The Nevada Independent

Some 11,000 DACA recipients living in Nevada just became eligible to access health insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplaces such as Nevada Health Link. It's a change brought about by the Biden administration back in May.

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Obamacare DACA expansion could help bring health insurance to some 11,000 Nevadans - The Nevada Independent The expansion is the result of a Biden administration rule in May that ended the exclusion of DACA recipients from health plans offered on ACA marketplaces and coverage through a Basic Health Program (BHP).

Polarizing. Challenging. A lot of wasted time.

That's how six lawmakers, including Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) described what it is like being in the U.S. House. And yet, they keep at it, running for re-election.

Via AP:

In their own words: What it's like in a 'chaos' Congress and why these lawmakers keep coming back - The Nevada Independent AP sat down separately with lawmakers, three Republicans and three Democrats, to hear what it's like on Capitol Hill and what they can do to make it better.

Macau casinos exceeded the region’s 2023’s gaming revenue in just 10 months

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Macau casinos exceed 2023’s gaming revenue in just 10 months Field note by Howard Stutz on November 1st, 2024

When the dust settles on the election, what will the results mean for the future of Nevada and the nation as a whole?

Join Indy CEO and Editor Jon Ralston and our reporters for our YouTube Live Post-Election Conversation on Nov. 6 at 12 p.m.

If you’d like your questions answered, comment here or email us at [email protected].

A national campaign seeks to lessen polarization by replacing traditional primaries with ranked-choice voting, removing a process that gives the most active party members an outsized role in picking leaders. It's poured millions into Nevada.

Via AP:

A national campaign to lessen polarization pushes Nevadans to ditch partisan primaries - The Nevada Independent The $70 million effort to replace traditional primaries with either nonpartisan ones or ranked choice voting in six state is run by Denver-based Unite America. The group has donated close to $14 million toward the passage of Nevada's Question 3.

While a K-12 education funding formula the state adopted five years ago shuffled how money flowed to Nevada schools, a new report suggests much more money is still needed to ensure good outcomes for students.

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Report: Nevada’s new education funding formula ‘a huge stride’ but funding needs persist - The Nevada Independent Although the new K-12 education funding formula that Nevada adopted five years ago significantly overhauled how state money flows down to public schools, school funding is still well below what experts think is needed to ensure good outcomes.

Vice President Kamala Harris pitched herself Thursday as the only candidate fighting to help the working class, and was accompanied by Mexican rock band Maná and actress Jennifer Lopez in North Las Vegas.

Takeaways from her two Nevada rallies:

Takeaways from Kamala Harris’ closing pitch in Nevada - The Nevada Independent During speeches in North Las Vegas and Reno, Harris rehashed a slew of her policies aimed at lowering health care, housing and grocery costs, and characterized her candidacy as a fight for freedom and dignity.

In likely his last Nevada stop before Election Day, former President Donald Trump flaunted Republicans' high early voting turnout and derided Vice President Kamala Harris as "low IQ."

Isabella Aldrete and Howard Stutz on the Henderson rally:

Trump makes final pitch to Nevadans, cheers GOP’s early voting totals - The Nevada Independent In a nearly 95-minute stump speech in Henderson, the former president played to an adoring audience while slamming Harris.

Club executive Sandy Dean announced Athletics owner John Fisher and his family will invest $1 billion into the construction of the Las Vegas stadium and U.S. Bank and Goldman Sachs will offer a $300 million loan.

Via AP:

John Fisher pledges $1 billion to construction of A's stadium in Las Vegas - The Nevada Independent The U.S. Bank and Goldman Sachs also offered a $300 million loan, club executive Sandy Dean said Thursday.

Entrepreneur and actor Mark Wahlberg joined Indy CEO and Editor Jon Ralston at IndyFest 2024 to discuss movie trivia, his move to Las Vegas and his desire for a film tax credit expansion in the Silver State.

Watch it here:

IndyFest 2024: Mark Wahlberg on making Las Vegas Hollywood East - The Nevada Independent Wahlberg said Las Vegas offers a “fresh” filming landscape and the potential to diversify the economy.

A coalition of environmental and tribal groups sue feds, saying a recently authorized lithium mine will drive the endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat to extinction.

Read the full story here:

Groups sue feds, say lithium mine will drive plant to extinction Field note by Amy Alonzo on October 31st, 2024

The long-running dispute between Las Vegas and the owner of the defunct Badlands golf course may finally reach an end if the city council approves a settlement of between $250 million and $286 million soon after Election Day.

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Las Vegas City Council could vote to settle Badlands lawsuit after the election - The Nevada Independent Las Vegas city attorneys could negotiate paying between $250 million and $286 million to the Badlands developer who was blocked from turning a golf course into housing.

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday that four Democratic legislators — who work as teachers, a public defender and for higher education institutions — aren’t violating the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine.

