Nevada State News

Las Vegas ‘Fabulous 5-Day Sale’ drives visitor traffic

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 06:06:52 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- The Las Vegas “Fabulous 5-Day Sale” is over, and officials are touting high internet traffic as they continue to calculate the financial impact.

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) released the marketing results of a weeklong sale offering discounts and deals. High website referrals, traffic, and social mentions of the deals indicated a successful campaign, according to Kate Wik, the LVCVA Chief Marketing Officer.

“We are thrilled with the success of The Fabulous 5-Day Sale. Travelers didn’t just visit the webpage; they stayed and engaged, underscoring both the strong demand for deals and the unmatched allure of Las Vegas,” she wrote in a press release. “Our goal was twofold: to highlight the extraordinary value that has always existed here and to generate immediate, meaningful leads for our partners.”

Wik wrote that the Las Vegas properties involved in the sale, which included over 160 deals, reaffirmed the commitment to providing quality offers for guests, thereby accomplishing the goals they had set out.

LVCVA marketing results for ‘Fabulous 5-Day Sale’

The campaign drove 7.5 times more booking interest than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined
Nearly four times higher website traffic to VisitLasVegas.com
Almost 120 times higher website referrals from the sales page to the resort booking engines
Time spent on VisitLasVegas.com was almost five times higher

The impact of the sales for businesses will be reviewed in the coming weeks as properties analyze the customer impact and conversion, according to the press release.

Months after fire burned down shopping center near UNLV, business owners wait for answers

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:33:06 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- More than two months after a fire burned down multiple businesses at the University Gardens shopping center near UNLV, questions remain.

As business owners figure out their futures, they’re still waiting to learn the cause and origin of the fire.

Neil May, public insurance adjuster for Spartan Claim Resources, representing multiple of the damaged businesses, said they hoped to have the report by the end of September.

“Nobody's really giving us an answer,” May said. “Still, we are hoping that it shouldn't take a second month. I would hope by the end of October they would have this straightened out.”

He said that because of the number of businesses that are affected, inspectors and insurance companies are doing their due diligence to be correct, leading to the lengthy investigation.

In the meantime, some businesses are receiving payments from loss of income insurance, others are waiting to find out who's responsible, and they're all trying to figure out what's next.

“Everybody's trying to look at you know, where are they going to relocate to, [or] can they relocate,” May said. “Not every business has insurance. So once again, if they don't have their own insurance carrier, they're waiting on the liability to figure out the future of their company.”

Mayors make a bet as Aces, Mercury tip off in WNBA Finals

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:20:42 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The mayors of Las Vegas and Phoenix have a friendly wager riding on the WNBA Finals.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego posted on the X social media platform: "Couldn't be more excited for the @WNBA Finals! @MayorOfLasVegas, how about a friendly bet? The losing mayor wears the winning team's jersey to a council meeting, and I'll even throw in treats from local women-owned businesses!"

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley had a quick response: "Everyone in @CityOfLasVegas is beyond excited and ready for a great finals matchup! You are on for the friendly wager @MayorGallego! I think you will look spectacular in @LVAces gear at a future council meeting! Go Aces Go!

LGBTQ Center of Las Vegas opens new health center

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:18:39 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Southern Nevada marked a major milestone in healthcare access on Friday. The LGBTQ Center of Las Vegas is officially opening the Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center, which is being called a game-changer for the state.

The ribbon was cut on Las Vegas Boulevard, but leaders said the impact of this new facility will stretch far beyond these walls.

"It's three floors of holistic patient health care. What we're doing is bringing in multiple services and multiple things to help people in the community have a beautiful place to access inexpensive, barrier-free healthcare," Dr. Leana Ramirez, Chief Clinical Officer for the Gavin J. Goorjian Community Health Center, said.

Inside the new health center, patients will also find unique wellness rooms designed to provide a calm and relaxed environment, another way the center is prioritizing both mind and body health.

From primary care and behavioral health to dental, pharmacy services, telemedicine, and even a 40-foot mobile clinic, Dr. Ramirez said it's about bringing healthcare to those who need it most, including undeserved rural areas.

"Everything is intentional, everything we do, it's meant to bring in the community. It's meant to plug these needs that we have that are lacking in our health care system," Ramirez said.

The new facility will also include a floor solely dedicated to behavioral health with therapists on-site. Health leaders like Ramirez said this is just the beginning of re-imagining health care across Nevada.

"Empathy lives here at the center, and everyone matters. No matter who you are, you will find a space here at the center," Ramirez said.

Here in Nevada, the need is urgent. According to the CDC, LGBTQ adults are nearly twice as likely to avoid medical care because of stigma or discrimination.

The Human Rights Campaign reports that 1 in 6 LGBTQ Nevadans doesn’t have a regular doctor.

The city has also proclaimed Oct. 3 as Gavin J. Goorjian Day, honoring the generosity that made the facility possible and recognizing his legacy of improving healthcare access.

Las Vegas in top 10 foodie cities in America, study shows

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:07:41 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Las Vegas was listed in the top 10 best foodie cities in America, according to a new survey. Several other Nevada cities also made the list further down in the ranking.

The term "foodie" is used to describe someone with a passion for food and new culinary experiences. WalletHub compiled a list of the best foodie cities in the America, which appeal to both people who prefer to cook at home and "adventurous eaters eager to sample local flavors."

WalletHub looked at over 180 cities across the United States across two metrics, "Affordability" and "Diversity, Accessibility & Quality," divided into 28 "key indicators of foodie appeal."

Some of the indicators the company looked at were cost of groceries, restaurant meal cost, restaurants per capita, restaurant diversity, average beer and wine price, coffee and tea shops per capita, and grocery stores per capita.

The top five foodie cities according to the list are Miami, Florida; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; and Orlando, Florida.

The map below shows each city and its ranking on the list.

Source: WalletHub

Las Vegas made the list at no. 8, just under Tampa, Florida, and Sacramento, California. Other Nevada cities to make the list include Reno (no. 59), Henderson (no. 121), and North Las Vegas (no. 132).

Some key takeaways involving Nevada included lowest average beer and wine price (with Reno landing at no. 1 and Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson tied at no. 2). Las Vegas was also listed as having the most restaurants per capita, tying with Miami, Florida; Orlando, Florida; San Francisco, California; and Houston, Texas.

Las Vegas is also one of the cities listed as having the most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops per capita.

Accused hit-and-run driver who struck 12-year-old near school is suspected of impairment

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:00:47 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- The driver accused of a hit-and-run crash that sent a juvenile to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Friday morning has been identified and is in custody suspected of impairment, police said.

OH' Ryan Brooks, 27, of Las Vegas, is accused of leaving the scene of the crash, according to police. Officers also stated that once Brooks was located, he displayed signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested. Brooks now faces charges related to driving under the influence and hit-and-run.

The 12-year-old was crossing the street on his way to school when he was struck. According to Deputy Chief Jose Hernandez with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the boy had only taken a few steps off the sidewalk when he was struck in a school zone. The crash occurred when the Brooks failed to yield to the boy, police said.

"Our hearts go out to his family, and we wish for a speedy recovery," he said.

The crash was reported shortly after 9 a.m. near 21st Street and Owens Avenue, which is near Rancho High School in the east valley. Police said the driver fled the scene after hitting the juvenile.

"Officers arrived and quickly located the vehicle not too far from the scene. The driver was taken into custody, and at this time, impairment is suspected," Hernandez said. "There's no excuse for driving while intoxicated."

As of Tuesday, September 30, there were 74 juveniles hit going to and from school compared with 33 for the same time period last year. During the 2024-2025 school year, 120 students were struck.

Metro has taken a zero-tolerance approach to drivers disobeying traffic laws.

"That means if you're speeding, if you're not paying attention, if you're running red lights, you will be stopped, you will be cited."

Diddy sentenced to more than 4 years behind bars

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 23:52:54 +0000

(NewsNation) — Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to four years and two months behind bars Friday after he was convicted of two prostitution related charges, plus a fine of $500,000.

The music mogul was the center of a months-long trial earlier this year, which put his clout and celebrity in focus around accusations of human trafficking and prostitution.

He was acquitted of larger racketeering charges but was convicted on two prostitution charges related to the Mann Act. He was facing a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.

Judge Arun Subramanian stated the sentence was, “hard time in prison, away from your family, friends and community, but you will have a life afterward.”

“Mr. Combs, you’re being sentenced for the offenses of conviction, NOT the crimes he was acquitted of. However, under law, the court ‘shall consider’ the nature of the offense and characteristics of the defendant,” he said.

“The evidence of abuse with respect to freak-offs and hotel nights is massive,” the judge also said.

Combs stood as his sentence was read. As he learned his fate, he turned to the gallery before sitting back down at the defense table.

“We all have voices, but you have a megaphone,” the judge told Combs, saying he has a chance to show the world what “real accountability” and change can be. “I’m counting on you to make the most of your second chance.”

Diddy calls his behavior ‘disgusting, shameful, sick’

Combs addressed the court for the first time Friday ahead of the judge's sentencing announcement.

“I want to thank you for finally giving me a chance to speak up for myself. One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle is to be quiet, not able to express how sorry I am for my actions," he said.

He apologized to multiple people, including ex-partner Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, her family, the woman who testified under the pseudonym "Jane" and all victims of domestic violence.

“My actions were disgusting, shameful, sick. I was sick," Combs said. “I’m not this larger-than-life person. I’m just a human being. ... I got lost in excess. I got lost in my ego.”

“I have nobody to blame but myself. I know I’ll never put my hands on another person again. I know that I have learned my lesson,” Combs also said. “And I take full accountability and responsibility.”

Combs said he was raised better by his mother and his faith, and, in part, blamed drug abuse for his actions.

He cried as he apologized to his mother, saying, “I failed you as a son. You taught me better. You raised me better.”

The music mogul said his reputation and career have been destroyed, "but most of all, I lost my self-respect.”

"I’ve been stripped down to nothing.”

Combs said he let down the Black community, which he aimed to serve, saying, “That was my mission. I got lost. I’m not this bad person. I’m sorry to my community for letting you all down.”

“I want your honor to know that, if given a chance, people can change. I know I’ve changed," he continued.

Combs said he has been rehabilitated after 13 months in jail after his arrest last year. He asked the judge for "mercy" and said he would comply with whatever conditions the judge would set when he is released.

“I can’t change the past but I can change the future. I ask your honor for mercy. I beg your honor for mercy. I ask your honor for a chance to be a father again... a son again... a leader in my community again... for a chance to get the help that I desperately need to be a better person because I don’t want to let God down, I don’t want to let my family down," Combs said.

