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‘Massive confusion’: Nevada officials worry over looming federal funding pauses

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‘Massive confusion’: Nevada officials worry over looming federal funding pauses


Nevada elected officials and advocates raised alarms Tuesday following the Trump Administration’s pause on federal funding for grant, loan and federal financial assistance programs implicated by recent executive orders.

A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s push Tuesday afternoon, though some leaders worry the funding freezes on federal grants and funding will jeopardize services many Nevadans use — if the plan moves forward.

Trump Administration calls for funding pause

On Monday, President Donald Trump’s acting director of the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo requiring federal agencies to identify and review federal financial assistance programs, projects and activities “that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders” — citing specific orders, including ones on foreign aid, energy and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

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“The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve,” the memo reads.

The memo said in the interim, federal agencies “must temporarily pause” all activities that might be implicated by the executive orders, “including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology and the green new deal.”

Sowing confusion

Trump’s order, which was set to go into effect 2 p.m. Tuesday, was met with confusion across the country and in Nevada, where leaders worried about the status of funding for a variety of services with federal funds. Judge Loren AliKhan’s administrative stay pauses the freeze until Monday.

Related: AG Ford, other attorneys general sue over Trump administration funding pause

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Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, said Tuesday she heard from Nevadans worried about accessing Medicaid and VA benefits, as well as concerns about law enforcement funding, housing assistance, Meals on Wheels and Head Start, a program for early learning and development.

Nevada’s Democratic legislative leaders, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, said the freeze could impact Nevada’s state budget, as federal funding accounts for more than one-third of Nevada’s budget. It also funds services by local governments, the court system and local nonprofits.

“Trump’s funding freeze will cause massive confusion for Nevada families, delay delivery of vital services in health care and education, and could plunge our state budget into further chaos,” the legislative leaders said in the Tuesday morning statement.

Following the federal judge’s temporary block, Cannizzaro accused the Trump administration of reversing itself and saying the freeze doesn’t apply to as many programs vital to Nevadans. She called the judge’s decision a “temporary victory” and claimed Republicans in D.C. intend to target programs like food stamps and Medicaid.

The directive has already led to some questions from local education officials. The Clark County School District said it was seeking “further clarity on the language contained in the memo” from Trump’s budget office.

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“Based on current information, we do not anticipate an immediate interruption to District programs and students’ services,” according to a Tuesday statement. “As we learn more about the impacts of this decision, we will inform our employees, families, and the community.”

Cannizzaro and Yeager urged Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s office to demand answers from the federal government and to call on reversing the decision.

Governor’s office on the lookout

Lombardo’s office said it is in communication with the White House and will participate in a larger meeting with the Office of Management and Budget to discuss the potential impacts to state agencies.

The office highlighted those programs with direct benefits to Nevadans such as Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP and Head Start, will not see interruptions.

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“Despite the shameless political theater on this issue, the Office of the Governor will continue to provide state agencies and Nevadans with timely, accurate and correct information,” the governor’s office said in the statement.

A spokesperson for Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, said the office is engaged in ensuring scheduled payments like Medicaid and education programs are still flowing.

“We’re confident that they are, but that’s where the focus is right now,” Amodei Communications Director Carrie Kwarcinski, said in an email.

Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, expressed concern that hospitals and health care providers will be forced to discontinue services, and federally funded infrastructure projects will halt. She also warned that people won’t get the food they need, and federal research into cancer treatment and cures will also pause, she said.

“All of this is just a fraction of what could be affected by Trump’s order,” Lee said. “It’s not just a presidential power grab – it’s plain wrong.”

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National outlets reported Tuesday that states’ Medicaid payments were paused. A spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services said the agency was “reviewing funding sources and evaluating the potential impact of the federal grant and loan pause on programs,” but did not specify whether it still had access to funds.

Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com and McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah and @mckenna_ross_ on X.

Katie Futterman contributed to this report.



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Local brewery and Nevada State Parks launch specialty brews inspired by the parks

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Local brewery and Nevada State Parks launch specialty brews inspired by the parks


LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A local brewery is showcasing Nevada State Parks with a brand new brew!

