Nevada News & Current Events | Public News Service

Maria Nieto Orta with Mi Familia Vota testifies before the Nevada Legislature at a redistricting hearing Nov. 15. (Nevadans Count)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Communities of Color Give NV Redistricting Process Mixed Reviews

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada's new political maps are drawing criticism from Latino groups, who say they have diluted their influence as voters…

Security firm Safewise estimates that 210 million packages were stolen from Americans so far in 2021 (Cybrain)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Authorities Warn Consumers About Holiday Scams

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- During the holiday season, scams involving gift cards and package delivery are everywhere, according to federal authorities…

A student at Owyhee Consolidated School studies in the parking lot in order to use the building's Wi-Fi signal. (Lynn Manning John)

Monday, December 6, 2021

$65 Billion in Infrastructure Bill to Tackle Rural Broadband

OWYHEE, Nev. -- There's a light at the end of the tunnel for rural Nevadans struggling with slow, spotty internet service as the Biden …

Experts say eye exams do more than just help patients find the right prescription for glasses. (Dario Lo Presti/Adobestock)

Experts: Eye Exams Help Determine COVID Mortality Risk

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Eye exams can help determine your risk of dying from COVID, according to experts, because optometrists are often the first …

The <a href= — The 2021 Nevada Children's Health Report from the Children's Advocacy Alliance found that only 56 percent of uninsured kids receive regular medical attention. (Rawpixel/Adobestock)

Advocates Tout Child-, Maternal-Health Aspects of Build Back Better Act

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would improve Medicaid and CHIP - …

This summer, many community groups submitted proposed political maps designed to keep communities of interest together. (Krakenimages.com)

Latino, Native American Advocates Regroup after Redistricting

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Latino and Native American groups say they're opposed to the state's new political boundary maps, and are now working to raise …

Town leaders in Searchlight, Laughlin and Boulder City have declared their support for a new national monument at Spirit Mountain, or Avi Kwa Ame, which lies between Lake Mead and the California border. (Alan O'Neill)

Native Tribes Call for New Narrative This Thanksgiving

LAUGHLIN, Nev. -- This week marks the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving meal, and many Native American tribes are asking other Americans to …

Currently, Medicare Part D does not have a hard cap on the amount people pay out-of-pocket for prescription drugs; the Build Back Better Act would change that. (Mensatic/Morguefile)

Older Nevadans Excited for "Build Back Better" Vote

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Groups that advocate for older Americans are pressing for passage of the Build Back Better Act, Build Back Better Act which is …

A recent study from the group "Listen to Us" recommends states do more to place foster children with relatives and make sure to consider the child's preference on placement. (Altanaka/Adobestock)

Report: Group Homes for Foster Kids Should Be Phased Out

CARSON CITY, Nev. - More than 3,000 children in Nevada are in foster care - and a recent study recommends that much more be done to keep them in …

The Build Back Better reconciliation proposal also seeks to extend the Earned Income Tax Credit for 17 million workers in retail, food-service, and other low-wage industries. (Clarksgirl/Morguefile)

Masto, Lee Tout Need for Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- More affordable child care, universal Pre-K, an extension of the child tax credit, a new hearing, vision and dental benefit for …

Nevada's clean-energy economy supports 32,000 jobs and is expected to expand under the Build Back Better Act. (MT Aero)

NV Leaders Champion Build Back Better Plan

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- As Congress prepares to vote, Nevada leaders are calling on lawmakers to pass the Build Back Better Act, which contains $555 …

Mathilda Guererro of Silver State Voices testified before the Clark County Commission on Tuesday. (Screenshot/Clark CountyNV.gov)

Groups Speak Out on Clark County Redistricting Maps

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Good-government groups are criticizing the new district voting maps approved by the Clark County Commission on Tuesday, predicting …

Senate Democrats are working to hammer out a deal on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better reconciliation package. (Kathrin Tausch/Wikimedia Commons)

Reconciliation Bill Would Increase Fines for Labor-Law Violations

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Labor leaders are pressing for a deal on the Build Back Better reconciliation package, because it increases penalties on …

A new report found child poverty decreased 26% between 2013 and 2019. (Endho/Pixabay)

Report: NV Struggling on Mental Health, Infant Mortality

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Infant mortality went up 18% in Nevada in the years immediately preceding the pandemic, one of the topline findings of a new …

Provisions of the reconciliation bill could give solar-energy businesses in Nevada a big boost. (Cleanenergy.org)

Groups Press for Keeping Climate-Change Provisions in Reconciliation Bill

CARSON CITY, Nev. - As Democrats work feverishly for a deal on the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the reconciliation bill, groups working to curb …

A mariachi brand entertains at the vigil on immigration reform Tuesday night in Las Vegas. (PLAN)

