The G3Wire

January 10, 2025

In the wake of the devastating California wildfires, Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto plans to reintroduce a proposal in Congress to better fund fire departments, interagency coordination and recovery efforts. In a landmark decision for property rights, a Washoe County judge has ruled that Nevada law enforcement cannot exploit a federal program to circumvent state laws designed to protect property owners. The ruling effectively closes what the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) had argued was a legal loophole, allowing officers to seize property under state law and process it federally while receiving up to 80% of the proceeds. And the Thacker Pass project, set to begin operations in 2026, aims to produce 40,000 metric tons of lithium annually, potentially reducing US reliance on China for lithium refining. These Nevada news links and so much more below!

Updates from the Governor’s Office

Office of the Governor Announces Date for the 2025 State of the State Address

The Nevada Office of the Governor announced that the 2025 State of the State Address will take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 6:00 PM. (gov.nv.gov)

State and Local Government Updates

Clark County buys back Sam Boyd Stadium site from UNLV for $5M

Clark County Commissioners Monday unanimously approved spending $5 million t0 acquire the 69-acre Sam Boyd Stadium site from UNLV. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

UNLV center for addressing ‘power-based’ violence awarded federal grant

In October, the Care Center announced that it was awarded $400,000 in grant money from the federal Office on Violence Against Women. The grant will be used to hire additional staff members and create a Coordinated Community Response Team, meant to better help students seeking services through the office. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Government caught between tribes in casino battle

Nearly a decade ago, members of a Northern California Native American tribe, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, made a big bet when they bought 160 untouched acres north of San Francisco to erect a $700 million casino resort it had no approval to build. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Washoe County schools’ new cellphone policy starts today. What parents need to know

The Washoe County School District officially launched its new cellphone policy on Monday. Marketed as “Phone Away & Learn Today,” the program aims to get students focused on instruction and not their phones. (Reno Gazette Journal) 

Nevada sales tax rate: Which counties are highest and how does the state rank nationally?

Nevada ranks among the states with the highest sales tax, and its two biggest counties — Clark and Washoe — have the highest sales tax rates in the state. (Reno Gazette Journal) 

Clark County commissioners take office oath

Three incumbent Clark County commissioners and a new member were sworn in to the board on Monday before it held its first meeting of 2025. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Former city manager set to take over LVGEA–Fretwell becomes interim executive of economic alliance

The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance has appointed a former city manager and Formula 1 official as its interim CEO. (Las Vegas Review Journal) 

Analysis: How did Nevada use its $2.7 billion in American Rescue Plan funds?

The state prioritized spending on housing, health care, education and building back up state operations post-pandemic, according to a Nevada Independent analysis of the more than 400 allocations of ARP money. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada sues Kroger over crisis–Move aims to ensure opioid settlement share

The state of Nevada is suing grocery giant Kroger, alleging that its Smith’s grocery store pharmacies “flooded” the state with opioids knowing that overprescribing of the synthetic drugs was contributing to a growing crisis, according to a lawsuit. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Cities look to pick up pace for planning, development

The three largest municipalities in Southern Nevada said they’ve been trying to speed up the land-use planning and development processes as the private sector pleads with local government for quicker turnarounds for both residential and commercial projects. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

4 finalists remain for Washoe County School Board seat left open by Joe Rodriguez

It comes after a special meeting Tuesday to hear from eight candidates vying to fill the seat left open by Trustee Joe Rodriguez. Rodriguez resigned after being elected to the Sparks City Council in November. (Reno Gazette Journal)

School Board chooses VP as new president–Bustamante Adams to be leader in 2025

The Clark County School Board elected current Vice President Irene Bustamante Adams to serve as its president for the 2025 calendar year.  It also voted for Trustee Brenda Zamora as vice president and Trustee Tameka Henry to be the clerk. (Las Vegas Review Journal) 

Lieutenant governor’s new task force continues debate over transgender student athletes

A new task force announced Monday by Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony (R) will support a bill barring transgender athletes from women’s sports and block them from competing against cisgender female athletes. (The Nevada Independent)

