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A Las Vegas newspaper says it has been served a federal grand jury subpoena seeking information about readers who posted comments on the paper's Web site.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Tuesday that its editor, Thomas Mitchell, plans to fight the request, which the newspaper received after reporting on a federal tax fraud case against business owner Robert Kahre.

The subpoena seeks the identities and personal information about people who posted comments on the story. The newspaper said prosecutors told the judge in the case that some comments hinted at acts of violence and the subpoena was issued out of concern for jurors' safety.

Mitchell said anonymous speech is "a fundamental and historic part of this country." The newspaper would consider cooperating if specific crimes or real threats were presented, he said.

The newspaper said the subpoena bears the name of U.S. Assistant District Attorney J. Gregory Damm, a lawyer on the Justice Department team that is prosecuting Kahre and others on charges including income tax evasion, fraud and criminal conspiracy.

Grand jury proceedings are secret, and the subpoena is not a public record.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney for Nevada declined to comment.

The newspaper said it received the subpoena June 2, a week after its story describing the government's case against Kahre, a Las Vegas construction company executive accused of paying contractors with gold and silver U.S. coins based on the precious metal value of the coins but using the much lower face value of the coins for tax purposes. Kahre and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty.

This year, the 2009 NHL annual awards show will take place in Las Vegas and it’s promising to be a grand event. The show can be seen on Versus in the U.S. starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, and at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBC.

Festivities begin Wednesday June 17th with the NHL Charity Shootout Presented By PokerStars.net. A charity No-Limit Texas Hold ‘em poker game will be held at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino and feature top stars from the NHL and the professional poker world playing to raise money for their favorite charities.

Among the NHL stars playing are Roberto Luongo, Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Richards, Jeremy Roenick, Sheldon Souray and Kris Versteeg, as well as former NHL All-Stars Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely and Luc Robitaille. Professional poker players participating include Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer.

But that’s just the appetizer to the big show Thursday at The Palms. That’s where the best of the best from the 2008-09 season will compete to take home the hardware. Again the show can be seen on Versus in the U.S. starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, and at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBC.

A year and a half after opening, The Penthouse Club has undergone a name change. It's now known as Crazy Horse III. A lot of familiar faces came over from Crazy Horse Too, which was closed after a federal investigation sent owner Rick Rizzolo to prison for a year on racketeering charges.

Spice Girl Melanie Brown will be replaced in "Peepshow" (Planet Hollywood Resort) by Broadway star Shosana Bean of "Wicked" when Brown's contract ends June 21. Brown was offered an extension but declined, according to "Peepshow" producer Scott Zeiger. Bean will join Holly Madison as co-leads. Madison takes over for Kelly Monaco, who also chose to leave.

Visitors traveling to Las Vegas this summer can bask in the sun – for free – at any number of the luxurious pools our hotels have to offer.  Coupled with enticing room rates during the summer months, guests can relax poolside while taking advantage of everything the Strip has to offer.  See below for a few examples…

Excalibur – Room rates starting at $31/night

A paradise fit for royalty, the Excalibur Pool doubled its size last year and now features four pools and 17 private cabanas, stocked with all the essentials to keep cool.  Steps away from the pool, Drenched offers causal poolside dining featuring all-American fare and a full-service bar.

MGM Grand – Room rates starting at $80/night

What makes the Grand Pool Complex Maximum Vegas? 5 swimming pools, 3 whirlpools, river and waterfalls – and like any exotic paradise, the Grand Pool Complex is surrounded by lush foliage, bridges, fountains and waterfalls.  Guests can continue over to WET REPUBLIC, a quintessential Vegas pool party combining the best elements of Vegas nightlife with supreme poolside amenities.  Hotel guests can enjoy free admission on select days/times.

Mandalay Bay – Room rates starting at $110/night

A perennial crowd favorite, Mandalay Bay Beach features 11 acres of aquatic relaxation including a wave pool, lazy river, three swimming pools, 2,700 tons of real sand and the only climate-controlled poolside gaming on The Strip.  Atop the three-story Beachside Casino, the Villas Soleil raise the bar for cabanas with spectacular views of Mandalay Bay Beach.

Impressionist Danny Gans' death last month was caused by a combination of heart and blood diseases and a powerful prescription painkiller used to treat chronic pain, the Clark County coroner said Tuesday.

The death was ruled accidental.

"Mr. Gans' health conditions placed him at greater risk for heart irregularities, and the hydromorphone was a factor that exacerbated those risks," Coroner Mike Murphy said at a news conference.

The official cause of death was acute hydromorphone toxicity because of chronic pain syndrome. Hydromorphone is a strong synthetic opioid commonly known as Dilaudid.

Fresh from her sold-out shows in Las Vegas, Britney Spears will return to the U.S. and Canada for an extension of her popular "Circus" tour, repeating some locations including Las Vegas.

