Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV) articles from August 2007

Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV) archives from August 2007

Vehicle repairs draw inquiry.
August 1, 2007

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 1, 2007

World Market viewed as catalyst.
August 1, 2007

LV Sands, Wynn survive market slide.
August 1, 2007

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 2, 2007

Charges figure in sending Boyd Gaming's profits lower.(Financial report)
August 2, 2007

Exclusive Resorts buys condos in MGM Mirage development.
August 2, 2007

SBE Entertainment takes over as owner of Sahara.
August 2, 2007

Who cares about earnings?
August 2, 2007

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 3, 2007

LV homes head to auction block.
August 3, 2007

Sales spark surge for MGM Mirage.
August 3, 2007

Fewer spaces could bring more free parking at airport.
August 4, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 4--Bad news first. Construction at McCarran International Airport recently displaced about 1,100 economy rate parking spaces. The good news? People who need to park for a weekend at the airport are more...

Hard Rock Hotel's performance excites new owner.
August 4, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 4--The Hard Rock Hotel is out-performing expectations of its new owners and industry analysts. Morgans Hotel Group Co. Chief Executive Office Ed Scheetz said during a conference call Thursday to discuss...

They're off - from Hong Kong.
August 4, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 4--Horse racing bettors in Las Vegas may soon be allowed to participate in high-paying pari-mutuel pools with overseas gamblers while wagering on races originating from Hong Kong. Proponents of the idea said...

Riviera helps parent improve its profits.(Financial report)
August 4, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 4--The Riviera's status as one of the Strip's last midlevel properties is paying off for its parent company. Riviera Holdings Corp. on Friday reported sharply higher second-quarter earnings and announced...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Gaming column.(Column)
August 5, 2007... Aug. 5--NO SECOND FOR STRIP, EXECUTIVE SAYS: If it's not the Strip, it doesn't interest MGM Mirage President and Chief Financial Officer Jim Murren. Murren's company owns some 760 acres along the Strip, encompassing 10 casinos and the...

Next Strip expansion to bring small pain.
August 5, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 5--Big resorts on the Strip have caused big headaches for local small businesses. Hiring among small companies took a hit in the months before the April 2005 opening of the 9,500-employee Wynn Las Vegas....

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 6, 2007... Aug. 6--NEVADA PUBLIC RADIO NAMES STAFF POSITIONS: Nevada Public Radio named Ian Mylchreest and Alicia Barney producers for KNPR-FM's "State of Nevada" public affairs program and Nicole Mastrangelo senior development associate. Nevada...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Nevadan at Work column.
August 6, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 6--Joe Santiago is a popular guy. As Station Casinos' vice president of entertainment, he receives numerous requests from friends, family and even strangers looking for free entry into concerts. ...

Making the 'A' list.
August 6, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 6--A national publication targeted at small-business owners has recognized several local companies for their rapid expansion. Six Southern Nevada companies made Entrepreneur magazine's Hot 500, a list of...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Real Estate column.
August 6, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 6--JUHL TOPPING OFF: San Diego-based CityMark Development topped off construction of the 15-story high-rise at Juhl, a $170 million mixed-use development at Bonneville Avenue and Third Street in downtown Las...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 7, 2007... Aug. 7--CONTRACTING COMPANY NAMES MANAGERS: Burke and Associates, a general contractor, named Jennifer Desruisseaux assistant project manager and Ray Jacobson senior project manager. -- Nevada State Bank named David Jones commercial real...

Realtors group reports more homes are for sale.
August 7, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 7--Slow home sales and declining prices haven't stopped owners from putting their properties up for sale in Las Vegas. More than 5,600 single-family homes were added to the Multiple Listing Service in July,...

Las Vegas Review-Journal The Online Guy column.(Column)
August 7, 2007... Byline: Al Gibes Aug. 7--WHAT'S AN E-MAIL-EQUIPPED DOGGY TO DO?: My e-mail has gone to the dogs. I'm not kidding. Last week my in-box included several messages bearing various renditions of "Happy Birthday" tidings, including one...

Southwest Gas reports second-quarter loss.(Financial report)
August 7, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 7--Southwest Gas Corp. on Tuesday reported that it lost money in the second quarter, which is common because of low gas use during the summer. The Las Vegas-based gas distribution company lost $337,000, or...

Vegas Vintners.
August 7, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 7--It didn't exactly take an act of Congress to get the Grape Expectations Nevada School of Winemaking up and running, but Clark County's first wine-producing business did need an assist from the Nevada...

Wynn Resorts reverses quarterly loss.
August 7, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 7--A year ago, executives from Wynn Resorts Ltd. tried to justify a net loss in quarterly earnings, saying the negative number was due to preopening expenses at the company's under-construction casino in Macau and...

