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.
Opening remarks
Lots of news, not that much early voting. For those that want the nitty gritty commentary on early voting for this year's primary, check out Jon Ralston's early voting blog.
Also, I was on Nevada Newsmakers last week with the Nevada Department of Outdoor Recreation's first administrator Colin Robertson, where we discussed the importance of outdoor recreation and why Nevada is an outdoor state. The TCS team is made up of proud native Nevadans and/or graduates from University of Nevada, Reno. We love supporting the great outdoor opportunities the Battle Born State has to offer, like hunting, camping, exploring, or simply celebrating our wide-open spaces. Colin and the Division are doing great work and the State of Nevada is lucky to have him. You can find a replay of the episode here.
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
State Senator Chris Brooks (D – District 3) announces his resignation from Legislature
State Sen. Chris Brooks (D-Las Vegas) is planning to resign from the Legislature later this year, ending a six-year legislative career distinguished by efforts to substantially boost renewable energy and combat climate change in the Silver State.
Legislative ‘brain drain’: Two centuries of experience out the door
Steve Sebelius from the LVRJ crunched the numbers and the Legislature is going to lose between 184 and 186 years of experience as members depart for various reasons.
Secretary Cegavske Announces a Slight Increase in Active Registered Voters in May
At the end of each month, the Secretary of State releases an the latest data about voter registration in the state. In May 2022, Nevada saw an increase of 15,403 active registered voters as compared to April of 2022. The total number of active registered voters in Nevada is 1,821,058, an increase of 0.85%.
Democratic Party active registered voters statewide increased by 3,587 (0.60%), while Republican Party active registered voters statewide increased by 6,982 (1.30%). Nonpartisan active registered voters increased by 5,257 (1.01%),
To see the latest voter registration breakdown by party for each state senate and assembly district (and more), check out our 2022 Election page.
Nevada 2022 Ratings Roundup
Cook Political House Rating Changes for NV-01 from Lean D to Toss Up
David Wasserman writes a succinct and apt overview of the race for Nevada’s first congressional district. After this House Rating change, the Cook Political Report has now rated all three House seats in Southern Nevada (NV-01, NV-03, NV-04), all held by Democrats, as a Toss Up. Congressman Mark Amodei’s seat, NV-02, is rated as Solid R.
NV-01: Dina Titus (D) - Parts of Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City
Toss Up.
“…private polling now shows Titus tied against virtually unknown GOP challengers in this reconfigured Biden +8 seat (down from Biden +25 under the old lines).
The biggest question here is the June 14 GOP primary, which looks like a genuine three-way fight between retired Army colonel and financial planner Mark Robertson, former Nevada Latinos for Trump head Carolina Serrano and pro-Israel/MAGA activist David Brog, who's aligned with the Adelson family (former GOP Rep. Cresent Hardy is less of a factor). DC GOP strategists increasingly believe Robertson could be Titus's toughest foe.”
[insert link to CD1 race preview on NV Indy]
The Cook Political Report has rated several other races in Nevada as Toss ups:
Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates Nevada State Senate as one of the most competitive in the country
Reality: there is a chance Republicans could take the State Senate but unlikely they will win the majority of both state houses.
NEVADA
Senate: Lean D
Assembly: Likely D
Democrats have built majorities in both chambers in Nevada, but 2022 will put them to the test. Nevada is a presidential battleground state, and various factors in 2022 — including an erosion of Democratic support among Hispanics, the death of political godfather Harry Reid, and the general churn of the state’s population — could make it hard for Democrats this cycle. Republicans consider Nevada one of their top pickup opportunities. However, the main challenge for the GOP will be the state’s new legislative lines, which were drawn by the Democratic legislature and are slightly more favorable to Democrats in both chambers than the existing maps.
Like The Cook Political Report, Sabato’s Crystal Ball has rated the Nevada Senate, Governor, and House District 3 races as a Toss up. Other races in Nevada that are on Sabato’s radar include:
Economic News
Clark County sees largest over-the-year increase in employment in the country
From December 2020 to December 2021, employment increased in 334 of the 343 largest U.S. counties, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Clark County, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment (+13.3 percent). Within Clark, the largest employment increase occurred in leisure and hospitality, which gained 65,045 jobs over the year (+33.1 percent).