The Las Vegas Brewing Company and the Nevada State Parks Foundation have partnered up to release a lineup of drinks inspired after the parks themselves.

With every 4-pack sold, 5% of the proceeds will be donated to the organization. The first beer — the Camelops Kölsch — will honor Ice Age Fossils State Park. More brews will be announced in the coming months.

“This partnership is a fantastic way to honor the unique stories and natural wonders of Nevada’s state parks while supporting the Nevada State Parks Foundation,” said Bob Mergell, Administrator for Nevada Division of State Parks. “We’re thrilled to see Ice Age Fossils State Park celebrated in such a creative and delicious way.” 

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“Las Vegas Brewing Company aims to celebrate everything Las Vegas and Nevada past, present, and imagined, and in this case, the prehistoric past,” states Kyle Dolder of Las Vegas Brewing Company. “The opportunity to curate specialty brews to support the Nevada State Parks Foundation is an exciting way to promote all the great places to visit in this wonderful state.” 

The release of Camelops Kölsch kicks off with a party at the Las Vegas Brewing Company downtown tap house on Teusday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.

Camelops Kölsch will also be available at other Las Vegas Brewing Company taprooms, select Speedee Mart locations and 1864 Wine & Spirits on Feb. 18.


Positively Las Vegas on Channel 13





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Sierra Vista wins 2nd straight 4A state wrestling title — RESULTS, PHOTOS

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Sierra Vista wins 2nd straight 4A state wrestling title — RESULTS, PHOTOS


Sierra Vista won the Class 4A wrestling state championship last year despite not having an individual champion.

Even though Sierra Vista had built a significant lead heading into the championship matches at Saturday’s 4A state meet, the Mountain Lions went home with a little more hardware this year.

Makhi Clark (106 pounds) and Aidan Hernandez (126) won the individual titles, which helped Sierra Vista win its second straight 4A title at Western High with a score of 211.5 points.

“We talked a lot about peaking, and I think we peaked,” Sierra Vista coach Brett Terry said. “Peaking is wrestling the best at the end of the season, and we definitely peaked today, and it was the best tournament we wrestled.”

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Faith Lutheran finished second with 132.5 points, and Silverado was third with 117.5,

The Mountain Lions had eight wrestlers reach the finals across 14 weight classes, which helped them build a lead of more than 70 points before the finals.

But having two individual champions to go with the team title made the championship a little sweeter, Terry said.

“You always want the kids to reach their goals; that’s our goal as coaches,” Terry said. “We’re here to create champions.”

Hernandez won the Mountain League individual title and defeated Cheyenne’s Matthew Salvador-Agabin, last year’s state champion, to claim the state title.

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“I knew there was a game plan that I had to stick to,” Hernandez said. “It was really just staying focused and not getting caught up in the moment.”

Clark, who also won the Mountain League individual title, celebrated his win over Bonanza’s Joshua Martinez by doing a backflip underneath the spotlight of the center mat.

“We weren’t content, and we kept working,” Clark said. “No matter what, even if we won tournaments or lost them. It’s great, it’s a lot of hard work and dedication toward the sport.”

In other notable results, Silverado’s Zyon Trujillo won his third straight title at 175 pounds.

Western’s Colby Sulliban (132 pounds), Faith Lutheran’s Caden Cook (144) Coronado’s Wynn Philippi (215) and Desert Oasis’ Benjamin Young (285) repeated as individual champions.

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4A state championship results:

106: Makhi Clark, Sierra Vista def. Joshua Martinez, Bonanza

113: Mikael Vela, Cheyenne def. Kapono Starwood, Sierra Vista

120: Jason Carey, Bonanza def. Alfred Caci, Sierra Vista

126: Aidan Hernandez, Sierra Vista def. Matthew Salvador-Agabin, Cheyenne

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132: Colby Sulliban, Western def. Sebastian Quintana, Sierra Vista

138: Kanye Ilai-Simion, Bonanza def. Sebastian Arellanes, Sierra Vista

144: Caden Cook, Faith Lutheran def. Renz Soniga, Sierra Vista

150: Kayden Hanlon, Faith Lutheran def. Gordon Austin, Sierra Vista

157: Vicente Tizoc, Chaparral def. Chance Mannino, Desert Oasis

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165: Isiah Kayee, Chaparral def. Qwade Alcantar, Western

175: Zyon Trujillo, Silverado def. Lamar Jenkins, Chaparral

190: Bradley Britt, Silverado def. Jesus Nunez, Cheyenne

215: Wynn Philippi, Coronado def. Joseph Nicci, Faith Lutheran

285: Benjamin Young, Desert Oasis def. Ky Brinkerhoff, Las Vegas High

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Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.





