The Daily Rundown: August 14, 2026
⚖️ The yearslong case against six Nevada Republicans who were accused of submitting a bogus certificate that falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the state’s 2020 presidential election has been dismissed, a judge ruled Thursday.
The dismissal marks the latest setback in swing states’ efforts to prosecute fake electors who tried to keep Trump in the White House after he lost to Joe Biden in 2020.
Three other fake elector cases in Arizona, Michigan and Georgia have been dismissed. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently dismissed her office’s criminal case but vowed to bring it back to a grand jury in hopes of securing another indictment. The dismissal was a legal maneuver aimed at getting around a deadline for starting new grand jury proceedings after Mayes lost an appeal earlier in June.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is also running for governor as a Democrat, brought charges relating to forgery and “offering a false instrument for filing or record” against the six Nevada Republicans, who pleaded not guilty.
His office plans to appeal the ruling.
The defendants included Michael McDonald, the chair of the Nevada Republican Party, and Jesse Law, the former chair of the Clark County Republican Party.
In a Thursday statement, McDonald’s defense attorney Richard Wright called the attorney general’s plans to appeal “hasty” and “premature” and said continuing the case was politically motivated.
After the 2020 election, the six Republican electors gathered outside of the Nevada Legislature to sign a certificate giving the state’s six electoral votes to Trump, despite Biden winning the state by more than 30,000 votes. The ceremony was broadcast online, and the video footage was used as evidence in the case.
The case has revolved around the defendants’ intent behind submitting the certificate.
Prosecutors argue the defendants intended for their documents to be mistaken for actual electoral votes that then-Vice President Mike Pence would count on Jan. 6, 2021.
The defendants say submitting the certificate was an act of “political theater” designed to publicize their concerns about the election. They were preserving their rights to challenge the official election results and had no intent to deceive a government agency into accepting the GOP certificate as real, their attorneys argued.
🎰 Adding money to your bar-top slot machines could become easier with a new contactless, cashless system. Several Station Casinos are now testing a new way to play called Trusted Tap, according to KSNV-TV's reporting.
The system allows casino patrons to use Apple Pay from their iPhone or Apple Watch to add funds to their slot machine. Patrons can use this device linked to a debit card to pay directly at the game. Users can pre-set their limits.
Officials with UNLV’s International Gaming Institute say this system will also capture data, helping researchers understand gamblers' habits. Trusted Tap is now under review by regulators.
💰 Nevada's Interim Finance Committee approved another $4.1 million to cover overtime costs at High Desert State Prison.
Total overtime spending for the Nevada Department of Corrections reached $52 million in fiscal year 2026. According to the Nevada Independent, lawmakers at the meeting expressed frustration over the agency's recurring, last-minute requests for supplemental funds.
Prison Director James Dzurenda attributed the growing expenses to chronic understaffing across facilities. He cited high rates of inmate violence, overdoses and chronic medical issues as major drivers of extra shifts. In addition, shortages of doctors and nurses force correctional officers to transport prisoners to outside medical facilities.
Those required off-site trips generated more than 90,000 overtime hours in a single year. State audits have also identified widespread payroll errors. Muster pay alone accounted for over $13 million of the department's total overtime expenditures.
Union representatives argued that switching to 12-hour shifts and increasing benefits would improve staff retention.
🚭 Another Las Vegas casino will offer guests a non-smoking gaming environment. The Palms Casino Resort announced it’s adding an enclosed non-smoking section on its casino floor. The expansion is 7,300 square feet and includes a full-service bar.
It is open to the public on Aug. 24, with an official grand opening on Sept. 1. Palms General Manager Kevin Glass said in a press release that the change is due to guests consistently asking for a non-smoking area.
🏥 Henderson Hospital says it will formally suspend all maternity and neonatal intensive care services “on or around” the evening of Sept. 30, according to reporting by KNPR's Anne Davis. The hospital cites an ongoing lack of available emergency department beds as the primary catalyst for its decision to discontinue birth services. It plans to convert the 62-bed units into medical-surgical space.
That’s despite a petition circulated by staff earlier this year urging the hospital to keep the department open. Over 4,000 people have signed it. A representative for the hospital did not respond to KNPR’s request for additional comment.
Henderson Hospital’s soon-to-be-suspended maternity unit was the next-closest option for Boulder City patients, as Boulder City Hospital does not have a functional maternity ward.
The closure aligns with Nevada’s high ratio of maternal care deserts, particularly in rural communities. Industry analyst Becker’s Hospital Review found over 70% of the state’s rural hospitals lack labor and delivery services. As of July, the median drive time for that care was 56 minutes.
Part of these stories are taken from KNPR's daily newscast segment. To hear more daily updates like these, tune in to 88.9 KNPR FM.
