Pashtana Usufzy

Intern

Pashtana grew up in Las Vegas after moving from the Seattle area in 1996. She has interned at the San Francisco Chronicle and around Las Vegas. She studies journalism and biology at UNLV.

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702-948-7836

Stories

Small-business lending is on the rise, locally and nationally: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012; Good news for small-business owners: The loan environment is improving. Small-business lending locally and nationally is on the upswing, members of the banking community say.
Skateboarding, physics collide in library exhibit: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012; Youngsters walk along skateboarding ramps inside of Sahara West Library, testing out a board and taking in the images of pro skater Tony Hawk. Despite what it may look like, the students aren’t there to kickflip or ollie. Their knowledge of physics is what's being ramped up. “It is about skateboarding,” said Amy Page, who handles content and programming for Exhibit IQ, the company behind the museum piece.
DRI researcher embarks on 'Life Underground' project: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012; Seated in his office at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, Duane Moser prepares for his next research project. The opportunity to sit at a desk and talk will be rare once he starts his research. Moser, a geomicrobiologist, is part of an investigative research effort that aims to detect and characterize tiny organisms found thousands of feet beneath the Earth’s surface.
Preparing for Santa: A guide to Christmas tree shopping in Las Vegas: Friday, Nov. 30, 2012; The holiday season brings with it so many questions: What can Santa afford this year? Who should we take off, or add to, our Christmas card list? Should we buy new lights? Will the Christmas tree be tinder-dry before Dec. 25, its brittle, hard needles falling off stiffening branches? Well, we can answer that last question. Some experts helped develop this practical guide for selecting a tree and keeping it supple and fragrant into the new year.
'It's like our Super Bowl': A retailer's view of Black Friday: Friday, Nov. 23, 2012; Michelle Allen, the store leader at the Meadows branch of JCPenney for the past year, is awaiting what she calls the Super Bowl of retail -- Black Friday.
Rita's, known for East Coast water ice, lands in Henderson: Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012; It took three years to get here, but Rita's Water Ice has landed, and is thriving, in Nevada. "We're crowded every day because of the uniqueness of the product," said Irving Dobbs, co-owner of the Henderson Italian ice and frozen custard shop. Rita's is a Pennsylvania-based chain known for its Italian ice, or "water ice," as East Coasters call it. While the product resembles a smooth snow cone, it is made from real fruit. The shop also sells frozen custard, which is thicker and creamier than ice cream. Its top-selling treat is gelati, Italian ice topped with custard.
Henderson barcade is such a success, five more are planned for the Las Vegas Valley: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012; With its neon green paint, rows of video games and carefully selected beer list, Hi Scores in Henderson epitomizes the concept of a “barcade,” a combination bar-arcade. It’s much like a high-energy living room for gamers. “Immediately, you’re brought back to a time of your life that was positive, that was fun,” Assistant General Manager Alfredo Delatorre said.
Molecular biologist wants UNLV to evolve into a biomedical research powerhouse: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012; Hui Zhang loves Las Vegas. The weather, the entertainment, the diversity — he sees potential in the city. The biochemistry researcher and professor joined UNLV in August after reorganization of the Nevada Cancer Institute.
Bargain hunting? Different McDonald's charge varied prices: Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012; Did somebody say “comparison shopping”? McDonald’s has more than 33,500 restaurants worldwide and dozens in Las Vegas. But because about 80 percent of all of the franchise’s restaurants are privately owned, prices can vary from store to store, even in the same city. Tourist-area restaurants can charge more due to the crowds, and a Big Mac fan might expect lower costs in outlying areas.
Employment may be hurt by Nevada's legal reputation: Monday, Sept. 24, 2012; Too many lawsuits may be hurting Nevada’s reputation — and costing the state jobs. A recent study by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform ranked Nevada’s lawsuit climate 37th in the country.