Nicole Lucht

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Internal conflict roils union: Friday, Feb. 13, 2009; A group of union leaders is suing Unite Here and dozens of individuals to break up the nearly 5-year-old merger of the two union organizations.
Henderson in strong shape during downturn: Friday, Feb. 13, 2009; Henderson’s conservative fiscal policy is making it possible for the city to provide services during economic uncertainty, Mayor James
Unemployment office to be open Monday: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009; Because of the increasing demand on unemployment benefits, the state's unemployment call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m Monday, Feb. 16, although it is Presidents Day, a federal holiday.
Reich holds court with Las Vegas businesspeople: Friday, Feb. 6, 2009; What a different world this could be were it former Labor Secretary Robert Reich who delivered the $700 billion bailout bill rather than former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson.
State-chartered banks report tough fourth quarter: Friday, Feb. 6, 2009; The final quarter of 2008 was a tough one to the top two state-chartered banks in Las Vegas.
The parent companies of Nevada State Bank and Bank of Nevada reported an increase in their allowance for loan losses, marking their expectations of further loan defaults during the fourth quarter in response to the deepening recession.
NVCI hires new leader: Friday, Feb. 6, 2009; The incoming chief executive of Nevada Cancer Institute said he is intent on raising its standards so it becomes nationally recognized as a comprehensive cancer center.
Businesses cutting costs with more than just layoffs: Friday, Feb. 6, 2009; Zappos, Trump Tower, MGM Mirage, Ford Motor Credit, Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas Sands. Layoffs are hitting all sectors of the local economy. And the news becomes more dire: State economists are expecting 39,300 jobs will be lost this year, compared with 24,600 in 2008.
State jobless center extends Saturday hours again: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009; The state's unemployment center is once again extending its Saturday hours, after the center received 1,000 phone calls Jan. 31. Until further notice, people filing unemployment claims can call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Boy Scouts target new donors with shotgun event: Friday, Jan. 30, 2009; It’s good to hear there are Las Vegas businesses still able to give to organizations dependent on outside funding, such as the Las Vegas area council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts are hosting the Sporting Clays Classic, a shotgun-shooting competition that helps support the organization for much of the year. Local businesses sponsor four-man teams to compete for prizes and bragging rights during the event.
Jobless rate jumps at record pace: Friday, Jan. 30, 2009; Nevada’s unemployment rate leaped to its biggest month-over-month increase in December, jumping an unprecedented full percentage point to 9.1 percent — and state economists think the job market is only going to get worse. There were about 24,600 jobs lost in 2008, according to the state’s Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Department. This year the department’s research and analysis bureau projects 39,300 jobs will be lost.
Unemployment office starts Saturday hours: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009; The state's unemployment center will start accepting unemployment claims by phone on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon beginning Jan. 31 until further notice.
Nevada jobless rate rises to 9.1 percent: Report: 128,000 state residents sought work in December; Monday, Jan. 26, 2009; The state's jobless rate increased to 9.1 percent in December, a full percentage point rise from the 8.1 percent rate in November, the Nevada Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Department said.
Marlon no fan of Obama’s planned reform: Friday, Jan. 23, 2009; Excessive spending on medical tests is the biggest waste in the cost of health care, the former chief executive and founder of Sierra Health Services said. Over the years, Dr. Anthony Marlon has pushed for evidence-based care, which emphasizes decisions made by doctors and managers of the insurers, applying a scientific method. “I was the first one in town that said, ‘I will not leave that to the doctor, because I don’t trust him,’ ” he said.
Carping about TARP: Friday, Jan. 23, 2009; Just months into the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program, commonly referred to as TARP, there’s already a push to reform the capital purchase program of financial institutions. Congress originally set aside $250 billion in the program, included within the $700 billion bailout enacted by Congress in October. Already the government has doled out $192 billion of the $250 billion to financial institutions across the nation and is starting another round of investment.
Humana eyes larger footprint in Nevada: Friday, Jan. 23, 2009; Humana is taking advantage of its acquisition of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage business, Secure Horizons, to make its mark in the commercial health insurance market. With the 27,000 Medicare policies it acquired last year from UnitedHealthcare in Clark and Nye counties, the Louisville, Ky.-based company is setting the stage for expansion, focusing its efforts on signing up employers and their workforces.