As he wrapped up his thoughts, Combs asked the judge for leniency.

“I know the prosecution wants you to make an example of me. I just want you to think of making an example of what a person can do if they get another chance. If you give me another chance, I won’t let you down. And the evidence of that is those beautiful children that got up there and spoke for me.”

Judge was 13th juror: Diddy's lawyer

Following the sentence, Combs' attorney Marc Agnifilo addressed the media.

"The jury's verdict was resoundingly clear. There was no sex trafficking, there was no racketeering, everything was consensual, everything was adult, which is why he was only convicted of the prostitution offense," he said.

"What we feel happened today was that the judge acted as the 13th juror one that we did not choose and that he second-guessed the jury's verdict."

Diddy's children ask for 'superhero' dad to be released

His oldest son, Quincy Brown, told the judge Friday that his father has been transformed.

Justin Combs also suggested that his father's life had been saved by his time in jail because he stopped using drugs and alcohol.

“My father is my superhero. Seeing him broken down and stripped of everything is something I will never forget,” Justin Combs said.

The train daughters of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrive at Federal Court, in New York, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Quincy Brown, Chance Combs, D'lila Combs and Jessie, the children of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives to the Manhattan federal court for the sentencing of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Justin Combs, Sean "Diddy" Combs' son, arrives at Federal Court, in New York, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Janice Combs, mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives to the Manhattan federal court for the sentencing of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Janice Combs, mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives to the Manhattan federal court for the sentencing of Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
In this courtroom sketch, D'Lila Combs, left center, makes a statement surrounded by family as Sean Diddy Combs, right, reacts during his sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
In this courtroom sketch, Sean Diddy Combs reacts as he makes a statement during his sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Christian Combs implored the judge to free his father.

“Please give my family grace. Please let my father out,” he said. “Please give him mercy."

“We are tired of being strong. We have already lost so much. We have lost our mother, we have lost time with our father, and every day he remains incarcerated, we lose more and more. Please, your honor, please,” daughter D’Lila Combs said, crying, “give our family the chance to heal together, to rebuild, to change, to move forward, not as a headline, but as human beings. We’re trying to do better.”

Diddy's defense team argues 'self-punishment' is enough

The defense team began by arguing that the law used to charge Combs should not apply to him because he did not make money off his actions.

His team also pointed to his career and said he has been an inspiration for the Black community. Nicole Westmoreland spoke of his impact on her own life and how it encouraged her to follow her own career goals.

“Mr. Combs is not larger than life. He’s a human being. And he’s made some mistakes. He has flaws, like we all do,” Westmoreland said. “But judge, how many of us can say that we helped so many lives, countless lives?”

FILE - Sean "Diddy" Combs sits courtside in the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, March 12, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Defense attorney Brian Steel spoke about trauma and Combs' history of his father's death when he was three, leaving his mother to raise him alone. He urged the judge to consider the impact of untreated trauma and Combs' drug abuse.

Combs “has punished himself more than anyone will be able to punish him and it will stay with him for the rest of his days,” Steel said. “Mr. Combs does not need any additional time in custody. That is not the way we treat” drug addiction and trauma today.

Steel called Combs a "civil rights leader," saying his good deeds have outweighed his bad, "by far."

Prosecutors wanted 11 years for Diddy

Prosecutors asked for an 11-year, three-month sentence, arguing it appropriately reflected the conduct and is in line with other similar cases.

“Today is about accountability and justice. Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years, and justice for the public, including for the victims, whose lives have been shattered,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said.

“It’s a case about a man who did horrible things to real people to satisfy his own sexual gratification,” she added. “He didn’t need the money. His currency was control.”

Slavik argued that failing to give Combs significant time in prison would be tantamount to letting him get away with years of domestic violence.

Prosecutors also alleged Combs had scheduled a speaking engagement for next week, anticipating his freedom in what Slavik called "the height of hubris."

Slavik also highlighted testimony from an anonymous ex-girlfriend who said Combs abused her even after he knew he was already under investigation.

After the defense lawyers and witnesses had their say, Slavik got a chance to respond. She retorted that Combs “is a master puppeteer of his own image. … but that image is incomplete, and it’s misleading.”

Slavik rejected the message that Combs was a man devoted to helping others, reading from the victim impact statement from Ventura.

Reading from the letter, Slavik said Ventura still has regular flashbacks and nightmares about Combs’ abuse: “My experience was real, horrific, and deserves to be considered,” Ventura wrote.

Diddy asked judge for leniency in letter to the court

The night before sentencing, Combs submitted a letter to Subramanian. In the letter, he said he takes responsibility for his past actions and is asking for another chance.

Hampton fired a total of 18 rounds during the shooting, police said. Hampton’s mother-in-law was shot in the leg.

As the 8 News Now Investigators reported, Hampton faced a gun-related charge two years before the shooting and was known to pull out his gun during confrontations, court documents and police records said.

Prosecutors said they intend to seek the death penalty should a jury convict Hampton.

Clark County School District elementary school teacher arrested, DA declines filing charges

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:16:29 +0000

Editor's note: The district attorney's office has denied filing charges in this case. As a result, we have updated this story to remove any information that could identify the teacher.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A Clark County School District elementary school teacher was arrested on charges related to child abuse, according to police.

The teacher was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 1 after an investigation at an elementary school, Clark County School District police said.

The teacher assigned to that elementary school and has been a long-time district employee. Per the negotiated agreement with the bargaining unit, the teacher was assigned to home when released, according to police.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has informed CCSDPD that a recent U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling prevents LVMPD from disseminating booking photos.

What's Cool At School? - Respect

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 15:11:45 +0000

What's cool at school? Respect!

From Superintendent Jhone Ebert:

“We're committed to ensuring every student feels safe, valued, and included.”

To 5th grader Scout:

“This week of respect gives us an opportunity to celebrate kindness, understanding, and the power of respect.”

And Ryan, a senior at Clark High Shool

“Respect is a daily practice. It's the way we treat one another in every interaction, online and in person.”

And Sophomore Trent:

“Even the smallest acts, smiling at a classmate, listening to somebody's perspective, or speaking up when something's not right can make a lasting difference.”

A couple of students said a week of respect is great, but keeping it going year 'round would be even better

We always want to know What's Cool At School. If you've got something, let us know. “What's Cool At School” is under the “Community” tab at 8newsnow.com. Or just email: whatscoolatschool@8newsnow.com

Family Promise nonprofit opens complex for families experiencing homelessness

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:00:26 +0000

Marisa Cervantes, the chief operation director for Family Promise of Las Vegas, shows one of the rooms in the organization's recently opened complex to provide transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness. (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)

Tonya Jones was days away from being evicted when she began scouting out bridges and tunnels around Southern Nevada where she and her 3-year-old daughter could potentially sleep if they couldn’t find a place to stay.

Jones had been able to work from home since the pandemic. But in the summer of 2022 when she unexpectedly lost her child care, she couldn’t make it to work, lost her job, and quickly fell two months behind on rent.

“I found a job in the middle of September, a week before my actual eviction day,” she said. “I just needed a little bit more time.”

On a rainy September morning as a lockout of her apartment loomed, Jones remembered calling and emailing countless resources looking for help when she stumbled upon Family Promise of Las Vegas, a nonprofit that provides shelter and support services for families and children experiencing homelessness.

The organization put Jones and her daughter in an extended stay motel for the next several weeks until she was able to save up money and move into her own place. Jones, 43, and her now 6-year-old daughter, have been stably housed ever since.

The number of families experiencing homelessness has grown over recent years in Southern Nevada, but there aren’t a lot of shelter options, especially private rooms, available for them, said Family Promise’s chief operations director, Marisa Cervantes.

Gender and age restrictions often lead to families being asked to go into separate shelter spaces.

“A lot of times they’re often faced with a hard decision to make, whether it’s to separate and go into different shelters or to maybe sleep in their car, a park or somewhere where people are not meant to be,” Cervantes said.

Family Promise recently opened its 10-room Family Navigation Center to provide much needed transitional housing for families with minor children who are experiencing homelessness. The organization hosted a grand opening of the complex near Twain and Eastern avenues Sept. 30.

In addition to private rooms, families will receive case management and wraparound services to help them obtain secure housing stay employed.

The opening of the complex comes as Nevada, like much of the country, is seeing a rise in homelessness. Nevada saw a 17% increase in the number of unhoused people last year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Southern Nevada’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count, an annual snapshot of homelessness on one particular night, identified 7,906 unhoused people. The finding was a 20% increase from the previous year, and a 13-year high.

The count, often called the homeless census, is unable to capture the complex nature of homelessness, and the figure is considered an undercount.

Of the number counted in 2024, the report found nearly 20% included families with children. The report doesn’t include the actual number of families counted.

The 2023 report found there were 794 families with children experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada, 12% of the total point-in-time count that year.

As the need for housing grows, Family Promise receives hundreds of calls every day from families seeking help, Cervantes said.

The end goal is to make sure all families they assist become stably housed, but some families need a transitional space to stay while they stabilize.

These families “just need some extra support so they can get that job, save the income, and they can find housing that fits their needs,” Cervantes said. “We’re here to, like, step in and fill that gap.”

The Family Navigation Center cost about $14 million and utilized funds from Clark County and the City of Las Vegas as well as private donations.

The first family moved into the complex June 29. Another nine families joined shortly after. The first two families to reside at the complex have already moved on to stable permanent housing, Cervantes said.

A private space

Family Promise wasn’t the first time Jones had sought shelter in Southern Nevada.

After leaving an abusive partner in 2019, she and her then 4-month-old baby stayed at a domestic violence shelter.

“I stayed in a room when there were eight women and children,” Jones said. “We shared one bathroom.”

Because the location of the shelter was kept confidential for the safety of residents, Jones would get up at 5 a.m. every morning and walk several blocks before calling a rideshare.

She would then drop her baby off for care before heading to work. Jones would pick up her child and return to the shelter late in the evening, doing same thing over and over again for several weeks before she transitioned into her own apartment.

“It was not the best model,” Jones said of the shared shelter space, especially compared to a private room she stayed in with Family Promise.

In both instances, it didn’t take long for Jones to find her footing and get stably housed. She wouldn’t have been able to do it without a place to stay in the interim.

Filling the gap

When Family Promise was first founded 29 years ago, it relied on a network of interfaith organizations to house families experiencing homelessness inside churches.

Like other government agencies and nonprofits, Family Promise began placing families experiencing homelessness in extended stay motels as shelter several years ago.

