Nevada
Rolling the dice on rail safety: Nevada’s high-stakes legislative gamble • Nevada Current
As ambitious rail projects like Brightline West push forward, Nevada stands at a critical crossroads in terms of infrastructure growth and rail safety. It’s been a year since Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed Assembly Bill 456—a bill that aimed to strengthen rail safety protocols—and the risks that haunt our tracks are not just lingering; they are intensifying. In a state known for its high stakes, gambling with rail safety seems a perilous bet we continue to make.
In addition to Amtrak trains already operating through our state, the Brightline West project will transport the most precious cargo carried by rail: people. With this fact in mind, we simply cannot continue to gamble with rail safety—the stakes are too high.
AB 456 was designed as a comprehensive response to the escalating dangers in our rail systems, featuring crucial measures like train length limitations, improved defect detection, and provisions to clear blocked crossings. These are not mere regulatory tweaks; they are lifesaving necessities, underscored by a series of derailments in and around Nevada. Each incident serves as a grim reminder of what is at stake: fiery derailments and blocked crossings that jeopardize lives and fracture communities.
Recent investigative reports, including those by ProPublica, have highlighted a national crisis in rail safety, detailing systemic failures that lead to catastrophic accidents. These investigations have revealed that many rail companies systematically neglect crucial maintenance and push back against regulations that would mandate more rigorous safety checks and infrastructure investments.
In Nevada, the situation is dire. U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei, echoing the frustrations of many Nevadans, has criticized Union Pacific for its abysmal communication and negligence, particularly around the issue of blocked crossings. These blocked crossings are not just inconvenient; they are dangerous, preventing emergency responders from reaching crises swiftly, which could be the difference between life and death.
Furthermore, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently had to suspend its safety assessment of Union Pacific—one of the nation’s largest railroads—after uncovering that the company coached employees on how to respond to safety interviews. This coaching was widespread across Union Pacific’s 23-state network, which includes Nevada, severely undermining the authenticity of safety culture assessments. Such deceit not only skews the data that regulators rely on to assess and enhance safety but also indicates a deep-rooted culture of complacency and manipulation underpinning corporate operations.
As railroads continue to boast of rising profits amidst declining revenues—the unsustainability of this is a topic for another discussion—their repeated appearances in the halls of Nevada’s government expressing cries that they cannot afford to invest more in safety are both intolerable and unacceptable.
The pervasive influence of rail lobbyists is a significant barrier to safety improvements. Their sway in stifling regulation is powerful, as evidenced by the stalled reforms even after high-profile derailments that have captured national attention. The lobbyists’ efforts ensure that profits continue to override public safety, keeping essential safety measures like AB 456 from becoming law.
As we observe the somber anniversary of AB 456’s veto, it’s crucial that we confront the reality of our legislative landscape. Nevada must not only reinstate measures proposed in AB 456 but also champion new initiatives that place safety at the forefront of rail operations. Our state should lead by example, showing that despite its reputation for gaming, it does not gamble with the safety of its citizens.
Looking ahead, particularly with the Brightline West project, Nevada has a unique opportunity to redefine rail safety standards. We must implement a proactive approach to safety, not just for Nevada but as a model for the nation. This means extensive oversight, transparent operations, and a legislative backbone strong enough to stand up to corporate pressure.
As the tracks of progress are laid down, let’s ensure they are not only fast and efficient but also safe and secure. Nevada has the chance now to place a winning bet on the lives and safety of our residents. It’s time for a shift in priorities—from corporate profits to public safety—and for Nevada to establish itself as a leader in rail safety innovation.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada’s tradition of voting by mail is front and center in a new national ad campaign launched today in Las Vegas.
The Nevada State Postal Workers Union rolled out a television spot urging Americans to “vote by mail — keep it, protect it, expand it.”
The ad features real voters, from college students and military members to parents, seniors and people with disabilities, who say mail ballots let them participate even when they can’t make it to the polls.
