It has been more than six months now since the war in Ukraine began. Following it from the beginning, Taras Krysa, the Director of Orchestras at UNLV. FOX5 spoke to the professor and conductor the day Russian troops pushed into Ukraine while he was still in disbelief it actually happened. After traveling to the country, Krysa now he believes Ukrainian forces are finally starting to prevail.

Ask an architect to name one or a few favourite buildings and surely a library will be on that list. Stockholm Public Library by Gunnar Asplund, Kahn's Exeter Academy Library in New Hampshire, or Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaas represent just a few much-celebrated imaginative examples of what a library building could be. Along with such building types as museums and theaters, libraries have become architects’ most desired public commissions to advance their thinking and experimentation. And unlike museums and theaters, libraries are free to visit and, curiously, finding one’s favourite book may be just one of a hundred different reasons for going to a modern-day library. I may step into my own neighbourhood library, the Queens Public Library at Hunters Point in Long Island City simply to extend my regular walk along the East River or to meet a friend to admire this Steven Holl-designed space together before going elsewhere. It is the intriguing section of this 2019 building that architect and educator Steffen Lehmann placed on the cover of his new book Reimagining the Library of the Future published by ORO Editions.

Taking your partner somewhere special on a date is a wonderful way to show you care. You show your ability to put in effort, think outside the box, and make the time you spend together as unique as they are. But as a college student, you may not have the money or even the transportation to do many of the typical activities one would expect on a nicer date. The expense of going to fancy restaurants, concerts, and other shows on a regular basis is likely unsustainable. This is especially true for college students in a city like Las Vegas, where many of the local shows and productions are intended for vacationers willing to spend a good deal of money.

The story of Lori Cobo’s 30-year career at UNLV’s Performing Arts Center is a romance. A classically trained pianist who started playing at 7, Cobo was raised by parents who took her to the opera and symphony. But she truly fell in love with theater in 1983, the year after graduating from high school. While working as a PAC usher, she stood in the balcony one night listening to the National Symphony Orchestra and was completely transported. Marked by the experience, she tried to study nursing but, after barely a year, switched her major to theater. She worked at Bally’s for a few years after college before making her way back to the PAC. Like that rare couple who gets married right out of high school and stays together till old age, Cobo rose through the center’s ranks from the box office to the executive suite. Now executive director, she’s still moved to tears by a symphony. Just after announcing the PAC’s 46th season, Cobo shared her passion for the job with Desert Companion. An edited excerpt of the conversation follows.

The sculptor who created “The Flashlight” on the UNLV campus died Monday at his home in Manhattan at 93.

The Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization introduces the newly crowned Miss Nevada, Heather Renner, and Miss Nevada’s Outstanding Teen, Megan Dwyer.

Heather Renner of Reno was crowned Miss Nevada last weekend and will go on to compete at the Miss America competition later this year in Connecticut.

On Friday, July 1, 22-year-old Heather Renner was crowned the 72nd Miss Nevada. She was born and raised in Reno and is currently studying at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas majoring in theater and double minoring in political science and vocal performance.

Houses surrounding a cul-de-sac and areas of neatly trimmed grass form an idyllic suburban neighborhood, with enough room for parked cars, a fire pit and maybe even a community gym or play area.

She says she will use the roughly $30,000 in scholarship money she earned with her Miss Nevada title to pay for her education at UNLV where she is majoring in theater.

Like any work of art, the value of Spiral Jetty — easily the most recognizable artwork in Utah — depends on how you look at it.

Having bright colors and greenery in our cities can make people happier and calmer, according to an unusual experiment involving virtual reality headsets.