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Business and Economy

In high-stakes business-tax fight, teachers union gets early, bold start: June 19, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; The state teachers union plans to make a $1 million campaign contribution Wednesday to jumpstart a political campaign to pass a 2 percent business tax on the 2014 ballot.

North Las Vegas set to decide on controversial mortgage-seizure plan: June 19, 2013; By Conor Shine; Months of public meetings, behind-the-scenes lobbying and fierce attack ads will reach a culmination Wednesday night when the North Las Vegas City Council considers whether to move forward with a plan that would use eminent domain to help underwater homeowners refinance their mortgages.

Watching over us: Hundreds of freeway cameras monitor valley roads: June 19, 2013; By Richard N. Velotta; It’s FAST. And it’s designed to help motorists go faster. FAST, the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation, is the nerve center of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s traffic monitoring system. Thirty-five employees share space with the Nevada Highway Patrol and Transportation Department to manage the valley's streets and highways. They adjust traffic signal wait times to move cars more efficiently and notify motorists of freeway travel times.

The Genting Group planning art exhibits and dragon dancers — and that's before Resorts World even opens: June 19, 2013; By Ed Komenda; In a 24-hour town where nonstop action on the Strip dictates the pace of business, most resort operators don’t spend much time trying to draw vacationers to unopened properties.

Post-session, interim work keeps Nevada legislators busy, paid: June 19, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; The 120-day legislative session ended this month, and now it’s time for the Legislature to start studying.

Wake-up call: Starbucks to post calorie counts: June 18, 2013; By Candice Choi, Associated Press; Starbucks has a new way to wake up its customers: showing the calories in its drinks.

Strip Scribbles: MGM to open its walls on the Strip so tourists can see into the casino; Reviv hangover spa opens next month: June 18, 2013; By Robin Leach; The front façade from the famous gold lion to the north end by M&M’s World is coming down.

Experience wins out over price in selection of jails' food vendor: June 18, 2013; By Conor Shine; Competition and controversy were on the menu Tuesday when Clark County commissioners awarded a lucrative contract to provide meals at two of its jails to a more experienced – but more expensive – company.

Margins tax advocates going after voters 17 months ahead of election: June 18, 2013; By Andrew Doughman; The campaign to pass a 2 percent business tax on the 2014 ballot begins in earnest on Wednesday. Supporters of the ballot measure will launch a website to roll out the campaign about 17 months before the Nov. 4, 2014, election, said political strategist Dan Hart, who is leading the Education Initiative campaign to pass the tax.

Metro drops maligned radio system, inks deal for new one: June 18, 2013; By Riley Snyder; Metro Police is officially cutting ties with its controversial radio system after signing a replacement $26.3 million deal with Motorola Solutions announced last week.

Plan to ease green requirements for buildings spurs colorful debate: June 18, 2013; By Conor Shine; A debate over just how energy efficient buildings in Las Vegas should be has people on both sides of the issue seeing green.

Budget office: Immigration bill would not add to federal deficit: June 18, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; The Congressional Budget Office determined late Tuesday that the Senate’s immigration bill will not add to the federal deficit in the short or the long term, enervating one of the most powerful arguments against passing immigration reform and giving Democrats something to crow about.

DMV feels major impacts from Legislature: June 18, 2013; By Cy Ryan; The Legislature has left town but the state Department of Motor Vehicles is gearing up to deal with almost 100 new laws including driver privilege cards for illegal aliens, renewal of licenses after eight years instead of four and a crackdown on out of state businesses that don‚t register their vehicles.

Water park extends hours, offers twilight tickets: June 18, 2013; By Ed Komenda; Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas has extended its operating hours. Beginning this Friday and Saturday, and every Friday and Saturday thereafter, the park will open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. The park previously closed at 8 p.m. on those nights.

Report: Immigration bill cuts deficit by $197 billion in 10 years: June 18, 2013; By Karoun Demirjian; The Congressional Budget Office has determined that the Senate’s immigration bill will not add to the federal deficit in the short or the long term, curbing a powerful argument against passing immigration reform.