Weekly Newsletter

This week, Nevada First Lady Kathy Sisolak and I hosted a virtual roundtable with AAPI community leaders, law enforcement, and elected officials to discuss solutions aimed at addressing acts of violence and discrimination towards the AAPI community. 

 Nevada has always been and will always be a safe and welcome place for people from all walks of life. Diversity is our strength in this State and the First Lady and I stand in solidarity with Nevada’s AAPI community. 

First Lady Kathy Sisolak is the daughter of immigrants and her father was the first Chinese dealer on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. 

We firmly believe that no one should ever be targeted or persecuted for their race, ethnicity, or the color of their skin. 

We are grateful to all those who joined us, and we know these conversations will continue in the coming weeks and months.  

Thank you - 
Governor Steve Sisolak 

To view Governor Sisolak's and First Lady Kathy Sisolak's  opening remarks, click here.

Make a Plan: Knowing How and Where to Get Your Vaccine 

Governor Sisolak issues statement after meeting with United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra 

I was honored that Secretary Becerra chose to make his first official trip to the State of Nevada to hear about our ongoing immunization efforts and meet with leaders working day in and day out to provide and increase access to quality healthcare for residents in the Silver State. His trip coincided with the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.  To read my full press release, click here.  

Governor Sisolak orders flags lowered in Honor of Boulder shooting victims

This week, Nevadans joined the rest of the nation in mourning the ten lives taken far too soon in Boulder, Colorado. Our hearts ache for the families and friends who lost loved ones in this senseless and horrific tragedy. Kathy and I, along with the entire State of Nevada, will hold them and the Boulder community close in our hearts and in our prayers. To read my full press release click here.  

Governor Sisolak makes quarterly salary donation to Nevada schools

The education of our children continues to be of utmost importance to me and these continued donations remain a symbol of my lasting commitment to Nevada’s educators, families, and the children of our public schools. The First Lady and I are grateful for the opportunity to give back to Nevada’s public schools and positively contribute to the educational development of the students. To read my full press release click here.  

March 23, 2021 marked the 11th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act!

"Here in Nevada, the ACA is responsible for the creation and ongoing operations of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange that has provided healthcare coverage to hundreds of thousands of Nevadans who would otherwise be without coverage to receive essential and critical healthcare services. Since the passage of the ACA and the implementation of Nevada Health Link, the Exchange’s online marketplace for ACA-compliant insurance plans, Nevada's number of uninsured has decreased from a staggering 23 percent to 11 percent."  
Read the full statement from Nevada Health Link Executive Director, Heather Korbulic, here. 

Nevada Small Business Highlight: Fernley Physical Therapy 

This week’s business highlight is Fernley Physical Therapy. Located at 20 N West Street, Fernley Physical Therapy has been serving the needs of the Fernley and nearby rural communities with expert physical therapy care and treatment for the past 20 years and is proud of its hometown feel.  

“We have two therapists that have been here virtually since the place opened,” said Lynda Lautz, who owns the business with her husband, Rudi. “We have two others that have their doctorates in physical therapy. We get a lot of compliments on the service that we give to our patients. We don’t do group therapy. Our patients get one-on-one treatment, which they seem to really appreciate.” 

The Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge, Lautz said, but the business qualified for the paycheck protection program and was able to keep its entire staff employed throughout. Patient numbers dropped during this time, but with vaccinations now available and the Covid numbers looking positive, the business is seeing an increase in traffic. 

Fernley Physical Therapy specializes in treatment for everything from post-surgical therapy to sports injuries to accident recovery, stroke recovery, balance issues and workman’s compensation cases. It features private treatment rooms, a fully equipped gym, a wound-care area and a heated therapy pool. More information about the business and its therapy team can be found here. 

 Connecting Nevada! 

This month, the Nevada Department of Transportation and Salt Lake Express launched three new daily round-trip bus routes connecting: 

• Las Vegas and Reno - Connections in Pahrump, Beatty, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fallon, Fernley 
• Elko and Salt Lake City, Utah - Connections in Wells, West Wendover and Lake Point, Utah
• Elko and Twin Falls, Idaho - Connections in Wells and Jackpot 

With more than 18,000 trips anticipated during the first year of service, the new bus routes will further connect rural Nevada families and communities with services in neighboring metropolitan cities. And that means more access to medical services, employment, recreation and more! 

