Nevada

NEVADA VIEWS: Nevada leads way on entrepreneurship

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2024

NEVADA VIEWS: Nevada leads way on entrepreneurship

The National Speakers Conference, the largest gathering of legislative presiding officers in the country, will convene in Las Vegas in September. Presented by the highly respected State Legislative Leaders Foundation, a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the conference will bring together as many as two-thirds of the sitting speakers of state legislative bodies — a truly bipartisan gathering of colleagues amid a nationally polarized political environment.

The event will allow me talk with my colleagues about a bipartisan initiative that Nevada is leading that can truly unite our nation.

Nevada’s leadership became evident last summer when we became the first state in the nation to enact a Right to Start Act, legislation that implements policy recommendations from Right to Start, a national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority. The legislation enjoyed strong bipartisan support before being signed by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Entrepreneurship is key, because young businesses create virtually all job growth in America. It enables individuals to pursue their dreams by starting their own businesses and to build wealth as a company grows. Entrepreneurship also benefits everyone, as research in the United States shows that for every 1 percent increase in the entrepreneurship rate, the poverty rate decreases by 2 percent.

Nevada’s Right to Start Act demonstrates our state’s unwavering commitment to removing barriers and empowering individuals to take charge of their entrepreneurial journeys. To facilitate entrepreneurship statewide, it authorized, among other features, the creation of an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. That Office of Entrepreneurship is now led by Kyeema Peart, who is working to strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth of new businesses in the state.

Nevada’s leadership has also spurred bipartisan momentum across the nation in support of Right to Start’s policy recommendations. New Mexico created an Office of Entrepreneurship by executive department action in September 2023. Kansas established a director of small business and entrepreneurship by executive department action in March 2024. Michigan announced in May 2024 the appointment of the state’s first-ever chief innovation ecosystem officer to advance the work of innovators and entrepreneurs. In July 2024, Missouri became the second state to enact a Right to Start Act. Missouri’s act also creates an Office of Entrepreneurship.

What’s so important about these policy actions, led by Nevada, is that they reflect broad bipartisan support for a priority that will help create jobs in every community in each state and throughout the nation. That bipartisan support is not surprising, because polling shows that it reflects the beliefs and aspirations of the vast majority of Americans.

A survey conducted by a bipartisan team of pollsters for Right to Start shows that 94 percent of Americans agree that “it is important to America’s future that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own business.” Near-unanimity crosses party lines – with 95 percent of Republicans, 95 percent of independents and 92 percent of Democrats agreeing. That broad agreement is rare in politics and policymaking, and it provides a way forward for us as a nation as we seek to find common ground amid so much polarization.

That way forward will empower Nevadans — and increasingly all Americans — to grow new businesses, diversify the economy and benefit from the kinds of innovations that can enhance every community. That near-unanimity should ground and inspire our nation in the months and years ahead, underscoring commitments and ambitions that we share.

Nevada’s leadership in this respect makes our hosting of the National Speakers Conference all the more appropriate. It enables us to showcase a bipartisan development that can truly enhance and advance the nation.

Steve Yeager is speaker of the Nevada Assembly and president of the National Speakers Conference.

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Nevada

El Dorado County fire sending smoke into Nevada reaches 1,960 acres

Published

9 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

El Dorado County fire sending smoke into Nevada reaches 1,960 acres

PLACERVILLE, Calif. (KOLO) -The Crozier Fire in El Dorado County that is sending smoke into Northern Nevada is about 1,960 acres and is 8 percent contained, Cal Fire reported Saturday.

reportedIt started four days ago.

Cal Fire reports no buildings have been destroyed but about 4,000 are threatened. There are no injuries reported. The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Weather will remain hot and dry through the weekend, Cal Fire reported. Winds are expected to remain out of the southwest at 4 mph to 9 mph with gusts of up to 20 mph during the day.

Cal Fire reports 1,543 personnel assigned to the fire using 10 helicopters and 99 fire engines.

Evacuation orders have been issued for:

Georgetown
Volcanoville
Mosquito/Swansboro Community
Quintette
Areas east of California 193

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Nevada

Who are the top offensive linemen in Southern Nevada prep football?

Published

16 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

Who are the top offensive linemen in Southern Nevada prep football?

Most unsung heroes on any high school football team are on the offensive line.

Among notable top offensive linemen in Southern Nevada are three four-star Bishop Gorman seniors who are Division I-bound.

Here is a look at the Review-Journal’s top returning local offensive linemen entering the season:

SJ Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman

Alofaituli is a four-year starter at guard for the Gaels. He committed to Miami in July, choosing the Hurricanes over other notable Division I programs such as Michigan and Nebraska.

Alofaituli, listed at 6 feet, 3 inches, 290 pounds, is a four-star recruit and the state’s second-ranked 2025 prospect by 247Sports. He’s the No. 55-ranked prospect in the nation for his class.

He helped lead a Gorman offense that averaged 49 points per game as the Gaels won the Class 5A Division I state title and fourth national title.

Daniel Boyd, Arbor View

Boyd will play a significant role in an Arbor View offense poised for a breakout season with several potential Division I players on the field.