Even though they have the new Family Navigation Center to house up to 10 families, Cervantes said they still plan to use extended stay rooms to serve the sheer volume of clients in need of help.

The organization served 788 families, or roughly 2,400 individuals, last year, with 91%of those families moving on into stable housing, she said.

Families usually stay with the organization’s program for about 90 days before moving on to permanent housing. Even after they leave the program, families get 30-day check-ins from the nonprofit over the next several months to ensure unforeseen problems didn’t arise.

“Many people are aware that there’s a major affordable housing crisis in our community,” Cervantes said. “For every 100 households who are low income in need or looking for affordable housing, there’s only 17 units available.”

The figure Cervantes cites comes from a 2025 National Low Income Housing Coalition report, which found “Nevada needs to make 78,000 more homes affordable for extremely low-income households.”

Even before Covid-19 shut down the state, the nation, and most of the world, Family Promise had been working toward opening up its own transitional housing complex.

It had secured federal and local funding to build the complex prior to the pandemic and had land donated from Clark County.

“Then the pandemic hit, inflation happened, and the cost for construction skyrocketed,” Cervantes said.

The vision to open the facility was pushed back several years while the organization raised additional funds and applied for more federal and local grants.

The complex means the organization is able to expand the number of families experiencing homelessness it serves.

Families Promise also tries to help people obtain rental assistance and other support services to stave off homelessness, Cervantes said.

“If they experience some type of unexpected hardship, loss of a job or loss of hours because of illness, child illness, or whatever it may be, if it’s a justifiable loss of income we can step in to pay their rent and utilities,” she said, as an example. The organization can help “fill that gap, to prevent them from losing their home.”

Renewal of health insurance subsidies backed by big majorities in poll, including Trump voters

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 11:59:30 +0000

The U.S. Capitol on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, just hours before a federal government shutdown. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON — The vast majority of Americans, including Republicans and those who identify as strong supporters of President Donald Trump, want Congress to renew the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, according to a poll released Friday.

More than 78% of people surveyed by the nonpartisan health organization KFF in late September said they want lawmakers to keep the enhanced credits. Their extension has become a major linchpin in debate about the government shutdown.

When broken down by political party, 92% of Democrats, 82% of independents and 59% of Republicans supported renewing the credits.

Within the Republican Party, 57% of people who identified as supporting Trump’s Make America Great Again policies and 70% of GOP voters who identified as non-MAGA supporters want to see the tax credits extended, according to the poll.

Spending bill held up over tax credit debate

The ACA tax credit expansion was created by Democrats in a coronavirus relief bill approved during the Biden administration and set to expire at the end of the year.

Democrats have repeatedly called on Republicans to negotiate an extension of the enhanced tax credits and have held up a stopgap spending bill to force those talks to happen now, rather than later in the year.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Thursday the discussion should happen during the next few months and that GOP lawmakers will press for “major reform.”

“That’s not a simple issue. That’s going to take weeks to deliberate and discuss and debate, but that’s the beauty of the process. We have three months to do that. That is not an issue for today,” Johnson said. “Today the only issue is whether they’re going to vote to keep the government operating for the people.”

Democrats strongly disagree, saying a bipartisan accord must be struck before the open enrollment period for ACA plans begins on Nov. 1, when consumers will see large cost increases for next year.

“We can’t accept an empty promise, which is, ‘Oh, we’ll deal with this later,’” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said on a call with reporters Thursday. “The fact is that this crisis is in front of us now. People are getting this month their premium increases if the Senate does not act.”

Murray said she finds it “ironic” that Republican leaders are saying they’ll negotiate with Democrats on health care once the government reopens after they “refused to negotiate with us during that entire time when government was open.”

The House voted mostly along party lines in mid-September to approve a seven-week stopgap spending bill that has since stalled in the Senate, leading to the shutdown.

The upper chamber, where major legislation needs at least 60 votes to advance, is set to vote again Friday to try to advance Republicans’ short-term government funding bill, though it’s unlikely to move forward amid the stalemate.

Many of those polled knew little about shutdown debate

The KFF poll looked at public knowledge and understanding about the enhanced tax credits for ACA Marketplace health insurance plans, finding 61% of respondents knew nothing or only a little about the issue.

Another 32% of those surveyed said they know some about the policy debate and 7% said they know a lot.

The poll of 1,334 adults took place Sept. 23 to Sept. 29 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for a full survey. Each political affiliation question has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.

The government shutdown began on Oct. 1, just after the poll wrapped.

Concern about the ramifications of letting the enhanced tax credits expire fluctuated when KFF asked the question in different ways, though those who said they were “very concerned” never dipped below a majority.

Fifty-six percent were very concerned and 30% were somewhat concerned when told “health insurance would be unaffordable for many people who buy their own coverage” if the enhanced tax credits weren’t extended.

The number of people who would be very or somewhat concerned was high among Republicans, 78%, and MAGA supporters, 76%.

Respondents who were very concerned rose to 60% when told “about 4 million people will lose their health insurance coverage” if they do not keep receiving the enhanced credits. An additional 26% said they were somewhat concerned and 10% said they were not too concerned, with the rest of those polled saying they were not concerned at all.

When broken down by political party, the number of people very or somewhat concerned remained high, with 76% of Republicans and 73% of MAGA supporters citing worry.

Small business staff, self-employed people

Fifty-one percent of those polled said they were very concerned when told “millions of people who work at small businesses or who are self-employed would be directly impacted as many of them rely on the ACA marketplace.”

Another 33% said they were somewhat concerned, 11% said they were not too concerned and the remainder said they were not concerned at all.

Seventy-five percent of Republicans and 72% of MAGA supporters responded they would be very or somewhat concerned when asked that question.

The poll showed that Congress extending the enhanced tax credits as they exist now comes with some trepidation about the price tag.

When asked how concerned people would be if they heard “it would require significant federal spending that would be largely paid for by taxpayers,” 27% said they would be very concerned, 36% somewhat concerned, 28% not too concerned and 8% not at all concerned.

Forty-one percent of Republicans said they would be very concerned, with another 41% responding they would be somewhat concerned. An additional 15% said they would be not too concerned with the rest saying they were not concerned at all.

Las Vegas police search for missing 42-year-old man

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 06:18:40 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)- Las Vegas Metro police are searching for a missing man last seen in the south Las Vegas valley on Friday.

Oscar Garcia, 42, was last seen on September 27, 2025, in the 3700 block of Tranquil Canyon Court near Twain Avenue and Fort Apache Road, according to police.

Anyone with information can call the Las Vegas Metro Police Department at 702-828-3111.

Las Vegas sewer system showdown stalls, rural neighbors claim ‘small victory’

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 06:13:54 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Some Las Vegas neighbors are claiming a “small victory” over the health district’s postponed call to join the city sewer system.

On Thursday, the Southern Nevada Health District alerted residents that the feedback window and eventual vote on a septic swap for water conservation would be moved to sometime next year, pointing to incoming feedback.

“The proposed updates are intended to simplify and clarify existing language while strengthening safeguards for public health and the environment,” SNHD staff wrote in the press release. The Health District emphasizes that public input is a vital part of this process. By extending the timeline, residents will have more opportunities to review the draft regulations, attend outreach sessions, ask questions, and share their feedback before any decisions are made.”

The postponement was received as a small victory by some rural Las Vegas neighbors, some of whom estimate the cost to balloon to a quarter of a million dollars.

“I wouldn't be able to pay $225,000 to hook up,” Gail Powers, a Las Vegas resident said. “They'd wind up leaning my property, which means I wouldn't be able to sell it to get the money out of it for that either. I would be SOL.”

Powers is one of many rural residents who have become outspoken critics of the health district change for the septic tanks. She says the conversion is not needed for the many who have working systems.

“The water that goes into the septic actually winds up back in our groundwater, which replenishes our wells,” she said. “So it's not being wasted by any sense of the word. It's recycled our way, the rural way, which is where it should be.”

The new date for the health district has not yet been released, but is expected sometime next year.

As CCSD reports drop in enrollment, some schools are overcrowded

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:01:13 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — New data shows some schools in the Clark County School District are overcrowded, despite a district announcement that enrollment has dropped this academic year compared to the previous year.

Some of the overcrowded schools share a few traits. They are four- or five-star schools, students score high in math and reading scores, and they're in the suburbs.

Two schools especially illustrate that point.

Vassiliadis Elementary School and Piggott Academy of International Studies are two overcrowded five-star schools, according to the district's data.

Vassiliadis Elementary, which is in Summerlin, is located near Desert Foothills Drive and Antelope Ridge Drive. Parents told 8 News Now the school is like a family, and the teachers and staff provide a great learning environment for children.

According to the Nevada Report Card, 4 in 5 students are proficient in reading and math. But the school is at 135% of its capacity.

Piggott Academy's students are also accomplished — 3 in 5 are considered proficient in reading and math, according to the Nevada Report Card. But Piggott is at 141% of its capacity.

Here's a list of some of the schools with the highest and lowest enrollments.

Elementary schools

Adcock Elementary - 54.2%
Craig Elementary - 52.%
Derfelt Elementary- 123.5%
Divich Elementary - 141.15%
Dickens Elementary- 121.9%
Gilbert Elementary- 124.7%
Indian Springs Elementary- 137.6%
Perkins Elementary- 50.4%
Piggott Academy of International Studies - 141.25%
Vassiliadis Elementary School- 135.3%
Williams Elementary- 53.6%

Middle schools

Molasky Middle School - 50.1%

High schools

Desert Oasis High School - 130.3%
Moapa Valley High School- 46.40%
Sierra Vista High School - 129.24%

Craig Elementary and Perkins Elementary schools are both located in North Las Vegas. Craig is a two-star school with only 1 in 10 students proficient in math and reading, according to the Nevada Report Card.

The Nevada Report Card shows Perkins is a one-star school and 1 in 5 students are proficient in reading and math.

The CCSD Board of Trustees met Wednesday and discussed enrollment figures. District B Trustee Lydia Dominguez expressed her concerns.

"If you're looking at the district as a whole, and the enrollment rates, some schools are at 40%," Dominguez said.

Data showed CCSD has 30,000 fewer students starting this school year compared to 2022. This provides a funding problem as fewer students means fewer money for CCSD from the state.

"When we're thinking about shutting down a school, it's not something that's done with urgency. It's done because we have to have a lot of thought in our community in how we use the resources," Dominguez said.

CCSD leaders have blamed low birth rates for the decline in enrollment. But parents also have other options for their children with the growth of charter schools across the state.

Charter school enrollment has surpassed the Washoe County School District to become the second-largest school system in Nevada.

