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Voter registration drives in Nevada may become a thing of the past
Fifty days remain until Election Day; 33 until early voting begins. Between now and then, Nevadans will be subjected to political campaigns and advertisements pushing not only the candidates and ballot initiatives but the act of civic engagement itself. Canvassers with clipboards will be approaching them in grocery store parking lots and going door-to-door: Are […]
A look at low teacher pay (and new strategy for raising it)
Over the past year teacher salaries have become a topic of conversation across the country, and unrest among educators led to protests and strikes in West Virginia, Arizona and Oklahoma. So how do teacher salaries in Nevada compare? Not so great, according to one new report. The report, released last week by the Economic Policy […]
Lack of resources for blind youth can lead to gaps that last a lifetime
“Hurdle after hurdle after hurdle.” That’s how Terri and Aaron Rupp describe the ongoing experience of getting their daughter enrolled and accommodated within Clark County School District. Marley, 8, was diagnosed with optic nerve atrophy at age 4. Doctors expect the degenerative genetic condition to take away the majority of Marley’s eyesight, leaving her legally […]
Facing discrimination, blind moms and dads seek parental protections
Kids get bruises. It happens. Most of the time, outsiders think nothing of it, or assume they’re the result of simple playground tumbles. But when that child has a blind parent, minor scrapes and bruises are often seen by judgmental neighbors, social workers and family court judges as the red flags that prove they are […]
When the economy and families fail to provide, schools have to step in
When employees at the convenience store a quarter mile away from Robert Taylor Elementary School notice a student shoplifting, they will sometimes call its principal to report the incident. “They call me,” says Kimberly Basham. “Me!” The principal is only feigning shock over the concept of being on gas station speed dial. She welcomes having […]
What Question 3 and Question 6 say about renewable energy
Let’s talk about that energy initiative. No, not that one. The other one. There are two energy-related questions on the ballot this November — Question 3 (known as the Energy Choice Initiative) and Question 6 (known as the Renewable Energy Standard Initiative). If you’ve heard of the former but not the latter, you wouldn’t be […]
Rosen tries to make wages a campaign issue
Sen. Dean Heller told attendees of a Latin Chamber of Commerce event last week that he doesn’t believe minimum wage should be set at the federal level, and instead should be decided by governors and legislators at the state level. Nevada Democrats immediately jumped on the comment, using it to paint Heller as an out-of-touch […]
Washoe County superintendent weighs in on class, race and education
Washoe County School District Superintendent Traci Davis knows there are people who wish she would stop talking about equity. But she isn’t going to. “I tend to play the equity card more,” she says. “Some people want to say, ‘Oh, she’s doing it because she’s black.’ No. I’m doing it because it’s right.” Davis is […]
Cortez Masto continues call to reform (but not abolish) ICE
At a roundtable event with Southern Nevada media Friday, Catherine Cortez Masto came down strong against the Trump Administration, its “zero tolerance” immigration policy and deportation practices along the southern border. But the senator fell short of calling for the outright abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We have to look at the big umbrella,” […]
Facing gender gap, Heller camp appeals to women
One week after a poll showing women strongly prefer his competitor, Sen. Dean Heller and his campaign are making an appeal to female voters. Heller’s campaign on Wednesday released a new 30-second ad — titled “Action” — featuring women talking about Heller’s accomplishments. Among the things highlighted in the spot are Heller’s “breaking with his […]
Fiore on vaccines: “If you think about it, it’s still a gamble”
When classes begin at Clark County School District on Monday, approximately 5,000 of its students will be missing at least one of the 11 vaccines recommended by public health officials. And they’ll have the support of one local elected official. In an official city newsletter emailed Tuesday, Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore chimed in on […]
Leaders mum on reasons behind Nevada charter school change
A North Las Vegas charter school is rebranding and ending its relationship with its Arizona-based management company, but the motivation behind the changes is unclear. American Leadership Academy opened the doors of its North Las Vegas campus near Ann Road and 5th Street for the 2017-18 school year. When the new school year begins next […]