Nevada News & Current Events | Public News Service

Early voting locations will be open across Nevada for several weeks, from May 28 through June 10. (Jlmcanally/Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 27, 2022

Tips for Nevada Voters, as Early Voting Starts Tomorrow

The Nevada primary election is June 14, and early voting starts tomorrow and runs through June 10. Mail balloting is now permanent, so every active …

A UNLV study found Nevada has only one mental health professional for every 460 residents, and the shortage of pediatric providers is particularly severe. (Zinkevych/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Mental Health Awareness Month: NV Advocates Press for Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and advocates in the Silver State said drastic changes are needed to improve access to services. The latest …

The Supreme Court, following in the footsteps of the Citizen's United decision, has weakened campaign finance laws in the name of free speech. (Lost in the Midwest/Adobestock)

Clean Elections Groups Slam Supreme Court Ruling on Campaign Finance

Good-government groups are criticizing the Supreme Court's decision Monday eliminating rules on how much a candidate can spend to pay back loans he or…

Opponents of a ranked-choice voting initiative on the Nevada ballot claim it could increase the time it takes to tabulate results. (Sevennine_79/Adobe Stock)

NV Voting-Rights Groups Unite to Fight Ranked-Choice Voting

A coalition of community groups calling itself "Let Nevada Vote" is speaking out against a proposed ballot initiative that would require the state to …

The pandemic cut short the time census workers had to go door to door to educate the public on how to fill out the decennial survey. (Edbockstock/Adobestock)

Census Report Shows Large Undercount of Latino Population

A new report found the 2020 census significantly undercounted the Latino population nationwide, by almost 5%, more than three times the undercount …

The group "Make the Road Nevada" will march on Sunday, calling on President Joe Biden to remove Title 42 restrictions on refugees. (Moab Republic/Adobestock)

Immigration, Labor Groups to March Sunday for May Day

This Sunday night, immigration and labor groups are marching for May Day on the Vegas strip, speaking out on the need for immigration reform and …

The coalition Let Nevadans Vote says there is no evidence to show anyone tampered with voting machines in the 2020 election. (John Davis/Adobe Stock)

NV Clean-Elections Group Calls on Counties to Keep Voting Machines

Good-government groups are calling on county clerks across Nevada to resist calls to dump voting machines for upcoming elections. A coalition called …

Nationwide, more than 9 million permanent residents are potentially eligible for United States citizenship, according to the National Partnership for New Americans. (Adobe Stock)

Groups, Nevada Government Work to Naturalize Millions

A coalition of cities, counties and more than 50 immigrant and refugee advocacy groups around the country, with a strong Nevada base, are celebrating …

The Governor and climate advocates will speak at a press conference today in Las Vegas, with a climate-themed mural by artist Gui Lemes as a backdrop. (Ivan Serge/@apvevents)

This Earth Day, Advocates Call for Climate Action

To honor Earth Day tomorrow, Gov. Steve Sisolak will join environmental advocates in a call to invest in our planet. The most recent report from …

"Ghost guns" are weapons with no serial number, which makes it very difficult for law enforcement to track the weapon if it is used in a crime. (LNM/Adobestock)

NV Gun-Violence Prevention Groups Praise New Ghost Gun Rule

Gun-violence prevention advocates in Nevada are applauding a new rule by the Biden administration to close a loophole allowing the proliferation of un…

Martha Neff of Las Vegas holds a sample of a migraine medication that helps reduce pain, but costs $1,000 a month without insurance. (Courtesy of Neff Family)

Advocates for Older Americans Press U-S Senate for Action on Drug Prices

Groups that fight for older Americans are pressuring Congress to pass prescription drug reform, which has been stalled along with the Biden …

Two-year schools such as Truckee Meadows Community College have partnerships with local employers to offer coursework in fields that are in demand. (Nevada System of Higher Education)

Nevada Colleges Look to Attract More Students after Pandemic Enrollment Drop

Nevada colleges, especially two-year institutions, are working overtime to attract more students this fall, in the wake of a big drop in enrollment …

In a survey from the American Psychological Association, about half of adults report being uneasy when it comes to returning to in-person interactions. (Bongkarn/Adobe Stock)

Tips to Manage Return-to-Office Stress

This spring, a lot of Nevadans are returning to the office after working from home for more than a year, which can trigger bouts of anxiety. Experts …

Daela Gibson, of Planned Parenthood and the Let Nevadans Vote coalition, testified before the Washoe County Commission last week, just before it defeated a proposal that included multiple voting limitations. (Let Nevadans Vote)

