mountain. Spring Mountain competes in the Class 1A in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association in a handful of sports.

“I love working with kids and making a di erence in their lives,” Cheltenham said. “They need someone to help them, and it became my calling.”

of rehabilitation, because they bring teamwork—and a glimpse at life o the “They need someone to help them, and it coached track for two seasons at Bishop Gorman and now holds the same role at

The 74-year-old Cheltenham also coached track for two seasons at Bishop Gorman and now holds the same role at Indian Springs High School.

(Leslie Maldonado Carrasco, Justine Dunaway and Bruce Woodbury by Wade Vandervort; Ed Cheltenham by Brian Ramos; headshots by Christopher DeVargas)

COMING UP AT LAS VEGAS BALLPARK

LAS VEGAS

VS. EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LAS

VEGAS SUN STANDOUT AWARD WINNERS!

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

The flag football state championship game had just concluded, and the Desert Oasis players had begun gathering to celebrate their win over Legacy. Amid the chaos, coach Todd Thomson began frantically searching for the game ball.

After he located it, Thomson headed straight toward the sidelines to greet the parents of Ashari Hughes, a Desert Oasis defensive back who died at a game earlier in the season. The victory—and the season—was all for “Shari.”

The team presented the game ball to Hughes’ family, and everyone embraced. There wasn’t a dry

eye to be found.

Hughes died January 5 after going into cardiac arrest following a game. One minute she was taking part in a victory against Valley, the next she was unresponsive and undergoing CPR. She was stable and alert when being transported from the school—the last time her teammates would see her alive. She died shortly after leaving the field.

The team wanted to win the championship for their fallen friend. They spent many long days and nights grieving together, ultimately coming together with a common purpose: to play for Shari.

Desert Oasis flag football celebrates fallen teammate after state championship victory a

“It was a lot to process, and

I’m an adult,” Thomson said. “I’m competitive as a coach, and in the days after she died, I didn’t know if I could [carry on]. I wanted to keep coaching, but all of a sudden, winning and losing didn’t matter.”

Teammates described Hughes as a sweet person whom everyone considered a close friend. She had just started attending Desert Oasis, but many said they felt a lifelong

overtime victory in the semifinals against Del Sol, a back-and-forth a air. Desert Oasis’ players knew they were determined to give their all for Hughes, because she gave everything she had for them.

“I don’t think there was any pressure to win, because if we played our hardest, we knew we had the team that could do it,” said Mackenzie Cuddihy, one of the team’s captains. “Playing for [Hughes] motivated us to be at our best.”

bond with her. moment.

The team won all 15 of its games following her death, and most came in blowout fashion—Desert Oasis outscored opponents 519132 during the span.

The closest result was an

It seemed only fitting that, minutes after the championship was clinched, the family was front and center to share in the joy. What a

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Levy had prepared for a severe incident of this nature countless times. So when she heard frantic screams calling her name from observers at Desert Oasis High School after a flag football player collapsed and was unconscious, reacting was like second nature.

Levy used CPR to resuscitate the teen, who was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Ashari Hughes, 16, died from cardiac arrest later that evening—a surprise to many in the Desert Oasis community who saw her alert after Levy’s e orts.

“It was just like how we practice,” Levy said. “It’s what we prepare for.”

Levy has since revised the school’s emergency response plan and conducted training with school administrators in preparation for future situations. She also leads CPR renewal training with coaches.

She hopes most will never need to put the practice into action. But, as she can attest, when tragedy occurs, everyone must know what’s expected of them and how to execute.

Levy comes from a family of first-responders. As a high school student at Desert Oasis, she spent her afternoons following the trainers around and got the itch to join in on the profession. “Desert Oasis has always been home,” she said.

And now she has no plans of leaving, finding worth in making sure the school’s athletes are ready to compete. Some days, it’s taping ankles before a game, or providing rehab therapy.

Unfortunately, on other days, it’s far more urgent. “One of our kids is no longer with us. We’ll always remember her,” Levy said.

FINALISTS

Serves as “a second mother” to athletes in addition to handling paperwork for student eligibility and taking tickets on game day.

Made numerous personal financial donations to the school’s girl’s basketball program to cover the expenses of families who lack resources.

Kim Van Velkinburgh

Liberty athletic secretary

Rachel Levy | Desert Oasis trainer

Deborah Wetherby Southeast Tech contributor

(Desert Oasis and headshots by Christopher DeVargas/Sta ; Rachel Levy by Wade Vandervort)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HARDWORKING ATHLETES OF THE 2023 LAS VEGAS

SUN STANDOUT AWARDS

SHARED OFFICE SPACE AT UNLV COULD BE ‘START OF SOMETHING REALLY RELEVANT’

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

When Las Vegas-based Sightline Payments considered where to locate its headquarters, there was a lot of discussion around choosing an office building on which the company could put its name—the distinguishing mark of any business that has “made it,” said co-CEO and co-founder Omer Sattar.

