LAS VEGAS — Authorities in Nevada have arrested a man who allegedly left a 3-month-old Husky puppy with his mouth taped shut inside a hot car while he gambled inside a Las Vegas casino.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, officers received a call around 3 p.m. on July 20 from security at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino after they found the dog in a locked vehicle on the top of the hotel's parking garage.

Police said the high temperature that day was 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the department, security got the dog out through the car's sunroof.

"Through our investigation, we discovered the dog had been in the car for nearly 2 hours without air conditioning, food, or water while the vehicle's owner went inside to gamble," police said on its Twitter account.

Security got the dog out of the car through the vehicle's sunroof.
Through our investigation, we discovered the dog had been in the car for nearly 2 hours without air conditioning, food, or water while the vehicle's owner went inside to gamble.

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) July 28, 2022

Police said 50-year-old Raul Carbaja was arrested for willful and malicious torture of an animal.

On Thursday, the department said that the puppy is still with animal control and receiving medical treatment.

NEW: We just got an update and the 3-month-old Husky puppy is still with animal control and receiving medical treatment for this July 20 incident. https://t.co/T7PP0p7Kmd pic.twitter.com/IZzoTK1t4g

— LVMPD (@LVMPD) July 28, 2022

"Do not leave people or animals in hot cars. Period," police said.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas investigative reporter was stabbed to death outside his home and police are looking for a suspect, authorities said.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers found journalist Jeff German, 69, dead with stab wounds around 10:30 a.m. Saturday after authorities received a 911 call, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

German died of “multiple sharp force injuries” in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner said Sunday.

It appears German was in an altercation with another person that led to the stabbing, which is believed to be an isolated incident, police said.

“We believe the altercation took place outside of the home,” Capt. Dori Koren, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, said at a news conference. “We do have some leads. We are pursuing a suspect but the suspect is outstanding.”

Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, said German had not communicated any concerns about his personal safety or any threats made against him to anyone in the newspaper’s leadership.

“The Review-Journal family is devastated to lose Jeff,” Cook said in a statement. “He was the gold standard of the news business. It’s hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places.”

German joined the Review-Journal in 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered courts, politics, labor, government and organized crime.

He was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that killed 60 people and wounded more than 400 others.

According to the Review-Journal, German held a master’s degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book “Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,” the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Americans generate a lot of waste — about five pounds per person per day — and a lot of it is plastic. Those flimsy grocery bags, shrink-wrap packaging and of course, bottles — lots and lots of bottles.  

Every year, we toss out 2.5 million plastic bottles.  

"They are highly recyclable and it's imperative they end up in your recycling bin," Republic Services External Communications Manager Jeremy Walters said.

Together, we create 400 million tons of plastic waste a year. Only 2 million tons of that gets recycled. We used to do better but during the pandemic, our recycling rate dropped because we started making more garbage.  

"It's how much trash is generated versus how much recycling is generated. And when that trash starts to go up, the recycling volumes start to dilute," Walters continued. 

Las Vegas is a city known for excess— huge hotels and big casinos. It also has the largest residential recycling plant in the country.  

Republic Services recycles 2 million pounds every day, which is the equivalent weight of 500 cars. Workers at the massive plant sort the mixed recyclables, plastics, aluminum, glass and paper and remove the wish-cycle items, which are things we wish we could recycle but can't. 

"Bowling balls, shoes, engine blocks, steel security doors—I promise you, if you use your imagination, we've seen it here," Walters said.

Paper is easily the most recycled item — 50 million tons of it per year, and we also break down and recycle almost all of our cardboard boxes. More than 90% of those boxes get recycled.

There is plenty that doesn't get recycled, though. Approximately 110 million glass bottles get thrown away every year. Glass can be recycled indefinitely—same with aluminum— but we still don't recycle about seven million tons a year. And then there are all those plastic bottles.

All the trash that we create, which does not go through recycling plants, ends up in landfills.  

Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here.    

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.

CLARK COUNTY, Nev. —

An attacker with a large kitchen knife killed two people and wounded six others in stabbings along the Las Vegas Strip before being arrested Thursday, police said.

Three people were hospitalized in critical condition and another three were in stable condition, according to Las Vegas police who said they began receiving 911 calls about the stabbings around 11:40 a.m. on the north end of the Strip.

Authorities said the suspect identified himself to police and they are working to determine his “true identity.” They described him as Hispanic and in his 30s, and said he does not appear to be a Las Vegas resident.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said the names of the two people killed were being withheld until their relatives can be notified.

