<div class=World’s most expensive hotel-casino opens in Las Vegas
" />

World’s most expensive hotel-casino opens in Las Vegas

Posted on by

Friday, April 29, 2005

The world’s most expensive hotel-casino ever has opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino, which was designed and built over a period of five years, cost US$2.7 billion to construct. The hotel stands nearly fifty stories above the Las Vegas valley, with a 180-foot tall mountain in front of the main entrance.

Numerous lavish touches contributed to the high expense of the development. The sign in front of the Wynn property has an unusual mechanical design, with a large piece containing the Wynn logo, which can move vertically up or down as different announcements are presented.

“I think it’s going to start a shift of power. It’s been the south for a long time. Things will start moving to the north because of Wynn Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson with the expansion of the Venetian, the New Frontier — that whole area will become the new hot area of Las Vegas for the next decade or so,” gaming expert Anthony Curtis told Las Vegas KLAS TV.

As the property opened to the public, developer Steve Wynn greeted visitors at the front entrance.

“It’s always fascinating to watch people enter the thing and get their first moment after we open the doors,” Wynn told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

File:WynnSign.JPG

Analysts are not too concerned about the cost of the Wynn development. Wynn paid off the cost of The Mirage hotel-casino in 18 months, much earlier than the planned seven years for which the debt had been scheduled for repayment.

“If you remember the opening of The Mirage in 1989, Wynn needed to make a nut of $1 million a day. Everyone thought he was nuts; ‘couldn’t be done,’ they all said,” Las Vegas history department Chairman Hal Rothman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wynn sold his interest in Mirage Resorts to MGM Grand (which became MGM Mirage and is now run by Kirk Kerkorian) for US$6.4 billion back in 2000, then turned around and purchased the property for the Wynn hotel-casino for US$275 million. The property was previously the home of the Desert Inn.

The hotel has 2,359 rooms, and a few hundred deluxe suites and “parlors” for high rollers. The casino has 1,960 slot machines and 137 table games on a 111,000 square foot casino floor. A Ferrari–Maserati dealership and the Le Reve stage show, featuring a million gallon water tank, round out the expensive offerings.

A round of golf will go for US$500 on the elaborate golf course located behind the main building.

All of these specifications add up to a record construction cost of over one million US dollars per room. Other expensive Las Vegas properties cost a fraction of the price, such as the Bellagio, which cost half the price at US$533,000 per room. The most expensive hotel property in the world was previously the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui, Hawaii, which cost US$775,000 per room.

“Yes, (Wynn) may be in over his head, but then he has found ways to survive before,” Las Vegas professor Bill Thompson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Several of Wynn’s largest competitors spoke with admiration of the property and looked forward to its impact on Las Vegas.

“I’ve never understood the hand-wringing about something new, especially in Las Vegas and Atlantic City,” Harrah’s Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Other casino bosses from the Mandalay and the MGM Mirage had positive comments as well, hoping to pick up some new business from the development.

“It’s a positive in terms of bringing more visitors,” Mandalay Resort Group President and CEO Glenn Schaeffer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

“Steve will build a great property and bring new people to town. If we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing, then we’ll pick up some of that business also,” MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terry Lanni told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Thousands of visitors gathered for hours in front of the property before it opened. Security guards had to monitor the number of visitors entering the building.

“I think it’s spectacular,” David Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas told Reuters.

“People were pushing and shoving,” Las Vegan Kathie Anderson told Associated Press.

“There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos,” British billionaire Richard Branson told Associated Press from the casino floor. “I would say every other casino must be nervous. He’s lifted the bar dramatically,” Branson said.

“This would be hard to top,” Las Vegan Marlene DeMarco told Reuters.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=World%27s_most_expensive_hotel-casino_opens_in_Las_Vegas&oldid=4467276”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Date announced for by-election to replace former New Zealand PM Clark
" />

Date announced for by-election to replace former New Zealand PM Clark

Posted on by

Monday, April 20, 2009

The government has announced 13 June as the date for the upcoming Mount Albert by-election.

The by-election has been caused by former Prime Minister Helen Clark‘s departure to head the United Nations Development Program. While it is considered to be a safe Labour seat, the by-election is expected to be heavily contested.

Candidates must be nominated by 19 May.

Nominations for the Labour Party close on Wednesday. So far four candidates have put their names forward: Auckland city councillor Glenda Fryer, former candidate Hamish McCracken, University of Auckland political studies lecturer Meg Bates and employment lawyer Helen White. List MP Phil Twyford, widely expected to succeed Ms Clark, has not put his name forward.

