The G3Wire

March 14, 2025

The Clark County School Board unanimously selected Jhone Ebert, Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction, to be the Clark County School District’s next leader.  The additional pay for teachers working in special education and Title I schools is coming to an end before the conclusion of the school year, according to an email sent to Clark County School District employees.  And anything is possible in the Nevada Legislature — including a bipartisan bill on the politicized issue of mail ballots. The top Democrat and Republican in the Assembly are joining forces on a bill that would require all sample ballots to be sent to voters before mail ballots are distributed. An amendment also would provide a clearer timeline for when mail ballots must be sent to voters. A Humboldt County lithium mine has received a quarter-billion-dollar investment from a global investment firm.  Orion Resource Partners, a global investment firm focused on metals and materials, has invested $250 million into Lithium Americas Corp.’s Thacker Pass lithium mine project. These Nevada news links and lots more below.

Legislative Updates

Important Dates:

March 17^th     Last day for legislator bill introductions

March 24        Last day for committee bill introductions

April 11^th        First house passage deadline

June 2^nd          Sine die

Industries line up to tear down proposal to rein in price-fixing

Assembly Bill 44, heard Wednesday at the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor, expands the state’s existing Unfair Trade Practice Act to include knowingly deceptive price fixing of essential goods and services, according to Nevada Current. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Decade after Tesla deal, Storey County recommends state revisit tax break award process

Senate Bill 69, which the county is sponsoring, would require any companies seeking massive tax abatements enter into agreements to defray the costs of the government-provided services they would require. Currently, no such requirement exists in statute. (Reno Gazette Journal)

This Nevada legislative policy change has transparency advocates crying foul

In Tuesday’s Behind the Bar, Gov. Joe Lombardo faces attacks from the right, and details on a long-term water buyback proposal. (The Nevada Independent)

HOAs are creating barriers for home-based childcare providers, lawmakers told

Assembly Bill 185, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember Natha Anderson, would bar most homeowners associations in Nevada from prohibiting licensed home-based childcare operations within their communities. HOAs for age-restricted communities would still be allowed to prohibit them, as would rental agreements signed by tenants. (Nevada Current)

State ‘deemed’ mine tax data confidential; mining backs bill to make data public again

Two Nevada Republican assemblymembers, Bert Gurr, who represents White Pine and parts of four other eastern Nevada counties, and Washoe County’s Rich DeLong, are sponsoring Assembly Bill 277, which would reverse the department’s decision. (Nevada Current)

Proposed Nevada bill would limit who assists veterans with benefits

A proposal being considered in the Nevada Legislature would limit military veterans to be assisted in benefit services only by accredited parties. (Las Vegas Sun)

Proposed legislation seeks to streamline transfer appeals for high school athlete

CARSON CITY — A Nevada Assembly bill that would standardize the transfer and hardship appeals processes for high school athletes in Nevada could have made a difference for the Koech family. (Las Vegas Sun)

Legal groups seek to fix state’s habitability laws, ensure tenants can hold landlords accountable

Assembly Bill 223, heard Monday at the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee, seeks to remedy the process and give tenants more power to hold landlords accountable for failing to provide livable conditions such as running water, working air conditioning, and a functioning lock on doors and windows.  (Nevada Current)

Nevada poised to legitimize wildlife killing contests

A multi-year effort by conservationists and others to ban what they say is the wanton slaughter of coyotes for cash and prizes has morphed into a movement to end the debate by licensing wildlife killing contests. (Nevada Current)

Nevada Assembly leaders team up for mail ballot bill

Anything is possible in the Nevada Legislature — including a bipartisan bill on the politicized issue of mail ballots. The top Democrat and Republican in the Assembly are joining forces on a bill that would require all sample ballots to be sent to voters before mail ballots are distributed. An amendment also would provide a clearer timeline for when mail ballots must be sent to voters. (Nevada Appeal)

Magic mushroom decriminalization? Nevada lawmakers want federal standards changed first

