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THIS WEEK’S COVER
18 FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE
Weightlifting tips for beginners, plus gym etiquette to observe. 24 COVER STORY
This year’s Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix features more contenders and better logistics for locals.
Local leaders are dreaming up transportation solutions and more for a reimagined Chinatown.
FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX
Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc practices for last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 17, 2023. (Steve Marcus/Sta )
10 SUPERGUIDE
Neon City Festival takes over Downtown, the Strip’s largest ice rink opens and more happening this week.
ISSUE
46
NIGHTLIFE
Checking in at LIV Nightclub one year after opening at Fontainebleau.
50
MUSIC
How Heidi & The Guinns’ new project Boughs became a collaborative “love letter to Downtown’s music scene.”
54
FOOD & DRINK
Las Vegas Distillery’s renovation creates an elevated, vintage-inspired experience.
With Mercy Me, Zach Williams, 7 p.m., Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
NERO
9 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
LARRY FULLER TRIO
7 p.m., & 11/22, Vic’s, vicslasvegas.com
MARSHMELLO
With Orlinski, 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
STEVE AOKI
10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com
ZEDD
10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com
NEON CITY FESTIVAL
Downtown’s inaugural Neon City Festival has all the potential to be epic. The three-day event is the ambitious “F1 alternative” casino mogul and creator Derek Stevens always envisioned. A festival without fences, completely free and anchored by close to 40 di erent musical acts across four stages? That’s a hell of a party. Rave starters like TroyBoi, Seven Lions, Alison Wonderland and Krewella close out each evening, with support from nostalgic acts like Neon Trees, The All-American Rejects, Plain White T’s, Bubba Sparxxx and Twista. Homegrown acts like Pure Sport and Ekoh also round out the bill. The Neon City Festival’s footprint will span the Downtown area, with pop-up shops, local food vendors and curated art from Area15 being scattered throughout this fun weekend. 5 p.m., free, Downtown Las Vegas, neoncityfestival.com.
–Amber Sampson
ADELE
8 p.m., & 11/23, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com
UNWRITTEN LAW
With Agent 51, 7 p.m., the Portal at Area15, area15.com
ARMIN VAN BUUREN 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com
CHRISTINA TOSI
I’d be banned from my friends’ holiday cookie parties if it wasn’t for Christina Tosi. For years, the Milk Bar founder, award-winning chef, best-selling author and creator of the world-famous Cereal Milk has been sharing her baking secrets with the world. Now Tosi will sweeten that deal at the Writer’s Block, where she’ll host a meet-and-greet to discuss accessible recipes in her latest book, Bake Club. Whether you’re a novice in the kitchen whose only experience with cookie-making came from your Easy Bake Oven, or you’re a prodigy for the Great British Bake Off, there’s a tasty takeaway for everyone. Noon, free, Writer’s Block, thewritersblock.org. –Amber Sampson
(Courtesy/Zouk Group, Photo Illustration)
(Courtesy/Erik
Kabik Photography)
SUPERGUIDE
SUNDAY NOV 24
MONDAY NOV 25
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. DENVER BRONCOS
1 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com
FILM & DISCUSSION: BANNED TOGETHER
1 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com
MARKET IN THE ALLEY
11 a.m., District at Green Valley Ranch, shopthedistrictgvr. com
CARL COX
10:30 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com
BLACK COFFEE
10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com
METRO BOOMIN
10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com
NICK GUERRA
With Todd Royce, thru 12/1, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, best vegascomedy.com
DEREK RICHARDS With Jody Carroll, Steven Roberts, thru 11/27, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com
COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
BALL DAWGS CLASSIC Thru 11/27, times vary, Lee’s Family Forum, axs.com
EXHIBIT: VIVA LAS VEGAS! Thru 12/13, Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Donna Beam Gallery, unlv.edu
JESS GOPEN QUARTET
7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com
(Courtesy/Nick Larson)
SUPERGUIDE
TUESDAY NOV 26
WEDNESDAY NOV 27
UNLV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: GERSHWIN, BOYER & BALEY
7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: VEGAS SHOWDOWN 6 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Thru 11/29, 7:30 p.m. (& 11/30-12/1, times vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: PLAYERS ERA FESTIVAL
Thru 11/30, times vary, MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com
NICK GRIFFIN
With Julian McCullough, Daphnique Springs, Allan Havey, thru 11/30, 7 & 9:30
p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster. com.
UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. CENTRAL FLORIDA
Noon, Thomas & Mack Center, axs.com
THE BAR STOOL PREACHERS
With Bite Me Bambi, 7 p.m., Sinwave, dice.fm
LADY FAITH
With MGMA, Happi, Reclaimer, 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us
SHIP WREK
With Dillon Nathaniel, 10 p.m., Substance, seetickets.us
OASIS ICE RINK OPENING
Nothing quite satisfies holiday fever like ice skating, and lucky for us, Fontainebleau is adding another rink to the Strip. But this isn’t just any ice rink—the resort claims it will be the largest real ice rink on the Boulevard. Comprising two rinks spanning nearly 8,000 square feet, Oasis Ice Rink allows both public skating and private group events. The “holiday village on ice” also includes fire pit rentals and holiday movie showings rink-side. There’s no better way to get into the spirit. Weekdays 5-11 p.m., weekends 11 a.m.-11 p.m., $35, Fontainebleau, fontainebleau lasvegas.com. –Shannon Miller
TURNTGIVING 10 p.m., Gold Spike, goldspike.com DO IT ALL
FITNESS & OUTDOORS LIFE WORKOUT
Get into lifting with these beginner tips
BY JESSIE O’BRIEN
The health and tness world has become highly scienti c, with popular gures like neuroscientist Andrew Huberman giving molecular breakdowns of the body’s inner workings. That level of detail can paralyze beginners from getting started in the weight room when the gym is already intimidating.
Yet it does everyone good to get past their initial trepidation. The bene ts of weightlifting are clear: it builds muscle, increases metabolism, improves bone density, protects joints, improves balance, supports mental health and teaches discipline.
Former athlete and EOS Fitness vice president of operations and sales Eric McCauley simpli es weightlifting for beginners with some practical tips on getting started.
TAKE A GYM TOUR
“The hardest part for most people when they get into weightlifting is just walking through the door,” McCauley says.
Beginners can overcome fear of the unknown with help from someone who knows the ropes. Trainers will teach newbies lifting basics, demonstrate the correct form and educate rst-timers on how to set up and break down equipment. Trainers will also describe their o erings, like personal training or group classes, so individuals can decide what ts their style and needs.
“Whether you buy a car or buy furniture, you go look at it rst,” he says. The same strategy should apply to shopping for gym memberships.
START WITH BODY WEIGHT AND MACHINES
For people starting at square one, exercises that use only one’s own body weight are adequate. “Body squats, pushups, calisthenics still go a long way when it comes to actually getting in shape,” McCauley says.
Machines are also more approachable than free weights, which require proper form.
“When you don’t know how to lift or set things down correctly, you’re at more risk of injury,” McCauley says. Machines have instructions on how to use them and they don’t require loading or unloading weight plates. Plus, no spotter is necessary.
