Latest news with #SenateBill19
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds launch environmental review process for second major airport near Las Vegas
Harry Reid International Airport is projected to reach full capacity by the end of the decade. (Photo: Clark County Department of Aviation) After more than two decades of delays federal officials are starting an environmental review for Clark County's long-anticipated second commercial airport. Local and federal officials have long sought to build a new airport on 6,000 acres in the Ivanpah Valley north of Primm, arguing the Harry Reid International Airport will not be able to keep up with projected demand for air travel without the supplemental airport. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Bureau of Land Management issued a notice of intent last week to prepare an environmental impact statement, starting the formal review for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport (SNSA). Rosemary Vassiliadis, the director of aviation for Clark County, called the announcement a major milestone for the region. 'This important step brings us closer to addressing the increasing demand for air travel in one of the nation's fastest growing regions,' Vassiliadis said in a statement last week. 'As a second commercial airport, SNSA will add much-needed capacity, improve service reliability, and ensure Southern Nevada continues to thrive as a global destination for business and tourism,' she continued. The Harry Reid International Airport will reach its full capacity of 63 million to 65 million passengers annually by 2030, according to the Clark County Department of Aviation estimates The Clark County Department of Aviation said the Ivanpah airport would provide long-term aviation capacity for the Las Vegas metropolitan area and primarily serve charter, long-haul domestic and international flights. The supplemental airport was first proposed in 2006 by the Clark County Department of Aviation, but local economic conditions following the Great Recession and other local budgetary constraints stalled the project for decades. In 2010 the Clark County Department of Aviation asked the FAA to suspend any work on the environmental review. Earlier this year, county officials confirmed that the environmental review process would resume for the future airport, which would include two runways and a terminal building in the Ivanpah Valley. Congress transferred public land to Clark County for the construction of the airport site in 2000 through the Ivanpah Valley Airport Public Lands Transfer Act. The new airport site would cover an area of 6,000 acres, 2,000 acres for flood mitigation infrastructure, and an additional 17,000 acres of land that are set aside as a noise compatibility buffer, making the new airport site over 25,000 acres. State officials have suggested the new airport could lead to further development in Clark County. In 2023, state lawmakers unanimously approved Senate Bill 19 which would allow Clark County to put aside at least 5,000 acres for a new commercial and residential development in the vicinity of the new airport. Conservation groups have long opposed the development of the airport, saying its development could threaten two endangered species in the area, the desert tortoise and the white-margined penstemon – a small pink bell-shaped flower fixed on long hardy stems with waved oblong leaves. The rare wildflower only grows in four counties across the Mojave Desert: Clark County, Nye County, San Bernardino County in California, and Mohave County in Arizona. Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the conservation group would follow the environmental review process 'to ensure that sensitive biological resources are not unduly harmed by the airport, and that appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.' 'Just because Congress gave the land to Clark County, doesn't mean the airport is pre-approved. Laws like the Endangered Species Act mandate the strictest of protections,' Donnelly said. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Bureau of Land Management plan to hold three public scoping meetings this July to gather testimony about the environmental impact of a new airport, starting with a virtual meeting on July 29. Two in-person meetings will be held in July, the first will be held on July 30 at the East Las Vegas Library, and the second will be on July 31 at Primm Valley Casino Resorts.
