The G3Wire

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar called for federal funding of elections and more protections of election workers in response to a letter from a House committee chairman who asked for an explanation regarding the voter history glitches that occurred on the secretary of state’s website.State employees and retirees could see health insurance rate hikes ranging from 15 percent to more than 50 percent in 2024, according to Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP). The Clark County School District is asking Nevada lawmakers next month for its full $173.8 million allotment under a special state fund for educator salaries. And three animals resembling gray wolves were recently spotted in Nevada, and if suspicions are confirmed, this would be the first time in more than a century that the endangered species has been seen moving as a group within the state. These news links and so much more below!

Updates from the Governor’s Office

Governor Lombardo Announces Plans for Behavioral Health Care Services for Nevada Children

Over $200 million in new Medicaid funds to be invested in children’s behavioral health over the next three years. Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced the expansion of behavioral health services for Nevada children in Medicaid. (gov.nv.gov)

State and Local Government Updates

Nevada secretary of state responds to House committee inquiry

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar called for federal funding of elections and more protections of election workers in response to a letter from a House committee chairman who asked for an explanation regarding the voter history glitches that occurred on the secretary of state’s website. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Lt. Gov. Anthony uses office budget for record travel as he makes position ‘full time’

Anthony’s office recorded more than $34,000 in travel expenses in his first six months in office, an amount greater than in 13 of the past 15 full fiscal years for the office. (The Nevada Independent)

Headline-hunting Lombardo mistakes urban sprawl for affordable housing policy

In case you missed it – unlikely given the oodles of local headlines about it – Lombardo welcomed Biden to Nevada Tuesday by sending a letter to the president, dated the same day, urging Biden “to take immediate action on the affordable housing crisis in Nevada by releasing more federal land for development.” (Nevada Current)

County presses F1 to fix transit problems

It’s no secret that transportation issues created challenges for the city’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Now comes the hard part—how to fix them. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Sen. Jacky Rosen on moving Reno mail operations to Sacramento: ‘I’m not gonna let it happen’

During a Tuesday visit to Reno, U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen said she will fight to keep Reno’s mail-processing facility from being moved to California. (Reno Gazette Journal)

CCSD board policy on nonvoting members draws legal challenge

The cities of Henderson and North Las Vegas are suing the Clark County School Board over its policy further restricting the powers of appointed nonvoting trustees, saying it violates the state law that put appointees in office in the first place. (Las Vegas Sun)

Who are the highest paid officials in Clark County?

Several Clark County government officials were among the nation’s top 5 percent of wage earners in 2022, records show. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

State employee health insurance rates set to increase

State employees and retirees could see health insurance rate hikes ranging from 15 percent to more than 50 percent in 2024, according to Thursday’s Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP) board meeting documents. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada leads in job growth, jobless rates

In the Silver State, February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, according to monthly reports from die Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. All the while, the state is also adding jobs at higher rates than others. It had the highest job growth rate in the U.S. in February at 3.4 percent. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Washoe County votes to criminalize living in cars, bans camping

The ordinance, which passed in a 3-2 vote Tuesday, makes it a misdemeanor to camp on county-owned property or within 1,000 feet of the Truckee River, live in vehicles on county owned property or public spaces, and obstruct uses of the public sidewalk. (Reno Gazette Journal)

NDOW investigating possible wolf sighting in Northeastern Nevada

A pilot with a helicopter capture crew contracted by the Nevada Department of Wildlife spotted three suspected wolves near Merritt Mountain north of Elko during a scheduled moose-collaring project on March 17. (Reno gazette Journal)

Super Bowl plus leap day propel Nevada casinos to record February

Statewide gaming revenue of $1.34 billion was the highest total ever recorded in February; Strip resorts saw a 12.4 percent increase from last year. (The Nevada Independent)

Rural school advocates hope next Clark County superintendent will be more supportive

Mesquite and Moapa-area schools have historically felt “forgotten” by the school district, but advocates remain hopeful that could change with a new leader. (The Nevada Independent)

City of Reno’s cost to defend against councilmember Jenny Brekhus’ lawsuit jumps to $150k

On Wednesday, the council unanimously voted – with Brekhus abstaining – to spend another $75,000 on top of the $75,000 previously approved. (Reno Gazette Journal)

CCSD’s request for promised Nevada funding to be heard next month

The Clark County School District is asking Nevada lawmakers next month for its full $173.8 million allotment under a special state fund for educator salaries. (Las Vegas Sun)

Federal Updates

D.C. Download: Spending bills earmark $187M for Nevada. What’s in them?

