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Interstate 80 to be widened between Sparks, USA Parkway

Interstate 80 will be widened between USA Parkway and Sparks, one of the state’s most heavily traveled corridors and the key route for commuters to the Tesla Gigafactory, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) announced earlier this month.

Lack of agency coordination hinders access to early childhood systems in Nevada, report says

Poor coordination between Nevada’s early childhood systems contributes to inefficient use of resources and limits access for those most in need, according to a report from a Nevada nonpartisan policy research center. Nevada would benefit from a centralized governance structure within the governor’s office to support the state’s early childhood systems, with the goal of addressing fragmentation and inefficiency, according to the nonprofit Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities.

UNR’s Sanford Center for Aging receives $783,000 in grant funding

RENO, Nev. —Sanford Center for Aging a dedicated organization serving the needs of older adults, received $783,881 in grant funding for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 from the State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division and the Department of Public and Behavioral Health. This generous funding will significantly bolster the organization's efforts to provide essential programs and services that enhance the quality of life for older adults in the community.

Federal court says Mississippi can't count late ballots but the ruling doesn't affect Nov. 5 vote

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal court said Mississippi cannot count mail-in ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day, however the decision was not expected to affect the Nov. 5 election. Although the appellate judges firmly asserted that counting late ballots violates federal law, even if those ballots are postmarked by Election Day, the judges stopped short of an order immediately blocking Mississippi from continuing the practice. Their ruling noted federal court precedents have discouraged court actions that change established procedures shortly before an election.

Could Elko’s Ruby Mountains be home to Nevada’s next ski resort?

Nevada’s iconic Ruby Mountains could be home to Nevada’s next ski resort if the vision of a California businessman and Elko County ranch owner comes to fruition. The range, known as the “Swiss Alps of Nevada” and revered for its rugged beauty, is a popular summer playground but is difficult to access in winter, with no formal ski infrastructure and access largely limited to helicopters and snowmobiles. While many want to see it remain wild, others want to see it developed into a reprieve from the crowds of legacy resorts in Tahoe, Utah and Colorado.

NDOT hiring for temporary winter highway maintenance positions

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Transportation is preparing to keep state roads clear when winter snow flies by hiring temporary highway maintenance workers to help with snow plowing and anti-icing operations, among other duties. Applications are being accepted for temporary winter highway maintenance positions in Elko, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Eureka, Wells and other areas.

Department of Education announces 12 grants

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the selection of 12 disadvantaged communities across the country to receive a total of $18.9 million in financial assistance grants. These grants, awarded through the Community Capacity Building Grant Program (CCBGP), are designed to address reinvestment in communities affected by long-standing nuclear defense and research missions and currently hosting environmental cleanup sites.

Free Cybersecurity Conference will focus on small and mid-sized businesses

Cyberattacks in the United States numbered more than 2,300 last year, with more than 340 million victims, according to the 2023 Annual Data Breach Report by the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center. Attacks take many forms, from phishing to distributed denial of service attacks, and can cost companies millions. Potential financial losses from cyberattacks last year exceeded $12.5 billion, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Internet Crime Report. All types of businesses and organizations are affected, but small and mid-sized businesses may be particularly vulnerable.

Overdose deaths are down nationally, but up in many Western states

Despite an encouraging national dip in the past year, overdose deaths are still on the rise in many Western states as the epicenter of the nation’s continuing crisis shifts toward the Pacific Coast, where deadly fentanyl and also methamphetamine are finding more victims. Overdose deaths remain sharply higher since 2019. Many states are working on “harm reduction” strategies that stress cooperation with people who use drugs; in some cases, states are getting tougher on prosecutions, with murder charges for dealers.

Sparks mayor: Build toll road to Tahoe-Reno Industrial complex

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson has safety concerns about his constituents. Thousands of them commute from Sparks (and Reno) to work at one of the Fortune 500 companies at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Complex, about 12 miles east of town in Storey County.

Carson City voters to receive new mail-in ballots following incorrect party designation

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in Carson Now. It is being republished as part of a partnership between The Nevada Independent and Carson Now.

In Nevada’s only GOP House district, incumbent Amodei faces indie challenge

Nevada Independent Editor’s note: Sunlight Research Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, contributed research and data analysis for this report. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) has represented Northern Nevada’s deeply conservative 2nd Congressional District since 2011, securing victory in seven election cycles.

Does the BLM’s solar plan trade Nevada’s resources for desert sprawl?

Long before the days of freeways and highways, interstate travelers relied on rugged dirt trails. The Old Spanish Trail was one such path. Spanning approximately 2,700 miles between present day Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California, and running through a portion of Southern Nevada, the trail was used by traders, explorers and settlers during the early 19th century. California-bred horses and mules were swapped for goods made in New Mexico, and contraband and slaves were also transported along the route.

October 2024 BLM and NNCC saddle-started wild horse adoption a success

CARSON CITY — The Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections – Silver State Industries conducted a saddle-started wild horse adoption event at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center on October 12, 2024. Thirty-five qualified bidders including successful adopters from all over the United States attended the event.

After canceling its Nevada reservations, NRSC joins forces with Brown in hybrid ads

Vastly outspent by Democrats in the U.S. Senate race in Nevada, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has scrapped an ambitious spending plan and is now taking a different approach. Last week, the NRSC, the chief fundraising arm of Senate Republicans and a key player in recruitment and strategy in Senate races, removed about $7.4 million in future independent expenditure advertising from stations in Nevada. On Wednesday, they rebooked some of that money as a hybrid ad with Republican candidate Sam Brown’s campaign, placing a $331,000 buy.