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Sisolak went hiring over the holidays
Over the holiday break, Gov.-elect Steve Sisolak announced six senior staff hires in his administration, including Democratic advisor Michelle White as Chief of Staff, J. Brin Gibson as general counsel, and Scott Gilles as senior advisor. White, a former Hillary Clinton campaign operative in Nevada and director of the State Senate Democratic Caucus, is the […]
NV Energy to close coal plant, adds solar
Nevada regulators have approved NV Energy’s supply plan to construct six major solar projects, all but eliminating coal-fired production and doubling the utility’s renewable resources by 2023. The Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously on Friday to approve the final draft of NV Energy’s 2019-2038 Triennial Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), also referred to as NV Energy’s […]
UNR shuffled into “R1,” too
Days after UNLV was named an “R1” research institution, the University of Nevada, Reno, has also made its way onto the list. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education gave UNR “R1” status, a designation reserved for institutions with “very high research activity.” As part of its stated mission UNR sought to achieve a […]
Carnegie shuffle moves UNLV up to “R1” status
Seven years ahead of schedule, University of Nevada, Las Vegas is now the first public university in Nevada to achieve “Tier 1” status. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education gave UNLV “R1” status, a designation reserved for institutions with “very high research activity.” The shift is the result of Carnegie reshaping categories to count advanced […]
History after all: Nevada to be first state with majority female Legislature
For months, media around the nation and even internationally published stories about the prospect of Nevada becoming the first state in the U.S. to have a majority female Legislature. It didn’t happen in the November election. But after the post-election shuffling, and after appointments were made to fill vacancies of people who were elected to […]
Court for autistic youth reflects gap in health care services
In April, the Detention Alternatives for Autistic Youth (DAAY) Court was created to help autistic children and young adults access services and treatment. Since its inception 25 cases have passed through the court. The court is meant to bypass months-long waitlists and immediately direct children diagnosed with autism to treatments, services, and individualized attention that […]
Farm bill finally passes, preserves food stamps for 13,000 Nevadans
Wednesday the Senate passed a final version of the farm bill, which includes provisions that strengthen conservation efforts across the country. For months, the bill was stalled in the Senate due to the opposition to Republican-backed provisions that would tighten the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) income eligibility requirements while imposing stricter work requirements for able-bodied […]
Despite DNC recommendations, Nevada Dems sticking with caucus in 2020
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has recommended states switch from caucuses to government-run primary elections to pick the party’s presidential nominee, but Nevada Democrats will stick with party-run caucuses in 2020. In August, the DNC proposed reforms to the party’s presidential nomination process in an effort to grow the party, increase participation, and rebuild trust […]
Diaz leaving Assembly to seek Las Vegas City Council seat
State Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz on Monday announced she will not return to Carson City in 2019 to participate in the upcoming legislative session. She will run for the Las Vegas City Council next year instead. Pay for legislators in Nevada is $150.71/day in 2017 for a maximum of 60 days. According to Legislative Council Bureau […]
Climate change will make Nevada more expensive, less livable
Climate change is already costing us money. It’s going to cost us a lot more. Low-income people are the ones who will be hit the hardest. And the impacts — both ecological and economic — will be harsh in sunbelt states like Nevada. Those are some of the grim conclusions in the Fourth National Climate […]
Cortez Masto bill targets crimes against Native American women
Violent crime against Native American women is at a crisis level, and the federal government’s response to it is failing, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto says. “What I’ve seen of the federal agencies that work with our tribal communities, they are inept right now,” Cortez Masto said last week. “There’s a lot of chaos. There’s a […]
Yes, Buffett and company have to eat No on 3 campaign costs
The fight over Question 3, an amendment that would have effectively deregulated the state’s electric industry, resulted in nearly $100 million in combined campaign spending by business interests, including $63.6 million by opponents, nearly all of it paid by NV Energy. So who picks up that $63.6 million tab? Not customers, according to the […]