Bryan Horwath

Story Archive

As businesses continue coping with pandemic, space has become a commodity
Monday, Oct. 11, 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic came along, people became much more aware about their personal space. Debbie Ritchey said that’s less of a concern at a Body Spa location because of its open floor plans.

Golden years: Westgate employees celebrate their 50th anniversary at the Vegas resort
Monday, Oct. 11, 2021
Alonzo Langstaff was pushing a luggage cart through the old International Hotel on the way to the property’s elevator on this day in the 1970s. When the door opened ...
Cashless gambling technologies grab industry’s attention, but will players buy in?
Friday, Oct. 8, 2021
At this week’s Global Gaming Expo, cashless gambling is a hot topic. Companies are showing off their latest payment technologies, and London-based International Game Technology’s cashless casino management system was recognized as …
Station Casinos gets green light to build southwest valley resort
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021
Plans for a new Station Casinos resort in the southwest Las Vegas Valley were approved during a Clark County Commission zoning meeting Wednesday. The casino and hotel complex, called Durango, is planned for a plot of land near ...
Local banks have made it a priority to help teach financial literacy to children
Monday, Oct. 4, 2021
If parents, family members, teachers, financial industry professionals or others can interest young people in money—and the beginnings of understanding how to manage it—it tends to bode well for their future.

UNLV business incubator seeks to nurture young entrepreneurs
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021
At an office complex just east of the Las Vegas Strip, UNLV students are diligently working to bring new business ideas to life. One group is working on a sports betting innovation, while another is pursuing a food security idea. “New companies, like what could spring up from this incubator, would help to ...
At Amazon warehouses in Las Vegas, every delivery detail accounted for
Monday, Sept. 27, 2021
At the Amazon delivery warehouse in the shadow of Jerry’s Nugget in North Las Vegas, drivers pull their vans into a canopied loading area, each van with its hazard lights flashing. As they drive around the corner to fit into designated parking spaces, drivers honk their vehicle’s horn to signal they are ready to receive packages.
Shoeshiners in Vegas ‘survived COVID-19 and we’re still doing shoes’
Monday, Sept. 27, 2021
Keith Bryant’s first shift working as a shoeshiner on the Las Vegas Strip more than 20 years ago produced about $150 in tips over three hours.
Q+A: Retiring gaming chief John Moran on future of Las Vegas, a lottery in Nevada
Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
John Moran Jr., chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, announced his resignation Thursday after serving more than 13 years. A lawyer by trade, Moran has also ...
Man hits $1 million jackpot at Las Vegas Strip resort
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021
A gambler at the Venetian won over $1 million Tuesday while playing Ultimate Texas Hold’em, according to a news release. The player, a guest at the Strip resort, hit the ...
Longtime MGM Resorts employee named general manager of Palms
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
A former New York-New York executive has been named general manager of the Palms, according to a news release.  Cynthia Kiser Murphey recently was hired for ...
Man hits $420,000 royal flush at poker table game
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
A player at Harrah’s won more than $420,000 while playing Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em over the weekend, according to ...
Las Vegas conventions serve as hopeful signs for meetings industry’s future
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021
The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics conference on the Strip this week was the reason for the first substantial trip Christopher Helmick has taken since the start of the pandemic early last year.
Big Boy Restaurant adds touch of nostalgia to rural Southern Nevada community
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021
Skip and Karen Sandberg make the drive from Las Vegas to their home in Pahrump about once a month. On the drive, they always seem to stop at the same place to eat: Big Boy Restaurant in Indian Springs.
Recreational businesses dependent on the Colorado cast a hopeful eye on future
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Lake Mead Mohave Adventures is not the only business that has had to adjust to lower water levels at Lake Mead and along the Colorado River.