Nevada casino regulators call cryptocurrency a ‘complex’ topic
The Gaming Control Board has asked the gaming industry to bring them proposals on cryptocurrency. “We will vet (the proposals) and if there's something that looks viable, we will move in that direction,” Chair J. Brin Gibson said.
Nevada federal delegation signs letter to President Biden urging him to support the travel and tourism economy by suspending the COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated inbound international travelers.
Both Senators and all four House Representatives sent a letter to President Biden asking his administration to consider additional ways to enhance and support the recovery of some of Nevada's key industries: travel, hospitality, and events. International travelers are a key demographic for the state's tourism economy, as these travelers tend to stay longer and spend more.
Las Vegas most booked summer 2022 destination
Where are Americans heading this summer? According to internal data from the travel booking app Hopper, Las Vegas is the most booked domestic destination of Summer 2022 and not surprisingly, also the most booked hotel city for summer 2022.
State’s mine tax sweep rattles rural school districts
Elko County School District reduced the final 2022-2023 budget by $4.1 million because of a loss of net proceeds of mines revenue that was swept up by the state, and Lander County’s school budget also is out a big chunk of money - $6.5 million, along with Eureka, out over $8 million, and Humboldt losing nearly $5 million from their school district budgets.
The Humboldt School District Superintendent said the rural districts are looking at potential litigation, with Eureka County as the primary catalyst.
Nevada Supreme Court upholds dismissal of education funding lawsuit
The Nevada Supreme Court has sided with a lower court judge in dismissing a parent-led lawsuit, originally filed in March 2020, that argued the state wasn’t meeting its constitutional obligation to provide sufficient education resources, inhibiting student learning in the process. The Supreme Court opinion essentially says it has no place in making determinations about school funding, noting that issues raised by the lawsuit are “more properly resolved in the Legislature or by initiative petition.”
Las Vegas public schools raise teacher pay, offer new bonuses for support staff
The Clark County School District is raising starting teacher pay from $43,000 to more than $50,115, implementing the first entry-level pay hike since 2015 as the district faces a high vacancy rate and educators struggle with meeting expenses amid rapid inflation. This move will cost the district about $165 million be supported through federal COVID relief funds and operating dollars. Additionally, support staff will be getting one-time retention bonuses of $4,500, and administrators and teachers who are not getting a base salary increase will get bonuses of $5,000.
Board of Regents set to vote on former K-12 chief as acting chancellor after long delay
Eight weeks after former Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Melody Rose resigned amid a months-long dispute with top regents, the Board of Regents is set to vote on the appointment of former State Superintendent Dale Erquiaga as acting chancellor next week, according to an agenda posted online Wednesday.
Environment News
Reno's Desert Research Institute, Storey County looking for public input on wildfire smoke
In collaboration with Storey County Emergency Management, the Desert Research Institute (Reno) is conducting a Wildfire Smoke Risk Questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire is to learn what people think and know about wildfire smoke risk so that fire officials understand what information will be most helpful to provide.
This survey is one of numerous efforts in the state to emphasize the importance of wildfire preparedness, as every year, wildfires continue to pose a large threat to the state. Governor Sisolak proclaimed May – October the Nevada Wildfire Awareness Campaign, Senator Cortez Masto announced earlier this month that NSHE is receiving more than $20 million for fire research in Nevada.
Fire officials ban open burning across entire Tahoe basin, declare 2022 fire season
As of June 1, open and recreational burning will be banned in the entire Lake Tahoe Basin region as officials prepare for an early and hot fire season. Reno had its first completely dry January on record this year. Only natural gas and propane outdoor firepits, barbecues, and pellet grills or smokers will be allowed year-round, except during Red Flag and critical fire condition days.
Housing News
Las Vegas housing market looks ‘unusual’ as sales fall, prices rise
Frank Nothaft, chief economist with housing tracker CoreLogic, said his team has noticed the same factors that Las Vegas is seeing in “so many other places around the country.” The flow of new listings is down, and availability remains “quite lean,” yet there is still plenty of demand for houses.