The National Party has narrowed its possible candidates down to two: list MP Melissa Lee or unsuccessful 2008 candidate Ravi Musuku. The decision will be made at a party meeting on 4 May.

The Greens and ACT New Zealand will both contest the by-election, but have yet to select candidates.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Date_announced_for_by-election_to_replace_former_New_Zealand_PM_Clark&oldid=811727”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch to be auctioned off
" />

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch to be auctioned off

Posted on by

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Neverland Valley Ranch, owned by Michael Jackson, is to be sold at auction on March 19, 2008, unless Jackson pays over US$24 million.

Financial Title Company, the trustee of his Santa Barbara County, California, home and amusement park, has foreclosed on the property. They notified Jackson of the foreclosure and sale on Monday. Jackson had only just recently paid an overdue property tax bill of $600,000.

The court filing, addressed to Jackson, says, “You are in default of a deed of trust … Unless you take action to protect your property it may be sold at a public sale.” Fox News published the filing.

The foreclosure includes the ranch and all possessions on the property, inside or out.

The foreclosure auction will take place in front of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Barbara. Jackson has until then to pay $24,525,906.61 he owes the title company.

In 2006, Jackson refinanced previous loans that had been bought up by Fortress Investment Group. The $300-million loan was secured with the aid of Sony Music Entertainment. However, the Neverland property was not part of that deal.

Jackson has not lived at Neverland since June 30, 2005, when he moved to Bahrain after a rape charge and subsequent acquittal.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Jackson%27s_Neverland_Ranch_to_be_auctioned_off&oldid=742241”
Posted in Uncategorized
When Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage To Your Home?

When Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage To Your Home?

Posted on by

By Fred Zimmerman

Have you had your Home Hit By a storm?

These days most everyone that has a home has a loan on their house in the United States. When a mortgage company loans money on a home, they will almost always without fail that they will insure the property. The homeowner actually is the one who pays the insurance every month to insure the property.

The Banks do this in order to insure that if something happens to the home, they will recoup their loan value from the property. There are homeowners that are not aware that they have insurance on their homes. This is because sometimes the monthly payments on the home loan may also include the insurance policy payment.

This does not mean the bank is in charge of the policy. Remember that the bank only wants to make sure the property is insured because they want their money back if something were to happen to their investment. The investment that the homeowner actually is paying for, is really the banks until the loan is paid off. The bank is so concerned about the loan on the property, that they make it a requirement for insurance to be on the home. If you think this is not true, just try to cancel your insurance on your home.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLFj6j-LgoQ[/youtube]

When are home not covered?

The only homes that usually do not have insurance on the home are ones that are fully owned by the homeowner. I have run across homeowners that don’t think that they have insurance on their home to cover property damage. Even if they don’t know who their insurance is, they can rest assured if they are making payments on their home, it is insured.

Contacting your Insurance.

If the homeowner does not know the name of their insurance they can usually find it by looking at the next month’s loan payment. If the insurance cannot be found there, then call the mortgage company and ask who insures the home. They will be able to find out. The Next objection some homeowners have is that insurance will not cover storm damage. They think that home insurance is not for storm damage, but only used if their home burns down, or they flood their home by neglect or something along those lines. That is not true the insurance covers more then just those events.

I talked to a homeowner that has two homes, one burned down from lightning during the same storm his other home suffered hail damage. The insurance sent him a check for his home that burned down, but he was scared to let the insurance know about his hail damaged home. It doesn’t matter if your house is not burned down to the ground, there still may be problems.

Insurance covers Hail and Wind Damage

Insurance does cover storm damage if there is wind or hail. The wind damage does not have to be from a tornado or hurricane either. If there has been a large storm in the area it may be good to let your insurance company know that you might have storm damage.

Also another good indicator that the insurance should look at your home is if cars in your neighborhood have suffered hail damage. That same hail most likely has hit your home also.

About the Author: More roofing tips and news

ct roofing contractors

See how you can have a great party at your home for your kids

Cotton Candy Machines in Ct

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=739011&ca=Home+Management

<div class=Spanish prime minister speaks on economic crisis
" />

Spanish prime minister speaks on economic crisis

Posted on by

Monday, October 20, 2008

In an interview with Público, a Spanish newspaper, the prime minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has stated that ” if there is a global recession, it seems logical to expect that Spain will enter the recession in 2009 .”