The combined $187 million is roughly in line with the $182.5 million that Nevada’s delegation secured last fiscal year. All of the project funds were requested by the state’s two senators, with a handful having House sponsors as well. (The Nevada Independent)

Biden’s $12 billion for women’s health should be just a start

One week ago, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that will create a $12 billion fund to improve our understanding of — and ideally treatments for — women’s health. It’s a welcome, if egregiously belated investment by the U.S. government. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Transportation officials bullish on development of EV infrastructure

Shailen Bhatt, federal highway administrator and a top official in the U.S. Department of Transportation, is emphasizing the importance of implementing an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, an initiative he noted will require plenty of time. (Las Vegas Sun)

Supreme Court skeptical of case to restrict abortion pill mifepristone: Live updates

WASHINGTON − Supreme Court justices on Tuesday sounded skeptical that anti-abortion doctors have the ability to challenge the Food and Drug Administration’s rules for a common abortion drug, raising the possibility that the court could dismiss a case that threatened to sharply limit access to mifepristone. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Congress eyes $45M for upkeep of aging Hoover Dam

In 2000, the Department of Energy’s Western Area Power Administration began collecting about $2 million a year from hydropower users and put that money into an account for dam employees’ retirement benefits. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

More willing water rights sellers in NV than money, say water regulators

Landowners in Nevada have been more than willing to surrender their groundwater rights in exchange for cash payments thanks to a water conservation program financed by the federal government, said state water regulators — but time and money are running out. (Nevada Current)

Rosen champions Train More Nurses Act at UNLV Simulation Center

The bipartisan bill, which Rosen collaborated on with Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Mike Braun, R-Ind., is aimed at combating a nationwide nursing shortage by directing the secretary of labor to conduct a review of all nursing grant programs to find ways to increase faculty at nursing schools nationwide and widening the pathway to becoming a registered nurse, according to a release. (Las Vegas Sun)

Articles of Interest

MGM employees can cash in on water-saving programs with $500K boost

MGM Resorts International, which has a local staff of about 50,000, announced the significant private-public partnership Thursday in celebration of World Water Day. The money is meant to boost the amount of money MGM Resorts employees can receive from the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s existing rebate programs. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

How Nevada is about to become a leading boron producer

Ioneer, an emerging lithium-boron producer headquartered in Australia, is nearing the final permitting stages for its proposed Rhyolite Ridge mine site — about 30 miles from Dyer. (The Nevada Independent)

New surge in power use is threatening nation’s climate goals

Over the past year, electric utilities have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they’ll need by 2028 as they confront an unexpected explosion in the number of data centers, an abrupt resurgence in manufacturing driven by new federal laws, and millions of electric vehicles being plugged in. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Here’s how much a single adult needs to make to ‘live comfortably’ in Las Vegas

Website SmartAsset analyzed the pre-tax salary needed to “live comfortably” in 99 U.S. cities. Based on their findings, on average, an individual needs to make $96,500 “for sustainable comfort” in any major city in the United States. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Athletics hire hospitality group to oversee ticket, suite sales

The Oakland Athletics have hired Legends to oversee premium seating and ticket sales of the team’s planned Las Vegas ballpark. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Crisis building in US electricity system

There is a storm gathering over the nation’s electric supply. What has been described as the world’s biggest machine, the U.S. electricity system, is stressed — and that stress will increasingly affect reliability. That means sporadic blackouts, some extensive. (Las Vegas Sun)

One of nation’s biggest homebuilders buys land in Henderson

The 37 acres of vacant land recently sold for $45 million. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nonprofit gets funding to build supportive housing complex

HELP of Southern Nevada is now planning to build its first 50-unit complex specifically to provide on-site permanent supportive housing, which comes with case management and wrap-around support services to address the growing need. (Nevada Current)

New trial date set in Telles case

A Las Vegas judge has set a new tentative trial date for former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, who is accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

UNLV hopes to reopen Beam Hall to students for fall semester

UNLV President Keith Whitfield said Tuesday that Beam Hall could reopen to students as early as the fall semester. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Officials create offseason plans for F1 building

