Nevada
Thanksgiving traffic to stuff Southern Nevada roads
Motorists should brace for heavy traffic around Las Vegas during Thanksgiving weekend as droves of people travel in and out of Southern Nevada to celebrate Turkey Day with family and friends.
Nearly 80 million people are expected to travel nationwide for the holiday. That’s 1.7 million more people than last year and 2 million more than pre-pandemic 2019, according to AAA.
AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. This year’s projection is an increase of 1.7 million people compared with last year’s numbers and 2 million more than in 2019.
Of those travelers, 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, which is 1.3 million people more than last year. Potentially aiding that increase are the lower gas prices this Thanksgiving compared with prices in 2023, including in Nevada where the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is $3.70, about 58 cents cheaper than last year. In Las Vegas, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.67, down 49 cents from Thanksgiving week in 2023.
Hertz data reveals Las Vegas is among the cities showing the highest demand for rental cars for the holiday weekend. Others include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando and Phoenix.
Busiest commute times
The Regional Transportation Commission suggests anyone traveling by car during Thanksgiving should brace for heavier than usual traffic in Southern Nevada, especially on Interstate 15. That especially rings true during peak travel days, which include Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, according to the RTC.
“The RTC recommends traveling outside peak hours to beat the rush, and for those traveling throughout the city, transit is a convenient and stress-free option that eliminates the hassle of parking,” the RTC said in a statement.
Looking to ensure travelers have as easy of a commute as possible, the Nevada Department of Transportation is halting work on multiple projects during peak travel times during Thanksgiving week.
That includes:
■ I-15/Tropicana Project: Work will be paused from 5 p.m. Wednesday to 9 p.m. Sunday;
■ I-15 North widening project work will be halted from Wednesday to Sunday;
■ I-15 South widening project work will also pause from Wednesday to Sunday;
“This effort aims to ensure smoother travel for residents and visitors during the holiday period,” NDOT spokeswoman Kelsey McFarland said in a statement.
RTC buses will operate on a Sunday schedule for transit service across the Las Vegas Valley on Thanksgiving Day and on a Saturday schedule on Friday.
Driving safety tips
The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada reminds motorists to drive safely and pay attention to the road, to ensure everyone has a safe holiday weekend.
“Before hitting the road this holiday season, ensure your vehicle is well-maintained and your route is planned ahead of time,” Rachel Flanigan, executive director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter, said in a statement. “Let’s all buckle up, drive responsibly and make Thanksgiving a time of joy, not regret.”
Motorists should drive speeds that match road conditions; avoid distractions, especially while using smart phones while driving; always wear safety belts, ensure children are secured correctly in safety seats for their age and size; and never drive under the influence.
Emergency kits
With many Thanksgiving weekend travelers planning to go 50 miles or more, the Red Cross of Southern Nevada recommends drivers keep an emergency kit in their vehicles.
Emergency kits should include snacks, water, a first-aid kit, flashlight, a battery-operated radio, blankets, jumper cables, a map, a cellphone charger and an emergency contact card containing names and phone numbers.
“You never know when an emergency can happen,” Flanigan said. “Having the right supplies and information can help you navigate through any emergency situation.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X. Send questions and comments to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com.
Nevada
28-year-old inmate at Southern Nevada prison dies
A man serving time at the Southern Desert Correctional Center for felony reckless driving died last month, the Nevada Department of Corrections said Tuesday.
Shiloh Walker, 28, died at the Indian Springs facility on Nov. 24, a news release said. Cause of death was not listed.
Walker was serving a sentence of up to six years after a plea agreement was reached in 2022 following a DUI crash that happened May 31, 2021 in Las Vegas, according to online court records.
An autopsy was requested following Walker’s death, though results were not available as of Monday evening. Attempts to reach Walker’s family members have been unsuccessful, according to the department.
Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X.
Nevada
Is USPS breaking vow not to use Sacramento for Northern Nevada mail?
After widespread condemnation last year, the U.S. Postal Service backed away from plans to move its Reno mail-processing operations to Sacramento — but did it stay true to what it told the public?
The question arose recently after letters sent from one Carson City address to another in Carson City were both postmarked in Sacramento.