In Behind the Bar, we bring you updates on efforts to relocate Windsor Park residents and fears about a lack of digital access at the Legislature. (The Nevada Independent)

State and Local Government Updates

Nevada Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in John Doe-Reno mayor GPS tracker case

Schieve and Hartung want to know the name so they can pursue civil legal action over allegations of privacy violations when the investigator — David McNeely — planted a hidden GPS tracker on their personal vehicles to follow their movements. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Washoe IT chief lives in Southern California, works on site fewer than 5 days a month

Security data shows Behzad Zamanian works just under five days a month at county offices in Reno on average despite assurances to county commissioners two years ago that he would work here twice as often. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Pay raises, hiring shifts helped Nevada cut state worker vacancy rate in half

Officials celebrated the decrease, but they said more work can be done, especially in hiring state police officers and filling positions in rural areas. (The Nevada Independent)

Tensions with regents, donors preceded Whitfield’s departure as UNLV president

He cited family matters, but Whitfield’s resignation is the latest example of UNLV’s higher turnover that some trace to a long-standing North-South rivalry. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada colleges have long welcomed undocumented students, but face new challenges under Trump

The state helped college students work around the financial barriers of lacking legal status, but students are feeling the limits of schools’ ability to support them. (The Nevada Independent) 

Colorado River crisis has new hope –Officials from Nevada, California, Arizona turn to new administration

The hourglass is running out of sand when it comes to solving the crisis on the Colorado River, but a group of states sees an opportunity: a new administration. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Funding bump for teachers ending–Some worry vacancy rates could worsen

The additional pay for teachers working in special education and Title I schools is coming to an end before the conclusion of the school year, according to an email sent to Clark County School District employees. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Community meets CCSD candidates–Public gets chance to talk to finalists for superintendent

Clark County School District staff, parents, students and other community members on Monday evening got their first chance to ask questions of the three candidates vying to become the district’s next superintendent.(Las Vegas Review Journal)

Firm to invest $250M in mine–Thacker Pass project gets additional aid

A Humboldt County lithium mine has received a quarter-billion-dollar investment from a global investment firm.  Orion Resource Partners, a global investment firm focused on metals and materials, has invested $250 million into Lithium Americas Corp.’s Thacker Pass lithium mine project. The investment is going toward the construction and development of Phase 1, which is projected to produce 40,000 tons of lithium carbonate and is expected to finish in late 2027. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

A decade after Tesla megadeal, Storey County recommends state revisit tax break award process

Storey County officials are urging state lawmakers to mandate that corporations seeking significant tax abatements work with local municipalities to address the impact to public safety services like fire stations and traffic lights.  Senate Bill 69, which the county is sponsoring, would require any companies seeking massive tax abatements enter into agreements to defray the costs of the government-provided services they would require. Currently, no such requirement exists in statute.  (thisisreno.com)

Rampant turnover atop UNLV; regents blamed–Presidents come and go as ‘adversarial behavior’ remains, longtime donor says

Several university presidents, including Whitfield, according to some in the university community, have had a tumultuous relationship with the Nevada Board of Regents. The board, which oversees Nevada universities, has faced accusations of dysfunction and a lack of accountability, and has struggled to secure a permanent chancellor to oversee the Nevada System of Higher Education. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

New head of Southern Nevada’s BLM takes Trump buyout after less than 2 months on job

The new head of Southern Nevada’s Bureau of Land Management is out after less than two months on the job. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Filipino Las Vegans may soon get a cultural district of their own

If approved, “Filipino Town” would be Clark County’s second such district. Last year, commissioners designated Little Ethiopia.  (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Superintendent interviews end–Clark County School Board to select Thursday

The superintendent candidates had their second — and last — round of interviews in front of the Clark County School Board on Tuesday. It was the final meeting before the board selects the next superintendent of the nation’s fifth-largest school district on Thursday. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Online petition seeks ouster of city manager–Firing of police chief stirs up controversy

An online petition that calls for Henderson City Manager Stephanie Garcia-Vause to be replaced surfaced Tuesday.  The development came four days after the city announced the firing of former police Chief Hollie Chadwick, a move that was questioned and criticized by some in the community. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Longtime Nevada gaming regulator hanging up the calculator after 4 decades in industry

The agency’s senior research analyst is stepping away but his fascination with the casino business remains. Also, Penn & Teller are featured on a table game. (The Nevada Independent)

Indy Explains: What is 287(g) and are Nevada police cooperating with ICE?

