October 3, 2023
What makes something worth saving? Is it age? Sentimental value? Cultural significance? Historic mining towns, Nevada’s famous dark skies, Indigenous American languages and early 20th Century motor courts all share something in common — they are threatened and, in some cases, in danger of disappearing.
Nevada cannabis consumers and patients experience a market unlike those in nearby states because of its “ecosystem,” which has fewer options for consumers, industry leaders say. In an industry that remains illegal at the federal level, but regulated in certain states, Nevada is experiencing some challenges also seen nationwide, such as slower investment and heavy regulation, but others that are confined to its borders. The broad challenges that face businesses that have been legal for just a few years were among the topics of discussion at the 2023 MJBizCon Dare to Grow conference that wrapped earlier this month in Las Vegas.
Not only are average hourly wages low in Nevada compared to other states, they are increasing at the nearly the slowest rate in the nation. That was one takeaway from a presentation given by Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Chief Economist David Schmidt to the state’s Economic Forum on Tuesday. Nevada’s average hourly wage, as of October, was $29.34 — ranking 44th out of the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
Abby Madore covers a lot of ground each day at work. A staffer at a community health center in Carson City, Nevada, Madore spends her days helping low-income residents understand their health insurance options, including Medicaid. Her phone is always ringing, she said, as she fields calls from clients who dial in from the state’s remote reaches seeking help.
Gov. Joe Lombardo again publicly declined to endorse anyone for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — including former President Donald Trump, who endorsed Lombardo during his gubernatorial run last year. Speaking to Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston during a wide-ranging discussion Saturday at the annual policy and politics-focused Texas Tribune Festival, the Republican governor’s comments come as he has begun endorsing candidates in down-ballot races and as a PAC linked to his campaign has intensified its campaign against legislative Democrats.
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