UPDATE JULY 20 AT 8:15 A.M.: A few more showers are expected to drift north into parts of West Henderson, Silverado Ranch, Green Valley, and Henderson.

ORIGINAL STORYMuch of Southern Nevada woke up to flashes of lightning, rumbles of thunder, and downpours of rain early Monday morning.

A weather disturbance over the desert of Southern California helped send monsoon moisture from Arizona toward Las Vegas before the sun rose.

Scattered rain is possible through 10 a.m. with dry conditions expected from late morning through midday in the valley.

Mountain storms will flare up around midday through the afternoon, with the potential for gusty winds, heavy rain, and more lightning. It's possible that a few of those storms could drift into parts of Las Vegas from the mid-to-late afternoon, although that chance is only about 30% in any one neighborhood.

A stray shower is possible tonight, but the chance is small.

Scattered showers and storms are also possible on Tuesday as that same system in California continues to move slowly across Southern Nevada.

Wednesday looks mainly dry during the day, but a new weather system will encourage scattered showers and storms Wednesday night through Thursday in and around Southern Nevada!

Stay with 13 Action News for the latest Las Vegas weather. Make sure to follow meteorologists Justin Bruce and Dani Beckstrom on Twitter for updates around the clock.

Do you have pictures or videos you would like to share? Send them to photos@ktnv.com and we may use them online and on air. Please include the location and name for credit.

Excerpt from:

More rain on the way? Lightning animates sky above Las Vegas early Monday - KTNV Las Vegas

By all accounts, 2020 was supposed to be Las Vegas best year yet for live events. In April and May, Kelly Clarkson, the Jonas Brothers and Sting were pacing to sell out their new residencies at Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood, Park Theater in Park MGM and the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, respectively. Down the Strip at Wynns Encore Theater -- Billboards top-grossing theater under 2,000 capacity worldwide -- comedians Sebastian Maniscalco and Jo Koy were booked for four and five shows, respectively, and all were sold out. Allegiant Stadium, the $2 billion new home of the Las Vegas Raiders, is still scheduled to open in August with the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour, which sold out 65,000 tickets in 75 minutes -- but that concert too is in jeopardy as COVID-19 cases spike in Nevada. And in November, AEG had plans to debut a new theater inside the freshly minted Virgin Hotel, but sources say that project is likely on hold until 2021.

Its been four months since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the citys entertainment business, which, coupled with casinos closing in mid-March, could cause more than $39 billion in overall economic losses to the state of Nevada, and will require 1218 months to recover, according to a report commissioned by the Nevada Resort Association.And even as casino-resorts began phased reopening starting June 4, that does not include concerts and there are no clear plans yet for when or how live music events might resume.

Over the last decade, Las Vegas has become the new epicenter of extravagant live events for the music and entertainment industry with dozens of openings up and down the Strip, including a new arena, attracting top names across every music genre with multi-million dollar deals for extended engagement residencies and touring shows. Festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival bring in over $250 million a year and attract more than 300,000 attendees. In Las Vegas, roughly two-thirds of the economy depends on non-gaming revenue -- according to the center for gaming research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- of which shows are a major driver and it cannot wait until a vaccine becomes widely available to welcome fans back to those offerings. The pressure is on and all industries should be watching, because the city will serve as the model on how to safely reopen the entire guest experience.

Nevada is currently in phase 2 of its Roadmap to Recovery plan, and while casinos have now been open for more than a month, in a June 24 press conference Gov. Steve Sisolak said plans to move to phase 3 -- which would signify an easement on public and mass gatherings -- are tabled, given the rising number of cases. On June 29, he signed a directive that phase 2 will extend until the end of July. It is not until phase 4 that live events will be able to return to business as usual. And on July 10, bars were once again shuttered. But it seems no matter how much mitigation, distancing and mask mandating happens, the virus has a mind of its own. Over the past month, Nevada has consistently reported its highest numbers of the pandemic, including hospitalizations, and as of Monday (July 20) there were more than 36,700 confirmed cases among residents-- not counting the hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the state monthly.

On June 17, the Gaming Control Board, which regulates the spaces inside casino-resorts, clarified the policy that musical performances, live entertainment, concerts, competitions, sporting events and any events with live performances may resume, but shall remain closed for public attendance, and the board must approve such an event prior to it taking place. This means events can happen for the purpose of being recorded, filmed, livestreamed or broadcast, but must be fanless -- a boon for sports like UFC, but concerts not so much.

Walk through Wynn, Bellagio or The Cosmopolitan on a Friday night and the casino floor is bustling, restaurants appear full at 50% capacity and one could almost start to forget about the coronavirus pandemic that has so far killed 648 in the state. But sources say resorts on the Strip are operating at 5080% self-imposed occupancy limits, in comparison to 91% occupancy rates in June 2019, reported by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and are desperate for entertainment options to offer guests as shows typically draw a major influx of money for gaming and food and beverage. Sixteen casinos have filed temporary closures with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, meaning their licenses remain active but they remain closed. Palms Casino Resort requested a temporary closure until June 2021, while The Cromwell -- which holds Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub -- can remain closed until Dec. 30. Others, including Park MGM and The Mirage may remain closed until Sept. 29. With revenue reports from Junes reopening still a few weeks away, and still no gauge on when shows of any kind can return, the state of the citys entertainment industry remains in flux.

Local Leaders Are Banding Together

While todays Vegas experience is pared down, there are preparations going into next steps. More than 40 leaders from promoters, events and venues around the city -- including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Events, Live Nation, AEG, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, the Raiders and The Smith Center for the Performing Arts -- have come together to form the Vegas Events COVID-19 Committee for the purpose of sharing ideas and plans on how to bring back concerts, residencies and other gatherings.

Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, an organization that secures more than 40 signature events and $500 million annually for the city -- among them Electric Daisy Carnival and Life is Beautiful festival, National Finals Rodeo and NBA Summer League -- is heading the committee.

Las Vegas has more to gain and lose than anywhere else, Christenson says. And with COVID-19, we have more of a challenge than anyone because we are an entertainment hub. This group is not so much meant to dictate what should be done, but to develop and discuss what is being done and to compare different [strategies].

After 90-minute weekly meetings for almost four months, plans are slowly starting to take shape.

It gives a good overview of how things are changing for better or worse, Christenson says.

The group has developed about a dozen guidelines its members all agree on, he says, including testing, tracing, temperature checks, staffing, staff protocols and training, social distancing, parking, transportation, ingress, egress, cleaning and disinfecting. [We have to make our guests] feel like Las Vegas is the safest place to travel for an event, he continues. Once we put these measures together, we have to get fans feeling comfortable about coming.

Russ Simons, managing partner of Venue Solutions Group, a major consultant on Los Angeles SoFi Stadium, who sits on the International Association of Venue Managers COVID-19 Task Force, advises the committee on what is happening in the industry at large, as does Steve Adelman, vp of the Event Safety Alliance.

The thing that really intrigued me about the Las Vegas group is while it was really more destination-oriented, it was a very interesting dynamic. There are a wide variety of participants from different facilities, Simons says. I really found their viewpoints to be intriguing, because there's a danger in looking through only the lens of what you do on a regular basis. There's a lot of value in seeing how another segment views the same problem.

We are closely watching actions taken in the first month of reopening and will continue to modify plans. Its going to be like the Wild Wild West for the foreseeable future. But it gives us a wider information base with which to make decisions for all communities.

Mitigating Risk Means Replacing Residencies, More Safety Precautions

Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment, says they are exploring multiple avenues to bring shows back -- starting with theatrical productions over residencies, which have more restrictive economic requirements. Some of Caesars shows include Absinthe at Caesars Palace and Criss Angel Mindfreak at Planet Hollywood. Reopening comes down to three things, he explains: a quality guest experience, appropriate health and safety protocols, and economic feasibility.

We are seeing active interest from many entertainers who want to return as soon as possible, Gastwirth says. Subject to government directives, we are planning for a selection of lower- to midsize-capacity shows to either operate at reduced capacity for the time being or be moved into larger venues to allow the show to proceed while complying with appropriate social distancing. This will serve as a solid bridge to the time when we can return to operating shows at their prior seating configurations.

Caesars Entertainment protocols notate that entrance queues at the theaters will be marked to identify the appropriate distance between guests, seating within the showrooms will be modified to allow appropriate space between parties, hand sanitizer will be positioned at entrances and throughout the venues, and guests will be encouraged to sanitize their hands prior to entering venues and at key locations such as concession stands, as well as to wear face coverings.

Research into new protocols is being undertaken at Black Fire Innovation, a technology hub in partnership between Caesars Entertainment and UNLV, which debuted in January. Gaming and hospitality concepts are created and tested in a 43,000-square-feet space that includes elements of mock hotel rooms, a casino floor and sportsbook, an esports studio and virtual reality facilities.

As our community and nation continue to wrestle with and respond to the devastating effects of COVID-19, its critical for leaders in every industry to manage the uncertainties of the present while also focusing on innovations that will contribute to a successful and sustainable recovery, says Tony Allen, UNLVs senior director of media relations. To that end, Black Fire and other hospitality focused partners throughout the university are committed to working closely with the resort industry both now and into the future to advance concepts that will support this recovery.

In early May, UNLVs Lee Business School created a $1 million prize for innovation and entrepreneurship with the goal of discovering and funding technologies and solutions to make the food and beverage, hospitality, casino, sports, entertainment and travel industries a safe place for employees and guests in the post-pandemic world..The deadline for submissions was July 5 and winners will be announced soon.

Promoter Dilemma: From Hustling to 'Hurry Up and Wait Mode'

All of my professional life, I've done nothing but hustle and try to book shows, says AEGs Bobby Reynolds, who is responsible for promotions at Wynns Encore Theater, where the next show scheduled is comedian Jo Koy on Sept. 4. Now we're in hurry up and wait mode, and for a guy like me, that's one of the things I'm not good at. But that's the hand we're dealt.