Trump has pushed to expand 287(g), a controversial program that bolsters ICE’s capacity by deputizing local police officers to detain immigrants. (The Nevada Independent)

A Northern Nevada county backtracks on ICE agreement, raising transparency concerns

Sheriff Dan Coverley said he mistakenly signed Douglas County on to a 287(g) agreement that allowed deputies to do immigration enforcement in the community. (The Nevada Independent)

‘We have a lot of work to do’: Jhone Ebert picked to lead CCSD

The Clark County School Board unanimously selected Jhone Ebert, Nevada’s superintendent of public instruction, to be the Clark County School District’s next leader. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Federal Updates

Could Trump walk back Biden’s Colorado River deal-making? Nevada hopes so

In a letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum last month and obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the three negotiators who represent Nevada, California and Arizona expressed their dismay with how proceedings were left under the Biden administration. The federal government is tasked with moving the states toward consensus before the end of 2026, when the current operating guidelines for the Colorado River are set to expire. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nevada joins legal challenge of federal mass layoffs

Nevada’s Aaron Ford joined with a coalition of attorneys general in seeking to stop the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal employees — the latest legal action the Democratic attorney general has taken against the president. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

GOP unveils stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown. They may not have the votes.

With just days to go before a government shutdown deadline, House Republicans have released a 99-page stopgap bill they hope will reach President Trump’s desk before some government funding runs out on Friday. (npr.com)

Will Tilman Fertitta step back from business empire if confirmed as ambassador to Italy?

Legislation would require the Golden Nugget and Houston Rockets owner to place his businesses in a trust if confirmed to represent the U.S. in Italy. (The Nevada Independent)

Shutdown showdown: Where Nevada Democrats stand on the spending battle in Congress

Congress is barreling towards another government shutdown deadline — and with Democratic votes necessary to move any spending bill over the finish line, Nevada’s congressional delegation appears wary of embracing a GOP spending plan. (The Nevada Independent)

Mark Amodei on tariffs, federal workforce cuts and why he’s not holding town halls

Nevada’s only federal Republican “feels [the] responsibility” of the power of his vote in a narrow majority. (The Nevada Independent)

As trade war simmers, Canadian province bans U.S.-made gaming equipment

Alberta took the action in response to U.S. tariffs placed on goods from Canada. Nevada’s slot machine industry worries other provinces will follow. (The Nevada Independent)

Nevada workers are losing almost $123 million a year to wage theft, says report 

Wage theft is costing Nevada workers an average of $122.8 million a year – or some $2.4 billion over the last two decades, says a report from Rutgers University’s Workplace Justice Lab, which conducts research on workers’ rights and economic inequality. (Nevada Current)

Harry Reid TSA workers grapple with losing their union protections

The Department of Homeland Security on Friday announced that it would end TSA agents’ ability to collectively bargain, meaning the American Federation of Government Employees — which represents TSA workers at Harry Reid International Airport and across the country — would no longer be recognized. (Las Vegas Sun)

ICE ups detainee capacity in region–Southern Nevada facility affected

Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased its capacity in Southern Nevada and three other states for people in the federal agency’s custody.  Core Civic, a company that operates private prisons and detention centers across the U.S., announced contract modifications with ICE late last month. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

U.S. Education Department to cut hundreds of staff members

The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday said it’s cutting a substantial number of the agency’s staff through a “reduction in force” process, bringing the department’s workforce to roughly half the number in place when President Donald Trump took office. (Nevada Current)

Invoking Musk, NV House Dems blister GOP stopgap resolution; NV senators, up next, mum for now

The U.S. House Tuesday approved legislation to fund the government through September 30. Now the legislation must pass the Senate by a Friday night deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. The offices of Nevada Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen did not respond to requests for comments after the House vote Tuesday. (Nevada Current)

Education Dept. cuts are here. What happens now to student loans, FAFSA and IEPs?

