Hi, Nevadans!

This week marked the National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives. While Nevada is marked as “some action taken” by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center when it comes to legislation, there’s always more we can do.

Especially when the nationwide statistics show that homicides are the third leading cause of death among Indigenous women ages 10-24, with many cases linked to domestic violence, sex trafficking, and sexual assault.

As recently as 2023, Nevada legislators passed a bill aimed at helping close gaps in state agencies and law enforcement for tracking and reporting missing and murdered Native Americans, regardless of jurisdiction. Before this measure passed, tribal police departments were under-equipped and lacked support when dealing with these cases.

Want to learn more and get involved in making a better tomorrow? You can start here.

In today’s newsletter:

Your Nevada in full bloom 🌼
A Mother’s Day weekend full of activities 💕
News from around Nevada, including how the state is helping local Spirit Airlines employees laid off 🗞

Have a safe weekend!

Jannelle Calderón

Newsletter Editor, The Nevadan

I gasped when I saw this photo from Dorenne M.—I had no idea we could have blooms like this!

This is at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, and Dorenne recommends going with an extra spare tire and plenty of water. I did a reverse image search of the flower and learned it’s called evening primrose.

Thanks for sharing a glimpse of Your Nevada!

Be sure to send in your photo of what “Home Means Nevada” means to you for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

📸 Send your pic

19 free ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in Nevada

From yoga in the park to a boozy tea party, these Mother’s Day events are sure to put a smile on their face. (Getty Images/Unsplash)

By Aleza Freeman

Pamper mom this weekend, May 9-10, at one of these free Mother’s Day events in Northern or Southern Nevada.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to show the world’s best mom how much you love and appreciate her on Mother’s Day—several free family events and incentives are planned around the Silver State, including outdoor markets, yoga in the park, casual walks, tea parties, and train rides.

Check out these events →

🟣 End of the Line: Primm’s last casino to close. Casino.org

“All three casinos in Primm, Nevada, will permanently close on July 4 … Primm Valley Resort & Casino, Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, and Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino ‘will be permanently closing its operations.’ …. The closures will affect 344 employees in total … The closures will effectively transform Primm into Nevada’s newest ghost town.”

🟣 Nevada DETR offering support to Spirit Airlines employees laid off following shutdown. 8 News Now

“After a failed effort to secure a $500 million federal bailout, Spirit Airlines announced Saturday it would wind down operations effective immediately. The budget carrier filed a notice announcing it would also fire 999 employees based at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The [Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation] said its priority was to ensure that workers and company representatives have timely access to information about unemployment and transition to new jobs.”

🟣 An Indigenous man’s family seeks justice as MMIP week of action continues. KNPR

“It wasn’t that long ago that law enforcement agencies weren’t accepting Indigenous missing persons reports. Previously, if an enrolled tribal member vanished from their community, a missing persons report would have to be filed with their tribal police. Then a law from the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session changed that, due to advocacy by Assemblymember Shae Backus, the only Indigenous lawmaker in Nevada.”

🟣 Judicial commission formally charges Michele Fiore for fundraising scandal. News 3

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nevada filed federal charges against her, accusing Fiore of using the money on personal expenses, and a jury found her guilty on seven felony counts in 2024. Despite [President Donald Trump pardoning her last year], the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline wrote in its complaint that the ‘guilty verdict creates in reasonable minds a perception that Judge Fiore’s honesty, impartiality, temperament or fitness to serve as a judge is adversely affected.’”