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Coronavirus Contextualized, 52nd edition: Cases, hospitalizations continue to climb as Clark County imposes narrow employee mask mandate

COVID-19 cases continued to climb this week to levels the state hasn’t seen since early February. As of Thursday, an average of 830 new COVID-19 cases in Nevada were reported each day over the last seven days.

Indy Q&A: Wildfire experts on why smoke, fires in Nevada are only getting worse

Every summer, skies in the West fill with smoke as fires burn around Nevada and neighboring states.

DETR’s transition to new unemployment benefits debit card provider creates obstacles for some

Since Nevada switched to a new unemployment benefits debit card provider, delivery issues with the new cards and at-times conflicting messages have left some claimants frustrated and waiting for weeks for benefits.

In Las Vegas visit, Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra claims new federal surge team will meet challenges to vaccinate remaining Nevadans

“This is now a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Becerra told masked public health officials on Thursday. “If you’re dying today in America from COVID, it’s because essentially you’re unvaccinated.”

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Judge to decide whether lithium mine activity can move forward as Fort McDermitt tribal members, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony seek to intervene

U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du’s courtroom was filled to capacity for an important hearing on a lithium project at the center of an energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward electrification.

As Clark County brings back partial mask mandate, still no decision from school districts, colleges on student mask requirements

As school supplies fill store aisles and August inches closer, it’s unclear whether face masks should be added to back-to-school shopping lists.

Elko County commissioners vote to ban use of vaccine passports by any county agency

Elko County commissioners passed a resolution on Wednesday prohibiting the use of “vaccine passports” by any county agency and strongly discouraging the use of such passports by other agencies and businesses in the county.

Federal judge orders Station Casinos to negotiate a Culinary Union contract covering Red Rock Resort

A federal judge in Las Vegas has ordered Station Casinos to negotiate a contract with the Culinary Union that covers more than 1,350 non-gaming employees at the company’s Red Rock Resort.

Coronavirus Coverage

Data News

Gaming Control Board says casino employees must comply with Clark County mask mandate

The Gaming Control Board said casinos and other gaming establishments are included in the mask mandate approved Tuesday by the Clark County Commission that requires all employees to wear a face covering while working in a public space.

State police union wins salary bump through collective bargaining arbitration, litigation possible

The arbitrator’s decision requires the union’s collective bargaining agreement with the state to include a requested two percent raise, annual bonuses for longevity and pay incentives for officers with associate or bachelor’s degrees.

Indy Gaming: Fitch Ratings revises its outlook toward Las Vegas casino recovery, sees rebound by 2023

Fitch Ratings says Las Vegas will return to pre-pandemic levels by 2023, a year ahead of previous projections.

Clark County commissioners vote to require all employees to wear masks indoors at work

The new mask mandate will apply to all businesses in incorporated cities and unincorporated parts of the county and takes effect at the stroke of midnight on Thursday.

Dropping jobless rate triggers end of unemployment benefit extension program; some 300 claimants to be affected

The program ticks on in states with high unemployment, and off when states achieve a three-month average rate below 8 percent.

A’s reject terms of stadium vote in Oakland, will continue exploring Southern Nevada relocation

The Oakland A's may have taken step closer to a move to Southern Nevada after Oakland's city council approved a term sheet the team finds unworkable.

UNR, national laboratory to partner on research initiatives with a focus on climate change

Top administrators from UNR and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory announced a new partnership Tuesday afternoon.

Shift to remote work could exacerbate water shortage as stay-at-home order tied to increased use in Henderson

A study published in June by economists at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas found that the state’s pandemic-related stay-at-home order issued in March 2020 led to a significant increase in water usage in Henderson, driven by a rise in residential water consumption.

Clark County Commission to discuss possible COVID-19 mitigation measures, including employee mask mandate, at emergency meeting

Clark County commissioners will meet in an emergency session on Tuesday afternoon to discuss putting in place new pandemic mitigation measures as COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the region.

Mining oversight board still without members one year after Sisolak said he planned to make appointments

The mining oversight board, set up by the Legislature in 2011 and modeled after the Gaming Commission, held its last recorded meeting in December 2015. Today, all seven board seats on the commission are vacant.

As Lombardo campaigns for governor in sheriff’s uniform, state law, ethics commission guidance remain hazy on propriety of doing so

It’s no secret Joe Lombardo is running for governor on his record as Clark County Sheriff, but state law is unclear about whether he can use his sheriff's uniform and badge in campaign materials.

Many questions remain as A's seek to follow Raiders to a billion-dollar stadium in Southern Nevada

Less than five years after the Raiders convinced Southern Nevada to help build the NFL team a $1.9 billion stadium, baseball's Oakland A's are exploring a similar move and request.