We’ve set out to answer other questions you might have about the deep Education Department cuts and what they might mean for your student loans, your child’s IEP and campus programs. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Ford joins 20 attorneys general to sue Trump over U.S. Education Department layoffs

A group of Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Thursday to block the dismissal of nearly half of the Department of Education’s workforce by the Trump administration this week. (The Nevada Independent)

Invoking Musk, NV House Dems blister GOP stopgap resolution; NV senators, up next, mum for now

The U.S. House Tuesday approved legislation to fund the government through September 30. Now the legislation must pass the Senate by a Friday night deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown. (Nevada Current)

Election News Updates

9th Circuit hears appeal over Nevada law to protect election workers from harassment

The appeals court is being asked to reverse a U.S. District Court decision that found Beadles and the other plaintiffs had not shown there was a credible threat they could be falsely prosecuted for intimidating election workers. (Reno Gazette Journal)

Veteran firefighter launches campaign for Victoria Seaman’s LV council seat

A veteran firefighter has launched his candidacy for a Las Vegas City Council seat, marking the beginning of the city’s 2026 midterm elections, at least for Ward 2 in the west valley. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

An effort to block non-citizens from voting could impact married women, too

Several voting rights groups warn the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act will pose a barrier for millions of American women and others who have changed their legal name. (The Nevada Independent)

Articles of Interest

Deja vu? Athletics hire new president — former Raiders exec who oversaw team’s move to Vegas

Marc Badain, who oversaw development of Allegiant Stadium, was named the A’s president and will steer construction of the $1.75B baseball stadium. (The Nevada Independent)

With years before move to Vegas, A’s ‘want to be part of the community’

The Major League team, which plays three seasons in Sacramento while its Strip stadium is built, viewed last week as establishing its Southern Nevada presence. (The Nevada Independent)

LVCVA cuts deal for patch on A’s jerseys

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority jersey patch deal with the Athletics is a multimillion-dollar agreement.  The three-year deal to feature a “Las Vegas” patch on the sleeves of A’s players’ jerseys during games is valued at $8.5 million, according to the authority. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Prices for tickets at LVGP to be 35 percent cheaper

Prices for tickets to the race, scheduled for Nov. 20-22, begin at $50 for single-day offerings and $400 for a three-day pass and go as high as $25,000 for high-end hospitality packages. The tickets will go on sale to the public at noon on April 9 on the race’s website. race officials announced Tuesday. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Longtime Nevada gaming regulator hanging up the calculator after 4 decades in industry

The agency’s senior research analyst is stepping away but his fascination with the casino business remains. Also, Penn & Teller are featured on a table game. (The Nevada Independent)

Ex-Nye captain pleads guilty–Boruchowitz admits to plot as officer for fraud, deprivation of rights

A former Nye County sheriff’s captain accused of abusing his power and making a false arrest pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to felony wire fraud and misdemeanor deprivation of rights charges. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

A’s look to start work on Las Vegas ballpark–Advisory Board OKs several design aspects

While the Athletics’ Las Vegas ballpark is still years away from opening, team officials are pushing to start preliminary work in order to keep the project on track for the 2028 MLB season. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Home sales: It’s complicated–Lack of land strangling Vegas-area real estate, builders say

About 25,000 acres in the Las Vegas Valley remain available for development, and the region could run out of buildable land in as little as seven years, one homebuilder said. (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Nevada union fires back after worker alleges dues wrongly taken

The Culinary Local 226 union fired back Thursday in response to a Las Vegas Convention Center food service worker’s allegation that the union wrongfully took dues from her. (Las Vegas Review Journal)