Federal Updates

15 bills Nevada’s federal delegation got passed last Congress

It’s easy to complain about gridlock and bureaucracy in Washington D.C., but Nevada’s federal delegation managed to push forward a slate of new laws in the last session of Congress, which concluded Friday, from expediting federal land purchases to securing funds for a new VA hospital in Reno. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

DOJ reaches agreement with Nevada over treatment of children with behavioral health issues

The U.S. Department of Justice announced an agreement Friday with Nevada in which the state promised to improve services for children who have behavioral health disabilities. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Biden signs bill expanding Social Security benefits for retired teachers, public employees

President Joe Biden has expanded Social Security benefits for more than 2 million Americans by signing broadly bipartisan legislation that Congress approved late last year. (Nevada Current)

Nevada Democrats join House Republicans in backing controversial immigration bill

While a majority of congressional Democrats were against the bill, all three of Nevada’s House Democrats, joined by Republican Mark Amodei, voted for passage. (Las Vegas Sun)

What a Trump presidency means for Biden-approved federal spending in Nevada

Despite the laws authorizing the spending passing in 2021 and 2022, the slow speed of the federal bureaucracy and the lengthy planning processes around grants mean that many projects have yet to begin implementation before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office later this month. (The Nevada Independent) 

NV House Dems vote with Republicans for immigration bill critics warn ‘denies due process’

Nevada’s Democratic House delegation backed federal legislation that allows undocumented immigrants to be detained for nonviolent offenses like shoplifting, and at least one of Nevada Democratic senators says she’ll vote for the bill when it is heard in that chamber. (Nevada Current)

Nevada’s Cortez Masto to reintroduce bill to fund fight against wildfires

In the wake of the devastating California wildfires, Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto plans to reintroduce a proposal in Congress to better fund fire departments, interagency coordination and recovery efforts. (msn.com)

Nevada court blocks police from using federal loophole for civil forfeiture

In a landmark decision for property rights, a Washoe County judge has ruled that Nevada law enforcement cannot exploit a federal program to circumvent state laws designed to protect property owners. The ruling effectively closes what the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) had argued was a legal loophole, allowing officers to seize property under state law and process it federally while receiving up to 80% of the proceeds. (msn.com)

Articles of Interest

Dams in quake-prone Nevada are vulnerable. Near Tahoe, the state is shoring one up.

The state oversees more than 600 dams, and about a quarter could threaten lives if they break. Recent earthquakes offer a nudge toward reinforcing them. (The Nevada Independent)

Former Sen. Richard Bryan reflects on decision to leave Senate in new book

“I recognized that having grandchildren would give me a last opportunity to experience some of the joys that I had missed with my own children.” (The Nevada Independent)

Indy Education: How one Sparks school is getting banner results from students with special needs

Florence Drake Elementary School in Sparks is focused on building strong relationships with the school community that have helped staff identify and address what students and their families need to succeed, said the school’s principal. (The Nevada Independent)

CES unveils new wave

Many of the more than 5,000 media members attending CES in Las Vegas this week got their first glimpse of an automated swimming pool cleaner, a home pizza oven and electric skates Sunday at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

CES shows promise as convention industry continues COVID recovery

The tech industry will once again take over the Las Vegas Strip next week, as tens of thousands of attendees flock to CES, the world’s largest gadget show. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Systemic racism: Homelessness surveys trap Black men on the streets

Black people make up 13.7% of the overall U.S. population yet account for 32.2% of the nation’s homeless population. White people, including some people of Hispanic descent, make up 75% of the country and represent 55% of America’s homeless. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Amazon is the top employer of Nevada Medicaid recipients. And it’s not even close.

In the four years since Amazon became the leading employer of Nevada Medicaid recipients, the retail giant has surged from having 7,892 employees and dependents on Medicaid to 18,093.That’s a 143% increase since 2020.

