Opening remarks
Merry Clean Energy Week!
If you'd like to take a break from celebrating National Daughter's and National Son's Day on social media, celebrate Clean Energy Week! Last week Governor Sisolak signed a proclamation officially declaring September 26 - 30, 2022 Clean Energy Week in Nevada. To learn more about Nevada's energy sources and its progress toward its Renewable Portfolio Standard target of 50% by 2030, check out this excellent report authored by The Governor's Office of Energy Director David Bobzien.
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Reno City Council votes to fill Ward 3 vacancy by appointment process
Seaman sues fellow Las Vegas City Councilwoman Fiore, alleges assault
NGM hosts tour for analysts and investors
Video of bighorn sheep rescue at Lake Mead viewed over 20M times
ECONOMY
Nevada unemployment rate unchanged in August
Nevada’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August was 4.4 percent — unchanged from July. But that is significantly better than the 6 percent rate recorded in August 2021.
The non-seasonally adjusted rate — the “raw” rate — however, inched up two-tenths in August to 5.2 percent. The problem area remains Clark County which is home to the vast majority of Nevada workers and remained at 5.7 percent.
August passenger counts at Reid airport hits record
This week, the Clark County Department of Aviation reported that Harry Reid International Airport had the highest number of August passengers and the most passengers ever for a three-month period. The airport reported 4.64 million passengers in August, two months after a record 4.86 million passengers passed through its gates in July.
Domestic passenger arrivals ruled the month. The 4.31 million domestic passengers, including market leader Southwest Airlines’ 1.64 million, produced a 17.8% increase over August 2021. International flying soared by 209.4%to 245,248 passengers.
ENVIRONMENT
With funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Bureau of Land Management has signed a $918,000 cooperative agreement with the State of Nevada to restore wildlife habitat and reduce wildfire risk. The cooperative agreement and initial funding are the first step in a five-year project that can go up to $10 million. The Division of Wildlife’s work on BLM-managed Federal land will occur under Good Neighbor Authority, which allows the BLM to authorize state and local agencies to plan and execute cross-jurisdictional restoration efforts.
South Lake Tahoe may outlaw single-use plastic water bottles as microplastic contamination grows
Last week, the South Lake Tahoe City Council took steps toward establishing a municipal and commercial ban on single-use plastic water bottles in the city. A proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of single-use water bottles smaller than one gallon at city facilities, permitted activities and special events. The sale of single-use plastic water bottles of the same size would also be outlawed. If approved, the local law would go into effect in April 2024.
A first reading of the ordinance received unanimous support from the council. A final reading will go before the council Oct. 4
HEALTHCARE
Sisolak, Cannizzaro detail next steps for public health insurance option
The Nevada Indy’s article on the next steps for the 2021 public health insurance option. Preliminary findings from a study of Nevada’s public health insurance option suggests it could generate $300 million to $400 million in health care savings for consumers and the state during its first five years. The figure was shared Friday during a virtual meeting featuring comments from Gov. Steve Sisolak and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas). During the 2021 legislative session, Cannizzaro sponsored SB420, which created the state-managed public health option that won’t debut until 2026. The governor signed the bill, which passed on party lines in the Legislature, into law after the session.
SB420 included a requirement for state officials to contract with an outside firm to conduct an actuarial study of the public option. Many of the projected savings, state officials said, would come through a federal waiver Nevada Medicaid intends to submit for approval by March.
According to the state health department, the savings from the implementation of the public option could be reinvested through a federal waiver that would “buy down premium costs” for Nevadans in the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. The savings would be put in a state trust fund and used as subsidies to improve health care affordability for Nevadans.
Saint Mary’s Health Network is pleased to announce it has welcomed Derrick Glum, MBA, FACHE as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Glum joins Saint Mary’s Health Network and Prime Healthcare with nearly 20 years of healthcare experience, most recently serving as the Regional Chief Operating Officer/Hospital Administrator for two hospitals in the greater Phoenix area – Mountain View Medical Center and Florence Hospital. Prior to that, Mr. Glum served as a System Vice President for Renown Health and was the CEO of Tahoe Pacific Hospital in Reno, Nevada.
HOUSING
‘We are ready to build’: Long-planned Coyote Springs still pushing ahead
Coyote Springs has a golf course and infrastructure but not a single house. Clark County commissioners are scheduled next month to consider renewing a 575-home subdivision map. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in the project. The developers, the Seeno brothers from the San Francisco Bay Area, are not giving up.
INFRASTRUCTURE
States Get Final OK to Build Highway EV Charging Network
Interesting news out of DC, all 50 states received final approval Tuesday to begin construction on a first nationwide network of EV charging stations that places one roughly every 50 miles (80 kilometers) along interstate highways, part of the Biden administration's plan to spur widespread adoption of zero-emission cars.
The Transportation Department said it had OK'd EV charger plans from a last set of 17 states, triggering the release of $1.5 billion in federal funds to all jurisdictions nationwide — or $5 billion over five years — to install or upgrade chargers along 75,000 miles (120,000 kilometers) of highway from coast to coast, with a goal of 500,000 EV chargers nationwide. Plans for the other 33 states and the District of Columbia were approved earlier this month.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
Happy Fall Y'all!
Happy first day of Fall! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. My last days of summer were spent in Lamoille at the Ruby Mountain Mental Health Summit, hosted by our client MedX Air One, rural Nevada’s emergency air medical transportation system. It was a great event in which mental health stakeholders and experts came together to discuss what we can do to address the mental health crisis in rural Nevada. A lot learned, ideas exchanged, and friends made.
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Nevada likely to remain top state for most women in Legislature
Championship parade for Aces to be hosted on Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas City Council votes to allow cannabis lounges
Clark County Begins Mailing Sample Ballots this Saturday
EDUCATION
Democratic lawmakers propose auditing the Clark County School District
Democratic lawmakers have submitted a bill draft request (#447 for those curious) for the upcoming Legislative Session to conduct a legislative audit of the Clark County School District as a way to address the mounting concerns expressed by teachers and community members.
A legislative audit would give lawmakers a chance to obtain direct answers from the district to better address questions they’ve been fielding from the community, such as concerns about transportation challenges and the health insurance costs for teachers. The BDR will come before lawmakers in the coming 2023 session, and if approved, would likely be completed sometime in 2024. The proposal also comes amid calls to break up the state’s largest school district of about 300,000 students.
ENVIRONMENT
Nevada officials take another shot at killing Yucca Mountain Project once and for all
The Nevada Current article outlines the current state of Yucca Mountain. On Tuesday, Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects announced they filed a legal motion that would allow the state to challenge all federal licensing for the Yucca Mountain site.
If successful, the legal move could provide the basis for a final decision on the merits of disapproving construction authorization for the controversial site, according to Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. Along with the motion filed, the state also launched a website with explanations on the flaws of the project and the policy history that led to the project’s creation.