Spears will perform at 8 p.m. on Sept. 26 and 27 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

She last appeared in April at the MGM Grand (which also owns Mandalay).

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster with all its service charges and any of the Mandalay Bay box offices.

Ticket prices have not yet been announcedl.

That’s right! MyVegasScene.com in conjunction with ND’s “The Club” at the Rio Hotel and Casino is giving away FREE BOTTLES to you, every single week!

We’re calling it “Bottle Mayhem” for no other reason than the fact that we’ll be giving out bottles and VIP tables left and right. All you have to do is enter to win. And to kick start Bottle Mayhem 2009, we’ve decided to give away FOUR free VIP tables with bottle service this Wednesday April 15th at the nightclub. Yes, FOUR.

Here’s how it works. All you have to do is join the guest list for ND’s “The Club” for this or ANY Wednesday by clicking the guest list link from the venue page or the events pages. Once you’re on the guest list, you will gain complimentary admission and one free drink ticket with local ID. On top of that, you’ll be automatically entered into our Bottle Mayhem Giveaway. You MUST check-in at the club on the guest list on the Wednesday in which you have signed up for to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced at the door and will be awarded the FREE VIP Table and complimentary bottle (gratuity not included!).

On top of everything the MyVegasScene.com Crew have worked out some killer deals for the people that do show up and don’t win the table. Simply ask a host about the MyVegasScene.com Bottle special for the night to see what kind of crazy deal we have worked on bottle each night. Who knows it could be $25 bottles or it could be $150 bottles only way to find out is ask a host once your inside.

You have nothing to lose. Join the guest list and come check out ND’s “The Club” on Wednesday. The MyVegasScene crew will be there as well as our good friend DJ Roger Gangi – spinning hip hop and top 40’s. And NO, this is not strictly a Latin-club! See you there. Let’s pop some bottles during Bottle Mayhem!

The official swimsuit photo of the Miss USA 2009 pageant contestants and reigning queen Crystle Stewart at Planet Hollywood.

Glamour photographers love to shoot at first light, and this morning, the 51 Miss USA 2009 contestants were up way before dawn busy with hair and makeup!

They selected their Jessica Simpson swimwear, and by 7 a.m. they were parading to the sixth-floor pool of Planet Hollywood. By 9 a.m., official Miss USA photographer Darren Decker had captured that one perfect photograph with the best lighting from the rising early morning sun.

Miss USA 2009 contestants rehearse at the entrance of Planet Hollywood.

Taking a page out of the new adult burlesque Peepshow, the 51 Miss USA pageant princesses will peel off in their opening number for next Sunday’s live NBC telecast. And judging from rehearsals, it will be the hottest, sassiest dance routine ever staged for an American beauty pageant.

“It will be hot. It will be sexy,” I was told. “Think of it more as an MTV video dance routine than a Dancing With the Stars waltz! There’s never been a sexier opening dance number in our history.”

Last night, Miss USA assistant choreographer Stephani Kammer put the girls through their paces and masterminded the maneuvers as official photographer Greg Harbaugh captured these exclusive shots.

I learned that Miss USA President Paula Shugart ordered the hot and steamy opening number as a ratings grabber from the get-go to ensure that viewers who tuned in stayed without reaching for the clicker.

“We’ve got America’s most beautiful, talented girls, and the dance number lets them all shine with their best assets. Viewers won’t be going anywhere when they see this,” I was told.

The beautiful blondes and brunettes appear first in short bathrobes as they provocatively parade and prance over the stairs and forecourt of their home at Planet Hollywood. Then the glamour girls strip off the wraps to reveal sparkling bra tops and shorts underneath!

The “shake it, baby,” number, which is certain to raise eyebrows and create controversy, will be pre-recorded. That will enable the TV directors to cut right from the Planet Hollywood exterior to the stage at the resort’s Theatre for the Performing Arts, where all 51 contestants will be waiting to kick off the two-hour showdown.

The pageant participants and executives attended a preview performance of Peepshow earlier this week. Click HERE for our exclusive coverage yesterday of Peepshow with new photos of stars Mel B and Kelly Monaco and the gorgeous striptease dancers!

I’ve also learned that, as part of modern, cutting-edge Internet technology in the Miss USA Web site arsenal, a male contestant will be added as a viral-marketing surprise starting early next week. Known simply as Awesome, he is a genetically engineered perfect man, and his arrival in the pageant is both unique and bizarre. His adventures in all the categories of competition will turn up on YouTube and the Miss USA Web site starting Monday. I’ve got the first exclusive interview with him after he discovered a loophole in pageant regulations allowing him to compete.

Miss USA 2009 contestants rehearse with assistant choreographer Stephani Kammer at the entrance of Planet Hollywood.