Items

• 2020-03-05

  The Sounds of a Casino

  Living in Las Vegas and working in a hotel and casino, I got used to a few things; the sounds of the slot machines and the (albeit unpleasant) aroma of cigarettes and cigars. After being brought back to work after the shutdown, what I immediately noticed was how much quieter the casino floor was with all of the restrictions in place. There was a limit to how many guests we could have in, and social distancing meant only every other machine could be used. While wearing a mask and having plexiglass in front of my station, I had to get used to projecting my voice so that guests could hear me while I was trying to help them. Even now, I still wear a mask and have to actively make an effort to be heard.
• 
  2022-03-20

  Working in a Casino Post-Covid

  Living in Las Vegas, it was quite noticeable when Covid hit. The city that always seemed to have something going on suddenly ground to a halt. Working at a casino, I noticed as our usual volume of guests and tourists started to lessen until we were shut down altogether. So, getting back to work after the shutdown was a bit of an adjustment. My workstation, usually with 6 of us working together now had half that amount. Hotel and casino floor capacity had to be kept low. I also remember the temperature checks that both guests and employees were required to do at the entrances. Enforcing the mask mandates with guests would also prove to be a hassle at times as some guests were more receptive than others. As travel restrictions and mask mandates started being lifted, it didn't take long for many of our regular guests to start showing up again. We recently started having live music performances at our property that guests had been inquiring about quite regularly beforehand. As of now, we're basically operating at full guest capacity again with a full casino floor and regular events. While there are still people wearing masks, myself included, there is a sense that the worst is behind us.
• 
  2021-03-25