Biden admin allocates $5.9 million for wildfire resilience in Nevada
More than $5.9 million in funding will go to Nevada to improve the state’s wildfire resilience, the Department of the Interior announced Wednesday. The funding will come from President Biden’s Infrastructure Law and will go towards fuel management projects across more than 14,000 acres of land across the state. $103 million has been allocated nationally for helping mitigate fire risk.
Yerington copper mine in exploratory stage
Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals recently presented its plans for its copper deposit for its Mason Project, still in its exploratory stage, to the Lyon County Commission. Hudbay’s project in Yerington is in its early stages to determine the Mason deposit’s mineralization.
HEALTHCARE
Sisolak Launches Free Prescription Drug Discount Card for Nevadans
Today, Governor Sisolak launched a free prescription drug discount card for all Nevadans, regardless of age, income or citizenship – ArrayRx. Once you sign up and receive your card, you can use it immediately at participating pharmacies. The card is valid at most major pharmacies, but you are encouraged to double check eligibility here.
You can learn more at ArrayRxCard.com.
HOUSING
Reno-Sparks median home price falls for 3rd straight month amid cooling real estate market
Since The Federal Reserve has enacted multiple interest rate increases the once red-hot housing market in the Biggest Little City has ultimately slowed down.
“The market in Reno-Sparks continues to cool down with fewer homes being listed each month,” said Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors President Sarah Scattini. “But it is giving more chances for people to enter the market.”
The Reno-Sparks market reported 595 new listings in August, down 20% from the same month last year. The market is still slightly up for the whole year with 5,173 new listings recorded compared to 4,955 at the same point in 2021. The decline in the median home price in August was fueled by Sparks, which saw its median sale price fall to $565,686 from $574,510 in July.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.9 Million to Boost Business and Job Growth in the Outdoor Recreation Sector in Boulder City, Nevada
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced this week that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.9 million grant to the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, Carson City, Nevada, to support the growth of the tourism sector in Boulder City. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.
This grant will support installation of 2,560 light pollution-reducing lighting fixtures in Boulder City, improving night sky-viewing and the development of tourism-related businesses. The EDA investment will be matched with $617,898 in state and local funds and is expected to create 21 jobs and generate $400,000 in private investment.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
Sometime in the next few weeks leading up to early voting that begins on October 22nd your Sample Ballot will arrive in the mail. Like the Primary Election, every registered voter will get their ballot in the mail.
If mail-in ballots aren’t your thing, you can opt-out by filling out this form and sending it to your county clerk/register.
Regardless, now is the time to start brushing up on who and what will appear on your ballot. The following events are a couple of ways to learn about candidates. I’m sure I’ve missed some so please let me now if you know of an organization or publication that has candidate information.
Gubernatorial candidates Governor Sisolak and Sheriff Lombardo will face off at the Nevada Independent’s “Indy Fest” so you’ll want to sign up. They have a great line up of events 10/1 and 10/2. The Indy has pretty comprehensive elections website that also offers up “On the record” a series of interviews with candidates.
The Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce is hosting Candidate Forums Thursday afternoons leading up to the beginning of early voting, that include most of the Constitutional offices and a few northern Nevada candidates. They have also scheduled both sides of Question 3, the Ranked Choice Voting Initiative. These are in-person events, and you will need to be a member of the Chamber to attend. Post event videos of the Forums will be published on This is Reno.
You can view the complete list of certified candidates for the 2022 general election here.
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Supreme Court rejects writ to keep ineligible AG candidate off ballot
Senate races in Georgia and Nevada are the most expensive of 2022 so far
New COVID-19 booster available in Nevada
ECONOMY
Nevada’s job market ‘restructuring,’ economists say
Recent economic data suggests Nevada’s labor market is restructuring as workers move between jobs. And like the rest of the state, the Las Vegas metro area is also seeing high rates of churn — or the pace of workers moving between jobs.
David Schmidt, chief economist at the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said he expects to see more churn in the future in part because Nevada’s population growth adds to its economic growth.
“Essentially, there was a shift in our workforce that happened over the last few years where many workers went from working in leisure and hospitality and either potentially opened a new business (or joined a new sector),” Andrew Woods, director of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said. “Our industries that were frontline to some degree and critical during the pandemic have some of the greatest churn in the workforce.”
EDUCATION
Ballot initiative to split up CCSD endorsed by 6 chambers of commerce
The “Community Schools Initiative” that would split up the Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the country, if voters approve it in 2024, announced endorsements from The Vegas Chamber, Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Urban Chamber of Commerce, Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, and Boulder City Chamber of Commerce.
The ballot initiative is in the signature gathering phase and will qualify for the November 2024 ballot once it collects 140,777 valid signatures. The Nevada Legislature could also pass the initiative in its 2023 session, according to the Community Schools Initiative. If approved, the initiative would allow a new district to begin operating within two years. The new school district would retain previously allocated funding, honor existing contracts and function under the state Board of Education, however it would have its own board of trustees.
ENVIRONMENT
Bald Mountain receives Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award
Kinross Gold Corp.—KG Mining received The Nevada Excellence in Mine Reclamation Award at the 31st year of the Nevada Excellence in Mine Reclamation Awards for their work at the Bald Mountain Mine in White Pine County.
The goal of the annual Nevada reclamation awards is to encourage operators and explorers to submit reclamation projects which raise industry standards, increase public awareness of the positive aspects of mining, and encourage innovation in reclamation techniques. The awards committee consists of representatives from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, and the Nevada Division of Minerals.
HOUSING
Clark County approves allocating nearly $120M for affordable housing.
Clark County Commissioners on Tuesday approved allocating nearly $120 million to develop more than 3,100 homes in the Las Vegas Valley. Clark County says its “Welcome Home Community Housing Fund” was “created to address the urgent need for housing for low-income residents, families, seniors and those who are employed but unable to find affordable housing.”
INFRASTRUCTURE
NDOT receives record $101M in additional federal transportation spending authority
At the Monday morning Transportation Board of Directors meeting, Nevada Department of Transportation Director Kristina Swallow announced that $101 million in additional federal highway spending authority — the most Nevada has ever received — has been made available for state road and bridge projects in Nevada as part of the August Redistribution from the Federal Highway Administration. This additional spending authority will allow the state to receive federal reimbursement more quickly for planned projects.
Website launched to track Nevada infrastructure projects
The State announced the launch of NevadaBuilds.com earlier this month, a website designed to track the infrastructure projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJJA). Nevada is expected to receive upwards of $4 billion over five years from the IJJA. As of July 2022, approximately $780 million in IIJA funding has been announced and is headed to Nevada.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company
A half century after founding the outdoor apparel maker Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, the eccentric rock climber who became a reluctant billionaire with his unconventional spin on capitalism, has given the company away.
Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Mr. Chouinard, his wife and two adult children have transferred their ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed set of trusts and nonprofit organizations. They were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all of its profits — some $100 million a year — are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
Ads Ads Ads
With less than two months before early voting for the general election begins, campaign ads are in full swing. You can't turn on the tv or watch a video without being told why you should vote for X or why you should not vote for Y. Regardless of which campaign is endorsing the ad, don't believe everything you see on the tv, social media and the interwebs. Checking the facts is important in every race in Nevada. Below are a couple ads from some of the state's most high-profile races, as featured in this week's Indy 2022 Newsletter:
Catherine Cortez Masto, “Adam Laxalt, Always Looking Out for Himself.” The Cortez Masto campaign opened another negative attack on Laxalt last week with a kitchen-sink ad. The one-minute spot targets everything from Laxalt's “elite” personal history in the Washington, D.C. area to his troubles as a teen to more well-worn attacks on his links to the oil industry.
Adam Laxalt, “Good Man.” In his first general election spot, Laxalt stayed positive, sitting beside his wife for a 30-second spot that centers on his upbringing — specifically his single mother and how his “early life wasn’t easy.”
Stronger Nevada, “Hand Picked,” “Nope!,” “Your Vote.” This series of digital ads by a political action committee focused on state Senate races takes aim at two vulnerable incumbents and one legislative hopeful in tight races — Marilyn Dondero Loop, Melanie Scheible and Julie Pazina.
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Nevada SOS publishes 2022 Statewide Ballot Questions booklet for public.
Review the approved language and explanations for all three 2022 statewide ballot questions.
Gubernatorial candidates commit to general election debates
The campaign for Lombardo, the Republican nominee, released a statement saying debates with Sisolak, the Democratic incumbent, will be held in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko. Specific dates and times will be announced soon.
Nevada General Election Statewide Survey Results: Slight Republican Advantage
Conducted from August 15 - 18, the Trafalgar Group asked 1,802 likely voters who they would vote for in the U.S. Senate and Nevada Governor races if they were held today and found the results echo the consensus so far in Nevada of toss-up races with a Republican advantage — though both the Senate and the governor’s race remain within the margin of error (2.9%).
ECONOMY
aha! Airlines files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ceases all operations
Reno-based company aha! Airlines announced on Tuesday that the business has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code and ceased all flight operations.
Aha! Airlines, an "air-hotel-adventure" powered by ExpressJet Airlines, was based out of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and connected Reno travelers with eight cities across the west coast. In a statement, representatives cited a combination of market and economic conditions as the reasons for the bankruptcy. Aha! Airlines will not assist with alternative travel arrangements.
EDUCATION
UNLV outlaws smoking on campus after more than a decade of trying
More than a decade after advocates started pushing for the change, UNLV this month joined more than 2,000 universities nationwide, including UNR, in becoming a smoke-free campus.
Under the new policy adopted after being presented to the university policy committee and discussed with employees and students, all tobacco and marijuana products are prohibited including cigarettes, cigars, vape pens, bidis, smokeless tobacco and other nicotine products. It is one of the largest public colleges to make this change in Southern Nevada.
ENVIRONMENT
Nevada officials want drought details from feds
Nevada officials are calling on the federal government to take a stronger role in the negotiations to address the Western drought after Colorado River states failed to meet a federal deadline to propose solutions.
“We need a real plan. We need a real deadline. And we must use these once-in-a-generation federal resources for permanent systemic reductions in water use across the basin,” Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger said during a news conference earlier this week.
HEALTHCARE
Las Vegas ‘medical hub’ moves closer to reality
Last week, the Las Vegas City Council approved a contract with a consulting firm tasked with determining what’s feasible for the growing 684-acre Las Vegas Medical District and providing an implementation plan. The district has been in the works for two decades with an initial allotment of 214 acres, which was expanded to 684 acres in a 2015 master plan; it will be home to the University Medical Center and the soon-to-be completed Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. An executive summary and final report are due in October.
HOUSING
Culinary Union backs down from North Las Vegas rent control battle
“Citing the North Las Vegas City Council’s earlier refusal to place the initiative on the ballot just weeks before today’s deadline for printing election materials, union officials announced Monday that they would not challenge the city’s decision in court. Still, they vowed to continue the discussion at the county level.”
INFRASTRUCTURE
Sec. Pete Buttigieg visits Fernley, discusses $25 million infrastructure project
U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, visited Fernley Wednesday to discuss a $25 million project to complete the Nevada Pacific Parkway connecting I-80 to Hwy 50. The grant money comes from Biden's infrastructure law and is the largest grant in the city's history. It's expected to improve everything from supply chain, daily commutes, international competitiveness and create about 7,000 jobs.
Washoe County families face limited child care options as day cares struggle with demand
The number of day cares in Washoe County has declined since 2014. But the most drastic drop happened between 2020 and 2021: County data shows there were 261 child care facilities in 2014. By 2020, there were 216. By 2021? 196.
Stricken with staffing issues exacerbated by the pandemic, the day cares that remain open are struggling to keep up with growing child care demand. As parents are called back to offices, families have been left with few options.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Travel Nevada’s Destination Development Program is going on the road!
The Nevada Division of Tourism’s new Destination Development Program, 3-D, encourages rural Nevada destinations to take a comprehensive look at their current travel and tourism programs and envision how they can evolve to attract new visitors, grow the local economy, and improve quality of life for residents.
There will be a Statewide Zoom Welcome Announcement on Sept. 9 at 10 am and several stops in rural Nevada. Click here to learn more about the program and for the list of dates and locations of the kick-off events.
New trail opens in southwest Reno
The new 3.5-mile-long Sierra Front Trail connects the existing Thomas Creek and Ballardini Ranch trails. It is open to bikers, horseback riders and hikers.
The trail is also the longest section of the Sierra Front Trail to date, according to Kevin Joell, owner of Sierra Trail works, the company that constructed the trail, and former president of the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association. Once completed, the Sierra Front Trail will provide continuous single-track trail from the Truckee River to Woodfords, California.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
The polls are coming.
With less than 100 days from the General Election, expect to see more ads, receive more texts, and hear about a new poll on the daily. The latest poll on the 2022 statewide ballot questions from The Nevada Independent shows strong support for open primaries and ranked-choice voting (RCV), that is if they have an opinion. A lot of people don't, with nearly one third of the poll’s respondents said they neither supported nor opposed the ballot measure.
While there remains uncertainty about RCV, Nevadans seem firm in their support for the Equal Rights Amendment. The poll found widespread support for the amendment, with 7 in 10 Nevadans responding they support the ballot question. Further, this support was found across the board, regardless of demographic. Men, women, Democrats, Republicans and racial and ethnic minority groups all indicated broad support for the amendment.
