🍷 How Galentine’s Day Exploded in Vegas

🚀 Did You See It?

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was clearly visible above Las Vegas last night. I took this photo while walking my dog shortly after 6 p.m. To me, it looked like this thing was coming from Pahrump, but it was actually launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California — which sounds much cooler than Pahrump. [KTNV]

🎰 The Vegas That Never Was

Speaking of spaceships, did you know that a developer once wanted to build a full-size replica of the Starship Enterprise for a Star Trek-themed hotel near Fremont Street? Las Vegas is full of stories about casino resorts with high ambitions that never came to be. It’s crazy how different our town could’ve looked over the years.

• City Cast Las Vegas co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler welcome UNLV history professor Michael Green to share stories and speculation about the Vegas that never was. It’s a game of “What if…?” that you don’t want to miss. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

😥 Arena Anxiety

Does Vegas really need another arena? How about two? One project has given up on a location near Blue Diamond Road and Las Vegas Blvd. — and could be eyeing a lot near the Rio. The other plans to build near the Sahara, but financing is in question. Either could attract an NBA team, but regardless, the LVCVA says no public financing will be involved. [Nevada Independent]

🚘 Unregistered Car Clutter

For some reason, Las Vegas has an unusually high tolerance for unregistered vehicles. No tags? No plates? No problem. It’s even worse when cars are virtually abandoned outside homes. One northeast valley neighborhood has been complaining to law enforcement, but little is being done about the problem. [KLAS]

🤢 The Bird Flu Invades Nevada

A new strain of bird flu was confirmed in Nevada. You can breathe easy — for now. It was detected up north in Churchill County. [Associated Press]