Nothaft figures the tally of new listings is down in part because existing homeowners, when they think about selling, might have to take out a mortgage at a higher rate for a new place, prompting them to shelve plans to move. He also said that some people who could afford to buy a place when rates were lower are now “stretched” to qualify for a mortgage or might balk at the monthly payments. “For someone who’s a local, they see their affordability really eroding.”
Infrastructure News
Governor Sisolak, Secretary Buttigieg, NV Federal Delegation Announce I-15 Interchange Improvement Project
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Las Vegas on Tuesday to tout the multimillion-dollar project to replace the interchange at I-15 and Tropicana Avenue, praising Gov. Steve Sisolak and Nevada’s federal delegation for laying groundwork to make quick use of funds provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Most of the construction should be concluded by 2024, officials said Tuesday, but close-out work and cleanup will last into 2025. The $305 million project comes with a slew of improvements to the busy interchange and will add lanes, expand sidewalks and add carpool lanes and LED traffic management signs over select stretches of I-15.
Governor Sisolak announces plans for Phase 1 of High Speed NV Initiative
Governor Sisolak announces the launch of Phase 1 of the “High-Speed NV” initiative at the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center. The first phase will invest $200 million through state and federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The plan focuses on infrastructure to close the digital divide to unserved and underserved rural and urban areas, with a goal of creating universal, scalable and affordable internet access for all Nevadans by 2029.
Douglas kicks tires on microtransit system
Microtransit is required to be operational by summer 2023 but will be piloted in summer 2022. In the beginning, it will mostly service the city of South Lake Tahoe but the line will also service portions of the Lake Tahoe region of Douglas County, mainly the casino corridor.
Douglas County is required to spend at least 1 percent of the transient occupancy tax revenue in the Tahoe Township and is also required to fund up to one-half of 1 percent towards the microtransit line. While commissioners understand the requirement to allocate dollars toward transit, they have not yet agreed on how much to spend.
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
Welcome to our Roundup. Prior to scrolling down to read this week’s update, we ask that you take a moment to say a prayer, a moment of reflection to remember the victims, their families, friends and a community and nation that was rocked by this needless act of madness.
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
State Sen. Melanie Scheible, D-Las Vegas, is voluntarily leaving her job with the Clark County district attorney’s office, the senator told the Review-Journal during a short phone conversation last week. Scheible’s decision to leave her position at the Clark County DA’s office was announced shortly after two Nevada Supreme Court Justices joined in a dissent opinion stating that the Nevada Constitution’s separation of powers clause prohibits Senator Scheible from “serving as a legislator, passing laws and at the same time working as a prosecutor, in the executive branch, enforcing those laws.”
This dissent has no effect on the state of the law as only two of the seven justices joined in the dissent but this marks the first time the Supreme Court has opined directly on the state constitution’s separation of powers clause as it pertains to members of the Nevada Legislature.
Oops! Faulty instructions on Washoe mail-in ballot envelopes – instead, just lick them
A miscommunication with the envelope vendor led to inaccurate mail-in ballot instructions to be printed. To seal their envelopes, Washoe County residents can choose to lick their envelope, place Scotch tape to seal it, or use a glue stick. It is not recommended to use liquid glue or any kind of tape that would cover their signature on the other side of the flap.
Reminder on voting dates: You can mail in your Washoe County primary ballot now. If you’d rather vote on a machine in person, early voting starts May 28 and runs through June 10. Primary election day is June 14.
NV Gov GOP Primary Debate Tonight. Buckle Up.
Channel 8 News Now is hosting a 1-hour live telecast of a debate between the candidates for the Republican Party’s nomination for Governor of Nevada. The candidates who have committed to attending are Former U.S. Senator Dean Heller, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, venture capitalist Guy Nohra, and businessman and attorney Joey Gilbert.
The debate will be moderated by Denise Valdez, 8 News Now anchor, Steve Sebelius, Las Vegas Review-Journal Politics and Government editor, and Vanessa Murphy, 8 News Now Investigative Reporter. They will pose questions to the candidates focused on current local and regional issues impacting communities across the state.
