IndyMatters is a weekly podcast from The Nevada Independent. Every week hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis will bring you stories from around the Silver State that focus on politics, policy, education, the environment and more..
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We brought together CEO Jon Ralston and our reporters who covered the June primaries for this post-election debrief. The team shared what most surprised them about the election results and made some predictions about the general election.
Nevada lawmakers took up a laundry list of legislation during a weeklong special session in November. But some of the biggest ideas — a film tax credit expansion and a cap on corporate homebuying — fell flat. Nevada Independent reporter Eric Neugeboren runs down the most notable developments on Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Some of the most ambitious proposals of the 2025 legislative session fizzled in the final hours, including the governor’s crime bill and a film tax credit expansion. Plus, Gov. Joe Lombardo is out with a long list of vetoes, with more expected to come. Nevada Independent reporters Tabitha Mueller, Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Lawmakers make their biggest decisions of the session at the very end. So how are things shaping up for everything from a film tax credit expansion to proposed raises for state workers? Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
With just days left in Nevada’s legislative session, lawmakers still need to act on the most important proposals before them. What’s dead and what’s going on behind the scenes? Nevada Independent reporters Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Relationships between the Republican governor and Democratic legislative leaders will be key to getting things done in the final weeks of session. So how’s it going? Plus, a partisan dust-up on charter schools just might be resolved. Nevada Independent reporters Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Nevada lawmakers have several hundred million dollars less to spend than they expected just a few months ago. What happens now? Plus, a look at plans to cap the price of insulin for people on private insurance. Nevada Independent reporters Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Abortion and government transparency bills failed to clear the Legislature’s biggest deadline yet. And chatter about immigration enforcement activity in Nevada has ramped up, but understanding the full picture remains tough. Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
Gun control measures that were vetoed in 2023 came back again for an emotional hearing this week, even though their odds look slim. And the Trump administration canceled pandemic-era grants supporting vaccine and mental health programs, leading to layoffs. Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
The fight over whether to ax the federal education department trickles down to Nevada, and a set of suggested immigration policies for Nevada organizations touches off debate among 2026 candidates for governor. Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
A bill that would extend a family leave mandate to private employers is headed for fierce business opposition, and what’s next after a group studied the possibility of legalizing magic mushrooms. Nevada Independent reporters Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
From a look at how Nevada’s Medicaid program could fare under federal government cost-cutting, to getting local police more involved in immigration enforcement, Nevada Independent reporter Eric Neugeboren recap the week for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
From comparing and contrasting two parallel proposals to lure the film industry to Nevada, to lawmakers’ second crack at cracking down on “fake electors,” Nevada Independent reporter Eric Neugeboren recaps the third week of the legislative session for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City.
In this episode, Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Tabitha Mueller recap the second week of the legislative session for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City. From lawmakers bracing for federal cuts to Medicaid, to the rapid approval of a bill to reduce high egg prices, to Gov. Joe Lombardo clarifying his stances on immigration, our team covers all the highlights.
In this episode, Nevada Independent reporters Isabella Aldrete and Eric Neugeboren recap the first week of the legislative session for Focus on Carson, a program produced by KNVC community radio in Carson City. From fixing a budget hole to a bill to tackle egg prices to adopting the gender-neutral title “assemblymember,” it’s been a busy kickoff to the 2025 session.