Since March, Reynolds has been spending his days looking at innovative ways to bring entertainment to the Strip for reduced-capacity audiences -- but not in the usual spaces.

Is it possible to do socially-distanced shows in a 1,500-seat venue such as Encore Theater? The short answer, he says, is no -- for marquee names, it wont work financially without 100% capacity.

In a scenario where we would be allowed to occupy 50% of a theater, economically that just doesn't work. It doesn't work with the artists that we put in there. I don't think it works from a vibe level and a fun level, Reynolds says. You go to a show to be around other people, to dance, to move, to sing along, to laugh at a joke in a packed theater. I don't know how that would feel in a half empty theater that is sold out. It just doesn't feel right to me. If an artist really wanted to perform and we could only seat 50% of the crowd, the artist has to take a 6065% cut in their guarantee in order for me to pay them and pay my bills and pay my expenses and make [a few] bucks for ourselves. I don't see that happening. I'm anticipating more expenses when we go back for greater cleaning endeavors, more staff -- those are the things that we're learning more about and why the committee has been very helpful in understanding what other people are doing.

However, he says there are potential opportunities AEG and its partners are exploring to hold concerts and comedy shows in nightclubs and ballrooms where they could achieve social distancing and generate smaller shows. But those plans are contingent on what the Gaming Control Board will allow.

The good news is Las Vegas has the desire to bring entertainment back -- maybe more than any other city, he says. Can casinos get creative? There are ballroom spaces, there are nightclub spaces, there are theaters that are sitting there dormant. And there's a bunch of smart people trying to figure out what the opportunities are. So we're exploring that right now.

With Clubs Closed, Are Lounges the New Nightlife?

Dormant nightclubs are a thing that Clique Hospitalitys Andy Masi never thought he would see. Having been in the business of partying for nearly two decades, Masis former company The Light Group at one time dominated the city and was an integral part of pools, clubs and lounges growing into a billion-dollar cottage industry. He now operates The Barbershop and Clique Lounge at The Cosmopolitan on the Strip and several restaurants for Stations Casinos.

Since Masis lounges are not considered nightclubs, they have been allowed to reopen under the Gaming Control Boards current policies. They dont charge a cover, they can operate at reduced capacity, all patrons must have reserved tables and the main focus of the action is not a live act, although there is entertainment.

I was expecting the worst-case scenario, but I am pleasantly surprised by the business volume right now, he says. There is a big demand for people wanting to go out and feel normal. Nightclubs probably arent opening anytime soon, so it's a great place for people to come and hang out while they're in Las Vegas. No one is planning on making a ton of money right now. Lets get everyone working, lets keep people safe and lets give people coming to Vegas something to do on a Friday and Saturday night.

Around town, venues such as Marquee Nightclub and Dayclub, Intrigue Nightclub and Encore Beach Club have renamed themselves Marquee Pool, Intrigue Lounge and Encore Beach Pool without big name DJs, all for the sake of being able to reopen under the Gaming Control Boards current policy, which says live entertainment must be ancillary to the operation and not the draw. Most nightlife groups are exercising force majeure clauses with their multi-million dollar talent contracts, postponing all performances through 2020.

As of this moment, we have had zero discussion about what the marketplace will look like moving forward. Pools that were once daylife pool clubs are acting as resort pools with limited capacity and minimal to no live entertainment, says Ricky Abramson, who has been buying nightclub talent in the market for almost a decade. Ive been told that no live entertainment at clubs and pools will be back for the foreseeable future. Some clubs may remain closed for the rest of the year. Ive recently pulled all of my confirmed live show bookings in the market.

Looking back on the industry he helped build, Masi says he has the utmost confidence that it will come back roaring when people feel finally comfortable getting really close to each other on the dance floor again. Nightlife is a big part of what we do in Las Vegas and the big reason why people come here, Masi says.

There must be some sort of reset in the market for the foreseeable future, just like were seeing in other verticals of live entertainment, Abramson adds. There was already some of this taking place as the market was shifting away from the nightly six-figure talent fees paid to DJs at top-tier clubs to four- or five-figure fees for open-format DJs and short appearances by pop or hip-hop artists. He also says outside of COVID-19, new projects in the market, like Resorts World, the $4.3 billion casino-resort from Malaysian Gaming company Genting, will play a role in how the future of live entertainment at pools and clubs will look. The market has changed in the past six years, let alone the past six months. We have an opportunity, when permitted, to learn from our past, understand what the market can bear given todays consumer, and proceed with -- once again -- building world renown nightlife/daylife brands that flourish in Las Vegas.

Technology and Innovation for Mitigated Reopenings

Simons of Venue Solutions Group says modernization will be as important as planning in Las Vegas return and top of mind in the return-to-entertainment conversation are sanitizing and distancing measures that are now being tested in casinos.

For example, at the Bellagio managers have adjusted traffic flow in lines for popular attractions such as the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens; partitions have been installed between booths in dining areas, at casino bars and on table games; menus are now available by QR code; and no-touch radio frequency identification locks have been installed on guest rooms. The entire check-in process has even gone contactless through a mobile app. And there is signage everywhere stating Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols for guests to follow -- including how to properly wear a face covering (mandatory as of June 24). Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems have been reviewed for additional opportunities to enhance their effectiveness ... and rigorous measures ... to help mitigate the risk of virus transmission have been taken throughout our properties, states the MGM Resorts Health and Safety Plan.

And vendors are pivoting to meet these new needs. Las Vegas grand-format printing company Screaming Images, which used to wrap the exterior of Strip hotels for event promotion, is now producing safety signage and plexiglass social distancing partitions for casinos. At the start of the pandemic, founder James Swanson had to lay off almost the majority of his workforce, but now thanks to expanding his services to include new solutions for the gaming and entertainment industry, he says business is rebounding and all his staff is back to work.

By using polycarbonate and acrylic he had on hand at his shop for second-surface fine art prints, and cutting it on a multicam router, Swanson was able to instantly provide social distancing partitions to businesses all over the country. And the companys newest innovation, the Seat Shield, could directly impact the concert industry.

Seat Shields works like a headband and blocks off seats in a venue to enforce social distancing, Swanson explains. We can wrap individual or groups of seats with signage held on by hook-and-loop cloth -- so it closes up the seat and covers it up completely -- and you can make adjustments on configurations up until showtime. Swanson has also expanded his business to include printing social distancing circles, a giant floor graphic that lets groups know where to position themselves when standing-room shows return. He says both products are currently being looked at by venues and promoters around the country.

A sign of the times, Screaming Images recently made a queen-size mask for the replica of the Statue of Liberty that sits in front of Las Vegas New York-New York resort.

The Future as It Stands Now

Whats still on the books? So far, Garth Brooks show opening Allegiant Stadium on Aug. 22 has not been postponed. According to Caesars Entertainments websites, Shania Twain is still scheduled to start performing at Zappos Theater Aug. 21 and comedian Jeff Dunham at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Sept. 20. And currently Jo Koy is billed for Sept. 4 at Encore Theater. However, sources say, these rescheduled performances could be scrapped at any moment and most of the other 2020 shows have been postponed until 2021.

Christenson of Las Vegas Events says he is confident people will return steadily to Las Vegas to see live entertainment as they did after the Sept. 11 attacks and the 2017 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival. He hopes live events with audiences will resume no later than fall 2020, but its all assumptions right now.

Everything we're doing is just preparing, he says. If you look at what was on our plate for this year and next year -- not only did we have all these venues, theaters, arenas and festivals [that were booked out], but we have a new stadium and [eventually] the MSG Sphere [although construction is now on hold]. That's a major jump. I think once we turn the corner, you'll see that not only will the city be back to normal, but we will be bigger and better than ever. My expectation is that we will put [the openings] on hold for the kind of impact we want.

Read more:

Betting on Live Music's Return: As Las Vegas Reopens, the Whole Fan Experience Is Being Tested - Billboard

Published Wednesday, July 22, 2020 | 5:36 a.m.

Updated 1 hour, 15 minutes ago

PARIS (AP) A boy and a toddler escaped from a blazing apartment in the southeastern French city of Grenoble by dropping 10 meters (33 feet) from a window and being caught by members of the public. French media said that the two brothers were unharmed by the fall, but might have suffered some smoke inhalation.

Footage of Tuesday' dramatic rescue showed one of the brothers being dropped out of the window at least three stories up in the building as flames engulfed a balcony and black smoke billowed from windows. To a chorus of screams from onlookers, the older brother hung out of the window and then let himself fall into the arms of the rescuers gathered below.

The boys were hospitalized along with 17 of the buildings residents after inhaling fumes, according to French media. Four of the people who caught the boys were also hospitalized to check if any bones were fractured by the impact of the jumps.

Athoumani Walid, 25, a student in Grenoble, broke one of his wrists as he helped catch the children.

He heard screams and went out to investigate after seeing the fire from his nearby apartment. With four of five other people, he immediately tried to help.

We didnt know what to do, but we walked up to the apartment that was in flames, Walid told The Associated Press on Wednesday. We wanted to break the door but it wasnt possible. So they walked back downstairs and shouted out for the boys to jump in their arms.

Although he was initially afraid for the boys, when they jumped, fear disappeared, what mattered was to catch them, he said.

Walid hopes the rescue will change people perceptions of the Villeneuve neighborhood of Grenoble where the events happened, and where there is a large immigrant population.

We are told its a sensitive neighborhood, Walid said, but yesterday we showed we are here for each other, and we save each other.

Eric Piolle, the Grenoble mayor, congratulated the Villeneuve residents on the rescue, which he said underscored the city's tradition of solidarity and mutual help.

