FYI Las Vegas: New Rules Coming For Our HOV Lanes

It's been three years since the completion of Project Neon in Las Vegas. Changes seen on our highways during that time included the addition of a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane. The lane stretched 22 miles and included parts of Interstate-15 and U.S. Highway-95. It is currently open to any two-axled vehicle that has two or more occupants.

The rules and hours are changing for 18 months, as part of a pilot program to study the best use of the carpool lanes. First, the HOV lanes will be open to all vehicles during the overnight hours, which is between 10:00pm and 5:00am seven days a week. Restricted hours will still only be open to the two-axle, two+ occupant vehicles. Second, motorcycles, emergency vehicles and Regional Transportation Commission buses will be allowed to use the HOV lanes during the restricted hours.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reported on a comment from the Nevada Department of Transportation about the change. They said the decision was made to mitigate traffic during the I-15/Tropicana Interchange project. NDOT spokesman Justin Hopkins said,"NDOT will suspend the HOV lanes from Flamingo south for both north- and southbound drivers. Essentially, that means the southern terminus of the HOV system temporarily ends at Flamingo. All drivers will be able to use those lanes for general-purpose traffic for the duration of the I-15/Tropicana project.”

If you're like me, you've been very confused about where you can and cannot enter or exit the HOV lanes. The double white lines have come with the threat of a hefty traffic fine, if misused. To lessen confusion during this temporary change, the lines will be repainted. The NDOT expects that to be done before Thanksgiving.

This change will take effect starting Monday, October 31. Drive safely, Las Vegas!

–Wendy Rush, 96.3KKLZ Las Vegas

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Stress is a part of daily life. Maybe more now than it was before the digital age. With instant messaging, working from home and other technological advances, we are always available. That means expectations of us are high, and patience in those waiting on us is low. Having to manage stress has become the norm.

Now we can't hate on stress itself. It's not the bad guy. In fact, stress serves a very important purpose. When a stressor in our environment occurs, our bodies respond with a release of stress hormones. These are the little guys responsible for those bursts of energy that wins the race, or the adrenaline rush you need to lift a car off someone. In small doses, stress is awesome because it makes us capable of great things.

On the flip side, stress that never goes away is bad. Think of stress like your parents visiting for the weekend from their long-distance home. At first, it's great to see them! You feel all warm and fuzzy when they show up on Friday night. But by Sunday afternoon, you're ready to kick them out of the car without even slowing down.

Chronic stress, which is the kind that doesn't go away, can have serious negative health effects. Chronic stress has been linked to things like diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. Some experts, including those at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, have even linked it to an increased risk for cancer.

Of course exercise is the first thing people suggest to bring those hormones down. Exercise releases endorphins that help you manage stressful situations more easily. Aerobic exercises like running, dancing, swimming or biking are some of the most beneficial ways to get those feel-good chemicals flowing.

But there are other, less rigorous methods that can be effective too. And some people have injuries or other limitations that make exercise a difficult daily task. So if you're not a cardio buff like some of us (I'm NOT raising my hand here), here's a list of other things you can do.

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Breathing is an excellent way to manage stress in any situation. Just sit in a comfortable chair or lie down. Breathe in while counting to 3 and out while counting to 4. This tells your body to slow down and relax.

Yoga has pretty much been dubbed the poster child of relaxation. And for good reason. Yoga combines the discipline of the body with the focus of the mind. And it incorporates lots of breathing. Which we've already mentioned is great for stress-relief.

Have you ever wondered why some cities have super chill people living there? Pay attention to how much nature they are surrounded by. Spending some time in nature has been found to help a variety of mental health issues, like anxiety and depression. Taking a walk through trees or along a water bank can have significant stress-relieving benefits.

Much like Yoga, Tai Chi is a practice that combines body and mind with a series of breathing and poses. Tai Chi is usually gentler than Yoga, so it's great for the elderly or people with physical limitations. But it has great benefits for anyone who wants to incorporate it into their lives.

This one might comes as a surprise. But have you ever noticed you're sore after an afternoon of gardening? There's a lot of stretching, bending and holding core poses involved in it. Digging and carrying around pottery also works out those arms and elevates your heartrate. Plus, with the added benefit of being around nature, it's like a twofer!