Nevada
NEVADA VIEWS: Protecting the Amargosa Valley’s lifeline
In the heart of the Amargosa Valley, the Amargosa River quietly winds its way through the hottest and driest desert in North America. Though invisible on most maps, this rare desert river is nothing short of miraculous. To the rural communities that call the Amargosa Valley home, it is essential.
As elsewhere in the Southwest, and especially in the Mojave Desert, water is the lifeblood of our communities. But due to the unique geology of the Amargosa Valley, the benefits the Amargosa River provides to our communities are fragile. That is why the proposed Amargosa Valley “mineral withdrawal” is a necessity, both to protect against immediate threats and to secure our future.
This initiative seeks to withdraw approximately 309,000 acres of public land in the Amargosa Valley from mineral exploration and new mining, with valid existing mining rights and operations remaining intact. While mineral extraction has played a role in the history of our region, the stakes today are far too high. The pressure on our water resources has never been greater. New mining in this fragile area would pose a significant risk of depleting, diverting and contaminating the Amargosa River, which is already stretched to its limits.
The communities of the Amargosa Valley have lived in the shadow of resource extraction for decades. And yet, this time is different. The threat of widespread mining and renewable energy development has united us, as it must. Our communities are rallying behind this proposal because we understand that water transcends boundaries, ideologies and political divides. Without water, there is no agriculture, no economy, no wildlife and no future.
The Amargosa River’s reach is astonishing. For our rural towns, the river is the source of drinking water, irrigation for crop and a draw for ecotourism, which is an increasingly vital part of our local economy. Without the river, Amargosa Valley and our neighboring communities will become ghost towns.
The river also feeds Ash Meadows, an incredible desert oasis that is prized by locals, sought after by visitors from around the world and home to 26 species of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. It helps maintain the delicate balance of Death Valley’s ecosystems, where even the smallest disruption can have cascading effects. These interconnected concerns have forged an unprecedented coalition: local governments and federal agencies, conservationists and tribes, scientists and small-business owners. We are all standing together, urging the Department of the Interior to act swiftly and decisively by withdrawing these lands from new mineral exploration.
The stakes could not be clearer. Protecting the Amargosa Valley through this mineral withdrawal is not just an act of good stewardship, it is an act of common sense, of community survival. We cannot afford to wait. Every delay puts this fragile system and my town closer to irreversible harm.
President Donald Trump’s Interior Department has the power to make this vision a reality. By finalizing the proposed Amargosa Valley mineral withdrawal, they can help ensure that current and future generations of Nevadans that cherish their rural way of life can continue to not just survive, but prosper.
Let’s leave a legacy that proves we understand the value of both our natural resources and of the storied and unique rural communities like mine that are part of the fabric of the American West. Time is of the essence. Our community is calling for help, and we look to our leaders to answer.
Carolyn Allen is the chair of the Amargosa Valley Town Board.
The Las Vegas Raiders have orchestrated many groundbreaking moves this offseason, but none as important as the impact they made at a fundraising event.
Over the weekend, the Raiders hosted the Silver & Black Gala, raising $2.5 million for mental health in Nevada. Sunday marked the third time the organization had hosted the event, which has produced a tremendous turnout.
Several individuals spoke during the event, including Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and president Sandra Douglass Morgan, who each highlighted the importance of acknowledging mental health.
Davis’ Thoughts
- “We’re here to raise money for mental health, which is one of the most important things we can all deal with,” Davis said. “Every one of us is impacted by mental health and our families, friends, or anywhere else, we are all directly affected. That’s why it’s so critical to raise money for our community. We’re grateful for you all, and appreciate you being here.”
Morgan’s Thoughts
“Mental health remains one of the most urgent issues across Nevada,” Morgan said. “Through the Silver & Black Gala, the Raiders Foundation is helping expand access to trusted, community-based resources that meet people where they are. This year’s recipients reflect the depth and complexity of that work, supporting our community in schools, clubhouses, homes, shelters, and family systems statewide.”
The Raiders also honored former player Carl Nassib and NFL broadcaster Jay Glazer on Sunday night as the winners of the Commitment to Excellence award. Here is what each of them had to say.
Glazer’s Thoughts
- “First, this is incredible what the Raiders are doing,” Glazer said. “God blessed me with the ability to communicate, so I’m going to use that to try and help other people. When we’re willing to share our scars, we turn them into strength—into something that connects us as teammates with nothing to hide. That’s what builds a true team, a championship team. I’m proud to stand with you and be part of this team tonight.”
Nassib’s Thoughts
- “It is truly a privilege to be up here,” Nassib said. “We’re creating space for people to be vulnerable—and that work is truly lifesaving. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about showing up and reminding people they’re not alone.”
Overall Thoughts
This has been a tremendous event over the last few years, and the Raiders’ organization has done a great job of raising awareness for mental health. This will be an event that the team will continue to host in the future.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Nevada
Nevada workers fear homelessness as housing, jobs vanish before July deadline | Fox News Video
The final casino resort in Primm, Nevada, will close this summer after years of declining tourism, ending gaming operations in the once-busy border town and putting hundreds of employees out of work.