In May 2018, a young Malian migrant rescued a child dangling from a balcony and was offered French citizenship. Video of the rescue showed 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama climbing up four floors of the apartment building in just seconds to rescue the child, to cheers from onlookers. By the time Parisian emergency services arrived at the building, he had already pulled the child to safety.

Read the original post:

French blaze: Brothers drop from window, caught by rescuers - Las Vegas Sun

Published Tuesday, July 21, 2020 | 7:24 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, July 21, 2020 | 7:25 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) Hackers working with the Chinese government targeted firms developing vaccines for the coronavirus and stole hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property and trade secrets from companies across the world, the Justice Department said Tuesday as it announced criminal charges.

The indictment does not accuse the two Chinese defendants of actually obtaining the coronavirus research, but it does underscore the extent to which scientific innovation has been a top target for foreign governments and criminal hackers looking to know what American companies are developing during the pandemic. In this case, the hackers researched vulnerabilities in the computer networks of biotech firms and diagnostic companies that were developing vaccines and testing kits and researching antiviral drugs.

The charges are the latest in a series of aggressive Trump administration actions targeting China. They come as President Donald Trump, his reelection prospects damaged by the coronavirus outbreak, has blamed China for the pandemic and as administration officials have escalated their denunciations of Beijing, including over alleged efforts to steal intellectual property through hacking.

The indictment includes trade secret theft and wire fraud conspiracy charges against the hackers, former classmates at an electrical engineering college who prosecutors say worked together for more than a decade targeting high-tech companies in more than 10 countries.

The hackers, identified as Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi, stole information not only for their personal profit but also research and technology that they knew would be of value to the Chinese government, prosecutors say.

In some instances, the indictment says, they provided an officer for a Chinese intelligence service with whom they worked email accounts and passwords belonging to clergymen, dissidents and pro-democracy activists who could then be targeted. The officer gave help of his own, providing malicious software after one of the hackers struggled to compromise the mail server of a Burmese human rights group.

The two defendants are not in custody, and federal officials conceded Tuesday that they were not likely to step foot in an American courtroom. But the indictment carries important symbolic and deterrence value for the Justice Department, which decided that publicly calling out the behavior was more worthwhile than waiting for the unlikely scenario in which the defendants would travel to the U.S. and risk arrest.

The hacking began more than 10 years ago, with targets including pharmaceutical, solar energy and medical device companies but also political dissidents, activists and clergy in the United States, China and Hong Kong, federal authorities said.

The charges were brought as Trump administration officials, including national security adviser Robert O'Brien and Attorney General William Barr, have delivered public warnings about what they say are Chinese government efforts to use hacking to steal trade secrets for Beijing's financial benefit and to covertly influence American policy.

The hacking is part of what Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department's top national security official, described as a sweeping effort to rob, replicate and replace" strategy for technological development.

In addition, he said, China is providing a safe haven for criminal hackers who, as in this case, are hacking in part for their own personal gain but willing to help the state and on call to do so."

The criminal charges are the first from the Justice Department accusing foreign hackers of targeting innovation related to the coronavirus, though U.S. and Western intelligence agencies have warned for months about those efforts.

Last week, for instance, authorities in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom accused a hacking group with links to Russian intelligence of trying to target research on the disease, which has killed more than 140,000 people in the United States and more than 600,000 worldwide, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The indictment describes multiple efforts by the hackers to snoop on companies engaged in coronavirus-related research, though it does not accuse them of success in any theft.

Prosecutors say Li in January conducted reconnaissance on the computer network of a Massachusetts biotech firm known to be researching a potential vaccine, and searched for vulnerabilities on the network of a Maryland firm less than a week after the company said it was conducting similar scientific work.

Li also probed the networks of a California diagnostics company involved in developing testing kits, and a biotech firm from the same state that was researching antiviral drugs.

Hacking of vaccine information slows down research as the institution must scramble not only to fix the breach but also to ensure the data it has accumulated has not been altered, Demers said.

Once someone is in your system, they can not only take the data, they can manipulate the data," Demers said. We do worry to that extent that there could be a slowdown in the research efforts of that particular institution.

The indictment was returned earlier this month in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington, where the hacking outlined by prosecutors was first discovered at the Department of Energy's Hanford site.

If it can occur there, we all must know that it can occur anywhere, U.S. Attorney William Hyslop said of his district.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not directly respond to the indictment but pointed to remarks made last week by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who described China as the victim of groundless speculations" but also a country whose scientific prowess means it does not need to secure an edge by theft."

Ben Buchanan, a Georgetown University professor and author of The Hacker and the State, said that though the U.S. has made clear its views on what kinds of economic espionage are permitted and not permitted, it is unclear where it draws the line on espionage related to the coronavirus or what kind of espionage the U.S. might conduct.

He said he was not sure that this indictment, without other meaningful consequences, would get China to cease its activities.

The upside of spying in this way is simply too high for many governments to pass up, Buchanan said in an email.

_____

Associated Press writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report.

Original post:

US accuses Chinese hackers in targeting of COVID-19 research - Las Vegas Sun

David Bigelow via AP

This July 20, 2020 photo provided by David Bigelow in Vineyard Haven, Mass., shows part of a boat that is being retrofitted to replicate the boat from the movie Jaws. A group of ocean lovers and movie buffs is building a replica of the boat, the Orca, for use as a conservationtool.

By Patrick Whittle, Associated Press

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 | 8:13 a.m.

The Orca is headed back to the waters of New England, but this time, its mission isn't to hunt sharks. It's to help save them.

A group of ocean advocates and movie buffs is turning an old lobster fishing vessel into a replica of the Orca, the boat captained by the grizzled shark hunter Quint in Jaws. The work is taking place on Martha's Vineyard, where Steven Spielberg shot the blockbuster movie in the 1970s.

The occasion doesn't call for a bigger boat so much as one with a different purpose, said Vineyard native David Bigelow, who acquired the craft and is heading up the project. When finished, he said, Orca III will be used as an educational tool to help the public understand sharks and as a research vessel for scientists.

The project is dear to the heart of Bigelow, who appeared as an extra in Jaws, and to that of his drama teacher Lee Fierro, who played the mother of a shark attack victim. Reports of shark sightings on some New England beaches in recent years moved him to take on the project.

The need to educate people about the new ecosystem were living in, because of climate change and the seal population, is probably our only defense, Bigelow said, sighting two possible drivers of increased shark sightings. We have basically taken on this role where the boat is going to be used for education.

Bigelow said that he believes the retrofitting work can be completed by this fall and that the boat can start helping people study sharks by next spring. The boat will be called Orca III because there were actually two vessels in Jaws" Orca and Orca II. Orca is seen in much of the film, and Orca II was a prop vessel.

Others working on the mission to bring back the Orca have a connection to Jaws, too. Joe Alves, production designer on the movie, is on board, as is Chris Crawford, who retrofitted a boat called Warlock into the original Orca in 1974.

The conservation group Beneath The Waves has signed on to use the new Orca on expeditions. The group's board of directors includes Wendy Benchley, widow of Peter Benchley, who wrote the 1974 novel on which the movie is based.

The return of the Orca is a celebration for the fans of Jaws, as well as an exciting new resource in the pursuit of a greater understanding about our oceans and the life teeming in it, she said.

Go here to read the rest:

Going in the water again: 'Jaws' boat clone supports sharks - Las Vegas Sun

The Golden Knights started Mondays practice by throwing 30 minutes on the clock and activating the scoreboard. They split the squad into two groups and proceeded to simulate game, even swapping sides halfway through to get used to the second-period long change.

These types of setups will become commonplace in the final week of practice before the Golden Knights report to Edmonton for the postseason. They havent played a real game in more than four months, so theyre doing everything they can to prepare for the playoffs to begin.

Every scrimmage youll see from Day 1 I think youre going to see more and more game-like stuff, forward Paul Stastny said. Guys are more fresh, theres more control, more talking, more thinking out there. I think were making the right steps.

Stastny said sometimes when teams jump right into scrimmages at camp there is a tendency to play summer hockey, which more closely resembles a pickup game than a Stanley Cup playoff contest. The Golden Knights didnt do that, and couldnt even if they wanted to, according to Stastny.

Coach Peter DeBoer wouldnt allow it to happen.

DeBoer demands supreme focus and readiness ahead of the restarted season. Vegas has held full scrimmages at the end of most training-camp practices, including the first day, but they are beginning to look and feel more and more like games.

We havent rushed into maybe some of the things that you read around the league, DeBoer said. After four months those are the little things you have to get used to again: the shift length of games, the long change of the second period, those types of things. Well add them slowly as we go.

DeBoer said he wasnt worried about some of the nuances other teams have installed he isnt planning on taking TV timeouts or pausing before the scrimmage for the anthem or wearing game jerseys because he doesnt believe the team needs it.

The Golden Knights have the luxury of an exhibition game before the tournament formally begins then three round-robin games for seeding only with no risk of getting sent home early if they perform poorly.

I think we have a little bit more runway even though the round-robin games are important, DeBoer said.

The Golden Knights play their exhibition next week, on July 30 against the Arizona Coyotes, but still have a minimum of 22 days before the elimination round begins.

Mondays scrimmage was the closest theyve come to a real game, and there were real takeaways to draw from it. Its still practice, of course, but the line of Paul Stastny, Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault looked excellent.

All the goals were scored either right in front of the net or as a result of crowding the lane in front of the goalie.

The Golden Knights are having fun with it too. About halfway through, Marc-Andre Fleury stonewalled Marchessault on a partial breakaway and jokingly mocked him with a modified Ali shuffle.

When Ryan Reaves saw the opposing team was pulling its goalie, he loudly announced he wanted on the ice to try to score the empty netter.

It gives the guys a chance to up the pace and get that game-like feel, defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. Just gives us a chance to compete too, which is always fun.

Team Gray beat Team White 4-1, but no one will remember that, or perhaps any specifics about the scrimmage, by next week. The scrimmages purpose is to help the Golden Knights feel more comfortable when theyre soon playing a meaningful game.