Casino restaurant patrons can’t elude secondhand smoke: Friday, Jan. 16, 2009; Even though smokers are not permitted to light up in casino restaurants, the secondhand smoke wafting over from the casino is still being breathed by diners, a UNLV study said. Some of the 16 restaurants surveyed by the university found that despite the ban, there was still unsafe levels of secondhand smoke in the air, according to standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Medicare Advantage plans may lose some federal cash: Friday, Jan. 16, 2009; Health insurers offering enhanced Medicare plans to senior citizens could see their reimbursements dramatically cut as Congress looks to further squeeze the optional, yet lucrative, Medicare product sold by those companies. The Medicare Advantage plans were developed as a supplement to traditional Medicare, a social health plan for people 65 and older, people with disabilities and those with end-stage renal failure.
Washington visit yields insight into financial crisis: Friday, Jan. 9, 2009; Reporters gathered in December at American University in Washington to tackle how to cover the financial crisis, especially as a new administration readies to assume power. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in the seminar that included journalists from major business papers to local community newspapers as well as freelance reporters looking to improve their skills.
Henderson’s unemployment rate remains below neighbors’ rates: Friday, Jan. 9, 2009; North Las Vegas’ blue-collar residents could be suffering more in this recession than Henderson’s white-collar homeowners. Las Vegas, too, is reported to have a higher household unemployment rate than its neighbor to its south. When it comes to the unemployment rate, North Las Vegas and Las Vegas have at least a one percentage point lead over Henderson.
Forecast: 1 in 10 Nevadans jobless: But economists see Obama’s spending plan bringing relief over time; Friday, Jan. 2, 2009; In November the state recorded a 24-year-high unemployment rate of 8 percent, up from 7.7 percent the previous month, according to the Labor Statistics Bureau.
As much as possible, keep a positive atmosphere: Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008; Joan Burge, head of Office Dynamics Ltd., a Las Vegas-based workplace training company, offered tips for employers looking to ease anxiety in the workplace:
Stress is high, but employers can help: Communication with employees is a must to minimize anxiety; Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008; It’s the question of the season: Will I lose my job?
UMC receives two $500,000 donations: Friday, Dec. 12, 2008; The University Medical Center Foundation received $1 million Thursday during a farewell ceremony for Dr. Anthony Marlon, a cardiologist and the founder and former owner of Sierra Health Services, at UnitedHealthcare Nevada's headquarters.
Las Vegas-based soldiers headed to Iraq, Kuwait: Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008; Las Vegas-based Army Guard soldiers will be deploying to Iraq and Kuwait in the spring, the Nevada National Guard said today.
Bank of Nevada's parent to sell shares to Treasury: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008; Western Alliance Bancorp announced today it has received preliminary approval to sell $140 million in preferred stock and warrants to the Treasury Department, part of a $250 billion fund to inject money into banks.
Nevada State Bank parent takes part in bailout: Equity sale to help infuse capital into economy; Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008; Zions Bancorp, the parent company of Nevada State Bank, has received preliminary approval from the Treasury Department to sell $1.4 billion of preferred equity to the government.
City National Bank gets Treasury investment: Monday, Oct. 27, 2008; Los Angeles-based City National Bank said today it has received preliminary approval to sell $395 million worth of shares and warrants to the Treasury Department.
IRS trying to give $4 million back to Nevadans: Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008; The Internal Revenue Service has more than $4 million in returned economic stimulus and refund checks due to Nevadans, the agency reported.
FDIC helps in Citigroup's purchase of Wachovia Bank: Monday, Sept. 29, 2008; Citigroup Inc. has bought Wachovia Bank with the help of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., an FDIC news release said. The bank did not fail, the FDIC said.
WaMu acquired by JPMorgan Chase: Bank had 37 branches in the Las Vegas market; Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008; Washington Mutual Bank has been acquired by JPMorgan Chase, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. announced late Thursday. The Thrift Supervision Office seized Washington Mutual and named the FDIC receiver.
FDIC takes over Silver State Bank of Henderson: Friday, Sept. 5, 2008; The state’s Financial Institutions Division seized Henderson-based Silver State Bank Sept. 5, placing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in receivership of the failed bank.
Economy blamed for Henderson bank's quarterly loss: Friday, Aug. 1, 2008; A Henderson-based bank is feeling the strain of the “most severe downturn ever manifest” in the Nevada economy, its chief financial officer said in a release detailing the company’s second quarter report.
1st National Bank of Nevada fails: Friday, July 25, 2008; A Nevada bank is the latest casualty in the financial crunch affecting banks across the country.
Desai tried shipping vehicles overseas. Would he have followed?: Wednesday, April 30, 2008; Dr. Dipak Desai, under investigation for his role in the nation’s biggest hepatitis C scare, tried shipping two personal luxury vehicles to Dubai.
Short of preference cards in Summerlin precinct: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008