Tree giveaway gives priority to 12 ZIP codes in Las Vegas valley

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:57:58 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Free trees will be given away this fall, with priority for residents in 12 select ZIP codes in the Las Vegas valley. It's part of a continuing effort to help grow the "urban forest," according to a Thursday news release.

The giveaway is open to all Clark County residents, and trees will be distributed at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6.

About 2,300 trees will be given away, and residents who live in these ZIP codes will be able to claim a tree online at www.ArborDay.org/ClarkCountyDES:

89014
89121
89119
89104
89110
89103
89169
89106
89102
89030
89101
89142

"The Community Canopy Project fulfills one of our All-In Clark County goals to make our community more climate resilient," Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson said. "More than just curb appeal, trees also reduce air temperature over time, provide shade to cool down streets and help reduce energy costs for homeowners."

Gibson's District G is home to residents in some targeted ZIP codes.

Since last year, the Community Canopy Project has given away to 4,500 trees with a goal of planting an additional 4,500 through spring 2026.

National Weather Service records show 2024 was the hottest summer on record for Southern Nevada. Several neighborhoods in the valley experience an urban heat island effect: areas that are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to roads, buildings and concrete that absorb and store solar heat, as well as waste heat from engines, vehicles and air conditioning.

Man pleads guilty to stalking Nevada governor, may spend years in prison

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:24:35 +0000

Prosecutors have said he was motivated by a belief that Gov. Joe Lombardo had killed his upstairs neighbor, whom he had also stalked.

Las Vegas man to serve at least 10 years in prison following deadly shooting on I-15

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:13:32 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A man will serve at least a decade in prison after shooting and killing another man in a truck on the I-15.

Joseph De Luna, 28, was sentenced to 10 to 25 years as part of a plea agreement he made with prosecutors back in August. The deal called for a second-degree murder conviction from the judge.

The shooting took place in March along the southbound lanes of I-15 near Cheyenne Avenue. Nevada State Police responded to the call with the help of North Las Vegas police after a report of a homicide.

When troopers and officers arrived, they found De Luna and another man inside the truck. The victim was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. De Luna called 911 following the shooting, according to police.

At the time of his arrest, police said De Luna told them the victim had threatened him.

Brightline West high-speed train cost now $21.5 billion, document reveals

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:57:47 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The cost of the high-speed electric train connecting Las Vegas to the Los Angeles area just went up, now estimated at $21.5 billion, according to a document obtained by 8 News Now.

A U.S. Department of Transportation document says Brightline West is seeking a $6 billion loan, raising the projected cost by nearly 40%.

A Brightline West spokesman said the exact figure is $21.05 billion. No other comment was provided.

U.S. officials said in June that Brightline West was "on schedule and on budget," according to a report on The Hill.

Questions about whether the project moved forward swirled in the first weeks of President Donald Trump's second term when his executive orders pulled back on green energy projects. It was unclear whether an electric train would get caught up in the mix. But in the months since, information surrounding the project indicated it would move forward while another California rail project took the brunt of the administration's criticism.

Map of proposed rail sites (Brightline)

While Brightline appeared untouched, the Trump administration threatened to pull federal funding from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) project because it had "no viable path" to come in on time or on budget.

The train from Las Vegas would connect the city to Rancho Cucamonga on the edge of the Los Angeles metro area, allowing passengers to commute into the city on existing LA-area trains. The Brightline tracks would run on the median between northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 15, reaching speeds of 186 mph or more.

The company expects to charge $119 for a one-way ticket and premium cabin service for $133. Brightline expects to carry 8.6 million passengers (one-way) in its first year of operation. Initially, that was expected to be in 2028, in time for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but it will not be finished in time, according to recent reports.

Homeless encampment in southeast Las Vegas Valley neighborhood has residents on edge

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:35:00 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A growing concern about homeless camps in one Las Vegas valley neighborhood is leaving residents frustrated.

People living near Reno and Spencer said they were dealing with a campsite for months before 8 News Now got involved and it was cleared out on Tuesday.

"This is getting more and more ridiculous. We need to get [Commissioner Jim] Gibson to do something about this,” resident Marcel Thomas said.

Thomas has called Glen Oaks Square Apartments his home since 2007. He's watched the problem with homeless encampments grow, especially in the past year.

"I open my front door and it's homeless people; they've got tents up, curtains up, beds. There was even a barbecue grill on the sidewalk," he said. "People are sleeping there early in the morning, making breakfast on the sidewalk. Kids are going to school and they're making breakfast."

He said he's made calls to the county, metro, and code enforcement but none of them took action.

"Nothing was done and camps kept getting bigger and bigger,” Thomas said.

At any given time, a group of 15-20 people set up camps throughout the community, according to Thomas. He said they move from one place to another in a never-ending cycle.

"It's like church: the alleyway, then they come around here, they go around to the corner here. It's a continuous nonsense,” Thomas said.

The impact can't be ignored, he said, as seniors and school-aged children in the community are unable to use the sidewalks.

"School kids have to run across the street. People have to cross the street; they can't walk down the sidewalk,” Thomas said.

Not only that, but Thomas also said people from the encampments trespass on residents' property.

"They use a crowbar to break the lock so they can get in. They come in there, they take showers, they hang their clothes up,” Thomas said.

Thomas contacted 8 News Now on Monday about the issue. When our team arrived that night, the encampment was still there. A sanitation crew cleared it out on Tuesday, but Thomas is still concerned it's a temporary fix to a bigger issue.

"Oh, they're going to be back. Trust me,” he said. "We have empathy for the homeless, but this is ridiculous."

The community near Reno and Spencer is a part of unincorporated Clark County overseen by Commissioner Gibson. In a statement, the county said its goal is to work with the most vulnerable population with compassion and efficiency, while at the same time protecting public safety and the quality of life for the community.

You can report encampment neighborhoods in your area through the FixIt Clark County website.

Traveler caught with 72 lbs. of ketamine at Las Vegas airport, feds say

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:22:27 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- An international traveler landed in Las Vegas with more than 70 pounds of ketamine in his luggage, leading federal agents to arrest him, documents said.

Nehemiah Bayonne faces federal charges of importation of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, documents said.

On Monday, Sept. 29, Bayonne landed at Harry Reid International Airport on a flight from London, according to a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.

During a Customs and Border Protection inspection, an officer located “packages shaped similarly to bricks” in Bayonne’s bags, they said. The 32 bricks, totaling 72 pounds, contained “a white crystal-like solid substance” that agents believe is ketamine.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies ketamine as an anesthetic street drug that causes “some hallucinogenic effects.”

During a hearing on Wednesday, Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler ordered Bayonne released on a personal recognizance bond.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 15.

Doctors can use an injectable form of ketamine to treat depression, according to the DEA.

Lighting up Las Vegas: Family-run Yesco blends neon heritage with LED tech

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:56:23 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Neon signs are a significant part of Las Vegas' history, culture, and symbolism, and have evolved considerably since the boom of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), a family-owned business in Las Vegas, has continued to shape the city's iconic neon landscape for over a century since its founding.

The company, now in its fourth generation as a family-owned business, was founded in 1920 by Thomas Young.

The company, now in its fourth generation as a family-owned business, was founded in 1920 by Thomas Young. (KLAS)
The company, now in its fourth generation as a family-owned business, was founded in 1920 by Thomas Young. (KLAS)
"My grandfather showed up with signs, and we never stopped," Jeff Young, Executive Vice President of YESCO said.

Since then, YESCO has played a pivotal role in the creation of some of Las Vegas's most iconic neon signs, such as those for Circus Circus and El Cortez.

"We can't believe that we've been part of such an amazing history of something so extravagant, so bright and so alluring as neon and signs," YESCO Executive Vice President Jeff Young said. "My grandfather showed up with signs, and we never stopped."

The Young family is behind some of the most recognizable signs off and on the Las Vegas Strip, from neon signs in every shape and size to a modern-day shift to sleek LED.

When we finished Aria, we never thought bigger and brighter. When we finished Palms, we never thought anything big, bigger, brighter. Then we got hired to do this Sphere, and we thought, how can anything get bigger and brighter?" Young told 8 News Now.

YESCO's Operations Manager Kevin Kelley, noted the evolution of the sign-making process, stating, "Everything was done by hand. Everything was more art-related. Now you have LEDs that have basically taken the place of neon."

The Young family is behind some of the most recognizable signs off and on the Las Vegas Strip. From neon signs in every shape and size to a modern-day shift to sleek LED. (KLAS)

YESCO's work also includes the creation of the Hard Rock Cafe guitar, which is now displayed at the Neon Museum. The company is also behind some of the most recognizable signs on and off the Strip, including the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign and The Golden Steer restaurant.

Despite the shift to LED technology, YESCO still values the traditional craft of neon sign-making. At one point, the company employed about 40 glass blowers, though now only six remain, continuing the delicate work of bending and curving glass tubes to create vibrant neon displays.

Despite the shift to LED technology, YESCO still values the traditional craft of neon sign-making. At one point, the company employed about 40 glass blowers, though now only six remain, continuing the delicate work of bending and curving glass tubes to create vibrant neon displays. (KLAS)
Despite the shift to LED technology, YESCO still values the traditional craft of neon sign-making. At one point, the company employed about 40 glass blowers, though now only six remain, continuing the delicate work of bending and curving glass tubes to create vibrant neon displays. (KLAS)
Despite the shift to LED technology, YESCO still values the traditional craft of neon sign-making. At one point, the company employed about 40 glass blowers, though now only six remain, continuing the delicate work of bending and curving glass tubes to create vibrant neon displays. (KLAS)
Valenzuela then allegedly disconnected her phone number, police said. Detectives then received an “anonymous tip… that Regina was bragging that she stole the money and may be staying with a friend,” Documents said.

Police had not found any evidence in Valenzuela’s bank accounts or major-area casinos involving the money as of the time they filed the warrant against her.

Valenzuela was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Monday, Sept. 29, records said. Details about her arrest were not available.

Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Nadia Wood granted Valenzuela an own-recognizance walkthrough, meaning she was booked into jail and immediately released without having to post any bail.

Wood scheduled a hearing for Oct. 30.

Las Vegas Metro police academy welcomes new recruits

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:43:28 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Most of us will never know what it feels like to be in the line of duty, but for recruits at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Academy, that reality starts in training.

8 News Now cameras were allowed inside the academy as LVMPD demonstrated one of the most grueling challenges new recruits must face on their way to becoming officers.