Owner vows to rebuild after fire at Mt. Charleston Lodge
Friday, Sept. 17, 2021
Fire heavily damaged the Mt. Charleston Lodge this morning, but nobody was hurt and the owner vowed to rebuild the popular mountain retreat. The fire, which was reported about ...
Ruling backs Sun in battle with R-J
Arbitrator’s decision affirmed: R-J deprived Sun of proper portion of profit-sharing
Friday, Sept. 17, 2021
The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed an arbitrator’s decision ordering the Las Vegas Review-Journal to pay the Las Vegas Sun for violating terms of a joint operating agreement between the organizations. Leif Reid, the Sun’s attorney, said the amount of the award ...
Broadcasters group cancels Las Vegas convention over COVID worries
Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021
The National Association of Broadcasters will not host its annual convention in Las Vegas this year. The association canceled its show — scheduled for early next month — over concerns about ...
Economists: Automation will continue to impact service industry in Las Vegas
Monday, Sept. 13, 2021
As technology advances and the automation of jobs continues to spread, the effects will likely be more pronounced in Las Vegas, a city with a robust service-industry presence, local economists say.
Las Vegas home prices take rare pause in red-hot market
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021
Halting a recent trend, the price of an existing home in Southern Nevada held steady in August, according to the Las Vegas Realtors trade organization. The median price for a home came in at $405,000 in August, according to the group, the same figure as July. The figure remains an all-time high for Southern Nevada, though it ...
Las Vegas travel agents have stayed busy during the pandemic, though the job has changed
Monday, Sept. 6, 2021
Earlier this summer, Las Vegas travel agent Frank Nardiello helped a group of 10 arrange a trip to Mexico.
QAnon-linked convention scheduled for Las Vegas in doubt
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021
A controversial QAnon-linked convention scheduled for this fall in Las Vegas won’t happen at Caesars Entertainment properties as planned. It’s unknown if the event, listed as the For God & Country Patriot Double Down, will remain in Las Vegas ...
High-end sneaker store on the Las Vegas Strip has local flavor
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021
The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood are known to draw a lot of tourists from the Strip. But there’s one store inside the mall — other than the “Welcome to Las Vegas” stores, of course — that has a distinctively local feel. It’s called Correct Merch …
Rise in coronavirus cases slows airline bookings, could curb Las Vegas’ recovery
Monday, Aug. 30, 2021
With cases of the more-contagious delta variant surging, troubling signs are emerging that airline bookings are slowing and more people are canceling flights.
Las Vegas lawyer helping athletes build their brand
Monday, Aug. 30, 2021
After graduating from UNLV with a degree in hotel administration in 1999, the former Rebels kicker attended the Boyd School of Law with plans to become a sports agent. But he eventually followed a path that led him to his father John O’Reilly’s law firm.
'Disgusting and vile': Noose found at MSG Sphere job site
Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
A noose was found hanging at the MSG Sphere construction site near the Strip, according to the venue’s builder.
Las Vegas visitation in July strongest since onset of pandemic
Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021
July was the strongest month for visitation to Las Vegas since the start of the coronavirus pandemic over a year ago, according to statistics released by tourism officials today. In its monthly ...
With foundation in philanthropy, dynamic Strip developer makes name for himself
Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021
Shortly after daylight broke on a recent August morning, Brett Torino looked over a 2-acre piece of land along the Strip that he and a business partner purchased earlier this year.
Running on empty: Las Vegas-area car dealerships feeling inventory crunch
Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
While checking out a 2021 Toyota 4Runner at a Henderson car lot Wednesday, Dean Fitzgerald popped his head out of the SUV and paused. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car lot this empty. I guess it’s just like many other things during the pandemic, supply is short.”
MGM Resorts to require COVID vaccine for new hires, salaried workers
Monday, Aug. 16, 2021
Starting Aug. 30, all new hires must show proof of being fully vaccinated. Current salaried employees not working from home will need to become fully vaccinated by ...
Despite shutdown, Las Vegas barbers have managed to keep their heads above water
Monday, Aug. 16, 2021
According to the state Barbers’ Health and Sanitation Board—a four-person committee that licenses and regulates the industry in Nevada—there are 272 barbershops in Southern Nevada, close to the same number that were in existence before the pandemic.

With new slot machine feature, Konami Gaming has a lock on convenience
Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021
It’s a vexing problem faced by slot players since the days of one-armed bandits and coin-dropper machines. A player is parked at their favorite machine when they have to hit the ATM for more cash or run to their car or go to the bathroom. What to do?
Venetian touts second large Wheel of Fortune jackpot winner this week
Friday, Aug. 13, 2021
For the second time this week, a gambler at the Venetian hit a jackpot worth over $1 million, according to a news release.
Businesses near Allegiant Stadium join fans in lamenting parking problem
Friday, Aug. 13, 2021
Some 68,000 country music fans packed Allegiant Stadium last month for the first capacity event there since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. By all accounts, the Garth Brooks concert was a smashing success. But for Nathan Schweigart, it was a huge mess ...
Slot player hits $1.5 million jackpot at Venetian
Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021
A guest at a Strip resort hit a $1.5 million jackpot while playing a slot machine Tuesday, according to a news release. The gambler, who chose to remain anonymous, hit the ...
Downtown Las Vegas’ Main Street Station set to reopen next month
Monday, Aug. 9, 2021
Main Street Station, closed since the coronavirus shutdown in March 2020, will reopen next month, according to a news release from Boyd Gaming. The downtown Las Vegas casino and hotel will return to ...
UNLV dean: Pandemic has shown how resilient hospitality industry really is
Monday, Aug. 9, 2021
The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality is one of UNLV’s most notable programs, credited with developing future leaders in tourism—especially at home on the Strip.