With the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, the ERA could lead more people to the polls in Nevada, particularly women. We saw that happen in Kansas this week. The abortion referendum drove a record number of Kansans to the polls, with voter turnout this year higher than their 2016 and 2018 primary elections combined!
This is all to say, don’t ignore the ballot questions. They can drive more voters to the polls than the candidates, especially during midterm elections. Will the ERA have the same effect in Nevada? We’ll see.
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Nevada Governor and U.S. Senate debates scheduled without candidate participation confirmed.
Washoe County GOP split on whether to continue election fraud messaging
Recently retired Washoe County Registrar reflects: “pretty much the general consensus [is] that it's never been like this before. Elections have always had their challenges, but the challenges now are far above and beyond even what was seen in 2020.”
NVSOS releases latest voter registration numbers:
Find the latest voter registration breakdown of each race on our website.
ECONOMY
Nevada lawmakers OK $18.7 million in federal grants
The Interim Finance Committee approved more than 30 grants of coronavirus state local fiscal recovery funds last week, marking the completion of the $30 million Community Recovery Grant program. Funded by American Rescue Plan dollars, this grant program was designed specifically to support existing non-profits in Nevada that provide direct and immediate community services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to view the full list of grant recipients.
In shifting Nevada economy, manufacturing taking more prominent role
The manufacturing worker base grew to an all-time high of 5 percent of Nevada’s employment landscape, an increase that signals a shift in the local economy as the state has now exceeded the number of jobs it had pre-pandemic but also as the hospitality industry remains 33,000 jobs short of pre-COVID levels.
“If you look at transportation, warehousing and utilities, it’s up 18,300 jobs, and this is all statewide,” said Bob Potts, deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “Manufacturing is up 5,200 jobs above pre-pandemic [levels].”
EDUCATION
5th Largest School District Returns to the Classroom next week. Is it ready?
A bus driver shortage, record teacher vacancies and school safety are among the most pressing issues facing Clark County School District. Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara sat down with Channel 3 News Las Vegas to discuss how the school district plans to address these problems for the 2022-23 school year, which begins this upcoming Monday.
ENVIRONMENT
House passes wildfire and drought package.
The U.S. House approved, 218-199, on Friday a package of bills to address the growing threat of wildfire and drought in the West.
It includes provisions to make permanent an increase in wildland firefighter pay, lift a cap on the federal cost share for post-fire recovery funding and authorize more than $1.5 billion for water infrastructure to help manage drought conditions.
The measure would ratify a 10-year plan for the U.S. Forest Service, authorizing $1.5 billion per year for the next decade for fire-related programs. It would also authorize spending on large scale forest projects the administration has already identified.
Geothermal plant wins appeal but pauses Nevada construction
The developer of a geothermal power plant facing legal challenges in Nevada has agreed to temporarily suspend construction of the project. In a ruling Monday morning, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a bid by environmentalists and a Nevada tribe to reinstate an injunction that temporarily blocked work earlier this year on Ormat Nevada’s plant 100 miles east of Reno. But hours later, lawyers for Ormat, the government, environmentalists and the tribe filed a joint stipulation in federal court in Reno outlining a voluntary agreement to suspend construction for at least 30 days — and perhaps until the end of the year.
HEALTHCARE
Washoe County Health District changes name to Northern Nevada Public Health
Officials from Washoe County, Reno, Sparks and others have recognized growing public confusion over Washoe County Health District’s scope and responsibility, and therefore are adopting a new name that better reflects what the district does and who it serves. The name change will be gradual, with full adoption in 2023.
HOUSING
The Siegel Group under new scrutiny by county, AG office for evictions
In response to the scathing U.S. House panel report released last week concluding the Las Vegas based real-estate firm pursued aggressive tactics, including deception and harassment, in attempt to force tenants to leave, Clark County officials have pledged to “remedy any wrongs” committed and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office announced it would review the findings for possible violations of state laws and directives on pandemic evictions.
Las Vegas’ housing market cooling faster than others
“Las Vegas’ market has by no means screeched to a halt, as homes are still selling. But overall, buyers are pulling back as higher mortgage rates wipe out the cheap money that fueled America’s unexpected housing boom after the pandemic hit.”
Just over 27% of pending sales in the Las Vegas area fell through in June, the highest cancellation rate in the nation, according to Redfin, which reported that home sales nationally were nixed at the highest rate since the onset of the pandemic.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Feds: $401M will add high-speed internet in Nevada
The federal government is pledging $401 million in grants and loans to expand the reach and improve the speed of internet for rural residents, tribes and businesses in remote parts of 11 states from Alaska to Arkansas.
Internet provider Uprise LLC will receive more than $27 million to connect almost 4,900 people, 130 businesses, 22 farms and seven public schools in Lovelock and surrounding Pershing County, officials said. These federal funds will offer eligible Nevada residents a $30-per-month discount on their internet bill discount and up to $100 toward a computer.
Nevada submits electric vehicle charging plan to secure $38M in federal funding
Last week, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) submitted a comprehensive and strategic electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plan to the United States Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. Once approved, the plan will allow NDOT to receive millions of dollars in federal funding. Through the National Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program contained within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — NDOT will receive more than $38 million over the next five years.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Clear Creek Trail complete from Spooner to Indian Hills
The new trail officially opened on July 7 after Carson Valley Trails Association spent the first six months of 2022 blazing eight miles between the Jacks Valley Road Trailhead and James Lee Park in Indian Hills.
With the completion of the latest leg of the trail, bicyclists, hikers and equestrians can travel the average 5 percent grade 21.7 miles from Spooner Summit to the park, an altitude difference of 2,565 feet.
A celebration of the trails will be at the James Lee Park trailhead on Oct. 15..
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
How hot is it?
These past few weeks have been HOT, and not just in Nevada. Europe is facing record temperatures, heat advisories are in place for a third of the country and as of today, there have been 38,724 fires that have burned over 5.6 million acres in this year alone. This heat is no joke, though local news stations do their best to make you laugh.
To help stay cool, we at TCS believe in elevation therapy. The Tom Clark Solutions team are avid outdoor enthusiasts. Part of why we love living in Nevada are the outdoor recreation opportunities. Some wonderful upcoming events that celebrate Nevada's outdoors we encourage you to attend are
You can find more outdoor events happening in Nevada on the state's fantastic tourism website, TravelNevada.com and for more information on what's happening in the outdoor recreation sphere, check out the stories below.
Keep cool out there!
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Cook Political Report rates Nevada with a R+1 Partisan Voter Index for 2022. What does this mean? Cook Political anticipates Nevada will perform about one point more Republican than the nation will this November. Nevada’s 2021 Cook PVI score was “even,” meaning Nevada performed within half a point of the nation in either direction.