"They don't realize how difficult this academy experience is going to be for them. If I could tell any recruit that's signing up we're taking you as a civilian, a citizen that's never had an experience like this before, and we're essentially turning you into what I would call a superhero," LVMPD Lt. Joshua Stark said.

While the training pushes recruits to their limits, it's also simulating real-life chaos of policing. Stark said it's not just about creating new officers; it's about creating the very best.

The intensity is on purpose. Recruits are thrown into a high-intensity three-minute obstacle course with a blur of baton strikes, takedowns, and sprints.

"It takes effort, hard work, but if they trust in our program, trust in my staff, in the LVMPD, we will turn them in from that regular civilian to what I believe is the best police officer in the country," Stark said.

However, the academy isn't just about strength. Behind these doors, recruits spend hours in the classroom. The academics, according to Sergeant John Deschutter, are just as demanding.

"And that's why the back end of the academy is so difficult. The academics are very high-level college academics learning law, search and seizure, and different things like that. So, if your physical fitness is down, your mindset is down," Deschutter said.

For some recruits, finishing feels impossible, but Deschutter said the tests weed out self-doubt and build resilience.

That transformation from civilian to superhero is what Metro leaders said this academy is all about.

"You can put your head on your pillow every night knowing you made someone's day better, and that is something most jobs don't give you that satisfaction. Every day we deal with a lot of stress, but you know you're making a difference," Deschutter said.

While the overall hiring outlook remains strong, the first graduating class of 2025 had fewer recruits than the two final classes of 2024.

LVMPD also noted a 4% vacancy rate, which they are actively working to fill.

Henderson woman grows flooring business during rising material costs

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:27:40 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Janie Sandberg runs a flooring business franchise, and she’s growing the operation from a mobile showroom van to a brick-and-mortar store.

She said the key to success is focusing on high-quality service.

“A lot of other businesses are struggling and we're growing,” Sandberg said. “That's because people see the amazing things that we're doing, they're telling their friends, they're telling their neighbors, so I'm confident that we'll continue to grow.”

While she’s confident, she said it’s not easy. For her Floor Coverings International franchise, rising costs have driven the cost of materials up by as much as 10%. Conversations with customers are often focused on saving money.

Sandberg said service should come before profit.

“If you're in a business and money is your primary focus and you're only concerned about, 'I got to make the most money, I got to make the most money.' Ok, maybe the economy is not a good place for you right now, but if you want to help people, serve people, and provide a really good service, you can start a business anytime and be successful.”

Sandberg’s business, Floor Coverings International Henderson, will hold a grand opening celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nevada Health Link premiums expected to rise 26% for 2026

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:01:50 +0000

(Nevada Health link video screengrab)

Nevadans who get insurance through Nevada Health Link, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, are facing premium rate hikes of 26%, the state Division of Insurance confirmed to the Nevada Current.

The average approved rate increase of 26% is significantly higher than the 17.5% average proposed increase announced by the Nevada Division of Insurance in late July.

The July estimate was based on preliminary filings, according to the division, and has been adjusted upward by carriers because of “rising medical costs and prescription drug spending, increased medical utilization and a less healthy risk pool, Medicaid unwinding and the expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies.”

Regulatory changes related to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Rule are also driving up premium costs, according to the division. Among several revisions in the rule is one addressing how premiums are adjusted, which is expected to raise the costs of not only premiums but also out-of-pocket costs.

“These factors are not unique to Nevada,” a spokesperson for the division noted, “similar increases are being reported nationwide.”

For most ACA enrollees, the overall premium rate hike will be compounded by the loss of enhanced federal subsidies that brought down their out-of-pocket premium costs. These subsidies, according to health policy analysts at KFF, increased the amount of assistance received by enrollees already receiving subsidies and qualified middle-income people for tax credits.

The enhanced federal subsidies expire at the end this year and are a key sticking point in a political showdown between Republicans and Democrats that has resulted in a federal government shutdown.

KFF estimates the vast majority of ACA enrollees nationwide receive the advanced premium tax credit.

Nevada Health Link has said that 9 out of 10 enrollees receive a federal subsidy that brings down the cost of their premium. Approximately 110,000 Nevadans get their health insurance through Health Link.

Nationally, 24 million people get health insurance through the ACA.

Keep Americans Covered, a coalition of health care providers, insurers, and customers, has estimated 85,000 Nevadans will lose the enhanced subsidy. KFF estimates the number higher at 94,500.

Nevada Health Link in a statement to the Current acknowledged that health care premiums across the country are rising but added that “the cost of going uninsured can be devastating.”

The statement continued: “We encourage Nevadans to come to NevadaHealthLink.com to see your actual price after savings, compare plans from multiple carriers and get free, local help from licensed brokers and navigators; don’t assume that there are not affordable options just because the average plan price is increasing.”

The marketplace includes eight health insurance carriers and 140 qualified health plans, according to a news release from the organization. Thirteen qualified dental plans through four insurance carriers are also offered.

The average approved premium increase by carrier was not available on the Nevada Division of Insurance’s website as of Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson said the division was experiencing a “technical malfunction” but expected to post the information on Friday.

Heath Link will hold more than 20 community events across the state in October where Nevadans can discuss their options.

Open enrollment will begin Nov. 1 for coverage beginning Jan. 1. The open enrollment period ends Jan. 15, according to Health Link’s website.

Political battle

The federal government shutdown, which began early Wednesday, appears to be a result of a deep divide between Republicans and Democrats on health care policy.

Democrats have said Republicans refuse to negotiate on health care, which they have indicated is their priority issue. They have focused on the expiration of ACA premium subsidies.

On Tuesday, Republicans introduced a stopgap funding bill that did not include an extension of the premium credits. All but two Democrats (and one Independent who typically votes with Democrats) voted against the bill.

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was one of the Democrats to support the bill. (U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the other.) In a statement defending her vote, Cortez Masto said she did not want to hurt federal government employees.

“We need a bipartisan solution to address this impending health care crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another,” she said.

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, on the Senate floor hours before the federal government shutdown began, took a markedly different stance from her colleague.

“Nevadans sent me here to fight for them, not to cave and let Washington Republicans take away their ability to go to the doctor and get your medication,” she said. “Everyone should have access to affordable, quality care.”

Rosen defended the ACA premium credits.

“This is not a handout, it isn’t welfare,” she said. “It’s just a tax cut that helps lower the cost for nearly 95,000 Nevadans so they can afford to buy an insurance policy. So they can go to the doctor when they’re sick and go to the pharmacy to get their medication for a copay. So they can just afford their insurance…”

U.S. Rep. Susie Lee in press conferences and statements has expressed similar sentiments and emphasized the importance of addressing the issue immediately because of the open enrollment timeline.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee is running ads accusing Democrats of shutting down the federal government “in order to give illegal immigrants free health care.”

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for ACA marketplace plans, whether subsidized or not. Similarly, they are not eligible to enroll in Medicaid.

Medicaid does reimburse hospitals for some emergency care provided to undocumented immigrants, but that spending is less than 1% of overall Medicaid spending, according to KFF. Emergency services entail care that prevents death, serious harm or disability.

Nearly half of states provide prenatal and pregnancy-related care to undocumented immigrants through the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP. Nevada is among them.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with a statement from Nevada Health Link.

Here are the times and locations for National Night Out events with Las Vegas-area police

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:50:47 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Henderson Police Departments are inviting the community to celebrate National Night Out with their officers.

The LVMPD will host six events around the Las Vegas valley on Tuesday, Oct. 7, as part of the annual effort to “give crime a going-away party," according to a release.

The release said there will be food, entertainment, and other activities that help "promote and strengthen the neighborhood spirit."

National Night Out events will take the place of the monthly 1st Tuesday presentation for October. LVMPD National Night Out event locations and times are as follows:

Doolittle Park Hosted by Bolden Area Command
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1950 North J Street
- Raffles, games, and face painting
The Art’s District Hosted by Downtown Area Command
- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1025 S. 1st Street
- LVMPD Armor, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, AMR
Bob Price Park Hosted by Northeast Area Command
- 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2050 Bonnie Lane
- Live Entertainment, Food Trucks, Community Resources
Hollywood Rec Center Hosted by Southeast Area Command
- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1650 S. Hollywood Boulevard
- Pet Adoptions through Nevada SPCA
Downtown Summerlin Hosted by Summerlin, Spring Valley & Northwest Area Command
- 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 1980 Festival Plaza Drive
- Fashion, Dining, Entertainment
Town Square Hosted by South Central, Enterprise & ConventionCenter Area Command
- 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 6605 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
- Junior Raiderettes, Bounce Houses, Fingerpainting

All events are free and open to the public.

At Water Street Plaza, the Henderson Police Department will be hosting a free event for residents to meet and interact with the first responders who keep their community safe. The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be interactive safety demonstrations from the HPD K9, HPD SWAT, and the Henderson Fire Department Hazmat. Food trucks will also be available to offer food for purchase.

Israeli official indicted in Las Vegas sex sting case

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:50:09 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A Clark County grand jury has voted to indict an Israeli official arrested in a Las Vegas sex sting from August, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Tom Alexandrovich, 38, faces a charge of luring children or mentally ill persons with the use of technology with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, records said. The grand jury voted Wednesday to indict Alexandrovich, prosecutors announced Thursday.

The indictment is a procedural formality that moves the criminal case directly to the Clark County District Court.

Alexandrovich appeared virtually during his initial court appearance on Sept. 3. During the hearing, Henderson Justice Court Judge Barbara Schifalacqua ordered Alexandrovich to stay away from minors and stay off applications or social media sites for dating.

Alexandrovich is an Israeli government official who was in Las Vegas for a cyber event, the 8 News Now Investigators confirmed after his arrest.

Alexandrovich posted a $10,000 bail at the Henderson Detention Center on Aug. 7 and left the country. He paid “standard bail,” a process that allows defendants to pay the fee and waive their right to a probable cause hearing, which the justice court oversees. No judge was part of the standard bail process.

On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Alexandrovich allegedly chatted online with the decoy posing as a 15-year-old girl about meeting for “sexual contact,” the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, citing court documents. Police then arrested Alexandrovich as he prepared to meet with the decoy.

One of the apps police accuse Alexandrovich of using requires users to be over 18 years old, its website said.

Tom Alexandrovich (center) speaks during a conference. (Israel National Cyber Directorate)

Alexandrovich’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, previously said their client has stayed in contact with them, has not violated any terms of his initial release, and has served both the Israeli and U.S. governments.

Alexandrovich was scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 15. It was unclear if he could appear virtually or if he would have to appear in person.