In the interview Zapatero also described the worldwide economic situation as “difficult.” He recognized that ” the developed countries are or are going to experience negative growth, and developing countries are also going to see falling growth; resulting in a worldwide loss of jobs.”

We have a year-long financial crisis, which has had its most acute moment in the past two months, and I think now the financial markets are beginning to recover

Regarding the global financial situation, Zapatero continued by saying that “the financial system is a part of the economy, a crucial part. We have a year-long financial crisis, which has had its most acute moment in the past two months, and I think now the financial markets are beginning to recover.”

Asked about whether it would be desirable to another plan to help those overwhelmed by the size of their mortgage, Zapatero reiterated the falls in the Euro Interbank Offered Rate .

Zapatero then claimed that the average Spanish citizen would see their mortgage decrease by €28 a month (€330 per year) as result of the recent drops in interest rate, lead by seven central banks, including the European Central Bank which covers Spain, dropped their interest rate by 0.5%.

The prime minister then said that he was pleased with the role of Spain in the recent summits discussing the financial crisis, before adding that he believes the European Union will lead the way in solving the current issues in the markets.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Spanish_prime_minister_speaks_on_economic_crisis&oldid=2295862”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Conservationists capture most massive Burmese python in Florida history
" />

Conservationists capture most massive Burmese python in Florida history

Posted on by

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Media reported Wednesday that biologists from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida reported having captured a Burmese python (Python bivittatus) measuring nearly 18 feet (5 m) in length and 215 pounds (97 kg) in weight in the state’s Everglades wetlands.

It may be the largest member of its species ever found outside its natural range in Southeast Asia. Another Burmese python measuring 18 feet and 9 inches (5.7 m) was found in 2020, but it only weighed 104 pounds (47.2 kilograms).

In a search documented by National Geographic, the team captured the current snake in December 2021 by tagging a male “scout snake” named Dionysius with a GPS tracking device and releasing it into the western Everglades.

“How do you find the needle in the haystack? You could use a magnet, and in a similar way our male scout snakes are attracted to the biggest females around,” said wildlife expert Ian Bartoszek, the team’s project manager.

Pythons are an invasive species in Florida. Removing female snakes from the environment before they lay their eggs is the Conservancy’s preferred strategy for limiting python breeding. When the team saw that Dionysius was spending several weeks in one area, they concluded he’d found a sexually mature female and set off to retrieve him.

It took twenty minutes of wrestling and three adult humans to carry the snake to a vehicle, in which it was taken to a laboratory in Naples, Florida and euthanized. Upon necropsy, it was found to contain over 122 healthy but unfertilized egg follicles.

Pythons were introduced to Florida in the 1970s, probably by being sold as pets. While there is a history of individual pet owners illegally releasing exotic animals into the wild after they grow larger than expected, the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 also allowed animals from a serpent center to escape to the Everglades and other habitats, where they reproduced in great numbers.

Since then, they have disrupted the food chain by eating local animals, including endangered animals: the stomach of this snake contained the remains of a white-tailed deer.

The state of Florida considers Burmese pythons a threat to native wildlife and sponsors an annual python hunt with USD2,500 as first prize.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Conservationists_capture_most_massive_Burmese_python_in_Florida_history&oldid=4689463”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=International participants showcase different industry cultures at 2008 Taipei Game Show
" />

International participants showcase different industry cultures at 2008 Taipei Game Show

Posted on by

Friday, January 25, 2008

B2B Trade Area of Taipei Game Show, criticized by trade buyers last year, but accompanied with 2008 Taiwan Digital Content Forum, moved to the second floor at Taipei World Trade Center for world-wide participants with a better exchange atmosphere this year.

Not only local OBMs (Softstar Entertainment, Soft-World International Corp., International Games System Corp., …, etc.) but also companies from New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea showcased different specialists with multiple styles. Especially on South Korea, participated members from G? Trade Show (Game Show & Trade, All-Round, aka Gstar) showcased gaming industry of South Korea and the G? upcoming at this November with brochures.

In the 2-days Digital Content Forum, world-class experts not only shared industry experiences, members from Taiwan Gaming Industry Association also discussed and forecasted marketing models for gaming industry. With participations from governmental, industrial, and academical executives world-wide, this forum helps them gained precious experiences of digital content industry from several countries.

