Happy Friday, Nevadans!

The Clark County School District has been in the headlines lately for having cut $51 million from the budget—but one teacher received good news and was recognized for her hard work earlier this week. Valley High School social studies teacher, Brooke Wheatley, was named the 2027 Nevada Teacher of the Year. 

In addition to all her accomplishments, she prides herself on being a role model, mother figure, and support system for her students, she said. 

“I think every student just needs that one adult that can show them love and show them a future that they might not have seen for themselves, and I can see that in every single one of my students,” Wheatley said. “And all I want for them is for them to be able to make their dreams come true, because many of them are first-generation college, and they don’t even think that they’re gonna be able to go to college.”

Brooke Wheatley, center, with Valley High School’s principal Kimberly Perry-Carter and Gov. Joe Lombardo (to her right), Nevada legislator Marilyn Dondero-Loop  and CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert (to her left), as well as some CCSD Trustees. (Jannelle Calderón/The Nevadan)

In today’s newsletter:

Have a safe weekend!

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(anatoliy_gleb/Shutterstock)

By Jessica F. Simmons

Nevada homeowners who want rooftop solar power installations may be able to reduce the cost of a new system through a prepaid lease program, Nevada BRIGHT, offered by the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF).

The program is intended to help homeowners after Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (H.R. 1) ended the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit for expenditures made after Dec. 31, 2025. It uses a prepaid lease model intended to pass along savings associated with commercial solar tax credits to homeowners.

According to NCEF, participants can save 15% to 25% on a system’s total installation cost. But the discount does not eliminate the cost of going solar: homeowners still must pay or finance the remaining balance using the Residential Energy Upgrade Program (RE-UP) Loans. Their savings will not be immediate.

Visitors gather outside the Nevada Governor’s Mansion in Carson City during a community Halloween event, as the Classical Revival residence is decorated with oversized webs, skeleton props, and seasonal displays. (Daniel L. Locke/Shutterstock)

By USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

For people looking to get spooky ahead of Halloween (and some events happening on the actual holiday), Reno and Carson City have ghost walks, haunted houses, corn mazes, and zombie paintball to enjoy.

Here’s a look at locations, prices, and dates for Northern Nevada’s haunted houses this year.

🟣 DACA renewal delays can jeopardize recipients’ healthcare access. KUNR

“The current Trump administration eliminated an avenue of healthcare access under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The phrase ‘lawfully present’ in the healthcare act was officially changed to exclude DACA recipients in Aug. 2025 … Without DACA, Marquez said she would lose work authorization which would mean she’d lose her health benefits she receives through her job.”

🟣 185 noncitizen voters flagged by Trump admin in Nevada are likely citizens, state says. The Nevada Independent

“[The Secretary of State’s office] found that none of these people had evidence of being noncitizens, but without more information from the Trump administration, there is not 100% certainty that both sides are looking at the same people given the potential for more than one voter to have the same identifying number.”

🟣 Drug abuse among Southern Nevada’s homeless population exacerbated by lack of housing, treatment facilities, and compassion. Desert Companion

“Clark County’s most recent Point-in-Time (PIT) Count recorded more than 8,800 individuals experiencing homelessness on Jan. 29, 2026, which is a 12% increase since the last count in 2024. Of that number, a sizable contingent, 35%, reported drug use … Nicholas Barr, a professor of social work, says the real number could be higher.”

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was composed by Jannelle Calderón, with stories by Jessica F. Simmons and USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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