Police: Armed man barricaded in home found dead in northwest valley

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:49:42 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A barricade in a northwest valley home has ended. Las Vegas Metropolitan police said the armed man was found dead inside the home.

Police responded around 6:20 a.m. to a report of a shooting at a home located on the 1600 block of Royal Palm Drive, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive.

LVMPD police and SWAT respond to a home located on the 1600 block of Royal Palm Drive, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive for a barricade on Oct. 2, 2025. (KLAS)
LVMPD police and SWAT respond to a home located on the 1600 block of Royal Palm Drive, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive for a barricade on Oct. 2, 2025. (KLAS)
LVMPD police and SWAT respond to a home located on the 1600 block of Royal Palm Drive, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive for a barricade on Oct. 2, 2025. (KLAS)
LVMPD police and SWAT respond to a home located on the 1600 block of Royal Palm Drive, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Buffalo Drive for a barricade on Oct. 2, 2025. (KLAS)

According to police, a person in the home shot themselves and is still armed. Other people in the home were able to leave the home, but the armed person remains inside and refuses to comply with police commands to leave the house.

SWAT and crisis negotiators are responding to the scene. Police urge people to avoid the area.

How the federal shutdown is playing out across the government

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 22:32:31 +0000

A sign on the entrance to the U.S. National Arboretum says it is closed due to the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — The first federal government shutdown in seven years has left hundreds of thousands of workers furloughed and members of the public struggling to understand what’s open, what’s closed and what might be delayed.

States Newsroom’s Washington, D.C. Bureau scoured agency plans published by the Trump administration and the courts, and produced this guide to help you understand what’s going on:

Agriculture Department

The USDA plans to furlough about half, 42,300, of its nearly 86,000 employees, though workers at several programs for farm communities and rural areas will keep working without pay.

Operations will continue on some farm loans, certain natural resource and conservation programs, essential food safety operations related to public health and wildland firefighting activities.

Agriculture Department employees working on animal and plant health emergency programs — including African swine fever, highly pathogenic avian influenza, exotic fruit flies, new world screwworm and rabies — are exempt from furloughs.

But dozens of USDA programs addressing everything from disaster assistance processing to trade negotiations to long-term research on animal diseases will cease until Congress reaches a funding deal.

Employees working on those programs will be furloughed until the government is once again funded, but both working and non-working federal employees in all agencies are required to receive back pay under the law.

Agencies housed within the USDA have varying levels of furloughs. The Food and Nutrition Service, Office of the Inspector General and Natural Resources Conservation Service are among those with higher numbers of furloughed workers.

Commerce Department

The Department of Commerce will retain just over 19% of its nearly 43,000 employees during the shutdown, and most will have to stay on without pay, as outlined in its government funding lapse plan.

The department oversees a wide range of federal government activities — weather forecasting, issuing patents and trademarks, regulating fisheries, enforcing export laws, managing government-owned and -controlled spectrum frequencies, and collecting demographics and other population data.

Notably, the department houses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and will continue providing “weather, water and climate observations, prediction, forecasting, warning and related support.” But research activities will largely stop.

The U.S. Census Bureau, also part of the department, will cease most operations, including providing monthly economic indicators and updated data about disaster-impacted areas. Certain preparations for the 2030 Census will stop, as will any data collection for the American Community Survey.

Funding outside of annual appropriations may keep some U.S. Patent and Trademark Office units open, but the timelines will be variable, according to the department. When funding runs out, the office will continue “a bare minimum set of activities necessary to protect against the actual loss of intellectual property (IP) rights.”

Defense Department

The Defense Department’s contingency plan calls for the nearly 2.1 million military personnel to keep working as normal and says 406,500 of its roughly 741,000 civilian employees will work without pay, while the others will be furloughed.

The plan says the Defense Department believes operations to secure the U.S. southern border, Middle East operations, Golden Dome for America defense system, depot maintenance, shipbuilding and critical munitions are the “highest priorities” in the event of a shutdown.

Medical and dental services, including private sector care under the TRICARE health care program, would largely continue at the Defense Department, though “(e)lective surgery and other routine/elective procedures in DoW medical and dental facilities are generally not excepted activities, unless the deferral or delay of such procedures would impact personnel readiness or deployability.”

Education Department

The Department of Education said it would furlough roughly 95% of employees outside its federal student aid unit.

The agency will continue disbursing Federal Direct Loans as well as Pell Grants, which help low-income students pay for college.

Borrowers still have to make payments toward their student loan debt during the shutdown.

Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, grant funding would continue to be available as usual, according to the department. Title I provides funding for low-income school districts, while IDEA guarantees a free public education for students with disabilities.

But the agency is ceasing several operations, including any new grantmaking activities. Still, the department said the majority of its grant programs “typically make awards over the summer and therefore there would be limited impact on the Department’s grantmaking.”

The agency’s Office for Civil Rights also has to pause investigations of any civil rights complaints.

Energy Department

The Energy Department will furlough a little over 8,100 of its 13,800 federal workers – nearly 60% of its workforce, according to its contingency plan.

The National Nuclear Security Administration would continue maintenance and safeguarding of nuclear weapons.

Some programs, like the medical isotope program, will require DOE to “produce additional isotopes in order to protect human life.”

“The need to do this will depend on the length of the lapse and the stockpile of individual isotopes,” according to DOE.

Certain programs are self-funded, such as the Bonneville Power Administration, which provides hydropower in the Columbia River Basin of the Pacific Northwest.

Environmental Protection Agency

EPA, according to its contingency plan, will have the biggest percentage of federal employees furloughed. Nearly 90% of its workforce, or 13,400 out of 15,000, will be furloughed.

Only agency activities that revolve around protecting human life, such as monitoring some Superfund sites and responding to emergency environmental disasters, will continue.

Some EPA functions that will halt include issuing of new grants, publishing new research, pausing of cleanup of Superfund sites that don’t pose an imminent threat to human life, enforcement inspections and issuing of permits.

Health and Human Services Department

The department, one of the larger ones within the executive branch that houses many of the country’s best-known public health agencies, has furloughed about 32,500 of its nearly 80,000 employees, according to its contingency plan.

Many of HHS’ activities fall under the life and property or even the national security exceptions during a funding lapse, though dozens of programs will still be affected.

HHS officials plan to ensure “minimal readiness” at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response for “all hazards, including pandemic flu and hurricane responses.”

Certain employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will keep working, albeit without pay, to monitor for any disease outbreaks. But the contingency plan says the CDC’s “communication to the American public about health-related information will be hampered.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to keep 3,300, or about 53%, of its employees during the shutdown in order to keep running core programs.

Since many of the country’s major health care programs are funded outside of the annual government funding process, they shouldn’t be affected by the shutdown, even though the employees who run the programs often rely on full-year or stopgap spending bills for their salaries.

CMS’ contingency plan says “the Medicare Program will continue during a lapse in appropriations” and that it has “sufficient funding for Medicaid to fund the first quarter of FY 2026,” which includes October, November and December.

Additionally, it “will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).”

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website opens with a message that reads: “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need.”

The department says the majority of its annual grant programs, including those that provide for emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness and people living with HIV/AIDS, “continue to operate in States and local communities across the country when such grant funding has already been obligated.”

The agency also said many of its programs “addressing imminent threats to the health and welfare of HUD tenants and children will continue where such grant funding has already been obligated before the lapse occurs.”

For as long as the funding remains available, “monthly subsidy programs such as the public housing operating subsidies, housing choice voucher subsidies, and multifamily assistance contracts will continue to operate,” according to the department.

However, the agency said nearly all of its “fair housing activities” will halt during the shutdown.

Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service will continue normal operations using supplemental funding enacted under the Democrats’ 2022 budget reconciliation law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act.

The IRS will retain its 74,299 employees, according to the latest available shutdown contingency plan.

The Trump administration has shrunk the IRS significantly this year, down from its roughly 95,000 employees, and has turned over the agency’s top leadership six times.

The agency processes about 180 million income tax returns each year.

The body that independently oversees the IRS will not operate at full capacity during the shutdown. Only 40% of employees in the department’s Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration will remain on, with a small fraction required to stay without pay if necessary, according to the agency’s plan.

As of Thursday afternoon Eastern time, the home page for that agency, tigta.gov, was blank except for the message “Due to a lack of apportionment of funds, this website is currently unavailable.”

Interior Department

A little more than half of the federal workforce for the Interior Department will be furloughed – 31,000 out of 58,600 employees – according to its contingency plan.

Some services within the agency will continue, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ wildland fire management, but programs that provide social services to foster children and residential adults will pause.

As for national parks, the trails, open memorials and overlooks will generally remain open. The National Park Service will retain minimal staff to allow for visitors. But general maintenance, trash pick-up and educational programs, will cease during the shutdown.

Hunters or people seeking access to public lands will not be able to have their permits processed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

Justice Department

The Justice Department will keep a majority of its federal workers during the shutdown, according to its contingency plan. Out of roughly 110,000 employees, nearly 13,000 will be furloughed.

Because the judicial branch will continue to function, the Justice Department will retain most of its attorneys for criminal and civil litigation. Federal law enforcement agencies and their agents will continue to work, such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A shutdown typically means that immigration cases would be rescheduled and courts not located in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center will be shut down. But the Trump administration has prioritized the Executive Office for Immigration Review, housed within the Department of Justice, as essential.

The contingency plan points to the president’s national emergency, “citing the threat to the national security and economy of the United States caused by illegal migration.”

Labor Department

More than 75% of the Department of Labor’s employees will be furloughed, according to the agency’s contingency plan.

Several units will come to a halt, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Women’s Bureau, Office of Administrative Law Judges, Administrative Review Board, and Benefits Review Board, as well as the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board.

The agency said it will continue to support states and other agencies when it comes to administering and paying unemployment insurance benefits.

The department notes that “unless excepted or exempt, agencies’ technical assistance, compliance assistance, regulatory, policy, research, advisories, responding to inquiries, most oversight, hearing preparation, and cooperative activities will cease.”

Job Corps centers that house students “will remain in operation while funds remain available,” and “federal oversight of those centers related to safety and property will continue,” per the department.

Homeland Security Department

Homeland Security will retain most of its workforce without pay. About 14,000 employees will be furloughed among its nearly 272,000 workforce, according to its contingency plan.

That means ports of entry will remain open for inspections from Customs and Border Protection, but there could be delays in paperwork at U.S. borders.

Most federal workers responsible for security at airports across the country – more than 61,000 Transportation Security Administration employees – would be required to work without pay.

Another agency within DHS that will remain most of its workforce is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. About 21,000 employees out of 24,000 will continue to work.

