🚘 Driverless cars stall out in Vegas

As the presence of Zoox continues to expand in Las Vegas, the Nevada Transportation Authority says it has yet to receive any report of a crash involving the driverless autonomous shuttles. Here’s the bad news: Videos on the news and social media have shown a few incidents of the vehicles stalling out, which don’t require NTA reports. The company, a subsidiary of Amazon, described the events as “isolated situations” that “were not caused by Zoox.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal/KVVU/Las Vegas Locally]

• Zoox did publicly acknowledge an April crash, which prompted a software update in the vehicles. [CNBC]
• Rides are currently available at no charge at a limited number of destinations on and near the Strip. We tried it out. [City Cast Las Vegas ✍️]
• Approval is pending from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration before Zoox can operate on a commercial basis. [Reuters]
• A fresh redesign of the vehicles, featuring a more comfortable interior was recently unveiled. The exterior still looks like a toaster. [CNBC]

🔥 Fireworks Responsible for Youth Center Fire?

The Nevada Youth Sports Center remains closed after it was damaged by a fire over the weekend. The cause is officially under investigation, but illegal fireworks are suspected. [KTNV]

• Las Vegas Fire & Rescue responded to 120 overnight incidents on July 4-5, including 14 building fires. [KSNV]
• The Animal Foundation took in more than 90 lost pets scared off by holiday fireworks. [KVVU]

🚨 Suspect Arrested Following Horse Death

A 62-year-old man turned himself into police after video circulated of a horse tied to a white pickup truck as the animal was dragged through an East Valley neighborhood. The horse was later found dead in front of a home. Camarillo Guarneros is charged with one count of willful or malicious torture, maiming, or killing of an animal. [KLAS]

🌵 So Much for Deadlines

July 4 came and went — and Primm is still operating. You can fill up on gas (or Starbucks) and buy a lottery ticket, but the town’s three casinos remain closed. For now. Terrible’s, the new operator, says the next priority is setting a reopening date for the Primm Valley Casino. Every Primm employee was given an offer to stay on the job — about 300 total — with on-site housing still available. [KLAS]

💡 Luxor Flips the Switch on Iconic Sky Beam

The sky beam that stretches into the sky above the Luxor could soon turn red 😳 The resort is testing out a new system that would change the light’s colors, potentially for holidays and other special events. (How this is allowed next to an airport is anyone’s guess.) MGM Resorts is also working on a new light show for the Luxor’s indoor atrium. [Vital Vegas]

• There’s a reason the Luxor sky beam doesn’t shine as bright as it used to. [City Cast Las Vegas ✍️]

⚖️ Supreme Court Session Ends, Election Season Begins

We’re one week removed from the conclusion of a monumental session at the U.S. Supreme Court. City Cast Las Vegas looks at the fallout from the decisions in Nevada during today’s news roundup, plus the questions voters will (and won’t) face on November’s ballot and how Boulder Highway casinos managed to be more profitable than their counterparts on the Strip last year. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]