“Locals and tourists are the victims of this crime,” Lombardo said at a news conference.

Metro Police Deputy Chief James LaRochelle said the initial stabbing was unprovoked and on the eastern sidewalk of Las Vegas Boulevard. He said the suspect then headed south and stabbed others.

Video below: Police provide update on Las Vegas stabbings

The man fled and was followed by 911 callers before he was taken into custody, authorities said. Police recovered the “large knife with a long blade” believed to have been used, LaRochelle said, calling the case a “hard-to-comprehend murder investigation.”

Lombardo said there were no other suspects in the case and “the Strip is secure.”

Police said it was too early in their investigation to speculate on a possible motive for the stabbings.

Witnesses told Las Vegas TV stations that some of the victims appeared to be showgirls or street performers who take pictures with tourists on the Strip.

The suspect told a woman that he was a chef who wanted to take a picture with some of the showgirls with his knife, but he started stabbing people when the group declined the man's offer, the woman told KTNV.

Pierre Fandrich, a tourist from Canada, told KTNV that he did not see the stabbing suspect as he was walking along the Strip. But he said he thought he heard “three or four showgirls laughing,” although it turned out to be screaming.

Fandrich said he saw “a lot of blood” as one woman ran across the bridge, one was on the ground, and another had a stab wound on her back as she tried to help the fallen woman.

Fandrich also told KTNV that he thought one of the victims fell from the bridge because there was so much blood on the ground.

This story will be updated. Refresh this page for the latest.

LAS VEGAS —

The Golden Knights delivered their city a true Vegas-style party from dazzling passes to Mark Stone's hat trick to all-out goal celebrations, capturing the young organization's first Stanley Cup with a 9-3 romp over the beaten-up and exhausted Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.

Coach Bruce Cassidy, in a nod to the Knights' brief history, started five of the original Vegas players known as the Misfits and put the sixth on the second shift. Cassidy sounded confident the day before the game that his team would play well, and it certainly did, blowing open a one-goal game in the second period to lead 6-1. The nine goals tied the record for the most in a Cup Final.

“Vegas, you certainly know how to throw a party," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the crowd. "What’s going on inside this arena and outside is incredible and a testament to what a great hockey market this is.

“What has happened here has been simply incredible. Not only is Vegas a hockey town, it’s a championship town.”

Vegas closed out the series in five games to win the cup before a delirious franchise-record crowd of 19,058 at T-Mobile Arena that drowned out the pregame introductions of forward Jonathan Marchessault and goalie Adin Hill and cheered all the way through the final buzzer.

Marchessault, who ended the postseason with a 10-game points streak, received the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team, our organization," Marchessault said. "Everybody stepped up at different times and that’s why we’re winners.”

Stone's hat trick — with the third into an empty net with 5:54 left — was the first in a Stanley Cup Final since Colorado's Peter Forsberg in 1996, also against the Panthers.

The Knights got the rest of their scoring from Nic Hague, Alec Martinez, Reilly Smith, Michael Amadio, Ivan Barbashev and Nicolas Roy. Martinez's goal in the second period came nine years to the day after he delivered the double-overtime goal in Game 5 to give the Los Angeles Kings' the cup.

Hill came through with another strong performance that has quickly made him a Knights fan favorite, even earning “MVP! MVP!” chants in the third period. Jack Eichel, the eight-year pro playing in his first postseason, had three assists.

“This is what everyone dreams of," Eichel said. "You come to an organization like this and the expectation is to win this thing. It’s a special place to play. I can’t give everyone enough credit for putting us in this position.

“They call ’em the misfits, those are the guys, they built this. They built this culture. So proud to be a part of it.”

As captain, Stone was the first to lift the cup before handing it over to the six Misfits to each get their turn skating with the trophy before handing it down the line to the rest of the team.

“Unbelievable,” Stone said. “The look in my teammates eyes when I got it, one of the craziest feelings I’ve ever had. I can’t even describe the feelings in my stomach right now. It’s everything you can imagine. The grind of an 82-game season, four playoff rounds. You grind and you grind and you grind.”

Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky was overwhelmed in another tough performance against Vegas after carrying Florida to the final. Missing from the lineup was Matthew Tkachuk, the king of game-winning shots during the playoffs but never the same after crushing blow to his shoulder by Vegas' Keegan Kolesar in Game 3.