Median home price in Las Vegas continues to surge, surpassing $400,000
Friday, Aug. 6, 2021
The median price for an existing single-family home in July cleared $400,000 for the first time, a report released today indicates. According to the Las Vegas Realtors trade organization, the median price for a home sold in Southern Nevada last month was $405,000, which is $10,000 more than what was recorded for June. July’s figures represent a $75,000 increase from ...
Juan’s Flaming Fajitas to add third Las Vegas Valley location
Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021
A third Las Vegas Valley restaurant is planned for Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina, according to the eatery’s owner.
Hornbuckle: MGM 'going full steam ahead' despite uncertainty of virus variant
Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021
In the middle of a summer pandemic rebound, the CEO of MGM Resorts International said Wednesday it’s too early to tell if the rise of the delta variant will cool the company’s momentum in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas spared worst of pandemic-fueled rental car crunch
Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021
Traditionally, Las Vegas isn’t as popular for rental cars as a destination city like Orlando, Fla., or Honolulu. According to Kayak, an online travel agency and search service, Las Vegas was the fifth-most popular place in America for vehicle rental searches as of late July.
Caesars enjoys robust quarter, still exploring potential sale of a Strip property
Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021
The CEO for Caesars Entertainment said Tuesday that the company remains interested in selling one of its Strip properties. Speaking during a quarterly earnings conference call, Tom Reeg said a potential sale could happen soon ...

Parking no longer free at Miracle Mile Shops on Las Vegas Strip
Monday, Aug. 2, 2021
Self-parking is no longer free at the Miracle Mile Shops garage on the Strip. Those parking inside the garage — near Planet Hollywood — will be charged up to $15 per day.

Vegas real estate exec helps Hispanic community secure housing dreams
Monday, Aug. 2, 2021
Part of Jimenez’s passion for financial literacy in the homebuying market comes from his belief that the Hispanic market is a sleeping giant in America.
Preliminary plans for Las Vegas cannabis lounges include options for dining and entertainment
Friday, July 30, 2021
Planet 13, a tourist hotspot, is among a number of Las Vegas marijuana dispensaries crafting plans for consumption lounges, which the state Legislature approved earlier this year. State law previously allowed …
Tourists in Las Vegas, like the rest of us, are split on the mask mandate
Thursday, July 29, 2021
In spite of their vaccination status, a vast majority of Las Vegas tourists have been going bare-faced since mask mandates for vaccinated people were dropped June 1 …
Man hits $627,000 jackpot at downtown Las Vegas casino
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
A man at a downtown Las Vegas casino turned a $3.75 bet into more than $600,000 on Sunday. The gambler, whose name was withheld, hit ...
RV industry in Las Vegas booms as prospective buyers look to get away
Monday, July 26, 2021
Las Vegas’ Findlay RV usually has about 120 recreational vehicles on its lot at any given time during the summer. These days, that same lot houses fewer than 40. It’s a similar story at other RVs dealers across the nation ...
Las Vegas Festival Grounds emerging as contender in A's relocation plan
Friday, July 23, 2021
Oakland A’s leadership have visited numerous sites throughout Southern Nevada in recent weeks to explore potential relocation here. This week, the club brought architect Brad Schrock in an effort to visualize which sites would potentially be best. More than 20 sites here are being considered. It’s safe to say a few stood out, namely ...
Oakland council votes yes on A’s ballpark plan, but team still looking at Las Vegas
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
The Oakland City Council today approved a term sheet for a ballpark and land development proposal that would lead to a $1 billion new home for the Oakland A’s. The vote was the latest step in a process by which city leaders and officials from the A’s have tried to hammer out a deal for a waterfront ballpark to keep the Major League Baseball team in ...