For most of the past decade, North Las Vegas was one of the fastest-growing cities in America.

Lately, almost all the action in the 2012 campaign has been in the eastern half of the country. But don't forget the West.

The fact that Nevada is one of a handful of states without a corporate income tax is trumpeted by conservative lawmakers and activists as a key selling point in attracting businesses to Nevada — and reason to keep such a tax off our books.

Most everyone agrees that the American tax system is unfair, unnecessarily complicated and riddled with loopholes for special interests. There is, however, no consensus on the fix. One person's loophole is another's great social policy or national economic security. And then what should be done about popular tax breaks like the mortgage interest and charitable deductions? Brookings Institution Economist Adele Morris is giving her thoughts at UNLV and gives us a preview of her thinking.

P.W. Singer has established himself as one of the leading experts on modern warfare - drones and robots as well as armies of children and corporate employees. Singer is the Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution. He is speaking Tuesday night at UNLV on "What is Changing in War and National Security." He joins us ahead of the lecture.

Regular readers know that in addition to reporting bread-and-butter business news, we also cover subjects related to philanthropy.

I’m generally skeptical of and resistant to pom-pom boosterism. So at the Chamber of Commerce’s Preview Las Vegas 2012 on Thursday, I snickered some at the optimism and good cheer, half expecting Gen. Westmoreland or Donald Rumsfeld to emerge and tell us they see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Las Vegas may have taken a powerful body blow when the economy was down for the count, but speakers of Thursday’s Preview Las Vegas 2012 say the city is making a comeback.

A new report finds growing urban and minority populations that will affect redistricting and reapportionment in the Mountain West.

The freeways are being widened and McCarran has a new terminal but does that cover Las Vegas infrastructure needs? Could new roads and railroads really strengthen the economy in Southern Nevada? And what else will diversify the kind of business that is carried on in Nevada?

Hedge funds could be the next big player in the Las Vegas real estate market. And I’m not talking about apartment complexes or commercial property. I’m talking single-family homes.

Exported goods and services from Nevada generate $7 billion in sales, but leaders say the state could be reaping more.