The office involved in departmental oversight, the Office of Inspector General, will pause its work on reports and investigations.

And the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown will continue, with nearly all employees from Immigration and Customs Enforcement considered non-exempt, about 19,600 out of 21,000.

Several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security will remain running because they are fee-based, such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Some visa programs within USCIS are tied to appropriations funding, so those programs will be suspended.

That includes E-Verify, which verifies immigration status; visas for foreign doctors; and visas for non-minister religious workers.

State Department

A little more than half the employees in the State Department will be furloughed, about 16,600 out of its nearly 27,000-employee workforce, according to its contingency plan.

Because visa and passport services are fee-funded, they will likely not be impacted. Consular operations will be affected and diplomatic visas will only be issued in “life or death” emergencies.

Social Security Administration

The program for America’s seniors and some people with disabilities is largely funded outside of the annual government spending process, which makes it mostly exempt from shutdowns.

One big caveat is that the federal workers who administer the program are paid through one of the 12 congressional appropriations bills, which can cause issues during a funding lapse.

SSA’s contingency plan says it will furlough about 6,200 of its nearly 52,000 employees until the government is fully operational again.

The agency plans to continue “accurate and timely payment of benefits” as well as taking applications, requests for appeal, issuing and replacing Social Security cards and fraud prevention activities, among others.

The SSA during the lapse will not conduct certain activities, including benefits verification, replacement of Medicare cards, or addressing overpayments processing during the funding lapse.

Transportation Department

Slightly more than 11,000 of the department’s nearly 45,000 employees will be furloughed for the remainder of the government shutdown, but its leaders plan to keep several activities essential for the traveling public going during a shutdown, according to its contingency plan.

Air traffic control services and hiring, hazardous materials safety inspections, airport inspections and much more will continue, though many activities will cease.

Some age

Nevada among top ten most expensive states to own a car, report says

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:29:53 +0000

(Photo: Ronda Churchill/Nevada Current)

The costs of owning a car in Nevada (not including the purchase) will set you back about $3,298 a year, according to research from ConsumerAffairs. That’s the ninth highest annual cost of car ownership in the U.S., the report shows, and $297 (10%) more than the national average.

The ranking is based on the average costs of insurance, repairs, and gas.

Delaware is the most expensive state to own a car, with an annual cost of $4,319, while car ownership in Montana costs an average of $2,166, the lowest in the nation.

“Over the past decade, gas prices have gone up about 20%, and the cost of car repairs has increased by 63%, according to federal statistics. And in the same period, car insurance premiums have soared by 94% — that’s nearly double the cost, wildly outpacing the cumulative inflation rate (approximately 36%),” ConsumerAffairs reports.

Nevada drivers pay, on average, $118 per month for auto insurance, the 10th highest rate in the nation.

A state report from the Division of Insurance says Nevada’s higher insurance cost “appears to be the result of a higher incidence of theft, higher frequency of accidents, and higher severity of injuries sustained in accidents.”

The ten most expensive states “have more dangerous roads — or dangerous drivers,” according to ConsumerAffairs. “Higher-than-average rates of traffic violations, collisions and crash-related deaths landed several of these states high rankings in ConsumerAffairs’ recent analyses of places with the worst roads, worst drivers and worst road rage.”

“Every state has its own risk profile, regulatory environment and driving culture,” Steve Cegelka of Ignition Dealer Services told ConsumerAffairs. “A state with more young drivers, looser insurance rules or higher accident rates will naturally have higher costs.”

Some insurance sources cite the concentration of Nevada motorists in two urban areas, rather than on less-congested urban roads.

Additionally, the state charges insurance companies an insurance premium tax of 3.5% on all policies purchased in Nevada, which is among the highest rates in the nation.

The average annual cost of repairing a vehicle in Nevada is $398 a year, the 12th highest in the nation.

Colorado has the highest annual repair costs in the U.S. ($417), followed by California ($416).

“Factors such as mechanic wages, cost of living, household income, type of vehicle, road conditions and weather can influence the cost of car repairs,” according to MarketWatch Guides.

The annual cost of filling up will cost Nevada drivers an average of $3.87 per gallon of fuel, with an average annual cost of $1,479, which is the eleventh highest in the nation.

The national average price for a gallon of gas on Thursday was $3.15, according to AAA.

Nevada, which has no in-state refineries, is heavily reliant on gas supplied by California, where strict environmental regulations and taxes combine for the second highest-priced gas in the nation, behind Washington.

A bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September permits the governor to suspend California’s summer gasoline blend, which is formulated to reduce air pollution but causes spikes in prices at the pumps.

Nevada imposes a $0.23 tax on a gallon of gas, while Clark County motorists pay the Regional Transportation Commission’s Fuel Revenue Indexing tax, which adds another $0.70 per gallon to price at the pump.

Las Vegas police 'Project Blue Sky' drones concerning to ACLU of Nevada leader

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:23:52 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Metro police detailed their plans for expanding the use of drones to support police response to 911 calls during a September news conference.

Privacy concerns have been addressed in the rollout of "Project Blue Sky Phase 2," according to Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren. Phase 2 involves establishing 13 "hives" — docking stations equipped with three drones — that will be piloted remotely and become part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's first-response strategy.

During the presentation, Koren said police anticipate public acceptance of the new technology. A drone with blue and red lights is a sign to residents that police are aware of a problem and are responding, he said. Drones might also be used to check alerts from "shot spotters" around the valley that detect the sound of gunshots.

Cameras on drones will point to the sky as a drone navigates to a location, and video that's not pertinent to the call will not be kept, Koren said. Those policies are meant to protect civil liberties and privacy.

But for all the high-tech tools that police say make for a safer city, the ACLU of Nevada is a watchdog on behalf of individuals whose rights can easily be trampled. And the ACLU sees potential for big problems.

Athar Haseebullah, executive director of ACLU of Nevada, points to constitutional protections under the Fourth Amendment.

"For any law enforcement agency, including Metro, to think that they can somehow work around that, utilize drones because of a 911 call that comes through or an anonymous tip and simply invade people's privacy, that would be a violation of law from our vantage point," Haseebullah said. "It's something that will end up being subject to litigation, right?"

"We're currently involved in multiple lawsuits against Metro for multiple reasons," Haseebullah said. He cited a secret Metro database that is used to collect information on suspected gang members. Other records involve shared information with the federal government's ICE investigations.

"So, any law enforcement agency simply saying, you know, we'll comply with civil liberties laws or civil liberties protections that might exist in the existing state of the law, I tend to not give a ton of weight to. It'll be on my organization to attempt to seek records related to this. It'll be up to us to be in a position to be able to challenge this when harm actually occurs. But we'll continue to monitor this," Haseebullah said.

"I think for everybody else in this state, they can give law enforcement or the government at greater scale the benefit of the doubt. I'm not interested in doing that," Haseebullah said.

To date, the ACLU has been a concerned observer, but no lawsuits have been filed over Project Blue Sky.

Metro data shows that drones flew over 1,100 missions during Phase 1 of the project, when drones were placed in patrol cars. Drones helped locate suspects in 169 incidents and contributed to 386 arrests, Koren said. See Metro's news conference on YouTube here.

The ACLU understands the desire to have a safer community, but not at the cost of rights and transparency.

"The right to privacy should not be subject to these types of attacks, but we do expect that this sort of trend will likely continue because Metro has already stated they have a commitment to advancing their own technology infrastructure. That technology infrastructure should give people of this state great pause," Haseebullah said.

Federal prosecutors to appeal judge’s decision to disqualify Chattah

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 19:32:11 +0000

The judge also ruled that federal judges in Nevada could decide whether to select their own interim U.S. attorney.

Nevada prosecutors to appeal ruling disqualifying acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah from 4 criminal cases

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:49:21 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Federal prosecutors plan to appeal a federal judge's disqualification of acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah from supervising several criminal prosecutions.

The government filed a notice of appeal on Thursday in each of the four criminal cases filed in the District of Nevada.

The filing by Adam Flake, appellate division chief and assistant U.S. Attorney, is the latest move in the battle over Chattah holding the position.

U.S. District Judge David Campbell, based in the District of Arizona, issued his order disqualifying Chattah on Tuesday after federal public defenders argued she is "improperly serving" in her role.

FILE - Attorney Sigal Chattah appears in court in Las Vegas, March 4, 2024. (Wade Vandervort/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)

"Given the court's conclusion that Ms. Chattah is not validly serving as Acting U.S. Attorney, her involvement in these cases would be unlawful," Campbell wrote in his order.

Campbell did not dismiss the criminal cases, but he is requiring federal prosecutors to file statements that they are not being supervised by Chattah in their prosecution of the cases. The order pertains to four cases in which each of the four defendants were indicted for felony offenses in the District of Nevada.

Campbell's order opens the door for other criminal defense attorneys to file similar motions challenging Chattah's authority and the work of federal prosecutors in her office.

In March, President Donald Trump appointed Chattah as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. She resigned from that position before the 120-day deadline expired. This triggered the Federal Vacancy Act, which allowed the president to appoint Chattah to the new position and remain in the office, she told 8 News Now in an earlier interview.

In late July, the Trump administration appointed Chattah to the role on an "acting" basis, which the filing from federal prosecutors alleges was unlawful. Chattah is a former Republican National Committee woman, made an unsuccessful run for Nevada Attorney General, and has made headlines for controversial statements she has made.

Presidents appoint U.S. attorneys for each district, which the U.S. Senate confirms. Following the 120-day "interim" period, judges in the district can appoint an interim attorney until a Senate appointment, according to the public defenders.

"Because Ms. Chattah's period as interim U.S. Attorney has expired, the judges of this district should exercise their authority to appoint a new interim U.S. attorney," their filing said.

In two interviews with the 8 News Now Investigators, Chattah defended her position and appointment.

"You know, a lot of these people, I know that they're scared because I know where a lot of the bodies are buried because I come from the defense world," Chattah told 8 News Now Investigator Vanessa Murphy in early August. "Without saying too much about my previous experience as a defense attorney, but when you played that side, you know where all the bodies are buried. Sometimes we even choose the location to bury them."

The challenges in Nevada followed two others involving appointments in New Jersey and California.

"I took that opportunity. It's not unconstitutional," Chattah said in August. "It was not done in a nefarious manner, and there's nothing that politicians can do about it."

Nevada's two U.S. senators, Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, have been vocal against Chattah's appointment.

Last month, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson called Chattah "unfit to serve."

Chattah declined to comment Tuesday. The 8 News Now Investigators also reached out on Wednesday morning.

