LAS VEGAS, Nevada (KTNV) — Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Police said Lynch was pulled over Tuesday morning

"Through the course of the investigation, officers determined that Lynch was impaired and conducted an arrest," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated on Twitter.

Lynch was taken to the Las Vegas City Jail and booked for driving under the influence.

Lynch played in the NFL for 12 seasons from 2007-2019. He spent most of that time on the Seattle Seahawks. He also had stints with the Raiders and Bills.

This story was originally reported on ktnv.com

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTNV)— The Lucky Club Casino in North Las Vegas is being revamped and rebranded to become the nation's first Latino-themed casino.

The new casino will be called Ojos Locos Sports Cantina y Casino at Hotel Jefe.

The Las Vegas area is home to a large Latino community, and they are excited to be represented in a casino.

"Hopefully everyone will want to improve a little here and there and make things better and grow in a positive way. Give the community service we all deserve," said Ana Tare, manager of Hamburger Hut.

Tare explained that people in all walks of life, generation after generation have come through her doors. She hopes the casino will encourage other businesses to come into the area and serve its diverse community.

"I believe there is a positive impact for success for everyone in the community. For Blacks, whites and Hispanics. It does bring a lot of business as well when something improves the community like this. It should be something that profoundly benefits everyone. It has for us even though we’re a hole in the wall," says Tare.

The plan is to begin operations at the new casino by the end of 2022. This will be the second casino owned by Fifth Street Gaming. The company also owns the Silver Nugget Casino.

This story was originally reported by Bree Guy on ktnv.com.

It's getting more expensive to live in Las Vegas. Rent has jumped for tenants who live in Sin City's metro area.

Las Vegas area resident Lamesha Rowe said she doesn't know what she's going to do. The rent just increased for her North Las Vegas home near Gowan Road and Clayton Street.

"It went up $205, which is a big increase. I wasn't prepared for that," Rowe said.

Rowe said she has applied to be in a program to help people in her situation. Making matters worse, Rowe lost her childcare job during the pandemic. Even though she's working again, she's still playing catch up.

"Behind on rent. Still behind a little bit on utilities, water, gas, electric. But it's definitely, it's scary at this point. I'm just thinking like, 'what are we going to do next?'" Rowe said.

Rowe says she applied for assistance from a program offered in her area called the CARES Housing Assistance Program, or CHAP, to see if she can get some help.

But she isn't alone in this struggle. According to Rent.com, Las Vegas rental prices jumped nearly 30% last year. Keith Thomsen with Large Vision Property Management says some had it even worse.

"Some owners socked it to them. I mean, 33 percent, 40 percent raises in rents, which has created tremendous problems for these tenants," Thomsen said.

PRICED OUT

Thomsen says in some cases, tenants are being forced to find roommates.

"You're seeing more and more people move in with family and friends. You're seeing more and more families grouped together...our biggest thing that we're seeing now is people who do apply aren't making the three-times-the-rent standard," Thomsen said.

To make matters worse, Thomsen expects the rental market to heat up, as potential homebuyers face climbing home prices and interest rates.

"They will be coming back into the rental market, and I think those people will start driving up the rental prices again...I see that becoming a problem," Thomsen said. "We do not have enough houses or rentals in this city for the number of people who live here."

"I think by the end of this year, rents will start going back up again," he said.

ANY RELIEF?

So the real question is when can renters expect to finally see some relief? Some say that may not happen.

Rent.com says hot markets are remaining hot, so don't expect to see a decrease any time soon.

In fact, Rent.com data journalist Jon Leckie said he would be surprised if rents ever return to pre-pandemic levels, even if they level off some. Thomsen agrees.

"As more sports teams come here and as we grow into so many more avenues where we didn't have before, yeah, we're going to become the expensive city to live in," Thomsen said.

That's not very reassuring news for renters like Lamesha Rowe.

"I don't know what to do at this point. I don't know, because again, I'm behind, and I haven't really been able to set aside any savings," Rowe said.

WORK WITH LANDLORD

Rowe is working with her landlord and keeping him aware of her situation. She says other struggling renters should do the same.

"I've already let him know. Going into March, I'm trying to catch up," Rowe said.

But if she can't get help from CHAP, Rowe admits she might have to make a difficult decision.

"I'd have to leave the state. I have no family here. I'd have to go back to California, which is ridiculous," she said.

If you're struggling to pay your rent, the CARES Housing Assistance Program, or CHAP, may be able to help.

This story was originally published by Tricia Kean of KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NEVADA (KTNV) — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ended the state's mask mandate on Thursday.

Masks will no longer be required inside most public places including casinos.

However, masks are still mandated in airports and on public transportation.