The Knights have set the standard of what an expansion franchise should look like, making the Cup Final in their first season and the playoffs in every year but one. Six players remain from the initial 2017-18 team that lost in five games to the Washington Capitals in the final.

Those players watched the Capitals skate with the Stanley Cup that night, and then they got the chance to do the same Tuesday to fulfill owner Bill Foley’s quest to win the championship in the sixth year.

“We waited a long time for that moment to come back.” Marchessault said. “We wanted to make sure we cash in this time."

By creating such a lofty standard at the outset, the Knights played with high expectations, but repeatedly fell short despite four runs to at least the NHL semifinals – until Game 5 against the Panthers.

This is Las Vegas’ second pro title in nine months – the Aces claimed the WNBA championship in September – and continues the stunning growth of a sports market that was limited largely to prize fights, UNLV athletics, NASCAR and lots of golf before the Golden Knights took the city by storm. The Raiders began playing here in 2020, the Oakland Athletics appear headed to the desert, Las Vegas will host a Formula One race this year and the Super Bowl will be at Allegiant Stadium in February.

As for the Knights, their connection to Las Vegas was sealed ever since the shooting Oct. 1, 2017 that took 60 lives. They played an integral role in helping the city heal, reaching out to the community off the ice and winning big on it.

Beating Florida justified the many moves Knights management made to remake the roster over the years. Stone, Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo are the most notable players Vegas has acquired to get to this moment.

And Cassidy, hired a week after getting fired by the Boston Bruins last year, proved to be the coach to get them there.

“He came in, brought an intensity to our locker room that maybe we needed,” Stone said. “He wanted to win as badly as anybody else in that locker room.”

Cassidy seemingly pushing all the right buttons in helping Vegas become the Western Conference’s top seed and then the NHL’s champion.

“It’s a great story — very, very grateful to get another opportunity," Cassidy said. "I’m just here to do my job and it worked out well.”

The Knights also won with an unlikely goalie in Hill, who was injured when the playoffs began. Laurent Brossoit was the starter until going out with an injury in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers, and then Hill got his chance.

“You dream about it every day growing up as a child.” Hill said. “To be here with this group of guys, in this city, in this building, is a dream come true.”

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.

LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas police report 14 people were shot inside a hookah lounge overnight and that one person has died and two others are in critical condition.

Officers responded to the shooting around 3:15 a.m. The shooter or shooters left before officers arrived, police say.

The identity of the deceased will be released by the coroner's office.

Authorities call this an isolated incident and say there is no threat to the public at this time, though they are looking for the suspects.

Anyone with information can contact Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's homicide investigators at 702-828-3521 or by emailing Homicide@lvmpd.com.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or submit a tip online at crimestoppersofnv.com.
Watch the full police update below:

********************
This story was first reported by KTNV in Las Vegas.

Justin Bieber has a mild case of COVID-19, a representative for Bieber told CNN.Bieber was scheduled to perform as part of his "Justice World Tour" in Las Vegas on Sunday, but the show has been postponed due to COVID-19."Due to positive COVID results within the Justice Tour family, we will unfortunately have to postpone Sunday's show in Las Vegas. Justin is of course hugely disappointed, but the health and safety of his crew and fans is always his number one priority. The tour launch in San Diego was a massive success, and Justin is excited to bring this spectacular show to his Las Vegas fans as soon as possible," the statement from T-Mobile Arena stated.Bieber's tour began earlier this week. The Las Vegas concert has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 28, according to the arena's website.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas highlights some of the year's innovations in technology, showcasing robots that have been developed to handle everyday tasks.

One robot that's already emerged in the South Korean market follows you around, hauling your luggage and even taking it to your room, and it doesn't even expect a tip.

All it needs is the guidance of a human being.

Bellhops may not be too impressed, and restaurant bussers may want to throw water at another new robot that wants to do their job for them.

That robot can navigate around restaurants, collecting plates, glasses, and other dirty dishes.

The model goes for around $18,000 and is already being put to use in restaurants in China. 

Another robotics company hopes you'll be so fed up with shoveling snow that you'd shell out $3,000 to $4,000 for the Snowbot — the world's first smart snow-clearing robot.

You use beacons to set a perimeter and let the snowblower do its thing. Eighty of them are being beta tested this winter.

A South Korean company has also created a prototype of a robot designed to autonomously move through a parking garage and charge electric vehicles.

However, this is the first prototype, so the company doesn't have a timeframe for when you might see one of them at a garage near you.

