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As Nevadans prepare to vote in the 2024 general election, they shall revisit Question 3, a ballot initiative that proposes a significant transformation in the voting process for Nevada.

After narrowly passing in 2022, the measure seeks to implement ranked-choice voting and open primaries statewide. Its proponents and critics are ramping up to sway voters on this pivotal issue.

The proposed changes would allow all voters to participate in an open primary regardless of party affiliation and use ranked-choice voting in the general election. However, the initiative has sparked debate about its potential impact on voter participation and political extremism.

In a statement to The Nevada Globe, Jordan Kittleson, Policy Director of the Center for Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute, criticized the system.

“Ranked-choice voting is a confusing, chaotic, disenfranchising system where the person with the most votes doesn’t always win, which is essentially un-American to its core,” Kittleson said. “This system scam manufactures a majority vote and throws one person, one vote, counted one time totally out the window.”

Director of the Center for Election Integrity Mike Vallante also expressed concerns that the measure would exacerbate political extremism and polarization.

“A jungle primary does nothing to bring people closer together to compromise,” Vallente said.

To rally opposition to Question 3, the American Policy Institute and its coalition partners held grassroots seminars on Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2 in Reno and Las Vegas, respectively. The events were to educate the public about the ranked-choice voting system and provide training for poll workers and watchers.

In contrast, supporters of Question 3 argue that the initiative will create an inclusive and less divisive political environment. Mike Draper of the Nevada Voters First PAC stated after its initial passage, “With the passage of Question 3, Nevadans have shown their desire to put Nevada voters first and address political extremism and polarization in our state.”

The Nevada Voters First PAC, which raised $19.5 million for the 2022 election cycle, plans to continue its advocacy efforts. Proponents believe that over 600,000 politically unaffiliated Nevadans will benefit from the chance to vote in an open primary, challenging the current two-party system they see as extreme and divisive.

Critics, however, say that the new system could eliminate political parties from races, lead to ballot exhaustion, decrease voter participation, and undermine the majority of registered voters in Nevada.

“One of the worst things that ranked-choice voting creates is skepticism in elections due to the lack of transparency,” Vallante warned. “People don’t understand how the system is being done. Voters don’t know for days or even weeks who actually won. We should be able to have an instantaneous result. If you think it’s bad now, once a state or city implements RCV, it extends the time to certify an election because you have to keep recounting and recounting and recounting…It’s not whoever gets the most votes, it’s whoever wins a ranked-choice balloting scheme. Ranked-choice voting is really a pollution of the election system.”

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Libra Solar Project in Lyon and Mineral Counties.

The project, spearheaded by Libra Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Arevia Power, plans to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a 700-megawatt (MW) solar facility along with a 700 MW energy storage system and a 24-mile-long generation line, under a 30-year BLM right-of-way grant. The project would generate and store enough clean energy to power over 212,000 homes.

The proposed solar facility would occupy approximately 5,141 acres of public lands in Mineral County, with the generation tie-line connecting to the Fort Churchill substation in Lyon County.

“BLM manages vast stretches of public lands that have the potential to make significant contributions to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio,” said Kim Dow, Carson City District Manager. “To promote the development of these energy sources, BLM provides sites for environmentally sound development of renewable energy on public lands.”

The Department of the Interior recently announced that the BLM had achieved the milestone of permitting 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects, encompassing solar, wind, geothermal, and transmission lines that cross public lands to connect renewable energy projects on private lands to the grid. As of July 2024, an additional 70 utility-scale clean energy projects—with more than 32 gigawatts of renewable energy—are being processed by the BLM throughout the western United States.

Moreover, the agency has begun reviewing over 170 solar and wind development applications and more than 40 solar and wind energy testing sites.

Manning Ventures Inc. has received geochemical results from ALS Global for rock samples collected during its geological mapping on the Copper Hill Project, located within the Walker Lane Trend in Yerington.

The geochemical analysis revealed elevated values, particularly from sample CHR-9, which returned 2.01 percent copper, 0.263 grams-per-ton gold, and two grams-per-ton of silver. These samples were from a chip taken from a three-by-three-foot outcropping. Additionally, rock samples CHR-11 to CHR-13, taken from mine dumps on adjacent claims, returned copper values of 1.74 percent, 2.03 percent, and 4.77 percent, respectively.