Read more about what that means for the state’s public officials:

Nevada Supreme Court: 4 lawmakers not violating Constitution by having other public jobs - The Nevada Independent In a 4-3 ruling, the court determined that the four legislators did not violate the state Constitution's prohibition of working for multiple branches of state government because none of their employers are part of the judicial or executive branches.

The federal government approves $375 million to improve Nevada parks, trails

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Feds approve $375M to improve Nevada parks, trails Field note by Amy Alonzo on October 31st, 2024

As Election Day rapidly approaches, The Indy analyzed the various scenarios in which Nevadans will decide the next president, as well as control of the U.S. Senate.

Find out how “we matter” here:

From the presidential race down, Nevada matters. But how much? - The Nevada Independent The Indy analyzed the various scenarios in which Nevadans will decide the next president, as well as control of the U.S. Senate.

In today’s Indy Elections:
🗳️How Nevada can matter next week
🏇Which party has turnout lead in down-ballot races
🐂A top Republican senator is bullish about Sam Brown’s chances

Read and subscribe to our newsletter:

Indy Elections: How Nevada can matter next week - The Nevada Independent We map out the scenarios where Nevada could determine the next president and control of Congress. Plus, which party has the turnout lead in the key congressional and legislative races, and why a top GOP senator is bullish about Sam Brown.

OPINION: Ballot Question 7 would prevent eligible Nevadans from voting, is unnecessary

"A lack of access to photo ID documentation is often much more common among historically marginalized communities, such as people of color, those with disabilities and young people."

OPINION: Ballot Question 7 would prevent eligible Nevadans from voting, is unnecessary - The Nevada Independent If otherwise-eligible people are told they cannot vote unless they show a photo ID, it will make casting a ballot much harder by complicating the voting process and restricting access to the ballot box for many Nevadans who lack access to a government-issued photo ID.

Former Bank of Nevada CEO John Guedry and public education advocate Amanda Morgan had a tense discussion on school choice policies in Nevada at an IndyFest panel hosted by Indy CEO and Editor Jon Ralston and education reporter Rocio Hernandez.

Watch it here:

IndyFest 2024: A tense debate on whether Nevada scholarships are vouchers - The Nevada Independent Former Bank of Nevada CEO John Guedry and public education advocate Amanda Morgan had a tense back-and-forth about the best ways to meet the needs of Nevada’s students.

Clark County School Board appoints Nakia Jackson-Hale, a UNLV assistant dean, to the vacant District B position.

Ready the full story here:

UNLV assistant dean appointed to Clark County School Board Field note by Rocio Hernandez on October 30th, 2024

Caesars Entertainment is selling the LINQ Promenade on the Strip for $275 million, roughly half of what it cost the company to build the space over 10 years ago, as it seeks to pay down billions in debt.

Read the full story here:

Caesars to sell LINQ Promenade on the Strip for $275M to pay off debt - The Nevada Independent Caesars Entertainment is selling the LINQ Prominade, including the High Roller Observation Wheel, for $275 million to help pay down some of the company's $12.7 billion in debt.

As yet another Washoe County executive leaves their post, officials are trying to quell any concerns that the shuffling of staff would affect operations in Nevada's second most-populous county days before the election.

Via AP:

Manager of a key Nevada swing county goes on medical leave ahead of election - The Nevada Independent Washoe County has received attention in recent weeks after turnover at the top of the elections office there.

During her relatively brief time as Washoe County's registrar of voters, Cari-Ann Burgess faced conspiracy theories and vitriol, but she said she still had intended to stay through the election but was forced out.

Via AP:

An elections worker wanted to serve her country. A stew of conspiracy theories and vitriol awaited - The Nevada Independent During her relatively brief time as Washoe County's registrar of voters, Cari-Ann Burgess has faced conspiracies and vitriol, but she said she still hadn't intended to leave.

In this week’s Indy Gaming:
📉Is the Strip seeing a revenue decline?
⚾️Is the landowner for A’s ballpark contributing to the project?
🛎️Atlantis room remodel nears completion

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Indy Gaming: Is the Strip headed for its first revenue decline since the pandemic? - The Nevada Independent Analysts break down what a calendar “quirk” and a bad month for baccarat means. Also, will owner of ballpark site finance A’s stadium costs?

OPINION by : A change in policies would betray immigrants’ treasured beliefs, values

“Even though the majority of us are not open about our undocumented status, we are your family, friends and community members.”

OPINION: A change in policies would betray immigrants’ treasured beliefs, values - The Nevada Independent But having to fight every day and wait on court decision after court decision is not a life. This chaotic dichotomy of a path forward with the persistent threat of losing everything by the courts is the life of all DACA recipients.

Rafael Arroyo is a political newcomer relative to Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, but contends that his small-business background gives him a leg up on economic issues.

Read about their backgrounds and policy positions at the link in our bio.