Fox News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
One big state needs to stop paying lobbyist salaries
Momentum to eliminate government waste is sweeping the nation — from Washington's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to parallel initiatives in Texas. In that spirit, we recently met to discuss Senate Bill 19 (SB19), which state Senator Mayes Middleton authored, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick designated a top legislative priority. It would make Texas the first state to ban the use of public funds for lobbying — essential to restore republican principles and defund corrupt, anti-taxpayer special interests. We are a government of the people, by the people and for the people, which makes using the people's money to push special interests untenable. What exactly is taxpayer-funded lobbying? In recent years, Texas has seen a surge of local governments, school districts and associations — such as the Texas Association of School Boards — hiring lobbyists with your tax dollars to wine, dine and entertain legislators in an effort to influence legislation. Under Texas law, "lobbying" refers to registered Austin lobbyists hired or contracted to influence legislation. Despite taxpayers' expectation that government entities act in the public's interest, local governments, school districts and associations regularly hire lobbyists to thwart the will of voters. Your tax dollars are being used to lobby for divisive, left-wing causes. Progressive politicians backed by radicals like billionaire George Soros use hundreds of millions of dollars to try and force their agenda on the Texas legislature to kill common-sense policies and push the state left. For example, taxpayer-funded lobbyists in Texas spend public funds to oppose bans on men entering women's restrooms. Worse still, many unelected bureaucrats and regulators are captured by the very industries they oversee, using tax dollars on lobbyists who entrench oligopolies and crush competition. Unsurprisingly, taxpayer-funded lobbyists also oppose tax relief and instead support increasing sales taxes, gas taxes and raising vehicle registration fees. They've lobbied against common-sense issues such as border security, voter ID, teacher pay raises, election integrity with citizenship verification and parental choice in education. At a time when Texas faces real problems in public safety, infrastructure and essential services, spending upwards of $100 million annually on lobbyists is indefensible. The public overwhelmingly agrees. A recent public opinion poll reveals that 81% of Texans oppose the practice and would prefer that the Texas legislature abolish it. Rather than waste money arming ideological opponents to fight for causes Texans reject, Texas leaders should boldly pursue a better future: investing valuable tax dollars in roads or law enforcement or, better yet, offering Texans tax relief. Crucially, SB19 in no way silences local governments. Local officials can still call, write and testify before the legislature — precisely as our founders intended. Cities, and indeed all local governments, were created to serve the people, and the people are tired of having their voices drowned out by hired guns using their own tax dollars against them. A ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying encourages direct representation and communication. It in no way prevents local elected officials or their staff from communicating with the legislature, traveling to Austin, or incurring related expenses to make their voice heard. Your tax dollars are being used to lobby for divisive, left-wing causes. Progressive politicians backed by radicals like billionaire George Soros use hundreds of millions of dollars to try and force their agenda on the Texas legislature to kill common-sense policies and push the state left. All government is created by the people, who grant it powers to represent us. By funding lobbyists who push agendas voters reject, local governments violate the consent of the governed and break the core principle of representation from which the American and Texas constitutions derive their authority. In effect, entrenched bureaucrats create a self-sustaining cycle of influence that subverts genuine democracy. By continuing to allow public funds to flow into the hands of progressive special interests that undermine the very principles Texans hold dear, we risk eroding the constitutional foundations on which our state and nation were built. As part of this broader struggle, taxpayer-funded lobbying is the USAID of Texas, but the DOGE initiative — including SB19 — aims to defund this egregious waste. By passing SB19, we will strengthen public trust and ensure tax dollars serve Texans' real needs, not the interests of bureaucrats and their hired guns. This session, we hope you will join us in the call to finally ban taxpayer-funded lobbying once and for all. It is time to show the country that government of, by and for the people thrives here in the Lone Star State. Joe Lonsdale is an entrepreneur and investor. He co-founded Palantir Technologies and the venture firm 8VC. He is the chairman of the University of Austin (UATX) and the Cicero Institute, a nationwide policy group.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mandatory training coming soon for NM university boards of regents
