🤜 🤛 Gov, Dems clash over school choice

🤜💥🤛 Elevated Debate — Not!

Partisanship was in full bloom when the Interim Finance Committee met to discuss Gov. Lombardo’s proposal to spend $3.2 million in federal COVID funds on scholarships for private schools. Democrats, who control the Legislature, balked, and, after a rhetoric-filled marathon meeting, the governor’s plan died on a party-line vote. [Nevada Independent]

• Feeling cynical about politics? Me, too! Check out our favorite political scandals! [Hey Las Vegas 📧]

⚕️ Medical Assistance for Needy

Beginning Monday, downtown’s homeless and low-income residents will have a new medical resource: a city-built health and wellness center will open in the homeless facility at Main Street and Foremaster Lane. The second of 10 such centers planned by the city, it will have exam rooms, a pharmacy, and a lab. [Review-Journal]

🛥️ Boaty McSinkface Gets Political

The boat wreckage famously protruding from the mud and shallow water of Lake Mead briefly served as a political billboard: Someone spray-painted “Yo Lombardo vote yes for rent control” on its upraised snout. The photo at the link will have to suffice; it’s already been painted over. [KLAS]

🔌 Should Power Company Deals Be Public?

How much do NV Energy’s sponsorship deals with sports teams cost ratepayers? Good question, says the state’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. None of your business, the utility says. So the BCP this week filed a motion asking the Nevada Utilities Commission to declare the information public. Dueling allegations ensued. [Nevada Current]

• Pairs well with: What are the economics of a publicly funded stadium? [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🏴‍☠️ ‘Treasure Island’ | Tonight-Saturday | 7 p.m.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic yarn of pirates and adventure, newly adapted for an all-female cast. [Majestic Repertory Theatre, Arts District; $30]

🎸 ‘Rising Stars’ Semi-Finals | Tonight, Saturday | 8 p.m.

The last two rounds of the semi-finals as local bands vie for a spot on the Life is Beautiful stage, with the finals taking place next Friday. [The Space, Polaris near Harmon; $20]

🎨 ‘Bridges’ Art Crawl | Saturday | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The multi-artist exhibit “Bridges” is the centerpiece of this community celebration, that will also feature a morning prayer and Indigenous dancing. Sponsored by IndigenousAF. [Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center, Maryland Parkway; free]

☘️ Starkhafn Cèilidh Celtic Celebration | Saturday | 9 a.m. to noon

Celebrating all things Celtic with a year 1666-style feast, games, live music, and something called a Largesse Derby — it all sounds very cool. But they had me at “limerick competition.” [Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, Henderson; $15]

🚛 South Point Car & Truck Show | Saturday | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cars, trucks, semis — all vying for your votes in People’s Choice awards. [South Point; free]

🎤 🎻 ‘Hip Hop Reimagined’ | Saturday | 7 p.m.

Singer-emcee Cameron Calloway, composer Arturo Hernandez, and members of the Young Artists Orchestra of Las Vegas meld hip hop with classical music. [West Charleston Library; free]

🪘 Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca | Saturday | 8 p.m.

Lemvo and his band Makina Loca bring their fusion of Cuban and African music to the first of Henderson’s August Nights Latin Concert Series. [Water Street Amphitheatre, Henderson; $15]

🎺 ‘Broadway, TV, and Movie Favorites’ | Sunday | 3 p.m.

If you want to hear rousing horn renditions of works ranging from John Williams to The Muppets — stopping by “Bohemian Rhapsody” along the way — this show by the Pentagogical Brass Quintet will be your jam. [West Charleston Library; free]

Troubled Encounters

Plenty of news to roundup on today’s podcast: Nearby businesses come out against a food pantry that’s been operating for a decade; an aggressive encounter between a Metro cop and an unlicensed street vendor is captured on video; and North Las Vegas uses AI to transcribe public meetings — is this the toehold SkyNet has been waiting for?!