Voting-Rights Groups Vow to Fight on After Victory in Washoe County

Fresh off a victory in Washoe County, Nevada groups fighting for greater access to voting are turning their attention to ballot measures seeking to …

Juvenile arrests have gone down alongside detentions in Nevada. The state arrested more than 9,000 juveniles in 2015, compared with 4,300 in 2021. (Artit/Adobestock)

Juvenile Detention: Numbers Can Be Deceiving

America locked up almost a quarter-million children in 2019, according to a new report called "Too Many Closed Doors" from the Sentencing Project…

Typically, prior to the Public Health Emergency, 17% to 25% of mail from the state Medicaid program was returned each month, according to state data. About a quarter of recipients would lose coverage and would re-enroll later. (ZimmyTWS/Adobestock)

Advocates Warn Families May Lose Medicaid Coverage In Coming Months

Children's advocates are warning that thousands of Nevada children could lose Medicaid coverage over the next year, starting as early as May 1…

A redistricting lawsuit claims that the decision to divide Pahrump into two legislative districts disadvantages Republican voters. (MQ Illustrations/Adobestock)

Nevada GOP Redistricting Lawsuit Gets a Hearing Today

A hearing is set for today in the Republican-backed lawsuit against Nevada's new state legislative maps drawn based on the 2020 census results…

One of the state's newest electric-vehicle charging stations is located in Primm. (NV Energy)

Nevada Gearing Up to Expand Electric-Vehicle Infrastructure

Nevada stands to get $38 million over five years to build out electric-vehicle (EV) charging networks from the Biden administration's newly released E…

New research from Princeton University finds that provisions in Build Back Better would reduce average household energy costs in 2030 by about $300 per year. (Paolese/Adobestock)

Experts Press for Passage of Climate-Change Provisions of Build Back Better Bill

Experts say it's more important than ever to tackle climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and in light of a new United Nations report …

Ukrainian-Americans say they're hoping sanctions will dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from further violence. (Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

NV Ukrainian Americans Watch Russian Invasion in Horror

As the Russian army marches toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Ukrainian Americans say they're terrified a bloody conflict could claim thousands …

In his State of the State address, Gov. Steve Sisolak vowed to keep taxes low and to seek a raise for Nevada State Police next year. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Sisolak Highlights Investments in Housing, Child Care In NV State of the State

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced multiple initiatives to lower the cost of living for everyday Nevadans in his 2022 State of the State speech on …

Kris Brown with the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence will headline the 8th Annual Progresssive Summit this weekend. (Danielle St. Laurent/Brady)

8th Annual Progressive Summit Takes Place This Weekend

This weekend, progressive groups will come together for the 8th annual Progressive Summit, which will be held online. The keynote speaker will be …

According to the Northern Nevada Dental Health Programs, eight in 10 Nevada children suffer from untreated tooth decay. (Zinkevych/Adobestock)

Tips for a Healthy Smile During Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, and dentists are asking Nevada parents to take a few minutes to supervise their kids' brushing …

Opponents of voter ID laws say they discriminate against people who can't afford to get a state-issued form of identification, or who have mobility or transportation issues. (Vesperstock)

Nevada 'Voting Reform' Initiatives Gather Signatures

Backers of multiple efforts to change the way Nevadans cast their ballots are gathering signatures right now, with the goal of getting them onto the …

Nevada's new SMART Health QR code can be stored as an image on in apps such as Apple Wallet, Apple Health or the Google Pay.

NV Unveils QR Code to Show Your COVID-19 Vaccine Record

There's a new way to show you're vaccinated for COVID-19, without having to keep track of a pesky vaccine card, using a free QR code you can download …

Advocates are prepping ideas for legislation to improve child well-being in Nevada. (Trendsetter Images/Adobestock)

Policy Summit Promotes Needs of Youngest Nevadans

The needs of Nevada's babies and toddlers and their parents will be front and center tomorrow at the 2022 Winter Policy Summit run by the Children's A…

AARP Nevada is asking the state to ensure that nursing homes make public their rate of vaccinations for staff and residents. (Freeograph/Adobestock)

Senior Advocates Call for Vaccine Requirements in Nursing Homes

Advocates for older Americans are calling on the state to require booster shots for people who live and work in nursing homes. AARP Nevada recently …

Many environmental groups support a monument at Avi Kwa' Ame because the area is prime habitat for many species, including the desert tortoise. (Stan Shebs/Wikimedia Commons)

