Happy Friday, Nevadans!

I’ve got some good news: Remember Sam, the pet toucan who escaped and somehow survived months flying around Las Vegas? A bird rescue group brought him to safety this week!

How was he caught? Sam flew into a garage, and luckily, the homeowner recognized the bird and shut the garage so he couldn’t escape. Welcome home, Sam.

Last week, we also debuted a roundup of events where you can take action—whether it’s a candidate meet-and-greet, a phone bank, or other advocacy opportunities. Check out this week’s list.

In today’s newsletter:

Have a safe weekend!

P.S. We’re planning what comes next, and your input matters. Take our short survey to help shape the future of this newsletter. Thanks in advance!

Blood moon during a total lunar eclipse. (24K-Production/Shutterstock)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

People in Nevada can see the lunar eclipse during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3—starting at 12:44 a.m. PST.

As the moon moves into Earth’s shadow, also known as the umbra, it will appear red-orange or a “ghostly copper color,” hence its name: blood moon, NASA says.

Totality lasts for a little more than an hour, but the entire eclipse event will last about six hours—meaning everything will be over by 6:23 a.m. PST.

The total lunar eclipse will be visible in North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.

If you’re a woman-identifying entrepreneur in Nevada, this guide is for you. (A. C./Unsplash)

By Aleza Freeman

If you’re a woman who wants to open a business in Nevada, you’re in luck. The Silver State is rich in resources to support you along your journey.

From network and building a community, such as joining a club, entrepreneurship group, or chamber of commerce, to Nevada’s government, public, and nonprofit organizations that exist solely to assist entrepreneurs, and finding funding opportunities, grants, and loans—we lay it all out in this article.

🟣 Southern Nevada’s Black community faces higher-than-average HIV rates. KNPR

“Clark County has a 36% higher rate of HIV than the United States average. And in 2023, HIV/AIDS affected more than 1,200 African Americans in Southern Nevada … The HIV/AIDS conversation tends to neglect the most affected population — Black women.”

🟣 Nevada’s carbon emission reduction efforts are plateauing. Now EPA says they don’t matter. The Nevada Independent

“The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection found that transportation drives nearly 40 percent of the state’s emissions and that unless more aggressive state and federal policies are adopted, transportation emissions will not decrease. Nevada is already failing to move the needle in any measurable way toward reducing its carbon emissions, despite orders from state lawmakers to do so.”

🟣 Lawmakers feel ‘gaslit’ by governor’s office’s ever-shifting plans to address displaced youth. Nevada Current

“[Gov. Joe Lombardo’s office] told state lawmakers … the state is committed to building 36 intermediate care facility beds for youth in Southern Nevada. The beds would offset the residential treatment beds that were displaced by Campus for Hope … The estimated cost of the new plan: $17.5 million.”

🟣 Qantas Airlines to launch first nonstop Las Vegas to Sydney, Australia route. 8 News Now

“In December, Qantas Airlines will become the first airline in the world to operate a non-stop route between Australia and Las Vegas. The new seasonal Las Vegas to Sydney service will run through mid-March 2027 and will save customers up to five hours in travel time by eliminating the need for connections through another U.S. city.”

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jannelle Calderón with stories by Aleza Freeman and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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