LIVING: FOOD FOR THE SOUL

Date posted: May 11, 2026

Mama’s Homemade Cajun Chicken Noodle Soup

When the Las Vegas heat rises, a warm bowl of soup may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But step inside any air-conditioned home, restaurant, or workplace, and comfort food suddenly makes perfect sense. 

That’s where this rich, soul-warming Cajun chicken noodle soup comes in. It’s hearty, flavorful, and made to bring the family together around the table. 

This soup is more than a meal — it’s comfort in a bowl, packed with bold seasoning, fresh vegetables, and nourishing ingredients.

INGREDIENTS

SEASONING

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the chicken. Remove all meat from the rotisserie chicken and shred or cut into bite-size pieces. Place in a bowl. Season with Cajun seasoning, a drizzle of avocado oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Set aside.

2. Prep the vegetables. Chop all bell peppers, celery, onions, shallots, garlic, mushrooms, carrots, and red potatoes. Combine in a large bowl.

3. Sauté the base. In a large pot, heat avocado oil over medium heat. Add garlic paste and sauté until fragrant. Add all chopped vegetables along with rosemary and thyme. Cook until vegetables begin to soften.

4. Build the soup. Add seasoned chicken to the pot and stir for about 3 minutes.

5. Add liquids. Pour in chicken broth and stir. Add a splash of Marsala cooking wine and a little more fresh lemon juice.

6. Season generously. Add Himalayan salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and additional Cajun seasoning to taste.

7. Simmer. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and flavors are well blended.

8. Add noodles. In the last 10–15 minutes of cooking, add egg noodles. Reduce heat to low and cook until noodles are tender.

9. Finish and serve. Stir in peas. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. 

Best enjoyed with warm bread or cornbread and shared with family. A squeeze of lemon just before serving adds a bright finishing touch. Enjoy your life — and every comforting, nourishing spoonful.

LIVING: PLANTING YOUR SEEDS

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Fresh finds at farmers markets

While backyard jasmine and home-grown tomatoes are blooming across the valley, there’s an even bigger organic harvest waiting just around the corner. If you’re looking to swap the grocery aisle for a more soulful shopping trip, it’s time to hit the Las Vegas Farmers Markets. 

It’s more than just a grocery run — it’s a curated experience of the desert’s best local makers. 

Here’s why we’re obsessed: 

LIVING: A HOUSE IS A HOME

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Desert nights, patio delights

There is something deeply therapeutic about a Las Vegas summer, where the sun-drenched days melt into velvet-warm nights. Your home is your sanctuary, and extending that peace beyond your four walls is the ultimate way to embrace the season. 

Whether you have a sprawling suburban lawn or a cozy apartment balcony, creating a serene outdoor oasis is more attainable than you think. By focusing on light, comfort, and greenery, you can craft a dedicated space for meditation, a quiet morning read, or starlit entertaining. 

A seamless indoor-outdoor flow doesn’t require a massive renovation — just a little intentionality and a few affordable touches to turn a simple patio into a soul-soothing retreat. 

Part III: Race In America, Where We At?

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BY LOUIE OVERSTREET

Louie Overstreet

Back in March, I wrote Part One to identify why race was such an intractable issue. Part Two covered the digital town hall of my Facebook friend list, as its members expounded on issues of race in America’s past and present. 

Now: let’s talk about today’s racial climate and our future prospects. 

I was a young man during the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and ‘60s. Now, as I play through the back nine of life, it is unfortunate to see our nation gripped by a struggle of equal consequence. 

The climate back then made us believe that positive change was possible — with considerable struggle and resistance. That struggle was covered by straight-down-the-middle evening news reports on three networks, major newspapers that existed in every large city, and weekly publications in smaller towns. Black and white citizens were the protagonists as leaders in national organizations, the labor movement, faith, and the federal government. Antagonists were The Klan and Southern Democrats. 

In today’s climate of divisive attitudes and low expectations, the protagonists are disorganized Brown, White, and Black folks — with no meaningful presence of labor or clergy. The antagonists, unbelievably, include the leader of the free world — but also Southern Republicans, the NRA, and right-wing media. 

For there to be any hope for a measurable improvement in race relations, these things must occur — at a minimum: 

Otherwise, I am sorry to conclude that you should expect race relations to continue to suffer deterioration — and with it, American democracy.

PEACE: Living in Celebration

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BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

There is always a reason to celebrate. 

He woke us up this morning to experience all that life has to offer. When the mind shifts toward light instead of darkness, the heart and soul become filled with the gifts God has granted. 

Gratitude becomes the natural response — and thank you becomes the order of the day. In that spirit, smiles are brighter, laughter is richer, and blessings become easier to notice. 