GOP Group Endorses Nevada's Democratic Attorney General, Aaron Ford
Specifically, thirteen Nevada Republicans announced a new coalition on Monday to endorse Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in his re-election bid against their party’s nominee, Sigal Chattah, a right-wing candidate who bested a more moderate Republican primary contender.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Biden Administration Reestablishes Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation
Last week, the Biden Administration announced the revival of the FICOR. First created in 2011 under the Obama Administration, the FICOR is tasked with improving access to nature, expanding outdoor recreation opportunities, and providing the public with improved and more affordable experiences on America’s public lands and waters. Previous accomplishments include the creation of recreation.gov, publishing the first economic impact analysis of the outdoor industry, and establishing Every Kid Outdoors Pass (of which Nevada has a similar pass, thanks to the passage of AB385 from the 2017 Legislative session).
Increasing access to outdoor recreation is one of the six areas of focus outlined in President Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the outdoor recreation economy generates $689 billion in consumer spending and provides 4.3 million direct jobs across the country. In Nevada, the OR economy contributes $4.0 billion to the Nevada’s GDP, provides nearly 50,000 jobs in the state and is one of a handful of states with a dedicated outdoor recreation office.
Nevada State Parks accepting recreation trails grant project pre-applications
Nevada Division of State Parks is currently accepting grant project pre-applications in anticipation of the 2023 Federal Highway Administration funding of the Recreational Trails Program. RTP funding may be awarded to counties, municipalities, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribal governments for the purpose of constructing and/or maintaining motorized and non-motorized outdoor recreational trails, trailhead amenities, and trailside signage.
Submittal of a pre-application is required to determine project eligibility. Eligible pre-applicants will be encouraged to submit full funding proposals in the fall of 2022. Pre-applications are due by Monday, August 22, 2022. For more information, visit the Recreational trails Program webpage.
Groups get $45k for maintenance on Lake Tahoe’s popular trails
The state has acquired more than 10 acres in the upper Kingsbury area to ensure the long-term management and protection of natural habitat for native plant and wildlife species in Lake Tahoe, and to help reduce wildfire risks, officials announced earlier this week.
The new conservation area connects to backcountry forests managed by the USDA Forest Service, creating a contiguous undeveloped corridor for wildlife to migrate and forage in. In the coming years, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will conduct surveys on the property to learn more about its biodiversity and determine short and long-term restoration needs and strategies.
ECONOMY
Nevada breaks record, regains all jobs lost during pandemic
State officials announced last week that Nevada added a record 7,600 jobs in June and is up 90,400 jobs since June 2021, an annual increase of 6.6 percent that ranks as the best in the nation. The U.S. as a whole is still down 500,000 jobs from its peak.
While this is good news, the leisure and hospitality sector is still lagging behind at 90.7 percent of its prepandemic peak and is still looking to recover 33,800 jobs from its peak in February 2020. Nevada’s unemployment rate fell, but remains one of the worst in the country. The state unemployment rate in June was 4.7 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from May and down 2.5 percentage points compared with June 2021. However, only the District of Columbia (5.5 percent) and New Mexico (4.9) rank lower than Nevada.
Harry Reid International Airport set a new record in June for passengers in a single month, beating a record of 4,609,3128 passengers in October 2019. A total of 4,683,156 passengers arrived to and departed from the airport in June this year, a 22.9% increase from June 2021.
The majority of passengers were domestic, with international travelers only making up 244,033 of the total. In 2022, the airport has already seen 24,279,867 passengers, a 52.4% increase from 15,933,853 passengers this time last year.
ENVIRONMENT
Reducing consumptive water use must be our main focus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s economic stability
Nat Hodgson with the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association has an interesting opinion piece in the Nevada Independent. The home building industry, for example, has answered its calls of responsibility. In addition to the frequent installation of the most water efficient indoor fixtures in the market today, it should be noted that truly wasteful consumptive water use, such as front yard turf lawn installation, has been eliminated from new home building for nearly 20 years.
In 2022, a study from Applied Analysis sought to show how water use among residential properties in Southern Nevada has evolved over time. The results indicated that newer homes are much more efficient in water use when compared to older properties, which is even more telling when coupled with the fact that homes built in 2019 are larger than older homes. The study showed newly built homes used approximately 38.3 gallons per square foot compared to 75.9 gallons per square foot for older homes – a nearly 50 percent reduction.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Clark County land swap bill derails in Senate, passage unlikely this year
The problem: Clark County is running out of developable land and the federal government owns ~87% of all the land in the county.
The solution: Transfer ownership of 25,000 acres from the federal government to the county via the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, commonly known as the “Clark County lands bill.”
The reality: The Clark County lands bill is not dead, but passage this year appears unlikely as the legislative clock runs down and Congress prepares to leave for an August recess.
“I negotiated to get this piece of legislation bipartisan support, and the county decided to oppose our compromise, so this legislation isn’t moving forward at this time,” Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said in a statement to the Review-Journal.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
Click here to view the list of Bill Draft Requests (BDRs) for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
And then there was one (new one)
In June, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that three of four ballot questions brought before the court did not qualify for the November General Election Ballot. Our friends at The Nevada Independent have a great overview of what went down with the 13 petitions submitted to the Secretary of State’s office for the 2022 ballot.
The lone survivor is the well-funded Ranked Choice Voting Ballot Question that if passed in 2022 and again in 2024, will considerably change the way Nevadans select candidates in the General Election.
The addition of RCV brings the total of statewide ballot questions to three. The two other questions on the ballot originated in the Nevada Legislature.
Question 1 – Equal Rights Amendment
Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended by adding a specific guarantee that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this State or any of its cities, counties, or other political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin?
Question 2 – State Minimum Wage Increase
Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended, effective July 1, 2024, to: (1) establish the State’s minimum wage that employers must pay to certain employees at a rate of $12 per hour worked, subject to any applicable increases above that $12 rate provided by federal law or enacted by the Nevada Legislature; (2) remove the existing provisions setting different rates for the minimum wage based on whether the employer offers certain health benefits to such employees; and (3) remove the existing provisions for adjusting the minimum wage based on applicable increases in the cost of living?
We will be profiling each of the questions in more detail soon. In the meantime, please go out and enjoy the summer!
Important Dates
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Politico has identified Clark County as one of 20 counties across the nation that will decide the midterms. “With the county’s increasingly diverse electorate usually works in Democrats’ favor, this year’s environment is much less hospitable.” As reported by Jon Ralston, for the first time in decades, Democrats’ voter registration advantage over Republicans fell below 10%, sitting at 9.6%. Now, the county’s registration is 38% non-majors, 35.8% Democrat and 26.2% Republican.
Based on the latest C&E reports, Sisolak enjoys a 10-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over Lombardo. Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak raised almost $1.7 million from April through June. He heads into the general election with more than $10.7 million cash on hand — the most of any candidate running for statewide office. Behind Sisolak was Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who emerged victorious from the Republican primary after raising more than $822,000 in the last quarter. The amount placed him above other Republican gubernatorial hopefuls but short of Sisolak by about $906,000. He ended the quarter with roughly $1.2 million in the bank.