Sample CHR-9 displayed 2.01 percent copper, .298 parts per million gold, and two parts per million silver. Sample CHR-11 showed 1.74 percent copper, .223 parts per million in gold, and three parts per million in silver.

Sample CHR-12 contained 2.03 percent copper, 0.257 parts per million gold, and 2.30 parts per million silver. Finally, sample CHR-13 reported 4.77 percent copper, 0.659 parts per million gold, and eight parts per million silver.

Before Manning’s current exploration program, 50 rock chip samples from historic mine dumps, prospect pits, and outcrops were collected. The samples returned copper values ranging from 10 to 136,500 parts per million and gold values from .005 to .33 parts per million.

The data collected during the spring 2024 mapping program has been added to the historic rock sampling into the property’s database. The Company has accumulated substantial pre-drill data and is in the final stages of planning an initial drill program at Copper Hill.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office (LSCO) responded to a disturbance on Brookfield Ct. in Dayton just after 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 25.

Deputies were dispatched and soon identified the suspect as 49-year-old Paul Carnahan of Dayton. Initial reports revealed that Carnahan had left a residence armed with a knife and was suffering from multiple injuries.

Further investigation determined that Carnahan had allegedly battered a female subject before fleeing the scene. Given the circumstances, including his armed status and presence in a residential neighborhood, a shelter-in-place advisory was issued for residents.

The initial shelter-in-place advisory had prompted concerns among Dayton residents, particularly in the areas of Woodlake Circle, Brookfield, and Woodside, where Carnahan was witnessed wearing a black shirt and possibly bearing cuts on his neck, forehead, and wrists.

Deputies searched for Carnahan throughout the night. The following morning, at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 26, deputies located and arrested Carnahan without further incident. He was treated for his injuries, transported to the Lyon County Jail, and booked on a charge of domestic battery.

The LCSO issued an update stating that Carnahan was apprehended and advised residents that the shelter-in-place warning was no longer in effect.

The Reno City Council made abrupt changes to a resolution opposing NV Energy’s proposed rate hike.

Initially, the agenda included a resolution opposing the proposed rate hike, which would become the highest basic service charge in the nation. However, without public knowledge or input, the council secretly revised the resolution, presenting and passing a new version that no longer contained any opposition to the substantial rate increase.

NV Energy requested that the rate change go into effect on Tuesday, October 1. The rate hike will increase NV Energy’s revenue by $94.8 million yearly.

If approved, basic service charges for Reno will soar to $45.30, surpassing the current highest known basic service charge in the U.S. at $37.41.

The sun was setting over the vast expanse of Silver Creek Ranch, casting a golden glow on the rolling hills and grazing cattle. The ranch had been in the McAllister family for generations, but now, it was under threat from Cyrus Blackwood, a greedy banker with a ruthless gang of rustlers.

Kate McAllister, the rancher’s daughter, stood on the porch, her eyes scanning the horizon. She had heard rumors of Blackwood’s plans to seize the ranch by any means necessary. Her father, John McAllister, was determined to fight but was sickly with the consumption.

Then, a lone rider appeared on the horizon as if answering her silent prayer. Jake Wade was a drifter with a reputation for helping those in need. He had heard of the McAllisters’ plight and had come to offer his assistance.

Jake rode up to the ranch house, his presence commanding respect.

“Evening, Miss McAllister,” he greeted, tipping his hat. “I hear you could use some help.”

Kate’s eyes lit up with hope, knowing who he was by sight.

“We sure could, Mr. Wade. Blackwood’s men have been rustling our cattle and threatening to take the ranch. They’ve already managed to cut off our access to our spring.”

Jake nodded, his jaw set with determination.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Jake scouted the ranch, familiarizing himself with the land and the layout. As the sun set over the rugged Nevada landscape, he found the remnants of hoof print that correctly read told him that a dozen or more rustlers had stolen at least fifty head of cattle from Silver Creek Ranch.

The outlaws were moving swiftly into Utah territory, hoping to evade capture. Jake followed their trail for days, determined to bring them to justice.