Sisolak also clarified that while masks will not be mandated on the state level, he said employers and organizations may still set their own policies around masks.

“Just like vaccines, masks are still a great tool we have to slow the spread of the virus. I expect going forward to still see Nevadans and visitors occasionally utilizing masks when they are out in public,” said Sisolak.

For schools, Sisolak says local districts can come up with their own policies.

Sisolak joins a growing list of Democratic governors who have announced plans to lift mandates this week as COVID-19 cases drop.

Nevada recorded its single highest day of new cases on Jan. 10 with 7,865 cases. Now, the state is averaging around 1,280 cases per day.

Meanwhile, the CDC recommends that everyone ages 2 and older should continue to wear a mask in indoor public settings.

This story was originally reported by Abel Garcia and Amy Abdelsayed on ktnv.com.

LAS VEGAS — A newly-launched tool by Nevada state officials gives digital access to their COVID-19 vaccination records through QR codes.

SMART Health QR Code uses data stored in Nevada WebIZ, the statewide immunization information system.

The codes, unique to each individual, have the same information as a CDC vaccine card: name, date of birth, vaccine date, and type.

It serves as an official State of Nevada digital record that a SMART Health verifier app can only scan.

How to get a SMART Health QR Code

To get a unique QR code that contains the same information as your CDC vaccine card, visit izrecord.nv.gov and search for your record.

According to a FAQ sheet from the state, the SMART Health Card QR Code will be visible at the bottom of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record.

Download your record and save your QR code as a digital file on your phone, computer, or anywhere you store your digital information.

Is the information secure?

The state says the SMART Health QR Codes are generated at random each time you pull the immunization record. They are not stored on a server.

SMART Health QR Codes do not link to Nevada WebIZ to verify the information.

All patient and COVID-19 vaccine information is stored in the SMART Health QR Code, protected by cryptography.

A regular smartphone camera cannot scan this QR code, and only verified mobile apps can interpret the data.

How to get help

If your record is incorrect or you can't find it, the state has a COVID-19 Helpline at 1 (800) 401-0946.

To learn more, check out the FAQ sheet or visit nvhealthresponse.nv.gov.

Information provided by Nevada Health Response.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTNV) — From living on the streets to giving back to the homeless community, Dana Canfield is the "Street Barber" of Las Vegas. He gives free haircuts to men and women living on the streets.

“All I ever wanted when I was out there was a haircut and a fresh shower to give me a jump-start to a new life,” Canfield said.

Barbering is in Canfield’s blood. Both of his grandfathers ran barbershops in California in the 1940s.

“I remember growing up in my grandfather’s garage, and there were barber chairs everywhere and I even got a pair of scissors from 1945," Canfield said.

Yet Canfield didn’t follow the family trade of trimming right away. He moved to Las Vegas, and his life took a turn for the worst.

“I had a big house. I worked about 15 years ago in the automotive industry, and I found myself kind of overindulging in some things in the city, and I ended up homeless," Canfield said.

For nearly four years, Canfield lived on the streets battling drug addiction and run-ins with the law. However, during that time, he grew an appreciation for his fellow neighbors living outside, all while recognizing a basic need that was not offered in the homeless community.

Once Canfield went through rehab and back on his feet, he wanted to give back.

“The haircuts really provide a little bit of hope; a little bit of a jump-start in their life," Canfield said.

Currently, Canfield is halfway through barber school. Like his grandfathers, he says he plans to open up a barbershop while continuing to serve the Las Vegas homeless community.

Canfield pops up at various events, rescue missions or just on Las Vegas Boulevard.

This story was originally published by Rachel Moore on KTNV.com.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — President Joe Biden is expected in Las Vegas Saturday to attend a memorial service for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who died last week from pancreatic cancer.

Organizers of the memorial service at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts confirmed the president is expected to attend.

Reid was Nevada's longest-serving senator. He and the president worked closely with each other for two decades in the Senate and for the eight years Biden was vice president in the Obama administration.

Biden previously issued a statement on Reid's passing in which he called the former senator one of "the all-time great Senate Majority Leaders in our history," "a dear friend," and "a giant of our history."

On January 12th, Senator Harry Reid will lie in state in the United States Capitol Rotunda.

It will be an honor to pay tribute to him in the Capitol next week.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 3, 2022

Reid will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol next week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.

This story was originally reported on ktnv.com.

LAS VEGAS — A newly-released 911 call recording from the night of a UNLV fraternity's amateur charity boxing event is shining more light on what happened in the moments after a participant collapsed.

He died days later.

Nathan Valencia, 20, died on Nov. 23 after taking part in a boxing match on Nov. 19.