  Navajo Nation casinos reopen as new virus cases dwindle

  By Donovan Quintero | Mar 25, 2021 | Business, CORONAVIRUS | CHURCH ROCK, N.M. Peterson Zah has a concern. On Tuesday, while hundreds of Fire Rock Casino patrons tried to win some money, the former Navajo Nation president wanted to hear what the COVID-19 public service announcement sounded like in Navajo. “I didn’t hear any of the PSA while inside because it’s so noisy,” he said. After taking a step outside the casino, the former Navajo Nation president said he was able to hear it. But that raised a concern for him. “And it’s pretty good,” Zah said, explaining the PSA in Navajo was clear and concise. “But you can only hear that clear outside and inside you can’t really understand it.” Zah said he was concerned no one would hear the COVID-19 safety guidelines everyone needed to follow. His other concern was that since many Navajo people have gotten both doses of the vaccines, many of them might become emboldened. “The reason why I was concerned is people have this attitude that because of the shots … they say, ‘Hey, I’m immune, I don’t have to worry about the virus.’ So when I go places I’m gonna take mine (mask) off,”’ Zah said Tuesday. According to the president’s office, more than 76,000 people have been fully vaccinated as of March 23 and more than 191,000 total doses have been administered. Zah didn’t think people should take any chances by easing up on protecting themselves from the contagious respiratory virus because some people were not wearing masks. After being closed for more than a year, Fire Rock Casino and Northern Edge Casino were on the fifth day of a two-week “soft reopening.” Just the gambling portion of the casinos were open at 25% capacity, and only Navajo Nation residents were allowed into the casinos, according to Navajo Gaming interim CEO Brian D. Parrish. Parrish clarified Navajo Nation residents meant everyone, including non-Natives, living on the reservation would have access to the casinos during the reopening phase. “We’re doing it with a two-phase reopening plan that started with Fire Rock and Northern Edge first,” he said. “We’re going to reevaluate with the Navajo Nation. They’re going to do audits and monitor our implementation of our workplace safety plan.” Of the 1,180 casino employees, 650 have returned to work since last Friday, said Parrish. Employees like Fire Rock Casino housekeeper Mildred Russell, who said she’s been out of work for over a year, were happy to be working again. “It’s been a struggle,” Russell said while cleaning a slot machine last Friday. “Hopefully this pandemic will be gone and everybody can go back to their normal lives.” Other employees, like casino security officer Vernon Keeswood from Hogback, New Mexico, shared Russell’s gratitude for getting the call to go back to work. “It’s good,” he said on Tuesday during a telephone interview that was arranged by Michele J. Crank, executive director of communications and public relations for Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise. Instead of the usual hugs and shaking hands, Keeswood said, now it was “fist bumps” and “elbow bumps.” As for the reopening, he said many Northern Edge Casino customers “are pleased and happy” the Navajo casinos have begun reopening. He added a few customers were not sure if the casinos should reopen. “I hope everyone washes their hands and practices social distancing so we open to 100 percent capacity,” Keeswood said. “I hope it opens more.” After all, the threat of another COVID-19 outbreak looms on everyone’s mind, including that of Robert Peterson from Thoreau. “People are still afraid to come here but a lot of them want to enjoy being out instead of being stuck at home,” said Peterson, who said he lives alone, last Friday. Peterson said being alone and dealing with the pandemic has been hard for him. Despite his fears, he decided to head to Fire Rock to get his mind off COVID-19. Mary E. Silversmith, 79, from Lupton, Arizona, ensured no one came to visit her with a “no visitors allowed” sign posted on her hogan. She was happy to support the casino employees who returned to work. “The casinos were opened for the casino employees,” she said on Tuesday at Fire Rock. “Many of have children and they have bills to pay. “Because of that, I am OK with the reopening,” she said. “Some people have been criticizing the reopening. Not me, I don’t think that way or talk that way.” Before the pandemic, Silversmith said she frequently ate at Fire Rock, as well as at Twin Arrows Casino and Resort, when she had extra money to spend. Silversmith was wearing a surgical mask. To gain entry into both casinos during the soft reopening, a state ID, like a driver’s license, is required and a working number at which customers can be contacted. Temperature checks were also part of the requirements for anyone wanting to enter. After their temperature was checked, security asked customers to momentarily remove their masks and look at the front entrance security camera. The purpose of collecting all of the information is for contact tracing, said Parrish. “We have an excellent plan that’s in place,” he said. “We’ve had it reviewed and modified and enhanced by public health experts, not only on Navajo, but outside the Navajo Nation.” He added that Navajo Gaming invested close to $2 million in “equipment, supplies, signage, training,” to keep everybody safe. U.S. Indian Health Service officials toured both of the casinos’ kitchens on March 12, Parrish added, to review their safety procedures. “And in terms of reopening of the other properties, especially at a higher capacity percentage, that’s going to be based not only on how well the enterprise does, but what’s happening with the public health metrics, the rate of vaccinations on Navajo and other key indicators like that,” the interim CEO said. The Navajo Gaming enterprise’s careful planning even got praise from Jordan Schermerhorn, a senior research associate at Georgetown Center for Global Health Science and Security. Schermerhorn stated in an email to NNGE their plan showed the tribe was leading “the entire country in a smart, careful return to normalcy.” “Combined with the Navajo Nation’s outstanding vaccine rollout, this soft reopening shows what is possible with a data-driven pandemic response in a community dedicated to public safety,” Schermerhorn‘s email said. Even the ventilation, air conditioning and heating systems, which completely re-circulate the air inside the casinos 15 times a day, were reviewed, said Parrish. “We’re ready to go to fifty percent, we’re ready to offer food and we’re ready to bring the rest of our team back,” Parrish said. Zah watched casino patrons trying to win money as sounds from the Tuesday afternoon hustle and bustle all but drowned out the COVID-19 PSA. “So basically, the attitude shouldn’t be such now that because they got their shot they don’t have to worry about it,” he said. “It’s still around. Even though ninety percent of the people may be wearing their mask, or all of them, if one of them comes in that has it, then we’re in trouble.” Zah explained a new COVID-19 variant is much smaller than the original strain, which to him was why everyone needed to double mask. “If you can see light through your mask that means it’s gonna go through,” Zah said. “We gotta start wearing two masks.” He said he intends to go on KTNN and remind everyone not to run off to Phoenix or Albuquerque just because they’ve been vaccinated. “At the same time, they still have to follow those protocols,” he said. “I want to say, ‘You gotta start wearing double masks.’” As of Tuesday night, the Navajo Nation Department of Health reported a cumulative 30,010 cases of the virus and 1,233 deaths.
• 
  2021-03-05