Every day is a step closer to where we want to be, including myself, Stastny said. Come Aug. 11, 12 when the top 16 plays, I think everyones going to be really ready to go.

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Golden Knights trying to simulate playoff action with live scrimmages - Las Vegas Sun

By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 | 8:56 a.m.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's negotiators fanned out on Capitol Hill Tuesday over a new COVID-19 aid package as divisions between the White House and Senate Republicans pushed talks into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office to deal with the mounting crisis.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and acting chief of staff Mark Meadows were conferring with GOP senators before pivoting in the afternoon to Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, trying to meld the GOP's emerging $1 trillion proposal with the House's more sweeping $3 trillion bill.

With the pandemic showingno signs of easing,Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Washington must develop a strategy to safely reopen schools and businesses until a vaccine can be found.

We need to carve out a new normal," Republican McConnell said.

Lawmakers concede the daunting challenge of trying contain the coronavirus. The U.S. has the more infections and a rising death toll of 140,800, more than anywhere else in the world. Thehealth crisis is worseningjust as emergency economic relief is about to expire.

Trump convened GOP leaders at the White House on Monday and acknowledged a big flareup of COVID-19 cases. But the president, who willrelaunch his daily televised briefings, is focused on therapeutics and a vaccine.

Trump's promise of COVID-19 cures are falling flat on Capitol Hill as lawmakers understand vaccines remain months, if not a year, from widespread distribution in the U.S. The federal government is still struggling to provide basic medical supplies and personal protective equipment to hospitals and health care providers.

Schumer dismissed the emerging GOP plan as favoring corporate interests over Americas working families, and repeating mistakes of spring when Trump pushed for states to ease stay-home orders and reopen.

That will not, not get the job done, Schumer said.

The package from McConnell, being crafted behind closed doors, is expected to include at least $70 billion to help schools reopen. It will likely replace anexpiring $600 weekly unemployment benefits boostwith a smaller amount. The GOP's proposed cut in unemployment assistance is designed to ensure that jobless people do not receive a greater benefit than if they were working.

McConnell said Tuesday his package will send a fresh round of direct cash payments to Americans below a certain income level, extend small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and create a sweeping five-year liability shield against coronavirus lawsuits.

But the president's priorities are splitting his GOP allies in Congress giving momentum to Democrats as talks are underway.

The administration criticized the GOP's push for $25 billion more invirus testing,saying earlier testing funds remain unspent. Trump at the White House insisted on a full payroll tax repeal that many Republican senators oppose. The White House also wants to link $70 billion in education funds to mandates that schools reopen.

Democrats are investigating why the Trump administration has left almost half the testing money unspent.

House Democrats have approved $100 billion as an education stabilization fund and Senate Democrats are seeking even more, $430 billion for schools and universities to re-open with money for spacing students apart, buying masks for daily use and alternating bus schedules.

The political stakes are high for both parties beforethe November election, and even more so for the nation, as the virus crisis and economic fallout hits cities large and small.

Joe Biden, the Democrats presumed presidential nominee,stated his own priorities. The new package should deliver a lifeline to those who need it most: working families and small businesses, he said.

Mnuchin has vowed passage by month's end, asa $600 boost in jobless aid is set to expire, and said he expected a fresh $1 trillion jolt of business tax breaks and other aid would have a big impact onthe struggling economy.

Easing the payroll tax is dividing Trumps party because it is used to finance Social Security and Medicare. The tax is already being deferred for employers under the previous virus relief package. Supporters say cutting it now for employees would put money in people's pockets and stimulate the economy, but detractors warn it would do little for out-of-work Americans and add to the nations rising debt load. McConnell is straining to keep the bills total price tag at $1 trillion.

GOP senators swiftly pushed back as the Republicans and the White House battled over priorities.

GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas was among several Republicans saying hes not a fan of a payroll tax holiday.

Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the chairman of the Health committee, said, All roads to opening school, going back to work, opening child care lead through testing. Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill when he suggested last month at a rally in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus testing.

Trump has insisted that the virus willdisappear,but the president's view does not at all match projections from theleading health professionals..

The proposed virus aid package would be the fifth, following the $2.2 trillion bill passed in March, the largest U.S. intervention of its kind. While many Republicans hoped the virus would ease and economy rebound, it's become clear more aid is needed.

The jobless rate has remained in double digits, higher than in the last decades Great Recession, and a federal eviction moratorium on millions of rental units approved in the last bill is about to expire.

___

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Andrew Taylor, Zeke Miller and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.

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Trump's team on Capitol Hill as virus aid talks deepen - Las Vegas Sun

Im currently reading the first mystery in Conrad Allens (aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles) Dillman Mystery Series. The first book in the series is Murder on the Lusitania. We are introduced to George Porter Dillman, the main sleuth in this series. He hails from a family of yacht builders, but has decided on a different career path. He is a detective on a ship, which, from the titles of Allens books must change to different ships in the lines fleet.

The series takes place in the very early 1900s, so its not a cruise ship as they are known today. This ship is the mode of transportation for people going from Europe to North America. Dont expect the Las Vegas glitzy shows or the many planned activities that one might expect on a cruise ship today. A major source of fun is walking on the decks, and socializing with others before, during, and after each meal.

So, is this a Cozy Mystery? I am 63% through this book, and I would say that I definitely would call it a Cozy Mystery. Hmmm, you may say. How can you do that? The main sleuth is currently a detective (after being a Pinkerton agent for a while) >>> not an amateur detective. My answer is this: Lets not lose sight of Hercule Poirot, a police-trained detective, who is among the Coziest of Cozies.

This mystery (as I said Ive only read 63% of it) takes place on a cruise ship, where everyone seems to become familiar with each other. Its like a small, contained village so to speak. Allen has been able to make the characters into a small community of sorts.

While reading this Conrad Allen mystery, I have been struck several times by how much it reminds me of an Agatha Christie mystery. It is well written; the words seem to flow seamlessly. The writing is crisp. Allen doesnt make the reader wait to get answers. He actually moves from one puzzle piece to the next. (I get quite annoyed by authors who make you wait two or three chapters to get an answer to a question that has been posed!)

The characters, of which there are quite a few, are very well-developed. They are identifiable >>> I didnt find myself having to scan back to try to remember who is who. I think thats pretty significant, because to me, when I can remember a character, its like that character has been fleshed out and has become a person, rather than a character. (I sure hope that makes sense!) Allen treats us to a few quirky people amongst the normal ones.

Also, (again based on the first 63% of the first mystery in the series) there has been no gratuitous/superfluousviolence/sex/profanity. (Thats a lot of /!) This is not to say that there isnt implied violence/sex/profanity. Allen gets his point across when he tells one character to lock the door to another. A lot of us can get the drift as to what is going to be happening behind those locked doors.) Also, when the bad guy/gal (No spoilers here!) is hit several times and stabbed, we dont actually need a blow-by-blow description of all of his/her injuries, do we? Also, Allen mentions when one of his characters uses expletives without us having to hear (read) them.

If youre interested in reading more of these brief revisits of some of the more popular Cozy Mystery Series that Ive written in the past, you can find them at theMost Recommended Cozy Mystery Series pageon my site.

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What Im Reading Now >>> Conrad Allen is a New-to-Me ...

June Recommendations 2016

Birds of a Feather Kate Carlisle

This story is set back in SF. I enjoy the somewhat bizarre characters more so in the wine country setting, but its nice to get back to these characters, too.

A man is stabbed at the famous SF Covington library and protagonist Brooklyn Wainright finds him. Later, another man is murdered in her apt.

She is a bookbinder/restorer/book artist. An old friend (Crane) of her fiance (Derek Stone) is visiting them and much of the story involves him. Brooklyn is restoring several books and believes the murders revolve around one of them she just doesnt know which one. I found it fairly easy to ascertain one of the criminals, but the surrounding story is enlightening. Carlisle writes an exciting story filled with some wit and humor.

I must say, though, this story is heavy on the book restoration process, which doesnt interest me at all! This series is very character driven and so enjoyable that I would suggest no one be dissuaded from reading it because they dont like this topic. Several times throughout the story, I was able to skip over pages of these descriptions, which didnt take away from any of the story lines. Of course, that contributes to a faster read!

I did find a somewhat disturbing discrepancy running throughout the story, but it doesnt interfere with main story lines just a disconnect. Also, there are two unanswered questions at the end..not sure if they will be pursued in the next book or not. They arent real important just odd curiosities.

COMMENT: This author does a fantastic job of keeping the relationship between Brooklyn and Derek relevant and vibrant. They work beautifully together and their rapport adds to a pleasurable read. As with several cozy relationships, it started out antagonistic and developed into a couple relationship. MANY, many other cozy authors (some of my favorites) send the significant other (once they become a couple) on trips and their part in the story is reduced to a few phone calls. KUDOS to this author for her creativity!!! (This might be a topic worth discussing sometime do you want the male half of the couple to remain an integral part of the story or not?)

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I second Dannas recommendation!

Title Wave Lorna Barrett

This latest book is centered around a Mystery Lovers Cruise. Need I say more for this recommendation?

Since its the middle of winter, Angelica arranges for several Stoneham residents to enjoy a week on an Irish cruise ship. A murder occurs, but it really takes a back seat to other story lines.

The most interesting information gleaned from this book is the detail about authors and their travesties in writing and publishing books. Theres a lot of fascinating inside knowledge mentioned that we, as readers, have no clue about or are privy to.

Also a focus of the story is some personal issues that Tricia (protagonist) has, not highlighted in previous books. I couldnt figure out why this author kept focusing on this thread throughout the story. In fact, I was a little upset that she was changing a well-liked character into one I didnt like at all. But it came together about 2/3 through the book.