Everywhere, people are stepping into their creativity and pouring into their communities in spectacular ways. There is beauty in celebrating another person’s joy — in finding happiness in someone else’s happiness. That is a higher calling, one that invites us all to practice love, humility, and genuine fellowship. Even the empty spaces, the voids we once questioned, are revealing themselves as opportunities for innovation, purpose, and growth. 

Gatherings rooted in fellowship are bringing hearts together in love. Family members are still here to share stories of strength, resilience, and grace. These moments remind us to pause — to truly notice — and to give thanks for what remains, what is growing, and what is yet to come. 

Your reflection is monumental. Everything you have built, every challenge you have overcome, and every step you have taken serves as inspiration — even to the silent eyes watching from afar. The window into your purpose is open, inviting you toward another beautiful life experience. 

The glue of stagnation is loosening. Space is being created for you to move freely into destiny. 

Fly into the winds of fearlessness. Breathe deeply in the release of your God-given freedom. 

And remember, your greatest responsibility is simply this: to love. 

The image in the mirror needs your love first, so you may fully recognize the love that exists in others. Judgment cannot rest where compassion lives. Love creates warmth, healing, and room for grace. 

The celebration of life is happening now. 

The party is over here — where are you? 

Join in the celebration of life, where love is abundant, joy is contagious, and gratitude fills the air. 

And together, let the crowd say: “Thank You.”

KNIGHT MOVES | May we have a glorious month

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By Craig Knight

April showers bring May flowers! 

Wow — it’s May already. May Day. 2026 is moving fast and turning out to be quite the busy year! 

We kick the month off with Cinco de Mayo, a yearly celebration held on May 5, honoring Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. 

Next comes Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10 — a time to recognize mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds in general, along with the positive contributions they make to families and society. It’s a day to show appreciation for the role mothers have played in our lives. It’s also a time to honor grandmothers, aunts, mentors, and role models who stepped in with a mother’s love. And we pause to remember mothers who are no longer with us. #RIPower 

May also brings those incredible graduation days — what I like to call aMAYzing (yes, I just made that up!). Watching young people transition to the next level — whether it’s kindergarten to elementary, middle school to high school, high school to college or trade, or stepping into life itself — is powerful. May truly feels like a month of completion. Congratulations to ALL graduating classes of 2026 YOU DID IT! 

Now let’s talk about sports in May!

The playoffs continue to heat up as each round gets more competitive in both the NHL and NBA. “GO KNIGHTS GO!!!” 

And in the NBA, we are witnessing what feels like a changing of the guard—these younger athletes are pushing the veterans in a thrilling chase for the championship. 

The WNBA is celebrating 30 seasons, and this year’s opener —“RING NIGHT”— is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The three-time champion Las Vegas Aces are back, locked in, and ready to bring another championship home (yes, BACK again notice that😄). LET’S GO A-C-E-S! 

Fans are also buzzing about the league’s newest franchises, the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. 

On top of that, all eyes are on this year’s incredible draft class, highlighted by a record-breaking six picks from one school — the 2026 NCAA women’s basketball champions, the UCLA Bruins! 

With so much new talent and energy entering the league, this is shaping up to be one of the most exciting WNBA seasons ever. 

As we move toward the end of the month, Memorial Day Weekend honors America’s military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. The holiday will be observed on May 25. To all who serve and have served in the U.S. military—thank you. YOU ARE APPRECIATED! 

Lastly, May is Health Awareness Month, highlighting important causes such as Mental Health Awareness, ALS Awareness (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis — the most common form of motor neuron disease), Arthritis Awareness, and Bladder Cancer Awareness, just to name a few. 

As we celebrate our mothers, military heroes and heroines, graduates, and the culture of sports, let’s remember to do it all responsibly. 

Until the next edition of Knight Moves, educate yourself and share the knowledge with others. 

God bless you.

YOU! HAVE THE POWER  | The new battle over Black political power

Date posted:
DR. ELLEN BROWN

BY DR. ELLEN W. BROWN

YOU 

Black political power has never been a gift in this country—it has always been a fight. A fight to be counted. A fight to be heard. A fight to be seen as fully human in systems that were not built with us in mind. From the genesis of the 1960s, which shifted our focus from integration to self-determination and racial pride, to the new millennium, the force of Black power has consistently shown up. 

And here we are in 2026, watching that fight enter a new phase — one that demands our clarity, our courage, and our collective will. 

Across the nation, decisions are being made in courtrooms, state legislatures, school boards, and city councils that will shape the future of Black life for the next generation. Some of these decisions are quiet. Some are loud. But all of them are political. And all of them are about power. 