As night fell, Jake set up camp in a secluded grove, his senses on high alert. He knew the rustlers were dangerous and would not hesitate to ambush him if given the chance. The flickering light of his campfire cast eerie shadows, and the silence of the night was broken only by the distant howl of a coyote.

Unbeknownst to Jake, the rustlers had doubled back, planning to catch him off guard. Led by Malone, a ruthless outlaw with a reputation for brutality, the gang crept through the darkness, their eyes fixed on the lone rider’s camp.

Suddenly, a shot rang out, shattering the stillness of the night. Jake dove for cover, his instincts honed by years of survival. A bullet grazed his shoulder, the pain sharp and immediate. He gritted his teeth, knowing he had to stay focused.

The rustlers closed in, their guns blazing. Jake returned fire, his shots precise and deadly.

One by one, the outlaws fell, but their numbers were overwhelming. Jake knew he had to outsmart them if he wanted to survive.

Using the cover of darkness, Jake moved silently through the grove, picking off the rustlers with calculated precision. The gunfight raged through the early evening, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder and the sound of gunfire echoing through the night.

As dawn approached, the rustlers’ numbers had dwindled, but Malone remained. The two men faced off in a showdown, their eyes locked in a deadly stare. Bart sneered, his gun aimed at Jake.

“You think you can take me, Wade?” Bart taunted. “I’ve killed better men than you.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed, his grip steady on his revolver. “This ends now, Malone.”

With lightning speed, both men fired. Jake’s shot hit its mark, striking Malone in the chest.

The outlaw staggered, his gun falling from his hand as he collapsed to the ground. Jake, wounded but victorious, approached cautiously, ensuring the outlaw was no longer a threat.

The sun rose over the horizon, casting a warm glow on the aftermath of the battle. Jake, his body aching from the wounds, gathered the stolen cattle and began the long journey back to Silver Creek Ranch.

As he rode into the ranch, Kate rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern.

“Jake, you’re hurt!” she exclaimed.

Jake managed a weary smile.

“Just a scratch, Miss McAllister. The cattle are safe.”

“Thank you, Jake,” John McAllister said, shaking the wounded man’s hand.

Jake nodded, “Don’t thank me yet, there is still something I have to do.”

Later that day, Jake rode into the little town of River Rock. He was searching out Blackwood.

Furious at the failure of his plan, Blackwood confronted Wade before Wade could confront him.

“You think you’ve won, Wade? This isn’t over!”

Jake’s eyes were cold and unyielding.

“It’s over, Blackwood,” Jake said.

From beneath his banker’s coat, Blackwood defiantly pulled a pistol, his eyes filled with malice. But Jake was quicker.

In a flash, he drew his revolver and fired, the bullet striking Blackwood square in the chest. The banker staggered, dropping to his knees, his gun firing wildly into the ground.

Jake stepped forward, his gaze cold and unyielding.

“Do you remember the Missourah farmer you killed in front of his twelve-year-old son, Blackwood?” he asked, his voice steady. “That boy was me.”

Blackwood’s eyes widened in sudden recognition, the realization hitting him like a freight train. He gasped for breath, his strength fading.

With one final, desperate look, he fell face-first into the dust, his reign of terror over. Jake stood over him, the weight of years of vengeance lifting from his shoulders.

Without another word, Jake holstered his gun and turned away silently back to the Silver Creek Ranch.

“Thank you, Jake,” John said.

Jake nodded, his expression unreadable.

“Just doing what’s right.”

Kate approached, her heart full of admiration and something more.

“Jake, you could stay. There’s a place for you here.”

Jake looked at her, his eyes softening for a moment. But he knew his path was a solitary one.

ithout a word, he mounted his horse and rode away, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind him. Kate watched him go, a mixture of sadness, respect, and hope in her heart that Jake Wade would return one day.

State campaign finance reports released by Monday’s deadline showed a tight fundraising battle across the races most likely to determine whether Nevada Democrats can secure a legislative supermajority.

Across ten contested legislative races throughout the second quarter, Democratic and Republican candidates each led the fundraising race in five. Meanwhile, PACs affiliated with Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo continued to pour money into the coffers of prominent GOP candidates, and those supporting ballot questions on ranked-choice voting, abortion rights, and voter ID donated millions of dollars to the PACs behind the initiatives.

The latest campaign finance reports offer the penultimate look at fundraising data for Nevada political candidates and committees ahead of the general election, covering April through June. It also provides more insight into the head-to-head fundraising data for key legislative races after last month’s primaries winnowed each race to one Democrat and one Republican.

Democrats control 13 seats in the 21-member state Senate (one short of the two-thirds supermajority needed to override a veto) and 28 seats—a supermajority—in the 42-member Assembly. The outcome of a few races could change whether Lombardo’s ability to veto bills stands or is overridden by a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber.

In total, more than $2.3 million in donations came to the candidates running in the ten most competitive legislative races, identified by district partisanship, as groups poured more than $10 million into organizations either supporting or opposing the various ballot initiatives and bolstered by a $5.75 million haul by a group supporting the ballot question on ranked-choice voting and open primaries and $1.4 million raised by a Lombardo-affiliated PAC supporting the voter ID initiative.

Across the ten most competitive legislative races, six of the candidates who raised more money in the second quarter are of the opposite party than the seat is currently held by Sen. Dallas Harris (D-Las Vegas) with $171,000 in Senate District 11, about $60,000 more than her GOP challenger, Lori Rogich. Harris also has about $370,000 in cash, roughly $10,000 more than Rogich.

Assemblywoman Elaine Marzola (D-Las Vegas) raised about $104,000 in Assembly District 21, $10,000 more than her GOP challenger, April Arndt. However, Marzola has a significant lead in cash on hand with about $278,000 compared to Arndt’s $58,000.

Republican Diana Sande raised about $175,000—the second-most among all key candidates—much higher than Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch (D-Reno), who raised $60,000. Sande also has about $100,000 more cash than La Rue Hatch in Assembly District 25.

In Assembly District 29, Republican Annette Dawson Owens raised $88,000, compared to Democrat Joe Dalia’s $80,000. Dalia, however, has around $85,000 more in cash than Dawson Owens.

In Assembly District 35, vacated by Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow (D-Las Vegas), Republican Rebecca Edgeworth has raised about $130,000 more than her Democrat opponent Sharifa Wahab, whose haul of about $27,000 was the lowest among any candidate in a race. Edgeworth also has about $100,000 more in cash on hand.

Republican David Brog raised $128,000 in Assembly District 37, about $20,000 more than Assemblywoman Shea Backus (D-Las Vegas). Backus, however, has a more than $25,000 lead in cash on hand.

Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) raised over $190,000 in Assembly District 41, the most of any candidate in a race. Her Republican opponent, Rafael Arroyo, raised $70,000. Jauregui also has a lead of more than $260,000 in cash on hand.

Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson) raised $174,000 toward her re-election bid in Senate District 5, while Democrat Jennifer Atlas raised about $114,000. Buck also has a lead of about $115,000 in cash on hand.

In Senate District 15, which is likely the best chance for a Democratic pickup in the Senate because of redistricting, Assemblywoman Angie Taylor (D-Reno) raised $110,000 in her bid to take the seat vacated by Sen. Heidi Seevers Gansert (R-Reno). Republican Mike Ginsburg, meanwhile, raised $75,000 and has a cash-on-hand lead of about $7,000.

In Assembly District 4, Democrat Ryan Hampton raised $173,000 compared to Republican Lisa Cole’s haul of $140,000. Hampton also has about $100,000 more in cash on hand than Cole.

Millions of dollars poured into Lombardo’s campaign machine through several PACs supporting the governor and his legislative candidates. The most public-facing one is the Better Nevada PAC, which received millions last year from Lombardo’s top campaign donor, Robert Bigelow.

In 2022, the PAC unleashed attacks against legislative Democrats embroiled in a “culture of corruption.” Better Nevada PAC raised more than $2.3 million, bolstered by a $1.6 million donation from the Las Vegas Sands and The Venetian, a company founded by late GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson and now led by his widow, Miriam Adelson. It also received $100,000 from Uber.

