🚧 Is there hope for Henderson's stalled high-rise?

🌵 A Nevada State of Mind

Gov. Lombardo delivered his State of the State address last night. The Republican championed teacher pay raises, splitting the Department of Health and Human Services into two entities, getting tougher on crime, securing federal land for housing, and narrowing down the time it takes to count election ballots. [Nevada Independent]

• The most drama involved Assembly member Tracy Brown-May, who collapsed before the speech began, but left smiling and waving from a wheelchair. [X]

👷 New Hope for Water Street High-Rise

The developer of the stalled Watermark high-rise on Henderson’s Water Street is not only publicly apologizing after workers walked off the job, but promising to finish construction with a new loan and vanquish the retail and residential building's current “eyesore” status. [KLAS]

🐶 Laws Pass to Protect Animals

The Las Vegas City Council unanimously passed laws to increase penalties for those who abandon pets and limit the number of pets that can be adopted by one household in a single year. [KTNV]

• In other animal news, the Plaza hotel is offering free stalls by its arena for horses displaced in the California wildfires. [KSNV]

🌳 Wetlands Protected From Mining Leases

Sometimes a good protest can actually work. The federal government is pausing proposed mining for at least two years on nearly 270,000 acres in the Amargosa Valley due to concerns about the protection of wildlife. The land is near the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. [Nevada Current]

• Learn more about the Amargosa Valley. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🍸 Dry January Continues

Some people vow to give up booze as part of their New Year’s resolutions. (Not this guy, but some people.) However, Dry January is more than just a new way to turn over a new leaf. Culinary historian Sarah Lohan shares the unique history of Dry January with fellow City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler. I plan to pour myself an Old Fashioned and listen in 🥃 [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

We’re sad to report the passing of Cook E. Jarr, a local lounge singer in Las Vegas. Born Anthony Pettine, he died due to complications from pneumonia. His last public show was at Napoleon’s inside the Paris casino in 2019. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

In remembering the performer and his talent, let’s look back on the following Appreciation Index, penned by City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler in 2023.

I don’t call myself a fan of the force of Vegas lounge nature known as Cook E. Jarr, but I am a relentless aficionado — I love talking about him. I’ve seen him at least three dozen times in at least seven casino venues over his four decades in Las Vegas. For the uninitiated, Cook E. (sometimes with his backup band The Krums) is a maybe-too-cheesy performer doing cover versions of familiar songs. Standard enough.

But he also sports a shaggy haircut that’s a cross between Little Lord Fauntleroy, Cher, and a ’70s porn actor; bling on every finger; a Mr. T.-esque necklace/medallion collection; and ornate sunglasses, which, naturally, he wears indoors. He dons a decorative two-piece suit, usually shirtless (or close) underneath. And the man has chest hair. Lots of it. It verges on becoming an immersive experience when he gyrates.

Musically? No one quite belts/growls “Candy,” “Knock on Wood,” or “Hot in Herre” (as seen on Jimmy Kimmel) quite like Jarr. A decent vocalist, he intersperses almost every song with his trademark — and somehow enthralling — dog barks, salacious banter, and the hypnotic dangling of all his jewelry in service of giving 110 percent.

I last saw him at the long-closed Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall, so I’m not sure if he still performs. But his essence as paradigm lingers, for better and worse. Cook E. Jarr, the man, the myth, and, sure, why not, the legend, had it all: sweat, swagger, sultry song-styling, swearing, and surrealism. I might also add smarm, which provides fodder both for those who mock the style and those who seriously love a trainwreck — a trainwreck whose oddly compelling, raspy-throated enthusiasm inspires people to boogie.

From living-it-up party monsters to ironic hipsters to older couples grooving close and sexy-like, I’ve seen them all having a blast at a Cook E. Jarr show. He’s an icon of bodacious funk forever reminding us that if you don’t take Vegas too seriously and learn to love the kitsch, that’s when the fun really starts. ARF ARF, indeed!