NV Groups Host Vigils, Rally for Citizenship Path for Immigrants

LAS VEGAS - Immigrants' rights groups are rallying all this week to get a path to citizenship into the Build Back Better reconciliation bill…

Congress passed Savanna's Act in 2020 to improve data collection on cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. (Sonyachny/Adobe Stock)

NV Summit Highlights Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Today, a virtual summit hosted by the Las Vegas Mayor's Faith Initiative looks at the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous …

Payday loans often have triple-digit interest rates that can lead consumers into a cycle of debt. (Krossel/Morguefile)

Groups Slam Feds for Failing to Crack Down on Rent-a-Bank Schemes

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Twenty state Attorneys General, including Aaron Ford from Nevada, are slamming proposed new federal banking guidelines for not …

A new report finds that Nevada needs to develop family support programs within the community.(Vejaa/Adobestock)

Nevada Gets a D+ for Children's Mental Health: Report

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada scored a D-plus for children's mental health, according to a new report from the Children's Advocacy Alliance. …

Spirit Mountain is sacred to more than a half-dozen Native American tribes. (Alan O'Neill)

On Indigenous Peoples Day, Groups Call for New Nat'l. Monument

SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. - In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day today, many in Nevada's Native community are calling for the establishment of a new national …

Nevada is spending millions to upgrade transmission lines so it can export excess renewable energy in the future. (ABCDStock/Adobestock)

Sisolak Urges Passage of Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Congress is hashing out the size of the Build Back Better reconciliation bill, which would put billions toward the fight against …

As of 2019, renewable energy represented about 28% of utility-scale power generation in Nevada. (Cece94/Morguefile)

Business Leaders Push for Passage of Build Back Better Act

CARSON CITY, Nev. - As congressional leaders head toward a vote on President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better Act," business leaders concerned about …

Nevada is one of 22 states that allow election-day voter registration. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

NV Good-Government Groups Celebrate National Voter Registration Day

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Today is National Voter Registration Day, and civic groups are fanning out across the state to help people register or update …

The Truckee River is considered exceptional for its water quality and importance to wildlife. (Lauren Kuhlman)

NV Rivers, Streams Singled Out for Protection

RUBY MOUNTAINS, Nev. -- Nevada is the driest state in the nation, yet few of its rivers and streams have federal protections. Now a new report …

A FEMA program will reimburse families for funeral expenses of multiple COVID victims, up to a limit of $35,500 per applicant. (Pixel shot/Adobestock)

Federal Program Offers $9K for COVID Victims' Funerals

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Did you know the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a program to reimburse funeral expenses up to $9,000 when …

More than 80% of Nevada is public land owned by the federal government, which is charged with managing it for the public's benefit. (Kurt Kuznicki)

State Parks Free This Saturday for Nevada Public Lands Week

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Admission to any state park in Nevada is free this coming Saturday, as part of the first Nevada Public Lands Week - with a series …

The new infrastructure proposal would increase funding for home-based health care services for seniors. (AARP)

High-Income Americans Sign Letter Calling for Higher Taxes

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- It is not every day people ask for higher taxes, but that's the gist of a letter just sent to Congress, signed by more than 200 …

Nevada's small but tight-knit Muslim community is centered in North Las Vegas and Reno. (Pixel-shot/Adobe Stock)

American Muslims Reflect On 9/11 20th Anniversary

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- As the nation marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this weekend, Muslim groups are reflecting on progress in the …

A new poll shows that Nevadans favor policies to lower deductibles and prevent insurance companies from selling junk plans. (Volgariver/Adobestock)

New Poll Indicates High Anxiety About Health-Care Costs in NV

CARSON CITY, Nev. - The rising cost of health care is a top concern for Nevadans, according to a new poll. The survey, of 600 registered voters …

Wildlife overpasses such as this one help mule deer on their migration, which can be up to 100 miles long. (Nevada Department of Wildlife)

NV State Agencies to Prioritize Wildlife Migration Corridors

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Sage grouse, pronghorn, mule deer and bighorn sheep are just a few of the species expected to benefit from a new executive order …

State assembly district maps, including this close-up of Las Vegas, are likely to change once lawmakers incorporate the new 2020 census data. (Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau GIS)

Armed With Census Data, Community Groups Prep for Redistricting

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Community groups are preparing to help lawmakers draw new political maps, based on just-released census numbers. The data shows …

Advocates are calling for more green transportation options in light of a new U.N. climate change study that predicts longer, more frequent heat waves. (Earthjustice)

Advocates: Nevada In Crosshairs After U.N. Climate Report

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The American West is already feeling the brunt of climate change and things are on track to get worse, according to a new report …