WEIGHT
DEDICATE 90 MINUTES PER WEEK
LEARN HOW TO COUNT CALORIES
Diet has equal or more in uence on body transformations than exercise. McCauley realizes asking people to change their eating habits and toss out what they have in their refrigerator is a lot to ask.
Instead, he says the “easiest thing to do is count calories in and calories out. If you eat a certain amount of calories, you’ve got to burn a certain amount of calories.”
That simple math shows you how much it takes to lose or gain weight. As people progress in their weightlifting journey, diets can get more speci c, like how much protein you need or whether you should cut down on carbs.
SET SMALL AND SMART GOALS
McCauley says a common pitfall with exercise is setting big goals too early. Big goals usually back re as people get discouraged when they don’t meet their unrealistic goals.
There is no need to sacri ce all your Net ix time for gym time. McCauley suggests setting aside 30 minutes three times per week. That is realistic to accomplish in today’s busy world and easier to build upon.
The goal of weight lifting is eventually to get into a natural routine. Setting too high of a goal can discourage beginners.
“Give yourself 90 minutes a week out of a 168-hour week— that’s where you start,” he says.
“It’s got to be measurable, it’s got to be realistic, it’s got to be attainable, and it’s got to be timely,” he said. Examples of smart goals could be working out three days a week for a month, increasing cardio from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, or increasing from 10 to 20 pushups.
he says. “Once you get into the gym, in tually to get into a natural routine.
TIME
“Just set something small so that you keep seeing that you’re winning,” he says. “Once you get into the gym, the atmosphere is not as intimidating as people think. There’s a lot of support inside the gym.”
Follow these basics of gym etiquette
Gym etiquette is based on standard courtesy. EOS Fitness vice president of operations and sales Eric McCauley says basic etiquette boils down to three rules: clean, rerack your weights, and let people work in.
“If you’re doing those three things, everybody’s happy,” he says.
GOOD FORM
Reracking weights keeps spaces organized and saves others from picking up after you. Abandoning a squat rack fully stacked with 100-pound plates could render the station useless for younger people or elderly folks who may not be able to remove those heavy weights. You’re there to work out; why not burn a few extra calories by putting your weights back?
Why cleaning is polite is hopefully self-explanatory. Just like eating at a dirty table with miscellaneous food bits is unpleasant, it’s uncomfortable to use equipment that’s wet with a random person’s perspiration. Gyms are communal spaces where people sweat, spit and sometimes smell, and it’s easy to pass germs. For this reason, gyms have paper towels and spray for people to spray equipment after use to keep it clean for the next person.
While etiquette hasn’t changed for decades, phones have changed gym goers’ behavior. People will lm themselves or linger on equipment between sets, exercising only their scrolling nger. MaCauley says to let people work in, meaning share your station or machine while you are between sets. This way people don’t have to wait so long to use the limited equipment. And be conscientious of what you lm, he adds, since not everyone is comfortable being on camera. Gyms haven’t become content creation studios just yet.
“I know people want to take sel es. I know people want to talk about the gym experience, but not everybody wants to be on camera,” he says. “Be aware of your surroundings when you’re doing –Jessie O’Brien
that.”
A Culinary
(Photo Illustration by Brooke Everson/Sta )
This year’s Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix features more contenders and therefore more intrigue
BY CASE KEEFER
Last year, the Las Vegas Grand Prix was about the spectacle rst and foremost. The racing was secondary.
This year, it might be the exact opposite.
There will always be a high level of pomp for as long as Formula 1 brings its globetrotting phenomenon in for a stop at the 3.8-mile road course through the Strip, but nothing can match last year’s debut.
Fewer jaws will drop every time one of the $20 million cars turn towards an F1-themed display on the exterior of Sphere. The novelty of a 217 mile per hour straightaway in front of a backdrop of the Fountains of Bellagio also wears o .
Images of those ourishes dominated discussion and social media at the outset of last year’s event but diminished by late Saturday night as the nal runs of the 50-lap race took place.
That’s partly because the racing was so compelling. And it only gures to get better in 2024.
There’s much more on the line in Version 2.0 of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships were already clinched ahead of F1 arriving in Las Vegas last year.
They’re both still technically up for grabs with three races left to go this season, though McLaren is poised to win its rst constructors’ championship since 1998, barring complete collapse.
Similarly, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen will almost surely claim his fourth straight drivers’ championship, but there’s a big question of when it will happen.
Verstappen will win the title in Las Vegas if he nishes higher than McLaren’s Lando Norris, who’s currently in second place and 62 points behind in the standings.
But, in another break from the pre-race perception going into 2023, that’s no guarantee.
Verstappen was a -300 (i.e. $300 to win $100)
favorite going into the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, implying better than a 70% win probability after accounting for the house’s hold percentage. This year, he’s all the way down to +250 (i.e. risking $100 to win $250)—the same odds as Norris—and therefore only about 25% to win after calculating for hold percentage.
Ferrari’s pair of drivers, Charles Leclerc (+300) and Carlos Sainz (+585), are also priced as primary contenders.
A battle between Leclerc, Verstappen and Red Bull Racing’s Sergio Pérez (82-to-1 this year) ensued in last year’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix and has now enhanced the expectations for this year’s race.
No one expected much from a competitive standpoint in 2023, with Verstappen being perhaps the most outspoken detractor of adding a Las Vegas race. He referred to it as “99% show, 1% sport,” complained about the track and said he felt “like a clown” by being forced to participate in the pre-race pageantry.
He ended up eating some of those words after passing Leclerc with 13 laps to go and holding on for a victory that had him singing “Viva Las Vegas,” and later regarding the whole experience as “fun racing.”
Complaints about the fan experience persisted, but no one had any gripes about the on-track action. It went better than Verstappen and anyone else could have imagined with seven lead changes and 82 total overtakes, the second-most in any of F1’s 22 races in 2023.
Leclerc passed Pérez for second place on the nal lap in a thrilling moment to secure the podium spots next to Verstappen. Fan favorite and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton also had a strong night and gained new fans wearing an LGBTQ-supporting rainbow helmet. The Mercedes driver nished in seventh place to lock himself into third-place for the overall 2023 season.
Hamilton’s resurgence has climbed higher in the 2024 campaign as he broke a three-year
winless drought with a pair of victories, at the British Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix in July.
Seven di erent drivers—Verstappen, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Oscar Piastri and George Russell—have won a race so far in 2024. Only three—Verstappen, Sainz and Pérez—managed the feat in 2023.
Verstappen won 19 races a year ago as opposed to only eight this season, with a victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix earlier this month snapping a near ve-month downturn.
“It was de nitely an emotional win,” Verstappen said afterwards. “I was really motivated and put everything into this race, and I surprised myself today as I wasn’t expecting to nish in P1. This was a really strong result for us today and I’m really proud. Simply lovely.”
It would appear Verstappen will arrive in Vegas with a cheerier disposition this time around. All the drivers may.