The Power to Vote — and the Effort to Weaken It 

In several states, courts have ruled that political maps were drawn in ways that weakened Black voting strength. In others, new maps are being pushed that could do exactly the same. 

These battles aren’t just about lines on a map; they’re about whether Black communities get to choose leaders who understand their needs, their history, and their vision for the future. 

When people try to shrink our districts, they’re trying to shrink our voice. And when they shrink our voice, they shrink our power. 

The Power to Learn — and the Fight Over Our History 

We are witnessing a wave of curriculum restrictions and book bans targeting Black history, Black authors, and honest conversations about race. Some states have removed diversity and equity programs from schools and public institutions. Others have limited what teachers can say about the very systems that shaped this country. 

This is not just an education issue. It is a calculated political strategy. 

So, Where Does Our Power Live Now? 

It lives exactly where it always has: In us. 

It lives in our ability to organize, to stay informed, and to show up locally — not just nationally. It lives in our ability to protect our history, our vote, and our voice. It lives in our ability to refuse silence when the stakes are this high. 

Political power is not just about elections. It’s about the everyday decisions that shape the conditions of our lives. It’s about knowing when our communities are being targeted — and responding with strategy, not despair. 

This moment requires us to be woke to the fact that our political power is being contested because it matters. Woke to the truth that progress is never permanent—it must be protected. 

Woke to the reality that our children are watching how we respond. 

You have power. The power to question. The power to challenge. The power to organize. The power to vote. The power to demand better. The power to refuse erasure. The power to shape the future—not just endure it. 

Black political power has never been about waiting for permission. It has always been about claiming what is ours, defending what we’ve built, and pushing forward with the kind of determination that has carried us through every chapter of this country’s history. 

This moment is no different. We have the power. The continuing question is: How will we choose to use it? 

Sharing strengthens our collective voice. Send your ideas, questions, stories to me at ebrown.nci@gmail.com.

TO A TEE

Date posted:

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers teed off alongside 50 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and the Las Vegas Metro PD Law Enforcement Exploring, Empowerment & Athletic Program as part of Bank of America’s free Golf with Us clinic on April 16. Bowers and local golf professionals shared golf tips and life lessons as young people practiced swinging, putting, and chipping like the pros at Las Vegas Golf Club. 

After winning two national championships with the Georgia Bulldogs, Bowers was selected by the Raiders in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Following his record-breaking rookie season, he earned both Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition. Off the field, Bowers is an enthusiastic golfer and has teed it up at events like the 2025 NFLPA Classic. 

“I was thrilled to partner with Bank of America for a ‘Golf with Us’ clinic. Golf teaches you self-discipline, patience and how to stay focused under pressure. These are skills I use every day on and off the football field. I’m excited to help introduce golf and all its great lessons to kids in our community who might not otherwise have an opportunity to play,” said Bowers. 

Bank of America’s Golf with Us clinics are designed to inspire the next generation to play and learn not only golf skills but also important life skills. In each clinic market, the Bank will also provide financial support for continued golf instruction through the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the charitable foundation dedicated to positively impacting the lives of youth, military and underserved communities through access to the game of golf. 

Golf with Us invited young people ages 6-18 to access tee times for $5 or less at thousands of courses through a free one-year membership to Youth on Course. In its inaugural year, Golf with Us drew nearly 100,000 youth participants, including many first-time golfers. This year, the Bank hopes to enroll 150,000 youth in Golf with Us through June 15 at http://bofa.com/GolfwithUs.

New Senior Affordable Housing Community

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Ovation Development Corp. and its affiliate, Heirloom by Ovation, a Las Vegas-based developer of multifamily housing and one of Nevada’s largest private developers of affordable senior housing, recently hosted a ribbon-cutting and Welcome Home Ceremony for residents of its newest senior affordable housing community, Heirloom at Rome, located in the northwest valley at 4850 W. Rome Blvd. 

The demand for senior affordable housing is reflected in the fact that Heirloom at Rome already has more than 182 occupied units, just months after it opened. 

The $78 million Heirloom at Rome community, which was funded in part by Clark County Community Housing Funds (CHF) and Nevada Housing Division’s Home Means Nevada Initiative, brings 276 new affordable housing units to market, including 38 tiny homes. The community’s tiny homes offer 400 square feet of living space, while apartments that range from 664 to 891 square feet offer from one to two bedrooms. 

Heirloom at Rome is situated on a nearly 9.5-acre site within three separate buildings totaling 243,100 square feet. Of its 276 units, 180 are available to seniors making less than 49 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), and 96 units are available to seniors making less than 59 percent of AMI. 

