Nevada

EDITORIAL: Nevada can do better on occupational licensing

Published

1 year ago

August 20, 2024

EDITORIAL: Nevada can do better on occupational licensing

A new study puts Nevada in the middle of the pack when it comes to the freedom to work. The state should do better.

Earlier this month, the Archbridge Institute released its 2024 state rankings on occupational licensing restrictions. The study looks at the extent to which each state erects hurdles that hinder entrepreneurs and drive up consumer costs.

The five states with the highest occupational licensing barriers, according to the analysis, are Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oregon and Alabama. The five freest states are Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Indiana and New York. Nevada ranks as the 25th worst state for licensing.

This is an improvement over the most recent Institute for Justice survey, which tracks a similar metric. That 2022 report listed Nevada as imposing the second-highest occupational licensing restrictions in the nation. The differences can be attributed to methodology and the fact that the Archbridge Institute gave Nevada credit for implementing a limited reciprocity program that allows those licensed in other states to more easily transfer their accreditation to the Silver State.

Either way, Nevada must strive to improve.

Occupational licensing has exploded in recent decades to the detriment of the job market and consumers, with one in five jobs requiring some sort of government permission slip. While defenders of licensing argue it protects public safety, many such regulations amount to thinly veiled protectionism intended to shield existing practitioners from competition. Few people would quibble with licenses for medical doctors or airline pilots. But why should someone hoping to enter the field of interior design or landscaping be subjected to such capricious edicts?

Nevada is, in fact, one of three states that demand interior designers be licensed. The fact that the citizens of 47 other states manage to survive safely without such a requirement highlights the arbitrary nature of many occupational licensing schemes. “The public safety and health rationale for regulating many of those occupations ranges from dubious to ridiculous,” Maureen K. Ohlhausen, former acting FTC chairman, said in 2017. “Consumers can, and do, easily evaluate the quality of interior designers, make-up artists, hair-braiders and others.”

This issue crosses traditional red and blue state lines. Lawmakers of both major parties have an interest in making it as easy as possible for their citizens to earn an honest living in their chosen field.

Last year, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo ordered the state’s occupational boards to recommend the elimination of licensing requirements in professions that aren’t regulated in a majority of states. He will make recommendations heading into the 2025 legislative session. The Democrats who control both houses of the Legislature should take his proposals seriously.

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Nevada

Wednesday’s high school scores, top performances

Published

9 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Press Room

Top performances

Girls basketball

– Sakaara Ashton, Las Vegas: The freshman nailed three 3-pointers while racking up 22 points, five rebounds and four assists in the Wildcats’ 75-54 win over Tech.

– Jaslyn Jefferson, Shadow Ridge: The senior compiled 40 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the Mustangs’ 86-5 victory over Desert Pines.

– Jasmine Ponce, Cimarron-Memorial: The junior collected 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks to lead the Spartans past Doral Academy 60-30.

– Jordynn Riggins, Losee: The freshman scored 22 points to help the Lions cruise to a 75-3 win over Rancho.

– Delyla Ross, Sunrise Mountain: The senior had 23 points as the Miners rolled to a 56-14 victory over Chaparral.

— Morgan White, Del Sol: The senior posted 17 points to lead the Dragons past Green Valley 67-32.

– Caylyn Young, Faith Lutheran: The sophomore scored 17 points as the Crusaders defeated Legacy 62-32.

Flag football

– Carly Martell, Sky Pointe: The sophomore carried 15 times for 117 yards to help the Eagles down Cheyenne 21-0.

– Andrea Mitchell, Centennial: The junior had 10 solo tackles to lead the defense in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 victory over Canyon Springs.

– Patricia Monacelli, Cadence: The junior caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, and nabbed two interceptions on defense to help lift the Cougars over Boulder City 6-0.

– Danielle Morales, Arbor View: The junior had 69 rushing yards for a touchdown and 38 receiving yards for another score in the Aggies’ 38-13 win over Coronado.

– Charlice Weingarten, Bishop Gorman: The sophomore logged three sacks and two more tackles to help the Gaels beat Foothill 38-18.