The visuals of the Las Vegas Grand Prix were always going to be stunning, but the racing needed to deliver for the long-term viability of the event. It happened in year one, and looks even better set up to do it again in year two.
(Photographs by Christopher DeVargas/Sta
Perfecting the Formula
As F1 returns to Las Vegas, e orts are made to improve on the logistics of its 2023 debut
BY AMBER SAMPSON
As uniquely positioned as Las Vegas was to host a global spectacle like Formula 1, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how challenging it turned out to be.
Building a 17-turn Grand Prix circuit on and around the Las Vegas Strip, a major city arterial that draws tens of thousands of vehicles and pedestrians daily, proved to be painful endeavor. The months-long construction leading up to the race crippled commutes, leaving hospitality workers frustrated and small businesses struggling from the disruptions. It also didn’t help that tourists and locals felt shut out from the race due to pricey tickets and obstructed views on pedestrian bridges.
By the standards of Vegas hospitality, it wasn’t always a good look. But one thing Vegas knows how to do well is to learn from its missteps.
“Like all major special events that get stood up in this town, it takes a little while to get your sea legs,” says Lori Nelson-Kraft, senior vice president of corporate a airs for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “You can go in with the best event production, the best experience and the best intentions as you work with all the public agencies in town, and you certainly don’t have an instruction manual. There had never been anything like that undertaken throughout the destination in the history books.”
did great. The inaugural race further elevated Las Vegas on the global sporting stage, drew 315,000 spectators and raked in an estimated $1.2 billion in economic impact.
Coming into year two, Nelson-Kraft says the organizers set out to improve on virtually every pain point of F1 to allow it to come back “in a much gentler, easier way.” One of the rst orders of business has been expanding communication with the community and collaborating more closely with local agencies like the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC).
“I feel like we’re on better footing than the rst year,” says Theresa Gaisser, senior director of Freeway and Arterial Systems of Transportation (FAST) at RTC. “The rst year, I think we all recognized that there were a lot of disruptions and impacts due to the extensive track paving that was necessary to pull o that rst year and really get this course set up. So this year, while we’ve been in meetings probably since spring, I do think that what this has allowed us to do is to go back and have a good debrief about things that worked really well from last year’s race and then really emphasize where we can make some changes.”
and delay alerts. But so far, F1’s construction schedule has taken a lot of pain out of the process.
in
It really hadn’t, not since Las Vegas last hosted a Formula 1 race in 1981. And to its credit, last year’s Grand Prix still
Gaisser says the goal has been to communicate “early and often” with local riders in order to instill “more con dence and reliability” when it comes to navigating the city during F1.
The RTC’s website currently o ers real-time bus detours
the properties, with those who have overnight hours and shifts there, to make sure that we
“Paving for the inaugural year was a huge undertaking. With that out of the equation, it dramatically reduced the circuit preparations by 65% in overall time,” Nelson-Kraft says. “The majority of the circuit preparations have been taking place in the overnight hours, and so the majority of our community is, thankfully, sleeping. Then we worked with the properties, with those who have overnight hours and shifts there, to make sure that we were communicating any lane reductions or tra c impacts.”
an interactive website to show
can plan ahead. During race week last year, many hospitality workers utilized the Las
F1 organizers also created an interactive website to show where construction is happening in real time, so commuters can plan ahead. During race week last year, many hospitality workers utilized the Las Vegas Monorail to get to their properties and they’ll do so again, with the added bene t of park and ride locations, where they can reserve spots at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Rio or the Orleans and then take the monorail or use a shuttle to get to work.
Center, Rio or the Orleans and
The temporary vehicular bridge on Flamingo Road and Koval Lane also drew plenty of ire from nearby businesses last year. Nelson-Kraft says the bridge has been reduced from four lanes to two, reducing installation and dismantling times and improving access to surrounding businesses.
In an e ort to utilize more local labor and provide oppor-
tunity, organizers set up a local business networking directory that’s been shared with racing teams and their business partners. The directory features more than 100 pre-vetted local businesses, ranging from caterers and security companies to local restaurants. Last year, the Super Bowl Host Committee worked with the NFL on something similar.
ty. The organizers will also host
Nelson-Kraft says F1 missed a crucial opportunity last year to introduce itself to the community. This time, the team has fought to earn back local engagement. One way to do that has been o ering tickets at a more accessible price point, with one-day general admission. Recently, F1 also gifted more than 600 tickets to “extraordinary locals and organizations” in the community. The organizers will also host the Las Vegas Grand Prix Fan Experience, an daytime event that o ers “the thrill of F1 without necessarily needing a ticket,” Nelson-Kraft says. A dozen Clark County School District students, who competed in an art contest, will also have their artwork featured near the entrance of the South Koval Zone and be honored at the fan experience.
Those e orts, plus having volunteers from Clark County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates and youth from the nonpro t First Nevada present during the National Anthem should allow F1 to nally feel like our race. “With every year, I think the momentum is going to continue to build,” Nelson-Kraft says. “It’s a great addition for Las Vegas.”
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with this handy preview of the track layout, with insight on where the key passes and crashes happened last year.
TURNS 6-9
Drivers accelerate into Turn 6 and then must navigate a tricky slow-speed chicane. Esteban Ocon is one of the few who made a successful overtake here last year, passing Logan Sargeant on Lap 14.
TURNS 10-11
These corners, snaking between Wynn Las Vegas and the Venetian, are taken flat-out in eighth gear, with speeds reaching 180 mph.
TURN 12
A good exit from this turn is critical for the high-speed drag down the Strip that follows. Last year, Lando Norris lost control of his McLaren on the approach on Lap 3, and later, Max Verstappen and George Russell collided, causing another Safety Car deployment.
TURN 5
At the end of the Koval straightaway, drivers must brake and decelerate as they approach the Sphere. Last year, this is where Alex Albon hit the wall in FP3 and also where Oscar Piastri made a bold pass on Pierre Gasly midway through the grand prix.
TURNS 2-4
Drivers must accelerate through this sequence. Last year, Lewis Hamilton executed a daring earlyrace pass around Yuki Tsunoda here. The first of two DRS zones follows the exit of Turn 4.
TURN 13
The high-speed kink of Turn 13, located a third of the way down the Strip, precedes the circuit’s second DRS zone. The 1.2-mile fullthrottle stretch that follows is the second-longest straight on the F1 calendar. Last year, cars reached speeds exceeding 210 mph here.
Now - December 31 daily 4PM-4AM
IN THE NEWS
“The residents of our great state—whether they’ve been here for three weeks or are third-generation Nevadans—include persons of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, political belief and religion, and they all must be treated with dignity and respect. We are America under a magnifying glass, and I will fight every step of the way, in any way that I can, to ensure our state remains a place where anyone is welcome and where our rights are protected.”
—Attorney General Aaron Ford, in a partial statement, on the results of the 2024 general election
FLIPPER’S ROLLER BOOGIE PALACE GRAND OPENING
The Venetian, Tao Group Hospitality and Flipper’s World held the grand opening for Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace—an all-ages roller skating rink, open through February at Tao Beach Dayclub—on November 16. Read more at lasvegasweekly.com.
