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

'Unprecedented:' 2 Las Vegas attorneys will become judges after no one filed against them

Colleen Brown and Emily McFarling credit jump-starting their candidacies early. Longtime court observers said it was a first-time event.

Merging Washoe's fire departments flopped in the past. Here's why they may try again.

Would firefighting in Washoe County be cheaper and more effective if its three different fire departments were combined? It reemerged in last year's legislative session when legislation passed requiring a study examining the possible merging of Sparks Fire Department, Reno Fire Department and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District into one entity.

Employers trust them in their homes. But can immigrant nannies and cleaners trust their employers?

The past year has reshaped what it means to be a domestic worker in the United States. Few sectors of the workforce have a higher concentration of people living in the country without authorization, and almost all of them are women of color.

Election Preview

Competitive Nevada treasurer primary has Democratic Party leadership picking sides

Head of an office with about 45 staffers, the treasurer serves as Nevada's chief financial officer. They are charged with overseeing state investments, including a portfolio of about $7 billion, maintaining records of unclaimed property and helping decide when to issue bonds.

Water to surge into drought-depleted Lake Powell but at costs elsewhere

A decades-long drought has Lake Powell at just 23 percent capacity and approaching the point where water won't be able to flow into its turbines without air causing damage.

A Smoke and Mirrors cannabis lounge staff member displays a mocktail and a selection of cannabis.

Nevada could reap tax benefits from reclassification of medical marijuana

Trump's order shifting state-licensed cannabis to a less-dangerous drug category provides a tax break for operators and eases research barriers.

Chris Hicks and Wes Duncan (Courtesy campaigns)

Election Preview

Washoe County's top prosecutor has a challenger for the first time. It's getting messy.

District Attorney Chris Hicks (R) is squaring off against Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan (R) in the June primary. Because they are the only candidates, the winner of the primary will automatically win the general election.

Nevada makes small gains in pre-K enrollment, but still lags behind national leaders

More than 4,000 children were enrolled in the state's pre-K program, about 700 more than last year, as the state's investment increased after the 2023 legislative session.

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The Daily Indy

Sent each morning with a quote of the day, notes from the editors, our latest stories, information about upcoming events and featured social media posts.

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

Written by land and water reporter Daniel Rothberg, 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.

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.

Indy Gaming

Eyesore or game changer? The latest on Hard Rock's Guitar Hotel tower rising over Strip

The chairman of the privately held company renovating The Mirage into Hard Rock Las Vegas provided a few details on the development last week in Atlantic City.

Election Preview

In GOP primary for Nevada attorney general, newcomer challenges familiar face

The race so far has focused more on the candidates' backgrounds, electability and opinions on President Donald Trump than on specific policy positions.

Want to vote by mail? Nevada officials say to do it a week early to avoid snafus

State election officials say people should use ballot drop boxes if they plan to use their mail ballot to vote. However, they added that if people want to put their ballot in the mail, they should send it early to ensure it gets counted.

Indy Elections

Did Settelmeyer vote to give undocumented immigrants driver's licenses?

In today's edition of Indy Elections: Who had the best Q1 fundraising? Plus: Settelmeyer's team addresses his record on driving authorizations for undocumented immigrants and what Trump and O'Donnell talked about in Vegas.

The front of the Nevada Legislature building in Carson City on Nov. 14, 2025.

Nevada candidates got millions in campaign donations in 2026. Who is backing them?

The Indy broke down the numbers in notable races, including two incumbent state lawmakers down to union-backed challengers and close contests in Washoe County.

Election Preview

How a Clark County GOP primary became the ugliest race in Nevada

Two Republican candidates for Clark County Commission are jockeying for a seat held by a Democrat. The Indy takes a deeper look.

White Pine County School District Superintendent Adam Young, right, outside White Pine Middle School on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019. (Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent).

Indy Education

'A little bit hard to believe:' Century-old Ely schools to be replaced after 2-decade push

The White Pine County School District is one step closer to building its first new K-8 public school in Ely in more than two decades after a state board approved its request for a $98 million grant at its April 7 meeting.

New consumption lounge in Vegas a bright spot in lackluster Nevada cannabis market

Society Elevated, which is connected to The Grove, opened ahead of 4/20. Its proximity to the airport, UNLV and a busy nightclub area could draw in business.

Can Alexis Hill do the impossible? On the trail with the underdog Democrat for Nevada governor

Outraised and ignored by Attorney General Aaron Ford, the two-term Washoe commissioner is hoping her grassroots campaign can make Nevada history.

Bad at math? A new approach in Nevada colleges is easing pain for some students

Officials say the new approach is returning promising results as the rates of students passing entry-level English and math courses are higher now.

States change custody laws to keep children of detained immigrants out of foster care

The federal government doesn't track how many children have entered foster care because of immigration enforcement actions, leaving it unclear how often it happens.