Allegiant finds new way to boost profits for quarter.(Financial report)
August 8, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 8--New routes and new ways to get money from passengers helped Allegiant Travel Co. boost revenue nearly 50 percent and profit more than 190 percent during the second quarter. Las Vegas-based Allegiant...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 8, 2007... Aug. 8--WORLD MARKET CENTER TAPS VICE PRESIDENTS: World Market Center, a furniture mart, named Dana Andrew, Babs Blair, Tim Branscome and Michelle Monteferrante vice presidents. -- Do It Outdoors, a mobile promotions company, named Vienne...

Auction for LV homes draws 2,500 bidders; 87 homes sold.
August 8, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 8--A public auction of 90 bank-owned homes in Las Vegas attracted 2,500 people Sunday, one of the best crowds for any home auction in the country, Dave Webb of Dallas-based Hudson & Marshall said. Bidders...

Revenue jumps for Harrah's.
August 8, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 8--Harrah's Entertainment experienced 85 percent income growth in the second quarter, pushed by strong visitor numbers in the Las Vegas market. However, Atlantic City continues to drag down the company's...

Pinnacle posts lower profits, but company observers shrug.(Financial report)
August 8, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 8--Pinnacle Entertainment's second-quarter earnings didn't match up with the company's numbers from a year ago, but executives and analysts weren't too concerned Tuesday. Wall Street was more impressed as the...

comfy flights, cheap.
August 8, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 8--A new airline touting low prices and copious creature comforts is set to begin service to Las Vegas even as record levels of flight delays and increasing complaints about poor service plague the industry....

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 9, 2007... Aug. 9--FILM FESTIVAL NAMES DIRECTOR, MANAGERS: The CineVegas Film Festival hired Joel Szulc operations director, Elise Luquette operations manager and Kelly Frey marketing and public relations manager. All will serve as year-round employees....

Boulder City not at risk, officials say.
August 9, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 9--Boulder City, a defendant in a lawsuit over contractor billing on a solar plant, has "ample protection" against claims made by a construction company, city officials said Wednesday. Lauren Engineers &...

Hotel, condos of USA Capital affiliate for sale.
August 9, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 9--Bankruptcy Judge Linda Riegle on Wednesday approved procedures for the sale of a hotel and condominiums for investors in failed USA Capital. A bidder will pay a minimum of $25.1 million for a hotel and...

Growth hurts Station's earnings.
August 9, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 9--Station Casinos' second-quarter earnings fell 44 percent, weighted by expenses for construction and acquisition costs, the gaming company reported Wednesday. The company posted net income of $15.1...

CHIPS galore.
August 9, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 9--It's tough to put a price on memories. It gets easier when memories come in the form of clay chips stamped in $5, $25 and $100 denominations. The history of Nevada -- and casino culture in general...

Progressive Gaming profits slump in quarter.(Financial report)
August 9, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 9--Progressive Gaming International has experienced a few road bumps while moving from a gambling device provider to a pure casino technology company. Second-quarter earnings, reported Wednesday, were one of...

Southern Nevada may run short of natural gas.
August 9, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 9--State regulators fear that Southern Nevada will run short of natural gas supplies for space heating, water heating and electric power generation in three years if efforts are not taken to gain access to...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 10, 2007... Aug. 10--PROGRAM DIRECTOR NAMED AT KKLZ-FM: Beasley Broadcast Group, a Naples, Fla.-radio station operator, named Don Hallett program director at KKLZ-FM (96.3) in Las Vegas. He's also program director for KSTJ-FM (102.7), another Beasley...

Tax charges erase progress for Binion's.
August 10, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 10--Binion's just can't catch a break. Through shrewd poker marketing and strong table game play, the historic downtown casino boosted revenue and narrowed losses during the second quarter. But the...

Culinary official chides regulators as Tropicana contract talks begin.
August 10, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 10--An apparent lack of concern by Nevada gaming regulators regarding staff cuts at the Tropicana has the Culinary union seeing red. However, gaming officials say they are monitoring the property with a...

What's in a name? Owners of Plaza say plenty.
August 10, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 10--Guests of the Plaza in downtown Las Vegas shouldn't expect accommodations for a butler or formal afternoon tea service with their room. But they can count on cheap booze, bottom-dollar gambling and...

Official deflects criticism of plant.
August 10, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 10--A Sierra Pacific Resources executive on Thursday said federal criticism of a competitor's coal-fired power plant in Ely doesn't foreshadow similar problems for the utility company's own coal-fired project....

Power for the people, in new plants.
August 10, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 10--Nevada Power Co. broke ground Thursday on a $400 million, natural gas-fired power plant in southeast Las Vegas as it races to keep up with population growth in Southern Nevada. The number of customers...