BTW, kudos to the author for providing a list of characters in the beginning of the book. It certainly helps the reader to keep everyone straight!

Not necessarily an exciting mystery, but, for sure, a somewhat thought-provoking read!

Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle Laura Disilverio

Ive had this book on the shelf since January, but hadnt gotten around to reading it. This is one of those book in which I had a very difficult time remembering the characters from the first book. Its another entry with Orient Express mystery references (as is Kylie Logans last book).

Amy-Faye (nickname A-Faye) Johnson is the protagonist. Her brother, Derek, is opening a pub in Heaven Colorado. Since A Faye is an event planner she has planned the activities for the grand opening. During this grand opening several bizarre things happen, including the murder of Dereks obnoxious partner. And, of course, Derek is the main suspect.

A-Fayes book club (readaholics) friends gather to help to solve this murder. This is a very fast paced book, as are most of Disilverios books. The characters are somewhat diverse. Dialogue quips keep the reader amused. The plot is well developed and there are several viable suspects, making attempts to figure out the solution difficult.

Again, Im surprised that editors dont pick up on factual errors. At one point it is stated that Amy Faye is five years older than her brother. At another point she states she was in 6th grade when he was in 4th. Go figure. I really think that editors often skim a manuscript/book, but dont really read them. But, obviously, this discrepancy is teeny/tiny and doesnt have anything to do with the enjoyment of the story.

The 3rd book in this series (Readaholics and the Gothic Gala) is due for release in August. Ive read four of the five series by this author (and pseudonyms). She writes only three books in a series. The disappointing part is she doesnt tie up the loose ends in the third/last book. In her beauty shop series the publisher hired another author to finish the series with a fourth book. I assume this author, after writing three books, gets bored with her characters (even though the reader doesnt) and wants to move on to another project.

Ironically in a panel discussion within the story of above-mentioned Barretts book (Title Wave), cozy authors discuss that some cozy authors only want to write three books in each series. Hmmmmm

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The following three books are the first in NEW series I really enjoyed and, thus, wanted to recommend

Disguise to Die For Diane Vallere

I had a lot of misgivings when I started this book. I already read a few pages of 2 other books and decided I didnt want to read them. I was reading in bed and was too lazy to get up to select another book. So I read and continued to read. I didnt like the location and didnt like the concept, but I continued to readeven past page 50. It was around page 100 that I got HOOKED.

After a 7 year absence, Margo returns to her home town to help her father with his costume shop after he had a heart attack. She was a Magicians assistant in Las Vegas. She rented costumes to a wealthy resident who was having a mystery costume party. A man is murdered at the party.

I guess in many ways this is a typical cozy. But the reader stays engrossed until one finishes the book. I found it difficult to put down and the story and characters stayed with me, even as I was doing other chores around the house.

I noticed a bit of editing problems, though. However, it was nothing that affected the story. Margo was living in Las Vegas for 7 years which was located about 40 miles from Proper (her hometown and where the story is set). However, because she was SO FAR away she only visited her father on holidays. Huh? Huh? Huh? I know people who drive 40 miles to work and home every day! AND, this is in desert Nevada where theres little, if any, traffic! The other distance problem was when her father was hospitalized in a town 200 miles away while on a trip. Margo and a friend reached the hospital in an hour!!! Go figure! I know, I know its minor, but the editor of this book is one that edits numerous cozies how could she miss this?!

Crime & Poetry Amanda Flower

As much as I enjoy Amanda Flowers books, when I first read about this series I wasnt going to read it because of the woo-woo aspect to the magical bookshop mystery. However, my library is my voting precinct. So I was standing in line just in front of the mystery section and I saw this book. Since standing in line was boring, I picked it up and started reading it. I was several chapters in by the time I got to the voting booth, so (of course), I had to check it out and bring it home to read.

Last month I mentioned Irish Stewed. I was totally surprised at how the first chapter in these two books were similar/identical in concept. Its my guess that these two authors even know each other since they both live in Cleveland, and their paths probably have crossed at some book events. After the first chapter the stories go in their own directions and are completely different. Just thought it was a really BIZARRE coincidence (and both released within a month of each other)!

Protagonist Violet Waverly is lured (??) to an upstate NY community by her grandmother to help with a family owned bookstore. In Chicago, she has been working on her PhD. A friend of her grandmothers is found murdered in a horse/buggy cart.

Flower always takes us on a twisted journey to find the mystery solution and this story is no exception. I was astonished as to who dun it. I did NOT see that coming! She also develops several interesting relationships. So much so, that even though there is the woo-woo, I am looking forward to the next book! BTW, the woo-woo is done in a light handed manner (through books), although its creative and complicated.

Kernel of Truth Kristi Abbott

A librarian friend recommended this book to me. Like the above two books when I first started reading it, I was unsure Id like it. In fact I didnt like the protagonist, which is usually a good reason for me not to continue. However the story line was good, and the mystery quite interesting. An added dimension is the variety of complex characters. I warmed up to the protagonist about halfway through. She has a lot of spunk (kind of a weird descriptive word to use for an adult, but it is most apt) and smarts. Shes a very outspoken person (often times to her detriment).

Protagonist Rebecca Anderson has left California after divorcing her famous chef husband and moves to small Ohio community to open a gourmet popcorn shop. Her sister and husband (police detective) and son also live there. A close friend, who also owns a shop in this community, is found murdered.

It takes awhile to get into, but it is a well-crafted, well-paced mystery. Its the first in a series and Im looking forward to the second book, Pop Goes the Murder.

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Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations June 2016 The Cozy ...

Las Vegas police arrested a man last week accused of beating his father in the head with a rock.

Officers were called to an east valley home around 4:11 p.m. on June 2 in response to a 911 call from a man who said his son had beat him with a rock, according to an arrest report from the Metropolitan Police Department.

The man told police that he was cleaning the house when he heard glass breaking in the garage. He went to the garage and found that his car windows were damaged and that his son, 31-year-old Oscar Aquino-Torres, was sitting in his car in the driveway.

When the man went over to ask his son about the damage to his car, he told police, Aquino-Torres grabbed a large rock and hit him in the head multiple times before fleeing.

The mans daughter took him to North Vista Hospital, where he got stitches for two lacerations on the front of his head and one laceration on the back of his head, according to the report.

Police told the man to call them when Aquino-Torres came back home. On July 8, he saw his sons car in the driveway and called police, who came to arrest Aquino-Torres.

Aquino-Torres was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one charge of domestic battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm. He was released on his own recognizance on July 9, court records show. He is expected in court Thursday morning.

Contact Alexis Ford at aford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexisdford on Twitter.

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Man accused of beating his dad with rock at east Las Vegas home - Las Vegas Review-Journal

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) Police in the Las Vegas area are asking for the public's help in locating the following individuals. Anyone with information is asked to contact the appropriate police department or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

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On July 17 at about 3:55 p.m. Henderson police say a robbery occurred at a business in the 4500 block of East Sunset Road. An older man simulated a possible weapon and demanded money. He left the area with an undisclosed amount of cash. Officers say he was wearing a straw hat, sunglasses, a green tracksuit and had a bandana face covering.

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On July 15 at about 11:15 p.m., an armed robbery occurred at a business near the 3600 block of West Sahara Avenue. Police say a man entered the store, gambled, and then approached the clerk and demanded his winnings plus the money from the register. He was armed with a handgun and took the money, before leaving the area on foot.

LVMPD

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On July 13 at about 9:10 p.m., a robbery with a deadly weapon occurred at a retail business in the 6100 block of West Russell Road, near Jones Boulevard, according to Las Vegas police.

The men involved in the robbery are pictured below. They were wearing masks that appeared to be of the Michael Myers movie character.

LVMPD

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Las Vegas police detectives are investigating a string of robberies to marijuana dispensary delivery drivers. Authorities are asking for help identifying the two suspects pictured below. One is believed to be between the ages of 18-25 by police, the other is believed to be under 18.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

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Anyone with further information is asked to contact the appropriate police department or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

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Most Wanted in Las Vegas for week of July 12, 2020 - KTNV Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip is slowly awakening after a nearly 80-day slumber due to the coronavirus crisis. USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS The Palazzo hotel will soon stop taking weekday room reservations.

"In response to travel demand for the summer," saidSands spokesman Keith Salwoski, "we have made a slight adjustment to our hotel operationto better reflect occupancy patterns."

Occupancy changes at the Strip-side Las Vegas Sands property start July 21.

The sidewalks and walkways outside The Venetian and Palazzo are empty on April 9, 2020.(Photo: Ed Komenda / Reno Gazette Journal)

The Venetian Resort operates three towers: The Venetian, The Palazzo and Venezia Tower. The company opens and closes floors and sometimes entire towers based on occupancy patterns.

Sands will open only The Venetian Tower Monday-Thursday. But on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the company will welcome guests to bothThe Venetian and The Palazzo guest suite towers.

While guests will not be able to stay at Palazzo on weekdays, most of the tower'samenities remain open as normal including the restaurants, casino and parking garage.

Palazzo will continue taking weekend room reservations.

Both Venetian and Palazzo reopened five weeks ago after a COVID-19 shutdown that lasted almost three months.

Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy?Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here.

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Palazzo Las Vegas to stop taking weekday reservations - Reno Gazette Journal

Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 7 a.m.

Updated 14 hours, 45 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) On July 16, 1945, the U.S military detonated the worlds first atomic bomb in New Mexico, ushering in the nuclear age.

And now on the 75th anniversary of the test code-named Trinity, nuclear weapons continue to be a hot political topic, including in Utah. The Trump administration has talked about resuming nuclear bomb testing as politicians consider renewing compensation for those still suffering from dangerous radiation exposure during the years of nuclear tests.

Utahns, too, were repeatedly exposed to radiation from nuclear bomb tests at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas. The tests were conducted when wind patterns would blow radiation clouds away from Las Vegas and California but toward Utah, where people and livestock downwind were sickened from the fallout.

