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Periods of sunshine today, but plenty of clouds with some snow possible overnight. Today’s high just 48.
We open with news from Carson City and the special legislative session, as Governor Lombardo has signed his major criminal justice package into law, more than a week after the special session ended. The measure revives a Resort Corridor Court to handle crimes on the Las Vegas Strip, creates tougher penalties for certain burglaries, and launches a transitional custody program for nonviolent inmates.
A late amendment limits immigration enforcement on school campuses without a lawful order and requires lawmakers to sign off on any expansion of detention facilities. The 70-page bill marks Nevada’s most sweeping criminal justice changes since 2019 and comes as Lombardo prepares for a 2026 re-election bid.
Supporters say the reforms will reduce pressure on prisons and improve safety in the Strip tourist corridor. Civil liberties groups warn the new court could restrict personal freedoms, and county officials note potential staffing costs. The Nevada Department of Corrections projects long-term savings and a reduction of nearly 300 inmates per year.
Nevada first responders will now have stronger protections for job-related lung disease. Governor Joe Lombardo has signed Senate Bill 7, reaffirming that firefighters and police officers exposed to smoke, chemicals, and other hazards are presumed to have work-related lung conditions after two years on the job.
The bill follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that raised concerns about future claims. Firefighter groups praised the move, saying it restores fairness and protects both active and retired first responders. Some law-enforcement and county officials warned of potential costs, but the law takes effect immediately and applies retroactively.
And Governor Lombardo has signed a bill for school zones after the 36th Special Session.
The bill allows local control of school zones: allowing cities and the county to lengthen a zone, modify flasher signs and times of operation.
At the lighting of the Capital Christmas Tree from Nevada tonight, White Pine County beef will be served! Jess Perigo of Perigo Beef posted an emotional video on Facebook yesterday…
White Pine County represented at the Capital Christmas Tree lighting with great farm-to-table beef.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a mix of calls on Sunday. Deputies recovered a found wallet in Ely, investigated tire-slashing in the county, and referred several highway issues — including debris, a stalled electric vehicle, and a guardrail crash — to the Nevada State Police.
Deputies also looked into a child-abuse report, cleared an alarm at a government building, and removed a disruptive patron from a local bar. In Ely, 59-year-old Anthony Castiglia of McGill was arrested after a traffic stop for DUI, possessing a firearm while intoxicated, possessing a stolen firearm, and failing to stop at a stop sign.
The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $775 million after no one matched all six numbers in Monday night’s drawing. The numbers were 5, 18, 26, 47, 59 and the Red Powerball 1.
A winner in the next draw could take the full amount in 30 annual payments or a lump-sum cash payout of $362.5 million. After mandatory federal withholding and top tax rates, that lump sum would shrink to about $228 million. State taxes could cut winnings further, depending on where the ticket is purchased. So if you buy your ticket from Idaho, you’d have to cough up about 5.3% of the win, even if you live here.
The Las Vegas Sphere is proving there is another yellow brick road — one paved with about $200 million in ticket sales. The company says its “Wizard of Oz” production has packed in more than a million fans nearly 90 years after the film was originally in theaters, all eager to watch Dorothy, Toto, and a 360-degree flying house that won’t fit in Kansas anymore.
At this rate, the Tin Man may finally get that heart… after the accountants finish counting.
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That’s your morning news from the state of Nevada