Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1955, Joan Crawford hosted the opening of The Riviera on the Strip. Liberace cut the ribbon. At one time, two of the Marx Bros. had stakes, as did Dean Martin.
Early voting begins: 33 days
Primary: 50 days
General: 197 days
"Most powerful LDS politician fought for casinos, yet never gambled, and was ‘pro-life’ in a ‘pro-choice’ party "
Nice spread today in @sltrib from my recent podcast appearance in Salt Lake to talk about my Harry Reid book.
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...
"Bad at math? A new approach in NV colleges is easing pain for some students."
"Higher education officials ditched remedial classes five years ago, saying they were dead ends. Early results show a new ‘corequisite’ model is working better."
thenevadaindependent.com/article/bad-...
Is she a longshot or a no-shot?
Our Tabitha Mueller explores the gubernatorial candidacy of a relatively unknown local government official from the North running against the anointed attorney general from the South in the Democratic primary.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/can-...
This is something else: Restaurant owner who appeared with Trump in Vegas in 2024 when he announced "no tax on tips" now says "all the prices are too high" and "it's even worse now."
Buyer's remorse?
www.ktnv.com/news/las-veg...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 2014, Harry Reid said armed backers of rancher Cliven Bundy, who confronted law enforcement, were "domestic terrorists" and not patriots, as they claimed.
Early voting begins: 36 days
Primary: 53 days
General: 200 days
Had a nice chat, as always, today with the great Julie Mason on Sirius XM about Trump's visit today, Campaign '26 and Hegseth's garbage remarks this AM.
sxm-publish-clips.content-ingest.siriusxm.com/clip/29c0ad0...
Stunning amount of information here in this piece, complete with great charts, showing how much money candidates have raised in key Nevada races such as gov, AG and Congress.
via Eric Neugeboren, Tabitha Mueller and Mini Racker.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/whic...
Here's me on CSPAN this AM talking about Trump's visit to Vegas, Campaign '26, my Harry Reid book and Hegseth caling the media "unpatriotic."
www.c-span.org/program/wash...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 2008, Harry Reid, asked about Obama and Clinton, quipped, "It makes me bitter," a reference to Obama's infamous guns and religion comment.
www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ga...
Early voting: 38 days
Primary: 55 days
General: 202 days
"'Death to a civilization' is not synonymous with, 'We want to make sure you can never hurt somebody again.' I don't think a sweeping term like 'civilization' was at all the appropriate way to communicate..."
---GOP Rep. @MarkAmodeiNV2
via @MiniRacker
thenevadaindependent.com/article/amod...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 2003, 1st day of spring break, parents, students and teachers from all 17 of NV's districts assembled on the steps of the Legislature to lobby for education.
Early voting begins: 39 days
Primary: 56 days
General: 203 days
Our spring fundraising campaign for our 501c3 adventure in nonprofit journalism has begun, and I am asking for your support. We @TheNVIndy can't do what we do w/o kindness of strangers. Just give $5, $10 a month, whatever you can afford. Thanks
nevadaindependent.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 2015, I posted an interview with Marco Rubio's Vegas cousin, who said Rubio would rather be NFL commissioner than president. Well...
ralstonreports.com/blog/rubios-...
Early voting begins: 40 days
Primary: 57 days
General: 204 days
If you really want to know what's happening in Vegas, read this deeply reported piece, with people and data, by
Mini Racker.
Vegas is hanging on because of the upper class while the struggles of the middle class have sparked a slowdown, blowback.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/what...
Lots going on here in this excellent @katecreynolds story about NV joining lawsuit to stop Trump from federalizing elections -- i.e. his attempt to steal 2026 for the GOP.
Dem AG (running for gov) filed suit without telling GOP gov, but gov reiterates that he is against federalizing elections.
In 1985, a naive cub reporter asked the RJ's GM when the Sun would set. Never, he said: When SUN owner Hank Greenspun died, the RJ would go into a JOA to keep it alive, prevent a big paper from coming in to compete w/RJ.
Happened 4 yrs later.
End of an era.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/why-...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1941, the El Rancho became the first casino to open on what was then called Highway 91 (at Sahara Avenue), which would later become the Las Vegas Strip.
Early voting begins: 50 days
Primary: 67 days
General: 214 days
"Vegas paper war heats up as court yanks Sun printing order"
The long, long war between @reviewjournal and @LasVegasSun has yet another court ruling that could force the Sun to set:
www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/vega...
"Rather, the governor is required to issue a proclamation each year "to bring to the attention of Nevada residents the important contributions Cesar Chavez made to the State of Nevada and the United States."
Not this year, though.
Chavez fallout hits NV.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/lomb...
On Transgender Visibility Day, I am reposting a column about my son that I wrote 10 years ago:
ralstonreports.com/blog/child-i-l…
This isn't about bathrooms or sports or minors; save those debates for another day. It's about loving your kids no matter what.
Jake has never looked back.
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1966, the original Aladdin, complete with Arabian theme, opened w/ 400 rooms on 34 acres. Elvis and Priscilla were married there. Planet Hollywood is now there.
Early voting begins: 53 days
Primary: 70 days
General: 217 days
Check out this deep dive by Oona Milliken as a 30-year-old term limits question approved by voters did not settle the issue, as a recent lawsuit shows, one that could affect the 2026 election.
When is a term limiting and when is it not?
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1959, the Gaming Commission was established by the Legislature, taking over regulation of casinos from the tax commission. The Gaming Control Board became the audit and investigative arm.
Primary: 71 days
General: 218 days
Take time to read ourstories today in our ongoing coverage of data centers in NV.
Eric Neugeboren's deep reporting, with telling charts, reveals the economic impact and the state withholding key audit information.
thenevadaindependent.com/article/have...
thenevadaindependent.com/article/neva...
"Clark County Director of Aviation James Chrisley said operations at Reid Airport have continued with minimal impacts from shutdowns, crediting the TSA agents who have continued to work without a salary."
via Howard Stutz
thenevadaindependent.com/article/how-...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1947, the Flamingo reopened, two months after it had shut down after Bugsy Siegel opened it prematurely in late 1946. It soon became profitable, but too late for Bugsy, murdered in June.
Primary: 74 days
General: 221 days
‘Mormon Land’: What you didn’t know about the most powerful LDS senator ever, the guy who took it to Romney and won for Obama"
Left Salt Lake City today and I did this great podcast w/some @sltrib folks about my new Reid bio:
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1958, John Ensign was born in Roseville, CA. He won a House seat in a 1994 shocker, barely lost to Harry Reid in 1998, won an open Senate seat in 2000 and left after a sex scandal in 2011.
Primary: 76 days
General: 223 days
Good morning from The #WeMatter State.
On this day in 1960, Washoe DA Bill Raggio ordered the burning of the Triangle Ranch brothel as part of his feud with kingpin Joe Conforte. For more, read "The Girls of Nevada," which has amazing stories.
Primary: 78 days
General: 225 days