The PAC spent $2 million on consulting and advertising last quarter. It also contributed to Republican candidates running in nine races, except Ginsburg, whose race is among the likely Democratic victories.

Additionally, Better Nevada transferred $1.4 million to a new PAC called the Better Nevada Ballot Advocacy Committee, which formed in May, to focus on supporting a voter ID ballot initiative. The initiative gathered more than 179,000 signatures in support and is awaiting approval from county election officials, which is due to state officials Thursday.

Another Lombardo-affiliated PAC is the Nevada Way PAC, which raised $630,000, with a $250,000 donation from Boyd Gaming Corporation. The PAC donated money to candidates in eight legislative races (all except Ginsburg and Buck). The Stronger Nevada PAC, a pro-Lombardo group run by former Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison, also paid for in-kind media production services valued at $5,000 each for 11 Republican candidates, including Washoe County Commissioner Clara Andriola and many other legislative candidates.

In addition to the Lombardo-backed group on voter ID raising $1.4 million, three other groups supporting ballot initiatives received at least $1 million in donations from April through June. Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, the group behind the ballot initiative to establish a constitutional right to abortion in Nevada, raised about $1.4 million, roughly the same amount raised last quarter.

It included $550,000 from the Tides Foundation, a left-leaning philanthropic fund with ties to Democratic megadonor George Soros, and $150,000 from Think Big America, a nonprofit tied to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker that had previously given $1 million to the initiative. Quinn Delaney, a prominent Democratic donor, also gave $250,000 to the group.

Vote Yes on 3, a new group supporting Question 3 on the November ballot, which would establish open primaries and ranked-choice voting for non-presidential races, raised $5.75 million in the quarter. The haul included $4 million from Article IV, a Virginia-based group that bills itself as a nonpartisan group focused on improving democracy. The group also received $1.5 million from Unite America, a philanthropic fund dedicated to election reform, and $250,000 from Wynn Resorts.

The other seven-figure donation made by Uber was $1 million to Nevadans for Fair Recovery, a group backing the ballot initiative that seeks to cap attorney fees in Nevada at 20 percent of all settlements and awards. The ride-sharing company previously gave $4 million to the group.

This initiative is not vying for a spot on the November ballot but is instead seeking to address the 2025 legislative session. If it gets enough votes to do so and the Legislature does not act on it, the question could go before voters in the 2026 election.

A group of Nevada trial lawyers filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to block the petition, arguing its intention is to slow the sexual misconduct suits against Uber. While its initial effort failed, the suit is under appeal in the Nevada Supreme Court.

Citizens for Justice, the political arm of the Nevada Justice Association (the group behind the lawsuit), raised $2 million and spent about $340,000 in the second quarter. It is unclear how much of this was related to the petition. This haul is six times as much as the group’s first-quarter fundraising total.

Former Rep. Shelley Berkley raised $255,000 and has $500,000 in cash In the Las Vegas mayoral race. Her general election opponent, Las Vegas City Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, raised $247,000 and has $269,000 in cash.

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) is not facing a particularly competitive race this year but has more than $1 million in cash. She could be eyeing a run for statewide office in 2026.

In Senate District 3, Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas) emerged victorious over a Culinary Union-backed challenger. Nguyen’s campaign finance report revealed she brought in a remarkable $400,000 and spent $565,000 in the quarter, with donations from casinos and unions.

In a greenhouse in eastern Nevada, a botanist brushes pollen across endangered wildflowers to recreate natural pollination.

It is part of an ambitious experiment by a lithium mining company to prevent a rare desert plant from going extinct amidst a broader conflict pitting clean energy against native biodiversity. Australia-based Ioneer is behind this initiative, aiming to significantly boost U.S. lithium production to support the burgeoning electric vehicle industry and other clean energy projects.

The proposed mine in the Nevada desert could quadruple U.S. lithium output, a crucial component for batteries needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While environmentalists support efforts to combat climate change, they oppose the mine due to its proximity to the only known habitats of the endangered Tiehm’s buckwheat.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has tentatively endorsed Ioneer’s plan, which includes propagating and transplanting the buckwheat as part of a draft environmental impact statement, pending further review by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Critics argue that mining will obliterate the plant’s natural habitat and that transplanting greenhouse-grown specimens is an unproven and potentially futile endeavor. They caution that it may take centuries to determine if the natural environment for the plant can be replicated.

