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The Health District announced a comeback on Monday even scarier than Wayne Newton’s ill-fated 2009 Tropicana revival. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise. The district recorded 22 cases in the first six months of this year, compared to 20 cases in all of last year. In adults and older kids, the disease is a mild, cold-like coughing illness. But it can be fatal for infants, who don’t build immunity to the disease until their third round of vaccinations at 6 months. Older relatives with the mild form of the disease can infect little ones, sending them to the hospital with complications such as pneumonia. Seven of the 22 cases reported this year occurred in babies younger than 1. The only way to protect babies from the disease is for adults to get a pertussis shot. This establishes a herd immunity that protects younger babies, people with immune system deficiencies and those who received ineffective vaccines. Unfortunately, subsidized vaccine programs tend to target babies and kids. Nancy Williams, a senior scientist at the health district, urges people who spend a lot of time around infants to call 759-0850 to find out where to get a low-cost shot. AMY KINGSLEY
CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE WEEK
Leave it to Las Vegas to glamorize — and then quickly monetize — target practice. Machine Guns Vegas, near Valley View and Spring Mountain, merged two very different concepts when it opened in February: the ultralounge and the shooting range. It’s like a nightclub with bullet service instead of bottle service — indeed, Machine Guns Vegas doesn’t serve any alcoholic beverages. Instead, it offers the tantalizing combination of deadly weapons and sexy women. But the facility is about more than just hot chicks and hot lead — it’s about job creation in hard times. This week, the company reminds the community that it’s “helping Las Vegas bounce back from the Great Recession by featuring ‘Gun Girls’ who are not just model-pretty but also NRA-certified, including two U.S. military veterans.” That’s right, 60 beautiful women who might otherwise be unable to find work in Las Vegas now have jobs as range-safety officers. Make that model-pretty range-safety officers. This is the kind of innovation Vegas will need more of if it’s to pull out of the economic doldrums. STAFF
ROCK ’N’ GUAC
Sixth and Fremont might soon be home to a new restaurant, one that “combines Mexican food with American rock.” It’s being started by Michael Morton, formerly of the N9NE Group. Details are still sketchy, other than that there will be lots of tequila, and the joint is expected to open by year’s end. Otherwise, we’ll spare you the standard promo quotes about how awesome it’ll be. For the venture, located at 106 Sixth, Morton is partnering with Tamares Las Vegas Properties, owner of the Plaza and other downtown sites. STAFF
