Happy Friday, Nevadans!

Today marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor those who lost their lives, more than 300 Las Vegas firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and members of the military will climb 1,455 steps to the top of The Strat.

I was 4 years old, so I don’t remember the event or the news. But I think I remember noticing later that Christmas that passing through airport security had become much more thorough. Do you remember where you were on Sept. 11, 2001? If you were in Nevada, how did 9/11 change life in the Silver State?

In today’s newsletter:

Have a safe weekend!

Dollar bills are shown in New York, Oct. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

Tariffs have cost Nevada an estimated $2.5 billion since January 2025—the 27th-highest total in the country.

About 72% of that fell on raw materials, parts, and equipment that Nevada manufacturers buy. The hardest-hit category is batteries and cables, which cost Nevadans an extra $469 million, according to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.⁣
⁣
California has paid the most with an estimated $63 billion in executive tariffs, followed by Texas ($37 billion), and Michigan ($23 billion).⁣ 

Gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford, attorney general of Nevada, speaks during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination, June 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

By Lizzie Ramirez

Aaron Ford said he will introduce legislation, if elected, to expand the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) with commissioners who have consumer protection experience.

He also reiterated that data centers should pay for the power infrastructure they require. According to NV Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan, without “risk mitigation controls,” data center infrastructure costs could shift onto Nevadans. The utility company plans to spend roughly $3.5 billion in capital projects over three years to serve data centers. 

Data centers, along with the PUCN, have become contentious campaign issues as the two gubernatorial candidates are divided on the topics.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo called data centers the “new gold rush,” whereas Ford plans to pause their tax abatements pending a state audit and enforce stricter guardrails on new developments.

🟣 Reno gas prices top $5 a gallon as diesel reaches record high. KUNR

“AAA Nevada spokesperson Doug Johnson said gas demand typically drops as summer travel winds down … Johnson said global oil prices remain vulnerable to geopolitical instability, which can affect what Nevada drivers pay at the pump.”

🟣 CD2 race is more intriguing than it usually is. How much more competitive remains to be seen. Nevada Current

“Prominent political analyses, including The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball, continue to categorize CD2 as ‘solid Republican’ and expect retired Lt. Col. David Flippo to easily defeat former state legislator Teresa Benitez-Thompson. But at least one, Inside Elections, reclassified the district from ‘solid Republican’ to ‘lean Republican’—a step in a favorable direction for Democrats, though still a steep uphill climb.”

🟣 Nevada advocates want to make the 988 mental health hotline as familiar as 911. Las Vegas Weekly

“The 988 hotline isn’t just intended for people facing suicidal thoughts or adjacent crises … family and friends are also encouraged to call out of concern for a loved one, adding that non-English speakers can request language support, while veterans can transfer to the Veterans Crisis Line.”

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jannelle Calderón, featuring stories by Lizzie Ramirez and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

The Nevadan is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.