Scores

Boys basketball

Beaver Dam 47, Adelson School 32

Boulder City 63, Coral Academy 19

Girls basketball

Basic 47, Sloan Canyon 10

Beaver Dam d. Adelson, forfeit

Bishop Gorman 73, Coronado 29

Cimarron-Memorial 60, Doral Academy 30

Clark 55, Spring Valley 37

Coral Academy 47, Boulder City 45

Del Sol 67, Green Valley 32

Democracy Prep 62, Liberty 29

Faith Lutheran 62, Legacy 32

Las Vegas 75, Tech 54

Losee 75, Rancho 3

Mater East 62, Eldorado 13

Moapa Valley 54, Amplus Academy 6

Pahrump Valley 50, Cristo Rey 17

Palo Verde 44, Canyon Springs 43

Shadow Ridge 86, Desert Pines 5

Sierra Vista 60, Desert Oasis 48

Sunrise Mountain 56, Chaparral 14

Virgin Valley d. The Meadows, forfeit

Western 57, Durango 37

Flag football

Arbor 38, Coronado 13

Bishop Gorman 38, Foothill 18

Bonanza 18, Amplus 14

Cadence 6, Boulder City 0

Centennial 6, Canyon Springs 0

Clark 26, Western 6

Desert Oasis 48, Basic 6

Eldorado 30, Desert Pines 19

Legacy 33, Doral Academy 6

Mojave 8, Cimarron-Memorial 0

Sierra Vista 18, Durango 0

Sky Pointe 21, Cheyenne 0

Spring Valley 34, Democracy Prep 0

Virgin Valley 27, Las Vegas 26

Jeff Wollard Review-Journal

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Nevada

Nevada’s unemployment rate remains steady at 5.2% in December

Published

21 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

Nevada’s unemployment rate remains steady at 5.2% in December

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Nevada’s unemployment rate for December remains unchanged at 5.2%, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

The figures show no improvement from the previous month.

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In a breakdown of the state’s cities, Las Vegas also reported a 5.2% unemployment rate, while Reno and Carson City both recorded a rate of 4%.

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Nevada

The Southern Nevada Ufology Group: Alien intrigue and fun

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

Press Room

The Southern Nevada Ufology Group: Alien intrigue and fun

Supposed sightings of alien aircraft and extraterrestrial life are synonymous with the state of Nevada. A new group in Southern Nevada hopes to offer a glimpse into the unsolved mysteries of the universe with its first event this weekend.

“I spend a lot of hours out there videotaping and to see that so many people want to come out and join me, it’s like a party,” said local ufologist Joseph De La Torre, better known as the Pahrump Alien Guy.

The Southern Nevada Ufology Group will host its first meeting on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During the event, attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs from the Pahrump Alien Guy himself. The meeting will take place at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino in the building’s gravel lot near the bowling parking area. Attendees will park in the bowling parking lot.

“I ended up learning to look into the skies here over Pahrump and I read an article where it said that Pahrump is in the Area 51 excursion zone,” the Pahrump Alien Guy told the Pahrump Valley Times.

Participants are encouraged to arrive with a tripod for their phone in order to properly take photos. Food, beverages and camping chairs are also welcome, but the Southern Nevada Ufology Group asks guests to please clean up after themselves once the event is over. If you’re interested in joining Saturday’s meeting, you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and to receive more information. Children are not allowed at the event.

“I think that it’s going to be very successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy enthused.

The Pahrump Alien Guy hosted the inaugural Pahrump Alien Conference in October 2025, a gathering that saw a large turnout of locals, visitors from Las Vegas, and other tourists passing through Nye County.

“We didn’t think it was going to be that successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy shared.

During that event, UFO photos from the Pahrump Alien Guy’s database were showcased, local vendors sold alien-themed goods and featured guests spoke about their work in ufology.

Two of the event’s featured speakers were Mike Bara, a New York Times best-selling author and frequent guest on the History Channel’s long-standing series “Ancient Aliens,” and Marysol Rezanov of the Nevada chapter of Citizens for Disclosure, a UFO information disclosure advocacy organization.

The Pahrump Alien Guy, his girlfriend Brid’Jette Whaley, Bara and Rezanov then founded the Southern Nevada Ufology Group. The group plans to host future meetings in other locations around Southern Nevada.

The Pahrump Alien Guy further explained that it was Bara and Rezanov’s idea to create a new skywatching group in Southern Nevada. Bara and Rezanov will be at Saturday’s meeting.

“We call it ‘Southern Nevada’ Ufology Group because it’s not just Pahrump,” the Pahrump Alien Guy said. “It’s all over southern Nevada.”

The Pahrump Alien Guy has a YouTube channel where he shows videos and photos he’s taken of UFOs. Watch the Pahrump Alien Guy’s videos on YouTube at youtube.com/@pahrumpalienguy.

Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com

Southern Nevada Ufology Group’s first meeting

■ Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

■ Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino located at 681 South Highway 160

■ Attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs. Guests are are encouraged to bring a tripod for their phone.

■ To attend you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com

■ No children allowed

■ Park in the bowling parking lot, meeting will be held in neighboring gravel lot

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