The community sits on land once owned by the federal government and granted to the City of Las Vegas for purposes of affordable housing. Ovation was awarded the project through a competitive RFP process, furthering the City’s prioritization of affordable housing construction. 

Onsite amenities include a fitness room, movement studio, screening room, game lounge, great room, business center, wellness room and a one-story clubhouse by the tiny home village. Outdoor amenities include a community garden, pet park, extensive xeriscape landscaping, picnic tables, and carport parking for residents. 

Heirloom at Rome was designed and built to achieve LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and has successfully received its certification. The community features high efficiency heating and cooling equipment including EnergyStar appliances, low-E vinyl thermal pane windows, high R-value wall and attic insulation. Additional sustainable building practices include the use of low- or no-VOC paints, adhesives, and formaldehyde-free particleboard. 

Water conservation measures will include low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping. 

As one of Nevada’s largest and leading apartment developers of both market-rate and affordable housing for low-income seniors and working families, Ovation ensures its affordable housing communities maintain the exceptional quality associated with its market-rate projects. 

Through its partnership with nonprofit Coordinated Living of Southern Nevada, Ovation provides residents of its affordable housing properties with life-enhancing wraparound services and recreational amenities that create a rich social infrastructure and high quality of life. This includes transportation assistance to medical appointments and shopping, health and wellness programs, food assistance as well as social outings and events. 

According to Alan Molasky, chairman and founder of Ovation, “collaboration is key to solving for challenging issues like affordable housing, and we couldn’t do it without critical support from government and agency partners who share our passion,” he said. 

“We have long believed that everyone, regardless of income, deserves a quality home that helps to strengthen individuals, families, and community. Providing a beautiful, dignified and comfortable place to live is key to ensuring seniors, particularly those on low- or fixed-incomes, can continue to thrive in a clean and beautiful environment during their golden years.” 

To date, Ovation has completed 18 income- and rent-restricted communities totaling more than 2,795 units. The company will complete five more multifamily affordable communities with over 1,300 units in Southern Nevada by 2028 

For leasing and qualifying information on Heirloom at Rome and other Heirloom by Ovation communities, visit HeirloomByOvation.com.

HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: Whether Lewis or Louis, may indelible Black history reign

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Claytee D. White

BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE

This column should be written as two independent articles but both people must be acknowledged in the month of May. 

The first Kentucky Derby occurred on May 17, 1875 and was won by Oliver Lewis, an African-American jockey. 

Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber, was born on May 14, 1914 and became the heavyweight champion of the world. 

And in both instances, there is a significant connection with Las Vegas. 

Oliver Lewis was a free Black man during a time of chattel slavery in the United States. During the first Run for the Roses, most jockeys had once been enslaved on plantations where horses were raised and trained by Blacks. The winning horse, Aristides, was trained by a Black man as well. 

Surprisingly, after the 1875 racing season, Lewis disappeared from the profession. It is equally mysterious to me that a decade after the end of the Civil War that freed Black Americans from forced, unpaid, generational labor, the first Kentucky Derby showcased 13 Black jockeys out of 15 riders. But maybe the extinguishing of Black jockeys is one of the greatest examples of racism. As white jockeys and Jim Crow increased in intensity, they threatened professional Black jockeys with the crop and by forcing their horses into dangerous positions against the rail. 

Thus, racetracks lost color. Lewis eventually took over his father’s lucrative betting business. Today, horse racing is still the sport of kings and the Kentucky Derby adds a bit of glamour and elegance to Las Vegas. Hats and fascinators exist with slot machines and mint juleps. Now we can add the history of Black jockeys to our repertoire of knowledge. Read more about Black jockeys at the archives of NPR and the National Museum of Racing. 

In May 1955, if we had been fortunate enough to party at the Moulin Rouge, our host would have been Joe Louis, a two percent owner of the first integrated hotel casino in Las Vegas. Six months later, the Moulin Rouge’s heyday had ended. Louis competed in professional boxing from 1934 to 1951. His reign as heavyweight champion lasted from 1937 to 1949 with 25 consecutive title defenses. 

Little known facts about Louis include his desire to have beautiful, smart women in his company. Alice Key told the story of Louis commissioning a private train car and offering trips across the country to showgirls who were known to discuss the international news of the day. Most damning though was Louis’ unrequited love of this country. During World War II, Louis participated in staged bouts and donated all proceeds, over $90,000, to the U.S. government. The IRS later credited these donations as taxable income and added interest onto the past due taxes on those earnings. Louis retired in Las Vegas as a host at Caesars Palace. His Las Vegas family has formed a small museum of his significant accomplishments.