Business Briefly 7/23

Casino deal preserved

(AP) - Opponents of a Sparks casino project backed by developer Harvey Whittemore lost Wednesday in a bid to get the Nevada Supreme Court to erase a controversial settlement that allowed the project to move forward.

The high court ruled in a case involving a lawsuit filed by John Ascuaga's Nugget and 17 citizens who argued that the settlement allowed the city of Sparks and Whittemore's Red Hawk Land Co. to circumvent zoning regulations.

The Sparks City Council voted 3-2 against the Lazy 8 project in mid-2006, prompting developers to file a $100 million-plus lawsuit. The city quickly settled the lawsuit - first in a secret meeting and later during a public session.

While the resort still hasn't been built, the city's action effectively let Whittemore and Peppermill Casinos keep the project alive.

Job fare at Vegas hotel to hire 800

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Plant Hollywood has announced it will hold a two-day job fair next week as it seeks to hire 800 people to staff its PH Towers.

The company said Wednesday it will hire for both hourly and salaries positions in hotel operations, housekeeping, food and beverage and other areas.

The job fair will be held July 30 and 21 at Planet Hollywood's Grand Ballroom.

Start dates for workers will be in early October to prepare for the towers' grand opening. The non-gaming 52-story residential tower will have 1,200 suites and 28 penthouses.

Reno council members tour California plazas

RENO (AP) - Reno City Council members and other officials took a field trip to San Francisco to scout out development ideas for the plaza above the downtown Reno railroad trench.

Reno Redevelopment Agency chief Mark Lewis says Reno has a $500,000 grant from Congress to use for public improvements at the two-block site, which was built with $10.4 million last year.

It's now a concrete slab bordered by grass from Virginia to West streets.

The city is soliciting requests for proposals.