The Indy celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by profiling two Latino-owned businesses in Nevada and their impact on their communities.  

This week, host Alex Couraud and reporter Jannelle Calderon explore the history of Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the diversity that exists within the Latino community in Nevada. Alex chats with Gerzon Chaves, owner of Tiempo Latino Dance Company in Reno. Jannelle sits down with Ernest Madrid, owner of Chops barbershop in Las Vegas to better understand what Latinidad looks like in the Silver State.

Host

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Jannelle Calderón - @NewsyJan

Guests

Gerzon Chaves - @tiempo_latino_dance_company

Vanesa de la Cruz - @VanesadelaCruz_

Ernest Mardid - @chops_barbershop_dtlv

The Indy goes to Fallon for the annual Cantaloupe Festival, hosts a live event on the plight of local news and discusses Latino voter trends.

This week, host Alex Couraud and reporter Carly Sauvageau head out to the annual Fallon Cantaloupe Festival and County Fair. After that, we have a short segment from our event on the plight of local news. At the end of the show, Alex and reporter Jannelle Calderón talk with Indy CEO Jon Ralston about Latino voters.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Carly Sauvageau - @csauvageau_1998

Jon Ralston - @RalstonReports

Jannelle Calderón - @NewsyJan

Read the stories

IndyTalks: The Plight of Local News

Fallon Cantaloupe Festival stems from hardy melon with roots in Churchill County

Analysis: Lack of GOP gains among NV Latino voters boosted Cortez Masto in 2022

MGM faces fallout after a major cyberattack, Republicans change messaging around vote-by-mail, and CCSD faces off with teachers union.

This week, host Joey Lovato sits down with reporter Howard Stutz to talk about a cyberattack that MGM Resorts International faced, slowing hotel services and interfering with company operations. After that, D.C. reporter Gabby Birenbaum discusses a change in strategy from Republicans in regard to messaging about vote-by-mail. At the end of the show, co-host Jacob Solis and reporter Jannelle Calderón join Joey to go over all of the chaos and tension between the Clark County Education Association teachers union and the Clark County School District.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Guests

Howard Stutz - @howardstutz

Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbomb

Jannelle Calderón - @NewsyJan

Read the stories

Caesars acknowledges it was victim of a cyberattack, says operations were unaffected

Top Nevada Republicans reverse course, urge party to vote early or by mail in 2024

Clark County teachers union files appeal after judge declares mass absences an illegal strike

Judge: Clark County teacher absences that caused school closures constitute illegal strike

What happens after Burning Man, Republicans face confusion before the primary/caucus and a quick news round-up.

This week, host Joey Lovato talks with AP reporter Gabe Stern, who helped cover the aftermath of a very wet and muddy Burning Man this year. After that, D.C. reporter Gabby Birenbaum explains the complicated situation happening in Nevada because Republicans may have both a primary and a caucus next year. At the end of the show, co-host Jacob Solis joins Joey to chat with editor Michelle Rindels about a cornucopia of news topics to get you caught up on everything going on in Nevada.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Guests

Gabe Stern - @gabestern326

Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbomb

Michelle Rindels - @MichelleRindels

Read the stories

No longer stranded, tens of thousands clean up and head home after Burning Man floods

DeSantis super PAC calls Nevada GOP primary 'rigged' for Trump; other candidates shy away from state

Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow won’t run for re-election amid scrutiny over nonprofit ties

Culinary sets resort industry strike vote for the end of September if contract talks stall

Biden wants cannabis lower on drug list; Nevada patients say proposal doesn’t go far enough

Teacher-led PAC files petition to block public funding for A’s stadium in Vegas

An update on the A’s coming to Las Vegas, the effects of nuclear testing on “downwinders,” and a new elections newsletter.