  In Native America, the National COVID-19 emergency has hit us hard

  This article describes the incredible losses the Native gaming industry has sustained due to the pandemic.
• 2020-10-16

  Macao, 2020

  I traveled to Macao in October 2020 for a family issue. Macao has lifted all the restrictions in late September and enabled travelers from China, mainland to enter the city with a covid-19 test report that was done within 7 days. Before the pandemic, Macao was one of the most popular places to travel for travelers all around the world, but now you could count how many people are on the street. The picture was taken in The Venetian, a luxury hotel with the largest shopping center in Macao, and a casino. Usually, the place is crowded with shoppers, people gambling in the casino, enjoying their vacations. I believe no one has ever seen this place is so empty as now, and no one knows when it will recover from the pandemic and the shopping center will be crowded again.
• 
  2020-03-18

  Las Vegas Quarantine

  The photo is when Las Vegas went into lockdown for COVID-19 in March 2020. This photo has much significance considering this was the first time in my life I witnessed Las Vegas actually shutdown all the casinos (which it’s infamously known for). This also shows how the government took action by having a quarantine/ shutdown of nonessential businesses. Being that casinos are the main source of income for many residents of Las Vegas, the virus undoubtedly affected locals daily lives, as well as billions of lives globally.
• 2020-10-20

  The Empty Strip

  This picture was taken while my family and I were driving on the empty strip. It was such an eerie feeling that there was no people on the streets and barely any cars. All of the signs said something along the lines of stay safe, we’ll be back soon. In the picture you can see that the sign says “Stay safe and we’ll get through this together”. All the casinos were closed because the government had to take leadership and try to prevent the spread of corona.
• 
  2020-10-19

  Las Vegas, a Petri Dish for the Coronavirus

  News of China’s “coronavirus” began to circulate in December of 2019. In March, the risk of the virus was very well known. This is when my high school shut down. In May, casinos shut down too. This was a good response by the government that was practically reversed in the months afterward. The picture above was taken on June 6 of 2020, months after people have become painfully aware of the virus. Casinos had recently reopened, and businesses were attracting tourists to make up for the massive losses of revenue during the quarantine. As you can see, there is a complete lack of social distancing, with some people failing to wear masks. This picture, to me, is but one of many examples of the government failing to protect its citizens. It’s no surprise that the reopening of commercial activity in Las Vegas resulted in another peak of Covid cases, unraveling all of the previous progress made to flatten the curve. Las Vegas is now a petri dish for the virus to thrive and spread. People in the healthcare field, including my father, are now under immense amounts of stress as Covid patients come pouring in. If officials, and citizens, had listened to common sense and scientific evidence from the start, we would have stopped isolating months ago.
• 
  2020-03-30T19:47

  Virus Problems

  This photo showcases the strip being empty and the casinos' vacancy. The governor shutdown the city to make sure the spread of the virus was limited. The residents were to be in their house the only time you could leave is with a mask. Visitors were prevented from coming to the strip and the region was quiet for a while.
• 
  2020-10-14

  Las Vegas Lockdown - March 29

  These two photos were taken on the strip at the beginning of lockdown in Las Vegas. Both photos show the government in action as they were taken during lockdown when the strip basically shut down. These photos show empty streets and billboards telling everyone to stay home and stay safe. The billboards provided a sort of unity within the city since it encouraged everyone to “be kind from a distance” and were small reminders that we were all in this together.
• 
  2020-05-21

  "DELAWARE NATION TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WITH FREE COVID-19 ANTIBODY TESTING FOR TRIBAL OFFICE AND CASINO EMPLOYEES"

