Nevada
As extreme heat kills more Nevadans, OSHA bets on worker protections
It’s not just a dry heat in Las Vegas — it’s a deadly one.
The punishing triple-digit temperatures of the Mojave Desert take a toll on those who work outdoors, like construction workers, Strip pool attendants and landscapers. And for years, even though hundreds of Nevadans have died from heat-related illnesses, the state hasn’t required companies to protect them.
That might change in 2024.
After a state bill failed in the last legislative session that would have spurred regulations to shield workers from temperatures above 105 degrees, the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration is working on new requirements that would force businesses to set their own rules relative to heat.
Rather than lobby for support in the next session, OSHA will present a proposal to the Nevada Legislative Commission before the end of the year, circumventing the need for multiple committee votes or governor approval.
“We live in Nevada and have all experienced the heat every day in the summertime,” said Victoria Carreón, a state administrator who oversees OSHA. “It’s important to be ready to deal with it and prevent heat illnesses that could be catastrophic for workers.”
Deaths, complaints more than double in Southern Nevada
Perhaps the best indicator of the need for new rules is exhibited by the number of heat complaints that Nevada’s workers filed with OSHA last year.
There were 346 complaints filed in 2023, nearly a 65 percent increase from the amount filed in 2022.
Past Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting found that most complaints are generally from those who work indoors over issues like hot ovens and broken air conditioning. The number of complaints peaks in July, when temperatures are the hottest.
And so-called extreme heat, or abnormally high temperatures, is only worsening across the nation as the world’s carbon emissions change the climate.
An Associated Press analysis found that 2023 was the deadliest year on record across the country when it came to heat-related deaths. Southern Nevada is no different.
The Clark County coroner’s office tallied 307 deaths related to heat last year — a more than 80 percent increase from 2022, according to data obtained by the Review-Journal. A spokeswoman said the county began to investigate deaths that could be heat-related in more detail in 2021.
Dan Burc, a National Weather Service meteorologist in charge of issuing heat warnings in Las Vegas, said at a county press conference in early May that the city hasn’t experienced a record low temperature since June 1999.
Some summer days, temperatures won’t dip below 90 degrees even at the coolest hour, he said.
“You can’t ignore the fact that our climate is changing,” Burc said. “The data shows that we are heating up over time.”
Nevada takes unique approach to worker protections
Though other states have protections that are activated once a certain temperature threshold has been passed, Nevada is taking a different, unique approach.
If passed, every company would evaluate the needs of its workers and submit a heat action plan, said Carreón, the state administrator. This means much of what each company decides would be on its own terms, though OSHA would have the power to hold the company to its promises.
In other states like Texas and Florida, Republican-dominated legislatures and governors have stifled efforts to create mandatory heat protections in local governments, often because of pressure from industry leaders.
However, in Nevada, Carreón said OSHA is working directly with business leaders and trade groups that represent sectors that would be affected.
“Everybody wants to make sure they’re very cognizant that we are in Nevada, and this is a very hot environment,” Carreón said. “The stakeholders involved want to make sure workers are protected.”
Federally, a spokesperson said the Department of Labor is initiating the process to create a national heat standard that would be triggered by temperature thresholds. It likely would mean more breaks when it gets hotter.
The specifics of the national rule are still being decided, but it could add to what’s required of Nevada workplaces beyond a self-decided, company-specific plan. Nevada’s proposal still has more hurdles to pass, including more meetings and a Legislative Commission hearing.
Contact Alan at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
Nevada
Oregon lands commitment from Nevada punter
Oregon has found its next Australian punter.
Bailey Ettridge, who averaged 44.66 yards on 47 punts at Nevada this season, committed to transfer to the Ducks on Sunday. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
From Lara, Australia, Ettridge had 15 punts over 50 yards and 18 inside opponents’ 20-yard lines this season. He also had two carries for 26 yards, both of which converted fourth downs.
Ettridge replaces James Ferguson-Reynolds, who is averaging 41.64 yards on 33 punts for UO this season. Ferguson-Reynolds and Ross James are both out of eligibility after the season.
Ettridge is the first scholarship transfer to Oregon this offseason and his addition gives the Ducks 81 projected scholarship players in 2026. He is the lone punter presently on the roster.