His death was ruled a homicide by the coroner's office.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told 13 Action News in a statement, "Although Mr. Valencia's death is tragic, the circumstances surrounding his death are not criminal, and no charges will be filed."

The agency says the definition of homicide is "an act of a human killing another person" and that it did not have information that there is any criminality on the part of the venue.

Meanwhile, the Nevada State Athletic Commission investigates the "fight night" event.

Below is a transcript of the 911 call obtained by 13 Action News and provided by Clark County. The transcript has been shortened for clarity, and parts of the recording have been redacted, per HIPAA.

Caller: We are at the Sahara Event Center. There's a roller hockey rink. We need medics here like right now.

911 Operator: What's the number that you're calling from? What happened?

Caller: So we're hosting a fight night for a fraternity's charity, and something happened, and we're not sure what happened. There's a fight that broke out, and one of the fighters, like, actually got injured. The address is 800 Karen Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109.

Operator: All right, so I just want to make sure, like, when you said you guys are holding a fight event, this wasn't like an assault, correct?

Caller: No. No, not an assault.

Operator: All right. Are you with the patient right now?

Caller: Yes.

Operator: I have help already started, OK? Just a couple of questions. Is there any serious bleeding?

[redacted]

Operator: Is he completely alert?

[redacted]

Operator: Alright, so I have paramedics already on the way, OK? Just stay on the line. I'll tell you exactly what to do next. Just make sure not to do not move him unless he is in danger.

[inaudible]

Caller: He's in the ring. We only have eight people here in the ring. Everyone else is out. We have nurses here, but we need, like, real medical.

Operator: I understand, and they're already on the way, OK? They are coming to you guys, lights and sirens. Just make sure nothing -

Caller: Do you know how long?

Operator: Well, they're coming lights and siren, and so it's just going to be a short time between when they get there, okay? They're not too far from you guys. Just nothing for him to eat or drink. That might make him sick or cause further problems.

Caller: They said to give him water. Like, lots of water.

Operator: No, no, no — do not.

Caller: No water!

Operator: And then do not move him unless it's absolutely necessary. OK?

Caller: OK.

Operator: Alright, I'm going to go ahead and stay on the line with you, okay? As long as I can. Just watch him closely and look for any changes.

Around the five-minute mark of the call, the operator says, "It looks like the ambulance is there. They're going to grab your equipment, and they'll be right in. I need you to tell me as soon as they're inside."

About one minute later, the caller is heard saying, "Oh my god, did he get hit with something or? Is the main event of the fight that happened the last event? If we're being honest, I was in the VIP section, and then a citizen fight kind of broke, but everyone's fine there. And then, all of a sudden, he's on the floor."

Around six minutes and thirty seconds, the caller asks, "Why did I have to be the one to call 9-1-1?"

The operator reassures her by saying, "Because you are the most calm one to do it for me."

At six minutes and 50 seconds, the caller confirms, "Okay, the paramedics are here."

The "fight night" was organized by the Kappa Sigma fraternity, which has had its activities suspended while the incident is investigated. Its international headquarters is also reviewing whether the local chapter followed internal policies and standards.

UNLV has since announced it will start looking into new safety protocols going forward. The university has more than 300 student groups, and it is currently reviewing the safety of all of them.

Scripps' Vegas station KTNV first reported this story.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — (KTNV) Former Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach John Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming there was a "malicious" and "orchestrated campaign" against him.

Gruden resigned in October amid controversy sparked by emails containing derogatory comments.

In a complaint filed in court, attorneys representing Gruden claim Goodell and the league "sought to destroy" his "career and reputation."

They also say Gruden was subject to a "Soviet-style character assassination."

News first broke in October of a 2011 email that shows Gruden using racially insensitive remarks against NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith.

Other emails reportedly show Gruden using derogatory and homophobic names for Goodell and players who protested during the playing of the national anthem.

Gruden was is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018.

Gruden is seeking "the recovery of money in excess of $15,000.00."

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a spokesperson for the NFL called the allegations in the lawsuit "meritless," and vowed to "vigorously defend against these claims.”

This story was originally reported on KTNV.com.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTNV) -- Work is underway to create a permanent memorial in honor of the 60 victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

On the fourth anniversary of the Route 91 Music Festival shooting, the 1 October Memorial Committee said it has made significant progress.

Chairperson Tennille Pereira said the committee has moved out of what they called the "community engagement period" and is now working to draft a plan to find teams of artists, engineers, and designers who would eventually win the right to build the memorial.

Pereira said more than 11,000 people responded to two surveys helping them narrow the location, scope, design, and educational features of the finished product.

The first major decision was the location as most people supported building the memorial on the festival grounds, and MGM gifted the property to Clark County.