Las Vegas Grand Prix officials are still working out how their 300,000-square-foot facility just off the Strip will be used year -round. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Indy Gaming: F1 officials working through year one issues as second race looms

A post-race report to Clark County outlined the highlights and lowlights of the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. But the newly appointed top executive said she’s working to improve the experience. (The Nevada Independent)

DHL building facilities in NLV

A major logistics company plans to build two distribution centers in North Las Vegas, which would create nearly 500 jobs.  DHL Supply Chain’s two facilities, which will total about 800,000 square feet, are expected to be completed by late 2025, according to the company. They are expected to generate $57.7 million in tax revenue over 10 years. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Some Health District clients might have had info compromised

About 300 clients who filled out a form on the Southern Nevada Health District website might have had information compromised, the agency said Wednesday in a news release. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Tropicana operator downgraded; how could this affect A’s stadium plans?

The downgrades could affect the company’s ability to borrow money for three projects it has on the horizon, including the development of a $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat Major League Baseball stadium for the Oakland Athletics, which has received permission to relocate to Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

A national monument in east Las Vegas? Some Nevadans hope so

Community members and conservation groups are rallying to turn roughly 32,000 acres of public land east of Las Vegas into the state’s next national monument, where endangered flowers, geologic features seen in few other places, but the Grand Canyon and culturally significant Indigenous sites are threatened by ongoing vandalism. (The Nevada Independent)

Albemarle in Nevada operates the only commercial US lithium mine

Photos of the mine in Silver Peak, NV. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Tentative Tropicana demolition date set

Bally’s Corp. chairman Soo Kim said preliminary plans are to demolish the Tropicana this fall. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Election News

Important Dates

Primary Early Voting              May 25                        Days Until: 57

Primary Election                     June 11                        Days Until: 74

General Election                     November 5                Days Until: 221

Nye County Commission appoints deputy clerk to oversee elections

Cori Freidhof, a deputy clerk who has worked in the clerk’s office for five years, was appointed by a unanimous 5-0 vote. Her new role will be effective April 1. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

GOP Senate candidate Brown refers women to crisis pregnancy centers on campaign website

Brown, who is running for U.S. Senate in Nevada, stated in the interview that he would not support a national abortion ban and that although he was “pro-life,” he believed in exceptions for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. (The Nevada Independent)

Lack of VP choice may invalidate RFK Jr.’s effort to get on Nevada ballot

Kennedy’s campaign said earlier this month it had received enough signatures. But its petition did not list a running mate, as is required under state law. (The Nevada Independent)

Trump isn’t reaching out to Haley and her voters. Will it matter?

When Nikki Haley dropped out of the 2024 presidential race in early March, she withheld endorsing Donald Trump and extended a pointed invitation for him to court her and the political coalition she constructed. “This is now his time for choosing,” she said then. (Las Vegas Sun)

Bloomberg/Morning Consult swing state poll hints at Biden comeback

President Biden made significant gains against Donald Trump during the past month in six of seven 2024 swing states, according to a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll out Tuesday. (AXIOS)

RFK Jr. may be off ballot

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s petition could be invalid in Nevada because it did not list a running mate. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Push and pull: Democrats, Republicans vie over housing solutions

Nevada’s Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye-to-eye on how to make housing more affordable. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

RFK Jr. picks California lawyer for VP

Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that he has picked Nicole Shanahan, a California lawyer rand philanthropist who’s never held elected office, to be his running mate in his independent bid for president. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nevada local government candidates: Who’s running in school board, city, county races

Many local government races are nonpartisan, which means candidates are not identified by political party and all voters, regardless of party registration, can vote in the race. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada lawmakers named in election denial report walk back past comments

Sen. Jeff Stone and Assemblyman Ken Gray said fraud takes place in every election, but there’s been no evidence that fraud altered the outcome of the 2020 election. (The Nevada Independent)

Upcoming Fundraisers

Fundraising Luncheon to Support

The Nevada Senate Republican Caucus

Friday, March 29th

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Napa Sonoma

7671 South Virginia Street

Reno, NV 89511

______________________________

Reno City Council Ward 3

Miguel Martinez

Wednesday, April 17th

5:30-7:00 PM

The Peppermill Resort

2707 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502

Lakeview Room, Suite 1747