Joanne Goodwin writes about the people and communities behind Las Vegas hospitality, tourism, restaurants, entertainment, and neighborhood change. Her work uses historical context and people-centered reporting to explain how the visitor economy affects workers, residents, and the everyday life of Southern Nevada.
Joanne Goodwin studied history at The University of New Mexico, where she developed an interest in social history, migration, work, and the communities of the American Southwest. Her professional background includes regional museum projects, cultural organizations, archival research, and independent historical work focused on how local industries shape everyday life. At Vegas Report, she writes about hospitality workers, restaurants and entertainment, women in local business, neighborhood change, tourism, and the human side of the Las Vegas visitor economy. Her editorial approach combines historical records, oral accounts, and practical context, looking beyond promotional narratives to understand who benefits from growth and who absorbs its costs. Goodwin aims to give readers a clearer picture of Las Vegas by focusing on the people, workplaces, and communities that make the destination function.
Coverage Areas
Hospitality industryHotels, resorts, restaurants, entertainment venues, and related businesses that form a major part of the Las Vegas economy and visitor experience.
Social historyThe study of everyday life, work, communities, social groups, and the experiences of people who are often less visible in traditional institutional histories.
TourismVisitor travel and the economic and social systems surrounding destinations, including hospitality, employment, local businesses, transportation, and community impacts.
Sylvester Stallone visited the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and hosted a Carbonadi vodka tasting for Las Vegas liquor professionals. The event included a tour and a VIP lunch scheduled at Carbone Riviera overlooking Lake Bellagio.
Clark County will help fund Las Vegas’ share of the Campus for Hope project through 2031 as the city faces a budget deficit after the $636 million Badlands settlement.
MGM Resorts is now looking at a possible bid for People Inc, just days after People dropped its own offer for the Las Vegas casino giant. The move could shake up who controls MGM’s Strip resorts and digital business.
For over 30 years, Vickie’s Diner has served up all day breakfast and comfort food from its pink booths just east of the Strip, winning loyal fans with homemade classics and the owner’s personal touch.
MGM Grand Adventures closed by 2000, but family visits to Las Vegas kept rising. Kid-friendly attractions on the Strip survived and even grew, defying the myth of a failed family push.
Las Vegas Fire and Rescue has added a new ladder truck at Station Four. The move raises daily staffing and brings stronger emergency coverage for Ward Three and high-rise calls.
Yotta 2026 kicks off September 28 at Caesars Forum, drawing over 6,500 senior digital infrastructure leaders and more than 600 CEOs to tackle the trillion-dollar AI buildout and its impact on Las Vegas convention business.
Monster Manor brings circus, cabaret and drag acts to Las Vegas in support of the Sin Sity Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program, with tickets funding HIV/AIDS medication access for the local community
The Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center in Fort Worth has completed its first year, delivering over 18,000 patient visits and expanding access to medical care, behavioral health, food assistance, and workforce training for local families
A gated 55 plus community in Henderson is drawing retirees from California and Arizona with new Del Webb homes, a spotless clubhouse, and golf cart access near Lake Las Vegas. Here is what sets this neighborhood apart for active adults
Drink Las Vegas kicked off its four-day run with chef tastings and big-name guests like Shaquille O’Neal and Sammy Hagar at ARIA. The Strip gets a new food and cocktail festival this weekend.
Waymo has started giving fully driverless rides to the public in Las Vegas, jumping into a city where Zoox already runs paid robotaxis and rolling out its new Ojai vehicles on the Strip and at major hotspots.
El Super is bringing a new grocery store to Paradise, Las Vegas, at 4790 E Flamingo Rd. The chain continues to grow its presence and offer more Latin American grocery choices in the area.
Staff at a Las Vegas elementary school seized a firearm from a student before classes started on September 24. The incident set off a police investigation and renewed calls for secure gun storage and tighter campus safety in Clark County.
Resorts World Las Vegas has opened Amici New York Pizzeria, serving both New York and Detroit-style pizza with weekend hours running until 4 a.m. The new spot replaces Mulberry Street Pizzeria and aims to feed the post-nightlife crowd.
Martin Compston leaves behind scripted roles to host a three-part Channel 4 documentary, showing what it’s really like to live in Las Vegas. The series began September 23 and airs Wednesday nights.
Columbus Vegetable Oils has launched a major packing and distribution center in North Las Vegas, expanding its West Coast reach and giving food businesses in the region a new supply option.
North Las Vegas rapper and producer Wave MMLZ rolls out his new album Northtown Rick with limited local promos and a fast, raw creative push that keeps him close to the city’s underground scene.
China Poblano stands out on the Las Vegas Strip with two open kitchens—one for Mexican, one for Chinese—serving dishes from both traditions. Diners can order family-style or try the chef’s tasting menu for $60 per person.
A Las Vegas property once owned by Kenny Rogers is up for sale at $3.95 million. The site, now over two acres, comes with plans for a 20,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion but remains unfinished.
Prospect Dance from Cwmbran is heading to the National Entertainment Awards in Las Vegas, where 23 young dancers will perform a COVID-19 themed routine on an international stage.
Insomniac has secured $10 million in Clark County redevelopment money to turn the old Sahara Event Center at 800 Liberace Avenue into a new live music and events space.
With prices up across Southern Nevada, more families are turning to the East Las Vegas Library for free books, meals, classes, and job help. The branch at 2851 E. Bonanza Road is becoming a key spot for neighbors looking for support.
Shàng Artisan Noodle, one of Las Vegas’ most recognized restaurants, opens its fifth location Monday at 6491 N. Durango Drive, bringing its signature hand-pulled noodles to Centennial Hills.
Charleys Cheesesteaks is adding a new location at 4372 West Craig Road in North Las Vegas this fall. This marks the brand’s second shop in the area and expands its Nevada presence.
Marcela Rodriguez-Campo leads free monthly writing and cultural workshops at the Dolores Resource Center in North Las Vegas, offering Spanglish sessions that mix literacy, healing, and support for local families.
Doanburi opened in 2026 on South Rainbow Boulevard, serving scratch-made Japanese food and fine dining far from the Strip or Chinatown. Its focus on quality and technique has quickly made it stand out in the southwest.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas filled 6,500 jobs for its 2023 opening using an AI recruiting system led by Henry Bui. The team hit a 92 percent offer acceptance rate and cut application time to just three minutes.
Las Vegas will install eight more free outdoor fitness courts after city council approval. The move brings more no-cost exercise options to neighborhoods without easy gym access.
Mande Dellinger and Ryan Hunter from Beasley Media Group have joined the Nevada Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, marking decades of work in Las Vegas radio and TV.
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