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Conservation groups criticize lowering of federal grazing fees
Private ranchers who use public lands will soon pay the government less money, thanks to a federal fee change announced Wednesday. The U.S Interior Department is lowering its monthly grazing fee from $1.41 per animal unit (equivalent to one cow and calf, one horse, five sheep or five goats) to $1.35 per animal unit month. […]
Bill would allow 14-year-olds to drive themselves to charter schools
One of the challenges many charter schools face is an inability to provide transportation to their students. A group of lawmakers has a novel solution to that problem: Allow the students to drive themselves. Assemblywoman Alexis Hansen this week introduced Assembly Bill 213, a bill that would allow some charter school students to obtain restricted […]
State treasurer hopes to promote savings accounts for the disabled
A savings program for people with disabilities is being underutilized in Nevada, and the state treasurer is exploring ways to remedy the problem. Named for the 2014 Achieving a Better Life Experience Act that established them at the federal level, ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts that allow people with disabilities to save money without […]
This 1-star high school shows the potential of charter schools
One grandmother of a student at Beacon Academy approached its administrators and offered this glowing praise: “My grandson doesn’t hate your school.” Not love. Not like. Just an absence of hate. “It’s okay.” For some schools, this praise — if they would even call it that — wouldn’t register as eventful, but at Beacon they […]
Lawmakers urged to address the flunking elephant in the room: online schools
The State Public Charter School Authority has an online school problem, and charter advocates will be pushing to address it during this legislative session. A presentation at last month’s charter school board meeting illustrates the problem. The SPCSA’s overall graduation rate for the 2017-2018 academic year was 70 percent — far below the statewide graduation […]
Progressive groups tell lawmakers not to rest on November’s laurels
Democratic control of state government doesn’t automatically ensure progressive policy, Nevada groups said Thursday, so they intend to lobby harder than ever during the upcoming legislative session. Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada held a “Progressive State of the State” to highlight their legislative priorities and call on legislators to make good on the progressive platforms […]
Educators have a taste for charter school reform, but do legislators?
Nevada’s two most prominent education associations would love to see sweeping charter school reform but they aren’t holding their breath waiting for it, despite the political conditions being ripe for an overhaul of education policy. When it comes to legislative priorities, both Clark County Education Association (CCEA) and Nevada State Education Association (NSEA) will push […]
“No caps” tops list of reasons pro-charter group likes Nevada laws
Nevada is keeping up with the joneses when it comes to charter school laws, according to pro-charter advocates. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools on Tuesday released its 10th annual ranking of state public charter school laws. The rankings take into consideration 21 benchmarks the organization considers Those criteria include having access to the […]
Groups respond to Bonnie Springs project in dramatically different ways
The pending closure and sale of Bonnie Springs has sparked a range of reactions from the community, from calls to relocate the ranch’s most popular attractions, to pleas for somebody somewhere to please start talking about how the county handles development and growth as a whole. Save Red Rock wants to save Old Town. The group […]
Advocates against subminimum wage gain traction in Reno
Disability advocates in Nevada celebrated a largely symbolic victory this week as the Reno City Council unanimously passed a resolution to bar the use of subminimum wage within city contracts. The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for authorized employers to pay intellectually disabled people less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, in […]
Bonnie Springs Ranch developer: No zoo, smaller motel, natural look
Additional details have emerged about the future of Bonnie Springs Ranch. The developers, Joel Laub & Associates, are hoping the new details will reassure the public that their intentions are to preserve the natural beauty of Red Rock Canyon while adding residential housing that falls well within the county’s rural zoning requirements. The Current reported Monday […]
Developer plans to break up Bonnie Springs Ranch, build homes
Documents filed with Clark County confirm rumors that the owners of Bonnie Springs Ranch are seeking to divide up the 63-acre property in order to build residential housing. On Dec. 13, land-use plans were submitted to the county. They show the 63-acre property being broken into 22 different parcels. The largest would be an 8.5-acre […]