Primm Valley Casino Resorts is shutting down its remaining hotel and casino operations in July as experts point to increased competition, changing travel habits and post-pandemic losses behind the decline.
RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) is in a strong position heading into the thick of his 2026 reelection bid — a huge war chest, almost universal name recognition and strong favorability numbers among the electorate.
Though Lombardo is likely focusing on the general election already, he faces 6 longshot candidates in the GOP primary seeking to upset him in June.
Nevada Governor GOP primary: 6 longshot candidates taking on incumbent Joe Lombardo
The challengers face a ‘Herculean’ task, said Mike Noble, CEO and founder of Noble Predictive Insights, an Arizona-based nonpartisan pollster focusing on the Southwest region.
“I see it as a Herculean task for anyone. If someone was coming in with like, I don’t know $10 million or something to spend, sure I can see that might be competitive, but I don’t see any of them coming anywhere near close to that. And so again, I just think I think it’s a non-factor at this point,” Noble said.
RELATED | Ballot Battleground: Nevada podcast: Early Noble poll shows dead heat in governor’s race
Despite the long odds, News 4-Fox 11 reached out to all candidates requesting an interview as part of our commitment to 2026 election coverage and our Know Your Candidates series. Three of the 7 running interviewed with us — Irina Hansen, Kameron Hawkins, Lombardo and Jose Zelaya did not respond to multiple emails requesting an interview.
We asked them similar questions about Gov. Lombardo’s leadership as governor, how they would pass a balanced budget and whether they support taxpayer subsidies for sports teams or major projects.
Click the candidate’s name to watch their full interview. Quotes below have been edited for space and clarity.
Donald J. Beaudry Jr. is an entrepreneur who founded BlkEdgeAi, a financial technology firm specializing in AI-driven trading systems and market strategy, according to his campaign website.
He told News 4-Fox 11 that Nevada has been drifting the last four years with ‘no captain, no vision.’ He believes his Wall Street-like trading market called NGEX (Nevada Global Exchange) would generate enough revenue to eliminate sales taxes, property taxes, business taxes and vehicle registration fees.
“I completely blueprinted it out and calculated that this model could generate enough revenue in this state that we could eliminate all the state taxes and fees that are currently in place and use that as the revenue source for the state and make everybody, every man, woman and child throughout Nevada, a shareholder in the dividends of that exchange … it would be a kind of Wall Street type of stock market, but far broader, more advanced, and exponentially more profitable.”
Matthew Rian Winterhawk is the founder of SmartSlaps foundation, a nonprofit that works to help schools and students with civic engagement and community responsibility.
If elected, he described going through a DOGE-like review of the state budget to determine which areas can be cut or kept depending on their ‘dollar to impact’ ratio.
“What I would like to do is go through every department, I’m talking top to bottom, from here from the primary to the beginning. We will cut every piece of administrative bloat across the system … I need more money for my teachers. Teachers never see it, students never see it, the impact never reaches the classroom. It’s 100% administrative bloat.”
The son of immigrants, Barak Zilberberg is now an entrepreneur and real estate investor based in Las Vegas. He ran for governor in 2022, earning 0.2% of the vote in the GOP primary. He told News 4-Fox 11 he’s also running for President in 2028.
He said he’s running for governor to improve the educational system, bring jobs to Nevada and open up federal land to build more affordable housing.
“We’ve got get high-speed railing systems in here where we can transit very easily, efficiently, and basically moving around between economies of both cities. Not only that, I’d like to bring Disneyland here and the Olympics, sponsor the Olympics here. I just want to make this a well-known place of entertainment, a hub.”
To help voters make informed decisions this election year, News 4-Fox 11 is publishing and broadcasting dozens of interviews with candidates who will appear on the June primary ballot.
In fairness to all candidates, they were asked a series of similar questions. We are posting the full interviews online so voters can watch their responses in their entirety.
Visit our Know Your Candidates 2026 page to view other race previews and meet other candidates.
Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on X and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.
-
Pennsylvania2 minutes agoWhy a Pennsylvania blowout could be Josh Shapiro’s ticket to 2028
-
Rhode Island8 minutes agoThree stabbed at crowded Rhode Island beach as hundreds of teens pack area, police say
-
South Dakota20 minutes ago
SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for May 19, 2026
-
Tennessee26 minutes agoBig Machine CEO Scott Borchetta fires back at graduates booing ‘AI speech’ during Middle Tennessee State University ceremony
-
Texas32 minutes agoTexas A&M slugger named to Softball America’s All‑American Second‑Team
-
Utah38 minutes agoRising gas prices squeeze Utah drivers ahead of summer travel
-
Vermont44 minutes ago
What to know, prize money, road closures for 2026 Vermont City Marathon & Relay
-
Virginia50 minutes agoA Republican mocked a child over ‘propaganda.’ Ironic. | Opinion