“This latest plan for Rhyolite Ridge Mine is just greenwashing extinction,” said Patrick Donnelly, the Center for Biological Diversity’s Great Basin director.

He accused proponents of misleading the public about the environmental friendliness of the plan and promised legal challenges if the mine proceeds.

Ioneer has been exploring Rhyolite Ridge’s mineral deposits since 2016.

Arnold Tiehm, the plant’s namesake, initially suggested in 1994 that the site be designated a botanical area and off-limits to mining. However, it wasn’t until 2022 that conservationists secured endangered status and critical habitat designation for the buckwheat.

The Biden administration and its commitment to strengthening the national battery supply chain and reducing dependence on fossil fuels has supported similar projects. The proposed mine could produce enough lithium carbonate annually for 370,000 electric vehicle batteries over its 26-year lifespan.

Chad Yeftich, Ioneer’s Vice President, expressed confidence in their ability to balance lithium production with environmental protection, stating, “Ioneer is confident in our ability to quadruple the nation’s supply of lithium while protecting Tiehm’s buckwheat.”

About 25,000 Tiehm’s buckwheat plants exist in the wild on federal land near the proposed mine site, discovered in the mid-1980s. These plants bloom for a few weeks each year and resemble scrawny dandelions.

Ioneer botanist Florencia Peredo Ovalle cares for approximately 350 specimens in a greenhouse, manually pollinating them due to the absence of natural pollinators. Despite previous setbacks in propagation efforts, company officials remain optimistic, viewing their plan as the best chance for the buckwheat’s survival.

Unlike traditional mining operations, Ioneer plans to backfill mined areas and restore habitats as the project progresses. Bernard Rowe, Ioneer’s Managing Director, emphasized the unique horizontal seam of lithium at Rhyolite Ridge, allowing for such reclamation efforts.

The company has invested about $2 million in conservation plans and intends to spend $1 million annually to ensure the species’ long-term viability. They cite the successful transplantation of Robbins’ Cinquefoil in New Hampshire as a precedent, although critics argue it’s too early to declare that effort a success.

While supporting lithium mining in general, conservationists oppose projects in fragile ecosystems. University scientists recently opposed Ioneer’s project, arguing that it would devastate over one-fifth of the critical habitat.

Naomi Fraga, director of conservation for the California Botanic Garden, co-signed the petition to list the buckwheat as endangered. She highlighted the challenges of transplanting plants back into the wild and called for a significantly larger buffer zone around the critical habitat.

Rowe indicated that the mine’s footprint has been reduced, removing roads and infrastructure from critical habitat areas. “The only thing that we left was the one thing that we can’t move, and that’s the deposit itself,” he said.

(Edit. Note: This article was files before Pres. Joe Biden dropped out as a presidential candidate on Sunday, July 21.)

President Joe Biden has declared his determination to remain in the presidential race and win re-election, relying heavily on voting blocs to secure his victory. This week, Biden will address Black and Latino voters at the annual NAACP and UnidosUS conventions in Las Vegas, Nevada.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the administration’s commitment to advancing racial justice and equity for all Americans. A senior advisor highlighted the president’s significant contributions to underserved communities through major legislative achievements like the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Chips and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act.

Stephen Benjamin, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, stressed the administration’s efforts to ensure every American has a fair shot through intentional policymaking. Rekha Balu, Vice President of the Office of Race and Equity Research at the Urban Institute, acknowledged the positive impact of Biden’s policies but noted the need for continued efforts to close the equity gap.

Despite Biden’s insistence that he remains the best candidate to lead the country, recent polls indicate a plurality of Black and Latino voters are dissatisfied with his performance and desire a different Democratic nominee. Nevertheless, Biden remains resolute, telling voters in Michigan that he is not going anywhere.

Roman Palomares, National President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), urged greater attention to the Hispanic population, emphasizing their significant contributions to the country.

Black and Latino voters were instrumental in reviving Biden’s campaign and securing his victory four years ago. Now, he hopes these groups will support him for another term.