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Nevada misses out on millions in federal grant money as EV charger program suspended

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Nevada misses out on millions in federal grant money as EV charger program suspended


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A lot of funding changes are happening rapidly at the federal level since President Donald Trump took office less than a month ago. That includes the suspension of a national program to help build out America’s EV charger network. Nevada was supposed to get $38 million under the National Electrical Vehicle (NEVI) Program but didn’t give out any of that grant money to business owners as other states already did and now that money is off the table.

“Usually, there will be like a lot of cars waiting. Sometimes people see people are not in their cars, they’ll go and try to pull their plug out,” explained Ivy White while waiting to charge up her car at an EV charger station in Henderson.

“You have to get up extra early just to be able to get to the charger before other people do,” shared another driver who did not want to appear on camera. There is such a need for more chargers in Nevada, people have gotten into fights over them.

“I’ve been here where they had to call the cops one time because two couples got into it,” White recounted. White says she sometime tries to come in the middle of the night to avoid waiting for other drivers to charge up.

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“What’s the longest that you’ve waited for a charger?,” FOX5’s Kim Passoth questioned.

“Give or take about like two hours,” White responded. In November 2021, the Biden Administration allocated $5 billion for the NEVI Program. Each state was allocated a cut of the money to provide grants to small businesses that wanted to get into the business of EV charging especially in rural areas off interstates and highways.

Ryan McKinnon with EV advocacy group Charge Ahead Partnership says the current number of charging stations is not enough to serve EV drivers across the country and especially in Nevada. McKinnon claims Nevada dragged their feet giving out the NEVI grant money putting the state even further behind when it comes to the number of EV chargers.

“Nevada has had a really problematic approach towards NEVI this entire time. Right now, you have lots of states all over the country, have a lot of Nevada’s neighbors that have already opened up NEVI funded charging stations…The way other states did it, they set up an application process giving a gas station on the corner or off an interstate exit and you wanted to get into this marketplace, you can apply for funds. You can get a grant,” McKinnon stated.

“That’s lousy. That’s very lousy…Like if I try to go up north, it’s even more like sparse,” White contended hearing millions of federal dollars that could have been used to build charges in Nevada is now suspended.

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FOX5 reached out to the Nevada Department of Transporation who was in charge of distributing the $38 million in federal grant money in Nevada before the NEVI Program was suspended. They shared this statement:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has apportioned funds for Nevada under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, but these funds operate as reimbursements, meaning they are not distributed upfront. While some states opted to distribute NEVI funds as grants to EV manufacturers, Nevada chose a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure a transparent, competitive approach aligned with the state’s infrastructure priorities. Nevada had a Request for Proposals ready to be released when the federal government paused the program, placing the process on hold pending further federal guidance.

Nevada also faced unique challenges in rolling out NEVI funds, particularly in rural areas where sufficient energy capacity is not readily available to support new EV chargers. Throughout this process, NDOT has prioritized responsible stewardship of public funds, ensuring compliance with evolving federal guidance while working to maximize the program’s long-term impact.

The NEVI program has specific power and connectivity requirements, which required careful coordination with stakeholders, including NV Energy, to ensure proposed charging locations met federal standards. NDOT explored multiple pathways to deploy NEVI funds before finalizing the RFP, balancing the need for speed with the responsibility to ensure projects would be eligible for reimbursement.

About five percent of all vehicles in Nevada are electric ranking the state as eighth in highest percentage of EV’s on the road. However, there are only about four charging stations per 100 EV’s ranking Nevada 43rd for EV chargers.

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