You know your ABCs, but how about your BDRs? Bill Draft Requests for the 2023 Legislative session have started rolling out. As of right now, there are 69 posted on the Nevada legislature website. As we get closer to the beginning of the 82nd Session, the BDR list will grow to over 1,000!
ECONOMY
Las Vegas Raiders First in 2021 NFL Ticket Revenue
The Las Vegas Raiders were first in the National Football League in ticket revenue in 2021, according to a new report by Sportico. The report said the Raiders brought in $119 million in net ticket revenue.
Red Rocks Resorts selling three properties
Red Rock Resorts announced they plan to demolish three closed Southern Nevada casinos and then sell the properties. Red Rock President Scott Kreeger said it was a “difficult” decision to permanently close Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho in North Las Vegas and Fiesta Henderson, but it would “enable the Company to continue reinvesting in our open properties and move more quickly to develop and deliver the next generation of Station Casinos resorts to the residents and visitors of North Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of the Las Vegas valley.”
Red Rock also didn’t reopen the off-Strip Palms Casino Resort, which was sold last year to Southern California’s San Manuel Indian Tribe for $650 million. The tribe reopened the Palms at the end of April.
Earlier this year, Red Rock began construction on the $750 million Durango Station near the 215 Beltway in the southwestern end of the valley. The location, expected to open in 2023.
EDUCATION
"One-stop shop" for Northern Nevada childcare providers now open in Reno
Last week, Nevada Children’s Cabinet Launched the Nevada Strong Start Child Care Services Center in Reno. The CCSCs provides child care providers of all types a one-stop-shop for child care resources and support. Services include financial assistance options, child care subsidy assistance, child care licensing assistance and access to business tools. The Reno location mirrors a Center in Las Vegas that opened earlier this year.
More information can be found at NevadaChildCare.org.
This launch arrived on the heels of Governor Sisolak’s announcement of $50 million investment of federal funds in childcare services. With these funds, Nevada lawmakers are expanding a child care subsidy program, allowing families to get help with daycare even if they were previously considered to be too wealthy for the assistance.
The Nevada Child Care Fund will now be open to families making $60,000 to $70,000 per year for a household of four, nearly double the previous income threshold, which limited access to families that make up to 130 percent of the poverty level ($36,075 a year for a family of four).
ENVIRONMENT
Biden lays out new funds for localities on climate
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden additional spending to help states and cities manage climate disasters — resisting calls from many congressional Democrats to take more aggressive executive action like a declaration of a national climate emergency. Biden also announced steps executive agencies are taking to expand offshore wind development into the Gulf of Mexico and provide funding for local cooling centers.
Smaller pools for more water
The Las Vegas Valley Water District has approved a new rule to limit pool sizes for newly built pools. Pools will be limited to 600 square feet. Water district general manager John Entsminger said we are at the stage now where every drop of water counts in the southwest.
Reno & Vegas are the Fastest Warming Cities in U.S.
Since 1970, summer temperatures in Reno, have risen 10.9 degrees, making it the nation’s fastest-warming city, according to non-profit research group Climate Central, due to a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect,” where dense, urbanized areas with buildings, roads, etc. and little greenery absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat, leading them to become “islands” of higher temperatures relative to outlying area.
HOUSING
‘Slight shift’ to buyers’ market seen in Northern Nevada
This June, interest rates spiked to 5.83 percent – a jump that translates into $1,000 more in monthly mortgage payments for the median home price of $557,250 in Greater Reno. These higher mortgage rates take away some buying power because higher interest rates add to your mortgage payment. In June 2021 the average mortgage interest rate was a historically low 2.98 percent. These record low rates over the past few years fueled a buying frenzy across Reno-Sparks that was exacerbated by an extreme lack of inventory.
“You have to have a flood of inventory to get into a buyers’ market,” said Sierra Nevada Properties owner/broker Darrell Plummer. “It’s feeling like a buyers’ market because interest rates and uncertainty with inflation has buyers pausing.” Reno-Sparks will remain a strong sellers’ market due to the historically low supply of available homes. For perspective, a balanced market has about a six month’s supply of available homes; Reno-Sparks roughly one month’s inventory before interest rates started rising.
Las Vegas home prices falling after heated run
The median sales price of previously owned single-family homes — the bulk of the market — was $480,000 in June, down $2,000 from the record-high set in May, trade association Las Vegas Realtors reported. The price dip was a small one — just 0.4 percent — but it marked the first time in more than two years that Southern Nevada’s median house price fell month-to-month. Overall, the market is cooling off as higher mortgage rates wipe out the cheap money that fueled America’s unexpected housing boom after the pandemic hit, making it all the more expensive to buy a home after a year of huge price gains.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
Happy (Almost) Fourth of July!
The roundup will be taking next week off but coming back the week of July 11th, featuring a deep dive on the 2022 Ballot Questions. There has been a lot going on in this world since we published our first deep dive on the proposed ballot initiatives back in February. Some of the latest news includes how the Nevada Supreme Court has recently issued three rulings that directly affect this year’s ballot questions (see ICYMI below) and the Legislative Commission approved earlier this month the language for Ballot Question No. 1 and Ballot Question No. 2.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend and look for us in your inbox in two weeks!
Important Dates
| Primary Early Voting | May 28 – June 10 |
| Primary Election | Tuesday June 14, 2022 |
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
ICYMI
Clark County property tax cap deadline today.
Nevada Supreme Court 2022 Ballot Rulings: No education vouchers, yes open primary & rank choice and bye-bye gaming and sale tax hikes.
Cannabis Lounges open ‘as early as end of the year’.
Joey Gilbert claims voter fraud in Republican Gubernatorial primary race, pays nearly $200k for recount.
What do chicken enclosures, pre-trial release timelines, telehealth access and PFAS chemicals all have in common? They are all new Nevada laws that go into effect tomorrow.
ECONOMY
Nevada Minimum Wage Increase in Effect Friday
Nevada’s minimum wage will increase starting tomorrow by another 75 cents. This will set the state’s minimum wage at $9.50/hour for employers who provide health insurance for employees and $10.50/hour for employers who don’t offer health insurance.
Gov. Sisolak Announces $3.7 million For Rural Community Development
Governor Steve Sisolak announced today that $3,674,024 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been awarded to 17 projects in Carson City and rural Nevada. The CDBG program enables local governments to undertake a wide range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing, and create economic opportunities, primarily for persons of low and moderate income.
EDUCATION
IFC Approves Funding for Free School Lunch, Learning Loss Programs
Last week, the Interim Finance Committee approved $75 million in federal pandemic funding to continue providing all K-12 students with free breakfast and lunch during the upcoming school year. “I think feeding kids is a top priority,” said Vice Chair Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas. “It’s the right thing to do,” said Sen. Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas.