LV entrepreneur Schwartz dies at 85.
August 11, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 11--Milton I. Schwartz, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who helped build the original Flamingo, died Thursday at a Las Vegas hospital. He was 85. Schwartz was a founder and board chairman of Valley...

Leaders decry illegal worker crackdown.
August 11, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 11--Local businesses, trade groups and civil-rights organizations on Friday slammed new federal regulations designed to clamp down on illegal immigrants in the work force. The rules, which take effect in a...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Nevadan at Work column.
August 12, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 12--QUEEN OF THE BUSINESS LUNCH: An interview with Robin Jay took place, naturally, over lunch. Knowledge of how to conduct business during the noontime meal launched Jay on her second career as a writer and...

With arrest, a career dangles.
August 12, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 12--In the big money world of casino security, Steve Forte played like a high roller. Harrah's Entertainment, the world's largest gaming company, bought copies of his books and videos to give to...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Gaming column.(Column)
August 12, 2007... Aug. 12--TRIBES AIM TO THWART RIVALS' EXPANSION: Unite Here, the parent union of Culinary Workers Local 226, joined forces with a California racetrack's ownership to try to stop expansion plans by four of the state's American Indian casinos....

Choosing office space not always so easy.
August 12, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 12--Finding the right location for an office in Las Vegas usually comes down to time and money. How far are you willing to drive and how much are you willing to spend? Lawyers probably like to have their...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 13, 2007... Aug. 13--COMPUTER CONSULTANT OPENS HENDERSON OFFICE: KenputerGuru, a computer consulting firm offering computer service and repair, opened at 403 Max Court in Henderson. -- Rafi, a planning, architecture and urban design company, named...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Real Estate column.
August 13, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 13--The 200-unit Palms Apartments on east Sahara Avenue, next to Commercial Center, has been sold for $24 million and will probably be redeveloped as a high-density, mixed-use project, a broker for the seller...

Economic development officials see drop in recruitment numbers.
August 14, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 14--Local agencies charged with luring new businesses to Southern Nevada reported a drop in recruitment numbers in fiscal 2006. The Nevada Development Authority and the city of Henderson's division of...

June visitation up 4 percent; hotel occupancy also jumps.
August 14, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 14--Nearly 3.3 million people visited Las Vegas in June, an increase of 4 percent from the same month last year. The uptick pushed visitation for the year to more than 19.6 million, an increase of 1.3...

Las Vegas Review-Journal The Online Guy column.(Column)
August 14, 2007... Byline: Al Gibes Aug. 14--A LITTLE VIDEO WILL SOLVE YOUR SNIFFLES: Going from zero to 60 has never been easier. I'm not referring to hitting the gasoline on your favorite ride. I'm talking about getting up to speed on a topic you...

Ruling boosts Riviera suitor; other hurdles loom.
August 14, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 14--Investors trying to wrest control of a Strip casino got an assist from a Nevada court, but their attempted hostile takeover of the parent of the Riviera may face other obstacles because of turbulence in...

Station buyout backed.
August 14, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 14--Station Casinos shareholders voted Monday by greater than a two-thirds margin to approve a $5.4 billion management-led buyout of the gaming company. The newly formed company, Fertitta Colony...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 15, 2007... Aug. 15--CREDIT UNION NAMES AUDIT PANEL POSITIONS: Clark County Credit Union named Spencer Luth chairman and Richard Derrick vice chairman and Tina Quigley, Kenny Young and Ed Zagalo members of its audit committee. -- Las Vegas Commercial...

Progressive says investor buying 7 million shares.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 15--Financially troubled Progressive Gaming International said Tuesday a yet-to-be-named investor plans to purchase 7 million shares of the casino equipment provider, a deal that would give the company a...

With deal signed, Ruffin era on Strip officially ended.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 15--Phil Ruffin's nearly 10-year run as a casino magnate on the Strip is officially over. He signed the final papers Aug. 7, selling the 34.5-acre New Frontier property for $1.24 billion, according to...

Gaming Partners shares slip after downgrade.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Review-Journal Aug. 15--Gaming Partners International Corp., a Las Vegas-based casino table game equipment manufacturer and supplier, on Monday reported a 78 percent plunge in second-quarter net income. The results prompted an...

Big prices for rights to tap heat.
August 15, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 15--The federal government sold geothermal leases on public land in Nevada and California on Tuesday for $20 million including the highest per-acre bid in history. At an auction in Reno, the Bureau of Land...

Marriott pays $186 million for LV land.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 15--Marriott International has acquired 10.6 acres on Paradise Road across from the Las Vegas Convention Center for $186 million, or about $17.5 million an acre, GlobeSt.com reported. Marriott also acquired...