(Courtesy/ Christopher Polk)
BY THE NUMBERS
That’s how much Sphere lost in the first three months of fiscal year 2025, according to a press release from the company. Since the $2.3 billion venue opened in September 2023, it has lost over $500 million.
The Golden Knights play at the Montreal Candiens on November 23 at 4 p.m.
UNLV defeats San Diego State, 41-20 UNLV tight end Kaleo Ballungay (19) catches a pass in the end zone during the first half of against the San Diego State Aztecs at Allegiant Stadium on November 16. (Wade Vandervort/Sta )
UNLV football back in national rankings
The UNLV football team is back in the national rankings.
Fresh o a 41-20 win Saturday against visiting San Diego State, UNLV (8-2) is ranked No. 23 in the new Associated Press rankings released November 17. The Rebels are also No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
It’s the highest all-time ranking in each poll, the university said.
The program reached the top 25 for the first time in school history in September when it debuted in the Coaches’ Poll. Two weeks later, the Rebels earned their first appearance in the Associated Press poll.
A loss to Boise State last month knocked UNLV out of the rankings. However, they’ve beat Hawaii and San Diego State in the past two weeks to return.
UNLV plays at San Jose State at 7 p.m. November 22. –Ray Brewer
CCSD revising book review policy
The Clark County School Board tentatively revised the district’s book challenge procedures on November 14.
One significant change will be ensuring books remain available to students, whether in class or on open library shelves, while being reviewed after a challenge unless the principal, teacher-librarian and the rest of the committee that responds to challenges agree to remove the material while the review is underway.
The pending changes also amend language to align with a related policy mandating a certified teacher-librarian lead school libraries, codify the appeal process and clarify language.
The changes passed unanimously on first reading at the November 14 meeting and will need to be passed again in December before going into e ect.
Nobody spoke against the changes at the meeting. But attempts to pull books do happen.
CCSD received 13 book challenges in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years combined, according to documents the Las Vegas Sun received in a public records request. Most of the complaints were about mentions of sexuality or gay or transgender characters or themes. None of the challenges resulted in a book being pulled.
Challenging a book in CCSD can lead to a book being left in place, pulled entirely or, in the case of library books, being limited to students with parental permission.
The process starts with the submission of a form to the individual school with the book. The form asks people who want to have a book restricted or pulled if they are familiar with the full
text and to specify what portions they find questionable. The form also asks what e ect the requestor thinks the material has on students, what the educational value might be and what the judgment of qualified professionals has been on the matter.
According to district regulation, the principal, librarian and the “school-based library-media center committee” reviews the challenged book and renders a decision. The committee includes three teachers and two parents or guardians in addition to the librarian and the principal or someone designated by the principal. This same group is also involved in the selection process for library books.
If they decide to remove a book from a library, a “central library-media center committee” will conduct a final review.
–Hillary Davis
Lois Tarkanian, who devoted her life to promoting public education in Las Vegas and supporting the players on her husband’s college basketball teams, died peacefully November 17. She was 90.
Many know Tarkanian as the wife of Jerry, who in 19 seasons as UNLV’s basketball coach led the program to a national championship and four appearances in the Final Four.
If it weren’t for Lois Tarkanian mentoring the players behind the scenes, none of the success would have been possible, said Eldridge Hudson, a player on UNLV’s 1987 Final Four team who after his playing days remained close with Lois Takanian.
“That’s a special lady. I hope God blesses me to be 90,” Hudson said, fighting back tears. “She was the backbone to everything—him, us, everything. She just did it.
“She was a stickler for education and always checking to make sure we were going to class. She was a beautiful woman on a beautiful mission to mentor young people.”
Lois Tarkanian was considered a powerhouse in education locally and throughout Nevada, working as an educator and later serving on the Clark County School Board. She additionally spent 14 years on the Las Vegas City Council and was a member of the Nevada Board of Regents at the time of her death. She was so respected in education circles that the Clark County School District named a school after the family. Lois and Jerry Tarkanian Middle School opened in 2006 in Southern Highlands.
–Ray
Brewer
REIMAGINING
Local leaders are dreaming up a better Spring Mountain Road
BY GEOFF CARTER
In the mid-1990s, Chinatown Plaza opened on Spring Mountain Road. Its mix of Asian American/Paci c Islander businesses proved an immediate hit, and it began to attract other AAPI businesses to the neighboring plazas lining what was, back then, a sleepy and predominantly industrial stretch of road. Nearly 30 years and one o cial proclamation later, Chinatown Plaza is at the heart of a booming Chinatown, one that reaches nearly all the way from I-15 to Rainbow Boulevard—which is both good news and bad.
“Chinatown grew big-time, but Spring Mountain Road did not,” says Catherine Francisco, president of the AAPI Chamber, a 501(c)6 organization dedicated to promoting collaboration, diversity and prosperity in Vegas’ AAPI business community. “The infrastructure did not meet the growth.”
Anyone who’s been to Chinatown recently knows what she means. Finding a nighttime parking spot at Chinatown Plaza—or at neighboring Shanghai Plaza, at The Center at Spring Mountain, or at most any
other dining/retail plaza on Spring Mountain—ranges from di cult to near impossible. And taking a rideshare to Chinatown to access its businesses on foot—which is a common thing for tourists, who Francisco says account for some 50% of the district’s customer base—can be equally daunting; Spring Mountain is six lanes across in places, with narrow sidewalks and relatively few controlled intersections.
Fortunately, help is coming. Last spring, the Clark County Commission went public with a corridor redevelopment plan called Inspiring Spring Mountain. “There was an interest among the community to really bring some cohesion to the development that was happening organically [in Chinatown],” says Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones. He adds, for emphasis: “The community is the co-creator of the plan.”
Over a period of months, the commission has met with small business owners, property managers, community organizations, transit users, neighborhood residents and students from nearby Clark High School; conducted a
“I can tell you from personal discussions that [Boring Company president] Steve Davis and his crew
blight study on the Spring Mountain corridor to ascertain if it met the threshold for redevelopment funds; and administered a public survey that drew nearly 800 respondents, who said that public safety, park space and an arts and culture center are a few of the areas they’d like to see addressed.
“Once we get the draft visioning plan, we will ask the public for
feedback,” Jones says. “We will be at any and all events and meetings promoting our plan, so we get as much feedback as possible.”
Not surprisingly, infrastructure improvements are at the top of nearly everyone’s to-do list.
“Parking is de nitely something that we’re trying to work on,” Jones says, noting that the county “doesn’t own much in the way of
CHINATOWN
(Wade Vandervort/Sta )
day or Saturday, you know that people want to have their boba on one side of the street and get some dim sum on the other side, and they’ll go back and forth,” he says. “We want to make sure that people can do that in a safe way, but also provide better ow for the businesses that are there, for vehicle tra c. And we’ll continue with that public works process over the next two or three years, to make sidewalks wider and to add treescapes and pedestrian access along that corridor.”
town],” she says. “That has been a big issue lately, with a multitude of burglaries happening to our small businesses … [and tourists] can’t leave shopping bags inside their cars.”
are big fans of Chinatown and love to eat there, so they have a vested interest in putting a station there.”
—Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones
property” that could be used for a public garage like the one the City of Las Vegas intends to build in the Arts District. “It’s something that we could purchase with redevelopment dollars, and we’ve looked at that. But we think that it probably makes more sense for a public-private partnership … [If a property owner] is redeveloping their parcel, then it’s better for us to essentially
pay for them to add additional levels to what they need for their own use than it is for the county to build its own parking garage.”
Walkability seems a more direct
x. Jones notes that one element of the redevelopment plan, a four-way intersection between Chinatown Plaza and Shanghai Plaza, is already planned for installation next year.
“If you’ve been out there on a Fri-
The project will also incorporate better access for transit, though as with the rest of the Valley, it’s not immediately clear what form that will take. Jones says the County is in conversations with the RTC, and that the Boring Company has already purchased land in Chinatown for an extension of the Vegas Loop tunnel network that currently serves the Las Vegas Convention Center and Resorts World: “I can tell you from personal discussions that [Boring Company president] Steve Davis and his crew are big fans of Chinatown and love to eat there, so they have a vested interest in putting a station there.”
Another short-term x is public safety. Francisco applauds the county’s e ort in bringing Metro into the conversation to address Chinatown’s public safety issues. “I’m appreciative of Metro providing a speci ed unit [for China-
“We’ve worked very closely with Metro,” Jones says. “They’ve dedicated a team over the last year to just working with the small business owners along the corridor to make sure that they understand all the resources that are available and securing their own locations. I think that’s been a really valuable partnership.”
These changes to Spring Mountain will manifest over several years, but at least one will appear immediately. In early 2025, a section of Spring Mountain Road—in addition to the parking lots for Chinatown Plaza and Shanghai Plaza—will be temporarily closed o for an expansion of the AAPI Chamber’s annual Lunar New Year celebration. It will feature not only the district’s celebrated cuisine, but a Miss Chinatown pageant, activations for anime enthusiasts, parade oats and more.
Francisco hopes that the festival will encourage locals to appreciate Vegas’ Chinatown in a new way: without the burden of their cars.
“I’m from San Francisco, so I’m familiar with walkability and enjoying Chinatown by just walking Chinatown,” she says.
Taking the temperature of LIV Nightclub one year after opening at Fontainebleau Las
Vegas
BY AMBER SAMPSON
It’s just after midnight at LIV Nightclub. Throngs of bodies pack the dancefloor, bottle girls shoulder bright neon signs emblazoned with “Scorpio SZN” and I’m sharing a section with Vanderpump Rules reality TV star James Kennedy. My head’s on a swivel searching for cameras—Could this be season 12? Is this the show’s next ceremonious Vegas episode playing out? But unlike what I’m used to seeing Kennedy stir up on screen, there’s very little drama. Instead, the internationally recognized resident DJ of LIV has hopped behind the decks to deliver, in true Vanderpump fashion, one of the best days of our lives.
Newly acquainted strangers smush and grind together to his mashup of Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money.” And it’s almost instinctual how the hands go up for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which Kennedy seamlessly transitions into a remix of M83’s “Midnight City.” Pretty soon, he’s ditching his t-shirt and scaling the DJ booth to sing along with his fans.
LIV NIGHTCLUB
Fontainebleau Las Vegas, 702-678-9700, livnightclub.com. Friday-Sunday, 10:30p.m.-4 a.m.
Within its first year on the Strip, LIV Nightclub and LIV Beach have orchestrated countless moments like this, drawing the likes of Kehlani, Tiësto, Calvin Harris, John Summit, Dom Dolla, Busta Rhymes and plenty more through its doors. And nightlife impresario David Grutman of Groot Hospitality isn’t finished making his mark on Las Vegas.
“Coming into a market where you have the best operators in the world all condensed into one area, and just to be able to open in that kind of marketplace, for me, was a very humbling experience,” says Grutman, who opened the original LIV Nightclub at Fontainebleau in Miami 16 years ago.
“We went a little bit of a different route with some of our DJs, and it was so great to see John Summit, Metro Boomin, Cloonee and Dom Dolla all have record years,” he continues. “We’re pretty good at projecting people’s trajectory and to see how those guys just took off is incredible.”
Grutman says stakes were incredibly high in the first year, launching LIV in
a hyper competitive nightlife town. He leaned heavily on his Las Vegas team to help navigate the scene, knowing that what worked well on the East Coast didn’t always translate well to the West.
“The hospitality, a lot of the lighting and sound and stuff like that, we elevated it for the Vegas market,” he says. “But one thing that we were able to work even better in Vegas is the ecosystem, because we have [restaurants] Papi Steak and Komodo. … We really wanted to be that full ecosystem where you come and have dinner and then you could take that and go to the nightclub afterwards.”
That strategy has helped bolster business all around at Fontainebleau, and quickly established LIV as the place to be. During Super Bowl weekend, Bad Bunny popped in. And where else could you catch a club residency by Metro Boomin this year?
“Also seeing those days of John Summit, and it’s like 90% female, is crazy to me,” Grutman says. “I’ve never seen a nightclub that’s 90% female before in my life. John Summit is definitely America’s sweetheart, that’s for sure.”
Grutman says it’s even more impactful to see these artists flourish at LIV because they were there from the beginning.
“They were walking the property with me when it was under construction,” Grutman says, “and I was like, ‘I swear to you, this ceiling is going to move around, this and that.’ And they’d see workers and builders and duct tape. So to see it come alive, I feel like they take it so personal. They feel like they were a part of the success of LIV, especially in the first year.”
During Formula 1 race week, LIV will host a wealth of nightlife programming, including performances by Dom Dolla and Cloonee at LIV on the Grid and a trackside hospitality experience called Papi Steak Garage. Grutman says more resident artists will also be announced for the clubs soon to ensure the momentum keeps building.
“The level of hospitality here ... It’s like nothing else I’ve ever seen,” he says.
“Vegas has the best of the best. I’m just so happy to even be there with these guys and to be able to play on the same field.”
Metro Boomin performing at LIV Nightclub (Courtesy/LFDC Studios)
MUSIC BRANCHING OUT
How Heidi & The Guinns ’ new solo project Boughs became a collaborative ‘love letter to Downtown’s music scene’
BY AMBER SAMPSON
Las Vegas singer-songwriter Heidi Guinn has always played well with others. Since the days of performing in the indie-folk supergroup Dusty Sunshine and with local female duo The Petals, Guinn has been a part of a unit, always in joint harmony with the musicians she admires most. On Boughs, her first solo project as Heidi & The Guinns, the singer-songwriter branches out—but not without a little help from her longtime friends.
“The collaborative element has been so strong since the very beginning on this album, and it’s been incredible to connect with not only great producers like [Naked City Studio’s] John Kiehlbauch, but musicians that I looked up to in the scene that were just stunners,” says Guinn. “I really feel like it’s more than me. I’m just a tree trunk and all these incredible people are my boughs.”
