Coverage of elections and of course the Super Bowl continues to dominate the headlines this week. Other notable news was lawmakers approving approximately $56 million to fund additional raises for teachers and support staff at seven school districts, renewable energy production in Nevada and its critical role in helping the nation get to zero carbon emissions by 2050, more public discussion regarding Superintendent Jesus Jara’s contract in Clark County, and lots more Nevada news in the links below!
Updates from the Governor’s Office
Gov. Joe Lombardo’s appointments to state departments
Here is a running list of appointments since he took office and the date of the announcement, as well as department heads who were kept in place from Gov. Steve Sisolak’s administration. (8News Now)
DMV Director Announces Retirement
Gov. Lombardo announced the retirement of DMV Director Julie Butler and that deputy director, Tonya Laney will succeed her.
Media Advisory: Controller Andy Matthews To Announce Nevada Open Finance Portal
Next week, on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Nevada State Controller Andy Matthews will announce the launch of the Nevada Open Finance Portal. The portal is designed as a user-friendly online tool to share financial information with Nevada taxpayers, while promoting unprecedented transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. Following remarks from Controller Andy Matthews, Chief Deputy James Smack will provide a tutorial for media attendees on how to utilize the portal to track government spending, compare state budgets, and download financial data.
State and Local Government Updates
Teacher union PAC files lawsuit challenging public financing for Oakland A’s stadium
The lawsuit marks the teachers’ union’s second attempt to block the public financing of a stadium for the Oakland A’s baseball team. (The Nevada Independent)
This isn’t Burgess’ first time working in elections and it isn’t even her first time following a predecessor who left as a result of the difficult working conditions registrars and clerks have faced since the Big Lie — the baseless conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen thanks to massive voter fraud. (The Nevada Independent)
Analysis: Lower-performing, higher-need schools in Nevada have less experienced teachers
The findings underscore the difficulty in recruiting and retaining experienced teachers in higher-needs schools, one of several factors that keep these schools from improving. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada state senator files suit to scuttle public health care insurance option
Nevada State Sen. Robin Titus, R-Wellington, along with the National Taxpayers Union, filed a lawsuit over the constitutionality of legislation passed to bring a state-managed public health care insurance option to Nevada. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Clark County school board wants to negotiate new terms for Jara’s departure
The Clark County School Board voted 5-2 Wednesday to direct its legal counsel to negotiate new terms for the pending termination of Superintendent Jesus Jara’s contract. (The Nevada Independent)
Calls for Clark County superintendent search, not appointment, grow ahead of meeting
A proposal to appoint a new superintendent for the nation’s fifth-largest school district without a comprehensive search and public interviews has sparked outrage among educators, a top lawmaker and community members who say it’s not transparent and excludes community input. (The Nevada Independent)
NV Supreme Court weighs lawmakers’ ability to work in other public sector jobs
Chief Justice Elissa Cadish asked whether a janitor at a university would constitute someone with executive power, and justices noted the difference between such a role and a lawmaker who serves as a prosecutor enforcing the laws, they play a role in setting. (The Nevada Independent)
After delays, lawmakers release $56 million to fund educator raises at 7 districts
An interim legislative committee on Thursday approved about $56 million to fund additional raises for teachers and support staff at seven school districts, including three whose representatives returned before lawmakers for a second time after they faced application issues, questions on their plan for raises or tardiness at a previous December meeting. (The Nevada Independent)
On Tuesday, the Douglas County School Board voted to offer the position of superintendent to John Ramirez, Jr. despite public outcry and the revelation of his extensive criminal and mismanagement history.
