Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Ed Graney previews what to expect as the Raiders offseason program gets underway in Oakland, California.
A bull escaped from its corral in the north Las Vegas valley today, according to Las Vegas police. (Courtesy Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez talks to the Las Vegas Review-Journal at his gym in San Diego on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, about how he go to become the face of boxing, and his showdown with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
1. UNLV has offered the vacant athletic director position to Virginia Tech deputy athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois. According to multiple sources close to the situation, Reed-Francois and UNLV were close to finalizing a deal on Friday. She won over the search committee with her ability to market and raise funds, and her vast experience in many areas. One source said she checked off a lot of boxes with her leadership qualities, law degree, hiring of coaches and NFL experience, including a job as a legal associate for the Oakland Raiders.
2. While the housing market in Las Vegas has improved, the Valley still suffers from widespread squatter problems in recent years. Squatters are enabled by thousands of vacant homes that still have some functioning utilities, and the use of fake leases. Most utility companies don’t force all customers to prove they are the rightful owners or tenants from the beginning of service, and instead only acquire the information after delinquent payments.
3. And follow a gallon of water from Lake Mead to the farthest tap in the Las Vegas Valley. The journey from Lake Mead to Summerlin requires a lot of infrastructure, energy and engineering. Pick up a copy of today’s paper or visit reviewjournal.com to read more.
Feral bunnies run rampant at many of Las Vegas’ parks and golf courses. Rogue bunny caretakers have made it their mission to feed and provide water for the bunnies on a weekly basis. (Sarah Corsa)
Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant talked about what it’ll take to lead the first NHL team in Las Vegas. This will be his second time coaching an expansion team since he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
1. Part of Las Vegas Boulevard was shut down overnight after a fire on the roof of the Bellagio Hotel. The roof of a few shops near the famed fountain caught fire but burned for under half an hour. Nobody was injured and no hotel rooms were affected. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
2. Wal-Mart will be investing millions of dollars into 3 Las Vegas Valley properties. Wal-Mart on Serene near Eastern will be remodeled, along with Sam’s Club on Arroyo Crossing Parkway near Rainbow and Sam’s Club on Craig Road near Losee Road. The update and remodels are a part of a wave of renovations by the company.
3. A brothel owner has plans for a Raiders-themed property near Las Vegas. Dennis Hof’s seventh brothel has the planned name of Pirate’s Booty Sports Brothel and says the location could be “the official prostitution provider to one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.”
Clark County Fire Department deputy fire chief Jeff Buchanan talks about how to avoid bees, and what to do if a swarm comes after you. (Brooke Wanser/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee speaks about what it’ll take to build a winning hockey team and how George Gallant’s history as a player will benefit him as the head coach.
At a news conference at the T-Mobile Arena, the Vegas Golden Knights introduced Gerard Gallant as their head coach.
The Regional Transportation Commission offered up potential safety measures, like reducing wrap ads on buses and live stream cameras inside the buses, following a shooting inside an RTC bus in March. (Elaine Wilson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Pedro Lopez talks about the 51s’ loss to Fresno on April 12, 2017 at Cashman Field. (Betsy Helfand/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Springs Preserve Exhibits Curator presents “Robert Wadlow” exhibit. (By Carol Cling)
The Nevada Athletic Commission reduced Nate Diaz’s sanction for his role in the UFC 202 press conference fracas. Diaz and Conor McGregor threw bottles towards each other last August and their actions resulted in disciplinary measures.
1. A Las Vegas doctor convicted of murder in the 2007 Hepatitis C outbreak has died in prison. Dipak Desai was serving life in prison with the possibility of parole on 27 counts, including second-degree murder. Desai’s lawyer Richard Wright argued that Desai was unfit to stand trial after suffering multiple strokes. The Washoe County coroner’s office is expected to determine Desai’s cause of death.
2. A 9-vehicle crash has closed down southbound traffic on I-15 near Moapa. Clark County Fire Department says five semitrailers and four passenger cars were involved in the wreck at about 2:50 a.m. No injuries were reported but lanes were still closed as of 7:30 a.m.