When: Wednesday, May 25, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm PDT
Where to Watch: KLAS-TV CBS Las Vegas, 8NewsNow.com or KTVN-TV CBS Reno, 2news.com
Nevada Independent/OH Predictive Insights polls:
Economic News
Private sector employment surpasses pre-pandemic peak; Unemployment rate remains unchanged in April
According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s (DETR) April 2022 economic report,
Education News
Washoe County School District approves $1 billion budget, addresses driver shortage
This week, Washoe County School District’s Board of Trustees voted to approved $1.02 billion dollars for their 2023 operating budget this week, which addresses the ongoing bus driver shortage and zoning proposals. According to WCSD’s Chief Financial Officer, the approved budget increases salaries, now includes bus drivers (though still subject to labor negotiations) and includes funding for an increase in a bus driver’s hourly rate. The CFO also stated the district intends to make the bus driver position with the county a year-round job as well by continuing the role into summertime as well.
Healthcare News
Rosen bill targets doctor shortages in Nevada, Las Vegas
Nevada’s junior Senator introduced The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act last week, a bill that would send more federally-funded medical residency slots to areas where doctors are most needed. “This bipartisan legislation will help add to the number of medical residency slots available for Nevada hospitals and encourage more doctors to come practice in our state, including in communities which previously have been underserved,” Rosen said in a written statement.
Infrastructure News
Governor Sisolak to launch High Speed Nevada Initiative
Tomorrow, Thurs May 26, Governor Sisolak will formally launch the “High Speed NV” initiative at the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center. According to the press release from the Governor’s Office, this initiative will be funded through “a combination of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” and “the plan will focus on infrastructure to close the digital divide to unserved and underserved rural and urban areas” as well as be “jobs-focused and provide workforce training opportunities.”
In April, the Interim Finance Committee approved more than $200 million of American Rescue Plan dollars to invest in expanding the state’s fiber infrastructure. In total, Nevada plans to invest half a billion dollars of ARPA funds toward high-speed internet initiatives. And at the beginning of May, the Biden Administration launched a federal program aimed at connecting Americans to low-cost, high-speed internet.
Nevada's first Kimpton hotel breaks ground in Reno; eyes 2025 opening
Las Vegas-based developer CAI Investments broke ground Friday the 13th for Nevada’s first Kimpton boutique hotel — in Reno. Kimpton says downtown Reno hotel, the first Kimpton property in the Silver State, will be "transformative" for downtown. “I mean, Las Vegas doesn’t have a Kimpton,” CAI's CEO Chris Beavor noted. “This project makes a statement to business and leisure travelers and at a global level that Reno has matured.” In addition to the Kimpton, CAI is in the midst renovating the former Harrah’s Reno hotel-casino into a mixed-use residential and commercial project known as the Reno City Center.
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
Is it really over?
On Friday, May 6, 2022 Governor Sisolak announced that he intends to end the COVID-19 State of Emergency on May 20, 2022. The Governor issued the first Emergency Directive related to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020. Now more than two years later, the State is signifying we are out of this pandemic.
It’s true that a lot of the measures in the Order and subsequent 51 Directives tied to the Order have already been lifted (masks, number of people in public spaces, social distancing, etc.) so what impact will lifting the Emergency Order have on everyday Nevadans? Not much.
However, during two Special Legislative Sessions and the regular 2021 Legislative Session, the Emergency Order set the timeline for when we would be back to “normal.” Many of the bills that were passed, especially in the world of healthcare, are tied to the expiration date of the Emergency Order.
Directive 11 allowed health care providers to operate in Nevada under a “waiver” (i.e. not a full license) from the regulatory board that governs them. This directive also expires on May 20 so if you’re a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or healthcare worker that is operating in Nevada under a waiver, best to call your licensing board and make a formal application or you will lose your ability to practice in the state of Nevada. I’m told there’s a little flexibility but be proactive.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been living this nightmare for over two years. We have become accustomed to the “new normal” but the lifting of the Emergency Order could change the rules that we currently follow. We advise everyone that operates in Nevada under a professional license to reach out to the appropriate governing board to make sure the rules won’t change on May 20, 2022.
The answer to the question “is it really over” is: Maybe. However, the rules that have governed how we operate are, so it’s important that we remain proactive in our approach to the Pandemic.