Northern Nevadans did not want first class mail sent from one Northern Nevada address to another going first to California. They sent a unified message to the USPS all the way up to the postmaster general.
Critics of the USPS plan were especially worried about delays from mail having to go back and forth over the Sierra during winter.
The Washoe County District Attorney’s office filed a lawsuit over the plan, the Washoe County Commission voted to oppose the plan, public comment was universally opposed, and Democratic and Republican elected officials from across the state joined to stop it.
Could it possibly have happened anyway? The answer is yes, temporarily, for a brief time.
How letters sent in Carson City came to be processed at Sacramento USPS facility
A reader told the Reno Gazette Journal they’d twice had letters internal to Carson City postmarked in Sacramento, so we asked USPS if the policy had changed.
“Mail processing for First Class mail that originates in Northern Nevada and is destined to Northern Nevada has not changed,” USPS spokesperson Sherry Patterson responded by email.
“However,” she added, “without the specific mail piece and class of mail, we cannot determined if there is an issue.”
The reader then supplied a photo of the two envelopes postmarked Nov. 5 in Sacramento, and this was shared with USPS.
“Our processing machine in Reno was temporarily out of service while we awaited a replacement part,” Patterson said after viewing the postmarks to nail down the specific date the letters went through Sacramento.
“To ensure that mail was not delayed during this time, we implemented a contingency plan that involved routing certain mail to our Sacramento facility for cancellation and processing. This measure allows us to maintain service continuity and minimize disruptions for our customers. We understand that this may cause some confusion, and we are committed to ensuring that all mail is processed efficiently and accurately.”
Bottom line: Regarding first class mail that’s being sent to and from Northern Nevada addresses, it’s still USPS policy to process that in Reno at its Vassar Street facility, she said.
The path these particular letters took, Patterson added, “is indeed an unusual occurrence.”
Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.
Nevada
Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Loneliness has become a significant health issue for people everywhere, and the holiday season sometimes intensifies those feelings. For many, December looks like family gatherings, matching pajamas and bustling homes. But this time of year can also be very difficult for those who may be battling distance, work commitments or recent life changes.
Marc Valli, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, has lived in Las Vegas since 1988. He moved to Nevada to join a ministry and be closer to his wife’s parents.
WATCH| Shellye Leggett talks to an army vet who’s recently moved into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility
Holiday loneliness affects thousands in Nevada as many face Christmas away from loved ones
“I wanted to come and join ministry here. Also my wife’s parents lived here,” Valli said.
Valli’s wife Barbara, known to friends and family as Bobby, passed away in 2018 after 54 years of marriage.
“I’m still counting the years. We’ve been married 54 years,” he said.
His children moved him into Escalante at the Lakes assisted living facility in June, making this his first holiday season in his new home.
“People are very nice, they treat you good,” Valli said.
Come Christmas Day, the facility’s common room will be filled with residents ready for holiday activities, but Valli hopes to get outside these walls to see his family that still lives nearby.
“I have grandkids. One goes to Cal Poly. He’s here right now, but he’s on vacation, and then I have two little granddaughters, one’s 11, one’s 7,” Valli said. “I don’t know if they’re gonna come for Christmas or I’m going there.”
Gus Farias, the executive director of Escalante at the Lakes Assisted Living, says many of his residents don’t have family nearby. Keeping their spirits high throughout the holidays is an important task.
“We can tell when our residents are feeling down. There’s a lot of pressure during the holidays because some of our residents don’t have families that are nearby, but they have us,” Farias said.
The organisation A Mission for Michael released a study showing just how many people are expected to spend the holidays alone this year. Nevada ranked 43rd on the list of loneliest states, with more than 212,000 people expected to spend Christmas by themselves.
“It’s pretty surprising that there’s so many Nevadans that are gonna spend the holidays by themselves,” Farias said.
He says combating loneliness will take a community effort.
“When you’re at the grocery store or whatever, reach, look back and ask them, you know, wish them a merry Christmas or happy holidays and ask them how they passed their holidays in the past because we, we as a younger generation than our seniors, we can learn a lot from that,” Farias said.
It’s an effort that Valli says makes the holidays a little brighter.
“Oh, it makes a big difference,” he said.
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