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Elvis image bans shake, rattle and roll Las Vegas chapels

Las Vegas chapels of love that use Elvis Presley's likeness could find themselves becoming Heartbreak Hotels. The licensing company that controls the name and image of “The King'' is ordering Sin City chapel operators to stop using Elvis in themed ceremonies, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday. Authentic Brands Group sent cease-and-desist letters earlier this month to multiple chapels, saying they must comply by the end of May.

Implementation of ranked-choice voting in Nevada would cost more than $3 million

While an attempt to bring ranked-choice voting to Nevada appears headed for the general election ballot in November, switching to the new voting system would carry a hefty price tag for state and local governments if approved by voters in 2022 and 2024. The implementation of ranked-choice voting — a process that allows voters to rank multiple candidates by order of preference instead of choosing just one — would cost approximately $3.2 million ahead of the 2026 general election, as well as an additional $57,000 per year moving forward, according to a financial analysis of the proposed initiative conducted by Legislative Counsel Bureau fiscal staff.

Indy Explains: How deceased Nevadans are removed from the voter rolls

America has a long history of dead people casting votes.  Though they may not change the outcome of an election or constitute widespread fraud, votes cast by the deceased seem to grab headlines nearly every election cycle — from claims that the “cemetery bloc” helped John F. Kennedy win Illinois in 1960 to the high-profile case of Nevada resident Donald Kirk Hartle voting his dead wife’s ballot in 2020.

Frayed trust frustrates some rural Nevada election officials

In deep-red Republican rural Nevada, election officials are fighting back against a push to return to hand counting paper ballots. For some, the fight is paying off. For others, pleas have fallen on unsympathetic ears.

Nevada Supreme Court upholds dismissal of education funding lawsuit

The Nevada Supreme Court has sided with a lower court judge in dismissing a parent-led lawsuit aimed at dramatically improving K-12 education funding in the state.

Nevada treasurer to divest from gun, ammunition manufacturers

Nevada plans to divest tens of millions of dollars away from businesses involved in the manufacture or sale of weapons.  Treasurer Zach Conine made the announcement Thursday morning, and in an interview with The Nevada Independent, said the instruction to divest from those companies will apply to an estimated $89 million out of the $49 billion investment portfolio managed by the treasurer’s office. 

County library has something for everyone

The Humboldt County Library is not just a place to go check out books. The library offers an extensive amount of resources to people of any age and library staff work hard to provide as many assets as possible to create an environment where people can easily access information and enjoy the public space. 

Ellifritz selected as Basque Festival Grand Marshall

Patty Ellifritz is a hardworking wife and mother to three grown children. She has a mind for numbers, as an accountant by trade and Treasurer of the Basque Club, and hands that can sew like no one’s business, as Owner and Operator of the Mad Hatter Quilt Shoppe. She is also the 2022 Grand Marshall for the 42nd annual Basque Festival which runs from Friday, June 10th, to Sunday, June 12th. Being chosen as the Grand Marshall means a great deal to the Basque Club. 

Music at the Martin keeps culture alive in Winnemucca

Concerts with nationally-renowned artists are not the norm in small, rural communities, but Winnemucca’s auspicious location makes the city a crossroads for many talented artists traveling through to perform at larger venues. The banquet room in the historical Martin Hotel has welcomed prominent musical talents that have performed for audiences of thousands, all thanks to the Great Basin Arts & Entertainment (GBAE) organization .  “We have brought such a tremendous amount of talent across that stage. Without the organization it wouldn’t be possible,” said Pauline Grimm, the Secretary Treasurer of GBAE for over 20 years. 

Training for new and experienced Nevada gardeners is being offered online

With spring under way, many Nevadans are gearing up to tool in their yards and getting that itch to get outside and garden. University of Nevada, Reno Extension will be offering two programs online for those interested in learning more about gardening in Nevada’s unique climates. The first program is the Home Horticulture Certificate Program, offered online Aug. 4 – Sept. 29. It will cover topics such as soils and plant nutrients, composting, native plants, small fruits, and integrated pest management. 

Amodei tests incumbent advantage as he faces Tarkanian challenge

Before the candidate filing period opened, it appeared almost certain that incumbent Rep. Mark Amodei was going to have a straight shot to re-election in Northern Nevada’s safely Republican Congressional District 2.  But by the end of the filing period, three Republican candidates had jumped in to challenge Amodei in the primary, including Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian, Amodei's best-known contender. Tarkanian said his entry on the last day of the filing period in March, after weeks of alluding on Twitter to a potential run, came “because it’s crucial that the GOP retakes the House with TRUE conservative fighters.” “Mark Amodei has been anything but America First for the past 11 years,” Tarkanian added on Twitter.

BLM to contract with law enforcement

In last week’s update, a BLM official said formal agreements are in the works to help subsidize Pershing County law enforcement during new events that may happen on the Black Rock Playa.  “There are two events you are probably aware of that could be on the playa,” said Mark Hall of the BLM Black Rock Field Office. “The first is Everywhen which was wanting to have their event during 4th of July week on the lower end of the playa. They have currently withdrawn their application for an SRP (Special Recreation Permit). They ended up selling less than a hundred tickets and they have let BLM know the event, as they were planning it, is not viable.”

Poll: In GOP primaries, Fiore leads for treasurer, while AG and SOS remain close

Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore has a commanding lead over her Republican primary opponent for treasurer, but GOP primaries for attorney general and secretary of state remain tight heading into the final month before the June 14 primary election, according to a new Nevada Independent/OH Predictive Insights poll.

Humboldt River Field Office has initiated a 30-day public comment period on a preliminary environmental assessment for the Eggers Desert Land Entry

 A Preliminary Environmental Assessment has been prepared to analyze a Desert-Land Entry application.  The Desert Land Act allows individuals to apply for a desert-land entry to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands.  The public comment period has started and will end on June 24, 2022.

Sparks man sentenced to 13 years in prison for fentanyl and cocaine trafficking conspiracy

A Sparks resident was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid.