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Weekly Newsletter |
Staff Announcements
It is with great pride that I welcome Kevin Benson to the Governor’s Office as our new General Counsel. As a long time Senior Deputy Attorney General for the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and his extensive experience in the private sector, Kevin has proven himself as a leader in the legal field. From 2004 to 2015, Benson served as Senior Deputy Attorney General in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office representing several state agencies including the Division of State Lands, State Public Works Board, Unclaimed Property and the Secretary of State. Since 2015, Benson has achieved success in the private sector, including working for Carson City law firm Allison MacKenzie, Ltd., and as owner of his own firm. I am confident his legal knowledge and skillset will be a great benefit to our team and to our great State of Nevada.
Welcome! |
DHHS Update
Alzheimer’s Association Launching a Nevada Campaign to Expand Alzheimer’s Awareness
This week, the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada is launching a campaign across Nevada to raise awareness around Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias, as well as the importance of an early diagnosis. The campaign, called Know Where Alzheimer’s Hides, is funded through a generous grant from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public and Behavioral Health. The grant will be used to mount a media-driven Alzheimer’s awareness campaign designed to increase understanding of the disease, highlight the importance of an early diagnosis, and make resources available to help those living with the disease as well as their caregivers. A secondary goal of the campaign is to guide Nevadans to the vast array of free educational programs and support services available through the Alzheimer’s Association, including its 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900), as well as services available through Nevada Care Connection. For more information about The Alzheimer’s Association, please Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
Dr. Stephanie Woodard: How COVID-19 is an Opportunity for a Public Health Approach to Mental Health Crisis Prevention and Intervention
This week, Dr. Stephanie Woodard, Senior Advisor on Behavioral Health for the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services was interviewed by Crisis Now, an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the individuals who experience a mental health crisis.
“Whether that’s directly by the illness or its effects,” says Dr. Woodard, “or indirectly through increased stressors, isolation, job loss, or school closures.” It has forced people to adapt rapidly to an unknown world, and, for many, it’s a novel and uncertain place. “I don’t think anyone can tune into the news these days without recognizing the suffering that’s happening on a human level, and the scale of that suffering is significant,” she noted. To read the full interview that was highlighted on Crisis Now’s website please click here.
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Education Update
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Receives International Recognition
I was proud to recognize Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, following the announcement that she is a 2020 recipient of the prestigious International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Impact Award. The award recognizes educators and organizations from around the world who do outstanding work to improve learning for all students and have a major impact as an example to the field of education. You can read the entire press releases here.
CONGRATULATIONS! |
Governors Office of Economic Development (GOED) Update
New Tech Products of Amargosa Valley won the first Rural Nevada Startup Pitch Competition held earlier this month. Cash prize money was provided by NV Energy, with additional awards coming from StartUpNV and the Audacity Institute. Each company had seven minutes to make their pitch and then answered questions from judges for five minutes.
New Tech Products, LLC, earned $1,150 for first place and also won the Audience Choice award. Goat Shell, represented by George Skivington earned $500 for second place.GL Innovation, represented by Gerald Laughter earned $250 for third place. Click here for more information.
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Unemployment Update
Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 7,243 for week ending November 14, down 313 claims, or 4.1%, compared to the previous week. Regular continued claims totaled 96,872 during the week ending November 14, down 9,079 claims, or 8.6%, compared to the previous week.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides up to 46 weeks of benefits for the self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers saw 10,745 initial claims filed in the week ending November 14, a decrease of 7,740 claims, or 41.9%, from last week’s total of 18,485. Through the week ending November 14, 639,312 PUA initial claims have been filed.
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Attorney General Ford Updates
Announces $113 Million Settlement with Apple Over iPhone Throttling
Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford and a coalition of over 30 attorneys general announced a $113 million settlement with Apple, Inc. over Apple’s 2016 decision to throttle consumers’ iPhone speeds in order to address unexpected shutdowns in some iPhones. Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will pay $1,577,469.41to the State of Nevada. For more information about this settlement, click here.
Announces Coordinated Launch of T-Mobile's First-in-the-Nation Apprenticeship Program
AG Ford also announced that wireless carrier T-Mobile successfully launched its new apprenticeship program in Nevada. The program, which began this month, features paid apprenticeships in Nevada. The apprenticeship program is a benefit to the State of Nevada and was born from settlement discussions between the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Consumer Protection and T-Mobile. The idea sparked support and excitement for T-Mobile to use the Nevada program as a model to expand its apprenticeship program in other states and grow a diverse workforce. To read more about this new Apprenticeship program, click here.
