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

Love of working outdoors sparked career for Nevada's new state forester

When Ryan Shane saw an ad for a forester with the Nevada Division of Forestry, it felt as if the job was made for him. That was nearly 20 years ago; now, he will lead the division as state forester and fire warden.

Masked federal agents wait outside an immigration courtroom on July 8, 2025, in New York.

ICE has been deporting pregnant and postpartum immigrants. Now we know how many.

Between Jan. 1, 2025, and Feb. 16, 2026, 363 pregnant, postpartum and nursing immigrants were deported, DHS reported in response to questions submitted last fall.

Nevada among states suing EPA over repeal of 'endangerment' finding key to climate fight

The 2009 endangerment finding determined greenhouse gases threaten public health and underpinned climate regulations of cars, power plants and more.

Who’s running? Nevada 2026 candidate filing period opens

The candidate filing period opened Monday and ends March 13.

Exclusive

Lawsuit seeks to disqualify North Las Vegas mayoral front-runner Scott Black over term limits

A victory for the plaintiff, who seeks clarity on the 12-year term limit, could benefit Black's closest competitor, who chairs the state Democratic Party.

Nevada officials approve health insurance premium increases for many state workers

Those enrolled in two health insurance plans will see considerable increases to premiums starting in July. Monthly premium increases as high as $380 will be coming to enrollees on a plan that offers more coverage.

What to know about applying to Nevada private schools (and how they differ from public schools)

Private schools enroll fewer than 5 percent of K-12 students in Nevada, but their small class sizes and specialized offerings — which can include religious education — contribute to their appeal.

Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony broke ethics law by promoting women's sports task force

The Nevada Commission on Ethics determined on Wednesday that Republican Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony violated state ethics laws by using state resources to support a task force aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women's sports.

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Indy Elections

This newsletter takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives.

Indy Environment

Reporter Amy Alonzo peels back the curtain on her environmental beat and curates some of the best land, water and energy journalism in the West in this monthly newsletter.

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.

Indy Education

Reporter Rocio Hernandez takes readers inside Nevada’s K-12 school system, delivering the latest education policy news and exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in this twice-monthly newsletter.

Nevada Cesar Chavez Day celebration altered amid abuse allegations against labor leader

At least one Nevada organization is changing a planned celebration of Cesar Chavez, the late civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America, in light of new allegations that he was involved in the abuse of young women.

Sue Wagner, first woman elected lieutenant governor of Nevada, dies at 86

Wagner was a champion of women's rights and held a variety of elected and appointed roles over her long career, including in both chambers of the state Legislature and on the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Indy Elections

Cortez Masto: 'The American people need to know' why we're at war with Iran

Plus: Our elections team tells you which candidates you need to be watching.

What to know after Nevada's 2026 candidate filing period wrapped

The filing period ushered a few eyebrow-raising candidates into Nevada's competitive races.

Vegas judge tossed ACLU suit over 287(g). What's next in fight against ICE partnerships?

The lawsuit marked one of the most substantial challenges against 287(g) collaborations in the state, which play an outsize role in the deportation system in Nevada. At least three other jurisdictions in the state have entered agreements since the start of the second Trump administration.

Bella’s Hacienda Ranch, a legal brothel in Wells, on Tuesday, Aug. 1 2023.

Indy Explains

Sex workers at a Nevada brothel are making headlines. How do legal brothels in Nevada work?

Nevada is the only state in the union where it's legal to pay for sex. Read our explainer on how the brothel industry emerged and how it's evolved.

Content creation is a growing part of legal sex work. It has an unexpected dark side.

Sex workers are expected to be social media personalities. They worry it's made them vulnerable to exploitation, by brothel managers or through AI replicas.

Fact Brief

Did Nevada have one of the highest shares of youth turnout in the 2024 general election?

Find out in our latest fact brief.

Wildflowers are blooming in the driest place in North America — but not for long

Thousands of long-dormant flowers have popped through the desert soil, transforming the barren landscape in carpets of gold. The bloom is a result of steady rain in the fall and winter, and experts don't expect the blooms to last long.

Federal agents escort a man to a transport bus after he was detained.

ICE plans detention warehouse in Salt Lake City, raising fears about Nevada impact

The purchase of the warehouse could significantly bolster detention capacity in the region — ICE's Salt Lake Field Office oversees agency operations in Nevada, Montana and Idaho. The office, led by former U.S. Customs and Border Protection official Brian Henkey, is charged with making the majority of ICE arrests and detentions in the region.

Washoe County superintendent says decision to resign 2 years early was purely personal

The Washoe County School District has struggled with superintendent turnover. In 2024, Joe Ernst became the district's fifth superintendent within 10 years.

Iran war spikes Nevada gas prices; Lombardo asks California to delay emission changes

Costs at the pump are up 14 percent, and the governor says Nevada is 'structurally dependent' on California providing necessary fuel for residents and visitors.