Calling Thursdays anniversary a solemn occasion, retired Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch said the day reminds people of the enormous consequences of nuclear testing, including the heavy human toll exacted on some of the most vulnerable communities.

Since 1945, thousands of downwinders the men and women who lived nearby the militarys nuclear testing facility have developed severe forms of cancer and respiratory illness as a result of radiation exposure. Many of them are still suffering to this day, he said.

Now more than ever, Congress must reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act he passed in 1990 to help families who were victim to the federal governments neglect, Hatch said.

If lawmakers allow the law to expire, he said, hundreds of downwinders will be unable to pay their medical bills for issues directly related to radiation poisoning.

Updating this legislation is a moral imperative, Hatch said.

Nuclear weapons have become an issue in Utahs 4th Congressional District race between Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams and GOP challenger Burgess Owens because of President Donald Trumps talk of possibly renewing nuclear testing.

McAdams, the states only Democrat in Congress, is supporting legislation to stop further testing and succeeded in getting language in a House spending bill prohibiting the use of funds to conduct or make preparations for any explosive nuclear weapons tests.

Owens position is not as clear. The day before the June 30 primary election, he told a caller on K-TALK radio that he absolutely would support Trumps efforts to resume nuclear testing if elected, saying he believed in peace through strength as cited by President Ronald Reagan.

Yes, I will be supporting our president because he supports our country. He loves our country. He does it for free. He just needs to have some backbone in the House and Senate to make this thing happen really right, Owens said, adding after a break that we should be loyal, period to leaders he sees as behind God, family and country.

On Wednesday, Owens campaign issued a seemingly contradictory statement.

As recent discussions of nuclear testing have come up, Burgess Owens remains committed against the testing of nuclear options to happen in Utah. Burgess has expressed a desire to understand the presidents meaning of nuclear testing and has no reason to believe he has suggested anything similar to the testing done in the past, the statement said.

Owens was quoted as saying, I will be on the front line to stand against anyone who would do anything to endanger our beautiful state, its environment, or its citizens no matter their political affiliation.

Asked about the shift in Owens position, his campaign spokesman, Jesse Ranney, said because the caller on the radio referred to nuclear testing in Utah, Owens thought he was talking about something other than Trump considering conducting the countrys first nuclear weapons test since 1992.

Owens made that assumption because it seemed so erratic hed be asked if he supported bombs going off in Utah or close, Ranney said.

Burgess has no reason to believe the president had any desire to test nuclear weapons in Utah. On the subject of nuclear testing, Burgess welcomes scientists in safe environments like labs exploring the capabilities of nuclear energy, Ranney said, adding, hes against the testing of bombs in Nevada as well.

McAdams campaign manager, Andrew Roberts, said he still sees Owens as backing new testing.

I take Burgess Owens at his word. Owens said he absolutely supports nuclear weapons testing here in Utah. That his campaign subsequently realized his position is untenable and is trying to have it both ways doesnt change what Burgess said or believes.

Owens, a former NFL player who won the Republican nomination with nearly 44% of the vote in a four-way primary race, also backed the extension of the act compensating downwinders exposed to radiation from nuclear testing in Nevada.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress should work together on an extension, Owens said. We owe a debt to those impacted by nuclear testing in the past, and must own up to our responsibility to them.

McAdams is a co-sponsor of amendments that would increase compensation and expand the reach of the program.

A message from Trump on the Trinity test anniversary doesnt specifically mention starting nuclear testing again nor does it mention downwinders.

But the president said nuclear weapons continue to underwrite American national security and are the backstop of national defense.

In order to continue protecting Americas vital security interests, I have directed my administration to revitalize and modernize Americas nuclear security complex to preserve a credible deterrent, Trump said. We are investing in the capability to produce plutonium pits to support our stockpile needs and to improve the infrastructure of the weapons ecosystem.

The government continues to advance the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, the B-21 bomber, the Long Range Standoff Weapon and the Columbia-class submarine, all of which help ensure that we can deter aggression and preserve peace for future generations.

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Nuclear weapons testing hot topic 75 years after test - Las Vegas Sun

Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 4:25 p.m.

Updated 5 hours, 21 minutes ago

TORONTO (AP) The Blue Jays won't play their home games in Toronto this year because Canada's government doesn't think it's safe for players to travel back and forth from the United States, one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Saturday the federal government had denied the Blue Jays' request to play at Rogers Centre, confirming what an official familiar with the matter had told The Associated Press ahead of the announcement.

The team had been given clearance by city and provincial governments to play in its home stadium and was awaiting approval from Canadas federal government. The other 29 Major League Baseball teams plan to play in their home ballparks, without spectators, when the pandemic-shortened 60-game season begins on July 23.

Mendicino told The AP frequent travel to the U.S., where COVID-19 cases are surging, was the biggest issue.

There were serious risks if we proceeded with the regular-season proposal of the MLB and the Jays and therefore we concluded it was not in the national interest, Mendicino said. I get that some people will disappointed but this decision cant be taken as a fan. It is taken on behalf of the health and safety of Canadians.

The Blue Jays were informed via a phone call. The team's alternate sites for home games include its training facility in Dunedin, Florida, which is among the states that are virus hotspots, as well as Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, which is home to Toronto's Triple-A affiliate and just across the Niagara River from Canada.

Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said player health is a concern in Florida. He said the team has spent more time examining Buffalo in recent days but said the stadium has infrastructure challenges. A lack of space in the clubhouse makes social distancing difficult, but Shapiro said some players could have their lockers set up in suites. Sahlen Field also needs upgrades to its field lights and its training facilities, he said.

Dunedin is the only one that is 100% seamless right now and ready to go. That from a player health standpoint has some challenges," Shapiro said. "Buffalo is certainly one that weve spent an increasing amount of time on in the past few weeks. That is not done. There are some infrastructure and player-facility challenges to get that up to major league standards. And then we have other alternatives that are real that we continue to work through that may be better for us.

He declined to say what other sites they are considering. He said they would look to improve batting cages, weight rooms and training rooms in Buffalo if it is picked.

Buffalo is the place we've spent the most time on in the last 10 days, Shapiro said. There is a lot we have to do. Some of it might get done after we start playing but I'm confident Buffalo is a viable alternative. With the amount of resources that we would marshal if we focused solely on Buffalo we can make it what it needs to be for us in time to play games.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start the season July 24 at Tampa Bay. Their home opener was set for five days later against Washington.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz have pushed for the team to relocate to the city.

Lets find a way to make them the Buffalo Blue Jays this year, Poloncarz wrote in a text to The AP.

Shapiro called Canada's decision disappointing but gave health officials credit for mitigating the spread of the virus.

Without any hesitation we respect the decision. Its not hard to think about how well managed and well led the virus has been throughout Toronto and Canada by public health and political leaders, Shapiro said.

We move forward with no excuses knowing that all of our alternatives are going to be somewhat imperfect.

Mendicino said the government is open to considering future restart plans for the postseason should the risk of virus transmission diminish.

We've committed to maintaining an open line of communication with both MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays and we will reassess in due course, he said.

MLB needed an exemption to a requirement that anyone entering Canada for nonessential reasons must self-isolate for 14 days. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel until at least Aug. 21.

In Canada youve seen us flatten the curve. Youve seen that cases have decreased significantly and that is largely attributable to the sacrifices Canadians have made. We can ill afford a step back, Mendicino said.

We think this is the right call and it is backed by the evidence and advice of our health experts. And fans who still would like to see baseball will still be able to watch the broadcast, just from a different location.

The NHL has received an exemption for its restart to the season, but that was a far simpler case because the games are restricted to two hubs Edmonton and Toronto.

The Blue Jays received an exemption for summer camp, during which the players agreed to isolate in the hotel attached to Rogers Centre and create a quarantine environment. Players are not allowed to leave the stadium or hotel and violators face fines of up to $750,000 Canadian ($551,000 U.S.) and up to six months in jail.

Toronto Mayor John Tory had lobbied the federal government to approve the plan but said Saturday he understands the decision given the situation in the U.S.

Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network, said the city and province were wrong to push for games to be played in Canada.

Its very clear that having people coming from the U.S. repeatedly is not the right thing to do, Morris said. This should have been by a decision made in Toronto or by the province. Its a bit disappointing it had to be made in Ottawa.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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No Canada: Blue Jays barred from playing games in Toronto - Las Vegas Sun

A lot of talk has focused on the Raiders moving to a brand new city and playing in a brand new stadium, and rightfully so. But something was brought up that I hadnt really given much thought to yet. The weather.

As someone who has gone to Las Vegas my fair share of times during the summer, I can confirm that it gets very, very, very hot there. A lot hotter than Oakland in the summer.

Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock said him and his head coach Jon Gruden have been talking to others who have been in their shows before about how to beat the heat in Las Vegas.

Heres what Mayock had to say during an interview with ESPN Las Vegas.

Weve had some conversations with people who have coached [in Vegas] before, like Tony Sanchez who was at UNLV, and just asked about what time we have to be done practicing, or what can we do outside? The advantage we have, as opposed to UNLV, is that we have the grass fields outside, we have the indoor climate-controlled filed, and we have a stadium.

So, we really have three different places that we can rotate through, and based on what we heard, if were going to be outside, we probably have to be done by 10, 10:30 in the morning in July and August. I think we can figure that out because we have three different surfaces to practice on, but the harder part is we dont even know what the deal is with training camp and the acclimation period.

I guess the good thing is the fact they have multiple options and they have indoor options. However, you still have to respect them for being out there in those conditions.

Personally, I cant even imagine what it would be like tailgating for a Raiders game out there when its 90-100 degrees. But hey, with all the fun youd be having, who even cares.

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Raiders news: Mike Mayock prepared to handle heat of Las Vegas - Silver And Black Pride

LAS VEGAS Las Vegas police say a mom who was drunk was going 121 miles per hour moments before a collision that killed her 1-year-old son, according to a report.

