Nevada Current
@nevadacurrent.com
A nonprofit online source of political and policy news and commentary. We cover how policies, institutions and systems make life harder for Nevadans than it needs to be, and we explore what it takes to fix them. https://nevadacurrent.com
The crew Lombardo's riding with now had a lot more to do with enacting the largest tax increase in Nevada history than Ford did. Commentary:
Joe Lombardo and the largest tax increase in Nevada history • Nevada Current
A Joe Lombardo campaign ad that says Aaron Ford is horrible because Ford has supported tax breaks for data centers (a policy Lombardo continues to support) also flashes on your screen the words “FORD ...
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Nevada Medicaid is urging recipients to watch for scammers who may try to take advantage of confusion over the new federal requirements. Nevada Medicaid will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information by phone or text, the agency reminded.
Nevada Medicaid begins outreach effort over work requirements • Nevada Current
Nevada Medicaid has begun reaching out to recipients about eligibility changes set to go into effect on Jan. 1. The Nevada Health Authority, which houses Nevada Medicaid, announced Wednesday it has st...
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There’s little daylight between Lombardo & Ford on economic policy. Don’t expect either to say Tesla, pro sports teams, or any other non-data center recipients of tax breaks and subsidies are, to borrow a phrase in Lombardo’s ad, “taking money from our schools.” Even though they are. Commentary:
Stadium's blingy entrance will be new, but making the public pay for it is the same old • Nevada Current
The movers and shakers and elbow-rubbers on the Las Vegas Stadium Authority this week perfunctorily rubber-stamped another $75 million of public funding to build a new entrance to the Las Vegas NFL st...
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“We have thousands of TPS members that are Culinary union members. Many of them, like our Salvadorian brothers and sisters, have been here for decades and have children, grown kids. They have homes. They pay taxes, and they’re critical to our economy here in Las Vegas.”
El Salvador temporary protected status set to end Sept. 9, thousands in NV affected • Nevada Current
Thousands of people from El Salvador living in Nevada could face deportation if the Trump administration decides not to extend their protected status next week.
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Northern Nevada residents who lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the Bug, Fred, Stallion or Hawk fires or related power outages can request replacement benefits through September 7.
Wildfire SNAP benefits extended to Sept. 7 • Nevada Current
Northern Nevada residents who lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the Bug, Fred, Stallion or Hawk fires or related power outages can request repla...
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“We want to make sure that there is a human that ultimately is making these decisions,” Sen. Edgar Flores said, adding that lawmakers have heard of situations where people were denied benefits, sought to speak to an actual person during the appeals process, but couldn’t.
Lawmakers propose oversight for state, local agencies using AI • Nevada Current
Concerned that Nevada agencies have relied on artificial intelligence without much oversight, state lawmakers are proposing legislation to establish basic standards on how the technology is used by st...
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The Raiders and the Stadium Authority are not reading the room, say critics who contend that with Nevadans struggling to pay their bills, now is no time to sink more public money into what some contend is a vanity project.
Without posing a single question, Stadium Authority approves another $75 million in public funding • Nevada Current
Allegiant Stadium, Southern Nevada’s $2 billion partially taxpayer-funded football arena, opened just six years ago but is already poised for a facelift, courtesy of taxpayers. The Las Vegas Stadium...
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“Wagging our fingers and saying, ‘Government and tech oligarchs can spy on us, but only a little!’ is not going to fix the underlying issues or put our constituents at ease,” said state Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch.
Calls for a ban on Flock grow in Nevada as critics say new guardrails won't be enough • Nevada Current
While some Nevada officials want to implement guardrails to limit the use of automated license plate readers like Flock, others have warned regulations won’t go far enough and want Nevada to ban surve...
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BLM “acted arbitrarily or capriciously when it determined that the data center project is 'substantially the same' as the solar plant project for purposes of its NEPA analysis," the judge wrote.
Judge halts data center construction on public land • Nevada Current
A federal administrative court has temporarily revoked authorization to build a massive data center near Boulder City, concluding the federal government likely erred when it approved the project const...
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If Waymo and other autonomous vehicles take over the roadways, the already meager transportation options for disabled passengers will be further diminished, warns a disability rights advocate.
