NASA is dead-set on sending astronauts to Mars within the next 15 to 20 years. China has said it hopes to send people there between 2020 and 2030, and even Russia is floating plans to put boots on the red planet.

The first ad in MGM Resorts International’s massive new “Welcome to the Show” campaign featured cinema-like video of the company’s properties and attractions interspersed with written text such as “Mankind was not born to be bored” and “We invented MGM to entertain the human race.”

The Las Vegas weather is getting more bearable. Football season is in full swing. And the Rebels have two crucial league games on the horizon.

Steve Hill won’t be the last official to leave Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval’s administration in coming months, local analysts say. Hill, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, confirmed Thursday that he is a candidate for a leading role at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The confirmation followed Republican Assembly Leader Paul Anderson’s Wednesday announcement that he is resigning his seat, which he confirmed is to succeed Hill at the economic development office.

UNLV Athletics and Learfield have partnered with From Now On to create the UNLV Rebel Athletics Gameday App. The free app is live and available to download now by searching “UNLV Gameday” in the iTunes and Google Play stores.

Climate change is credited with incredible and destructive weather, and in Southern Nevada it is credited with ever-increasing temperatures. “The wind is a bigger problem than the heat,” says Tim Szymanski of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.

UNLV Police Services unveiled its latest safety tool this week. The RebelSAFE app aims to provide a safe environment to the 35,000 students, faculty and staff who frequent the university’s campuses, according to officials.

The 7-year-old Las Vegas girl who made headlines for wanting to throw a pitch at every MLB ballpark will take the mound this fall to toss the ceremonial first pitch during Game 4 of the World Series. Hailey Dawson, who was born with Poland syndrome and uses a 3-D printed hand, has always loved baseball, FOX5 Vegas reported.

Las Vegas-based data-center company Switch Ltd. is angling to go public. The company filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Sept. 8 for an initial public offering under the name Switch Inc.