⏳ Putting Whiskey Pete on ice

🐟 Good News for Toxic Algae

It turns out that one of the National Park Service employees the Department of Government Efficiency fired on Valentine’s Day is one just two aquatic ecologists in charge of monitoring water toxicity levels in Lake Mead. The scientist, Riley Rackliffe, said DOGE indiscriminately fired anyone who had worked at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area less than a year. [Nevada Current]

• Water levels at Lake Mead are dropping to historic lows, so what happens if it runs out? [Hey Las Vegas ✍️]

⏳ Whiskey Pete’s On Ice

The owners of Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino in Primm are asking the Clark County Board of Commissions for a waiver that would keep the property closed up to three years without losing its gambling license. Their hope is that the planned Nevada Supplemental Airport development will bring back enough business to reopen. [KSNV]

• Did you know that “Whiskey Pete” was actually a real person? He used to own a struggling gas station and turned to bootlegging during prohibition. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🏫 A Push to Keep Immigration Enforcement Out of Schools

Clark County School District has policies prohibiting schools from sharing students’ immigration status with law enforcement, something proposed Assembly Bill 217 would codify as state law. Public support for the bill is strong, but some school officials disagree with violations being classified as misdemeanors. [Las Vegas Sun 🔒]

Welcome to the Hey Las Vegas news quiz. The questions are based on stories in the newsletter over the past week. Up to the challenge? Answer the following questions to see how well you’ve been paying attention — and how well you know Las Vegas.

Results will appear at the end.

True or false: California is at least partially to blame for the uptick in Nevada gas prices.

• True
• False