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Democrats plan early voting, ‘virtual caucus’ for 2020
On Wednesday, the Nevada State Democratic Party released its plan outlining changes to Nevada’s caucus process in an effort to increase participation and rebuild trust with voters after the contentious presidential primaries in 2016. “We all know how important Nevada’s First in the West caucus will be in 2020 and we are confident that we […]
Nevada considers banning ‘gay panic’ defense
Lawmakers in the state Senate have proposed a bill to ban the so called “gay panic” or “trans panic” defense. If passed, a defendant accused of committing a violent crime would no longer be able to introduce a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity as a defense. The bill would prohibit the use of the […]
Paid sick leave bill finally surfaces
State Sen. Joyce Woodhouse introduced a bill Monday to mandate at least three paid sick days each year for private sector employees. SB 312 would require employers with 25 or more workers in the state to provide paid sick leave at a rate of 1 hour earned for every 30 hours worked. Employers are allowed to […]
From ‘too radical’ to mainstream: Sanders makes his Nevada debut
In his first visit to Nevada as a 2020 presidential candidate, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders made clear he intends to highlight the same issues that defined his 2016 bid by railing against income inequality and the influence of big money in politics. This time around the 77-year-old senator is a frontrunner. He trails behind only […]
Progressive group grades senators on judges, gives Cortez Masto a B
According to Demand Justice, a progressive advocacy group that focuses on the federal judiciary, a majority of Senate Democrats have voted for at least 60 percent of Trump judicial appointments in 2017 and 2018. The report card graded Democrats using several metrics, including votes to confirm Trump’s nominees and votes to advance judges by ending […]
Forest Service won’t allow oil & gas leasing in Ruby Mountains
The U.S. Forest Service announced Wednesday oil and gas leasing will not be allowed in Nevada’s scenic Ruby Mountains. In August 2017, the Forest Service received a request from the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Office asking the Forest Service for a leasing agreement, along with any stipulations to protect surface resources. The […]
Workers demand state protection from wage theft
The Arriba Las Vegas Worker Center got its start a little more than a year ago by surveying 300 day laborers. One-third had been a victim of wage theft in the two months prior to the survey. “It’s almost a ubiquitous phenomenon for low-wage workers, particularly in industries like construction, landscaping, and homecare professionals, daycare, […]
Legislators hear bill to increase spending on autistic youth services
Hundreds of autistic children in Nevada covered by Medicaid are not getting access to what is considered the most effective therapy for autism, and the Legislature is attempting to change that. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is widely considered the gold-standard treatment for autism, but in Nevada, parents face long wait lists and a shortage […]
Nevada becomes latest state to embrace Paris Agreement
Almost two years ago, President Donald Trump announced his intent to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change. On Tuesday Nevada legislators unveiled their latest plan to follow the agreement regardless. “The State of Nevada must act now to ensure that Nevada’s greenhouse gas emissions decrease on a trajectory consistent with […]
Saturday marks the Nevada return of the Bern
Sen. Bernie Sanders is returning to Nevada this weekend for the first time as a 2020 White House contender. The 77-year-old independent senator from Vermont will hold an event Saturday at 2:30 pm at Morrell Park in Henderson, Nevada. Sanders entered the presidential race in 2016 with a surprisingly successful insurgency campaign, but the 2020 […]
Bill would make Clark County Commission bigger
Has Clark County outgrown its county commission? A bill that would increase the Clark County Commission from seven members to nine was presented during a Senate government affairs committee meeting Wednesday. Currently, state law specifies that in counties with a population of 700,000 or more, county commissioners serve on a board of seven. SB127 would […]
Nevada joins lawsuit to protect Title X
Attorney General Aaron Ford is joining 19 states and the District of Columbia in filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Trump Administration’s new “gag rule” which opponents argue would significantly restrict access to reproductive health services including cancer screening and contraception. The controversial policy change prohibits health care professionals in most instances from […]