The four new members of the Western New Mexico University board of regents met for the first time on April 9, 2025. (Screenshot of meeting) Starting next month, regents on New Mexico university boards will have to complete 10 hours of training to prepare them for their roles in guiding academic institutions. Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), directs the New Mexico Department of Higher Education to develop those training hours to include topics such as state law, financial management, institutional governance and student success. The HED is tasked with providing the training and ensuring regents comply. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB19 on April 8 and the bill goes into effect on June 20. The bill states that current regents must complete the training by Dec. 31 this year. Higher Education Department Spokesperson Auriella Ortiz told Source NM in a written statement that members of the department have started considering requirements and platforms for the training, which she said is projected to be completed by the end of the year. 'Since the agency has provided a similar type of training for regents in the past, this process is not new to us,' Ortiz wrote. Steven Neville, a former state senator who represented San Juan County, recently took over as chair of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents. The entire board consists of four new members after previous members resigned or concluded their tenure in late 2024 and early 2025, following the board's controversial decision to award outgoing university President Joseph Shepard a $1.9 million severance package. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a civil suit against Shepard and the board in an effort to recover the state funds. A hearing is scheduled in June to consider Shepard's motion to dismiss the case against him. Neville told Source NM that he has a lot of knowledge about state law and financial management from his time as a lawmaker and member of the Legislative Finance Committee, which he will use in his new role, but university management is still different. 'There're certain things about the way universities run that are totally different than my county commission experience or my city council experience or even my state senate experience,' Neville said. 'I've been on several boards and commissions through the years, but nothing is exactly the same.' He added that all four members of the board need some aspect of the future training, despite everyone's background. He said the HED provided all new regents with a short orientation over a couple of hours when they were first appointed, but hopes that future training also involves more explanation of higher education policies and funding 'intricacies that are a little different from one agency to the next.' Ortiz reiterated to Source that the HED already provides training to newly appointed and reappointed regents covering topics such as governance, ethics, fiscal management and state and federal laws. 'Adding a requirement of 10 hours will enhance a governing boards' understanding of their appointed or elected positions in addition to the tools they need to better champion students, faculty and staff on their campuses,' Ortiz wrote. 'It is important to note that Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez and our colleagues at the department are always available to assist governing board members at any time beyond the training sessions.' During the session earlier this year, Steinborn told Senate Education Committee members that he introduced the bill to ensure regents are prepared for their work in hiring university presidents, setting tuition and other actions that fundamentally impact students and faculty. SB19 was one of several bills and resolutions introduced this session that would have addressed the process for how regents are chosen and the preparation they receive for fulfilling their roles. Steinborn also introduced Senate Joint Resolution 7, which would have required the governor to choose regent nominees from a pool of candidates approved by a nominating committee. House Joint Resolution 12, introduced by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), would have codified regents' fiduciary duties; moved regent removal proceedings to the district courts; and allowed the attorney general or a majority of the board to initiate the removal of a regent. Both resolutions would have required a ballot vote to amend the state constitution, however both died in committee. 'I think we owe it to our universities and our kids and taxpayers that we have the best regents we can get and that they're trained,' Steinborn said during the committee meeting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Measure to make prison release more transparent clears Illinois Senate
A bill that would reform the Prisoner Review Board passed the Illinois Senate on Thursday, aiming to protect victims and increase transparency about prisoner releases following years of controversy surrounding the board's decisions. Championed by Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, Senate Bill 19 would give victims the ability to file victim impact statements ahead of hearings, provide them with additional notice when their offender is granted early release, and allow them to seek an order of protection against an offender who is incarcerated. The bill passed on a 33-22 vote, with some Democrat senators opposing the legislation. It would also create the Office of the Director of Victim and Witness Services, which would ensure the board complies with victims' rights, and mandates victims are provided with contact information for the State Victim Assistance Hotline The reforms come after Crosetti Brand murdered an 11-year-old Chicago boy in 2024. That February, the board voted to release Brand, finding there was not enough evidence he had violated his conditions of release. His ex-girlfriend, Laterria Smith, was denied an emergency order of protection by a Cook County judge while Brand was imprisoned at Stateville in Crest Hill. A day after he was released, Brand