I just heard:
Ausiello Scoop: NBC Cancels Las Vegas - Ausiello Report | TVGuide.com
I haven't seen any of the episodes for the fifth season as I purchased the first four seasons on DVD but I'm surprised, after hearing from you all, that NBC ended the series on a cliffhanger. Most likely, NBC has the conclusion for the series already filmed and that they'll probably broadcast it as a tele-film, engaging it for a separate release apart from the fifth season DVD when it's announced.
Considering that the ratings for the fifth season dropped by double-digits, it's no surprise but it's NBC's fault for letting Nikki Cox go because of budget problems ... this is the first time I ever heard of a TV show dropping an actor/actress because of budget problems ... and the fact that other cast members have left the series was a grave disappointment. The departure of James Caan, Marsha Thomason, and a few others was when the series went downhill ... it's a shame that NBC couldn't keep these cast members on throughout the series. The first two seasons have been the best and the series will continue to last on DVD ...