3. MGM Resorts valets fear for a decrease in income after an announcement that parking rates will rise again. One valet that spoke to the Las Vegas Review-Journal said his income decreased by $20,000 a year due to parking rates rising, and another said he had to take a second job to pay his bills. Parking rates at MGM Resorts will increase by up to $25 starting Wednesday.
Scenes from the 2017 Las Vegas 51s Season Opener at Cashman Field. (Christian Lee/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
SB384 would make the names of public retirees confidential. (Victor Joecks/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is still waiting for a date to put his belt on the line against long-time UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
Top-ranked UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson is seeking a new opponent. Since his planned interim title bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 209 fell apart and with reigning champion Conor McGregor still on hiatus, “El Cucuy” has shifted his focus to Nate Diaz.
Las Vegas 51s manager Pedro Lopez talks at team’s media day in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 4, 2017.(Ron Kantowski/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
1982: Raiders relocate from Oakland to Los Angeles.
June 1995: With no new stadium, Raiders move back to Oakland for a renovated coliseum.
January 2013: Raiders begin signing lease on year-to-year basis.
July 2014: Owner Mark Davis says he considered moving the team to San Antonio, Texas.
Feb. 2015: Raiders and San Diego Chargers announce plans for a new stadium near LA.
Jan. 24, 2016: ESPN reports Raiders were open to moving to San Diego if LA option fell through.
Jan. 28, 2016: Davis visits Las Vegas regarding a stadium site.
April 2016: Davis pledges $500 million toward new domed stadium in Las Vegas.
June 2016: Four possible locations are chosen for new stadium in Las Vegas.
Aug. 20, 2016: Raiders filed trademark for name “Las Vegas Raiders,” Forbes says.
Aug. 25, 2016: Developers settle on a location west of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay.
Sept. 2016: Stadium proposal requires $750 million of public money financed through increase in hotel room tax.
Nov. 2016: Clark County commissioners approve hotel room tax increases.
Dec. 2016: Oakland officials approve opening negotiations on a potential $1.3 billion stadium project.
Jan. 2017: Raiders file with the NFL to move to Las Vegas.
March 6, 2017: Bank of America backs Las Vegas stadium project with $650 million loan.
March 27, 2017: NFL owners vote in favor of the Raiders moving from Oakland to Las Vegas.
Oakland Raiders team president Marc Badain says he’s confident that the lease details for the team’s new stadium in Las Vegas will get ironed out in a timely manner. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis discusses the team’s move to Las Vegas with media at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona on Mar. 27, 2017. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
People along Las Vegas Boulevard express their thoughts about the Raiders move to Las Vegas. http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raidersnfl
Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Elaine Wilson reports on fan reaction to the Oakland Raiders move from the Las Vegas sign.
Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis said that he’s taking the team into the future with a world-class stadium at a press conference to announce the team’s move to Las Vegas. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board met to discuss the lease agreement between them and the Oakland Raiders on Mar. 9. Their chairman Steve Hill said he was ‘hopeful’ the team will move.
NFL owners meet in Phoenix at the end of the month to consider relocation of the team, but nothing was finalized where the agreement was concerned. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
With the Oakland Raiders looking to move to Las Vegas, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed a study that showed the city has many positives to it.
Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Ed Graney and Matt Youmans recap the events of the NFL owners meeting and discuss the positivity Goodell had about the Las Vegas market.
Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Steve Hill said the Stadium Authority Board will continue to work with the Raiders to build a a football stadium in Las Vegas to be shared between UNLV and the Oakland Raiders.
As the Review-Journal previously reported, the Oakland Raiders’ deal with New York-based Goldman Sachs to finance a $1.9 billion stadium in Las Vegas is in jeopardy because the agreement was contingent on a $650 million investment from Sheldon Adelson, who withdrew from the partnership Monday.
“Mr. Adelson and his family have decided to withdraw their participation in the project, and subsequently Goldman Sachs has withdrawn their willingness to fund the stadium and the Raiders’ portion of that funding,” Hill said. “I’ve talked to the Raiders a number of times over the last week, and they are confident that they can secure the funding necessary to move this project forward.”
Speaking at the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance’s third annual State of Economic Development Wednesday Hill said he is grateful for the Adelson family’s time and effort they put in to bringing an NFL team to Las Vegas and the economic impact of such a stadium still presents a “real opportunity” for the state.