Judge won't force OneCap investors to take case to arbitration.
August 15, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 15--A district judge decided a procedural issue on Tuesday in a lawsuit that pits investors who previously entrusted millions of dollars to OneCap Mortgage against the Las Vegas-based private lender. But larger...

NLV Chamber slates economic outlook.
August 16, 2007... Byline: Review-Journal Aug. 16--North Las Vegas' growing commercial, residential communities will feature prominently at the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce's upcoming Directions 2007: Economic Outlook of North Las Vegas. The...

Motion against Tower Homes postponed.
August 16, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 16--U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Bruce Markell postponed a motion Wednesday for summary judgment against Tower Homes, developer of Spanish View Towers in the southwest Las Vegas Valley. The motion was filed...

Herbst revenue jump goes up in smoke.(Financial report)
August 16, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 16--Herbst Gaming boosted its revenue during the second quarter, thanks largely to the addition of three casinos in Primm. However, tough anti-smoking laws covering grocery stores, convenience stores,...

Hooters Hotel posts lower revenue.
August 16, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 16--New advertising and reduced room rates helped Hooters Hotel increase second-quarter occupancy. However, key revenue categories continued to run flat or decline at the property a quarter mile off the...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 17, 2007... Aug. 17--AMERISTAR DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: Ameristar Casinos, a Las Vegas-based casino operator, declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10.25 cents per share, payable Sept. 14 to stockholders of record as of Aug. 31. -- The Nevada...

World Market Center's chief executive resigns.
August 17, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 17--The chief of a top West Coast furniture trading market in Las Vegas has stepped down, leaving operators of the market to find someone else to lead their ambitious expansion and leasing plans. ...

Tropicana makeover on hold for now.
August 17, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 17--The start of the Tropicana's $2.5 billion makeover has been delayed until at least 2008 because of a volatile debt market and rising construction costs, a company spokesman confirmed late Wednesday. ...

Bally Technologies sees brighter revenue picture with iView.
August 18, 2007... Byline: Howard Stutz Aug. 18--Bally Technologies CEO Richard Haddrill isn't waiting around for the much-anticipated slot machine replacement cycle to kick in or the expected influx of server-based games to invade casino floors. His...

Nevada up two spots in business cost index.
August 18, 2007... Byline: Jennifer Robison Aug. 18--A new national survey suggests that it's getting more expensive to operate a business in Nevada, but local economic developers and business executives said they're not too concerned about the upward trend....

Officials term move by Fed a lighthouse in storm.
August 18, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 18--Consider the one-half percent decrease in the discount rate a lighthouse in a storm, area analysts said Friday. The Southern Nevada economy is still caught in a turbulent mortgage loan crisis, but the...

Old Man Winter may pack slightly lower rates for gas.
August 18, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 18--Southwest Gas Corp. has some good news for consumers struggling to pay their summertime power bills: The gas distribution company is asking state regulators to lower its bills by as much as 8 percent before...

Riviera, unions reach accord.
August 18, 2007... Byline: Arnold M. Knightly Aug. 18--The Riviera on Friday reached a tentative accord on a new collective bargaining agreement with the Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165. The tentative agreement, the second to be reached in...

Companies breaking sweat for piece of convention lucre.
August 19, 2007... Byline: Benjamin Spillman Aug. 19--When it comes to finding business opportunities in Las Vegas, focusing on an industry that brings in about $8 billion annually seems like a good place to start. But just because Las Vegas conventions...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Gaming column.(Column)
August 19, 2007... Aug. 19--POWER RESTS IN PRESS FOR SANDS BOSS: Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has found a new interest -- newspaper publisher. The chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp. has launched Yisrael Hayom, or Israel Today, a free daily newspaper that on...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Inside Business column.(Column)
August 20, 2007... Aug. 20--REALTORS GROUP NAMES OFFICERS, DIRECTORS: The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, a nonprofit trade group, named Patty Kelley president, Sue Naumann president-elect, Rick Shelton vice president, Paul Bell treasurer, Devin Reiss...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Nevadan at Work column.
August 20, 2007... Byline: John G. Edwards Aug. 20--FORMER BROKER PATROLS STATE STOCK BEAT: Gary Abraham has seen a dead man sit up while assisting a coroner. He has experienced further excitement as a stock broker, teacher of stock brokers and manager...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Real Estate column.
August 20, 2007... Byline: Hubble Smith Aug. 20--Steel is going up and framing is 75 percent to 80 percent finished on Luxe Lofts, a three-story, 83-unit residential development on West Flamingo Road. Completion is scheduled for November or December,...