"That site has significant value to the families and all those who are impacted," Pereira said. "And just being able to be there but have this safe, peaceful, beautiful memorial kind of replace what happened there is a big deal."

Survivor Dee Ann Hyatt lost her brother Kurt von Tillow in the shooting and said she is excited to see what the final product will be to help people come together and heal.

"It's amazing for the families and for Las Vegas to have a place that honors the 58," she said. "This county, this community, has been so thoughtful and good to all of our families."

Pereira said in the next month the committee will be drafting their procedures for identifying and selecting candidates for building the memorial, but there is no deadline for the beginning of construction.

This story was first reported by Sean DeLancey on KTNV.com.

The White House took sweeping actions on Thursday regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joe Biden announced a new vaccine mandate for federal employees, those in health care, and any company with 100 or more workers.

Richard Dreitzer, a specialist in labor and employment matters, says the decision was due to employers’ sense of urgency to keep employees safe.

RELATED: Biden lays out 6-pronged plan to combat COVID this fall

“Vaccines are proven by the FDA, they are safe and effective – that’s why they were proven for wide use – and there haven’t been any bad outcomes with people or very few of them, so people have more confidence that this is going to help them,” said Dreitzer.

President Biden also announced that the Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule to require all employers with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated. When it comes to potential mandates like this, Dreitzer says, it can get tricky at the state level.

“I think the federal government cannot do that. In our country it is sort of an instance of a federalism thing, because the federal government has to defer to the authority of the states on certain matters, and regulating the health and safety of the public usually falls on the states first and the federal government second,” Dreitzer said.

Dreitzer says the federal government does have the power to require vaccination for federal employees. He says certain employees are running out of options. You either get vaccinated or leave your job.

“Vaccines are safe, they are effective, they work," said Dreitzer. "The history of them is good. In terms of bad outcomes, it is minimal, so it is harder and harder for them to say without any credibility, 'I don’t trust these vaccines because they make me sick.'”

Dreitzer says people will not receive unemployment benefits if they get fired for not being vaccinated.

“No, because that is a direct order from an employer that has a legitimate interest in keeping their workplace safe. And they come up to you and present that to you as an employee, and you say, 'You know what? I don’t want to,'” said Dreitzer.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTNV) -- Sports betting is no longer something just done in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the Vegas line is still the standard.

"When we opened Circa, we opened the world's largest sportsbook and thought we need to bring the world's largest football contest with it," said Circa Resort CEO Derek Stevens.

Stevens has gone all-in on sports betting by opening the Circa sportsbook and welcoming thousands into his football contests.

"The TVs in the sportsbook make you feel like you are at the game. We are excited about football, excited about our football contests, and it's just another great reason to visit Las Vegas," Stevens said.

And Stevens is guaranteeing a prize pool of at least $4 million in his Circa Sports Million football betting contest.

"Contestants pick five teams a week against the point spread and we are guaranteeing a $4 million prize in the Circa Millions with a $1,000 entry fee. We want people to come to sportsbook," Stevens said.

Every year sportsbooks offer football fans the chance to become potential millionaires with their selections against the book.

And Circa Sports is offering two chances at such a payday.

"Our second contest is the Circa Survivor with a $6 million prize. You just have to pick one game a week against the spread, but you cannot select that same team again. So, it can get tricky through the season," Stevens said.

The longest-running football handicapping contest is the SuperContest at the Westgate Las Vegas.

This year marks the 33rd year of the contest, and SuperBook executive vice president Jay Kornegay says there are even more ways to win this year.

"We have gone from four in-season contests to nine. So, even after a rough week, contestants are still in the game throughout the season with payouts up to $100,000," Kornegay said.

The SuperContest has paid a top prize of $1.5 million in the past, with this year's contestants continuing to enter.

"We have an entry fee of $1,000 now with 100% payback. We are looking at around 2,000 contests in the field with a grand prize payout of around $500,000," Kornegay said.

And not to be outdone, Station Casinos is bringing back its Last Man Standing contest where another $1 million is up for grabs.

"Football season is here and so is our signature Last Man Standing contests. It's a $25 entry fee for both college and pro with $150,000 for pro and $100,000 college top prizes," said Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito.

Station's Last Man Standing offers sports fans the chance to pick college and pro games throughout the season.

"If the lucky person takes both contests and signs up by Sept. 6, they can get a bonus of $750,000 – making it a cool $1 million total," Esposito said.

This story was originally reported by Jordan Gardner on KTNV.com.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Sofia Bella is a 3rd-grade teacher at Mater Academy Mountain Vista. She teaches a couple of dozen kids each day, but beyond the classroom, she’s using social media to show the world what a difference teaching can make.