All of these are examples of how the next generation of robots — empowered by artificial intelligence — are offering potential solutions for tasks more consequential than fixing us a cup of coffee.

Jason Bellini at Newsy first reported this story.

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.

Musician Carlos Santana revealed he had to undergo an unscheduled heart procedure.

In a video posted on Twitter, the 74-year-old said he went to the hospital Saturday after noticing something happening in his chest.

The tweet says he is recovering but will need to cancel his December shows.

"I’m going to be taking time off for a little bit to make sure I replenish and I rest and catch up with my health so that when I play for you, I will play the way I’m used to and give you 150%," Santana said.

Santana was scheduled to perform at the House of Blues Las Vegas in December. People who were planning to attend the event will receive an email with their refund options, the House of Blues Las Vegas said.

Santana plans on returning to the venue in January 2022.

LOS ANGELES —

Carlos Santana has successfully undergone a heart procedure and is canceling several Las Vegas shows planned for December.

In a video message released Wednesday, Santana said he asked his wife to take him to the hospital on Saturday because of an issue with his chest.

"I'm going to be taking time off for a little bit to make sure that I replenish and rest," Santana said.

Michael Vrionis, president of Universal Tone Management, said the 74-year-old guitarist underwent an "unscheduled heart procedure," but gave no specifics.

The 10-time Grammy winner's heart procedure and recovery prompted the cancellation of his concerts at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino through the end of the year. He's set to resume performances in January, his management said.

"Carlos is doing fantastic and is anxious to be back on stage soon," Vrionis said in a statement. "He profoundly regrets that this 'speed bump' necessitated the cancellation of his upcoming performances."

Earlier this year, Santana released the album "Blessings and Miracles," which includes collaborations with Rob Thomas, Chris Stapleton and more.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) student died following a fraternity's amateur "fight night" event and now his loved ones are seeking answers.

Attorneys shared a statement on behalf of Nathan Valencia's family on Friday, saying they are heartbroken and asking for privacy as they grieve.

"We will leave no stone unturned to determine how a 20-year-old ended up in a school-sanctioned amateur fight that cost him his life," the statement reads in part.

Those close to Valencia say he was an active member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at UNLV.

The attorneys say "'Kappa Sigma Fight Night' is an event that has been held annually and was well known to both UNLV and the national Kappa Sigma Fraternity."

The Kappa Sigma fraternity at UNLV hosted a "fight night" on Nov. 19 at Sahara Events Center, with a press conference and weigh-in the day before, on Nov. 18, at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom.

A flyer for the event lists "Emmanuel Aleman vs. Nathan Valencia" as the main event.

Valencia's girlfriend tells KTNV he collapsed five minutes or so after the fight ended. Then, on Nov. 23, he died.

“Once I walked in there, I just had like a really weird feeling. I remember in one of the fights, someone’s headgear fell off and then during Nathan’s fight, you could see that he was just trying to get away to catch a breath," said Lacey Foster, Valencia's girlfriend.

The family's full statement, via attorneys with Richard Harris Law Firm, reads:

“The Valencia family is heartbroken over the loss of Nathan. Our preliminary investigation reveals mistakes were made and safety precautions overlooked. We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place. College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other for combat. “Kappa Sigma Fight Night” is an event that has been held annually and was well known to both UNLV and the national Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

We will leave no stone unturned to determine how a 20-year-old ended up in a school-sanctioned amateur fight that cost him his life.

The family has asked for privacy during this time to grieve.”

UNLV's president sent the following message out to the entire campus via email:

"Dear Campus,

It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness I share that a member of the UNLV family is no longer with us.

Nathan Tyler Valencia has passed away following a tragic incident a week ago. Nathan was a junior at UNLV and had participated in Kappa Sigma Fraternity’s “Fight Night,” an off-campus event intended to raise money. Soon after his fight, Nathan collapsed and was taken to a hospital. We are shocked and heartbroken as we mourn the loss of one of our own. Coping with the loss of life is always difficult, especially under these circumstances. UNLV is committing all available resources to review the incident and determine how off-campus events like these can be as safe as possible.

Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and loved ones. I am sure words cannot describe their feeling of grief and emptiness. They are in our thoughts during this very difficult time. The Rebel community shares their loss.

Warmest regards,
Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.
President"

A GoFundMe page has been set up seeking donations for his family.

This story was originally published by staff at KTNV.

Kimi Cole announced she is running for lieutenant governor in Nevada.

