Politics + Government
‘Is there a national legislature forming in Reno?’
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is perplexed by the Trump administration’s plan to move legislative affairs positions for a federal public lands management agency from Washington to Reno, Nev. “Is there a national legislature forming in Reno that none of us know about?” Grijalva asked at a U.S. House […]
Presidential candidates implored to be more specific about Yucca
Nevada lawmakers, tribal leaders and conservationists want 2020 presidential candidates to more boldly oppose Yucca Mountain. “We need the candidates to understand that, a) we expect them to talk about Yucca Mountain and not shy away from discussing it when they come to Nevada, and b) we expect them to be bold in their statements […]
Cab drivers confront lawmakers, seek protection from ‘predatory’ companies
Excessive fines and fees charged to drivers by taxicab companies are draining drivers’ incomes, meaning the only way they can survive is by relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, public housing assistance, and Medicaid and Medicare. That’s what a group of about 50 drivers told lawmakers Saturday during a town hall put on by […]
Another reason Nevada deserves more attention than it gets: The climate crisis
Unlike Iowa and New Hampshire, Nevada is in the West, has a comparatively large number of union voters — a key Democratic constituency — and Nevada’s diverse population is more representative of the nation as a whole. Those are the usual arguments in support of Nevada deserving the third spot on the Democratic presidential primary […]
NV delegation not sold on ‘Medicare for All’ – except for Titus
WASHINGTON — Once regarded as radical, proposals to create a government-run health care system serving all Americans are making inroads among mainstream Democrats. But Nevada’s federal lawmakers aren’t exactly jumping on the Medicare-for-all bandwagon. Only one of the state’s six members of the U.S. Congress — Las Vegas Democrat Dina Titus — has signed on to […]
Ousted former Interior secretary added to Basque Fry’s “incredible lineup”
Former Nevada Attorney General and failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Laxalt’s political action committee has added former Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke to the “incredible lineup of All-Star conservative speakers” at the PACs “Basque Fry” September 14. Zinke resigned from his cabinet post in December amid numerous ethics probes, including an investigation in connection with […]
“Deeply concerned,” but citing state law, panel upholds mine’s water permit
The Nevada State Environmental Commission Wednesday raised serious concerns about long-term threats to water quality from a proposed mine in Eureka County. But commissioners said state law and regulations ultimately pushed them to allow the project to go forward as planned. The proposed open-pit operation on Mount Hope—owned by Eureka Moly LLC a subsidiary of […]
Reid: If next president must address climate crisis by executive order, so be it
If Congress can’t or won’t do it, a Democratic president must tackle the climate crisis by executive order, Harry Reid said Wednesday. The former Nevada Democratic senator said his party has a strong — and improving — chance of winning control of the Senate next year while retaining control of the House, making aggressive climate […]
Clark County approves raising sales tax 1/8 of a cent
Clark County Commissioners weren’t exactly thrilled the Legislature saddled them with the the responsibility of raising the sales taxes. Despite voicing concerns at a Tuesday meeting, commissioners voted 5-2 to increase the sales tax by one-eighth of a percent. “None of us really wants to be in the position that the Legislature put us in, […]
Uber, Lyft “cannibalizing” public transit
Rideshare apps are putting Southern Nevada public transit in a financial free fall that threatens to devastate an already inadequate system, transit officials were told last week. And for all the political support for Uber and Lyft in Nevada, and despite cultural enthusiasm for technology-based economic “disruption,” there is no guarantee that disruptive companies will […]
“In the U.S., picnics, instead of street protests, won the day.”
“The organizers of the first Labor Day were interested in creating an event that brought different types of workers together to meet each other and recognize their common interests,” writes economist Jay Zagorsky in a brief history of Labor Day. His essay is titled “Have we forgotten the true meaning of Labor Day?” — a […]
DNC pulls plug on Nevada ‘virtual’ caucus. Early voting still OK though.
No, you can’t phone it in. Plans to allow Nevadans to participate in the Democratic presidential caucus by phone have been scrapped, the state party confirmed Friday. But there will still be early voting, a departure from prior caucuses when participants had to show up on caucus day for their preference to be counted. The […]