Author
Mobile home park residents urge lawmakers to stabilize rents: ‘We are in dire need’
For the last decade, Jeanneil Marzan paid $645 a month to rent a space for her manufactured home at Sierra Royal Mobile Park. When the first rent increase of $40 came in September 2022, the Sparks resident found it reasonable even living on a fixed income. Everything changed in December after a multi-billion dollar global […]
Lombardo’s proposal targeting restorative justice policies scrutinized by lawmakers
Gov. Joe Lombardo’s proposal to roll back restorative justice policies, which were implemented to address the school-to-prison pipeline but received a shaky roll out due to the pandemic, was met with a bevy of questions and concerns from lawmakers Thursday. Lombardo, who made a rare legislative appearance in front of the Assembly Education Committee to […]
After failing in 2021, sponsor revives bill to protect transgender, gender nonconforming inmates
Prison officials told lawmakers Tuesday that, in accordance with federal law, they already have policies to maintain the safety of transgender and gender nonconforming people who are incarcerated. But several people housed within the Nevada Department of Corrections, who provided written testimony about their experiences dealing with abuse by other inmates and staff, said it’s […]
Lawmakers seek to improve health conditions faced by women who are incarcerated
Lawmakers are debating legislation that addresses the inadequate standards of care and health treatment for women incarcerated in Nevada. Sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Cecelia González, Assembly Bill 292 would make feminine hygiene products free of charge in correctional facilities while seeking to expand the timeframe mothers spend with newborns and ensuring those incarcerated have access […]
Republic Services ramps up lawsuits against Nevadans over trash bills
If Rebecca Gandara had received a bill from Republic Services for any unpaid amount for unpaid trash collection services, she says she would have paid it. But she said in the 27 years she lived in her Henderson home, she never received a past due or any other notice that she owed the company money. […]
Biden promotes prescription drug plan during UNLV stop
President Joe Biden during a speech at UNLV Wednesday touted recent legislative victories seeking to rein in prescription drug prices and vowed to build on efforts to reduce health costs Biden’s visit to Southern Nevada came a week after he unveiled his 2024 fiscal year budget, which includes numerous health care proposals, like expanding Medicare’s […]
Lawmaker revives effort to remove barrier blocking formerly incarcerated from housing
When looking for a place to live this year, Ashley Gaddis, a formerly incarcerated woman, didn’t make it very far in the application process because of her criminal history. “I didn’t even get past the background check,” she said. “It was, ‘do I have a criminal record?’ Yes I do. The application didn’t go any […]
Bill to rein in rental application and deposit fees weakened before first hearing
Nevada lawmakers have revived efforts to crack down on landlords collecting unlimited application fees on a single unit and add some transparency to fees associated with rentals. Ahead of its Wednesday hearing in Senate Commerce and Labor, Senate Bill 78 was heavily amended to quell opposition by some landlords and lobbyists. The bill, sponsored by […]
‘Homeless Persons’ Bill of Rights’ faces opposition from cities, counties, law enforcement
Lobbyists representing cities, counties and law enforcement told lawmakers they support the idea of ensuring the rights of people experiencing homelessness – just as long as that person can’t sue to ensure those rights. Referred to as “Homeless Persons’ Bill of Rights,” Senate Bill 142 was heard by lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee Friday. […]
200,000 Nevadans will need to re-qualify for Medicaid as pandemic provision winds down
An estimated 200,000 Medicaid recipients will need to re-qualify for eligibility starting April 1 or risk losing health care benefits as Nevada begins to wind down a pandemic-era provision. Ky Plaskon, a spokesman with the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, said in an email that the department’s Division of Health Care Financing and […]
Food banks brace for ‘tsunami’ of food insecurity as SNAP emergency benefits end in March
When a pandemic-era emergency food assistance allotment ends in March, a senior who had been receiving nearly $300 a month in supplemental benefits will instead get about $20. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, recipients have received a supplemental emergency allotment for the last two years, but the additional monthly payments providing extended assistance will […]
Culinary Union urges lawmakers to consider rent caps tied to cost of living
The Culinary Union wants the Legislature to tie rent increases to the cost of living and fund mental health services for children, and they warned lawmakers mulling action to “ignore this at their own peril.” Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, spoke Thursday to outline the union’s legislative priorities, which includes passing reforms to […]