Sofia has 2.9 million followers on TikTok with many of her videos garnering hundreds of thousands of likes. One of her popular videos shows her classroom decor, which is meant to make every one of her students feel comfortable.

“Because of everything that is going on now in the world, and since they’re so connected, like way more than I was when I was in 3rd grade, I know that they’re aware of like issues that are happening in the world. And I wanted them to just feel like whatever is going on outside, you’re OK in here. It doesn’t matter.,” said Sofia.

Sofia’s 3rd-graders can read books like "Pink is for Boys," "Hair Love" and "All Are Welcome." She says it’s not about politics, it’s about being inclusive.

“When you come to school, I want you to have this as your safe place. So, that's why I bring those books out because I do have boys that like pink, I do have girls with curly hair, and I want them to read books and see themselves and be like, 'Oh, I’m normal, you know? I’m just like everyone else,'" said Sofia.

Sofia says she’s using her platform to show future educators and students that school can be a positive experience.

“My goal was to inspire people, so I’m not only inspiring my kids. Now, I’m inspiring kids all over the world to love school and I’m inspiring people all over the world to become teachers, which is what we need. We need a lot of teachers who love what they do,” Sofia said.

This story was originally published by Kelsey McFarland at KTNV.

Four people were injured, but not seriously, when the storefront of a grocery store in Vegas collapsed Friday morning.

According to the Associated Press, fire crews had to pull one victim from the debris around 6:20 a.m. local time at the La Bonita Supermarket.

Four people were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

La Bonita sent the following statement:

At this point, we don’t know the cause of the incident and are working with the proper authorities in charge of the investigation of the awning collapse that injured four people early Friday morning. The people injured were transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Our Desert Inn location will remain closed until further notice and/or cleared by the proper authorities.

All employees will be given the day off fully paid and offered any medical or emotional support services if needed. Once they are ready, they will be relocated to another location until we can reopen the Desert Inn store.

At this moment we can only thank God that this happened so early in the morning and not during busier hours. As we get more information, we will update everyone via social media and our website. We would like to thank all the first responders who arrived quickly and helped the injured.

– Armando Martinez
La Bonita Supermarkets General Manager

According to the AP, no one else was injured and there was little damage to the front of the store.

WATCH RECAP:

At this time, it is not known what happened or how much the damage will cost.

The AP reported that the store was built in 1979.

Other shops did not appear to be damaged and county officials took over the investigation to check for structural strength.

Joyce Lupiani at KTNV first reported this story.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — An emergency room nurse in Las Vegas is going above and beyond her call of duty.

Brooke Johns has been a nurse for two and a half years. She sees people at their worst— hospitalized, uncomfortable, and often too tired to take care of their own appearance.

Johns comes into Southern Hills Hospital on her days off to brush and braid the hair of any patient who wants it. She says her acts of kindness go far beyond vanity and believes the human connection can help heal.

"There's something therapeutic about the human touch, as well. Human talking, human touching, it's that connection that we're all hard-wired for," Johns said.

Johns started pampering her patients five months ago when a friend was in the hospital battling illness.

“Her hair was very snarled, she was too weak to brush it out herself and it was something she was very worried about. So, one of the times I was up there I was able to brush out her hair and braid it and just talk with her,” said Johns. “She was a different person when I left that room.”

Recently, she visited Sierra Stein during a surprise reunion. Johns previously cared for Stein in an emergency room and encouraged her to seek additional care.

“It's because of her that I was admitted to the hospital getting the care and treatment I need,” Stein said.

Stein says the care Johns provides brings her comfort during an uncertain time.

“COVID is going around and there’s a lot of isolation. You can’t have visitors or someone to come in with you or hold your hand and to have someone just to be able to braid your hair makes you feel like you’re at home again,” Stein added.

Other nurses are joining in on braiding patients' hair, proving kindness is contagious.

“Nurses, in general, get into this to help other people,” Johns said.

And Johns says she doesn’t want to stop here. Once visitation restrictions are lifted she plans to start visiting patients at Sunrise Children’s Hospital dressed up as Elsa from "Frozen."

This story was originally published by Kelsey McFarland at KTNV.

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas police have released a video of them rescuing three dogs from a hot car in a parking lot.

One of the three dogs had to be euthanized, police said,

Police are using the video to remind dog owners not to leave their dogs in a hot car.

WARNING: The video is graphic and disturbing. Watch at your own risk.

According to an arrest report received last week, 62-year-old Yean Sia was arrested at the same location on July 22 after three dogs were left in her vehicle while she shopped at Walmart.

Police booked her into the Clark County Detention Center on three counts of willful malicious torture of an animal.

The report says that a security officer named William Hanson called the police at about 9:30 a.m. July 22 after he was hailed down by a Redbull employee named Jason Brown who noticed the dogs inside the vehicle appeared to be in distress.