Investigations against Ramirez include mismanagement of district funds, sexual harassment, DUI, and hit and run, among others. (CarsonNow.org)
Federal Updates
Nevada House members vote to pass bipartisan tax deal
All four of Nevada’s House members voted in favor of a tax package that would expand the child tax credit. (The Nevada Independent)
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm touts need for Nevada renewable energy production
The nation needs to double the size of its electric grid to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, and renewable energy production in Nevada is critical to helping the nation get there. (The Nevada Independent)
Senator Rosen voices support for bipartisan border security bill
Rosen says the border security package makes historic security investments, including funding new security and screening technology, hiring more Border Patrol agents, and increasing resources for Customs and Border Protection officers. (fox5news)
Cortez Masto and Rosen vote for failed border bill in test of new immigration politics
Nevada’s Democrats backed a border bill far more conservative than prior immigration deals. Why Republicans killed it anyway, and what it bodes for November. (The Nevada Independent)
D.C. Download: Vibes vs. reality: How’s Nevada’s economy after 3 years of Biden?
In parsing three years of a Biden economy, there are two simultaneous stories — there’s the data-driven, macroeconomic hard numbers economy, and then there’s the consumer sentiment-based sense of pessimism that I’ll call the “vibes” economy. Biden’s ability to get re-elected might depend on his ability to get people’s vibes to match the trends that have economists feeling warm and fuzzy. (The Nevada Independent)
Trump sweeps Nevada Republican caucus in race with no major challengers
The victory comes two days after a nonbinding state-run primary that saw top Trump rival Nikki Haley lose to “none of these candidates.” (The Nevada Independent)
Biden will not face charges over classified papers, says ‘memory is fine’
An “elderly” President Joe Biden will not face charges for knowingly taking classified documents when he left the vice presidency in 2017, a prosecutor said on Thursday, opens new tab, drawing a swift rebuke from the president as he seeks reelection. (Reuters)
These are the charges Trump was indicted on and what they mean
The indictment lays out 37 federal charges against Trump, including obstruction and unlawful retention of defense information for storing dozens of classified documents at his Florida resort and refusing to return them to the FBI and the National Archives. (NPR)
Articles of Interest
Las Vegas mayor says A’s move to Nevada ‘does not make sense’
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman suggested on a sports podcast Tuesday that a plan to build a baseball stadium for the Oakland A’s on the Las Vegas Strip “does not make sense” — comments that she quickly walked back on social media. (The Nevada Independent)
Culinary contracts tracker: Strike averted as union settles with Downtown Grand
(Updated from January 18th) Our tracker covering the negotiations between the Culinary and Bartenders unions nearly two dozen Strip and downtown resorts leading up to the strike date. (The Nevada Independent)
Indy Super Bowl: Will hosting the ‘Big Game’ be lucrative for Las Vegas?
For the first time, the city is hosting the NFL championship. But the Strip has always seemed like the second home for the game. (The Nevada Independent)
What goes in to estimating an event’s economic …
The report’s findings forecasted that Super Bowl 58 would have a net incremental impact of $799 million on the Las Vegas community, as well as a fiscal impact, or public revenue impact, of $62 million. (Las Vegas Sun)
Why Are Americans Wary While the Economy Is Healthy? Look at Nevada.
In Nevada, 59 percent of those polled described the economy as “poor,” the highest margin among the six states. Seventeen percent of registered Democrats asserted intentions to vote for Mr. Trump. (New York Times)
Outside of the game, Super Bowl activities bringing in fans (and their money) to Las Vegas
Tickets for Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas are expensive. But lower-priced events surrounding the game have drawn fans of all NFL teams from across the U.S. (The Nevada Independent)
Manfred would be disappointed if A’s Las Vegas ballpark not open by 2028, skeptical of Olympics
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he would be disappointed if the Oakland Athletics don’t open their proposed Las Vegas ballpark at the start of the 2028 season and expressed skepticism about big leaguers appearing in that year’s Olympics. (Las Vegas Sun)
Election News
Days until:
- Candidate filing opens: 24
- Primary Election Day: 123
- General Election Day: 270
2024 Election Cycle: Myths vs. Facts (Secretary of State’s Office)
Live Nevada primary updates: Voters head to polls today
- Live results: Latest vote totals in Nevada’s primary
- Delegate tracker: What results mean for national delegate race
- FAQ: What voters need to know about 2024 election
Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide (Reno Gazette Journal)
Ahead of Nevada primary, Biden uses Las Vegas rally to draw contrasts with Trump
In Nevada, he faces only long shot candidates and is expected to cruise to victory in the primary, continuing his path to lock up the party’s nomination. (The Nevada Independent)
Amid Biden, Trump unpopularity, RFK Jr. woos independents at Vegas rally
The third-party presidential candidate cast himself as the person who can bring back faith in the nation’s political system. (The Nevada Independent)
President touts first-term accomplishments during a rally with around 400 supporters on the Westside, which in the 1950s served as a hub for Black-owned businesses.