MORE ON FOX5: Clark County primary voting guide: Registration, ballot tracking and key dates
Union leaders say a new bipartisan poll shows that mail voting is widely popular. They point to postal service data from 2024 showing nearly all ballots were delivered within five days.
“The public can rest assured and feel confident when participating in all elections because it has proven that vote by mail works, said President of the Las Vegas Postal Workers Union Terrence Johnson. “The postal workers union and the postal service are committed to making sure every ballot makes it to its correct destination.”
The spot is airing on broadcast and cable in Las Vegas today and in Reno tomorrow, before expanding to Washington, D.C. and other states as primary season continues.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
Game wardens captured a bear that was spotted in a tree near Fourth Street and Keystone Avenue west of downtown Reno on Thursday, May 21.
“The bear safely came down from the tree and entered a culvert trap,” the Nevada Department of Wildlife wrote on Facebook just before 3 p.m. “NDOW staff have secured the bear, and it is being transported for processing to determine its age and sex.”
Bears can be a common occurrence in Reno as the animals wander down from the mountains into the city.
Last year, NDOW told the Reno Gazette Journal that it got about 15 calls a month in September and October about bear activity in Northern Nevada as the animals searched for food before winter.
Bear-human interactions can be dangerous for both bears and humans. NDOW recommends securing garbage, keeping a clean yard and never approaching bears when you see them in order to avoid potentially dangerous encounters with the wild animals.
Are bears in Nevada unusual?
Bears lived in Nevada long before the first settlers came to the region. But by 1900, bear populations had been destroyed for a variety of reasons, including unregulated hunting, conflicts with settlers’ livestock and clear-cutting of forests.
Conservation and habitat regeneration increased bear populations in Nevada dramatically since the 1980s.
You can learn more at the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s website.
Nevada fire officials are warning that 2026 could bring a challenging wildfire season, with abundant fuels and early drought conditions raising the potential for large-scale fires as the state heads into warmer months.
On Wednesday, Gov. Joe Lombardo received a briefing from state and federal fire agencies, including the Nevada Division of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, on wildfire conditions and preparedness across the state.
“2026 is going to prove to be challenging,” said Ryan Shane, the state forester fire warden for the Nevada Division of Forestry.
While fire activity in northern Nevada was fairly mild in 2025, Shane said other parts of the state saw significant impacts.
“2025 last year was the heaviest fire year we’ve had in the last five, just about 457,000 acres burned, which is slightly above our 20 year rolling average,” Shane said. He added that “the acreage burned was largely in the northeastern Nevada.”
Communities being ready, the public not starting fires, and the fire suppression service getting out there doing a quick job of suppression fires kept any of these fires from going very large in this part of the state.
Officials said about 579 fires burned in 2025, with more than 300 of those being human-caused.
Looking ahead to 2026, Shane said fuels are abundant across the region, particularly in northern Nevada, as drought conditions begin to take hold.
“This is the first year of the onset of the drought cycle. And we have a lot of carryover fuels from previous years, as well as the fuels that have grown this year. We have a lack of snowpack in the upper elevations,” Shane said.
Fire agencies are coordinating with the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, which helps officials plan for fires and allocate resources when needed.
Jim Wallmann, a meteorologist with the National Interagency Coordination Center, said low Sierra snowpack and amount of fuel available is among the biggest factors influencing this year’s fire activity.
“They’re going to cure out generally earlier and then all the leftover grass in northern Nevada that we have from the last couple years as well and whatever little growth we get from this year will only add to it,” Wallmann said.
Shane said interagency agreements and help from local communities will be key through the year, urging residents to be prepared when outdoors.
“If you’re out and about, make sure you carry a shovel, some water, possibly a fire extinguisher, and a way to communicate and report a fire if you see one or cause one,” Shane said.
The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Nevada Division of Forestry are working to mitigate fuels, while efforts including resilient landscaping, fire-adapted communities and safe, effective fire response are aimed at keeping Nevada more fire-ready in 2026.
Email reporter Anthony Ramos at aramos@sbgtv.com. Follow @antramosnews on X and Anthony Ramos on Facebook.
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