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Vegas hosts the Super Bowl, a new program offers pre-K on wheels and reporter Sean Golonka gives a fond farewell. Host Joey Lovato talks with reporter Howard Stutz about what it was like to cover the Super Bowl and how gaming and tourism numbers look after the big game. After that, reporter Rocío Hernández explains how a new mobile preschool program in Clark County is helping communities that are lacking in child care and early education options. At the end of the show, Joey says goodbye to friend and colleague Sean Golonka, who has moved to Seattle. The two reminisce about some of Sean’s fond
Highlights from a community listening event put on by The Nevada Independent and Vegas PBS. On this episode of IndyMatters, host Joey Lovato brings your highlights from a community listening event that is co-moderated by The Indy’s Naoka Foreman and Vegas PBS’s Amber Renee Dixon. The event, which is the latest installment of The Nevada Democracy Project, was held at the College of Southern Nevada’s West Charleston Campus and garnered comments from people ages 8 to 80 and from all walks of life. You’ll hear some of the highlights on this episode. We’ll also share some of the best clips from our
What early voting numbers tell us about the primary and caucus, and pushback as the Clark County superintendent seeks a contract buyout. This week, host Joey Lovato chats with CEO and Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Sean Golonka about what early voting turnout data can tell us about Nevadans’ presidential preferences. After that, education reporter Rocío Hernández breaks down the developing situation with Clark County Superintendent Jesus Jara, who plans to resign after more than five years leading the district and is seeking a severance package. At the end of the show, KUNR General Manager Br
A crashed spy plane in Nevada’s desert offers insight into the state’s history of military aviation testing and the UFO conspiracy theories it touched off. On Oct. 25, 1967, an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane called Aspen 28 crashed outside of Lovelock. This week, host Joey Lovato heads out into rural Nevada with nuclear physicist and aerospace enthusiast Taylor Wilson to find the wreckage. Along the way, Joey talks with Area 51 historian Peter Merlin to learn about the history of the secretive military base. Host Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Guests Taylor Wilson - @Taylor_Wilson Peter Merlin - Dream
The Super Bowl will be in Las Vegas in February. What does that mean for the city, tourism, traffic and more? This week, hosts Joey Lovato and Jacob Solis discuss the implications of football’s biggest event coming to Las Vegas both to the tourism industry as a whole and for the average resident priced out of the game. They hear from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill, Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick and reporter Howard Stutz. Host Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv Guests Steve Hill - @SHillforVegas, @LVCVA Howard Stutz - @howardstutz
A profile on the analyst who has influenced Nevada’s biggest tax policies of the past two decades and a story on sealing abandoned mines. This week, host Joey Lovato talks with reporter Sean Golonka about Jeremy Aguero, who has had a singular role in controversial tax and stadium deals that shaped the state. After that, environmental reporter Amy Alonzo talks about an effort to seal up thousands of abandoned mines in Nevada and why the agency tasked with doing it is so underfunded. Host Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Guests Sean Golonka - @s_golonka Amy Alonzo Read the stories Jeremy Aguero’s Nev
A breakdown of caucuses vs. primaries in Nevada and all the information you need to know to participate. This week, host Joey Lovato talks with reporters Jacob Solis and Gabby Birenbaum about the difference between the Republican caucus and both parties’ primaries in Nevada, giving you important information you need to know on how to cast your vote. The three also go over why there has been so much confusion with dueling Republican contests and what the general election will look like in comparison. Host Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Guests Jacob Solis - @jacobsolisnv Gabby Birenbaum - @birenbom
What new laws are on the books and what big news should Nevadans look out for in 2024? This week, host Joey Lovato talks with reporters Sean Golonka and Eric Neugeboren about new laws that took effect for Nevadans at the start of the year. After that, CEO/Editor Jon Ralston and Managing Editor Michelle Rindels go over everything that The Indy plans to cover in 2024 and what big news stories are expected. Host Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Guests Sean Golonka - @s_golonka Eric Neugeboren - @eric_neugeboren Jon Ralston - @RalstonReports Michelle Rindels - @MichelleRindels Read the stories Medicaid
Reporters at The Indy reminisce about their favorite stories that they reported on this year, and we say a farewell to co-host Alex Couraud as her podcasting internship comes to a close. Hosts Joey Lovato - @Joey_Lovato_ Alex Couraud - @alexcouraud Read the stories Lyon County student-run turkey farm serving up lessons on business, agriculture skills ‘It absolutely hurts:’ Oakland fans lament possible loss of the A’s to Las Vegas Networking group for Latinas helping Vegas mom reach her entrepreneurial dreams Black Nevadans reconnect with family trees that were ‘extremely interrupted by slavery
