A new report by the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities released Wednesday highlights Nevada’s paltry ranking — the state ranked a lowly 45th in the nation in federal grants per capita in the 2020 fiscal year. Nevada also ranks 42nd on formula grants per capita (grants prescribed by law or administrative regulation, such as Medicaid) and 43rd in federal project grants per capita (which are competitively awarded).

Personal care aides for older Nevadans and people with disabilities are in higher demand because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new report warns of a possible “care gap” if wages below the cost of living and limited benefits prevent the workforce from expanding to meet the need.

In Southern Nevada, food insecurity rates were 12 percent before lockdown, and Scott estimates that this number could increase to 13 or 14 percent. An increase of 1 or 2 percent means an additional 50,000 to 75,000 people in Southern Nevada alone could face uncertainty about where their next meals will come from.

A little more than a year ago, lawmakers heard a bill that would've appropriated an additional $15 million toward public health. The bill died without a second hearing. Now, the state's underfunded health agencies are grappling with a public health emergency.

Even though state lawmakers in 2019 approved a mandatory paid leave bill — making Nevada just the 12th state to require paid time off for workers — adoption of a federal paid leave policy could still have a sizable effect on the state.

More than one in 10 Nevadans are living without health insurance despite overall coverage gains as a result of the Affordable Care Act and the state’s decision to expand its Medicaid program, according to a new report from the Guinn Center released on Wednesday.

Although state lawmakers in 2017 approved $200,000 a year in new funding for a grant management software program — a system backers said could result in up to tens of millions of dollars in untapped federal funds — a lawsuit filed by a company that sought but didn’t receive the contract has stalled implementation of the system for the foreseeable future.