According to the Taipei Computer Association, the show and forum organizer, the digital content industry in Taiwan was apparently grown up recent years as Minister of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China Steve Ruey-long Chen said at Opening Ceremony yesterday. Without R&Ds from cyber-gaming, and basic conceptions from policies and copyright issues, this (digital content) industry will be fallen down in Taiwan. If this industry wanted to be grown up in sustainability, gaming OBMs in Taiwan should independently produce different and unique games and change market style to market brands and games to the world.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=International_participants_showcase_different_industry_cultures_at_2008_Taipei_Game_Show&oldid=621950”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Australian health workers to close intensive care units in Victoria next week
" />

Australian health workers to close intensive care units in Victoria next week

Posted on by

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Members of Australia’s Health Services Union (HSU) will go on strike in Victoria next week in a dispute over stalled wage and career structure negotiations. Over 5000 physiotherapists, speech pathologists and radiation therapists will walk off the job next week, effectively closing the state’s 68 largest health services.

The strike will force the closure of intensive care units and emergency departments across the state.

It is feared the strike could continue into Easter.

National secretary of the HSU, Kathy Jackson said admissions would be crippled, while intensive care patients would have to be evacuated to New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia as hospitals will not be able to perform tests or administer treatment.

“When an ambulance shows up you can’t admit a patient without an X-ray being available, you can’t intubate them and you can’t operate on them,” she said.

“If something goes wrong in an ICU you need to be able to X-ray, use nuclear medicine or any diagnostic procedure,” said Ms Jackson.

Ms Jackson said the HSU offered arbitration last year, but the state government refused. “They’re not interested in settling disputes, they hope that we are just going to go away.”

“We’re not going away, we’ve gone back and balloted the whole public health workforce in Victoria, those ballots were successful, 97 percent approval rating,” she said.

The HSU is urging the government to commence serious negotiations to resolve the dispute before industrial action commenced.

The government has offered the union a 3.25 per cent pay increase, in line with other public sector workers but the union has demanded more, but stopped short of specifying a figure.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said the claim would be settled according to the government’s wages policy. “The Government is always willing and wanting to sit down and negotiate with the relevant organisations . . . we have a wages policy based around an increase of 3.25 per cent and, above that, productivity offset,” he told parliament.

The union claims it is also arguing against a lack of career structure, which has caused many professionals to leave the health service. Ms Jackson said wages and career structures in Victoria were behind other states.

Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said he was not in support of the proposed strike and called on the government to meet with unions. “There could not be a more serious threat to our health system than has been announced today.”

“We now have to do whatever is possible to stop this strike from proceeding,” he said.

The opposition leader will meet with the union at 11:30 AM today.

Victorian Hospitals Industry Association industrial relations services manager Simon Chant said hospitals were looking at the possible impact and warned that patients may have to be evacuated interstate if the strike goes ahead.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Australian_health_workers_to_close_intensive_care_units_in_Victoria_next_week&oldid=4360153”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Category:Featured article
" />

Category:Featured article

Posted on by
Shortcut:WN:FA

Featured articles are selected by the community to represent the best of Wikinews. See the Featured Article Candidates page for nominations and discussions of candidate articles for this page. Or, subscribe to the RSS feed!

[edit]

Pages in category “Featured article”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Featured_article&oldid=2870736”
Posted in Uncategorized
<div class=Category:Science and technology
" />

Category:Science and technology

Posted on by

This is the category for science and technology.

Refresh this list to see the latest articles.

  • 27 September 2022: Polyurethane plastic substitute can biodegrade in seawater, say scientists
  • 12 September 2022: Albania blames Iran for cyberattacks
  • 15 July 2022: First deep space images from James Webb Space Telescope released
  • 3 June 2022: Scientists discover seagrass off Australia is world’s largest plant
  • 19 March 2022: Scientists announce decoy-proof Ebola antibodies
  • 10 March 2022: Lost Antarctic shipwreck from 1915 Shackleton expedition, Endurance, rediscovered
  • 8 March 2022: Entomological Society of America renames invasive moth
  • 5 March 2022: 30,000-year-old Austrian statue traced to stone from Italy
  • 18 February 2022: Scientists use DNA analysis to track elephant poaching networks
  • 11 February 2022: Ten-year Tennessee study shows preschool associated with poorer student performance
?Category:Science and technology

You can also browse through all articles in this category alphabetically.

Contents: Top – 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

From Wikinews, the free news source you can write.

Sister projects
  • Wikibooks
  • Commons
  • Wikidata
  • Wikipedia
  • Wikiquote
  • Wikisource
  • Wikiversity

Subcategories

Pages in category “Science and technology”

(previous page) ()(previous page) ()

Media in category “Science and technology”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Science_and_technology&oldid=4551729”
Posted in Uncategorized