The security officer also observed that the dogs were panting excessively and their tongues were hanging out. This is what dogs do when they are attempting to cool themselves.

The police officers had to carry the pugs to their car because the dogs could not stand.

The pugs, named Zachary (age 13) and Howie (age 10), were taken to an animal hospital.

At the hospital, Zachary began having seizures as a result of heatstroke and was euthanized.

A German shepherd named Donna (age 4) did not need medical intervention.

The animal hospital credited the quick actions of all those involved with rescuing the dogs before they all became victims of the heat.

Police say it was 96 degrees at the time of the incident.

Joyce Lupiani at KTNV first reported this story.

LAS VEGAS — Many people are wondering if you have already had COVID-19 should you get the vaccine? And if so, when?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they recommend anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus to wait 90 days after testing positive before getting vaccinated.

The CDC also recommends COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the virus and received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment wait 90 days before vaccination.

"Currently, there are no data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in persons who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment. Based on the estimated half-life of such therapies and evidence suggesting that reinfection is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection, vaccination should be deferred for at least 90 days, as a precautionary measure until additional information becomes available, to avoid potential interference of the antibody therapy with vaccine-induced immune responses," the CDC's website says.

Southern Nevada Health District agrees with the CDC guidelines and a spokesperson for SNHD told 13 Action News, "The 90-day timeframe is based on the CDC guidance for people who have had COVID-19 and recovered. We do follow CDC guidelines."

And while Nevada doesn't have a system in place to flag people who have tested positive before making an appointment, they are hopeful people will heed the guidance.

Read the full CDC vaccine guidance click here.

This story was first published by KTNV.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Despite being in the midst of the longest sustained drought we've ever seen, and on the verge of a federally declared water shortage, every day in Las Vegas water is used for play.

The valley is home to not one but two waterparks. Cowabunga Bay and Wet'n'Wild provide relief from the sweltering heat for hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists every summer.

And it's not just mega-slides and lazy rivers where we get our water fix. Water plays a recreational role on the Las Vegas Strip, too. Many casinos have multiple pools or fountains, perhaps the most obvious and grandiose example being at the Bellagio.

So, are we being flippant and wasteful? Isn't Lake Mead's water level at its lowest point since the dam was created in the 1930s? The answer to the latter is yes, but the first question is not what it seems on the surface.

LAS VEGAS' BIG ADVANTAGE

Las Vegas has a luxury that so many other cities do not: we are close to our water source.

Being physically close to Lake Mead -- one of the Colorado River's primary water storage reservoirs and our largest source of water locally by far -- allows us to recycle much of our water back into the lake after it's used.

DROUGHT CRISIS | More stories about drought's impact in Las Vegas area, nationally

The Southern Nevada Water Authority says 40% of the region's water is used indoors, and all of that indoor-use water is captured, treated and returned.

Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and the Clark County Water Reclamation District each operate wastewater treatment facilities to assist with this.

WHAT ABOUT WATERPARKS, POOLS, FOUNTAINS?

Outdoor water use is a different story.

60% of the water delivered by the water authority cannot be recycled, and that water is primarily used for landscape irrigation and cooling. But companies can, and do, reuse the water that fills their pools and fountains.

"It keeps our costs down because the more freshwater we have to put in, the more it costs us in chemicals,” explained Chris Norman, who is in charge of maintenance at Cowabunga Bay in Henderson.

“The more water we can retain and balance properly for our guests, it helps everybody out in the long run," he added.

Norman says the pool water at Cowabunga Bay is filtering 24 hours a day and the park hangs on to all of that water, with the exception of backwash cycles.

"You might say we retain as much as we can,” he said.

The park also saves irrigation for the overnight hours when the sun can't evaporate the water before the plants can absorb it.

“We use a lot of drip pipes so the water is going directly to the plants that need it and not the dirt,” added Norman.

13 Action News asked the park how much water is used during a typical summer month and annually, and it said it didn't have that information immediately available. Check back for updates.

In the meantime, authorities with the SNWA have made it pretty clear that water usage on the Las Vegas Strip and at waterparks is not nearly a threat to conservation efforts as something much more common and yet much less obvious.

THE WATER-WASTER HIDING IN PLAIN VIEW

If proximity to Lake Mead is our secret weapon, grass is our kryptonite.

Specifically, non-functional grass. The kind of grass you might see while driving on the highway, used for decorative purposes and only ever touched by the person who mows it and keeps it looking pristine.

Bronson Mack, a spokesperson with the water authority, told 13 Action News earlier this year that there are about 5,000 acres of non-functional turf in Southern Nevada. He says that turf absorbs about 12 billion gallons of water every year.