Ultimately, the digital payments provider and mobile app developer forewent such a building in favor of making its global headquarters at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in the southwest Las Vegas Valley, where it can share a building with other innovators in the gaming industry.

“Kudos to the folks within Sightline, because almost unanimously the opinion was, ‘We don’t care about the name of the building,’ ” Sattar said. “ ‘What we c are about is where we can be more productive, we can be closer to our partners and we can actually innovate.’ And I think, in hindsight, the team was exactly right. This was the right call for us.”

This month, Sightline and GeoComply— a fraud prevention and cybersecurity solutions company—officially opened their 10,000-square-foot-plus shared office space

at the UNLV property.

The two companies have a lot in common, Sattar said, and collaborate in many ways.

One of the first phone calls Sightline makes when it suspects fraud in the gaming industry is to GeoComply, he said, which can detect location fraud—like through the use of a VPN—and works to ensure security and compliance in U.S. sports betting and gaming regulation, media and entertainment more.

“They’re a great company and a great partner of ours,” Sattar said in the new office, made up of bright-colored furniture, modern technology and plenty of sunlight filtering in through tall windows. “And there’s no one else that we’re interested in sharing an office space with other than with GeoComply.”

GeoComply’s new office features an open floor plan, a quaint library of books and two screens showing the location of people actively gaming on devices in New York and New Jersey. The office will serve as the U.S. headquarters of the Vancouver, Canada-based company.

Sam Basile, GeoComply’s vice president of business development and licensing in North America, said the company is excited not only to share an office space with Sightline, but also to be in the same building as UNLV’s Black Fire Innovation—a hub of research and development for the gaming industry.

“It’s been absolutely terrific,” Basile said, noting the building’s proximity to other big names in the industry, including DraftKings, Aristocrat Gaming and more. “We’re right where other gaming companies are located.”

Sattar echoed the sentiment, saying that—as the area continues to grow and more businesses move into the UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park—it might come to resemble existing technological hubs, allowing gaming companies, casino operators and others to interact in a unique way.

“I’m not saying we’re going to be Silicon Valley, but if you play this out 20 or 30 years, this really is the start of something very relevant—not in necessarily just the technology space, but in the entertainment space and in the gaming space,” he said. “That collaboration with UNLV—we spend a lot of time two floors up and they spend time down here, researching, bouncing ideas and bouncing people off of each other—I think that’s gonna pay dividends for everyone.”

Sam Basile of GeoComply inside the company’s offices (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

MUSEUMS

Wander

Wander among ancient fossils, colorful mineral specimens, antique slot machines, 19th-century farming tools, and extravagant showgirl costumes — artifacts which illustrate Las Vegas’ rise into the metropolitan gem we know today.

Wander among ancient fossils, colorful mineral specimens, antique slot machines, 19th-century farming tools, and extravagant showgirl costumes — artifacts which illustrate Las Vegas’ rise into the metropolitan gem we know today.

Adventure through the rich and colorful story of the Silver State as it unfolds in seven Nevada State Museums. Unearth eras marked by prehistoric giants and eons of natural splendor, experience rhythms of American Indian life and the Old West, feel the booms of mining, railroading, the atomic era, entertainment, and so much more.

LasVegasNVMuseum.org | (702) 486-5205

MORE THAN JUST A TRAIN RIDE

effort… It also took a railroad. The Boulder Branch Line, built in 1931, lives on as the Boulder City Railroad’s excursion train—a scenic 45-minute, seven-mile roundtrip rail ride, located less than 30 minutes from Las Vegas.

Building the Hoover Dam took more than a heroic effort… It also took a railroad. The Boulder Branch Line, built in 1931, lives on as the Boulder City Railroad’s excursion train—a scenic 45-minute, seven-mile roundtrip rail ride, located less than 30 minutes from Las Vegas.

CHECK OUT MORE ON BOULDER CITY STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM

BoulderRailroadMuseum.org | (702) 486-5933

DISCOVER A CITY UNEARTHED

BOULDER CITY

LOST CITY STATE MUSEUM, OVERTON

DISCOVER A CITY UNEARTHED

DISCOVER A CITY UNEARTHED

It’s not every day that you unearth a city. But when we did, it was a cultural treasure. Built on the actual prehistoric site of the ancestral Puebloans, the Lost City Museum tells the stories of Nevada’s first permanent residents between AD 200 to AD 1200.

