Here are the local news headlines for the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.
Mayor, State Party Chief Pitch Vegas For 2024 GOP Convention
By The Associated Press
The mayor of Las Vegas and the head of the Nevada state Republican party are pitching the idea of the city hosting the 2024 GOP National Convention. Mayor Carolyn Goodman on Monday issued a statement saying she told the Republican National Committee that Las Vegas would be the best place for the three-day event in summer 2024. State Republican party Chairman Michael McDonald called the convention a huge opportunity and said it would provide an economic boost. The Republican National Committee didn't immediately respond to an email question about how many cities were invited to bid to host the convention.
Credit Rating Companies Raise Nevada Bond Rating
By Paul Boger
The three major credit rating services recently upgraded Nevada’s bond rating. Analysis from Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services, as well as S&P Global, shows that the state’s economic outlook has moved from negative to stable.
That’s according to Governor Steve Sisolak and state Treasurer Zach Conine, who announced the rating’s increase late last week. The two Democrats, who are up for reelection next year, say it’s an indication that Nevada is well into its post-pandemic recovery.
Much of that recovery has been fueled by the $6.7 billion in federal coronavirus relief.
In addition, the agencies revised the state’s bond rating up to Aa1 and AA+, the second-highest tier. Those bond ratings determine the interest rate the state must pay when it issues bonds. The higher the rating, the lower the interest rate.
RTC Bus Drivers On Strike, Again
By Paul Boger
Dozens of bus drivers in Washoe County are, once again, on strike. Teamsters Local 533 announced the work stoppage Monday, halting bus service for the second time in as many months.
In a press release, they say Keolis, the company that runs the transportation system on behalf of RTC Washoe, has only participated in four negotiations since the previous strike ended last month. The union and Keolis were previously at an impasse over workers’ healthcare coverage.
Officials with Keolis say they are disappointed the union has walked away from negotiations.
Cooler Temperatures Don't Mean End To Wildfire Season
By Bert Johnson, Mountain West News Bureau
Some of the most destructive blazes in recent years have happened in the fall.
Basil Newmerzhycky is lead meteorologist with the Great Basin Coordination Center in Utah. He said Western Nevada, central Idaho and Western Wyoming are still unusually dry, but it’s not all bad.
"Well, the good news for us is that dry lightning is the main igniter of a lot of our large fires in the higher terrain of Idaho, Western Montana and parts of the Great Basin. We tend not to get much of that from early September onward," Newmerzhycky said.
A big enough burn can still have regional impact, like the months of poor air quality caused by megafires in California.
That could last through October. The parched forests of the Southern Sierra Nevada are still being affected by newer fires, like the KNP Complex currently threatening Sequoia National Forest.
California To Mail Every Voter A Ballot In Future Elections
By The Associated Press
California will mail all registered voters ballots in future elections under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. His signature makes permanent a change adopted during the pandemic for the 2020 election and the recent recall. California will join other Western states including Oregon, Washington, Utah and Colorado that already mail every registered voter a ballot. The Democratic governor signed 10 other voting-related bills. He crafted his signature as part of a national push by Democrats to expand voting rights and access. Republicans have expressed skepticism about the security of mail-in voting, but there is no evidence of widespread fraud.
Allegations Against WCSD Trustee Church Off Tuesday's Agenda
By KUNR Staff
Allegations of misconduct against Washoe County School District Trustee Jeff Church will not be discussed at Tuesday night's school board meeting.
The Reno Gazette Journal reportedthe board didn't make the allegations against Church public until after 1 p.m. Monday, a possible violation of open meeting law.
In a statement to the newspaper, board president Angie Taylor said she hoped to have the material available by Friday, but more time was needed to appropriately prepare before posting publicly.
The board plans to discuss Trustee Church at its next meeting in October.