If elected, she would become the first transgender person to win statewide office in the United States.

While Cole understands that would be a historic achievement, she said she doesn't want her identity to be a focal point of her campaign.

“I don’t want to make a big issue about my background as such,” Cole said in an interview with The Associated Press, noting the barrier-breaking potential of her candidacy. “We have really pressing issues in this country. To be able to assess them, address them and take care of them is going to take a lot of conscientious effort.”

Nevada does not currently have a lieutenant governor. Democrat Kate Marshall resigned after accepting a position in the Biden administration.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has not appointed a successor.

Three Republicans, Dan Schwartz, Mack Miller and Stavros Anthony are also running for lieutenant governor.

Henderson Mayor Debra March is the other Democrat in the race.

LAS VEGAS – The Buffet at Wynn will reopen June 18, making it the first buffet on the Strip to announce a reopen date since the statewide shutdown.

Wynn Las Vegas says The Buffet will reopen with a health and cleanliness program that includes physical distancing, touchless technologies and both disposable single-use and QR code downloadable menus.

Reservations are required and visitors will pay at the end of their meal in an effort to expedite entry.

Guests can make reservations or be added to the waitlist with a QR code that will be displayed at the entrance of The Buffet.

Reservations can also be made online by visiting WynnLasVegas.com.

The Buffet is open Sunday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday – Thursday from 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Weekday brunch is priced at $36.99 and dinner is priced at $59.99, weekend brunch is priced at $48.99 and weekend dinner is priced at $65.99.

This story was originally published by staff at KTNV.

Scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), led by its Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (NSPHL) are studying a likely case of COVID-19 reinfection.

Forty-eight days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020 and after testing negative consecutively twice, a Washoe County, Nevada patient tested positive again, in June.

The patient had tested negative on two separate occasions in the interim. The genomes of the patient’s virus samples were sequenced in April and June, displaying significant genetic discordance between the two cases, implying the patient was infected twice.

“We examined the genomic material of the viruses and samples to investigate this, says NSPHL Director Mark Pandori. “It is just one finding, but it shows that a person can possibly become infected with SARS-CoV-2 a second time.”

To solidify confidence in the case, Pandori and the research team partnered with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Biology Unit to conduct identity testing on the specimens and lab samples evaluated in the study to verify the specimens were from the same person.

Embedded in the genomic material of SARS-CoV-2 is a detailed code that Pandori says may provide insight to a
better understanding of this virus.

“A virus has a biological genome like all living things. Since March, the NSPHL has analyzed the genomic RNA of approximately 200 positive COVID-19 samples from Nevadans who have tested positive for COVID-19,” said Pandori. “The power of genomic information could turn the tables in the fight against the coronavirus.” The information is shared to a world-wide database known as “GISAID”,” alongside the work of thousands of researchers.

According to Pandori and the NSPHL-led research team, reinfection cases are a potential warning sign that it is possible to catch COVID-19 more than once, and with unpredictable severity.

“If reinfection is possible on such a short timeline, there may be implications for the efficacy of vaccines developed to fight the disease. It may also have implications for herd immunity,” says Pandori. “It is important to note, that this is a singular finding. It does not provide any information to us with regard to the generalizability of this phenomenon.”

Herd immunity depends on the theory that after natural infection, our immune systems will collectively protect us as a community from reinfection and further spread. There are currently many more unknowns than knowns about immune responses to COVID-19. “After one recover from COVID-19, we still do not know how much immunity is built up, how long it may last, or how well antibodies play a role in protection against reinfection,” says Pandori.”

While research and scientific advancements continue to build, Pandori says the hard work of fighting this pandemic together will continue through the use of facial coverings, hand-washing, social distancing, as well as wide-scale testing, contact tracing, and isolation of new cases.

“This is a novel disease. We still have a steep learning curve ahead and lots of work to do, especially as inconvenient truths arise,” says Pandori.

The NSPHL team are publishing their COVID-19 reinfection findings. Their report is publicly accessible on the SSRN preprint server, at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3681489.

This story was first reported by KTNV in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jon Gruden has resigned as coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after emails he sent before being hired in 2018 contained racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments.

Gruden released a statement Monday night, saying: "I have resigned as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. I love the Raiders and do not want to be a distraction. Thank you to all the players, coaches, staff, and fans of Raider Nation. I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt anyone."

He stepped down after The New York Times reported that Gruden frequently used misogynistic and homophobic language directed at Commissioner Roger Goodell and others in the NFL.