For more information visit  SaltLakeExpress.com or call 800-356-9796 for schedules and pricing. Masks are required, and all federal and state health guidelines will be followed. 

State reminds claimants of Benefit Year End date, clarifies “double dip” issue

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) is providing information about next steps to claimants who filed for Unemployment Insurance at the beginning of the pandemic and are coming to the end of their benefit year. 
According to federal rules, a regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim expires after one year.  For example, many regular UI claims had a Benefit Year Begin (BYB) date of 3/15/2020, meaning they will have a Benefit Year End (BYE) date of 3/13/2021.  Once claimants in the UI program get to their Benefit Year End, they are required to file a new UI claim to have their eligibility re-determined. 
This does not apply to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims. View full press release here.  

Has anyone you know been a victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault, or stalking? 

Travel Nevada awards grants to rural communities to boost tourism 

The Nevada Commission on Tourism on March 16 approved $500,000 in grants to rural communities to market themselves as tourism destinations. Travel Nevada will distribute 75 grants to support various marketing projects, including promotion of a new special event, the Eureka Gold Rush Games. More information can be found here. For more on Travel Nevada’s rural grants program, visit their website by clicking here. 

Plan for Play! Nevadans encouraged to participate in outdoor recreation survey  

Do you enjoy exploring Nevada’s public lands, parks, trails, and waterways? Would you like to see new bike paths, playgrounds, or other outdoor recreation infrastructure in your community? Right now, all Nevadans have the opportunity to weigh in on key topics like these to help shape the future of outdoor recreation in their neighborhoods, communities, and Nevada-wide. Let your voice be heard by completing a quick survey on outdoor recreation, brought to you by the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation and Nevada Division of State Parks. 

COVID Trace App: Protecting your community. And your privacy.   

More than 801,976 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. Nevadans have answered the call since Nevada day, and have doubled the number of downloads. Join your friends, family and neighbors on the app today! 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. 

Be aware of wildlife on the Road. Migrating season can increase wildlife-vehicle collision frequency.

The Nevada Division of Insurance is reminding consumers to be alert when driving to avoid wildlife collisions during the springtime when certain animals migrate in search of food after the winter months. “Wildlife-vehicle collisions are not only dangerous and potentially fatal, but they can also have serious financial consequences without adequate auto insurance coverage,” said Insurance Commissioner Barbara Richardson. Read the full release here.

Nevada Arts Council awards grants to artists in the Silver State 

The Nevada Arts Council has awarded 175 grants of $1,000 each to individual artists throughout the state. The Artist Relief Grants were available to eligible artists across all artistic disciplines who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information click here. For more on Nevada Arts Council grants, visit their website by clicking here.  

NDOW Honored with Cashman Good Government Award  

Student Art Contests Announced for Nevada State STEM and STEAM Diploma Seals   

The Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Nevada Department of Education announced two design contests, inviting Nevada’s students to create the image that will become the official State Seal of STEM or the State Seal of STEAM to be used on high school diplomas. The contests are open until March 30, 2021. Winning images will embody the spirit of the Seal (STEM or STEAM) as well as Nevada-specific attributes. Winners will receive a framed copy of their Seal. For more information, including image requirements, or to enter, please email asnyder.doe.nv@gmail.com. To view their full press release, click here.  

Unemployment Update

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 7,641, down 2,445 claims, or 24.2%, compared to the previous week’s total of 10,086 claims. Regular continued claims totaled 71,725 claims, an increase of 478 claims, or 0.7%, from the previous week’s total of 71,247.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides benefits for self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers saw 2,973 initial claims filed in the week ending March 20, a decline of 1,113 claims, or 27.2.%, from last week’s total of 4,086. Initial applications for the PUA program continue to be highly variable due to ongoing high levels of fraudulent applications. Through the week ending March 20, there have been a total of 1,105,908 PUA initial claims filed. 

COVID-19 Task Force Updates

The COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force met on January 28, 2021. For more information on these meetings and more, please visit the links below. 

• COVID-19 Task Force Assessments 
• COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report 
• Daily COVID Press Bulletins 
  

Boards & Commissions

I am proud to announce 42 appointments were made to State of Nevada boards, commissions, and agencies during the months of January and February. 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! 

• Board Vacancies *Vacancies are updated once a month
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Boards and Commissions Application 

Stay up to date on the latest news from Governor Sisolak by following his social media accounts or by visiting his website.

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