Thecrash happened Sunday evening, July 12, and callers to police reporting the crash said the baby was thrown from the car and showed no signs of life, Fox 5 Las Vegasreported.

The station identified the baby as Royce Jones.

Mom LaurenPrescia, 23, of Las Vegas, was facing multiple charges including DUI resulting in death, felony reckless driving and abuse, neglect or endangerment of a child, according to the station.

Prescia was behind the wheel of a 2020 Hyundai Sonata when she struck a 2011 Nissan Sentra being driven by a 36-year-old woman who suffered minor injuries, police said in a news release. The Nissan was making a turn at the time.

Fox 5 reported that police said 2.5 seconds before the crash, Prescias vehicle reached a max speed of 121 mph.

Officers on scene said she had bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol, according to the station citing the arrest report.

A man at the scene who said he was the babys father told police that before the crash Prescia said she would beat him home, then began speeding, the station reported.

He told police that after the crash he ran to his son who was still in his car seat.

For more, check out FOXNews.com.

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Police: Las Vegas woman reached 121 mph before crash that killed 1-year-old son - WITI FOX 6 Milwaukee

Published Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 8:45 a.m.

Updated 12 hours, 30 minutes ago

CINCINNATI (AP) During a background briefing with reporters in December, President Donald Trump's reelection campaign team gave only passing mention of Ohio. Certainly no one suggested a full-scale fall advertising strategy for the state he carried convincingly in 2016.

But less than four months until this November's election, Trump is facing an unexpectedly competitive landscape in Ohio because he has lost ground in metropolitan and suburban areas, threatening the overwhelming advantages he has in rural areas, state data show.

Trump's campaign has budgeted $18.4 million in television advertising in Ohio for this fall, second only to Florida, according to campaign advertising tracking data.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has named Aaron Pickrell, a former top Ohio adviser to Barack Obama's presidential campaign, as a senior strategist, Biden campaign officials said. Four other campaign staff members in the state were announced Friday. But the Biden campaign has not gone so far as to book its own television advertising in Ohio, where 18 electoral votes are at stake. Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points four years ago.

Still, Trump's heavy investment in Ohio and a series of midterm and municipal government gains by Democrats since 2016 suggest the president probably will have even more difficult terrain in other pivotal states in the industrial heartland Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin that he won by much smaller margins.

These are all big, flashing warning signs, said former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod. If he were a patient, and you were a doctor, youd look at this and say, Youve got problems, buddy.

Republican presidential candidates have been steadily losing support in Ohio's once reliably GOP suburbs around Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. But Trump's fall was particularly sharp, according to state voting data and census records compiled by Mike Dawson, a public policy consultant and creator of ohioelectionresults.com.

For instance, in the affluent northern Columbus-area suburb of Upper Arlington, Republican George H. W. Bush won by 34 percentage points in 1992. Twenty years later, Republican Mitt Romney's winning margin there was 8 percentage points. In 2016, Trump lost Upper Arlington to Hillary Clinton by 16 percentage points.

A similar picture emerged in the 10 wealthiest suburbs outside Cleveland in Cuyahoga County. In Franklin County outside Columbus, Trump lost nine of the 10 most affluent suburbs, a sharp decline from other Republicans over the past 24 years.

The trend was worst in suburban Hamilton County outside Cincinnati, where Trump's losing margin in the 10 richest suburbs was at least 50% of Republicans' total decline since 1992.

College educated suburbanites in Ohio, particularly college educated women, were not as supportive of the president in 2016 as theyve traditionally been of Republican presidential nominees, and that will continue in 2020," said Karl Rove, senior adviser to President George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2004, when the Republican won election in part by narrowly carrying Ohio. Trump has a problem with them.

Andrea Granieri, 34, from the eastern Cincinnati suburb of Anderson Township, had been a lifelong Republican, until Trump.

I could not vote for Donald Trump. I just couldnt do it," Granieri said, noting the explanation she would owe her two children some day. I could not endorse the way he talks to people and how he talks about people."

Still, Rove said that Trump maintains a clear path to carrying Ohio: Its to repeat his 2016 performance in 2020."

That includes matching and, in some instances, exceeding his overwhelming margins in the GOP-heavy counties along the Indiana border and the struggling industrial Mahoning River Valley corridor and along the Ohio River to the south.

But Rove said Trump must also do what he did in 2016 in suburban Cincinnati, Dayton, Cleveland and Columbus."

History suggests that's going to be hard, some Ohio Republicans say.

Can the electoral leakage for Republicans in these first- and second-ring suburbs continue to be offset by running up the score along the Ohio River? said former state Republican Party Chair Kevin DeWine, a former state representative and second cousin to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. We have to be honest as Republicans and say we are dangerously close to that tipping point.

During an August 2018 special election, Danny O'Connor came within 1,700 votes out of more than 200,000 of becoming the first Democrat in 36 years to win Ohio's 12th Congressional District, which includes once solidly Republican Delaware County. Trump came to campaign for O'Connor's opponent, Rep. Troy Balderson, and helped pull him to victory.

Democrats continued making inroads in 2018, picking up six suburban state legislative seats.

That November, Erik Yassenoff, in losing his bid for a northern Columbus-area district, became the first Republican candidate for Ohio General Assembly to lose Upper Arlington.

I think youre seeing people in the suburbs align more with the urban populations," Yassenoff said.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper has watched as younger, educated and often more racially and ethnically diverse families have sought the top schools and other comforts of Ohio's booming suburbs since the mid-2000s.

The trend was especially clear last year as Democrats scored victories in local suburban elections.

"This is where the fundamental shift has happened, what used to be the base of the Republican Party, these larger, generally white-collar suburbs around Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland and Akron," Pepper said.

In Yassenoff's Upper Arlington, voters elected their first Democrats to its City Council. In nearby Hilliard, Democrats won their first seat on the City Council in three decades. There were similar Democratic municipal gains in Republican-leaning suburbs around Toledo and Dayton, as well as in communities outside Cleveland.

Perhaps most telling, southeast of Columbus in the old Republican suburb of Reynoldsburg, Democrats swept the municipal elections and elected three Black female council members, a first for the city.

What it tells us is that more people are becoming engaged and involved," said Meredith Lawson-Rowe, among the new Reynoldsburg council members.

Even as Trumps standing began to fall after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Ohio was not seen as a concern, campaign officials said. But polls in other states showing close races in Iowa, Georgia and even Texas have also now shaken the firm grip on Ohio.

Biden's team and national Democrats think they can compete at a minimum to force Trump to defend Ohio, perhaps with money that could be spent in its must-win regional neighbors.

Spokesman David Bergstein of the Democratic National Committee put it simply: Id say Trump is clearly facing headwinds in Ohio and hes being squeezed."

___

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in Washington contributed to this report.

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Trump's trouble in suburbs key to suddenly competitive Ohio - Las Vegas Sun

Steve Marcus

Stuffed animals and flowers are shown at a makeshift memorial near the intersection of Rampart at Lake Mead boulevards Tuesday, July 14, 2020. One-year-old Royce Jones was killed in a traffic accident at the siteSunday.

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez (contact)

Thursday, July 16, 2020 | 2 a.m.

As night fell Tuesday, items that remained scattered around the heavily-damaged shopping center marquee near Rampart and Lake Mead boulevards illustrated the tragedy that ensued 48 hours before.

The punishing Las Vegas heat had wilted flowers and deflated Spider-Man balloons that swayed in the breeze at the impromptu memorial. Stuffed animals, still in good shape, surrounded them. A passerby with a trained eye might have seen charred brush, shattered glass, a broken wooden sign, and a bent exhaust pipe lying around.

Yellow lines painted by Metro Police investigators, veering from Rampart into the entrance of a shopping center, showed the turbulent path Lauren Loanna Prescias car took after it nicked another vehicle at 121 mph Sunday, subsequently smashing into the base of the marquee, which severed her car in two, instantly killing her 1-year-old son, Royce.

The posted speed limit on that road is 45 mph.

Prescia, 23, whom officers allege slurred her words and smelled of alcohol, walked away with minor injuries, according to her arrest report. Royce died strapped in his childs car seat in the back of his mothers unrecognizable 2020 Hyundai Sonata.

His father, Cameron Hubbard-Jones, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a felony count of reckless driving causing the death of a juvenile.

Hubbard-Jones witnessed the crash from a separate vehicle, which had also accelerated to 100 mph in passing Prescias vehicle before the fatality.

In the womans arrest report, he told investigators that he was driving about 60 mph, noting Prescia must have been going 80 mph. They were on the phone, and he pleaded with her to slow down because their child was with her, he said.

Little is known about why they were speeding. The crash followed a custody exchange in which Prescia told Hubbard-Jones that she was going to beat him home.

It wasnt clear where they were heading.

Prescia told officers that she drank 24 ounces of an alcoholic seltzer beverage more than three hours before the crash, which occurred at 7:17 p.m. Shes out on a $50,000 bail, but is facing counts of DUI resulting in death, reckless driving and child abuse or neglect.

She is only allowed to go to work and medical appointments but isnt allowed to drive, court records show. She didnt have a listed attorney to speak on her behalf.

Had the motorist Prescia struck, who turned into her path on Rampart, made it to the lane she intended to turn into, she also would have likely died, Metro Sgt. Paul McCullough told the Sun Wednesday morning.

And had Prescia struck the marquee head-on, she couldve suffered her sons fate, McCullough said in calling her incredibly fortunate.

The boy didnt stand a chance of survival, McCullough added.

Driving drunk at 121 mph

McCullough arrived at the scene to find the car split in two.

The dynamics of the collision were disgusting, he said. Discovering that it was an infant child that was involved was quite upsetting, and it had an effect on everyone out there.