The NFL Network first reported the development.

It was a rapid downfall for Gruden, who is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018. It started on Friday when the Wall Street Journal reported that Gruden used a racist term to describe NFL union chief DeMaurice Smith in a 2011 email to former Washington executive Bruce Allen.

The emails were discovered in a workplace misconduct investigation into the Washington Football Team but ended up costing Gruden his job when they also showed Gruden denounced the drafting of a gay player and the tolerance of players protesting during the playing of the national anthem among other issues.

Gruden apologized for his "insensitive remarks" about Smith, saying they were made out of frustration over the 2011 lockout. But the latest emails sent from between 2011-18 when Gruden was an analyst for ESPN show his use of derogatory language went well beyond that.

A league source confirms the accuracy of the emails and said they were sent to the Raiders last week. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn't made the emails public.

Raiders owner Mark Davis said last week that the email about Smith was "disturbing and not what the Raiders stand for" and said the team was reviewing the additional emails.

The Times reported that Gruden used a gay slur to insult Goodell and said he was "clueless" and "anti-football." He also said Goodell shouldn't have pressured the Rams to draft "queers," a reference to Michael Sam, who was the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team.

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib came out as gay in June and is the first openly gay player to appear in an NFL game.

In a 2017 email, the Times said Gruden responded to a sexist meme of a female official by saying: "Nice job roger."

The paper also said Gruden criticized Goodell and the NFL league for trying to reduce concussions, and said that Eric Reid, a player who had demonstrated during the playing of the national anthem, should be fired.

The newspaper said Gruden also mocked an article in 2017 about players calling on Goodell to support their efforts promoting racial equality and criminal justice reform.

"He needs to hide in his concussion protocol tent," Gruden wrote.

Gruden and Allen have a long relationship, having worked together in Oakland and Tampa Bay. The emails between the two and other men included photos of women wearing only bikini bottoms, including one photo of two Washington team cheerleaders.

Gruden also criticized President Barack Obama during his re-election campaign in 2012, and then-vice president Joe Biden.

Smith said earlier Monday that he appreciates that Gruden reached out to him following the initial report, but that the email is evidence that the fight against racism is ongoing.

"But make no mistake, the news is not about what is said in our private conversation, but what else is said by people who never thought they would be exposed and how they are going to be held to account," Smith wrote in a Twitter thread.

Gruden's comments to Allen about Smith came during the 2011 lockout of the players by the NFL. Gruden told the Wall Street Journal he was angry about the lockout during labor negotiations and he didn't trust the direction the union was taking.

Davis had been trying to hire Gruden almost since he took charge following the death of his father, Al, in 2011. He finally got his prize in 2018 when Gruden agreed to leave ESPN and return to the sideline with a 10-year contract. Gruden had revived the Raiders in is first stint in 1998-2001 and then beat them in the Super Bowl the following season after he was traded to Tampa Bay for a boatload of draft picks.

Gruden has a 117-112 career record but hasn't won a playoff game since the Super Bowl victory over the Raiders in the 2002 season.

His second tenure with the team started with a pep rally introductory news conference but provided few reasons for celebration as Gruden had a 22-31 record, failing to reach a winning record or make the playoffs.

He traded away stars Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper in his first season to start a rebuild, which has showed only minor progress. After the Raiders went 4-12 in his first season, Gruden tried to make a push in 2019 in the team's final season in Oakland by spending heavily in free agency and trading for star receiver Antonio Brown. But Brown was cut before the season after a series of run-ins with management, and the Raiders went 7-9.

They improved to 8-8 last season and got off to a promising 3-0 start this year before losing the past two games.

There is no immediate word on who will take over as interim coach. The Raiders have three former NFL head coaches on staff: defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, and offensive line coach Tom Cable, who was the team's head coach from 2008-2010, going 17-27. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is the assistant head coach.

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AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner contributed to this report.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A Las Vegas boy and his new puppy have something special in common. They were each born with a small ear.

Nemo, the pup, was named after Disney and Pixar's “Finding Nemo.” The young clownfish in the film is a little different, and so is the adorable pup.

While Nemo, the fish, had a lucky fin, Nemo, the dog, has a tiny ear, making her the perfect match for 8-year-old Maxson Hess.

The surprise visit happened Friday morning as Maxson was headed to breakfast with his family. Seeing people lined outside of the Hess household came as a surprise to young Maxson, especially when he spotted Nemo.