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis chat with reporter Howard Stutz about the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas. Then, host Alex Couraud chats with reporter Carly Sauvageau about her story on “downwinders” — people who were affected by atomic testing in Nevada in the 50s and 60s. At the end of the show, Jacob talks about the new “Indy Elections” newsletter as well as what to be paying attention to as campaign season gets underway.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Guests

Howard Stutz - @howardstutz

Carly Sauvageau - @csauvageau_1998

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Read the stories

‘It absolutely hurts:’ Oakland fans lament possible loss of the A’s to Las Vegas

Indy Elections

Hurricane Hilary’s effect on Nevada, Las Vegas’ manufacturing industry problem and The Indy’s new education newsletter.

This week, hosts Joey Lovato talks with reporter Amy Alonzo about Hurricane Hilary’s effect on Nevada. After that, host Alex Couraud talks with reporter Eric Neugeboren about how the manufacturing industry in Southern Nevada is struggling to find land to build on. At the end of the show, reporter Rocío Hernández talks about her new education newsletter, “Indy Education,” and about back-to-school season.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Amy Alonzo

Eric Neugeboren - @eric_neugeboren

Rocío Hernández - @rociohzz

Read the stories

As Nevada deals with Hilary’s fallout, experts warn of more big storms in future 

Indy Education: Fallon school bus driver celebrates 55 years behind the wheel

How a 1990 campaign keeps abortion legal today in Nevada, challenges to expanding record sealing for low-level convictions after a veto, and the latest on Opportunity Scholarships.

This week, host Alex Couraud talks with reporter Noel Sims about her historical research into a referendum passed in the ‘90s that helped secure abortion rights in Nevada today. After that, reporter Naoka Foreman explains how large-scale record sealing has been taken off of the table for now, making it harder for people with smaller convictions like marijuana possession to move forward. At the end of the show, reporter and co-host Jacob Solis goes over the newest developments with Opportunity Scholarships and how lack of new funding has left many families in limbo.

Host

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Guests

Noel Sims - @noelrhodes_

Naoka Foreman - @naokadforeman

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Read the stories

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/campaign-for-choice-inside-the-1990-effort-thats-protecting-nevada-abortion-access-

todayhttps://thenevadaindependent.com/article/after-veto-clark-county-leaders-regroup-on-automatic-sealing-of-cannabis-conviction-records

https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lawmakers-reject-lombardo-plan-to-boost-opportunity-scholarships

How the federal government sells off public lands, North Las Vegas uses AI to help translate during meetings, and Gov. Lombardo fights an ethics commission fine.

This week, host Joey Lovato talks with reporter Gabby Birenbaum about a big story she’s been working on about how Congress privatizes federal land for Nevada's urban areas to expand and what deals are being made for that to happen. After that, host Alex Couraud talks with reporter Jannelle Calderón about the City of North Las Vegas using AI to translate for public commenters during meetings. At the end of the show, reporter Tabitha Mueller goes over the ongoing saga between the Nevada Commission on Ethics and Gov. Joe Lombardo for wearing his sheriff's uniform and badge during his run for office.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbomb

Jannelle Calderón - @NewsyJan

Tabitha Mueller - @tabitha_mueller

Read the stories

Conservation and development: Nevada's unique public lands process draws renewed attention

'Phenomenal boon': How Nevada's signature public lands law ushered in growth, conservation

North Las Vegas is using AI to translate public meetings in real time

Lombardo to fight ethics commission fine, censure in court

Host Joey Lovato sits down with fellow reporters, the attorney general, public defenders and harm reduction advocates to recap how the Legislature tackled fentanyl.

In the third installment of the Facing the Fentanyl Crisis series, host Joey Lovato talks with Indy reporter Sean Golonka and AP reporter Gabe Stern about what actions the Nevada Legislature took to address the drug, as well as praise and criticism for their moves. Joey and Sean also talked with Attorney General Aaron Ford, public defender John Piro and Overdose Data to Action Program Manager Elyse Monroy.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Guests

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Gabe Stern - @gabestern326

Aaron Ford - @AaronDFordNV

Elyse Monroy - @ElyseMonroy

John Piro - @JohnPiroNV

Listen to the rest of the series

Facing the Fentanyl Crisis: Politics and practicality in Nevada

Facing the Fentanyl Crisis: Nevada’s search for solutions

Host Alex Couraud and co-host Joey Lovato report on the psychedelic drug psilocybin in Nevada, taking listeners on a journey through the research, history and legalization efforts of “magic mushrooms” both in the state and nationally. 

