🌱 City Hall Parking Garages For Uber Drivers + Free Splash Pads

Happy Tuesday, Las Vegas! Let's get this day started off right. Here's everything worth knowing around town today.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 82 Low: 63.

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Here are the top three stories today in Las Vegas:

1. In an effort to reduce downtown traffic congestion, the City of Las Vegas is opening its City Hall parking garage to rideshare drivers. According to a city press release, Uber drivers will be allowed to stage at the garage while waiting for ride requests, as well as use the restroom and connect to Wifi. City leaders hope the program will help ease congestion as well as manage curb space used for passenger drop-off and pickup. (KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas)
2. As the weather heats up in the Valley, the City of Las Vegas has opened its free splash pads for the summer season. A city news release states the free water play areas offer children a "fun way to cool off" and feature "fountains and other water play features." City-operated splash pads are open each day from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; click the link for the full list of participating parks. (Fox 5 Las Vegas)
3. The man who allegedly shot and paralyzed a Las Vegas police officer during a 2020 racial justice protest on the Strip has been sentenced to prison. 21-year-old Edgar Samaniego, who was sentenced Friday to 20-50 years in state prison, read a statement saying he does not remember the shooting due to his drug and alcohol use. Officer Shay Mikalonis, who was 29 at the time of the incident, now requires the help of a ventilator to breathe. (KNPR)

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Today in Las Vegas:

• Fabric And Fiber Arts Circle At Summerlin Library (10:30 AM)
• Free COVID-19 Testing At Centennial Hills Library (2:00 PM)
• Star Wars Fun At West Las Vegas Library (4:00 PM)
• Mission To MARS At West Charleston Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The lights surrounding the 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign turned green Monday morning to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month. County commissioners and representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness Southern Nevada and Hope Means Nevada were all there to flip the switch during a brief ceremony. (News3LV)
• A couple from Oklahoma City got married midair on a flight to Vegas after their connecting flight was canceled. Congrats to newlyweds Pam and Jeremy! (Fox 5 Las Vegas)
• Find your next career opportunity here in Las Vegas with this week's roundup of local job listings. (Las Vegas Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar - AM & PM! (May 3)
• First Ladies of Disco Retro Music Box Tour (May 4)
• Hire A Pro To Tackle Mom's To-Do List (May 8)
• Reno Food & Drink Week (June 1)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Dominique-Noelle Rafael

About me: Dominique is a self taught UX/UI designer based in Princeton, NJ. She recently graduated from the University of Maryland last spring with a bachelor's degree in Information Science. She is excited to begin working on the Patch newsletter project this year!