Boughs isn’t so much an album as it is a memory chest for Guinn, who says the record represents “a collection of music that I’ve written over 20 years.” She dusts off songs from The Petals that never got traction; she fleshes out tracks with Dusty Sunshine that originally ran aground. She also taps back into the talent of her former bands, bringing members of Dusty Sunshine and The Petals into the studio with her, as well as
The Killers’ drum tech Rob Whitehead, and the late Blair Dewane, who was frontman of the Vegas band Rusty Maples.
Boughs swells with a particular warmth and wistful vulnerability. And that’s punctuated by the poignant fact that the songs Guinn and Dewane worked on—
“The Whale” and “Time Travelin Man”—were some of the last he recorded before his death in 2022. Guinn didn’t realize it at the time, but those studio sessions with Dewane and Kiehlbauch, who goes by “Def,” would leave a lasting impression.
“That last part of [“The Whale”], that was him again making magic. He was like, ‘Def, play it again. I want to do a harmony over my harmony.’ He was just having fun. I loved to watch him do that,” Guinn says. “But when we were in the studio that day, he heard a little bit of ‘Time Travelin Man,’ and he really liked it. He was like, ‘I hear harmony.’ I was like, ‘You should come back and record that.’ Little did I know … Blair contacted Def like, ‘Hey, I’m free. Let me listen to that track we listened to the other day.’ He recorded several tracks of harmony over that song, and I never knew it, until he passed away.”
In February 2023, Kiehlbauch contacted her about “Time Travelin Man.”
“Def was like, ‘Heidi, You’ve got to hear this. You’ve got to come into the studio,’ and we both just bawled. He was in the room with us again.”
Throughout the creation of Boughs, Guinn experienced those “speckles of magic.” One even involved a saw. Mike Busch, former Dusty Sunshine bassist who also played guitar and harmonica on Boughs, wielded his trusty sharp-tooth musical saw to make folk-tinged notes sing on “Time Travelin Man.”
“That saw just blew me away,” Guinn laughs. “It sounded like a UFO landing.”
On “Miles Away,” a track Guinn and friend Brittany Houston began in their living room, also recalls the magic of imperfection. “Brittany’s voice is not perfect. She kind of cracks a little bit but that’s what I wanted, those imperfections. I wanted it to be natural,” Guinn says. “That song really captures a lot of magic that happened in real life before we ever went to the studio in a way that I couldn’t even imagine.”
Guinn says she’s toying with the idea of a followup LP called Roots And the vinyl for Boughs is currently being pressed and artwork inside reveals various photos of Guinn and her friends throughout the creative process.
In every sense, the album is just as much about Guinn’s personal experiences as it is about the people who make those experiences worthwhile. “I want to emphasize how much gratitude I have for this incredible music scene and the collaborative element ... of people saying I should do it, and then actually contributing,” says Guinn. “It really has been a love letter to the Downtown music scene.”
HEIDI & THE GUINNS
Heidi Guinn photo courtesy Kristoff Lutchman Photography; Boughs album art by TG Miller
SAVOR THE SIP
Las Vegas Distillery ’s renovation creates an elevated, vintageinspired experience
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ
Hidden away in Henderson’s low-key Artisan Booze District, the Las Vegas Distillery offers up a personal kind of Vegas experience—a place that is pure vintage charm and brims with serious craft.
After a recent revamp and change in ownership, the distillery has emerged with a reimagined cocktail program, jaw-dropping midcentury design and a tour that dives into every corner of its world of craft spirits. If you’re looking for a bit of old Vegas glam plus quality food and drink minus the Strip chaos, you’ll want to check it out.
As you step inside, you’re immediately welcomed by a wall-sized photo of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., suited up and sharing a laugh with cocktails in hand. Further in, the tasting room feels like a love letter to classic Vegas, complete with black-and-white films playing quietly in the background, gallery walls full of archival photos and swanky tunes playing overhead.
“We want people to come in and feel like VIPs and comfortable enough to turn their phones over and talk to the person next to them,” says master mixologist, tasting room and tour manager Cody
(Photos
Fredrickson.
FOOD & DRINK
The cocktails are the real show here. The distillery’s approach is fresh and daring, yet grounded in what matters: the spirit itself. With a menu ranging from a classic Old Fashioned to tiki concoctions like the Mai Tai, there’s something for everyone. But have fun with it and try the specialty creations, such as the Eastgate Sour ($14) with Las Vegas Distillery vodka, prickly pear and lemon juice, topped with matcha green tea foam and a dusting of raspberry powder.
Go even more out of the box with the King Diamond ($16), a coffee-guava concoction with LVD white rum and coffee liqueur.
amplified its allure, adding immersive tours that walk visitors through the production process.
The team also aims to work with other local businesses as much as possible.
“From the beginning, we knew that local partnerships were going to be a huge part of our operation and focus,” says Fredrickson. “If we could support local, why wouldn’t we?”
LAS VEGAS DISTILLERY 7330 Eastgate Road #100, 702-629-7534, lasvegasdistillery.com.
No matter your choice, every sip lets you taste the craftsmanship and quality. Fredrickson puts it simply: “If it’s not showcasing the spirit, then I don’t put the cocktail on the menu.”
The distillery has been a local staple since 2011, known for its bourbon, single malt whisky, coffee liqueur and other creations. The facelift in 2022 has only
LVD’s coffee liqueur is crafted in partnership with local roaster Dark Moon Coffee Roasters and infuses the spirit with that distinct local flavor.
If you’re in the mood to snack, the food menu includes everything from a soft pretzel board ($12) served with three sauces of your choice, to beautifully assembled charcuterie and cheese boards ($35-$60) with enough fixings to satisfy small or large groups—and of course, a variety of fresh Sicilian pizzas ($10-$23).
The Las Vegas Distillery is a little quieter, a little more refined—a place where you can “silence the world for a little bit,” as Fredrickson says, and let yourself sink into another era.
DINING NOTES
FLOWER CHILD, SUGARCANE, BOURBON & BLUES AND MORE
If you’re headed Downtown for the inaugural Neon City Festival November 22-24, be ready to feast on food from an Omaha Steaks pop-up as well as local and regional trucks and eateries such as Chi Asian Kitchen, Custom Pizza, Empanada Factory, Joel’s Chophouse, Sushito, Wings on Wheels and more. A full culinary rundown can be found at neoncityfestival.com/culinary/
Flower Child has opened its second Las Vegas Valley restaurant at the District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson. Its menu of customizable bowls, wraps, salads, and entrees is available daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Pinkbox Doughnuts has opened its 13th location in Centennial Hills at 7530 Oso Blanca Road, including a 20-by-31-foot doughnut you will pass through in your car when exiting the drive-thru. The store is open daily from 5 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Sugarcane at Venetian has reopened after a renovation by design firm ICRAVE. The refreshed design features “a tropical Miami vibe” and an updated private dining space to accommodate groups of all sizes. For other restaurant info, visit sugarcanerestaurants.com
Legacy Club at Circa brings back its Bourbon & Blues tasting experience on December 7 from 1 to 4 p.m., with tickets at $125 per person available at circalasvegas.com/ upcoming-events. In addition to bourbon samples, the all-inclusive event features barbecue bites, Circa-branded tasting glasses and live music from the Volsteads.