It’s also almost double the number of people associated with Walmart, the second-largest employer of Nevada Medicaid recipients. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Bay Area tech firm Lyten secures additional funding for Reno ‘gigafactory’

A Bay Area-based technology company has secured funding for a massive lithium-sulfur battery facility in north Reno. (Reno Gazette Journal) 

Reno-Tahoe International Airport files permits for ground transportation center

The $299 million ground transportation center is part of the Reno airport’s billion-dollar MoreRNO expansion project and will break ground this year. (Reno Gazette Journal)

When will Nevada’s population reach 4 million? What to know about Silver State growth

Clark County contributed the largest portion, accounting for 73% of the overall increase. Washoe County followed with 12% of the increase. The rest was spread across the other 15 counties. (Reno Gazette Journal)

From high-speed rail to major Strip developments, here are projects to watch in 2025

While few major projects are slated to open in 2025, it is still expected to be a buzzy year with many high-profile developments slated to get underway in the Las Vegas Valley, including the Athletics’ future stadium on the former site of the Tropicana hotel-casino. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

As pols eye federal land on metro area’s edge, report finds 80K acres for infill development

There are more than 82,000 acres of vacant and underutilized land in the Las Vegas metro area that could be used for infill development, including construction of additional housing, according to an analysis presented to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada in December. (Nevada Current)

Home sales increase in 2024–Number for LV Valley 8% better than ’23

Home sales in Southern Nevada were up in 2024 compared with the previous year — the worst year for sales since 2008 — and prices could be starting to drop, according to new statistics from the Las Vegas Realtors. (Las Vegas Review Journal) 

At CES opening, organizer slams tariff policies

Kicking off CES on Tuesday morning in front of a packed crowd at the Venetian, the show’s organizers weren’t afraid of addressing the elephant in the room: President-elect Donald Trump will reenter the White House in two weeks. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Elon Musk’s Boring Company is tunneling beneath Las Vegas with little oversight

Elon Musk’s Boring Company spent years pitching cities on a novel solution to traffic, an underground transportation system to whisk passengers through tunnels in electric vehicles. Proposals in Illinois and California fizzled after officials and the public began scrutinizing details of the plans and seeking environmental reviews. (The Nevada Independent)

Man who exploded Tesla Cybertruck outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI, police say

The highly decorated soldier who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas used generative AI including ChatGPT to help plan the attack, Las Vegas police said Tuesday. (The Nevada Independent) 

Indy Gaming: A look at the three Trump political appointees with Nevada gaming ties

How will Tilman Fertitta balance his duties as an ambassador with his ownership of the Golden Nugget casinos? Also, sports betting faces congressional scrutiny. (The Nevada Independent) 

Rare Nevada butterfly proposed for endangered species protections

A rare tiny butterfly found only in a remote stretch of Northern Nevada will soon gain federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada Firefighters Answer the Call: Battling California’s Infernos Amid Record Winds

Nevada’s firefighters are stepping up in a big way, deploying resources to assist Southern California in combating massive wildfires that have already claimed two lives and destroyed over 1,000 structures. (The Nevada Globe)

Nevada’s Egg Shortage Sparks Debate Over Supply Chain Flexibility

Nevada families and retailers are feeling the squeeze as a nationwide egg shortage driven by winter weather and Avian Flu wreaks havoc on prices and availability. The situation is exacerbated by Nevada’s restrictive sourcing laws, a result of 2021 legislation that failed to account for crises like this, according to Bryan Wachter, senior vice president of the Retail Association of Nevada. (The Nevada Globe)

Decorated Green Beret’s Cybertruck Explosion: A “Wake-Up Call” Targets Weak Leadership

Las Vegas authorities have shed new light on the New Year’s Day explosion outside the Trump International Hotel, where a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosive materials detonated, killing its driver, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger. (The Nevada Globe)

These Nevada cities made the Top 10 list for lowest real estate taxes in the U.S.

SmartAsset, a financial advising company, ranked 342 cities with populations over 100,000 to compare the median real estate taxes in proportion to the housing value.  Nevada cities fared well overall in the ranking, with two cities in the top 10 for lowest taxes in relation to housing value. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Republicans are within 4,000 voters of overtaking Dems in this newly red state

Dem lead was 10 times that a year ago. Also: Major parties make up less than 60 percent of the electorate. (X)

Warner Bros. and Birtcher Development drop partnership in bid to expand Nevada film tax credits

It’s not yet clear how the dissolution of the partnership will affect the two separate efforts to expand Nevada’s film tax credit program. (The Nevada Independent)

