What to do in Silverado Ranch

Drill This, Canadians!

The Center for Biological Diversity is suing to prevent exploratory drilling near the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge by a Canadian mining company seeking lithium. Rover Metals wants to drill 30 holes — within a few thousand feet of hot springs that support endangered species. [Center for Biological Diversity]

GOED Gets Go-Ahead

Downstream from the 2023 Legislature, it’s easier to judge the session’s winners and losers. One winner was the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The object of some controversy thanks to the $330 million tax abatement it handed Tesla in March — third largest in Nevada history — it emerged from the session not only without restrictions proposed by some legislators, but with expanded giveaway powers. [Nevada Current]

• Context: What else our Legislature got done this time around. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

All Righty!

Fact-challenged extremist Alex Jones — who once dubbed the Oct. 1 shooting “phony as a $3 bill” — will be among the headliners at an August rally in Craig Ranch Regional Park. Some 50 speakers are scheduled to appear at the ReAwaken America Tour. [Nevada Independent]

Drink Up!

You may be surprised to see Las Vegas on a list titled “U.S. Cities With the Best Water.” You will be less surprised to learn that it’s very near the bottom of the ranking — No. 69 out of 70. (Suck it, Newark, N.J.!) I’m sure *checks notes* WaterFilterGuru.com did lots of science to arrive at this ranking. [WaterFilterGuru.com]

First, Where Was It? ⤴️

Last week’s photo was taken at the Community Healing Garden, a community-based memorial to the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting in Las Vegas; it was built in just four days with the help of many volunteers. Read more about it here. Meantime, congrats to the following for answering correctly:

🏆 Marina Beebee, Wayne Rorex, Sarah Wray

Now for This Week’s Challenge ⤵️

This week’s photo might be a bit tricky — properties like this one, shrines to the occupant’s overflowing creativity (and the lack of an HOA!), can be found in more than one neighborhood in the valley. So I’ll give you a hint: It’s east of the Strip. (And be sure to include the cross streets, not just the neighborhood.)

Use the button below to send me your answers, best guesses, or amateur folk-art criticism. Get it right and I’ll celebrate you in this space next Monday.

🎨 ‘Colorful Confinement’ | Tuesday | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Opening day of this exhibit of assemblages and mosaics by Las Vegas artist Lisa Fields Clark, inspired by the pandemic and quarantine. [East Las Vegas Library, Bonanza and Mojave; free]

🎶 Summerlin Sounds | Wednesday | 6-9 p.m.

Final installment of this weekly evening of live music, kid activities, and specialty cocktails. [The Lawn at Downtown Summerlin; free]

👮 ‘Fifty Years of Fighting Crime’ | Wednesday | 7 p.m.

A panel of current and former Metro officers — including Sheriff Kevin McMahill and former sheriff Jerry Keller — recount “the story of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.” [Mob Museum, downtown; free with museum admission]

• Related: Former Metro officer Harry Fagel talks about the job’s mental health challenges, and why cops commit suicide. Frank stuff. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Escape the Heat With a Short Trip

It’s 🫠 degrees out these day, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t places nearby where you can get outside. Today on the show, avid hiker and foodie Terri Galura-Chiong tells co-host Vogue Robinson about three of her favorite summer escapes with cooler temps — kayaking, hiking — all within a few hours’ drive of Las Vegas. Plus travel and food tips for each.