Las Vegas' free Arrow shuttle service runs from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. (City of Las Vegas)

Las Vegas' New Shuttle for People Experiencing Homelessness Gains Popularity

LAS VEGAS - Las Vegas is trying to make it easier for people experiencing homelessness to get to their appointments with social service agencies by in…

Nevada is seeing multiple efforts to reduce racial disparities among kids who are arrested or incarcerated, and a new report says it's working. (Connie Mills/Youth Villages)

NV Makes Progress Reducing Racial Disparities for Youth Behind Bars

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada is closing the racial gap among young people behind bars, according to a new report from The Sentencing Project. The …

The Gila monster is listed as a protected species in Nevada. Wildlife officials would like to boost its population by importing lizards from Utah.(Josh Olander/Wikimedia Commons)

New Bill Would Help Save Bighorn Sheep, Golden Eagles

CARSON CITY, Nev. - A bill just introduced in the U.S, Senate would help thousands of species stay off the Endangered Species List - including …

Married couples with children under 18 who make up to $150,000 per year will qualify for the new, extended federal Child Tax Credit. (Jessica Shamout)

First Federal Child Tax Credit Funds Go Out Today

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The first payments from the extended Child Tax Credit will hit most families' bank accounts today, providing much-needed relief …

The Avi Kwa Ame area, also known as Spirit Mountain, is important habitat for the golden eagle and the desert tortoise and is home to the largest Joshua tree forest in the country. (Justin McAffee)

Movement to Establish New National Monument in NV Gains Steam

SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. -- The push for a new national monument about 60 miles south of Las Vegas has taken on added urgency, in the face of a new wind-…

A GAO report found in 2020, U.S. Postal Service package-delivery business generated $11 billion, but it wasn't enough to put the agency in the black. (Lost In the Midwest/Adobe Stock)

Business Groups Press for Postal Service Reform

RENO, Nev. -- Supporters of the U.S. Postal Service are pressing for passage of a bill to shore up the troubled agency. Twin versions of the …

Groups such as Veterans for Responsible Leadership and We the Veterans are urging current and former military officials to continue to stand up for the Constitution. (Daniel Thornberg/Adobe Stock)

Vets Speak Out Against Far-Right on Independence Day

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Veterans on both sides of the aisle are concerned about what they call recent attacks on democracy by far-right organizations…

President Obama created the Basin and Range National Monument in 2015. (Bureau of Land Management)

Nevada's Treasures Showcased: Antiquities Act Turns 115

GOLD BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT, Nev. - Nevada is home to some of the last virtually untouched wide open spaces in this country, largely thanks to the …

This session, Nevada lawmakers voted to expand automatic voter registration and make vote-by-mail a permanent option. (Darylann Elmi/Adobestock)

NV Progressive Group Releases 2021 Legislative Scorecard

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Progressive groups in Nevada are holding an online summit tonight to marshal their forces for the next round of policy battles - …

New data show Nevada cut its teen birth rate almost in half between 2010 and 2019. However, key indicators on poverty and education got worse. (Wordley Calvo Stock/Adobe Stock)

Report: NV Among Hardest Hit in Pandemic

CARSON CITY, Nev. - A new report finds Nevada's children suffered more during the pandemic than those in many other states - and that small gains in …

A new report finds that jobs in wind power in Nevada grew in 2020 despite the pandemic. (Niserin/iStockphotos)

Advanced Energy Sector Roars Back to Life in Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A new report found President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill, the American Jobs Plan, would supercharge the economy in Nevada and …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

The Biden administration is carrying out a comprehensive review of oil and gas leases on public lands, including in Nevada's Ruby Mountains. (Jose Witt/Nevada Wildlife Federation)

Bills Heard in D.C. to Protect Ruby Mountains, Desert National Wildlife Refuge

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two bills to expand protections for Nevada public lands got a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources …

Nevada's mule deer population can migrate up to 100 miles. Many use overpasses built by the state in spots where they attempt to cross each year. (Nevada DOT)

Study Urges Feds to Prioritize NV Wildlife Migration Corridors

CARSON CITY, Nev. - The mule deer population in Nevada has dropped 15% over the last decade - and now a new study is urging the feds to better …

Organizers of the National Week of Conversation say it is intended to be an on-ramp to repairing divides. (Popaukropa/Adobestock)

Bridging the Divide in National Week of Conversation

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - This Saturday, thousands of Americans will take part in a first-ever event called America Talks - in an effort to heal social and …

A new study advises water utilities to build more shade structures, add more trees and better insulate buildings to resist rising temperatures. (Yves Bernardi/Pixabay)

Study Predicts Climate Change Will Stress NV Water Systems

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A new study showed climate change means Nevada summers will be longer and hotter in the coming decades, and that has big …

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