Biden moves to bar oil, gas and geothermal development in a Nevada mountain range for 20 years

President Joe Biden’s administration said Monday it is taking steps to bar oil, gas and geothermal development for 20 years in northeastern Nevada’s Ruby Mountains. (The Nevada Independent) 

NV Energy seeks to hike rates to fund self-insurance policies against wildfires

NV Energy is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to allow it to establish a $500 million self-insurance fund in order to have adequate liability insurance in the event of a catastrophic wildfire alleged to “have been caused or exacerbated by utility equipment.” The fund would bring the utility’s coverage to close to $1 billion. (Nevada Current)

Future CFP title game could gain approval

Las Vegas could move a step closer to hosting a future College Football Playoff National Championship game. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Carter’s character extolled–Former president’s D.C. funeral attended by 5 of his successors

Jimmy Carter was celebrated Thursday for his personal humility and public service before, during and after his presidency in a funeral at Washington National Cathedral featuring the kind of pageantry the 39th U.S. president typically eschewed. It was followed by an intimate hometown funeral near where he was born a century ago. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Power outages shut fuel line to Las Vegas

One of two fuel pipelines that connect the Las Vegas Valley to a major oil refinery in Southern California closed Wednesday because of power outages related to fires in the Los Angeles area. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Elon Musk’s Boring Company is tunneling beneath Las Vegas with little oversight

Elon Musk’s Boring Company spent years pitching cities on a novel solution to traffic, an underground transportation system to whisk passengers through tunnels in electric vehicles.  (Reno Gazette Journal)

Zillow taps Nevada city for most popular retirement spot in the US

Pahrump has been named Zillow’s most popular retirement city in the U.S. for 2024, standing out in a nationwide analysis of housing trends. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Reno among big losers as Nevada casino gaming win falls again in November

Nevada’s gaming numbers continued their slide in November, with Reno posting a double-digit dip in casino revenue for the month. The state’s gaming licensees reported a total gaming win of just under $1.32 billion in November, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. That’s a 4.2% drop compared to November 2023. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Audit: Unpaid bills stacked up from state veterans home without clear collection process

Much of the debt stemmed from coverage gaps as residents did not qualify or lost eligibility for Medicaid to help cover the costs of the nursing home. (The Nevada Independent)

Effort to block Reno data center offers glimpse of increasingly thorny issue in Nevada

An environmental group is appealing the recent approval of a data center by the Reno Planning Commission, arguing the city established zoning guidelines for data centers without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in. (Nevada Current)

Election News

‘Democracy stands’–4 years after riot, Trump’s win certified uneventfully

Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings Monday that unfolded without challenge, in stark contrast to the Jan. 6, 2021, violence as his mob of supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. (Las Vegas Review Journal) 

Congress certifies electoral votes, clears path for Trump’s return to Oval Office

No Democratic lawmakers rose to challenge any state’s electoral results during the joint session of the Senate and House, meaning the president-elect and Vice President-elect JD Vance are set to be sworn in Jan. 20. And there were no loud protests from the galleries, which were peppered with many empty seats. (Las Vegas Sun)

Massive Lithium Discovery Could Transform U.S. Energy Landscape

The Thacker Pass project, set to begin operations in 2026, aims to produce 40,000 metric tons of lithium annually, potentially reducing US reliance on China for lithium refining. (oilprice.com)

Donald Trump nominates Nevada’s Sam Brown to Veterans Affairs post

Sam Brown, former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Nevada, has been named to a Veterans Affairs position in the Trump administration. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Legislative Updates

Important Dates

First Day of Legislative Session         February 3^rd                Days Until: 24

• Check out the 982 Bill Draft Requests that have been submitted up until now–BDR List. 

• Bills from the 83^rd Legislative Session – to date: 224 bills

Laxalt, political scion, dies at 67–‘Neena,’ Paul Laxalt’s daughter, was lobbyist

Laxalt served as a lobbyist for a swath of Nevada organizations, including the dental hygienists association, the cattlemen’s association, physical therapy board and the board of psychological examiners, according to the Nevada Legislature Lobbyist Site. (Las Vegas Review Journal)