IFC members also approved a $200 million grants program to support school districts and university campuses to address learning losses caused by two years of a pandemic that closed schools statewide. All Nevada education entities are eligible to apply for grants to help pay for tutoring, summer school, after school learning and other programs to help students catch up.
ENVIRONMENT
State commission affirms environmental permit for Thacker Pass lithium mine
In a hearing Tuesday, the State Environmental Commission affirmed a contested water pollution control permit for the Thacker Pass lithium mine, a procedural step forward for Lithium America’s project in Humboldt County.
“In this case, the [state agency] received and reviewed multiple credible reports that show that the project will not contaminate the state’s water,” Deputy Attorney General Dan Nubel argued during his opening statement.
Extreme Heat Resource Guide
The State of Nevada announced Monday that it has created a central resource for Nevadans facing the dangers of extreme heat this summer. The central resource is part of Governor Sisolak’s Statewide Heat Plan, which has met with federal, state and local partners to identify different resources to help the community overcome the heat.
HEALTHCARE
Sisolak signs order protecting those seeking access to abortion
In response to the SCOTUS decision overturning Americans’ right to constitutional abortion last week, Gov. Steve Sisolak signed an executive order Tuesday implementing protections for anyone seeking or providing abortion services or other reproductive health care within the Silver State. Sisolak’s executive order follows the governors of California, Oregon and Washington announcing a “West Coast offensive” on Friday to ensure access to abortion and contraception as well as protect providers and patients from the legal grasp of other states.
Pilot project equipping rural police with telehealth tools for mental health crises
Through a partnership with police, Nevada’s health department will offer crisis intervention services to rural residents through Virtual Crisis Care, a digital crisis intervention program delivered using tablets, starting as soon as police training is completed. When officers are called to a scene or dispute, trained mental health professionals could intervene virtually, if necessary, with the new device.
Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded a $3.8 million grant to the state to launch the pilot program.
HOUSING
Nevadans urge lawmakers to try again to end rapid summary eviction process
This Nevada Independent article highlights the concerns on the summary eviction process. The rising cost of home ownership and rent — and the end of the eviction moratorium last May — prompted Nevada lawmakers and stakeholders to confront the state’s unique use of seven-day summary evictions.
This process, which is only used in Nevada, requires the defendant to file an affidavit in court by the end of the seven days or they can be kicked out.
Lawmakers said they will look over items from presenters, consider the testimonies and comments, and, in August, vote on bill draft requests regarding summary evictions that could come before legislators in the 2023 session.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
The Primary Election in Nevada will be completed this week as Clerks and Registrars finish counting mail-in ballots and County Commissions and the Secretary of State certify the elections. We’ve updated our 2022 candidate list.
I’ve been involved in elections in our state for 20+ years and I can use two words to describe what I saw: unprecedented and unpredictable.
The vitriol thrown by candidates and Political Action Committees was unprecedented. The turn out and the outcomes were unpredictable.
Candidates who campaigned on a platform of election fraud won. (They’ve yet to file a challenge). Many candidates that were endorsed and supported by their respective caucus’ lost, some by double digits. “Newcomers” to statewide races gave U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial front-runners Laxalt and Lombardo a run for their money.
The electorate did “show-up” in greater numbers than previous non-presidential primaries but every registered voter in the state received a ballot in the mail. Depending on the pundit, that was either going to drive participation through the roof or open the door for a tremendous amount of fraud. Neither of those scenarios became reality.
The field has been narrowed, the signs are being removed from front lawns and street corners and the triumphant candidates are preparing for the next 139 days. In the Fall Nevadans will vote, including the ~33% of non-partisans and independent voters who didn’t have say in the Primary.
I can tell you now, based on experience, that the General Election will be:
Unprecedented.
Unpredictable.
We’ll do our best to provide comprehensive coverage over the coming months and will be analyzing candidate positions on the important issues that could become federal, state, and local initiatives.
Important Dates
| Primary Early Voting | May 28 – June 10 |
| Primary Election | Tuesday June 14, 2022 |
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
Nevada 2022 Primary Results Roundup
Below are some takeaways from Nevada’s 2022 primary:
“Election Fraud” candidates up against more moderate GOP candidates prevail on June 7.
Notably Jim Marchant for Secretary of State, Sigal Chattah for Attorney General and Michelle Fiore for Treasurer are all candidates who have campaigned on election fraud conspiracies and have all prevailed in their respective primary.
The seemingly sole exception: Joe Lombardo.
Per The Nevada Independent: The more moderate Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo won a decisive victory over the sprawling field of Republican gubernatorial candidates. However, down the ballot, far-right Republican candidates largely trounced more moderate (and oftentimes better-funded) primary rivals. Jim Marchant, a former Assembly member who has raised his public profile by campaigning on unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election, won handedly over Reno-based developer Jesse Haw.
In the state legislative races, we saw party endorsement can go only so far. There were some definite surprises. Several strong candidates did not prevail in their primaries.
Notables: Assembly District 25 saw surprises in both the Democrat and Republican primaries. Alex Goff lost to Selena La Rue Hatch in the Democratic primary and Jacob Williams, who had the endorsement of Jill Tolles, lost to Sam Kumar in the Republican primary. For State Senate District 16, Incumbent & caucus endorsed Don Tatro lost to Lisa Krasner.
"Though only one incumbent was defeated in the primary election, three of five state Senate Republican candidates backed by caucus leadership fell short of victory. In the Assembly, two of seven candidates endorsed by the Assembly GOP caucus were either losing or in races still too close to call on Monday." - Legislature: Handful of caucus-backed candidates lose in primaries
Red Wave? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
With the nomination of "extreme" Republican candidates instead of the more moderate challenger in several high-profile races, Nevada Democrats may see their candidate prevail in November if non-partisans and moderate Republicans aren't won over by the farther right policies touted during the primaries. Though, this does not mean these races have been handed to the Democrats, especially considering the ominous trend of the President's party performing poorly in midterm elections. We know it’s going to be hard work,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus, the dean of the state’s congressional delegation.
Let's Get Local
Further Reading
Secretary of State’s Office Primary Election Results
Nevada’s 2022 Primary Results from Politico
(They provide great visualizations that break down which counties voted for who in the federal and statewide primaries.)
Education News
Elko's Great Basin College plans 'Mining Center for Excellence'
President Joyce Helens said the Nevada Mining Center for Excellence, which is being planned for the National Guard Armory building across the street from the college in Elko, is the result of a fruitful collaboration between Great Basin College and the University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, formerly the Mackay School of Mines.
Housing News
Rising home prices lock out more than a quarter of Nevada workforce
Rising home prices lock out more than a quarter of Nevada workforce. Specifically, home prices in Nevada’s two most populous cities broke records in May, reaching a median price of $482,000 in Las Vegas (up 25 percent from last year) and $615,000 in the Reno-Sparks area (up 23 percent from last year) for single-family homes.