In June, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed into law SB242, a measure authorizing a study into the therapeutic uses of psilocybin, the psychoactive component of “magic mushrooms.” To understand this further, reporter Alex Couraud talks with leaders in the world of psychedelic medicines, including veteran John Dalton, expert Kate Cotter, researchers Rochelle and Dustin Hines and Kelsey Armeni, and Nevada lobbyist Scot Rutledge. 

Foster care faces a shortage of homes in rural Nevada, The Indy analyzes the success rate of legislators' bills for the 2023 session and street vendors in Nevada get legitimized.

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Alex Couraud hear from KFF Health News reporter Jazmin Orozco Rodrigez about her story on the foster care system in rural Nevada and how they were having to place children in hotel rooms for a time. After that, reporter Sean Golonka talks about legislators' voting records in the 2023 legislative session and looks at how successful lawmakers were at passing their bills. At the end of the show, reporter Jannelle Calderón goes over a bill that legitimizes street vendors as actual businesses.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez - @jazmin1orozco

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Jannelle Calderón - @NewsyJan

Read the stories

Foster kids in casino hotels? It happened in Nevada amid widespread foster home shortages

Analysis: Which lawmakers were most likely to go against their party?

Analysis: Which lawmakers had the most, fewest bills passed in the 2023 session?

Aguilar invites street food vendors to join conversation about establishing regulations

The CCEA and CCSD face an impasse in contract negotiations, data sheds light on voter turnout in Nevada and libraries in Washoe County face criticisms.

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Alex Couraud hear from education reporter Rocío Hernández about the ongoing contract negotiations between the Clark County Education Association and the Clark County School District. Then, reporter Sean Golonka chats with Alex about new data that sheds some light on election turnout and voter registration. At the end of the show, Joey chats with reporter Noel Sims about a group that is upset with Washoe County libraries.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Rocío Hernández - @rociohzz

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Noel Sims - @noelrhodes_

Read the stories

National election survey: Nevada had middling turnout, mass unused mail ballots in 2022

Amid outrage over LGBTQ+ content, Washoe officials say libraries should ‘offend everyone’

The struggle to find a new higher ed chancellor, Sam Brown announces his run for Senate and Trump visits Las Vegas.

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis discuss the Nevada System of Higher Education’s ongoing search efforts for a new chancellor after the Board of Regents decided not to move forward with any candidates the previous search turned up. After that, reporter Gabby Birenbaum chats about Republican Sam Brown’s announcement that he’ll be running for Senate against incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen. At the end of the show, Alex Couraud chats with Eric Neugeboren, The Indy’s new intern, to get to know him better and to ask about some of his latest assignments, including a Trump campaign stop in Las Vegas.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Guests

Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbomb

Eric Neugeboren - @eric_neugeboren

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Read the stories

After higher ed chancellor search stalls, questions over qualifications remain

Army veteran Sam Brown enters U.S. Senate race

Trump blasts DeSantis, repeats false election claims in first Las Vegas visit of 2024 campaign

Indy staff participates in a lively debate between Northern and Southern Nevada, and one team member debates with the fine folks over at City Cast Las Vegas.

This week, hosts Alex Couraud and Jacob Solis chat about their preferences in Northern and Southern Nevada, and then they jump over to a debate recorded a few weeks ago between regular IndyMatters host Joey Lovato and City Cast Las Vegas host Dayvid Figler. 

Host

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud_

Guests

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Dayvid Figler - @OyVegas

Vogue Robinson - @Vogue_316

Original Debate on City Cast Las Vegas

Spotify, Apple, Google, More

The Indy explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ community members who live in rural Nevada, focusing on how smaller, rural places can be shaped by trans perspectives.

This week, host Alex Couraud talks with Evie La Rue, Kimi Cole, Nathan Robertson and Fernando Gonzalez about their experiences as LGBTQ+ folks in Goldfield, Carson City, Ely and Reno. And she dives into recent anti trans legislation that has been introduced across the country at the same time that pro-trans bills that have been signed into law in Nevada. 

