🌱 Hawaiian Tourist Hits Jackpot + I-15 Backed Up 7 Miles Of Traffic

Hello, Las Vegas! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and cool. High: 55 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories in Las Vegas today:

1. A tourist from Hawaii has hit a major jackpot on the Las Vegas Strip. Sandra Haynes of Kaui County in Hawaii hit a Major Progressive Jackpot at Harrah's Las Vegas on Let it Ride Poker. Haynes won $125,878 dollars from the jackpot. The retired teacher won with a five-card straight flush. (Fox 5 Las Vegas)
2. Eater Vegas has released its annual list of the best places to eat and drink in Las Vegas. The list is assembled by a group of food writers, reports, and bloggers from the area. The list includes recent standout restaurants as well as new ones to watch for. You can view the list to see where to chow down in 2023. (Eater Vegas)
3. The border between California and Las Vegas continues to suffer from enormous traffic issues. Interstate 15 heading south was back up for an astonishing seven miles on Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the congestion was reportedly "excessive traffic," as opposed to an accident. Officials are warning drivers to expect long delays. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Today in Las Vegas:

• Gabriel Iglesias at The Mirage (10:00 AM)
• Comedy Pet Theatre at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino (2:30 PM)
• Serving The Beats at Clique Bar & Lounge (3:00 PM)
• Gwen Stefani at The Venetian (5:30 PM)
• Trouble In Vegas End Of The Year Extravaganza at Club EGO (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The weather is going to stay wet over the rest of the week, but we won't have to deal with dangerously cold temperatures! Expect a warmer, albeit wetter, New Year's Weekend. (US National Weather Service Las Vegas Nevada via Facebook)
• Want to become a Las Vegas firefighter? Take an exclusive look inside the Las Vegas fire academy and see what it takes to be on this elite team! (Las Vegas Fire & Rescue via Facebook)
• Want a magical time? David Blaine will be wowing audiences and performing astonishing feats in Vegas! Get more details at the link. (Ticketmaster)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you around!

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.