Nevadans have a lot on their minds, from traffic crashes and fatalities and the state Wildlife Commission to herbicides and the taxes on gaming revenues.
Listeners voiced their views on that and more during State of Nevada’s open mic show Wednesday with Dana Gentry, a reporter for Nevada Current.
Gentry broke a story in 2023 about an investigation into potential money laundering on the Strip. At the time, Gentry reported, the Nevada Gaming Control Board said they found little to be concerned about. But federal investigators in California filed charges. Next week, the former president of Resorts World, Scott Sibella, will be sentenced on one count of violating the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act.
Resorts World had fired Sibella in September 2023.
The Bank Secrecy Act, Gentry noted, forces hotels to know where their customers got that money “because you’ve got terrorists trying to launder money, sex traffickers, drug traffickers, all kinds of people.”
Now, Gentry added, Gaming Control Board has filed its own three count complaint related to alleged violations of gaming rules.
Traffic
Las Vegas police have reported a 39% increase in Nevada traffic fatalities for the first quarter of 2024. The increase in Clark County is closer to 65%, from 49 deaths to 81 deaths this year in the same time period.
A push is on to put red light cameras in certain areas that can fine people for running red lights. Gentry said she doesn’t think state lawmakers will pass it next year.
“I think we really need to drill down into the (causes of crashes) before we can come up with some sort of solution,” she said. “I think cameras would be great, but I don’t know if they would pass.” State of Nevada talked to the LVMPD sheriff and others in February.
Mass transit
Another listener asked about the potential for more and better mass transit in Las Vegas. She said it “takes hours” to get places with the bus system. She added she would prefer a light-rail system to a system based on bus service.
With millions for the federal government, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is planning a rapid-transit bus line from Reid International Airport to downtown Las Vegas.
“Our transit systems are too tourist-centic,” Gentry added. “We really need to cater to the people who live here.”
Guest: Dana Gentry, reporter, Nevada Current