But, not forever. It's also the kind of grass that was recently banned for decorative use at office parks, entrances to housing developments and street medians.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed legislation back in June making Nevada the first state in the country to ban certain kinds of grass.

The law will take effect in 2027 and does not apply to homes or parks.

STAYING DILIGENT ABOUT CONSERVATION

In the water authority's 2020 Water Resource Plan, the highest reported use for water was for residential purposes.

Southern Nevada Water Authority

Officials say water conservation is vital for Las Vegas' future, but conserving water doesn't have to mean shutting down waterparks.

The message, rather, is that water recreation is part of the reason why we conserve.

When Las Vegas is in triple-digit heat on a summer day, let's say on a day when it's 117°outside, jumping cannon ball-style into a swimming pool can make the heat a bit more bearable.

And then covering that swimming pool when it's no longer in use can save water from evaporating and becoming part of the 60% of water lost, helping to stretch out our resources for the next record-hot day.

This story originally reported by Amy Abdelsayed on KTNV.com.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The woman accused of attacking an Uber driver in a video that went viral this week was arrested in Las Vegas for trying to steal money at a bank by using a fake ID, according to police.

It was after she was detained for the scheme, days later, that police re-booked her for an outstanding warrant from San Francisco where the Uber attack took place.

An arrest report for Malaysia King claims on Tuesday, King and a man named David Lewis allegedly tried to transfer funds from a bank account at a Bank of America in Las Vegas using a Virginia ID card belonging to someone named "John." They also had a SunTrust payment card with the same name.

A bank employee recognized Lewis from an internal "be on the lookout" memo generated earlier, the report says. He allegedly tried to pull a similar scam at a different location.

Police say both cards were fraudulent.

The Virginia ID was missing "key security features, holograms and the printing was clearly done on a small, non-industrial printer," the report says. It went on to say that the SunTrust card was "noticeably forged" and missing the signature security feature for MasterCard issued cards.

Lewis told investigators he was given the cards and told to transfer the account of "John" to King, and that if he succeeded he would be paid $1,000.

According to the report, Lewis also told police he was coached by King with what to say to the bank employee for the transaction.

When King was interviewed by police she at first told them she had no idea what was going on, the report says. She said she knew Lewis personally and that she was just trying to help him with a transaction that he asked for.

Later, according to the report, King said she was picked up by an unknown person and told to help Lewis with the transaction.

Neither of them knew the man whose name was on the card or had his permission to transfer money, police say.

Bank of America told police they contacted "John" and alerted him to the incident. He said he was missing several hundred thousand dollars, which matched the other victim Lewis is said to have tried to scam earlier in the day.

They both were charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Lewis also faced an additional charge for having the cards.

On Thursday, King was re-booked for the warrant in San Francisco and she's currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center.

King is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning.

This article was written by Amy Abdelsayed for KTNV.

LAS VEGAS — A 58-year-old man was arrested for a hate crime after allegedly smeared raw bacon on a Muslim family’s home in the Las Vegas valley.

Ricky Uwich is facing charges of harassment, stalking, and being a nuisance, all based on a person’s perceived race, color, religion, or national origin.

On June 21, a Las Vegas police officer responded to a call from Uwich’s residence.

Uwich told the responding officer that a neighboring family was “constantly” bothering him, and he did not like them because they are Muslim. He also accused the family of being terrorists.

The officer then contacted the family, who explained that the issues with Uwich began in January and had only gotten worse despite attempts to make peace with Uwich, including cooking his meals. They showed the police officer multiple text messages from Uwich where he accused them of breaking a chandelier in his home despite having never been inside and of molesting a juvenile who lives with Uwich.

The family also showed the officer a video of Uwich smearing their door, doorknob, handrails, and wall with uncooked bacon two days earlier. Muslims do not eat pork because it is considered unclean.

RAW: Man wipes bacon on Muslim family's home

Additionally, they provided photos of Uwich placing the bacon on their car and video from their Ring doorbell camera video of Uwich shouting profanities and making threats.

One of the family members was visibly upset when talking to the police and stated that the bacon incident made her feel disgusting and dirty. The family member also expressed fear that Uwich would become more violent.

When confronted, Uwich admitted smearing the bacon and said he did so because he does not like Muslims because he believes they perpetrated the 9/11 attacks.

The arrest report did not identify the family, and the location of the incident was redacted in the report.

Joyce Lupiani at KTNV first reported this story.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A defensive end with the Las Vegas Raiders is the first active NFL player to announce that he is gay.

28-year-old Carl Nassib made the announcement on Instagram on Monday.

In his video, Nassib says, “I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but finally feel comfortable getting it off my chest. I really have the best life, the best family, friends and job a guy can ask for.”