attacked Smith and murdered her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, who attempted to protect his mother. The murder caused two PRB members, including the board chair, to resign. Brand's history of domestic violence against women prompted both advocates and lawmakers to call for stricter review of prisoners' backgrounds before their release. During last year's legislative session, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, championed a PRB reform bill that that had bipartisan support, but was never called for a vote in the House on the final day of session. That bill would have made changes that included requiring the board to notify victims within 24 hours if an offender, whom they had an order of protection against, was released early. In a news conference held the day after the session ended, Gov. JB Pritzker expressed his concerns with parts of the bill regarding the live stream of certain PRB meetings and the lack of funding for other requirements. Harmon described this year's reform bill as a 'similar to, but improved upon' version of Cassidy's bill that 'expands the rights of victims to be heard and to be notified.' The bill would change qualifications for board members, requiring seven out of the 15 board members to have at least five years of experience as a law enforcement officer, parole officer, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney or judge. It would also change the term limits of any new board members elected from six to eight years, something Harmon said would allow board members to be less concerned about their reappointment and more focused on making 'good decisions.' Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, voiced his disagreement on the Senate floor Thursday. He asked Harmon how he thought it was a 'great idea' to lengthen terms for members, who he said are vetted by the governor. 'The Senate can't pass a law by itself. The bill before us, I believe, will be well-received and passed by the House and signed by the governor,' Harmon said in response. 'It is the best bill we are able to pass into law at the present time.' Republicans have spent years criticizing Pritzker's appointments to the board following several controversial nominations in recent years. The bill now awaits action in the House.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act Passes CA Senate Public Safety Committee
( — A proposed change to state law could add more consequences for those who make threats against certain institutions. Under current law, it is a crime to make violent threats against a specific person at a school or house of worship. Senate Bill 19 has just passed the California Senate Public Safety Committee and would broaden the law to make it illegal to threaten violence toward the institution itself. 'California is falling short in tackling this issue and protecting schools and those institutions that worship from criminal threats,' said Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), the author of the Senate Bill. These threats often cause schools to go on lockdown and can lead to a large and expensive law enforcement response, causing major disruptions. The Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act aims to ensure that those who make these threats face the consequences. Several organizations support the Senate Bill, including the California District Attorneys' Association. 'Someone, for example, could threaten to shoot up this building, and without a specific person targeted or identified, I could not prosecute that,' California District Attorneys' Association Representative Rochelle Beardsley said in the hearing. Several schools in our area, including those in Elk Grove, Marysville, and Mountain House, were recently threatened. In a statement to Fox40, Marysville Acting Superintendent Jordan Reeves said in part, 'I wholeheartedly support legislation that will bolster school safety and enhance measures to keep our school communities safe.' San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said the Mountain House bomb threat was a logistical nightmare for all involved. 'Even if there is no real threat of you showing up to kill somebody and you just think it's a joke, no no, no. There is a tremendous number of resources and trauma that happens because of this,' said the Sheriff tells Fox40. Sheriff Withrow classifies these threats as terrorism and believes any extra steps we can take to hold people more accountable is a step in the right direction. Marc Levine is a former California State Assemblymember, representative of the Anti-Defamation League and global leader in combatting antisemitism and extremist hate, spoke with Fox40 about this Legislation. 'If we look merely at bomb threats to synagogues and K-12 schools in the state of California, we saw about 96 of these threats,' Levine said. 'In 2023 and 2024 that number climbed to 204, a 113% increase year over year, so it's skyrocketed.' Levine adds that it's important that all Californians take any necessary action to stand against hate and hate-based threats. However, several organizations vehemently oppose the Senate Bill. Some cited concerns about the growing number of incarcerated individuals, including those struggling with mental health. 'It will target black and brown students the most,' a gentleman in attendance stated at the hearing. 'Schools are underfunded, mental health resources are stretched thin, and youth programs struggle for support instead of spending money locking up kids for things that can be resolved without police intervention. The California Department of Education told Fox40 they are still looking into this Senate Bill before they can provide comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
