The film version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s popular musical was originally set for theatrical release in October. The musical’s director, Tommy Kail, shot three live performances featuring the original Broadway cast. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Little Richard, the pioneer and rock ‘n’ roll originator, died on Saturday, May 9. His son, Danny Penniman, confirmed the news but the cause of death is unknown. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jerry Stiller’s son, actor and director Ben Stiller, announced his father’s death via Twitter. Jerry Stiller became widely known with a recurring role on “Seinfeld” as Frank Costanza, George’s hot-headed father. He also starred on “King of Queens.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
On May 5, the U.S. Supreme Court released a statement confirming Ruth Bader Ginsburg had been hospitalized. The 87-year-old Supreme Court Justice reportedly had to undergo nonsurgical treatment for an infection caused by a gallstone. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Vegas Summer League has cemented the NBA’s foothold in the city and become a staple for both the league and the community. .
Co-founders Warren Legarie and Albert Hall launched the league in 2004 with six teams at Cox Pavilion. It drew an average of 12,199 in 2019.
It slowly snowballed, drawing 16 teams in 2005, 22 in 2007 and eventually all 30 in 2018. It occupies the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. Games are televised across a variety of platforms.
In addition to a showcase for young players, Vegas Summer League is a meeting ground for the league’s executives, agents and top players.
The G League Winter Showcase also came to Las Vegas in 2018, providing the NBA with a local presence in the summer and winter.
Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman had hoped to bring an NBA Franchise to Las Vegas, and helped the city get the All-Star Game in 2007.
The league descended on Las Vegas that February, engaging the community with several events and contesting the game at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The West won 153-132 and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was named MVP. .
But chaos ensued on the Strip afterward as local police and casino security were overwhelmed by an influx of visitors. More than 400 were reportedly arrested.
Goodman said the weekend was “disastrous,” but the game itself and the events in the community were very positive.
Nicolas Cage is headed to television to take on the role of Joe Exotic, the iconic character
from the Netflix docuseries “Tiger King.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The holiday celebrates the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Mexico began the holiday in 1862, but
does not recognize it nationally anymore. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is responsible for one of the most iconic sporting moments in Las Vegas history.
The Lakers star center emerged as one of the NBA’s marquee scorers from time he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969.
He spent the first 14 years of his career scoring and scoring and scoring, tracking down former Lakers legend Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 31,419 points to become the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The Lakers played the Utah Jazz at Thomas & Mack Center on April 5, 1984, and Kareem needed 21 points that night to eclipse Chamberlain.
He scored 22 before a sellout crowd, passing Chamberlain for good with a skyhook — regarded the most unstoppable shot in NBA history. .
Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with 38,387 points to go with six NBA championships and six MVPs. He is still the all-time leading scorer and lauded as one of the game’s all-time greats.
The Utah Jazz played 11 games at the Thomas & Mack Center in 1983-84, introducing Las Vegas to professional team sports. .
The team’s owner, Sam Battistone, sought to increase regional support for the Jazz, who’d yet to make the playoffs in four seasons in Utah.
The Jazz had the best season in franchise history, finishing 45-37 and qualifying for the NBA Playoffs. Adrian Dantley and Rickey Green were both All-Stars. The team won its first-ever playoff series.
The Jazz played two more home games in 1984-85, but left Thomas & Mack for good afterward.
According to CNN Business, the chain plans to start releasing the kits on May 4. Chick-fil-A predicts that half of its national locations will carry the meals. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The former senate aide claims Biden assaulted her in 1993 when he was a senator. Biden first denied the accusations via a public post on Medium. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The Labor Department released the tally of the most recent jobless claims on Thursday. First-time claims for the week ending on April 25 increased by more than 3.84 million. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
MW commissioner Craig Thompson says more questions than answers. UNLV AD Desiree Reed-Francois has contingency plans in place. Rebels football coach Marcus Arroyo doesn’t know when season will begin. UNLV is scheduled to move to Allegiant Stadium this year. Basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger also could have season affected. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The airline will require passengers to wear face coverings beginning on May 4. Travelers must wear face masks while checking in, boarding, throughout the flight and deplaning. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Kristin Cavallari, the “Very Cavallari” star, announced she and her husband, former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler, have separated after seven years of marriage and 10 years together. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
“Saturday Night Live’ aired their second socially distanced episode of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 25. The episode’s cold open featured actor Brad Pitt portraying Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Brad Pitt Portrays Dr. Anthony Fauci
on ‘Saturday Night Live’.
On April 25, ‘Saturday Night Live’ aired their second
socially distanced episode of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The episode’s cold open featured actor Brad Pitt
portraying Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
The decision to have Pitt take on the role was a nod to Fauci’s previous comment that he would want Pitt to portray him on the late-night show.
During the skit, Pitt took on
Dr. Fauci’s signature raspy
voice and hand gestures.
As is expected from ‘SNL,’ he also mocked
current president Donald Trump and his
mishandling of COVID-19.
I don’t know if I would describe the test as ‘beautiful,’ unless your idea
of beauty is having a cotton swab tickle your brain … Also when he said everyone can get a test what he meant was almost no one, Brad Pitt, via ‘SNL’.
At the end of the skit, Pitt dropped his character
to deliver a more sincere message to Dr. Fauci,
thanking him for his “calm” and “clarity.”.
And to the real Dr. Fauci thank you for your calm and your clarity in this unnerving time and thank you to the medical workers, first responders and their families for being on the front line, Brad Pitt, via ‘SNL’
The Labor Department released the numbers on Thursday. The five-week total of those who have filed claims since the beginning of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak now exceeds 26.4 million. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
NBC recently announced that the cast of their beloved show, ’Parks and Recreation,’ would soon be reunited for a charity special featuring an “all-new story.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Reckitt Benckiser, the company that makes Lysol and Dettol, is warning customers not to ingest its cleaning products after President Trump suggested that ingesting disinfectants could help protect people against the coronavirus. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
The CDC now recommends wearing cloth masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But are they suitable for babies? According to the CDC, masks should not be used for children under age 2. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
During the daily White House press conference on Tuesday, President Donald Trump revealed the details of the upcoming executive order. Trump said the order will be reassessed after 60 days “based on economic conditions” of the U.S. (Las Vegas Review-Journal
President Donald Trump announced the executive order in a Monday night tweet. As of Tuesday morning, the White House has offered no details of Trump’s forthcoming order. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
According to South Korean online newspaper Daily NK, Kim Jong Un had a cardiovascular procedure performed on April 12. He reportedly received the procedure because of
“excessive smoking, obesity and overwork.” (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration revealed that the test had received emergency approval. The new kit, produced by North Carolina-based LabCorp, allows people to collect their own sample from home and send it to be tested. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
U.S. crude prices reached their lowest level on record, with West Texas Intermediate crude dropping to minus $37.63 a barrel on April 20. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Esports is competitive video gaming. Esports betting already is one of the fastest-growing segments for European online bookmakers. A growing number of Nevada sportsbooks are also accepting bets on esports events.
Actor Brian Dennehy died Wednesday in New Haven, Connecticut. Dennehy’s acting career spanned more than four decades, working in television, film and theater. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
On April 13, former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders announced his official endorsement of former Vice President Joe Biden. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)