A debate on charter school teacher raises bubbled to the surface last week after legislators approved a budget without the pay hikes. Democrats say they're still on the table, while Gov. Joe Lombardo said it is a must for any education budget.

In this edition of Behind the Bar, we explore whether Lombardo's bills are being introduced unusually late and Senate leader questions Medicaid cuts.

Recently, a Republican candidate winning statewide in Nevada was tough, and winning as a presidential candidate was almost impossible. The difference in 2024 is that President-elect Donald Trump built a coalition that had been as elusive as a hole in one.

The Nevada Independent explore's Harris' and Rogich's views on key legislative issues in a race that could be key to Democrats gaining a supermajority in the Senate.

In the open seat, Democrat Ryan Hampton, an addiction recovery advocate is facing off against Lisa Cole, a lawyer and the vice president of an economic development small business.

An analysis found 26 new PACs and political nonprofits were registered between April 1 and the June 11 primary. The groups raked in more than $1.6 million in that period, which only became public this month.

Across 10 contested legislative races throughout the second quarter, Democratic and Republican candidates each led the fundraising race in five of them.

It's not everything, but an analysis of fundraising since 2016 revealed more than two thirds of winners had an early fundraising lead.

For years, Nevada Democrats have dominated in fundraising and state legislative races. But the first-term Republican governor is looking to turn the tide.

Nevada does not have off-year elections, but last week's results may hint at some trends that could affect elections in the Silver State come 2024.

Four Democrats have ties to the nonprofits. Republicans accused them of corruption, as the GOP hopes to fend off a Democratic legislative supermajority.

In an hourlong interview, Gov. Joe Lombardo addressed a wide range of topics including the Oakland A's move to Nevada and his K-12 accountability initiative.

The decision opens a seat in a key suburban Las Vegas swing district next year — one of only a handful thought possible to flip from Democrat to Republican — as Republicans and Gov. Joe Lombardo aim to stop Democrats from taking a veto-proof supermajority of legislative seats ahead of the 2025 session. 

Sen. Roberta Lange (D-Las Vegas), chair of the Senate Education Committee, told The Nevada Independent on Tuesday that her committee would not have time to hear both bills ahead of a key bill deadline on Friday.

After a major education funding approval came down to party lines, an esoteric budget committee vote has turned into rich political fodder.

$808 million is set aside for 29 construction projects, with another $259 million budgeted for maintenance and the remainder spread across more than a dozen planning and other statewide projects.

With the clock ticking to the end of the fiscal year in June, a state worker pay bill remains in legislative limbo — a stall that Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), the bill's sponsor, says has come because the governor's staff has indicated they are unable to implement it.

Just over half of Nevadans say they approve of Gov. Joe Lombardo's job performance four months into his term — even as a fifth of Nevadans say they still haven't made up their mind on the state's new Republican governor. 

In a rare move, Gov. Joe Lombardo testified before state lawmakers on Thursday in support of his bill revising a contentious 2019 restorative justice law that critics say limits student discipline.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is fending off attacks from his Republican rival over his administration's fast-tracking the license for a COVID-testing company with ties to a political donor.