Nassib, who was the third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and is headed into his sixth pro season, also said that he is a pretty private person and he is not doing it for attention. He said representation is important.

Additionally, Nassib said that he is going to do his best to cultivate a culture that’s accepting and compassionate and he is going to start by donating $100,000 to The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project was founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award-winning short film “Trevor.”

The Trevor Project is a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people under the age of 25.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada's largest private employer, MGM Resorts International, has announced sweeping new options for guests and conventions at its properties as well as unveiling a new on-site vaccine clinic for employees and their families inside Mandalay Bay.

The company says employees can go while they are on the clock to get a shot.

"It's been really incredible to see our employees come in," said Ashley Eddy with MGM Resorts International.

Next Tuesday, MGM will open the vaccine offer for their property entertainers as well as employees at venues located within MGM hotel and casinos.

"I think the biggest needle movers is getting those big citywide, those big conferences and conventions back," said John Flynn, vice president of administration for MGM Resorts International.

"Getting a lot of people back in our theaters and a lot of people back in T-Mobile Arena at Golden Knights games, that's the target, we just have to keep doing things in the right direction," added Flynn.

The company is also trying to jump start the convention business and announced multiple partnerships to help facilitate testing and screening of participants of larger events.

"It's all about perception and removing barriers whether it's talking about conventioneers or just the average leisure visitor," said Anthony Curtis of LasVegasAdvisor.com

Curtis calls the announcements "significant" and positions Las Vegas and specifically MGM Resorts International as a leader in safety for the return of large conventions.

MGM also announced guests can request in-room COVID testing with costs between $140 and $230 dollars.

This article was written by Joe Bartels for KTNV.

CARSON CITY — During Wednesday’s public federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services says it learned that a Nevadan was one of the six reported serious reactions to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The state of Nevada was not informed of the reported reaction until the live, public meeting on Wednesday, according to the Nevada Health Response team. At that time, it was reported that the person in Nevada is an 18-year-old woman who reported a blood clot and a hemorrhage without an immediate word of recovery.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while six serious reactions were investigated.

Also on Tuesday, the state of Nevada paused the use of the vaccine.

"Right now, the risk of death from the disease is very high. The risk of the vaccinations very, very low," said Dr. Brian Labus, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "We don't want to say that you shouldn't be concerned at all about it, of course; that's why we're looking into things, but we're talking about something that is a very rare event if it is indeed related to the vaccine.“

Following Wednesday’s ACIP announcement, the Nevada Health Response team says DHHS immediately reached out to federal partners for more information and to understand why the report was not provided to the state.

"Whether the case was identified in Nevada or California or Arizona, that still matters to everybody, not just Nevadans," Labus said. "We need to look at what happened nationwide. And is not like Nevada has a role in investigating that one case, this is something that needs to be investigated through the FDA the manufacture to make sure that the vaccine is safe to everyone nationwide."

As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered in the United States.

Anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last month and develops a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.

Health care providers are required to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System here.

This story was originally published by Jordan Gartner on KTNV in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Caesars Entertainment says it is closing down some smaller entertainment venues in Las Vegas and some shows, including Chippendales Theater at Rio hotel-casino and ending the show's longtime run.

A company spokesperson tells KTNV the decision was not easy and acknowledges the long history some of the shows have in the city and with the company.

Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace hotel-casino on the Strip is also closing down and will no longer host entertainment. Caesars says it is in talks with Wayne Newton to find another location for his show at one of its Strip properties. Dionne Warwick will focus on touring, so her residency will also not return.

The Anthony Cools Experience showroom at Paris hotel-casino is closing and the shows the "Anthony Cools Experience," "Friends! The Musical Parody" and "Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man" will not return.

Sin City Theater at Planet Hollywood hotel-casino is closing and the shows "Tenors of Rock" and "Crazy Girls" will not return.

Also shutting down is Back Room at Bally’s hotel-casino and "X Rocks," Final Fight Championship at Rio hotel-casino, the "Bronx Wanderers" and "John Caparulo’s Mad Cap Comedy" at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

As for Caesar's shows that are set to return, "Criss Angel Mindfreak" restarts at Planet Hollywood on July 7, "Usher – The Las Vegas Residency" opens at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 16, "RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!" restarts at Flamingo on Aug. 5, "Morrissey: Viva Moz Vegas" will take place at the Colosseum from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, Donny Osmond opens his residency at Harrah’s on Aug. 31, Judas Priest performs at Zappos Theater on Oct. 8 and "Sting: My Songs" opens at the Colosseum on Oct. 29.

More information about upcoming shows can be found on Caesars.com.

This story originally reported by Amy Abdelsayed on KTNV.com.