As Waymo expands fleet, some wheelchair users will be left at curb, says advocate • Nevada Current
Kelsey Brickl can’t get a ride from the airport to the Las Vegas Strip. Brickl is a non-ambulatory wheelchair user who cannot ride in a conventional passenger vehicle. Her medically prescribed power w...
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Critics warn approval of the gas-burning plants could effectively defeat the purpose of the state’s renewable portfolio standard, established by the Legislature in 2019, which mandates half the state's electric power must be generated by renewable sources by 2030.
Private gas plants to power data centers would skirt state’s renewable energy law • Nevada Current
A major data center developer is looking to build two private gas power plants less than 30 miles from Reno as data center growth outpaces NV Energy’s ability to supply electricity for a surge of new ...
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“Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, joining in dissent with the court's three justices appointed by Democratic presidents.
Supreme Court lets Trump move ahead on one of his top priorities: The ballroom • Nevada Current
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump does not have to follow a lower court order to stop aboveground construction on his $400 million East Wing ballroom, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 5-4 de...
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“While folks in Nevada and across the country struggle with the cost of basics like gas, groceries, and health care, 2025 was the most lucrative year of Trump’s life."
US House Dems at Las Vegas shadow hearing link Trump 'corruption' to affordability crisis • Nevada Current
Nevada’s Democratic House members heard testimony from expert witnesses on Friday who tied President Donald Trump’s policies and “self-enrichment” to the rising costs of gas prices, groceries, housing...
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In April, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that New Jersey could not prohibit prediction markets from taking bets in that state. The conflicting rulings now set up a legal battle that is likely to land before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ninth Circuit win for Nevada over Kalshi sets up potential Supreme Court showdown • Nevada Current
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a win for Nevada’s regulated sports betting industry Friday when a three-judge panel ruled that sports bets accepted by Kalshi are likely not swaps as dete...
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The emergency declaration seeks immediate federal assistance to protect public health and safety, as well as to maintain essential services and support communities still recovering from the Hawk Fire.
Lombardo asks Trump for Hawk Fire emergency declaration • Nevada Current
Governor Joe Lombardo signed a formal request on Friday asking the White House to issue a presidential emergency declaration for Nevada following the Hawk Fire impacting northwest Reno. The Hawk Fire...
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“We should not spend another hot dime, or six pennies, on another property tax study,” said Neal. “Because we know what the answer is. We just don’t politically want to do any of these solutions.”
Legislators could fix property tax, they ‘just don’t politically want to,’ says revenue chair • Nevada Current
If Nevada lawmakers want to reform the state’s complicated and widely criticized property tax structure, a number of already vetted options are available. State Sen. Dina Neal (D-North Las Vegas) this...
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What polling has been done on the race has found Ford close to or within the margin of error against the well-financed incumbent. Sabato’s Crystal Ball lists the race as “leans” Republican, while the Cook Political Report rates it a toss-up.
Ford banking on the 'many' to beat the 'money' in November • Nevada Current
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, a Democrat who is challenging Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, has an affordability message focused on housing, healthcare, and utilities that is likely to resonate wi...
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Under the settlement announded Friday, the social media company agreed this week to pay 47 states and the District of Columbia up to $17.1 billion in penalties and pledged to implement changes to bolster protections for children using social media platforms.
Nevada could get up to $256 million from Meta settlement over youth social media addiction • Nevada Current
Nevada could receive as much as $256 million from multibillion dollar multistate settlement over claims that Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is addictive and lacks child safety protections. U...
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Efforts to curb workplace bullying and expand a pharmacist’s ability to prescribe medications are among the bill draft requests sought by the state legislative interim Commerce and Labor Committee.
Curbing workplace bullying among objectives of bills ordered up by legislative panel • Nevada Current
Efforts to curb workplace bullying and expand a pharmacist’s ability to prescribe medications are among the bill draft requests sought by the state legislative interim Commerce and Labor Committee. Th...
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NV’s general election ballot will only feature two statewide questions, both returning measures from 2024. Three PACS attempted to qualify six new proposed constitutional amendments, but those efforts were thwarted by lawsuits, signature gathering hurdles, or a mixture of both.
There will be no new statewide ballot questions this year. But not for a lack of trying. • Nevada Current
Nevada’s general election ballot this November will only feature two statewide questions, both returning measures from 2024. Three political action committees attempted to qualify six new proposed con...