Biden has proposed a five percent cap on annual rent increases for tenants, aiming to tackle the high cost of housing. The proposal, announced during Biden’s visit to Nevada on Tuesday, July 16, is part of his campaign efforts amid a tense presidential race.

Housing costs have been a significant driver of inflation, and Biden’s plan requires solid Democratic control of Congress to become law. Most policymakers advocated increasing housing construction and changing land use regulations as more effective solutions to limit housing costs.

The proposed rent cap would apply only to landlords owning 50 or more units, with median national rent reported at $1,411 monthly in June, up from $1,150 in early 2021. Housing, a contributor to maintaining the consumer price index, is at three percent annually.

Inflation remains a significant political challenge for Biden as he competes against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Industry representatives criticized the rent cap as ineffective, arguing it would not address the housing shortage and could lead to fewer habitable units.

Sharon Wilson Géno, CEO of the National Multifamily Housing Council, emphasized the need for landlords to cover costs like maintenance, insurance, and taxes. She warned that if landlords cannot charge sufficient rent, property maintenance may decline, negatively affecting tenants.

Affordable housing advocates said Biden’s proposal could have reduced evictions and homelessness if implemented earlier. Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, noted that the recent increases in homelessness resulted from significant rent hikes, and protections against rent gouging could have kept many families stably housed. Meanwhile, Nevada Realtors oppose Biden’s proposed five percent annual cap, calling the proposal “misguided.”

In related news, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland canceled a planned trip to Las Vegas following an attempt on the life of former President Trump. The Department of Justice stated that Garland would remain in Washington, D.C., to monitor the investigation closely, skipping his scheduled meetings and speaking engagements in Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Kansas.

This incident marks the second or third time that political groups and county agencies have reported alleged right-wing violence. A similar claim arose during a protest outside the Sparks Library, where the presence of a firearm among the protesters, was cited as an act of violence.

Our Center, an LGBTQIA+ advocacy nonprofit, announced the cancellation of all future drag events in Washoe County public libraries due to alleged “violence” from right-wing protestors. The organization, known for its controversial “Drag Queen Story Hour,” cited concerns for the safety of library staff as the primary reason for the cancellation.

“The Workplace Violence Committee is recommending the cancellation of the program due to concerns for the safety of library staff over the behavior of a small group of conservative, right-wing protesters who injured a library employee and disturbed parents and children as they entered facilities for the storytimes. Violence is abhorrent and we do not condone behavior which puts our public servants at risk. From our perspective as the program has been canceled, the protesters have been rewarded for their bad behavior,” Our Center stated.

Stacey Spain, Executive Director of Our Center, emphasized their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“The Drag Story Hour program exemplified these values, and it is deeply disappointing that outside influences have necessitated its cancellation. We will continue to explore alternative ways to promote understanding and celebrate diversity in our community,” Spain said.

It added that while they could host drag story hours outside the library, doing so would compromise the principle that public spaces should serve all minority communities equally.

The organization wants Washoe County to reconsider its stance and implement measures to protect future events and attendees. The decision to cancel the events was communicated to library staff in a letter from Washoe County Manager Eric Brown, citing significant concerns for employee safety despite increased security measures and de-escalation training.

Bruce Parks, Chairman of the Washoe County GOP, criticized media reports that linked his party to the protests, calling them false and misleading.

“The press will never miss an opportunity to portray Republicans in a bad light. Spain has publicly stated she has no interest in having a dialogue,” Parks said. “I would love to sit down with Spain and have a conversation. But I am pretty sure that is never going to happen.”

In response to the cancellation, the Washoe County Library expressed its commitment to partnering with Our Center and providing a safe and inclusive space for all community members. Brad Bynum, Washoe County Library spokesperson, noted that the decision to cease participation in the Drag Story Hour was due to threats and violence directed at staff.

Bynum also mentioned an incident where the Reno Police Department (RPD) refused to accept a report from an injured library employee during a June 15 Drag Story Hour event. North Valleys Library Manager Jonnica Bowen explained that while the incident was reported and documented, the police could not determine the specifics of the injury based on the available information.

The RPD couldn’t verify the complaint, so you will have to draw your own conclusions.