“I just walked out and I saw them, and then I saw Nemo, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh we got Nemo!' It was such a surprise for me, such a surprise,” said Maxson.

Maxson and Nemo were both born with Microtia, which means "small ear."

4E Healing Hearts, a nonprofit that connects service animals with their forever homes, had more than 100 applications for Nemo, most of them from parents of a child with Microtia.

The owner and founder of 4E Healing Hearts, Jeanette Forrey, says it warms her heart to be able to connect pets with their new families in such a unique way.

“He’s a very special boy who now has a puppy that is just as special as he is. Neither of them let this define them. Instead, they celebrate their uniqueness, " said Forrey.

"Now, there’s two of them that share a special uniqueness. I think when you have a best friend that is just as unique and special as you are, it makes the world a brighter place."

Maxson’s mom, Jennifer Hess, who was in on the surprise, says she's been planning to get a dog for her three boys, and when she and her family saw Nemo, their heart was set on her!

“We fell in love with her immediately and we applied, but then we thought, 'Ok, we know a lot of people probably applied, so let’s not get our hopes up too much.' We just kind of were prepping for a dog and hoping, maybe if we put that in the universe, we would get her,“ said Hess.

Dad, Maxson, and his two younger brothers were shocked that they were chosen to be Nemo's forever home. Although the kids love the movie “Finding Nemo,” the Hess family plans to change Nemos' name to either Honey or Daisy.

They say it’s because they don’t want her name, or her ear, to define her.

Learn more about the nonprofit 4E Healing Hearts at 4ehealinghearts.com.

This story was originally published by Zora Asberry at KTNV.

LAS VEGAS —

A mother from San Jose, California, was arrested Tuesday in Colorado less than 12 hours after she was identified by Las Vegas police as the suspect in the death of her 7-year-old son, whose body was found by hikers in Nevada more than 10 days ago.

An FBI task force arrested Samantha Moreno Rodriguez, 35, at a hotel in eastern Denver not far from Interstate 70, Las Vegas police Lt. Ray Spencer said. Rodriguez was with a man when she was found, but Spencer said police do not believe he had "any involvement whatsoever in this case."

"We are all relieved that we were able to get her into custody so quickly," said Spencer, the homicide lieutenant who had made nearly daily pleas for public help to identify the boy, Liam Husted, since his body was found May 28 outside Las Vegas.

Spencer would not say during a news conference how Liam died, whether a weapon was involved or describe a motive for the slaying. He referred to a coroner's investigation and toxicology tests, which can take weeks to complete.

The homicide lieutenant said it was clear the boy was killed in the remote Mountain Springs area where he was found.

In San Jose, the boy's grandfather told The Mercury News that Liam lived with his mother and father, Nick Husted. He said the boy had special educational needs, attended a learning center for autistic children and had a home counselor for behavioral issues. Outside help ended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As Liam got older it was strainful for them but they managed," grandfather Chris Husted said in an email, the newspaper reported. "There was no sign of abuse at all. Liam was an innocent child, dependent for their care and good intentions, like all people with special needs."

Spencer said the parents were not married but were together for several years. He declined to speak about Liam's needs.

Chris Husted and Nick Husted did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press. The grandfather characterized his son as devastated by Liam's death.

"Something went horribly wrong with Sam, and Liam is unfortunately taken away," Chris Husted told The Mercury News. He said Rodriguez "needs to be held accountable no matter why it happened."

Rodriguez will be jailed in Denver pending a court appearance and her extradition to Nevada to face a murder charge, Las Vegas police said.

Spencer said Las Vegas police detectives were in Denver to interview Rodriguez. It was not immediately known if she had a lawyer to speak in her defense.

Liam was identified publicly for the first time Monday, and Spencer said a murder warrant was issued in Las Vegas for Rodriguez.

Rodriguez left San Jose on May 24 in a dark blue 2007 Dodge Caliber packed full of their belongings, Spencer said.

She left behind a message, telling Nick Husted she was sorry, was going to try to get a house for herself and Liam and that the couple could talk in the future.

"There was nothing suspicious in that message that would lead the father to believe that Liam, or Samantha, was, were involved in any kind of foul play or that there was any harm, potentially to come," Spencer said.

The police official said Liam's father waited until June 1 to report to San Jose police that the boy was missing. Spencer said Nick Husted was not a suspect in Liam's death.

The mother and son were seen May 26 in two Southern California cities, Laguna Beach and Victorville, before they arrived in Las Vegas.

