IndyMatters

In this week's episode of IndyMatters,  Nevada Independent reporter Daniel Rothberg sat down with UNR President Marc Johnson, who shared his thoughts on the future of the university as it sees increasing enrollment and pushes for a top-tier research status.  Johnson also discussed his views on free speech amid tension on campus over how to regulate hateful speech and maintain a culture o...

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Riley Snyder chat with newly appointed state Sen. Dallas Harris, a PUC lawyer who reveals how she voted on Question 3, what she thinks about arguments that state workers should not be allowed in the Legislature and much more. Come for the issue to and fro, stay for Riley betraying his alma mater ("University of Nevada at Reno") and Jon saying he wants the senator to...

Attorney General-elect Aaron Ford sat down with Editor Jon Ralston and reporters Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder to discuss his plans to try enacting a stalled voter-approved gun background check law and to defend the state’s marijuana industry against any potential federal crackdown. 

Editor Jon Ralston and Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson chat about early voting, the U.S. Senate race, the governor's race and much more. There is passion, information and humor.

Live from Elko City Hall, reporter Daniel Rothberg sits down with Mayor Chris Johnson for a wide-ranging conversation about marijuana, the economy and rural Nevada politics. They also talk about Johnson's run in the Republican primary for Assemblyman John Ellison's seat and President Trump's visit to the town two days earlier.

Reporter Daniel Rothberg sat down with West Wendover Mayor Daniel Corona at his City Hall office to talk about the small town on the Utah border. Corona, a Democrat and Nevada's youngest mayor, described West Wendover as a blue dot in conservative Elko County. Elected in 2016, he has taken strong positions on immigration and health care during the Trump administration. They chat about those positi...

Former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Jon Wellinghoff and Nevada Assemblyman Chris Brooks debated the pros and cons of Question 3 aka the Energy Choice Initiative on Tuesday, Oct. 9, in a lively exchange moderated by Indy Editor Jon Ralston and Reporter Riley Snyder.

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Jackie Valley chat with Keith Lynam, the incoming president of Nevada REALTORS, a statewide association. The trio discuss Nevada's housing market and whether Las Vegas will ever see its pre-recession peak of median home prices. Then, Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson joins Jon for a spirited discussion about the 1 October anniversary and Brett Kavanaugh.

Reporter Daniel Rothberg sat down with Jim Faulds, director of the Bureau of Mines and Geology. The bureau, which serves as the state's geological survey, develops maps that assess everything from earthquake risk to geothermal potential. They talk about the state's dynamic geology,  why Nevada came to be targeted for mineral exploration and how much more there is to learn about the processes...

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Riley Snyder chat with Democratic Rep. Dina Titus about her regrets on not running for the U.S. Senate, more women claiming to have been harassed by fellow Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who she will support if Dems take over the House, who she might support in 2020 (hint, ABT) and much more.

On this week's episode of IndyMatters, Northern Nevada Indy reporter Daniel Rothberg sits down with the mayor of Reno, Hillary Schieve. They talk about Schieve endorsing democratic candidate for governor Steve Sisolak as well as the struggles that Northern Nevada has with affordable housing and an increase in the homeless population as the city grows. Later on, they talk about flood risks for deve...

Editor Jon Ralston and Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson talk to Wayne Thorley, the man who oversees the election section of the secretary of state's office. They talk about what's being done to secure the November vote,. what went wrong in the primary and where the voter fraud probe is that started a year ago.

In this wide-ranging interview, John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, talks with reporter Daniel Rothberg and Indy Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson about concerns over a Colorado River shortage, the agency’s continued push for a pipeline project to pump groundwater from Eastern Nevada to Las Vegas, ongoing water litigation across the state, and the need for pol...

Reporter Michelle Rindels and Editor Jon Ralston sit down with new UNLV President Marta Meana in this episode of IndyMatters. Meana, who started her new job in July, discusses what she’s been doing to promote healing in the university community after the departure of President Len Jessup, anger from donors and tension between the philanthropy community and regents this spring. She also discusses h...

Editor Jon Ralston and The Indy 's resident medical expert Megan Messerly talk with the executive director of the state medical association, Catherine O’Mara. O’Mara talks about the challenges the state faces when it comes to doctor shortages and other more in-depth topics such as prior authorization and continuing medical education credits. Later we hear from the editors of The   Indy,  Elizabeth...

Reporter Michelle Rindels sits down with a few people in this episode of IndyMatters. First, we will hear from Rachel Palmer and her probation officer Gianna Griffin as they talk about the struggles Palmer faced going in and out of jail because of her mental health and substance abuse issues. Palmer is now going through the Day Reporting Center for her check-ins, having a much more positive experi...

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Riley Snyder sit down with Meredith Levine of the Guinn Center, to discuss her new report on the Energy Choice Initiative. Levine, whose report has been cited positively by both sides of the ballot measure, found that there's no easy way to determine how its passage would affect rates or how much renewable energy would be used by Nevadans.

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Jackie Valley chat with Principal Margarita Gamboa of Sunrise Acres, the elementary school that was the subject of our recent five-part series. Then, Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson and Jon then discuss the headlines of the week.

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Megan Messerly sit down with Lindsey Harmon, the new executive director of Planned Parenthood in Nevada. What's the organization's battle plan for 2018? Does she believe Dean Heller supports Planned Parenthood, as he once claimed? Can Steve Sisolak's daughters keep him woke on these issues?

This week, UNLV Immigration Clinic chief Michael Kagan joined reporters Michelle Rindels and Luz Gray, along with Editor Jon Ralston, to talk about the policies at the border that have been roiling the country. Kagan talked emotionally and thoughtfully about the nuances, the Obama and Trump approaches and more.

Editor Jon Ralston, Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson and reporters Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder preview the primary election. They discuss the governor's race, the two congressional races, the D.A. race and a spirited Assembly race involving a brothel kingpin and a GOP assemblyman. Also: Headlines and Jon and Elizabeth discuss the latest on the supposed probe by the AG of a rural sheriff wh...

Assemblywoman Heidi Swank breaks some news and provides some context on the state's efforts to regulate payday lenders. She tells us about how it failed in 2017 and what she's doing to prepare for 2019. Reporter Riley Snyder and Editor Jon Ralston chat with her. Then, Jon and Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson talk about the electric utility's love of renewables and Big PhRMA's and the Culinary's...

Special IndyMatters: Our debate between the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Chris Giunchigliani and Steve Sisolak.

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Megan Messerly talk to Heather Korbulic, who runs the Nevada health care exchange. She talks about premiums rising, marketing Obamacare and much more.

Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Michelle Rindels chat with Laura Barrera, an immigration attorney who went down to the southern border to counsel a refugee caravan last month. She talks about what she saw there, the ins and outs of the asylum-seeking process, the TPS program and immigrants in Las Vegas.