The Connoisseur Series at Wynn continues through the holidays, with themed culinary sessions including Holiday Cocktail Entertaining (December 13), Gingerbread House Decorating (December 14) and the annual Treat Trimming Class (December 21). Reservations and more info can be found at wynnlasvegas.com/experienc es/master-classes
Also at Wynn, Casa Playa has debuted an all-new latenight experience every Friday and Saturday from 10:30 p.m. until closing, featuring tacos, tableside guacamole, tequila and more, plus a DJ and immersive entertainment. –Brock Radke
Pepperoni pizza
LVD spirits
Sugarcane’s tuna roll (Courtesy/ Chris Wessling)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(Wade Vandervort/Sta )
UNLV PROGRAM’S STUDENTS HIT GROUND RUNNING IN NEW CAREERS
BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF
Anew online program developed by UNLV’s Leaderverse Initiative and the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation will o er online coursework and upskilling for people unemployed, underemployed or looking to change careers.
Success@Work is a exible, self-paced development plan that provides entry-level programming for people new or returning to the workforce, those looking to leverage their skill set and knowledge into better employment and others, said Becky Harris, distinguished fellow in Gaming and Leadership in the UNLV O ce of Economic Development.
“We’re providing them with essential education and skills that are required by most employers,” Harris said. “The premise behind it is that we would have employees who are ready to start—that don’t require additional training. … They would come to the workplace already knowing what’s expected, what they need to do, so that the employers can train them on the speci cs of their job, rather than on training them how to be an employee.”
With its hard launch this month, Success@Work joins two other programs by the Leaderverse Initiative: WomenUp, which is designed for women underrepresented in the workforce who aspire to be part of an executive team, and the Management Acceleration Program, an employer-driven and on-site training for emerging leaders.
Success@Work is a unique program in that it not only prepares someone for their career but also gives them the con dence and strength to move forward, said Kara Abe, program chief for the Employment Security Division (ESD) in the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation (DETR), which provided a $500,000 grant to fund Success@Work.
“Everyone needs that opportunity to build up that con dence so they know they can go out there and achieve their goals,” Abe said. “This program really promotes that, and it helps build that strength within a person who may feel kind of defeated or may feel like they have no resources or no drive to improve their situation or improve their job prospects.”
There’s a lot of opportunity in the program for both employees and employers, said Reba Sardari, contracts manager at DETR.
“Every time we skill someone and provide additional training to give new skills to someone, we are impacting the person themselves, the employer that they work for and (the) overall health of our workforce in the state of Nevada,” Sardari said.
Success@Work is signi cant because it has programming for anyone at any stage of their career seeking to achieve their employment goals, said Harris, who heads up the Leaderverse Initative.
“Post-pandemic, with the rise of technology, the workforce has transitioned and traditional notions of what employees should come to your place of employment already knowing are in ux and in transition,” she said. “So this is an attempt to help potential employees gain the necessary skills to step into their job day one and be successful—to be recognized as someone who is ready to meet the challenges of the employment.”
There are three modules available, covering basic skills needed to enter the workforce, how to navigate the workplace and succeed in management roles. Each module costs $60 and o ers six classes online, Harris said, so participants can move at their own pace.
The 18 total asynchronous courses are taught by a diverse roster of instructors, including: Eileen Moore Johnson, strategic adviser to the Vegas Loop for the Boring Company; Amy Pourciau, global learning and talent development leader at Light & Wonder; and more. They also include input from the UNLV business college and employers from out of state, Harris said.
“We’re just working to help people get sustainable jobs with livable wages, so they can provide for their families,” she said, emphasizing that the program is not limited to Southern Nevada. “And we’re trying to do that in as impactful and cost-e ective way as we possibly can.”
John Parel, ESD deputy administrator for workforce at DETR, said the program’s mission to move people into “great, paying, secure” jobs aligns with the department’s own goals.
“We want them to succeed and get into careers that they enjoy and are ful lling, and pays the bills,” Parel said. “And so that helps our communities, our state and in getting people into careers that they may not have even thought of. This program, it opens doors for folks.”
Hey Nevadans, did you know that hundreds of millionsof dollars are available to help lower your energy bills?
Nevada’s State Energy Office has access to federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for energy efficiency programs. We want to help them get this money into your hands as fast and easily as possible.
This is a transformational opportunity that could give Nevadans the money they need to replace costly and energy intensive equipment in their homes and enable businesses to reduce operating costs by upgrading to modern, energy efficient equipment.
Our local team of 44 people based in Reno and Las Vegas is ready. We’ve already helped Nevada’s utilities implement and evaluate energy efficiency programs that have delivered 18.2 million kWh in lighting savings. In the last five years alone, DNV has delivered 42 projects saving nearly (a combined) 7 million kWh of energy.
At the end of the day, it comes down to trust. DNV knows Nevada and the state’s entire energy system.
Raise your voice! Share on X and Facebook that you’re ready for Nevada’s State Energy Office and DNV to deliver energy efficiency programs that bring you real, lasting benefits.
BY RINA FOSTER
When a crisis hits, the stakes are high and so are the financial consequences. But while many companies scramble to contain the damage, the true differentiator is how quickly and strategically they communicate. Proactive communication isn’t just about damage control; it’s about safeguarding your bottom line.
Getting ahead of the narrative during a reputational crisis can not only protect your company’s reputation, it can also prevent costly financial fallout. Proactive communication plays a pivotal role in mitigating financial damage during a reputational crisis. By fostering trust, managing public perception and demonstrating accountability, companies can reduce the financial fallout of a crisis and safeguard longterm financial stability.
IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS
When companies fail to communicate proactively, there are negative financial and reputational consequences. Companies can feel both an immediate and a long-term financial loss after a crisis. Immediate impacts may be revenue loss, loss of contracts or donor funds, and a shrinking talent pool as fewer people may want to work for the company. Longer-term effects of a crisis can lead to diminished mar-
GUEST COLUMN
Proactive
communication is non-negotiable when your business or organization faces a reputational crisis
ket value, revenue decline, difficulty securing investments or donations, and lower brand sentiment.
When a company fails to promptly acknowledge and inform its affected stakeholders, customers, employees, vendors and others are left on their own, seeking other sources for information. In the age of social media, rumors and misinformation can easily develop and a quick response can disarm any potential for incorrect narratives.
COMMUNICATION IN ACTION
Last year, when a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a hazardous chemical spill, residents were concerned about environmental and health implications. Norfolk Southern, the company that operated the train, issued its first public statement 13 days after the incident and initially downplayed the severity of the spill. Because of its lack of communication and the substance of its communications—among other missteps—Norfolk Southern faced public and government backlash, loss of consumer trust and ultimately financial impact, with its stock price dropping along with significant clean-up costs.