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Parton supported legalization of gay marriage years before it became legal across the United States. “Sure, why can’t they get married? They should suffer like the rest of us do,” she joked to Joy Behar in 2009. Via @19thnews.org
Dolly Parton never called herself a feminist. Her life made the case anyway. • Nevada Current
This story was originally reported by Sara Luterman of The 19th. Dolly Parton, who used her stardom to not only embrace all listeners but also nurture marginalized communities through literacy and fi...
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“The rash of complaints against Strip properties should be humiliating,” says a former California Gambling Control Commissioner, adding “the feds and the press had more to do with uncovering these complaints than the properties or the Nevada Gaming Control Board."
Wave of anti-money laundering sanctions has Strip’s attention, says Venetian's attorney • Nevada Current
A spate of multi-million dollar sanctions levied against Las Vegas casino companies in the last year and a half has spurred a “sea change” on the Strip, former Nevada U.S. Attorney Greg Brower, who re...
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Officials said the fire has resulted in 4 civilian injuries and 3 firefighter injuries, and canine search teams have not detected any loss of life in the fire areas. Authorities said the fire reached 27% containment by Monday afternoon.
Reno Hawk Fire destroys 32 homes, crews make progress on containment • Nevada Current
Firefighting crews have made progress containing the Hawk fire blazing near Reno that has destroyed more than 30 homes and placed tens of thousands under evacuation orders or warnings. The fast-moving...
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Coincidentally, two days before the Hawk fire started, a legislative committee met for its final 2026 meeting to discuss bill draft recommendations for the 2027 legislative session. Wildfire evacuation was on the agenda. Commentary:
Nevada officials face reckoning as residents and tourists compete for lodging, cell service, roads • Nevada Current
The Hawk Fire northwest of Reno and north of Lake Tahoe ignited dry fuel mid-day on August 22 amid red flag warnings with wind gusts up to 40 mph. Within hours the wildfire exploded to thousands of ac...
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Nevada already has the smallest allocation of Colorado River water among the three Lower Basin states.
Nevada sues feds over Colorado River cuts • Nevada Current
Nevada officials have filed the first lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s Colorado River plan, a plan that would require Nevada to cut water use by about 17% over the next two years and aut...
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Washoe County voters this November will have the opportunity to weigh in on whether electric vehicle owners are “paying their fair share” toward filling potholes and adding new streetlights.
Washoe County asking voters to signal support for higher fees on electric vehicles • Nevada Current
Washoe County voters this November will have the opportunity to weigh in on whether electric vehicle owners are “paying their fair share” toward filling potholes and adding new streetlights. The Regio...
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“Looking into years three through 10 of the decision framework, the federal government is positioning to short Nevada — the state with the smallest river allocation," Lombardo said.
Feds announce water cuts under new Colorado River plan • Nevada Current
The Bureau of Reclamation released its two-year operating plan on Friday detailing how the agency will manage the Colorado River, and the nation’s two largest reservoirs Lake Powell and Lake Mead, ami...
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State lawmakers plan to reintroduce legislation that would limit rent increases for seniors after two previous similar bills were vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.
After 2 Lombardo vetoes, lawmakers again pushing a bill to cap senior rent increases • Nevada Current
State lawmakers plan to reintroduce legislation that would limit rent increases for seniors after two previous bills were vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Measures to prevent cryptocurrency sc...
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The senators also want assurances that immigration enforcement agents are operating solely on active judicial warrants, wearing and utilizing body cameras, wearing and displaying clear identifying information, and refraining from wearing masks.
Rosen to DHS: Disclose info-sharing agreement between ICE, TSA • Nevada Current
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen on Tuesday led a group of senators in condemning recent immigration enforcement activity at airports nationwide and calling on Trump administration officials to disclose how ICE ...
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The Nye County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to ban the construction and operation of data centers in Nevada’s Hydrographic Basin 162, becoming the first municipality in Nevada to pass an outright ban on data centers.
Nye County totally bans data centers in over-appropriated water basin • Nevada Current
Following a county-wide moratorium on any new data center applications, the Nye County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to completely ban data centers in one of the most over-appropriated water ba...
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