Clark County Commission to Consider Supporting New Nat'l. Monument

Tomorrow, the Clark County Commission considers a resolution to support creation of a new national monument at Spirit Mountain, outside of …

Nevada will need to hire thousands of poll workers in advance of the primary election in June and the general election in November. (Seventyfour/Adobestock)

On National Poll Workers Recruitment Day, Nevadans Asked to Step Up

Today is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, and counties across Nevada and nationwide are looking to hire. Between the pandemic and the …

Nevadans are gearing up for the midterm Congressional elections this fall, which could change the balance of power in the U.S. House and Senate. (1STunningArt/Adobestock)

Pro-Democracy Groups Vow to Keep Fighting as Losses Mount

Good-government groups in Nevada are speaking out - criticizing recent events as a serious threat to democracy. On Friday news leaked that in …

Thousands of educational resources, including open-source textbooks such as "College Success" can be downloaded free of charge on the OpenStax platform. (UNLV)

UNLV Moves Toward Open-Source Textbooks to Cut Student Expenses

CORRECTION: Clarification was made of the $1,200 figure in UNLV student expenditures per year. (3:10 p.m. MST, Feb. 21, 2022) Open-source textbooks…

Experts say blue light inhibits melatonin production and interferes with sleep. (Reewungjunerr/Adobestock)

Experts Warn of Health Dangers of Blue Light From Digital Devices

Statistics show thanks to the pandemic, Americans are now glued to their digital devices an average of 13 hours a day, up from 7 or 8 hours a day …

A study from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, found 200 cases of human trafficking were reported in the state in 2017. (Yupachingping/Adobe Stock)

Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Experts Call for Change

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and combating the problem is especially important in Nevada, which is home to the largest …

Experts predict the political temperature will go up around the time of the Congressional election this fall. (Tomozina1/Adobestock)

Expert: Midterms May Spur More Right-Wing Violence

As the midterm elections approach this fall, experts are warning political violence could flare up, not necessarily another attack on the Capitol…

Men in militia-style dress gather in downtown Reno after a Black Lives Matter event in 2020. (Anthony Shafton)

Experts Warn Right-Wing Militias Still Active in NV

One year after the Jan. 6 insurrection, experts say groups present at the Capitol riot are expanding in the Silver State. A 2020 report from …

A 2020 white paper from Indivisible and PLAN-NV found membership in white supremacist groups, including some that were present at the U.S. Capitol riot, are on the upswing in the Silver State. (Feng Yu/Adobe Stock)

Pro-Democracy Rallies Set for Thursday in Nevada

Groups are banding together on Thursday for pro-democracy events in Reno and Las Vegas, one year after thousands of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol …

In Nevada, children used to be able to ditch the car booster seat at age six. Now, a new law requires kids to be 57 inches tall in order to use a seat belt without a booster. (Taras/Adobe Stock)

New NV Booster-Seat Law Now in Effect

If you threw out the booster seat in your car when your child reached six years of age, you may need to buy a new one, due to a change in Nevada …

Experts say parents can reduce kids' dependency on screens by setting a good example themselves and arranging more outdoor family activities.(TheVisualsYouNeed/AdobeStock)

New Year's Resolution: Reducing Kids’ Screen Time

Some families make New Year's Resolutions to cut down on screen time, and experts have some tips for actually getting your kids to put down the cell …

The Build Back Better Act would guarantee 12 months of continuous coverage for children on Medicaid. (Pressmaster)

Advocates Vow to Fight On as Build Back Better Act Falters

Nonprofits promoting affordable health care and working families in Nevada are regrouping to fight for President Joe Biden's domestic agenda after Sen…

Conservation groups oppose a rate increase proposed by Southwest Gas, calling instead for a transition away from gas-powered appliances. (Denfotoblog/Adobe Stock)

Public Hearing Tonight on Proposed Increase to Gas Bills Across NV

LAS VEGAS - Nevadans have the chance this evening to put in their two cents about a proposed rate hike on gas bills. The Public Utilities Commission …

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows more than 15,000 coyotes have been eliminated through its Wildlife Services program on public lands managed by the BLM or USFS in the past five years. (Trish Swain/Trailsafe Nevada)

Groups Sue Over NV Wildlife Services Killings

ELKO, Nev. - Conservation groups want the feds to do a full environmental impact report on an agency that authorizes the killing of coyotes and other …

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

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)

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)

$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 …

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