In his 23 years as a Las Vegas cop, he cant remember another victim who was that young.

The crash, the fourth fatality investigated by Metros traffic unit in seven days, remained under investigation. On Wednesday morning their priority was to track down dash-cam video that KLAS-TV had obtained and broadcast the previous night, which shows both vehicles speeding down the road before the crash. Hubbard-Jones Mercedes-Benz is seen driving ahead of Prescia.

McCullough, who described the crash as unbelievable, said investigators were still trying to determine the mechanics of it, such as seeing if Prescia applied the brakes.

Data from the car showed that Prescia had accelerated to maximum throttle five seconds prior to the crash, reaching 121 mph a couple seconds before, meaning she was traveling about 175 feet per second. After impact with the other vehicle, her car traveled more than 400 feet, spinning along the way, and hitting the marquee.

Hubbard-Jones said he saw Prescia walk away, while he tried to tend to his boy. The distraught father later told a second TV station he thought Royce was also OK, until he tried to lift his tiny head.

Bothered by the crash, McCullough laments many things, such as how apparently no one called 911 as the cars were speeding down Rampart, and how people with video went to the press instead of to police, or how these crashes keep happening.

Its so frustrating, he said, comparing their pleas to Las Vegas drivers to beating a dead horse.

We seem to have a portion of the community that just doesnt care. And whether it be drunk driving, reckless driving, racing, its just out of control, he added.

"Absolutely devastating"

Andrew Bennett, spokesman for Nevadas Office of Traffic Safety, became emotional when he saw the report early Monday. Any loss of life is devastating, especially when it involves such a young person ... someone who has so much life in front of them, he said.

He described it as absolutely devastating and selfish.

Bennett became a staunch advocate for public safety after his teenage sister was killed by a drunk driver more than a decade ago. He later found a career in that role.

Theres probably only a few times where Ive been moved by emotion, he said about reading about Royces death, even when hes read hundreds of traffic fatality reports. He equates it to the gut punch he felt when 8-year-old Levi Echenique died after an impaired driver hit his familys car as he was heading to school almost two years ago.

Bennett said Nevadas traffic safety office strives for accountability, responsibility and respect for life from drivers.

All three of those were clearly not demonstrated on Sunday evening. And, you know, this little boy was the one who was the victim and everybody else walked away, he said. Thats so unfair to him, its unfair to our community as a whole youll never know what this little boy could have accomplished in his life.

Bennett advised witnesses to reckless driving to immediately call 911 or *NHP (647) when on a highway.

Its Bennetts hope that public memorials like the one honoring Royce on Rampart arent again needed. Mourning an accident victim is painful. Its magnified when its a child.

Strangers are continuing to show up to the accident site to pay their respects. Some simply stare at the growing memorial.

A couple embraced after lighting candles, and another couple showed up to drop off a small stuffed bear and rose. Their kid was playing a soccer game nearby, and they just wanted to pay their respects to the child.

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'Unbelievable' Las Vegas car crash that killed baby haunts those investigating - Las Vegas Sun

School supplies and information are shown at booths at the Cox Back to School Fair at the Galleria at Sunset mall on Saturday, Aug. 6,2016.

By John Sadler (contact)

Saturday, July 18, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Kristan Nigro, a kindergarten teacher in Clark County, has bought math games, pencils, crayons and other supplies out of her own pocket for years.

After eight years teaching, she estimates she spends about $500 to $750 a year on supplies.

Without those things, I dont think I could do what I do in my classroom, she said.

To help offset some of those expenses, a special state fund reimbursed teachers a couple hundred dollars a year.

It appears thats about to end.

A budget-cutting bill expected to pass the Legislature today eliminates the Teachers School Supplies Reimbursement Account, initially earmarked to get $4.5 million in fiscal 2021.

Its a tiny part of a plan to close a $1.2 billion hole in the state budget caused by a steep drop in tax revenue from business closures during the coronavirus pandemic.

For Nigro and other teachers, its something else.

This is kind of just another slap to the face that just shows Nevada has no desire to better education, Nigro said.

According to the National Education Association, U.S. teachers on average spend $459 annually of their own money on school supplies. In Nevada, the average is $534 a year.

The reimbursement program is a popular one in Nevada. During the 2019-2020 school year, an estimated 15,644 teachers in the Clark County School District participated in the program.

A total of $3.1 million was sent to Clark County teachers through the program in fiscal 2020. The average was a little over $190 per teacher.

The cuts to the teachers reimbursement fund are part of a much larger expected cut to K-12 education. A total of $156 million was targeted from K-12 schools over the protestations of educators and education activists.

The cuts come as public school districts are facing unprecedented health and safety expenses as they prepare for instruction to resume during the pandemic.

The likely effects will be felt in the fall, as programs that would decrease class sizes, work toward making sure kids can read by third grade and help English-language learners are all on the chopping block.

The Nevada State Education Association said the cuts could hurt some of the states neediest students.

Monies cut from school equity programs will erase years of work to meet the needs of the most vulnerable students, the association said in a statement submitted for public comment.

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Money for teachers to buy pencils, crayons on chopping block - Las Vegas Sun

WASHINGTON Here are some snapshots from what President Donald Trump describes as the nation with the best testing in the world" for the coronavirus:

In Sun Belt states wherethe virus is surging, lines of cars with people seeking tests snake for hours in the beating sun, often yielding results so far after the fact that they're useless.

In Pittsburgh, adults who are afraid theyve been exposed to the coronavirus are being asked to skip testing if they can quarantine at home for 14 days to help reduce delays and backlogs.

In Hawaii, the governor will wait another month to lift a two-week quarantine on visitors because of test supply shortages and delays that potential visitors are facing in getting results.

Testing has been a challenge everywhere, says Utah Republican Gov. Gary Herbert.

The White House insists its giving states whatever they need. But public health experts say the testing system is in shambles and federal leadership is lacking. Trump's persistent salesmanship about the prowess of testing in the United States is colliding with a far different reality for those affected by the explosion in coronavirus cases.

The long lines and processing delays are contributing to the virus spread and upending plans to reopen stores, schools and other activities that are vital to the economic rebound that Trump himself is intent on bringing about.

We have the best testing in the world, the president insisted Tuesday. He falsely claimed the cases are created because of the fact that we do tremendous testing.

But U.S. testing on a per-capita basis lags other countries that have done a far better job of controlling their outbreaks. And state, local and federal officials are warning of the consequences of testing bottlenecks including tests rendered useless because results come too late.

Its essentially worthless to have a test result that comes back after 48 hours, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who previously served as Baltimores health commissioner. She explained that after that time, the window to begin contact tracing and prevent additional infections has essentially closed.

We are nowhere near being able to rein in this virus with the amount of testing we have available at the moment, she added. Testing is the linchpin.

The Trump administration plays down the problem.

Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant health secretary, says more than half of U.S. states are processing test results in three days or less, adding everybody is doing a really good job as much as they can.

Guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that states, as they lift final virus restrictions, have a turnaround time under two days.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany suggests that it's states that need to do more.

There are various different types of tests in this country," she said Thursday. "Some take longer to process than others. But we have surged testing to the states and we encourage them to use it to their best ability and to process those tests as quickly as possible.

Yet even Republican governors say they need more federal help.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, chairman of the National Governors Association, is deeply critical of the administrations testing response.

We expected something more than constant heckling from the man who was supposed to be our leader," Hogan wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post this week. "Trump soon disabused us of that expectation.

On April 6, he declared that testing wasnt Washingtons responsibility after all," Hogan went on. 'States can do their own testing,'" he quoted Trump as saying. 'Were the federal government. Were not supposed to stand on street corners doing testing.'

Whoever is responsible for testing shortfalls, the result is working against Trump's own goals to move beyond the virus and get the economy moving.

In Hawaii, Democratic Gov. David Ige said a shortage of chemical reagents used in testing was one reason the state will delay a plan to make it easier for tourists to visit. It was a huge disappointment to many in Hawaii hoping for a surge in tourism to reopen hotels, get people back to work and reduce the states 22.6% unemployment rate.

In Pennsylvanias Allegheny County, which encompasses Pittsburgh and 1.2 million residents, health officials are trying to triage the demand for tests. Dr. Debra Bogen, director of the countys Health Department, is asking adults who are concerned that they were exposed, but do not have symptoms, to put off getting tested.

Even as the White House sticks with its rosy outlook, the U.S. governments top official in charge of coronavirus testing is urging Americans not to get retested for COVID-19 to confirm theyve recovered.

Its clogging up the system, Giroir said. He said U.S. officials will soon issue guidelines explicitly recommending against the practice, except for patients in the most severe cases.

The American Clinical Laboratory Association said many of its labs are being stretched beyond capacity or dont have the supplies they need, and this week encouraged members to give priority to those most in need, especially hospitalized and symptomatic patients.

I feel a bit like a broken record nothing has really changed, said Dr. Carmen Wiley, president of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry. "Theres a huge disconnect between what the task force indicates is happening and what we are truly experiencing in the field.

U.S. officials are aiming to increase the use of rapid tests to shorten turnaround times. Those tests can usually be developed in 15 minutes or less and be performed at testing sites, doctors offices and clinics. They tend to be less accurate than the tests that need to be processed at clinical laboratories.

This week U.S. health officials announced they would begin shipping rapid testing machines and kits to nursing homes in COVID-19 hot spots. The goal is to eventually provide the equipment to all nursing homes in the U.S.

The Health and Human Services Department has also been establishing surge test sites in hot spot areas to increase testing for vulnerable populations, said Devin OMalley a spokesman for Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the coronavirus task force.

Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University, called the Trump administrations claims about effective testing laughable.

The on-the-ground experience, in fact, is borne out by the data, Gostin said. We dont have the testing kits. We dont have the labs to process it. There are backlogs. All of this is very unhelpful.

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Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing' - Las Vegas Sun