Host

Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud

Guests

Evie La Rue 

Kimi Cole - @kimicolenv

Nathan Robertson 

Fernando Gonzalez - @shaniatwampson

The Indy’s legislative team goes over the entire 82nd session of the Legislature, from education to criminal justice, the budget and more.  

This week, host Joey Lovato sits down with legislative reporters Tabitha Mueller, Jacob Solis and Sean Golonka to go over the entire session. They’ll discuss the budget, K-12 education, higher education, criminal justice, the A’s, health care, the economy, elections, environmental bills, vetoes and more, plus analyze what it all means.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Guests

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Tabitha Mueller - @tabitha_mueller

Read the stories

NV Indy legislative page and stories

The regular legislative session wrapped up, but now a second special session is underway. Learn about the action in Carson City, The Indy’s two new team members, and the headway the Nevada delegation is making in Washington.  

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Alex Couraud chat with legislative team members Jacob Solis, Sean Golonka and Tabitha Mueller about what is going on in the Legislature as a second special session is underway. They also sit down with new Indy team members Amy Alonzo and Noel Sims to catch up on their reporting. Then they check in with reporter Gabby Birenbaum through all the smoke in D.C. about the debt limit, the delegation, the Basque Fry, and the Trump indictment. 

Hosts

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @Alexcouraud

Guests

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Tabitha Mueller - @tabitha_mueller

Amy Alonzo - Author page

Noel Sims - @noelrhodes_

Gabby Birenbaum @birenbomb

Read the stories

Conservationists, ranchers split on BLM’s Public Lands Rule. What does it mean for Nevada?

Audit calls for Washoe County elections overhaul, but some question the review itself

Amended A’s stadium bill would restrict location, resurrect two vetoed bills

The 82nd session of the Nevada Legislature has wrapped up, but there are still a few things left to do, and Team Indy has all you need to know.  

This week, host Joey Lovato chats with legislative team members Jacob Solis and Sean Golonka about the special legislative session Nevada is now in and how we got here. Also, co-host Alex Couraud runs through the building on the last day of the regular legislative session to get vignettes of lawmakers, lobbyists, reporters and staffers as they wrap up the 120-day law-making process.

Hosts

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @Alexcouraud

Guests

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Read the stories

thenevadaindependent.com/article/legislature-strikes-special-session-deal-advances-last-budget-bill

thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-calls-special-session-for-oakland-as-stadium-bill

Legislative reporters discuss the final days of the session, reporter Daniel Rothberg talks about protecting workers in extreme heat and we get an update on the federal debt ceiling.  

This week, hosts Joey Lovato and new Indy team member Alex Couraud chat with the legislative team as they prepare for the end of the 82nd session. Then, reporter Daniel Rothberg discusses extreme heat in Nevada and a failed effort to provide workers with more protections. At the end of the show, Alex and Joey are joined by D.C. reporter Gabby Birenbaum to talk about the debt ceiling.

Hosts

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_

Alex Couraud - @Alexcouraud

Guests

Tabitha Mueller - @tabitha_mueller

Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv

Sean Golonka - @s_golonka

Daniel Rothberg - @danielrothberg

Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbomb

Read the stories

thenevadaindependent.com/article/live-updates-nevada-legislatures-second-house-passage-deadline

thenevadaindependent.com/article/d-c-download-amodei-leads-introduction-of-legislative-branch-funding-bill

Part two of a deep dive into the fentanyl crisis in Nevada: looking at the harm, effects and proposed solutions to the crisis.

This week, host Joey Lovato has a story months in the making looking into the deadly fentanyl crisis that Nevada is facing. Policymakers, policy experts, law enforcement, harm reduction advocates and those struggling with addiction discuss what the drug is, how it works and whether proposed bills will help curb the effects of the drug in Nevada. In this second part of the two-part series, Joey talks with harm reduction advocates to discuss realistic solutions to save lives, and talks with a recovering addict about what helped him get clean.

Host

Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_