Police believe Liam's body was left after dark May 27 or early May 28 hidden behind a bush at a trailhead off State Route 160, the main highway between Las Vegas and rural Pahrump.

Spencer said police now know where the mother and son stayed in the Las Vegas area, but he declined to describe the place or what investigators found there.

Liam's body remained unidentified until a family friend told San Jose police on Friday that she had not seen Rodriguez or Liam and she recognized the boy from a widely distributed rendering prepared by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The boy's identity was the focus of an intense public campaign that included an offer from the FBI of up to $10,000 for information. Spencer and FBI Special Agent Jeremy Schwartz declined Tuesday to say if anyone became eligible for the reward.

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Associated Press writer Colleen Slevin in Denver contributed to this report.

Authorities in Las Vegas are asking for the public's help to identify a boy found dead on a trail near the city, after a woman mistakenly identified him as her son.

The body of the boy, believed to be between the ages of 8 and 12, was found by hikers near Las Vegas last Friday morning.

On Thursday, authorities released a digitally enhanced portrait and side portrait of the victim and announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identity of the boy or anyone involved in his murder.

After a sketch of the boy was initially released to the media, a woman contacted police, saying it resembled her 8-year-old son, according to Las Vegas Metro Police Department Lt. Raymond Spencer.

The mother later positively identified the boy after detectives showed her photos of his body, according to Spencer.

The identification prompted an Amber Alert for the boy's 11-year-old half-brother, who had last been seen about 9 p.m. Thursday with the 8-year-old brother and their father, according to Spencer.

Saturday morning, after a news conference by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police department, officers received information that the boy who was thought to be dead was actually camping with his father and 11-year-old brother "in an area of central Utah that was outside of cellphone reception," a statement from the LVMPD said.

Officers confirmed the boys and their father were safe, the statement said.

"It appears the mother and other family members misidentified the victim of the homicide as their family member," the statement said.

Police are now "devoting all available resources" to identify the boy found dead on the trail, the LVMPD statement said.

"Detectives are currently working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to develop a digitally enhanced picture of the victim. We are still asking for the public's assistance to identify the victim of the homicide," the statement said.

Child found by hikers

The boy found early Friday was discovered lying in a forested area of Mountain Springs Trailhead near mile marker 20 on State Route 160, according to Las Vegas police. The area is about 25 miles southwest of downtown Las Vegas.

Shortly after the boy was found around 7:45 a.m. (10:45 a.m. ET) Friday, medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, police said.

Authorities are not releasing information about injuries to the body, Spencer said. The boy's cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County coroner's office.

"The investigation conducted by LVMPD Homicide Section indicates that the victim may have been placed in the area in the last 12 hours," the police department tweeted.

The homicide section of Las Vegas police can be reached at 702-828-3521. Tipsters who want to stay anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or go to crimetoppersofnv.com.

People interviewing for jobs at the SlotZilla Zipline in Las Vegas had to try it out, flying 12 stories high above a busy street for five city blocks.The zipline is a part of the Fremont Street Experience, an attraction that features gaming and entertainment in the heart of Las Vegas.At the end of the ride, five city blocks later, interviewees learned if they got the gig.Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (Video above from KVVU via CNN) —

The pilot whose fighter jet crashed after it took off from Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas has died, according to a release from the base's public affairs unit.

The pilot, who was not identified, was a contractor and the aircraft was owned and operated by Draken U.S., a Florida-based company that provides "adversary air support" for Air Force pilots.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people and families affected by this event," the statement said. "We are doing everything in our power to assist them in this time of need, and we are working closely with federal, state and local authorities."

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating the crash of a Dassault Aviation Mirage F1.

At Nellis, Draken maintains a number of aircraft, including the French-built Mirage F1, a fighter jet, to fly against the U.S. Air Force pilots as aggressor jets in training. According to Draken's website, the company has been serving in this role since 2015.

The jet crashed about 2:30 p.m. local time Monday near the southern edge of Nellis.

"The men and women of Team Nellis send our deepest condolences to the teammates, friends and family of our Draken wingman," the news release said.

The pilot was the lone occupant of the Mirage F1. No information was made available on the cause of the crash or potential injuries on the ground.

Nellis Air Force Base is in southern Nevada, approximately 8 miles northeast from downtown Las Vegas. The base covers more than 14,000 acres, while the total land area occupied by Nellis and its restricted ranges is about 5,000 square miles, according to their web page.