  "Due to the public health concerns of COVID-19, Delaware Nation is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees who serve our casino patrons. Inside the Administration on Aging building within the Delaware Nation tribal complex, free antibody tests were voluntarily given to casino and tribal employees since the casinos and tribal offices are near reopening."
• 
  2020-05-07

  Winnebago Pandemic Taskforce Chairman Issues Update

  Weekly update on the “National Day of Prayer,” including all the data of those infected within the community to date. Leadership from different departments and enterprises within the tribe, including the tribal college and casino, also provide reports.
• 
  05/23/2020

  Securing An Economic Future Amid the Pandemic: Seminole Tribe buys rights for Las Vegas Hard Rock

  "The Seminole Tribe of Florida has consolidated its control over the “Hard Rock” hotel and casino brand."
• 2020-05-06

  NorthWest Casino Response to Covid 19

  NorthWest Casino Response to Covid 19.
• 
  2020-05-05

  Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Asks Tribal Graduates of 2020 for Pictures for Casino Marquee, Honoring While Social Distancing

  “Let us celebrate you! We want to display your picture on the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort marquee!” #IndigenousStories
• 
  05/08/2020

  KNPR Paper

  Short paper on the State of Nevada program on 88.9fm *Original text in "Crreator" and "Contributor:" I wrote the paper on the state of Nevada KNPR hosted by Joe Schoenmann.
• 
  05/09/2020

  Plans to reopen Las Vegas

  Summary of radio episode about the corona virus affecting Las Vegas. *I created the summary and the original information is from Nevada Public Radio. *Nevada Public Radio. *Radio episode so like a podcast. #unlv #mlphelps #psc100
• 
  05/09/2020

  Las Vegas: COVID-19 Control Group

  It is a recap/review of Las Vegas City's reaction to the pandemic. #KNPR #StateofNevada #unlv #mlphelps #psc100
• 
  05/16/2020

  Clark County Responds To Mayor Comments And Concerns About Reopening KNPR

  How to reopen the Las Vegas Strip
• 
  2020-05-08

  KNPR Paper

  In this KNPR episode, Andre Carrier discusses ways on how to bring up the economy in the face of the pandemic.
• 
  2020-05-06

  KNPR Summary

  In this summary, it discusses what might happen after the economy reopens back up during this pandemic. Like, what regulations will be taken, and how different things might possibly end up being after reopening. I wrote the summary, however, Joe Shoenmann and Congressman Amodei spoke during the broadcast.
• 
  2020-03-09

  KNPR essay COVID19

  A paper by UNLV student Joe Schonenmann about a KNPR segment on different political stances on how Las Vegas, Nevada should respond to the pandemic.
• 
  2020-04-24

  KNPR Paper

  A student's paper discussing how the hospitality and gaming industries in Las Vegas, Nevada have been impacted by the pandemic.
• 
  2020-05-04

  Las Vegas Casinos In A Post-COVID-19 World

  A student's paper discussing how the pandemic has changed the operation of casinos and gaming in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• 
  2020-04-01

  Hannahville Indian Community Extends Casino Closure

  “Unfortunately, as the pandemic continues, it is apparent that the Casino will NOT OPEN in early April as initially planned. By order of the Tribal Council the Island Resort and Casino will remain closed until further notice…Our highest concern is to continue to provide services to our tribal membership and to continue processing payroll to all our employees.”
• 
  2020-04-27

  San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Extends Casino Closure to May 31st

  “As the coronavirus pandemic and response to it continues to affect just about every aspect of our world, we remain committed to the principle that the health and safety of our community is the most important priority.” #IndigenousStories
• 
  2020-03-27

  California's Agua Caliente Tribe Closes Casino, One of the Largest Employers in Coachella Valley

  """Stay healthy and safe during this challenging time,"" Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. ""We remain hopeful and are eager for the day we can reopen. Since time immemorial, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has been resilient in overcoming major challenges and obstacles. We will get through this together, Coachella Valley."" #IndigenousStories"