News Articles

Taxable sales jump 7.6 percent; Clark County up 8.1 percent

Submitted by gseidman on Mon, October 29, 2012
Written By:

Jennifer Robison

Nevada's consumers came out in force in August, continuing a spending trend that dates back two years.

And though the state has a long way to go on the road to recovery, observers say the newest taxable sales numbers show the economy remains on track toward better times.

Sales of tangible goods by retailers and businesses grew 7.6 percent, to $3.67 billion, year over year in August, the state Department of Taxation reported Thursday. Sales in Clark County jumped 8.1 percent, to $2.59 billion.

Latest Las Vegas attraction: A Neon Museum

Submitted by gseidman on Wed, October 24, 2012
Written By:

Kitty Yancey, USA TODAY

Where do vintage neon signs go to die?

"The Boneyard" in Las Vegas, which has been an offbeat tourist attraction for those in the know. Now the outdoor site is being expanded into a full-fledged Neon Museum that opens to the public Saturday in downtown Las Vegas. There will be a new visitors' center and an expanded Boneyard.

In addition to signs scattered on the ground, you can see restored, electrified neon in what the museum calls a "Downtown Gallery" on Fremont Street and along parts of Las Vegas Boulevard downtown.

Judge rejects Nevada teachers union tax proposal

Submitted by gseidman on Tue, October 23, 2012
Written By:

Associated Press

CARSON CITY - A judge has struck down a Nevada tax initiative pushed by the state teachers union and other labor groups to raise money for education.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, Carson City District Judge James Wilson said the description of what the initiative would do if passed by voters was misleading and deceptive on several grounds and therefore is invalid.

Celebration of life planned for late Robert Forbuss

Submitted by gseidman on Mon, October 22, 2012
Written By:

Hubble Smith

A celebration of life will be held Friday at The Smith Center for Performing Arts for Robert Forbuss, a prominent Las Vegas businessman and educator who died Aug. 12.

Jerry Cade, a close friend of Forbuss, will welcome guests at 6 p.m. Scheduled speakers include former Sen. Richard Bryan; U.S. Rep. Shelly Berkley; Sen. Harry Reid; political consultant Sig Rogich; and Forbuss Elementary School principal Shawn Paquette.

Building the Workforce We Need

Submitted by The Chamber on Fri, October 19, 2012

Workforce development is a broad topic, encompassing everything from preparing students with the knowledge, skills and training they need to obtain employment and aligning higher education with the needs of identified industry sectors. It also is a major focus of diversifying Southern Nevada’s economy, and one of its key areas of opportunity to forge Las Vegas into a globally competitive city.

Connecting the Dots

Submitted by The Chamber on Fri, October 19, 2012

Las Vegas is a globallyrecognized city. With a skyline that boasts innovative, instantly recognizable architecture and a legendary reputation, the city is a brand unto itself. But Las Vegas is not a global city.

LV Chamber Urges Members to Support Question 2 to Fix Schools

Submitted by The Chamber on Wed, October 17, 2012

Business organization also announces candidate endorsements for general election

LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce announces its support of Ballot Question 2 that will raise money to repair and modernize older schools in the Clark County School District. If passed, the pay-as-you-go program will fund capital improvement projects to provide essential school renovations in aging building systems including heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, electrical systems, networking, fire alarms and security systems at 40 or more existing schools.

Some Las Vegas business owners upbeat on economy

Submitted by gseidman on Tue, October 16, 2012
Written By:

Marian Green

A recent national survey indicated growing pessimism among small-business owners about the economy, but interviews with a smattering of Las Vegas business owners yielded a sunnier outlook.

A survey released last week by the National Federation of Independent Business shows that owners became more pessimistic during September as employment and sales remained weak. The NFIB's index of owner optimism fell 0.1 point to 92.8.

Chamber Awards Honor Small Businesses

Submitted by gseidman on Fri, September 21, 2012
Written By:

Chris Sieroty

A singing dentist, a 30-year veteran of the catering industry, the executive director of a nonprofit helping families with seriously ill children, and a guy who recycles cigarette butts.

This is not the cast of a reality television show but rather the four winners of 2012's Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Small Business Excellence Awards.

Business Power Luncheon featuring the Wounded Warrior Project

At the Business Power Luncheon featuring the Wounded Warrior Project, attendees heard from keynote speaker and Wounded Warrior, Retired Sergeant First Class Norbie Lara. Attendees also learned the benefits of hiring veterans at this moving and inspirational luncheon.

Helping others helps wounded veteran overcome challenges

Submitted by gseidman on Thu, August 23, 2012
Written By:

Keith Rogers

The Wounded Warrior Project emblem depicts the silhouette of a soldier carrying a wounded comrade over his shoulder.

The classic "fireman's carry" is one that retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Norberto "Norbie" Lara knows well. He was carried from a battlefield near Baqubah, Iraq, after a rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG, exploded, blowing off his right arm while he rode in a patrol vehicle on June 19, 2004.

Putting veterans to work

Submitted by gseidman on Sun, August 19, 2012

As the country's economy struggles through the weakest recovery since the Great Depression, with a national real unemployment rate of 14.9 percent, remember this: Over the next five years, more than 1 million veterans are expected to leave the U.S. military and re-join the American workforce.

Most of these men and women answered the call to serve their country after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but entered service before the Great Recession. Many thousands of them have survived serious injuries.