The Nevada Independent - Your state. Your news. Your voice.

Dark money dominated donations to Nevada’s ranked-choice voting, abortion ballot questions

More than $40 million was raised by backers of the abortion and ranked-choice voting ballot questions in 2024, primarily from groups that do not have to disclose their donors.

Rio operator aims to wow locals and visitors with upgrades

The new owner spent $340 million to refresh the 35-year-old off-Strip resort with new restaurants, modern hotel rooms and an upgraded gaming floor.

Culinary ends strike at Virgin, reaching an agreement after 69 days

The 69-day strike was Culinary's longest in Las Vegas in 27 years, topped only by the Frontier Hotel strike that lasted six years, four months and 10 days.

Gaming Control Board Chairman Hendrick to step down after legislative session

The early departure means the governor needs to fill two seats on the three-member regulatory panel.

Ex-U.S. Attorney Frierson reflects on tough political climate, building trust in DOJ role

Frierson, a Democrat who spent 10 years in the Assembly, including three years in the top leadership role of speaker, was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden in 2021. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2022 for a four-year term.

First details (and questions) emerge on Lombardo’s legislative priorities

In today's edition of the Behind the Bar newsletter, a closer look at the governor's priority bills on education, health care and housing.

Trump granted clemency to 8 Nevadans for Jan. 6 crimes. Who are they and what did they do?

With a stroke of his pen, President Donald Trump pardoned, commuted the sentences or ordered the dismissal of the cases of more than 1,500 people charged with crimes related to their conduct on the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6 2021, from assaulting police officers to destroying government property.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order on birthright citizenship in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.

Trump signed an order to end birthright citizenship. What is it and what does that mean?

Attorneys general from 18 states sue to keep decades-old immigration policy tied to the 14th Amendment in place.

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The Daily Indy

Join more than 20,000 Nevadans who start their day with The Daily Indy, our free flagship daily newsletter that gives you what you need to know in Nevada today.

Behind the Bar

Stay up to date on what you need to know out of the 2025 Nevada Legislature from our team of reporters based in Carson City.

Indy Environment

Written by energy and environment reporter Amy Alonzo, this weekly newsletter is a roundup of environmental goings-on in Nevada and the West.

Indy Gaming

Howard Stutz’s weekly dive into what’s innovative and interesting in Nevada’s gaming, sports and hospitality industries and how it’s shaping the rest of the world.

DC Download

Gabby Birenbaum’s Saturday newsletter brings you the latest news on Nevadans in Washington and how federal policy affects Nevada.

Indy Education

A recap of the top education stories from the week, profiles of interesting staff and students, plus details of family-friendly events and resources throughout the state.

‘Beyond frustrating;’ Democrats criticize $335M deficit in Lombardo’s budget

State officials acknowledged the shortfall and said they have already made revisions to the proposed budget, but an $85 million deficit remains with those changes included.

Indy Education: School staffer honored for engaging Latino families in Carson City

Drawing on her own experience as the child of immigrants, Leticia Servin has worked for more than 25 years to get Carson City’s Latino parents and families involved in their students’ education and break down language and culture barriers.

How Nevada's Democratic attorney general is preparing to take on the Trump administration

In his first two years as Nevada’s attorney general, Aaron Ford tangled with then-President Donald Trump 33 times.

Freshman Orientation: Prison paved Jovan Jackson’s path to Legislature

Jackson is believed to be the first formerly incarcerated legislator in state history. In Carson City he wants to build on his work as an organizer for progressive groups.

Lombardo’s 2025 State of the State address, annotated

The Republican governor focused on combating crime, bringing more accountability to public education and overhauling the state’s health care system.

After DOJ report shows gaps in youth care, Nevada works to meet needs

Hoping to comply with federal law, the state committed more than $200 million to overhaul a children’s behavioral health system that ranked last in the nation.

D.C. Download: How Rosen, Cortez Masto approached Trump nominee hearings

Each Cabinet-level nominee must go through a public hearing in the relevant Senate committee and then be confirmed by the Senate as part of the upper chamber’s “advise and consent” duty.

Behind the Bar: Vibe checking the State of the State

Two days after the State of the State, The Nevada Independent’s legislative team brings you the inside scoop on some of the policies discussed during the address. Keep an eye out Sunday for our annotated edition of the State of the State.

This photo taken Dec. 23, 2024, in Las Vegas shows a Colt .45-caliber pistol that once belonged to mob boss Al Capone. It is going on display for the first time at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, starting Jan. 15, 2025.

Al Capone called it his sweetheart. The pistol that saved his life is coming to Vegas

For the first time, the public can get an up-close look at Capone's favorite personal weapon and a short home movie shot by the mob boss himself in 1929.

Indy Environment: Maps show heat hits much differently from one Reno neighborhood to next

Scientists with Desert Research Institute have released the results of an early August project that captured a snapshot of heat disparity across the Reno-Sparks area. What the data reveals is startling.

Amazon tops list of companies tapping into taxpayer-funded Nevada Medicaid

Workers aren’t booted from the insurance program for low-income families if they have a job, but critics say it’s a quiet subsidy for profitable corporations.

Lombardo State of the State takeaways: Permanent teacher raises, stricter theft laws

The Republican governor also pledged to split the Department of Health and Human Services and increase education accountability measures, as he kicks off the final legislative session before his 2026 re-election bid.