¡Hola, Nevadenses!

I have a little announcement to make.

Drum roll…. I’m now in charge of the newsletter!

We didn’t know 2025 would bring big changes, but I’ve learned that the only constant in life is change. So these next few weeks we’re going to do a whole lot of adapting and learning. 

And since you’ll be seeing more from me, here’s a little about about my background: I am based in Las Vegas and have lived here since I was 9 years old.. I am a product of the Clark County School District and earned my journalism degree from UNLV in 2020 (Go Rebels!).  

My mom and I moved to Las Vegas from Mexico City in August of 2006, and believe me when I tell you the temperatures here were not easy to get used to. I remember feeling the heat from the pavement radiating through my sandals. And now the summers are even more extreme!

But I love it here. Nevada is unique — its landscapes, ecosystems, people, communities, history — and only Nevadans get it. 

Now that you know a little about me, I’d also like to learn from you. I want to know where in Nevada you are, what brought you here and what you love about the state, and what topics or issues you feel aren’t being covered or could be covered better. Get in touch jannelle@couriernewsroom.com.

(Shutterstock)

Is that spring in the air? 

Container gardening is a growing pastime in the US and well-suited to the Silver State, where we battle varied climates, nutrient-deficient soils, and weather extremes. From indoor plants to herbs you can use in your cooking, to desert-friendly and pollinator-friendlier perennials, it might just be your new hobby. 

Here are some tips for starting your very own container garden. 

(AP Photo/John Locher)

A bill (AB217) in the Nevada Legislature would make it so US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers would not be allowed to enter public schools or access students’ records without a warrant.

The bill comes after the Trump administration rescinded the policy against arrests in “sensitive locations” last month, allowing federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches, and hospitals.

• Sin City’s criminal past: How the mob shaped Las Vegas. We go beyond what’s been told by Hollywood to unpack Las Vegas’ strong ties to the Mafia. (Read more here)

• What to know about Nevada’s Cowboy Poetry Gathering. The annual celebration of the rural West, which took place last month, brings together artists, musicians, craftsmen, and, of course, cowboy poets, for a week of skill-sharing and arts appreciation in the high desert. (Via The Daily Yonder)

(Jannelle Calderon)

I took this photo while hiking the Calico Basin trail near Red Rock. I really like Calico Basin during this time of year because you can see in real time how the little rain we get just as spring rolls in affects the ecosystem — its little creek gets deeper, the gray shrubs turn green, and if you’re lucky you can see and hear toads nearby. 

What’s your favorite trail?