Boyd, a senior interior offensive lineman, committed to Fresno State in July. The 6-foot-4-inch, 290-pound three-star prospect also had Division I offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Duke and UNLV

Alai Kalaniuvalu, Bishop Gorman

Kalaniuvalu transferred to Gorman after his sophomore year and immediately worked his way onto the starting offensive line as a center last season.

Kalaniuvalu, listed at 6 feet, 4 inches, 305 pounds, committed to Oregon over other notable Division I schools such as Utah, Southern California, Nebraska and Michigan. He’s the state’s fourth-ranked 2025 recruit and a four-star prospect by 247Sports.

Gerald Rock, Shadow Ridge

Rock was a second-team All-5A Division I center voted by the coaches last season behind Kalaniuvalu.

He helped lead a run-heavy Shadow Ridge offense that racked up 2,958 rushing yards and averaged 370.7 all-purpose yards per game.

Douglas Utu, Bishop Gorman

Utu completes the talented trio on Gorman’s offensive line. He committed to Tennessee in June and had other notable Division I offers, such as Alabama, Michigan, Oregon and Washington.

Listed at 6 feet, 4 inches and 317 pounds, Utu is a four-star prospect and the state’s third-ranked 2025 recruit by 247Sports. He helped lead an offense that averaged 431 yards per game to help Gorman go 12-0 last season.

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

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Nevada

In Las Vegas, Kamala Harris sees a chance to improve her odds of winning

Published

23 hours ago

August 10, 2024

Press Room

In Las Vegas, Kamala Harris sees a chance to improve her odds of winning

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is working to make Nevada look like less of a political gamble in November’s election.

The Democratic presidential nominee visits the state on Saturday with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. It’s the final stop of a battleground blitz in which Democrats are showing new energy after President Joe Biden exited the race and Harris replaced him at the top of the ticket. That new enthusiasm has enabled them to boost turnout efforts in swing states such as Nevada and Arizona, which Harris visited Friday.

Magnolia Magat, a 59-year-old restaurant owner in Las Vegas who lives in the neighboring city of Henderson, said she’s now “more hopeful” about the election.

“I am very happy that not only is our candidate a woman, she is Black and she’s also Asian,” said Magat, who is Filipino American. “And it’s not because Harris is a woman that I want to endorse her. It’s because she’s highly capable of running the country.”

As part of the trip, Harris is hoping to build greater support among Latino voters. In 2020, Biden narrowly beat Republican Donald Trump by 2.4 percentage points in Nevada. Trump, the former president, is trying this time to create more support in a state that relies on the hotel, restaurant and entertainment industry by pledging to make workers’ tips tax-free.

But the union representing 60,000 workers in that industry, the Culinary Workers Union, announced Friday night its endorsement of Harris. About 54% of the union’s members are Latino, 55% women and 60% immigrants.

“The path to victory runs through Nevada,” the union said in a statement, “and the Culinary Union will deliver Nevada for President Kamala Harris and Vice President Tim Walz.”

AP VoteCast found in 2020 that 14% of Nevada voters were Hispanic, with Biden winning 54% of their votes. His margin with Hispanic voters was slightly better nationwide, a sign that Democrats cannot take this bloc of voters for granted.

Harris is hoping to drive a wedge with Republicans by focusing on issues such as access to abortion and repairs to the U.S. immigration system. Her message is that Trump killed a bipartisan deal this year to improve security on the southern border and address immigration issues, with Democrats saying he did so in hopes of improving his own political odds.

Because Harris’ portfolio in the Biden administration included the root causes of migration and due to some of her comments before the 2020 election, Republicans have sought to portray her as weak on the southern border and enabling illegal immigration.

At a Thursday news conference, Trump said of Harris, “As a border czar, she’s been the worst border czar in history, in the world history.”

The Republican has proposed mass deportations if he returns to the White House, but AP VoteCast found in 2020 that nearly 7 in 10 Nevada voters said that immigrants living in the United States illegally should be offered the chance to apply for legal status.

Harris and Walz over the past week have also visited the crucial midwestern “blue wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. Along with Nevada and Arizona, those five states represent 61 electoral votes that could be essential for reaching the 270 threshold required to win November’s election. Harris had also planned to visit North Carolina and Georgia this past week — between them another 32 electoral votes — but those stops were postponed due to Tropical Storm Debby.

In Nevada’s rural Douglas County near the California border, Gail Scott, 71, serves on the central committee of the local Democratic Party and said she didn’t initially agree with calls for Biden to leave the race. Trump won the county in 2016 and 2020, but trimming his margins there could lower his ability to compete in Nevada.

What to know about the 2024 Election

Scott said it’s impossible to miss the energy that Harris has created among younger voters who could help statewide.

“Young people are embracing Kamala Harris and the enthusiasm and the joy that she’s brought to the campaign,” she said.

Brian Shaw, a Republican from northern Nevada, said Harris’ arrival on the top of the ticket could make it harder for Trump to win because Biden was a “pitiful candidate” and there’s little time to expose the vice president’s “incompetence.” He said he attended Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s rally in Reno on July 30 and found him to be “likable, capable, polished as a politician, but not veneered.” He didn’t have much of an opinion of Walz.