According to the UNLV report, none of the ten most common occupations in the area (about 24 percent of the population in the Reno-Sparks area and nearly 25 percent in the Las Vegas area) earn an annual salary that would support mortgage payments on a median-valued home assuming an individual secured the mortgage with either a 10 percent or 3 percent down payment.
Infrastructure News
Elon Musk’s Boring Company to expand underground tunnels in Las Vegas
As part of its effort to construct a transportation system hitting the most popular stops in Las Vegas, Elon Musk’s The Boring Company received approval this week to expand its underground tunnels downtown.
Musk’s vision for the “Vegas Loop” includes plans to connect the city’s Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, downtown Las Vegas and eventually Los Angeles.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.
Opening remarks
Ballots arrived in mailboxes across our state (over ten days ago) and people can complete their ballot in the kitchen or take the traditional route and vote at an early voting location. It is very easy to cast your ballot in Nevada but the Early Voter statistics from across the state show that voters aren't interested. Yet.
It is always difficult to get people to vote in non-presidential primaries. It's even more difficult when the election is occurring at the end of the school year, the weather is warming up and people are more excited about their vacation than voting. This year, I would add that the vitriolic television, radio and mail campaigns are also a factor. It's nasty out there.
I also expect (hope) a surge of ballots will be cast this week. I predict A LOT of surprises when the ballots are tallied. There are a number of races that are going to be close and the winner will not be decided on Election Day. It's going to be an exciting time!
Important Dates
| Primary Early Voting | May 28 – June 10 |
| Primary Election | Tuesday June 14, 2022 |
| General Early Voting | October 22 – November 4 |
| General Election | Tuesday November 8, 2022 |
Primary Races We're Watching
Below is a list of primary races our firm is watching, either due to their competitiveness, the amount of chatter surrounding the race, or because of the broader implications (cough cough red wave in November?).
To view the list of the candidates running for office, visit our 2022 Election webpage, your one-stop shop for all things Nevada 2022. Here you can also find links to each candidate’s campaign website and the latest voter registration breakdown of each jurisdiction.
U.S. Senate Republican Primary
Adam Laxalt is “the chosen one” this time round, being one of the few Republican candidates with endorsements from both Trump and McConnell, but political newcomer Sam Brown has been making headlines for consistently raising six figures and earning some well-known endorsements of his own.
Congressional District 1 Democratic Primary
We don’t expect incumbent Dina Titus to lose this race, but it is one the highest profile races in the state where a progressive candidate is challenging a more moderate incumbent, echoing the clash between the progressive wing and moderate wing of the Democratic Party in other primaries across the country.
Congressional District 3 Republican Primary
The NRCC has thrown their support behind April Becker, a candidate who they believe has a real shot at beating incumbent Susie Lee in November and helping them achieve their goal of winning control of the U.S. House.
Gubernatorial Republican Primary
Lombardo is expected to win the nomination, as he is seen as Republicans’ best chance against Sisolak in November, but a crowded field and new elements to Nevada’s voting process (mail-in ballots, transition from caucus to primary system) means it is more difficult to predict voter turnout and Republican enthusiasm than in previous midterm election cycles. This primary isn't over.
Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary
Incumbent Lisa Cano Burkhead has some high-profile officials backing her, but Debra March has a long record of public service in the state and her own set of well-known Nevadans supporting her campaign.
State Senate District 16 Republican Primary
Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner began her campaign for this seat even before Don Tatro was appointed to step in after Ben Kieckhefer, who was term limited, resigned from the Legislature to join the Nevada Gaming Commission. Even though Tatro is the incumbent, his candidate filing came as a bit of a surprise given that he during his appointment interview last year, he stated he had no intention to run for the seat in 2022.
State Senate District 17 Republican Primary
Assembly Minority Leader Robin Titus and Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, who was Minority Leader prior to Titus, are both campaigning for this seat but only one will be returning to the Legislature in 2023.
State Assembly District 25, both primaries
Democratic: The Assembly Democratic Caucus endorsed Alex Goff for the seat, while Selena La Rue Hatch was endorsed by the Nevada State Education Association and Washoe Education Association. The race is one of many featuring a Democratic caucus-endorsed candidate running against a teacher union-backed candidate. - Tabitha Mueller, The Nevada Independent
Republican: Jacob Williams is the chosen successor of Jill Tolles’ seat but with the new maps drawn in 2021, this district now has a slight Democratic voter registration advantage, however this seat is still competitive. The Assembly Republican Caucus has targeted this district as in-play for the General and will do their best to ensure it continues to be represented by a Republican, as it has been for the past decade.
State Assembly District 26 Republican Primary
The is a safe Republican district with 0 Democrats in the race, meaning whoever comes out on top next week is presumed to be this district’s next representative. (Who will likely be the next representatives for Assembly Districts 19 and 23 will also be decided on June 14, given that both these districts have a +12% or more registered Republican advantage.)
State Assembly District 27 Democratic Primary
Similar to District 25, this democratic primary features candidates that have split the endorsements from traditionally democratically aligned unions, organizations, and/or associations. Theresa Benitez-Thompson, the current representative of the district, is termed-out and has endorsed Dr. Angie Taylor, Washoe County School Board President, as her successor. The other democratic candidate, Brian Lee, has received endorsements from several education associations, including the NSEA.
State Assembly District 29 Democratic Primary
Incumbent Leslie Cohen has a tough primary ahead of her, with well funded PACs throwing their weight behind challenger Joe Dalia.
Further reading: Our list somewhat differs from The Nevada Independent’s. To see what other primaries are on-the-radar, check out their 2022 election page.
Early Voting Information
There were 39,921 Nevadans who voted in person during the first week of early voting:
A total of 71,347 mail-in ballots across the state have been returned during the first week of early voting:
For more information, view the Secretary of State’s breakdown of 2022 Primary Election Turnout Week 1.
The last day to cast your early vote in-person is this Friday, June 10.
The Primary Election is Tuesday June 14.
Find your voting location (by county) here.
Mailed ballots hand-delivered or postmarked by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. Track your mailed ballot here.
What we’re doing this Interim
The 2021 Nevada Legislature passed Assembly Bill 443, Legislation that fundamentally changed the way the Legislature operates between Sessions. The newly formed Interim Standing Committees have begun meeting, hearing overviews of their mission and setting agendas for the next eleven months.
Click here to view a list of upcoming Joint Interim Standing Committee meetings.
2021 Redistricting Maps
The new boundaries would give 14 of the 21 state Senate districts and 27 of the 42 Assembly districts a voter registration advantage for Democrats over Republicans of more than 4.5 percent.
The Nevada Independent
Please see the links below to view the new district lines for Nevada Assembly, Senate and Congressional delegation.