What you — and we — are thankful for right now

💩 Septic Skeptics?

Septic tanks are the valley’s third largest source of unrecyclable water — millions of gallons that aren’t captured and returned to the lake. Several programs to help homeowners connect septic systems to the sewage system are rolling out, but it’s going slowly. [Nevada Independent]

⚖️ Youths Formally Charged

Second-degree murder: That’s the formal charge facing the four 16- and 17-year olds being tried as adults in the Rancho student beating death. Also, a ninth suspect has been arrested. [Review-Journal]

• Context: What this case tells us about school violence. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

😬 Kids Run From Medical Facility

Four kids aged 12-18 fled a local psychiatric facility on Friday after a patient there pulled a fire alarm. The four are still being sought. [KTNV]

🚗 News You Can Use

Attention, shoppers: The City of Las Vegas will let you park downtown for free on Saturday — Small Business Saturday — as you patronize local shops. [Review-Journal]

Friday, Nov. 24

• 🛍️ Indigimart | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free | Huntridge neighborhood
• ❄️ ‘Mystic Falls Winter Wonderland’ (opens) | 4-8 p.m. | Free | Sam’s Town
• 🎤 ‘Around the Campfire’ (storytelling) | 7 p.m. | $10 | Sahara & Valley View
• 🌺 Jake Shimabukuro: ‘Christmas in Hawai’i’ (concert) | 7 p.m. | $37-$47 | Green Valley Ranch
• 🎸 Ted Sablay & Friends | 8 p.m. | $10-$25 | Fremont East
• 🎸 Double Down Saloon 31st Anniversary | 10 p.m. | Free | University District

Saturday, Nov. 25

• 🛍️ Holiday Craftville Gift Bazaar | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Free | Silverton
• ☘️ ‘Celtic Thanksgiving: The Return’ | 4 p.m. | $12 | Washington & Bruce
• 🎭 Samuel Beckett’s ‘Happy Days’ | 2 and 7:30 p.m. | $40 | Arts District
• ✨ ‘Cinderella: A Pantomime for Las Vegas’ | 7:30 p.m. | $25-$30 | UNLV
• 🎸 Corey Feldman and the Angels | 9-11:30 p.m. | $20 | Fremont East

Sunday, Nov. 26

• 📚 Storytime at Wetlands Park | 11 a.m. | Free | Clark County Wetlands Park
• 🛍️ Market in the Alley | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Free | Green Valley
• 🪈 ‘Sirocco Flutes of Las Vegas’ | 2 p.m. | Free | Rainbow & windmill
• 🎊 ‘Soireé Eclectic’ | 5-6 p.m | $17.85 | New Orleans Square

A partial list of what you, and we, are thankful for:

💪 "Living each day above ground!" (Reginald W.)

🤩 "I'm thankful for my gorgeous smile and fantastic blue eyes! I'm a panhandler, and the combination works wonders for me!" (Todd Ullum)

🐶 "I am thankful for unconditional love from my dog." (A)

☎️ "I’m thankful for my OG 702 phone number — no 775 for me!" (Sonja Cho Swanson, City Cast executive producer)

🏠 "I’m thankful for having a roof over my head and food in my refrigerator. So many don’t." (Michael V.)

😮‍💨 "I’m thankful that, as much as Las Vegas could use a megadose of holiday spirit, Phoenix is as close to us as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will get this year." (Me)

💬 "I’m thankful for Claytee White and UNLV’s Oral History Project, a local and national treasure." (Stacy W.)

🆒 "Although I speak fluent sarcasm, I would like to honestly say that I am thankful for The Winchester Dondero Cultural Center and its director, Irma Varela. It is a true gem in our valley." (Patrick Sean Clark)

👍 "Working, house, food, family, friends, F1." (Matt V.)

🤑 "I’m thankful for F1. I'm sure that the billionaire owners and hotels will find enormous profits, and it will trickle down right into their bank accounts." (Skmcasey)

🙏 "My deep relationship with God, family, and friends. The talents I have been given that enable me to live a fabulous life, and the opportunities I have to serve and help others." (Victoria Hart)

⚖️ "I’m thankful for my protected abortion rights in Nevada." (Sarah Lohman, City Cast Las Vegas co-host)

🍗 "I'm thankful for casinos doing full Thanksgiving dinners since I am unable to travel to family this year." (Brian B.)

📚 "I'm thankful for Black Mountain Institute bringing interesting writers to our community and having a program that unleashes Las Vegas on them — and for all their many thoughtful (and sometimes weird) takes on our city!" (Dayvid Figler, City Cast Las Vegas co-host)

🫔 "I’m thankful for the Tamales and Mariachi Festival Dec. 2." (Me again, hungry)

🍗 "I’m thankful for … Thanksgiving! (It) is a relatively quiet space saddled between the adult-driven hype of Halloween and the commodification of Christmas. Thanksgiving politely encourages us to appreciate our place in life before the chaos of December sets in, and for that I am thankful." (James P. Reza)

Thanks for your submissions, everyone!

How Weird Was Howard?

Howard Hughes, Thanksgiving, and Las Vegas go way back: The mogul arrived here around Thanksgiving in 1966, taking over two floors at the Desert Inn. Four years later — now a drug-addicted, reclusive hermit and Mason-jar enthusiast — he left at Thanksgiving time in 1970. Today, we revisit a conversation that former co-host Vogue Robinson had with Geoff Schumacher, vice president of exhibits and programs for the Mob Museum, and author of a book about Hughes’ Vegas years.