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Two movie studio bills face the spotlight and scrutiny as Nevada legislative session starts

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Two movie studio bills face the spotlight and scrutiny as Nevada legislative session starts


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The spotlight is on two movie studio bills going before Nevada lawmakers, as Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. look for tax credits in exchange for bringing thousands of jobs, new facilities and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments.

Nevada’s 2025 Legislative Session begins Monday.

FOX5 has told you about the two proposed studio projects: Warner Bros. Discovery will make Las Vegas its next filming headquarters and hub all in partnership with UNLV. A spokesperson said that Warner Bros. Discovery will invest $900 million to build the studios, pledge $500 million of spending annually over 17 years and bring 7,500 jobs a year.

A planned movie campus from Sony Pictures called Summerlin Studios is still “on track,” according to a company spokesperson. The project said that the economic impact will be $2.85 billion per year.

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Both studios’ plans hinge on whether lawmakers pass tax credits.

FOX5 spoke with Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, the author of the tax credit package for Summerlin Studios. The proposal promises $105 million in tax credits for Summerlin Studios (with $25 million set aside for independent productions).

Jauregui said the bill would mandate that at least half of the 15,000-person annual workforce must be from Nevada.

“This is an industry that’s going to bring good paying, six-figure paying jobs to our state. It’s going to put Nevadans to work,” Assemblywoman Jauregui said. “This is about jobs, jobs, jobs,” she said.

Jauregui and proponents of both bills emphasize the need for more workers and industries to diversify Nevada’s hospitality-dependent economy. Many of the workers in unions across the Valley have jobs that are transferrable to various movie and TV productions.

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Others debate the return on investment, or ROI.

For every $1 given in tax credits, how much will the state get back in direct or indirect revenue?

Film productions generate direct revenue for the state from sales taxes and payroll taxes. Productions utilize and hire various other businesses in the community.

“I think of all of the small businesses that are going to be impacted by bringing a new industry,” Jauregui said.

Some legislative analysts, insiders or lawmakers express concerns whether the return will be more than the investment or at least break even.

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“You’d be hard pressed to find an economist or an economic development professional who would say this is a great investment. Essentially, they are a negative balance on the general fund,” said Dr. David Damore of UNLV think-tank The Lincy Institute, urging scrutiny if Nevada lawmakers seek to utilize tax credits.

“I look forward to reading through the bill language but on principle – I believe Las Vegas and Nevada are great the way we are, we don’t need to try and be Hollywood 2.0 on the backs of the taxpayers,” said Senate Republican Leader Robin Titus.

Jauregui said she prioritizes fiscal responsibility, as lawmakers look to pass a balanced budget.

“Once we pass the budget, if our state can afford to do a film tax credit, I will move forward in full force. But if we get to the point that our state cannot afford it, then our state cannot afford it,” she said.

Both bills are still being drafted.

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Nevada State Police averts ‘udder chaos’ in Eureka County

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Nevada State Police averts ‘udder chaos’ in Eureka County


EUREKA COUNTY, Nev. (KOLO) – On Friday, Feb. 27, the Nevada State Police assisted with a cattle crossing on State Route 306 at Interstate 80 in Eureka County.

“While not an everyday part of our job, we like to do our part to assist our local ranchers while keeping traffic from turning into udder chaos,” according to an agency Facebook post. “It was a perfect opportunity to be outside (even if our animal friends were a little moo-dy).”



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Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads

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Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads


A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.

“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.

The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.

Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.

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The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.

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Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.

McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.

“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.

McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.

“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.

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John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.

Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.

“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”

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McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.

“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.

Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for $46 Million

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for  Million


A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market. 

The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.

Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com. 

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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show. 

The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show. 

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There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information. 

MORE: Visited by Kings and Larger Than Manhattan, Giant Scottish Estate Asks £67 Million

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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal. 

The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market. 



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