To reach investigative reporter Vanessa Murphy, email vmurphy@8newsnow.com.

Las Vegas' Gilcrease Orchard has all the fall feels and tastes

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:27:16 +0000

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Fall is in the air and that can only mean one thing in Las Vegas. It's time for the annual Fall Harvest at Gilcrease Orchard which means wagon rides, live music, corn and hay mazes and more.

The nearly 70-acre historic orchard is well-known for its pumpkin patch where people can walk in a field of pumpkins and choose their favorites. There are roughly 15 different varieties of pumpkins. According to Mark Ruben, the director of Gilcrease Orchard, people often pick from the front of the field. His tip is to go to the back of the patch, that's often overlooked, to find a good selection. There's also more than pumpkins available.

"Right now, we have apples. There's a little bit of eggplant out there, some radishes," Ruben said.

The orchard's signature offerings are apple cider, which is pressed at the orchard, and their apple cider doughnuts. Apple trees have been growing at the orchard since the 1970s when the orchard became a pick-and-pay farm.

Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)
Gilcrease Orchard became a pick-and-pay farm in the 1970s, but the land has a long history in Las Vegas. (KLAS)

The property, established in 1920 as a ranch and farm eventually grew to 1,500 acres. Over the years, property was sold off. In the 1970s, the family shifted the focus to an orchard and in 1997, the property, now around 70 acres, was designated as a non-profit so the community could enjoy it.

Visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance and online. Information and ticket purchases can be made at this link. The Fall Harvest ends on October 31.

Law enforcement wants open investigation records kept secret. What does that mean for Nevadans?

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:27:58 +0000

The battle over records stems from a traffic stop where an police officer is accused of taking a woman’s phone and copying “intimate” photos from it.

New California law restricts HOA fines to $100 per violation, giving homeowners a break

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:21:15 +0000

Adam Hardesty’s home in Carlsbad on Feb. 19, 2025. Hardesty faced opposition from his homeowners association when he sought to convert his three-story condo into a ground-floor apartment. California HOA fines are capped at $100 per violation under a new law. (Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters)

This story was originally published by CalMatters.

An ornate balcony or quirky garage door might be in reach for more Californians as homeowners associations across the state are being forced to govern without the power of exorbitant fees to enforce regulations.

Millions of California residents could get a break if they violate their homeowners association rules due to a new law that caps fines at $100, down from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Amid an affordability crisis, lawmakers and groups that represent homeowners have characterized the cap, which took effect July 1, as protecting the pocketbooks of middle- and low-income residents. However, HOA boards worry the new restriction will limit their authority to enforce rules.

Attorneys for homeowners and HOAs say it will get rid of extreme cases where board members impose unfair and egregious fines to retaliate against homeowners they dislike.

“I have seen the worst of the worst and HOAs fine thousands of dollars and foreclose on those homes,” said Edward Susolik, CEO and president of Callahan & Blaine, who represents both homeowners and HOAs. “Generally speaking, that seems reasonable to bring that down because that is one of the biggest issues living in California, because HOAs have very broad powers to enforce their rules.”

The cap on HOA fines was quietly inserted into unrelated major housing reform legislation, Assembly Bill 130, that exempts most new housing from environmental review and was led by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco. The language of a separate bill by Democratic Sen. Aisha Wahab of Fremont, Senate Bill 681, capping the HOA fee was included in the housing reform bill just days before the governor signed it into law, drawing little attention.

“We were in active negotiations with Sen. Wahab’s staff and actually provided amendments to the pro tem’s office as well. What we were promoting was greater transparency and notice when fines take place at associations and avoiding a cap at all,” said Louis Brown, an attorney who represents HOAs with the Community Associations Institute. “We were very surprised when the language showed up in AB 130.”

Sen. Wiener’s office did not respond to an email requesting comment.

HOAs are proliferating nationwide

HOAs are a nearly inescapable reality for home buyers. Their rise continues to skyrocket as 67% of all new single-family homes built in 2024 nationwide were in communities with HOAs, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, up from 46% in 2009. In California, more than 50,000 HOAs govern around 65% of the state’s homeowners, according to the California Association of Homeowners Associations. California residents paid a median of $278 in monthly fees –– among the steepest in the nation, according to data from the Census Bureau.

They create and enforce rules for home, apartment and condominium owners and are controlled by the residents themselves, who elect and can recall board members. HOAs have faced the ire and frustration of some Californians for decades, and lawmakers have proposed legislation seeking more transparency on governing boards.

Most neighborhood disputes are resolved through casual conversation and end cordially without a fine needing to be imposed, according to David Zepponi, chief executive of the Executive Council of Homeowners and a lobbyist for HOA boards. In cases that require more formality, the board must hold a hearing where residents can explain themselves before a fine is levied. But there are extreme instances where situations escalate and devolve into expensive disputes between residents.

The new state law bans HOAs from charging late fees or interest in addition to the $100 cap, with the exception of rules that affect public health or safety. It also gives residents more leeway to absolve fees after they’ve been charged.

Lawmakers said it is a step toward addressing exorbitant fees prevalent in some HOAs.

“With nearly 65% of California homeowners living in HOAs, excessive fees have quietly drained family finances for too long,” said Wahab, who heralded the effort, in an emailed statement. “By capping fines –– except for health and safety –– we set fair standards, protect generational wealth, and finally put homeowners and HOA boards on equal footing.”

‘They’re guilty until the homeowner proves their innocence’

Some homeowners also see the new restrictions as a necessary check on boards that misuse their power over superfluous violations, such as painting a home a bold color.

“Our concern about violation fines in the past are that there has been no procedure for determining if a violation has occurred,” said Marjorie Murray, an advocate for homeowners with the Center for California Homeowner Association Law. “The board tells the homeowner they’re guilty until the homeowner proves their innocence.”

Many board members are fearful of the consequences of their diminished power and worry how it will affect their ability to enforce neighborhood rules, Zepponi said.

“You don’t have the leverage anymore to get people to change bad behavior,” Zepponi said. A neighbor who leaves their RV parked on the driveway in violation of association rules might just eat the $100 rather than pay for RV storage that is more expensive, he said.

“It takes a tool away from a board to make behavioral changes that are needed,” he said.

Board members have also argued that the lower fine could cost the entire community more if a neighbor continues to break the rules and refuses to pay their fees, forcing boards to pursue the only available alternative — costly litigation — more frequently.

The change is not expected to affect HOAs financially, as fines are not a significant amount of their revenue stream, according to Community Associations Institute lawyer Louis Brown.

“The days of homeowners associations telling you that your garage door needs to be painted might be over,” said Susolik, the attorney who has represented homeowners and HOA boards. “That’s probably a good thing.”

This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.

Officials, local leaders outline what shutdown means for Nevada

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:00:54 +0000

Linda Ward Smith, Nevada State AFL-CIO vice president, warns about the consequenses of a prolonged government shutdown. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

Local leaders warn the federal government shutdown could result in widespread ramifications for public programs and leave thousands of federal workers without a paycheck.

More than 22,000 federal employees work in Nevada, many of whom will be placed on furlough or be required to work without pay during the shutdown.

It’s not clear when the shutdown, which began early Wednesday, will end. Negotiations could drag as Democratic lawmakers demand Republicans in Congress extend health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and reverse health care cuts made in President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill.

In response, the Trump administration floated a plan to fire federal workers en masse and cancel grants to states during the shutdown.

Linda Ward Smith, Nevada State AFL-CIO vice president, said withholding pay from federal workers during a period of economic instability in Nevada could harm the state’s economy if it continues for long.

The last major government shutdown happened during Trump’s first term. It was the longest government shutdown in history, clocking in at 35 days.

“The last shutdown, we know in Nevada, did affect a lot of working class people. We had people in food banks just utilizing resources because they didn’t have a paycheck,” Smith said. “We’re hoping that this doesn’t happen this time.”

Federal workers in Nevada deemed essential will be required to continue working without pay despite the shutdown. That includes public safety and emergency workers like air traffic controllers, federal food safety inspectors, law enforcement agents, and border patrol officers.

Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo said his office is closely monitoring the federal government shutdown and is working to assess its full impacts on the state.

“As D.C. works through its issues, our administration will continue to support Nevadans in any way we can throughout this unnecessary federal government shutdown,” Lombardo said in a statement.

The shutdown’s impact on Nevada’s state budget and state services will largely depend on how long it continues. If the shutdown extends more than 30 days funding for state programs will be heavily impacted, according to the governor’s office.

Mandatory programs are exempt from the annual government funding process, including Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. That means Social Security checks as well as reimbursements to health care providers for Medicare and Medicaid services should continue as normal.

However, the government shutdown does impact federal workers who help administer federal programs, which can limit Nevadan’s ability to apply for those programs or seek assistance.

The governor’s office said it’s likely Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans payments will face administrative disruptions in Nevada as a result of the government shutdown.

SNAP and WIC

Nevada’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will also continue to receive funding through October, according to the Department of Agriculture’s contingency plans posted Tuesday afternoon.

Elisa Cafferata, executive director of Children’s Advocacy Alliance, said over 500,000 Nevadans benefited from SNAP and about 57,000 benefited from WIC in fiscal year 2024.

“The impact won’t be immediate, but if this goes more than a week, then that could impact the next distribution of benefits,” Cafferata said during a press conference Wednesday.

“The longer a shutdown persists, the more likely it is that serious issues will arise — especially due to the impact on the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicaid at the federal level,” she continued.

Conine fears state could get stiffed by Trump after fronting funds during government shutdown

The governor’s office noted that state general funds can support public programs in the short-term with minimal disruptions to services, which can be reimbursed by the federal government once the shutdown ends.

Other impacts on the general public

Depending on the length of the shutdown, federal unemployment benefits that augment state unemployment benefits could be affected, according to the governor’s office. Regular unemployment benefits distributed by the state, however, “will continue without interruption.”

Government grant reimbursements that fund various state projects are also expected to pause during the shutdown, according to the governor’s office.

Nevada’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security warned partners Wednesday the shutdown could pause or delay the disbursement of federal funds and reimbursements to subgrant recipients.

The Clark County School District, which receives about 11% of its budget from the federal government, said they do not expect a major impact on programs or staff positions in the near-term.

However, if the shutdown continues for a longer period of time school district jobs funded by federal dollars could be at risk, said the school district. CCSD receives about $365 million in federal funding annually, which is fully or partially funding more than 1,700 positions in the current school year.

National parks and recreation areas, including the Great Basin National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, in Nevada will remain partially open during the shutdown, according to Interior Department contingency plans posted Tuesday afternoon.