LAS VEGAS -- The Culinary and Bartenders Unions have reached a tentative deal with the Tropicana Hotel and Casino.

The new five-year contract covers about 650 workers in food and beverage, housekeeping, cocktails and bell departments.

The union voted in February to end contract extensions with 17 hotels, including the Tropicana, which had not finalized a new contract. The decision paved the way for a vote on striking against the hotels.

Union contracts expired in June 2013. Two of the largest resort groups, MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, agreed to new contracts late last year.

The agreement covers worker safety and health insurance.

LAS VEGAS -- NASCAR's annual haulers parade kicks off Wednesday night on the Strip in what is expected to be an exciting race week at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The parade, which is set to begin at 6 p.m., will start from the south end of the Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard near South Point. The large semi-trucks, which hold the cars competing for Sunday's Sprint Cup race, then will travel northbound on the Strip to Sahara Avenue before entering Interstate 15 toward the speedway.

The parade has crowded the Strip in past years and commuters need to be aware of restricted east-west traffic at the intersection from Russell Road to Sahara Avenue. Among other intersections expected to be affected are Reno Avenue, Tropicana Avenue, Harmon Boulevard, Flamingo Road and Spring Mountain Boulevard.

The parade begins a busy week of NASCAR activities.

LAS VEGAS -- The newest Las Vegas attraction, the High Roller, will officially be lit Friday evening. The 550-foot observation wheel is the centerpiece of The LINQ, the outdoor mall just beneath it.

The LINQ features 30 retail, dining and entertainment venues. Phase one opened at the end of 2013 with six outlets including O'Sheas Casino and Purple Zebra. Now, phase two is preparing to open. Thousands of crews are hard at work to get everything done as the April deadline draws near for the planned opening of the High Roller observation wheel.

"It's so funny because as soon as I walk out of my terrace, the first thing I see is this, it's like a spaceship," said Juan Carlos Crisologo who lives near The LINQ and has watched its progress.

The LINQ will be the tallest observation wheel in the world and is easily visible from around the valley.