For years, Nevada Democrats have dominated in fundraising and state legislative races. But the first-term Republican governor is looking to turn the tide.

... the Grand Sierra Resort’s recent announcement that it will build a $400 million 10,600-seat basketball arena would ordinarily merit some skepticism. A $400 million basketball arena? In football-worshiping Reno?

The owner of the Grand Sierra Resort plans to build a $400 million arena for the University of Nevada basketball team, the start of a $1 billion nongaming redevelopment of the Reno location.

The Plaza announces new attractions for the downtown casino; Westgate's SuperBook Sports adds a fourth state; Gaming and tourism praise end of pre-boarding COVID tests for international travelers. More in Indy Gaming

Connecticut-based Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will pay a $60,000 fine for violating the state’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Details from the 2019 contribution and expenses reports, due on Jan. 15, detailed how much legislative incumbents and candidates raised over the last calendar year and painted a more hopeful picture for Republicans in several “swing” Assembly races, with a more mixed view in competitive state Senate seats.

Presidential campaign expenditure reports aren’t known for being glitzy. There are trips to Office Depot and Costco for supplies, furniture from IKEA, quick lunches at Panera Bread, rental cars, flights, staff salaries and office rent. But when your campaign comes to Las Vegas, those reports suddenly get a lot more interesting.

At an IndyTalks forum hosted at the Grand Sierra Resort on Wednesday, Nevada Independent editor Jon Ralston questioned Washoe County School District Board of Trustees President Katy Simon Holland and interim Superintendent Kristen McNeil on issues facing the school district, from the termination of former superintendent Traci Davis last summer to plans to reduce class sizes and its relationship with local charter schools.

In a filing last week, NV Energy attorneys withdrew the utility’s pending application for its Optional Pricing Program Rate (OPPR), stopping regulatory approval on an alternative pricing mechanism proposed by the utility last year as a way to keep multiple large businesses from filing or continuing with applications to leave the utility.

The two companies have agreed to a fully bundled energy service, leading South Point to withdraw its application with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada that would have allowed the casino company to buy electric power from another provider.

The two entities made the announcement in a joint press release sent Wednesday, ending the LVCVA’s flirtation with leaving the utility to purchase power from another electric provider and keeping another large customer within the utility’s folds.

Introduced by Democratic Sen. Chris Brooks on Wednesday, SB5XX would substantially alter the state’s so-called 704B law for the first time since it was created in 2001, adding numerous new restrictions and requirements — including a new licensing structure, additional payments and more requirements for a departure — for businesses that already have or are in the process of departing NV Energy’s electric service.

In a joint press release sent late Monday, the two companies announced they had reached a “long-term energy supply agreement” and have “recommitted” to a partnership — signaling an end to the constant sniping and internecine warfare between the two corporate giants that had in many ways defined the state’s energy landscape for the last five years.

Two additional major Nevada casinos have filed applications with state regulators to leave NV Energy as electric customers, joining the double-digit parade of companies filing to leave the utility and further clouding the state’s energy future.