Downtown area's hotbed for testing new technology, including smart street lights

Wednesday, May 9th, 2018, 9:06pm

The City of Las Vegas is riding the wave into the future because the downtown area is a hotbed for testing new technology.

On Wednesday, the city tested smart street lights at Tiny Stupack Park. A few of the fixtures are installed above the soccer field.

If they pass their initial field test, you could see them alongside other innovations being tested downtown.

Overall, from the new tests to the little blue autonomous shuttle, downtown Las Vegas is becoming a tech hub.

"I think it's amazing, it is the future," said Jenna Leegstra of Kingman, Arizona.

"I love it," said Joel Delagarza, Austin, Texas. "I'm a tech guy, so I love it. The more automated, the better for me."

AAA says there have been 23,000 riders like Joel Delagarza from Austin since the 1-year test began last November.

"It's kind of exciting to be living in a time where we're at the forefront of all these new automated technologies," Delagarza said. ... Read More

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Submitted by 8NewsNOWStaff

Tuesday, May 8th, 2018, 10:35am

There are plans for a new hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas.

The proposal is for the site where the old Las Vegas Club once stood, just off off Fremont Street.

On Tuesday night, city leaders will be checking out renderings of the project which calls for nearly 780 rooms in a tower to be built at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Main Street.

The plans also show a pedestrian sky bridge crossing Main Street which will link an above ground parking garage with the hotel and casino.

The tower will stand 460-feet tall and shows at least 61 floors with a rooftop lounge. The project, called 18 Fremont for its location has more than 117,000 square feet of gaming floor, plus a nightclub and a spa.

Derek Stevens, the owner of the D Casino, also in downtown, is listed as the project leader.

A spokesperson for the city told 8 News NOW, the items for the special permits to build it all will likely move forward to a future city council meeting in June... Read More

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Friday, May 4th, 2018, 9:58am

8 News NOW is on the road and in downtown Las Vegas on Fremont East. It's the other side of downtown.

Much of the Fremont East area is part of the Downtown Project. Forty-five acres of land bought by the organization created by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh and more than $300 million investment dollars... Read More

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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018, 5:07pm

Police in Las Vegas say a man was stabbed in the head by his girlfriend's father. Police Lt. David Gordon says the man was taken to a hospital after the stabbing Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.

Gordon says the victim told police he was walking with his girlfriend when her father "came up and stabbed him." The victim and his girlfriend then walked to the Golden Nugget casino-hotel, where security contacted authorities.

Gordon says the victim is in his 50s and his injury is not life-threatening. He says police are still looking for the suspect... Read More

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Wednesday, March 28th, 2018, 8:02pm

Major changes expected to turn Arts District into next happening area downtown

The Arts District is an up-and-coming area of downtown Las Vegas, and this major revitalization just hit $60 million, and it's almost done. But some business owners say the construction is scaring some customers away.

Rebar owner Derek Stonebarger oversees the area as board president of the Arts District.

"With all the construction happening it's been tough for a lot of the businesses," Stonebarger said.

Downtown's Arts District is an area that had been neglected for five long decades, until the improvements came along.

"We'll have artists and vendors for special events outside," said Stonebarger. "You know, 'First Friday' can run all down Main Street.

Main Street, just like Commerce, is now a one-way street. ... Read More

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Monday, February 26th, 2018, 5:04pm

Shoot or don't shoot? What would you do if you were a police officer put in a situation where lives were at stake?

So, what would you do if you were in their shoes? At the Mob Museum, you can find out.

The Use of Force Training Experience is a simulation of what police officers might encounter when confronting armed or potentially armed people.

Use of force is a complex issue in the U.S. that the Mob Museum is addressing with a new interactive experience. It gives you the chance to be in the officer's shoes through a role play experience.

"It's a different side seeing it from the badge side," said Joshua Edwards, visiting from Atlanta.

Heart-racing moments for Joshua Edwards.

"My adrenaline started pumping," he said.

He was going through the use of force training experience which was giving him and other Mob Museum visitors a chance to understand the life or death decisions law enforcement may consider before pulling the trigger... Read More

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Monday, February 19th, 2018, 9:17pm

Marvel's latest blockbuster, 'Black Panther' is inspiring teachers to take students across the country to see the movie as an educational event.

"In order for our students to feel like they can be superheroes, they have to see it," said Diane Pollard, CEO of Rainbow Dream Academy.

Over the past few weeks, the community has helped to raise $10,000, so that more than 400 Clark County School District students could go to the Eclipse Theater to watch the cult phenomenon surrounding the world of Wakanda.

The 'Black Panther' challenge started in Harlem, New York. The idea was to give underprivileged youth a chance to see a superhero that looks like them. The movement quickly took off.

"It was just awesome," said filmmaker Cameron C.H. Miller. "There is a superhero that looks like me. That is epic."

The students were able to walk the red carpet at Eclipse Theaters and hear from local business leaders about the importance of diversity. ... Read More

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