Nevada
AI in Las Vegas: OpenAI leader visits CSN to discuss AI workforce training, Vegas-based AI consultant releases new book
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The chief global affairs officer of OpenAI visited the College of Southern Nevada Friday to connect with students and local leaders on the future of artificial intelligence.
Chris Lehane joined lawmakers on stage at CSN, speaking to students about AI’s growing impact.
“Right now, we are in a moment of transition,” Lehane said. “Today in the world, there’s nearly a billion people who use chat on a regular basis. Here in Nevada, it’s almost a million people who use it on a regular basis.”
Lehane said the technology creates economic opportunities by lowering barriers to entry.
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“We need to get these tools into all of your hands, and we need to work to teach you how to use it, because it lowers barriers to entry and produces incredible economic opportunity,” he said.
AI development in Nevada
Lehane said there are about 4,900 developers in Nevada building businesses using AI technology.
CSN began offering an artificial intelligence certificate and degree program last fall to keep up with job market demands.
Throughout the day Friday, OpenAI hosted training sessions designed to help faculty, students and small businesses learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT. The goal is to grow and scale the partnership between the school and the AI company in the months ahead.
Local author releases AI book
Las Vegas-based author Michael Schrenk has been building computer systems since the 1970s and just wrote a book called “Structured Prompts” to teach people how to speak to AI.
“When most of us start using chat bots, we’re encouraged to use just plain normal English,” Schrenk said. “There are limitations with that. The limitations are that English is very nuanced.”
Schrenk said an economy built on service workers like Las Vegas is less vulnerable to losing jobs to AI.
“Most of the things you do on the Strip or wherever, you’re interacting with a person,” he said. “And in most of those cases, I don’t think it’d be possible to interface… with a machine, nor do I think people would want to… AI can’t clean your hotel room.”
Data center concerns
Schrenk also spoke about AI data centers and the push to build them across the country to service growing demand, including a proposal to build one in Boulder City.
“The reality is that nobody wants a data center in their backyard,” he said. “They’re noisy. They take a lot of power, so they’re going to raise everybody’s utility rates. Plus, they take up a lot of space, but they don’t employ a lot of people.”
Schrenk predicts about half of proposed data centers are already not going to be built, and suspects fewer will be built in the future.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Visitors at the Nevada National Security Site Museum got a lesson in Cold War history and Southern Nevada’s atomic past Saturday.
Retired test site worker Marcus Brown gave a presentation on Camp Desert Rock, the military installation located about four miles from the Mercury site, where the military conducted experiments to determine whether soldiers could operate in a nuclear environment.
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Brown said the series is part of regular talks the museum hosts every other week on topics including the USS Nevada, “Duck and Cover” and 1950s Las Vegas — all aimed at preserving the legacy of nuclear testing and its impact on the valley.
“Share the legacy and the history of the Nevada Test Site and the culture that it really kind of imparted to the Las Vegas community,” Brown said.
Brown’s history with the test site
Brown began his career at the Nevada Test Site in 1982 as a radiation health technician, supporting underground tests through 1992. He then moved into environmental remediation and later nuclear operations, continuing to work in the field until his retirement in 2023.
He now volunteers as a docent at the Nevada National Security Site Museum to share that history with new generations. Brown said the museum helps tell a story many locals never heard.
“Come and visit the museum. There’s a lot of culture and legacy and history here,” Brown said.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A Southern Nevada nonprofit that provides meals, hygiene resources, and housing assistance is getting a boost of visibility from a local bank’s community recognition program.
Lexicon Bank recognized CARE Complex through its Community Spotlight Program during June, highlighting the organization’s work serving individuals and families experiencing economic hardship throughout Southern Nevada.
CARE Complex is located in Las Vegas’ Corridor of Hope and operates as a centralized hub of essential services. The nonprofit provides meals, hygiene resources, mail, and locker services, along with on-site support aimed at meeting immediate needs with dignity and consistency.
Founded by Michael Swecker, CARE Complex connects vulnerable individuals with services intended to address both urgent needs and long-term success.
The organization’s key programs include Community Table, which provides meals and monthly pre-packed grocery bags; Homeless to Home (H2H), which offers financial assistance for qualifying individuals and families facing eviction or housing instability; and Step Into Success, which supports participants as they work toward self-sufficiency and long-term stability.
The recognition follows Lexicon Bancorp’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held in May, which celebrated “A Year of Philanthropy” and highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting local nonprofits and strengthening the communities it serves.
Lexicon Bank’s monthly Community Spotlight Program features organizations working across Southern Nevada and encourages community members to learn more, volunteer, and support their missions.
More information about CARE Complex, its programs, and ways to get involved is available at www.carecomplex.org.
Las Vegas (Nev.) Arbor View quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher announced his commitment to Oregon State and broke down why he chose the Beavers.
After taking official visits to Oregon State, UNLV, UCF and Michigan, the talented signal caller announced for the Beavers moments ago.
“I’m very excited about my decision,” Thatcher said. “Coach Shep (Jamarcus Shephard) has assembled a really great staff and I’m really excited to work with coach (Mitch) Dahlen.
“Coach Dahlen has worked with so many draft picks and it’s really exciting to have the opportunity to be developed by someone like him.”
The potential to compete for early playing time was another big factor for Thatcher.
“They’re going to give me a chance to compete for a spot right away,” Thatcher said. “That’s something I was interested in and so I’m excited about the opportunity.
“My whole family gets along with the entire Oregon State staff and we really believe in Coach Shep. I really think he’s going to be able to get things back on track and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
We originally had a commit prediction in for Michigan with Thatcher and there was strong buzz he was close to committing following his unofficial visit back in early April.
Thatcher decided to take his official visits instead and the Beavers hosted him on May 29. Oregon State started to build momentum with Thatcher following the trip and the Beavs were able to hold off strong competition.
Thatcher is one of the region’s top dual-threat quarterbacks and two-sport athletes. He’s a talented basketball player as well but his fixture is on the grid-iron.
As a junior, Thatcher completed 168-240 passes (70%) for 2,625 yard and 29 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also rushed for 605 yards and seven more scores and will be a four-year starter for the Aggies, one of the top teams in the state.
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