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Applications Open for White House Fellowship Program
The President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, is excited to announce that the application window for the 2021-2022 White House Fellowship program is now open. Since 1964, the White House Fellows program has offered over 800 exceptional Americans first-hand experience working with top officials from across the federal government. This uniquely non-partisan program has continued through ten Presidential Administrations and continues to be one of our nation’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. The 2021-2022 White House Fellowship program year will begin in September 2021 and conclude in September 2022. All applicants must be a U.S. citizens and have completed their undergraduate education. Interested individuals may apply at here. The application is available online will remain open until January 6, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET |
Culinary Academy of Las Vegas to provide emergency food assistance to 9,000 residents in contactless drive-through
It is times like these that I am rejoiced to acknowledge the efforts of the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas in hosting a one-day event on Saturday, November 21, where 9,000 food baskets will be distributed in a contactless drive-through to Clark County residents adversely impacted by COVID-19. Each food basket contains a frozen whole turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, onions, oranges, and recipe cards for the included items. In the following days, 1,000 food baskets will be delivered to individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have lost family members to COVID-19. The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas will set up drive-through lanes at Cashman Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations for this event are full but those who are in need of food assistance can schedule a pickup for the regular food assistance program online by clicking here or by calling 702-227-8842.
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COVID TRACE
Over 85,000 of your neighbors have downloaded the COVID Trace App. It's a free and easy-to-use mobile phone app that gives you the information you need to fight COVID-19, without compromising your privacy. Together, we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Nevada!
Join the fight! To download the fight on your Apple device or Android, click here. |
Resilience Project
I know that many people are suffering from COVID fatigue and for this reason it is important to reach out for help. One resource that is available is the Nevada resilience project. "We are all trying to balance different challenges right now. The Nevada Resilience Project supports families and individuals experiencing struggles and challenges due to COVID – 19.
Our Resilience Ambassadors provide education, information, counseling, and resource navigation while promoting healthy coping, empowerment, and resilience. It’s normal to be experiencing difficulty with adapting to the new challenges of managing work, school, family, or home due to COVID-19, feeling isolated or anxious, or worried about meeting basic needs like having enough food or access to healthcare.
In this challenging time, you are not alone. Our Resilience Ambassadors can provide support and connection to resources over the phone, through text and video-chat, or "face to face." Click here for more information.
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Transgender Awareness Week
Every year on November 20, Nevada people hold vigils to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance. The annual observance honors those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence. More info about international events and the history of TDOR can be found here. Transgender Awareness Week, Nov. 14–20, seeks to expand understanding of trans and gender nonbinary individuals. To attend virtual vigils in Nevada, check out @uufnn in Reno or @TheCenterLV and @genderjusticenevada in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas: https://www.facebook.com/genderjusticenevada
Las Vegas: https://www.facebook.com/TheCenterLV/
Reno: https://www.facebook.com/uufnn/
Nevada is first in the nation with protections for transgender people. Unfortunately, transphobia, misogyny and racism have all contributed to the violent deaths of at least 34 transgender people in this country over the past 12 months. Learn more by participating in a Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil. More info at https://www.uufnn.org/ or http://genderjusticenv.org/
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Official Documents Issued by the Governor Last Week
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COVID-19 Task Force Updates
The COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force met on November 19, 2020. For more information on these meetings and more, please visit the links below.
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Boards & Commissions
This month, I was proud to announce 73 appointments were made to State of Nevada boards, commissions, and agencies during the month of October. I have appointed hundreds of individuals since assuming office, and I encourage anyone who might be interested in serving Nevada and their community to review opportunities posted on the Governor’s WEBSITE, which is updated on an ongoing basis.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS?
The Governor makes appointments to three types of boards and commissions:
- Advisory - An advisory board, commission or council serves as a formal liaison between a state agency and the public, in addition to making recommendations on how to address specific issues.
- Regulatory Board - Regulatory boards are those that oversee the licensing, handle complaints, and enforce disciplinary actions of individuals or industries that fall within the jurisdiction of the board’s authority.
- Task Force - A task force is created for the purpose of accomplishing a definite objective and goal.
If you are interested in serving, apply now!
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Stay up to date on the latest news from Governor Sisolak by following his social media accounts or by visiting his website.
Note: Please do not reply to this email. Return emails will not be monitored by our office. |
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