No. 1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No. 5 Oregon (13-1)
- When: Friday, January 9
- Time: 4:30 p.m. PT
- Where: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- TV: ESPN and ABC
- Stream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV (free trial) or with Sling (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
Nevada
‘Winnemucca Day’ helps fuel Backus, Wolf Pack to 58-40 win over Utah State
RENO, Nev. (Nevada Athletics) – Nevada Women’s Basketball returned to Lawlor for the first game of 2026, hosting Utah State.
The Pack picked up its first conference win of the season with the 58-40 victory over the Aggies.
Freshmen showed out for the Pack (5-9, 1-3 MW) with Skylar Durley nearly recording a double-double, dropping 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Britain Backus had five points to go along with two rebounds and a season high four steals.
Junior Izzy Sullivan also had an impactful game with 17 points, going 6-for-11 from the paint and grabbing five boards. She also knocked down Nevada’s only two makes from beyond the arc, putting her within one for 100 career threes.
The Pack opened up scoring the first four points, setting the tone for the game. It was a close battle through the first 10 as Utah State (6-7, 2-2 MW) closed the gap to one.
However, Nevada never let them in front for the entire 40 minutes.
Nevada turned up the pressure in the second quarter, holding Utah State to a shooting drought for over four minutes. Meanwhile, a 5-0 scoring run pushed the Pack to a 10-point lead.
For the entire first 20, Nevada held Utah State to just 26.7 percent from the floor and only nine percent from the arc, going only 1-for-11.
For the Pack offense, it shot 48 percent from the paint. Nevada fell into a slump coming out of the break, only scoring eight points.
It was the only quarter where the Pack was outscored.
The fourth quarter saw the Pack get back into rhythm with a 6-0 run and forcing the Aggies into another long scoring drought of just under four and a half minutes.
Durley had a layup and jumper to help with securing the win.
Nevada will remain at home to face Wyoming on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
Nevada
EDITORIAL: Nevada’s House Democrats oppose permitting reform
Politicians of both parties have promised to fix the nation’s broken permitting system. But those promises have not been kept, and the status quo prevails: longer timelines, higher costs and a regulatory maze that makes it nearly impossible to build major projects on schedule.
Last week, the House finally cut through the fog by passing the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act. As Jeff Luse reported for Reason, the legislation is the clearest chance in years to overhaul a system that has spun out of control.
Notably, virtually every House Democrat — including Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford from Nevada — opted for the current regulatory morass.
The proposal addressed problems with the National Environmental Policy Act, which passed in the 1970s to promote transparency, but has grown into an anchor that drags down public and private investment. Mr. Luse notes that even after Congress streamlined the act in 2021, the average environmental impact statement takes 2.4 years to complete. That number speaks for itself and does not reflect the many reviews that stretch far beyond that already unreasonable timeline.
The SPEED Act tackles these failures head on. It would codify recent Supreme Court guidance, expand the projects that do not require exhaustive review and set real expectations for federal agencies that too often slow-walk approvals. Most important, it puts long-overdue limits on litigation. Mr. Luse highlights the absurdity of the current six-year window for filing a lawsuit under the Environmental Policy Act. Between 2013 and 2022, these lawsuits delayed projects an average of 4.2 years.
While opponents insist the bill would silence communities, Mr. Luse notes that NEPA already includes multiple public hearings and comment periods. Also, the vast majority of lawsuits are not filed by members of the people who live near the projects. According to the Breakthrough Institute, 72 percent of NEPA lawsuits over the past decade came from national nonprofits. Only 16 percent were filed by local communities. The SPEED Act does not shut out the public. It reins in well-funded groups that can afford to stall projects indefinitely.
Some Democrats claim the bill panders to fossil fuel companies, while some Republicans fear it will accelerate renewable projects. As Mr. Luse explains, NEPA bottlenecks have held back wind, solar and transmission lines as often as they have slowed oil and gas. That is why the original SPEED Act won support from green energy groups and traditional energy producers.
Permitting reform is overdue, and lawmakers claim to understand that endless red tape hurts economic growth and environmental progress alike. The SPEED Act is the strongest permitting reform proposal in years. The Senate should approve it.
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