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Business and Economy

A look at what the proposed ‘fun tax’ would mean for your wallet: May 22, 2013; By Andrea Domanick; The proposed tax has drawn a lot of fire, including a Steve Wynn visit to Carson City.

Median CEO pay rises to $9.7 million in 2012: May 22, 2013; By Christina Rexrode, Associated Press; CEO pay has been going in one direction for the past three years: up. The head of a typical large public company made $9.7 million in 2012, a 6.5 percent increase from a year earlier that was aided by a rising stock market, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.

Firefly owner enlists new PR firm after salmonella outbreak: May 22, 2013; By Ed Komenda; John Simmons, the embattled owner of Firefly Tapas Restaurant & Bar, has hired a new public relations firm to represent his restaurant. The Ferraro Group on Wednesday announced it would replace Purdue Marion & Associates.

On top of big salaries, companies like Wynn Resorts pile on perks for CEOs: May 22, 2013; Associated Press; Wynn Resorts kept a suite open all year at its tony Las Vegas hotel and casino for founder and CEO Steve Wynn, at a cost of nearly $452,000. Former IBM CEO Samuel Palmisano was guaranteed an administrative assistant and furnished office for life.

Developer breaking ground on an office project — a rarity these days: May 22, 2013; By Eli Segall; With office construction at a near standstill, a Las Vegas developer is breaking ground this week on a project for a residential brokerage firm.

Little Church of the West marks 70 years of walking down the aisle: May 22, 2013; By Alison Saclolo; When Dudley Moore knocked on Greg Smith's office door a few years ago, it was business as usual for the wedding chapel owner. Moore, an Oscar-nominated actor, was getting married the next day and wanted to see the Little Church of the West before he walked down its aisle. “He was scheduled to be married with us and I had no idea. We chatted a bit and he came in and played the organ,” Smith said. Little Church of the West will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Wednesday, and Smith said it still would be business as usual for the ...

Swinger blocked from operating sex club gets another day in court: May 21, 2013; By Conor Shine; A business owner who said he was improperly denied a business license to open a swingers club in a Las Vegas shopping center will get a second chance to make his case after a federal court ordered Monday that his lawsuit against Clark County be reheard.

Golden Gate owners hit rock bottom — for heating and cooling systems: May 21, 2013; By Ed Komenda; Greg Stevens saw opportunity 475 feet below the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. That’s where the engineer and co-owner of the 107-year-old Fremont property decided to draw the heating and cooling power needed to keep beer and slush drinks cold at the casino’s OneBar.

Complaints about reflexology clinics could result in closer oversight: May 21, 2013; By Conor Shine; Complaints about misleading advertising and hidden charges at reflexology clinics around the valley have drawn the attention of Clark County commissioners, who decided Tuesday to consider tighter regulations on the health establishments.

Pro-business group: Raise gas taxes for highway projects: May 21, 2013; By Richard N. Velotta; A pro-business group working to diversify Southern Nevada’s economy is advocating legislation that would lead to a gasoline tax increase. The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance announced today that it is backing legislation that would enable Clark County to raise gasoline taxes.

Caesars Entertainment announces changes in executive positions: May 21, 2013; By Ed Komenda; Caesars Entertainment has appointed a new president of hospitality. Tom Arasi comes to the role after a stint with Las Vegas Sands. His responsibilities include food and beverage, hotels, nightclubs and nightlife in Las Vegas.

Guilty fraud plea in $5.6M Las Vegas embezzlement: May 21, 2013; Associated Press; A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in connection with the embezzlement of $5.6 million from the prominent builder of residential high-rises in the Vegas area over nearly five years. Rocco Lazazzaro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud at the Florida-based Turnberry Associates.

Plumbing disasters, liquid fireworks, reverse vending machine — it's what's new at RECon: May 21, 2013; By Eli Segall; It’s tough getting people’s attention at RECon, the retail industry trade show, with its 30,000 people and 1,000 exhibitors. But repair guy Ray Salzer has found a way: fart sounds and plumber’s cracks.

In dispute with Culinary, UFC counters with attack site of its own: May 20, 2013; By Ed Komenda; After two years of battling the Culinary while fighting to legalize the sport in New York, the UFC’s counter jab comes in the form of a critical website aimed at exposing the union’s “smear campaign,” the company said.

Joe Downtown: Local Motors CEO visits Las Vegas: May 20, 2013; By Joe Schoenmann; One of the newest businesses to gain support from VegasTechFund is Local Motors. Founded five years ago, Local Motors uses crowdsourcing to help in the design of a car, motorcycle or other type of vehicle. John Rogers Jr., president and CEO, last week was in downtown Las Vegas, where VegasTechFund is headquartered. The fund is a tech investment group whose partners include Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.