It’s not every day that you unearth a city. But when we did, it was a cultural treasure. Built on the actual prehistoric site of the ancestral Puebloans, the Lost City

It’s not every day that you unearth a city. But when we did, it was a cultural treasure. Built on the actual prehistoric site of the ancestral Puebloans, the Lost City Museum tells the stories of Nevada’s first permanent residents between AD 200 to AD 1200.

CHECK OUT MORE ON LOST CITY STATE MUSEUM

LostCityMuseum.org | (702) 397-2193

CHECK OUT MORE ON LOST CITY STATE MUSEUM

CHECK OUT MORE ON LOST CITY STATE MUSEUM

LostCityMuseum.org | (702) 397-2193

LostCityMuseum.org | (702) 397-2193

STEWARD OF A TREASURED HERITAGE EAST ELY RAILROAD DEPOT MUSEUM

Roll the clock back to 1907 and explore this original gateway to the heritage of the Nevada Northern Railway. Operating within

heritage of the Nevada Northern Railway. Operating within

VEGAS INC NOTES

Mike Hnatuick was hired as vice president of security and Stan Williams as director of security at Sahara Las Vegas. Prior to joining the company more than seven years ago, Hnatuick served 25 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, where he retired as a sergeant. For the past year, Williams has served as Sahara’s security manager. In his new role, Williams oversees the development of the security department by updating and implementing new procedures and policies as well as recruiting, selecting and hiring new employees. He has worked for the company for more than nine years. Prior to joining Sahara, Williams served as chief of security for the Sands Expo Convention Center and the security supervisor for the Orleans.

Southwest Medical added a new health care provider to help meet the growing need for health services in the Las

Vegas community: Nicole Castro Zieba, APRN, joins the Tenaya Health Care Center location (2704 N. Tenaya Way) and specializes in adult medicine.

Audrey Lee is the new director of interior production at the architectural firm Steelman Partners, and has worked on large-scale projects, including Caesars at Danville Virginia and the Villas at Disneyland Hotel.

The Nevada Hotel & Lodging Foundation awarded scholarships totaling over $37,000 to eight local students. This year’s scholarships are triple the amount the foundation provided in 2022. The 2023 scholarship recipients are: Mason Comastro, UNLV student; Willow Marshall, UNLV student; Alyssa Reyes, UNLV student and Boyd Gaming team member; Taylor Freeman, UNLV student and Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas team member; Ayrton Yamaguchi, UNLV

student and MGM Grand and Waldorf Astoria team member; Jason Thompson, UNLV student joining MGM Resorts International in June; Oluwaseyi Joseph, International School of Hospitality student and MGM Resorts International team member; Hans Landinger, UNLV student and Venetian team member. The foundation is the charitable arm of the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association

Holland & Hart announced the addition of two associates in the firm’s Las Vegas office: Celssie Hardy and Zaniah Jordan. Hardy helps clients protect their business interests, navigate the legislative process and pursue new opportunities through her state policy and government affairs experience. Jordan counsels clients on a range of corporate matters including entity formation, corporate governance, debt and equity financings, securities offerings, SEC filings and general corporate transactions.

JOB LISTING

Engineer Mechanical III needed with Everi, in Las Vegas, NV, to develop solutions, create prototypes, and perform testing for product validation and design verification. Requires Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of education and equivalent work experience. 5 years’ experience in an engineering role working with large assemblies. Proven experience working with manufacturing groups and third-party vendors. Demonstrated ability in Microsoft Office Applications, PTC Creo or Solidworks and sheet metal design, project lifecycle management systems, including Agile, and ECM change control and product life cycle management processes. Remote work permitted preferably in Arizona.

PLEASE SEND RESUME TO: RECRUITING, RECRUITING@EVERI.COM

PLEASE NO RECRUITERS OR AGENCIES NEEDED.

SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Corporate & Securities – Light & Wonder, Inc. in Las Vegas, NV seeks an SVP & Deputy General Counsel, Corporate & Securities to Manage legal business matters pertaining to the organization and provides a variety of general corporate and commercial legal services to a number of in-house clients. Must have a JD or LLM. Must be licensed to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction. Must have 6 years of experience with: cross-border transactions; capital raising transactions; and representing domestic and foreign issuers and underwriters. 3 years of experience with: SEC disclosure; stock exchange compliance; corporate governance; mergers and acquisitions; analyzing corporate and securities laws to prepare legal memoranda and advise clients; and providing counsel on Indian security law and governance issues. Remote work/telecommuting is acceptable from anywhere in the U.S. Must be willing to travel to HQ 15-20% of the time if working remotely/telecommuting. Qualified applicants (principals only) should apply at HTTPS://SCIENTIFICGAMES.WD5.MYWORKDAYJOBS.COM/ LIGHTWONDEREXTERNALCAREERS. No calls.