Prompt communication and corrective actions may reduce lawsuits and regulatory penalties, which can be costly to both finances and reputations. Additionally, proactive communication shows that your company is acting in good faith, which may lead to more favorable outcomes during investigations and regulatory reviews.
When was the last time your bank, health care provider or anyone else who has your information communicated proactively to you about how they are protecting your data? Imagine if you received an email about the safeguards they had in place to protect your information and later they happened to experience a data breach? Would you be more inclined to give them a little benefit of the doubt? Research indicates that companies that communicate proactively with their stakeholders before a crisis are more likely to earn their trust and goodwill, leading to more forgiveness and resilience during a crisis.
These examples underscore the importance of a thoughtful approach and smart messaging, because no company is immune to a reputational crisis. When you can quickly provide transparent, timely communications to
your stakeholders, your company can not only survive a crisis but emerge stronger and more trusted.
These actions will ultimately ensure financial stability in the long run:
n Communicate regularly with your stakeholders. Don’t wait for an ensuing issue or crisis to reach out to those who matter most to your business. You should be building reputational capital with them consistently. These regular deposits of engagement in the bank build trust and help you when you’re facing a crisis.
n Swift acknowledgment. Being the first to address the crisis allows your company to control the narrative, reducing rumors and misinformation. In fact, organizations that react to a crisis within the first hour are 85% more likely to maintain public confidence, according to a recent report by the Public Relations of Society of America.
n Prioritize and focus. Amid a crisis, it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to issue media statements or respond to media requests immediately. Remember to prioritize communications based on your key stakeholders. If you’re a nonprofit, donors may be your most critical stakeholder group. You may need to calm their concerns first with transparent, proactive communication, which reduces the likelihood of donation droppings and financial instability.
n Have a plan. A well-written communications plan with prepared messaging to your key audiences demonstrates to stakeholders that you are proactively addressing the crisis, reassuring them and fostering trust.
Proactive communication prevents financial fallout by preserving trust, loyalty and corporate reputation—all of which are essential to sustaining longterm profitability.
Rina Foster is a crisis communications expert and accredited public relations adviser at 84 Communications.
Research indicates that companies that communicate proactively with their stakeholders before a crisis are more likely to earn their trust and goodwill, leading to more forgiveness and resilience during a crisis.
GIVING NOTES
Kim Small, CEO of Signs of HOPE (Healing, Options, Prevention and Education), a nonprofit dedicated to offering hope, help and healing to those affected by sexual violence and exploitation, announced a $25,000 donation from the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority. The funds will be used to support the organization’s Resources and Integration for Survivor Empowerment program, which provides crisis response and long-term case management services to victims of all forms of human trafficking.
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada announced the appointment of Crystal Hirschi, executive vice president and co-owner of Hirschi Companies, to its board of directors. With a background in construction, education and community development, she brings experience, leadership and passion for empowering future generations through financial literacy, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Hirschi oversees marketing, community engagement and strategic planning at Hirschi Companies. Beyond her professional achievements, Hirschi is an advocate for education, having served on several boards and as chairwoman of the City of North Las Vegas Education Advisory Board. She also leads Hirschi Helping Hands, a branch of her company dedicated to making a positive impact in the local community.
Through a partnership with MGM Resorts International and Nevada Public Radio, Three Square Food Bank can distribute 90,000 additional meals to Southern Neva-
Local philanthropy making a difference
dans experiencing food insecurity. During NPR’s 2024 fall membership campaign in September, members had the option to donate meals to Three Square in lieu of receiving traditional thank-you gifts when they made their pledge of support. Their generosity raised nearly 61,000 meals for hungry neighbors. Additionally, MGM covered the value and donated even more to create 90,000 meals through this initiative.
NAIOP Southern Nevada, an organization representing commercial real estate developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate, held a Thanksgiving meal drive for the students and families of Walter V. Long Elementary School. This year, NAIOP Southern Nevada is dedicated to providing a complete Thanksgiving meal and 30 days of groceries to 40 local families.
Staff members at Aquarius Casino Resort and Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin donated over 12,543 food items to local food pantries in support of their annual fall food drive. In September, members from the player development, casino, general and administrative, hotel, and food and beverage teams gathered the food items, which were donated to two local organizations: Bullhead Regional Food Bank and Colorado River Food Bank
The Opportunity Village Thrift Store is relocating and reopening at 9 a.m. December 2. It is taking over the former Dollar Tree space
at 324 S. Decatur Boulevard in the Decatur Meadows Shopping Center. Once reopened, it will accept donations onsite and offer a selection of new and gently used items for sale, with all proceeds going to Opportunity Village and its mission to employ, empower and serve people with disabilities in our community.
Caridad, whose mission is to humanize the homeless, has renewed its lease to manage the Hebron property through October 31, 2026. Hebron, 1150 Las Vegas Boulevard South, offers low-income housing and programming for veterans, formerly homeless and seniors on a fixed income.
Make-A-Wish announced a statewide reunification of its Northern Nevada Region and Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada to create MakeA-Wish Nevada. All administration and operations will be provided by the nonprofit’s statewide office in Las Vegas.
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children opened the Healing Center, a purpose-built residential campus for children who are victims of sex trafficking. It features a neighborhood-style layout with six one-story homes, each containing four to six bedrooms, therapy offices, a multipurpose building, yoga/meditation room and outdoor areas with walking paths and thoughtful spaces that encourage healing through nature. Staffed 24/7 by trained specialists, the center, capable of housing up to 62 residents at full capacity, will pair victims with survivor advocates upon arrival.
Intermountain’s senior primary care clinics offer: 35 convenient locations
Twice the time with your care team
Same-day urgent appointments
On-staff specialists
Big news for Medicare beneficiaries in Clark County. Now you can access Intermountain Health’s award-winning senior primary care with a health plan from Alignment Health Plan—all tailored to your needs.
Alignment Health Platinum + Instacart (HMO) offers:
Tuesday 12/3 • 1:00 pm Clark County Library 1401 East Flamingo Road Las Vegas
order
payment. Offer ends 12/31/2025 and is valid one per Alignment Health Plan account. By redeeming
Credit
(excludes alcohol and prescriptions). With Instacart+, the delivery fee will not be charged on orders over $35 per retailer. While supplies last. Non-transferrable. Instacart reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Benefits based on Platinum + Instacart (HMO) plan H3815-008. Special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill (SSBCI)-qualifying chronic conditions include congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic lung disorders, dementia, diabetes, and stroke. Other chronic conditions may apply. Medical records will be used to establish the member qualification. The benefits mentioned are a part of a special supplemental program for the chronically ill. Not all members qualify because other eligibility and coverage criteria also apply. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 888-979-2247 (TTY: 711). Alignment Health Plan is an
DECEMBER 7 1PM - 4PM
BOURBON STATIONS BBQ BITES MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS LIVE BLUES BAND
Sip and relish the moment with the best views of the Las Vegas Valley. Enjoy the soulful sounds of a live blues band all while indulging in delicious BBQ, perfectly paired with the rich flavors of bourbon. An afternoon of luxury, music, and taste awaits you.