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
The Rank in Ranked-Choice Voting, According to Top Democratic Officials
What do Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, Governor Steve Sisolak, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, and Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager all have in common besides being the state's top elected Democrats? They all oppose a 2022 ballot initiative to establish open primaries and a ranked-choice general election, arguing that switching to a ranked-choice system would only confuse the Nevada electorate about how to vote and how votes would be tabulated and is too risky of a move if things go wrong. This initiative, spearheaded by the Nevada Voters First PAC, has stated they have collected the necessary 140,777 signatures to appear on the 2022 general election ballot ahead of the June 29th deadline.
Latino Voter Mobilization PAC Launches “Multi-Million Dollar Anti-Laxalt Investment Ahead of 2022 Nevada Senate Race”
Somos PAC plans to spend $4 million on a statewide TV and digital ad campaign targeting Latino voters as the group aims to keep the first and only Latina in the Senate in office. The ads will air in both English and Spanish over the next two months. The Latino vote is being heavily sought after in Nevada this election cycle, by both political parties:
Economic News
CDFI Created in Southern Nevada Using Settlement Funds
This week, Nevada’s Board of Examiners approved the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s (GOED) contract with Access Community Capital in Southern Nevada to administer a minority-focused direct loan program, targeting startups and early-stage businesses based on the utilization of $6 million from the Attorney General’s office T-Mobile and Sprint settlement. The allocation to GOED was approved by the Nevada Legislative Interim Finance Committee on April 8, 2022.
Education News
Washoe School Board Confirms Susan Enfield as its New Superintendent
In a 6-1 vote, the Board of Trustees approved Dr. Enfield's employment contract last week. The contract is a four-year deal starting July 6th. It includes a $310,000 base salary, adjusted annually, plus benefits. Current Superintendent Kristen McNeil announced last year her plans to retire from the role at the end of June. You can read The Nevada Independent's outgoing interview with McNeil here. The Washoe County School District has had five superintendents in the past decade, including Enfield.
Environment News
Nevada Awarded $5.4 million for Ecosystem Restoration
Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that $68 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be allocated toward conserving and strengthening ecosystems and economies. Nevada will receive:
EPA Announces $1.9 Million Nevada Investment to Revitalize Communities
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1,934,000 investment in Nevada to revitalize communities across the state by cleaning up contaminated and blighted properties and redeveloping them for productive reuse. The funding in Nevada will be provided through four EPA Brownfields Assessment grants, which are supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Humboldt County, The City of Las Vegas, The Henderson Redevelopment Agency, and the Nye Communities Coalition were selected to receive Brownfields Assessment Grants. A "brownfield" is a property that has been deemed as a contaminated, polluted, or hazardous site and is slated for revitalization through a specialized EPA program.
Washoe RTC Unveils 100% Clean Bus Fleet
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County has retired its last diesel-powered bus in its fixed-route bus fleet, marking a clean-air milestone for the Commission 13 years ahead of schedule. The bus fleet now operates with 100% alternative fuel buses; one third of the fleet is fully electric, while the remainder are electric-diesel hybrids.
Housing News
Rosen, Cortez Masto Announce More Than $48 Million in Federal Funding for Affordable Housing in Nevada
Last week, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen announced Nevada will receive more than $48 million in grant funding form the Department of Housing and Urban Development to support affordable housing initiatives. Below is a breakdown of the funding:
Culinary Union Announces Launch of "Neighborhood Stability" Ballot Initiative
The Culinary Union, one of Nevada's largest and most influential unions, announced this week they plan to launch a campaign "to win Neighborhood Stability," an effort to combat rising rent and home prices across the state. Whatever the outcome of this ballot initiative come November, expect affordable housing to be a 🔥hot topic🔥 during the 2023 Legislative Session.
Infrastructure News
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Nearly $5 Million in Grants for Rural Airports in Nevada
Last week, Nevada's Senators announced the Federal Aviation Administration awarded Nevada just shy of $5 million dollars in federal grants, funded via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to support infrastructure updates to rural airports throughout the state. The funding will be distributed as follows:
Nevada Childcare Providers to get $30 Million in Grants
Last week, the Interim Finance Committee approved a $30 million grant program to help childcare providers. Grants will be awarded to providers to expand their capacity to take care of children. The money will pay for immediate upgrades and expansions to take care of more families. According to the state's ARPA funds tracker, Nevada has allocated a little over $396 million for childcare programs.
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.