Long shot candidate wants to make waves in Nevada’s GOP caucuses
Texas Republican Ryan Binkley acknowledges he’s a long shot to be his party’s presidential nominee, but that’s not stopping him from believing he can achieve the impossible and upset former President Donald Trump. (Las Vegas Sun)
Young voters cast ballots for Biden with Nevada primary today
A December poll from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University showed support for Biden among Americans 18-29 at just 35%, compared with 59% in early 2021. In a hypothetical rematch between Biden and former President Donald Trump, the poll found young voters prefer Biden on issues like climate change, abortion and protecting democracy but trust Trump more on the economy, national security and, narrowly, the war in Gaza. (Las Vegas Sun)
Despite predictable primary, Nevadans have good reason to go to polls
If the number of Americans participating in the presidential preference primaries decreases, the power of each remaining voter increases. It’s a simple fact of our democracy: If you show up to vote, your voice is heard. Stay home and you hand your future to others to determine. (Las Vegas Sun)
Nevada has been a nonfactor in this year’s primaries. Look no further than former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley’s quest to make the GOP presidential primary competitive. (Politico)
Trump’s team worries about a hollow victory in Nevada
Why it matters: Nevada’s confusing combination of a state-run primary and party-run caucuses has set up a scenario in which Trump could get fewer votes in the caucuses than rival Nikki Haley does in the GOP primary. (Axios)
Biden wins Nevada’s Democratic presidential primary in landslide vote
The win is the president’s second in just three days. Biden won South Carolina’s primary on Saturday with more than 96 percent of the vote, as well as a potentially unofficial contest in New Hampshire late last month as a write-in candidate with nearly 64 percent of the vote. (The Nevada Independent)
Why Nevada has ‘none of these candidates’ on its 2024 presidential primary election ballots
“None of these candidates” has won a handful of primary races in the state. Whenever that happens, the second-place finisher is the winner. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Voters in Nevada give Biden support; GOP worried about turnout for caucuses
The participation of Democrats in the primary dwarfed that of Republicans, at least judging by the number of mail ballots submitted to election officials through the end of early voting Friday. (Las Vegas Sun)
Trump poised for big win ahead of Nevada GOP caucus
Nevada Republicans will hold their presidential caucus Thursday, a race that includes only Trump and longshot candidate Ryan Binkley. (The Nevada Independent)
Nevada GOP Senate candidate calls Nikki Haley a ‘political grifter’ for staying in the race
On Wednesday, the former South Carolina governor lost to “None of these candidates” in the Nevada Republican Primary, a race that did not include former President Donald Trump and was not regarded for delegate allotment by the state GOP. (Just the News)
City of North Las Vegas to place property tax questions on June ballot
The City of North Las Vegas will ask voters in the June primary election whether to continue a pair of set-to-expire property taxes, after the city scrapped plans for a December special election for the ballot questions amid concern from state election officials.
Upcoming Fundraisers
Shelly Cruz-Crawford for State Senate District 1
Thursday, February 15, 2024
5:30-7:30PM
Garagiste Wine Room
197 E California Ave #140
Las Vegas, NV 89104
| The Griffin Company is a full-service public policy and government affairs consulting firm based in Nevada. We believe a complete government affairs practice must be able to effectively navigate all levels of government, both with the laws and regulations, as well as with an understanding of and sensitivity to the politics associated with each issue. The Griffin Company provides clients with the breadth of experience – local, state, and federal – that enables a comprehensive approach, integrating policy and relationships at all levels of government. |
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